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 (43) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Aasrel woke near the end of the sequel and reached for Bethany’s hand again. Suddenly remembering she was sick, he peeked at her to see if she was awake.

~ Aasrel

It probably didn’t look comfortable leaned over against the bed perched on a functional, but without comfort, chair. Despite that she was sleeping quietly. The moment his fingers touched her hand she was instantly awake. Her head lifted and her gaze settled on him. “Hey. Everything okay?”

Bethany

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Aasrel said, his responses still coming a bit slow. “Are you comfortable like that? You need sleep.”

~ Aasrel

“It’s okay. I’m a light sleeper. You know that,” she grinned softly and winked at him. “It’s not the most comfortable spot I’ve ever slept in, but not the worst either. I need to be here with you.” She sat up so her wouldn’t have to move his head too much to look at her. “Do you want more juice?”

Bethany

Aasrel smiled and reached for her like he wanted to hug her. “I want you here. I just don’t want your health to suffer because I wanted this procedure done.” He nodded, a slight up and down movement of his head. “Yeah, more juice would be good.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany stood and settled on the edge of the bed and hugged him for a long moment. “I’m sure they will make me lay down when it is time for my hypo. I just don’t want you to fall asleep and then wake up alone.” She didn’t want him to be scared or confused.

Aasrel tightened the hug as much as he could. “Thank you. I… I don’t want to wake up alone.”

She reached for the cup and held it for him until he had a firm hold on it. “I am being very good and very cooperative. I think Th’rethiss is suspicious that I might be up to something.”

Bethany

Aasrel made sure he had a good grip before Bethany let go of the cup. He took a drink of the juice. “You are up to something. Maximizing your time with me.” Then he smiled at her.

~ Aasrel

Bethany laughed softly, “Can’t keep secrets from you, can I? Ah the mystery is gone. How will I keep you interested now?” she teased. When he was done with the juice set the cup back on the table. “I liked the movie. Why was it your favorite?”

Bethany

Aasrel was quiet for a moment, brows knit together. Then his face cleared and he looked at her with another smile. “Don’t need mystery to keep me here.” Her question made him think for a couple minutes. “…I liked the idea of it, when I was a kid, I think. The… the world building, you know?”

~ Aasrel

Bethany smiled, “It was very well done. World building is complicated. You have to know the physics of the world you create and adhere to those laws. Otherwise the story isn’t believable.” She thought a moment, “It’s not a movie, but there was a very old TV show, early 21st century, that was similar. Not for children though.”

“What was the show called?” Aasrel asked.

“Charmed. It’s about three sisters who don’t know that their whole family had magic. When they find out their parents and grandparents have died and they have to figure it out on their own while they usw their maguc to fight evil.”

“We should watch that sometime,” Aasrel said.

“We can do that. Their shorter, less than an hour each. There are lots of them too, so we won’t run out soon.”

“What other fantasy movies do you like?”

Bethany

Aasrel listed off a couple other betazoid fantasy movies. He gave short descriptions of each. “What about earth movies?”

~ Aasrel

“Oh, I like most genres. I really like early cinema. I guess because it really shows the ingenuity and imagination of the actors and directors. Before all the digitized effects and such.” Bethany grinned suddenly, “Oh I bet you would like the Marvel super hero movies. There was a large surge of them, all inter connected at the beginning of the 21st century. I guess people really needed to believe in good triumphing over evil then.”

Bethany

“I guess so. Maybe we can watch one of them later.” Aasrel closed his eyes and squeezed her hand. “My head… it hurts.” It was because of the surgery, but it was getting close to time for another dose of pain meds.

~ Aasrel

Bethany rubbed his hand. “I’ll get Harkins.” It might be because of the surgery, but the last time he said his head hurt something was really wrong. She stood up and walked toward the door. She didn’t even have to go looking. Harkins saw her and came in to check on him. “How are you feeling Dr. Izei?”

Bethany

Aasrel reached for her, not wanting her to leave. But she didn’t have to go far before she stopped, and then she and Harkins stepped into the room. “My head just hurts.” His responses were still slow but no more than before. He was fine.

