Joint Long - LtCmdr Karim Dhej, LtCmdr Tierney Rinehart - "Live Fast and Die Young"

Posted on 241407.30 @ 10:08am by Commander Tierney Rinehart

Mission: Suicidal Running Title
Location: sickbay

Sickbay was immediately a flurry of activity, people swarmed around Scarlet trying to resuscitate her and Tierney found herself grabbed and held in spite of her protests to get to her friend. She threw her head high, trying to look over shoulders to see the other redhead as the nurses and a doctor assessed and began to treat her for what appeared to be exhaustion and severe dehydration. She'd never, not in a million years, admit that the depletion had come from a sudden burst of bioelectric energy from her own cells. Never. Instead she silently allowed them to do what they had to -- Scarlet was taken elsewhere, somewhere tucked away, somewhere safe and that was all that mattered.

The chatter of nurses and the clatter of instruments nearly masked the sound of a transporter beam from Tierney's ears as she hovered just short of being unconscious now that the adrenaline was starting to filter out of her system.

The noticeable shimmer of a transporter beam filled a small space just inside the main doors of Sickbay. In shock, Karim ran over to where Tierney was being held and said "Release her immediately! I saw what happened, and she didn't fire a shot!" Reluctantly, the security officers did so, but didn't move too far away. Rushing to her side, Karim threw an arm around her and said "Are you ok? What the hell happened?"

The Star-child blinked up at the face of the Trill and lay her head on his shoulder, thankful for the comfort. "I'm wanted for what I did." She all but whispered, subdued, quiet, demure. "Scarlet was collateral damage. It should be me in there, Karim. Me." Tierney's big eyes closed, fighting back the sting of tears and the swelling tide of heartache that seemed all too happily poised and ready for impact, "Mar-- Captain Rhodes is going to flip. Look what I've done."

Shaking his head, Karim replied "Please try to calm down. Tell me slowly what happened. I was at the stall across the hall looking at maps when all hell broke loose. I want to know that what I saw was actually what happened."

A sigh parted her lips and her head mirrored the shake of his. "This man," She started, rolling her wrist figuratively, "He came out of no where. Scarlet and I were just talking and then she wasn't there anymore, we were on the floor and she was bleeding." Tierney sucked in a breath, the memories flashing through her mind a million miles a minute, "And then the crowd parted and there he was telling me that I was his ticket to freedom and there was a bounty on my head. That someone had told him I was here."

The tiny woman felt even smaller in that moment, huddled next to the ship's gentle XO. "He had his gun drawn and I just... I went to him and I grabbed his wrist and pushed him and he fell, dropped the gun. Maybe he stumbled, I don't know, but I kicked the gun away and went to Scarlet." She stammered, refusing to tell the truth, refusing to out herself to him or anyone else. "Why did the Enterprise take so long to answer?"

"I don't know" he replied honestly "But we'll find out. For now, you need to sit down before you fall down." Moving her to a chair nearby he helped her sit down and crouched beside her. "Don't worry, I'll stay with you as long as you need me to ok?"

"OK..." She sniffled, settling into a chair, sucking in a shaky breath. "Tell me I'm not crazy, tell me I didn't start this by doing anything other than helping Enterprise?" Tierney whimpered as she held the icy hands of the Trill.

Squeezing her hands gently, he said "You're not crazy, a bit unusual, but not crazy. This wasn't your fault Tierney. Please try to believe that."

"Unusual?" Her blood ran cold at such a word being used to describe her, "I feel like it is my fault, Karim, but I'll try."

Sighing, he replied quickly as he saw her get upset by his comment and said "It's was a bad joke. I was trying to help you calm down. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend."

"No. It's ok... I was just curious." She explained, looking over at him and patting his hand as best she could. "I'm tired..." A weak little smile tugged across her dry lips, "So very tired."

Worried she may be going into shock he said "Come on Tierney. Stay awake. You'll have to speak to the captain about all this. You wouldn't want him to catch you napping would you?"

Half-lidded eyes followed the spots and lines of her new friend's face as he tried to keep her conscious, "He's already done that." She hummed in response, unable to keep her thoughts straight as the overwhelming need to sleep overpowered the last tiny tangled of adrenaline coursing through her veins. "I'm sorry, Karim..." The little one breathed, her body slowly going numb and inviting the warmth that began to spread throughout her system, beckoning her to rest, to heal after such an expenditure of energy. Someday that last ditch escape effort would wind up killing her.

Looking at her with confusion, he was about to reply when he saw her falling asleep. Releasing one of her hands, he grabbed a hypo off a nearby cart, loaded it with a stabilizing compound, and pressed it to her neck. She would sleep, but she wouldn't go into shock. Carefully, and with a little effort, he lifted her in his arms and laid her down on a nearby biobed. Draping a blanket over her he said "Dhej to Rhodes. Report to Sickbay immediately. Dhej out."

=/\=End Log=/\=

Lieutenant Commander Karim Dhej
Executive Officer
USS Enterprise 1701-F

Lieutenant Commander Tierney Rinehart
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS ENTERPRISE 1701-F