Day 52, evening, Infirmary, attn: David
"Sean." David's voice was low and deep, pitched not to wake sleepers. Like Cris, who still slept as though dead or deactivated. The behavior worried Sean, and he held onto Cris's limp hand as he slept, hoping for a twitch or a spasm.
"Sean," David said again, touching his shoulder briefly. Sean swiveled, looking up at him through tired eyes. The doctor mask was fully in place, as it had been almost continuously since Cris reappeared.
This time, however, it had some reproach in it. "Cris is going to be asleep for a while. Why don't you take a break, step away for a bit?" Sean started to shake his head, but paused at the look in David's eyes. "Not to put too fine a point on it, but you could use a good shower, maybe sleep on a real bed. Take some time before he wakes." David paused, the flicker of something deep and hard to read passing behind his mask. "For Cris, if nothing else."
Sean breathed in deep, leaning back. He let the breath out slowly, releasing Cris's hand and running it through his hair, fingers catching in snarls. "All right," he said, and pushed up off the chair. He wobbled as he transitioned, unsteady with the movement, and David caught his arm, stabilizing him. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Guess I have been sitting for far too long."
"Sean," David said again, touching his shoulder briefly. Sean swiveled, looking up at him through tired eyes. The doctor mask was fully in place, as it had been almost continuously since Cris reappeared.
This time, however, it had some reproach in it. "Cris is going to be asleep for a while. Why don't you take a break, step away for a bit?" Sean started to shake his head, but paused at the look in David's eyes. "Not to put too fine a point on it, but you could use a good shower, maybe sleep on a real bed. Take some time before he wakes." David paused, the flicker of something deep and hard to read passing behind his mask. "For Cris, if nothing else."
Sean breathed in deep, leaning back. He let the breath out slowly, releasing Cris's hand and running it through his hair, fingers catching in snarls. "All right," he said, and pushed up off the chair. He wobbled as he transitioned, unsteady with the movement, and David caught his arm, stabilizing him. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Guess I have been sitting for far too long."