Waiting Games : Part Two

Sara woke on Rescue-1 and found the guys sitting at the table playing poker.  "Coffee's on in the galley Lieutenant."  One of the men called out and Sara noticed that Caid was just coming up from the sleeping area.  "Care for a cup of coffee, Captain ?"  She asked making the turn into the small galley that was hardly large enough for one person let alone two.  With him standing up against her back and his hands on her shoulders, she hoped her hair wasn't scary and that her uniform wasn't wrinkled beyond decent, and asked, "get any sleep ?"

"Yeah a cup of coffee sounds like a good idea," Caird replied, "I managed to get a little sleep how about you Sara?"

She turned a little sideways and handed him a cup and then poured one for herself.  "Yeah, I got a few hours of sleep in the medbay.  Shall we go comm Lt. Commander Fletcher and see how  Major Danar is doing?"

Gratefully Caid accepted the coffee and took a sip,  "Yeah I'd like to find out how she's doing." Really he'd like to do more than that but Caid had a feeling that may not be possible.

She looked Caid up and down and knew she wouldn't fit between him and the cupboard well she would fit but oh hell, and in standard Marine voice she barked, "About face...forward march..."  And that little area of all of their brains conditioned to follow orders got him moving til she had enough room to exit without rubbing up against him. With a sigh she headed for the ops centre and he momentarily stood dazed sipping his coffee.

Back at the main ops board she activated the comm system, found a pre recorded message:  She was greeted by the tired face of Dr Fletcher, "Sara.  We're out of surgery; but I'm going to keep her in a neuro-coma for twenty-four hours...I'm hopeful that there won't be any further surgery required. I'm not allowing  visitors for said twenty-four hours. 

By the time you get this message, I will be in surgery repairing a severely broken wrist one of the staff obtained this afternoon.  Captain Makan, make the Lieutenant eat and sleep, and make sure that she is with you tomorrow when you come to see the major as she will be required to pass a complete physical by me in order to be certified duty ready...for the next twenty-four's Lt. Sara Sidle is off duty.  Dr. Fletcher, Out"

The image went to the standard Starfleet logo and Sara had set her cup of coffee down, turned and  punched him in the shoulder, yelling, "And since when are you my keeper?  I'm not even part of your command? Just because he's Major Alcon's spouse doesn't mean he can issue orders to me..."  She saw he was grinning. "What ?"

"Oh he just managed to pull the trump cards that work whether or not we're in the direct line of command,"  Caid replied simply but his smile had never faded.

"Sorry about striking a superior officer by the way, but I am just so pissed.  Why ruin today and tomorrow...I think we'll just go down there now and he can certify me for duty right now and you can peek in  on the Major."

"You're beautiful when your mad."  He said.

"Oh, you think so?"  She said and then picked up her coffee and took a sip of the now lukewarm liquid. "Just because he's a Lt. Commander in Starfleet or a doctor...he thinks he can order marines around.  Ha!" She wished there was something near by she could kick but everything she saw would probably break  her foot through her combat boots.

He took a sip of coffee.  "If it helps he's ordering me around too.  Besides telling me to arrive with you he's ordered no visitors for Storm at this point."

Caid rested a hand on her shoulder,  "Sara listen I know you're upset, heck so am I.  It wasn't my intention to throw my rank into the equation and that’s exactly what he did.  Besides I was hoping I could actually see Major Danar. Strike two for me today, at least it  appears."

"That message was several hours old, he should be out of surgery by now...it wasn't that bad of a  break... sissy Starfleet nurses.  How about we go back down and see the Major and I can see if Dr. Fletcher  will okay me for duty now that I've slept and had a cup of coffee...see even I can be civilized.  Chief,  we'll be right back."  They grabbed their parkas and headed across the frozen roof  to the lift.

"Is the weather like this all over Serenity this time of year? Or is this some unusual weather pattern?" Caid was curious but also wondered if they'd have to rethink their flight conditions and or make some further modification to the fighters somewhere in the near future.

"You know I have no idea what the weather is suppose to be doing--but it does seem a bit extreme."

Inside the lift she pulled off her jacket and ran her fingers through her hair and pulled on one of  the blue lab coats she lifted as she stepped out of the lift on the critical care floor. Stopping briefly at the desk she pulled the Majors chart and walked in the direction of her room  She knew this unit from pulling a  few shifts as a med student on her off days.  Hands reached out and gripped her arms as they saw Dr Fletcher sitting on the far side of the bed watching the monitors himself.  He looked up and cleared his throat as the two stood frozen.  Sara turned her head a bit and whispered, "Busted."  She turned back with a smile and said, "Sir.  Reporting as ordered for that physical."

