Voyager fanfic
Rated K Hurt/Comfort
I don't own Star Trek Voyager or any of it's characters
Icheb cracked open his eyes to see the dark cargo bay. Seven remained asleep as it was the middle of the night. He grabbed his side in pain as he grunted quietly. The pain had been going on for hours and finally it brought him out of regeneration.
Icheb wiped beads of sweat from his forehead as he hobbled towards the door. He removed his overshirt because of how hot he felt and wore a gray t-shirt underneath.
The corridor was dimly lit and empty of any officers. He grabbed the wall as he made his way to sick bay which was luckily not to far. Icheb stopped halfway there leaning against the wall with his eyes shut tight with pain. He tried to shake it away as he pushed on harder knowing he had to get to sick bay.
Relief flooded his mind as it came into view. The doors slid open as Icheb walked in hunched over.
"C-computer...a-activate Emergency Medical Hologram.", said Icheb shakily.
"Please state the nature of the medical emergency.", said the doctor as he appeared.
"Doctor", said Icheb wearily.
"Icheb! Come to the bio bed.", said the doctor as he helped him there quickly. He began to scan him as he asked questions.
"The p-pain interrupted my regeneration cycle. It's been getting worse.", said Icheb breathy and painfully.
"Yes well you've got a burst appendix. Normally it wouldn't have escalated to this but your implants arent repairing the organ for some reason. In fact it seems your cybernetic implants are attempting to reject the impaired organ. I have to try and remove it immediately.", said the doctor quickly in a serious tone.
Icheb nodded with understanding. The doctor quickly loaded a hypospray and admitted it as he tried to quickly decide whether to call Paris first or the captain.
"Doctor to Captain Janeway.", said the doctor as he tapped his com badge.
Janeway wiped her tired eyes and looked at the time. She tapped her com badge with a sigh of slight annoyance and exhaustion.
"This better be good doctor.", she replied.
"I need to perform surgery on Icheb immediately. His appendix burst and his cybernetic implants are rejecting the failed organ and surrounding tissue. I thought I should let you know before I perform the procedure.", said the doctor still in a rushing tone.
Kathryn widened her eyes with worry and shock.
"Understood. Im on my way.", she said as she quickly put on her uniform.
"Doctor to lieutenant Paris!".
"Ugh...what is it doctor? My shift isnt till 0700 hours.", said Paris as BE'lanna wiped her eyes about to shush the both of them.
"I need your assistance on emergency surgery for Icheb right away. I'll explain more once you get down to sick bay. And hurry, we haven't got much time!", said the doctor as he simultaneously prepped.
Tom looked over at BE'lanna with worry.
"Right away!", replied Tom as he quickly rushed on his uniform.
BE'lanna sat up slightly.
"What do you think happened?", said BE'lanna concerned.
"I don't know, but I'm about to find out.", said Tom quickly pulling on his boot.
Janeway entered sick bay shocked to see Icheb looking the way he did. His t-shirt was drenched in sweat, his face conveyed suffering, he slightly tossed around with pain, and he was extremely pale. Kathryn just gasped a little putting her hand to her mouth with worry and shock.
"Good luck!", said BE'lanna as Tom ran out the door. She pulled the sheet back up and looked out the window right behind the bed. She was to awake now to sleep.
Tom entered sickbay still in a run.
"His appendix ruptured and his implants are attempting to reject it and the surrounding cells. It's beginning to effect his other organs as well. We need to try and remove all effected organ and tissue cells. We will have to temporarily remove certain implants for this so we have to do it quickly.", said the doctor to Tom.
The three of them watched as suddenly Ichebs body fell limp. A quick beeping erupted, Janeway watched with wide eyes as Tom and the doctor rushed to find the problem.
"Hes going into shock! Get me 10 CC's of Centracortizeen!", said the doctor quickly.
Tom handed the doctor the loaded hypospray as he administered it immediately.
"We need to start surgery immediately!", said the doctor as they both quickly gathered equipment.
