Healing Hands

 Episode Name:  Healing Hands

   Written By:  Shaft

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Shaft

     Aired On:  Mon Dec 30 10:44:18 2002

     Stardate:  52889.5

Time: Sun Dec 29 10:31:44 2002

Stardate: 52887.1

Drennan stands beside Jub's biobed, talking in soft, gentle tones to him while stroking his forehead and the roots of his fiery hair gently.

Park arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Park has arrived.

Jub grins. "Unfortunately, I was kicked off of ds3 a few years ago. So I doubt I will be invited back anytime soon. A little misunderstanding regarding the Captain's Skiff and forty iso-tons of Bolian Rock Candy."

Jub lays in the recovery section of the ward, the lifesupport clamshell closed over his now pale body, regulating his new heart and various other internal cybernetics that have just been either replaced or repaired. While he is still missing the right arm and leg from thd shoulder and hip, the connection hardpoints and interface collars look shiney-new, having also been replaced.

Medes is being brought in by medical staff from the Thomas Paine. She looks fairly well out of it, and is nicely cut up. A large section of her hair, as well as her eyebrows, has been singed away, and her scalp has minor burns on it. Scalp and face cuts bleed quite a bit, so her outfit looks a little less like Engineering and a little more like Command, to put it mildly.

"Get her onto bed 1.", Park orders as he drags a cart toward the same area.

Park approaches Biobed 1.

Jub would sit up to look but, hey, only had his new artificial heart for less then two days and all. "Somethin happenin?" he asks Drennan.

Drennan smirks lightly and shakes her head, "I imagine I could convince Captain Lehne to retract that ban. I've kept enough diplomatic arguments from becoming full-blown fights in the past five years to be owed quite a lot from him. But... it's something of a moot point, isn't it? We aren't there." She hmms, glancing up briefly - long enough to note that someone is coming into the infirmary in bad shape. "Accident of some sort. Female, at a guess, and burned fairly significantly." She shrugs, smiling, "Don't worry about it, Captain. Now really /isn't/ a time for you to worry about other people. Get yourself well, and /then/ worry about other people."

At the biobed, Park lowers the clamshell and begins to run scans. A hypo to help stop the bleeding and then he begins to pay attention to the incoming information.

Jub snorts and closes his eye. "Always later." he mumbles.

At the biobed, Medes isn't burned too badly. It looks worse than it is because she's lost her hair -- first degree and a couple of second degree on her scalp. There are multiple small cuts, contusions and lacerations on her face, arms, chest and scalp, some of which have pieces of a console still in them. Her left eye is bloodshot from impact, likely with a piece of debris, and she's got a hell of a black eye. She's lost about a pint of blood, maybe a little more... the big thing seems to be that her hearing aids have shorted out. They'll need to be replaced.

Drennan wrinkles her nose, but smiles fondly at Jub, "What's wrong with later? You'll /have/ a later now. I'll even treat you to dinner."

Jub chuckles. "Dinner ya say? Perogi's.. I could do with some perogi's and saurkraut and.. and of course a beer."

At the biobed, Park grabs a dermal regenerator and begins to work on the burns. "Nurse, I need some local injections to stimulate folical growth on her head. Prep those while I work on this.", he orders as he continues his slow even strokes over the burns.

Havaris arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Havaris has arrived.

Drennan grins, "I'll arrange for a keg. Assuming you can get one on the Promenade these days. I'll even leave Cappy at home." She winks, "See, Captain? I've behaved myself quite well. I haven't smuggled him in to harass you even once."

Park is standing over a biobed with Medes under the clam shell. She's not looking too good, what with all the blood on her, but he's working feverishly.

Jub groans. "Thank god. Thats all I would need." he jokes, his hoarse voice cracking slightly. "Lass, I think I am fadin 'ere. Come by tomorrow?"

At the biobed,the biobed's scanners start beeping sudenly. Internal bleeding in the abdominal cavity related to a couple of broken ribs.

