ace Ace yawned and stretched. The crew were beginning to stir which meant he could slip off and get some shut eye without worrying that the ship might suffer a catastrophy while no one was watching. Lazily he scratched his head and peeled his long form out of his Pilot's chair. He double checked the hallway to make sure it was Monica free as to avoid any awkward unpleasantries that would delay his sleep and moved to his bunk when he was sure the coast was clear.
Quickly he pushed open the door to his bunk and went to step inside using the ladder, but misstepped and tumbled down the shaft instead. His chin was the first to make contact with the bars of the ladder, followed by his knee, and finally he landed in a heap at the bottom, coming down hard on his side, feeling the wind knock out of him and banging his head into the floor. He moaned once the shock of the fall was over and put a hand to his aching head. "Gorram, Da-shiang bao-tza shr duh lah doo-tze!" He swore, pushing himself up and putting a hand to his tender side. His face felt like it had been hit with a sack of bricks, and grudgingly he began to make his way back up the cursed ladder and hobbled angrily to Dori, clutching what he was pretty sure might be a broken rib.
He found her in her infirmary, straightening as usual, and he pouted. "Dori...I fell down." He said somewhat pathetically, in no mood to act tough and manly around the doc.
dori Dori turned away from her things, startled by Ace sounding.. well pathetic. Though getting a good look at him, pathetic didn't quite seem strong enough. "Jao Gao," she muttered quietly and ushered him to take a seat.
"Must be somethin' goin' round today, you're my second patient. Though you sure look like tian shia fell on you." Walking back to her things she grabbed a few of the same pain killers Monica had taken, and passed them over to him. "These are just so it don't hurt so bad, once everythin's all check out, I'll likely be givin' ya somethin' stronger." She didn't want him so numbed they missed an injury. Handing him some water, she asked "I'm gonna need you ta loose your shirt, since you're cluctchin your side an' all."
ace Ace took the offered pills and water and swallowed them down, wincing slightly at the pain in his jaw, chest, hell whole gorram body. "I was trying to go to bed and missed the first step to my bunk." He admitted, easing himself down onto her examination table and beginning to pull off his shirt. "And I take it that Monica was here. You're lucky I'm persuasive doc, she weren't gonna come last I spoke to her." He hissed quietly as he finished pulling off the garment, using muscles that weren't too keen on bein' used, and then tossed the garment onto the floor. After a moment he glanced down at it and a look of guilt crossed his face. "I'll pick that up." He added quickly. "Just... after we're done." He sat there slightly hunched, waiting for her to do whatever poking and prodding she needed to.
dori "Well that's no good. Capin' really needs to get you a co-pilot soon, 'for you get you're self killed." Dori grinned just a little, "matter of fact, she was here 'for me. Slept in here, I s'pose.. and sheh sheh for gettin' her here then, can't 'magine it were easy." Dori glanced at the shirt, then gave him a funny look when he said he'd get it. "I ain't quite that picky Ace, 'sides I can get it when we're done. I'm havin' a strong feelin' you won't be lookin' ta bend much."
Switched to full on Doc mode, she went about her poking and prodding. Occasionally asking if something hurt. Finished with that she stood back. "Well I'll tell ya something you likely already know. You got a real pretty broken rib, which is bruisin' nice already. Banged up your knee real well too, but luckily it ain't broken. As for your pretty face, well we can fix up that scrape there so it don't scar. Oh, and you got a bit of a bump on your head, too, but that you won't even notice none." She nodded, "you wantin' somethin' stronger now, or for me ta just finish?"
ace The pain had come and was slowly being replaced by a nice buzzy tingly feeling from the medication. He wasn't sure how long the exam had gone but he was wondering if maybe he should have eaten some breakfast before he had taken it but it was too late now. "Finish me off." He said, his speech a little slurrier than he'd intended. He put his hand to his mouth looking guilty a moment then laughed.
He sighed and then winced with the pain from the inhale. "Did she tell ya, I kissed her?" He asked looking up suddenly. " I shouldn'ta... I'd take it back if'n I could." He admitted.
dori She chuckled at him, then went back to her doctoring. Mending up his rib, and fixin' up his chin. She was more then capable of doing that, and chatting a bit though.
She couldn't help being a little shocked by the news of a kiss. Just a little though. "She may have mentioned something involving you," was all Dori was willing to divulge. Mostly for fear of Monica gettin' even. Though it sure made her sad watchin' the two of them. Monica was interested, she had no doubt about that. And finding out Ace had been the initiator, well that was proof he was interested too, wasn't it?
