Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Bethany Kovra Gadi (Chief of Security) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against
Posted by… suppressed (41) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Harkins bustled off and returned in a moment with the juice. She had put a straw in it and held it for him so he could drink easily.

“She’s at it again, Doctor.”

Th’rethiss sighed, “What is it this time?”

“Claims she doesn’t need to lie down for her hypo. She can sit in a chair just fine. Told Jonan if he wanted to be stubborn about it she would just use her patient right of refusing the medication. I don’t think she understands the balance issues we are seeing are a result of the seizure and not just extended fatigue.”

His antenna stiffened in frustration. “I can’t stand Security. Always think they are indestructible. Alright, let’s finish here and we will try, again, to make her see reason.”

Harkins

Aasrel was sipping the juice while he listened to them. No doubt they meant Bethany. “Let me talk to her. She’ll listen to me.” He interjected. He set the juice down on the table and shifted like he was gonna set up but decided against it. “Or if she could stay here, she’ll do it.”

~ Aasrel

With a look from Th’rethiss, Harkins lifted Izei’s bed a bit further and then left the room. He leveled a perturbed look at his DH. “No, she can follow Doctor’s orders like everyone else. I am not inclined to give in to her childish tantrum and threat to risk her health. I will confine and restrain her to a biobed if I must. I am surprised you are willing to indulge such behavior.”

“Necessary treatment or no, you have no right to confine her. Not unless you can prove mental incompetency.” Aasrel held a steady gaze with Th’rethiss. It wasn’t quite as effective as usual, his surgery had done a number on him. “If she wanted to refuse treatment until she dies, that’s her right. It would be stupid, but you can’t stop her.”

He set his PaDD down and crossed his arms. “I do sympathize with your situation, but we are not equipped nor do we have resources available if something goes wrong.” She sighed and pinched his nose. “I do understand her frantic demand to use what was already taken and how the fear of losing her own life enhances that. I absolutely will not play games with her or you about necessary care. She can lay down while the worst side-effects pass. You will both survive another half hour apart. If you think you can reason with her, then speak with her. If she will not listen, I will be required to force the issue.”

“I don’t think you do understand the situation. Not hers or mine. I’m not interested in your explanation nor what you consider ‘games’. I won’t have you forcing patients into anything and once I’m back in my position I will see to that.”

Th’rethiss stepped out of the room, looking irritated and fed-up. Bethany appeared a moment later with a cheeky grin and slid I to her seat. “Oh you’re sitting up some and have juice. That’s a good sign. How do you feel?”

Bethany

Aasrel looked irritated, frustrated, and like he might have a headache. “I’m okay.” He said, offering her a little smile. “You managed to thoroughly irritate Th’rethiss, didn’t you?”

~ Aasrel

Bethany at least looked sheepish. “I wasn’t trying to irritate him. I was giving Jonan a hard time, Harkins heard, too it too literally and tattled on me.” She shrugged, “They are all far too serious. Except Jonan. He knew I was joking. I love a Klingon sense of humor.” She shrugged again. “Besides you know I wouldn’t refuse my medication. That would mean I’m giving up, and I promised not to do that. Besides Th’rethiss thinks I’m a pain and a jerk anyway. It will rock his world when I’m cooperative.” She laughed softly.

Bethany

His argument with Th’rethiss had obviously worked him up. “You wouldn’t refuse it, but you would threaten to if it meant getting to stay with me.” Aasrel gave her a look. “I told him if I talked to you you’d be cooperative.” He shifted a little and sat up - trying to ignore his dizziness. Then he finished off his juice. “Jonan is a good nurse.”

~ Aasrel

Oh she’d made him upset. She hadn’t meant to. She was just going a bit crazy laying about for no reason. Though she was assured there was good reason. She stood up quickly to steady him. She gritted her teeth silently against the light headedness. It passed quickly, but still there. “He is a good nurse. Your whole staff is.” There was the issue, it was his department, and she should be more aware of how things looked. “I’ll cooperate, promise. No more joking with the medical staff. I’m not trying to make their job more difficult. I’m just going a bit crazy.” She put slight pressure on his shoulders. “Come on, lay back, then I’ll go get my hypo and be back when they let me get up.”

