Meredith stepped off the escalator and onto the second floor, walking toward the guest quarters as she absently fingered the scar on her right hand left by intensive IVs. Seeing Sky now and experiencing the true distance between them made Meredith feel like what happened nine months before was a lifetime ago. But with mentions of sector twelve, being back on earth and in the place that was her home for almost three formidable years, she couldn't help but feel as if the bloody debacle had only happened yesterday.
Meredith groaned softly as she started to come out of her sedative. Blinking, she tried to clear her blurry vision revealing the interior of a rather drab hospital room inside the infirmary at the S.P.D. base. Confusion threatened to overtake her when the events of the last day or so slowly made their way back into her consciousness. The 'other' Sky from an unknown dimension…the fight with Hathor…the blast that nearly killed her. 'At least I'm pretty sure I'm not dead,' she thought to herself morbidly. Trying to examine her condition she suddenly realized that trying to move any part of her body was almost impossible. Despite the pain killers that she was positive were in her system every fiber of ever muscle ached, paling in comparison to the heavy burn that was assailing her chest. Before she had a chance to further examine her condition Dr. Felix walked in carrying a chart. He smiled when he saw that she was awake. "Cadet Oliver, how are you feeling?" he asked congenially.
Meredith started to speak but all that came out were a few strained squeaks. She tried to swallow to sooth the irritation but her mouth was too dry. "Here, this will help," Dr. Felix offered, handing a small cup with a straw to her. Meredith took the cup slowly and sipped the water, feeling instantaneously better.
"Thank you," she whispered in a gravely voice. Dr. Felix nodded in acknowledgment.
"Your surgery went well," he began, looking down at the chart.
"Surgery?" Meredith questioned, she had no idea her injuries were that serious.
"Yes, you had some extensive internal bleeding that needed immediate attention as well as two broken ribs. Also, your left lung was collapsed and you have some second degree burns."
Meredith simply nodded, a bit dazed and shocked at the severity of the situation. "But I'll be fine right?" she asked, a bit scared.
Dr. Felix smiled once again, though it had a tinge of sadness to it. "Yes, you will be fine. We were able to stop the internal bleeding, and your ribs and burns will just take time to heal. As far as your lung goes, it was weakened by the damage but with time should be able to function at capacity as before," he explained carefully.
"How much time?"
"It varies as you can imagine. The important thing is that you focus on resting and healing. We need to keep you in the infirmary until the end of the week at least. The nurse will be in later but if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask, okay?"
Meredith nodded as Dr. Felix turned and exited the room, leaving her alone. Her mind should be racing with questions and irrational fears, and the severe need to have her mother by her side but all she felt was numb. 'Is this what shock is like?' she asked herself absently. Her glazed eyes moved over the room, taking in the static space that seemed to suspend time. She was hurt, extensively. Her rational brain knew that. And yet…nothing.
She stared blankly, the muted beeping of her heart monitor fading into the background, and it seemed as if an eternity passed when thoughts finally began to break through into her conscious reasoning. When dinner rolled around she couldn't just get out of bed and walk down to the dining commons and eat with her squad like she would have any other day. Tomorrow's training would start off with a three-mile run to warm up…but she couldn't run. Breathing was a labored task while she was just lying there. What was she going to do? Lay around for a week or ten purposeless? She didn't know how to be broken.
Finally the tears came.
After a while Meredith stopped crying, the shaking from the sobs being too much for her chest to handle. A soft knock at the door drew her attention and she looked up, expecting to see her closest friend, team leader, and so much more. Her face and spirits fell slightly when she saw it was Charlie. Her pink teammate walked into the room cautiously, smiling as empathetically as she could. "Hi. How are you feeling?" she asked as she tucked some curly, caramel locks behind her ear.
"Okay I guess," Meredith answered quietly.
"Here, I thought you might want something that wasn't hospital issued," Charlie presented a royal blue fleece blanket. Meredith smiled as best she could without cracking her dry lips.
"Thanks, that's really nice of you." Charlie proceeded to place the blanket over Meredith's legs and thin hospital sheets.
Dieter emerged through the door looking uncomfortable and out of place, but carrying a gift as well. He walked up to Meredith's bedside and set a remote on the small table. "It's a universal remote. Just in case you get sick of sleeping," he said with a small smile, his eyes portraying deep and genuine concern she hadn't known he was capable of.
"Thanks Dozer," Meredith thanked, squeezing his hand lightly with hers. He placed his other hand over hers for a moment before pulling away.
Andrew stepped up, Meredith not even noticing when he came in. "Here, I saw this and thought you might like it." A small, blue teddy bear appeared in Meredith's lap the next moment.
"Aww, Harps. I love it, you didn't have to," she gushed quietly.
"I'm just glad you like it," he replied a bit sheepishly.
"Well, we'll get out of your hair and let you get some rest. Feel better okay?" Charlie asked, though it sounded like more of a command than a question.
"Yes ma'am."
Charlie smiled, "Like you would ever take orders from me."
"True," Meredith relented. "Thanks for coming guys, I'll see you later." They all nodded and filed out in a rather melancholy state. Outside the door she could swear she heard someone talking with her doctor, about what sounded like her condition. After a moment she realized that it was probably Sky and she waited for him to come in. But he never did. After a few moments he stopped talking to Dr. Felix but she could hear footsteps as they echoed down the hall in the opposite direction. 'He's probably just getting a drink or something,' Meredith rationalized to herself. Minutes passed and slowly it was an hour later before she realized he wasn't coming. A few more tears slipped down her cheek before she finally gave in to her exhaustion, leaving her feeling scared and awfully alone, despite the teddy bear, when she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Meredith waited a moment before stepping into her assigned temporary quarters, trying to oppress her nostalgic wishes that she could go back to her old room. With a gentle swish she entered the room, taking note of her roommate for the night. "Hey Josh," she greeted exhaustedly.
The Trithian green ranger with dark brown, buzzed hair looked up from making his bed. "Hey Mere," he greeted, watching carefully as she unceremoniously plopped down onto her bed across the room. "You want to talk about it?" he offered.
"Dear God no," she instantly replied with a wry smile, making Josh recoil slightly in surprise. "Sorry, it's just if I think about it anymore I'm pretty sure my head will explode," she explained, taking off her jacket as she did so.
Josh nodded in understanding as he crawled underneath his covers. "Is there anyone I need to punch? Or glare at?" he asked supportively. Before Meredith could reply the doors opened unexpectedly.
"Who do we need to punch?" Lucky asked, stepping into the room with his arms full of blankets and pillows.
"You if you think you're going to steal my bed," Meredith replied as she stripped off her uniform pants and quickly threw on flannel ones. Neither male officer thought twice of the intimate wardrobe change having all shared close quarters in much harsher conditions before.
"Crater and Aidan kicked me out," Lucky almost whined pathetically.
Josh and Meredith shared a knowing look before he spoke up. "The floor's all yours."
"I'll take it," Lucky said as he dropped everything to the floor. The three rangers settled in and turned off the lights.
"And I better not find you in my bed when I wake up like when we were on Frenovia," Meredith threatened in good humor.
"But you don't take up the whole bed and hardly move at all," Lucky defended.
"I think you can survive one night on the floor…"
Lucky sighed dramatically, "Fine."