While Terra was gone, Garth unzipped the case and showed Strife his 'personal stash' of musical CDs inside. Impressed, the young soldier looked over the unusual number of discs. "Wow! How long have you been getting these?"
Garth shrugged. "A long time now. I pick one up whenever I find it. These things are priceless." As Cloud agreed with a grin, Garth waved a finger at him. "Don't you get ideas either. If one of these comes up missing, I'll take it out on you, no matter who did it. Understand?"
Cloud answered with a crisp, "Yes sir." Garth chuckled and flipped through the holders pages. He pointed at one disc labeled 'Greatest Hits of Rock and Roll.' "That's my personal favorite."
Cloud smiled politely and yawned. "Sir, do you mind if I take a little nap, I haven't had any sleep for a long time."
"Not in here ... I've heard you snore, son." The commander looked at him and smiled. Strife took that as a gentle dismissal and walked out of the room. He posted himself against the wall in the corridor just outside. Gradually he leaned back and fell asleep. A short time later he began to snore.
Garth continued to flip through the holder. He chuckled at himself as he realized he was not unlike a kid with his toys. He looked at one of the CDs labeled Mr. Rogerr's ABCs, and made a face. Finally, he found the one he wanted. He pulled out a disk containing some instrumental music labeled, Love Songs. "Yeah ... that's the one ..."
==
Mera offered a nod to Sienna as she passed him in the corridor near the waiting room. "Good Evening."
Sienna gave a slight nod of his hood as he slowly entered the waiting room.
Mera paused. "Is there something I can help you with? Are you ill?"
The Syrynykk slipped the hood back off his head. "Ummm ... I ... have a slight gun shot wound miss. It's nothing too bad."
Mera nodded. "All right. Where are you wounded?" Her feet drifted toward the Syrynykk; the errand for Gray's tea would have to wait.
Sienna swung his long tail around and grabbed it in his hand. "At mid section miss."
Terra walked through the waiting room and glanced at Sienna with a smile. The young woman moved across the room and found what she was looking for. She set aside her things and then wandered over to Mera. "Need any help?" Mera nodded to Terra and explained, "Says he has a bullet wound in the tail."
Terra nodded. "Have seen a lot of bullet wounds last few days." She smiled. "Well, shall we?" Terra motioned to him and gestured toward the ER and a treating cubicle.
"Umm... " The Syrynykk nodded. "All right miss."
Mera smiled as she watched them, then she finally made her way to the cafeteria to get that tea.
As the Syrynykk moved to the cubicle, Terra smiled. "I will make it painless." She tried to ease any anxiety. My name's Terra ... And you are?"
"Sienna, miss." The Syrynykk gave a slight nod. As he removed his large cloak and set it down, droplets of blood fell from his tail. Terra moved to him quickly. "How long ago did this happen?"
"About twenty minutes ago miss."
"Okay." She offered another smile. "Now. This shall not take long. Sit up here and relax ... or, try ..." She smiled. Sienna gave a small reptilian smirk and sat as best as he could. The roughly seven foot long tail twitched slightly as he glanced about the strange surroundings and idly scratched his face with a nail.
Terra collected the medical supplies she needed from a cabinet and input some data to Elliot. After verifying the dosage required for the Syrynykk, she administered what he felt as a cold spray followed by a numbing effect. When Sienna remarked that it 'felt funny,' Terra explained that it would keep him from feeling any discomfort. She located the bullet on a portable X-ray and showed it to the Syrynykk. "See, there is the bullet. I am going to remove it."
Sienna nodded. "Okay, miss."
==
A short time later, Mera stole her way back into Shad's room with the steaming cup of tea. She apologized for the delay, though Shad seemed more concerned with a vision he'd seen while she was gone. She set the teacup down on the table near the bed and inquired about what he had seen as she settled into the chair once more.
"Vision ... Best way to describe it ... more like images." He amended. "Saw ... Reptile ... wounded tail. Make sense? Gun wound ... that's it..."
Mera's eyes widened at his words. "How did you know that?" She spoke softly, clearly astonished.
"My mother had a bit of the sight, but never was strong." Shad shrugged. "Or gift ... Curse? It's getting stronger."
"I'll say ..." Mera affirmed. "A Syrynykk just came into the hospital a moment ago ... With a bullet wound to the tail."
Shad raised an eyebrow in shock. "Wow ... Syrynykk..." He nodded thoughtfully.
"Does that happen often?" Mera hoped that the Church did not find this man. She knew they would exploit him to the fullest.
He glanced at Mera. "Better make sure the Church doesn't use me."
She shook her head. "There you go again. Now you are reading my mind."
Shad shrugged. "As the pain increases so does this."
Mera glanced toward him sympathetically. "I wish there was something I could do to help."
"It's all right." He nodded and smiled slightly. "It's the little things that count."
Mera smiled in return. "So ... You from around the city?"
Shad nodded. "Aye ... My mom was a medic here once ... an empath ... she couldn't read minds mostly."
