Stirring up a Hornet's Nest

[Rayek trLhoell]

Cmdr. Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Corridor outside Sickbay]

She didn't take his offered hand.  Not at first.  Instead she balled her hand into fists and radiated tenseness.  It was rare to see Tess so upset. Yet every single time he had, the cause had always been an error in judgement on his part.  And of course here he'd gone and done it again. His explanation having upset her even more.

Hearing her say that she would have preferred for him to have been in the room with her for support was not at all what he had expected.  If he had, they wouldn't be having this discussion.  He was so confused.  One moment he was being told to not be so overprotective of her, and the next when he was at trying to respect that somewhat... he was told he should have been more protective and supportive.  Would he ever get this right?

When she finally took his still offered hand, Rayek used it pull her to him and then enfolded her in his arms.  Passing crewmen be damned.  "I'm sorry I misread the situation so poorly, e'lev" He apologized and placed a kiss on her forehead tenderly.

"I am here for you - anytime you need me." His words were spoken earnestly.  "From what I overheard, you will need to return in 6 hours to administer another round of medication, correct?  I would like to be with you then, if you are okay with that."

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Tess Moreno
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Corridor]

His apology made most of the anger she felt dissipating at once. When she then took his hand and he pulled her into a warm loving embrace Tess all but just clung to him, buying her nose in the crook of his neck.

In that moment she realized it wasn't his apology she had needed. Not this fight between them. It was this - genuine caring affection. The Romulan woman had her made all riled up the whole day and she had taken it out on Rayek.

Suddenly she felt rather ashamed.

His offer to come with her when she would have to check in on Karinne next reached her while she still sought his embrace, but looked up at him, saddened.

"Thank you, amore, I ..." She sighed. "I'm sorry, I've been overreacting. My limit for tolerance was stretched beyond what I could handle today." She met his eyes. "Forgive me, please."

[Rayek trLhoell]

Cmdr. Rayek tr'Lhoell
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Corridor outside Sickbay]

The way that Tess clung to him made him realize just how much Tess had been been needing him.  He held her close and stroked his hand soothingly over her hair and at her back where his hand rested.  She met his eyes and apologized for overreacting.  Rayek shook his head in response.  She shouldn't need to apologize.  "You have nothing to apologize for.  I should have offered to come with right from the start rather than sneaking."

He held her there in the hall until she seemed more settled.  "Let's head home and enjoy what we can of the evening."  If his tone was a bit suggestive, it was only because he knew how cathartic make-up sex could be, and Tess seemed like she could use some loving.

[Katra Station - Deck 2 - Tess and Rayek's private quarters - Five and half hours later...]
Rayek groaned and pretended to ignore the chime of his PADD's alarm that he had set hours before.  He didn't want to stop his sated explorations of Tess' relaxed body as it lay next to him.  But the chime wouldn't stop and would actually grow louder with each success chime unless he actually untangled their limbs and he got up from the bed to turn it off.  He'd set it that way, knowing he would be reluctant to listen to it's urgings otherwise.  Tess had that effect on him.  She was very distracting.

chime... Chime... CHIME...

With a sigh and one last kiss to Tess' cheek, where it was tucked in the crook of his neck, Rayek began the unwelcome process of leaving their bed.  "You have time for a quick shower if you like, then we should head down to Sickbay."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NPC Karinne t'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room - around midnight]

Karinne had trouble sleeping.  Not so much because of her cough, which had improved greatly over the past twelve hours since being admitted into the Federation hospital, but because it was unnerving to be surrounded by so many whom she viewed as her enemy.   Well former enemy...

She knew that the Federation and Starfleet staff here viewed the conflict with the Romulan Empire long over now. Ever since Hobus...  but for Karinne it was hard to let go of the enmity.

An unexpected strong series of coughs had her gasping for her breathe afterwards and grumbling as to where the doctor was with her next round of medications?  She reached for the call button, so to call the nurse and complain but noticed then that at her glass doorway stood the doctor accompanied by the traitor no less.  "It's about time you showed up!"

His dark eyes stared at her warningly and the former subcommander bristled at the threat she read in those eyes.  When he spoke, he did so in Federation Standard, forcing her to have to translate what he was saying - not that doing so was difficult.  All good officers learned the languages of their enemy to better intercept communications.

"I'm surprised to hear an officer of the Romulan Navy, complain like a child."  Rayek remarked with a slight sneer as he moved further into the room.

