In Memoriam

Posted on 15 Sep 2016 @ 9:20pm by Commander Jayla Kij & Lieutenant JG Shay Mitchell

1,340 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Click Three Times
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: MD 7 || 1600 Hours

Jayla checked the stats of the next patient one more time before pasting the cheerful smile back in place. It was important to have a positive attitude with patients, no matter how dire the situation. Luckily, this one wasn't entirely dire.

"Hello, Ensign," she said cheerfully. "How are you feeling today?"

Shay stirred around when she heard the voice next to her speak and tried to fight passed the haze the meds she'd been given. The plus side, she didn't feel pain at the moment. In fact, she didn't really feel much of anything below the mid-torso area. Turning her sleepy eyes, the bed ridden woman focused on the doctor. "I feel... I don't know how I feel," she answered honestly, but softly.

Jayla grinned again and pulled a stool over to the side of her bed. "You took quite a beating," she said, still sounding positive. "We had quite a time patching you up. You're still on the mend, but we're confident that in time, you'll make a full recovery."

"I plan to make a full recovery, but even I have my limits. I've got to rely on you and your staff to help me get on my feet again. I'll do whatever it takes," the Ensign said. She found Jayla's grin to be a bit unnerving. Sure, she was going to be up and walking again, but the fact that she was laid up like she was presently didn't give her any reason to smile. "The grinning... is that an all the time thing, or do you do it in an attempt to make those of us in bad situations try to feel better?"

"It's a bit of a stress reaction, to tell the truth," Jayla replied, grinning again. "I do it when I'm nervous or frightened as well as when I'm happy or content. But, also, I feel like it helps put patients at ease. Or I hope it does anyway. Most Vulcans prefer that I not smile, but I find it difficult to stop."

"I'm not a Vulcan, but it is a bit... unnerving," Shay admitted. She was trying to be her normal cheerful and positive self, but it seemed that side of her was currently taking a vacation.

"Sorry," said Jayla, wiping the smile from her face like flipping a switch. "I shall attempt to be appropriately somber. The scans we took earlier show improvement- more than we expected, actually," she added. "It seems your body is anxious to be up and about again." And, because she couldn't help it, she smiled again. "Oops, sorry," she said, biting her lips.

"Really?" the young woman asked, the hint of a smile curling at the corner of her lip. She hadn't been expecting to hear that. That'd been some of the best news she could have gotten. "Okay... now the smile doesn't seem as unnerving. Thank you for that. I know I still have a way to go, but knowing that... it makes dealing with all of this a bit easier." She looked toward Jayla again. "The man who fell on me... is he really... is he really dead?"

"Yeah," said Jayla, her smile sliding from her face. "I didn't know him, but we lost far too many good people." She sighed. "All this... all these events have wiped the smile from even my face. It's just too- no! Let's not talk about that. It's not going to help. Although," she added thoughtfully. "I've been thinking of making some sort of memorial. Something on the holodeck that people can add to as they please. Then it can just keep getting bigger and bigger. What do you think?" she asked.

"I don't think that's a bad idea," The Ensign pointed out. "It would offer people the chance to mourn those they've lost in private."

Jayla nodded pensively. "And help us all to heal," she said. "I'm gonna do it. Now I just have to decide what the base is going to be. Maybe I'll poll the crew."

"A poll might not be a bad idea. That way the crew will feel like they were a part of it," the young woman said. "I really think you should do it. Too many lives were lost."

"Yeah," agreed Jayla. "Anyway, we're working on a physical therapy schedule for you. That combined with medical treatments will have you on your feet in no time. Early estimates were two months, but with these new scans, probably earlier than that. A month, maybe less. Well, I mean, you'll be able to walk well enough to go back to your quarters well before that, but I'm talking back on duty."

Shay looked thoughtful as the Doctor spoke. She would have preferred to be up and moving sooner than that, but with her injuries, it was best not to push things too fast. "I'll do whatever I have to to get up and moving again," she said. "Thank you. I may end up going stir crazy being in here, but I'm definitely going to try to keep that under control."

"Tell you what," Jayla replied. "I've got a fourth year Cadet who's gonna be here for a bit, too. I can put you two next to each other and you'll have someone to talk to. She could use some friends; I think all of hers are busy with the clean up. Only one person has been in to see her."

"It'll be nice to have someone to talk to, and if she's a fourth year Cadet, she wouldn't be much younger than I am. I'm okay with that," the young woman said with a smile.

"I'll see to it, then," said Jayla with another grin. "In the meantime, can I get you anything? Some food or water or a PaDD with games and books on it?" she added with a twinkle to her eye.

"Something to drink might be nice, and a PADD if it's okay for me to have one. Please," Shay said, offering Jayla another smile. She felt bad for being cross with her before. "I'm sorry about being so snotty when you first got here. You aren't responsible for me being here, and I don't need to take it out on you."

"It's all right," said Jayla, turning and retrieving a nearby PaDD and handing it to Shay. "I'm used to it. People are usually in a bad mood when they find themselves in Sick Bay. I'm not quite sure why." She grinned to show that she was joking. "I'll go get you something to drink. I think the barkeep left some juice when she was here earlier."

Shay accepted the PADD and settled it on her lap. "Thank you again. When you do get around to polling the crew about ideas, let me know so I can put my vote in."

"I sure will," promised Jayla as she hurried off to retrieve a glass of juice. "Here we are," she announced, returning with the juice. "I had some of this earlier. It's apple/carrot/grape. Sounds terrible, but it's delicious! And very good for you." She handed over the glass.

"I'm willing to try anything once," the young Ensign said as she accepted the glass, taking a small sip from it. "Thank you. I'm looking forward to meeting my new roommate when you're able to make it happen."

"I'll let Doctor Road know to bring her over the next time she gets her up to walk," promised Jayla. "In the meantime, try not to go crazy, okay?"

Shay couldn't help but smile at that last bit. "I'll try my hardest," she said, setting her glass aside so she could pick up the PADD and thumb through it. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad while she was laid up. The doctor made sure she had something to do, and soon there would be someone for her to talk to. Still, the young woman was looking forward to the day she could get up and get back to what she loved.

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