Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in What If…

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Rand Farquharson (Yeoman First Class) in What If…

Posted by Commander Roman Alden (First Officer & Chief Science Officer) in What If…
Posted by… suppressed (48) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
It was once they were back in a room that Jay was led in and met up with them. “Roman! What happened?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori was walking in behinf Jay as Rand tried to slip quietly out. Lori stopped her and then led her down the hall to an empty room. Rand was having a silent panic attack that was quickly becoming not so silent. Lori made her sit down on the bed and coached her through the worst of it. Pater followed them, Bys waited outside Alden’s room.

Yeoman Rand

Roman looked at Jay, “Where’d Rand go?” Jay shrugged. “Oh jeez, Roman.” He said worriedly. “Why’d you have to go and hit your head?” Obviously he could tell Roman didn’t quite seem right.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

In the other room, Rand was hyperventilating and running the risk of passing out. It didn’t help she was embarrassed, heart broken, and crying. Lori sat with her, but was afraid she would have to call a nurse.

A doctor stopped and spoke to Bys. He gave him a curious look but then nodded and went into the room with Alden. “Hello. I’m Dr Hammond. What’s your name young man?”

“What happened?”

Yeoman Rand

“Commander Alden. I fell while dancing with a girl… Rand.” Roman looked up at the doctor. Jay stood by his bed and was giving him a look: half concern, half intimidating glare.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Hammond noticed the slow speech and slurring. “Can you tell me your birthday?”

A moment. “January fifth.” Another moment. The year of birth.

“The year?”

He had to think about that one but then got it right.

“Where do you live?” He asked a series of questions while he ran a tricorder over him. “What did you hit your head on?”

Yeoman Rand

“A starship. USS… Ardent. I live here in Salisbury otherwise though.” Roman thought a moment. “Erm, the floor. Yeah. Because we fell and… Yeah.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

The doctor nodded at the explanation and looked at Jay. “You’re his brother?” It was a question, but Hammond was pretty certain given both the concern and exasperation on the man’s face, and how quickly he showed up. Ms Farquharson had disappeared after arriving. He would check on her after. Since her escorts were still in the hall he knew she was still there.

“I might as well be, yeah,” Jay said.

“Is this normal behavior for him?” Hammond asked Jay, referring to his manner of speaking and slow consideration of his answers.

Yeoman Rand

He shook his head. “No, it’s not.” Jay looked at Roman. “He’s not normally like this.”

Roman was sitting there, arms crossed, but quiet.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Did he passout or vomit when he hit his head?” The doctor asked Jay.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t there.” Jay replied. “He was with his date. Rand.”

“I’ll ask her,” he glanced out the door before turning back to Alden.

Hammond had him do several neurological reflex tests: squeeze his fingers, follow a light, push and pull. His reflexes and cognition seemed fine, except a bit slow. “I can use a sub-dermal regenerator to reduce the swelling, but a day of rest is what you really need. Just take things slow for the next day. You might find you are a bit dizzy of you move to fast. I can give you something for a headache as well.”

Yeoman Rand

Jay gave Roman another one of those looks, “Do the regenerator and the headache meds, please. He’s not good at taking things slow.” Roman grinned sheepishly, “He’s right.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“You Star Fleet types usually don’t.” He pointed to the fleet issued comms on their belts as the clue that gave them away. “I’ll get the nurse to come in and take care of that.” He set the tricorder down and turned out the hall. Bys stopped him and spoke softly, looking concerned. “I’ll check on her. I need to ask her a few questions about Mr Alden’s fall,” Hammond said quietly but it carried into the room.

“She’s no good for answering questions right now. It’s really bad. I was there. What do you need to know?” Bys said.

Hammond turned to start down the hall toward where Lori had taken Rand. “Did she take her medication?”

“No, she didn’t bring her bag. She was solely focused on needing to help him and forgot it.” Hammond muttered and called out for a nurse to bring him a hypo.

