next time i wake
(a/n): because i am very much in 'loving rosie rosenthal hours' and judy rybinski of silver bullets is deserving of light and love and i just think the two would be a good fit for each other; whatever direction that leads them in. please enjoy!
Everything around her was warm, fuzzy and somewhat bright, but also peaceful and quiet and tranquil. It was a feeling she couldn't really remember feeling in quite some time.
She shifted around a bit, the blanket tucked up under her chin and the pillow under her head insanely fluffy, and there was a gentle whir of a fan somewhere above her.
Slowly she opened up her eyes and rolled onto her side, a small yawn sneaking out, a bit of pain somewhere in her leg, and then focused in front of her and was surprised to find none other than Captain Rosenthal there.
Judy's eyes slowly widened.
He wasn't looking at her at the minute; he was working his way through a book that she couldn't see the title of - bent over forward, staring down at the book propped between his fingers, a hand under his chin, deep in thought.
He couldn't have looked more glorious to her.
A stretch to even wonder what her current state was, how she had gotten here, and what was going on.
But, she was staring at Captain Rosenthal and for a moment, everything was okay.
"Sir?" she tested, her voice croaking and dry, her mouth tasting like saw dust. A crackling cough escaped her system and Captain Rosenthal looked up from his book and a soft smile grew on his face; he immediately went to grab for the water at her bedside and slid the chair closer forward.
"Hey," he said quietly, "how are you feeling?" She watched him and slowly nodded.
"Okay?" he asked her, "Let me help you sit up, get some water in you." She nodded again. He placed the water down and she let him take her hands and slowly sit her up.
"Here, you're good," he said, reaching over to adjust the pillow a bit more upwards behind her back, "there ya go, lean back a bit, there, good." Judy slowly, weakly if she could admit, let go of his hands and laid back against the pillow and then glanced towards the cup of water. She felt so weak it was honestly horrible. And in front of Captain Rosenthal.
"Want some water?" She nodded. He picked up the cup, and helped to adjust it in her hands - once she got some sips going, a few wet coughs to follow, she could get her voice going.
"Thank you, sir," she said looking up at him, and he smiled. There was something in his look that brought her comfort in a moment of time where she felt she had absolutely no idea what was going on. And he seemed to understand that right from her looking at him.
"Silver Bullets took a hit, at the ball turret," Captain Rosenthal said quietly, "they pulled you out, unconscious, got you to the ground. Lieutenant Montez made sure you got to a stretcher safely, got your leg fixed up and in bed. You've been out about a day." She blinked. She could hardly even remember that mission, getting in the ball turret - any of it.
"Where is she?" Judy asked quietly, "Lieutenant Montez?" Captain Rosenthal regarded her for a minute and glanced over his shoulder.
"She's not doing great," he told her, voice low, "I think Sergeant Harlowe convinced her to get some food, but she's been by your side a majority of the day and night - Lieutenant Carlisle and Lieutenant Achterberg, too." Judy stared at him.
"And you, sir?" He offered a quick smile.
"I've been here, too," he said, "keeping watch." There was something in his gaze far more comforting than that of others, that she trusted, something she wanted to reach out and grab hold of and never let go. He was convincing enough of that even with a few words. He seemed to be quite good at that.
"Judy!" Judy looked away from Captain Rosenthal and looked towards the entrance to the Med Bay; Judy was almost more relieved that she could say for - Lieutenant Bradshaw stood there, looking far better than she had in days, the stress under her eyes still more prevalent because of all the recent happenings, but looking cleaned up and slightly more well rested than before.
"Hi, Lieutenant," Judy said, her voice pathetic almost as Lieutenant Bradshaw came up to her and gently wrapped her arms around Judy's rather weak frame and gave her a soft squeeze before leaning back, face filled with relief and worry all at once.
"Look at you," Lieutenant Bradshaw said, "I just came to check in on you, stop by, give Captain Rosenthal here some company and instead I find you here awake." Judy grinned.
"The universe puts people in places for reasons," Lieutenant Bradshaw said and Judy chuckled slightly at her words, before Lieutenant Bradshaw glanced at Captain Rosenthal.
"How ya doing, Captain?" Captain Rosenthal - Rosie, Judy told herself - smiled.
