The Gift of Medicine

 Episode Name:  The Gift of Medicine

   Written By:  Grey

         Cast:  Albertz, Daren Enxica, Grey, Knight and Nabrun.

  Produced By:  Starfleet

  Directed By:  Grey

     Aired On:  Thu Feb 03 03:31:00 2005

     Stardate:  54727.2

Time: Wed Feb 02 21:01:13 2005

Stardate: 54726.5

Nabrun slips out of the CMO's office looking, well, about the color of skim milk. "Hamish?" she calls, not looking around. "I'll need you to join me with restraints and hyposprays, please."

Albertz is standing next to Enxica's bed, reading over a PADD. He looks up when Nabrun exits, "Understood." He nods to her and moves to get the requested items.

Nabrun moves next to the patient's bed, studying him for a moment, then reaches out to brush her fingertips lightly over his forehead. "We're going to bring you out of sedation," she tells the patient, quietly. "Then we're going to have a little talk, mmm kay?"

Daren Enxica is quiet and silent on the bed, quite well sedated.

Albertz keys the controls on the biobed, closing the clamshell over Enxica. "Right then, we've got a restraining field activated. He won't be going anywhere unless it's disengaged, Barana."

Nabrun grins up at Albertz, though she's still a little pale. "Excellent," she says quietly. "Thank you. Alright, let's bring him out of sedation. I'll do that, you stand by with the sedative in case he starts resonating again, please?"

Albertz gives Narbun a short little nod and prepares a hypospray. "Ready when you are, then."

Nabrun reaches for the one that will bring the patient out of sedation. "Here we go," she says quietly, administering the hypo. "You're going to wake up," she says quietly. "Remain calm, you're restrained for your safety." Her voice has hit "Counselor."

Daren Enxica doesn't hear her words because it takes a few moments for him to slowly wake. His eyes settle on Albertz at first, looking confused and half asleep. Over a few seconds his eyes slowly focus, and he mumbles something, not able to get it out clearly. He tries again, with more luck. "Thank you."

Nabrun reaches out to brush her fingers over his forehead. "Can you look at me, Mr. Enxica?" she asks quietly. "I'm Barana Nabrun, Counselor, and this is Dr. Hamish Albertz, our ACMO. I need you to look at me, please."

Albertz unfolds a tricorder and sets it in the recessed area of the biobed, beginning to record data readouts. When the patient awakes he gives the man a slight nod as Barana introduces him.

Daren Enxica starts a little, before turning to Barana. When he spots her, he starts again, suddenly saying, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wasn't trying to hurt you," he mumbles.

Nabrun stiffens for a moment and reaches out to brush his hair back, the touch light. "I need to talk with you," she says, voice quiet and soft. "Dr. Albertz will be taking some medical readings while we talk. I apologize for the precautions we have to take, Mr. Enxica, but you've caused us...a few issues since your arrival." The smile on her lips would make it clear to a dead man that those words were the understatement of the year.

Albertz is silent, occupying himself with the readouts on the biobed rather than the conversation between Enxica and Nabrun.

Daren Enxica shakes his head a little, repeating softly, "I'm so sorry. I just wanted help, but I couldn't control it. I didn't want to hurt people."

Nabrun glances at Albertz, then back to Daren. "What happened?" she asks, voice still quiet. "Can you tell us that?" She's watching Daren's face and eyes closely, posture seeming relaxed, yet poised.

"I don't know," Enxica says softly, head sort of slumping on the bed. "I just wanted to wake up, to think. I wanted the cure. That's all the I want. But then the Doctor stunned me and I couldn't wake up. I found myself in dreams. Not mine, but others."

Nabrun nods slowly, watching him for a time before glancing up at Albertz. "You don't know how you ended up in other people's dreams? Or that you set up a psionic resonance?

Daren Enxica blinks a little. "Psionic resonance? I have no idea what you're talking about," he says, looking confused. "I knew I wasn't in my dreams. They were strange and foreign. I could only change nightmares. I was trying to call for help, but it always turned out wrong. I remember your dream. I wanted to stop them from killing your daughter, but I couldn't."

Albertz purses his lips a little at Enxica's revelation. "Well...we should be able tae help ye then."

Nabrun mmms quietly and nods, once. "Do you know if you were evaluated on Betazed for the surgery, psychologically?" she asks. "I only inquire because, when you came aboard, you set up a psionic resonance that had the whole community of the ship hearing each other's thoughts. We need to make sure that you're medically AND psychologically prepared for the surgery.

Daren Enxica nods a little to Barana. "I was. We all were. We're all cleared for the surgery, though I don't know anything about the resonance. I was...I was a little exited when I came aboard. I haven't used my telepathy in years."

Nabrun looks over to Albertz, head tilting slightly to one side. "Dr. Albertz? From everything I've read, the patient has been cleared...How long will the surgery take?

Albertz looks up from his readouts, "No more than forty minutes, I should think. Once everything prepped and ready, of course."