Takamura arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Takamura has arrived.

The doors to the Infirmary part once more, admitting a pair of Medical Officers from the Thomas Paine's sickbay, wheeling in mobile biobed atop which rests Havaris. They push his cart to an empty bed and quickly transfer their patient with a heft of the bedsheets, setting him atop the bed not entirely ungently. "We've got a critical, here. Skull fracture, bad concussion. Blood and swelling on the brain. He lost consciousness about an hour ago after a seizure. His pulse is erratic, blood pressure low but stable enough for now. We've got more coming in, too, Sir. Suggest a full trauma team."

Drennan's grin turns to a gentle smile and she pet's Jub's head gently. "I'll leave you alone, and visit again soon, on /one/ condition. Since you're fading anyway, take something to help you relax, Captain. Stop hurting for a while. They," she gestures vaguely around the room, probably at the medical personnel, "can only help you if you /let/ them."

At the biobed, Park targets the scanners on the area and quickly assesses the situation. "I need a surgical kit.", he says to the nurse. "Computer, surgical quarantine field." The computer complies with a low level field that suddenly surrounds the bed.

Jub shrugs, dozing off. "Izzz zink they have zere.. hannnnnz... fulllllll.....*" and like that e is asleep, the pain forgotten.

Park taps his combadge and says, "All medical personnel to the Infirmary. Incoming wounded." With that, he ducks away from Medes and moves over to Havaris to conduct a quick scan of the man.

Park doesn't look up from the table and says, "I need anyone who's not wounded or part of the medical team to please clear the Infirmary." He continues his scan of Havaris.

Park walks away from Biobed 1.

Park has departed.

Following close behind the gurney, two medics help a wounded Takamura into the infirmary and onto a biobed. One of the medics speaks up. "This one has 2nd and 3rd degree burns on his hands and arms, a disruptor wound to his left shoulder, bits of shrapnel and smoke inhalation."

Stewart arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Stewart has arrived.

Kessler arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind her.

Kessler has arrived.

Park tosses a hand at Bed 3. "Get him on the bed. Hydrate him and start with the dermal regenerator on the burns."

Takamura approaches Biobed 3.

Kessler is just with Stewart, who came rushing in after his cousin.

Drennan leans over to lay a light kiss onto Jub's forehead as he falls asleep. She then straightens and moves away from the bed, turning toward the exit, but skirting the activity, allowing a wide berth in her path to the doors.

Stewart comes walking in with Kessler, trying to stay out of the way for the moment, looking for someone who isn't directly occupied with the wounded at the moment.

Kessler was with Stewart before and she can hardly abandon him now. Besides, she has a vested interest in Kusto from the way she's leaning on Stewart's shoulder and staring around him at the Lieutenant.

Park gets another cart and begins moving it toward Havaris' bed. "Computer, surgical quarantine, bed 2.", he orders. The field shimmers to life. He strips off his uniform jacket and tosses it on the back of a chair, forgotten for the moment. Park moves into the field and begins to prep for emergancy surgery.

Drennan heads out and into the clamour of the Mall.

Drennan has left.

Out of it, yes, but not so much out of it that she doesn't realise who's being brought in, and in what condition. Medes lifts her head from the bed, whines wordlessly in the wounded Bajoran's direction, and lets her head fall back. Not long after, she's sedated to treat her internal bleeding, and loses all sense of who's where in the infirmary entirely.

Anji swallows hard, her face going a sallow, sickly shade of yellow. "James, honey. Find out if she's okay and let's go. We don't need to be in the way here." She stoically avoids looking at any of the patients now. She's seen enough.

GAME: Park spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Park (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Sciences (Surgical) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Park works quickly on Havaris. It's hard to see exactly what is being done, but the results are easy to see as the bio-indicators move up from the red and into a more normal zone.

Takamura lies groaning on the biobed. They must have given him some sort of sedative, since he's not trying to leave his least favorite place on the station. The medical personnel begin the hydration and regeneration processes.

