691: Goodnight, My Angel

by Lair Kellyn
81206.16
Soundtrack: Lullabye, by Billy Joel
Awhile after Being of Sound Mind

-=/\=-

-=Lethus IV=-


"Arie, climb into bed now," Kellyn was staring into open space, eyelids just barely parted. Her temperature had risen to the point where, in combination with blood loss and the damage to her lungs, it had sent her past the point of coherence.

Doctor McKay, for one, was grateful for this fact. There was nothing more he could do for her here, and the thought that she was seeing something so much better than the reality of what was happening to her would be a comfort not only to her and those who were here present, but to her husband, McKay was certain, after he learned of her fate.

Her crew mates could do nothing but stand by alongside the LMH, watching helplessly.
Each lost in their own thoughts the trio of officers who knew Lair best stood vigil over her; at this point, simply waiting for the inevitable to take place.

Inevitable because though Rada had miraculously managed to make use of his skills to repair the malfunctioning holoemitter and reinitialize McKay's program, the doctor simply did not have the supplies that he needed to extend Lair's life any longer.

"You gentleman...can step outside," The LMH offered. It was difficult for him, even as a different form of life than those he kept watch over, to see what was happening to Lair. To those who were flesh and blood as she was, it must feel almost unbearable.

Despite being given an 'out', neither Blane, Reece, nor Dengar moved.

At last, Reece dropped to his knees beside Lair, holding her hand in both of his even though she was clearly seeing something entirely different in her mind's eye from her actual surroundings.

"It's a little chilly in here, Arie, are you warm enough? Do you want another blanket?" Kellyn listened as if hearing a response, and nodded gently."I'll get you one anyway. You might want it in the middle of the night." She brought her lips together and formed them into the shape of a kiss as she imagined pressing them to the soft, silky hair at the crown of her daughter's head.

Again she appeared to be listening to a voice no one else could hear. She sighed softly, and then swallowed hard. "I know that there is so much that you need to know, Arie. About who you are, and about your father and your grandparents." Her words were, remarkably, less slurred now than they had been at any point in the past two hours.

It seemed that the very last of her remaining strength was focused on getting them out, and spoken before she, too, fell asleep. "We'll talk to your father about it again in the morning at breakfast, all right? I promise."

The ghostly hint of an affectionate smile played out over her features, in complete contrast to the pain that they had seen in her earlier.

"You want me to stay with you for awhile? All right then, move over and make me some room."

Reece stared at the ground, and Rada moved to sit down beside Kellyn as well. No one spoke, and recalling her earlier declaration, Dengar simply hoped that she knew that whatever happened now that she was not, nor in fact had she ever really been, alone.

"That's a girl. No, wait, I'm too far over the edge still, I'm going to fall off!" Kellyn laughed softly, "You have to share the blankets, and a pillow, I'm freezing. 'Raffe will have to share too."

Reece's expression changed at the mention of the stuffed animal, now completely threadbare, that he'd given Arie brand new when she was only an infant. Blane remembered his promise to Lair and moved forward toward Reece, leaning down and putting a firm hand on his shoulder.

The Trill looked up at him with eyes that screamed out in pain, even though he remained trapped in silence. He was, for want of a better description, simply devastated.

"Reece, let's step outside." Blane rumbled softly.

"I'm not leaving her side until," he stopped, changing the words he was going to speak mid-sentence. "Until we take her home."

"If you really respect, and care for Lair Kellyn," Blane responded slowly, knowing full well that Reece did both. "You'll grant her last request that you not be here when this happens. She...was only thinking of you when she asked me to promise her I wouldn't allow you to watch her die."

"You're going to have to remove me, then."

Blane blinked three times, the only reaction to Reece's challenge that he allowed to register upon his otherwise unchanging face.

He hated to see it come to this, but he had given Lair Kellyn his word, and he was a man who kept his promises.

"Have it your way."

He grabbed Reece by the arms, uncermoniously lifted him until his feet were dangling above ground, and ushered him swiftly outside.

"We'll have to finish...the story...tomorrow...Arie..." Kellyn could hold her eyes open no longer. "I'm...sleepy...too. Sleeptight. Loveyou." She began to hum softly, a song that Rada had never heard; apparently some manner of lullabye meant to soothe Arie into sweet dreams.

Rada stared blankly at Kellyn, reaching out and resting a hand heavily on her shoulder, hoping that the gesture would be perceived by her, perhaps, as Arie's head lolling against her, weighed down by sleep.

Just beyond the tent, Blane finally released Reece, and Reece's first, quite uncharactaristic reaction, was to lunge at him.

Misdirecting his anger and frustration, he managed to land one punch upon Blane's cheek, but only because the man was completely unsuspecting. Quickly Blane once again had the much slighter-of-build Reece subdued, held fast by the wrists for a long moment in silence until the man finally stopped struggling.

Blane allowed him to sink to the ground, and Dabin took his head into his hands, covering his face with them. "Sorry."

"This isn't easy for any of us," Blane answered sympathetically, keeping his temper in check. "You've known her for so long, I can't imagine how hard it must be for you to-"

As he spoke, out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw the flash of someone transporting in, and immediately spun, drawing his weapon.

Reece was too emotional to even notice, and Blane stepped in front of the man to try to protect him, if at all possible.

"Stand down, Mister Blane," a familar voice entreated. "It's only me."

TC looked up, mouth hanging open, completely astonished to see Zanh Liis, and the man who had performed her wedding ceremony days before, Captain Lindsay, standing before him.

"Captain, I don't," Blane stammered.

Zanh stepped forward, her expression one of pure concern as she looked down at Reece and then back up at Blane. "Need a ride? We've come to take you home."

"Where," Lindsay interjected urgently, "is Lair Kellyn?"

"She's dying." Reece announced sadly, looking up at the man with bloodshot eyes ringed by dark circles. Liis approached, and Reece accepted her outstretched hand and attempted to get to his feet. "Or already gone."

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Commander Lair Kellyn
Engineering Research and Development
The Alchemy Project