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

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

Posted by Ensign Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in side - sim: Lost in the Dark
Posted by… suppressed (35) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Rand held onto him as she stood. She could walk, she could. Her legs still worked didn’t they? They were still attached. If she could just focus enough she could make them work, right? She walked like she was drunk. Randy in fact knew it was because of the dehydration. That was bad enough to make her weak and light headed, give her a headache, and make her vision blury and dark. It also had a worse side effect of making her concussion worse, which made the symptoms worse. He didn’t like that she was shivering. That meant she wasn’t taking in enough food for her body to regulate her body temperature.

He helped Roman get her into bed and handed Roman an extra blanket to pu over her and then motioned for him to step into the corridor with him.

“She is extremely dehydrated. Elbbirt said she could stay here, with the concussion he thinks here will be better for her. But I have to put her on an infusion unit. She also has to finish two electrolyte drinks in the next 90 minutes or Elbbirt is putting her in sickbay.”

Rand

Roman looked really worried, but shook his head. “I spent an hour with her in the galley, I could barely get her to drink one glass! And then she threw it back up anyway…” He sighed and looked at Randy, “And she is not going to want an infusion unit.” Roman himself looked better than he had in months, between multiple days of good sleep and a couple of days of good meals and hydration for himself. “Sickbay should motivate her to try but…” He gave Randy a please look, “maybe you can help coax her to drink all that?”

~ Roman

Randy nodded, “No she’s not. She needs it though.” Randy proceeded to explain the side effects and the risks if she didn’t have the unit and the drinks. “Honestly I would rather put her in sickbay, but Elbbirt is afraid if she gets confused being in sickbay would be traumatic.” Randy nodded, “I’ll do my best, but she is already mad at me.”

Randy went back inside and grabbed several things out of the box. Rand was curled up on her side almost asleep, breathing heavily. “Rand, honey, you have to sit up. Come on. Roman will help. I know your head probably hurts. I’ll give you something with your other meds.” He tried to lift her, but she just battered him away. “Come on Rand. It will help. You have to sit up and drink this.” She just ignored him. He reached for an infusion unit and then pulled the blanket off her to get at her arm.

“Stad. Randy tha mi fuar, stad. Fàg mi mar a tha mi. (Stop. Randy I’m cold, stop. Leave me alone.)” She attempted to play tug of war with the blanket, but it was over before it started. “I know, and you can have the blanket back in a minute.” He prepped the hypo, “I am going to give her, her regular meds now too.”

Roman sat beside her and smiled encouragingly, nodding to Randy. “Come on, Rand. You’ll feel a lot better afterwards.”

Rand groaned and tried to roll away. “Chan eil barrachd meds ann. (No more meds).” Randy looked at Roman. He leaned over and rubbed her arm. “Oh come on. It’s not that bad. Besides if you don’t take yours, Roman won’t take his. He’s worried about you.” Rand shook her head, “No.”

Rand

Roman chuckled softly. As usual, Randy was right. “He’s right, I won’t. Same deal as always, you take yours, I take mine. And I mean all yours, not just your regular ones.”

~ Roman

Why did he care? Those meds could be used on someone who needed them, someone who mattered. Roman was stubborn and she knew he wouldn’t take his meds now that he said that. She had a vague memory of a cave and threatening not to take her meds, but it was fuzzy and confusing. Rand held still while Randy gave her the hypo, though. She flinched then muttered, “A nis e. (Now him.)”

Randy shook his head. “You aren’t done yet, and he knows it. Come on. You have to sit up.” Randy glanced at Roman and nodded towards Rand. “Let Roman help. And if he snogs you in the process I won’t say anything. Promise.” He was teasing her, trying to get a reaction, a little life into her. Instead Rand ducked her head. “Hey, I was only teasing.” Randy ducked his head to look at her and sighed.

Once Roman had her sitting up he took her arm and grabbed an infusion unit. Hopefully Roman would keep her distracted while he worked. With how dehydrated she was, starting the infusion unit was a bit difficult.

