Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Paying for Our Sins

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Paying for Our Sins

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in side - sim: Paying for Our Sins
Posted by… suppressed (22) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Roman would be quick to tell her she worked too much, that was what made her feel bad. Of course he had done essentially the same thing and that was why his heart was acting up. With the meds Randy had given, Roman was resting, his heart rate nice and slow, and that meant the pain in his chest was down, almost gone. He took a long, slow, breath and then, “I might fall asleep.”

~ Roman

Rand hugged him tight. His breathing was so slow she wasn’t having to try and remind him. “MmmHmmm,” she mumbled sleepily. “Me too.” People would not believe they were playing hookey. The thought made her giggle a little.

Rand

Roman looked up at her when she giggled, questioningly, but then settled back into her. His breaths were slow and steady and before long his eyes were drifting shut and he was asleep, to wake up when Randy came in for lunch.

~ Roman

Randy returned bearing a lunch tray. Gorshin had gotten a shipment of fresh produce and had made two salads of fresh greens, with almonds, raddishes, cucumbers, fresh apples, strawberries, blueberries and mandarin oranges. Topped with a very light berry vinegrette. Gorshin knew they preferred something light, and he had asked Randy how Rand was feeling. Randy told hi. She was sick. Gorshin grumbled the whole time he prepped the meal. He had given Randy the tray with orders to force feed Rand if needs be and to inform her Gorshin had ordered her to behave.
Similar adminishments would have been sent for Roman if Randy had said anything about him. Randy considered just entering, hoping not to wake them, but he knocked instead.

Rand had woken up not long before. She had lain there for awhile, then decided she needed to get up. Grateful she hadn’t woken confused again, though she did feel light headed, she sat up as carefully as she could. She drank the bottle of water that Randy had left for her. She was still thirsty (a side effectbofbthe medicine) and felt restless.

She couldn’t reach the communicator Randy left in Roman’s table, so she got up carefully to get it. She realized that wasn’t a good idea and she sat back down. She didn’t wantvto wake Roman and was considering what to do when she heard the knock. She was afraid she would lose her balance if she tried to reach the button for the door and fall on Roman, so she called out as quietly as she could and Randy hear her. Randy came in and set the tray down.

Rand

Roman stirred when Rand started moving and woke when the tray was set down. He’d been lightly asleep, so the light sound of the tray setting against the table was enough to wake him. He looked at Rand and then Randy. “Lunch?” He asked, his voice sleepy like he wasn’t fully awake yet.

~ Roman

“As promised. Gorshin sent salad, some kind of fancy toast, and a fruit juice he said would go well with the salad. Said it’s one of Rand’s favorites.” Randy turned toward them. “Anyone hungry?”

Rand nodded, “I am. I want to sit at the table.” Randy gave her a look and crossed his arms. “Aww come on Randy.”

He wasn’t sure he wanted to let her. She was swaying a little, “The bed is safer if you fall.”

“I don’t wanna lay down while I eat. Pleeeease.” Rand gave her best pitiful little sister look and it was all Randy could do to not smile at her. He hated and loved that look. “I’ll get you extra pillows.”

Rand

“I’ll help her to the table,” Roman offered. He wasn’t really hungry, but he felt like he could eat, which was a good change from lately. It was clear he was still under the effects of the meds. He still seemed relaxed and a little sleepy as he sat up and then waited a moment to see how he felt.

~ Roman

Rand grinned widely, but she also looked sleepy so it had an endearing quality to it as she looked at Roman, then she made a face at Randy. Roman was siding with her and that made her grin. Randy just shook his head and turned around to hide his grin. He moved the chairs and the table, closer to the half wall, concerned with Rand having support since the chairs didn’t have arms. Randy eyed Roman though. Under normal circumstances Randy wouldn’t object, but the meds were likely to make his balance off as well, simply from being tired. Randy didn’t want to remind him of the meds though because he looked okay for the moment.

