Joint Log | RAdm. Kassi & Col. Patrick Harper | "Reunion"

Posted on 241509.23 @ 9:04am by Rear Admiral Kassandra Harper & Colonel Patrick Harper

Mission: The Krigoran War [GQ]

"Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it." — Benjamin Franklin

His world was dark, but for odd flashes of reality as he drifted in and out of conciousness. He felt numb, he felt... nothing... nothing except the loneliness of knowing he was dying. He was dying and he was afraid. Not of death itself, but of dying and leaving his beloved alone in this universe of hate and destruction. He would die now, never having felt her warm embrace again, never seeing their unborn child, never having held the glorious creation that love had made.

In his throws he cursed Richard, the Marine Corps, Starfleet, the Federation, everyone he could think of, for forcing a separation between him and his Kassi. He had fought through purgatory itself to be with her, and had gone through total ruin to be with her. It was a cruel twist of fate that at his happiest, he would have it all wrenched from his grasp. These were the selfish thoughts that raced through his mind, as they had raced through so many countless minds before him throughout history as young men died for another man's war.

A bright light appeared in his vision, and he pleaded with the heavens not to take him yet. He promised the light that he would change, that he would devote his life to his wife and his family, and would forsake his foolish ways. The light faded and he was in darkness....

The trip had been uneventful... well, except the back and forth bickering between her and her doctor. And the turmoil of her emotions that was causing a few physical issues that wasn't setting well with the pregnancy. Kassi was dead set to see Patrick though and nothing would stop that.

Somewhat surprised that she was guided to Harpers room without having to go though all the red tape that one might normally have to. Kassi couldn't help the catch in her throat as she saw the man she loved laying there. Only the sounds of the machines told her that he was still alive. Her steps near silent as she moved over to his side to stand.

She'd been warned that the outcome looked grim, though she chose not to believe it. He couldn't leave her... not now. Remembering the times he's been there for her when she thought it was all over. Kassi swallowed hard and tried to muster up the most commanding voice she could. "Colonel, wake up... that's an order, your team needs you." Team, yes.. they were a team and she gripped her cane tighter in hopes he'd understand that... That they needed each other.

A doctor entered the room, and looked gravely at the blonde woman standing near the bed. "Are you family of the patient?" The doctor asked.

Her face was pale still, bags under her eyes showed stress, worry and lack of sleep. The rounded belly spoke clearly that she was pregnant. "I'm his wife, and your going to tell me he will be fine." Her gaze locking hard upon the doctor. "Because I'm tired of hearing that he might not be. I was fixed... I should have been dead and I'm not. You can fix him." Letting her cane rest upon the side of the bed, she took Patricks hand in her's and gripped it tightly.

The doctor gave a weak smile. "I won't lie to you, Mrs Harper. He's in a very bad way. However, it seems that Colonel Harper here has some friends in high places. Admiral Stevens has arrived from Earth via a Vesta class. He's prepping for surgery now."

The name clicked in her head and she looked from the doctor a moment back to Patrick. Her thumb making little circles on his hand... soothing herself likely more than anything. "He and I both have some good friends." Kassi said after a few minutes. "How long before he's taken into surgery?" If Stevens was prepping she knew she didn't have much time... but yet... she needed a moment with Patrick.

"I came in to prep Colonel Harper for his procedure, but I can wait a few minutes if you need some time. However, the damage to his internal organs was extensive, and his heart has been badly damaged. He's in a medically induced coma at the moment, to preserve higher brain functions." The young doctor said, waiting for Kassi to make the decision.

As much as she wanted time, hearing the doctor she knew he Patrick couldn't afford it right now. Leaning down she whispered softly her love for him, and that she and their children would see him later. Chewing on her lower lip as she let his hand go and reached for her cane before speaking softly to the doctor. "Go ahead, I'll go wait."

The doctor nodded and began prepping Patrick for his life-saving surgery.

Sometimes it's nice having a private waiting room. One didn't have to worry about who was around to see tears fall or anger flare. One could have the chance to be alone in their thoughts and feelings. Although... she wasn't totally alone all the time...

Her doctor kept popping in to check on her. Not overly pleased with the way she was looking, yet he understood that the situation was not one she had any control over. Bringing her a mug of tea, he spoke. "You need to relax, you won't be any good to him if you don't calm down." The doctor said as he placed the mug on the table near her before making his way out of the room to let her be for now.

She'd heard him, yet hadn't bothered to move or even look at him. Her focus was upon some distant... something only she could see. The life.

