Kristin peaked through the doorway of the medbay, smiling. She had already been in the room, but didn't want to wake up Jayde and Lucas. They were sharing his bed, with Jayde wrapped in Lucas' arms. She knew the plastic surgeon was coming soon, but hated to disturb them. She heard footsteps behind her, and turned. Nathan looked at her oddly. "What are you doing?"
She held a finger to her lips and pointed into the room. "How long have they been like that?" He whispered.
Kristin motioned him away from the door. "I came in around six am and found them. They've moved a little, so I'm assuming he woke up fully last night."
"She didn't call you?" She shook her head. "Well, it looks like he's ok. I'm sure she would have if there was a problem."
"Do you think them sleeping in the same bed could be a problem?"
Nathan paused for several seconds, "I'm not sure what the right answer is here."
She slapped him lightly on the arm. "You don't have to agree with me when I ask you a question, Nathan."
"It just seemed safer."
Kristin laughed at his cheek. "Did Jayde speak to you?"
"No, but I had a long discussion with her father. He asked a lot of interesting questions about the safety of my crew. Do you happen to know why?" He gave her a long look.
"I think Jayde wants to ask you that herself."
Nathan nodded knowingly. "She wants to stay."
Kristin smiled mischievously, "this ship and crew do seem to have that affect on people."
He leaned in close, "some more than others." Nathan was inches from her face when he heard noises coming from the medbay, he pulled back and smirked at her disappointed expression. "I believe your patients are awake, Doctor."
She scowled at him, "thank you, Captain." Kristin left him standing in the corridor, ignoring his chuckle.
Jayde blushed when she saw Kristin enter the room, she scurried to get out of the bed. "H... hi Kristin, um, he woke up late last night but..." She scrambled for an excuse that wouldn't get anyone in trouble.
"I didn't want to wake you up." Lucas came to her rescue.
"I see." Kristin said, smiling. "Dr. Barison will be here soon, and Jayde, I believe your father will be as well. Perhaps you would like to get cleaned up first?"
"Yes, that sounds like a good idea, I'll be back." Jayde escaped the room quickly.
Kristin turned her attention to Lucas. "And how are you feeling young man?"
"Tired, but fine."
"What do you remember?"
Lucas yawned hugely, "everything, I think."
"No gaps?"
He shook his head, "only from leaving the 'nex until I woke up last night."
She started to check eyes, holding his chin to direct his head. "I don't see any signs of a concussion, and you don't seem to be having problems with your motor control." Lucas tried to nod, but Kristin held him still. "And your burns aren't showing any signs of infection, that's very good." She lifted his head until he was forced to look into her eyes. "So, Lucas, what are your plans with Jayde?"
"What?" He swallowed, and shot his eyes his eyes around the room, looking for help. "Um... noble plans? Ma'am?"
Laughing, Kristin released him. "Remember that when you meet Jeremy." He looked at her blankly. "Her father."
"Oh..."
"Her very large and protective father."
"Oh..." Lucas swallowed again. "I will."
"Lay back on the bed, please."
He looked around for help again, "why?"
"Because, Lucas, I want to get the rest of this contraption off before Dr. Barison gets here." She explained slowly.
"Oh, ok." He obeyed, but fixed his eyes on the wall while she worked. "We didn't do anything." He blurted out.
"It's none of my business." Kristin continued unplugging the nodes and pulled the circular device off his head.
"Y... yeah, I ... um... I know... but, I th...thought I'd let you know... in case... someone asks..." He stuttered.
She set the interface on a table. "Lucas, Jeremy is a reasonable man. He isn't going to beat the tar out of you for being interested in his daughter. I just want you to be responsible."
He nodded before answering weakly, "I will."
A knock saved him from embarrassing himself more. "Come in Alton." Kristin addressed the thin elderly man at the door. She gestured to the bed, "This is Lucas. He was was electrocuted a few days ago and the rubber melted into his skin. You are far more skilled in this department," she lifted her cast, "and I have a broken wing at the moment."
"Of course of course." Dr. Barison answered in a voice as thin as he body. He got uncomfortably close to Lucas' face and the youth found himself wishing he could escape as quickly as Jayde had. "Dr. Barison adjusted his glasses. "This won't take long at all. I suspect you will have minimal scaring as well."
