Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL

A NEW DAY, ch. 30: Doctor, Healer

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Set after A NEW BEGINNING. Simon struggles to keep everyone healthy, but things quickly take a turn for the worse. S/K, R/J, M/I

CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3581    RATING: 9.0 (G)    SERIES: FIREFLY

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A/N: All right everyone, we are in the home stretch - hang onto something!

Thanks must once again go to Leiasky - for so many reasons, including her ability to sift through my angst and find the real gems of the story!

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A NEW LIFE, ch. 30: Doctor, Healer

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As the day dragged on, Simon couldn’t help but watch his sister as she worked. She moved with such ease and grace, even in the midst of all the sickness, her hands were gentle and her touch reassuring. He watched with particular interest as she comforted the children who were suffering. With a light hand to their foreheads or a quick squeeze of their hand, River seemed to know exactly what to say to make the little ones laugh or smile or even just drift to sleep. And Simon couldn’t help but be amazed.

“Your fever is breaking, Diana,” Simon said softly to the young woman he was treating. “And it looks like the rash is receding. Does it still itch as badly as it did before?”

Shaking her head, the woman looked at him tiredly and said, “No, doc. I am feelin’ a mite better.”

Placing a hand to her arm, Simon smiled and said, “Well, then, my work here is done.” Administering another shot of acetaminophen to keep her fever down, Simon told her, “Just rest. In about four days, you should be fine to go home.”

She nodded once and as her eyes drifted closed, Simon felt a light hand fall to his shoulder. “You’re doing well,” River told him quietly, offering her hand to him to help him stand.

Taking it gratefully, Simon hauled himself to his feet and surveyed the room. It was still full, a lot fuller than he’d like, but with so many people under his care, and the chance for the spread of the disease so great, he really couldn’t have expected less.

Turning his eyes back to his sister, he kissed her cheek and told her, “So are you, mei mei. You’re a godsend.”

Rolling her eyes at him, as he moved onto the next cot, River followed him and said, “I don’t know about that. Sometimes people just need a smile.”

Comments
Thursday, 19 October 2006 02:35
I thought it might be measles. I remember the big deal when the ruebella vaccine was first offered when I was in school. We were lined up by class to get it.

Just so worried about Danny and Kaylee and also about Inara. It could really effect her baby. That would be too much though wouldn't it?
SBZ
Thursday, 19 October 2006 02:42
Simon's a very contientious doctor, father, and husband. I highly doubt he would just assume that Daniel had been vacinated when he could simply ask, especially knowing Daniel was born on the rim where vaccinations probably aren't as available. With all the time they've spent in the Core and all his communication with Regan, somehow I just don't think he'd allow something that important to be overlooked for five years.

I get the dramatic peril, but it would have been as effective for Daniel to get sick and Simon to declare it's something else.

Worried about Jayne, of course. Really hope he doesn't die after everything he and River have been through.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 04:38
Damnit! Jayne can't die. I won't allow it!
Sure he was foolish to try and think nothing was wrong with himself, but to die from it? That's just downright mean.

You're evil you know, telling us someone is going to die...pure evil (in the nicest way).

Measles suck, I've had them and it's not the least bit fun...except you don't have to go to school (that's always fun).
Thursday, 19 October 2006 05:40
I thought Rubella was german measles, not the regular variety. But I could very well be wrong - thats just a personal recollection...
Thursday, 19 October 2006 05:41
Excellent tale as always. You just thrive on the angst, dont you :)
Thursday, 19 October 2006 10:52
Please don't kill off Jayne just because you can. Piling on the angst this is building to quite a peak of fearsome consequences. I am not surprised at how consciencious Simon is, he always comes across that way when it comes to healing people. Love how natural River is with reassuring the children, makes me that much sadder that she can't have any of her own but she could adopt. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
Thursday, 19 October 2006 13:16
I am most certainly worried about Jayne, but with 3 chapters to go I know that anything can still happen. It could be what we expect, or it could be someone off the wall like Mal or Zoe. Either way, good writing.

“Do you ever not think about sex?”
~ A woman who thinks about sex more'n a man? Shudder to think.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 14:09
*Holding onto something*
Thursday, 19 October 2006 14:09
*Holding onto something*

“He gave it to the other babies when they was born, but he wasn’t there when Danny was born.”

I was afraid of that. God, I could just kick Simon.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 15:37
So...

What's up with Rylee? She hasn't appeared in the last couple of stories and I'm wondering if we're to take it that her issues are resolved?

I hope we'll see more of her; seems like what she went through wouldn't be over with that quickly or easily.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 15:44
I can't see either Kaylee or Simon forgetting about Daniel's innoculations - for a start, there would be some sort of patient record for Daniel, and if there wasn't, Simon'd have to start one up. Plus, Kaylee should have her own set of records for Daniel - I know my mother kept immaculate medical records of anything pertaining to her children, especially the vaccinations.

First thing he'd do is check with Kaylee and Millie to see what innoculations Daniel had received, if he'd needed any medical treatment, etc etc.

I could see the innoculation not working, yes. But 3 people missing the fact that Daniel hadn't been innoc'd for measles I don't see.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 16:27
TRESTA - Rylee's issues are not resolved, however it ebbs and flows. She will be a main focus of the Postscript, tentatively titled "Reasons" which I will post in 5 chapters after I've finished posting this story.

TKID et al. - I realize it might be a bit of a stretch that Simon wouldn't have known Daniel was not innoculated. However, given the circumstances of Daniel's birth and Simon's introduction to him I think it's feasible that some things might have gotten lost in the shuffle (don't forget Millie's house went up in flames and they left in a hurry - who's to say that Kaylee grabbed Danny's medical records).

Thanks to all for reading and responding. You guys have been great!

I currently have four other multi-chapter stories banked as well as quite a few one-offs, so hopefully you're not tired of me yet! I just can't get enough of the 'verse.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 16:30
I can see a multitude of things contributing to Simon not realizing that Daniel had not been given the correct innoculations. The stress of what's going on, River's request, the fact that he'd innocked all his other kids, and Inara's, thinking that Millie had done it. Maybe not something he'd have missed under normal circumstances, but with everything coming at him at once, I could see it.

I like the growing tension and angst of a few different people being sick. And since you've warned someone is going to die, I like that the reader isn't really quite sure who that person is going to be.
Thursday, 19 October 2006 18:36
Oh...this is getting to be just crazy! Jayne's got the measles really bad, Danny's out for the count, Kaylee's in the early stages and Lord knows if Simon could become affected by being around so many of them and probably not maintaining proper daily regimes like eating and sleeping...damn you're evil!

And wouldn't it just suck if the baby River saw via Cadie was hers...but only came after Jayne died? Cuz I get the feeling that this measles epidemic could have unforseen biological consequences...

BEB

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