WHO: Ray Palmer and Christine Chapel WHAT: Ray wakes up in medical after being possessed. WHEN: 28 January early am (backdated a lot but I wanted to post it) WHERE: Villa medical centre RATING: Low
He hadn’t expected to wake up after being possessed by Neron for the second time. So when he finally opened his eyes, the slightly dimmed lighting of the medical unit was actually a welcome sight. Shifting slightly against crisp sheets, a shiver ran through him that was not entirely to do with temperature, and he lifted his hand to pull the blankets slightly higher up to cover his shoulders. There was a clock on the wall, so he knew the time, he just had trouble placing the date.
How long have I been out? Are the others okay? What happened to Neron? Oh, God, what did I-- he do?
Ray’s brain wasted no time in flooding itself with a thousand troubling thoughts and he closed his eyes tightly again in an effort to quiet it. A soft noise of frustration slipping past his lips as he did so. He supposed he should let someone know he was awake, but at this early an hour, he didn’t want to press the call button and be a trouble to the staff.
Christine was exhausted. She was grateful that the injuries hadn’t been any worse than they were given the scale of the attack but there had been more than enough to keep the clinic busy. She’d managed a few naps (mostly when someone insisted) but she was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed as soon as she could. Right now though she still had a patient and when she realized he was awake, she hurried over to his side.
“Hey,” she said with a smile. “How are you feeling? You’ve been out for a while now.” She didn’t know him well but she did know his name. Christine had a knack for remembering names and it had always served her well. “Ray, isn’t it? I’m Christine. You’ve got some bruises, nothing broken thankfully but I was starting to worry because you hadn’t woken up.”
A woman he recognised vaguely joined him almost as soon as he thought about calling for one of the medical team and a tired smile came to his lips. “You might be part psychic, I was just thinking I should let someone know I was awake.”
Lifting a hand, he pushed it through his hair, drawing the dark locks back from his forehead. How was he feeling? That was a difficult one to answer. “Tired… despite having only just woken up. Is that normal? The last time I was unconscious for a while I was more damaged than this and I was tired because I was healing.” Letting out a quick exhale, he took another breath as he shook his head slightly. “Sorry, I ramble, usually people stop me.”
Smiling again as she introduced herself, he nodded as he took in the information on his condition, relieved that he hadn’t sustained anything worse than superficial damage. “Thank you, Christine. For looking after me. I’m sorry to worry you.”
“Of course and no worries. You don’t have to thank me, that’s why I’m here, to take care of people.” Although sometimes she wondered exactly why she’d been brought here. She had done a lot more good at home whereas here she often felt that she wasn’t needed.
“Let me check you over and make sure everything’s okay and then I can get you something to eat or drink. You probably need it, you’ve been out a while.”
It didn’t take her long to take his vital signs and do a quick assessment on him. When she was done, she looped her stethoscope around her neck and smiled at him. “All good. Do you have any pain anywhere?”
A tired smile made its way onto his face at her response. It seemed typical of anyone in the medical profession, especially nurses, to wave off thanks as unnecessary. But Ray strongly disagreed. “Well, then I feel lucky, and grateful that you’re here.”
He held still as she checked him over, responding when needed but letting her do her observations unhindered. The mention of sustenance didn’t hold his interest too much, but he knew he should at least have something to drink before succumbing to his lethargy.
“No pain, just aches, but nothing I can’t handle.” A yawn slipped past his guard then, and he gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m not so sure I can stay awake for food, but I’d love a glass of juice or water.”