"Karinne t'Movel, I am Commander Rayek tr'Lhoell.  Executive officer of this station.  I hear you have some rather strong opinions about me and my choices.  Is this something you care to share with me, to my face?  Or do you limit your badgering to doctors and nurses attempting to help you?"

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Tess Moreno
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Corridor]

Tess melted into the long lasting embrace, each new breath she took calmed her down more as she felt Rayek holding her. What would she ever do without him?

When he suggested to head home Tess readily agreed. Spend some time with her loved one alone before she had to return to the woman again sounded just like what she needed. "Let's do that", she agreed with a small smile before walking off with him.

[Katra Station - Deck 2 - Tess and Rayek's private quarters - Five and half hours later...]

Tess lay in Rayek's arms, snuggled at him with their limbs entangled. She felt comfortably relaxed and if there wouldn't be an obligation of hers waiting to be taken care of, she surely would have felt relaxed enough to fall asleep - if Rayek let her ...

She was playing with the pendant of his necklace, making the Romulan glass shimmer in all the different shades of color in the dim light, she heard the alarm Rayek had set going off. She sighed as he groaned. She too didn't want to leave this spot of security and comfort. But she had to.

Feeling his lips on her cheek as he kissed her Tess smiled and reluctantly let him leave the bed. "I think I need one", she replied with a grin in his direction before she got up to head to the bathroom and take a quick shower.

[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Isolation Room - about midnight]

Tess entered with Rayek and Karinne started off with telling them that it was about time they showed up. Tess glanced over to her then to Rayek as he stared at her warningly which apparently made the woman backpedal.

Rayek then went further to dare the woman tell him to his face what she had been telling Tess the past hours while she picked up the hypospray with the vials the nurse had been getting out ready for her. With cautious curiosity she waited what the Romulan woman would choose to do now.

[Rayek trLhoell]

Cmdr. Rayek tr'Lhoell
and
NPC Karinne t'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room - around midnight]

Rayek kept his gaze fixed on the elderly woman lying on the medical bed, ensuring her attention remained on him rather than Tess, as Tess moved towards the woman to prepare her medications.  Despite the Romulan woman's obvious poor health - he had heard her rattling cough just prior to entering the room - Rayek could see a shrewd intelligence in her eye, especially in the way she paused to assess him before answering.  He had been considering the idea that perhaps the woman was just going senile but no; one glance and Rayek knew that this woman was fully aware of the disruption and aggravation she caused and left in her wake.  She was likely glad of it too.

When the woman spoke her voice was raspy, "Am I not allowed my opinions or is that part of your precious Federation's Charter of Liberties just rhetoric?"

Rayek smirked and shook his head.  "It is not rhetoric.  You are allowed your opinions.  You are even free to voice them here in the Federation.  That is one of the Federation liberties, which I see you have no issue with, and take full advantage of.... No doubt because you appreciate that when you do so you are unlikely to find yourself or your family suddenly homeless or taken into custody under trumped up charges of sedition, like we both know was the norm in the Empire."

"Having an opinion that would be disruptive, much less speaking it was certainly not something you could have or do freely on Romulus or any of the Empire's colonies.  So please do enjoy the liberties of the Federation, those that have taken you and your family in.  Spout your vitriol of me and of others who are here to serve and protect you while in Federation jurdisdiction, but do not be surprised when our own opinion of you is shared freely with others in turn and soon people begin to avoid your son's and his wife's businesses, forcing them and you to rely fully on the Federation handouts that you would mock and that you so distrust."

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Tess Moreno
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Isolation Room - about midnight]

Tess administered the first two vials while Karinne and Rayek spoke. Her fiance made a good point with threat she wasn't sure he really would follow through on but Karinne couldn't be sure. While Tess gave her the medicine she met eyes with the fierce Romulan woman. Tess didn't smile, but her face was friendly, hoping it would come across that she wished Karinne would try to find a way to be a less unpleasant person to be around. Butting in to what Rayek had said, Tess added. "You may not realize it but with your behaviour you are provoking the reaction you expected of us all along. And there is a difference between 'having an opinion' and outright insulting another person without reason. Lhhei. All of my medical staff has done everything to accomodate your wishes. Right now I would be off duty normally, but still I'm here. In six hours I would still be off duty, but then I too will be right here at your side. Because I accept and respect your sentiments. It would be nice of you if you could at least feign to do the same." This was more than Tess had told the woman the whole day. But right now she felt less tense and less frustrated and uncomfortable. She was glad she had Rayek. The mere fact that he was here made her feeling less frantic.

