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

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side-sim: The Reckoning
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Rand laid against him as he pulled her closer and hugged him. She took his other hand and held it over his heart and just breathed with him while she hugged him. She hated the noises of sickbay, and it was always worse when she was the patient. She figured it was worse for Roman too. But despite all that, hugging him was still her favorite thing. She wasn’t sure it would make him feel better, but she quietly admitted, “You know I think I like this private room. I get to hug you whenever I want. Couldn’t do that on Kelmao.” Not moving too much she reached over to the console and quickly found the last scene he remembered. Then she turned the volume up just a little to help cover the noise. She would have turned the lights up, but she didn’t want to move, instead she turned a little on her side so she could watch the movie and still hug him.

Roman tightened his arm around her as she laid against him, hugging him. His other hand was in hers, and she held it on his chest, over his heart, where he could feel his heart beat with the soft beeping the biobed’s monitor made. They were there for a while, breathing quietly, before Rand spoke up. Roman smiled. “That was quite the drawback. At least we would have had the tent if the storm hadn’t taken away the campsite.” She started the movie from where he left off and turned the volume up a little and it helped cover the sound, making him feel more like they were back in his quarters.

Half an hour later Shrine came in. She quietly took his vitals and went about setting up the machines for the doctor. Since Rand was on his non-injured side, and Alden’s heart rate was relatively low, she saw no reason to make Rand move for the moment. The over night doctor had different ideas. “Ensign, I am sure you have quarters you can go sleep in,” he groused as he came in and turned the lights up brightly. “The Cmdr needs rest not to be fawned over.” Rand’s eyes went really wide, and she sat up as soon as the light turned up. She squeezed Roman’s hand tightly. He didn’t have a restricted visitation schedule, she checked. She swallowed before saying anything, she didn’t want to stammer. “I wasn’t sleeping Dr. we were watching a movie. No one told us his visitation restrictions changed.” The eyed her…leave to a yeoman to know whether or not she was in the wrong. “It hasn’t. Just…don’t get in the way.” He worked quickly, to set up the machines, and then asked Alden if he was still numb before starting the machines again, and then left. Rand wondered if he was the type to gossip.

Shrine turned the lights down some and patted Rand on the shoulder after the doctor left. “I’ll be back in an hour or so. Do either of you want drink or food?”

Rand

Roman blinked and turned his head as the lights were suddenly turned up to full. Then he squeezed Rand’s hand as the overnight doctor, a doctor Roman wasn’t familiar with, griped at Rand for being there. Before he could speak up with a rather sharp tongued reply Rand had already used the regulations to prove she could be there. His visitation was unrestricted, anyone could come and see him anytime, as long as he wasn’t sleeping. He nodded to answer about the numbness of his leg, and then the machines were set and the doctor was gone. “Not a very friendly one, is he?” Roman said to Rand. To the nurse he answered, “Actually I am quite hungry, I could try eating again.”

~ Roman

Shrine nodded and slipped out of the room. Rand shook her head, “No he’s not.” Her voice was tight, she was sitting stiffly, and she was holding tightly onto his hand, staring at the screen. She knew she was right. She hadn’t done anything wrong, hadn’t broken any rules, but the whole conversation made her anxious. What if the Dr changed Roman’s orders so she couldn’t stay? What if he was that petty, well he wouldn’t be in Star Fleet would he? Was she hurting Roman and hadn’t known it? Was that why the doctor was upset? Or was he just that way? Should she leave? Roman had been asleep, maybe she shouldn’t have woken him up? No, no that was one thing she was sure of. If she hadn’t he would have woken up in a full panic and that would be bad for his heart right now. If they made her leave she’d just pace her quarters all night anyway. She didn’t just want to stay she felt like she needed to.

Rand

Roman pulled her gently, beckoning her to lay against him once again, though he was careful not to jostle his bad leg at all. Rand was tense, her voice tight, and she we as staring intently at the screen but it didn’t look like she was really watching the movie all that closely. “He’s just grouchy. You’re right, there is no rule against you being here and we both know it’s better for both of us if you are here.”

~ Roman

If Rand thought about it she would find it strange how easily she let herself simply react and be herself and not worry when she was with Roman. She let him pull her back to lay against him. She immediately relaxed, mostly. She was careful to stay mostly on the chair so that he didn’t have to move to make room for her. She knew it was important for him to stay still while the machines worked. She words made her smile a little and she nodded against his shoulder. “You know,” she thought it was a good, but didn’t think about if it would stress him or not, “only one more session after this, and then if the images look good, Elbbirt will start removing the nerve block. Then you can go back to your quarters.” She was worried about the pain and his stubbornness, but mentally she knew he’d be better to be out of sickbay.

