Katherine
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you.
Posts: 79
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Post by Katherine on Mar 1, 2007 0:52:31 GMT
"If I take that bet," Kath' started, "I'd just have to give you ten bucks right here and now. So no thanks." She looked at him across the space between their cots and frowned as he moved, not envying him the concussion in the slightest. She rolled her eyes at his optimism though and her eyes went to the ceiling, why was he reassuring her that the imminent arrival of their parents would be fine? She had some bad bruising, a headache and a dire craving for a cup of coffee; he had at aforementioned concussion and probably a whole lot of discomfort for his ribs. It was out of whack.
"Yeah. A fine disaster." She mumbled, wearing an intensely displeased expression, "Where the hell's the damned doctor?"
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a doctor came in and walked straight past the elder Rivera with his words, honing in on Marcus, "Right here, detective."
Katherine opened her mouth, whatever she was going to say not likely to be an apology, but she apparently thought better of it, settling back against the pillows behind her back a little more instead.
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Marcus
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right; I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 97
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Post by Marcus on Mar 2, 2007 0:22:51 GMT
“Damn,” he’d mumbled with a lazy smile. “There goes that easy win.”
Marcus and Katherine were anything but the most traditional pair of siblings; while they always, always looked out for one another and bickered like actual children sometimes, they were actually more like close friends when they weren’t betraying their actual relationship as brother and sister. Without spotting the similarities, physically, one could easily mistake them for just that — friends. And they were always reassuring one another, in any number of ways, whether it be about some evidence that wasn’t holding out, or like right now, when their parents were ‘incoming’, and Kath’s head was no doubt already pounding in preparation for the ‘battle’ between her and their mother.
The younger Rivera eyed the elder with barely-veiled amusement as the doctor walked in on her grumbling, and sighed, readying himself for the barrage of questions and little tests that were bound to come now that he’d regained consciousness. It didn’t take long for them to start, so he turned his head ‘forward’ again, and reluctantly played the role of ‘good patient’.
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Katherine
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you.
Posts: 79
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Post by Katherine on Mar 2, 2007 20:56:24 GMT
Katherine had few friends; most of them were on the force too. It wasn't that she didn't like people though, she did, she was just a hard person to warm up to and she knew that. It was just the way she was. Marcus, however, was without doubt her most valued and trusted friend aside from the fact that they were siblings. She was never more 'herself', the self underneath the bravado and stony expressions than when she was with him. Her partner and she had a solid friendship too but the boundaries were they and they respected them with one another as only partners could.
The doctor was speaking and Kath' turned her attention to the bed adjacent to hers, sticking her tongue out at Marcus childishly and only because there was no one else around they knew to see the action, a response to his poorly hidden amusement.
"Alright, let's see," the young doctor went about a series of small reflex checks with Marc', well aware of the sister's gaze on his back the entire time. It was a little chilling and when he glanced over his shoulder she didn't smile in that slightly embarrassed fashion like most people would of. She didn't smile at all.
He promptly returned his attention to the youngest of the pair.
"Everything seems to be progressing well," he started explaining, "You have what we class as a Grade Three concussion, loss of consciousness for less than five minutes after the initial blow, as I understand. The nausea and dizziness should pass within seventy-two hours; with the responses to the tests I think we should be able to release you before then, but only under observation... it's something that can be discussed later."
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Marcus
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right; I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 97
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Post by Marcus on Mar 3, 2007 3:52:44 GMT
Marcus had his fair share of friends, having always been, despite his intimidating height, the more ‘approachable’ Rivera sibling, even in their childhood. Something about the subtle contrast between him and Katherine, the way they spoke towards others and took to tasks… he’d had a fairly large group of friends all through school, though he remembered his sister disliking rather a lot of them, especially the ‘jock’ portion. But then, he hadn’t really liked those ones all that much himself. But now, years later, they were still as close as they had been back then, if not more so, bonded by the decisions they had made and the steps they had taken to lead them to their current positions in life.
Trying to keep a straight face after the childish expression from his sister, he failed rather miserably for a moment, feeling not unlike the kid in the back of the class who couldn’t hold in a laugh. Thankfully, it didn’t quite get that far before he got a hold of himself, and managed to look suitably serious and attentive again.
Kath’s ‘hawk’ tendencies made the tests easier to bear, somehow, though he would be damned if he could explain why. It was the baby brother in him, he supposed, inwardly enjoying the fact that she looked out for him, even if bedridden herself.
“Fun…” he mumbled, noticing the doctor watching him, and he looked up at the other young man again. “I mean… sooner would be preferable, obviously. How soon do you think I can get outta here?” He didn’t particularly like the sound of that ‘later’ the doctor had mentioned, and he hoped his eyes showed as much, though he was aware that he probably still looked relatively groggy, thanks to the aforementioned concussion.
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Katherine
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you.
Posts: 79
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Post by Katherine on Mar 3, 2007 23:25:37 GMT
The doctor looked thoughtful for a moment and then backed up a bit and scooped up the folder that he had placed on the table between the beds and nodded. He was pulled x-rays out of a folder and stuck them up on a light box on the wall. They were chest films; obviously belonging to Marcus and when he spoke again that was who he directed his words at him.
