Wake up!

Posted on Tue Aug 23rd, 2022 @ 9:53pm by Commander William Gerhard & Captain Bethsabée Leroux & Ensign Alexandra 'Lexi' O'Connery & Petty Officer, 3rd Class Lottie Daglish
Edited on on Tue Aug 23rd, 2022 @ 9:59pm

Mission: Mission 6 - Memory
Location: Sickbay - Deck E
Timeline: Day 301 - 2000 hrs
2086 words - 4.2 OF Standard Post Measure

Lexi wished she had the ability to pace the sickbay as she stood looking at the man, she loved lying limp on the biobed after being found after discharging his weapon. She knew William and he would never have discharged his weapon if it had not been essential or needed. She glanced back to the office where she could hear the Captain and the Doctor discussing the man lying there but she could understand why the captain was ordering that he be woke up if he could be. Did he know something and they needed to know what it was? Or was it something more? She watched the doctor move over and gave her boyfriend a shot of adrenaline she assumed and hoped he would wake up.

Black, was the thought that preoccupied William from somewhere. He felt as if he was floating on a lake at night, the water cold against his skin. There were no stars on this night, and he looked up towards the heavens. Was he on Earth? Was he back in his native home? William wasn't sure, but there was something about this that seemed almost peaceful. Then, there was a sudden white light in the sky, and as he focused on it, it grew in brightness and intensity. It hurt his eyes and he tried to look away but couldn't. It was then that he heard something, voices calling him.

William's eyes fluttered open and he tried to look around him but couldn't. His muscles in his head wouldn't work, so he used his eyes. Squinting at the harsh light, he recognized he was in sickbay. Judging by the angle of his vision, he was laying down on what he assumed was a biobed. One of the figures nearest him started to come into view, and he recognized it instantly.

"Lexi," William said, his voice raspy and soft as he twitched his fingers trying to reach for her.

Her name on his lips had always sounded correct but it really sounded beautiful then and there as she saw him awake and trying to move. It moved just how strong he was. "William." Lexi nearly let out a cheer of happiness as she moved forward to wrap her fingers through his as she smothered his face in quick kisses. "I am here." She assured, all the negative emotion melted away in her fear that it would have been the last thing she said.

William felt her hand squeeze his hand and he relaxed some. When she had pulled back he looked up into her eyes. His memory was still hazy, but he knew she had been right about John. "Lexi," he said again before pausing and looking away slightly, "You were right, and I didn't believe you."

"It is okay... we are okay." She assured before she backed up a little as the Captain came forward.

"Glad to see you awake Lieutenant." She said relieved that she was not losing another member of her senior team so quickly but she had a lot of questions but they could wait until he was much better. She glanced to the woman apologetically but the ship came first.

Turning his gaze towards the captain, he nodded but kept his hand in Lexi's. "How did I end up here," he asked. He still felt weak but his last memory was being near the guest quarters.

“Jamesson found you and…” Lexi started.

William's eyes suddenly widened with realization, and he struggled to sit up before Lexi forced him down. "It was John, or whatever his real name is. He murdered Samantha, and he's the same creature Jameson told us about," he said looking at the captain.

Beth frowned and nodded. “We are aware that he was involved but he disappeared. The ship is completely locked down.” Beth said quietly. “We are dealing with this and you need to rest whilst we do.” The read head nodded that it was a well-known fact now that it was potentially Smith. “I will leave you together to discuss more.”

"Captain, he wasn't just involved in Samantha's murder. He's the reason behind all the nose bleeds, the headaches. He's Jan Kowalski from the other universe," William said wanting to press the issue. The creature was dangerous, and he had already deceived them all. "I...I tried to shoot him," he continued before wincing in pain and laying back on the bed. He felt a thudding pressure behind his head. He looked at both of them as he felt Lexi squeeze his hand again.

"We know William. Just relax and rest." Beth said gently trying to get the point across that it was all known. "We will find him and punish him for what had happened," Beth glanced at Lexi and murmured something in Chinese before disappearing out the room. The sickbay returned to a calm silence as Lexi just stood there and stroked her thumb across his hand.

"You know you hit him right. The shot must have hit his shoulder or something there was blood on the floor." Lexi finally said.

William nodded, relief that he had at least scored one hit. The realization that he had been lied to, that all the memories he'd thought he'd had of John and him serving together was tough. He couldn't help but feel some self-doubt in all this. While he knew it had all been John and whatever abilities he possessed, but was William just that susceptible to manipulation? He looked back at Lexi as he felt her stroking his hand. "I'm so sorry, Lexi. I should've believed you, trusted you," he said softly before turning away from her. He felt ashamed that he hadn't done more. He loved Lexi with all his heart, but when she had come to him, he hadn't been there for her.