Roman hugged her and then smiled at her. “Would a snog be so terrible?” He asked. He wanted her distracted while Randy worked and the only way he knew how was to tease her. “Or I could take my shirt off, you always like that and you don’t even have to do anything.”

No it wouldn’t be terrible at all; it would be winderful. The slight blush on her cheeks said so. Normally her face would be bright red when he suggested taking his shirt off. Now she just seemed normal, there was color to her complexion again where she had been pale and clamy most of the day. She was peeking up at him shyly too. Then she winced and then, “OW!” and she tried to jerk her arm away from Randy. He had a hold of her arm though and kept her still. “Randy!” she started to cry. He never hurt her. She never remembered anything like that hurting, and Randy was always so careful. “I know it hurt, but you are really dehydrated. It makes your skin tougher and your veins harder to get too. Do you understand? You don’t have enough water. It’s why you are so sick.”

Roman squeezed her hand hard when she started to cry. “I know it hurts but it has to be done.” He hugged her and then with a quick, somewhat embarrassed glance at Randy he whipped his shirt off and tossed it across the room at the laundry. “I know it doesn’t make it go all the way away but maybe I can distract you a little.” He gave her one of his mischievous looks.

Rand’s eyes went wide, “Tha.” Yep she was distracted, and it made Randy smirk a little though he didn’t say a word. To the point she tried to put both her arms around him, only for Randy to hold her arm still and promise her he was almost done. That embarrassed her, and she turned her face into Roman. Roman knew the moment Randy was done because all the tension suddenly went out of her and he was suddenly supporting all her weight.

Then he handed Roman a bottle of the drink. “Rand you have to drink two of these. Come on, just a little to start. Once you drink some it will be easier.” Rand didn’t want it, she just wanted them to leave her alone. She wanted to sleep and she said so. “It’s your favorite, fruit punch. Rand if you don’t drink it I will have to go get Elbbirt.” He didn’t want to mention sickbay or the fact she wouldn’t be working again tomorrow.

Rand took a sip and gagged on it pushing it away and shaking her head, making the throbbing start again.

Rand

Roman frowned when she pushed the fruit punch away. She hadn’t wanted anything sweet all day. Only… Lemon. Lemon everything. “Do you have those in lemon?”

~ Roman

“Lemon? We do, but Rand hates lemon.”

Rand

Roman gave Randy a look. “She ate three lemon slices in the galley. And a cantaloupe. It was all I could get her to eat. She put lemon juice in her water, too.”

~ Roman

Randy gave him a look like he wasn’t sure he believed him. Like he had walked into an alternate reality or something. He looked at Rand and then at Roman and back…no. Nope....no. He got up and grabbed a bottle of water. “Try to get her to sip this. I’ll go get one of the other bottles.” Randy left and was gone for a few minutes.

Roman put some lemon flavor he has for tea, in the water and then handed it to Rand. “Try to drink a little.” If it had worked before, maybe it would work this time. He gave Randy a confused expression when he caught Randy looking between the two of them. He was looking at them with a really weird look.

It was better than plane water. It tasted good and her body soaked it up. It was hard though because she was not thirsty, but she made herself. “A-nis thu. Do chungaidh-leigheis. (Now you. Your medicine.)” She totally missed the look Randy was giving them.

“Once you finish yours and that means both bottles.” Roman replied. “Then Randy will give me mine.” He really hated giving himself hypos. He still didn’t know Randy was putting things besides heart meds in his heart meds.

He returned with two bottles of the electrolyte drink in lemon flavour. He put one in the cooler drawer to stay cold and brought the other over and opened it, handing it to Rand. “Here try this one.” He didn’t think Rand would drink it. She’d always hated lemon flavored or scented anything. Rand took it and sipped at it. The flavor was much stronger than what had been in the water. After a couple of sips she started to guzzle it, causing Randy and Roman to take it from her before she shocked her stomach and threw up again. Randy looked at her like she’d grown another head.

Rand

Roman looked at Randy again and shrugged. “Maybe her tastes change. It happens.” He looked at Rand and smiled, glad she was drinking at least. Hopefully she would feel better and be more like herself.

