Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in One Step at a Time

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in One Step at a Time

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in One Step at a Time
Posted by… suppressed (61) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
She sighed again. “I know, and I try. It’s hard to sleep. The ship is always starting and stopping. People walk by my door all the time. It wakes me up no matter what I do.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

”....I hope at some point you’ll trust me to protect you the way I do Noril.” Sisnil said, so softly the radio barely registered it.

~ Zoi

She rolled over to face the radio. She did trust him. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her or let anyone else. She didn’tunderstand what he meant. “What do you mean?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“We have a close empathic and telepathic bond. When one is unable, the other is on alert. It’s a method of protection.” Sisnil sighed softly. “If either of us sense something, the other is immediately alerted.”

~ Zoi

Sisnil had alluded to that closeness before. “But I’m not telepathic. You know I don’t mind your telepathy, even though there are things… I wish you couldn’t see, I don’t mind. But I’m not telepathic,” she said again. She didn’t understand why he thought she didn’t trust him enough. Couldn’t he do that anyway?

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Because she wouldn’t let him stay in the room with her. “I know, Dee, so it’s always my job to make sure you are safe. I’m always on guard like that, for you.” He shrugged, though she couldn’t see it. “I mean, I am anyway, so don’t feel bad. Without Noril here, I can’t relax, ever.”

~ Zoi

He wasn’t responsible for her. He didn’t have to put himself under that kind of strain. At the same time she felt cherished and warm. “Can’t you hack your own security system so you feel a little more secure?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I… Already did,” Sisnil said. “Knowing an infiltration expert like Vash kind of erodes your trust in such things.”

~ Zoi

“Really? I thought you were the computer expert. She cooks, she fights, she mothers you all. Is there anything she doesn’t do?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“She can’t hack them, she can sneak around them.” Sisnil told her. “She… Well, she doesn’t do engineering. She can pilot, but not as well as others. She’s certainly not the muscle.”

~ Zoi

“Sneak around them?” She seemed like WonderWoman to Dradvia. “I thought all Orions were significantly stronger than other humanoids?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“But she’s only half Orion, half Deltan, so her strength isn’t like other Orions,” Sisnil said. “Besides, when I say muscle, I mean weapons expert.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia laughed softly. “Oh. I was thinking martial arts. But why does she make you not trust security systems?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Because if she can get past them, so can somebody else,” Sisnil said. “And we’re on a ship full of intelligence officers.”

~ Zoi

Well that made sense. “We aren’t all Intel officers,” she pointed out. “But what does that all have to do with what you said earlier?” About wishing she trusted him enough. “Is it because I’m not telepathic, so I can’t guard you like Noril could?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“No, no, Dee… It’s because your trauma won’t allow you to let me stay with you,” Sisnil explained. “And before you go there, I don’t blame you for that. It isn’t your fault.”

~ Zoi

“Oh.” She felt small and inadequate. How could he love her for very long? “Look, Sisnil, you aren’t responsible for protecting me. Don’t worry about me. I’ll adjust eventually. You just worry about yourself.” That was too much on him.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I can’t do that.” Sisnil said. “I care too much.”

~ Zoi

“You have to, Sisnil. You’ll make yourself sick trying to take care of everything.” Besides when he left, he would have to stop worrying. “You can’t change my instincts and responses. I have to learn to cope.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’ll be fine,” Sisnil replied easily. “I know you have to cope. I want to help you do that, not do it for you.”

~ Zoi

“I know. I just worry about you.” There was a quiet pause. He could hear her shift again. It had been forever since anyone made her feel cared for. It was like rain after a century of drought. “Thanks you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil let her feel the feeling of care and gratitude that washed over him. “Always, Dee.”

~ Zoi

He heard the quick surprised inhale as she recognized he was sharing his feelings with her. He wasn’t even in the same room! He had communicated with her while she was on the planet, but it still seemed remarkable to her.

