Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side-sim: The Reckoning

(snip)

Randy watched, sure that Roman would dig his heels in more, but so far Elbbirt’s direct take no crap approach seemed to be working, he hoped. “Alright, you can stay back here, it’s more private and quieter and you don’t have to move,” Elbbirt said and then left the room. Randy didn’t bother to ask if he was okay or if he wanted to talk. Right now the only response that would get him was evasion and demands to leave. “Do you want me to bring Rand in?”

Roman nodded stiffly, glad Elbbirt had finally left. He needed to talk to her. To let her know what was going on. And honestly to know she would be there. Randy probably wouldn’t need to ask if he was okay, his face was plenty indicative of the answer. He was staring straight ahead, not moving, trying not to think too much that there was an hour before his surgery. And during that hour they’d have to prep him.

In the main medical area Rand was staring hard at the door Randy and Roman had disappeared into. They had been in there long enough that Shrine and one of the docs she didn’t know had finished with her ankle. It was propped up on pillows, the bed reclined a bit and she’d made herself busy trying to process three days of reports. The meds only made her dizzy if she sat up too fast. But it had been a long time and not even the mountain of reports waiting for her were distracting. Randy had stuck his head out once and refused to look at her and then disappeared again. What was wrong?

Randy walked out of the back and waved Shrine off as he walked over to Rand. “Come on.” He lifted her and swung her down to her good leg. Rand didn’t ask, not out in the open, but Randy wasn’t joking or teasing her, so that made her more worried. He mostly carried her into the back where Roman was. He helped her up onto the table next to Roman. Then set a stool with blankets and a pillow on top in front of her. He lifted her leg onto it and told her not to move it. He pointed at a button on the wall next to the bed. “Press it if you need anything.” Then Randy left the room and let the door close behind him.

Rand and Randy

Roman did not move until after Randy had left them alone. He barely looked at her at all. Instead he focused on the ground, or the monitor Elbbirt had been using which still displayed the images of his leg. It would be easy for her to tell how he was feeling. He wasn’t sure if it was just because of all the attention and stress around it, or because it was getting worse and Elbbirt was right about not delaying for anything, but his leg felt worse than before and he found himself rubbing it again.

While Roman aimlessly focused on the ground or the monitor, Rand reached over and took his hand and squeezed gently. She wanted to ask how bad it was, what Elbbirt had said, but Rand was all too familiar with the way fear and panic and anxiety could stop your brain from making your body work. So, she just waited, holding his hand, watching his expression and knew it was so much worse than he thought he could handle.

After several moments of silence, in which Roman contemplated how to tell Rand about all of it, he finally started with, “It’s worse than Randy initially thought. They, eh, they’ve got to do surgery.”

~ Lt Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Okay that wasn’t too bad. It was for Roman, it was his worst nightmare, but it could be worse. It could be past the point of helping. “I’ll be right here, promise.” She leaned over and hugged him, holding him to her. Trying to make him realize it would be okay, even if it was scary. “After your leg will be better, and you won’t have any more pain.” She was trying to convince him, maybe herself. She was worried, but she was more worried he’d refuse. Randy had said if he didn’t have it taken care of it would kill him. Rand couldn’t even contemplate that. She kissed his cheek and then, still hugging him, “What can I do?”

Rand