The doctor worked quickly but carefully as he made a large incision in Ichebs lower torso. He was focused and precise as he worked, often asking Tom for a tool or a reading. He slowly removed certain implants as he kept track of the time knowing Icheb couldn't do without them for long. Thirty minutes later the doctor had removed most of the effected material. Suddenly Ichebs back arched and his body started to seize. Tom quickly loaded a hypospray as the doctor held him down.
"We need to put in his implants now!", said the doctor.
"But you didn't get all the effected cells!", said Tom.
"We have no choice. Hand me the micro-suture.", said the doctor.
They had finished putting back Ichebs implants as he layed quietly on the bio bed.
Sevens regeneration cycle ended as she ooened her eyes and took a deep breath. She was surprised when she looked over to see Icheb not in his alcove.
"Icheb?", she said out loud looking around. The cargo bay was empty and quiet.
"Computer locate Icheb.", said Seven aloud.
"Icheb is in sickbay.", replied the computer.
Seven figured he was there for some very early morning studies or research of some kind as she made her way there.
The doors opened as Seven noticed Icheb lying on the bio bed. The doctor turned around in surprise as he started to say something when she started walking swiftly towards the bed.
"What happened?!", she said angry that she was left in the dark.
"Now Seven I will explain just calm down.", said the doctor stepping in front of her with his hands up.
"What is the matter with Icheb!", she said still upset.
The doctor sighed and looked at Seven.
"He came to me a few hours ago in a lot of pain. His appendix burst and his implants are rejecting the damaged organ and tissue. We got about 89% of the effected material before we had to re-attach is implants, inluding the removal of his appendix of course. Unfortunately it may not have been enough. An infection may still arise and his implants in that area don't look like their going to be much help in repairing or killing any problem that may occur. All we can do is wait and see.", explained the doctor.
Seven stepped back as she calmed down. She looked at Icheb with worry slightly showing on her face which she tried desperately to hide. He was still wearing his gray t-shirt that was stained with sweat. He looked exhausted and his face was slightly scrunched with pain.
Janeway was on her way to the bridge before Seven had entered sickbay. She entered the bridge a few minutes late with a sigh.
"How is everything this morning captain?", asked Chakotay with his regular smile as he stood from the captains chair.
Kathryn looked around at her bridge crew with a look of solemn. They looked back with curiosity.
"I just came from sickbay.", she began.
"Is something wrong?", asked Harry calmly.
"Tom and the doctor just performed emergency surgery on Icheb. His appendix ruptured and his borg implants are rejecting the organ and the affected cells. They had to remove several implants to reach the area so they werent able to take very long. The doctor said they got most of the effected material but theres a chance an infection will arise.", explained the captain.
The bridge was a room full of worry as they looked at each other with concern.
"All we can do is wait until the doctor gives us an update.", said Janeway as she sat down in her chair.
The first thing he noticed was the pain. It was different than before but it wasn't exactly pleasant. He started to hear distantly muffled voices as he inadvertently made his way back to conciousness. If he had it his way he'd be asleep trying to block out the ache in his torso.
The doctor noticed him starting to shuffle as he approached the bio bed.
"Icheb?", said the doctor.
Icheb slowly opened his eyes as he scanned the room with a glazed over look in his eyes.
"Glad to see you awake. How do you feel?", asked the doctor.
"It's...hot...", was all he said as he swallowed dryly and looked around unfocused. His eyesight was a redhot blur and he wasn't really sure where he was.
The doctor and Seven looked at each other with concern as he looked at Ichebs bio signs. He looked up with furrowed brows.
"His temperature is at 103.8. It looks to be coming from a minor infection in his abdomen. I think I can control it though as long as it doesnt spread.", said the doctor as he loaded a hypospray and administered it.
"That should help stop the infection. I'll give him something to sleep as well.", said the doctor to Seven.