Yeoman Rand

“What’s wrong with her? Is she okay?” Roman asked, overhearing them. “I’ll check on them, you stay. here.” Jay said. “Fine, fine, I’m staying. Promise. But you better go.” Roman said.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

As Jay left, a nurse came in and gave Roman a hypo for the headache and then started using the regenerator on the swelling to the back of his head.

Bys and Pater were standing outside a room just down the hall that Hammond and a nurse disappeared into. Hammond spoke quietly and calmly as he walked into the room. From the doorway, Jay could see Rand. She was curled on her side on a biobed, pale, in a cold sweat, and not breathing well at all. If he could read the display it should a rapid pulse, high blood pressure, rapid respiration, and lower than ideal O2 states because she wasn’t breathing right. Hammond tried to give her a hypo but she pushed him away. Lori was standing next to her, holding her hand. Her voice concerned and insistent that Rand let Hammond help her.

The nurse looked up and saw Jay watching and she quietly, with a look of sympathy, closed the door. Bys and Pater exchanged a look. Bys put a hand on Jay’s shoulder and walked back to Roman’s room with him. “Miss Farquharson will be alright. Hammond has known her a long time.” He sighed, “Miss Farquharson suffers from extreme social anxiety, acute generalized anxiety, and sudden anxiety attacks. She is quite taken and invested in your friend,” his antennae waved, “even if she isn’t aware of it yet. She was quite distraught over his injury. Unfortunately, she forgot her medication and couldn’t get her anxiety under control. This is quite mild, actually, and she’ll be fine in a little bit.” He left Jay at Roman’s door, not sure if he should have said anything, but he thought it was best. Alden seemed to genuinely like her, and if he didn’t, better to know what he was getting into so he’d leave now before hurting her further.

Yeoman Rand

Jay went back into Roman’s room and gently and slowly explained what he’d been told to Roman, who nodded. “I want to see her once she’s better.” He said. “Please.” The regenerator was almost done by then and Roman seemed a bit uncomfortable with it but he was doing okay. Better when Jay was there.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

It was almost ten minutes after the nurse finished that Hammond came back to check on Roman. “How are you feeling Mr. Alden? Any nausea or headache?”

Yeoman Rand

“Eh-” Roman started, but another stare from Jay stopped him. “A little nausea, that’s all. The headache is subsiding after the hypo.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“Alright, let’s see if the curing the headache eases the nausea. If not I’ll give you something for that as well before we release you,” he smiled reassuringly. “Any questions?”

Yeoman Rand

“No,” Roman said. “How long until he’s back to normal? We’re back on duty in a week.” Jay asked on his behalf. “Can’t have a first officer with mush for brains.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“He should be fine by tomorrow. If not, he should see his regular physician immediately. Rest for 24 hours and then just be cautious as you increase activity. You’ll be more than healed by the time you go back on duty. I’ll forward your file to Star Fleet Medical.”

Yeoman Rand

Jay nodded. “Thank you.” He glared at Roman again, “Hear that? Cautiously. Dad’ll make sure you follow orders and so will I.” Roman grinned and shrugged, “Is that really necessary?” Jay shook his head. “Yes. It is.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Hammond nodded to Jay. “Good. I’ll be back to check on you in a few more minutes. I’m going to go check on my other patient.”

Yeoman Rand

Jay nodded. “I’ll be watching this one.” Roman gave Jay a look, “I don’t need watching.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

It wasn’t too long after that Lori paced past the room. She paused in the doorway, her gaze landing immediately on Jay. Then she looked at Roman. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay. Honestly, it was my fault. I tripped and brought her down on me. I’m glad I’m the one that got hurt.” Roman said.

Lori smiled slightly, “I think she would have rathered it had been her who got hurt. I’m glad you’re alright.”

“I was going to grab some tea.” It was an offer to bring them some, but also a subtle offer for Jay to go with her.

