Still Waters Run Deep

Posted on Thu Nov 22nd, 2018 @ 3:08am by Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy

Mission: Run Afoul
Location: Sickbay
Timeline: a few hours after the engineering explosion
1687 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Many of the biobeds still occupied, at least the activity level in sickbay was starting to simmer down. It had been a few hours since the explosion and most of the dead and injured had been accounted for. The constant shuffle of people in and out with bandages and scrapes was becoming more infrequent.

One of the last engineering officers to report in to be checked out was Chief Petty Officer Noble Cravens. Cravens, by his telling of the story to one of the nurses, was just outside of the blast area which seemed to be on the port side of deck 10 near the primary fuel stabilizers. He'd taken a fall when the blast had hit but as he said, only his pride was damaged. He spent some time after his checkup going around and talking with the injured crewmen, assuring them that everything would be alright, and wishing them a quick recovery. As he approached Paddy's bed, he quirked an eyebrow.

"Chef O'Malley? Surprised to see you in here. I heard there wasn't much damage done in the mess," Cravens said, frowning. "You going to be alright?"

"Eventually," Patrick acknowledged with a small nod, "I wasn't in the mess when this, whatever it was, happened.." He hesitated, wondering how much of a public item he and Murphy were yet. "I got thrown and collided with a sink. I don't remember much of what happened after..."

Cravens was a pretty sharp guy, prided himself on being very attentive to detail. "Oh, I see," he said with an almost wry smile that he tried to cover up with his hand. "Well, I should let you get back to healing. I'm sure you'll be up and around in no time a'tall." He was about to step away, but felt obligated to pause on that and apologize on his boss' behalf. "I'm sure... uh.. Lieutenant Murphy would be here, but he's got his hands quite full at the moment." Beat. "Oh. He's mentioned a thing or two in passing about you," he added quietly in explanation.

"Is he alright?" Patrick struggled to sit up a little, wincing in the process. "Have you seen him? Is he alright? Do you know what happened? I was in his quarters... Waiting for him as he was called away, and then..." He shook his head. "He's alright, isn't he?" He didn't really care if Murph had mentioned him to anyone, the whole mention barely registered to the worried chef.

"Yeah, the Lieutenant's fine," Cravens reassured Patrick, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't sit up, just-- just rest. I'll let him know where you are. He's still looking into everything, so don't know what went wrong. You know the captain is needing her answers. Lots of pressure from up top."

"I don't think I can rest," Patrick sighed, wincing as he was touched. He felt like he had been trampled, feeling sore all over. "I want to go home." He bit his lip. "Tell him he can stay with me? There is not much left of his home...I think..."

"Oh, sorry!" Cravens withdrew his hand as soon as Patrick winced. "You know, I'll just let him know you're here. I'm sure you'll be released soon or he'll find his way up. I should let you rest."

"I'm not allowed to get up so I doubt it," Patrick groused, though secretly he hoped he would be allowed to go home. Be anywhere, but here in this dreadful place. "But thank you sir. Let him know I'm alright?" He shifted again, unable to get comfortable. Perhaps it was just the location, as he really felt uncomfortable, really just wanting to go home. His hand trembled as he reached out to the man. "I didn't catch your name..."

"Oh, Cravens. Noble Cravens. I'm the Lieutenant's right hand guy," the man replied. "I'm sure you'll be out of here before you know it, but you gotta keep your spirits up. There's a real mind over matter connection, you know." Noble was already stepping away when he added, "Gotta get back to work, but get better soon. I hear good things about your sausage." Blink. Blink. "I mean breakfast sausage." He was turning red. "With eggs and stuff." He gave a final wave and then darted away.

Patrick just stared, his dazed mind not even comprehending any other reference than food. He sighed softly as the man left, gazing up to stare at the ceiling on the hope of quenching the feeling of unease that settled in his stomach.

---

It was a few hours before Murphy showed up in sickbay. He made a beeline directly for Paddy's bed.

