Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in I’m All the Family You Got

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice Commandant, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in I’m All the Family You Got

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in I’m All the Family You Got
Posted by… suppressed (30) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Sharah materialized in her office. She changed into her spare uniform, and slipped her lavender Sacred Heart lab coat on. She dropped her tricorder into her pocket. The moment she stepped out of her office, she was surrounded by ‘the nurses’. She held up a hand. “I’m going to see Jal’na and then I’ll deal with the other. None of you are serving on the security ward.”

There were huge protests. Their anger and concern and loyalty bombarded her. “Enough. One of our own was hurt. I know you are all very close to Jal’na. The person who assaulted her are going to deal with the consequences of their actions. You don’t want any possible negative assumptions made about the persons care.”

Shrine looked at her and then nodded. “Dr Fayth is right. Let’s focus on Jal’na and our jobs.” She shook her head, “I almost feel bad for whoever did it. Lord Duroc is willing to wage war over this.” Sharah grimaced and then hurried down to the ER where she found Jal’na, her guards and husband keeping most of the medical staff away. Her guards recognized her though and let her through.

Jal’na had a bloody face and was covered in neon orange paint. “Oh Jal’na. Are you alright?”

Fayth

Jal’na looked up, “Sharah. Good, get me out of here. It’s a busted nose.” Jal’na had just put the dermal regenerator back into the tray and was accessing the computer to access her own medical file. “I can go home. I’m FINE! I HAD WORSE INJURIES FROM URG ON MY WEDDING NIGHT!!!” The ENTIRE emergency department could hear her.

Sharah walked over and moved the computer away from her. She almost smiled, and then did as her guards outside the door laughed. “I’ll do it. Let me check you.” She pulled out her tricorder, the taller woman had to sit so Sharah could reach her. “Lord Duroc wants you taken care of. You can’t fault him for that. I’m sure he is angry, and rightfully so.”

“Urg is on the warpath. He’s furious. He was going to kill that poor idiot.” She gave Sharah a long hard look, her chin raising, “Is it true?”

Jal’na, Lady Duroc

Sharah looked at her. She knew Jal’na wanted to know if the woman was really Charles’ sister. Sharah wouldn’t compound the incident with a lie, “It is. Charles told me Lord Urg’tohn requested his presence. He won’t defend her.” Abigail was angry and hateful, and took those emotions that she felt for her and Yavia and her family out on total strangers. “I wanted to make sure you were alright.” She went over to the computer, entered in all the appropriate information and then stepped over to the replicator and returned. She handed Jal’na a set of her PT scrubs. “In case you don’t want to walk around covered in paint.” She squeezed her hand. “I’ll come check on you later, at home, if you like. For now, you can go whenever you are ready.”

Sharah stepped out of the room and told the guards she was fine and could leave when she was inclined to do so. Sharah stopped at the nurses station and then hurried off to check on Abby. She couldn’t help the smirk as she heard Jal’na come out of the room. “I’m Fine. Now where is Urg?”

---

Sharah walked into the security ward along with Presint. She was Catian and had a level head on her shoulders and a good security clearance. Eraras, their Bolian orthopedic surgeon, was standing by the nurses desk. He was their top surgeon and Ilena was with him. “Ah Dr. Fayth, I was just about to go see about our new patient.” Sharah nodded and joined him. Presint, following Fayths orders, began giving orders about changing out the staff in the ward.

Sharah nodded to the police officers beside the door and then scanned into the room, Eraras doing so behind her. She walked up to the bed and stared at Abigail. A concussion, contusions on her throat and soft tissue injuries there, broken arm, cracked ribs and bruised lung. The ER staff had stabilized her and then she’d been moved up here. Sharah was going to do this by the book. “Can you tell us your name and birthday and why you are here?”

Sharah

Abigail looked up and then glared. “You know damn well who I am! I want to see my brother!” she yelled at Sharah. The yelling brought over a guard who simply stood next to Fayth, arms crossed on his chest.

Abigail Tenkiller

“Yes ma’am, but you have suffered a severe concussion. We need you to answer these questions to insure there is no cognitive damage from them. Please answer the questions.” She wasn’t going to comment about wanting to see Charles.

