Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: Matters of the Heart

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

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in Side sim: Matters of the Heart
Posted by… suppressed (17) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman shook his head ‘no’ to the meds. He’d only be listened to on the optional one, he knew. As Elbbirt worked he talked… A LOT. A story, like Rand’s, something he’d done in his youth. Roman wasn’t sure he believed it though. It sounded a bit far fetched. Roman watched him mix the burn gel, still gripping the edges of the biobed tightly. Elbbirt reached over while he happened not to be looking and slipped him the antibiotics. At last the regenerator was done, which meant it was almost time he could leave.

Randy and Elbbirt worked very quickly to apply the gel and then wrap the bandages. “Would you like to take Rand to the Galley to eat? It’s not too far down the corridor.”

Randy

Soon he was rebandaged and he slipped his shirt back on over top. He nodded, and then said, “Let me wash up first.” He didn’t need to look to Rand as stressed as he was. He drank the water quickly.

When he was ready, a few minutes later, he went into Rand’s room and sat in the chair by her bed, grabbing her hand. “Do you want to get dinner in the galley? Randy and Elbbirt say you can.” He wanted to ask her about lying to Randy, but he wasn’t going to do that where Randy might overhear.

~ Roman

Rand was sitting up in the bed, with the computer console beside her on the swing arm. She had her eyes closed, listening to an audio book since staring at a screen too long gave her a headache. When Roman came in she opened her eyes and smiled looking sheepish. When he asked about dinner she sat straight up, “Tha!” swinging her legs over the bed and standing a whole lot faster than anyone expected her to move (including herself) and certainly faster than she should have. Which meant tunnel vision, spinning head, unsteady feet, and a pounding head as her BP dropped before spiking back up. Apparently Rand didn’t care. She caught herself on the bed and Roman’s arm and kept right on going. She was getting out of sickbay for however long she wanted to take to eat. They might even ‘forget’ and just go home after. She was going to hurt herself with her enthusiasm.

Rand

“Woah, slow down!” Roman said, but she had already nearly thrown herself off the side of the bed and Roman held her up while she steadied herself. He walked with her to the galley, made her pick a place to sit, and then went and got the food for them both.

She didn’t want to slow down, she wanted go, get away from the machines and alarms and constant ‘How do you feel.’ She sat at their usual table, to the far side, out of the way of everyone else. She liked it there. It wasn’t private, but it was quiet. A couple of people said ‘Hi’ to her as they passed. Rand was so happy to be out of sickbay she didn’t even care she kept greeting them in Gaelic. She didn’t argue about Roman getting her tray. If she dropped it, he wouldn’t go along with her idea to skip going back to sickbay.

He sat down with the food, took his own plate and drink, and smiled at her. “It won’t be too much longer before things start going back to normal. Randy said a few more days, probably. Longer if you keep setting yourself back,” and at that he gave her a look.

~ Roman

Rand picked up her glass and drank before making a face at ‘a few more days;’ she wanted to leave tonight. She tried to look contrite when he gave her a look about over doing it. She was supposed to feel bad about it, but her smile was simply too infectious to make the look convincing. “Is dòcha gum bu chòir dhaibh dìreach an taic-còmhlain a reubadh dheth agus leigeil leam falbh. (Maybe they should just rip the band-aid off and let me leave.)” She was teasing him, like she usually did and then she laughed, not quietly but really laughed. “Tha mi an dòchas nach d’ fhuair thu ann an trioblaid le Randy. (I hope you didn’t get in trouble with Randy.)”

Rand

Roman gave her another look. He was going to regret those words until the day he died. “They can’t until they know you’re healthy enough. Just like my heart, remember? You made me agree to stay.” He had to smile though, it felt like he hadn’t heard her laugh in way too long. “No, I didn’t, oir rinn thu breug dha,” (because you lied to him) Roman replied. “You told him I didn’t know.”

