[ussbansheec] Miracles Needed

_Miracles Needed
_by Andy Maluhia, Victoria McEntire, & Aneirin tr'Ghaladriel

***takes place sometime just before 'Sleepless in Sick Bay'

There were bumps and bruises among his Marines but nobody was seriously injured. For that, Andy was infinitely thankful. When he finally got back to the cabin, Victoria seemed to be in an exhausted sleep so he undressed as quietly as he could and slid into bed next to her. 

"I'm home, pretty lady," he said softly as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Too tired," she murmured but still curled up in his arms.  "Missed you..."

"Missed you, too, Victoria, but I had Smithy look and make sure you were okay. My one abuse of power," he said with a small chuckle. "You okay?"

Blinking a few times, she shifted to look into his open, caring face. "Fine. Tired and sore but fine. Scared too. Andy..." Closing her eyes, she sighed. "I'd like to go home now. I don't like being lost."

"Mmm...yeah, I don't like it either. The only good thing about it is being lost /with /you," he said holding her a bit more closely. He smoothed down some of her curls and kissed her cheek.

"Am I needed?" she asked absently.  "Anyone else get hurt?"

"Among mine? Nah, just bumps and bruises and a few sharp tongues. Can't say as I blame them for that either. My question is is whether my favorite physician has remembered to take care of herself. Did you get something to eat?" he asked, still brushing her hair back.

Shaking her head, Victoria shrugged. "Not important. I needed sleep more than food."

"When you wake up then," he said firmly. "I saw Z shepherding his little flock of science types. He looks pretty wild when his hair's all ruffled up like that but he went and tracked them all down and made sure they were more or less in tact."

"Always was a good little mother hen," she said with a fond smile. "Though, I do believe 'cute' was more the word I'd have used to describe the ruffled Z look once upon a time."

"He was cute as a baby when his mother was carrying him, Victoria. After that...he ain't my type. What did you guys do to the poor kid to get him ruffled up anyway?" Andy asked with a grin.

Victoria blinked some of the sleep out of her eyes and sat up. "Once got him drunk... well, Mo and Jimmie did anyway. But then he always looked more ruffled after he'd been..." She grinned wickedly, remembering how nervous he'd been the first time they'd kissed.

"They did what? You're kidding..." He shook his head with a mild laugh. "I didn't think the guy's ever had more than a glass or two of wine." He poked her gently. "What'd you do to ruffle the ZMan up, hmm? Go on. You have to finish."

"Kissed him, of course," she laughed.  "What else would his girlfriend do?"

"His what?" Andy sat up, blinking in a bit of surprise. "You and him were...seriously?"

"Well yeah..." Victoria suddenly frowned at Andy. "I thought you knew. He said he'd asked you lots of stuff. It was for ages, started when we were fifteen, we kinda drifted when we went to the Academy. Does it... oh God, it bothers you, doesn't it?"

"That little weasel...." Andy threw his head back and laughed. "No, it doesn't bother me at all. The guy loves his wife. They're good together and they have great kids." He shook his head, still chuckling. "That red headed little weasel..."

Poking Andy hard, Victoria kept frowning at him. "He's not a weasel. Don't be mean."

"Oh come on, now, Victoria. I've been teasing that guy since before he could walk. Y'see, that day he called me all those years ago, he never once told me your last name. He just said your name was Victoria," he told her. "Besides, even if they aren't native species to Hawaii, weasels are kinda cute. It fits the ZMan perfectly."

"It's a horrible thing to call someone," she huffed. "Tease him yes but don't go calling him nasty names."

"If it bothers you that much, I won't," he said gently. He kissed the side of her head and cuddled her closer, "or maybe just so you don't hear them. I love the guy like a little brother after all."

"I know..." Closing her eyes again, she settled down again. "I only ever had two boyfriends before you. Z was my first kiss."

"It explains why he was so happy to see us together," Andy mused. "But...two? Who was the other..."

"Just someone," she shrugged. "No one important. He was a medical student at the same time as me. We had a year or so together then he quit medicine for physics. He decided he wanted to be a famous scientist." With a smirk, she added, "Never did hear how that turned out."

"That dope gave you up but that's my good fortune. Now, that bothers me. I'll get over it because I know you love me but...call it male ego," he said wryly.

She frowned again as she swiveled to look up at him.  "What bothers you?"

"That somebody could have treated you badly. Z's a good guy and he wouldn't treat anybody badly, y'know, but what'd the other one do to you?" Andy asked. "I know it doesn't matter but...ah, never mind. I'm just tired and being entirely too nosey. I'll leave it at that."

