Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in So… This Is It

Posted by Civilian Sisnil Zoi (Intelligence Consultant) in So… This Is It

Posted by Ensign Dradvia (Medical Officer) in So… This Is It
Posted by… suppressed (69) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“I don’t know, Dee, I don’t know,” he said softly. “We just have to wait, right?”

~ Zoi

“Wait and handle the symptoms as best we can. And I have to be very precise in dosing and timing.” Dradvia leaned closer, gently rubbing his hand. It’s okay if it’s too much, if you want to escape the pain. It’s okay if you need to share it. She wouldn’t say those things aloud and have others hear, but she thought them anyway.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He took a shaky breath. “It would hurt, Dee. You’d feel what I do, all of it.”

~ Zoi

“I know. I have no idea how much, but if it gives you relief… I just worry what will happen to you when you stop.” Would the shock kill him? Would the relief help? Or would that damage his telepathy, giving the poison room to do more damage?

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I don’t know what will happen,” Sisnil said. “Just that the pain is so intense, I can barely think.”

~ Zoi

“Then you need to go back to sleep. That way you aren’t aware of any of it.” Dradvia shook her head before he could protest. “There is no legitimate reason you need to choose to suffer.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I just woke up.” Sisnil said. “Going back to sleep is giving up, going backwards. I won’t do that.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia gave him a look like she was trying to explain something to a stubborn child. “It is not going backwards to do what is making you better. It will move you forward through your recovery. Straining your body and pushing beyond what it can handle will move you backwards.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded, a small movement of his head. “I just don’t want to sleep.” He said. But his voice was tight with pain.

~ Zoi

“I know.” She rubbed his arm, again being more openly affectionate than normal. “I miss talking to you. I just want you to get better.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Her unusual affection almost worried him, but he really liked it. “I do too.” He said softly. “I have to be there for you. To protect you.”

~ Zoi

It wasn’t a conscious thing. Dradvia wasn’t aware of it. It was a subconscious instinct to make sure he knew how she felt. To ignore her own discomforts, trauma, and fears for him.

Dradvia wanted more than anything for Sisnil to be around to protect her… it was a strange sensation for Sisnil when her thoughts and emotions just locked up. There was love, affection, the need for him to be around to protect her. Her thoughts had been swirling somewhere but they just stopped. Like an old digital video disk paused on a single picture of a scene. There was something underneath it she wasn’t ready to face.

Both her hands slipped around his, holding it. “I thought that was my job. When you’re sick or injured, I worry about staying safe, not you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil was aware of those kinds of thought-walls, the minds defense against things it could not yet face. He didn’t push. He smiled up at her. “What about when I’m both?” He asked, with a pained, stressed, weak version of his playful grin.

~ Zoi

It drew her in, that grin of his. She wished he could hold her. She was scared, though her mind couldn’t admit that. “Then you get me all to yourself for the duration. I keep us safe and I get to take care of you.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil desperately wished he could hold her. But he suspected that would be a bad idea on many fronts. “You do an excellent job of that, taking care of me.”

~ Zoi

“I try. Even though you hate it most of the time.” Dradvia grinned and her eyes danced at the last part. He hated it, but she thought some of it was for her benefit. To tease her. At least she let herself believe that.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

It absolutely was. He didn’t know what he’d do without her. “Well, maybe hate is a strong word…” He said, smiling again. It seemed like his pain had decreased a little.

~ Zoi

Dradvia laughed but it was so quiet he would only know because he sensed her amusement. “Irritating, grating, annoying? Are those better?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Maybe sometimes but I prefer endearing, adorable, caring,” he said gently. He took a deep breath, and then, “I just don’t like to look weak, and if you need care, you’re weak.” He shrugged, wincing a little, “I guess I’m saying this because I feel like death.”

~ Zoi

Oh the gossip that would spread out of sickbay over the blush the heated Dradvia’s cheeks from those words. She bit her lower lip and glanced down, shyness and warmth filling her.

“I know. I understand. You’d rather be in your quarters where no one can see. I wish I could make that happen, but I can’t. There is no magic pill I can give you to hide the symptoms.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded. “I know. And you won’t let me go there because there are far more resources here.” He looked at her and squeezed her hand, again, it was a very light squeeze, “At least you are here.”

~ Zoi

“Of course, I am. There is no where and no one more important.” Fer fingers flexed gently at his squeeze. “I need the resources here. I can’t set that up in your quarters.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He nodded. “I know. If I’d had that heart incident in my quarters…” He looked up at her. “I don’t like it, but I understand it.”

~ Zoi

The sound of the alarm stopped Dradvia’s reply. Again she sprayed the numbing agent on his neck before taking the blood sample and putting it through the computer. The nurse who was assisting this shift stood beside her as they waited. They were tense, hoping, but trying not to be discouraged.