Expertedly she changed the vial a third time and administered it too before she turned away a bit to check the patient's file on the nearby console. The coughing had become a bit worse again and Tess adjusted the dosis.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

lhhei - madam

[Rayek trLhoell]

Cmdr. Rayek tr'Lhoell
and
NPC Karinne t'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room - around midnight]

Karinne scoffed when the traitor began his speech about Federation liberties, thinking the dha'rudh was trying to convert her.  However, it didn't take long for the woman to realize his intent.  Of course the wort would use her family against her!  She glared across the room at him.  So incensed was she that she barely noticed the doctor administering her medication until she spoke.

It was obvious the traitor's woman was trying to make her feel guilty for demanding the most competent care.  Well, it wouldn't work.  Not with her.  But... Karinne slid her glance towards the Romulan Fed, imagining all the vile things she'd love to do to the foul traitor for his implied threat but couldn't because of repercussions to her family.  They were all she had left.  Risking retribution against them just so that she might insult a traitor or his woman wasn't worth it.

"I reserve 'nice' for those I trust - which neither of you are.  You'll just have to settle for not openly aggressive, doctor, and accept that until I am well again, you will have less free time. " Karinne declared.   Though she addressed the doctor, it was the Commander she kept her gaze on; eyeing up the man, assessing if she'd crossed his line between verbal protective and physical.

Rayek met the woman's glare with a cold stare in return.  That she didn't argue back told him that she'd understood his meaning perfectly.  Tess, of course, hoped for more urging for some inkling of respect... but Rayek doubted she would get it.  Not from this one.  The woman was so far set in her ways and the beliefs fed her throughout her life by the Empire, that it was surprising to him that she had even allowed herself be dragged across a quadrant to live among what she would view as her enemies.

One thought earned the woman the barest of his respect.. 'She must truly love her family to uproot herself for them'.

When she answered Tess, Rayek scowled, unhappy that she intended to continue this 'special treatment'.   He wanted to respond back by telling her that she could make do with staff that were already on shift and that he would refuse to let Tess come back again during her time off.  But knew even as he considered saying such, that Tess would not appreciate his making such a her decision for her.  So he held his tongue and looked to Tess in silent question - was that what she wanted?

"That decision is not for you to make, but for the doctor.  And you can be certain if she has to come back during her time off to deal with administering meds that any of her staff are capable of doing, then I'll be returning as well to keep you civil."

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Tess Moreno
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Isolation Room - about midnight]

In her mind, Tess shook her head about the stubborn and obnoxious woman. She suppressed a sigh. She probably should be happy about the woman not insulting her like she had done initially. And hope that she got well quick. At least she had Rayek on her side, that calmed her down. But she knew that he probably wouldn't be able to come here every single time and Tess didn't want that. It just had been an exhausting day for her. Tomorrow would be a better day.

Putting away the vials she logged the administration of the medication in Karinne's medical file. "I will decide about who will continue your treatment tomorrow", she said earnestly to the Romulan woman, although at that point she had already made up her mind. But she wanted Karinne to believe that Tess took her time to think about it. "Now, I will return to my quarters with my fiance. Good night, lhhei."

She turned around, looking to Rayek, her face soft to signal to him that she was okay with it. Leaving the sickbay, she was looking forward to just cuddle up at him and get some rest.

[The next day ...]
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay]

Tess was working in her office when a call came in from Relana at the desk in the waiting area.  "Commander Moreno, here are some visitors who ask to see Mrs. t'Movel."

Had she not heard the smile in the nurse's voice, Tess would have thought of something serious. But now she was just curious. "I'll be there in a moment."

As she entered the waiting area Tess spotted three Romulans - one teenage girl and what seemed to be her younger siblings. Tess smiled upon seeing them. "Jolan-tru", Tess greeted them friendly.

"Hello, Doctor Moreno", the teenager said, "my name is Tordel, and these are my siblings, Cemee", she gestured to the little girl, "and Jinsux." The little boy smiled at her. "Karinne is our grandmother and we wanted to visit her. If we may?"

"Nice to meet you", Tess replied with a smile. "I'm sure your grandma will be happy about some company."

"Do you want me to bring them to the isolation room?", Relana offered. But Tess declined. "I will do that myself, thank you, Relana."