~ Roman

She laid against Roman, it was the only way to stay up right to drink. She felt dizzy still and her hands were shaking as she held the bottle. She sipped at it, dozing off between sips.

Randy nodded, “Yeah, it can happen.” Rand had dozed off again and he took the bottle and shook her gently. “Rand you have to stay awake and finish this.”

A very tired, “No” was her reply. She swatted him away, but really it was just a wiggle of her fingers. Randy handed the bottle to Roman. “The second one is in the chiller. She has to drink both.” He lifted Rand’s chin. “Both of them Rand. If you don’t Roman is going to take you to sickbay. And he will. I don’t care how much he hates it. You are really sick, and your health is more important to him. You have to drink both bottles.” He was very firm and clear when he spoke to her, but she just looked confused. Randy got up. “I have to finish rounds. Get her to drink that. If she doesn’t or she seems worse take her. Don’t wait. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”

Rand

Roman nodded. “I will. Just like you would if it were me. Remember a few days ago? I had to take meds I didn’t want to or go to sickbay. Now it’s your turn. You have to drink it.” He nodded to Randy. Then he kept hugging her. “It’s just one more bottle of lemon juice. You can do it.”

~ Roman

Rand looked at him, that same confused look she had when she was in sickbay. Then the look cleared after a moment and she nodded. They had helped him sleep, he was eating, he even looked better. “They helped.” She lifted her arm (the one with the infusion unit) searching for his hand, and whimpered as it pulled at her arm. She just wanted to curl up and sleep, but she lifted the bottle and drank some more before resting her head on his shoulder again. “Ròmanach, dè tha ceàrr orm? (Roman, what’s wrong with me?)” It took almost an hour to finish the first bottle. She was tired and didn’t want any more.

Rand

Roman nodded, “They did help, I didn’t have to go to sickbay for my heart.” It didn’t occur to him that she meant more than that, because he’d taken that three days ago. There was no way it was responsible for the return of his appetite and the ease of his sleep. He put his hand over her hand that had the infusion unit, reaching so she could keep it somewhere comfortable. “You’re badly dehydrated. Randy said that’s what’s making you sick.” When she finished the first one, he got her the second and then settled in with her again. “Randy said ninety minutes. You have half an hour to finish this one or he’ll make me haul you off to sickbay.” And Roman really, really didn’t want to go anywhere near sickbay. He opened the drink for her. “Please, please drink it.”

~ Roman

Rand gave him a funny look. It wasn’t just his heart though. It was his sleep and his appetite and everything. Hadn’t Randy given him more than that? Her head hurt so bad. She didn’t want him to stop the meds, they were helping. He needed to be okay. She had to know he was okay, that he knew he could do it on his own, or with Randy’s help. Would he hate Randy too when he realized how she had lied? “Chan e dìreach do chridhe. Chuidich a h-uile càil eile. (Not just your heart. Helped everything else.)” Rand didn’t know how much Randy was still giving him but she knew it had helped a lot that day.

Roman shrugged. “It was three days ago. My appetite came back yesterday and today.” He leaned his head against her and smiled.

She had moved her pillow to rest her arm on. It hurt, the unit stung and stabbed if she moved her arm too much. She had never had that happen before and so she tried to be as still as possible. When Roman settled back with her, she knew she shouldn’t, but she had to lean against him. He wouldn’t really make her go to sickbay, would he? He was feeling a lot better so maybe it didn’t bother him as much? She lifted the bottle and drank, it still tasted good. She looked up at him; she looked sad and scared. “T…t…trying.” She did; she owed him that much, but she was so tired and her head felt funny. The pain was dissipating with the water and the meds that Randy gave her, but her hands kept shaking and she seemed to doze between sips.

Rand

Roman didn’t want to make her go. He didn’t want to be there and she didn’t want to be there, but like Randy said there would be no choice if it were her health at risk. Each time she dozed he nudged her and pointed her to the water. “Almost done. A little more.”

~ Roman

Rand would sip but her stomach was starting to bother her again. (It was all that fluid and no food.) She didn’t think she was going to be sick again, but she just wanted to stop and go to sleep. She hated the way he was having to take care of her. He should be doing something much more important, or sleeping. He should be sleeping. Where was Randy with Roman’s meds?

