As soon as her sister hit the ground, Discovery was in overdrive. Medical training kicked in and she set to work immediately. Columbia was unresponsive to her questions but she was still conscious and still puking all over the pavement. Discovery recognized the symptoms of severe vertigo. She dug through her on board medical kit to see if there was anything in there that could help. She did find some betahistine and quickly filled a syringe, sticking it into Columbia's shoulder. Columbia gave no visible reaction but after a few minutes, she did start to relax much to Discovery's delight. Her eyes were open but glazed and Discovery could only imagine how disorientated she was. She nosed her and Columbia groaned. "Take it easy, I'm right here." She assured her. Columbia tried to focus on her, struggling to make sense of her surroundings. The airport's emergency services had been put in play as the tower had noticed that something was wrong. "Ignore them, just look at me." Discovery ordered her as the sirens got louder. "Just look at me sister." She helped her to her wheels, and Columbia leaned heavily into her, the only solid thing she could feel. "Now just follow my lead okay." Columbia nodded and head down, occasionally dry heaving, she followed her sister into the ramp.
Once at the gate she was swarmed over by paramedics. The reports were not encouraging. "She's run herself ragged. She's beyond dehydrated." Two IV's were inserted, one to deliver a standard saline solution to replace her lost body fluids. The other to give her nutrients to replace her low blood sugar. At some point Columbia did fall unconscious but at least the attention had helped stabilize her. Her vitals were still way too low to be safe but the weren't in freefall anymore. Discovery had little else to do so she stayed by her side, as she had post-Texas. She did not remain alone in her vigil for long. Atlantis and Endeavour joined her after a quick flight up from Houston. All three sisters surrounded Columbia as she slept, each taking a portion of the day as their watch. Occasionally one would get up to acquire vitals but otherwise, they pretty much all sat in silence. Each lost to their own thoughts.
For Discovery, it was like Texas all over again. And that was far from a pleasant time. But at least she had a purpose then, a goal to help her sister escape that wilderness alive. Now she could do nothing. She was a helpless bystander. And that made her sore more than anything!
For Endeavour, all she could think about was all the times Columbia stood over her when she was sick. The eldest sister would do so for all of them, rarely leaving their side until they were better. Endeavour remembered the last time she had the flu. About a year before Columbia left. For three days she was bedridden and for the entirety of that time, Columbia stayed with her. If Endeavour needed a bucket, Columbia had one in front of her in a second. If she was getting too hot, Columbia had icepacks surrounding her. If she was cold and shivering, Columbia would envelop her in her larger bulk and lay there until she stopped shivering. Now their positions were reversed and despite the precariousness of the situation, Endeavour couldn't help but feel somewhat satisfied that she could return the favor.
Atlantis sat between her sisters, her gaze alternating between Columbia and the far wall. Her blue eyes were glazed over, deep in her thoughts. Columbia had been her closest companion, after Challenger. Her eldest sister had grieved for her in a way that Atlantis couldn't although the younger still grieved. There was a reason Columbia knew all of Atlantis' secret liquor stashes. She'd spent many a night going through them as she sought refuge in Atlantis' hanger, away from the rest of the fleet. It was harder on her than the others. At least Atlantis and Discovery could show their emotions. Columbia, as fleet leader, had to set an example. She could not. And it wore on her in a way that none of them could understand. Atlantis always tried her best though, was always welcoming and comforting to her big sister whenever she needed it. That was what she was there for. Discovery wasn't wrong when she said she was the glue that held the fleet together. She was the Diplomat, the one who ensured peace always reigned supreme both within the fleet and within themselves. And now that status was threatened. "It's already twice the size of what I can treat and its spreading. Sprouting little friends all over the place." Endeavour's horrified words slipped into her conscious memory before Atlantis could stop it and she tore her gaze away from Columbia to look at her younger sister. Endeavour met her gaze, her green eyes dark with pity and self-loathing. Atlantis shook her head. She refused to blame her for any of this when the only one she could blame was herself. She turned back to Columbia, resting her head over her flank her gaze back on the far wall again. "6 months Atlantis, no more." Atlantis closed her eyes, wetness streaking down both sides of her face. "I love you, Columbia."