~ Aasrel

Harkins checked his read outs and did a thorough scan of his head. “It is almost time for your medication. I will bring these scans to Th’rethiss and then be back with your medicine.”

He scrunched up his face. “It just really hurts.” His vitals and readouts looked okay. The scans of his head showed everything the same as after the surgery. The pain was a result of the surgery.

“He’s out of juice. Can he have more?” Harkins nodded, “How does your stomach feel? Is the juice helping?”

Bethany

Aasrel nodded, a slow and gentle nod. “It helps. I’m a little nauseous but it’s going away.” He reached for Bethany’s hand again. The fact he wasn’t trying to push himself or argue or ask how long he’d be here would tell Bethany he must still be really out of it. He still felt confused and lost and tired along with his pain and mild nausea.

~ Aasrel

Harkins hurried away. Bethany sat and held his hand. “Would you like me to turn the lights down?”

Aasrel nodded gently again.

Bethany turned off the PaDD and then lowered the lights for him. There was enough light from the monitors and his doorway for her to still easily.

Jonan came in with a pitcher of juice and water as well as a tray of food for Bethany. He left as quietly as he entered. Harkins was back 5 minutes later with a hypo. “Dr. Th’rethiss also prescribed something for the nausea.” She pressed the hypo to his neck and it hissed as the medicine spread into his system. “He would like you to be able to start eating soon. Your body needs the fuel to heal. Once the medicine kicks in, we will try sitting up more. If that goes well we will get you some soup or jello or similar.”

Bethany

“Okay.” He squeezed Bethany’s hand and then let it go so she could eat. The meds started to help a little pretty quickly and Aasrel seemed to perk up a little. “Leyath soup.” He said. It was a Betazoid soup easy on the stomach and often given to sick children, sort of like chicken noodle soup.

~ Aasrel

Harkins nodded. “I’ll be back in a few and we’ll raise you up a bit more. If your vitals stay even, I will get you some Leyath Soup.”

Bethany smiled. “Did your mom make that for you when you were a kid?” She didn’t start eating; she would wait for him.

Bethany

Aasrel took a minute thinking, then nodded. “There was one time when I had a really bad stomach virus. I was… ten, I think. It was all I could keep down for a week.” He looked at her tray, sighed, and reached up and tapped it. “You can eat.”

~ Aasrel

“Uncle Kian would make me chicken soup when I was sick. He always kept some frozen and the smell would fill the whole house. He would keep it on the stove all day.” Bethany looked at the food. “I was going to wait for you.”

Bethany

Aasrel smiled. “That sounds nice.” He looked at her with a look like… maybe he felt bad? “What if they don’t let me eat yet?”

~ Aasrel

“Then I will eat while you have your juice,” Bethany answered promptly. “Are you feeling sick? The meds should have started helping by now.” She was worried, and would be about every little thing until she knew he was going to be okay.

Bethany

“They are helping,” Aasrel said. “I feel a little sick, but less than before.” He looked up at her, reaching for her hand. “Please don’t worry too much. I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I wanted… myself back so bad. I should’ve waited so we could worry about your health.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany took his hand. “Worrying is part of it all. You don’t need to apologize for wanting yourself back.” She shrugged, “We would have waited, but the chance was there. We took it. You didn’t force me into it. It was just a coincidence of events. But now you have to listen and focus on healing, so you get better. Heal completely.” She put both her hands over his. “Rel, don’t feel like that. There was no reason to put off your healing just because mine will take longer.”

Bethany

Aasrel took her hands and squeezed. “It would’ve been okay if… I mean, I never expected what happened to happen. I’m going to be recovering for months. And I just want you better.”

~ Aasrel

Months? Bethany kept the surprise off her gaze. Th’rethiss had originally said weeks. The swelling must have been really bad then. “I didn’t expect it either. You are going to get better, so I have no regrets. My turn will come.” She picked up his cup and handed it to him. Harkins came back soon after to help him raise his bed more and see how he did.

