Starting The Treatments

[John Randall 0]

OFFICIAL LOG

LIEUTENANT JOHN RANDALL

USS CHALLENGER

 

(Personal Log Stardate 11604.04)

 

After John came out of the coma, the nurses at the hospital wasted no time in getting his physical therapy started. They began by exercising his arm and leg muscles as he lay in his bed, then having him sit up. After a day or so of treatment, the nurses got him to stand. Another day passed of this treatment, and the next day, Victoria began assisting John on taking steps around his room.

 

The therapy was going well, and Victoria was secretly thrilled at the way her brother was responding to the treatment. After the first trip around the room for herself and John, she left the room, went to the nurses' lounge, and cried tears of joy at the way her brother was bouncing back.

 

On the third day, Victoria suggested that they try walking down the hallway a little distance and back so John could begin working on his endurance. The engineer agreed, and Victoria kept a sharp eye on her brother as they left the room and walked down the hallway. They reached the end of the passage and turned to go back. Victoria said, "How are you doing, Johnny?"

 

Randall replied he was all right and they could continue. Secretly, though, he was beginning to feel some pain in his legs, but he maintained a poker face for his sister. Unbeknownst to him, though, Victoria had noticed her brother's eyes were narrowing more than usual, and she knew he was lying to her. She allowed him to continue his facade, however, and they walked back to his room.

 

Victoria assisted John back into his bed, and asked again how he was. Randall decided, this time, he would be honest with his sister. "My legs are hurting a bit, sis," he admitted, and she smiled. "I kinda thought they were," she answered. "It's all right, though, you were being a tough guy for me, and I appreciate it. But don't do it again," and she shook a finger at him in mock anger.

 

John smiled. "Yes, ma'am," he replied meekly, and Victoria smiled happily, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Johnny, it's so wonderful to see you back on your feet," she said in a low voice, and Randall looked up to see tears running down her face. He was sitting up in the bed, and immediately held out his arms to his sister, who sat on the side of the bed, and hugged him fiercely.

 

"I'm glad you're here, Vicki," he whispered to her, and that statement made her cry harder, sobbing into his shoulder. The door opened, and Dr. Joanna McCoy came into the room; her eyebrows rose as she saw the embrace and heard Victoria's muffled sobs. John made a face at her, and Joanna understood immediately. She stood silently as Victoria cried for a few more moments, then John's sister kissed him on the cheek, and released him.

 

Dr. McCoy cleared her throat, and Victoria instantly stood, drying her eyes. "I'm sorry, Doctor, I didn't hear you come in," she said, and Joanna smiled. 'You were otherwise engaged, Vicki," she said with a smile, and John laughed. "No need to apologize, my dear, the cause looked to be sufficient," the doctor continued, and both John and Victoria smiled.

 

"Vicki, I need to talk to you for a minute," Joanna said, and Victoria nodded. "John, excuse us, please, your sister will be right back," McCoy continued, and Randall nodded. The two women stepped out into the hallway, and Joanna faced Victoria. "Vicki, I wanted to tell you that I believe we are very close to getting some answers about what happened aboard the Challenger," the doctor said. "My father was recently promoted to Admiral, and he's having a meeting as we speak with some of the Starfleet brass.

 

"He's promised to keep me informed, and he's going to ask point-blank about the Challenger," she continued. "If I know my father, we'll have some answers very soon." Victoria nodded. "Thank you for everything you've done, Doctor," she said. "We really appreciate it." Joanna smiled and nodded, then asked her how the therapy was going. Victoria gave her a progress report, and McCoy told her she was satisfied and to stick to the schedule. Victoria nodded, and Joanna left.

 

Victoria went back into the room, and John smiled at her. His sister began checking the computer panel for updates on his vital signs when the door opened again, and in stepped a blonde in a Starfleet uniform. John recognized her instantly, and grinned at her. "Amanda! Come on in!" he exclaimed, and Amanda Richards, security chief of the USS Avenger, smiled and came to his bedside.

 

John turned to Victoria, who was watching the proceedings with a bemused expression on her face. "Vicki, this is Amanda Richards, a good friend of mine," said John. "Amanda, this is my sister Victoria, she's my chief nurse." The two women nodded to each other, then Victoria mumbled she had to go check some figures, and left the room. Amanda smiled at John. "Well, you look far better than the last time I saw you, Lieutenant," she said, and John smiled.

 

"That wouldn't be hard, I dare say," he answered, and Amanda laughed, then quickly grew serious. "I have been so worried about you," she said in a low voice, and John cocked his head at her. "The last time I saw you, I didn't know if you were gonna make it," she continued, and her lower lip was quivering. John smiled at her. "Well, here I am," he said, and she smiled bravely at him, then sat on the side of the bed, and reached to take his hand in both of hers.

 

"Despite my efforts not to do so," she said, not looking at him, "I have grown quite fond of you. I've never met anyone like you, Lieutenant John Randall, and I would really like it if you were to stick around for a while." John reached out his other hand, and tipped her chin up so their eyes could make full contact.

 

"I plan on being around a while, my dear," he said, and Amanda's eyes brightened. "I'll be out of here before you know it," he went on, and Amanda nodded. "See that you are," she said in mock anger, then grinned at him as he chuckled. "I shall redouble my efforts," he said in a solemn Vulcan voice, and Amanda laughed.

 

"Get well soon, Lieutenant," she said huskily, then leaned forward and kissed him soundly on the lips. She then arose from the bed and left the room, not looking back. John stared after her a moment, then leaned back against the bed. A few moments later, Victoria came back into the room, and stood there staring at him.

 

"What's wrong?" John asked, and she shook her head. "So who exactly was that?" she asked a little acidly, and John smiled. "She's a friend of mine, I told you that," he replied, and Victoria shook her head. "She was crying when she left, Johnny," she answered. "That's a little more than a friend in my book." Randall sighed. "Okay, we're really good friends," he said. "I met her aboard the Avenger on one of my covert missions. She's the security chief, and she was assigned to our team. We got to know each other during the mission. That's all there is to it, Vicki."

 

His sister shook her head. "I have a feeling there's more to it than that, but I'll accept that. You probably couldn't tell me any more if you wanted to, you and your dammed Starfleet regulations, but it's all right. You two are obviously friends, and that's good enough for me. Now, it's time for you to rest, brother dear. I'll be back later to check on you."

 

John nodded, and Victoria stepped over to kiss his forehead. "I love you," she said, and John responded in kind. She smiled and left the room, and he lay back, staring at the ceiling for a bit before dropping into sleep.

 

END LOG