Sharah

“Abigail TENKILLER. And my birthday is the seventeenth day of the Deer Giving Birth Moon.” the woman replied and she smiled a truly arrogant smile at Fayth. “Now get. me. my. brother… you lover of Itsike.” She winced in pain as she laid back. “And do not touch me. I will not be tended to by the likes of you.”

Abigail Tenkiller

Sharah simply nodded confirmation to Eraras. Then she took a slow deep breath, letting the hate and pain and jelousy and fear and arrogance wash over her and away. Another breath centered herself and allowed hee to tap into that endless well of compassion, and she released into the room peace and calm and a sense of safety.

She nodded to Abby, “I won’t touch you, Abigail. This is Dr. Eraras,” she waved a graceful hand to the Bolian man beside her. “He is our orthopedic surgeon. He is here to take care of your injuries. I am sure you are aware you have a broken arm, several cracked ribs, and a damaged lung. Please allow him to care for you.”

“No!” Abigail said as forcefully as she could. “No more aliens. Human doctor. I demand a human doctor!” she almost screamed, but the pain crashed in and then she started coughing… which sent the pain of the broken ribs higher than she could stand and she passed out for a moment before coming to. “My… brother… get Charles.” she almost pleaded.

Eraras sighed and spoke soothingly and calmly. “I promise I won’t hurt you Ms Tenkiller. I just want to help you.”

“Go away!” Abigail shrieked and then clutched her ribs in pain.

Sharah nreathed out that calm into the room again. “As for your brother, it is not within my power to allow visitors, and even if I could, your bother,” she allowed her professional mask to slip just a moment, conveying something much worse than concern, “is not available. I don’t know when he will be. If the poluce permit,” she nodded to the guard, “You may be allowed to call your parents and sister.”

Sharah

Abigail

“Abigail, I promise no one here will hurt you. Please let them help you.” Sharah was calm, but she wasn’t about to tell her where Charles was now. There was no telling when he could come or how she would react. “I will tell him you are asking for him.” It was the only thing she could offer.

Sharah

Abigail looked at Sharah and just shook her head. “Typical. Alien supporting alien. I bet if Charles was here he’d take me home. My home… not that disgusting nest of depravity you lured him into.”

“You’d be wrong.” came a familiar voice. Charles leaned on the frame in the doorway in his uniform. He looked… rough. Small tears in his uniform and one sleeve torn at the hem; and some obvious spittle graced the uniform top. And one eye was swollen shut. He looked at Eraras and Sharah. “Doctors, if you will excuse us. I need a word with Abigail.”

Tenkiller

Abigail’s words hurt deeply. She had hoped that his family would at least give her a chance. 3 oit of 4 wasn’t bad, but this was hurting Charles. Abby had hugged her, seemed happy to meet her at first, ot so it seemed. The only crime Sharah could conclude she committed was loving Charles. The rejection shouldn’t matter, but it was like a knife in her gut.

Sharah turned at the sound of his voice, relief and apprehension on her face. He was alive, and the thought winged itself across the distance to Yavia. He was hurt, but she had fully expected him to be on her operating table near death the next time she saw him. She needed to take care of him, but she would have to wait.

Eraras nodded and moved toward the door. “She needs treatment, but I can’t force her. I’ll be right outside.” He stepped through the door. Sharah glanced at the guards. She couldn’t be seen to be giving favors. That would make this whole situation worse, but they just smiled grimly and nodded.

She set a hand on his face looking at his eye. “She needs treatment. Her lung is damaged and if she keeps moving her rips will break completely and stab through something. She also has a severe concussion.” She sighed and stepped out the door.

Sharah

He smiled at her and said “Don’t worry. Just walked into a door. Nothing bad… like a diplomatic crisis with heavily armed psychopaths.” and he let her slip past him and outside. He stepped in and moved to the bed, taking a seat and looking at Abby. He took a deep breath and then shook his head. “Abby…” and he sighed heavily again.

