372: Just Barely

by Vol Tryst and Keiran O'Sullivan
80629.15
Following Here and Now

-=Sickbay=-

When Vol pulled the curtain back, he was shocked to see that not only was O'Sullivan awake, but that he was staring at the ceiling, hands clasped behind his head.

"Well hello." Vol said, and immediately O'Sullivan put a finger to his lips to beg silence.

"Please." Keiran whispered. "I'm not quite ready for everyone to know that I've..."

"Woken?"

"Survived." The tone of his voice clearly told Vol that he had survived only just barely.

Vol pulled a chair up beside the bed and sat down. "You almost sound sorry about that."

"Truth be told?" Keiran knew there was no point in lying about it. "I am."

"But you succeeded in saving Zanh Liis' life,"

"Nah, 'twasn't me, really. She had to find it in herself to do it. She just needed to know that I," he stopped.

"That you what, Keiran?"

"That I would suffer anything rather than see her suffer on my account. Ever."

Vol couldn't prevent a chuckle.If Keiran was indeed successful in communicating that tidbit of info to the Captain, then Vol had no doubt that the Captain would survive if simply to smack the Chief of Security upside the head for such a notion.

"The ship is caught in some sort of trap," Vol revealed, his smile fading before Keiran could enquire as to its origin. "Salvek, Blane, the rest, are all working on getting us out."

"They will get us out." O'Sullivan said, at if it was something he had certain, prior knowledge of.

Instead of questioning this, Vol just continued. "After which, what do you recommend that we do?"

"I am hoping that the Captain will not retain any memories of the events revealed to her over the past few days." Keiran replied. "Beyond that, I do not have a plan of action as yet."

"Hope is your current plan of action?"

"Aye. Tis the only one I've got."

"And if she remembers it all?"

"She can't," Keiran held his head in his hands. "She just can't, Counselor."

Vol shook his head, he didn't like where this was going.

"That's not an answer, Sir. It's a wish." He dared to glare at the patient, who couldn't think of a better answer to provide.

"Then suffice it to say Ensign, I do not know."

"Much better." Tryst responded, and then quickly spoke again to address the perplexed look Keiran wore.

"You exert a lot of energy trying to cope with things you cannot have any control over. Even so, you nor I can say for sure what she'll remember. However, you won't even acknowledge that she may very well remember everything. Because to do so would be admitting that,"

"I failed to protect her." Keiran finished. "Just like I failed before." Suddenly, Keiran bolted upright. "Unless,"

"Hmmm?"

"Counselor, I have a very personal favor to ask of ya."

-=Fifteen minutes later=-

"Here it is, just as you requested."

"Thank you very kindly, Counselor. I owe you one." Keiran accepted the small, dark device and then his eyes begged a moment's privacy from the Betazoid. "Please, I need to be alone for this."

Vol lowered his eyes, and stepped to the edge of the curtain, but before vanishing completely he summoned some parting words to direct towards the Irishman.

"It was never your duty to protect her in the manner you have Keiran, but even that being as it is, you chose to take that responsibility. Now, after enduring a terrible ordeal, she is alive because of you. What matters most is not what she does or does not remember; she lives." He took in a deep breath before one last statement. "Count your victories before your supposed defeats, Sir."

Pausing on the other side of the curtain, Vol listened as O'Sullivan clutched the compass in his hands, and recited a fervent Hail Mary before opening it.

Then he heard only one more word resonate from beyond the barrier as O'Sullivan discovered that the compass remained frustratingly silent.

"Damn."

----------------------
Ensign Vol Tryst
Ship's Counselor
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

and

Lt. Commander Keiran O'Sullivan
Chief of Security
USS Serendipity NCC-2012