mbv, Virginia Tech and the /Ark/, Trouble of a New Sort
Rachel: *wanders into the living room with Sarah tied to her back with a large scarf which covers the LOLed sparklet before wrapping around Rachel's body and tying under Sarah's butt. Sees Sora playing with a fluffy little orange kitten and blinks* ...Where'd you get that?
Sora: He was looking for food in the kitchen.... I think he might've stowed away in your bag....
Rachel: *thinks about this, and then goes 0.o* I'll have to let Bonnie know, he came from her family's place.
Sora: *soft chuckle, clicks to the little orange ball of fur*
kitten: *gonnagetchew, string!*
Sarah-Kitty: *Chirrup?*
Rachel: *finds her phone and talks to the student, using her other hand to pat Sarah's bottom* *closes phone and frowns a bit* Do you want a cat, Sora?
Sora: *small, hopeful look* Sure...
Rachel: Check with Raj, okay? *sticking the phone into a fold of the scarf* I better hurry up and eat my lunch so I can get to the Ark. I want to organize the supplies in the med ward a little.
Sora: *small nod, getting a bit of a distant look to her eyes*
kitten: *sees fingers, will pounce on fingers!*
Rachel: *pads into the kitchen in her bare feet and makes short work of a can of beef ravioli, offering some to Sarah as she does*
Sarah-Kitty: *nommaravioli!*
Rachel: *soft chuckle* You want a cupcake for desert?
Sarah-Kitty: *ears perk*
Rachel: *reaches into the cupboard and takes down one with pink cinnamon frosting that has a flower shape made from hardened sugar syrup stuck in it* We'll have to tell Aunty Lisa that we're nearly out.
Sarah-Kitty: *chirp of agreement*
Rachel: Can you get the cake, baby? *gentle boot for Chance's rear*
Chance: *was about to lift his leg and 'pee' on a chair leg* *yaps about this!*
Sarah-Kitty: *chirps and nibbles at the cupcake*
Rachel: *laughs at Chance* Why don't you go play with the other guys, you stinker?
Chance: *Yaps at Mama, will go find Bubba then!*
Rachel: *more chuckle as she grabs her bag and a pair of shoes* Sora? What did Raj say?
Sora: He's gone to get kitten chow... *small smile*
Rachel: *laughs* Does the fuzzbutt have a name yet?
Sora: We're working on it....
Rachel: *more laughter* Okay. Well, I'm going. I'll see you later, okay, sweetheart?
Sora: *nods and gently discourages the kitten from using his claws during playtime*
Rachel: *peeks into the living room and grins at that, then puts her hand on Sarah's butt and PINpoints to the med ward at the Ark. Sets her bag down and is soon happily organizing supplies and marking things down on a datapad*
At Virginia Tech
Jamie: *looks from Jack to the girl at his side* Yeah... so the Marine Corp's accepted my application even before I thought anyone would have seen it. They want me to report by tomorrow afternoon, so I won't be able to finish my courses here.
Jack: *small nod* Understandable. Just... Be careful, alright?
Alicia: *looks a bit upset by this revealation*
Jamie: Yeah. I always am. *sighs and looks at his fiancee, desperately wishing that he had enough money to marry her before he went. But then reminds himself that he has no right to rush her into anything* It's gonna suck having to wear pants again.
Alicia: *Hugs Jamie* You'd better write me, or I'll be mad. *getting that little pout that she gets sometimes that can either come across as comical or really cute*
Jamie: *gentle big hand through her hair* Snailmail or email every day I can, babe. *quirks a grin. He's forgotten his favorite professor is in the room, till his forehead wrinkles up and he glances toward Jack* Dude... are you eating chalk again? *busted, Jack!*
Jack: *Acks and fumbles the chalk*
Alicia: *Fuss!*
Jamie: o.0 Isn't that stuff going to mess up your insides or something?
Jack: Er.... *Sheepish expression*
Jamie: *concerned look for his prof*
Jack: *mumbles something*
Alicia: *Frowwwwwwn*
Jamie: Maybe you should see a doctor? They say when you wanna eat weird stuff there's usually something wrong.
Jack: That... might be a good idea... *small nod... and then he's heading for his office!*
Alicia: ... Dork.
Jamie: *sighs and cuddles her to his side* I guess we better get to study hall. Even if I don't need to study anymore, you do.