Mera lifted a chestnut brow, "What was her name?"
With a shrug, Shad continued, "Not sure ... My dad ... he just appeared from the frontier one day. I've lived about the city and frontier for a while ... since my parents died..."
Mera nodded, finding it sad that so many lost their families, yet finding strength in the fact she was not the only one.
He glanced at her cautiously, "And ... you?"
"My father was a doctor here. Dr. Alan Harperr."
"Oh ... Was." He glanced about, feeling slightly awkward, but masked it fairly well.
Mera smiled and broke the awkward silence. "Well, I should probably be getting back to the desk." Shad nodded and smiled slightly in return as he thanked her and they exchanged good nights. Mera slipped out into the hall and made her way back toward the receptionist's desk.
Terra gave Sienna an injection of an antibiotic while he watched quietly. She made a small incision with a scalpel and then quickly removed the bullet. She dropped it into the bowl with a clang and cleansed the wound carefully before stitching it up. As she finished dressing the wound, she looked at the Syrynykk. "Now. I would like to see you in a couple of days to check the progress, okay?"
Sienna nodded as he looked back at her. "Yes, miss."
Terra gave him a pass to the cafeteria and a vial of meds. "This will help any discomfort you may feel. Take one, four times a day if you need to. Okay?"
"Thank you miss. I will. Four times a day. Got it."
"My pleasure." Terra smiled and winked. "And watch out for those bullets." She decided to assist the Syrynykk in finding the cafeteria, still chatting with him companionably as they walked. "It's been hard out there as of late, hasn't it?"
Sienna nodded. "Yes, miss. More so if you have few friends." His tail swished the floor gently.
"I can imagine." Terra nodded with a soft sigh. "I just don't understand why we can't have some peace. Maybe my father was right. Perhaps the ground is cursed to be war torn." A smile curved her lips as her pessimistic words veered onto a more hopeful path. "But I like to think that is an old fable, nothing more."
Sienna shook his head. "It exists miss. Here and there ... In some places."
Terra nodded as they approached the door. "Well, here you go. I should be down shortly. Please feel free to eat whatever you wish, as much as you wish.
Sienna walked slowly to the door and nodded again. "Thank you miss."
"Anytime." Terra smiled. "A pleasure to meet you Sienna. Be safe."
The Syrynykk bowed slightly. "I shall try to miss."
==
Cloud woke and yawned sleepily. He wandered back into Lowinn's room and sat in a chair next to him.
Garth looked up at the young soldier. "Yeah, son?"
"Nothing." Cloud mused, "I was just thinking about Terra."
The Commander grinned. "You were, eh?" He took the tray and set it off to the side, having finished eating.
"Yes." Cloud admitted openly. "Very, very cute."
"You think so?" Lowinn chuckled. He drank the water, his mouth feeling abnormally dry.
"Yeah ... You're lucky. You get to see her every day."
Garth raised a brow. "Why is that?"
"Because you're sick, that's why."
"Yeah..." Garth snorted and added under his breath, "Kinda makes me wish I wouldn't get better..."
"Please don't say that."
Garth looked up. "I spoke aloud ... Oops. Just ignore me, Strife..."
Terra slipped up the stairs to the second floor to check on the patient. She walked back in carrying the CD player Garth had requested. "Hello all."
Garth closed the case quickly, so she couldn't see inside and smiled up at her. "Hey..."
"Well, I brought you this." She smiled to Garth and held out the CD player. This is what you wanted ... right?" She looked at him curiously.
Garth nodded. "Yeah, I think that'll work, darlin'."
Terra tried not to notice Cloud's obvious attention as he looked her up and down. She kept her smile on Garth. "The ER is getting a little busy. How are you feeling?"
"Feeling better. Guess you need to work, huh?"
I was thinking, perhaps you might want to go to the cafeteria. To get out of this room for a bit."
Garth raised a brow. "I could do that."
"Well, I can arrange it ... yes." Terra moved to the door and brought in a wheel chair. "The newest means of travel." She teased.
"This is what I've come to?" Garth lamented. "Sabatt help me, I can't even get around on my own anymore." He shook his head.
"Garth ... no. It's not that at all but, it is easier and ... I am not removing the IV's yet."
Cloud looked at Lowinn and interjected. "Mind if go too?"
Lowinn looked at Strife, "No need to ask, son." Then back to Terra. "I know. It's just a little ... well ... I ..." He shook his head again.
"I know it's hard." Terra soothed. "But, it wont be like this forever."
"Damn right it's hard." Garth zipped up the case, and finished off the water, suddenly taken with a 'need' to 'do' something.
Terra smiled as she looked at Garth. "Care for a stroll Commander?"
"That would be great. I want that player, Strife. Will you carry it for me?"
"Yes, sir." Cloud grabbed the player helpfully.
Terra wheeled in the chair and hung his various IV bags properly. "I promise I won't speed." She grinned at Garth.
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