~ Roman

Rand bit her lip, more color infusing her cheeks. She should feel bad, but she was too excited to be out of bed, and Roman wouldn’t really be mad at her. She believed that. Then her brow furrowed and her smile lessened just a bit as she though. His heart…oh…she remembered. Then she really did look contrite. She’d stop pushing so hard. As soon as they got to their quarters she would go straight to bed and sleep for a week. But then the smile was back and she looked sheepish. She did feel bad about lying to Randy, but he was just so over protective. “Bha eagal orm nach leigeadh Randy leat coiseachd còmhla rium tuilleadh. (I was afraid Randy wouldn’t let you walk with me anymore.)”

Rand

Roman nodded, “He probably wouldn’t.” Especially considering his burns, which she didn’t know about. If she’d touched them and found out, because Roman had taken her on a walk she wasn’t supposed to be on, Randy would’ve probably been really angry. “But… He’s right. I shouldn’t have done that.” He sighed and looked at her, “I know, I would have done it too. But we both know it wasn’t a good idea. Randy said you threw up.”

~ Roman

When he sighed she started almost speed talking, “How am I supposed to get better if he won’t …” She was silenced when he started talking again. Randy tattled on her! She was suddenly very focused on her plate and looking really guilty. “Oh…he told you....” It was not lost on Rand that avoiding talking about her health was the very thing she got so upset with Roman about. She sighed sadly. “Tha mi duilich (I’m sorry.)”

Rand

Roman grinned, he couldn’t help it. “Of course he told me.” Randy was probably trying to avoid exactly what Rand and Roman were both known for doing: not telling anyone about their health problems. Of course, Randy would’ve been talking to Roman either way, but he had to remember not to mention that. He took Rand’s hand. “I’m not angry. How could I be? I do, and will probably continue to do, the same thing.” He knew himself well enough to know that. He’d rather be avoiding the burns the same way. He’d only agreed to treatment to protect Rand. “That’s why we look out for each other’s best interests, right?”

~ Roman

Rand felt bad, she really did. She ate quietly for a minute. She was far too happy to be in the Galley with Roman though. She glanced up at him, with a teasing grin. “What if Randy doesn’t agree with what we think is in our best interest?” She couldn’t possibly be up to something could she? She finished her drink. She was really thirsty, but that was good she needed it. Gorshin noticed and brought more for both of them before returning to the dinner line.

Rand

Roman wasn’t eating very much, he didn’t feel that hungry, but he was trying so Rand didn’t notice anything. Her mind seemed really clear today, which Roman was really, really happy about, but it also meant she was more likely to notice things. He’d managed to suck down the water Elbbirt had given him, now he was slowly sipping the decaf tea he got with dinner (decaf citrus, like Rand usually made for him when he was having trouble sleeping). He glanced up at her at what she said. “Randy usually knows better than us what’s in our best interest,” he said. A very un-Roman thing to say.

~ Roman

Rand noticed he wasn’t eating as much as normal, but she also figured she’d worried him and they were talking so she didn’t think much of it at the moment. What bothered her was his statement about Randy knowing what was best. Rand started at him in horror, mouth hanging slightly open. “You....you…” she leaned forward her voice dropping, “You didn’t say that to Randy did you? OMG we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Rand

Roman found her look a little bit amusing. He shook his head. “I said nothing of the sort to him.” He shrugged, “I said you were eager to go home. And that I would be, too. What were you thinking, anyway? What’s in our best interest?” According to Rand, that was.

~ Roman

Rand munched on the food. Whatever it was, it was the best thing she had eaten in forever. Simply because she wasn’t in Sickbay. Her voice dropped to a whisper and luckily she was speaking Gaelic still so no one knew what she was saying. “For us to go home. I am pretty sure you aren’t sleeping because you are insisting on staying with me in Sickbay. And you can’t sleep there. They think I don’t know but I heard Randy remind Temple to give me a sedative. I hate that! I think I know why they are giving it to me, but it just makes it worse. We could both sleep better at home, and then you won’t have to make extra trips to Sickbay just to make sure I’m okay. And what about Pipkin? She’s been alone for a month now.”

