Title: Thawing Out
Author: Karina
Rating: PG
Pairing: Milliardo + Pagan
Notes: Challenge 207. Baby Series 4 #78. Takes place a few hours following Low Clearance.
Spoilers: None
Warnings:
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.
Title: Thawing Out
He resisted the groan as he stretched his back carefully. The heat in the room was wonderful, though he knew this room was actually kept at a set temperature that was quite low. After exiting the icy interior of the caves this room was only the first of three designed to gradually bring a person's body temperature back up in a carefully controlled manner. Given they had spent more than four hours in the cave system, a doctor and staff were on hand to inspect each participant in the expedition for signs of hypothermia and frost bite. Any physical distress was treated immediately.
He could feel his fingers and toes, though he admitted he felt them in a fashion that was not the same as normal sensation. Whilst not painful they were bordering on numb, but he was quickly inspected by fussing physicians and clearance given to move on to the next room. No frostbite then. He stuffed his feet into woolly slippers, hugged the thick woollen blanket more firmly about his shoulders, and duly moved on to the next station.
Pagan was there, waiting, with a steaming mug in hand. He was thankful to receive it, feeling the heat working on his fingers uncomfortably, but he was glad of the sensation. It would be barely warm, he knew, a hotter drink would be forthcoming a little later, but this one, lukewarm hot chocolate, was more gentle to his cold system.
"Sir?"
To business. It was why he was here. He was a trained engineer and he knew what he had seen. The jam of boulders would have to be broken up, but it would need to be accomplished carefully. And speedily. There was not a great deal of options open to them given the weather was warming quickly.
"Schedule a meeting for tomorrow between Parks and Wildlife and the Royal Engineers and the Department of Geology. We will have to blow the jam, but I need a fast and accurate assessment of the tunnel. They will need to lay a carefully controlled series of charges, and the Royal Engineers have demolition experience I do not believe is available to Parks and Wildlife."
An affirmative 'Sir' was uttered quickly and Pagan exited the room, leaving him to soak in the warmth and finish his hot chocolate in peace. By the time he had finished a doctor had appeared, asked him a few questions, checked his vitals, poked at his feet and fingers once again and cleared him to move into the next recovery room.
He was more than happy to eat the meal prepared and savour the much hotter air, settling close to the roaring fire and enjoying a hot cup of tea. By the time Pagan returned he was ready to depart, wondering if there was any way they could make use of the hidden wonderland of the iced caves during the brief month or so it was relatively safe to enter them.
End
Karina Robertson 2013