Aftermath

[Cmdr Ayers 0]

The elation that Nick had felt at the arrival of the Klingons had lasted all of five seconds. Then the realization hit home...they had survived....and were going to have to clean and repair nearly the entire Station. Hot on the heels of that was the memory of how many people had died during the fight. Privately Nick wondered if Starfleet would be willing to bend the rules and award a medal to Gabrel posthumously. The Cardassian had certainly earned the honor even if Nick didn't exactly agree with the methods the Cardassian had chosen to use. He would inquire with the Captain about the idea once Nick had finished the various paperwork that would need to be filed, as well as the numerous commendation recommendations he intended to make for the actions of the rest of the crew.

 

Lost in his thoughts, it takes Nick a few seconds to notice the Doctor kneeling before him. The Doctor starts tending to the cut above Nick's left ear. "Doctor, I'm fine. There are people more injured then I am. Tend to them." The Doctor frowns "Commander, be quiet and be still. You could have a concussion as well as that cut." Nick frowns "A console blew up just after I jumped back from it. I didn't hit my head against it. It probably would have took off my head if I hadn't felt the electrical surge, however. As I said..there are people who have worse injuries then I do." The look the Doctor gives Nick in reply is enough to shut Nick up. Fiona used to give him that same look when she thought he was too concerned about everyone else and not concerned enough about himself. Nick had persisted despite that look once and had brought upon himself a guilt trip that outstripped any his mother had cause to use.

 

Nick sighs and closes his eyes, letting the Doctor tend to him without a further word. He stifles a yawn causing the Doctor to say "You really should get some sleep, Commander." Nick blinks his eyes open and says "No...I'll sleep later. There's too much I have to do." The Doctor replies, "When was the last time you slept?" Nick frowns "Before this mess started. And no..no sedative. I will sleep later but not right now." The last thing he wants to deal with right now was the nightmares that his mind would conjure as a result of the carnage around him.