Tears fell as she thought about the time she'd lost with him when they had been apart because of her stupid mistake. Because she'd been so caught up feeling sorry for herself that she hadn't thought of him and his feelings. And though she still couldn't always understand what he saw in and how he could want her after everything she'd been though, she had come to accept his love for her, to relish and cling to the fact that he loved her for her. Just as she loved him for who he was.

Exaustion and her emotions seemed to have gotten ahold of her, that or the doctor had slipped something in her tea. But She jerked awake a few hours later with a startled look around. Rising from the chair she'd been curled up in, she made her way over to the nurses Station.

A middle-aged Vulcan looked up from her workstation as the blonde woman approached. "Yes Admiral? How can I be of service?"

"I was just wondering if there was any news yet." Kassi replied, her tone softer than usual. She knew well enough the answer was likely to be no, but at least asking had gotten her up to walk around a little.

"Colonel Harper has just come out of surgery, Admiral, and is being taken to recovery." The nurse said, checking her monitor. "I believe that Admiral Stevens will be out to speak to you shortly."

There was a fleeting hint of a smile hearing that. At least she knew than that he'd made it though the surgery. "Thanks, I'll go wait for him then." Turning, she headed back into the waiting room, stopping by the replicator for a drink with a soft sigh. Her thoughts drifting once more to her time with Patrick as a hand rested upon her belly to rub the bulge a bit.

A short time later, a familiar face appeared in the waiting room, wearing surgical scrubs. He didn't have on the headcover, but the rest was the deep red surgical garb. His wisened and elderly face carried a caring and approachable expression as he entered the room. "Kassi." He beamed at the blonde woman, who had once been his CO for a brief time during his sabbatical away from Starfleet Medical. Now reinstated to his full rank of Vice-Admiral, he was her superior in rank alone, but did not consider himself to be so. He most certainly did not expect difference from Kassi, especially when he wasn't in uniform. "I see you managed to get some rest. Doctor Ashari wasn't sure if drugging you was ethical, but I assured her that it most certainly was in this instance."

If it had been another time or different situation, Kassi might have very likely told the doctor off for drugging her. As it was a flicker of anger touched the depths of her eyes as her gaze held the man. She knew him well enough though. Remembered him from his time on Zetari when he'd stayed to help out there for a while. He was a good doctor and one she trusted, a slight nod of her head given as she rubbed her belly some again.

"How is he? When can I see him?" She wanted to ask when she could take him home... but knew well enough that might be rushing things.

"Colonel Harper suffered extensive damage from a long range plasma blast to the chest. Fortunately for the good Colonel, the range was such that the energy was mostly spent by the time it hit him. Had he been a few yards closer to the shot, and we'd be having a very different conversation." Stevens explained. "As it stands, he did very well in surgery, and we've repaired as much of the damage as we can. He will need another couple more surgeries, I'm afraid, as he'll need artificial lungs and a replacement heart. However, for the time being, he's being kept alive by a very good holographic organ series developed by the EMH from Voyager. He's resting now, but should be fine to receive visitors in about eight hours. Plenty of time for an expectant mother to go lie on a bed and rest." He said, his voice heavy with the unspoken order.

He was going to live.. he was going to live... That seemed to be stuck in her mind well and she seemed to visably relax before the doctor as she listened. As always she knew things could still go wrong, but she couldn't let herself think about that. For now, she had to stay positive. A little twitch of her jaw as she eyed Stevens before nodding. "Fine, I'll go try and rest. No drugging me again though please."

"I have no reason to drug you as long as you actually go to bed and rest. If I find you here or stressing in other places, I will have you sedated. Do we have an understanding?" George said, sternly.

Well she quickly decided that she'd have to simply do her stressing in bed then. Of course she could also send word to Malone, and perhaps try and figure out how to send word to Richard as she was sure he might be wondering about his friend. And maybe she could.... Ohh, he was waiting on an answer. "Yes.. yes... no hanging out here. Go find myself a bed. I got it...."

"Nurse Miku will show you to a room." The elder Admiral said, gesturing to the green haired Asian woman standing in the doorway with a smile.

"Alright" Kassi said after peeking over to the woman a moment before looking back to Stevens. "We should catch up sometime." She said before getting ready to start over to the Nurse. "Ohh... And I'll be back in exactly 8 hours Doctor." She added with a hint of a smile.

"I'm sure you will." Stevens smiled back.

Turning, she headed off with the nurse to the room she was to use. Her mind already going a mile a minute with her thoughts and concerns. Enough, she wasn't sure what she would be able to focus on for the next eight hours.