Abby looked at him, his swollen face… and completely misjudged what had happened. “I knew it!” she said softly. “I knew you wouldn’t let those filthy animals do this to me without showing them what for.” She reached up to set a hand on his face and Charles grabbed her wrist in a vice of a grip. “Are you just f^<%ing stupid, Abby?!” he said with no reservation of holding back his anger. “This-” and he pointed at his face and his uniform, “- this is what I get for going and telling the Klingons that you are responsible for what you did. I didn’t defend you, stupid! I told them to throw the book at you!” He stood up slowly and glared at Abby with his one open eye. “You assaulted someone, Abby. And not just any someone. A very important someone. A someone whose husband is now well within his rights to demand your go$$amn head!” He stared at her as the magnitude of her temper tantrum began to gel in her mind. He took yet another breath and said “You are gonna let the Doc fix you up. And you are gonna do what the Docs- including Sharah- tell you to do. And you are gonna do it with humility, grace, and kindness… to everyone.”

Abby glared at him and said “The hell I will!!” and Charles leaned in and spoke to her in Osage “You will do as I tell you. I am still a Tribal Elder and you have embarrassed the Tribe. I will not allow that slight to go any further!” He leaned back and stared at her for a long time, daring her to speak out against him. When she didn’t, he spoke again.

“After all of that… you are probably gonna go to jail. For a while, more than likely. And don’t think you’ll be in a human-centric prison. Oh no… LOTS of non-humans in there. And more than a couple put there by me. And when they find out you are related to me?” and he shook his head. “It’s not going to be easy for you… but you will do as I say and handle it in a way that reflects nothing but good for our family and our Nation. Do you understand me, Abby?” She looked away form him and closed her eyes. A moment later, a tear rolled down her cheek. “Yes, Elder.” she said quietly. Charles stood up and said “You are lucky to be alive, Abby. I know Lord Duroc. And Lady Duroc. I consider them friends. And I will tell you… Lord Duroc could have killed you. And would have, if Lady Duroc hadn’t intervened. So you actually owe her a debt, Abigail. She saved your life… you will honor that debt.” He stood up and walked to the door. As it slid open, he looked at Sharah and smiled slightly. “She’s all yours.” and then at Eraras. “And yours. You won’t have any trouble. And if you do… just hand her over to Oed Police and let the prison hospital deal with her.” He looked at Sharah and said “No matter what she said, know that you are amazing and I wouldn’t trade you and V for anyone.” He leaned in and gave her a solid kiss on the lips and then pulled back. “I love you. See you at home.” and he turned and walked out of the ward.

Tenkiller

Eraras moved into the room. Sharah kissed him gently, their pain mingled in her eyes. “I’ll be home when I can.” She pressed an ice pack into his hand for his eye as he walked away. She stood there a long moment in silence, eyes closed. Yavia, he’s hurt. Make him listen when he gets home. It’s not nearly as bad as it could be. Make him soak in really hot water with a soak when you are done.

Sharah walked in after Charles left and moved to the opposite side of the bed, but left Abby room so she wouldn’t feel trapped too much. Sharah was hurt, but she was angry. She would walk out if her sense of duty didn’t insist she stay to support her staff with a volatile patient. She let Eraras speak, he was the expert after all.

“I am going to use a bone knitter and dermal regenerator on your ribs and abdominal tissue. I will have to use a nerve block on your arm to set it before I can repair that damage.” Eraras told her.

Abby looked up at the Bolian, and there was a visible war going on inside her. She was silent for several long moments and then said “Yes, Doctor. Thank you. But please… no nerve block. I… I need to feel what you do.” and she looked at Sharah with a genuine feeling of shame.

Sharah didn’t look away, in fact there was only compassion in her eyes. Oh she was still hurt and angry, but she couldn’t help but feel for Abby. The hurt and what she viewed as betrayal and abandonment. Sharah was intimate with those emotions. “Are you sure? Setting the arm will hurt a lot. We can give you a localized muscle relaxer so the tissue doesn’t lock up while we set it. You’ll be given pain medication as well if you aren’t adverse to it.”

Abby simply shook her head slowly and then took a deep breath.