Roman was… a little naive about the pain that would come with removing the neuro block. He wasn’t particularly worried about it. “Fantastic, I hope he does it quickly so I can go,” he said. He thought it was going to be like his pre-surgery pain, which had been bad, but tolerable, especially if he was sitting around his quarters all day. Without the stress of Sickbay, Roman was going to be bored. Bored out of his mind, until he was allowed to go on light duty. Rand was being careful not to make him move, but as soon as she lay back he could tell she’d relaxed and he smiled.

Shrine came back in with two trays. The woman was a professional but she couldn’t help the little motherly like grin on her face at the two, that was quickly hid. She set the trays down on the two bed tables and wheeled them over. “I thought you might be hungry too.” She was reluctant to do it, but she helped Rand to sit up. Poor girl looked exhausted, and almost like she had when she’d had to give her the Ativan when she was in sickbay. She took the blanket and folded it and set it and a pillow on the other biobed. If the beds weren’t bolted to the floor she’d push them together, just so Rand could rest a little easier. “Now I heard you tried to give Randy grief about helping you sit up, but I’m not putting up with it either. Not with the machine’s on.” Shrine was a lot stronger and capable than she might look and it didn’t take long to help Alden sit up so he could eat. “When you’re done and want to lie back you call me. We don’t want to have to start over.” She looked at Rand, “Randy warned me about you too, so eat.” And with that she bustled out of the room. Rand picked up the cup on her tray and sipped at the water. “Randy’s not even here and he’s bossy.”

Rand

Roman nearly tried to sit himself up as soon as he saw the food. But Shrine spoke up before he did and he did not want to start over. He wanted the heck out of Sickbay. With an annoyed grunt, he let Shrine help him up. He did not want to have to call someone every time he needed to sit up or lay back. Then the nurse turned to Rand and Roman grinned. “You’re close, of course he wants to make sure you eat well. I do, too.”

~ Roman

Rand saw the look on Roman’s face as Shrine ordered him to be still and wait for her. She was about to remind him that when the machines were off they let him sit up or down on his own. But his words caught her off guard and she grinned and then shook her head. “It’s amazing, I don’t know how I do it. This ship falls apart I’m gone for 3 days. You should see the things waiting on my desk. But you two act like I don’t know how to take care of myself. How do I manage to keep a ship running but not take care of me.” Just to prove her point she picked up half the sandwich on her plate and took a huge bite. Then she looked at him from the corner of her eye smiling. She was lucky, she knew that, to have people who cared. “Eat.” she pointed at his plate, all mock seriousness. Then she ate the whole meal Shrine brought, just to continue to make her point.

“You used to make sure I went and had lunch and dinner instead of working,” Roman reminded her. “And that I sleep. And I’m the ship’s first officer. Your quality of work doesn’t change whether you remember to eat and sleep.” Then she pointed at his tray, pretending to be serious, and he picked up his fork and started eating. It was another bland dish, since he’d been nauseous last time he tried eating something. This time his stomach was a little upset but it wasn’t bad and he ate nearly the whole meal.

Rand grinned at him, “No, that was Randy. I got in trouble for skipping meals too. But the sleep, that was me.” She was glad to see him eat more, even if it wasn’t all of it. She was glad his stomach seemed to be some better.

The doctor and Shrine reappeared at the end of the hour. The doctor scowled at the extra meal tray, but seemed appeased that Rand was sitting upright in the chair. He checked Alden over and then left. At some point the movie ended and she started the next one. She never watched this many shows, but being in sickbay with nothing else to do, it was a good distraction for them both.

Rand

Roman watched the doctor as he scowled at Rand’s tray, giving him a look. Then he was gone. While Shrine was there, Roman had her help him lay back again and then settled in. The movie ended and Rand started the next one. “I haven’t watched so much telly since secondary school,” he commented. He and Jay would watch TV in their free time. That was, the free time they weren’t practicing jiu jitsu against each other.

~ Roman

Now that the doctor was gone, Rand was leaned back against him, a pillow tucked between the chair and biobed to make it a little more comfortable. Rand shook her head, “Me either. I love performing arts, but I never have much time to indulge.” She covered her mouth as she yawned. She was tired, but refused to leave, the details of the movie fuzzy as she quietly struggled to stay awake.

Rand

“We should make time,” Roman said. He was getting tired again. He hadn’t slept that long earlier and he’d been tired most of the day. He had his arm around her like before. Soon he was falling asleep again, leaned into her as far as he could be without moving his leg. Before long, he was fully asleep again, the biobed showing his lowered heart rate, his breathing slower and rhythmatic.