"Andy," she sighed. "What's wrong? Does it really bother you that I was with someone or is it that they're not with me anymore?"

"Neither. I think I'm just being overprotective in reverse. I can't stand the idea that somebody hurt your feelings is all. There's no way that I want you with anybody but me," he told her. "Doesn't make much sense,does it?"

"Not a lot." Sighing, Victoria turned so she was leaning against him. "He was just some man, like most men. I've been very lucky that the two men who've told me they love me turned out to be such darling sweethearts. Even more lucky that the one I ended up with was you."

He kissed her cheek very softly.  "I bet Z still loves you, too."

"Of course he does," she grinned. "He just isn't my type, never really was. We just fitted well for a while. Oh but his kids are gorgeous." A misty look came into her eyes.

"That they are. Benjamin looks a heck of a lot like him, doesn't he?" Andy mused.

"Spitting image," Victoria nodded.  "I keep... nevermind."

"What's the matter?" he asked.  "Still pondering Moria's offer?"

"No," Victoria said firmly. "It doesn't matter." Her sad smile made her grey eyes smokey. "I can't... I can't explain why I will never accept her offer. I wish I could though."

"Victoria, it's still all up to you." He slipped one muscular arm around her waist. "You don't owe me any explanations. I love you as you are."

"I know, you're one of the few who does," she said sadly.

"All the others aside, if you're happy the way things are, then that's what matters. This is one of those things that has to be done for yourself and not for others." He kissed her softly. "They love you, Victoria, but you're the only one who really understands Victoria because you're her."

Her smile didn't change but she kissed him and hugged him tightly. "Victoria doesn't matter today," she said softly. "I have to get back to Sick Bay. Aneirin's been pulling double shifts, it's about time I helped him."

"Victoria matters to me," Andy told her. "Why don't you take a few of my medics up to lend a hand? There's not much for them to do otherwise, thank God."

"Thanks but it's mostly Joshie, PJ and Vidya I need to take care of," she said as she got out of bed and started to dig around for her clothes.

"Even still, anybody else walks in with day after injuries, you'd have that, too," he replied. He threw the covers off and moved over to her. "I don't want anything to happen to you, Victoria. If you don't like the Marine medics, you could ask the red headed science brat."

"It's fine," she said primly. "We'll manage. But I may just take you up on the offer of medics if we get too many walking wounded."

" Ka `okika, you know I'm going to worry about you, don't you?" he asked as he cupped her chin with one hand.

"I know," she smiled up into his honest, lovely face. "Again one of few. I wish I could shatter what few bonds I have and be just for you. I wish... I wish...."

"Come here," he said gently, leading her back to the bed. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, holding her much as he had the very first time. "Talk to me, Victoria. I'm not going to get mad. I'm not going to do anything but love you."

"It doesn't matter," she whispered, shaking her head vehemently. "I can't explain it. I've been trying to work it out myself for... too long. And now I'm just stuck." She cuddled down in his lap and stared off at nothing. "Do you ever feel as if the world, your world, the one you love and would die to protect, is leaving you behind? Like they all have their wonderful lives and you don't matter anymore? Like... like all you're there for is to pity and prove to everyone else how very much better off they are?"

"Before I met you, my world was the Corps and Kauai. Now I have you, too, and you are above those two by far," he began, still holding her closely. "I can't say I've had to go through that but I think I know what you mean. Wish I could do something about that."

"Take me away?" she asked then snorted to herself. "Never mind. I'm just being melodramatic, ignore me."

"Nah, I could never do that," he said gently as he kissed the top of her head. "Let me ask you a question. What can I do to help and please don't say nothing."

Victoria sighed as she kissed his nose. "Take care of me? And promise you'll never pity me."

"My ka `okika, I promise both of those things," he said soberly. "You do know that taking care of you means making sure you don't run yourself too ragged, right? I'll get Z in on it if you don't take care."

"Uh-huh," she rolled her eyes. "He's a sweetheart, he won't bug me. Respects me too much, remember."

"You know what? I don't think he pities you either. Anything outta him would be that mother hen bit you mentioned," he said with a smile.

Victoria shook her head. "He doesn't pity me, I know that already. He's too sweet for that anyway. He also won't bug me too much because he knows I'll set his best friend on him." Her grin was sweet and innocent as she looked up at Andy.

"Hmmph...guess I'll just do my best, which I intended to do any way. Victoria, you don't pity yourself, do you?"