“The damage to your throat requires the tissue migratory and will take 4 treatments over the next two days. Same treatment for your lung, but 3 days.” He held up a hypo. “Ceretone and Dexlanlin for your concussion. It will ease the symptoms and reduce the swelling,” He smiled gently at her, “but you are going to be fine. Do you have any questions before we begin?”

Sharah

Abby shook her head slowly and said simply “No, Doctor.” and she laid back and closed her eyes.

Tenkiller

“Dr. Fayth, will you assist me?” Eraras said. Sharah nodded and moved over to the bed. Eraras set the hypo against her neck, “This is for the concussion. You should start to feel relief soon.” He set a hypo on her arm above the break and there was a hiss. “I am going to set your arm now.” Sharah didn’t ask, she simply slid her hand into Abby’s and held it.

Sharah

Abigail didn’t move her hand away, nor did she take hold of it. She simply left her hand where it was and then nodded to Dr. Eraras. Her eyes were fixed on the ceiling and she just waited.

Abigail Tenkiller

Eraras looked at the scans and then took hold of her arm, above and below the break. Sharah reached over and put a hand on his arm and glanced at the images. She could feel the pain in Abigail’s arm there, that just the pressure of his hands caused. Eraras nodded and adjusted his hands slightly. Then he jerked and twisted the bone back into place. It was excruciating, but once it was done the body had relief from being back in the correct place. Eraras splint the arm to keep it in place. Then he brought over a bone knitter and got to work.

Abigail didn’t cry out, but tears flooded from her eyes. Once the bone was in place she sobbed twice, very softly, and then took a slow breath in and exhaled just as slowly.

Sharah held her gaze and squeezed her hand gently. She knew it hurt, she could feel it. Pride was all Abby felt like she had left though. Sharah wouldn’t take that away from her. Not right now.

“I’m going to start working on your ribs.” Sharah pulled up the sheet and arranged it so she could lift the gown Abby had been put into. Everywhere was covered except the large discoloration from the cracked ribs. Her touch was exquisitely gentle. She seemed to know exactly where it hurt and never did anything to jostle or put her on edge. “Try to breathe evenly,” Sharah told her. She slid the bone knitter into place and set her eyes to the viewer and began guiding the machine.

Sharah

Abigail laid very still and let both doctors work. She didn’t fight back, nor did she speak. As she laid there and Sharah worked on her, there was a small tickle in the back of Sharah’s mind. Familiar, but strange and unknown at the same time; and a deep and far awway voice said There is fire in this one. And honor… under all that garbage. Help her. She has an important role to play.

Tenkillers / The Voice

Sharah was wholly sick of disembodied minds talking to her. It took a moment, but she remembered where she had heard it before. Though that other part of her was familiar with his (its???) presence. I’m trying. She doesn’t want my help, but I’m all she’s got right now.

A deep and rumbling laugh similar yo Urg’s filled her mind for a moment. Not medically… it said, HELP her… it said, and faded away.

Sharah was excellent at hiding physical reactions, but mentally she rolled her eyes. She wasn’t talking medically. The woman despised her. Well maybe not her specifically, but Sharah represented something that Abby hated. That was okay though, Sharah was used to being the target and focus of other’s emotions.

It took a couple of hours to get the bones knitted and the tissues healed. It took longest for the lung and the throat tissues. While she worked, Sharah reached out to Ilena with a special request. The nurse had mixed emotions about it, but she willingly did as Sharah asked.

Finally Eraras and Sharah pulled the machines away. Eraras patted Abby’s shoulder gently. “There, you should be able to breath a bit easier now. And you’ll be able to eat. You have a few more sessions with the tissue migrator before it’s all healed. Your ribs and arm are all healed how. I’ll be back later to check on you.” He gave her a smile and then left the room. Sharah walked to the door and took a tray from Ilena and came back setting it on the bedside tray and slowly raising the bed up so that Abby would be more comfortable.

On the tray was chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn on the cob, fried okra, homemade biscuits, and a large glass of sweet tea. Sharah had had Ilena order from Aria’s kitchen. “It’s one of your brother’s favorite meals from a local restaurant. Elaine and her husband are from Texas. I thought you might like it.” Then she went about putting equipment away and filing notes into Abby’s file on the computer.