Yeoman Rand

“I’ll go. I’m sure this stupid lump can behave for five minutes while we get him some tea.” Jay said, standing up.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori couldn’t help it, she was glad Jay was going with her. She really liked him, but she did feel a little bad taking him away from his friend while he was hurt.

Rand was in a separate room, Bys and Pater outside the door. Lori had gone to get tea. She felt horrible. She always felt sort of disconnected after the medication. It was embarrassing and horrible. First she’d tripped him, and of course he was too much a gentleman to let her take the blame. She’d been so worried and hadn’t not known what to do. That was the worst, not knowing what had to be done. Thank goodness Lori had taken a liking to Jay. She wouldn’t have known who or how to call anyone otherwise. She supposed Bys could have found out. She hadn’t heard anything about Roman. Lori promised to see if she could find out, but Rand resigned herself to not knowing. He probably didn’t want anything to do with her now.

Her vitals were mostly back to normal, but she was pretty dazed and unable to hold onto a thought for very long.

Yeoman Rand

Jay left with Lori. Meanwhile, a few moments after they’d gone, Roman pulled himself out of bed, steadying himself on the side rail of the bed, and then lumbered out of his room. Everyone had turned this way upon leaving, she must be this way. He peered into a room and saw her and knocked softly.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Pater nudged Bys with his elbow, jerked his chin toward Alden and grinned. Bys nodded once and then continued scanning the hall.

Rand was laying curled up on her side. There was a light blanket over, and she mumbled a soft, “Come in.” She didn’t open her eyes right away. It helped ease the dizziness, but also made her more sleepy. She assumed it was the doctor or nurse coming back. Maybe Lori? Had it been long enough for her to get tea?

She opened her eyes when the footsteps stopped. She blinked once and her eyes opened wider. “Oh,” she breathed. “I … ‘m glad … yer better.” Her speech was sleepy but the stutter seemed to be gone, but her lilt was even stronger now.

Yeoman Rand

Roman sat on the edge of her bed. “Better is… Not a word Jay would agree with, but I’m doing fine. How are you?” He asked, looking down at her. She sounded sleepy and tired but she didn’t seem so shaky and nervous now.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Her smile faded, “Oh… I’m so sorry. Should you be up?” Her fingers tucked under the blanket as she pulled it up, as if she was cold. She was, but more it stopped her from trying to hold his hand. She barely knew him, she shouldn’t be clingy. Maybe he liked that though? Probably not. “Aye, I’m fine.” She was now. It was stupid and mortifying that she’d forgotten her medicine and needed to see the doctor while they were here to take care of him. She was just so worried. She hadn’t known what to do.

Yeoman Rand

“Eh, well they were going to give me something for nausea and then release me, so I’m sure it’s fine.” Roman replied with a shrug. “What’s the worst that could happen?” He smiled. “Good. I’m sorry this happened. Wasn’t how I wanted our time together to go.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

When he said what was the worst that could happen, Rand proceeded to tell him. Everything from nothing, to security looking for a confused patient, to throwing up getting dizzy and hitting his head again, possibly amnesia or a coma, to running into a contagious patient and catching some life threatening illness. The more she talked the worse the possibilities got, that she even teared up. “I couldn’t stand it if you died. You simply must be careful.” She had no idea what she had admitted with that statement, and that was because of the medication. She also completely missed his statement about how he wanted their date to go.

Yeoman Rand

He laughed, a light-hearted and kind laugh. “Rand, I work with deadly animals for a living. I’m not worried about infections.” The rest of the things could happen he supposed but he simply shrugged those off, “You sound like Jay. The two of you could be mums.” He smiled confidently, “Then I’ll have to not die, won’t I?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She liked his laugh and she said so. “I like your laugh. It’s like your eyes.” Her hand had slipped out from the blanket and her fingers had tangled with his. She wasn’t aware she had done that, or what she had said. The medicine was helping her relax, a lot. “Oh nay, ya can’t die.” Her eyes closed for a moment and she was quiet. “Since ya don’t worry, I will have ta worry for you.” She sighed sadly, “I’m good at that. I worry enough no one else ever has too. It never goes away, it’s always there.” She sighed again and her fingers flexed around his.

