text ► un: girl on top

[unas]

( if you'd have taken a bet as to which starfleet officer ended up in the brig first you wouldn't have come out with this one. the fact that she's now back in the brig-- she's starting to really hate superstition )

Anyone that's allowed on deck want to tell me which direction the ship's pointing? Or what you see up there?
I'll even trade a story, something from your home for one of mine.

( she'd even take a story about the things that people have seen here but she's info seeking, find out where people are from, maybe when... she can't help the pirates but she can still be busy.

you could also potentially assume that she's a little bored )

Comments

[unas]

I think that'll take more than your water to do.

( the ironic thing about this situation was that if her immune system were functional as it should there'd be more heat, her body literally burning out whatever had gotten into her. but no matter how high her fever spikes it's not going to produce the same effect, not whilst she's in here.

and that's the other terrible thing, though even if admitting it to him, getting him to believe it would get her out of the brig he's right: the ill and infirm were mistrusted more than women. and maybe that's the new reason why they've just abandoned her to the brig. locked up for being a loud woman, kept there for being ill )

Hand me the shirt.

( maybe the new shirt would be a little cooler. she pulls off her command jumper, leaving her in the undershirt. she probably should take that off too, leaving her just in the new shirt her had )

[biomed]

A lukewarm standing wash is better than a cold bath in bringing down a fever, ( he points out, but hands over the shirt-- it's linen, of a simple make with a collar that ties, the kind of thing the sailors wear under everything and also sleep in, too.

In any case, he doesn't stare, just tips his gaze aside until she's ready for him, following up with the blanket. )

[unas]

( she considers joking that he's not getting her naked but realistically she knows he's right. and rather than suffering quite as much, rather than just hoping that she'll get out of here when two days have already passed... she agrees. she needs to try and get her fever down even if slightly.

so she pulls off her undershirt, putting the two in a pile and then the clean shirt on top so she doesn't get it wet )

Alright. Give me the cloth.

( she'll have to keep handing it back for fresh water since the bowl won't pass through the bars but they'll make it work )

[biomed]

( McCoy brings the bowl up for her so she won't have to stoop, its mouth tipped so she can reach between the bars herself. If it drips across his pants, he says nothing, just lets her get on with the cooling ablution, keeping one eye out for any unwelcome visitors. )

I'll come back with water, and something more fortifying than the slop these fools make.

[unas]

( it's a slow and steady process and even if it takes time to affect any of her fever at all the feeling of the cooler water against her really is soothing and just nice.

she nods when he speaks, wishing he didn't have to leave but he is out of water, even if his company had been nice briefly )

Thank you.

( she's not expecting much in terms of food on these boats but he'd already done well with the oranges )

Maybe they'll have to stop again somewhere.

[biomed]

You're welcome.

( There's one last orange for her, and a gentle touch to her wrist. With all the dire talk about this Crossing, he wouldn't get his hopes up for stopping. But there are still chickens in the hold, and enough vegetables the crew's wasting by virtue of not eating, so he intends to do something, at least. )

Maybe. ( He withdraws his hand, cradling his small stack of empty bowls. )

In the meantime I think you should focus on getting some rest. I'll try to be back soon.

[unas]

I'll do my best, Doctor.

( and she's a woman of her word. resting is usually the thing that una is worse at but illness is different to injury, illness is something that she's never really felt before nor the kind of physical weakness that's accompanying it.

she takes the last bits from him, offering a smile before pulling the shirt on because she's not taking a nap in just her bra. the orange gets eaten as he leaves before the blanket she originally had is laid out, the one he brought her on top with her settling to lay on them and rest, attempting to nap a little.

which is exactly how kirk finds her before her breakout. and other shenanigans occur.

it's only after the captain has finally left her does she message mccoy, not wanting him to return to the brig and find her not there. she'd convinced kirk after everything that she was fine, that she'd stay in the women's area, asking him to go look on deck and find out more information for her. it gives her a little peace, a little time to sort out what had happened and what he now knows. and what she might have to again confess )

Your Captain broke me out of the brig. Don't worry, I'm staying below decks and out of sight where the rest of the women are.

( if only because she didn't want to know how sick she'd get for spending a third time in that cell. the second had been a lot worse than the first, again? )

[biomed]

( He doesn't reply, just simply changes course. McCoy glares daggers at a sailor lingering outside the few cabins assigned to the women, shooing him away at last and knocking on the door.

He announces himself before he enters, another pilfered blanket under his arm, a bag full of oranges for all of the women, and a steaming mug he takes right to Una. )

Should have figured he'd spring you. How are you feeling?

[unas]

( unlike before when he'd seen her there's better lighting in the 'cabin'. she's sat up, cross-legged on the makeshift bunk, reading over the names in the notebook that five had given her, her copy of the names from the floor of the cell.

and she looks good. no signs of fever visually, stronger again )

Doctor. ( and she sounds better, a genuine smile at seeing him ) I'm good. Really.

( she'll move her notebook aside to free her hands to take the mug from him )

Are all of your patients so spoiled by you?

[biomed]

Always.

( His look of skepticism can probably be seen from space, but after he passes her the mug of broth, he lifts his wrist to her temple. Then, the back of his hand, confusion and relief commingling on his face. )

When did your fever break?

( Out comes the tricorder this time, near the end of its charge but still useful, a clean bill of health chirping up at him from the screen. The how is less important than the fact that she's well, especially here, where medicine is limited and disease rampant. Thank God. )

How's the headache?

[unas]

Gone. The fever, headache, all of it.

( not just broken but as if she'd never been sick. as she assumes his tricorder just told him )

But you can do more tests if you need to.

( which she doesn't normally invite )

[biomed]

Well.

( He hedges, quirking a brow as he sighs, a touch of humor in the sound. )

If I had an entire kit of tools at my disposal, maybe. I'm not taking the mug back though. ( and his next gesture is one of encouragement: so drink up, as he sets the blanket aside and tucks the tricorder away, having told him everything it could. McCoy takes a seat and an orange for himself. )

Is that typical for you?

[unas]

( drink up is exactly what una does, drinking some of the soup, and god, it's the best meal she's had on this boat. not only a good doctor but a good cook.

lowering her cup she nods )

I have a good immune system.

( it's carefully said, not wanting to draw more attention to it. she'd revealed it all to kirk but doing it again-- )

[biomed]

Remarkable,

( McCoy muses, slowly working his thumb between the pith and the fruit itself, pulling away the peel in one complete section. )

I'm glad to hear it, especially in a place like this. You were current with all your vaccines at home?

( It isn't right to call what he feels "suspicion". It would be wrong to say he isn't relieved to find her well– he is, deeply so. Her turnaround is fast, faster than expected. In any case, he decides abruptly to be grateful, and leaves it at that. )

[unas]

( she nods though it's a lie. what vaccinations? )

It was just a fever.

( one that absolutely would have killed her in the cage where she lacked an immune system )

And your care was excellent.

[biomed]

( He's quick to point out: )

Fevers can kill people in a place like this. You did all the heavy lifting, Commander.

[unas]

( if only he really knew )

I did appreciate the oranges. And the soup.

[biomed]

( Leonard manages a brief smile. )

That's what I'm here for. If you need anything else, you just let me know.