Alicia: *small nod, snuggles*
Jamie: *grins and kisses her hair, then leads her by the hand to study hall*
Back in Jack's office
Jack: *arranging the small servo motors for the dancing doll that he promised Sarah. Once he's got the motors arranged to his liking, he's blinking a bit and rubbing at his eyes. Maybe he'll just rest them for a bit....*
Ark
Firestar: *is sitting up with the assistance of Rachel's old reclining wheelchair. She's feeling well enough to cuddle Sarah-Kitty as the LOL'd sparklet snuggles on her lap*
Rachel: *frowning into a bin* What the heck was Russ thinking, putting these in here? There are better places to hide goldfish crackers.
Firestar: *looks up from the happily purring kitty on her lap* *Quizzical expression* //Something wrong?//
Rachel: *takes out the little paper bag of crackers and brings it over to the invalid femme* He's hiding his snacks in my cotton ball bin.
Firestar: *Soft snerk* //That dork...//
Rachel: *just opens the bag and sets it in Firestar's lap next to Sarah, her grin full of mischief*
Firestar: *Slight headtilt* //These are the snacks?//
Rachel: Yup. They're called goldfish crackers. They're cheese flavor.
Sarah-Kitty: *Smells cheese crackers! Awake, hopeful chirrup for Aunty*
Firestar: *quiet clicks as she shares crackers with Sarah-Kitty*
Rachel: *chuckles and goes back to her organizing, only to stop and put a confused hand to her chest as she feels an odd quiver in her spark. Shrugs it off and resumes working*
Firestar: *Saw that* //Ratchet? Are you okay?//
Rachel: Yeah. *sorting sedation tabs* I think the baby's just asserting herself or something.
Firestar: *soft chuckle that doesn't quite reach her optics. Yes, she's been told how sparklets come about now, as well as being told about why she won't ever get to experience that. She had suspected as much anyways.*
Rachel: *starts humming as she works. Pauses to toss a bit of copper wire that broke off a tab toward her friend*
Firestar: *manages to catch the bit of copper wire without tipping the chair!* *another soft chuckle as Sarah-Kitty stands on her lap and tries to feed her crackers*
Rachel: *grins at her sweet natured daughter's actions, and then suddenly grabs at her chest and collapses*
Firestar: *Alarmed trill, sends out an SOS*
Sarah-Kitty: *Frightened sounds, hides against Aunty*
Rachel: *pained static blurt and then passes out*
Firestar: *Even though she knows she shouldn't try to move too much, she's still going to try and get over to Rachel, still putting out the SOS*
Inferno: *as he hurries in from the hall with Wesson* Whoa, Star!
Wesson: *goes to Rachel and scans her, his expression a deep scowl of concern*
Firestar: //What's wrong with her?!// *Cycling air*
Sarah-Kitty: *Hiding and crying quietly. Scared kitty is scared*
Inferno: *puts his arms around his mate and the sparklet, his optics going to Wesson* John?
Wesson: I can't tell. But something's making her spark flicker. *looks up for the teammate who was supposed to be guarding him, and who he'd slapped in the head in passing on his way out to wake him*
Lt. Demarce: *Calling Russell, frowns when he gets a very clipped response*
Wesson and Inferno: *both heard that. Both of them look even more worried now*
*and then Russell, Merlin, and Patrick are there, supporting an unconscious Jack*
Wesson: *sucks in air* What happened?
Russell: *Quietly* Processor stroke...
Wesson: *bites his lip and closes his eyes for a moment* *quietly* He gonna make it?
Inferno: *watching and rubbing Star's back*
Russell: *even quieter* [It's a miracle he's still alive...]
Sarah-Kitty: *Crying, wants Mama*
Firestar: *Ducking her head and trying not to cry as well*
Wesson: *closes eyes again, and then gently gathers Rachel up and stands* *quietly* Tell me what to do.
Russell: We need to get him on systems support....
Wesson: Can't help you with that.
Merlin: *Already moving to get the needed equipment*
Russell: There are hand-held scanners in the drawer marked with a green label. Make sure the sparklet she's carrying is alright.
Wesson: *lays Rachel down on the second table, and then hurries to grab the scanner, fighting vertigo as he goes* How far along is she?
Inferno: *watching with double concern now*
Russell: *As he and Merlin work on getting Jack hooked up to equipment* A couple of weeks...
Wesson: *leans on the table as he runs the scanner over Rachel's chest* Holding on hard.
Russell: *Quieter* And Rachel?
Wesson: Still flickering slightly.
