Fifteen Bells: [ACTION/WRITTEN]

[simplestgift]

[Archie woke up yesterday.  How is this new?  Well, after getting some fairly critical stab wounds from Grell, he was put on a ventilator and kept under sedation for a few days.  The ventilator was exchanged for a less impressive-looking concentrator yesterday and he was taken off sedation.  He spent yesterday sleeping anyway, since anesthesia doesn't generally leave you bright-eyed immediately afterward.

This morning, he is talking and eating Jell-o, which is a new experience. The most important bit comes written on the journal network in wobbly handwriting courtesy of the heart monitor clipped on his finger.]

I have been informed that I may have visitors. I'd like to know everyone is all right.

Kennedy

[Anyone who comes in will find him looking predictably weak and pale but lucid and in good spirits, or possibly catnapping after a dose of painkillers.

OOC: Purely for the sake of mercy, Archie is unaffected by the event.]

Comments

[all7seas]

"Archie? Lieutenant? You will cease this, now, and rest. Savvy?"

The heart monitor was causing Jack no small case of the wiggins. "You don't know what you're talking about. Buffy's set it for us. It's...it's not a perfect solution, but it might very well be the best we can hope for."

[simplestgift]

"Perhaps. But only until we think of a better one. I won't be the reason we bow to her, Jack. You can't ask me to bear that."

[all7seas]

"You won't be the..."

What the devil was Kennedy going on about? "Bowing" to her?

"I'm not asking you to bear anything. It's all on me, mate. I've already told your Horatio, I assume full responsibility for this." A wave of disgust at the contraptions supplying the wounded young sailor with his medicines.

"I erred. I didn't read her movements aright. You've nothing to bear, do you understand me?"

[simplestgift]

"You can try and take the blame all you like, Jack, but there were only two people there that night." It was spoken matter-of-factly, because this was how it was: Kennedy turned his back on a known dangerous person. He was stupid, and then he was cowardly, begging for his life. Frustrated, he seized the button wired to his IV and hit it hard, releasing drugs ahead of his pain. He couldn't think about this.

[all7seas]

The pirate turned toward the door. He couldn't talk to Kennedy when the other man was in this stubborn frame of mind. Sick men were often difficult to talk to; illogical.

He smirked, slightly, thinking of McCoy.

"Later? We shall discuss this with clearer heads and hopefully a bottle between us. Right now, lad, you've got to get better---for your Dawn and your Horatio, if no other reason."

[simplestgift]

"You don't need to convince me, Jack. I'd as soon not die in a hospital bed. I already did that, and didn't find it to my liking."

[all7seas]

"...Right. Of course. You've already..."

The full horror of what it must have been like for Kennedy finally hit him, and Jack placed a palm on the door frame to steady himself.

"I'll be inquiring of Doctor McCoy when you can return to training. I'll expect you not to stint, Lieutenant."

[simplestgift]

That got a relieved smile, then a broad smile, then a full grin. The only thing worse than being attacked was being treated like an invalid afterward, with all the scorn and pity it came with. "I wouldn't expect so, Captain."

[all7seas]

"Brilliant. Farewell for now, lad."

Jack did not offer to come back; he didn't offer to bring the lieutenant any desired things. What he wanted was to get clear of this place and try to figure out how they would maintain Buffy's stalemate while also maintaining Kennedy's spirit and heart. It wasn't, he imagined, going to be as simple as anyone had thought.