Bethany

It was weeks until his head would be healed. Months was for the mental confusion and cognition issues. Aasrel took his cup from her and drank some more juice. “It has to. It just has to.” He said quietly.

Bethany was positive he would be better sooner than that. She was certain now that the Borg implant was gone and the donation given, his Betazoid brain would take care of the rest. Until then she would help him as she could.

Raising the bed had to be done slowly or Aasrel would get too dizzy. They weren’t able to sit him all the way up. He was sitting, but reclined. He was so hungry he wanted them to let him eat.

~ Aasrel

Harkins watched his vitals, staying until she was certain rather than making him wait. She hurried out and returned with a wide mouthed coffee cup filled with the mouthwatering aroma of Leyath Soup. “I thought this would be easier than a spoon. Take the first few slowly to ensure your stomach doesn’t protest, alright. Cmdr Gadi I expect your tray to be clean.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Bethany grinned and reached for the roll on her tray.

Bethany

Aasrel gratefully and carefully accepted the large cup and took a slow sip, getting food as well as broth. He set the cup down to see how the first little bit settled on his stomach. He still looked like he felt bad, staring mindlessly at the cup.

~ Aasrel

“I think after this maybe some more sleep. I can put some music in for background noise.” She knew she would have to go take her meds soon. They would insist she lay down while the worst of the side effects wore off. For now she ate. Slowly so he didn’t feel rushed to finish.

Bethany

He ate slowly. For how hungry he was, the soup was upsetting his stomach somewhat. He finished it after a little over a half hour, then rested his head back against the bed. “Some more sleep, huh?”

~ Aasrel

She took the cup and set it aside. “Yeah. It will help pass the time and let you ignore how you feel for a bit.” She would wait for him to fall asleep before she left for her meds. “I can get Harkins if you want to lay back more.”

Bethany

Aasrel nodded, “Okay.” Laying back would make it easier to sleep. He didn’t really want to, but he couldn’t deny he was tired. A second later he looked at her, “Actually, maybe we could see about facilities first.”

~ Aasrel

“Okay.” Bethany got up and told Harkins. Th’rethiss and Jonan came in to help him. Harkins looked at Bethany, “Come on Cmdr. It is going to take awhile. He will have to move slowly and it’s the first time he’s been up. Might as well take your meds while you wait.” Bethany followed her out with a look back over her shoulder at him. She laid back on her biobed and Harkins administered the hypo.

Bethany

Aasrel watched as they led her away, not wanting her to go. The process was as slow as they expected. Getting him up was a slow process. He was disoriented and dizzy and couldn’t keep balance on his own, leaning heavily on Th’rethiss and Jonan. Then he was able to use the bathroom. Then the trip back was equally slow and difficult. When Bethany was back from waiting for the side effects to pass, they were still helping Aasrel back onto his bed.

~ Aasrel

Bethany had dozed off. The extraction along with the meds seemed to allow her body’s natural sleep rhythms to return. Though she was still tired it was getting better. She waited for them to get him settled in bed before resuming her seat. She looked at Th’rethiss. “Did he do alright? I know we have a lot of time before things are normal, but compared to what you expected.”

Bethany

Th’rethiss made a face that was quickly covered by his professional doctor look. He looked at Aasrel and then Bethany. “I didn’t expect his balance and coordination to be as poor as it is. He couldn’t keep himself standing at all. We’ll keep an eye on his improvement and make sure he is getting better.”

Aasrel settled himself into bed, resting his head on the pillow. Then he put a hand up to his head. All the movement and exertion made his pain worse.

~ Aasrel

That wasn’t what Bethany was hoping for, but at least he hadn’t vomited or Th’rethiss add restrictions to his care. Bethany nodded but kept the sigh to herself. “Thank you.” When they left she offered him water, insisting he drink some of it to help stay hydrated. Then she had the computer play some soft instrumental music and turned the lights very low. She sat beside him, holding his hand. She fell asleep, arms folded on the side of his bed, forehead on her arms.

