(no subject)

[imthepilot]

The medical team moved Bodhi into the room opposite Galen two days later. Still groggy from painkillers, Bodhi sprawls naked across the weirdly wide bed. Officer's quarters. Much bigger beds that the barracks.

Made Bodhi wonder if they were lonelier too.

Strange things like that occur to him at strange times. Probably something to do with the drugs.

At least his back didn't hurt so much any more. And he only needed the oxy if he moved around too much.

But he was here, so near to Galen. And Galen would come see him soon enough. In the mean time, maybe some more sleep was a good idea.

Comments

[galen_erso]

Galen wants to say something clever, but only manages a very happy smile.

[imthepilot]

"Sap." She teases, smacking his shoulder lightly. "But you're helping. A lot. And I'm grateful for that. I wish all the injured had someone looking out for them like that."

[galen_erso]

"There has been far too little affection and far too much bravado lately," Galen nods, summing up the Empire.

[imthepilot]

"No truer word." She nods, pouring him a mug of caf. "I take it this affection has come as a surprise to both of you?"

[galen_erso]

Galen takes the car, grateful.

"Utter thundering smack-over-the-head type of surprise," Galen says.

It changes so much. Everything, really.

[imthepilot]

She cocks her head. "If you don't mind me saying, neither of you strike me as the sorts who are very good at this sort of thing."

[galen_erso]

Galen shakes his head. "No, not really," he says. "But we're sure of it; there is less awkwardness than I would have suspected. I remembered well enough what love feels like."

[imthepilot]

"Confirmed sap." She grins into her drink. "Just keep yourselves on the down-low. I'll do what I can to give you cover."

She shrugs. "I was the same once. And regulations screwed me over. Don't let it happen to you."

[galen_erso]

"We will be very, very careful," Galen says. "This is far too important for short-term risks or fast gratification."

[imthepilot]

She grins. "You keep saying things like that, Chief Erso, and I find myself less and less inclined to shoot you."

Which is a high compliment coming from her.

"Not get out and stop cluttering up my med-bay. I'll have that requisition list to you before I bring Rook up again. Don't expect it to be short."

[galen_erso]

"Bring it on," Galen says "I promise to fill in all the forms promptly and correctly.'

No small feat in the Empire.

[imthepilot]

She laughs and gently nudges him towards the door, making herself give up the company to get on with her rounds. It's clear she's grown rather fond of them.

She follows up with a very long list of equipment, priorities according to urgency.

She also sends a quick message. "Leaving him under a little longer. Come by after dinner. Bring me food and I'll give you longer this time."

[galen_erso]

Galen comes by with a covered tray from the mess hall, having worked his way through the entire list already.

The food is good, but bland and inoffensive, making Galen think of Bodhi's cooking by the very contrast.

[imthepilot]

"And yet again, you give me reasons not to shoot you." She sighs happily, taking the tray and putting aside to keep warm. It's almost a thank you.

"I want to decant him completely, take the mast off and do some tests before we start the next phase of treatment." She nods to the waiting bed. "We'll get him out and onto the bed, let him come to naturally after he's out. Think you can help me with that?"

[galen_erso]

"Of course," Galen says. "Just tell me what to do. I can do heavy lifting, too. I used to be a farmer for a while."

[imthepilot]

She cocks a surprised eyebrow at him at that. She would never have guessed that.

She lines up with the droid at Bodhi's shoulders, getting Galen to lift from behind Bodhi's knees. "The fluid has a numbing agent in it so his burns shouldn't trouble him unless he's out for more than an hour. Just be careful of that one on his hip as we lay him down on his side. On three."

She counts them out, lifting the lean pilot with ease and lowering him onto the bed. The blue fluid stained the sheet but that isn't important. She sits down at the head of the bed, carefully undoing the mask and easing it off Bodhi's face. She runs her tests, quickly and efficiently, checking his throat and lungs. "Looking good. Looking very good. Okay, lets move him into the recovery room, and you can sit with him for a while. There are juice packs he can sip as long as he takes it slow. Any problems, you call. Yes?"

[galen_erso]

"Crystal clear," Galen says, reaching out to touch Bodhi's shoulder, in case he opens his eyes while en route to the other room

[imthepilot]

She nods and parks the bed in a corner, pulled the curtain closed behind her and leaving them be.

It isn't long before Bodhi is blinking awake, startled to wake up in a bed rather than the chamber. "What happened?" His voice is rough with lack of use but not as bad as it was. "Did the treatment fail?"

[galen_erso]

"No, on the contrary," Galen says. "She likes your progress so much, she decided to decant you -- her choice of words, not mine. So we are here, on dry land, as it were."

[imthepilot]

"It's over already?" He asked, groggily. He reaches for Galen, wanting to hold his hand.

[galen_erso]

As they are safe and alone, Galen reaches out to take Bodhi's hand. "I don't think it's completely over," he says, "but you're a lot better, it seems. She's still grounding you for a month."

[imthepilot]

Bodhi's hand closes around Galen's. Nothing matters more than this. Just holding his hand. "So I'm still... damaged?" It's taking him a little longer to get his wits back this time.

[galen_erso]

"You're not damaged," Galen says. "You're injured. You're a person, not a droid."

He squeezes Bodhi's hand an smiles at him. "But you get to sip on juice packs if you want to, to wet your throat."

[imthepilot]

"Or a ship. Ships get damaged, why not their pilots?" He jokes, or tries to.

"Juice. Juice would be good. Stars, I don't remember when I last ate real food. When I'm allowed out, I'm raiding the base kitchens."

[galen_erso]

"And I am going to help you," Galen says, handing him a juice pack, open and ready to drink. "Set me chopping; I can do that."