Stranded
Chapter 8
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
Leonard was still dozing, his head reclined against the head board.
"Len, time for lunch." Nyota drew up the small table against the side of the bed set the tray on it.
Leonard opened his eyes and smiled wanly. "Thanks, darlin', it smells wonderful."
"Hope it's as good as Winona's. You need help sitting up?" Nyota looked him over critically, he was still very pale.
"Think so. Still feelin' real weak. Bet that soup will help with that."
Nyota helped him sit up, then helped him set his feet on the floor. Through the pajama top she could feel that his fever was still down, thank goodness. She put two pillows behind him to prop him up and pulled up the small table.
"After you eat, I'll set up the IV like Geoff ordered. You can guide me through the process. It'll also be time for the analgesic and antipyretic.
Leonard nodded, tasting the soup.
"How is it?" She asked anxiously.
"It's delicious, Ny. I'm real surprised I'm hungry. Probably because the fever is burning a lot of calories." He brought a shaky hand up to his mouth. "I'll try to finish it all. I promised Jim, and you know he'll ask you."
"So will Geoff. While you're eating, tell me how to set up your IV, and what I have to bring from your office."
"It'll be easier if I just go with you."
"No, sir. You're not going anywhere. You just tell me, I'll write it in my padd and bring everything in here. You just keep eating, Dr. McCoy. Leave the rest to me because you're not getting up."
So Leonard told her. Truthfully he doubted he could stand or walk for long. He reclined back on the bed to wait.
Nyota went into the exam room to find everything needed for Leonard's IV. The saline pouch with the plastic tubing attached, the IV butterfly needle, and the alcohol wipes she put in a medical bag. The pole was on wheels to roll where it was needed. Everything was sterile and ready to go. She double checked the list; yes, she had everything.
"I'm ready, Len," she announced, coming back into the bedroom wheeling in the pole "I have everything you asked for." She was pleased to see his soup mug on the small table was empty; he'd finished everything, including the bread and butter. "Are you feeling up to guiding me through the process right now? If you're not I'll comm Geoffrey or Christine to help me."
"No, no, Ny. I can guide you, and I'll insert the needle myself. My veins are good, but I don't want you trying to find a vein and inserting the needle. I've done it a million time, so don't you worry about that part of it."
"You think your hands are steady enough?"
"Not really, but I figured out how we'll do it together. You'll place the needle exactly where I tell you, hold it steady against the vein, and I'll push it in. We'll use my left arm, there's a lot less movement of that arm."
Nyota looked at him dubiously. "Are you sure, Len? I'm not squeamish at all."
"I'm sure. It's not hard, it's just painful if not done right, or if someone doesn't have good veins. Even in this day and age, we gotta' do IVs with a needle. There's really no other way to do it. Okay, let's get started. Wash your hands real well first, then pull on some gloves, they're in my bag."
Nyota washed her hands in the bathroom, and slipped on the surgical gloves.
"Good, now open the sterile package of tubing and attach the tubing to the saline bag, don't touch the tip that attaches to the bag, it's gotta stay completely sterile."
Nyota did as he directed.
"Now then hang the bag on the pole on that there hook, darlin', and let the saline run down a bit to get rid of any air that might be in the tube. It's a standard precaution, we always do that. Be sure the clip underneath is closed."
Nyota nodded. "It's closed."
"Okay now, put the rubber tourniquet above my elbow. Pull it snug, but not too tight, and tie it with a double knot. It's much easier to find the vein when we do that," he said as she tied the tourniquet snugly on his left arm. "Once the needle is into the vein it must be taped down so it doesn't move or come out."
He looked approvingly at his veins now clearly visible. "I've always had good veins, but I've seen patients with such bad veins the IV had to be placed somewhere else like the foot or hand. There, that's the vein we're gonna' use." He pointed to the prominent vein in his forearm. "That there is called the Median Vein of the Forearm. Now just clean the forearm real well with the alcohol wipe." Nyota cleaned the area thoroughly and looked expectantly at him.
"We're ready to insert the needle. Don't be nervous, Ny, it's not hard. Hold the needle flat against the vein and I'll push it in. You just hold it, don't push or move it. I'll do the work. Ready?" She bit her lip and nodded. He carefully put his hand over hers and with his fingers pushed the needle into the vein; a tiny bit of blood seeped out and Nyota quickly wiped it off.