"The damage to your ribs isn't too severe, and by that I mean you were lucky not to break them again in the impact." He said, crossing his arms over his chest, keeping his eyes on Marcus, "I think we could release you later today, taking everything into account. Lung capacity is good and your reactions tell me that the concussion hasn't done any serious damage."
Katherine piped up, "That's good," she added, part questioningly. The guy looked a little on the young side to be a doctor in her opinion but that sounded a little too much like something her mother might say; she kept it to herself.
"Yes. It's promising. I'd have to repeat the tests before we did release you, and you'd need to be kept under observation but," the doctor glanced at the elder of the pair slightly and only lowered his voice a fraction when he looked back at Marc', "something tells me that won't be a problem."
"I heard that." Kath' said, the humour so well disguised it was unlikely anyone but Marc' would recognise it.
The doctor cleared his throat, "Yes. Well. Any questions?" he directed it openly, though seemed keener than ever to keep the conversation mainly aimed at Marcus.
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Marcus
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right; I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 97
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Post by Marcus on Mar 4, 2007 2:02:03 GMT
The importance of what the doctor was saying ensured he had Marcus’ undivided attention, no matter how tired he felt mentally and physically. He managed to keep himself awake and attentive while the man stood in front of them, dressed in his white coat with his stethoscope around his neck, explaining in terms they were both likely to understand. Marcus felt no shame in the fact that he sometimes got lost in all the medical jargon, but thankfully, this doctor seemed to be taking the concussion into account; he wasn’t using too many big words.
The younger Rivera did indeed smile at Katherine’s remark about overhearing, having caught the veiled tone so easily that he felt reassured about his head injury, regardless of the assurances of the doctor. He glanced briefly to his sister, and then back at the doctor, inwardly relieved about his ribs, more than anything; he’d broken them once, and they plagued him occasionally, usually always on his mind in one way or another, and to hear that he’d managed to avoid undoing all the repair work those few years had accomplished was a relief to say the least.
“When do you think I can go back to work?” He didn’t doubt his sister had already asked someone the same question. They worked so closely along the same lines that he would have been shocked if she were to tell him she hadn’t asked that one for herself.
Outside at the front desk, Hank and Margaret Rivera had overheard the young woman at the counter ask for the two detectives, and the latter had proceeded to hone in on her.
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Katherine
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you.
Posts: 79
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Post by Katherine on Mar 4, 2007 23:43:56 GMT
With a frown the doctor went silent; he now had the chart in his hands and was looking down at it, well aware of both sets of eyes on him form the occupied beds. He made a thoughtful noise and looked up, "I would say a week? Maybe two, depending on the symptoms of your concussion and how much you find the bruising affects your movements. I would certainly say that you'll be off active duty for at least a week; it's something you'll have to discuss with your boss." He gestured to the door at that and Kath' looked automatically to the side but Hodge wasn't out there, not that she could see in any case. "We'll see how it goes, Detective... uh, Detectives."
Green eyes pulled back into the room and she looked at the Doctor with something close to a pout, a very uncharacteristic expression for the elder sibling. The doctor smiled at her, apparently making for the door but pausing at her bed to talk diretly to her, "Do you want me to have a nurse fetch your c-"
"No." Kath deadpanned at him, her expression dark. "I'll pick it up on my way out."
"In that case I'll have a wheelchair-"
She cut him off again, "A what? You're kiddin' me right?"
For a moment there was silence and the doctor and Kath' had a mini staring match, "Detective. I am completely serious. You need to heed medical advice if you want to be back in the saddle..."
"I'm not a jockey." She responded petulantly.
He apparently took that as a victory and made to leave again, his pager beeping as if to signal that chatting time was over and he had other places to be and other patients to see to on the ward. Katherine watched him go as if she were trying to bore holes into his back, her jaw jutting out slightly in annoyance.
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Poppy
Human
Student/Librarian
I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier
Posts: 119
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Post by Poppy on Mar 5, 2007 3:04:32 GMT
Continued from: ER Front Desk with Marge and Hank Rivera
The bags of grapes were bashing lightly against her leg with each step she took and Poppy hoped they wouldn’t be a smashed up mess when she was finally able to give them. If she could work up the courage to actually do that, with Margaret and Hank in the room too. They seemed like perfectly nice people but parents un-nerved her as a whole, made her feel as if she was being judged all the time.
The three entered the ward they had been directed too, Poppy keeping herself a pace or two behind the couple, not wanting to interrupt for the first few minutes at least. They deserved a little time with parents before having to deal with her. Poppy couldn’t help smiling nevertheless, at the sight of Marcus Rivera awake in bed and looking healthier than the last time she had seen him. It was a relief to see his sister awake as well, but it had been Marcus she had spoken to, who she had known at all.
