by *Keiran O’Sullivan
90226.2000
Awhile after Circling in the Water
-=Sickbay, USS Serendipity=-
90226.2000
Awhile after Circling in the Water
-=Sickbay, USS Serendipity=-
“What do I need to know to take care of her?”
McKay looked over the top of his monitor at Keiran O’Sullivan, who was standing in the doorway of his office.
“That depends, do you mean in regards to the immediate concern of her eyes or the overall spectrum of everything that goes into making her Zanh Liis? Because I can answer that question in 10 seconds or 10 days.”
“The lady requested I take her home, which suits me since I was takin’ her there an’a’way whether she asked or not. Immediate health concerns will do me fine, yeah?”
“Well, if you just give me a few moments, the bandages can come off. I’ll have some protective glasses replicated, she’ll need to wear for a few days. Just limit her exposure to direct sunlight to no more than an hour at a time for at least two days.”
As determined as Keiran was to get her off the ship, he was equally determined to follow each of McKay’s instructions to the letter. There was no way he was going to do anything that would compromise her care. “How will we know when she’s ready to drop the glasses?”
“When she can step outside without squintin’ like a possum at noon. I can’t give you an exact time. When the pain from exposure to light lessens, she’ll know she’s ready.” The LMH paused.
“I can’t tell ya how glad I am to know the missus is goin’ to be out of harm’s way for a bit, because no one deserves to spend as much time here as she has the last few weeks. Y’all enjoy yourselves down there. Doctor’s orders.” McKay cast his eyes back down at the computer, where he was entering notes in the files.
Keiran was ready to go and took two steps back towards Liis before he paused, and spun back around into the doorway.
“You really care about her, don’t ya Doc?”
“That’s my job, son.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean, you honestly care about her well-bein’, and whether she’s happy or not. Don’t tell me that’s just a programmin’ response.”
“This is how they designed me. I don’t know how else to be.”
“Well, we need more like you, Dalton.” Keiran said. Truth be told he had seen more people who were supposed to be Liis’ friends or colleagues cause her more grief then she deserved to put up with. Knowing people like McKay were there for Liis when she needed them would help Keiran sleep at night.
He returned to her bedside, and told her the Doctor would be out in a moment to take the bandages off. Then she would be free to go.
She was quiet as they waited, just holding his hand. Keiran listened as the beeping of her heart monitor slowed down to normal as he sat beside her. Just knowing he was there relaxed her.
McKay strolled up to the bedside when he was ready. Keiran held her hand fast, not intending to let go and McKay made no indication that he should leave. The Doctor took a final scan of Zanh Liis, and checked her vital signs.
“Well let’s unwrap this present and see what Santa left us, shall we?”
“Probably a lump of, what was it? Fossilized fuel?” Liis commented, smiling and trying to lighten the moment. Keiran grumbled softly beside her in response to hearing her put herself down, even if he knew she was just teasing.
He raised her hand and placed a kiss upon it. “That’d be coal, darlin’.”
“Well, I’m just a Bajoran Starfleet captain. Your Earth traditions are strange, and scary to me…”
T’Dara stood ready at the bedside, antibiotic drops in hand in case there were any signs of infection. She also had the newly replicated pair of dark glasses to shield the Captain’s eyes until they were healed.
“Computer, cut illumination ninety-five percent.” McKay ordered. There was a faint hum in the room as the lights went down to a level that Liis’s eyes would be able to tolerate. Keiran squinted to see her face, as his own eyes attempted to adjust. McKay simply went right about the task of removing the bandages, as his own eyes adjusted automatically and instantly to the change.
“I can’t see,” Liis announced, as soon as the bandages were off. She squeezed Keiran’s hand tighter and turned towards him, looking desperately for his face.
“Five minutes, just give it five minutes Zanh Liis for your vision to come into focus.” McKay pleaded.
“You will need these, Captain.” T’Dara placed the glasses’ temples into Liis’s right hand, and closed her fingers around them. Liis felt for a hold, and Keiran quickly grabbed onto her hand and helped guide the glasses up to her face.
