Answers to Questions... (original) (raw)

::just removing adm_max_forrest from the imaging chamber when jonathan_archer enters sickbay::

::glancing up, nods in acknowledgement before going back to focus on Forrest::

Captain. Please join me perhaps you can give me a bit more insight into his symptoms.

::approaches Phlox and Forrest, slow for some reason, getting closer makes Jon's anxiety level rise... fidgets just a bit, shunts the energy off subconsciously to hand, rubbing it more::

::stops about a step behind Phlox, looking at Forrest::

...

Have you found anything yet?

I'm just now correlating my data.

::looks back at Archer, eyes dart quickly to his hand then back to his face::

Has the Admiral been exhibiting any unusual symptoms lately? I haven't encountered him myself in several days.

Has he been ill?

::keeps eyes on Forrest... he doesn't look good... ::

::licks lips::

He's been... off. ::looks up:: Foster told me he'd seemed dizzy, blinking a lot... I saw him the other day, he was... ::remembers:: ... he had crouched to see the kids and didn't get up... ::trails off::

There was an argument, today, a little while ago. Pretty heated. He got distant, his voice was quiet... seemed like his head hurt, then he collapsed.

::moves closer, near Forrest's legs, gaze again on his face::

Is he going to be all right?

::nods as listens to his list::

::looking up at the screen above the imaging chamber, touches a few buttons::

See this?

::points to image of Forrest's head::

I believe he has a brain tumor.

::looks up sharply, first at Phlox, then the screen, squinting::

A tumor??

::uninjured hand falls automatically to lay on Forrest's leg::

... how serious... ?

::frowns, moving head about just a little::

I really can't say at the moment. I didn't witness any of his symptoms before he collapsed, but judging by the size and the location. It could be quite extensive.

::clicks on images to bring up a larger magnification of Forrest's brain::

From the scans it appears to be a Posterior Fossa tumor, roughly the size of an orange, so it could affect a great many things. As you can see, it's in the cerebellum.

I'll have to operate to remove it.

An orange??

::squeezes hand on his leg, stares at the image::

::recovers::

Cerebellum. What does that affect?

Primarily it controls the motor skills, walking, coordination, balance, some speech coordination as well. This particular one seems to have caused some severe papilladema or optic nerve swelling.

I'm also concerned with the cerebrellar artery. It may be pinched...which could have been what ultimately made him collapse.

::turns to look at Archer::

You said he was in a heated argument? Was he angry, would it have led to his blood pressure increasing perhaps?

::lets out a deep breath::

Yes. I'm sure it did...

::mind's eye flashes to the Ready Room... yelling... Jon right there, inches away from Forrest... sees him lose color, sees him fall, feels him fall into Jon...::

...

::distantly, looking at Phlox but not seeing him::

... did I do this...?

::look of surprise comes to face::

I highly doubt you could have given the admiral a brain tumor, it's possibly been growing for several months.

I only asked because if that artery is pinched off and his blood pressure was elevated it very likely could have caused a stroke. Thus the sudden collapse in your ready room earlier.

It's very strange.....he hasn't reported anything to me, and I can't recall his having requested any assistance from my staff recently.

::turns to a different monitor::

He has not been by sickbay for anything in several weeks, and that was for.....some mild analgesics to keep in his quarters. Not an uncommon request.....except...he seems to have been having them replinished frequently by my staff......and none of them thought to bring it to my attention.....hmmmm.

I'd say by this...he's been in pain for quite some time.

...

I can't believe he didn't...

::rubs hand over forehead::

He knows he's supposed to report to the CMO if he's not well... he didn't... that's not like him...

...

::pauses... not like him... ::

Phlox... could something like this cause behavioral changes...?

::raises eyebrows::

Oh absolutely, in fact that would be one of the end stage manifestations also mood swings, highly emotional, difficulty focusing, and I definitely would look over any recent orders or decisions he would have made. His decision making could have been compromised.

Early symptoms would have been, pain, as in headaches, nausea, blurred vision, dizziness. Bright lights would have bothered him.

Had you noticed him showing signs of any of these?

::notices a level on the monitor change, moves back to the bed and administers a hypo::

::runs hand through hair, nodding... should feel relieved... is, to a point, but now has to deal with the tumor itself... and Mal still believing it all... shit... ::

Yes, he's been a bit... erratic. His behavior. I was attributing it to... emotions. ::looks at Phlox almost apologetic:: We've had some interesting discussions lately.

You said... operate...? ::moves closer to Phlox, kneading side of hand again:: If it's that big... is he in any danger?

