An Arm, a Leg and a Heart

Posted on 30 Dec 2019 @ 8:04pm by Ensign Aurilia Moretti & Lieutenant Lucas Abrams M.D. & Lieutenant JG Daniella Blake

1,751 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Epilogue
Location: Medical
Timeline: April 1, 2389

Things had been very hectic for Aurilia, what with her debriefing, her part in the fight against the Dolmoqour and her part as a Dolmoqour controlled slave, and dealing with the fallout of that. Yet, she had resisted going to see Luc because she had heard about the sheer amount of casualties on top of the eighty-four deaths that had been a result of their actions. He had to be swamped since he hadn't returned to their quarters or tried to contact her and had probably been sleeping on call in Medical.

Still, the young redheaded pilot missed the gentle giant Doctor and resolved to see him. She owed him so much and felt bad that she hadn't taken the time to go see him sooner. She dressed in black jogging pants, a matching sleeveless black cotton top, pulled her hair back in a ponytail, then affixed a combadge to her chest and headed to Sickbay. When she got there, she realized that most of the biobeds were still full and some people were in complaining about various aches and pains that had been ruled as low priority enough to put off for later.

She approached a young nurse and stopped her. "Excuse me," she said. "I'm looking for Doctor Abrams."

The nurse looked tired but checked a PADD in her hand. "He's in Room Thirteen Oh Four," she said.

Aurilia thanked her and headed to the room, but waited outside in case he was with a patient. When the shift began to change some time later, she wondered if perhaps he was asleep in the room and started to leave.

The same nurse that had greeted her earlier came by on her way out. "Was he sleeping?" she asked politely.

"Er, no, I didn't want to bother him. He's probably been working a couple shifts in a row if I know him," the redhead said. "I'll see him when he gets off next." She started to leave, but the nurse laid a gentle hand on her arm.

"You...oh, I'm sorry," the nurse said. "You didn't know."

"Know what?" Aurilia asked and felt her heart start to beat faster.

"Doctor Abrams was involved with one of the boarders and..."

Without waiting to hear the rest, Aurilia activated the door to the room where Luc was a patient and not the treating Doctor and walked in.

Inside the room, Lucas was asleep. He'd been doing a lot of that lately, mostly because the nurses kept him pretty medicated. Many times, he'd woken up in a cold sweat and crying out in pain. Phantom limb syndrome was quite real. He'd treated a few patients who'd experienced it, but never thought he'd ever go through it himself. Now that he was, though, he had a newfound form of sympathy for them, and wished he could have done something more for each and everyone of them.

The covers were pulled up to his neck, leaving nothing but his head exposed. There was a small, blonde haired nurse standing next to his bed checking on his vitals, but when the door opened, Dani turned toward the newcomer. "Hi, there," she said politely. "Can I help you?"

"Lu...Doctor Abrams?" Aurila stopped herself when she saw the tiny blonde nurse. "Is...are...?" She didn't even know what questions to ask and wanted to toss the nurse aside and go to Luc.

Dani gestured to the other side of the bed and looked back down to the PADD in her hand. "You can come on over. He'd appreciate the company, I'm sure. All he's really seen are me, a few doctors and some other nurses," she told the pilot. "He's on pain meds, which is why he's sleeping, but I can wake him up if you'd like me to."

"Please tell me what happened?" Aurila asked Dani and lowered her voice. "I thought he was just working multiple shifts and hadn't heard from him. I feel awful knowing he's been here as a patient."

"I'm afraid that's not the case," the young nurse said quietly with a frown. "I don't have all of the details, but I do know there was a lot going on on this deck. Doctor Abrams and Senior Chief Rylan were caught up in an altercation with one of the possessed crew. Doctor Abrams lost an arm to phaser fire. He's very lucky. It could have been his life, but he's still here with us." And talking about that made her think about the two crewmen she'd witnessed die right before her eyes.

Doctor Abrams lost an arm echoed through the redheads mind and her face fell. She was crushed for the gentle giant and the horror he must have experienced. She looked over at him and her heart broke for the man she loved. Her voice was barely a whisper when she spoke again. "How is he taking it?"

"That's something you'll have to ask him when he wakes up," Dani told her.