“Computer, increase lighting to fifty percent of maximum,” McKay ordered. Liis turned her head towards Keiran, and noted that the shape of his face was beginning to come into focus.
“Well, how horrible do I look?” She asked. Keiran chuckled, knowing the vain comment was only made because Zanh Liis did not have a vain bone in her body.
“Ya look fine. Very stylish. I think the doctor knows your taste well.”
“Well, I wasn’t about to put Zanh Liis into Jackie O glasses,” McKay commented, as he attempted to scan her eyes, despite the fact she had turned her head away from him and towards Keiran. “We already discussed what will happen if she turns me over to Lair Arie and I’m about as eager as a carnivore during Lent for that to happen.”
“Is she free to go?” Keiran asked.
“I don’t see why not,” McKay said, flipping his scanner closed.
“Enjoy your vacation.” T’Dara said, bowing slightly to Keiran as she backed away from the table.
“But, but wait. Wait, Keiran. I need to get…” Liis protested.
“Make me a list, and I’ll beam back up and get it mehself. Only place you are goin’ is home.” He helped her up to a sitting position.
“Show me the way?” She asked softly. Were it anyone else she probably would have refused any help at all and somehow have made it unharmed to the transporter room anyway, simply because she was Zanh Liis.
Keiran linked his arm in hers and guided her out of Sickbay. He kept her between him and the wall, so she could feel her way along it.
“Good to see you up and around, Captain.” A crewman said as he passed them in the corridor.
“Thank ya kindly.” Keiran answered for her.
“I’m just another person heading home from Sickbay. I don’t see what the big deal is.” Liis shrugged.
“They all love you.” Keiran said flatly. It was blindingly obvious to him what Liis could never see, whether her eyes were healthy or not.
“And what about you?”
“I adore you with everything I am, Liis,” Keiran said, more sure about it than anything else in his life.
“Good.” She was now grinning from ear to ear.
“Door,” he warned, holding her up and waiting for the entrance to the transporter room to hiss open. “Step up, darlin’,” he helped her up onto the pad. “I’ll be right there.”
O’Sullivan excused himself, and the Ensign at the control panel stepped aside. Keiran punched in the coordinates of their home on the surface with his right hand, the exact latitude and longitude of the front door committed to memory. His left hand was equally busy, bringing up the security camera records from Sickbay to see whom exactly had knocked him out with the hypo.
“Blane,” he mumbled.
The door to the room hissed open once again, and Commander Salvek hurried in, hoping to catch the Captain before she beamed down.
“Captain,” Salvek began.
“The Captain is on vacation, Commander,” Keiran warned.
“I have no request, merely one thing to say before I depart for Vulcan.”
“What is it?” Liis asked, her voice sincere with concern.
Salvek held up his hand, making the Vulcan “V” towards Zanh Liis as she stood on the transporter pad. Through the haze she could manage to make out his motion. “Live long and prosper, Zanh Liis.”
“Live long, and prosper, Salvek.” She said back, returning the hand gesture to him.
“Commander,” Salvek said, addressing O’Sullivan. He then backed slowly from the room.
Keiran did not understand why Salvek had been so insistent on getting that one salutation to Liis before he left, but Liis knew why immediately.
Salvek, she knew, was not sure he was coming back.
“Energize,” Keiran ordered.
A moment later the cold interior of the Starship was replaced with the warm outdoors of Ireland. Liis tucked her concerns for Salvek away at the door, knowing his well being was in the hands of his people, his family, and the future, where it belonged.
There was nothing in the world she was going to concern herself with other than Keiran O’Sullivan, from this moment until the one when they returned to duty.
He opened the door for her, and her continually improving vision allowed her to see the beautiful interior before her. Everything was exactly as it had been when they had rushed off to rescue Lair Arie.
“Welcome home, Liis,” Keiran said, guiding her across the threshold. She paused in the doorway and wrapped her arms around his neck, and he leaned in to kiss her.
******************************
*Keiran O’Sullivan
On Part Two of his Honeymoon
*Keiran O’Sullivan
On Part Two of his Honeymoon