Waking Up

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log, Stardate 11207.29)

 

 

John continued to lay unconscious on the biobed in sickbay. Dr. Hanson

continued tractioning his fractured skull back into place, and the nurse finished

her test on the bottom of his foot. His toes curled during the test, and the nurse

and doctor smiled at each other, Gretchen having noticed the movement. "That's

a good sign," said the doctor. "Sometimes I like the old fashioned tests the best."

 

She finished her work on John's skull, and said to the nurse, "That's as far

as I want to go right now. The neurological indicators are good, and I don't want to

press my luck. We can get down to fine tinkering when he's regained some strength."

The nurse nodded, and said," Yes, Doctor. Shall I move him to the recovery room?"

Gretchen was about to answer when, suddenly, there came a low, soft moan from

John. The nurse and the doctor looked at each other, startled, then Gretchen moved

quickly to Randall's bedside and took his hand, squeezing it. "Lieutenant, can you

hear me?" she asked.

 

The nurse's eyes widened slightly as John actually turned his head a fraction,

uttering another soft moan. Gretchen looked at the nurse. "I'm gonna take that as a

yes," she said. She leaned closer to Randall. "Don't try to talk yet," she whispered.

"Give my hand a squeeze back if you understand me." To her secret delight, John's

eyes fluttered briefly, he moaned again, and squeezed her hand very slightly. The

doctor smiled slightly, and squeezed his hand again. "That's fabulous, John," she

said. "You're on the Challenger. I'm Dr. Hanson. You're home now." John actually

managed to turn his head more, moaned, and whispered faintly, "Chal-Challenger?"

 

"Yes, John, the Challenger," replied the doctor. "Although this doctor/patient

thing isn't going to work if you don't do what I say. Now, no more talking. We'll have

plenty of time for that later." Randall moaned softly, and nodded once, but winced as

he did. Gretchen saw it immediately, and said, "Nurse, a hypo with 25ccs of dolamine."

She leaned over John again, and said, "We're giving you something for the pain, and

moving you to the honeymoon suite. I want you to take a nap for a while and I'll check in

on you a bit later." John squeezed her hand slightly again, and then relapsed into

unconsciousness.

 

Gretchen told the nurse, "Notify me the second he wakes up again." The nurse

nodded, and administered the hypo to John's neck. He was then moved to the recovery

room by the orderlies. Gretchen moved over to the wall intercom, and thumbed the toggle.

"Sickbay to Captain Ja'lale." The captain's voice came back to her. "Go ahead, Doctor."

"Captain, I have great news about Lieutenant Randall. His wounds are stablized for the time

being, and his neurological functions seem to be intact. He regained consciousness briefly

and responded to his surroundings. I've given him a sedative and pain relief, and we'll keep

our fingers crossed." "Well done, Doctor," replied the captain. "I'm glad to hear that. Keep me

appraised of his condition, please." "With pleasure, sir," Gretchen said. "Sickbay out."

 

A little while later, in the recovery room, John's eyes began to flutter, and he moaned

softly. The nurse heard the maon, checked on him briefly, then went to the wall intercom.

"Doctor, the patient is beginning to awaken," she said. Gretchen, who had been resting for

a short time, jumped out of her chair, left her office, and hurried to the recovery room. John's

eyes came fully open, looked at the sickbay ceiling, and had no idea where he was. The

doctor approached his biobed, pulled aside the stasis curtain, and saw the look of confusion

on her patient's face. She took his hand in hers as she leaned over him slightly. "John, it's

all right," she soothed. "Do you remember where you are?"

 

When Randall heard her voice, he knew then where he was. His eyes refocused, and

became clearer. He turned his head slightly, saw Gretchen's face, and relaxed a bit, knowing

and remembering who she was. He smiled slightly. "Dr. Hanson," he whispered. "Am-Am I

on Challenger?" The doctor smiled back at him. "Yes, you still are," she said. "How's your

pain level?" "My head hurts, and my leg hurts," replied Randall. "Is the Klingon still around?"

A look of consternation came over the doctor's face, and she quickly turned to the nurse.

"Get his pain meds ready," she breathed. The nurse nodded, and began filling a hypo. Hanson

turned back to Randall. "I'm going to give you something for the pain again," she told him, "but

this time it won't make you sleep. As for a Klingon, no one fitting that description has come

through this sickbay."

 

"Tell-Tell the captain to be on the lookout for a cloaked Klingon ship," said John wearily.

"I had a fight with one, that's how I ended up like this." He then winced, and the nurse immediately

administered the hypo. "Just relax and let the medication do its work," said Gretchen. "I'll inform

the captain about this Klingon." John gave a slight nod, and his head fell to the side as he closed

his eyes. Gretchen looked down at him with great concern. There were no reports of any Klingons,

she thought. John, maybe you're not doing as well as I thought.

 

 

 

 

END LOG