Sharah

Abby looked at the food and said “Texas, huh?” and she looked at Sharah quizzically. “You do know them.and Okies don’t get along, right?” she asked, but there was a slight humor to her words. She leaned forward and sat up straight, looking directly at Sharah. “Thank you, Dr. Fayth. I… I appreciate what you and Dr. Eraras have done for me.” She took a breath and then added “I know I didn’t deserve it. So… thank you.” She then looked down at the plate, picked up a fork, and then sampled the mashed potatoes.

Abigail

“Charles and Elaine discussed that the first time we ate there. They finally agreed that all the way out here, it was nice to meet a neighbor from back home.” Sharah looked over her shoulder at Abby. “You are very welcome, and it’s Sharah, if you feel comfortable using my given name.” She finished typing and turned fully toward her. “Everyone deserves kindness, Abigail. Nothing gets better if without it.”

Sharah

Abby shrugged. “They do, yes. Until they don’t.” She started cutting the steak and said “And I do not. Charles made that abundantly clear. And he isn’t wrong.” Her tone was quiet. She put the bite of steak in her mouth. Normally, she would have raved about it. Now, it was just ash in her mouth. She chewed slowly and leaned back. “I… I am sorry, Sha-… Dr. Fayth. You deserve better from his family… from me. It’s just…” and she shook her head, dismissing the thought.

Abigail

Sharah took a seat in a chair facing the bed and folded her hands into her lap. Abby hadn’t reached the ‘until they don’t’ point with her yet. It would be very easy to say she had and walk away, but that wasn’t who Sharah was. “I accept your apology.” She looked at her for a long moment, “It’s just what?”

Sharah

Abigail took a deep breath, ate another bite of potato, and then looked at Sharah. “My life… my whole life… has been about family, and the Tribe. I dedicated everything to being an asset to my people. And for a few years, it was enough. But then Charles came into play. And he was…” and she laughed and shook her head. “He was amazing. He studied and practiced and lived our ways like no one had in generations. We were so proud of him. And I knew that one day… one day he would be the Chief of the Osage Nation. No doubt in my mind… or anyone’s mind, for that matter. And then…” and she focused on Sharah intently. “Then he up and ran off to join Star Fleet. And look what that got him?! They used him… and when he did. his. job. they threw him away.” She laid back and stared at the ceiling.

Sharah knew. What had happened to Charles was an abomination. It went against everything Star Fleet stood for, and they used him and tossed him aside. What happened to him made her ashamed to wear the uniform. She didn’t speak, but let Mary keep talking.

“I thought when that happened, he’d come home.” Abby said softly. “I thought he’d come back to his people. Lead us. I thought… I thought it would have gotten out of his system. The starships and other planets and the… the non-Osage people.” She looked back at Sharah and said “And then I saw you. And Nurse Crockett. And I saw that he was never coming home. That he had chosen you over us.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “I-I-I know that it’s not your fault. I mean… how is a group of dirt-poor farmers supposed to hold up to all of this?!” and she gestured around the room, but implied far more. She closed her eyes. “All my life the Elders have said that rhe Tribe is everything we need. Everything we are. Charles was the best of us… and he threw us away.” and she rolled over and cried.

Abigail

Poor girl, she felt abandoned and lost. She’d pinned her life on dreams focused on someone else. Sharah got up, slid the tray out of the way, and sat down on the edge of her bed. Carefully, without hurting her, Sharah lifted Abby up and wrapped her arms around the other woman. She held her firmly but gently and let her cry. She rocked her gently, and she let the pain and sadness and even grief wash over her. She accepted it and let that acceptance and comfort seep back in to Abby.

Sharah

Abby let Sharah hold her for a long moment before pulling away. She used the blanket to dry her eyes and said “You don’t have to be nice to me just because of my brother. I know you don’t like me, and that’s fine. He doesn’t either, so I’d rather you were just honest.”