Bethany

Aaarel sighed softly. “I’m not upset with you. I don’t want you to quit joking with the medical staff. Just… be careful, okay? Th’rethiss said your unbalance is a result of your seizure.” He resisted her attempt to guide him back. “I’ll be fine, really. I’m healthy, the dizziness will wear off.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany gave him a look. “If I have to be careful, so do you.” Bethany grinned. That one that was playful and teasing and flippant, and as he would know by now, a mask for fear and worry. “If I don’t get up and move around, I can’t remind my body what to do.”

Bethany

“I didn’t have a seizure,” Aaarel replied stubbornly. He nodded and looked at her, taking her hand gently. “You’re right, moving around is good. Just do it carefully.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany gave him a stubborn incredulous look. “No, you had brain surgery and have symptoms similar to a concussion. Th’rethiss, and you confirmed, it would be a long recovery. That we have to be patient and follow Doctor’s orders. You have to be cooperative too.”

Bethany

Aaarel huffed and plopped back to the bed - reclined, but not all the way flat. “Fiiiiine, fine. Go get your meds. Then be right back?” He looked at her hopefully. He didn’t know why he wanted her there so badly. He wasn’t afraid of sickbay or anything like that and the surgery had gone fine. But still he just… didn’t want to be alone.

~ Aasrel

Bethany held back a smirk as he huffed at her. “I will be back as soon as they let me. They are quite adamant that I lay down for 30 minutes after.” Bethany wasn’t afraid of sickbay either. Aasrel’s issue was different than hers, but it helped to have him there to go through it with her.

Aasrel nodded. “As they should be. You’re already lightheaded. The meds will make it worse.”

Bethany got up and moved back into the main bay. She laid down on her biobed, folded her hands under her head and closed her eyes. The thing was, Bethany could be quiet, unobtrusive, and sneaky when she needed to be. So five minutes later Harkins came into his room looking for her. “Well, where did she get off to now?”

Bethany

“She said she was going back to her own bed to get her meds. She never showed up?” Aaarel asked, shooting up and swinging his legs over to go look for Bethany. He gripped the side of the bed as dizziness made the room spin violently. “Where else would she go?”

~ Aasrel

The fall risk alarm went off the same time Harkins rushed over. “Dr. Izei! Lay down.” The woman was formidable and, willing or not, had him sitting back down.

When the nurse touched him to steady him and make him sit, she grabbed and jolted his implants and he flinched hard and snapped, “Don’t touch me! I’m fine!” Then he leaned heavily on her, the dizziness making it difficult to tell which way was up. “Sorry. Just be careful.” Then he was sitting again.

Jonan appeared having heard the alarm and hurried over to help. “What happened?”

“I came to get Gadi, but she’s not here. Dr. Izei decided to get up. Get him settled and I’ll look for her.” She silenced the alarm.

Jonan scowled. “Look for her? She’s in bed. I gave her the hypo 5 minutes ago. I actually think she’s asleep.” He shrugged his massive shoulders. “I can never tell with her though.”

Harkins looked up and bustled over to the door and blinked. “Oh… I never saw her come out.” She couldn’t decide of she was irritated that she didn’t see Bethany leave or pleased she was cooperating. “It seems you talked some sense into her Dr. Izei.”

Bethany

“Of course I did. Told Th’rethiss she’d listen to me.” Aaarel said. He was laying back, like he was supposed to be, mostly because the room was still spinning hard and it was making him feel a little nauseous. He sighed a breath of relief. “I’m glad she’s where she’s supposed to be and I’m glad she’s sleeping.”