But Monica had to be gorram stubborn about everything, didn't she, Dori thought with a shake of her head. "You taking it back 'cause you didn't mean it, or 'cause it'd make things 'round here easier?" Might as well be sure.
ace Ace sighed. "A little a both." He said. "I just... I like Walker. She and I got common things... stuff.. in commonly things." He said, trying to work through his logic while she finished up with him. "But then...." And he looked at her seriously then. "And I ain't gonna ever admit I told you this if ya tell, or I'll blame it on the drugs, which I right think it might be, but... well... I guess sometimes... I'm just tired a bein' a lone. Ain't just the sexin' stuff, which don't get me wrong is nice, but... it 's the breathin next 'ta and the tastin' and the touchin and being next'ta woman I miss. You folk are always soft and warm. Make a rough neck feel... just better. Y'know?" He asked her then shook his head. "Well... maybe not you know, you seem like you shot straight at the hip... unless you don't and then.. well... don't bother with Walker she shoots straight out her pi gu."
dori Dori gave him another funny look and nodded at him. Much like a mother with a child who's babbling to the point that none of it makes sense. "Alright," she said, making her way through all the jabber. "Common stuff, always a good thing." She looked back, just as seriously. "Doctor confidentiality'll keep my mouth right shut," she promised with a grin. Which quickly faded. And it was a damn shame she didn't have those sparks for Ace, 'cause he sure was talkin' in ways to make a girl fall right now. Even if he was drugged. "Sure, can't think of anyone who'd blame you for that. Hell, can't think of anyone who wishes they weren't lonely." What, Dori talking from personal experience? No, and she still wasn't dwelling on it. She wanted to comment on his last sentence, but then she wasn't really sure what to say. Unless she'd misunderstood him, he'd just told her not to bother with Monica if she swung that way, not that he thought she did.. and well, what do you say to that even.
ace Ace made a face then and smirked. "But ya think my face is pretty, so I guess that'll have to do this young man for now." He laughed. "That'n the fact that Walker broke her hand over me." He ducked his head and whispered then. "Don't tell her I figured it out. She might shoot me, 'n' I think I'm hurt enough for one day." He leaned back then, and closed his eyes.
"What about you doc. You fancy anyone on this flying pile of calamity?" He asked, eyes still closed, his head spinning slightly. "Or's that too personal. Cause I won't tell." He said, adding, "Hell, I ain't eaten in about 8 hours and these pills're strong so I probably won't even remember."
dori "Well I ain't the only one who thinks it, but I ain't namin' names." Though Dori hoped it was obvious who else thought it. "Rightly thinks you're a spiffy pilot too," she grinned. He eyes widened a little at his whisper. Thinkin' about it, it made sense sure, but it was still bit surprising. "Think we can all 'gree to that. Don't mind your company down here none, but I sure don't want ta be fixin' you up 'gain anytime soon."
"You done told all sorts a personal stuff, I ain't above sharin' back. Don't rightly think you'd be believin' me though, it's mo min chi meow." She gave him a sharp look, "you ain't ate in 8 hours? You tryin' to be tian di wu yohn?"
ace He smiled a lopsided grin then, "Naa. I just nap a little throughout the night an drink coffee. Food makes ya sleepy if'n' you're already tired too." He said, somewhat bashful at the scolding. "But I am good at what I do, empty tank or not." He pat his stomach then and groaned. "Oww..." He said, now milking the injuries.
dori Dori sighed a little, "ain't sayin' you're not. Rightly think you happen to be a mighty fine flyer. But that ain't healthy, ain't healthy at all." She smiled a little at him then, shaking her headn. "You're bu kuh nuhn," she told him fondly. "Now, you plannin' to nap in here on this table, or you want some help gettin' to your bunk? Don't matter none either way, but you need you some sleep."
ace "Bunk." He said with a nod. "Carry me?" He said pouting, holding his arms up to be picked up. He laughed then. "I'm kidding... but not.. I need help." He said, dropping one arm and leaving the other up so that she could help him hobble back to his room. "And I promise to be a good boy from now on." He said holding his free hand up in the scouts honor.
dori She nodded then gave him her best, are you insane look, then grinned. Her face was very busy for that moment. "O' course, wasn't planin' to make you hobble outta here on your own." She told him, moving around to slide under his arm. "Ah, I'm not much worried. You get to outta hand, and alls I got to do is duck down and drop you." Thoughtfully, "I don't s'ppose I much want to be pickin' you up though."
ace Ace pretended to be offended then. "You saying I'm fat? I'll have you know I am a light and delicate flower!" He said, pretending to be outraged, then laughed.