Daren Enxica is quiet while he listens, though almost bubbly. He's excited as he listens.

Nabrun nods slowly. "Are you prepared to do surgery this evening?" she asks, voice quiet. "If I act as your nurse?"

Albertz hmms, "Well. I'd prefer Dax Sharei, tae be honest. He's a little more familiar wi' the process."

Nabrun looks down to Daren then back to Albertz, and her voice drops even more. "Do you know when Dax will be free?"

Albertz quirks an eyebrow at something and he moves around the biobed to Barana's side. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he guides her a safe distance away from Enxica and out of earshot. "What's going on?" his voice just above a hushed whisper. "Why the hurry?"

Nabrun is easily led and her voice is low, quiet. "It's his desire for the surgery. He's desperate for it," she explains quietly. "That desperation...it's something he can't really control right now." She bites her lower lip and looks up at him, a telling look. "It's a pattern, in the dreams. There's that need, that desperation. I strongly suspect, very strongly, that with the surgery, the problem will go away. With the implant, he won't be able to set up a resonance, and the desperation will be gone."

Albertz nods a couple of times after Nabrun delivers her assessment. "Right, let's get ready for the surgery, then."

Daren Enxica is still quiet, though its clear that he's also quite excited right and biting his tongue.

Nabrun's uncertainly only shows for a moment, and then she goes back to the biobed. "Are you ready for surgery?" she asks Daren, quietly.

Daren Enxica glances to Nabrun and nods. "I am. I can't stop thinking about it."

Albertz moves to Nabrun's side, "And yuir certain that Mister Enxica is ready for this surgery, Counsellor?"

Nabrun nods to Albertz. "He's cleared psychologically, from before the surgery and now. There hasn't been a recurrance of resonance or of the nightmares." She looks over to Daren. "And there won't be, will there?" she asks him, smiling faintly.

Daren Enxica has the grace to look rather upset. He shakes his head. "No. I just wanted help, that's all. You're giving that to me."

. o O Albertz is slightly unsure. He seems to think that Nabrun isn't one hundred percent in favour of the idea.

Nabrun looks to Daren, studying him for a few moments. "You realize that charges MAY be pending?" she says softly. "We're taking a chance doing the surgery, but if the pattern I suspect holds true, this will solve quite a few problems." She looks up to Albertz.

Daren Enxica frowns softly to Nabrun and nods. "I have no choice."

Albertz blinks a couple of times. Charges? "Well, I'm going tae get everything prepared for the surgery. We can worry about whys and wherefores afterwards." With that, the Scot moves off and begins to busy himself with surgical preparations.

Nabrun looks down to Daren, watching him for a time. "I'm going to assist with the surgery, but this is Dr. Albertz' baby. You're in excellent hands, given he's the one who pioneered this. I'll need for you to relax and focus on the good things, the future, on being able to hear properly again. Can you do that for me?

Daren Enxica smiles Nabrun, and nods. "Thank you. Thank you for helping me," he says to her. "That's all I wanted. I'm sorry I caused problem."

Nabrun smiles a little at that and nods. "Close your eyes and concentrate on the good. Concentrate on how it's going to feel when you can hear again. I'm going to go prep for the surgery as well, as soon as Dr. Albertz returns.

Daren Enxica nods once more to Nabrun and lets his head settle back. He goes quiet, eyes cloosed, while he waits.

Albertz returns with two trays of instruments, one with the implant proper and the other with the necessary implants to perform the surgery. "Alright then, Mister Enxica, we're going tae put ye under now. Ye'll be unconscious for approximately an hour."

Nabrun steps aside, letting Albertz take over. This is HIS area of expertise after all. She's quiet and ready to move if/when needed.

Daren Enxica nods quietly to Albertz, not even opening his eyes as he does. He's waiting partiently.

Albertz turns to Nabrun, "Barana. I'd like you to monitor the biobed readout, please. It's vital that his paracortical activity stays as low as possible for the duration of the surgery."

Nabrun nods to Albertz and moves into position to watch the monitor. "Just relax, Daren," she says softly, dropping her voice to a soothing, gentle cadence. "Relax and sleep. Imagine your paracortical activity as being very, very low. Relax."

Albertz takes a deep breath, clears his mind, and begins.

Nabrun remains by the side of the biobed, her voice low and quiet as she talks to Daren, reminding him to relax, to keep good things in his mind. She keeps her voice hushed, out of deference for Albertz working. The only time this changes is when he asks for something.

The surgery proceeds smoothly and carefully for a little over forty minutes, Albertz and Nabrun working together. Albertz works carefully though the procedure, the one that he invented and little by little the implant is put into place. Finally he's weilding the dermal regenerator to repair the skin on the man's head.

Albertz's expression is the same throughout the entirely surgery, his brow furrowed in concentration. Only once he's finished and he's running the regenerator over Daren's head does the expression finally lift. "Well," he looks over at Nabrun with a small smile, "time tae see if yuir theory was correct and if I've done my job properly. Bring him out of sedation, please."