Patrick had just dozed off when his subconscious registered a presence at the side of his bed. He blinked a few times before looking up. "You're alright," he whispered, his eyes lighting up with the simple joy of seeing the one person he needed to see. He reached out with his right hand, his left being secured in a sling. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Me too," Murphy said. It was clear he was preoccupied with many thoughts in that moment, but he forced a little smile onto his lips anyway. "I can't believe you were down there when it happened. If something would have..." his voice trailed off and he slowly realized he couldn't say what he was thinking because something had happened to Paddy. "What happened? What did the doctors say? Why haven't you been released? They can fix it right?"

"I was waiting for you," Patrick reminded him, offering a minute smile, "you couldn't have forseen this though... I'm not entirely sure what happened, it's all a little fuzzy. I remember changing, I remember an explosion and I remember falling. I don't, however, remember getting to sickbay." He frowned. "I think I got out by myself but I'm not sure. I don't know why I havent been released...maybe because I won't be able to rest otherwise?" He looked up, offering a semi-shrug. "I'm sure they fixed it though? My shoulder hurts like mad, and my entire upper body feels like I've been trampled."

"Well, we'll talk to the doctor then and get you released," Murphy said, shaking his head. "I completely forgot you went to my quarters after the holodeck. I feel so scattered right now. Everything is just.." he let out a deep sigh. "Everything will be okay. Nothing is damaged beyond repair. A few days and we should be moving again, anyway."

Paddy nodded slowly. "You're going to stay with me," he declared softly, not really accepting no for an answer. "Half your home is in shambles Murph, it's inhabitable. Please stay with me?" He grabbed the nearest hand he could find and tugged the man closer. "I want you to stay with me. My home isn't as big as yours, but it's big enough for two. It's only for the nights anyway right?" Assuming both would be busy during the day. "All I ask is that you get me out of here... right now." A little blackmail wouldn't hurt would it?

"Pat," Murphy shook his head. "Doc Adamson would have my head if I broke you out of here before she said it was okay." He sounded like he could be convinced yet, but it wasn't his first option.

"I don't want to stay here...I can't stay here.." His grip tightened marginally. "I'll rest... I'll even stay in bed...but it's got to be my bed, not here...not this dreadful place. It makes me feel very anxious. Please Angus...take me home."

"We'll get you out of here," Murphy promised, unable to bear listening to Pat in so much angst. He gave a sigh and looked around for a doctor or a nurse, but they were all quite busy. "Can you walk and stuff?" he asked. "I'll beg her forgiveness later."

"I walked here, I think," Patrick murmured, already struggling to sit up. "With your help, I can walk anywhere. I don't think there's anything wrong with my legs..." Yet he forgot about having stepped into something, all he remembered was his shoulder and rib getting hurt.

"I'm really not feeling comfortable with this," Murphy said under his breath as he helped Pat to his feet. "If you feel like you can't walk, you're not going anywhere and I don't care how much you squeeze my arm, that will be final. Are you sure you can walk?"

Patrick gritted his teeth, fingers digging into Murphy's arm. "I can walk," he breathed, determined to make it out of sickbay. "I can walk, just keep me up. I can make it."

With Murphy's help, they made their way out the door of sickbay without too much of a scene. In short order Murphy was depositing Paddy into his own bed, in his own quarters. "Okay. I'm going to have to go back to engineering to help with some more stuff. Can I get you anything from the replicator? I know you hate the replicator."

"No I'm fine for now. I'm not hungry anyway." Patrick smiled gratefully as he was made comfortable. It had to be well into the middle of the night of not early morning by now. "Did you get any sleep at all?" he asked slowly, while snuggling into his covers. He was exhausted and it showed in his eyes.

"A couple more hours and I'll be back here to sleep," Murphy promised as he ran a finger along Pat's forehead. "Rest well. Call me if you need me."

"I need you," Paddy whispered drowsily, "I'll be here, I won't go anywhere." Unless the doctor abducted him back to sickbay, he was unlikely to move around much. "Kiss me?"

Murphy obliged with a quick kiss on the lips. "Good night, Paddy," he said softly.

"Nigh'," Patrick murmured with half a smile. He was comfortable now, relaxing visibly. "Stay safe," he added, his words slurring with sleep already.

OFF:

Lieutenant Angus Murphy
Chief Engineer, USS Majestic

Patrick O'Malley
Injured Chef
pnpc Lhaes