~ Aasrel

Ah, but Bethany was not sleeping. The sound of the alarm had pulled her from the light meditative trance, the fact it was coming from Aasrel’s room, sent her heart racing into a panic. She sat up and stood like someone had shocked her. She gritted her teeth forcing her body to function past the dizzy lightheadedness and moved towards his room.

“Cmdr Gadi?”

Bethany had a will of iron and ignored the nurse. The nurse seeing the lack of color and open fear decided to help her rather than fight with her. Bethany stopped outside the door, she didn’t want to be in the way.

Her fear was unfounded however. Aasrel was fine, which was confirmed a moment later by whispered reassurances from the nurse. Bethany nodded and moved away silently back to her bed.

Bethany

Aaarel didn’t see her. He had his eyes closed, focusing on letting the dizziness fade. His headache had never gone away. In fact, it was getting worse, his head was hurting more, enough he didn’t feel he could think completely clearly.

He wanted to be let up though so he could sit with Bethany. She was so sick… what if she suddenly got worse, and he wasn’t there? That was why he was pushing so hard to sit up more despite the dizziness. If he could do that, they’d let him sit with her.

~ Aasrel

The problem with modern medicine was tricorders and biobeds and other advanced pieces of medical tech could detect the levels of pain and dizziness he was experiencing. Faking it didn’t work. That was the same for Bethany as well. She stayed on the bed, trying to calm herself. If her heart rate didn’t slow, she was going to be in for it, and someone would tell Aasrel eventually.

She was scared for him. She wanted him to heal fully, and to do that he had to give it time. Bethany let out a slow frustrated sigh. She had to do the same. Except she wasn’t healing, she was just buying time.

Bethany

Ah, but everyone would try to fake it anyway. He peeked his eyes open to check the time, seeing how long before Bethany could come back. Then closed them again. He wished he could sleep, but… no, there was no way. He waited quietly, trying to ignore the headache as the dizziness began to subside.

~ Aasrel

After a full half hour, Jonan told Bethany she could get up. She had managed to relax enough that her heart rate was her new ‘resting normal’. So it was higher than normal, but low for her. He was taking meal orders for the galley and would return with food. He expected her to eat.

Bethany made her way into his room. He seemed asleep, and so she sat quietly in the chair watching him. His face had a pinched pained quality around his eyes and corners of his mouth. She was, at that moment, more scared for him than she was herself.

Bethany

His eyes remained closed for a few minutes though he wasn’t actually sleeping. Then, “Bethany?” He asked, opening them slowly and looking at her. He reached for her hand and smiled. “They finally let you up?”

~ Aasrel

She squeezed his hand and brushed back his hair. “Yeah, finally. How are you? You look like you’re in pain.”

Bethany

It took Aasrel a second to answer. “Just a headache. I’m okay.” He squeezed her hand gently. “Are you feeling better? Your meds should be working again,” he said, looking at her a moment, then closing his eyes again.

~ Aasrel

Her forehead furrowed in concern. That didn’t sound okay. He was taking longer to answer than he had earlier. Maybe he was just tired?

“I feel fine. Well as fine as I do lately. Jonan is bringing food in a bit. I’m sure he will bring you some juice if you want.” Something was wrong. He could barely focus on her. Th’rethiss said dizziness and concussion like confusion was normal. The headache or post surgical pain should be getting better. Should she get someone? “Do you want some more juice?”

Bethany

Aasrel shook his head gently and then made a face, the slight movement not helping the pain in his head. A second passed, then he mumbled, “Maybe later.” He didn’t open his eyes but he did smile. “That’s good, you’re feeling better.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany looked up at the readouts and they didn’t look the same but she didn’t know what that meant. She forced a lightness to her voice. “So tell me about this Betazoid movie you’re going to share with me.” She wanted him to talk, act a little normal. He really looked like he was in pain.

Bethany

Aasrel took a moment to think before responding. His voice was soft, as if he were tired, but different. “I hadn’t decided which one yet… what genre do you like?” He managed to look at her again, for a short time, then his gaze wandered around the room a bit, not really focused.

