[open] Cabin fever = a serious complication

[wavesandthunder]

Characters: Jyuushirou Ukitake and anyone who wants to visit.
Content: Ukitake is stuck in the infirmary. Come keep him from going stir-crazy?
Setting: Amestris infirmary
Time: About a day after the last log
Warnings: Possibly mentions of squicky medical stuff.

Comments

[chasingwombats]

Chase had long since packed away all the equipment and cleaned up the blood so the room was neat and tidy. He was currently sitting by the table, pen in mouth while he worked on his crossword. Rustling sounds made him look up.

"So you're finally awake. How are you holding up?"

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake gave the doctor a small wry smile, as he carefully shifted against the pillows to be sitting up a little higher. "Alive." His voice was still raspy from all the coughing, but there was a hint of amused irony in it.

Holy crap do you ever sleep?

[chasingwombats]

Joking was generally a good sign. Chase knew from reading his medical record that the other man had been hospitalised many times and it was heartening to see that he hadn't let it get to him. Placing his pen down he stood up and made his way over.

"Any pain? I could give you something stronger if you need it."

Yes XD Just not right now.

[wavesandthunder]

"Some," Ukitake replied ruefully. "I feel a bit like I've been kicked in the chest by a horse. I think I'd rather remain clear-headed for the moment, though." He knew he'd probably accept something stronger when he wanted to sleep again, but this soon after an attack, he preferred to remain in full control of his senses - the detached feeling the stronger medications gave him was almost as bad as not being able to breathe in the first place.

[thewayfindsyou]

Komamura had heard about the Lieutenant Commander's incident from a number of sources, rumor or otherwise, throughout the ship. He was unsure of the nature of the mans illness, or the severity of whatever attack beset him now. For this reason, he decided that it would be best to give the matter some time.

When he arrived at the infirmary it was decidedly calm. Ideally this would mean that the problems of the previous day had been taken care of. There were few people here now, and most of them were doctors. He located Ukitake. "Lieutenant Commander," he addressed him.

[wavesandthunder]

At the sound of a new voice, Ukitake glanced up to find the tall bulk of the boatswain hovering at his bedside. He gave the man a small, wry smile as he inclined his head slightly at the greeting. "Major. This is...not quite how I planned to speak to you again." He didn't need a mirror to tell him he probably looked awful, but nonetheless there was a hint of amusement in his slightly hoarse voice.

[thewayfindsyou]

"I would suspect not," said the demihuman, dryly. The man looked nothing like he had at the banquet. However, he was clearly conscious. By Komamura's understanding, this was an improvement.

Before, he had considered whether Ukitake would want--or be in any state to accept--visitors. At least he was...awake, if nothing else. "I was informed of your condition yesterday. You are feeling better now, I take it?"

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake nodded. "Better, yes, though it'll be a while before I'm bad to full-speed." He sighed and settled back against the pillows a little more. "It's always a bit frustrating, but...that's life, I suppose."

Dropping something off for the Idiot Twin. o/

[thewarisover]

Following his exchange on the network with his idiot twin brother, Roy retrieved the pastry box in question and marched on over to the infirmary. Justifying his presence there wasn't a problem, and neither was finding the right bed.

The alchemist smoothed over his Hijikata-related exasperation before stepping closer, and offered Ukitake a smile.

"How are you feeling, sir? I hope I'm not disturbing you."

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake glanced up from the book he had been reading, and gave the younger officer a smile. "Ah, hello! No, you're not disturbing me - and better, though I'm still a bit sore." It was nice to have company, really - he didn't like being on his own with nothing to do.

[thewarisover]

"That's better than before, then."

Roy moved in further, taking a seat by the bed. He held the box of pastries out briefly, showing Ukitake before placing them on the table nearby.

"These are from Toshirou. He's unable to give them to you at the moment."

He decided not to say why just yet, at least not until he had seen Ukitake's reaction.

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake frowned at that. "Did something happen?" Rou hadn't sounded well, when Ukitake had spoken to him over the network - but he hadn't seen the younger man come into the infirmary at all yet, either of his own accord or otherwise.

[barrelobuling]

"Juushirou-oniichan?"

Bu-ling walked into the room, followed by her monkey, and looked up at the bedridden man.

"Do you feel better now?"

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake gave the young girl a tired smile, and reached down to ruffle her short hair."Yes, I am. Thank you for coming to visit me, Bu-ling-chan."

[barrelobuling]

She smiled back at him. "That's good! It would suck if you were sick for longer. Like a week, or a year, or forever nano da."

[wavesandthunder]

"Well, I'm always a little bit sick - my lungs don't work right, and they haven't since I was very little. But usually its not nearly this bad." It was the simplest explanation he could come up with - he wanted to be truthful, because this could happen to him again.

VERY LATE INTO THE NIGHT, LIKE 2AM IN THE MORNING LATE.

[mayovice]

Late into the night, when everyone had retired and the ship was mostly silent with the lull of sleep, Hijikata Toshirou finally returned to the Amestris after spending a whole day out in the streets of Solare. There was of course a reason as to why he had only returned so late - anyone who looked at him now might have been taken aback at what they were seeing; dishevelled uniform, messed up hair, dirt and grime sticking all over him and a bruise sprouting on his cheek. A multitude of other various wounds and injuries were on his body, but they were hidden well (physically, at least) in the darkness and his own clothes as the boatswain made his way through the hallways

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake was a relatively light sleeper most of the time - years in the military doing field work meant that new places automatically put him on guard. No doubt the Amestris's infirmary would become familiar soon enough - the one back at the academy certainly was - but for now, his sleep was light. The soreness in his chest didn't help much, and he kept waking up periodically and having to shift himself into a more comfortable position. He knew he could have taken stronger pain medications, but they altered his breathing, and so soon after an attack, that thought made him distinctly uncomfortable.

So it was no surprise that at the sound of footsteps approaching his bed, he stirred, pushing himself up slightly and squinting into the darkness to see who was there.

[mayovice]

Hijikata stopped in his tracks when he heard the rustle of cloth that was most likely Ukitake starting to stir. Fuck, he had been too loud, it seemed. The boatswain kept himself still, trying to stay still in the darkness and hope that the elder wasn't going to spot him. At least the infirmary lights were turned off, so there wouldn't be much light around that would make him visible.

Keeping his breathing calm, the younger officer attempted to keep his cool as he slowly took a step back - only to hiss as a shot of pain ran up his injured ankle, followed by the jerk of a bed's legs against the floor as he grabbed onto the bed's railing - the closest thing he could reach from where he was - in order to stop himself from falling at the stumble that passed him.

[wavesandthunder]

Ukitake instinctively reached out to grab the stumbling man - and let out a hiss of pain himself as he pulled on the tube still stuck in his chest. His eyes were adjusting to the low light, though, and he could finally make out the figure that had been sneaking up on him in the dark. He blinked in surprise. "Toushirou-kun?"