milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Carlotta enters, on crutches, looking tired, unwell and massively fed up. Her right leg is encased in a large metal contraption, with an attempt at dressing it around the metal.

She'd never realised how massively boring it is to be in hospital. And the continuous jokes about how unlucky it is to get shot in the 'balloon corps' are getting old very fast.

They tried to keep her in bed, but she kept climbing out on her three working limbs so the staff relented and gave her some crutches.

She sits down heavily in the nearest chair, even the small exertion wearing her out. At some point she'll hobble off to the infirmary to look for some future technology health care, once she's got her energy back.

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A cat comes to join her and sniff at her foot, then jumps into her lap.

"Hallo." Carlotta says, wincing and then petting the cat.

Count sprawls all over her, purring.

He regards her as one of his more steady humans.

Carlotta pets him with one hand, and rests her head back with the other. She feels hot, and starts wondering if she's running a temperature.

Cats like warm places, and this human is nice and warm, so Count starts dozing on her lap.

Carlotta curls up a bit, around him, but keeps her eyes open for Teja.

Teja walks in about fifteen minutes later, windy and energetic from a fast ride around the lake on Bramble.

"Teja?"

It comes out smaller than she intended. She's starting to feel dizzy and weak... and frightened.

Teja turns, sees her, and grows worried.

"Carlotta!" he says. "What ails you? How was your leg wounded?"

"I... I don't really remember but they said I was shot. I just feel awful at the moment." Carlotta says.

"So I started hobbling around looking for a portal in case they decided to do something unnecessarily drastic like amputate it."

"You need the infirmary!" Teja says. "Now!"

"It doesn't need amputating, I was being cynical because I'm fed up." Carlotta says, shifting Count so that she can get shakily back onto her crutches.

"They still should look at it," Teja says, worried. "Humour me."

Carlotta makes her way slowly towards the infirmary, looking a bit unsteady. She manages to make it up to Teja before collapsing.

Teja reaches for her and catches her before she falls down.

"It's even worse!"

"It doesn't need amputating!" Carlotta moans, holding onto Teja. "Do not under any circumstances amputate it."

She's burning hot to the touch.

"You are feverish," Teja says, carrying her to the infirmary.

"Guppy!" he calls. "Anybody! An emergency!"

Guppy comes out of the office.

"What happened?" he asks, helping Teja get Carlotta onto the bed. He frowns, feeling how warm she is.

"She was shot," Teja says, "and already treated at her world, which is some Earth in roughly 1950."

So Guppy would have an idea how far his science would be along.

"It's a military hospital, they're rushed off their feet." Carlotta says. "I'm not sure they're doing a good job."

She's glad to be lying down again, and squeezes Teja's hand for the moment.

Teja holds her hand. "Tell me when you need my help," Teja says to Guppy.

Until then, he'll just be reassuring her.

"Well by the looks of you, it's probably infected." Guppy says, taking her temperature with the ear thermometer. "We'll get you some antibiotics, and try to bring down the fever."

He nods at Teja. "There's some cooling packs in that cupboard - if you can get one and put it on her forehead please, that would help."

He checks her blood pressure and pulse.

"She's not in shock." he adds to Teja. "Let's have a look at the wound."

Teja fetches the cooling pack, puts it on Carlotta's forehead, and then sits by her again to hold her hand. "If she were, you could not?" he asks Guppy.

"If she were, I'd be putting the drip in first. But I'd rather get an idea of what antibiotics would be best if possible first." Guppy says, unwrapping the bandages.

It's very red and swollen, and hot when he touches it.

"You're not going to amputate it." Carlotta says.

"I don't think that'll be necessary, don't worry." Guppy says.

"They can do amazing things in the future," Teja assures her.