~ Aasrel

His voice sounded odd, but she couldn’t quite place what it was that was bothering her. “Hmmm, comedy is always good. Or we could be cliché and watch a romance. Ohhh, I bet Betazoid horror movies are awesome.” She laughed, but she stopped suddenly. He didn’t look right and he wasn’t focused. Visually. “Aasrel, what’s wrong?”

Bethany

“There’s a good classic horror movie I could show you.” He was going to start trying to describe it, but she stopped laughing suddenly and he looked at her, then away again. “…I just feel a little… off. I’ll be okay, I think. Once my head stops hurting.” It was a little bit slurred, and he seemed like he was starting to get worse.

~ Aasrel

Bethany shook her head, more to herself. She reached over and pressed the button for the nurse. “I’m getting the nurse.” She squeezed his hand to reassure him, but more herself.

Harkins entered and looked at Aasrel. “Dr. Izei?”

“Something’s wrong,” Bethany interjected. “He’s having trouble answering questions. It’s taking him longer to answer than it was, and his voice is slurring. He said his head hurts and he feels off. He can’t keep his gaze focused.”

Bethany

“I’m okay,” Aasrel argued in the same soft, slurred voice. His gaze still focuslessly wandered the room.

Harkins looked at his monitors with a frown. “I’m going to call Doctor Th’rethiss.” Then she left the room for a short moment.

When she returned, Th’rethiss entered with her, carrying a medical scanner. “He looks barely conscious. Why did no one call me sooner?” The grouchy doctor griped, moving to the bedside to begin a scan of Aasrel’s head.

~ Aasrel

“I thought he was sleeping when I came in.” The Security Chief did not sound her usual confident self, but deeply worried. “I didn’t notice until he started trying to talk to me.” She hadn’t wanted to wake him. She thought sleep was good for him. Harkins moved her firmly, but not unkindly, out of the way. Bethany backed up against the wall near the door, her hands braced against the bulkhead behind her back. She couldn’t leave. Th’rethiss might have questions for her, but she couldn’t leave Aasrel alone. She had done this. Fighting for him to get this chance.

Bethany

Th’rethiss scanned Aasrel’s head. Aasrel was too out of it to protest. He reached for Bethany as she was moved away. Th’rethiss’ scowl deepened as he scanned. He spoke to the nurse: “His brain is bleeding because of the surgery. It’s creating increased intracranial pressure. He needs to go back into surgery now.”

~ Aasrel

Harkins moved to the door, “Jonan!” The Klingon nurse appeared instantly. “Help me get him into surgery.” She looked at Th’rethiss, “He’ll be ready by the time you scrub.” They lifted Aasrel onto a stretcher and disappeared with him.

Bethany stayed by the door, staring blankly at the empty bed. She wasn’t sure she could breathe any more. What had she done? It didn’t help that Aasrel knew the risk and was okay with it. She stayed there until another nurse spotted her and made her return to her bed. She stayed there quietly, ignoring her food, eyes closed, but didn’t sleep.

Bethany

By the time Th’rethiss was scrubbed in, Aasrel was ready, as promised. The surgery did not take long, about two hours. Th’rethiss had to remove a part of the skull, to be reattached later on, in order to relieve the pressure. Then he waited for Aasrel’s vitals to stabilise for several tense minutes.

Afterwards, Aasrel was returned to his recovery room, a modified helmet covering only the surgical site but effectively protecting it.

Th’rethiss washed up, then went to Bethany’s room, leaning on the wall near her bed. “Doctor Izei knew the risks when he agreed to the procedure.” He said, having seen how Bethany had looked earlier. How upset she still looked now, too. “He’s going to be okay. The emergency surgery was successful.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany had heard him walk in. She hadn’t moved. Yes Aasrel knew the risk, but she had advocated for him. She knew in a psychological level he needed this opportunity, but she had been blinded by her personal need to be worthy.

