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

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Head Case

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Head Case
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman was busy (and tired) all morning, and didn’t make it back to check on her until lunch. When he did, he brought lunch with him and stayed for as long as he could. It was only a little over a half hour and he spent it sitting with her mostly. Then he had to go back to work. He was back a little late after his shift, but when he got there he sat down with her, hugged her, and asked her, “How was your day?”

~ Roman

Rand had obviously just gotten out of the shower. She was attempting to brush her hair, but the brush was hurting the back of her head. Something that hadn’t happened in a week or more, but she had a horrible headache and it was making it worse. She dropped the brush to her lap and tried to smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I guess okay. Randy was here all day.” Which in translation meant that Randy was forcing her to talk about it. Nothing bad happened, but it was a hard day. “I have a headache and it’s making me dizzy. What did you do today?” She loved hearing him talk about his work, and it would be a nice distraction.

Rand

“It was busy,” Roman said, and then smiled at her, “And boring because it wasn’t much in the way of lab work today. Today I was XO Roman more than CSO Roman.” Then he told her about some of the things he’d been doing all day. He looked around the room as if he might get in trouble or checking for Randy, “I had to use my hypo again.” And he’d had to search everywhere for it again, though that part he didn’t tell her. It had ended up being in his office, in a drawer he didn’t usually use. “And then I could sit in the lab and do paperwork…” Roman HATED paperwork, and it seemed so much worse without Rand there doing it with him.

~ Roman

Rand laid her hand over his chest and rubbed a small circle with her palm. “Are you okay?” She didn’t ask if he thought he had over done it, he obviously had. Just going on about his day like he normally would. She understood feeling fine and the next moment you weren’t. “I wish I could help. It’s just sitting at a computer, but Randy and Elbbirt said no. Randy threatened to tell Yarwood if I tried.” Rand groaned at the thought. The man might put her back on bed rest.

Roman let out a deep breath and nodded, scrunching her shirt up in his hand where his arm was around her. It always stressed him out when he had a problem with his heart. “If I hadn’t been, I’d have called Randy, right?” Then he smiled, “I wish you could help, too. But the screen time and all that thinking would be too much for you head right now.”

“Right,” Rand just gave him a look and tried not to laugh. He wouldn’t call Randy unless…well it was really bad. She knew he was trying to make her feel better. If anyone else had put it that way it would probably make her nervous, make her feel like she wasn’t doing enough, but Roman never made her feel that way. She knew it was a matter of time. Normally boredom didn’t bother Rand, she found things to do, but so much wasn’t an option now. “I know,” she let out slowly rubbing the back of her neck trying not to bump her head to ease the headache. “Some times I just feel like if I could do more, or try to it might help, but Randy said no.”

She picked up the brush and started trying to gently work the knots out of her hair while it was still damp. She nodded her head toward the cage where Pipkin was laying on her side, rather than curled into a fuzzy ball, asleep. “I wore her out.” Rand smiled and sighed at the same time. “I’m bored, but can’t do much.”

Rand

“Want help with that?” When her head was still hurt, Roman would as often as he could, spend time helping her brush and detangle her hair gently. He grinned and looked at Pipkin, “Good, she needs more playtime. Especially after so long being away from us.” He smiled at her reassuringly. “It won’t be much longer before you can do more. Just like you told me, right?” Roman had gotten really restless when he was still very limited by his heart. He still did get restless about what he could and couldn’t do sometimes.

~ Roman

“Yes, please.” Rand handed him the brush and turned her back towards him and dropped her head forward. Rand, as best she could, had created an obstical course for the little rabbit, running up to the bed, across, down through the little maze she had, and around again. It reminded her of working with Nibbles. She missed the mouse and hadn’t asked about her in awhile. It made her sad. She probably wouldn’t be able to help in the lab for awhile anyway. Randy told her she would probably need extra time to work at the computer or traverse the distance of the ship. She smiled back at him over her shoulder. “Yeah, like I told you.” She dropped her head back down keeping still. “I guess I just feel restless, but I can’t go out without anyone.”

Rand

Roman took the brush and began to gently and slowly work her hair, from the ends moving up. It was as if he read her mind when he said, “You’re not as confused anymore. I could let you visit the animals, as long as you’re under direct supervision.” He smiled softly behind her, running his fingers through her hair and then brushing again. “The animals miss you.”

~ Roman

Roman’s hands were very gentle as his fingers combed through her hair after each brush stroke. He never pulled or yanked,and most especially never bumped the knot on her head. When her head had been really hurting he brushed it for her every night. Quietly, Rand loved it and hoped it would become a permanent part of their routine. She wondered if he had learned by brushing his sisters’ hair? Randy had always helped her when they were growing up, but she didn’t ask. Talking about his family was always difficult, and she respected that boundary.

Her heart took off, excited about the idea of seeing the animals. Forgetting to hold still while he worked she turned to look at him over her shoulder again, a huge smile and hopeful look on her face. “Really? Could…could you take me? After your shift?” She rushed out the last. She didn’t want to interfere with his work, but she didn’t want to go with anyone else. She knew Franks or Scott would be happy to do it, but she wasn’t 100% herself yet.

Rand