Russell: *deep breath, then he's asking Merlin to help with Rachel*
Merlin: *Small nod, attention going to Sarah-Kitty, his concern clear*
Inferno: *quietly* How's 'Jack doin'?
Russell: *quietly* [He won't be able to work any longer... He might have another vorn in him if he doesn't push himself too hard...]
Firestar: *shoulders shaking a bit*
Inferno: ...Slaggin' pit.
Russell: [He wasn't supposed to live past his first vorn, Inferno... It's nothing short of a miracle that he's still here...]
Patrick: *has his head ducked, is updating Col. Franklin*
Inferno: [Yeah. But now there's people dependin' on him.]
Rachel: *soft groan* Jack....
Merlin: *Soothingly* He is here, Rachel...
Rachel: *frowns and turns her head without opening her eyes* ...Told... him.
Merlin: *Gently patpatting her hand* I know...
Rachel: *gets her eyes open and squints at him blearily, then shudders and blinks rapidly to adjust the newly installed lenses in her eyes*
Sarah-Kitty: *still crying quietly, has worn herself out*
Merlin: *will move to gently lift the LOL'd sparklet so he can put her with her mother*
Rachel: *quietly* //Need to be with Jack.//
Inferno: *lets go of Star just enough for Merlin to get Sarah*
Merlin: *Small nod, reaches to get Patrick's attention, and then the two of them are carefully moving Rachel and Sarah-kitty to the same table as Jack*
Rachel: *quiet sound of pain once she's moved, but clenches her jaw* //Link us.//
Merlin: *Another small nod and then he's moving to do so*
Firestar: *Starting to shake a bit from a combination of stress and being tired*
Patrick: *Will go and help Inferno move Firestar to the recovery room that has been their home since they were both brought to the Ark.*
Inferno: *starting to totter a bit himself despite just having wakened from a nap. Is murmuring softly to his mate as they go*
Rachel: *closes eyes again once she's linked to her husband, and starts searching for any sign of him in his processor*
Jack: *is there.... but Rachel, you're going to have to dig pretty deep to find him*
Rachel: *exhausted and hurting, but determined as she seeks through the familiar files for some sign of her life companion* -Jack. Jack. Jack....-
Jack: *Very softly* -Ratch...et...-
Rachel: *zeroes in on that* -Jack! You slagging glitch!- *love bomb*
Jack: *soft static* -hurts...broke something.... 'portant...-
Rachel: *gently, forming imaginary mental forms for both of them so that she can hug him* -You had a processor stroke.-
Jack: -...Slag...- *so tired.... snuggling close to Rachel*
Rachel: *gently brushes mental fingers over his mental image's head, then leans forward and gives him the kiss they've never shared in actual life* -Just take it easy, sport. I love you, and I'm here.-
Jack: *starting to relax, until he remembers something* -Sarah... doll... pieces... on desk...- *trying to remember the configuration of the servo motors*
Rachel: -Shhh. Don't worry about it.- *will not think of it now, because she doesn't want him to feel her cry*
Jack: *starting to slip into a deep slumber* -Merlin... finish....-
Rachel: -Sure he will.- *mental nuzzle and cuddle*
Jack: *cuddles and dreams of Cybertron, and showing the Dinobots around*
Rachel: *is there at his side through all of it, holding the vague thought of a tiny femme in her arms*
Wesson: *watching the pair, but then looks at Russell* They're dreamin'.
Russell: *Small nod, and then he's being grabbed by Serenity and their daughters*
Serenity: *is going to guide her husband to a quiet room for a snuggle pile*
Patrick: *Quietly offering to help you back to your bed, Wesson*
Wesson: *watches Russell and frowns without moving* It safe to just leave 'em? *glance to Merlin, who is being gently comforted by his absent mate*
Patrick: I can get someone to bring you a cot, if you'd like....
Wesson: I ain't a medic. *catches himself quickly on the edge of the table*
Patrick: You'd still be keeping an eye on things, and you're capable of calling for additional help, right?
Wesson: Yeah. What's the Col. say?
