Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side-sim: The Reckoning

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

(snip)

Rand stayed with him through the entire session. She swung the computer console over to him and with a few deft taps of the keyboard the science Dept reports appeared for the last 4 days. “Something to look at while I’m gone.” She really didn’t want to go but she had to. She squeezed his hand and then despite Randy’s ‘tsking’ she kissed him. “I’ll be back soon.”

Rand

Rand was there for the entire session and Roman was happy for that. He squeezed her hand every so often, a sign he was getting nervous again. And finally the time for her to leave came and she gave him the science reports - four days worth - to read through. It was more than enough to keep him busy while she was gone, given he could focus on them. Then she squeezed his hand and kissed him and it was hard for him to reply “Don’t rush things just to get back sooner.”

~ Roman

Rand’s first stop was her quarters to get into uniform and try to look like she hadn’t been not-sleeping perched on a chair. It didn’t take long to collect the reports, but everyone had questions about Kelmao. She told them to ask science. Franks had everything ready, there were a few tweaks to be made where he wasn’t familiar with the DH reports. She got the samples and notes sorted and picked up Roman’s. Rand really wanted to stop and visit Nibbles and Mushu, but she wanted to get back to Alden more. She was waylaid by Valos as she passed the labs on her way to a turbo lift. It was an even more awkward exchange than most of her social encounters. He tried to follow her until she said she was in her way to see the captain. It took her most of the time to compile the reports. She took her time and made sure to do them right. The best piece of news was from Chief Helpful that the supply ship they were meeting that night had that special delivery she had requested. That thought alone kept a smile on her face.

Her meeting with Rogers was longer than normal but it was to be expected. There was a lot for Rand to catch up on. Grabbing her PaDD and the things Roman asked for she headed back to Sickbay roughly 3 hours later, give or take. Randy was getting off duty and he hugged her before she slipped into the room. It had been worked out that Shrine would be the over night nurse. Rand set the things she had with her and walked over to Roman and slipped her hand into his. “Hi.”

Rand

Some of the science crew asked her how Alden was doing or what exactly happened, why he wasn’t out of Sickbay yet. The story they planned on spreading, that it was a torn muscle, hadn’t yet circulated the ship and people were getting curious. No one had attempted to come see him yet.

The only person Rand told was Franks, and that was only because Franks would have to run the department while Roman was off duty. That apparently it was more than a pulled muscle, the muscle was actually torn and Alden would need several days with the tissue migrator. Franks was mortified that he had agreed to let Alden explore the cave with him, and Rand recognized the guilt he was feeling. In the end Franks asked her, when she picked up the medical reports, to tell Alden that everything in the labs looked fine while they were gone. He thanked Rand for letting him know and for the help with the samples from Kelmao and then went back to work.

For Roman, the three hours dragged on. He was part way through the first of four days reports but it it was slow going. He looked up at every little noise, and then watched the nurse’s station for a while, watching as medical staff came and went. He wondered when Rand would get back. He almost wished he hadn’t told her not to hurry. But work always came before personal business. He reminded himself of that. Between the muffled talking of staff as they walked by and the sounds of the machines and biobed, he really wanted out of there. If it weren’t for the nerve block, he might’ve tried to make a run for it, but he certainly couldn’t attempt anything with a leg he couldn’t feel. His heart rate was back over 100. He might have been tired by then but he was too nervous.

Finally, Rand came through the door, carrying the things he’d asked for from his quarters and her own PaDD. She slipped her hand into his and he smiled. “You made it back.” Of course he knew she would eventually be back. But the time she had been gone felt like a day and a half. He couldn’t imagine being here if she had to be gone for a full duty shift.

~ Roman

The first thing Rand noticed when she walked in was the beeping of the monitor with his elevated heart rate. She leaned down, resting her other hand on his chest and grinned. “I did, I promised.” She glanced at the door to make sure no one was coming in, “I was going to kiss you but I think Shrine might throw me out if I raised your heart rate more.” She was teasing him, trying to help him relax.

Roman smiled. “I’m sure she’d be happy if it dropped like it did earlier.” He put his arm around her when she leaned down, putting her hand on his chest like she had earlier. “I’m glad you’re back.” He didn’t want to say it took a long time and make her feel bad, she was doing her job.

“I’m sorry it took so long. Franks did okay with the reports but he’s not familiar with all of them. He asked about both of us. I told him your muscle wasn’t sprained but tore and would require a few days to heal completely. I think he feels bad, he kept muttering about over night landing teams should have a mandatory medical officer, no matter the mission. It’s a good idea.” She turned to pull the chair closer and sat down. “Franks had just finished feeding all the animals. Mr Wyvern stopped eating long enough to lunge at me as I passed by, one of the Chinzilla’s babies was fighting with her over the food, and I think Franks or Veatch cleaned the goo lizard’s tank, the water looked really clean. Mushu wasn’t moving much except his eyes…they looked like they might spin around fast enough to lift him into the air. He was tracking the flies and crickets in this cage, and Nibbles was stashing food in her nest.” She told him about the rest of her work, more to make him forget where he was than that he needed to know. Anything he might also need to know later as XO, that depending on the meds she might need to tell him again. She did NOT tell him about the request she’d made that was arriving over night.

Rand was telling him about her work and all the going-ons of the ship, including his labs. He listened with interest. He hadn’t been able to check on anything. He’d gone straight from the planet surface to Sickbay. He felt like he was in isolation. It gave him something to think about besides where he was. The meds were making him feel a little out of it, it helped that the pain killers were still low dose.

He hadn’t made it through the reports, and she had a feeling it was because of being in sickbay. She nodded at the screen, “The meds always make it hard for me to focus my eyes. I could read them for you and take notes?” It would be a bit of normalcy for him. She’d save them and then they could sign them later after he was off the meds.

Rand

Roman turned the computer console toward her. “Alright, here. I couldn’t focus on them.” He couldn’t sign them but at least she’d help him go over them like she usually did. It was much later in the day than usual, but at least he’d feel like he was doing something.

~ Roman