"But in all seriousness, don't do that. I've fallen enough today. anymore 'n' I might start gettin' a complex." And it really ain't safe to have your pilot convinced gravity has it out for him."
dori "Flower, huh?" Dori asked, with a teasing tone. "Ain't like any flower I've ever seen, that's for sure."
She gave him a smile from under his arm, shaking her head a tiny bit. "It'd be real unprofessional of me to be droppin' ya, Ace." She didn't add out loud that she was sure if she gave him a complex she'd find herself shot, either by Captains orders for breakin' the pilot, or by Monica just for breakin' him.
monica Monica hadn't been able to sleep. She really had tried, and despite the fact she was medicated she couldn't. So instead she got up from her bunk, not even sure what she was going to do. But she figured she'd try to go get breakfast or something. Monica exited her berth, and down the hall her eyes fell on Dori and Ace. She tilted her head to the side, What the gorram.... She sighed with a discussed sort of manner. She walked down the hall slowly, not saying a thing. She didn't know what to say, what could she say? It was his fucking business. She shook her, Dumbass shut up, just stop it already. Really. But she couldn't stop, so instead she forced her eyes to the haul beneath her feet.
ace Ace hobbled at Dori's side, his broken rib feeling that much worse now that Dori had poked it a bunch, and his head throbbing despite the medication that now made the world swirl and tingle, fading in and out of shooting pain. As if that weren't bad enough, Walker appeared at the end of the hallway looking for all the world as if her panties had been bunched and shoved permanently up her pi gu.
He almost wanted to apologize to her, knowing that that look had to be because of him, but he couldn't think for all the world what he could have done. "Maybe she's mad 'at I made her get her hand checked?" He thought to himself and then shook his head. He didn't rightly care at the moment what had got her so sour at him, he only cared about going to bed and sleeping some of his pain and stiffness away, so he put on the best smile he could muster what with his swollen lip and aching jaw and gave her a chipper, "Mornin' Walker."
dori Dori hobbled under his weight, not that she was too upset about it. Made her think about bulkin' up a bit, but that were okay. She was so busy trying not to stumble and send her and Ace toppling over that she didn't notice Monica down the hall. At least not until Ace had said something.
Looking up and over Dori offered a small smile, which faded pretty quick. "Wai, you weren't comin' for more pain killers, were you?" She asked.
monica She was going to walk right past the two, not even giving a time of day. But Dori's question sort of pissed her off. Wasn't the asking of it, was just something in how she heard it. "Na, I ain't comin' ta ya for more." She couldn't help but practically snarl it out at the Doc. As she spoke she looked up at the two, she stopped mid stride. Glancing at Ace, and then at her helping him with a degree of some difficulty.
"Do ya want help, takin' him to his bunk?" Her bite in her voice simmered away, and she had her official sounding tone. She wasn't even sure that's were he was going, to his bunk, but now that she had a closer look he appeared injured and knowing the Doc she'd be making him get some rest. She waited for an answer; she didn't ask any questions as to what happened or nothing. Not that she didn't want to know, but less'n somebody else on ship had done it to him. Then it wasn't officially any of her business.
ace Ace gave a sharp nervous laugh that only made him groan in pain and he looked down at Dori a bit fearful like. Normally Walker wouldn't cause him to flinch be she didn't have her genteel look on and he feared a roughing up that he wasn't right sure he deserved. He wasn't sure what answer would piss her off less, but he hoped that the Doc had that answer and would see him safely to his bunk without further injury... or that She'd at least set him down and let him fend for himself in the hallway before Walker could hurt him.
dori Dori flinched, nearly sending herself sprawling. She did not like being snarled at, that was for sure. She glanced up at Ace, then back at Monica. Not quite showin' just how nervous the red head was making her. Ignoring that though, she managed an even tone. "Ifin' it wouldn't be any trouble, a bit of help would sure be welcome. By both of us, seein' as I'm sure Ace here's tired of me stumblin' him about."
monica Monica watched them both Ace then Dori, a few thoughts running threw her head as she saw them both flinch. And the gal couldn't help but sigh displeasingly with a bit of discuss. Though as to what exactly she wasn't making clear. She wasn't going to say a damn thing, knowing it would be a pointless endeavor. So she kept quite, though she couldn't help but ask the questions in her own head. Both ya? Her gaze shifting back n' forth between the two. She shook her head, moving over to the other side of Ace. If'n it was going to be damn trouble or bother me, I wouldn't have asked you a hump if you wanted the help, now would I have?