Seven grabbed something then took it over to Icheb. She gently pushed back his hair as she dabbed his forehead with a cold wet rag. He shuffled a little and scrunched his face in pain and confusion. She could tell he was suffering and didn't know what was going on. A tear fell from her eye as she looked down at Icheb.
It was an uneventful afternoon on the bridge as they all looked at their station or forward into the empty space.
"Doctor to the captain.", said the doctor.
Janeway tapped her com badge. "Doctor, how is Icheb?". The bridge crew listened to hear what the doctor had to say with hope of good news.
"Icheb has developed a minor infection but it seems to be under control. Unfortunately he's got quite a fever and he's in quite a lot of pain.", explained the doctor steadily.
"Thank you doctor, please keep us informed.", Janeway said the worry inside her grew.
"I wonder if theres a way to sustain the effect of the implants longer after they've been removed.", said Harry trying to think of solutions.
"If you think of a way you have permission to use anyone you need.", said Kathryn hopeful.
"Icheb is young and strong. There's a good chance he'll overcome.", said Tuvok.
"I hope so. I don't know what we would do without him.", said the captain with slightly watery eyes.
A few hours past and it didnt seem as though the infection was spreading. Icheb laid somewhat peacefully on the bio bed. Seven went to regenerate for the night as the doctor sat in his office. The bridge crew were just about finished with their shifts as they were all wondering how Icheb was doing.
"Janeway to the doctor.".
"Captain.".
"Doctor, how is he?", asked Kathryn.
"He hasn't moved much all day. The infection doesnt look to have spread. I think he's going to be just fine.", said the doctor as he looked over to his patient.
"Glad to hear it doctor, thank you.", she said with a smile of relief.
The rest of the bridge crew seemed relieved to as they let a breath go they didn't know they were holding.
Later that night the doctor stared at a pad that read about a medical journal on biocellular regeneration. He sighed as he felt like he might be tired. He then wondered if that was even in his programming. He decided it wasnt but maybe he was emotionaly tired he thought. He sighed as he put down the pad.
The lights in sickbay were dim and the doctor noticed a sheen glow of sweat over Icheb. He scrunched his eyebrows as he went over to the bio readout. He'd thought the infection had stopped and the worst was over. He continued to evaluate his condition as his holographic heart dropped so to speak. The readings read that the infection had spread throughout his abdomen. His fever was spiking to a temperature of 106.3 and his pain levels were at a very high level almost tripple than before.
The doctor knew he had to do a second surgery immediately to remove the infected material. He quickly picked Icheb up and moved him to the surgical bio bed. The doctor wasn't surprised to see a face of suffering upon Ichebs face considering his pain levels. He was breathing short sharp breaths because of it.
"Doctor to Lieutenant Tom Paris.", said the doctor as he quickly prepped for surgery.
"Doctor?", Tom responded.
"The infections spread, get down here quickly.", said the doctor as he brought over more surgical tools and medical equipment.
"On my way!", said Tom feeling a horrible feeling of familiarity with these events.
As Tom walked in alarms and beeping went off as he looked to see the doctor holding down Icheb who was seizing.
"Help me hold him down!", the doctor yelled.
Tom ran over and put his hands firmly on Ichebs left arm and leg. He looked at Ichebs face with deep sympathy and anxiety. Finally after what felt like days his body became somewhat still once again and the seizure had stopped.
"What triggered the seizure?", asked Tom hurriedly.
"His fever that stems from the infection. It could happen again, but I want to lower the chance as much as possible. Computer adjust environmental temperature in sickbay to 30 fahrenheit.", said the doctor.
There was no more time to wait. Tom and the doctor quickly and carefully started removing implants around the infection while watching Ichebs bio signs. He was still sweating and shivered harshly.
"His life signs are slowing down! If we don't get the infection out and his implants back in he could go into anaphylactic shock!", said Tom.
"We'll have to kill the rest of the infection using antibiotics that somehow reach the infection.", said the doctor as he started putting back implants.
Tom nodded. They closed him up and the doctor decided not to move him this time to the other bed.