Rand remembered Roman’s heart though and immediately felt bad for arguing because Roman may not be able to help her and he was going to do it anyway. Then Randy let out the most long suffering sigh, “Fine.” Rand sat up from the pillows very very slowly and swung her feet onto the floor, “Love you, Randy.”

Her brother muttered and it sounded something like “yeah, yeah,” with a badly suppressed chuckle. Rand stayed put. Randy was going to let her get up and she was not going to do anything to make him change his mind. Or make it harder on Roman to help her. She gave Roman the most dazzling smile she’d had in days.

Rand

Roman smiled a little smile as well, and then put and arm around Rand. “Ready?” Then he stood with her. The lightheadedness was still a problem and Roman tried to hide it, wanting to be allowed to help her, but he had to set his hand on the side table to try and steady himself, his ring making a noise against the table. The meds probably didn’t help his balance, but the lightheadedness was the bigger problem.

~ Roman

“Tha.” She grinned and stood up with him. The problem was that Rand was really unsteady as she stood, and the only thing to hold onto was Roman. He was holding onto the table, so he was leaned over a little and she leaned with him. The room spun and her stomach heaved a little, but the meds were working so she didn’t get sick. Rand reached out her other hand for the wall and found Randy’s hand instead. Watching them try to help each other was comical, hearth warming, and a disaster waiting to happen. Randy helped steady her and in turn Roman until they were ready to move.

When Roman was ready to move Rand went slowly, she had to and tried not to lean on him too much. Her legs seemed able to hold her, her head just wasn’t sure where to go and if she moved her head too fast everything spun. They made it to the table and she sat, leaning her head back against the wall. She was worried, very worried. After all that sleep she should feel better, shouldn’t she?

The offer of food was too tempting though and she started with the bread until she felt like she could sit up enough to eat the salad.

Rand

Roman’s heart pounded. This was a bad idea. He was determined to do it though. His signature characteristic stubbornness was showing itself again. He leaned on the table, holding Rand tightly, so that if he did fall, he could adjust her to fall on him. Randy helped keep her steady though and that helped him. Slowly, with Rand, they made their way to the table and he sat down. He took a minute to breathe before looking at the food and deciding if he could eat.

~ Roman

Randy set a mug of tea in front of Roman. Decaf, but Roman didn’t need to know that. “When you’re finished,” he waved at the food, “if you feel up to it, I have a couple reports for you.” Randy doubted he would. He gave him enough to keep him drowsy and relaxed until the next morning.

Rand ate slowly, after downing another bottle of water and then the juice. “Thirsty?” Randy asked putting another bottle of water in front of her. “It’s the medicine.” Rand nodded and started in on the salad. It was good and light so even tired Rand could enjoy it. She watched Roman breathing and reached over and squeezed his hand. If she hadn’t hurt herself Roman wouldn’t have to help her and he wouldn’t be hurting now. (Of course if she hadn’t she would be working and he’d be alone today).

Roman squeezed her hand back and gave her a small smile. “I’m alright.” He nodded to Randy about the reports and started on some of the salad, sipping the tea between bites. If he hadn’t been avoiding his problems, she wouldn’t have thought he was angry and avoiding her, and she wouldn’t have hurt herself working too hard. He’d be alone today, while she was working, but that would be worth her being safe.

Rand had finished about half her salad when she leaned over and rested her head on Roman’s shoulder.

Rand

Roman had finished somewhere between a third and a half of his own and had slowed down, when Rand rested her head on his shoulder. Roman slipped an arm around her and leaned into her. Then, to Randy, sleepily, “You said you had reports for me?”

~ Roman

Randy nodded, “Just one, it can wait though. Would do Chalmers some good to be left in the brig....again.” Chalmers was always getting into trouble for something. Rand groaned but didn’t lift her head. “What did he do now?” Slipped out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Roman groaned too and shook his head. “He’s been in enough incident reports and reports of reprimand, he’s a walking hazard.”

