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+--- Thread: If fate demands it.... (/showthread.php?tid=175437)
RE: If fate demands it.... - Widow - 12-19-2019
Her night had been restless at first, but over time she had settled into a deep sleep. As she woke, she was disorientated, she was unsure where she was or how she got there. There was a moment of panic which subsided as she pieced the events of the day before back together.
She noticed him sitting beside her, sipping the coffee while going through paperwork. She smiled, he hadn't left her here alone.
"you were right, I needed the sleep."
RE: If fate demands it.... - Doc Holliday - 12-20-2019
He just turned to her and gave a kind smile through his readers. What he was going through was important and he couldn't stop at the moment. Next to her she would find a piping hot cup of black coffee.
"I thought you might enjoy that," he said while he read, "Your doctor approved it."
He then said something into the air in Latin and the back of her bad sat upright a bit but just a bit, enough for her to be able to enjoy the coffee. At a good stopping point, he removed his readers and went to her other side to assist her.
"He also said that he is reconsidering more surgery but, we shall see," he explained. With his right hand, he helped her move her head forward and with his left, held the mug to her lips. He knew she liked coffee but wasn't sure how she took it. He made sure the first sip wasn't too much.
He smiled again. "So how was that?"
RE: If fate demands it.... - Widow - 12-20-2019
As he continued to read, she closed her eyes and waited for him to finish. As he spoke, she looked over and noticed the cup of coffee, hearing the doctor had approved she smiled. She had missed decent coffee.
"if only you knew how long it had been since I had last had a cup of coffee that didn't taste like dirt."
She wouldn't admit it. But she was surprised he had still remembered how she liked it. It was a minor detail she didn't see as being important, but it made he feel good that he had. He asked how it was and she shook her head slightly
"I don't think words would do it justice.... And you're here... "
The news she may not need more surgery was a surprise to her, she was relieved to hear this, to her it was confirmation she was improving.
"I am so happy to hear there might not be the need to have more surgery..... I was worried"
RE: If fate demands it.... - Doc Holliday - 12-20-2019
"He was worried and rightfully so," answered Doc. "He was not sure that he got all of the shrapnel out and the internal damage fixed without putting your life further at risk due to blood loss." He smiled a bit. "Just rest, rest a lot and do what he tells you and you will avoid the knife again."
He mentioned the overall case load increase at the facility. "The worst cases come here," he said. Mentioned were people with 3rd degree burns covering their entire body, people who have almost no chance at survival that no one else will take and so on. "Why do we take them? Because nobody else will and yes, unfortunately, a majority of them will not make it."
"You are an exception," he said, "you came by accident and you are not near as bad off as many. But, for all of the death here, those that will survive get a quiet, peaceful place to recover in." He smiled, "When you are cleared for solid food, you will get real food, none of that Synthe stuff."
RE: If fate demands it.... - Widow - 12-20-2019
Ashley nodded slightly, the reasoning was understandable as to why he was looking at more surgery. The gravity of the situation was really starting to sink in.
"so I guess I was pretty bad when I got here... I intend to listen to him, the alternative would be far worse."
She listened to what it was he was saying about the cases the hospital usually dealt with. She felt for the patients, and at the same time she had a lot of respect for the staff. It took a special kind of person to willingly surround themselves with death. She began to explain the most recent events, or at least those she could remember.
"I was lost, before the hospital pulled me in. My ship was barely holding together.... I don't remember how I ended up here, but I know that I was trying to avoid the stress. Of the jump holes in fear it would fall apart - but I had to keep moving, so I had to keep using them. They..... There were three or four ships who attacked, I can only assume it was for the reward. I think it was four, and the only reason I got away is the greyhound is nimble, it is fast.
I asked you once if you believed in fate.. "
She shrugged slightly, she couldn't explain how she managed to end up here. It was either that, or dumb luck. She took note of what he had said about the food, she had all but loved on coffee and that synth stuff while she had been gone, it was a cheap alternative.... One she could afford.
"that synth stuff is the absolute worst"
RE: If fate demands it.... - Doc Holliday - 12-21-2019
"Well you must have been pretty shot up in the Coronado system because all of Baffin is a no fire Zone by law of the Temporary Autonomous Zoners that own it and the Rogues know this," replied Doc.