Stewart eventually comes up to Park, given that he seems to be the only medical staff on duty at the moment. "I'm related to Ensign Medes, over there." He points, and adds, "Is she going to be all right? I don't want to be in the way, here, I just want to know if she's okay."

Park finishes up with Havaris and comes out of one field and under another as he moves back to Medes. He pulls a cart with similar instruments as those used on Havaris to the bed. "Go sit in the waiting area and I'll let you know shortly.", Park says without looking up. He checks the scans a final time and beings on Medes.

GAME: Park spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Park (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Sciences (Surgical) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Fails!

Kessler licks her lips nervously and just looks at Stewart, apparently ready to follow his lead.

...The biosigns above Medes' biobed spike dramatically shortly after Park opens her chest to find the source of the bleeding. With a sickly hiss, her left lung collapses and a trail of thick red blood bubbles up through her mouth and trails down her cheek as she begins asperating. Alarms sound as her palls drops out of rhythm into sinus and her breathing hitches...

Park taps his comm badge, "Lieutenant Park to Ensign Malloy."

Over Park's comm badge a voice answers, "Ensign Malloy here."

Into his comm badge, Park says, "I need you in the Infirmary, Emergency response."

>From Park's comm badge, Malloy says, "Understood. Malloy out."

Park's comm badge ends its transmission.

Malloy arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Malloy has arrived.

<CONTEST> Park contests his Medical Sciences (Surgical) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Fails!

Stewart starts on his way to the waiting area, and then stops as the alarms begin sounding at Medes' biobed. This has his attention, to the point where he's not able to do much except stand there, a look of shocked horror on his face.

Okay, well, that's quite bad. And almost as bad? The fact that Stewart is watching his cousin's sharp descent. Anji grabs his arm and gives it a tug. "Hey." That comes out far too faintly; she clears her throat and tries it again. "Hey, you don't need to be in here. You don't need to see this. Come on, James. Come with me." She tries to guide him out, to get him to turn away. Anything.

Takamura continues to lay on the bed, the groans softer now that the sedative is taking effect.

...Park madly attempts to find the source of the bleeding into the lungs to no avail. Her sinus pulse drops into arhythma and finally crashes entirely. The biobed sounds a single atonal alarm as her breathing hitches and she issues one final gasp before dropping still and pale and in full arrest...

Malloy rushes through the doors sliding open in front of him, decked out in full hog for the occasion. Dodging from crashing into Kessler and Stewart, he comes to a skidding halt. Although it's maybe a good question to ask why the heck he has a Type II on his belt. Looking around, he rushes over to Park, stopping short of the field around the biobed. "Sir, I'm present. I'd assist you if you permit me to."

Park nods to the cart and says, "Cortial stimulators. She just went into arrest."

Stewart just ignores Kessler's tugging for the moment, seeming transfixed with the scene unfolding in front of him. He does, however, back up until he reaches something to lean against and watch as the two medics try to revive his cousin.

Kessler gives Stewart another tug and continues her insistent urging. "Come on, James. Let them work. She'll be fine." She's trying so hard to sound confidant, but she chokes, her eyes squeezing tightly closed, though not before a tear slips over her cheek. She finally gives up, seeing that he won't be budged, and so the dark-skinned woman just slides her arms around his waist, offering comfort if he wants it. Nothing else she can do.

(Medes's NDE)

...You pass through a thick fog before you notice a pinpoint of light on the distant horizon, an eternity away. You are distantly aware of the alarms, of the fact that you are dying. Distantly aware of your mate, stable in his bed. Aware of his breathing, of his pulse, of the whisper of a trillion trillion voices in your ears, of the tie between you and Kusto. And everything else in the Universe. Even as you pull way from all of this, you can feel that tie. You know that your spirit could find him any time it wishes, and that he could find it without effort. Content and at peace you begin speeding down your final path, the light growing stronger.