Leaving the waiting area to the left, Tess walked them down some corridors until she stopped in front of a door that read 'Isolation Room I'. Palming the plate at the door frame the doors slid open and Tess stepped in. She only had been here an hour ago to give the medication to Karinne.

"Here are some visitors for you", Tess announced and then stepped aside to reveal her grandchildren.

[Rayek trLhoell]

                      
NPC's Karinne t'Movel, Tordel t'Movel, Cemee t'Movel, and Jinsux tr'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room(the next day - 1300hrs)

Karinne was in a half-doze, when the sound of the door sliding open startled her alertly awake.  She blamed her inattentiveness to her surroundings on the medications - they made her very drowsy - that was the only explanation for her sleeping in the middle of the day.

The traitor had returned with the doctor, that morning as threatened and then again just an hour ago.   When the elderly woman quipped that 'didn't he have something better to do with his time?',  the station's Romulan XO calmly answered that spending time with his intended on his breaks was always time well-spent.   That he was besotted with the doctor was easy for Karinne to see.

When he wasn't glaring at her, he was watching the human woman with a level of attraction that was rather sickening.  She would have mocked that too but it reminded her of how her late husband used to look at her.  Her husband had died over 50 years ago during the Khitomer attack.  The success of that attack helped somewhat to ease her loss.

Since she wasn't due her next round of medications until dinner time, having the doctor come into the room to risk her bitterness was surprising.  She looked past expecting to see the traitor as well.  The woman's words made little sense - visitors?  Lared had visited earlier today before his work.. and had never been 'announced' by any of the staff.  The human stepped aside and three familiar faces stepped into the room.

"Mnek kraep'le, aeek'h'i hwiiy thi iudaiht hrrau'khir?  Hwiiy uaefvalhuneitrde'h'n dalaremh hrrau ieiuqh lasasa ?  Fraeta ahefvi hwiiy skeari ehdhihss daeop hvaedroalh urhuilmnuwhea Feds! Aekiraekaelhta' iudaiht hrrau'khir. Htta'nvmniahrei taeth. Kjumnaihsou kivoi hwiiy iudaiht hrrau'khir hwiiy  ru ehsiu, hrhae yhhau ahefvi." (*translation: Good grief, what are you three doing here?  Shouldn't you be busy at your studies?  Don't tell me you are following the lazy example of these Feds!  Come here.  By my bedside.  Since you are here you might as well, greet me properly.)

The two youngest raced to reach her bedside first with Cemee, the middle child, arriving just ahead of her younger brother.  Her eldest granddaughter approached at a walk after giving a nod to the doctor for having guided them to their grandmother.  "Thank you, Doctor."

"Yhhau daisemi'ueiik'h'unhr ri'nanov" "Yhhau daisemi'ueiik'h'unhr ri'nanov" (*translation:  Hello chief mother (aka grandmother)) the younger kids called out in greeting.

"They insisted on seeing you today. Jinsux was certain you were being held here against your will and was planning a rescue mission." the teenager explained in Federation Standard as she came to a stop beside her younger siblings.

Her words earned a sharp look from Karinne.  "Dochai rihanha!" she reprimanded the teen. (*translation: Speak Rihanha (Romulan))

But Tordel merely shook her head and glanced pointedly towards Tess. "No. Grandma... that would be rude to the doctor."

To which Karinne responded with a scoff.  "Hwiiy dei uaefvalhuneitrde'h'n doing a'e temdekon. Idhaeiiiaekssrai 'hh rihanha." (*translation:  You would be doing her help.  She is learning Romulan)

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Moreno
and
              
NPC's Tordel t'Movel, Cemee t'Movel, and Jinsux tr'Movel

[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room]

Tess had expected another snide remark from the Romulan woman, but apparently seeing her grandchildren made Karinne forget about that for at least a moment. She might not admit it in front of her but Tess could see that she loved her grandchildren. It didn't surprise her that Karinne spoke Romulan only to them, the UT translating simultaneously in her ear. However, she smiled at Tordel when she spoke to her in a language she could understand without the help of the UT.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness", Tess smiled at the Romulan teen. She then crouched down to be on eye-level with little Jinsux, the smile not wavering one bit. "I promise you, I take good care of your hri'nanov."

The little Romulan boy looked at her with the same suspicion in her eyes that she'd seen in Karinne's. At least to Tess it seemed that way. She probably had a strong influence on her grandson.