Yeoman Rand

Roman squeezed her hand gently. “That’s okay. You’ll worry enough for both of us, I’ll tell you you don’t have to, and you’ll do it anyway, and I’m okay with that.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She sighed again, but it sounded sad. “You have ta say that. Yer a gentleman. I believe you though.” She opened her eyes to look at him. “But you’re goin’ away. If ya even remember me when ya come back, you’ll realize how annoyin’ my anxiety is. Ya won’t want ta deal with it. I don’t wanna deal with it.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman chuckled. “Remember you? You’re all I’ll be thinking of while I’m away. You can’t tell how I’ll feel in the future but I’m quite sure I won’t get tired of any part of you. So you’re stuck with me unless you decide you don’t want to be.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

She had no problem looking at him now. The medicine seemed to ease her shyness even if it didn’t get rid of her anxiety and worry.

She smiled as she looked at him. “You sound like Fitzwilliam Darcy. So arrogant and sure of yourself. I bet nothing changes your mind.” Her eyes closed again. “Darcy was always my favorite. He’s not anymore.”

Yeoman Rand

“No? Why not?”

Eyes still closed, she flushed delicately. “I like you better.” It was soft, less than a whisper.

Roman smiled, squeezing her hand gently again.

Roman grinned. “Nothing changes my mind, no. And my good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Her eyes popped open, her eyes alight. The line came so easily to her lips, her expression and posture shifting for a moment, “Oh dear, I cannot tease you about that. What a shame, for I dearly love to laugh.”

Yeoman Rand

He grinned, “I wish I recalled more than I do. But Miranda Farquharson,” he even pronounced it correctly, “I promise you on my family name I’ll be waiting for you.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Her mouth opened in an ‘O’ of surprise. She forgot how to breathe for a moment. He sounded so serious, so determined, so sincere, she couldn’t help but believe him. “I think ya have it backwards. Yer the one goin’ away. I will stay here and pine for tou.”

Yeoman Rand

“And I will be on my ship, looking out at the stars, pining for you.” Roman looked at her and smiled. “You’d better write me and send me all your shows.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

The medicine was really in her system now, making her more tired. She sounded even more drowsy. “I am horrible at writing. I never know what to put. I will set over it for days trying to figure out what to put. If I ever mange to send one I will agonize for days that it was wrong and then have a panic attack over the foolish things I wrote.”

Yeoman Rand

Roman chuckled lightly. “Alright then, I’ll write you. Or we can call? I’m sure I can get call time.” He moved from her bed to a nearby chair, feeling dizzy.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

“I’ll miss the sound of your voice if we don’t call.” Her eyes opened again when his hand slipped from hers. He had moved? Why? But she was too tired to figure out why. “You moved?” She said after a moment.

Yeoman Rand

“I was a bit dizzy, that’s all. Didn’t want to risk falling off your bed.” He took her hand again and smiled. “I’d still be there if the room weren’t spinning like a sample centrifuge.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Her brow furrowed as she thought over his words. “I’ll call the nurse. Should you still be dizzy? You weren’t that dizzy earlier. Were you?” Rand opened her eyes and blinked at the bed controls. She hated how the medicine made her slow. She hated how she felt without it too. She sighed and reached for the call button.

Yeoman Rand

“I don’t know. I was pretty dizzy on the way to the car.” He shrugged. “I’m not worried.” He didn’t stop her from pressing the call button, but he didn’t think he needed a nurse. “I’ll be alright.”