Sisnil would almost be lighted headed from the intense relief he felt from Dradvia alone. It was working. There was now more antidote in his system than poison. The nurse was an older woman, but not elderly. She had the feeling of grandmother about her though. She wrapped a arm around Dradvia’s shoulders and squeezed.

The nurse grabbed Dradvia’s PaDD for her so she could check the dosage measurements. Dradvia prepared the antidote and then two additional hypos. When she finally came back to him, she was smiling. She pressed the hypo to his neck and then gently rubbed the spot to disburse the medicine. Her face came into full view as she leaned over him, “It’s working.”

She kissed him, very briefly, caught up in the giddy relief and happiness that he was going to be alright. “I can give you higher doses of pain medication and Bromocriptine now. You’ll see a huge difference.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Thank the gods,” he breathed in relief. He kissed her. She was gentle and he’d missed it so much he smiled as she pulled away. “See? I told you, you weren’t failing anything.’

~ Zoi

She was uncomfortable with the praise. “You aren’t out of the ocean yet. The effects in your nervous system are still extremely risky. We won’t know the full effects or damage for… well for a long while. It could still cause a cardiac incident or stroke. But, the odds are much lower now.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“So? That’s not your fault,” Sisnil said with confidence. “And if I do, you’ll be there. I’ll be fine.” He smiled, “So I should be able to do more on stronger meds, right?”

~ Zoi

“Maaayyyybe,” Dradvia drew out the word. “The meds will make you more comfortable. But I still can’t let the forcefield up more. The tremors start. You won’t feel them as painfully but that doesn’t mean they aren’t bad. Keeping your nervous system calm is the best way to minimize any long term damage.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He let out an exhasperated sigh like a child. “Come on, Deeeeeeeee I want to hug you,” he complained, looking up at her.

~ Zoi

Her face got even redder, and a couple of the staff paused to glance their way and then quickly move on. Dradvia figited with the hypo in her hand. She wanted him to hug her too. “Let’s get these other meds in you first and see how you feel. Then maybe we can try lightening the forcefield a bit more.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Okay, then do that.” He said. “I can’t get better if I can’t move, no?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia gave him both the hypos and then sat down on her chair. “Yes you can. Right now not moving is what will get you better. Later, moving will be key. So much so that you will hate me for other reasons.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Oh?” Sisnil grinned. “How so? Is that a challenge?” He asked and smiled at her.

~ Zoi

Dradvia gave him a funny and confused look for a long moment, and then shook her head with a hint of a grin. “No, I’m serious. You’re going to need intense physical and occupational therapy to recover from the nerve damage. It will hurt and some days even tiny things will feel impossible.” And she would nag him the whole way. She wasn’t a PT but she knew if she didn’t go with him he wouldn’t do it. Or, well maybe he would because if he didn’t he would always be physically weak from now on.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

It depended on his mood and motivation and will to complete the PT. It would be hard and those things would be critical to his success. His ability to recover also depended on the extent of the damage, but that was something that needed to be looked at later.

He smiled one of those cocky smiles of his. “Can you see me giving up on anything?”

~ Zoi

Deadvia smiled and shook her head, “No, that’s why you will recover. But you hate taking orders.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“I give the orders,” Sisnil said with another little shrug. “Never was very good with following other peoples’.”

~ Zoi

“Well, you will have to. You’re intelligent, but you aren’t a doctor or a physical therapist. Just like I’m not a programmer or a fighter.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil grinned sheepishly. “We’ll see about that.” The increase in meds was helping his pain level, and she could tell both by looking at him and his indicators. He still seemed tired, weak, sickly, for lack of a better word, but his pain level was coming down some.

~ Zoi

Dradvia crossed her arms, her back straightening and stared him down. “Yes we will. I promised to return you healthy, and I do not break my promises.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled, he did love when she got that way. “I’m just happy I’ve lived long enough for you to look at me like that again.”

~ Zoi

Her brow scrunched pulling her jirisa down. “Like what?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Like that. All… cross with me. It’s cute.” Sisnil replied. He smiled.

~ Zoi

Dradvia was horrified. “No!” Then quieter, “No, I’m not mad at you. I’m just worried. Why would you think I’m mad at you?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Not mad, no,” Sisnil said, moving his thumb across her hand. “Hmm… Stern is a better word, I think.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia pouted, really pouted. “Well, you don’t listen if I’m not.” She sounded quite put out about it, too.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil chuckled. “I wish I could hug you, you know.” He said. “I’m not very good at listening to people, Dee.”

~ Zoi

The playfully sarcastic thought ‘oh really, I hadn’t noticed’ tripped through her mind. Dradvia didn’t say it though. “Well you are good at surviving and taking care of yourself, when you aren’t sick or injured,” she hurried to add with a grin. “So my hope is that you will realize following through with the rehab will help you recover those skills more quickly.”