The smile the Betazoid gives Albertz is, well, not one you'd normally expect to see one doctor give another. There's clear emotion there, tenderness, pride. She turns to the patient, takes a slow breath, then begins to slowly bring him out of sedation, all of her attention on Daren. "Daren," she calls quietly. And then she tries it mentally.

. o O Nabrun thinks, "Daren? It's Barana Nabrun. Can you hear me?"

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "Barana?"

Daren Enxica stirs a little on the bed, eyes opening as he looks around again. "Did it work? It did. I heard you," he says to Barana.

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "I heard it. I'm back. I haven't felt this is so long."

. o O Daren Enxica is full of excitement and happiness. He's jittery with it.

. o O Nabrun is thrilled, and terrified at the same time. She's so happy for him...but what if she was wrong? The thought has her torn up inside, though it doesn't reflect outwardly.

Albertz doesn't catch Nabrun's smile, at least not initially. He's too occupied with watching the biobed readings as Daren comes around. "Implant is functioning properly, neurotransmitter levels in the paracortex are where they should be. And" he grins at Nabrun, "the acid test seems to have been passed too. I think everything's worked out well. How do you feel, Mister Enxica?"

. o O Nabrun laughs softly. "Welcome home, Daren."

Nabrun reaches up and lightly taps her temple, grinning broadly at Albertz, eyes alight. Then she looks back to Daren, watching him and the sensors.

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "Thank you, Barana. Its so good to be home. So good."

Daren Enxica ss looking to Barana for the moment, something quiet passing between them. Then he turns to Albertz and smiles. "I feel perfect Doctor. Thank you."

Albertz smiles a little, "That's excellent. Ye should have a fairly normal existence now, Mister Enxica. And yuir welcome."

Nabrun dips her head to Daren, studying his face again. "We can't have any repeats, Mr. Enxica," she says softly. "Our crew cannot take any more of what happened. We'll need to monitor you for tonight. Is that permissible?"

Daren Enxica nods quickly to Nabrun. "Of course. That's the least I could do. Now that I'm not sedated and I can think, I shouldn't cause anymore dreams. I still don't know about the resonance, but you don't feel it now, do you? I don't."

. o O Daren Enxica suddenly feels pained and ashamed when reminded of the dreams. Most of the happiness is gone, though a little remains.

Albertz takes a step back from the biobed, letting Daren and Barana talk. This is her show, not his. Picking up a PADD, he makes some annotations to something.

. o O Nabrun thinks, "It's alright, Daren. I...I don't know that people will understand. Many were hurt deeply by these dreams. Please don't focus on the negative now, lest something happen to bring the dreams BACK. Focus on the positive, the future. Focus on hearing your friends and loved ones again."

. o O Daren Enxica doesn't feel much better at her words. "I won't let them come back, not the dreams. I wasn't even sure they were other's dreams. I wish I could apologize. I wish I could make it right."

Nabrun tilts her head as she and Daren apparently converse natively Concern flashes across her face, then contemplation.

Daren Enxicahas turned from happy looking to a kind of resigned frustration.

. o O Nabrun thinks, "I don't know that you -can-. There are those who suspect you were the cause, due to the resonance when you arrived. I'm not sure, but I think the best course of action would be for you to recover and live a happy life."

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "How can I not be happy? But at what price? Getting my telepathy back is the best thing that has happened. I can't deny that. Its all I wanted for a long time. I still hurt people like you though."

. o O Nabrun thinks, "Can you think of a way to apologize to those you affected?"

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "I would say sorry, but I think that would remind them of their pain wouldn't it?"

Nabrun nods slowly to something Daren says, then glances over at Albertz, as if making sure he's alright.

. o O Nabrun thinks, "It would, I fear, and might make them a little angrier. People...aren't sure how to deal with the emotions."

Daren Enxica glances to the doctor as well, offering Albertz another smile.

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "I will listen to your suggestions. You seem to know these people and I don't."

. o O Nabrun finally sighs softly. "Perhaps I can go to those I know were affected and pass along your apologies?"

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "Please, do what you feel is best. If it will hurt them more, I don't want that. I want the pain I caused to stop."

. o O Nabrun thinks, "May I explain to them your pain and how this might have happened?"

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "Yes, anything. Share anything that you need to, if it will help."

. o O Nabrun thinks, "I will then. For now, you need rest, and we need to monitor you, to ensure what happened doesn't happen again. Are you comfortable?"

. o O Daren Enxica thinks, "I haven't felt better in years. Thank you."

Daren Enxica turns suddenly to Albertz. "Thank you gain, Doctor Albertz. Thank you."

. o O Nabrun feels warmth, happiness, joy. The pride in Albertz' work flows just as freely. Relief, however. That's the big one. Hope.

Nabrun turns to look at Albertz as well. She's wan and tired looking, as if she's been wrung out and hung up to dry, but the smile...relief. Happiness. Hope. "Doctor Albertz?" she says softly. "Thank you."