Abby

Sharah understood that Abby was looking for a reason to keep hating her. That was okay, Sharah was used to it. She sat back to give her space, but didn’t get up. “I don’t dislike you. I don’t know you, Abigail. For the record I would be kind to you no matter who you are or are not related to.” She watched her for a moment and nodded once. “I appreciate honesty. So yes, I am hurt, deeply by the insults and accusations you’ve thrown my way, by your hatred and speciesism. But mostly I’m hurt by your duplicity. By the what is now an obviously fake hug and warm greeting.” Sharah lifted a little shoulder slightly, “I would have rather you just been upfront.”

She got up then and moved the tray back over, “Charles told us about joining Star Fleet. That he left so that he could help support the family, because the farm was struggling with not enough people to care for it after your brothers and sister died.” She still couldn’t fathom how anyone on Earth could die of streptococcus when they had medicines, treatments, and cures. “He said the day he was made an Elder was the proudest day of his life, and an honor he had never expected to receive.”

Sharah

Abigail scoffed. “He told you part of what happened, then.” She sat up and fixed Sharah with a glare of anger and hate… and pain. The emotions rolled off of her like wind in a storm. “Did he tell you why our brothers and sister died? Why we were scrambling and starving and relying on handouts?” and she scoffed again. “Di he tell you that when the strep outbreak happened, we asked for help from the Council? And that the Council sent a team of researchers, not doctors, to our lands? And those scientists studied the strain and took samples from us and monitored us and did nothing to stop it? Did he tell you those scientists- three Vulcans, an Andorian, and two Anticans- told us that they were only there to study? And when people… our people… MY people began dieing and we begged them to help; that they shrugged and didn’t do a damn thing? That one of them didn’t think any of us spoke anything other than Standard and said to his partner ‘When they die, make sure to get tissue samples.’? And when one of them actualy said they should get medical help, the leader of the research team said- and I quote- “This culture is dying anyway. The best thing wr could do for them is let them die so they become at least historically relevant. Besides.. they are only humans. Who cares?’?! Did he tell you that? Did he?! NO. Because he didn’t know. Because no one wanted to admit that the Federation thought that their own people were worthless.” She leaned back, breathing heavy and still glaring. “So go ahead. Be hurt.” and she looked away. “At least they would have saved you. You aren’t ‘only human’.”

Abigail Tenkiller

It was painful, deep into her soul. “It was probably a Vulcan who said it too,” she muttered. “What happened to your family, your tribe, is inexcusable, but I can’t change it. I wasn’t there, and I am not them. Neither is Yavia, or Dr Eraras, or the people you attacked today. There is no statute of limitations on death, and those people should be tried and made to pay for their crime. It is a crime. And no, I’m not saying that because I love your brother. I also know you won’t believe me because you don’t know me, not yet.” Abby was making a lot of assumptions about Sharah because she felt she was justified in hating her. Nothing Sharah could say would change her mind, not tonight.

She got up and walked to the computer and logged in, “For the record, they didn’t try to save me either.” She began typing on a very official form, and grabbing security footage of the room. Abby was under arrest so everything was being recorded. Sharah had friends at the Federation Medical Council, and within hours, the people on that particular research team and those that sent them would undergo an intensive investigation into medical malpractice and homicide by willful neglect. Not to mention a form of sentient trafficking by using people, against their will, as lab rats. It would not bring back those who died, but it would make sure those responsible faced justice.

Sharah

Abby watched her for a moment and then said “Who? Save you from what?” she asked Sharah’s back.

Abigail Tenkiller

Sharah looked over her shoulder at Abby, “Doctors, researchers, people who thought I was an interesting specimen to ‘study’.” She turned back to the screen and finished typing and then submitted the report she was working on. She turned fully to face Abby then and leaned a hip against the counter. “From a fatal medical condition I have. Don’t worry, it’s not contagious.”

Sharah

Abby’s eyes narrowed. “Fatal?” She paused. “Fatal how? Does Chuck know?”

Abby

“Yes, he and Yavia both know. Though they are both convinced I will beat the odds.” Sharah sighed. “Perhaps I will, I have so far. Half the people with my condition die in infancy, the rest in early childhood. Only a handful of us ever survive to adulthood.”

Sharah

Abby kept her eyes on Sharah. “What is the condition? And why do you think you won’t beat it?”

Abby