::nods, smiling briefly::

Now you can see why those conversations were so interesting.

::glances back at Jon's hand, reaches over to counter and picks up handheld scanner::

Let's see it Captain.

::carefully takes his hand, spreading it out and scanning it::

::furrows brow::

Did this happen during your conversation with the admiral?

Uh... no OW! ::winces as Phlox prods a particularly sensitive spot:: Ow... sorry... this was after, just before I came here...

::shrugs, tries to pass it off::

I let off a little steam. The metal beam won.

::grimaces again, throbbing spreading::

::winces at his yelling in pain::

I apologize for causing you pain. It's not that serious. A lot of bruising, a minor crack in the outer metacarpal. It would do you some good to apply a cool pack and let me stabilize it. Plus staying away from the beam would be a definite choice for the future.

::reaches across to get some plastiform gel, moving his hand into the proper position and coating it with the plastiform::

::Continues speaking as he works::

As for the admiral...he's in a great deal of danger. This is extremely serious and I'm not certain how deeply it's inbedded in his brain tissue. If he survives the surgery, I can't determine as of yet how he will be afterward. I've no way of knowing the extent of damage the tumor has caused.

Plus if he has had a stroke....well, then we have a whole new list of difficulties to deal with.

::looks up from working on Jon's hand and locks eyes with him::

Alot of this will be up to him...and his will to live. I can only do so much.

::repeats, stunned::

His will to live.

::sinks... thinks about the last few days... drinking over Jon's dad... Jon's response to that little revelation... their confrontation over the crew... the kids... oh god... the kids...::

::... Henry... ::

...

::lowers eyes, watching the doctor finish up the plastiform::

Phlox, there's... a lot that has happened lately... obviously...

When it comes to a 'will to live'... through something like this... how much would final conscious actions have to do with that...?

Do patients find a way to draw on... other things? Internal? I mean, versus... the last things they may remember?

Well captain as you are probably aware of, even in our time the brain is an unusual thing.

It's been proven time after time that comatose patients can hear what is happening around them, relate to external stimuli, sound being the most common, but touch is also a factor.

As for what was going on in recent days playing a role...I can't be certain of anything. It's quite possible he will have no memory of anything he did the last few days, weeks or possibly months.

As humans I've noted that your will to live is drawn from within. If he can't find it internally, he may search for an external...connector. If he has something to come back to....that may assist him on his recovery.

::finishes with Jon's hand, putting away the supplies::

First things first though....the operation. Which I have to prepare for, he is still not stable enough to operate just yet, and I will need time to get things gathered.

I've spoken to Dr. McCoy and he is going to assist me. His advanced knowledge will be greatly appreciated. The procedure itself will take several hours, depending on what we find when we get in there.

::stops and thinks.....then turns to Archer, placing a hand on his arm::

I'm sorry I can't offer more hope. I have to operate though, he will die if I don't. You're the closest thing he has to family....I don't need anyone's permission to proceed, but if you know of any wishes he may have expressed, anything he's ever said about life or death situations.....I need to know them...now.

'You're the closest thing he has to family....'

...

::feels color drain::

...

::hand hurts suddenly, looks down sharply, testing the plastiform mold around the edge... speaks as looks down::

No... I... I don't know of any wishes... I don't...

::seeks out Forrest's face::

I don't know him... really...

::clears throat::

He's never said anything to me... I'll check his files...

::inhales, straightens::

Keep me apprised of his condition, Doctor. I... need to go...

::hesitates, then turns and heads toward the sickbay doors to head out::

Very well captain. I'll be sure to let you know how the surgery goes.

Don't worry about checking his records, I have access to them myself.

::watches as Jon begins towrd sickbay doors::

Good day captain.

::through the doors... into the corridor... to the lift... passing walls and doors and a few crew along the way... turns in the lift, doors closing::

...

...

::stands there::

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::looks up at ceiling::

...

::imagines as had, long ago, how it was, how it was in Jon's mind, not knowing... ::

::dad... on the floor of his workshop... in pain... slipping away... being found at random... not alone...::

...

::new reality... not random, more than likely never alone... ::

...

::closes eyes... Forrest's face, pale, drawn... alone...::

::whispers to no one there::

I don't know him...

... I'm sorry...

::finds comfort in the quiet... but no answers...::

::lift door opens, surprised ensign hesitating at seeing captain there just standing... Jon gathering self again, stepping back to let the man come in::

::orders for Bridge, ensign exiting at B Deck, lift continuing::

::absently bothered by hand now and again::

::exits to Bridge to continue shift::

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