Putting The Doctor To Bed

Posted on Sat Aug 28th, 2021 @ 3:09am by Lieutenant Kennedy Ryan Walsh & Lieutenant JG Irynya

Mission: The Place of Skulls
Location: Junior Officers' Quarters, Deck 4
Timeline: Mission Day 5 at 0900

Kennedy knew that Doctor t'Nai was concerned for his physical and mental health. He would have done the same if she was under similar circumstances as she had pointed out in her office but he still felt that he was disappointing not only Doctor t'Nai but Nurses Lal and Dogrov. He maintained his breathing exercises that Irynya had coached him earlier as it helped ground him from the moment he departed Sickbay. He wanted to make sure that he made it to his quarters in a timely manner before the drug in his system took total effect resulting in him being in a state of comatose somewhere on the ship.

He entered the quarters he shared with Sheldon, Noah and Irynya. He didn't want to disappoint them either but he needed to sleep. His hands grazed his own face realizing that he hadn't shaved resulting in stubble on his face which he hated. He couldn't recall if he had sonic showered after speaking with Irynya before reporting for his duties. He frowned, his duties. Which he was dismissed in performing due to the lack of sleep and the events from yesterday. He couldn't recall if he had a shower or if he should.

He took in a deep breathe. The last thing he would want is collapsing there. He entered the washroom and moved towards the sink as he inspected the stubble on his face and grabbed his toothbrush. He looked over his shoulder as he heard the sonic shower running. He decided he would move quickly to provide privacy for the other occupant. He grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste. Applied the toothpaste and started to brush.

The sonic shower felt like a treat after such a long shift the day prior. Irynya wrapped up washing, hitting the controls to turn off the apparatus before stepping forward. She quickly slide into her bra and underwear before tapping the door release. The wavy glass slid away revealing the small pile of clothes she had set just outside of the door to the shower. Sounds coming from around the corner made her pause for only a moment before she quickly slipped out of the stall, pulling on loose low slung sweatpants and her fitted SOJO undershirt.

She scooped up her pajamas, snagging a brush along with the pile and beginning to work it through her hair as she walked around the corner to the sinks.

"Kennedy?" she asked, curious, when she spotted the source of the sounds she had heard. "I thought you left for your shift?"

By the time Irynya had gotten out of the sonic shower he was washing his face. He looked up at her in the mirror. It was obvious by the pained look in his face that he was sent home, "I reported for my shift but Doctor t'Nai saw I was struggling," Kennedy gulped, "struggling when I saw, Nir, and thought it would be best if I go back to my quarters. She gave me something to sleep dreamlessly. Should feel the effects in probably twenty-minutes."

His facial expression moved from a pained look to more of something more of sadness. He didn't know what else to say as he splattered some more water on his face. He turned around and the faucet auto-off occurred.

Irynya nodded, her face a lighter echo of Kennedy's. "I'm sorry Kennedy," she said. "I trust Dr. t'Nai, but that doesn't mean it feels good to be sent home."

She finished pulling the brush through her long hair, splaying the slightly damp ends in front of her so she could tug the last tangles free in a few rapid tugs. A hair tie popped over her fingers from her wrist where she held it open along her fingers, using a combination of brush and fingers to gather her hair back into a low ponytail. Three rapid twists of the tie later and her hair hung down her back in a single layer. Having finished with her hair she considered a moment before appearing to decide on something.

"I don't have anything for a few hours. Want me to sit with you 'til you fall asleep?"

Kennedy watched Irynya fix up her hair, "I trust her too, and yeah. It sucks but it would suck even more if something happened when I was on duty. I think that itself would be too much for me to handle."

He appreciated the offer, "Sure, I'm gonna change into my pajamas as I'll be more comfortable."

Irynya nodded her understanding. "I'll come over in 5," she noted indicating that she would come to him. If he was going to sleep he ought to sleep in his bed. She made her way back out of the bathroom, taking her pajamas with her and dropping them into a small pile that she needed to sort out for cleaning at the base of her bed when she was back in her own room.