"What if we used nasogastric tubes through his nostrils going down to the abdomen. That way we could get the antibiotics straight to the infection.", said Tom.
"That's a good idea. Let's get started.", said the doctor.
It had been a long surgery and the two of them were beyond worn out from it all. Even though the doctor may not have been programmed for exhaustion you couldn't tell him that.
Tom slowly inserted a thin tube through each nostril as he led them down to the abdomen. When he was done he sighed and ran a hand down his face. He looked down at Icheb with a pang of sympathy. He looked so miserable and helpless. It was a difficult thing to see such a usually very strong and capable young man being so vulnerable now.
The doctor was going to call the captain but remembered how late it was. He'd tell her in the morning with the rest of the bridge crew and of course Seven.
"Do you think he'll recover?", said Tom.
"I don't know. He's pretty weak. He might not have the strength.", said the doctor solemnly.
"Why don't I stay here and watch him. You deactivate for awhile, you could use a break.", said Tom quietly.
The doctor nodded. "Thanks. "Computer deactivate emergency medical hologram.".
Tom got some cold wet rags as he put one on ichebs neck and chest. It may have been an old medical measure but he knew from experience that it would help.
Ichebs fever went up and down through the night and Tom tried to control it and console Icheb in any way he could though he wasn't concious.
Before Tom knew it morning had come. He was nodding off at the doctors desk.
"Computer activate EMH.", said Tom tiredly.
"Please state the- oh good morning mister Paris.", said the doctor.
"Morning doc. Im gonna go get some sleep okay? Im sure the captain could give me a few hours off, will you explain to her?", asked Tom.
"Of course. I have to go up there soon anyway and tell them about Icheb.", replied the doctor.
Tom nodded and left sickbay.
"Doctor to Neelix.".
"Neelix here. Morning doctor!".
"Good morning. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind keeping an eye on the patient while I talk to the captain. I would have asked Seven but she has an important project in astrometrics.", said the doctor.
"Of course doctor, on my way.", said Neelix.
Once Neelix got there the doctor made his way up to the bridge.
The turbolift doors slid open as the doctor walked onto the bridge.
"Ah morning doctor. How's Icheb?", asked Janeway with a smile.
The doctor looked down grimly.
"Well that's what I came up here to tell you. Not very good im afraid. The...infections spread. Tom and I had to do a second surgery last night. His fever was very high and his pain levels as well. The fever caused a seizure but we have it under control now. The surgery went okay but he's pretty weak. His body may not have the strength to fight what's left of the infection.", finished the doctor.
The crew was shocked. They had all thought that the infection wasn't spreading and that Icheb was on the mend. Many of them looked down gravely not knowing what to do.
Kathryn wasn't sure what to say. Things like this didn't happen very often on Voyager. Usually if someone was hurt it was in the holodeck or on an away mission and they were always okay.
"What are his chances of recovery?", asked Janeway not really wanting to hear the answer.
"At his strength level, somewhere between 15 and 20 percent. You have to remember how much his body has been through. Seizures, high fever, extreme levels of pain and the fight from his implants. His vitals are low. Im afraid he simply may not have the energy to fight.", said the doctor.
The bridge was silent and Janeway nodded her head in response. The doctor made his way back to sickbay and relieved Neelix. Ichebs condition hadn't changed much.
As the doctor did some readings and analysis, he thought about how he'd never really had very many young patients. With Ichebs intelligence and maturity level, it was easy to forget how young he really was sometimes. But now he looked pretty innocent. The doctor remembered his holographic family he'd had for a short while. He thought of the little girl that he'd pretended was his daughter. She had hit her head and was dying. It was almost to much for his emotional programming to handle that day. It was a little like that now as he looked down at Icheb on the table. Just a sick young boy without a mother or father and without hope.
Icheb cracked open his eyes slowly looking up at the doctor tiredly. They were only half open and he struggled to swallow. He didn't say anything but he saw the worry in the doctors eyes. Icheb smiled slightly from the comfort of having the doctor there and as a gesture to comfort the doctor in return. He fell back into unconsciousness as the doctor was overcome with emotion.