She didn’t open her eyes. “Thank you for telling me Dr. Th’rethiss. I appreciate it.”

Bethany

“Don’t go beating yourself up,” said the overly straightforward doctor. “And if you can’t do that, then go see the counselor. He would’ve done it whether you helped him or not.”

~ Th’rethiss

Bethany nodded, “I know. Thank you for the reminder.” She was sincere. Should she talk to a counselor? Sure. He wasn’t on board at the moment, and besides it took Bethany a long time to trust people in that capacity.

Bethany

The doctor left. The nurses checked in on her several times.

It was well into the next day that Aasrel woke at last, mostly thanks to advanced medicines and the ability of a Betazoid brain to recover. As soon as he woke, he was checked over by Th’rethiss. When Harkins went to check on Bethany shortly after, she let her know. “Doctor Izei is awake if you’d like to see him. You’ve had your dose already, right?”

~ Aasrel

“A few minutes ago. So I have some time to finish, and Jonan said I have to eat before I walk around.” The last day had changed things for Bethany. Th’rethiss had done an overnight EEG on her because her balance still seemed off. She wasn’t having seizures, but all indications said she should be. Th’rethiss had put her on an anti-seizure medication. She hoped no one told Aasrel. He would worry and not take care of himself.

Aasrel’s sudden turn for the worse had brought Bethany’s paranoia back full force. He had been fine before they made her leave. What if Elias was on the ship, what if he went after Aasrel because of Bethany? What game was he playing now? Why hadn’t he escaped to the Cloud when they switched ships? She couldn’t protect him.

She laid there longer than necessary and ate slowly. Guilt and fear made her feel weighted down and unable to move.

Bethany

Sometime later, Harkins poked her head in again, “It’s been half an hour. Once you’re finished eating, It’ll be okay for you to start moving around.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany nodded, “Thank you. I’ll walk a bit as soon as I’m finished.” She had to go, and act like everything was fine when it wasn’t. He wouldn’t understand why she was staying away right now. She would tell him later. Besides, no one else would be able to guard him against Elias. She wasn’t even sure she could.

She tried to tell herself she was being paranoid, but it didn’t help. She finished her food to Jonan’s satisfaction and then took the long way around to his door. He looked awful with the helmet and his lack of color. She sat down quietly. Not sure if she should take his hand and risk waking him or not.

Bethany

When she entered, he was sleeping, his chest rising and falling evenly. He didn’t wake until a nurse hurried by the door a few minutes after she sat down. When he did, Aasrel jolted awake and looked around as if confused before his gaze settled on Bethany. He took in a long breath, letting it out slowly. “Hey,” he said, reaching slowly for her hand. Then he looked at her for a long moment, brow furrowed. “Are you okay?” He asked, voice slow and quiet.

~ Aasrel

Bethany took his hand. For the moment at least she refused to think about how these small things were numbered now. She shook her head ‘no’. “I’m really worried about you. You scared me.”

Bethany

Aasrel squeezed her hand gently. It took him a moment to answer, his voice a bit sluggish, but he sounded better than he had yesterday. There was no slurring. “I’m not really sure what happened, to be honest. Th’rethiss said I needed another surgery.” He gave a long, tired sigh, “and I’m on pain medication because of it.”

~ Aasrel

She wasn’t sure how much was safe to tell him. Bethany didn’t want to stress him out. “You were acting strangely. Th’rethiss checked you and took you right back to surgery.” She rubbed his arm slowly and held tightly to his hand. “He didn’t say what caused it.”

Bethany

“Hmm.” Aasrel said with a frown. He was quiet, like he was thinking, then he carefully shrugged. “I don’t know.” Normally he might, but right now he felt like he couldn’t think. He looked up at her and offered a reassuring smile. “It’s okay though. Th’rethiss said I’m going to be fine.”

~ Aasrel