"Has he been in pain?" Aurilia asked as she continued to look at Luc's face. It looked drawn and his eyes jerked under the lids while he dreamed about whatever his mind conjured. Is he reliving losing his arm? Is he fighting the pain in physical form in his dreams or nightmares? I feel so horrible that I didn't come sooner.

"A bit. We think he's suffering from phantom limb syndrome. It's a condition where patients experience sensations, whether painful or otherwise, in a limb that no longer exists," Dani explained, though, she didn't want to freak Aurilia out. "It's actually quite common. Between eighty and a hundred percent of patients will experience PLS. He's woken up in a cold sweat a few times, and has experienced a significant amount of pain as a result."

"Phantom...limb syndrome," the pilot echoed slowly as if she were trying to take it in. "Is there a cure for it?"

Dani shook her head. There wasn't any known cure that she knew of, even with the advancements in technology over the centuries. "No. I think it's more psychological since there is no limb there for physical pain to exist."

"Is he..is he getting a replacement arm?" Aurilia asked softly, her heart in shreds at the pain Luc must be going through.

"He will be, yes," the petite woman answered as she finished up what she was doing, then gave Aurilia her full attention. "I'm not sure if he's been fitted for it or not yet, though, so I'm afraid I can't tell you when that's exactly going to happen."

"I feel so bad. I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Aurilia Moretti, his girlfriend," the fighter pilot said.

"Dani Blake, Doctor Abrams' nurse," she returned with a smile.

"Do you think I could be with him for a moment?" Aurilia asked. "Alone, please?"

Dani nodded and placed a hand on the pilot's shoulder to give it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "If you need anything, just call out to reception. That's where I'll be," she said, then made her way out of the room to give her some privacy with Lucas.

When Dani left, the petite redhead crossed hesitant to Luc's side. She could see where his massive left arm was missing and the covers draped beside of his broad chest instead of out to the side. A tear slid down her cheek, but she brushed it aside. "No matter what, Lucas," she promised quietly. "I'll be by your side with all my heart and be your rock like you were mine."

Luc stirred around, but didn't open his eyes right away. He was half afraid that if he did, the pain would start, and that was something he wasn't ready to deal with. "Red?"

Aurilia nearly jumped when she heard him and turned to look at his face. His eyes were closed, but he was clearly awake and looked very tense. "It's me, my gentle one," she said softly.

He nodded his head. "How long have I been here?" Luc asked, still not opening his eyes. Not yet, anyway.

"I...I'm not sure," she admitted. "I had all kinds of debriefings and stuff, but I heard...it happened...when the crew was fighting to retake the ship, so a couple days i guess."She paused and felt guilty as hell. "I'm really sorry I didn't come sooner, Luc. I thought you were working back to back shifts and sleeping here. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you."

Lucas shook his head and finally opened his eyes. Despite being asleep for days, only waking up briefly for more medication, he looked tired. "Don't be sorry, Red. If there was a way for me to let you know what was going on, I would have. I owe you the apology."

Aurilia saw the pain in his eyes and moved to lay a hand gently on his remaining arm. "Don't," she whispered. "You don't have to apologize to me, Luc. Just know that I'll be here every available moment for you from now on."

"With any luck, I'll be out of here soon. I'm not entirely sure what this all means for my career yet," he said. Even if Luc did get a new arm, would he still be a good surgeon? The big man didn't know the answer to that, but it was only one of the many questions that continuously plagued his mind.

"Whatever you decide, I'll be there for you in any way you need me," the redhead promised him. "You helped me. I'm going to help you."

Luc managed a smile. It was the first he could recall before everything went crazy days before. "I appreciate that, Red, and I think I'm going to take you up on that."

"I'll be your arms, your legs and carry you with my heart," Aurilia vowed. "You saved me from myself, after all."

"Kiss me, Red," he said softly.

She moved closer to him and leaned down to place a soft kiss on his lips. "I love you, Luc."

"I love you, too," he said as his eyes drifted closed. It was difficult to tell if he'd fallen back asleep or not, but he was definitely breathing, so there was no reason to panic.

Aurilia moved to lay her head on his chest and draped an arm over him as he seemed to settle down and knew that no matter what, she'd be there for him.

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