Besides she wanted him to heal as fast as possible so her could hug her again.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil grinned, “Cam you imagine other people taking care of me?” He asked. “That mental image looks ridiculous.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia shook her head. “It does not. You let Noril care for you.” She held up a hand, “Yes I know, he is your brother, your twin, but you let Vash and Eli care for you too. There have been others. Have you never used a public clinic? Even one that was poor and ill-equiped. Even if you can’t trust us, can you least respect our skill as doctors? And trust me to not let them hurt you?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“Of course I have, with a fake name and taking off as soon as I was able.” Sisnil replied. He looked up at her and nodded, “Of course I trust you, Dee. Just… You know… only you.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia started to reassure him, but something then occurred to her. “We don’t have a PT on board. We’ll have to use the EMH. Can you handle that?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

He thought a moment and nodded. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia gave him this shrewd but playful look that had a hunt of mischeviousness to it. “No reprogramming the EMH.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil grinned again. “Heeeeey, you’re taking my fun away! How am I supposed to change its rehab requirements now?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia grinned, but was trying hard not too. “You aren’t; that’s the point. And just to make sure, if you do, I won’t let you hug me anymore.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“You wouldn’t last two days like that,” Sisnil replied, smiling.

~ Zoi

“I’m more stubborn than you.” Oh it would be awful for sure, “But nothing is more important to me than you getting better. So I will gladly suffer.” She nodded her head firmly.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

“More stubborn? Than me?” Sisnil said, but his smile said he appreciated her words. “I’ll be alright, Dee. You’ll see.”

~ Zoi

“Of course you will, I’ll make sure of it.” She nodded her head again like that was the final word on it. She looked up at the readings on his bed and picked up her tricorder. She tapped on the screen and then took the scanner so she could see how his nerves were reacting to being awake and the higher dose of meds.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

His pain was lower, the higher dose of meds was helping his body regulate itself, and that was keeping his nerves calmer. He seemed to be doing okay. “When will we know what is and isn’t damaged?”

~ Zoi

Dradvia glanced at her PaDD where she had copies of the notes and research. “We can’t start testing that until all the echtallin is out of your system. And your body has a chance to naturally heal. I’ll do some neural regeneration treatment to heal what damage I can, and then… we wait and see, unfortunately.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded. He closed his eyes for a moment. “It’ll be fine, Dee. It’s always fine.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia wished she had his optimism, but she was always so scared. “Well. Do you want to try and sit up a little?”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded eagerly, though it was still not a large movement. “Yes, I do. I feel like I’m one with a bed.”

~ Zoi

Deadvia didn’t remove the forcefield, but the bed slowly began to lift. She stopped it when he was at a 45 degree angle. Then she removed the field from around his arms. That way he didn’t have to work so hard to stay sitting up.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

It seemed to hurt as the bed went up, but Sisnil was okay. He rested for a bit with the bed at a 45 degree angle, laying against it. When she release his arms, he put his hand out for her. His arm moved slow, his muscles twitched. “Feels stiff.” He said.

~ Zoi

Dradvia slipped her hand into his. The warmth she felt made her realize how cold she’d felt the last two days. “You will be, so please be careful and gentle.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

His grip was weak, the same as when she’d held his hand when it was under the force field. “I am,” he said, and smiled at her. “I feel like I should be dead.”

~ Zoi

Inside Dradvia winced. Sisnil should be dead, and for a moment she saw every person she had ever nursed and lost to that d@mn poison. The helplessness and uselessness of her pitiful skills. The cruelty and the torture of it all.

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil reached his free hand up to her face. His arm moved slowly and unsteadily, his muscles twitching, his arm shaking. His fingers seemed reluctant to bend, and he ended up brushing just the finger tips against her face. “You saved me, Dee.”

~ Zoi

She blinked quickly, startled out of the memories. Dradvia reached up and took his hand gently. She could feel the tremor from the strain, and she lowered Sisnil’s arm back down. “Whoever made this, should be forced to live with it. It’s horrible.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil smiled sadly. “If only that were how it worked.” He said. Moving his arms had hurt, and so he didn’t try again. “If this is what my arms are like, I don’t think I want to know what my legs are like.”

~ Zoi

Dradvia gave him a kind look, “Probably pretty bad. You haven’t been allowed to move much for the last 36 hours. It was necessary, but you’ll be extremely stiff. Then all the other complications. We’ll work on it slowly. I know you hate that, but in this case slow is better.”

She turned to reach for her stool and sat down. “Are you hungry? I can get you another smoothie.”

Ens. Dradvia, Medical Officer

Sisnil nodded. “Yes, please.” He tried to make a fist, but his fingers just weren’t cooperating. He tried to sit up the rest of the way, but his muscles felt weak and his body wasn’t having it. He lay back on the bed. “I might need the bathroom too.”

~ Zoi