EXETERRPG: (1 - 1120) FO Ailynn Bracken/Gabrielle Knight

[Mark Howard]

NRPG: Trigger warning. This deals with a potentially sensitive and
upsetting issue, so if sick children is a sensitive subject, please don’t
read any further. This is another important growth point for Ailynn.



RPG:



Mission: Lights, Camera….Action?

Day: 1

Stardate: 2446.01.01/2025.06.30





(Toronto – Sickkids Childrens Hospital, paediatric oncology - FO Ailynn
Bracken/Gabrielle Knight - 1120)


Ailynn stepped out of the car, and walked alongside Casey, chatting gently
as they walked down the hall, drawing gasps and squeals of amazement.

“That’s that..”

“She’s from that”

“She’s tall…”

“I hate that show”

"Merek is prettier"

Casey blushed… “Sorry…”

Ailynn giggled. “It’s okay.” she waved gently at the children’s faces that
they passed, trading greetings with children, and staff alike as they made
their way to their destination.

Once more Casey spoke to her. “We have a bag of a few things that you asked
the studio to give Jenna, she’s a massive fan of yours and the show. I’ll
pass it to you at the right time.”

“That’s good of you thank you Casey”

At the door to oncology, they were met by a young looking doctor, obviously
exhausted, and shoulders slumped with the weight that she carried. “Miss
Knight…” She began, a tired smile came to her face. “You have no idea how
much this will mean to Jenna. I’m Doctor Hall.”

“Gabbie please, and it’s no problem.” Ailynn was aware that Casey had
gently taken her bag and put it over her own shoulder. “I don’t have
words.”

“In a moment we’re going to go into the family room, Jenna’s mother and
father are in there, we’ll have a chat with them and then we’ll go through.
Is that okay?”

Ailynn nodded an agreement and noticing that Casey had taken a step back,
followed the Doctor through the double doors and into the ward. She was
instantly reminded of parts of the Hospital on the Mars base, large
corridors, and smaller wards that split off the main corridor. Doctor Hall
led them into a private room just off a small, side corridor. Ailynn
noticed assorted leaflets, of all types on a holder on the wall. As she
read the titles of the pamphlets, her heart sank, as her brain supplied
what she could remember of the treatment for cancer in the early 21st
century, there had been still so little known, despite the great advances
that had been made.

This was going to be a rough visit.

Doctor Hall opened the door, and immediately saw a room that was more
familiar than she was comfortable with. Reasonably well decorated, but
perhaps tired in places, various cheery looking, well painted cartoon
characters were utterly at odds with the news that Ailynn knew had been
given to parents in here over the years. The atmosphere was oppressive.

A dark haired woman, who was probably only in her mid-late thirties, but
her face had been aged maybe ten years by worry, a line of grey hair at her
parting. Her eyes had been made up, but she could see the pain underneath
the eyeshadow. A man sat off to her right, though not closely. He was the
epitome of stoicism, outwardly calm, anyone would look at him and see a man
who seemingly didn’t care. Ailynn however looked deeper, there was a look,
deep in the eyes that was screaming out, it wasn’t that he didn’t care, it
was that he had no idea how to. Ailynn watched as Doctor Hall, and one of
the nurses went straight up to the mother, but no-one spoke to the father.
He had so many feelings that were barely being recognised, and he’d shut
the world out.

The mother, tired as she was almost jumped up out of her seat. “I can’t
believe you said that you’d do this. You must be so busy...you have no idea
how much this means to her...and me.” Ailynn found herself pulled into a
tight hug.

Gently removing herself from the fierce embrace, Ailynn smiled and looked
toward the father, who was obviously unsure whether it was appropriate to
shake a hand or hug. Answering the dilemma for him Ailynn stood by his side
with a gentle arm about his shoulders, she could feel the tension in his
muscles soften almost immediately as if the simple touch had said to him
that it was allowed for him to be outwardly scared and worried too.

“Are those Jenna’s notes? Her mum said to Doctor Hall”

Nodding, she passed the tablet over to Jenna’s mum, who passed it to
Ailynn. Wanting desperately to resist, she took it and tried to make it
look like she was interested, but didn’t understand the notes.

Sadly she did.

Her highly trained eyes ran over the page, and Ailynn’s mind devoured the
knowledge that it contained, drug plan, treatment, obs records the works.
“Are these the scans of the tumours?” She asked innocently.

Doctor Hall nodded reluctantly. “Best MRI scans we have.”

Ailynn nodded, and looked closely, finding accidentally the zoom function.
She was horrified to see the detail that she could see. “Thank you for
including me.” She said as she passed it back.

“You have to understand Miss Knight, this won’t be able to be a long visit,
Jenna is extremely weak, her body is going through so much and she only has
so much strength. Shall we go through?”

Ailynn nodded and steeled herself against what she knew was going to be a
difficult moment. Casey tipped her the wink, and handed her a large gift
bag as Ailynn left the room.

She followed Jenna’s parent’s through the door once more, and through to
Jenna’s room.


Her parent’s were desperately trying to sound excited, and they were, but
the sight that beheld them rended their hearts asunder, even as it did
Ailynn’s when she walked into the room. She’d seen pictures before of
course, but all that medical knowledge could never have prepared her for
what she saw before her, ~don’t cry Ailynn, prophets sake be strong.~

The young girl, bedridden, pale and obviously horribly weak from the
cancer, and numerous treatments, opened her beautifully expressive pale
green eyes at the sight of her hero entering the room. Ailynn could see the
shock, and happiness that ran through the bedridden girl, a flush of
happiness that brought some colour to her cheeks albeit temporarily. “It’s
Ailynn….Oh my…” Tears ran down Jenna’s plaid, drawn cheeks.

Her mum nodded and made a space, which Ailynn stepped into and sat bay the
bed.

“Hey sweetie, I hear that you put an application in to go to the Academy?”
It was a complete goofball line, but it made Jenna smile.

“You’re mum and dad asked make-a-wish who asked me to come in and see you.”

“Did you beam in?” Jenna joked, a teasing look in her eyes that showed a
strength of character and sense of humour under the fear, and pain.

“No…” Ailynn shook her head. “I bullied Trip into landing the Exeter in the
Staff car park.” Ailynn joked. “No one can come in or out of the whole
hospital.” She winked.

They chatted as Ailynn handed over the gifts that had been arranged.
Amongst them a model of the Exeter, a replica Command uniform, and other
collectibles that had been donated.

Ailynn saw a picture on Jenna’s bedside, “That was me mum and dad, before
the treatment, back when I had hair.” Jenna said, obviously emotionally and
beginning to grow tired. “I miss that.”

“Hair like Trinity’s” Ailynn found herself saying. “I adore that colour.”

“Ail...Gabrielle?” Jenna said gently. “You’re my hero, Ailynn is always so
strong, so ready to be there to kick ass.”

Ailynn tilted her head, and shrugged, she wasn’t able to hold on to her
tears any more, and one escaped down her cheek. “You know who my hero is?”
she said in reply. Ailynn leant forward and kissed Jenna gently on the
hand. “...it’s you.”

Jenna smiled and whispered to her mum, and getting the jist, Ailynn stood
up, and kissed Jenna on the forehead, “Keep strong...Commander.”

Doctor Hall led her gently out of the room, and into her office, where she
shut the door. Ailynn sat on a chair in a hidden corner, and bringing her
feet and knees up, the dam of her sorrow broke, and the tears openly
running down her face as she hugged her knees.

(Reply none)

(Posted by Mark)
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