Lt. Cmdr Robin Hopper: In Healing Hands
Robin Hopper
((OOC – Thanks for your patience folks. This last week I’ve just been trying to keep my head above water!))
((Recovery Wing – Sickbay, USS Artemis-A))
After Dr. Adea had laid out the medications she would be taking during her recovery period and laid out some of the ground rules (a succinct list of activities she felt in no shape to engage in at present anyways), Robin had only a few questions left for her physician.
Hopper: I guess I should confirm that I am not drinking those vials – they’re hypos, right? I already self-administer Edoxaban weekly, so I’m familiar with the procedure.
Adea: Aye, they’re hyposprays - I can leave you the vials and a hypospray for your own use.
Hopper: Actually, I’m due for a dose tomorrow but I don’t believe I can replicate my own supply here on the Artemis. Permission to use your dispensary, Commander?
He furrowed his brow.
Adea: Of course… ::he paused, a wry smirk on his lips:: at least you asked.
Robin responded with a small affirmative nod before the second half of the doctor’s response sunk in and another question popped into her mind.
Hopper: Speaking of which… ::Closing her eyes in mild frustration:: Is there anything I should know about Lieutenant Richards? I overheard your conversation and, while we may be.. ::awkwardly:: romantically involved.. I am also still his superior officer.
He paused, unsurprisingly given the nature of what she was saying (and asking), but eventually relented.
Adea: Richards… purloined a few vials of adrenaline during the Borg incident, believing it would stave off the assimilation of his prosthetic limb.
oO Assimilation? He didn’t mention anything about that to me… Or did he? Oo If she was honest with herself, the events that followed her impromptu impalement were a bit of a blur.
Hopper: ::Pained sigh:: Guess we’ll need to have a talk. And I will remind him about the proper protocols. Hopefully you were able to replace the stock?
Adea shook his head and held up his hands.
Adea: I’m not so worried about the theft - more about the judgement of an officer who would hide that from those around him, putting them in possible danger… I don’t want to make an official thing out of it, but perhaps you could have a word with him. ::he let out an easy laugh:: Something to do whilst you wait for sexual activity to be back on the table… or whatever you guys use on the Amity.
Robin’s eyelids fluttered in bewildered amusement. Had he just said that?
Hopper: ::Amused grimace:: Careful, doctor, you’re going to make me laugh. I don’t think that’s permitted right now either.
Adea: Response
She chewed her lip for a moment before settling on a solution (at least for the time being).
Hopper: Meanwhile, I’ll assign him to you to do whatever you want with him. Put him to work scrubbing your deck, or cleaning out the holodeck biofilters – wherever you need a spare engineer. Or just a goon. I think that’s the least he can do to make up for his transgressions.
Adea: Response
There was just one last thing she wanted to share – something a little more serious.
Hopper: I know you must be used to this sort of thing by now – but I know that what you did saved my life. “Thank you” doesn’t really feel sufficient. Just know that I won’t take this second chance lightly.
Adea: Response?
((OOC – I’m thinking we can wrap this scene up here, but if you want to add in any more backsimming tags, feel free!))
((Weeks Later))
After the bulk of the first wave of patients had been moved on from Sickbay to their private quarters, or home, or to hospital, there had been extra room available in the Artemis’ clinic. Robin was fortunate enough to be afforded her own private room for recovery at this point – though privacy had its downsides.
For one thing, she was no longer able to catch as many passing nurses and technicians and cajole them into giving her updates about things, leaving her feeling a little more out of the loop. For another, it was quiet. Too quiet. Robin was not someone who thrived in isolation, especially when she was feeling so gloomy and uncomfortable. After all, misery, as they say, loves company.
Needless to say, when the door chimed, she was more than eager to welcome whoever it was coming to call on her.
Hopper: Enter!
The door slid open and Gila Sadar entered. The Mizarian doctor was delightful curiosity, whom Robin had first met at a medical conference on Velestus along with a gaggle of other medical and science officers. It hadn’t been that long ago, and yet it felt like an entirely different era now.
Despite the ways in which their lives and careers had been entangled since, she still felt as though she barely knew the woman – a fact which Gila’s standoffish and reserved nature didn’t make any easier for the gregarious Robin Hopper.
Hopper: Oh! Gil– ::Correcting herself:: Doctor Sadar. Nice to see you again.
Sadar: H-Hello, Lt. Commander. How are you doing today?
Hopper: I am.. ::gently singing:: ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh, staying alive–
Her attempt at levity was interrupted by a painful burning sensation in her chest that led to a painful bout of coughing.
Hopper: ::Strained:: Okaaayyy… The lungs still do not like singing. ::Shrug:: But generally I’m feeling better, thank you.
Gila slowly nodded. Robin felt as though she was being politely judged.
Sadar: Good news: we’re entering the final stretch of your treatment plan before you can be cleared for travel. ::slight smile:: You and LT Richards will be back with familiar faces soon.
There was a slight pause as Robin mulled over that bit of news. She supposed it was good – but the reality of having to get back to it all, to see those people again, and to return to Amity after she’d left it under such unusual and troubling circumstances… It felt odd, uncomfortable.
Hopper: ::Matter-of-factly:: That is good news. Though there’ll still be another six weeks on the starliner, so I guess “soon” is relative. But it’d be good to stretch my leg off the ship. I’ve been writing a letter to my grandparents. I’m thinking of joining them in Minne–
She could tell that, as was her way, she was oversharing beyond the Mizarian’s comfort level. Gila was such an unusual reserved tough nut to crack. Weirder still, Robin liked her, and it irked her that Sadar wasn’t as friendly and open as she was. Amity had spoiled her.
Hopper: Anyways, what’ll it be today? More of the same?
Gila, meanwhile, referenced the PADD with the list of rehabilitative exercises and tests (as if they hadn’t become more-or-less routine at this point.)
Sadar: ::awkward clearing of throat:: Well, uhh... I-I’ll be in charge of your treatment today. We’ll be doing another round of PEP, Kinetic Regeneration and Incentive Spirometry. ::looks up:: Uhh... D-Do you need me to run through the therapies again?
Hopper: ::Shaking her head, slightly amused:: No. No, I don’t think so. Just put me where you want me and I’ll try to behave.
Sadar: Response
While Gila collected the necessary equipment – a hypo, some sort of device (a kinetic regenerator, if Robin had to take a wild guess) and an old-fashioned looking piece of equipment consisting of a molded polymer chamber with a tube sticking off of it that Robin had learned was not, in fact, a Bolian marital aid (as she had initially quipped) but was, in fact, an Incentive Spirometer; a device used to help her strengthen her lungs – Robin bit the inside of her cheek in anticipation.
Hopper: How is, umm… How are Captain MacKenzie and Commander Dakora managing things? How’s the ship looking? I read some of the reports now and then, but they don’t really paint much of a picture.
Sadar: Response
She tilted her head to the side, moving her hair out of the way as she prepared for the customary hypo to the neck.
Hopper: And how are you? Have you had any chance to, you know, rest? Recuperate? See any friends?
Sadar: Response
TBC