She shifted onto her side again, pulled her blanket up, and hugged her pillow. She was feeling vulnerable and lost. She didn’t really know what to do with everything that had happened that day. She just… when she first said something it hadn’t been to just say good night, but to make sure he was still there. She still did, but she wanted him to have some rest for himself. “Good night, Sisnil.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Night, Dee,” Sisnil said. There was a silence, and then, “I’m gonna ask if you slept tomorrow, I’m hoping you’ll be able to say yes.”

~ Zoi

She paused as she set her Delta wave machine. “I will. I’ve turned my Delta waves on. Promise.” She smiled softly in the dark. Such a gentle sounding order. The man was contrary. She doubted he slept. “I hope you sleep too.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’ll try, Dee. I’ll try.” Sisnil said.

---

In the early hours of the morning, Sisnil woke with a chill, a headache, and stomach pain. Dee’s comment about making oneself sick seemed somewhat funny now. Not wanting to wake her if she wasn’t already, he reached out empathically to check if she was awake.

~ Zoi

She was awake. Dradvia was lost in thought, but not really focusing on anyone thing. More trying not to.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Dee?” He said into the radio. Oh, man, his voice was even hoarse. “You awake over there?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia opened her eyes, “Yeah.” She sat up. “Sisnil? What’s wrong. You don’t sound good.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’m fine. Just must have caught something,” he said. “Did you sleep?”

~ Zoi

“You’re sick??” He could hear her quickly getting up and moving across the room. Every other thing he said filed away for after she checked on him.

A minute later his door opened with her Medical override. Her hair was down, but a mess. She was wearing her pajamas - long thick cotton pants and a long sleeved high necked sleep shirt, and barefoot. She stopped beside his bed and opened her medkit and used her tricorder to scan him.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“You used a medical override?” It was the only way his door would’ve opened. And it would have to be her override specifically. “Did you sleep?” He repeated his question. Her scan showed an equivalent of a 102 fever and a viral bug that would account for his stomach pain. He’d probably also experience respiratory symptoms. It was a strain of some kind of flu or something.

~ Zoi

She nodded at his question, but which she was answering wasn’t clear, she was too busy. “I need a small blood sample.” She pressed an empty hypo to his neck and pressed the phlebotomy button. She set the tube across the trivorder scanner.

It beeped and she looked at the results. “Levodian flu. It usually runs for a maximum of 29 hours. You’ll have to stay in your quarters or sickbay for the duration.”

“My quarters, then.” He said

She loaded a hypo. “Luckily I can treat it. Tryptophan-lysine distillate will help with all the symptoms.” She pressed another hypo to his neck and there was the soft pop-hiss as the medicine went in.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Told you it was just a little bug,” he said. But he took her hand and smiled. “Thanks, Dee.”

~ Zoi

She rummaged in her kit, filled a hypo and then injected herself. “A little bug that is highly contagious. Not deadly, but contagious. I told you not resting enough would make you sick.”

Sisnil waved a hand dismissively, “Levodian flu is really common on Earth and in the central Federation, not so much in the outer edges and Orion space. It’s just something I picked up because I haven’t been exposed to it much.”

“Yes, but if you were well rested and not taxing your body, you would have most likely been able to fight it off. The other systems have worse diseases,” She scolded.

Sisnil harumphed stubbornly. “I’ll be fine,” he insisted.

She gave him that look. The one that said she was in charge and he was going to listen. “Yes you will because you are going to do exactly as I say. That starts with staying in bed.”

“Dee…” He complained like a kid.

“Sisssniiil,” she said giving him a look. “Complaining won’t help. And don’t try to charm me either.”

“No? Because it would work?” He teased.

Dradvia crossed her arms and stared him down. “Do you want to take that bet?”

“If I do will you keep acting all authoritative like that?” Sisnil replied, grinning.

Dradvia stared at him, having no idea why he was grinning but had the distinct impression he was poking fun at her. “If you don’t behave I’ll get mean,” she threatened, not quite convincingly because he knew how bad she felt for him being sick.