“I didn’t think anyone was more clumsy than me.” Rand nodded enthusiasticly to Roman’s assessment, which set her head to pounding and her stomach debating g on retaining her food. She moaned.

“Apparently he had a drink when he got off duty and one was one to many. He ran into Ginna, grabbed her and hugged the stuffing out of her. All the while professing his undying love to her. When he refused to let her go, and this was after several minutes of Ginna trying to carefully extract herself, she bit him…on the nose.”

Rand

Roman shook his head. “Is this a starship, or a preschool?” He said it with his usual sarcastic tone, but his voice was still relaxed and he seemed unbothered. “I’ll sign off on it, let’s see… Don’t need to leave the poor bugger in the brig all day.”

~ Roman

“Well…” Randy paused as Rand sat up and started to stand, all her weight on her hands, supported by the table. “While you two dis…groan discuss the fate of Ginna’s…ughhhh…suitor, I am…” she waved toward the bathroom. She was aimed so.ewhat toward Randy, but only because the way was more clear. Randy helped her and she spoke quietly to him. He ended up hugging her and kissing her temple before leaving her on her own when the door shut.

“Is she okay?” Roman asked, concerned, after the door closed.

“She’s scared because she’s having worse symptoms. It’s not a relapse but she feels that way. Not surprising after yesterday. She doesn’t see the improvements. She feels like she isn’t getting better at all. It’s a long healing process, and she has your temperament when forced to be idle.” Randy sighed. He was worried there would be more incidents like this.

Roman nodded and then sighed. “She did it because she thought I was avoiding her… I wasn’t, but I know why it seems that way.” He looked at Randy, “It’s partly my fault she has to be idle. She also shares my use of work as a distraction.”

“So that’s what all that weirdness was yesterday.” Randy shook his head. “Look Roman whatever specifically caused you and Rand to bury yourselves in work,” though he could make an educated guess, “This is not your fault in any degree. This is the fault of the people who tried to kill you both. Even if you hadn’t been engrossed in your work and Rand misunderstood, she would have pushed herself too far at some point either way. Her concussion was, is really bad. She needs things to do, but on a starship there isn’t much that doesn’t aggravate her symptoms. Don’t do that to yourself. You didn’t cause this, no more than she caused you to over work. We can worry but we shouldn’t take blame.”

Roman put a hand over his chest, loosely, not clenching like he did when it hurt, and sighed. “I never thought anyone would go that far to get to me. Even someone with a grudge against my family.”

Randy nodded, “It wasn’t you they were after. It was your name. And they are fanatics and illogical. They aren’t thinking straight. Their tactics aren’t going to affect change. Hurting people who have broken with such traditional ways or working to improve things aren’t going to help them. I never would have thought they would find their way onto a Star Fleet vessel.”

“I looked into them. They believe no one can ever truly escape that mindset if they’ve been brought up into it. Fruit of a poisoned tree, apparently.” He chuckled sadly and then sighed, “I dunno, maybe they’re not wrong.”

Randy stabbed the table with his index finger. “They are wrong. You are not like that. You have incredibly perfect and courtly manners, but I have never seen you treat anyone as beneath you or with contempt, even if they deserve it. You have never withheld a request or denied credit. You hold everyone to the same exact standards no matter who or what they are. Hell, Roman if you were like that, do you think I would let you anywhere near my sister?” Randy chuckled and gave him a meaningful look.

Roman shrugged as if he wasn’t sure to believe him. It was true that when Randy had discovered their relationship, he had accepted it. But it was hard for him

Randy returned, glancing back at the door worry all over his face, before turning his attention back to Roman, “Well there is Ginna to consider. Chalmers isn’t filing a complaint…so far, but she did bite him.” He set the PaDD on the table in front of Roman and cleared some of the dishes.

Randy

“Is Ginna? That could be a harassment complaint against Chalmers, Ginna could claim the bite was self defense.” Roman yawned and reached for his own PaDD, sitting on the desk in the room.