Leonard grinned at her. "We're done. That was perfect. You can remove the tourniquet now. Next you have to attach the needle to the tube, so wheel the pole over here, and attach it right there in the lip of the tube, that will start the flow of saline. That little valve thing there is the flow control," Len pointed. "We'll let it run wide open for a little while so I can rehydrate, then we'll slow it down 'til the bag is empty. Now just put some tape over the needle to hold it in place and we're done."
After Nyota taped the needle she stepped back and sat down on the side chair. She breathed deeply, feeling a little shaky as she pulled off her gloves. Len was right, it hadn't been difficult, but it had been intense holding back her nerves and fear that she would make a mistake and somehow hurt Leonard.
Leonard glanced at her, his blue eyes missing nothing. Nyota looked pale, her usually healthy dark glow a little ashen.
"Ny, sweetheart. Look at me."
Nyota lifted her dark eyes from her contemplation of the floor. Leonard smiled at her. "You did great! No one could have done better. You know when doctors and nurses are trained to give IVs, we learn how through virtual sims. We practice the procedure over and over. You did it right the first time."
Nyota gave him a faint wan smile. "With your guidance, Len. It was all you. I could've never done it without your guiding me through it. I'm just happy it's done. So how are you feeling now?"
"A little better, a bit stronger. That's what happens with rehydration. Also your delicious soup hit the spot too."
"That's good to hear. It's almost time for your antipyretic and analgesic. Geoffrey was insistent we keep those on a regular schedule. I'm also going to make more tea with honey, you can sip it slowly. Then another nap will do you good."
"Before we do all that, I need a visit to the bathroom, Nyota. The IV solution does that to a body real fast. You know," he added, his blue eyes gleaming mischievously at her, "what goes in must come out. I'm still feeling real weak, but if you'll help me stand up, I'll be able to totter over there with the IV pole. I don't want to disconnect it just yet," he added.
Nyota helped him sit up, bent down to put his slippers on his feet, then slowly and carefully helped him stand. Leonard swayed slightly so she steadied him with her arm around his waist. Leonard put his hand on the rolling IV pole and they walked very slowly to the bathroom. At the door, Nyota looked dubiously at the pole. "Do you think it will fit?"
"Yeah, it'll fit if I walk in first, then you can follow me in with the pole. We're both skinny, we'll fit."
Nyota chuckled. "Skinny is not a word I'd use about myself."
"Well you sure aren't fat, that's for sure. Now you just wait right outside the door for me to finish." He looked at her knowingly. "I'll leave the door cracked a bit."
Nyota glanced at the chronometer on Len's night table. It was well after lunch, and Alarik would be here soon she was sure and she wanted to get Len settled back in his bed, give him his meds, and make his tea. She heard the fresher hiss, then the sound of water as he washed his hands.
"Ny," he called, "would you pull the pole out so I can get through. I'm done here."
She opened the door, grabbed the pole and slowly, carefully wheeled it out. Once it was out of the door, Leonard grasped her arm tightly while she walked him slowly to the bed. She settled him with the pillows behind his head, the quilts tucked all around him, then handed him his meds and watched as he put them in his mouth. The elegant, slim, doctor's hand, the right one without the IV needle in it, was, she was dismayed to see, still noticeably trembling. She held the cup of water to his mouth fearful he'd spill it and watched as he took a few sips and closed his eyes. Nyota saw with alarm, he was deathly pale again. Even the short trip to the bathroom had completely exhausted him.
"I'm real tired, so I think I'll take a short nap." He opened his blue eyes and looked at her worried face. "You go on, darlin', make me some more tea, and I'll drink it after I wake up. Let's slow down the rate of the drip, and by the time I wake up the IV should be finished. We'll take out the needle then."
She nodded, worry making her stomach slightly queasy, and slowed the drip. What would she do if Len got worse? There wasn't even a hospital in Torreon. The nearest one was at least an hour away, if not more, and they had no transport. She pushed her worry aside. Don't borrow trouble, Nyota, she scolded herself.
"A nap is a fine idea, Len. Sleep is the best thing for you. I'll go make your tea and wait for Alarik. I'm going to leave your door open so I can hear you if you need anything. Just call me."
"Thanks, darlin'," he whispered. His breathing deepened and he was immediately asleep.
Before Alarik arrived, she decided she'd write down a few notes for Geoffrey. He would want a complete report, and so would Jim. Nyota got out her comm and brought up her writing/recording program so she could input all of Len's symptoms to give to Geoffrey. She jotted down every symptom, everything she could remember since last night; his extreme fatigue and weakness, his trembling hands, his fluctuating temperature, his pallor, his constant sleepiness, his hoarseness, and his lethargy. Her report to Jim and Geoffrey must be exact. That way maybe Spock and Geoff could get both the Science and Medical departments working to figure out exactly what this illness was, how it was transmitted, and how to cure it.