He loved it when she was like this instead of shy and wishy washy. He was still grinning like that. “No need to feel bad, you didn’t make me catch anything.”

An absolutely sassy look settled on her features. “I don’t feel bad for you. I feel bad for me. I’ve already been exposed so instead of exposing more people, I get to stay here nursing you all day. Now lay down and be still.” She set a trash can near him.

Sisnil laughed, hard. It made him cough. “And I’m sure you hate that.”

She patted his back soothingly. “Stop trying to rile me up, Cap’. I’ll give you a sedative. At least then I’ll have Simon all to myself.”

He smiled, “You’d like that, too.”

“Simon makes it all worth it. Now try to rest.”

She stood, “I’ll be back in a bit. I’m going to get you drinks and food. I’ll be back.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Okay,” Sisnil said, intending to push the sleep thing when she returned.

~ Zoi

Dradvia left, intending to go straight to the mess. She remembered at the last moment to return to her quarters to change into her uniform.

She also informed sickbay of a case of Levodian Flu. Most likely exposure at their last stop. People would have to be checked. She ordered several drinks and a variety of light but bland options incase his stomach was disagreeable.

She returned roughly 20 minutes later and set the assortment on his desk. She brought over an insulated mug. “Hot Autumn Sumac tea. It will ease your congestion and your cough.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

His stomach was obviously disagreeable because when she returned, he was emptying it into a trash can by his bed. When he was finished he went to wash up. “Dee, I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to eat that.”

~ Zoi

“Lay down,” she brought over a bowl with cool water and a cloth. She gave him a little water to clear his mouth and then bathed his face with the cloth. “I didn’t think you would, it is for later. Bland and light.” She reached into her kit again and loaded a hypo with anti nausea meds. “That should help. Lay back, take slow breaths.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

There was no more complaining from his as he lay back and followed her directions. “Give it time, whatever you gave me will kick in.”

~ Zoi

“I know it will. Once it does, drink the tea. It will help immensley.” Simon appeared and cried pitifully at Sisnil. “Is he hungry? Where is his food?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“In there.” He pointed to a small cabinet. “The bowls are in that corner.” He pointed again. “Ugh,” he groaned, because of his stomach. “What’s in the tea?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia stood up and moved over to the cabinet. Simon cried at Sisnil until he heard the sound of food being opened. He galloped over only to careen into her leg because he couldn’t stop. Dradvia laughter quietly. “Calm down I’m getting it, Simon.” She knelt down to put the food in the bowl while wrestling with a very eager kitten that tried to eat out of the can. It was frustrating and highly amusing.

Sitting back down on the edge of the bed, Dradvia bathed his face with the cool cloth. “Autum Sumac. Every culture has one of those home remedies for flu symptoms. This is from Risa. It’s like Terran ginger, but has a harsher bite with a sweet after taste. What it really does is calm the acid production in your stomach, even out the pH. The steam and spice help clear your sinuses. Being able to tolerate food and more drink helps hydrate you and give you energy so your body can fight the infection.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

The cool cloth felt really good, cooling his overheated skin. He sat up and smelled the tea carefully. The scent was sharp, but pleasant. He took a sip. It wasn’t his favourite taste, but it wasn’t bad. Still, he sipped slowly. As soon as Simon had finished eating, the normally hyperactive kitten jumped on the bed and lay down on Sisnil’s lap, purring loudly.

~ Zoi

Dradvia watched him carefully. If he couldn’t keep the tea down, she would have to give him a fluid infusion. She pet Simon gently. “You know he’s sick, don’t you.”

He set the tea down so quickly it sloshed over the side of the mug and some of it got on Simon’s fur. The cat mewed in annoyance and began licking it off himself.

Dradvia towel dried Simon quickly. She wasn’t sure if the tea was safe for cats or not. Then she cleaned up the rest of the spill.

“How’s your stomach feeling?” She asked Sisnil.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Fine,” he choked out. It obviously wasn’t true but he was being stubborn. It was roiling and he was trying not to need the trash can again. “Does Levodian flu normally cause such terrible nausea?”