About this time, the surgeon came in to check on his patient. He greeted his colleague who returned to reading files while he tended to his patient. He found the spot where the large piece of metal had caused so much damage and pressed it slightly. "The swelling has gone down considerably. I keep a steady flow of pain killer to make things bearable but do you feel any pressure or discomfort?"
He also checked her other wounds and broken bones.
"I'm going to have a therapist come in and try to work some of those joints so that you aren't so stiff. He will be along soon."
He noticed Doc reading, smirked and quietly asked her in a picking sort of way. "Is this guy causing you problems? I can have him removed if you like?"
RE: If fate demands it.... - Widow - 12-21-2019
She nodded in agreement, it was common knowledge and the Rogues respected the no fire law. At least they did when she was around.
"That would make sense..... I am a very lucky lady to have made it this far."
She flinched as he touched the spot where he had removed the metal. For the most part, she was feeling OK but even the slight pressure was still painful. She hoped that it wasn't a bad thing, however she did not want to tempt fate by playing the situation down to the surgeon.
"for the most part, I am comfortable. I am feeling a lot better already even today.... But that did hurt"
She didn't understand what the need for a therapist would be for, she had never had to use one before and they certainly didn't have any in the Rogues. She didn't want to ask, as she felt this would have been seen as a stupid question. She decided it wasn't going to be a bad thing, she trusted John and that means by default the surgeon could be trusted too.
"I.... No..."
It took her a second to realise he was just playing around. She shrugged slightly to herself, but didn't say anything more.
RE: If fate demands it.... - Doc Holliday - 12-21-2019
The surgeon kept an open hand over the spot. "A rather large chunk of metal, probably from within your ship, caused that. It broke a couple of ribs on the way in, damaged a portion of your liver and a portion of your large intestine. I made a mesh repair of the intestine, removed a small portion of your liver and what you feel is those ribs healing which will be about six to eight weeks of discomfort for you."
He then ran a scan. "That mesh repair was my concern but I'm not detecting anything of concern."
He then turned to Doc, "I'll leave you two to your peace but..." He wagged his finger at him jokingly, "Don't keep her up too long. She needs her sleep." He then left the room.
"I have heard of worse," responded Doc. He then excused himself and left the room for a few minutes. Ashley didn't know but he was talking with the surgeon. While he was out, a physical therapist came in and began working her joints with some in-bed and light exercises. She was gentle with her and kept a smile and friendly demeanor. A little "girl talk" was used to lighten up her situation.
RE: If fate demands it.... - Widow - 12-22-2019
"I remember, there was a piece of metal... And a lot of blood."
She stated, assuming that the destruction of the ship must have had a part in making the situation worse. Upon hearing what he had done in the surgery she frowned slightly, that wasn't a minor problem by any means.
"six to eight weeks?"
It was a long time, but she knew in the grand scheme of things the time would pass quickly. Docs reaction to it was enough to keep her calm. He had heard of worse, she would be OK. She thanked the surgeon as he left the room.
The physiotherapist entered as he left. At first she was hesitant, despite wanting to trust her she was having trouble letting that wall down. However as they talked, and seeing she was gentle, eventually Ashley began to relax, it was clear she was still on edge.
The work on some of the joints felt strange, they hadn't been worked properly in a long time and she was quite stiff. After some time she wondered where he had gone, but she was soon distracted with the light exercises.
RE: If fate demands it.... - Doc Holliday - 12-22-2019
The therapist was kind. She was trying to not just do her job but to make a friend. It would turn out that she had something in common with Ashley. She herself was a former Red Hessian who after years of fighting had enough. She quietly slipped away from it all and decided to do good for a change. She wasn't very big but had good muscle tone. She didn't talk too deep into her past unless asked about it and then with only certain people. For her, it began on Freeport 1 and eventually escaping North.
"I don't miss the lifestyle," she stated as she carefully massaged Ashley's damaged arm, "When I was offered a second chance, I jumped at it. You will find that many of us in the Enterprise are from the same mold."
Meanwhile, as the therapist worked, Doc himself was speaking with the chief surgeon after reading a comm.
"It seems I need to make a trip to Gran Canaria," he told him, "seems we are needed there and well, I have some unfinished business there. I do not plan to be more than a few days."
The chief knew what it was about. "We can't have an old murder wrap over our heads so take care of business. Things are well here."
Doc watched through a window at Ashley. He had re-kindled things with her and didn't want to leave....but he had to. In a way, a few days wouldn't hurt. It was time to give her the bad news.