"I..." Suddenly she couldn't look at him so she stepped away and started dressing again. "Of course not. Why would I?"

"I don't know but people do that sometimes," he said with a shrug. "Everyone's entitled to a bout of it now and then but it's the wallowing that's bad. I know you don't wallow but please don't ever believe that you don't matter or that you're not as good as anyone else."

Fully dressed and presentable, Victoria flicked at her hair then turned to face him. "Why not? Honest truth is what should be called for in all things."

"Because," he said as he reached for his robe, "I haven't seen one thing to prove any different to me. How are you not as good as anyone and Lord knows you certainly matter to me. I'm never not honest. You know that and I'm not just sayin' things to say them."

Victoria sighed. "I know. Ignore me, please. I'm just feeling a little.... out of sorts. I'm tired and cranky and not much fun. I'll be better soon."

"No pasting on smiley face cut outs just for me, okay?" he asked as he curled an arm around her waist. "and I've been known to be all three of those things so don't apologize for them."

"But the smiley face cut-outs suit me so well," she grinned.

"I much prefer the genuine beautiful face I see right now, thank you very much," he said, "and that includes the genuine beautiful person behind it."

"You're so sweet," she giggled. "Come sit with me in Sick Bay for a bit. Help keep me from frowning at Joshie's wife too much."

"Sure but I think I'd better get dressed, don't you think?" he asked with a wink.

"You don't have to," she grinned wickedly. Standing on tip toes, she kissed him deeply. "Not if you'd rather stay like this..."

"Mmm, well, you could just stay here with me and I wouldn't have to get dressed at all," he said with an innocent grin. "You'd just have to get undressed."

"Poor Aneirin," she giggled as she pushed gently at his chest. "He is going to be rather put out at me."

"He's an okay guy. Maybe he'll just be happy for you instead of put out," Andy said as he curled an arm around her waist to pull her closer.

Makes one, she thought. Then she sighed and shook her head. "Oh Andy, I can't. It's not fair to expect him to cover for me. I'm sorry." Burying her face in his chest, she clung to him.

She often looked like she would get lost in his embrace but, to Andy, she was never more found than when she was there. "I know, Victoria," he murmured and he stroked her hair. "This is what I can do, though. Before the end of your shift, three of my medics are going to show up. Explain to them, in as great detail as you deem necessary, what to watch for and what you want done. They can stay there until you and Dr. tr'Ghaladriel have actually slept one full shift. It'll be good for him and for you."

"You're a sweetheart," she said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Andy grinned brightly then leaned to kiss her soundly. "Still be beautiful and cute, that's for sure, but I don't think about that part," he said quietly. "And if you'll let me get dressed, I really wouldn't mind just sitting with you out there."

"I'd like that." Smiling up at him, she kissed him once more and slipped out into the main room to get herself a cup of jasmine tea.

Andy shook his head as he went to the closet. It wasn't strictly necessary, but he didn't see the sense in replicating uniforms if he didn't have to. No regular uniform today though. He pulled on a set of fatigues instead of the regular uniform. It was all still regulation but it was certainly a lot more comfy.

"Much better," he said brightly as he stepped into the main room. "Reminds me I ought to send out a note to everybody 'bout the uniforms."

"Hmm?" Victoria blinked up at him from the PADD she'd been staring at. Not that she'd been reading it, just staring into nothingness in truth. "What about the uniforms?"

"Casual for the moment but that's just Marines," he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Still lost in thought, pretty one?"

Sighing, she leaned her head against his broad chest. "I'm fine. Just distracted and worried... and tired," she added in a small voice.

"Then sit down and let me get you the tea," he said gently steering her towards a chair. "I can't cook but tea I can do. I got it drilled into me by my Aunt Ake, my grandmother, and they even got my niece in on it too."

"The leaves are in the bottom cupboard under the sink," she said vaguely, even though she knew he knew. "Heat the pot first..." Her eyes slowly glazed over as her mind began to spiral in again.

"I think I can...." He turned around. She was clearly not listening to him and probably not even paying attention. He put the pot down crossed over to her. "Victoria."

She gazed up at him, her mind still elsewhere then shook herself soundly. "Sorry, Andy. What were you saying?"

"I was going to ask if you wanted ketchup or mustard in the tea," he said deadpan, "but you might've said one or the other so I didn't." He knelt in front of her then kissed both her hands. "I can't do much 'bout the worried or tired, except, what the medics'll do later, but the distraction is bad, Victoria. Talk to me. See if we can't sort things out or get a plan because a distracted doc is as bad as a distracted Marine."