~ Roman

Rand hummed agreement, but she was dozing off herself. Rand didn’t really sleep well. The slightest thing woke her up. Beeps the door opening, conversation outside the door, or any change or movement from Roman. She finally completely woke up when she jerked awake because she was slipping off the chair. Rand looked at the time; it was just after 0515. She walked around silently and programmed the computer for the XO reports from while they were gone and then left Roman’s PaDD with his books on them in easy reach. She had to get ready for the first part of her shift. And she had to meet Chief Helpful.

She hated to leave without waking him up, but he was sleeping. Randy arrived, early for his shift and she stepped into the hall with him. They spoke a moment before Rand walked back in, her morning shift was the longest and the sooner she started the sooner she would be done. She squeezed his hand and whispered in his ear, “Roman, I have to go on duty. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Randy’s here though.” She kissed his cheek.

First stop was her quarters then collect reports, and finally the science labs to help Franks and see Nibbles.

Rand

Roman slept for a while longer. It was a light sleep, and some of the same things that woke Rand also woke Roman. But by the time she was leaving in the morning, he was asleep well enough he did not wake up. He was awake by 0630, only a little later than he would normally sleep if he had duty. It took him a minute to wake fully and the first thing he realized was Rand was gone. Then he checked the time. She’d gone to do her job without waking him.

His PaDD had been left within his reach, and the computer console displayed his XO reports. Rand had made sure he had something to do. He sat up partially so he could see the computer better. Doing the reports first would feel more like a normal day, hopefully keep him doing something until Rand could stop by.

~ Roman

Helpful had outdone himself and was waiting with a large crate and a smaller carrier when she stepped out of her quarters in a fresh uniform. He set them inside her door and gave her the department reports while he was at it. There were two people on a ship you didn’t want to get on the wrong side of, that was the Yeoman and the Quarter Master.

Most of the reports had been sent electronically but Rand found that her presence, just to offer help or see if there were special requests or items on the reports went a long way. So she quickly had things collected. That gave her extra time to do her observations in the lab. Except for one thing....Valos. Rand had no idea why he was there, the Gamma shift lab techs seemed to be just as confused. He claimed he was waiting for Franks. Rand went about her work.

“I didn’t know you were up this early Rand.” Rand and Scott of all people, looked at Valos like he was speaking a foreign language. Everyone knew Rand was up early and worked late. She didn’t say anything except shrug. He started following her around the lab. She knew the schedule so she knew he wasn’t on duty, but it also meant she couldn’t feed Nibbles because of safety protocol....well and he made her nervous and that wasn’t safe. He kept asking her all these inane questions that just made her nervous. Scott, ever a sweet person, just over enthusiastic tried to help when she noticed how nervous Rand was getting.

Franks arrived at 0720, hair looking like he tried to pull it out. “Ah! En Rand, please…please tell me you can fix these reports. I don’t know what I’ve done.” Rand shook her head, maybe it was a scientist thing. She sat down at the console and pulled up the reports. “I can fix it, just give me a few minutes. Oh En Valos needs to talk to you.”

Franks walked over to Valos, and knew the young man didn’t need to see him. Poor Rand had no clue the boy was there to see her. Franks answered the non-questions and sent him on his way. Scott of course didn’t miss the fact that Valos had an obvious crush on the Yeoman. She had enough gossip to last her awhile.

It didn’t take Rand more than a few minutes to correct the department reports, and then Franks supervised while she fed Nibbles and he even let her feed Mushu. Then she had to get going.

She slipped back into Roman’s room. “I thought I could prep my reports in here, before I have to take them to Rogers. If you’re okay with that.” She grinned and hugged him. She didn’t figure he would mind. “How did you sleep? I tried to hurry.” She was in a good mood - the delivery from Helpful had made her day.

Rand

Roman had not yet finished looking over the XO reports Rand had left for him. He couldn’t sign off on them anyway, but he was trying to do everything he could do with them. He was looking at one of them and grumbling to himself. When Rand came in, he looked up and smiled, and then hugged her back. “I think you should do them in your office,” he said, his tone less than serious, before he smiled again. “Of course I don’t mind.” He shook his head. “Don’t rush your work too much, you don’t want mistakes because you’re rushing about trying to get back here.” Really, he loved that she tried to get back as quickly as she could. He’d hate if something happened or there was a mistake because she was rushing but he just wanted her there. “I slept alright,” he said with a shrug. “I think the medical staff like to let me alone unless I need something, there’s been no one here but you. Randy pokes his head in from time to time, presumably to be sure I’m not dying or doing something I’m not supposed to be.”

~ Roman