Emergency Medical AttentionCaptain JT Swiftwind, Lieutenant PK Tomilson and Ensign Pim Van der Pol"That you're very glad we've finally gotten to Sick Bay?" JT asked as the double doors parted. Pim nodded very slowly then cuddled closer to his chest. "I don't feel so great." No shit, Sherlock. "Where's PK?" Sitting in her office PK was
trying to decipher the information on the PADD left by J'lan and was
getting absolutely no where. All she was getting was eye strain.
Getting up to stretch, she walked out to find a man holding Ensign Van
der Pol, who frankly looked like death warmed over.
"What the hell happened to you
Pim? Get her over to the bio bed now so I can assess her."
She didn't know who the man was
but Pim seemed to be holding onto him for dear life.
"Excuse me?" JT asked as he laid Pim on the diagnostic bed. Ignoring the strange man PK
activated the diagnostic arm to gather the information she needed. "It
would appear Sir, that you also need treatment, so if you would be so
kind as to take a seat I will be with you shortly."
"You aren't going to be touching me," JT said firmly. "Not with a ten foot pole." PK didn't like the looks of
Pim's vitals at all. She was sweating profusely, yet her skin was cool
and clammy not to mention her lack of color. Grabbing a hypo she
immediately injected her with some normal saline and some platelets to
help replace the blood she had lost. Her heart rate was too high and
she was starting to lose consciousness.
"Phoenix, I need some AB neg.
blood Stat and then prepare one of the surgical suites."
Scanning Pim's arm PK could see
the bone sticking out and saw that it was pinching a nerve. Surgery was
going to have to be now or there was a chance she would lose the use of
her arm.
"Pim, I am going to give you
some blood and then move you to a surgical suite. Your arm needs
surgery immediately. Do you understand?"
Her usable hand was still clinging tightly to JT but Pim nodded. "I understand." Poor thing, JT mused. He let her hold onto his hand, placidly ignoring the cut on his arm. He'd live but shock could kill. He'd seen it. "Don't worry, fellow vice holder. I'm not vanishing yet." "Good,
now you need to let go of this man's arm so I can move you to the
surgical suite. He is also wounded and needs to be treated. My first
priority however is you."
"Dr.
Tomilson the surgical suite is set up and ready to go. Do you require
my assistance?"
JT released Pim's hand but he looked hard at the doctor. "I don't think you heard before. You are not touching me, Doctor. Not now and not ever." The words were not harsh but they were firm. "Yes,
Phoenix, your help would be appreciated. Perhaps Nurse Ratchet can take
a look at this man's arm. Excuse me but I didn't get your name?"
Pim phased slowly out of consciousness, not quite sure
what was happening. "Please don't leave," she said very quietly.
"I won't. I expect Shields'll be looking for me eventually," JT told her. "Yes, I heard you loud and clear, however if you don't want to keep losing blood I suggest you allow someone to look at that injury. >From your uniform I am assuming you are a marine, well even stubborn Marines need medical attention from time to time." "It is against my religious beliefs to have medical intervention, Doctor. It has nothing to do with being a Marine and I think I resent that implication," JT told her. He bit back a sigh. Why do people always assume we are simians? Moving
Pim into the surgical suite Phoenix began the preparations. She already
had all the sterile supplies needed and had the reverse air flow on to
prohibit any germs from entering when the door was open. In the
meantime PK was scrubbing up and putting on her gloves and gown. She
gave the marine one last hard glare before entering the surgical suite.
"Pim,
I am going to give you something to put you to sleep. When you wake up
your arm will be repaired. Understand? I am not going to let anything
happen to you, besides I don't think Rey would appreciate it very much."
"Okay," was all Pim said, her eyes still on JT and full of fear. Taking
a hypo off the stand PK dialed in the medication and pressed the hypo
against Pim's neck. She heard that all to familiar hiss and knew that
soon Pim would be asleep and they could begin. She kept talking to Pim
trying to assure her that everything would be fine.
"Pim,
you should start to feel very sleepy shortly. That is normal. I am
placing a monitor on your head and chest to keep track of your vitals.
I am not going to let anything happen to you. Can you hear me Pim?"
Pim heard nothing, her mind dragging her down into darkness to be haunted by huge black crows that swooped down and lifted her as she fell, their strong claws keeping her safe. "Okay, let's begin. Laser scalpel." Phoenix handed each tool to PK as she called for it. Taking the scalpel she made the incision larger so that she could get a better view of the injury. The bone had splintered and twisted causing it to pinch off a nerve. Taking a pair of retractors PK placed them to keep the incision open. She then flushed it with a sterile solution. Once that was done she began to exam the damage. "Forceps."
Taking the forceps PK gently began moving tendons and muscles out of
the way, avoiding the injured nerve. She then rotated the arm so that
the bone was back in it's normal position. By doing this the pressure
on the nerve was released. Looking up to check her vitals she saw that
so far everything was stable. She then requested the bone regenerator
to repair the splintered bone, making sure all edges were properly
aligned. Once again she flushed the area with a sterile solution and
then added a solution with an antibiotic in it. She removed the
retractors after putting the tendons and muscles back into their proper
place. Taking the dermal regenerator she ran it over Pim's arm closing
the incision.
She
didn't want her to move her arm around so she place a fiberglass cast
from her shoulder to her wrist, then placed a sling around her arm.
Pressing down on one of her fingernails, PK was happy to see that the
capillary refill was more than adequate. Her vitals were steady and her
color was much improved. She pinched her finger to see how much nerve
damage there actually was. As she pinched it, Pim moved it away from
the pain. That was a good sign.