After finishing her notes, she locked the comm up again and went back to the kitchen. She washed her hands, cleaned up a little and made Leonard's tea. She'd just finished when she heard a knock at the front door. Alarik was here.
Wiping her hands she went to the front door and opened with a small smile. "Come in Alarik. I was in the kitchen making tea for the doctor. Please come to the kitchen and sit for a moment, I'll be glad of the company. I'll make us both a cup of tea and we can visit for a few minutes. Just put the heater on the floor for now," she told him.
Alarik followed her into the kitchen. "How is Dr. Mkkoy, Nyota?" He asked sitting down at the table.
"Not good, Alarik. He's asleep right now. It worries me that he sleeps all the time, but it doesn't seem to help him. He continues to feel very tired and his fever comes and goes. I have been giving him the two medicines he told me might help, but so far I haven't seen any improvement in him since last night. He ate well at noon, which was good. I gave him soup which I made fresh for him. It was nourishing; I made it with rice and the vegetables and fowl Doranna bought for me. Which reminds me, Alarik. I have a list of more things I need for the doctor. Tomorrow morning could Doranna go to the market again for me? I don't want to leave Dr. McCoy alone, even for a short while."
"Of course, Nyota, either Doranna or I will go. Do not worry about that. We will help with whatever you need."
"Thank you, Alarik, I appreciate your help, it's a comfort. Here." She handed him the credits for her purchases. "The list is not long, I think it's enough."
She sat down, handed Alarik his tea, took a weary breath and took a sip of her own.
"You look tired, Nyota."
"I am tired. I haven't slept but a few hours since yesterday evening. The doctor has needed constant attention and monitoring since midnight. I've never seen him so ill, even when his health broke from overwork," she added hastily.
She was quiet for a minute. "Alarik, the doctor is making me wash my hands after I've been around him, it was too late for a mask he said, because we've been working, eating and keeping house together. He is concerned that he may pass the illness to me. I've been going through our recent daily case notes looking for any patient who might have come to see the doctor with the same symptoms as his. Dr. McCoy also told me his symptoms are like yours were when you were so sick, but that was two and a half moon cycles ago, so he didn't get it from you." She kept her eyes on her tea cup as she talked. "He is also concerned that there may be someone in the village, someone who lives here or perhaps a stranger who's come to visit who may make others sick."
She was silent for a moment thinking of a way to make her inquiry seem important to Alarik. She gave a deep dramatic sigh. "It has been preying on Dr. McCoy's mind, Alarik. With his high fever, it seems to worry him unduly. I assured him that I would ask you. Do you know any friends, acquaintances, or even strangers here in the village that might be ill? Not all who come to see the doctor are known to us, although now we are acquainted with, and recognize many of the villagers who've come to see Dr. McCoy when they are ill. We've also become acquainted with those we've met on our walks or at the market."
She looked up him, face guileless, a picture of concerned innocence.
Alarik looked thoughtful as he sipped his tea. "It may be so, Nyota. When I go to the market I will ask the vendors. They see everyone from the village. I will have Doranna ask her friends too. It is concerning that the doctor has contracted this illness that is very much like my own, yet still different. Does he not have the medicine he gave me, Nyota?"
"Yes he does, and he took a dose this morning. We hope it works as well as it worked on you, but we don't even know if it's the same illness."
"It is so, Nyota. I was ill many days before the doctor came to me. I do not even remember all that befell me, the fever burned in me for many days and I was delirious. Then came the coughing with me unable to catch my breath. After that I remember nothing." He gave a small shudder. "I do not like to remember it, neither does Doranna. But also I do not remember encountering another ill person before I got sick...," he paused. "Wait; there was a stranger I encountered one day, two days before the illness befell me."
"Yes?" Nyota asked gently.
"This person was a stranger to the village, or at least I had never seen her before. A young woman, little more than a girl. She stopped me to ask for directions to the apothecary." He looked thoughtful. "I did not realize until now that perhaps she was not feeling well, so that is why she needed an apothecary, but now that I think upon it, she did not look well."
"What did she look like, Alarik? Maybe she also came to see the doctor later?"
"Hmm, perhaps, but I did not see her again in the center of village or at the market place." He paused. "Let me think. Very young, and not tall, smaller than you, Nyota, dark hair, pale, light eyes, very thin. What caught my attention was a wide metal bracelet on her wrist and a matching collar around her neck. Most unusual that jewelry."
