Posted by Lieutenant Commander Theodore Knox (Chief Medical Officer) in Surgery Time

(snip)

Casela always convinced herself it was better, or easier, to just closer her eyes and ‘go to sleep’ before they gave her the Anesthizine. Nice deep breath for me. And of course that was the phrase that had triggered her memory. He still said it the same. The phisiological reaction was immediate. It reminded her of that time in the hospital and why she had been there. The need to escape, not the doctors, but Mad Man. Casela did not want a repeat of her last long term visit to sickbay and she breathed, getting the reaction under control with surprising skill and speed, so that if Knox had not been watching the scans he wouldn’t have known it, because the computer would not have alerted for such a short span of time. She took a very deep breath for him, eyes still closed, forcing herself to relax so she would fall asleep faster. Also the scans showed she was still anemic, better, but her readings for having had the hypo that morning should have been higher…but she’d forgotten the hypo that morning, having usually taken it right before she left for breakfast with the captain.
Lt Synthi-er, CNS

“Tut tut tut.” Theo clicked his tongue as he replaced his tricorder in his pocket and accepted the hypo from the nurse. “Someone forgot their medicine this morning.” He berated the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. “No matter, we will monitor during the procedure. I trust however you followed the rest of my instructions carefully?”

Casela nodded, “Yes I did, Doctor. 25 CCs every morning, 30 minute before breakfast, for the last 7 days. That made 0630 every day, so another half hour from now.” She’d gotten there at 0530 but about half an hour had passed since then.

He checked the hypo then pressed it against Cas’s neck. “This is a mild sedative. I’ve given you a low dose which should help you to relax and feel nice and calm. It won’t make you sleepy just relaxed. I will allow my staff to finish preparing you in a moment while I get ready before we anaesthetise you for the procedure. If you have any further questions, now would the a good time.” He smiled

Casela thought, hard as they gave her the sedative, trying to think if she had any other questions about the proceedure but had none. Dr Knox had answered them all. Okay there was one and it sounded so weak minded, but the counselor in her knew it gave a measure of control. “How long will I be out?” She knew how long she’d be off duty, but how long was she going to be unconscious? At least this way maybe she wouldn’t panic as much when she woke up. And hopefully she wouldn’t be restrained, that could end very badly for her this time.

An NE was moving the surgical support frame towards the bed and another carefully carried a glass container of what looked like neon orange jello in which some ribs were unmistakably suspended.

Dr Knox

She closed her eyes, she didn’t want to look at it, she didn’t want to think about it. She just wanted him to get it done. She let the sedative relax her and let her mind attempt to drift. She’d rather already be asleep.
Lt. Synthi-er, CNS

“Oh a while.” Theodore said sounding, to the untrained ear, ever so slightly amused. “It’ll be over before you know it. “ he soothed and then left to finish preparing. The NEs were moving the surgical support frame over the bed now and wandered around getting things organised.

Theo was back decked in surgical wear shortly, another leather apron over the top. He smiled as he approached the bed. “How are we doing? He asked looming over the poor patient. The nurse handed the breathing apparatus with the gas insert ready. He took it and held it in hand waiting.

Casela didn’t bother to answer him. Lying would change the fact she was having surgery, and the truth wouldn’t help either. Physically she was relaxed, the sedative doing it’s job, though the nurses had had to give her more. A consequence of her training and her work. It took more than a normal dose to take her out.

Smiling Theodore brought the mask up to cover Casela’s mouth and nose and activated it. “Now, a nice, deep breath. And relax…” he said.

“Good, nice and relaxed.” He said watching the vitals and then smirked back down at Casela as the readings began to indicate the gas was working.

Yeah yeah she knew, a nice deep breath. Just put her under already. The mask didn’t bother her. Casela had worn enough rebreathers in her time that she didn’t feel suffocated or claustrophobic by them.

“Nighty night.” He said quietly so only she would hear him. Or did she Imagine that part?

Dr Knox

Daddy? Her father used to say something similar to her when he put her to bed every night as a child. But her father was far away, dying probably, maybe dead. She missed him, and her mother. Was her mother all alone now? Who helped her? Who would take care of her? She had an odd stabbing of intense sadness. She wanted her father, right then, in that moment. Not just his memory, no a dream, she was dreaming. A nice deep breath to push the sadness away. Another deep breath, the gas moving through her system, she was out, far away floating, no idea what was going on around her.
Lt Synthi-er, CNS