"A day early."  He said standing up and silently motioning for the PADD she'd kypted.  He saw that  it was indeed the Majors medicals.  "Sara I should just have security bust you but I understand why you  wanted to see Jayme and I understand his need to see Major Danar.  So you have five minutes to reassure  yourself she's alive then get her the hell out of my medbay Captain."

"Nathan, I was only exposed to the cold for less then fifteen minutes, and my face was the only skin exposed and you can see its minor and been taken care of.  I got some sleep on the rescue waiting for your  call...why don't you  take me off to the side and run the scans and keep me on duty.  Please."

Caid had walked over to Aidan's bedside after a brief nod.  This would be one to go down in history books. It became perfectly clear why he'd been unable to turn down Aidan's offer even after his life  drastically changed and he'd lost Lena.  Gently, almost tentatively he reached down to grip the Major's hand.  In  that moment she appeared so fragile, still and quiet.

Sara watched the man gently brush her hair away from here eyes, adjust the blankets and she turned away to give him what privacy they could.  "How is Jayme?"

Nathan leaned against the wall, "Stubborn as hell.  She's "barely" following Lt. Commander Bentara's orders.  Didn't help that on the fifth day she ended up with a massive case of pneumonia and ended up on bed rest and full treatment...which she actually took fairly well so she must have felt like shit."

"I didn't think they would allow visitors; that's why I didn't ask just sneaked in to see her and found her working out in her room."

"Had she not sabotaged the monitors and camera, and they hadn't been monitoring biosigns you probably would have gotten to visit, but the nursing staff thought she was up to something...and she was--surprise surprise."

"It would be one less thing I have to do tomorrow, but no.  You are to be here at 1600hrs for that exam. Truth be told, I'm going to try and get Jayme authorized to do it.  I think getting back to her training  would be helpful. Now.. go home!"

Reluctant to leave, Caid sat there a moment longer until he felt a hand on his shoulder.  He looked up to see Sara and Dr Fletcher watching him.  This was the least he could do for Major Danar at the moment,  especially when he felt he owed her a debt he may never be able to repay.

Sara watched Nathan walk off and then return and handed her several items, "eye drops four times a  day for five days.  This is a moisturizing cream for your face--use it twice a day and anytime it feels dry and stiff.  Did they load you up on antibiotics in the ER ?" He asked.

Sara shook her head no as she slid the items into a pocket and then stepped around to put Caid between her and Nathan just incase he should have a hypospray on him..."No, I left before they could start a line or tranq me."

"Then take these tabs’s tonight with a meal and then another dose before bed.  I'll see you tomorrow."  She picked up the plastic packet of tabs and pocketed them too.  She wanted out of there before he changed his mind.

Sara rested a hand on his shoulder and spoke quietly to him, "come, we don't want to be barred from coming back tomorrow..."  He stood and she stopped when he stopped infront of Dr. Fletcher, and asked, "She's so  pale and she  didn't respond when I held her hand."

Nathan brushed a lock of hair away from his eye and said quietly, "She's lost a lot of blood, and the medication I have her on is preventing her from moving.  I don't need an agitated Marine waking up ruining ten  hours of surgery."

He sat back down in his seat and picked up a cup of coffee off the floor and took a sip.  "Be here tomorrow and those orders still stand Captain Makan."

"I'll warn you now she will be agitated when she wakes.  If a Lt Colonel Hali Danar arrives, that's Aidan's mother. Several hours ago I left a priority message for the USS Hades where her parents are stationed.  Thanks Doctor. We'll be here."  With that Caid turned to Sara, "You're right we better go before we get in any further trouble."

Inside the lift on the way back to the roof and the rescue vehicle she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes and willed the throbbing to cease.  She felt a hand on the nape of her neck gently massaging some of the pain away.  "Hadn't realized I was keeping so much tension back there."  The lift opened and they ran for the rescue and headed back to bases as there was nothing more that could be done in the city, and both had commands to check on, and the rescue team had rested while they'd been inside--taking turns in the six let down racks.

Sara took a seat and had opened the front of her jacket as she slouched down in her seat to rest her eyes.  She felt a hand squeeze her knee and she opened her eyes and saw Caid looking at her and offering a cup of coffee...you should take that first dose that he gave you because once we get to base I think eating and crawling into bed will be about the extent of your energy."

She smiled and dug the envelope out of her pocket took two and put the rest back in her pocket.  "Yes, sir!.  She said then bit the inside of her lip as he settled into his seat. "Do you think the Majors parents will be coming here?" she  asked, as she  leaned her head against his shoulder and was asleep before the ship lifted vertical and headed for base.

"Oh you can count on it.  You'll see why when you actually meet her parents," Caid responded then settled in for the ride home.  It wasn't long before he fell asleep as well.