driftfleet | (no subject)

[Beverly tries to smile but it turns into more of a grimace. Ow. Smiling hurts. As does wincing. As does well... Most things involving her face right now.]

I'm all right. Hazards of the profession.

[Not answering the question there dear.]

Beverly, who has done this to you?

[Should he be worried, he means. Should he be concerned, should he start a twenty-four-hour watch on her to protect her in the future.]

How serious is this?

[Probably should not go for that 24-hour watch thing, unless he is wanting to cause a strain on their relationship. She shakes her head.

Max. He had a tooth that needed pulling and I offered to help. Unfortunately, once we got started, the whole procedure triggered something in him, reminded him of past traumas and he lashed out at me. So...it's serious in the sense that it is clear he has some severe PTSD he is dealing with, but he isn't targeting me.

[... Okay. That's... reassuring, only not. But it's better than his initial fear.]

Come, sit down. Has it been tended to?

[She does as she's told: the problem isn't getting her to the bed, it'll be getting her out of it.]

Don't worry, I had Allen take a look at it. He's good with these sorts of injuries.

Good.

[Still, he's not reassured, and Daneel sort of hovers around her rather than sit down as well.]

Is Max well?

Daneel.

[She reaches out to take his hands, tugging gently to get him to come down to her level. His reaction doesn't surprise her in the least and honestly, she'd be the same way if their situations were reversed. Probably worse, in some ways.]

Max is fine. He was in a lot of pain and was scared but now he'll be okay. And so will I. He's got Furiosa looking out for him, and I've got you and my crew.

[He lets himself be pulled down, and he gives a sigh -- honest, remarkably human, definitely troubled.]

I realise that you do good work, but I don't like to think of you being harmed in the course of performing your duty.

[Oh, that sigh tears at her, unused as she is to such expressions from him. She brings his hands to her lips and gently kisses his knuckles.]

I know. It's frightening, seeing someone you care about get hurt. But I didn't sign up for Starfleet so I could be safe.

I understand. You have given up your own safety to help others. I don't deny that this is admirable.

[He smooths his fingers over her hands, watching her.]

That knowledge does not make this easier.

What can I do to make it easier then?

[He's thoughtful, quiet for a moment.]

You are here, and you are well, and that is reassuring. Do you need anything?

Just you.

[Maybe it's cheesy, but it's true.]

Then you have me at your disposal.

[He settles beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.]

[She draws her knees up to her chest and nestles into his side.]

I'm sorry. I don't want to always be worrying you so much.

You don't need to apologise.

[He kisses her hair.]

You are important to me, so of course your well-being is also important to me.

[The kiss sends a nice warm tingle through her, counteracting the pain from the bruising. She takes his other hand and lays it in hers while gently tracing the lines on his palm with her forefinger.]

As you are to me. Despite getting punched in the face today, I feel very lucky.

[He watches her silently for a moment.]

And this will heal.

[He says it half to reassure himself. It's a very minor wound, in the grand scheme of things. He knows that.]

Yes. [She looks up at him.] It will, in time.

[In the meantime, time for more kisses and cuddles, yes? She kisses his lower jaw then twists back around to curl up on the bed, using his lap as a pillow.]

[He hesitates a moment, then runs his fingers over her hair, gently.]

What do you think of the medical supplies available to you?

[Someone playing with her hair: now that's something she definitely hasn't experienced in a while. It's soothing, especially right now.]

They're... a bit outdated, but sufficient.

I'm glad it's sufficient. Even outdated is preferable to nothing.

[He keeps stroking her hair, since that seems to be appreciated.]

I admit I have some concerns about what would happen if we had a serious injury.

Sometimes I worry too. There are many things I can't do here that I could do at home, simply because I don't have the equipment. But... we have several highly trained doctors and skilled healers in the fleet, and both Allen and I have been adding to our equipment as we go along so... I do think we stand a good chance against whatever comes our way.

[At heart, always the optimist.]

Is there anything I should be looking out for?

[He won't fool himself into thinking he should volunteer to help. There are some things robots will never be good at, and surgery is one of them.]

Supplies, you mean? Mostly I've been focusing on surgical tools, since that's what they have the least of here, and I want to help Wrath with her back.

[She looks down at her hands. There's a flicker of doubt there. She hasn't told Daneel about Wrath. It's not that she's hiding her from him, it just hadn't occurred to her. She cares about Wrath, but not like she does him.]

And maybe do something about the augments. But Wrath comes first.