"I'll have scars?" Lucas asked in a hopeful voice.
"Possibly, but they will most likely look like simple acne scars."
"Great..." Lucas muttered.
Kristin broke in, "when you're done, I have another patient for you to look at. She suffered a very serious cut to her arm, and I had to sew her up the best I could to stop the blood loss."
He nodded distractedly, "yes, yes, not a problem. I'll need a local injection for the boy. I'd like to get started." Lucas glared at the doctor when he heard the term 'boy,' but was ignored.
Jayde walked into the medbay, closely followed by her father. She was smiling widely, but it faltered when she the unknown man leaning over Lucas. "What's going on?"
"Oh, Jayde, Alton is just finishing up with Lucas. He'll look at your arm next." Kristin reassured her.
She watched the new doctor straighten and set his tools down. Lucas' head was finally free of the device and now had three sets of stitches across his forehead. "How does it look?" He asked apprehensively.
"Not bad, your hair will cover most of it." She told him.
"Maybe I'll let them show so I don't look like a twelve year old." He retorted.
Dr. Barison turned to Jayde. "I believe you are next. I'll need to unwrap those bandages miss."
She held out her arm, but glanced back to her father. "Um, you might not want to see this Dad, it's pretty ugly."
"I'll be fine, honey." Jeremy said. He swallowed thickly, however, when the first part of her injury was exposed. "I think I'll take Nathan up on the tour of the ship actually." He kissed the top of head and vacated the space quickly.
The doctor finished unwinding the long bandage. "It doesn't seem that bad. Kristin, can you get me some butterfly bandages? I just want to make sure some of these areas are pulled a little closer."
"Of course Alton, one moment." Kristin disappeared into the storage area.
Ben poked his head into the door, carrying a large box. "Hey, I heard Lucas was awake." He looked around Jeremy to see the bed. "You up for a visitor, kid?"
Lucas nodded, but yawned again. "Yeah, I'm good. Just really really tired."
"Why are you so tired? You've been laying in a bed for the last three days."
He rolled his eyes, "yeah, but my mind hasn't. Other than a few hours this morning, I haven't slept the whole time."
"You couldn't sleep? Why not?"
Lucas sighed and leaned his head. "Maybe because I didn't have a screen saver?"
Ben blinked a few times, then laughed. "Ok, you got me there." He lifted the box, "I have something for you."
"What is it?"
He approached the bed as Kristin came back into the room. "Oh! Um... hi Kristin... how are you?" Ben backed up until he was nearly touching the wall. He looked for a place to set the box down, but ended up hugging it to his chest.
Kristin smiled a little too coldly for Ben's taste, and handed the small medical package she was holding to Dr. Barison. "I am fine, Mr. Krieg. Is that what I think it is?" She nodded to the box.
"I ... um, yeah, yeah it is."
"And you're hiding behind it so I don't kill you?"
"Yes, ma'am." He answered meekly.
Lucas looked from one to the other. "Why would you kill him? Did he eat your lobster again?"
Kristin warmed her smile and turned to the teen. "Mr. Krieg seems to have difficulty knowing what is appropriate to discuss with teens."
"It was a joke..." Ben attempted.
"So, what's in the box?" Lucas interrupted before Ben could get himself into any more trouble.
Ben guardedly crossed to the bed, keeping his back facing the wall, and away from Kristin. "The crew took up a collection to get you something."
Lucas bemusedly took the box, he pulled it open and his face lit up. "A new laptop! This is awesome!" He eagerly pulled the smooth sliver item from it's box. "This is a really good one too." Lucas smiled wildly, "thank you so much."
"And this," Ben pulled something from the side pocket of his uniform, "is from me. It's an older model, but it works."
He handed the black goggle like device to Lucas. The teen narrowed his eyes for a moment, and chewed his lip. "You got me an Oculus Rift..."
Ben nodded with his toothy smile. "Yeah, it's like you're actually in the computer game. I thought you'd really like it."
Jayde started to laugh, "Ben, do you think that's a good idea?"
His smile slipped, "but he loves stuff like that..."
Lucas shook his head. "Thank you Ben, I will use it, just not right now. I think I'll just read or something for the next few days... or weeks."
Ben finally caught the connection. "Oh... oh of course. Do you want me to get you your e-reader?"
"Uh, no... I think old fashion paper is good right now..."
