Post by Dr. Andromeda Reyes on Nov 4, 2008 1:12:22 GMT -5
Andromeda jerked a little when she started to nod off. The doctor straightened in her seat, blinking her tired eyes rapidly to try and shake off the drowsiness that was threatening to swallow her whole. She couldn't afford to sleep, right now, however. The seven children still under her care couldn't afford for her to sleep. Dr. Reyes being who she was, the stubborn female refused to give herself even a moment's peace until the last of them were on their feet and well on their way to making a full recovery.
If left to her own devices, the woman would run herself into the ground from absolute exhaustion before she would admit defeat.
Her golden eyes refocused on the data pad in her hands from where she sat in a chair near one of the beds--in order to keep an eye on any change in their vitals. She was researching any and all literature there was to be found on treating comatose patients, and the methods used to revive them. Most were tricky and far too experimental to use on the fragile teens. She had to keep looking, however. She had promised Toby, promised herself, that she wouldn't stop until they had all been brought back from the brink. She was a healer, after all. It was her calling in this life. Therefore she would use her gifts to the ultimate best of her ability, no matter the cost.
Despite Andromeda's iron will however, too many sleepless nights finally caught up with her. Her head bowed, eyes closing, and after a moment the data pad fell from her limp fingers and clattered softly onto the floor below.
An undetermined amount of time after that, Andromeda was wrenching awake from the hand gently shaking her shoulder. Her eyes flew wide, and then stared up somewhat blearily at Josetta where the redhead was knelt down at her side. Her black hair had started to come undone from her dress, a few thick tendrils curling down around her face, while the doctor blinked a few times and attempted to wake up enough for coherent thought and speech.
Jo didn't remove her hand from her shoulder. The Captain stared down at her for a long moment, blue eye intent, before she gave Andromeda's arm a gentle squeeze, sighing. "You're worn out, Andi," she pronounced softly. "You need to rest."
Andromeda sat up in the chair, her shoulders straightening with a stubborn jerk, purposefully looking away from the heart-rendingly attractive woman as she shoved the stray hanks of hair back behind the shells of her ears. Fought to remain cool and neutral, when everything else inside of her was screaming for something more.
Nothing lay down that road but heartache and ruination, she tried to remind herself sadly.
"I'll be fine," she tried to assure, tone cool, clearing her throat a little briskly. "That cat nap was sufficient for now. I can't . . . I can't leave them alone," she finished after a slight pause, her own voice going a touch hoarse with emotion.
And when Josetta suddenly curled an arm around her back, Andromeda was torn between wanting to immediately wrench herself away, or cuddle closer. "Go back to your bunk and get some sleep, Andi," the Captain murmured, tone soft but a touch of steel coming into it. "That's an order." She paused herself, and then in a tone much softer than before, almost husky, "don't worry, baby, I'll watch over them until you get back. You have my word."
Andromeda wondered somewhat belatedly if Josetta realized just how hard she was tearing her heart out right now. The slender woman nearly whimpered with the pain. More than likely not, which somehow only made it worse.
For her sanity's sake, Andromeda stood then, pulling herself out of Josetta's grasp. She pulled her dignity around her like a shield, clinging desparately to the only solid thing she had left in a world of chaotic emotion. "Very well then, Captain," she heaved. "I'll return in six hours to relieve you."
And then she turned and stepped from the room, too afraid to hesitate any longer. Too afraid of what Josetta might say or do to make her stay. Too afraid that she'd listen.
She made her way to hers and Cassi's bedroom, and then entered it with a weary sigh. All weariness left her in a blink, however, when her wide eyes immediately centered on the black something covering her sister's currently bare hipbone--as the teen was in the middle of dressing. For a split instant Andromeda was afraid it was a bug or bruise or something. Then she focused more closely on it--and Cassiopeia's guilty deer-in-the-headlights stare--and scowled.
"What is that?!" she snapped. Cassi fidgeted.
"Um . . . it's a tattoo," she answered the obvious, wringing her hands. "Do . . . d'you like it?" she questioned hesitantly then. Andromeda thought for a moment that she might actually pass out from anger.
"Do I . . . Cassiopeia Theodora Reyes! What in God's name has gotten into you!"
The blonde rolled her eyes, going from contrite to stubborn in .03 seconds, as only a teenager could. "C'mon Andi, don't be such a fuddy. It's not that bad. Everyone else really likes it."
Andromeda stepped closer, and then nearly swallowed her tongue in shock. "Pirate Booty?" she hissed. "Are you trying to get yourself molested?"