Amid the trillions of voices, some become distinct. Your aunt wishing you well before your cadet cruise. Kusto laughing softly somewhere amid the lovemaking, whispering Bajoran in your ears. Your father's voice as you built your clocks, assuring you time is not linear. Your father.

"Thea."

Your father's voice, clear in your ears, counterpointed by a chorus that you know to be the Prophets.

Your vision solidifies, and you are in space around Wolf 359, drifting beside your father.

"Why the rush, Thea? You told me you loved him. You haven't given up on that, have you?"

Malloy reaches out for the stimulators, setting them to the level he deems sufficient for the job at hand. "Twohundred, Sir. Clear the body." Cool and emotionless, eyes not blinking even once, he seems to straighten up a bit. Looking quickly over the monitor, then Medes herself, he waits for Park.

Park pulls back from where he was performing manual compressions of her chest and says, "Clear."

Idisha arrives from the mall, the infirmary's outer transparent aluminum doors sliding silently closed behind him.

Idisha has arrived.

Stewart drapes an arm around Kessler's waist, pulling her close. Something to anchor him right now as he just stares on. He's not shedding tears, but then he's hardly blinking at the moment.

Malloy touches the stimulators to the open heart, then triggers them. A jolt of electricity courses through Medes' body, arching her back roughly. "Get the heart lung machine on the double." he barks to the other staff present, while taking a half-step back.

...Medes' body lurches, her spine arches, and she falls back to the bed, her lifesigns entering a brief sinus rhythm that gives way to a flatline.

Park watches the monitors closely and then says to Malloy, "Increase to 350."

Maybe he wants to look. Maybe he can watch. Anji can't take it. She buries her face in Stewart's chest and keeps her eyes closed as she just clutches at her companion. "You shouldn't--" The protests begins half-heartedly and just stops completely as she goes silent.

Idisha enters the infirmary more out of a morbid curiosity than anything else and comes to stand near to Stewart out of reflex as he tries to figure out who the wounded are through all of the bustle. "What happened?" He inquires quietly.

Malloy nods grimly, setting the stimulators to another level. "How about adrenaline?" he asks, then leans forward again. "Clear the body!" That's an order, and a rather stern one.

Having stabilized Takamura, the medics now hurry to assist Dr. Park and Ensign Malloy in saving Medes' life.

Park looks over at a medic and orders, "Get me 20ccs of Prochlorperazine." His voice is still fairly calm, all things considered.

Stewart might as well be crafted out of stone as he just stands there, arm around Ensign Kessler, not moving. And not replying to Idisha, either for a good long time, eventually just saying, "She's dying." That's all.

Park gets the hypo and quickly gives the injection before calling out, "Clear."

...She's so... light. And everything is so clear. There's peace, without pain. Everything is so... /easy./ And she's so... light. The chorus of voices, the speed. There's the desire not to leave Kusto -- strong, that -- but everything is so... fast... and so light... and so... painless. It's so much easier just to let go. And then she's arrested. Stopped short, entirely.

"Dad."

A long pause. Recognition flashes through her. She hears the voices, now, understands them. Understands their place and origin. Knows that this is really happening. In the middle of the fear and shock of leaving Kusto brought on by her father's words is the warm, permeating glow of recognition. She's hearing the Prophets. It distracts her for a moment from the conversation. They're really, really, /really/ REAL.

"I... no. I. Oh. Dad. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Dad. No, I haven't." Panic time, for a few seconds. Dying is easy. Stopping and turning around? Not so easy.

Kessler goes tense at Stewart's words, though her arms tighten around his waist. "She'll be fine," she assures him, though she hardly sounds certain. "She'll be fine, James. Don't worry." Maybe she didn't hear Idisha. Who could say? The infirmary is all quiet chaos.

The color drains from Thaal'vor's face. Letting it turn to a color not unlike faded jeans. His gaze has picked out the form of Thea on the biobed in question. And while his mouth opens, words do not follow. He tears his gaze from Medes as a swarm of nurses break his view for a moment and he looks to Stewart. Fear...fear of yet more loss...grief...and of course concern for Stewart all are present in his eyes as he looks upon his teammate.

