(no subject)

[guppy_sandhu]

[oom: In traditional August fashion, Holby explodes. Warnings for medical drama and spoilers for Casualty 6/8/11]

Guppy comes in, looking tired out, and flops down on the nearest sofa.

"Double whiskey please." he asks the nearest rat, who gives him a scheptical look but complies. After a few minutes the rat returns, along with Work Experience Waitrat from the infirmary, who hands him a block of ice wrapped in a towel.

"What's that for?"

The rats point to the dried cut on his eyebrow.

"Oh, that. Thanks." He puts the ice on his face, lies back on the couch and stares at the ceiling. The rats leave him to it, though Work Experience peeps over the top of the couch at him every so often.

Comments

[scots_wolf]

Eventually, it's not the Work Experience waitrat looking over the back of the couch.

"Did you get into a fight?" Urquhart asks.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy, who was staring into space, jumps.

"No, major incident in Holby. Gas explosion." he says.

[scots_wolf]

"Was it -- what do you call them in the future - terrorists?" Urquhart asks.

[guppy_sandhu]

"No no, it's gas used for heating and cooking." Guppy says. "Not that they told us there was gas everywhere for two hours."

He sips the whiskey and tries to calm down a bit.

"We'd have been in there if they hadn't cancelled our flights."

[scots_wolf]

Guppy tends to talk about things from his world as a matter of course, sometimes leaving Urquhart a bit bewildered.

"Cancelled your flights?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"We were heading on holiday." Guppy says. "We were going to go in an aeroplane, but the company who runs it cancelled at the last moment. We were going to get the train from the station next to the airport when it exploded."

[scots_wolf]

"The airport exploded?" Urquhart asks. "Or the train?"

That city sounds like a battlefield.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Airport." Guppy says. "But the station was next to it so we heard a big bang and felt the rush of air. We grabbed the kids and ran, then Fran took the kids to safety and I went to help with the casualties."

[scots_wolf]

"How many people died?" Urquhart asks.

[guppy_sandhu]

"I lost track. I... at least twenty, I think."

He downs the rest of the whiskey.

[scots_wolf]

"Quite bloody," Urquhart says. "Does that sort of thing happen often in your world?"

[guppy_sandhu]

"Not too often. We get about one or two major incidents a year." Guppy says.

One at Christmas, one in August. S'a thing.

"It was an accident that was unfortunately in a very public place."

He puts the glass down, his hand shaking slightly. He puts that hand in his pocket and puts the ice back on his head.

"I've got a splitting headache." he admits.

[scots_wolf]

"In my time, I'd have suggested willowbark tea," Urquhart says. "But your time has better stuff. Why don't you take any?"

[numbered_doctor]

There's a muffled curse from nearby, and the resulting footsteps bring a familiar face.

"Shit, Guppy, I know the women sometimes like the tough, wounded ones, but just because I got into a scrap, doesn't mean you should follow my example."

The tone may be teasing, but Guppy is getting looked over with a well-practiced eye as she considers dragging him to the infirmary.

[guppy_sandhu]

"Heh, I'm okay." Guppy says.

(It's not convincing, he looks as crap as he feels).

"Just a bump and a headache and a bit of anxiety, it'll pass."

[numbered_doctor]

She lays a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently.

"Come on. Let's get you checked out, just in case, alright?"

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods in agreement, and gets up slowly. His head feels a bit funny, probably because he's been slightly hyperventilating, amongst other things.

"We had a major incident. Explosion at the airport. If our flights hadn't been cancelled, me and Fran and the kids would have been in there, but instead we were at the station nearby."

[numbered_doctor]

"Good," she says softly. "Your family's okay, then."

Carefully, she moves to support him as he wobbles some, guiding him towards the infirmary.

[guppy_sandhu]

"They're fine. Fry freaked out massively at the big bang followed by being grabbed by me, but I got Frogspawn to take them to safety when I went back."

He accepts her arm.

"I've got a splitting headache, my heart's racing, and I feel a bit weird." he admits quietly.

[numbered_doctor]

"Good thinking," she says as the move through the Bar and towards the infirmary.

"We'll see what we can do when we get you resting, alright?"

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods, wishing his head didn't spin so much, and follows her into the infirmary.

"I've got a long history of panic attacks." he admits, unable to remember whether he's told her this already. "But this feels different."

[numbered_doctor]

She helps him onto a bed, and logs into the terminal next to it like he showed her how to do so long ago.

"Might be extra symptoms from something else."

With that, she begins the necessary scans, as well as some blood tests, just in case.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy tries to calm himself down, taking slow deep breaths. But his pulse is still racing at about 120, which makes him feel all the more panicky.

He peers over at the scanner, trying to get a look at his own ECG.

[numbered_doctor]

She pokes at him a little in response.

"Hey, leave me to the doctoring right now. You just rest."

The scanner beeps at her, and after glancing at it, she reaches for the respirator and hands it to him.

"And breathe through this."

[guppy_sandhu]

"What is it?" Guppy asks, his pulse heading up towards the 130s as he puts the oxygen mask on.