On the road to recovery

Posted on Wed Oct 23rd, 2019 @ 5:22am by Lieutenant Commander Carolyn Corrigan MD & Brigadier General Kaden Ross

1,900 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 100 - A Hatred of Atonement
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD03 1415 hrs

[ON]

It had been a long worrying time since Andy had attacked Freya and Kaden, the medical staff had arranged to have the couple put together in beds pushed as close together as possible. Freya's readings had slowly improved and slowly yet surely she opened her eyes offering a weak and tired smile to the medical staff, her hand gently squeezed Kaden's hand as she looked in his direction. "Kaden..."

There was no reply from Kaden as he was still unconscious from the surgery he went thru. The only signs of him even being alive was the monitor displaying his vitals and his chest rise and falling.

"Kaden...can you hear me?" Freya's voice wasn't much more than a whisper itself, her throat was pretty dry.

Kaden still didn't reply but a medical staff member approached Freya and offered her some water. "Here, you must be thirsty."

Freya nodded, she had to accept some help to sit up so soon after surgery for her injuries. She gently sipped her water before lying back on the bed. She could feel her baby's presence still inside her which put her mind at rest in that respect.

The staff member tucked her in before taking the empty glass. "Your husband is going to be fine he may not be able to walk for a while from some of injuries he suffered. But once he is healed up he will be back to his old self physically which is good a lot of folks are worried about him. Seems he made quite a fan base from the people he rescued in the shelter." He pointed to the array of gifts for Kaden stacked up behind him.

'That's so nice of them!" Freya smiled. "I hope Kaden will like them."

"Some said they talked about wanting to hold a party in his honor but rumor is he is not the type that likes attention." The staffer replied.

"No...he doesn't." Freya shook her head as she looked at her husband. "He's a very private man."

The staffer grabbed a PADD and made a few notes. "Shame, some of the children would like to meet their super hero my sister's kids especially." He looked Kaden over one last time. "Anyway, I will let you rest I will return later to give your husband his medication for his condition." The staffer offered Freya a smile and left her alone with Kaden.

Freya lay simply staring up at the ceiling, every noise made her jump and Andy's admittance that he raped her years ago was ringing in her ears. She felt like she wanted to run and hide but she barely had the energy to move let alone get up and run. She wished right now that Kaden was awake to talk to he always made her feel better, instead she lay and quietly cried.

Walking past the room, Cadet Winters hesitated in mid stride when she though she head crying. Backing up a step she stood, listening for a moment to confirm her suspicion. Looking around she spied a box of tissues at the nurses’ station and stole them before quietly slipping into the room the two marines shared.

“I’m sorry to intrude, but it sounded like you could use some of these,” she offered as she approached the petty officer’s bedside. She kept her voice low and soft, trying to sound comforting. It had been her weakest area in her evaluations until she came here. Full of promise, bad with people ...

Freya offered a brief smile. "Thank you err...."

“Cadet Winters,” she said by way of introduction. “Or Chloe is fine. I’m still just a med student so I answer to pretty much everything.”

"Thank you Chloe" Freya took a few tissues from the box and wiped her eyes and nose. "Feel free to... Grab a seat. I'd appreciate the company."

Taking the offered seat, Chloe offered a small smile. “I’m not very good at the bedside manner stuff but if you are worried about your husband, the doctors are expecting a full recovery. What am I saying? Of course you are. He is your husband. But he will be. And you will to. And the baby. Dr Mendez made sure the specialists looked after you.”

Now Freya was calm she could sense Chloe’s emotions, she could tell the young woman was nervous. “That’s good to know, we’ve been trying for a baby for a little while. He or she means everything to us!” She looked at Kaden. “Kaden means everything to me. He could have been killed saving me!”

“That’s the kind of crazy things people do when they are in love, or so the songs always say anyway,” Chloe reasoned. “And congratulations. On the baby. Not the injury... I’ll stop talking now...”

“Why?” Freya looked at Chloe her counsellor instincts taking over. “You’re doing just fine Chloe, have a little faith in yourself.” Freya smiled warmly. “Thank you for the congratulations, I appreciate it. I guess...I’m going to be stuck in Sickbay for a little while?”

Seeming relieved to be focusing more on the medicine, Chloe flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid so. Doctor Mendez has said at least 48 hours and he will review. He was your attending so it is his call. He isn’t in a good mood so I don’t think he’ll even think of an early release.”

“To be honest I was expecting a lot longer than that!” Freya smiled. “Any particular reason why Doctor Mendez isn’t in a good mood?”