Her father shushes her calmly, placing a finger over her lips and kisses her forehead gently. "I didn't mean to leave you, sweetheart. I never meant to leave you behind. I was blind to what I was doing to you. Things are so clouded when you're alive, and you only see what you want to see. But since I've died, Alethea, I've listened. I've always listened. Even when you've said words that hurt me, I've listened. I saw you at Occa. And at Fimdari. At the Fallen Star and the Hernes. Every success and every failure I've seen. It's never too late to make things right, it's just too late to realize you were doing them wrong."

"I'm sorry I wasn't the father you deserved. But I won't let you die. Go back. I love you, and I miss you, but you have to go back. Not yet, Alethea. Not yet."

Malloy touches the stimulators once more to Medes' open heart. Triggering them, he sends another jolt of electricity through her body, arching her back even more than before. The cracks of her protesting vertebrae sound through the infirmary like a series of pistol shots before she crashes down heavily again on her biobed. Swiftly, he looks over to the monitor, all the while setting the stimulators to an even higher setting. "How's the heart-lung coming along? We might need it as backup in a sec." Back to his calm, emotionless voice again, it carries nevertheless.

"Dammit, Thea, come on.", Park says with the first hint of emotion since this all started. He reaches into her chest and starts manually massaging her heart. "Get me 40ccs of Tridrenaline.", he calls out. When he get the hypo, he shoots the drug straight into the heart. "Charge to 500."

Stewart just stands staring a minute or two more, and then says, "I hope you're right." He slumps a little against his current leaning prop, and then says to Kessler, "I have to stay. I have to see her through it, or see her out. She's the only family I have left."

"Oh, Daddy." There's no room for reserved words like 'Dad' or 'Father' or even 'Jacob.' She flings her arms around her father and holds onto him tightly for a moment. And after that, there's nothing more to say. She just holds on for a second. "I love you, Dad. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry I was so awful to you. I miss you. I really, really do. But. I'm going, now." Letting go of Jacob Medes, she turns back, and searches within herself for the tie she felt to Kusto. She can follow that back. Follow that back to him, and to her life, which revolves around him, the slow orbit of twin stars.

Havaris remains motionless in his biobed, very much forgotten amid the flurry of activity intent on reviving Medes. His biosigns are rock stable, his breathing regular. Ignorance is bliss when your lover is dying one bed over. Then again, maybe he knows something they don't.

"I'll stay with you," Anji assures Stewart as she shifts in the circle of his arm, moving instead to stand in front of him. He can lean on her if he needs it, and she'll... she'll watch. And hope. "She'll makes it. It's in the genes, right?" Even she doesn't laugh at that. There's no lightening this mood.

Malloy nods slightly, setting the stimulators to the adviced setting. "Give Park another 40ccs of Epinephrine." he orders calmly, "And start the heart-lung." From calm to barking again: "Clear the body!" And with that, he leans over Medes once more.

Park pulls his hand back, now covered in blood. "Clear.", he calls out.

GAME: Medes spends a courage point.

<CONTEST> Medes (claiming advantage) contests her Fitness (Vitality) skill vs a difficulty of Moderate and Succeeds!

Idisha looks to Stewart now. His comment about family not lost upon him. "Perhaps James. But not only. We are more than teammates. Thea is...family for me. And you are as well. It is a thing I do not set aside lightly." His words are grave. But he means it. "I am yours if you have need."

Jacob impulsively kisses his daughter's forehead and holds her to him for as long as he can. But when she says she's going, he does the hardest thing a father can -- living or dead -- he lets her go. He raises his voice as the distance grows greater. "He's a good man, Alethea! He just doesn't know it yet! Prophets guide you!"

And indeed they do, for even as you return to your celestial home, you can feel one hand pressing into your heart, another brushing over your brow amid a whisper of Bajoran.

