Homecoming -- Part 4

Posted on Sun Aug 4th, 2019 @ 11:42am by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Commander Hades,MD

1,233 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 99 - Exordium / Epilogue
Location: Sickbay, SB 400
Timeline: MD01 --0650 hours

OOC: Warning Sad theme

Previously on Homecoming...

He gave a nod. They chatted a while longer and as he finished paying and they walked out. Hades suddenly stopped and swayed. He felt Carolyn's hand on his arm. The com chirped. "Harris to Hades. Get back to sickbay. It's Kalani."

Hades was moving before Harris finished speaking. "Kalani!"

And now the continuation…

ON:

The journey back to sickbay was a blur, rushing through the corridors and then through the department. Managing to sidestep and narrowly avoid collisions with countless technicians, medics and patients along the way. Moments like this made Carolyn realise her daily runs a blessing, allowing her to come rushing into Kalani's room just a step behind Hades.

Wishing she hadn't eaten so much, her blue eyes swept the room, eventually falling on the occupant of the biobed.

She looked still, gone were the machines that were brought in, the readouts above her were registering normal. She turned her head to the side and smiled, "Hello." Her voice was weak but there.

Hades, who'd been the first in, walked over slowly as if afraid speed would take her away. He reached out hesitantly.

Kalani studied him. She reached the rest of the way and grasped his hand. She expected a smile, something but he pulled his hand back and hurried away.

Confusion lit her features. She looked at Carolyn. "What happened?"

Carolyn stared after Hades, deciding to give him a moment after she had spent every second since she saw him pushing him. Instead she set her backpack down in the corner, offering her friend a reassuring and relieved smile as she came to stand by her side.

"I'm still figuring all of that out but don't worry, I think he just needs a non-Vulcan kind of moment," she said softly. "It is good to see you awake. You had everyone worried."

"I'm fine. Why worried." She didn't comprehend the time she was out although her husband was pale and looked as if he'd aged. She wondered about that. She tried to get up but her strength seemed to be non-existent.

"Don't try to move just yet, trust me. After this long, you need to take it easy, baby steps okay?" Carolyn urged, smiling at her. She wasn't entirely sure in her assessment of Hades, but one thing at a time...

She glanced at Harris who was making a discreet retreat with some blood work. He was surprisingly ninja like when he thought there was something happening. "How are you feeling?" She asked the scientist. "And you are, believe it or not, allowed to say tired."

She smiled, "I couldn't have been out that long. I remember falling and...." She gasped. "Oh my Goddess he didn't hurt Lynn did he? I fell....that was yesterday though right?" She needed to hear it was just yesterday.

“No, Lynn wasn’t hurt but she is gone,” Carolyn assured her, not mentioning how close it had gotten. “Kalani ... this ... it wasn’t yesterday. I’ll explain what I can but would you rather Hades was here? Harris was your attending but as you probably can guess, your husband was not going to stay away.”

She smiled but that faded quickly, “He looks....different. It's like the light is gone from his eyes." She looked at the doors he'd exited through. The doors to her room whooshed open and Nurse Carey walked in. "Lieutenant Liora! You're awake. Thank goodness! I thought Doctor Hades would be a grump forever. I was surprised it didn't thunder every time he walked in."

Kalani looked at Carolyn. She sighed. "I think you better tell me what happened....” she didn't like not knowing or feeling as weak as she did in that moment.

Gesturing for the nurse to leave, Carolyn sat down. “I only just got back but yes, he is. I think he was really scared. From what I gather, he pretty much sleeps here. And works a lot. I managed to drag him out of here to eat... I swear if I’d known how lost he was, I’d have come back sooner. But you are awake now so hopefully he snaps out of it.”

She sighed, "How long was I asleep?"

Carolyn took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She remembered asking the same question and the realisation that a huge chunk of your life had disappeared. It was as if the universe had gone into fast forward while you were paused. “A month,” she answered, her voice soft, calming. “Your head injury needed time to heal, it’s unusual but it does happen. "

Kalani gasped, "A month! No wonder he's..." Suddenly it became hard to pull in air.

“Kalani, look at me and take some nice, deep breaths, okay? I know, it is a huge thing to process. You have to focus on the now. You are awake, you are getting better and the rest will come together if you are patient. We are all here for you.”

She glanced over her shoulder hearing someone loitering in the corridor, “come in or go away.”

Doctor Kelly walked in. She smiled, "Sorry I didn't mean to listen in. I just came to check on the patient."

Kalani smiled then something struck her. "Oh! I just realized." Her hands flew to her stomach. "The baby. I was going to surprise Hades... I guess he knows."

Kelly's face fell. She looked at Carolyn differing to the senior doctor.

Carolyn honestly did not think she had the words. And Hades should be here...

“He knows,” she said finally, wishing he would actually walk though the door at that moment. Instead Kelly made a great impression of Harris and disappeared although she seemed to be standing guard to make sure they were not interrupted. Perfect.

Carolyn took a deep breath. Her grip on Kalani’s hand a little tighter as she sat down on the edge of the bed. Remembering how her own doctors had told her, Wanting to do it differently. Yet there was no way to say it that wouldn’t break her friend’s heart and rip open a scar in her own.

“I don’t have any way of saying this that isn’t going to hurt like hell, so shout scream do whatever but .... Kalani, when you fell, you were hurt badly. The injuries alone might have ... you were beamed to sickbay but there was nothing Dr Kelley could do. She tried everything, I know she did. But they couldn’t save your baby Kalani. I am so so sorry.”

It took a moment for the news to sink in and then her eyes welled up. She didn't scream, or shout. She simply cried silently feeling as if her very breath was stolen. Was that why Hades had not stayed? Was he angry at her? She'd been a survivor all her life. She swiped at her tears and took a shuddered breath. "He didn't stay....he didn't tell me himself. I want to know if he blames me I need my husband and he's behaving alike an ass." She threw the covers back and got up on shaky legs. If she had to crawl she would get to him. She continued to swipe at the tears. She looked at Carolyn. "Help me find him."

To be continued...

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