Rand

Rand was right, he wasn’t sleeping. He’d considered asking Randy for something to help but had never actually done so. “I can’t… sleep at home either. Not without you.” He smiled slightly, he’d like nothing more than to go back to their own quarters and not have to go to Sickbay anymore. “I know you hate the sedatives… But when you first woke, you were panicking every time I wasn’t there. And I couldn’t be there all the time.” He nodded to her comment about Pipkin, “I have… Scott watching her for at least two hours a day, if I can’t do it.” It wasn’t ideal but he knew she would take good care of the rabbit and it made sure Pipkin got enough play an exercise. “I want us to go home more than anything, but… Miranda, if you get confused again, I can’t stay with you all day, you could get lost or hurt. Or confused and panicked and you’d be alone. I- I can’t risk that. I can’t let something happen to you.”

~ Roman

Rand nodded, “I thought that might be it. Or the strain from the burns on my heart, but they’re mostly healed now. And I know Elbbirt and Randy wouldn’t give me anything they thought wouldn’t help and you wouldn’t let them without reason…” She sighed so heavily it made the water in her glass ripple, “I know you can’t stay with me all day, I don’t expect you to. How am I supposed to stop being confused, though, and be able to take care of myself when they give me meds that make me tired, confused, and muddled?”

“I’ll talk to Randy about taking you off them,” Roman replied. “But all that panic isn’t good for your head or your heart.” He sighed softly, he knew how she felt. It was similar to how he felt about pain meds.

He had Scott watching her? Rand was sure Scott was taking excellent care of Pipkin and the girl was probably over the moon she was asked. She was also probably giddy about seeing their quarters. Oh she doubted Scott went through their things, but to be able to go in there. If Roman was letting someone other than Randy in their quarters he was really serious about not going home anytime soon and staying with her. She sighed softly, she wouldn’t argue with him, she wouldn’t make him worry any more than he was. No matter how much she hated it. “I want to see her, Pipkin. Just for a little bit.”

Rand

Roman went home occasionally to make sure Pipkin was okay and not missing him too much, but he didn’t sleep there, he ‘slept’ (he didn’t really sleep) next to Rand in Sickbay. With his burns it only made it harder, because he couldn’t lay on his right or his front very comfortably. He picked another little bite out of his food and nodded. “I’ll talk to Randy. Elbbirt let you bring her to me.” He saw no reason why Elbbirt wouldn’t allow Rand to visit with Pipkin. Or better, maybe Roman could bring her upstairs for a while even if he had to carry her there.

~ Roman

“Could we go see her? Just for a little bit? They let me out, didn’t say when I had to be back…” it was said wistfully, knowing Roman wasn’t likely to let her without asking. She also had no idea if Randy and Elbbirt gave them a time limit. Then without giving him a chance to answer she started pelting him with questions about the labs. She wanted to know about all the animals and whether or not the ship was going to get the arboretum he and Franks had talked about. Some of the questions were ‘out of date’ (which was slightly concerning) like asking about the goo lizard molting, and some current when she asked if he had heard about Mr Wyvern in his new home.

Rand

There was no time limit, but they were sort of expected to stay there. “You can’t walk that far,” he sighed. “But maybe we can ask.” Then she asked him a million questions about the lab and he answered all of them. Some were older, he’d have to mention that to Randy. He hadn’t heard about Mr Wyvern yet.

~ Roman

Rather hopefully she said, “It’s not that far…the lift isn’t far from our quarters.” She thought it was lift 4, but she wasn’t sure about that nor if the lift was near their quarters. She tried to remember for certain but felt that telling headache start when she was trying to hard to make her brain remember. Rand was quiet except for the questions, eating while he talked. She didn’t eat nearly as much as usual, but more because she was afraid to upset her stomach than a lack of hunger. She was also eating slowly, simply to drag out the time.

Rand

Roman had managed a little under half his food before he set his plate aside entirely. “It’s farther than Sickbay to the galley.” He answered anything she could think to ask that he had an answer for. He told her all about the lab animals and his work. He knew she was stalling going back to Sickbay, but well, so would he. And it wasn’t like she needed constant medical supervision, right? They just couldn’t let her be alone yet.

~ Roman