Taking
another hypo she pressed it against Pim's neck, this time to wake her
up. "Pim, can you hear me? Everything is fine. Your arm is in a cast
and will be for a few days so don't try to move it."
"Where's Swiftwind?" Pim said, her mind slowly being released from the soft feathers of Crow's gentle embrace. As she realised what she'd said, she blushed and tried to sit up. "I'm grounded, right? No flying for a while." "Fuck right off," Pim growled as she shook her head to clear the fog and shoved to her feet. "You can ground me but there's no way in hell I'm staying here. Tell it to Robinson, tell it to Craig, tell it to the Lord God Almighty but there's nothing you can do to keep me here if I discharge myself." Easing herself to the floor, she swayed violently but managed to make it to Main Sick Bay, where she saw JT and offered him a weak smile. "You stayed." "God Damnit Pim, you are
staying here at least overnight. I need to neuro checks on your arm
unless you want to risk losing it and never flying again. So get your
bare ass over to this bed NOW."
"You asked me to, didn't you?" JT asked. He was still holding his
arm up against his chest but he nodded toward the seat next to him.
Looking pointedly at the doctor but ignoring her use of language, he
said, "I'm waiting for my sergeant to show up. He's going to stitch me
up."
"Should'a known. God forbid a 'Fleet' doctor take care
of a Marine. As for you Pim, you are staying overnight at the bare
minimum and even then you will be returning daily for check ups,
especially if you ever intend to fly again."
Looking at the marine PK simply stated, "I'm sure Sgt.
Zelphox will be here shortly. However will you at least let me give you
a towel so you don't bleed all over the place? I realize I am just a
'fleeter' and don't meet the marine standards, which have been pointed
out quite clearly in recent days. That doesn't mean you can just bleed
where ever you choose."
Slumping down next to him, Pim smiled at him and ignored PK.
"Who's the Sergeant?"
"I am," Alek said as he strode into Sick Bay. "Sir, how may I be
of assistance?"
Pim gaped at him. The man was about the same height as JT with a
similar physique and coloring but damn, she nearly drowned in those
eyes. Deep, chocolate brown and black hair cut very close to his
head. His voice had a twinge of an accent that made him sound almost
Middle-Eastern and he had a kind of personal grace that made him
radiate peace and calm.
JT held up his right arm, displaying the shredded uniform sleeve and the gashed skin beneath it. "You know I don't do modern meds, Sergeant." He nodded at Pim. "This and that cast on her arm is the result of somebody who'll be transferred out as soon as I can get my hands on the paperwork and one of the dimwits from one of the other companies." JT stood up then and stared down at the doctor. "Apparently, you didn't listen to what I said before. I wouldn't care if you were Field Marshall of the Corps and Maimonides come back to life, I don't accept modern medical intervention. It has nothing to do with you being a Fleet doctor or me being a Marine. It is against my religious beliefs." "I heard you quite well the first time and believe me I am not one
to disregard yours or anyone else's religious beliefs. However, I am
not about to let you die if something of that nature should occur. You
have your job and beliefs to follow and I have mine."
JT shook his head. "Don't touch me. Ever. The touch of modern medicine offends Mah'heo'o in my beliefs. I would rather die than return to the One tainted by that which he didn't create." He held his arm out to Alek. "Interesting," Alek observed, "that you will so easily let this pass and yet, if I remember correctly, you were so very adamant with Captain Harak." Smirking, he dug through his medkit and took out antiseptic wipes and a bandage. Taking a hold of JT's arm, he rolled up the sleeve and started cleaning the wound. "This will sting." "You remember correctly. I am letting this pass because you are
already here, I have a patient with a more severe injury and frankly at
this point in time it's not worth it. Captain Harak and I may have our
differences but I believe we both want what is best. Now Pim, this is
the last time I am telling you, get in that bed NOW."
Pim glared at PK. "Yes, ma'am." As she got back to her feet, Pim swayed violently but found herself caught by strong hands. Looking up, she expected to see JT but instead found herself staring up into those deep brown eyes she'd admired. "Thanks." "Not a problem," Alek said as he guided her to a biobed. "Let the good Doctor take care of you, I've heard good things about her." Smiling down at her, Alek winked and returned to caring for JT. Once Pim was settled in her bed and hooked up to the monitors, PK
gave her something for pain and some sedation. She then turned at
looked at the others, "Now that Ensign Van der Pol is in bed, would
you please leave this sickbay? She needs her rest and I will not allow
visitors until such time as I deem she is ready to have them."
Turning on her heels, PK returned to her patient and started to
make notes on the PADD in front of her. She would be damned if she
would let anyone see how she felt at that particular moment.
Peering at the Doctor, Alek blinked. "I
was about to offer my services, but I can see you have everything in
order." Casting a final, angry glance at PK, he too strode out.
JT looked up at Alek, still pointedly ignoring the doctor. "Are
you
done yet, Sergeant?"
"And here I was thinking Sick Bays were a place to heal." Alek straightened up as he taped the last of the bandage in place. "But not to worry, sir and ma'am, I'm done." Smiling at JT, he added, "Don't immerce it in water, don't take the bandage off and I'll redress it when it needs to be." "Nea'eše, Sergeant. If you'll be looking for me, I'll be in my office, writing reports," JT said, inspecting the arm even as he stood up. "Nice job. The tattoos are safe. " He headed for the door. Hearing Alek's remark infuriated PK. "Sickbays are a place of
healing, it also helps when you have cooperative patients. Apparently
they seem to be lacking lately." Turning PK returned to her work as the
anger built up inside her. How dare they think that this isn't a
place of healing....Damn Marines!
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