Patrick: Just a moment... *explaining the situation in the medbay to Franklin. Russell and Merlin are both being comforted by their respective mates, and Rachel and Jack need someone to stay with them who isn't currently in shock*
Col. Franklin: //Why are the other medical staff reacting like that?//
Patrick: //Russell is Jack's creche brother... And Merlin's known Jack and Rachel for a very long time... they're almost siblings to him...//
Col. Franklin: //Do you need Dr. House?//
Patrick: //We might... At the very least, Wesson's here.//
Col. Franklin: //Yes, but Lt. Wesson is still under arrest.//
Patrick: //Lt. Demarce is here as well, Col. We need someone who can stay calm if something happens and can call for additional help if need be. Besides, Wesson's been behaving very well. Until today, he's been staying in his room and doing what he's told.//
Col. Franklin: *silent as he frowns and thinks this over*
Denver: //Col. Franklin, Ah'll vouch f'r Wesson.//
Col. Franklin: //What do you mean, Major?//
Wesson: *thud, sitting on floor and looking sheepish*
Denver: //Ah mean th't Ah'm claim'n responsibility f'r 'im, lahk Ah do f'r Raj 'n Magnus.//
Col. Franklin: *gravely* //But the men you mentioned have never broken US military law.//
Tracks: //Oh haven't they?//
Patrick: *Getting a cot set up for Wesson* //As I've said before, he's been following orders.//
Col. Franklin: *quietly* //Lt. John Wesson, you are hereby relieved of duty and placed into the custody of your own people.//
Wesson: *dismay on his face*
Denver: *to Wesson* //Keep 'n ah on Dr. Ruteger 'n Professor Ruteger, 'n 'f anehth'n' 'appens, let Patrick 'r me know.//
Wesson: *woodenly* //Yessir, Major.//
Patrick: *Finishes getting the cot and several blankets situated* There... If you need anything else, just ask, alright?
Wesson: *quietly* Yessir.
Patrick: *reaches to gently patpat Wesson's shoulder*
Wesson: *gives his new CO a sad and absent look, then heaves himself to his feet and settles to sit on the cot*
Patrick: *silently prays that Soundwave turns up soon...* *moves to see whether Dr. House will be able to come out to the Ark to assist or not*
Dr. House: //I'm on my way, Captain Picard. Can you give me any more information on the situation?//
Lt. Demarce: *will stand guard by the door, since nobody told him anything different*
Patrick: *Relays what he knows* *Quietly* //You'd have to ask Bones or Scotty for the specifics...//
Dr. House: //...Alright. I'm not sure I'll be able to do much more than read monitors and offer support to those two, but here I come.// *swish and slight flash, and there he is indeed*
Patrick: *nods a greeting before tilting his head in the direction of the table that the Rutegers are currently occupying*
Dr. House: *goes over to check on them, his face showing his concern. Gives Wesson a squeeze on the shoulder in passing*
Wesson: *ignores him*
Jack: *one foot is twitching slightly as he rests. He's still quite out of it, so it's likely that the twitching isn't even registering*
Dr. House: *looks at the foot, then startles slightly as the med ward doors slide open*
Autumn: *looking a lot more nervous than she ever has as she moves to approach the table* *Quietly* I came to get Sarah....
Dr. House: *looks at the couple on the table* I don't think she's here....
Wesson: *emotionless* The kitten in the middle.
Dr. House: o.0?
Autumn: *nods in agreement with Wesson's words* She got LOL'd...
Dr. House: *winces and then very gently pries the little tricoloured creature from between her parents, clicking his tongue softly as he does*
Sarah-Kitty: *Tired, confused sound*
Dr. House: *holds her close and gently rubs her back* Sarah, can you hear me?
Sarah-Kitty: *small nod, is doing her best to wibble. She was warm, and she could hear her parents' sparks... Even if Daddy's is a bit faint right now*
Dr. House: Do you want to go to the creche? Mrs. Smith is here to bring you.