Maybe a little food would help? She didn’t ask though. She wouldn’t ask though. Finally, finally, she finished the second bottle. She had no idea if she had finished it in time or not. She closed her eyes and laid down, trying to roll over, and jostled the infusion unit again. She gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. Her arm would be bruised the next day. She didn’t make a sound, but she began silently to cry again. She did everything Randy rold her to do, why was he doing this? She wasn’t as cold as she had been, so now she felt the fluids S they entered her system. It was cold and uncomfortable. She fussed with the blanket trying to pull it up. She wanted to sleep, make everything go away and not deal with it anymore.

Roman tried to help her get comfortable and then settled in against her hoping it helped. He hated seeing her this miserable.

Rand didn’t say a word about his meds. She was afraid they would tell her she still had more, another thing she had to let them do. It would continue on and on and Roman would never take his. It wasn’t right. She was doing everything. He needed his meds didn’t he? Maybe they just told her that to make her behave?

Randy came back 15 minutes after she was supposed to finish. He looked haggard if one looked closely. He saw the two empty bottles on the side table and he sighed. “Is she asleep?”

“I don’t think so,” Roman sighed. She hadn’t moved in a while but he felt her shaking as she cried. He wished he could just make it better for her.

He sat down on the other side and checked the unit. It was about half gone. He tucked the blanket around her arm and tried to cushion it so it wouldn’t hurt so much. He glanced over and Rand was watching him, but not really. She had been crying and had this sad far away look and it broke Randy’s heart. “Hey. How is your stomach?” He reached over to wipe her face, but she just pulled away, like she was startled. “How do you feel?” Rand didn’t answer. “You can go to sleep now if you want.”

Randy moved away and sat at the table and scrubbed his face with both hands. He could accept that she wanted Roman and not him, but she wouldn’t even talk to him. She would, eventually, he had to believe that. Right now she probably felt he had betrayed her, and he would have to wait it out. That didn’t stop the worry.

Rand

“Rand.” Roman nudged her and gestured to Randy. He hated seeing them not get along. “How do you feel?” He was sure she’d get over it, she was just miserable, and sick, and seemingly over-emotional. He sat up a little bit. “Right. I promised. My turn.” He said it with a gruff, gritted tone. He obviously didn’t like it.

~ Roman

What was she supposed to say? ‘I’m sorry you followed me and I failed again’? It wasn’t fair that Randy was always having to look out for her and that he gave up everything. How was she supposed to atone for that? Roman nudged her and repeated Randy’s question. She shouldn’t be mean to Randy, she wasn’t mad at him, she was disappointed in herself. “Dizzy…no…no pain,” her voice was slurred but sounded sleepy slurred rather than concerning. “Mouth is dry..fuzzy....really sleepy.” Randy gave a tight smile to Roman, silent thanks for getting her to answer. “It’s okay, it will get better. It’s because your body is starting to realize how dehydrated you were.”

Roman hugged her. “I’m sure you’ll feel a little better tomorrow.” He hoped so, anyway.

Randy looked over at Roman when he said it was his turn. Randy took out the hypo and set it on the table. “Right…” Randy didn’t have it in him for a fight today, but Roman had said something that made Randy think he wasn’t aware of what meds he was taking. “So same meds tonight as you’ve been taking, and then tomorrow we need to discuss adjusting them going forward.” Then he asked a question that he was sure to make Roman angry at him too. “Roman, do you know what meds you’ve been taking the last three days?”

Rand

“Adjust them? Why?” There was a note of alarm in his voice. Maybe it was a good thing, maybe he needed a lower dose of the heart meds. Then Randy asked him if he knew what meds he was on. That suspicion he’d gotten when Rand said he’d been better lately… No. He looked at Randy like Randy had lost a few marbles. “My heart med. I don’t remember what it’s called.”

~ Roman

Randy nodded, “A booster dose of your heart meds, yes. Also the same thing Rand takes, something for your stomach and a tranquilizer. Do you remember agreeing to them 3 nights ago?”

