Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in Side sim: Matters of the Heart

(snip)

Roman gasped when he finally saw her. He only half heard what Randy was telling him. He should’ve been with her. He should’ve been there. It wasn’t a logical thought, he couldn’t have been there, there was nothing he could’ve done even if he were, and the explosion would’ve probably made him panic whether he were hurt himself or not. But it was all he was thinking, that he should’ve been able to protect her. He watched as they worked, cleaning and treating the burns. All he could do was wait anxiously, out of the way, and try not to be a distraction. It was hard for him. He felt trapped and scared, but it was his worry for her that had him staying still and quiet, waiting.

~ Roman

Randy watched on, grabbing equipment as needed, but not being allowed to help was killing him. He couldn’t leave, but he wanted to know if Tracy was okay. He should be there with her. He should have been with Rand. Why hadn’t they checked her office? Why hadn’t he, Randy, put that together? Seen the potential pattern in the behavior? He’d failed her. The burns alone wouldn’t cause permanent damage unless she got an infection. The blow to the head was bad though. He could smell the faint acidic odor of vomit. That must have happened as they moved her, that was bad.

Grat took an old fashioned pen light and lifted her lids, flashing the light across her eyes. He gently probed around her neck and head. He pulled an infusion unit out and hooked her up to it. The extra hydration would be necessary for her concussion and the burns. Then he rolled several towels and put them under her neck and turned her head to keep it off the large lump that had formed.

“Level 4 concussion. Second degree burns on hands, forearms, and abdomen.” Rand’s skin in those areas were bright red and almost shiny looking. Glancing at the monitors Grat shook his head. “Randy come help roll her. Careful…hold her still.” Temple held her head still while the two rolled Rand. Grat was busy at her back a moment and then they lowered her to her back. Randy resumed his spot beside Roman. “Nerve block. He can’t give her pain medication because of the concussion.”

He glanced at the monitors. Her heart rate was up, but considering the K3 indicator said she was in a lot of pain he wasn’t surprised. The shock to her system was enough for that. Her blood pressure was high as well, but there were no signs of cardiac distress. It had been 20 minutes, roughly, if she was going to have another stress cardiomyopathy it would have happened by now. “Randy, get me a gown.” That was Temple.

Her uniform was cut and beyond repair. It was a slow meticulous process to remove the fibers from the burn on her arms and across her stomach. With the nerve block in place they could move faster, but it was still a time consuming process. Randy wasn’t happy she was still unconscious, but that also meant she wasn’t aware of what was going on. “Cmdr? How are you doing?” Grat asked, concern and compassion in his voice. Alden’s monitor wasn’t screaming at them, but he didn’t want anything to happen to Alden either.

Roman didn’t respond outside of a small nod when Randy spoke. He just wanted her to be okay. They were pulling the material out of her burns. He remembered the process from his own burns three years ago. He’d been awake and on pain meds. He was almost glad she was out while they cleaned them.

He did not look up when Grat spoke to him. Instead he just shook his head. “I’m fine. Please, just help her.” His voice shook as he spoke. She was hurt because of him, because of his family. He hated them more than ever for that.

Grat just made an afirmative sound and kept working. Rand was going to be out of commission for awhile, but there was no reason to believe she wouldn’t be okay.

Finally, they finished cleaning the burns and the regenerator was set up. It would run for at least 20 minutes before they would wrap the wounds. Grat and Temple left leaving room for Roman and Randy to sit with her.

Rand

Finally they were done and left Roman and Randy alone. Roman stood, grabbed the chair Rand usually sat in, put it by her bed and sat down. “I want them caught. I should have been there… Shouldn’t have let her go.”

~ Roman

Randy shook his head, “You couldn’t have stopped her. I couldn’t have stopped her. I don’t think the two of us together could have stopped her. Rand is just as stubborn as you are, she’s just quiet about it.” Randy leaned over to kiss her cheek. He sat there for a few minutes, but when Temple came in to turn of the dermal regenerator Randy excused himself. He needed to go see how Tracy was doing. He knew she’d understand about Rand, but he needed to make sure she was okay.

Temple turned the machine off and moved it to the other side of the room. Going into a cabinet she pulled out several bandages and returned. “She’ll be alright Cmdr. The burns aren’t deep. They’ll blister some, but the regenerator will keep that short. The biggest risk is infection, which is why Grat has already given her a round of anti-biotics and we’ll keep the burns wrapped till their healed.” She pointed to the infusion unit. “Being fully hydrated will help her skin heal faster, even with the regenerator and it will also help with the swelling where she hit her head. Grat gave her an anti-inflammatory for that as well.” While she talked she carefully wrapped Rand’s hands and arms. “Oh…umm…I…I cleaned it up.” She reached into her pocket and took out a small wrapped object and handed it to him. Rand’s ring. Temple had had to take it off so they could treat her hands. “It doesn’t look like it was damaged at all.” Before she started on her stomach she went back to the cabinet and returned with an ice pack and handed it to him. “It will help the swelling if you can hold it against the bump.” She finished wrapping the burns, straightened the gown and pulled a blanket up and over her. “If you think she’s waking up, or hurting or anything is wrong, just press the button. I’ll be right outside.......Talk to her Cmdr, it helps.”

Rand