Cassi just blinked at her with a deceptive amount of innocence. "What do you mean? I thought it meant 'Pirate Treasure.'" Andromeda glared at her sister, trying to determine if Cassi really was that innocent still, or was she being played. "Why, what did you think it meant?"
If left to her own devices, the woman would run herself into the ground from absolute exhaustion before she would admit defeat.
Her golden eyes refocused on the data pad in her hands from where she sat in a chair near one of the beds--in order to keep an eye on any change in their vitals. She was researching any and all literature there was to be found on treating comatose patients, and the methods used to revive them. Most were tricky and far too experimental to use on the fragile teens. She had to keep looking, however. She had promised Toby, promised herself, that she wouldn't stop until they had all been brought back from the brink. She was a healer, after all. It was her calling in this life. Therefore she would use her gifts to the ultimate best of her ability, no matter the cost.
Despite Andromeda's iron will however, too many sleepless nights finally caught up with her. Her head bowed, eyes closing, and after a moment the data pad fell from her limp fingers and clattered softly onto the floor below.
An undetermined amount of time after that, Andromeda was wrenching awake from the hand gently shaking her shoulder. Her eyes flew wide, and then stared up somewhat blearily at Josetta where the redhead was knelt down at her side. Her black hair had started to come undone from her dress, a few thick tendrils curling down around her face, while the doctor blinked a few times and attempted to wake up enough for coherent thought and speech.
Jo didn't remove her hand from her shoulder. The Captain stared down at her for a long moment, blue eye intent, before she gave Andromeda's arm a gentle squeeze, sighing. "You're worn out, Andi," she pronounced softly. "You need to rest."
Andromeda sat up in the chair, her shoulders straightening with a stubborn jerk, purposefully looking away from the heart-rendingly attractive woman as she shoved the stray hanks of hair back behind the shells of her ears. Fought to remain cool and neutral, when everything else inside of her was screaming for something more.
Nothing lay down that road but heartache and ruination, she tried to remind herself sadly.
"I'll be fine," she tried to assure, tone cool, clearing her throat a little briskly. "That cat nap was sufficient for now. I can't . . . I can't leave them alone," she finished after a slight pause, her own voice going a touch hoarse with emotion.
And when Josetta suddenly curled an arm around her back, Andromeda was torn between wanting to immediately wrench herself away, or cuddle closer. "Go back to your bunk and get some sleep, Andi," the Captain murmured, tone soft but a touch of steel coming into it. "That's an order." She paused herself, and then in a tone much softer than before, almost husky, "don't worry, baby, I'll watch over them until you get back. You have my word."
Andromeda wondered somewhat belatedly if Josetta realized just how hard she was tearing her heart out right now. The slender woman nearly whimpered with the pain. More than likely not, which somehow only made it worse.
For her sanity's sake, Andromeda stood then, pulling herself out of Josetta's grasp. She pulled her dignity around her like a shield, clinging desparately to the only solid thing she had left in a world of chaotic emotion. "Very well then, Captain," she heaved. "I'll return in six hours to relieve you."
And then she turned and stepped from the room, too afraid to hesitate any longer. Too afraid of what Josetta might say or do to make her stay. Too afraid that she'd listen.
She made her way to hers and Cassi's bedroom, and then entered it with a weary sigh. All weariness left her in a blink, however, when her wide eyes immediately centered on the black something covering her sister's currently bare hipbone--as the teen was in the middle of dressing. For a split instant Andromeda was afraid it was a bug or bruise or something. Then she focused more closely on it--and Cassiopeia's guilty deer-in-the-headlights stare--and scowled.
"What is that?!" she snapped. Cassi fidgeted.
"Um . . . it's a tattoo," she answered the obvious, wringing her hands. "Do . . . d'you like it?" she questioned hesitantly then. Andromeda thought for a moment that she might actually pass out from anger.
"Do I . . . Cassiopeia Theodora Reyes! What in God's name has gotten into you!"
The blonde rolled her eyes, going from contrite to stubborn in .03 seconds, as only a teenager could. "C'mon Andi, don't be such a fuddy. It's not that bad. Everyone else really likes it."
Andromeda stepped closer, and then nearly swallowed her tongue in shock. "Pirate Booty?" she hissed. "Are you trying to get yourself molested?"
Cassi just blinked at her with a deceptive amount of innocence. "What do you mean? I thought it meant 'Pirate Treasure.'" Andromeda glared at her sister, trying to determine if Cassi really was that innocent still, or was she being played. "Why, what did you think it meant?"