Malloy triggers the stimulators a third time. Third is lucky, right? RIGHT? The electricity forcing through Medes' body is brutal, the crack of her vertebrae like a whiplash this time, sharp and echoing, then she crashes back down into her bed. Head snapping to the left to look at the monitor, Malloy furrows his brow slightly, looking at the spike in her lifesigns, rapt attention for a blink or two, then he turns back to her open heart, watching it. "Ready with the epinephrine, Doc?" Show or not, he is calm. Emotion? None there.

...Medes' biosigns spike as her pulse moves into sinus and eases in one beat into a steady rhythm. She takes in one gargling breath and coughs out a gobbet of blood. She's back, but her wounds are still grave.

Park leans in with the injections as soon as the charge clears her body. He watches the monitors as if willing the vitals to stay up.

"Thaal'vor? I appreciate the thought, but not now. Don't start." Stewart doesn't move, though, just looking drained. Right up until Medes shows life signs again. This gets him pushing himself back up to his feet, watching the monitors intently.

Park moves quickly back into the chest cavity. "Craig, I need suction right here. She's got bleeding but I can't see it.", he says, pointing to indicate where he needs help.

Idisha frowns a touch at Stewart's words. It was not a thought. Nor a thing to start. Perhaps Stewart merely doesn't understand what was just told. Or perhaps it is the moment. Either way, Thaal is quite happy to hear a beep from the biobed and is instantly watching the results.

Kessler casts Idisha an apologetic glance and a little shrug. He's upset. Her expression begs forgiveness on Stewart's behalf even as she offers the man another hug. "See? She's gonna be fine. Just fine, honey. Let's go wait outside, okay? Let them work." Starting up on that again, it seems. Maybe this time he'll listen.

Malloy nods to himself, then reaches for the small tube, cleaning away some of the blood. "20cc Amiodarone for the Doc, now!" Another of his barked orders which sends one of the nurses to the replicator.

<CONTEST> Park (claiming advantage) contests his Medical Sciences (Surgical) skill vs a difficulty of Challenging and Succeeds!

Takamura is completely oblivious to the drama unfolding around him. The drugs administered to him have taken full efect.

Stewart eventually looks over to Kessler, giving a quick little nod, whereupon he leans on her a bit, letting her lead. Before he goes, he calls out to Medes, "Don't you dare die when I'm not here, you understand?" After which he gives Kessler another nod, letting her lead him out.

Idisha gives a sidelong glance to Stewart and Kessler as she starts leading him out. And yet, Thaal stays behind. There are two others here who he bears allegiance to. For different reasons. And they war inside of him. For perhaps now he gives pause to consider... whose is the greater concern...

Kessler just tightens her grip on Stewart and guides him out of the infirmary. She opens her mouth at one point, but elects to say nothing just yet. She might say a thing or two about concern, but... no one's brought it up, have they? Have they? No. And so she just takes him out. He's seen enough, hasn't he?

Kessler heads out and into the clamour of the Mall.

Kessler has left.

"Dammit, no wonder I didn't see it.", Park mutters. "It's perforared right along the lower edge. I need a regenerator and that injection, please."

Stewart heads out and into the clamour of the Mall.

Stewart has left.

Malloy hmmms, handing the injection and the regenerator to Park. "I'd advice to induce hypothermia to the body as well to keep the risk of braindamage low, Sir. Core temperature down to thirtythree should be sufficient."

Park nods and says, "Take care of it while I get this bleeding stopped."

Medes lies there. Theasicle. No joking about putting a stick in her, kay?

Malloy turns slightly, then taps a few keys, which brings another field into existence, covering Medes' body like a second skin. Park feels a soft tingle in his fingertips, slightly cold, while Malloy looks up to the monitor. Medes' core temperature lowers steadily, then stops at 33 degrees Celsius, four and a half lower than normal. That's 91.4 degrees to the metric challenged people in here. "Computer, keep the field up for twelve hours, then slowly raise the temperature to normal, half a degree every ten minutes." he instructs.