[Milliways]

[mr_gaeta]

It's been barely over a day since Gaeta tumbled through the Milliways door for the last time, and somehow -- despite being dead -- he's already coming down with something.

He can't tell what; it's just a general malaise, a chill that made him ask for a blanket along with his dinner when he went to the bar. Everything just seems...too bright, he guesses. Too loud. And he's starting to ache in a way that means he might've spoke too soon about the pain being gone for good.

Maybe he'll go to the infirmary later. For now, he's going to enjoy his soup.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

The tiniest shake of his head. "I'm sorry."

[mr_gaeta]

Yeah. Well, he doesn't say. (It may come across in his expression anyway.)

Gaeta bundles the blanket around himself, easing back to lie on the bed. "How long is this going to take?"

[simon_doctor]

"Probably not more than a few days. I'm afraid there's no way to speed it up."

[mr_gaeta]

Of course there isn't.

Gaeta nods, tiredly, and leans his head on the thin pillow. His skin's starting to feel weird: damp and clammy and like it's too tight for his bones.

"But there's, um. Ways to make it easier?"

He seems to remember Simon saying as much.

[simon_doctor]

"A few. Is the painkiller helping at all yet?"

[mr_gaeta]

"...A little bit," he hedges.

It doesn't exactly feel like it. But maybe, if he concentrates, maybe the ache will start to fade.

[simon_doctor]

"Let's give it another minute," he says. "Are you feeling nauseated at all?"

[mr_gaeta]

He shakes his head, then pauses.

"Maybe a little queasy?"

Frak if he can tell whether it's the psychosomatic kind of queasiness or not, though.

[simon_doctor]

"It's not uncommon. I can give you something for that too, if you like."

[mr_gaeta]

He sighs out a tiny breath, lifting a hand to rub his temples again.

"Yeah, sure, why not," he decides at last. "Better take care of it now."

[simon_doctor]

Simon nods, hesitates briefly, and turns for the door. "I'll be right back."

[mr_gaeta]

As soon as Dr. Tam's gone, Gaeta closes his eyes.

Maybe execution wasn't enough, he thinks tiredly. He's pretty sure there's something in the Scrolls about some section of the Fields reserved for the frak-ups: a place just like regular life, only a little bit worse. Maybe that's where he really ended up.

Maybe he's still in the launch tube, and he's hallucinating this whole thing right before his brain shuts down for good.

Please let it be over soon.