At that moment Jay and Lori walked back in with the tea, Jay looking annoyed. “Roman! Five minutes. I left for five minutes and you couldn’t sit still! What if you fell?”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori couldn’t help but elbow him. Jay had wanted Roman to make an effort with Rand, and here he was checking on her. Though she understood Jay’s frustration too. Lori sighed as she watched Rand try to retrieve her hand and hide it under the blanket again. They way her friend’s face fell. She knew what Rand was thinking. She’d gotten Roman in trouble with is friend because of her.

Jay glanced at her and sighed, but then smiled at her.

Rand glanced from Roman to Jay to Lori. Then said very softly, “He said he was fine.” Rand sounded so guilty. She didn’t want Roman in more trouble with Jay, so she told him what he said. “He sat down because he said the room was spinning like a centrifuge.”

Yeoman Rand

“Rand, he could be dying of a phaser wound and he’d say he was fine.” Jay said softly to her. He came around the side of the bed where Roman was and smiled at Rand. “You haven’t done anything. This knucklehead,” he swatted Roman’s arm, “decided to get out of bed.” He looked at Roman when she repeated what he said. “Call someone. I want him checked just in case.”

Rand nodded just a little. Was she supposed to assume everyone lied? Had she misjudged his character? So was he lying about wanting her to write? About missing her when he left? So he’d been lying about wanting to spend time with her today? The thoughts were heart breaking. She just couldn’t believe he would lie about any of that. She wasn’t exactly experienced with dating or friendship for that matter. What did she know?

Roman found Rand’s hand and took it in his again. “Jaaaaay come on, I’m fine. Even the doctor said I could go once my nausea goes away.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand had already pressed the button to call the nurse. Lori saw Roman take Rand’s hand, and the way Rand flushed. It was sweet. Rand didn’t think she should keep holding his hand, but she didn’t know how to do anything about it without creating a scene or insulting him. Would it really hurt to enjoy it, just for now?

The nurse walked in and raised both brows at the crowd in the room. “Is everything alright?”

Yeoman Rand

Jay pointed at Roman, “He says he’s really dizzy and he’s got a concussion. Shouldn’t even have been wandering around alone.”

“I’m fiiiine,” Roman insisted. “Just want to get back to spending time with her,” and he pointed with his free hand at Rand.

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Lori noticed, but it was too late. This wasn’t Rand’s nurse. Rand’s nurse must have been with another patient and this one came when the bell was pressed. Lori knew she had recognized Rand because she’d heard her asking another nurse if it was really her on the way to get tea. The nurse’s eyes had lit up at that little tidbit about Roman wanting to spend time with her. Rumor and gossip followed Rand, and there wasn’t much they could do about it. Lori stepped into the hall to let Bys know. Normally it wasn’t a concern, but there was a reason Rand’s location and schedule were so secret now.

To the nurse’s credit though, she did pick up a tricorder and scan Roman. She tsked at the readings. “Has he seen a doctor yet?” She had only arrived back from her lunch break so she hadn’t finished reviewing all the patients on the ward yet.

“Doctor Hammond. He told him to rest.” Jay said.

“I’ll go get Dr Hammond then. Keep him there, and I’ll come back with a chair to help him back to his room.”

Yeoman Rand

“I’m happy right here, thank you very much.” Roman said, squeezing Rand’s hand. Jay shot him a glare. “Roman… Just behave.”

~ Cmdr Alden, XO/CSO

Rand didn’t know what to make of that. She liked holding his hand, it was warm and did funny things to her stomach. Why was he being so insistent about staying with her though? He was hurt, she was not. She was just awkward and shy and an emotionally fragile mess for no reason.

Jay sounded annoyed again. She should try to help, it was all her fault after all. “Oh but he has,” she was sleepy and only half awake, “he’s been a perfect gentleman.” She sighed dreamily, “Though I wish he hadn’t been, just a little bit.”

Pater coughed as he choked on his coffee, Bys’ antennae stood straight up in shock, Dr Hammond busied himself taking another scan of Roman, and Lori’s jaw hit the floor. Rand would die of embarrassment when she remembered what she’d said out loud.

Yeoman Rand