Roman was quiet and then nodded. That explained why the appetite, the nausea meds kept his stomach settled enough for long enough for him to be hungry. The tranquilizer though… Wasn’t that supposed to make him tired? Like it had that night and the next day? “I assumed you only used those the first night, when it was urgently needed. And the next morning when I asked for them.”

“Last night and the night before I told you I was giving you the same thing. It didn’t occur to me until earlier tonight that I might not have been clear enough. I want to give you the same thing tonight, give your heart an extra day to recover. Then tomorrow discuss what to keep and what to take away. If your scans are good tomorrow afternoon then we can take you off the booster dose.”

Roman was quiet for a long moment, and if Rand were paying attention, he was stiff as a board. He wasn’t meeting Randy’s gaze, nor was he looking at Rand. Randy made it sound like he hadn’t meant to trick him, Randy thought he knew. So this wasn’t Randy’s fault.

Truth was, Roman didn’t want things to go back. Didn’t want his appetite to go away, his sleep to become more elusive than the rarest animals he’d ever looked for, didn’t want the memories to haunt him constantly, following him everywhere, driving him to work himself to death to escape them. He wanted to keep being relaxed, keep being able to break away from those thoughts. He wanted to keep living.

Rand listened quietly. She hoped Roman would see how good they were doing for him. She moved her arm, reaching for his hand. She tugged his hand a little, looking up at him, wanting him to see it. She sounded really sleepy and was giving him one of those ‘my world rises and sets on you’ looks. “They helped.”

Rand

He was pulled out of his thoughts by a tug on his hand. He thought she was asleep so he looked down at her in surprise, grabbing her hand and squeezing gently. She was giving him one of those looks of hers, the loving ‘you are everything’ looks. She reminded him again that they had helped so much she had noticed a difference, even the way she had been lately. And… When she was looking at him like that, who could say no? It was one more night… He sighed a long sigh of defeat. “…Okay.”

~ Roman

The influx of fluids hadn’t made everything all better yet, but it was making a difference. Her stomach was settled by the meds and her head was eased by the other meds. The influx of fluids was easing her systems and her body had stopped fighting. She was now physically exhausted not just mentally. She was still chilled but not cold. There wasn’t much to do about the pain in her arm. Rand didn’t care about any of that though. She just needed Roman to be okay. That’s all that mattered. Rand didn’t wait for him to answer, she just snuggled into him. She closed her eyes and was instantly asleep.

Randy nodded, “We can just do the heart and tranq meds, but I really think you should do the whole thing. I can even show you scans of how much better you are doing with good sleep and solid meals. Especially your heart. And we don’t have to change anything tomorrow if you don’t want.” Randy thought that was a long shot but he could hope. “But I know how you feel about what you consider unnecessary medication.” He picked up the hypo and walked over. He didn’t give it until Roman said he could, just incase he refused any of the meds.

Rand

Roman let him give it, unchanged. He didn’t like it, but that look Rand gave him wouldn’t let him say no. She was too tired to argue with him but she wanted him to take it. He didn’t answer about whether to change it tomorrow or not. He didn’t want it to go back but he hated taking meds and it was enough to drive him crazy. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” And then he settled in with Rand and was soon off to sleep.

~ Roman

Randy snuck in later to change the infusion unit. Rand’s scan was much better, but she still needed the second unit. Luckily he didn’t have to stick her again, just change out the bag of fluids. He was careful and quiet while he worked. He wrapped her arm again to cushion it and then left as quietly as he came.

Rand’s alarm went off as normal. She heard it, and had she been alone, she would have just let it go off she was so despondent. But Roman needed his sleep and most likely today he would refuse the meds and he wouldn’t sleep any more. She rolled away from him to reach the button on her side table. She rolled onto the arm with the infusion unit and gasped sharply.

She turned off the alarm and moved carefully off her arm. She lifted the blanket…it still had fluid in it…shouldn’t she be done? Could she go to work today? Did they even need her? As far as she could tell they were all caught up and current. She told herself she was crying because her arm hurt. When would Randy come take the unit off?