Victoria just shook her head. "It doesn't matter," she said softly. "I can do my job, always been able to. I can switch it off while I work. This..." she tapped the side of her head, "This will switch itself off once I get into Sick Bay. I'll be fine."

"It matters to me, sweetheart," he said gently. "You're a fine doctor and I know you'll be fine once you're out there but it's the Victoria in here I'm worried about." He sat back on his heels a moment. "You want me to talk to Moria or James? I can get them to lay off the pressure. I doubt they even realize it's being done."

"No," she sighed. "It's fine. They think they're helping. If they don't put a little pressure on, they end up thinking they're not helping and that's so much worse." Holding his hands in her lap, she squeezed them lightly. "I'm just scared. I might lose Joshie and that really scares me."

"Me, too. I like the guy as it is but that he's your brother...aia. I know Tommy's home waiting for me. I can't imagine this sorta thing right in front of me." He kissed her forehead. "Talk to me when you're scared. Talk to my favorite redheaded Science guy, too. He's not only got a level head under all that hyperactivity, he's got the peace of malamalama and mana`o `i`o. He settles a lot of people down."

"Always managed with me," she smiled. "Not quite the way you do it, but still enough to keep me sane."

Jealousy was nothing Andy had ever had cause to experience until she'd mentioned the second man, the one after Z. It didn't matter now anyway and he definitely didn't have any bad feelings toward his friend. In fact, he knew that Zachan would lend a compassionate ear when it was needed for the very reason Andy had mentioned before. Z still loved her, albeit in a different way.

"So let us take care of you, ka `okika. Please?" he asked, a gentle smile on his face. "That includes me just sitting with you out there and sending in the Marines later and you bending our ears."

Victoria grinned at him. "Of course, silly man. That's part of being with someone. They take care of you, you take care of them. It's part of why I love you: knowing that you want to take care of me. I'm just not so good at the talking part. It takes a while for me to talk about stuff. Be patient? Please?"

"I'll try," Andy said as he straightened up and moved to finish making her tea. "I'm new at this bit so forgive me if I'm a pain. Tell Z and he'll shut me up."

"And to think, once upon a time he went to you for advice about me," she giggled as she climbed onto the sofa and curled into a ball.

"It is kinda funny, isn't it?" he chuckled as he measured out the tea. "He's one of the two people outside my family who never gave up trying to make me see the error of my ways. He, at least, won't say I told you so."

Light grey eyes lifted to where Andy was working.  "Are you glad you did?"

"What? That you said something to me and lit up my entire life?" he asked, looking over his shoulder. He poured her out a mug of the jasmine tea and brought it over. Setting it on the table by the sofa, he sat himself on the floor so that he was more at eye level with her. "Yes, my lovely Victoria, I am most certainly glad I did. I need you the same as I need air and I love you."

She reached over and brushed his cheek with a smile. "I love you too. I wouldn't survive without you anymore."

"Now, try the tea. I know I didn't make a complete mess of it." He kissed her hand lightly. "They're going to love you, Victoria."

Sipping it elegantly, she grinned. "It's hard to mess up jasmine tea, my sweet. It's lovely." She brought the cup up under her nose and inhaled deeply. "Who? Your family?"

"Mmm hmm," he said as he watched her. "I already told you that Tommy would but I was thinking about the ladies. My grandmother and my nieces, especially my goddaughter. Both of 'em are always saying how happy I'd be if I found 'the one'. From them, I'd take all the 'I told you so's in the galaxy."

"Good, I can't wait to meet them," she chimed.

"And you will," he said firmly. He couldn't afford to think of any other outcome, the beating the ship had taken aside. It was inconceivable.

Draining off the last of her cup, she pulled herself off the sofa and gave Andy a hug. "I have to get to work, my love. Are you sure you want to come?"

"Until I have something else to do, or unless I fall asleep, I certainly do," he said as he pulled himself to his feet.

"Oh Andy," Victoria gasped. "You must be really tired. Here's me being all selfish and asking you to sit with me and there you are, sleeping on your feet. Go to bed, please. I don't want you becoming ill because I'm being silly."

"Ah, no, we Marines are made of stern stuff. Took a hike half way across Bajor in one day a while back. This is nothing. Trust me," he said with a grin. "Besides, I got the cutest doc in the galaxy to re-energize me with a kiss."

Hmphing at him, Victoria crossed her arms and stared sternly. "Go to bed, Andy. You must be knackered. Please?"