"Siaeqh 'hh idhaeiiiaekssrai iebhe ayrh, aeol''ud?", Jinsux asked boldly and in Romulan although Tess was convinced that he was able to speak FS. (*Why is she not better yet, then?)

"Because she needs time to heal properly", Tess explained calmly. She then straightened up and looked around one. "I will leave you to your grandma now. If she gets tired though, you should let her sleep", she advised with a smile and then left the room.

Cemee turned to her grandmother, reaching her hands out to feel for hers. "How are you grandma? Did you get bored badly?"

They'd all speak Romulan now that they didn't have to consider someone else.

[Rayek trLhoell]

                      
NPC's Karinne t'Movel, Tordel t'Movel, Cemee t'Movel, and Jinsux tr'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room(the next day - 1300hrs)

Karinne watched Tess a little sourly as the woman crouched to speak to her treasured grandson.   His words to the doctor made her lips twitch up into a slight smile.

But the doctor didn't falter in the least.  Karinne was glad when the woman opted to leave giving her the opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren without having to expose them to more Federation presence.

At Cemee's question, Karinne took hold of her youngest granddaughter's hand.  "Yes, it is terribly dull here. And you notice that they have separated me from the other hospital patients even though I am not contagious? This is what the Federation will always do to us. Shut us away or send us off to the far corner of the galaxy.  Remember this..." she informed the new generation of Romulans raspingly.  Tordel walked to the other side of the bed to pour her grandmother a glass of water from a pitcher on the bedside table, for her grandmothers voice sounded weaker than Tordel had ever heard it.

Tordel, who was old enough to remember a bit of the old Empire and the chaos after the loss of the Homeworld, thought her grandmother was stuck in the past and needed to see how much better things were here.  She'd been forced to grow up fast in the aftermath of Hobus... helping her grandmother with looking after her newborn sister while her parents struggled to protect and feed them.

The only reason why Grandma Karinne hadn't died when Hobus went Nova like the rest of the family was that she had traveled to the border colony where her illegitimate son and his wife worked and were expecting a second child, in order to do the Hædl Aefvadh (*translation: Baby Welcome).  It was something that Grandma was often bitter about, that she hadn't been with her proper family when they died.  It hurt Tordel to believe that her Grandmother would have preferred to die with that side of the family, than live here with this one.

Perhaps that was why over the past year, she'd really taken to the very thing her Grandmother hated.  The Federation was so much better than anything she had experienced in the Empire or what was left of it after Hobus. The skirmishes for dominance by various Romulan groups had destroyed most of what they were fighting for.  But every place they traveled past on their way here... had seemed so peaceful.

The station with its small community of other Romulans and the curiosity of the other children  had been so welcoming. Admittedly it wasn't perfect but Tordel felt safe here... even after the Dosi attack.  She and her siblings had been picked up by their mother who with their grandmother had taken shelter in one stations many protected areas.  There she saw Starfleet officers fight with bladed weapons to protect them against the Dosi.  Now a year later, she put in her application to join Starfleet.  This was her way of following her mnhei'sahe - repaying her debt to those that took her family in and protected them.  She would have been expected to serve 5 years in the Star Navy had she remained.  She would now give those 5 years.. maybe more to the Federation.. to Starfleet.

While Tordel mused on these thoughts, Jinsux had returned to his grandmother's bedside but wasn't content to merely stand there.  "Move over hri'nanov" he demanded cutely.  He was a cuddle-bug always preferring to be close by his grandmother's side while she sat on the sofa or while she read to him in bed.   So it wasn't surprising that he now climbed up on the bed to join her.  Or at least he tried to.

Seeing her grandson struggling with the added height of the medical bed, Karinne reached out a hand to him which he grabbed hold of pulling himself up and placing foot on a bed rail only to have his foot slip.  The elder Romulan tried to pull him up but her sharp and worried intake of breath at his sudden slip started a coughing fit and her hand holding him was too weak to drag him to her.. instead he fell backwards to the floor striking his head hard.