"But you did not because it was all fake. The whole crew has been deceived." Lexi said slowly moving herself around to the other side of him so he could watch her climb awkwardly and maneuvered herself onto the bio bed. She reached out to knock the biosensor off and cuddled up against him. "You cannot and will not take it on yourself." She whispered as she cuddled against his chest listening to his heart under her cheek.

He had watched her lay on the bed, though there was little room for the both of them. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. He closed his eyes again as he breathed her scent in. He had wondered at the time facing the dark void if he'd ever get to see her again. The one thing that had terrified him was that he'd never get to see her again, to apologize and make things right. "You know for a moment," he said softly before trailing off. He wondered if he should tell her, but decided that he didn't want to keep secrets from her anymore. "There was a time when I could feel myself slipping away. And, I almost...I wasn't sure if....part of me thought it would be easier if I wouldn't have come back," he finally said. He could feel her shift to look up at him, and when his eyes met hers they were moist. He had never shown this level of emotion in front of her, and he saw her face fill with compassion for him.

The woman felt her stomach sink at what he had admitted before she settled on feeling some semblance of compassion for the fact he was at rock bottom and admitting something to her that he had never even ventured towards before. "That is all Smith playing with your head." The woman soothed running a finger along his cheek smiling at the stubble under her finger but she did not need to tell him he looked like hell. "When you are feeling better and his influence fades you will see that." She assured.

He closed his eyes as he felt her fingers on his cheek. He nuzzled closer to her before speaking again. "I know, but i still can't shake the feeling that I shouldn't have even entertained the idea. I love you too much and that should've been enough to keep me from even going down that road," he said softly before he opened his eyes and looked into hers. He realized this was the fist time he had told her he loved her since her accident. "I trust i can tell you i love you now," he said offering a weak smile and trying to laugh, but wincing in pain as he did so.

“We have a lot to fix but yeah you can as I feel the same.” The woman said quietly as she felt the wince and move slightly. “You need to take it carefully. You had CPR perform on you.” She revealed softly as she spotted Daglish glance out and see that Gerhard was awake.

"That explains why my chest feels like a shuttlepod landed on it," he said before giving her an upraised eyebrow and slight grin, "I refuse to believe you were that heavy." He smiled as he felt the light slap on his shoulder before he looked over and saw Nurse Daglish approaching.

Lottie almost smile at seeing the smile on the armoury officers face but kept her face neutral as she approached. “You have returned to the land of the awake.” She said. “Whilst I agree he is likely to need the slap let’s not beat him up until he has rested some more.” She requested as she started to look at his stats.

"How long do I need to stay, nurse? We still have to find John," William said before he caught himself. Whoever, or whatever this creature was, "John" was not it's name. "I mean, whatever killed Sam," he said again looking towards Lottie for a response. He was the Chief Armory Officer, and cracked ribs or not, he had to protect his ship, his shipmates. He had already failed them in not listening to Lexi.

"He is already gone." Lexi finally explained. "He disappeared off the ship taking two marines with him or at least we think he did it's all a bit blurry for everyone," Lexi explained as Lottie started to check over his stats.

"You have been out quite a while," Lottie added more to keep him there. "But you also need more rest."

William nodded and sat back onto the biobed. He was concerned that two marines had been taken. He sighed as he closed his eyes. He knew he would have to find out who they were. He couldn't shake the feeling that these were more people he had failed to protect. He could feel Lexi's eyes on him as he opened and looked at her. She buried her head into his shoulder and he pulled her closer. "Yes ma'am," he said looking towards Nurse Daglish with a nod.

“Your glutamate levels in the brain are low and you’re a bit bruised and battered but you will be out in a couple of days.” Lottie explained. “But I will need Ensign O’Connery to leave to allow you to get some rest.” She said looking pained to do it but it would be the only way for him to get any rest.

“Yeah… she is right.” Lexi said just savoring the moment before she awkwardly moved off the bio bed.

William reached out and grasped Lexi's hand, stopping her from leaving right away. As she turned to look back to him, he gently pulled her towards him and willed himself to sit up slightly. As she drew closer, he reached out and pulled her closer, wincing slightly as he did so but determined in his effort. He pressed his lips to hers softly and held her in the kiss for a moment. He then pressed his forehead to hers and with his eyes closed whispered, "I love you, so much Lexi. I just want you to know that you're the reason I came back."

Lottie looked away politely smiling a little at the little moment between them. Lexi just watched him and shook his head at the man moving when she really should not be doing anything after broken rib, the bruising and the whole nearly dying thing. “Better be the reason you never leave again too.” Lexi commented as she stroked his cheek before leaving.

They would talk more in private.