Rand

Roman slept through the alarm, but at her sharp gasp he woke abruptly. “Rand?” He asked groggily. She was crying, he saw the tears on her face. He woke up a little more. “Are you okay? You aren’t still sick, are you?” He sat up a little bit. “We could call Randy back.”

~ Roman

She shook her head, turned her head away. But he had already seen her crying. She winced again as she moved her arm. “My arm hurts.” She wasn’t okay but she didn’t know how or why. “I just don’t feel good.” She didn’t know what Randy could do, she just wanted to go back to sleep. No…she wanted to work get out of that room, but sleep was the next best thing.

Rand

Roman hugged her gently, trying to avoid hurting her arm. “It looks almost done. I’m sure Randy will be getting rid of it soon.” He hoped so. He was pretty sure it looked nearly done. He checked the time. He needed to be up before long, but he had some time. As he had been the last few days, he was looking much better. Another full night’s sleep and despite being groggy from being woken up he looked well rested and more energetic. He hadn’t decided what to do about his own meds, but he was trying to focus his energy on Rand instead of worrying about that.

~ Roman

Rand sniffled but tried to be still. Randy would come soon. Where was he? “C…ca.can I work today?” It was so early and she yawned. “Tired. Head’s fuzzy.”

Rand

Roman gave her a sad look. “That’s for Randy and Elbbirt to decide.” He didn’t think the answer would be yes. He grabbed a water off the side table and hand it to her. “They won’t make you use that thing again,” he indicated the infusion unit, “if you drink it yourself.”

~ Roman

She wasn’t working today…Roman’s look said as much. Rand sighed as he handed her the water. She thought she might float away if she had more water. But she began to drink it anyway. Maybe Roman would let her help with his if she drank the water. The water still tasted weird to her, but not as bad. She also found she was actually thirsty and practically chugged the water. “I…I could help…with your reports. Get them done faster?” Roman hated paperwork and it was early still. Maybe the idea of being done before he got to the lab would get him to let her help. Before Randy came to check on her.

Rand

Roman thought a moment and nodded. It wouldn’t take too long, it might make her a little happier, and he didn’t see the problem with a little work for her. It would distract him too. He’d take the blame if Randy said no. “Okay. Let’s do that.”

~ Roman

Rand smiled at him, a genuine smile. She was careful with her arm as she got up. Her legs felt shake, actually all if her did. When was the last thing that had stayed down? She felt a little hungry or maybe her stomach was upset. She set her hand against the wall for a moment. The stool was still next to the desk. “May…maybe I should use a chair instead if the stool?” If she fell off the stool they wouldn’t let her go to work.

She rested her arm in her lap and balanced her PaDD on the edge of the desk. While Roman worked on the report for the biology, Rand started compiling his other reports. She read through them, showing interest for the first time in awhile. Even interrupting his work twice to ask him about different things.

Rand

Roman switched the stool for his desk chair and then sat on the stool himself and starting working on the biology reports. He looked over and smiled, excitedly explaining when she asked him about things, glad she was asking again. Soon he was finished with the biology reports and waited a moment for her reports. He felt hungry so he said, “Maybe we could get breakfast? Or maybe Randy’s bringing it…”

~ Roman

Rand sent each report to his console one by one. Rand missed helping him with his reports and listening to him talk about the work, what he was passionate about. She missed hearing about his work in such detail. Realizing how much she had missed made her sad.

She smiled at him. “Okay.” If he was hungry she wanted him to eat. She wasn’t hungry. Not really, she had no interest in eating, but if she could get out she would go. Then she looked at her arm. “Oh…I…I don’t think I should go with this. That would probably get me in trouble.” She looked really disappointed.

Rand

Roman smiled back at her as he worked through the reports she was sending him. She looked really disappointed she couldn’t go so he grinned, poked her playfully and said, “That’s alright, we’ll wait for Randy, and then I’ll make sure to come and take you for lunch instead.”

