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 Lieutenant Junior Grade Aasrel Izei (Chief Medical Officer) in Nightmares Tell Us What to Pray Against
Posted by… suppressed (70) 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

Bethany might have blushed in the dark but it was hard to tell. He could feel her shoulders shake slightly with a quiet laugh. “Well good to know, even when you’re panicked you hear the important things.” Bethany kissed him gently. “It won’t be the only time.”

Bethany

Aasrel kissed her back and cuddled into her as far as he could. He was still shaking lightly but his heart rate was coming down, his breathing calmer. “Good.” He sighed against her. “That one was really bad.”

~ Aasrel

“I know it was.” She wished she could lay next to him, but she was too afraid of jostling him.she also knew that his suddenly increased vitals had brought Harkins to the door. She hadn’t come in though, so Bethany stayed where she would block his view. She knew it would embarrass him. She leaned closer, semi-hugging him, but was careful not to put any weight on him. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

Bethany

Aasrel clung to her, holding as tightly as he could. “I… I don’t think I can.” He couldn’t see Harkins and he hadn’t realized his heightened vitals might draw in medical staff. He shook his head, still clinging to her. “I just wanna forget.” And with that, more tears began to fall.

~ Aasrel

“Okay. You don’t have to. Let’s put on another movie. Something funny and absurd. Focus on that for awhile.” Bethany wondered if Aasrel would benefit from a memory block. They could remove memories chemically. Her mentor had used a mindmeld to help. Trained counselors and therapists had been using hypnosis for centuries to assist with that. Bethany didn’t mention that now, later when he was healed was soon enough.

“Robinhood, Men in Tights. It’s little bit of a musical and based on a very old Earth folk hero from medieval times. It’s a comedy version of it and it’s very absurd and not serious. What do you think?”

Bethany

“Okay.” Aasrel said, still holding onto her. “I wish we could lay together.” He just wanted to feel safe and comfortable. Bethany made him feel safe. She wouldn’t let anything happen. He trusted that.

~ Aasrel

“I know. I do too.” Bethany sat up a little. “When the helmet comes off. I’d be afraid of jostling and hurting you.” She wondered if they could give him something to help him sleep. There were medications to help with flashbacks and PTSD dreams. It would be better if he would ask or Th’rethiss to notice he needed it. She reached for her PaDD and adjusted the lights to what was comfortable for him. “Do you want juice or more soup? I can ask Harkins before we start the movie?” she asked while she pulled the movie from the ship’s database.

Bethany

Harkins had seen the aftermath of his nightmare and heard them talking about it. She may well tell Th’rethiss that something to help him sleep was in order. “More soup please. I’m still hungry.” Aasrel answered with a little sigh. He was still calming down, or trying to.

~ Aasrel

“I’ll be right back, promise.” Bethany could have hit the button, but she tried to save that for an emergency. Plus she hoped a little bit of movement would help her release her own reaction to his nightmare and health. She kissed his cheek and then got up.

Harkins was just out of the way enough that Bethany had to fully exit the room to speak with her. Bethany knew she had heard their whole conversation. “He wants to know if he can have more soup. He’s hungry, and I guess he will need help sitting up.” It wasn’t much of a walk, but it helped her wake up more and it helped to have something to focus on. Bethany came back in and picked up her PaDD while Harkins got his soup. “She’s gone to go get it.”

Bethany

Aasrel nodded. He settled onto the bed, reaching for her hand. He looked tired, but stressed and anxious. “So… a medieval folk hero?” He asked.

~ Aasrel

“So the story goes that Robin Hood was a thief. He lived in a huge forest with his group of men. They would steal from rich travelers and give it to the poor. It is also said he was really a nobleman trying to keep the country safe while the king was away fighting a war. The kings brother or cousin, I’m not sure, was quite corrupt and trying to steal the throne. There are a lot of really good, and some bad, movies about him. Books as well.”

“Hmm.” Aasrel might normally have more to say about it, but his mind was still slow and it was hard to think. “We should watch a serious show about it sometime.”

“We can do that. I bet we could fund an old documentary about it.” She liked him suggesting things. Making plans, even just small ones. He was thinking into the future, even if just by a day.

Harkins came in with another cup. “Are you ready to sit up so you can eat? What’s your pain level like?” Bethany stepped back so Harkins had room to help him.

Bethany

Aasrel nodded that he was ready. Then he thought for a couple minutes about his next answer. “It’s… a five, maybe? I don’t know. It hurts pretty bad.” He said. He was understating it. It hurt a lot. He looked at Bethany, wanting her closer.

~ Aasrel

“Alright. Just like before, just rest back and let the bed lift you. Don’t try to help.” She got the bed up and then supported him while adjusting the pillows. “Cmdr,” she said to Bethany, “just watch for signs of dizziness. He can have his soup whenever he wants.” She glanced at the monitors and his K12 readings showed he was in a lot of pain. She left to go speak to Th’rethiss.

Bethany sat on the edge of the bed and held the cup of soup until he was ready for it. She gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

Bethany

Aasrel nodded to the instructions, letting the bed lift him. He squeezed Bethany’s hand back. He waited a minute or two before taking the cup of soup and starting to eat out of it.