"Just fine," he said, "keeping Rybinski company." Lieutenant Bradshaw smiled and turned back to Judy.
"How about I get you a cup of soup, huh?" Annie said before glancing at the near empty cup of water, "And more water. Liquids are always important. You were running a fever for a bit, but still, we'll hydrate you up."
"Forgot you were a nurse, Lieutenant." Rosie said with a chuckle, looking up at Lieutenant Bradshaw as she smirked and shook her head.
"My Ma is, so let's just say, I get it from her," Lieutenant Bradshaw said and then squeezed Judy's shoulder, "I'll be back."
Judy watched Lieutenant Bradshaw go - she really was the best - caring, kind, tough as nails, and if you mess with her enough, you'll have it coming. Judy would always admire Lieutenant Bradshaw - especially with Captain Brady going down.
Judy knew that she had gone and taken time to get those emotions out somewhere in the middle of the night, where no one could hear her or see her. And in the morning, she'd been just as she always had, strong as she always had, smiling like she did, crooked and toothy. You would've never known. But Judy knew - the few times Lieutenant Bradshaw had let on that there was something with Brady that hadn't been there before. Judy knew.
"You okay?" Judy watched Lieutenant Bradshaw disappear out the doors and then refocused again on Rosie, who was watching her rather intently, like if a gust of wind blew in, she'd blow over and he'd have to lay himself out to keep her from crash-landing on the ground. Which, in hindsight, she appreciated.
"Fine, sir," she said, and pulled the blankets up more, "it's chilly." Rosie watched her and then leaned forward and placed a hand on her forehead. It caught her off guard - his nearness, his aftershave, his presence there beside her, this sudden mother-hen dotting nervousness exuding just from that movement.
Maybe she still had the fever.
Judy slowly slid her eyes towards Rosie's face, which was closer than it had been before and she tried to dissect it, but like Major Cleven or Lieutenant Bradshaw, he schooled whatever he was feeling pretty well.
"You're a little warm," he said, "maybe you didn't break the fever yet." Rosie slowly stood to his feet and glanced around.
"Let me try and find a towel…." he muttered under his breath before moving towards where a few of the nurses were, quietly discussing something with them. Judy watched, that smile itching on her face to continue to grow wider. She shook her head and glanced towards the book.
"Of Mice and Men." she said out loud.
"It's a good one," she heard Rosie say, suddenly appearing again, "a lot of emotion though. Pretty heavy." Judy looked up towards him and bit back her lip a bit and glanced back down at the cover.
"I mostly stick to Jane Austen, I'll admit," Judy said and then smiled, "but I'd happily take some recommendations though, sir." Rosie grinned at her, where his eyes grew all glowy and soft.
"I'll promise to lend it to you when I'm done," he said, "I'd like to hear your thoughts." Judy did blush, but she outwardly blamed it on the fever and just went along with Rosie believing the same.
"Here," Rosie said, holding up the cloth, "was sitting in ice cubs, asked one of the nurses if you could use it, cool you down."
"Thank you, sir," she said as she laid back a bit, and he laid it against her forehead. She let out a quiet sigh at the relief of the cold cloth there on her skin and shut her eyes.
"That feels wonderful," Judy said quietly, "thank you." She could almost sense the quiet smile lingering on Rosie's face, though she had her eyes closed. Her heart bounced a bit inside her chest.
"Let me know when it starts drying out," he said, and she peaked her aching eyes open to see him settling again down on the chair beside her. He caught her gaze and smiled slightly.
"Get some rest, I'll be here when you wake up. Or whenever Annie gets back." he said, a slight chuckle at the end of his sentence at his words. Lord knows Annie could come back with more than she bargained for and fill Judy up with goodness. Judy watched Rosie for a moment, bathed in sunlight, and grinned.
"What?" Rosie asked, his voice tender in a way that reminded her of home. Judy grinned wider instead and shut her eyes.
"It's a secret, sir," Judy said and she heard Rosie laugh slightly.
"What does that-" Judy cracked an eye open and held a finger to her lips with a chuckle.
"I'll let you know when I wake up." she said and then shut her eyes and fell asleep to the soft laughs of Captain Rosie Rosenthal.
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