“He is always in a mood,” Chloe confided in a whisper. “But he is a good surgeon. Listen to him and it’ll be fine.”

Freya nodded. “I will I’m not going to do anything that puts my baby in danger.” She smiled feeling grateful for Chloe’s company. “It’s nice to have your company Chloe, I appreciate you coming in to me.”

“Part of the service and I’d rather not be trying to keep Carolyn- I mean Dr Corrigan- confined to her bed. I’m not that brave! Is there anything I can get for you?”

"Another drink would be great thank you" Freya looked at Chloe concernedly, she hadn't heard about what happened in the holodeck. "What happened to Carolyn? Is she okay?"

Getting up to pour a water, Chloe glanced at the door, “I probably shouldn’t but you should know. But first, they are okay, remember that but. Anyway, from what I understand- before he abducted you, that psycho went after Counsellor Monroe and Dr Corrigan. They were hurt but then Liam showed up and got them to Sickbay. Both are still in and will be for at least another day or two.”

"What!??" Freya looked at Chloe horrified. "You...said they're okay right!?" She tried to sit up a little more but instantly regretted it and laid lay back again. "Is...he still alive?" She wasn't sure she really wanted the answer but she needed to know.

“You need to try and stay still,” Chloe said quickly, adjusting the pillows. “And yes, they are both going to be fine. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said. You need rest.”

"No it's okay, I'm grateful you told me!" Freya took a relaxing breath. "At least they're going to be okay." She paused. "Can you...tell Commander Garibaldi that I need to see him as soon as possible please?"

"Am...I in...heaven? I see a...beautiful...angel that looks...like...my wife." Kaden said weakly.

Freya’s smile beamed as she reached for Kaden’s hand. “It’s me! But you’re not in heaven.” She squeezed his hand. “We’re very much alive!”

"The...baby...what about the...baby?" Kaden asked a sound of concern in his voice.

Freya looked at Chloe and offered a smile before looking back at Kaden. “Chloe here...” She motioned to Chloe. “Tells me everything is fine. Our baby...is okay!”

Kaden closed his eyes it was good to know Freya and their child was okay. He couldn't help but cry a little although it hurt to even breathe at times. "I...I am sorry...I let you...down again...if I had known Andy...was behind all this...I would of killed him or...make sure he be locked away...from...you." Kaden felt like a failure again he should of known Freya's ex might do something stupid.

"It's not your fault Imzadi." Freya wished she could be cuddled up with Kaden but she could barely move and Chloe did say she shouldn't move too much. "I...I didn't even know myself." She sighed. She wanted to tell Kaden what she'd discovered about Andy but now wasn't the right time. "Just hold my hand and don't let go! I need to know you're with me!!"

Kaden wanted to hold her hand honestly he wanted to kiss Freya all over. But it hurt to even move right now which made him wish they give something for the pain. "I...can hardly...move...it hurts."

Chloe hurried around to the far side of Kaden’s bed, sliding a small device into his hand. “Press to administer pain relief. It’s calculated and specific to you and you cannot overdose. If it still doesn’t help we can sort out something else.”

All Freya could do was watch, she was finding it frustrating that she couldn’t help her husband or truly comfort him. “I wish I could be cuddled up to you!” She looked across at him. “As soon as I can be I’ll be there to comfort you Imzadi.” She nodded her thanks to Chloe, making a mental note to write a glowing report for her once she was fit to be back at work.

Kaden took a dose of pain killers waiting for them to kick in. He wondered if Liam would swing by to see him be a good chance for him to properly meet Freya. Not to mention get the news kaden was going to be a dad.

Freya looked at Chloe. “Chloe, does the file say whether there was any threat to the baby from my injuries? I know my condition had an impact but I don’t remember being...” She paused, the memory was still pretty raw. “Stabbed that low down my body.

Chloe frowned, shaking her head, “not that I know off. You had a lot of internal bleeding which was the biggest risk to the baby.”

Freya nodded. "Chloe would you... contact Lieutenant Rol for me please? I'd like to speak with him when he has time."

“Sure thing. I’ll let you both have some privacy. I’ll just be down the hall so just shout or buzz if there is anything,” Chloe told them as she headed away.

Kaden took Freya's hand into his gently squeezing it. "Freya...you and...the baby are...okay...that is all that...matters to...me." He said.

Freya squeezed her husband’s hand. “I’m never leaving you Kaden, no matter what injuries or situations occur in our future I’ll always be with you.” She yawned. “Get some rest, I’ll be right here.” She kept hold of his hand as she closed her eyes and let herself rest.

[OFF]

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