Cemee screamed at seeing her little brother fall.  Jinsux began crying at the pain of having hit his head.  Grandma Karinne was trying to fight back a coughing fit and breathe all while Tordel watched from the other side of the bed unable to do anything.  "Jinsux - Don't Move!" she called to her brother and reached over her Grandmother to hit the call button on her bed.

~~~~

At the Nurse's Station, the nurse on duty sighed at seeing the call light go on for the Movel room.   She was about to head there to check on what the woman wanted when she spotted Tess walking along the corridor having just brought a trio of children to the room.   "Oh Dr. Moreno... sorry to bother. Mrs. Movel's call light just came on.. Since she's more than likely going to ask for you anyways... Would you mind checking in on her and seeing what she wants?"

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Tess Moreno
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Corridor >>> Isolation room]

Tess was just about to head back into her office when Relana spoke to her. Hearing that the call light had came on, Tess suppressed to roll her eyes. She probably shouldn't assume bad things, but she couldn't help but think that the Romulan woman was just trying to annoy her more. Nodding to Relana, Tess turned on her heels. "I will take care of it, thank you, Relana", she said and walked back to the isolation room she had left just a moment ago.

The moment she walked back into the room she knew that this had not been an unecessary call. Little Jinsux was crying, clutching the back of his head. Cemee looked like she was on the verge of tears as well at seeing her little brother so upset while Tordel was crouched down beside him.

"What happened?", Tess asked as she rushed over to the little boy.

"He fell off the bed and hit the floor", Tordel told her worried while she tried to calm down her sister.

Tess grabbed a medical kit and knelt down beside the crying Jinsux. "It's alright, you're going to be okay", she spoke calmly to the little boy. As she gently touched his arm to make him move his hand away from his head where he hit it, she saw a little bit of green blood at his fingers.

Tess was slightly alarmed but didn't let it show on her face. "Hey, Jinsux", she smiled at the boy while she grabbed a paper towel from the medkit. "How old are you again?" While she asked him that she took hold of his hand and with a subtle movement wiped the bit of blood from his fingers so the boy wouldn't freak out. She asked him the question not only to distract him but also to see if he was clear or if there was a hint of a concussion. "Hm?", she smiled when there wasn't immediately an answer, but Jinsux' cries subsided slightly. "How old are you?"

"A-almost six", the boy sniffed and looked up to his grandma with teary eyes. "Almost six", Tess echoed 'impressed' by the young man's age while she carefully lifted him up to make him sit at the end of Karinne's bed. "What a handsome you man you are! And when will you turn six?", she continued asking to keep him busy. In the meantime she quickly scanned him with a tricorder to check for any early hints of a concussion. She then turned slightly so she could take a look at the wound at the back of the boys head and start to treat it. While doing that she glanced to Karinne and Tordel. "We probably should inform his parents?", she suggested quietly.

[Rayek trLhoell]

                      
NPC's Karinne t'Movel, Tordel t'Movel, Cemee t'Movel, and Jinsux tr'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room(the next day - 1300hrs)

Karinne struggled to sit up more to leave her bed and see to her grandson, when Tordel looked at her with a shake of her head.  "I've called for the nurse, someone will be here shortly, hri'nanov.  Just stay there."  (*translation: Grandmother)

Karinne would have argued but she could do little more than focus on breathing at the moment.  She watched her teenage granddaughter take control of the situation and leave the bedside to crouch down beside her brother keeping him still.  The girl would have made a fine Star Navy officer.  Quick-thinking and calm even during a crisis.

As Tordel had predicted, the door to her private room opened at Dr. Moreno entered.  It didn't take long for the woman's expression to change from forced patience to professional trauma doctor.  Karinne used the automatic lift system on her medical bed to raise her head so that she could see how the woman treated her grandson.  The elder Romulan was impressed with how smoothly and compassionately she dealt with the boy.

The woman even knew to avoid Jinsux seeing his own blood.  That would have restarted the wailing once more.  The boy for all his excitable energy had no tolerance for the sight of blood.

When the doctor suggested that the parents should be contacted, Karinne knew the doctor was right but dreaded the idea of having to tell Lared and Phara that the boy had been injured because she couldn't pull him up.  They already considered her more of a problem and liability rather than a valued member of the family.   She was aware, when Lared and Phara had discussed seeking refugee status in the Federation, that there had been heated arguments between the couple about bringing her along.  She had tried to sway her son to remain... but the increasing unrest and skirmishes between the factions had finally been too much.