~ Zoi

“In some extreme cases it does.” She sighed thinking through her Medical classes. “You weren’t innoculated were you? We’ll have to update those when your better. It won’t stop you from getting sick, but it will lesson the symptoms.” She turned to her kit again. “I’m going to give you something stronger for the nausea.” She placed the hypo against his neck. “Try to roll onto your left side. That might help.”

“Vaccines don’t make it to all the colonies, and when they do, homeless children aren’t the priority,” Sisnil said with a shrug. “I wasn’t vaccinated for much aside baby vaccines.” He rolled onto his side, but the motion itself proved too much and he reached for the trash before hurling into it quite aggressively.

Dradvia would have to look at Sisnil’s on-boarding physical results. Whoever did it should have run a blood screen to determine what vaccines he needed. That was laziness. She brushed his hair back and then wiped his face again. She got up and brought back a small bottle of water. “Here, rinse your mouth.”

He rinsed with the water and then drank a few sips. “Don’t blame Tessan, I wouldn’t let him do anything.”

“That’s irresponsible. What if you caught something while you were here and took it back to your crew? Why not take advantage of what we have while you are here?” She was irritated. “You will let me run the tests and I will give you the inoculations. I will add them to your kit too.”

“Better than getting killed by biological warfare or something,” Sisnil said.

“Sisnil, now you are being ridiculous and faulty. You are not those things. Just say, ‘Yes Dr. I will let you run the tests and give me the vaccines.’”

“Fine, fine.... I will let you do it. Only you.” Sisnil said. He was eyeing her, but there was affection in it. “I promise.”

“Good. I promise I’ll be the one to do it. As soon as you are better,” she moved a damp lock of hair off his forehead before using the cloth again.

Again she took the cool cloth and bathed his face and the back of his neck.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He rested his hand on hers. His hands felt warm, but the meds were lowering the fever. “You don’t have to do this, you know. Take care of me. I’ll be alright.”

~ Zoi

“You can’t stop me,” she said in that tone. “Even if I wasn’t a doctor, I would be here.” She wouldn’t let anyone else take care of him.

He smiled and relaxed a little into his bed. “I won’t fight you on that one.”

She looked at him and felt his forehead dramatically. “What? What did you say?”

“I’m dying,” he fed into the joke, grinning.

“No, no, that is not what you said. Try again.” She stared at him, waiting.

“I won’t fight you on that one?” He said, the questioning tone questioning if that was what she wanted repeated.

“Yes! That was it. I haven’t lost my mind then. I’ll hold you to that, Sisnil,” she poked his chest lightly with a grin.

“Besides if I leave you will be up and doing things I’ve told you not to do. I have to stay so you behave.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He laughed until he had to sit up he was coughing so hard. When it subsided, “Would I now?”

~ Zoi

She rubbed his back as he coughed. Then she handed him the tea. “Drink,” she ordered, “it will help.”

“Yes you would. Don’t deny it.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He sipped some of the tea. The stronger meds help him keep it down. “Maybe I would.”

~ Zoi

“Half truths. I expected better.” She tsked and shook her head. “Do you want a clean shirt?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He nodded and pointed to the closet. Inside it was surprisingly neat, it looked like he’d picked up some non-replicated clothes on that starbase they’d stopped at. All in his typical rogueish style. There were some simple t shirts, that was probably best today.

~ Zoi

She found a shirt she thought would be looser than the others and also lighter so he didn’t over heat. She brought it back. “Here you go. Do you need help, or would you like me to leave?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He took his shirt off while he answered, “No, and no.” It was only a second before he slipped the new one on and straightened it, but long enough for her to see that there were scars on his body, from both illness and violence. He carried the signs of long-term malnutrition though he wasn’t anymore. He was not overly muscular, just toned and in shape. He didn’t look like he should be as strong as he was.

