For Daddy

Posted on Sun Nov 1st, 2026 @ 1:03am by Lieutenant Rio Kholin MD & Commander Galatea & Lieutenant Commander Aidan Datari & Lieutenant Amber Laurell & Enterprise Officer NPC

2,231 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: 11. Recess
Location: Sickbay, U.S.S. Enterprise
Timeline: 2439-10-21, 12:30

The soft, ambient hum of the biobed monitors in Sickbay offered little comfort against the heavy quiet that lingered in the recovery ward. Crewman 1st Class Tiazal Jiru stood silently near the foot of the isolation bed, her sharp, intuitive eyes fixed on the young face of Saeri Datari resting beneath the light medical blanket. Having grown up surrounded by family mental health struggles, the unjoined Trill nurse possessed an innate, profound empathy that cut straight through charts and vitals, immediately recognizing the lingering shadows of absolute terror still haunting the child's subconscious.

With Doctor Kholin having ordered strict sedation to help the girl process the trauma of the surface firefight, Tiazal adjusted the bio-monitor parameters to maintain a gentler threshold. She knew that physical healing was only a fraction of the battle; true recovery demanded patience, safety, and someone willing to anchor an erratic world. Checking the perimeter security detail stationed outside the ward doors as requested by command, Tiazal stepped closer, adjusting the blanket with a tender, reassuring gentleness. She vowed to maintain an unwavering vigil, ensuring that when young Saeri finally opened her eyes, she would find a safe, steady presence waiting to help her feel secure again.

Walking into Sickbay Amber made her way across to where Jiru was standing offering a warm smile. “How is Saeri doing?”

"She's hanging in there, just wrestling with her own mind right now," Tiazal replied softly, keeping her voice low and steady so as not to startle the sleeping girl further. She shifted slightly to give Amber room by the bedside, "Doctor Kholin is keeping her sedated for the moment to spare her from the worst of the shock, but it’s a delicate balance. I'm staying right here to keep watch and make sure she knows she's safe the moment she wakes up."

The little girl stirred and bolted upright letting out a bloodcurdling scream. Then she fell back and sobbed, curling up in a tight ball as she did. She didn't speak, nor did she call out for her father. At the foot of the bed, Sherlock was so startled by the scream he let out a screech of his own before stretching out towards the girl, casting amber a questioning warble. The little dragon hesitated, visibly waiting for confirmation that it was alright to get to his young charge.

The CMO was just rounding the doorway as a cacophony of screaming met her ears. Rio rushed forward, no idea what could be happening, but realised as she got a clear view that Saeri had returned to her prone position but was now curled into a defensive fetal curl but seemed to have returned to her dreams, as unpleasant as they appeared to be.

"I'm in two minds about keeping her sedated as it's trapping her inside her nightmares but the alternative shock that she might wake into wouldn't do her any good either." Rio commented, generalizing her reasons to all generically. It wasn't that she needed anyone else's opinion nor approval, she just wanted to reassure all that she had considered the alternatives and the pros and cons. It was complicated and whilst everyone was aware that the little Trill girl needed constant care, Rio wasn't risking anyone deciding to wake her up in a mistaken attempt to help free her of the restrictions of sedation - with the best will in the universe - and possibly not having the medical experience to judge how much worse the inevitable automatic alternative would bring instead.

Kholin checked the bio-bed readouts and updated herself on what, if anything had changed. Satisfying herself that things were progressing slowly but at least in the right direction, she popped in a couple of dosage updates and confirmed with Corpswoman Jiru that she was required to stay right beside Saeri, something that she seemed more than willing to accept, and went on about her rounds, leaving clear instructions that if anything was to change then she wanted to know at once.

Amber nodded to Rio offering a smile before turning to Sherlock, giving the small dragon a gentle stroke. “It’s okay Sherlock, this is normal she’s gone through a lot.” Moving a little closer she remembered something her mother used to do when she was little, a common place thing on Betazed, but not amongst non-telepaths. She gently placed her hand on Saeri’s letting her mind reach out to give a gentle ‘mental hug’ of sorts. She’d found it soothing when she was young, she hoped Saeri would too. She kept it brief before stepping back again.

Tiazal stepped in closer to the biobed as Saeri startled awake and fell back into a distressed, sobbing curl. Keeping her movements slow, deliberate, and entirely unthreatening, she adjusted the blanket around the shivering child with a practiced, soothing gentleness.

Softly, keeping her voice pitched to a low, calming frequency meant to cut through the panic without overwhelming the ward, Tiazal spoke into the quiet space. "It's alright, Saeri. You're safe here on the Enterprise," she murmured, offering a reassuring, steady presence right by the bedside. She cast a brief, comforting glance toward Sherlock to let the little dragon know everything was under control, before keeping her eyes gently fixed on the child, ready to anchor her through the storm.

Unconsciously, Saeri reached for the hand that had touched hers and snuggled into the hands that adjusted the blanket across her shoulders. She seemed very small now despite her age. Sherlock chirped at the nurse, his eyes a mix of orange and green as he glanced at the girl then at the women. He was clearly worried about his young charge.

"Daddy..." The girl whimpered softly as she drifted back into an uneasy sleep.

Amber stood watch it was obvious Tiazal was the right choice to take care of Saeri, her calming gentle manner was perfect for comforting Saeri. “It’s okay Sherlock, it’s stressful right now but Saeri will be alright.” She offered Tiazal a warm smile. “I’m glad Saeri has you to keep her comforted.”

The little blue dragon chirped softly as he crept closer to the girl, crawling under her arm to be close to her. His bond mate had tasked him with watching the little one and that's what he'd do. He crooned comfortingly as he carefully nuzzled her cheek.

