Cats and Dogs – Hope
Everyone is on edge waiting for Cruger to get out of surgery. The rangers sit anxiously, barely daring to breathe. The OR light has been lit for a straight four hours and, according to the resident who came to inform them, will be for at least another three or four. Things are excruciating.
No one is more distraught than Dr. Katherine Manx. Although she technically has basic medical training, she is not a surgeon. Even if she were, she would be too connected to the case, and forbidden from operating. Now, she's just a biochemical engineer, stuck doing nothing as her friend fights for his life. She can do nothing but pace and bite at her near unbreakable claws. There's nothing she can do but wait and hope.
Jack clenches his fists tightly, anxiety running through his whole body. He wishes he had been able to help—had been able to stop Cruger from getting slashed while demorphed. Sky wishes a similar thing, standing at attention because he can't think straight enough to do anything else. Bridge is standing on his head, only getting down when he fears he might pass out without a break. If only there were a solution to be found, but there isn't. Syd cries quietly, trying to force herself to be silent, to be strong. Z bounces her leg testily; she has already done her praying, now she can only wait.
Kat sits with her back to the rangers now, on her knees. She remains there for a good five to ten minutes, before standing. After pacing a bit more, she sits down again, this time cross legged. Another ten minutes pass. She paces some more.
Z watches this carefully. She's confused as to what the older woman is doing. When Kat leaves she's worried, but soon the Felina returns, something in her hands. On closer look, it's an incense pot, already smoking. Kat sets it down and sits in front of it, back to them again. Z thinks she should mind her own business. She thinks that no one has more of a right to be worried than Kat. She thinks Kat could be hysterical if she weren't so...Kat. She thinks that Kat is desperate for hope.
The cycle continues and soon more and more little things join the incense burner. A couple of statues join it, as well as food tributes and even bunches of fabric. Kat's brow is beginning to redden with stress, sometimes glistening after a particularly long period of chanting to herself in her corner. Finally, she comes in with a single candle, lights it, and begins muttering to herself again. She knows the rangers don't know what she's doing and she doesn't care. She doesn't care what she has to do.
Z lets out what can only be described as a heartbroken gasp.
"What?" Jack asks with worry.
"She's praying," the gravity of her realization hits the team hard. They all gaze on to Kat, praying intensely. "She's praying to every god she knows."
Kat's concentration is broken when she hears the muffled foot steps of sneakers behind the OR doors. She's up before the light can ding. The candle is extinguished in her wake. She goes straight past the rangers and just stares at the resident with a cold, hard glare. Her eyes are sharp, but dark and red rimmed.
The rangers look on helplessly, but as Kat smiles at the resident they let out a collaborative sigh of relief. They watch as Boom catches Kat before she can fall, easing her down to her knees as she cries uncontrollably. Her smile, though, assures them that there's no longer anything to fear. Kat gasps and laughs at the same tame, saying "thank you" over and over into Boom's chest.
Jack punches the air to relieve some of his stress. Bridge falls to his knees with a smile. Syd starts crying unashamedly and is embraced by Sky, who also lets tears fall, shielded by blond hair. Z also lets some tears fall, feeling as if the wind has been knocked out of her. They all listen as the resident tells them that Cruger will need to rest, and that his Sirian genetics have saved his life. She says that he will have a two week requirement of recovery before he can even go back to his own quarters, but he will be all right. Kat thanks the resident, who seems entirely happy too reply in return. The rangers all begin cheering, though Kat is still trying to stop crying from happiness.
Z breaks away first and looks at Kat's small collection of religious idols. They're all from earth, and Z can guess that religion is an earth thing more than an alien one. Still, she goes over and moves the candle gently, with respect. As she pushes it to sit with the other objects she offers a nod, "Thank you...all...for looking out for our Commander, and our friend, Kat."