Two horrible weeks passed as Icheb hadn't gotten any better. He didn't wake much and when he did it was short and quiet. Seven was by his side as much as she could be and didn't seem to care so much about her duties anymore.The doctor never shut off his program even when Tom was there. He occasionally got visitors like Janeway and some of the bridge crew. But they knew how sick he was, and that they couldnt do anything to help.
The pain levels had gone down slightly and his fever would rise and fall. His breathing was slow and weak and he'd developed a small cough. The tubes in his nostrils remained giving antibiotics to the persistent infection.
The doctor sat in his office as he read a paper on radiogenic treatments. He glanced over at Icheb like he'd done so often in the past couple weeks. He felt something was different though he wasn't sure what. The doctor quickly went over to the bio readout as he did a deep scan of Ichebs body. What he saw made his eyes widen.
"Doctor to the captain!", he said urgently.
"Doctor?", said Janeway afraid to hear the news she had been dreading. The rest of the bridge crew listened with the same fear.
"I've just read the growth rate of Ichebs infection. It's slowly deteriorating! With luck it will be completely gone in a couple more weeks!", said the doctor cheerfully.
The bridge crew clapped and beamed with relief and happiness.
"Thank you doctor! Update us on his recovery and let him know we have all been pulling for him.", said Kathryn with a big smile.
"Will do captain. Doctor out.".
"That was to close for comfort. I thought we'd lost him for a while there.", said Tom.
They all nodded feeling the same way.
A week passed as Ichebs recovery was slow. He was incredibly weak and still depended on the antibiotics to heal. He was waking up for longer periods of time now but his body needed a lot of rest. Icheb had a hard time ever keeping his eyes open for very long let alone the strength to say anything.
A few more days went by and Icheb opened his eyes one afternoon. He looked over to see Seven asleep sitting up against the wall on one of the closer beds. He smiled happy to see her there. He looked over the other way to see Tom and the doctor discussing something in his office. Icheb sighed as he relaxed looking up at the ceiling once again. He felt more awake then he had for a while and his brain didn't feel like it was on fire quite so much anymore.
"Icheb?", said the doctor as he walked over with Tom.
"Hello Doctor.", Icheb said with a weak smile and a horse voice. He stifled a small cough which made him quickly realize how sore his body was.
"Hello. We're glad to see you awake. You look better, how do you feel?", he said so relieved to see Icheb looking close to healthy.
"My abdomen is causing me some discomfort but it is nothing I can't handle. Thank you for all you've done doctor. When do you think I will be able to get back to my regular work and studies?", asked Icheb with weary eyes.
"Well you still have a while to go before your on your feet. For now I'll increase your pain medication and we'll let you rest. Don't worry though, you'll be back to your normal routine in about 2 weeks.", said the doctor with a soft smile.
A week and a half later Icheb sat up in his bed looking at a tablet doing configurations on isotropic linear projections. He stopped for a minute as he rubbed his aching head and wiped his tired eyes. He figured he'd pushed himself a little to hard that day and decided to lay back down. It was starting to get late and Seven had to go and regenerate. Seven entered sickbay looking right at Icheb.
"I just thought I'd wish you a good nights sleep.", said Seven with her usual straight face.
"Thank you. Good night Seven.", said Icheb with a smile as his eyelids grew heavy.
Kathryn came by later to check on him as she often did. She thought she'd let the doctor shut off his program for a while and watch over Icheb for the night. She sighed putting her feet up on his desk. She looked over at Icheb from her book with a grin of relief. She was grateful to see him doing better and not suffering any longer. Her eyes watered up as she thought about what he'd been through.
Soon enough Icheb was back to studying in astrometrics and other educational or work habits. The crew saw him in a bit of a different light after everything. A little more innocent, and more of an orphan than they'd realized. But they hoped they were an okay substitute for him. And he hoped they knew how much they were.