It was only a few more hours, despite how long they seemed to those who watched and waited patiently, but in her own time, Saeri's body worked through the sedative and began to stir more insistently. Rio was informed and she returned to the bedside, checking all the little Trill's vitals and nodding gently in approval. "I think she's ready to come round and see her father, her friends and be reassured more into her conscious thought process now." the CMO explained. "Hopefully that will give her subconscious mind a break from her fearful nightmares."

"Understood, Doctor," Tiazal replied, offering Rio a grateful, professional nod. She immediately set to work adjusting the biobed's infusion matrix to begin tapering off the sedative safely and gradually, ensuring the transition out of deep sleep would be as smooth as possible.

Sensing Sherlock's renewed anxiety as the monitors shifted, Tiazal offered the little dragon a soft, reassuring smile, gently resting a hand near him without displacing him from under Saeri's arm. "It's alright, Sherlock. You did a wonderful job keeping watch over her," she murmured softly.

Turning her complete attention back to the young Trill, Tiazal leaned in slightly closer, her voice a calm, steady melody designed to ease the child out of the dark fog of her sleep. "Take your time, Saeri. You're safe here, and your dad is going to be right here to see you soon."

Amber backed away letting Tiazal continue her wonderful job until Aidan arrived. “I’ll head to my office calm me if you need me.” She smiled warmly.

It wasn't too long before the Trill science chief arrived in sickbay. "How is she?" He asked, visibly unsettled once more now that he was free to tend to his child.

Amber was just on her way out as Aidan entered. “She’s doing okay Aidan, somewhat unsettled but okay. Feel free to come and see me when you feel up to it.” With that she headed on her way.

With Aidan stepping up to the bedside and Amber departing the ward, Tiazal offered a quiet, professional nod to both of them. Seeing that young Saeri was now in her father's care and safely past the acute danger of the sedative withdrawal, the young Trill nurse gently stepped back from the biobed.

"I'll leave you both to catch up," Tiazal murmured softly, offering a reassuring parting smile to Aidan and a gentle, cautious pat to Sherlock. With her shift rotation concluded and the patient stable, she turned on her heel and slipped quietly out of the isolation ward, leaving the family to heal in peace.

"Please stay close," the worried father requested as he sat down at the girl's bedside. He took one of her small hands between his own and saw her restlessness quieted at his touch. "I'm here Saeri, and I'll take you home when you're awake."

"I'm still here,Sir." Rio spoke gently as she entered just in time to hear Aidan ask Tiazal to stay close. "Corpsman Jiru has finished her very useful shift and will be going off duty once she's logged out, but I have a double shift not long started and I'm here to make sure Saeri is well looked after." she reassured the Lt Commander and slipped quietly over to her office where her window overlooked the whole of sickbay and was connected to all alarms remotely.

"I apologise doctor," Aidan offered contritely, "I hadn't realised she was about to head off duty. I'm grateful for her presence while I have been occupied." He hoped to be able to spend some time here, but he didn't know he was going to be called upon soon. "I'd like to sit with her for a while, while she gradually sleeps this off." The unrest he felt was visible in his usually calm exterior. "I've not been this scared before, I think," he added as he still held his daughter's hand, hoping she was aware of his presence somehow.

Amber was on her way to her office, but paused looking back towards Sickbay. Records could wait keeping Aidan company was more important right now. She turned and walked back in just in time to hear his response. “I’ll sit with you if you like?” She offered a warm smile.

Rio smiled back gratefully. "That's kind, thank you Counsellor, I do have a lot to get through but don't hesitate to call me if you need anything or if Saeri does, or if you think of anything you want to ask, I can come instantly back and I do have the monitors on in my office so I will also be keeping an eye out too." she offered putting a sympathetic hand on Aidan's shoulder as she stood up.

“We will, thank you Rio” Amber offered a smile even though she had a headache, which wasn’t unusual anymore. She made a mental note to talk to Rio later about her last set of scans.

The crisp, ambient chime of the ship-wide intercom interrupted the quiet air of Sickbay before Galatea's voice echoed through the ward with measured, pristine clarity.

"Counselor Amber Laurell and Commander Aidan Datari, please report immediately to the Shuttlebay."

Aidan sighed softly at the summons and rose to his feet. "Thank you doctor. Please don't hesitate to contact me if her situation changes." He gently touched his companion, drawing the blue's attention. "Stay here, but be ready to come if I summon you," he ordered sternly.

Amber stood ready to accompany Aidan down to the shuttlebay, it looked like they were going off ship yet again.

Disturbed by the announcement across Sickbay and the movement of her father away from his former closeness to her, Saeri stirred slightly and her breathing began to just very slightly quicken from the calm she had been in beforehand. Rio decided not to go back to her office right away, in consideration of this and resigned herself to the fact that the admin would have to wait. ~Not~ she thought, ~that this situation would be any different from 99.9% of the time. Such was life and secretly, it was a nice restful task to replace Aiden at his daughter's side and substitute his hand contact with her own.

The resuming of the comforting contact seemed to settle the little Trill patient, who rewarded Rio with a relaxed sigh. ~This is what makes me love my job so much!~ the CMO thought to herself and settled against the chair beside the bed, leaving her hand in Saeri's and letting out a long breath of her own, allowing her shoulders to relax and smiling at the closed eyes on the quiet little face with the miniature 'Trill spots' matching her own, although Saeri's were deeper in colour due Rio's own hybrid genetics.

The idea of a child of her own in the future sometime, wafted into Rio's daydreams as she took up the vigil, for however long it would be needed tonight.

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