~ Aasrel

Bethany set the PaDD up to start playing, projecting the movie high up on the wall. She made sure the brightness was adjusted to be comfortable. She sat back in her chair and propped up her feet on the end of his bed. She got him water or juice or anything else he needed when asked.

Bethany

Aasrel leaned against the bed, watching the movie. He asked for juice a couple of times. Because his head hurt he had Bethany turn the brightness down to make it easier on him. He reached for her hand. He hated how needy he was being but he still felt so confused and lost and she was his main comfort.

~ Aasrel

Bethany didn’t mind being there, and didn’t think he was being needy. It was hard and scary, and really she was the only person he really knew on board. The movie always made her laugh at the absurdity. The humor could be somewhat vulgar, but who needed high class and sophistication all the time?

About twenty minutes into the movie Harkins and Th’rethiss entered. Bethany paused the movie. The Andorian doctor stood there looking like his usually grim and taciturn self. “Harkins said your pain is at a 5, but your K12 is much higher than that. I’m going to give you an additional medicine to help with that. You are also not sleeping well. You know your body needs rest to heal. So I am administering a sleep aid as well.”

Bethany

Aasrel looked up at the doctor and then Bethany. Had she told them? Th’rethiss was being his usual self: grouchy and not exactly descriptive. “Uhm… okay, I guess.” Aasrel said, frowning.

~ Aasrel

Bethany looked as surprised as he did. She shook her head slightly. No, it had not been her. It must have been Harkins. Bethany knew she had been there.

Th’rethiss looked almost shocked by the agreement. He looked at Harkins. “In addition to the 8 ccs of Triptacederine and 5 ccs of Hydrocortilene to help with the pain. Give him Melorazine and Prazosin to help with sleep.” Then he left. Harkins readied the hypo with the ordered medications. She had seen the look that passed between them. “I was the one who told him. Ready?”

Bethany

Aasrel flushed slightly. “You know?” he asked, shocked. Honestly, he’d agreed out of shock. “Ready.” He said, glancing again at Bethany.

~ Aasrel

Harkins hadn’t been a nurse this long without learning how to deal with patients. “Of course I know you are not sleeping well. The biobed tracks your sleep patterns. You are only getting at most 3 hours at a time. Your body cannot recover that way.” She didn’t mention the Nightmares. If his telepathy was working, he would know she did. However she remained silent about it out of caring and professional respect.

“I know, I know… I just didn’t want to ask.” Because he was embarrassed. He didn’t want to ask his own department. His telepathy wasn’t working, he hadn’t felt anything at all yet. A scan would show it was because his brain was still trying to recover.

Harkins pressed the hypo to his neck. “Alright, those should start working quickly. You should be able to relax and get a full night’s sleep.”

Bethany

“Thanks.” Aasrel squeezed Bethany’s hand again. It was only a few moments before his pain started to go down. “Let’s start the movie again,” he said to Bethany.

~ Aasrel

Bethany reached over and lowered the lights back down and unpaused the movie. She laced her fingers with his. She glanced over at him and he already seem more relaxed. The pain lines were relaxed and gone. Bethany was able to relax a little and enjoy the rest of the movie.

Bethany

The sudden lack of pain, the pain meds, and the sleep aid made Aasrel tired fast. He liked the movie, still trying to watch, but he could barely keep his eyes open. He rubbed his thumb along Bethany’s hand. By the end of the movie, he was fast asleep.

~ Aasrel

She squeezed his hand and laid her head against his arm as his thumb rubbed over hand. She could tell from the rhythm of his breath he was falling asleep. By the time the movie was over, Bethany was slumped against the side of his bed asleep.

The sound of foot steps in his room woke her instantly. She sat up looking around with suspicion. It was Harkins. “Cmdr.” She spoke softly, “he won’t wake up for awhile. You need sleep too. I promise if he starts to wake up, I will come get you. You aren’t going to get better if you don’t get good rest.”

Bethany shook her head. What if Belthazar tried to hurt him? She had to stay, “I’m fine. I don’t mind sleeping in the chair.” She tried to tell herself she was being paranoid. They knew the bleed and swelling was possible with the surgery.

“Cmdr. Please be realistic. Siphoning off the psilosynine has helped, but your body is still producing. You will begin to experience the insomnia again. You need to rest while you can.” Bethany couldn’t. If he woke from another nightmare she had to be there. She looked at Aasrel and shook her head again. Harkins tried again, “The medicine Dr. Th’rethiss gave him will stop his dreams. They won’t bother him, and the sedative will make sure he sleeps for a long time. You will be here when he wakes up. You have to take care of you too.” Then she took Bethany by the arm and made her stand up. “Come on. Sleep will do you good as well.”

---

Aasrel was still asleep when Bethany returned. She’d slept lightly and fitfully. Old worries and paranoia disturbing her equilibrium. She needed to get back to duty so she could scour the ship again.

Bethany

Aasrel slept long and hard, aided by the absence of pain, nightmares, and the sleeping med. When he woke at last, he was groggy, but seemed a little better. He saw Bethany and smiled, reaching for her. “How long did I sleep?”

~ Aasrel

Bethany looked up from the PaDD she was working from. She smiled. “Well hey there, Sleepy Head. You slept right at twelve hours. How do you feel?” She looked more relaxed and obviously rested. There was a food tray on the table with crumbs and small remnants of her meal. “Hungry?”

Bethany