"The water's more important right now. When he wakes up, we'll work on getting some soup in him, things that he can swallow easily and keep down." He gave her a tired smile. "Now, I check the wound in his side and change his bandages. If he's responding to you, I'm less worried about the head injury. Now we just do our best to keep the wounds from getting infected, and pray he starts breathing more easily and that there's nothing too damaged inside." He shook his head a little. "I would do just about anything for an X-ray machine, but we haven't got the power capacity back for that, yet."
The pendants could only do so much--running a whole hospital, getting the computer equipment in things like X-rays and MRIs running again took a lot of specialized work beyond flipping the lights back on.
He moved to do what he had said, crossing to Bass's bedside and checking his temperature by touch, as well as his pulse. He checked the wound under the bandages, now neatly stitched shut and, thankfully, no more inflamed than to be expected and free of signs of infection. Tugging a jar of salve out of his bag, he applied it to the wound, then rebandaged it carefully. He seemed to know already that Charlie would be staying rather than the medic, and talked to her as he worked, giving her what information he could, trying to ease her anxiety, as that would ease his patient's.
"The wound looks good. You want to check him for fever every few hours, and try to get him to drink, as you have been. Talk to him, let him know you're here. There was solid evidence that people in comas could hear those in the room with them, and he's not quite that deep, even. If he gets restless, try to get him to stay still. When he's awake and able to talk to me, I can get a better assessment of his internal injuries. If he starts running a fever or his breathing gets any worse, send one of the guards for me."
He glanced at her plate of uneaten food. "You need to take care of yourself, as well, including sleeping. If you don't want one of my medics here, then let your uncle and Captain Baker take shifts watching him while you sleep. Normally, I'd suggest bringing in a cot, but if you don't mind the closer quarters, it might be good for him to feel you there. Human touch is one of the most healing things we can offer, but, sadly, his position makes my staff uncomfortable chatting with him or touching him like they would the other wounded."
no subject
The pendants could only do so much--running a whole hospital, getting the computer equipment in things like X-rays and MRIs running again took a lot of specialized work beyond flipping the lights back on.
He moved to do what he had said, crossing to Bass's bedside and checking his temperature by touch, as well as his pulse. He checked the wound under the bandages, now neatly stitched shut and, thankfully, no more inflamed than to be expected and free of signs of infection. Tugging a jar of salve out of his bag, he applied it to the wound, then rebandaged it carefully. He seemed to know already that Charlie would be staying rather than the medic, and talked to her as he worked, giving her what information he could, trying to ease her anxiety, as that would ease his patient's.
"The wound looks good. You want to check him for fever every few hours, and try to get him to drink, as you have been. Talk to him, let him know you're here. There was solid evidence that people in comas could hear those in the room with them, and he's not quite that deep, even. If he gets restless, try to get him to stay still. When he's awake and able to talk to me, I can get a better assessment of his internal injuries. If he starts running a fever or his breathing gets any worse, send one of the guards for me."
He glanced at her plate of uneaten food. "You need to take care of yourself, as well, including sleeping. If you don't want one of my medics here, then let your uncle and Captain Baker take shifts watching him while you sleep. Normally, I'd suggest bringing in a cot, but if you don't mind the closer quarters, it might be good for him to feel you there. Human touch is one of the most healing things we can offer, but, sadly, his position makes my staff uncomfortable chatting with him or touching him like they would the other wounded."