Sarah-Kitty: *more wibble, small nod.*
Dr. House: Alright, Sweetheart. *turns and offers her to Autumn*
Autumn: *Will gently cradle the LOL'd sparklet and nod to Dr. House before she's taking Sarah-Kitty out of the room and to the creche*
Rachel: *senses her little one is gone. Takes the opportunity to snuggle even closer in hope that her spark's proximity will help strengthen Jack's*
Jack: *foot continues to twitch slightly as he rests*
Rachel: *finds him in his dreams of Cybertron and guides him back to their home/lab. Tucks the sparklets into bed and then sits with him and reads them a story*
Jack: *quiet contentment as he dreams, till a slight twinge of pain has him starting to wake*
Rachel: *in the dream envisions them in a room by a comfortable bed. Tries to help Jack forget the pain by kissing him stupid in the dream*
Jack: *dizzy from the kiss, is a bit unsteady on his feet in the dream*
Rachel: *breaks kiss and looks up at him, smiling*
Jack: *snuggle time?*
Rachel: -Sure, sport.- *gentle hand on his cheek as she emotes her affection for him*
Jack: *tries to guide Rachel to the bed*
Rachel: *is guided. Is also reaching up to play with a Jack curl that's out of place*
Jack: *Quietly* -Love...you...- *leans into the touch a bit*
Rachel: *thinks of flannel jammies for him, and his favorite socks, her mouth turning up into a smile as she does so* -I love you too.-
Jack: *wants nothing more than to rest... but something's bothering him and he's not sure what....*
Rachel: *settles on the bed and moves over, holding the blankets up* -The kids are fine, slugger. Everything's fine.- //Russ, Jack's in pain.//
Jack: *moving to join Rachel on the bed*
Russell: *hurries to get up from snuggling his family and get a pain override, will apply it*
Jack: *relaxing a bit as the override takes effect*
Rachel: *feels that and smiles* //Thanks, Red.// *arms around husband in the dream as she smiles at him and love bombs him*
Russell: //Let me know when he needs another one...// *Sounds a bit forlorn currently*
Rachel: *absently as she proceeds to raise Jack's dizziness level again* //I will. Don't worry.//
Jack: *diiiiizzzzzy.... and sleeep....*
Russell: //Very well...// *closes the connection quietly, is likely going to be getting the same treatment from his mate that Jack is currently getting*
Dr. House: ...Russell, is Jack smiling?
Russell: *looks. Very soft chuckle as he nods*
Dr. House: Is it a reaction to the painkiller tab?
Russell: Possibly... or it could be Rachel helping him relax....
Dr. House: *shoots him a sharp, puzzled look*
Russell: *nods towards where Rachel and Jack are linked*
Dr. House: *looks and doesn't understand. Can't really see the wire*
Merlin: *Quietly explains what Russell was indicating*
Dr. House: Ohhhh. Err. *blush* So they're....
Merlin: Communicating.
Rachel: *moves slightly without waking to put her hand to the side of Jack's face as she makes a snuggling motion*
Jack: *very quiet, contented sigh as he continues to sleep*
Dr. House: *slowly shakes his head with amazement as he looks at the monitors again* I think he'll be alright if you two need some rest.
Kia: *slips nearly silently into the room, her eyes going toward her mate*
Serenity: *coming to grab her mate, intends to bring him home to the family quarters now*
Merlin: *moves so he can put an arm around Kia's shoulders*
Kia: *soft smile in response to Merlin's unspoken greeting, then nods as she looks back at Jack and Rachel*
Dr. House: *glances toward the door, and then looks at Patrick* Is Lt. Demarce here for a reason?
Patrick: *attention going to the Lt.* Er.... No...
Dr. House: Okay. *turns back to the young soldier* Will you bring me a cup of coffee, Lieutenant?
Lt. Demarce: Yessir. *goes to get coffee!*
Dr. House: *turns his attention to Wesson and frowns at the man's stony face. Looks at Patrick* I'll be right back. *turns and walks down the hall and slips into an empty recovery room* *pokes self in ear* Denver? Do you read me?
Denver: //Loud 'n cleah, Dr. House.//
Dr. House: ...What's with the formality?
Denver: //'M kahnda inna rush... Packin'...//
Dr. House: *blinks* Packing?
Denver: //Tracks 's 'nsistin'.... Gotta get th' boys...//
Dr. House: *confused and concerned* Where are you going? What's going on, Denver?
Denver: //Goin' t' my Gran'ma's...// *Quieter* //Tracks doesn't wanna be 'round 'f Jack's goin' out...//
Dr. House: *sucks in his breath as he remembers the red faced mech's flashbacks* *gently* But what about John? He's sitting in here looking like someone smashed his guitar.
Denver: //'E needs t' rest, 'n when 'e's well 'nough t' git 'round without gettin' dizzeh, gonna need 'im t' 'elp wit' 'un 'f th' newcomers...//
Dr. House: Patrick's got him on duty right now, watching the Rutegers.
Denver: //Make sure 'e don' push 'imself too much?//
Dr. House: Alright. *slight frown as he thinks he hears the faint echo of a Raoulish bellow through the open med ward door*
Denver: //Ah'll git back t' ya...//
Dr. House: Alright. *sighs, and then goes back to sit in the chair behind the desk and keep an eye on Jack, Rachel, and Wesson*
((co-written with random_xtras))