~ Zoi

Dradvia was a doctor and wasn’t phased by the body, but this was Sisnil. She flushed slightly looking away. She took the shirt and put in a small basket of laundry she was in the closet and then moved the trashcan. “Computer, run aneseptic quarantine protocol. Medical Authorization Dradvia alpha romero.”

“C’mon, Dee, it’s just me,” Sisnil teased her lightly.

The computer trilled and a staticy blue and gold field swept the room. After the trash can was clean and the room felt and smelled fresher and much cleaner. Simon’s bowl was also clean of the remnants of his food.

Dradvia returned and sat down, taking the cloth and bathing his face again.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He was laying on his left. His stomach hurt and he was shaking with chills. He was starting to cough more regularly. He looked like he felt miserable, and he was still trying to hide it. “Are you gonna catch this?”

~ Zoi

She knew the cold cloth would be miserable for him, but she had to keep his fever down. The Levodian flu ran hot and fast. He would be feeling better by this time tomorrow, but it would be rough. “Maybe. I gave myself a booster vaccine right after I gave you the Tryptophan-lysine distillate. I should be fine.”

Dradvia knew though there was a good chance she gave herself the booster too late. The reason why made her flush and she busied herself with wringing the cloth out a few times. Not that she would change anything.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“You’re lying to me,” he said, looking up at her. “You think you gave it to yourself too late… Because you were focused on me.” He smiled, “Never lie to a mind reader, Dee.”

~ Zoi

“No.” Dradvia was quick to deny it. “I am not lying. I should be fine. I had my vaccination and just had a booster. There is always a chance since I didn’t take a booster until after you were showing symptoms. And,” her face grew scarlet so fast it couldn’t be missed, “well, ummm, I… you… I mean we…wewerekissinglastnight.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil laughed until he started to cough again. “I wouldn’t have had I known. I don’t want you sick.” He said.

~ Zoi

Shyly Dradvia admitted, “I know you wouldn’t, but it was worth it.” Concern immediately replaced her shyness as he coughed. She rubbed his back as he coughed. “Here drink some more.” She lifted the still warm tea to his lips so he could drink.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

The comment made him smile. “Don’t worry, Dee, I’m alright,” he said after he sipped some of the tea. “A 29 hour bug, right?”

~ Zoi

She nodded, “You will be alright. You won’t feel like it though.” She nodded wiping his face again. “Yeah 29 hours. When did you start feeling sick?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I woke up like this, right before I talked to you. So, four hours ago?” Sisnil said honestly.

~ Zoi

Add an hour for symptoms to get bad enough to wake him. “So about lunch tomorrow you’ll start feeling better.” She picked the cup back up. “Try to drink some more. If you get dehydrated I’ll have to move you to sickbay.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I’m not going to sickbay - but if I drink anymore, I think I’m gonna throw up again,” Sisnil said stubbornly. “I’ve been sicker for longer, I’m fine.”

~ Zoi

She gave him that look again, crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Sisnil Zoi you either trust me or you don’t. I would not take you to sickbay if it is not necessary. So if I say you go, you go.” She didn’t like that the anti nausea meds weren’t working.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He looked up at her like a kid in trouble with their mother. It was a comical look to see on his face. “I- I trust you, Dee.”

~ Zoi

She nodded firmly once. “You know me, Sisnil, like no one ekse does or ever has. You know I keep my promises. I’ve promised you I won’t leave you alone in sickbay. You have also promised to get medical help if I can’t help you. Well I’m here and I’m not leaving you alone.” She was still giving him that look.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

She had a stare fit for any Captain when she had her confidence. Sometimes Sisnil wondered what she might’ve done if the Syndicate hadn’t sold her to Lokhar. “Okay. Fine. But only if I have to.” He relented.

~ Zoi

Dradvia actually rolled her eyes at him. “Obviously.” She adjusted the sheet around him. “Try to sleep. I will be here the whole time.” She knew he had a hard time resting when he was vulenerable.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil grinned and looked at her. “Okay. Wanna play with Simon? He needs to, even if all he wants to do is lay on me.”

~ Zoi