Needing to kill a few minutes she perched on the edge of her bed. A tumble of butterflies made themselves known in the pit of her stomach.

"That's silly," she muttered to herself, a reminder that she was going to help a friend... One who was in the midst of a really crummy couple days.

Finally, the appropriate time having elapsed, she exited her room making her way next door and setting odd the chime when she stepped up to the door.

Kennedy slipped on his Sojourner t-shirt and looked over at the door, "Come."

He pulled the covers back and slowly laid down on the bed pulling the covers on top of him. He looked up at the ceiling briefly before adjusting to watch Irynya enter the bedroom after moving his arm up.

Irynya entered the room slowly, taking the space in with a quick glance before taking the few steps from the door to where Kennedy was alright settled under the blankets.

"Ok if I sit here?" She asked, pointing to the end of his bed to the side of his feet.

Kennedy looked over at Noah's bed and then to where Irynya pointed. He thought for a moment nodding his head, "That will be fine." He shuffled his feet over a bit to give her a little extra room.

Gently she settled on the bed, placing her back against the wall and pulling her knees up to her chest. Toned arms wrapped around her calves and she settled her cheek on her far shoulder her head tilted so she could see Kennedy from where she sat.

"Tell me about castles?" She suggested.

Kennedy watched Irynya sit on his bed making herself comfortable like he had on her own bed when they moved into their quarters. He smiled, "They're a memory of a time passed. They are made out of stone quarried from far off places transported over grand distances. They were homes for people of high standing in society such as nobles and their families. From lords and ladies to even kings and queens."

"They're quite old then. You talked about them before with a..." she sought the right word, "You seemed fond of them. What do you like about them?"

She wanted to keep him talking although she imagined she could hear the sleep in his voice already. She studied him from where she sat, taking longer glances than were perhaps expressly necessary.

Kennedy yawned while trying to say something which came out rather incoherent not only to himself but to Irynya, "They're just so pretty to look at." He looked up adoringly at her, "in, the type of way, well-" which was interrupted by another deep overpowering yawn as he stretched his arms above his head.

Irynya grinned at him, chuckling as the mixture of Irish accent and yawning that tumbled out of his mouth making him hard to understand.

"The prettiest sight on Risa is the sunrise at dawn on the longest day of the year. On Delphi there is a cliff that overlooks the ocean about 5 kilometers from the resort. It's not a popular tourist spot because the climb isn't particularly enjoyable and there's really only a small space to walk between the trees and the open air. But if you can get up there at just the right time it's like watching magic happen. It's one of my favorite places."

She could picture it like she was there now. That particular cliff was one of the few places she had never taken anyone else. Her own, personal, magic hideaway.

"I'm not the most athletic person but maybe someday you can take me to that spot but only if you want to and if we ever visit Earth together, I'll take you to see castles..." Kennedy started to struggle with keeping his eyes open. He readjusted himself in bed to get a bit comfier.

Irynya smiled to herself, her stomach giving a tiny nervous flip at his sleepy suggestion. "Sure," she replied quietly as he resituated. "Close your eyes."

She didn't wait to see if he listened before continuing, "The light appears on the waves first." She was speaking quietly now just to fill the space. "A single point on the horizon that spreads like someone spilled a bucket of orange and pink and yellow paint on the ocean. It's luminous and it builds up until the edge of the sun crests the horizon with a burst of brilliance. The light on the water seems like it is dancing at that moment and the darkness of night is pushed back as the sun slowly creeps higher until there is none left, just sparkling dancing brilliant light."

She had gotten lost in the description, half story half memory, but when she paused she could hear that Kennedy's breathing had evened out.

Quietly she unfolded herself from the bed and, with a small smile, let herself out of the room.

Kennedy fell asleep with a smile across his face and enjoyed a deep and dreamless sleep.