Yet much as Karinne complained and commented about having preferred to stay in the Empire... that wasn't entirely true.  She had nothing to stay for - all her other children and grandchildren were dead, taken that fateful day when Hobus went nova.  What was left of her family was here.  Now to have her son lose any more faith in her ability to look after them because of this incident, especially after how poorly she protected them during the Dosi attack...  well it gave her pause.

A pause that Tordel was quick to fill in with a near-desperate plea.  "No! You can't. Please.  Our parents don't know I've brought them here.  In fact they specifically told me that visiting would have to wait until Father got home."

The teenager glanced to her Grandmother not wanting to say that her parents didn't trust her not to be a poor role-model and therefore had to be present to negate her negative influence somewhat.   But the hardening of her grandmother's expression told Tordel that the elder woman could read between words and the orders of her parents.

Tordel looked back to the doctor.  "Please, if my father hears that I disobeyed... I know he'll say it's proof that I'm not ready to attend the Academy and I'll have to wait another year before applying."

Cemee and Jinsux looked between one another - tears now stopped - then glanced to their older sister before turning their cherub faces to Tess. "Please!" "Please!"

Karinne was torn. Tordel was correct if Lared did find out, that could be a way to keep her eldest surviving granddaughter from making the worst mistake of her life.  But Karinne recognized that this was something that Tordel truly wanted.   She'd seen the effort the girl put into her studies this past year to be sure she would have the grades and Federation equivalent knowledge to pass the entrance exam.

"Yes, please.  If we can keep this between ourselves, that would be best for all.  I would be in your debt, doctor."

[Tess tLhoell]

Lt. Cmdr. Tess Moreno
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation Room]

Tess had not expected that desperation when she had suggested informing Lared and Phara. Actually it was standard procedure. She paused in her treatment of Jinsux briefly as she glanced over at Tordel as she explained why she didn't want her parents to know. It did make sense to Tess and she couldn't help but feel sympathy for the teenager. When Cemee and Jinsux joined in on the pleading with their angel faces Tess was already swayed. The fact that Karinne .... (!) pleaded her as well to keep silent about this astounded Tess.

She didn't reply right away as her mind was busy with processing that Karinne really loved her grandchilren that she would not jump on that opportunity to keep Tordel from joining the Academy. After she had given Jinsux something to numb the feeling from the injured spot a little bit and cleaned the wound she grabbed the dermal regenerator to close the wound. "Well", Tess began, allowing to show a hint of what her answer would be on her face, "I guess since you are with a relative and since it could be treated quickly, I think we can keep this here and not have to take it out to anybody else." She then looked to Tordel. "You have to promise me though that you keep an eye on him the next 24 hours. Right now I don't see a problem, but if he starts to feel sick or behave strangely, you have to tell your parents, and more importantly, you have to bring him back here so I can see what's wrong, alright?"

She then finished up treating Jinsux and held her hand up to the five year old so he could give her a 'high five'. "Well done, Jinsux!", she grinned at him, hoping to make him smile. "You are okay now."

[Rayek trLhoell]

                      
NPC's Karinne t'Movel, Tordel t'Movel, Cemee t'Movel, and Jinsux tr'Movel
[Katra Station - Deck 22 - Sickbay - Isolation room(the next day - 1300hrs)

It was aggravating to Karinne - to have made such a plea on her granddaughter's behalf and  not have it accepted immediately.  Mind you neither was it dismissed out of hand.  It seemed the doctor was taking her time in making a decision, and until then she and the children would just have to wait as she fixed up Jinsux.

Tordel had been waiting on pins and needles for the doctor's response and when it came, she sighed in relief.   "Thank you, Doctor! And thank you, Hri'nanov for also agreeing." She wanted to point out .. 'see Starfleet people can be really helpful' but she didn't want to risk her Grandmother getting upset and changing her mind.

When the doctor turned to her with instructions to watch Jinsux carefully for the next 24 hours, she nodded emphatically.  "I promise I will." Though how to do it when usually she and her younger siblings rarely were interested in the same things so 'keeping' an eye out on Jinsux could get noticed.   She watched Jinsux grin and 'high five the Doctor.  That's when she had an idea.

"Jinsux, Cemee. How about we build a fort out of blankets in my room and we three have a camp out there.  That way it'll be easy to keep an eye on you..." she noticed that Jinsux frowned at this notion... so quickly added in the lure.  "And if you show Mother and Father that you are capable of sleeping away from your rooms without a fuss now... then they might be open to your idea of going camping on Meridian."

"Oh I like the idea of camping!" "I like the fort idea."

Tordel smiled. This could work.