Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Lost in Thought

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

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Lost in Thought
Posted by… suppressed (5) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman let the door open and walked in, forgetting to knock first. When he entered, Rand looked beet read and Roman was suddenly curious what Elbbirt might’ve said to her. But he didn’t ask, it wasn’t his business. “Do you need a little longer? I can… er, take another lap?”

~ Roman

Elbbirt shook his head, “All done. Another day off and I think she’ll be fine.” Randy walked over to her and his look made her start crying. Randy looked at Roman, making sure it was okay to take Rand out. The tables had turned a little, but Randy knew things had changed, in a good way, but that Alden knew what Rand needed better than he did now.

Roman nodded to Randy, it would upset her, but it was necessary. He’d prefer her be there for him, too, but… At least it wasn’t Sickbay. It was only Elbbirt. He took a deep breath. It was more important that Rand and Randy get the chance to talk.

Rand wouldn’t go at first. Roman hated doctors, she couldn’t go, she promised. She had to do better than she did with Seanair, Roman meant to much to her. Randy spoke quietly too her, finally getting her moving toward the door.

Elbbirt looked at Alden clapped his hands and rubbed them together, “Alright Cmdr your turn!”

Elbbirt

Rand glanced back at Roman, if he even looked like he might ask her to stay she’d grow glue on the bottom of her feet. But he didn’t, and so Randy was able to lead her out and next door.

Elbbirt looked way too cheerful, and Roman stole one last glance at Rand. No arguing… Roman would just about explode. He sat on his bed with a grouchy expression and looked up at Elbbirt. “Right, right, fine… Let’s get on with it.”

~ Roman

Elbbirt chuckled and did his initial scan and confirmed what he already knew. “Young man, if you look at Rand like your looking at me right now, after getting to spend the afternoon in her lovely company, you’ll shatter her self esteem. In my day, an afternoon with such a delightful young lady would make me anything but grumpy.”

Roman turned a shade of soft red and avoided eye contact with Elbbirt. “Afternoons with Rand don’t make me ‘grumpy’, doctors do. And she knows that,” he said, though his voice was quieter than usual.

Elbbirt didn’t respond but he was grinning behind his tricorder. Ah to be young again.

“You are…very hydrated, and your blood sugar looks good. Still some nutritional deficiencies. Food will take care of that, unless you’d rather a hypo infusion.” He made a tsking sound several times. “How are you feeling? You went walking around, all the way to sickbay it seems.”

Non argumentative and cooperative. Roman could do this. “Whichever you think is more beneficial,” Roman forced himself to say, as neutrally as possible, to the food or hypo nutrients option. “My head is pounding and it has been since…” he turned a bit red again, “this afternoon, my mind feels foggy and I still can’t focus without making the symptoms worse. I’m also still getting dizzy when I stand, but it’s not as bad as before.” It was awkward for him, to be so honest, not arguing or hiding symptoms.

“Well looking at how well your numbers are doing, I’d rather you keep doing what you’ve been doing. Eat and drink regularly. You seem to be doing just fine with that on your own. I see no reason to interfere.” Elbbirt also had a feeling if he started giving Alden hypos Rand would have a fit and stop eating worrying over the man.

Elbbirt spent several minutes asking Alden very annoying questions to determine how his cognition was with the concussion. Maybe even pushing the bounds to see if Alden would return to his usual argumentative self.

Roman answered each and every question with as little attitude as he could muster. His answers weren’t slow anymore, but there were still a few gaps in his memory. No new memory gaps. His answers to the questions would be indicative that he was getting better but still had a ways to go.

Finally Elbbirt stopped and pointed a finger at him. “Now Cmdr what is going on? Do you suddenly like me and doctors in general? You are acting very out of character.”

At that Roman made a face. He was not telling Elbbirt what his deal with Rand was. But no, he most definitely did not “suddenly like” doctors, he still hated them and he still felt on edge and he still wished Rand were there. “It’s like you said. Good day.” Roman managed at last.

“Well I’m glad to see your eating and drinking, but I’m afraid you’ve set your recovery back young man. When I told you no exercise…” Elbbirt looked pointedly at him. “With the goose egg on your head, didn’t think you’d be doing more than trying to find a way to keep pressure off your head. Of course there is a medication I can give you to help with it, but I know you hate those.”

Elbbirt

The look again caused Roman to look away. “It wasn’t exactly planned or anything.” Then he looked up, “Set recovery back? How long? How many more days am I going to be off work?” Not combative. He took another deep breath. There was a medication… Roman did hate those. But be cooperative. His eyes drifted towards the closet. “If you think it’ll help…”

~ Roman

“My dear boy of course it wasn’t, would take the romance out of it.” Then Elbbirt sat down, “Concussions can take 7 to 14 days to heal. You were more at the week length, set back by a couple of days. I can give you something. Takes about 24 hours to clear it up. Couldn’t give it before because your blood sugar was too low. You’ll have to make sure you keep your blood sugar up. An extra glass of juice with your meals would do it.”

Elbbirt

No passive aggressive combativeness, either. You have to follow his directions when he’s not there, too. Dang it, Rand and her thinking of everything. To fulfill the deal he had to say yes and make himself eat consistently, and that was definitely still going to be a problem. “What happens if my blood sugar doesn’t stay up?” It was a curious question. Giving a yes without being sure he could commit to that, and not knowing the answer to that question would be foolish.

~ Roman

Elbbirt was glad to see that his thinking was clear enough to ask the question. “The medication lowers your blood sugar. More like it burns through it. Which means if you don’t keep it up, it could drop again, dropping you. And the consequences for hitting your head while still recovering from a concussion are deadly. Even without the fall risk, if your blood sugar drops low enough, you can still pass out and ignored long enough low blood sugar can kill you. But this medication wears off after 24 hours, so the risk of that is slim, it’s the fall risk and hitting your head again that really concerns me. But eat and add a little extra juice, or sugar etc to your drink and you’re fine.”

Elbbirt

Roman nodded to the answer. Rand was going to make him eat dinner and just to be extra safe, he could try not to go walking around. She’d be happy he took it and it would fulfill his deal to Rand and night gown here we come. “I can do that. Rand will make me eat anyway. Let’s do it.”

~ Roman

Elbbirt looked at him funny. Good day? It must have been a Great day because Alden was agreeing to everything. He was going to have to ask Randy to do an evaluation of Alden. (He knew about Randy’s specialty but nothing about who he had sessions with.) “Alright then.” He did one more scan to make sure there was no extra swelling, injury, or bleeding. Satisfied he dialed in the dosage and gave Alden the medication.

Roman did his best to act pleasantly. He let the doctor do another scan and then give the medication. He still hated hypos. Hadn’t Elbbirt himself said any day he’d spent in the company of a “young woman” would be a great day? He could hope for another great day by fulfilling his side of the deal.

Randy didn’t keep Rand long, and slowly he walked her back, arm around her and knocked on the door.

Rand

Roman called for Rand and and Randy to come in. “There’s nothing else?” He asked Elbbirt as the door opened, looking up at Rand as she came in, his voice purposefully even sweeter than it had been Elbbirt’s entire visit.

~ Roman