"Nothing doing, Victoria. I can't ask my Marines to do something if I'm not going to either. Besides, I spent half my extra shift with my feet up," he told her.

"Stubborn Marine," she huffed. "Come on then, if you're coming." Taking his hand, she led him out of their cabin and into Sick Bay. It was relatively quiet, the majority of patients either having been walking wounded or now having their own rooms.

He kept the cringe off his face when he saw both JM and PJ as patients. Of the two, he could see that JM looked infinitely worse. Yeah, the ZMan is definitely going to be here later. "Alright, Dr. McEntire, where would you like me?"

The second she stepped through the doors, Victoria's mind switched back on. She approached her brother and started another scan. "Sit somewhere, if you like. Anywhere that's free."

"Captain, you can have my seat now that Dr. McEntire is here," came the oddly cultured voice of the assistant doctor. Aneirin stood up from the main console and nodded toward PJ. "After I sit with her a while, I will be going to bed."

"And then some because a few of my medics are coming up here at the end of Victoria's shift so that you both can get some sleep."

Victoria blushed as she smiled at Andy. "Before you go, Dr tr'Ghaladriel. How is Ensign Le Beau doing?"

"Sleeping naturally now, without the aid of any analgesics. I imagine once she wakes and begins to try to move, it will be a completely different matter. The burns need deeper healing but that cannot be done until the neuro trauma is assessed," Aneirin told her.

"No further spinal damage?" Victoria asked.

"I dislike taking the findings of machinery alone but the scans say the trauma did not progress any further. I didn't want to wake her to do a full scale physical assessment but all four limbs react to stimuli accordingly," Aneirin replied. "I thought it best to let sleep do its own healing."

"Wise man," Victoria nodded. "I'll keep an eye on her anyway. I wasn't overly happy with one of the brain scans we did, but that could have been a fluke due to trauma."

The medical jargon was beyond him but Andy watched Victoria both carefully and with pride. Sure, he was concerned about her but wasn't she just the best doctor? Her eyes almost seemed to light up when she spoke of her work.

"Neuro trauma is a tricky business," Aneirin agreed. "Perhaps once the swelling is down, she can be assessed again."

Victoria nodded again then smiled softly. "Go to bed. Go on. Sit with my sister then go to bed."

"Thank you, Doctor," Aneirin said softly as he moved over to PJ's side. He sank down into a chair gratefully and took her hand, relieved that her sister didn't seem to object to whatever relationship existed between them.

Andy blinked but only once. Tall, dark, and formal with PJ? Stranger things could happen, he supposed. He thought the lady was married but obviously something wasn't right on that front. He shot Victoria a questioning look.

"Later," she replied softly.  "Are you calling those Marines?"

"Absolutely.  I have them here now if you want," he replied easily.

Victoria shook her head. "I'm fine for the moment." Then she grinned at him. "Thanks."

"For you? Anything," he said with a wink. He then began typing out a message to the senior medic, requesting two or three of them report to Sick Bay before the end of the current shift and be prepared for a bit of a stay. It only took a few minutes and he nodded with satisfaction at the reply he received. "Victoria, it'll be Sergeants Banarancayo, Power, and Chin by the end of the shift."

"Good, I've worked with Chin and Power before, they're fine medics," she said absently as she moved over to start monitoring Vidya's condition. With a sigh, she noted the girl's condition seemed to be worsening. Her brain activity was down and the burns seemed to be causing internal damage far above their estimations.

Andy kept his own little prayer to himself and hoped it was enough for all three who lay there. He knew PJ and JM much better than the younger Engineer who lay there but it didn't stop his sincerity for her. He heard, through the Marine grapevine, that she had a thing going with young Mr. Garrity and the thought occurred to him that a visit from him would at least help her spirits...even if she was out.

Victoria worked as far as she could, hoping that something she did would help the woman. After half an hour, her brain activity began to rise but her heart rate was still erratic and her breathing hard, but stable. Slowly, Victoria eased herself into a chair and sighed. "This is too much," she whispered. "We need to get her and Joshie to specialist units, at least on DSVP, if not Earth."

Andy moved to perch on the arm of the chair and simply put his arm around her.

"It's not fair," she whispered. "They could die because we can't go home and we can't use the facilities of this place we're stuck in. It's not as if we can simply stop at a space station and get them seen to."

Andy let out a slow breath. "This temporal stuff's just wrong," he said with a sigh. "Sort of like we need a miracle..."

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