~ Roman

Rand wiggled away. There might have been the start if a grin, but it was quickly gone. Randy was probably bringing food. She wanted to go though. She was really surprised she didn’t get in trouble for going out last night. Maybe Randy didn’t know? She was rubbing a hand over her wrapped arm. Lightly, no pressure, but it hurt and was sore. “That’s okay. You have to work. You don’t need to come get me.” Roman hated being behind and he was out two days. Even if he was ahead he would say he was behind. He never wanted anyone to think he wasn’t doing his share, and he loved his work. Having to take care of her was taking away from that.

Roman shook his head, “I want to. It’ll be nice. I’ve missed eating together.” He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it, but it had been a while. He hadn’t been eating well in a while.

Rand sent him the last report as Randy knocked on the door. He had breakfast: omelets, fruit, yogurt, and smoothies. He hoped there was something Rand would eat. He looked at them sitting at the computer. “How are you feeling today Rand?” She nodded a little, “I feel oh…okay,” waiting for Randy to fuss at her. Instead he just knelt beside her and started unwrapping her arm. “Ready to get this off?” She nodded. Randy took a scan. She was a lot better, but not where she should be. Randy took his time and was as careful as he could be. Rand dug her nails into her palm, eyes squeezed shut, holding her breath.

Roman held her hand and let her squeeze as much as she needed. Then he plucked an omelet off the tray Randy had brought and started munching on it.

Her arm was very bruised. Randy pressed a gauze to her arm and with the other applied a gel to the bruise before wrapping her arm. “There. I know it hurt. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She stood up, still feeling shake. “I…I want to change.” She made her way into the bathroom.

Randy looked at Roman looking guilty, “I really didn’t mean to hurt her.” He sat in the chair she vacated and looked at the PaDD. “You might want to check those reports before you submit. Just in case. She’s a lot better but her concussion is still the same. She seemed confused to me last night.” It was killing Randy he didn’t know how to help her. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, and scrubbed his face. “I can’t make this better for her. I can’t make her heal faster.”

Roman sighed, “I know. I just want her to feel better. I thought if I let her do the reports she might cheer up a little.” He shrugged, “It sort of worked.”

A moment later Rand threw up what water she drank. The pain from Randy removing the unit made her sick.

Rand

Roman heard the retching and rushed to the bathroom. She was sick again? It worried him. “Rand? Are you okay? Do you need help?”

~ Roman

No she wasn’t okay. Rand didn’t want to think about it. But the feeling of it wouldn’t stop reminding her. The way her arm had felt inside as Randy removed the infusion unit and the pain. The sensation of it moving around inside…her mind rushed back to the hospital, waking up, the tubes, the machines, the monitors, the infusion units, the meds…she threw up again. Really just dry painful cramping heaves. Everything was shaking, her legs and her arms. Did she need help? “Tha.”

Rand

Roman went into the bathroom and helped her clean up and then helped her finish changing. “Maybe Randy needs to redo your nausea meds… Maybe I should take the day off.” He didn’t want to leave her alone like this, again.

~ Roman

“No!” She twisted her fingers together and her voice went quiet. “Nnno don’t ddddo that. Yyyou have ttto work.” He was already having to do so much for her. She couldn’t stand the guilt. “It..B ‘e am pian a bha nam ghàirdean. Tha mi ceart gu leòr. (It was the pain in my arm. I’m okay)” She couldn’t cry. If she did, he would insist on staying. As much as she wished she could spend the day with him, she couldn’t let her …herself be the reason he missed his duty shift.

Roman looked at her, concerned. Had it really hurt that much? Or was her stomach that easy to upset? He smiled and shook his head. “I’d do that for you. You’re still sick.” He would, too. Even now, when he still needed the distraction of work more than anything.

Randy heard Roman. Was she that sick? What was going on. He prepped a hypo and when they came out he asked. “Rand do you want me to give you something?”

She nodded and let him give her the hypo after she sat at the table. “Lemonade?” That had made her feel better yesterday.

Randy gave Roman an odd look and a worried glance at Rand. “Sure I’ll get you some. Maybe you should lay down.”

Rand

Roman looked at Randy and shrugged. The lemon thing was weird but maybe her tastes had just changed? At least she was asking for something to drink. “I will still be by for lunch,” he said, assuming he was working today. If she asked him to though, he would still stay with her.

~ Roman