Bethany

Aasrel drank some of the water to make her happy. He took her hand, rested his head next to hers, settled in, and tried to sleep.

Aasrel slept soundly for a couple of hours. Then he started to murmur and toss and turn in his sleep, his heart rate increasing.

~ Aasrel

Bethany woke instantly. She was tired and groggy. Someone had put a blanket around her shoulders. Aasrel was still asleep. Bethany rubbed his arm carefully. “Shhhh, Rel. It’s okay. Relax.” She whispered quietly to him trying to calm him without waking him up.

Bethany

Aasrel seemed to calm a moment, then woke with a start, hyperventilating and grabbing at his head. “No more implants! No more of them!”

~ Aasrel

Bethany quickly moved to sit on the bed. She grabbed his hands firmly and held them, least he mess up the helmet he had to wear. “Aasrel. Aasrel look at me.” She leaned closer, right in front of him so he could see her. “Look at me. You’re okay. You’re safe. You’re in sickbay with me. Dr Th’rethiss took the implant out. It’s gone.” She pressed his hands to his chest and held them there with one hand. Her other she placed gently against his cheek. “Breathe slowly. I know you’re hurting. It’s because of the surgery. The implant is gone. No one is going to put anymore of them inside you. You’re okay, Rel. I promise.”

Bethany

Aasrel struggled against her with all his might. His head hurt. He had the unignorable feeling of something on his head though that was entirely psychosomatic. He felt the burning need to pull and dig at his head the way he often did the implant on his arm.

He’d bumped the helmet but Bethany had managed to grab his arms before he removed it. She had an iron grip. With all his struggling, he could not break free of her grip.

Bethany was right in front of him. His hands were still securely held, pressed to his chest. Her other hand came up to his cheek. He was still hyperventilating, his heart pounding. His struggling slowed a little with her words but he was crying. “I need help. I need it gone. I need them all gone!”

~ Aasrel

His cries erased any guilt Bethany had about the complications of his surgery. Her heart ached for him. She leaned her forehead against his so the her even breaths and words brushed soothingly across his face. “I know, My Love, I know. Shhh. You have to calm down so you can listen.”

Aasrel’s struggling slowed to a stop. He rested his head against hers, his breaths still rapid and uneven. He was looking at her now, really focusing on her.

Bethany spoke slowly so his mind could grasp what she was saying. “You had brain surgery. Dr. Th’rethiss took the implant out. Remember? He gave you the psilosynine donation.” She breathed slowly while she let that sink in.

He nodded shakily. “I remember.”

“You had brain swelling, and Th’rethiss had to operate again to relieve it. You have a protective helmet on to protect your skull and brain. Just while you heal. No one is putting anything in you.”

Aasrel nodded again, starting to calm some. His memories, his recent memories came to him more clearly. The surgeries, the helmet. What they’d explained to him about his head and brain.

“I’m going to help you, Rel. Th’rethiss helped you, Harkins is helping you. We will keep helping you. Shhh. Just breathe with me.” She took slow breaths even though her heart was racing. “Computer, lights 15%.” The lights came up just enough to chase away the gloom and make things more substantial.

Bethany

Tears kept rolling down his face as he nodded again. His breaths started to follow hers, slower and more even. “I’m sorry,” he said, voice shaky. “I… I had a nightmare.” He thought for a moment. “I was so confused.”

~ Aasrel

Bethany’s thumb wiped away some of his tears. “Don’t be sorry.” She understood how this brought back that trauma. And with the swelling and confusion it was worse. “You don’t ever have to feel like you have to hide this from me, okay?” She finally let go of his hands, now that she was sure he wouldn’t hurt himself. She gently wiped the tears from his other cheek.

Bethany

Aasrel nodded, “Okay.” He wrapped his arms loosely around her as soon as she let go of his hands. He smiled. His voice still shaky, he said, “I hope this isn’t the only time I get to hear you call me ‘my love’. I liked the sound of that.”

~ Aasrel