Monica slid his arm over her shoulder as to hold him up with her upper body strength, and she wrapped her arm that was next to him around his lower back and waist. Helping to support him so he wouldn't topple over, and equaling out the weight for Miss Dori so she wouldn't fall beneath him. She kept her mouth shut, wasn't even mumbling not even in Spanish. Which for Walker was a task in its self, least in her present mood. She wanted to ask how it happened, but she'd leave her imagination to it since it seemed neither of the two even really wanted her presence to begin with.
ace Ace tensed when Walker took hold of him, which hurt in and of itself. She was a scary woman when she wanted to be and she seemed in a right foul mood at the moment. Normally he would needle into her and ask her just what in the hell her problem was, but normally she wouldn't have her hand around his busted rib, so with infinite patience he kept his trap shut, and concentrated on not whimpering like a little girl. When they got to his room and saw his open door/ladder he gave an unconscious whimper. It had been so hard getting up the stairs and now he had to get back down. He vowed that if he tumbled down again he'd just stay there until he was better.
"Alright." He groaned. "Back to where it all began." And then he looked to Dori. "Please tell me you have a plan that doesn't involve me having to climb down and shed all sorts of unmanly tears?" He asked, knowing that the only way to his bed was down and that that meant climbing. He was tempted to turn to Walker and ask her jokingly to carry him, but again she still had her arm 'round him, and his rib was still a might broken, so instead he waited for the inevitable 'go down the hole' speech that Dori was going to give.
dori Dori of course had felt him tense, she he'd still had his weight on her. But being that she was more being drug then anything now, she just took it to be a nervous sort of tense. Considering him and Monica were in a bit of an interesting place with each other.
A bit of a grin appeared, "aw now, I'm sure even your tears have their manliness intact." Though the grin faded as she thought about the question. She was pretty tempted to say she did have a plan, which involved them turning around and him just sleepin' on the exam table. But she didn't figure that'd go over real well with either. "You have to go down, of course. Won't be so bad though, you got up alright clutchin' to your broken rib. Up bein' much harder then down, you know. Fightin' gravity itn't real easy. An' now you be all bandaged and drugged up, so that'll help." She glanced at the door/ladder thoughtful like. "Though s'pose you think you might not make it, we could head down first, sos to catch you. Keep you from breakin' anythin' else 'least."
monica Monica glanced at the door and then back to Ace as Dori was explaining him having to climb down. Monica took a gander at Ace attempting to estimate how much he weighed and if she could do it without hurting him more. Or if it'd just be easier for him to climb.
"If'n you don't wanta climb and fear the possibility of fallen and breakin' something else. Could help you down... carryin' ya if need be." She told him in an oddly mellow sort of tone. It was only odd considering how she was clearly not mellow at the moment. "If'n you want me to." She added almost immediately figuring he wouldn't want that.
ace Ace looked between the two and grimaced, he wanted nothing more than to be away from Dori and her gentle yet persistent doctoring before she decided it best he sleep in the infirmary, and away from Walker and her quiet rage. That meant sucking it up and just going to bed, which was what he would do.
"I'll just do it." He said, nodding, "But you might wanna just wait till I'm down and make sure it's not due to gravity again." He said with a curt nod. "But thanks for the offer." He added quickly, turning to Monica. He stepped up to the Ladder and began to ease himself down.
dori Dori gave a small but firm nod back. "Duhn Ruhn</a>, wouldn't want you breakin' somethin' else with nobody a-findin' out till much later on." Once he started easin' down, she focused more of her attention on Monica. "Sheh Sheh for helpin'."
monica Monica nodded to Ace, a small smirk written on her face. She stood quietly watching him climb down. Staying in case he fell or something. Her eyes drifted onto Dori when she spoke to her, then back to the door. "It's my job to help." Monica answered simply.
ace Once fully down Ace looked up and gave a slight way. "Thanks ladies. And if either of you feel the need to stop on down and fluff my pillow... or anything else." He grinned suggestively then winked, "You feel free." With that he hobbled out of view, slipped off his shirt and pants and gingerly tucked himself into bed.
dori Dori shook her head, a small grin at his.. silliness. "That's likely to be happenin'," she called down. Then turned back toward Monica. "I should be headin' back to the infirmary then. Be seein' you 'round later, sure?"
monica Monica nodded, "Suppose that'd be so, seein' as the ship's only so big and at some point I'll be runnin' outa pain killers." Monica told Dori. Feel free??... Yeah cause that was likely to happen. Monica thought of saying something down to him, but she didn't, she simply reached out pulling the door shut and latching it.
dori "S'pose that be true." Dori smiled, just barely, and nodded. Then somewhat awkwardly she started to turn, mumbling, "well, right, I'll be off then." And off she was, heading down the hall and back to her safty zone.