~ Roman

“Physically she is fine, a bit ruffled and miffed as only a Tellarite can be. Everyone who saw it says she wasn’t left with much of a choice. She filled out an incident report. She finds it more absurd than offensive.”

Randy

Roman nodded. “Then this will be an easy report to finish.” Then he yawned and sighed. “Does it just need a signature or does it need more?”

~ Roman

Randy shrugged, “From a counseling perspective I think security has come up with appropriate consequences. If you have nothing to add you can just sign it.”

Roman nodded and signed the report. “Then I have nothing to add.”

Rand had taken the time to try and clean up some. Sitting in the chair to brush her teeth and wash her face. The chair was a permanent addition to the bathroom because of her. It made the bathroom smaller and cramped. She was determined to stand up and make it out the door by herself. She needed to call Randy, but she only wanted Roman. Holding o to the chair and the counter the dizziness didn’t seem as bad. She waited to make sure she wasn’t going to suddenly get light headed. Then she pressed the control for the door.

Randy got up when he heard the door and went to help her. When he asked where she wanted to go she said back to bed. She felt like she could think okay, but staying upright was proving to be a chore.

Rand

Roman stood to join her in bed. He stood quicker than he should have and again had to balance himself with the table. He ended up sitting back in the chair, choosing that over falling again. He sat for a moment, getting ready to try again, not wanting to have to ask Randy for help.

~ Roman

Rand was facing the table as Randy helped her sit and saw Roman sit abruptly. She made a small sound and tried to get Randy to go help him. Randy intended to, but one thing at a time. He made sure she was settled then walked over, to slow for Rand’s peace of mind. The difference between Rand and Roman was Roman was capable of catching himself right now, Rand wasn’t. Roman was sitting for the moment so Randy went about collecting dishes and putting water out and collecting his PaDD. Nearby but not hovering.

Rand

Roman stood while Randy was collecting dishes, but he was having the same problem as before. This time he had time to take a step toward the bed before the lightheadedness got bad enough he found himself reaching for something to grab onto.

~ Roman

Randy was suddenly right there. He grabbed Roman’s arm and had it draped over his shoulders and the other around his waist. “Steady, let it pass.” Randy’s voice took on a thicker rumbling brogue with his concern. “Whenever you’re ready, not before.”

Rand

Roman was suddenly leaning nearly all his weight on Randy. He took a few breaths, faster than before. “I’m okay. I’m ready.”

~ Roman

Randy nodded and helped him back to the bed. Once he was settled and leaned back, Rand moved over close to him and looked up at Randy who had his tricorder out. He was hoping it was mostly the effect of the medication and not pain in his heart. Although, Randy would not be surprised at all if Roman’s heart was simply too exhausted to do much.

It felt slow to make it back to the bed. When they reached it he lay down, repositioning himself on the pillows behind him. He put an arm around Rand when she moved over next to him and then sighed softly. The meds were still keeping his heart rate and breathing lowered, though now they had risen a little from what they were before. Likely the reason for his lightheadedness and dizziness was a combination of low BP and the effects of the meds, making him tired and so more difficult to keep balance. More the low BP than Randy would probably like.

There wasn’t much more Randy could do than recommend rest. The cardiac meds were keeping him stable and the others keep him calm, and he was eating. Right now it was just a matter of waiting. Once he was laying down he seemed better. He’d leave some juice near the bed. He also grabbed two bottle of water and gave one to each. “Drink up.”

Rand wasn’t sure what to do but she wanted to help. “Do you want to go back to sleep or we could watch a movie…” She just wanted him to feel better.

Rand

Roman settled in against her, resting his head on her, and shrugged at first but then turned to look at her, “Won’t a movie make your head worse?”

~ Roman

Rand blinked, oh…maybe. “Well it’s not right in front of me and I can close my eyes and just listen if it bothers me. That would be okay. Randy?” He looked over and nodded, “Yeah, as long as you are careful. You’ve been asleep most of the day, and rested. You could try.”

Rand