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Marcus
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right; I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 97
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Post by Marcus on Mar 6, 2007 2:24:47 GMT
The siblings had lapsed into another ‘comfortable’ — to use the term loosely — silence after the doctor had left. Marcus had allowed his mind to wander, to mull over what he might do with himself with a whole week of time away from work, and other than abuse his Back to the Future DVDs by playing them more times than was probably healthy, he came up rather empty, which, had he mentioned it aloud, might have sounded rather sad, in a way.
But then, of course, the door opened and his thought process was interrupted. When he realised it wasn’t a nurse entering, he became that little bit more alert at once, and even apprehensive when he realised that their parents were walking through the door. Here we go. And then he had noticed a third visitor; not an expected one, either. Marcus glanced to Katherine, and blinked, and then looked back to Poppy Marcus, returning the smile before Margaret Rivera moved towards the beds, seemingly caught between the two and not sure where to go.
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Poppy
Human
Student/Librarian
I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier
Posts: 119
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Post by Poppy on Mar 6, 2007 13:03:10 GMT
Poppy remained by the door to the ward, giving the family as much privacy as she could without actually turning around and leaving. Now that she had been spotted by Marcus – who had also returned her smile, something that made her feel ridiculously pleased – it would be considered rude, by herself at least, if she just turned around and left.
She swung the bag lightly and as quietly as possible, staring down at it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, trying to avoid making any more eye contact until both of the parents had been reassured that their children were okay. Poppy didn’t want to seem as if she was staring at the little group, even as she waited for the silence to be broken. It was making her uncomfortable.
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Katherine
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you.
Posts: 79
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Post by Katherine on Mar 6, 2007 22:25:32 GMT
Katherine's hands dug into the blanket that was up around her waist slightly at the entrance of their parents and at Marcus' glance prompted by their third visitor she actually managed to relax a little. She smiled in Poppy's direction, she hadn't actually spoken to the young girl herself but she was more than happy to see that she was up and about so soon after the events of the night before.
Her mother seemed torn and Kath' waved a hand in her brother's direction as a prompt. "It's okay Ma'." She said, breaking the silence gently as she conceded that she didn't mind if the younger of the Rivera siblings was seen to by his mother first. She didn't want her mother to feel like she was employing favouritism so soon into the visit.
Hank seemed to have gotten the message and with a smile to his son that articulated all his sentiments, as only Hank Rivera seemed to be able to manage, he moved to plant a fatherly kiss on his daughter's cheek, effectively helping to make the decision for his wife.
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Marcus
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right; I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 97
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Post by Marcus on Mar 7, 2007 3:56:05 GMT
Margaret Rivera turned to Marcus after a light smile to Katherine, and moved over, laying a hand gently on the unwounded side of her son’s head, prompting a smile from him. For all his complaining about the Rivera Family Madness, it was more than most people could hope to have, he knew; he never underestimated its value, and he never genuinely hated it, as stifling as it had been at times in the past. “I’m okay,” he assured his mother, who kissed the top of his head briefly, obviously wary of doing him more harm.
Averting his gaze from the woman beside his bed, he looked to Poppy at the door, noticing how awkward she looked, and he instantly felt bad for her. Being a cop, he had felt as if he was intruding on a family scene more times than he could count, and he appreciated her position at that moment. He just hoped she understood that she was welcome; if she had entered with the elder Riveras, then the chances were that she had already been introduced to the parents of the family, and as such, accepted in a way.
It didn’t take long for the motherly questions to come his way, but he answered them patiently and without betraying his own weariness, meeting her eyes as often as he could to show sincerity. When that was done, she looked back at Poppy, and waved for her to stop hovering by the door as if she was unwanted. Marcus smiled subtly, and glanced to Kath’. Apparently, their mother was in one of her better moods, and that was far from unwelcome in and of itself.
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Katherine
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I've been afraid of changing, 'cause I built my life around you.
Posts: 79
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Post by Katherine on Mar 8, 2007 1:15:09 GMT
The apparent good mood of their mother was indeed a comfort to Kath', and as the fussing and questions went on in the bed adjacent hers, she filled her father in as much as she was able to. Hank listened and patted her on the back of the hand, all the reassuring little nuances of fatherhood he seemed to have mastered over the years' garnishing the process by calling her kiddo and moving her dishevelled hair out of her face.
Having not introduced herself or even 'announced' her name last night, she felt now was a prudent time to do so, "I'm Katherine," she offered when Margaret waved Poppy further into the room, and smiled and waved a little at the young woman as a way to try and ease her into what she could imagine was an overwhelming presence of Riveras.
Just as Marcus, or any other Homicide cop, she had been in the awkward position of standing on the sidelines of a family scene, many a time it hadn't been as 'upbeat' as this one, as one could only expect from their chosen department. But Poppy Marcus was more than welcome and was definitely not intruding, not in Kath's mind at least; she knew she came off as brusque and unapproachable at times but more often than not she was in the 'cop' headset and right now, with her family around her she was able to relax somewhat and let that drop a little.
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Poppy
Human
Student/Librarian
I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier
Posts: 119
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Post by Poppy on Mar 9, 2007 22:54:20 GMT
Although she still wanted to remain lingering by the door, no matter how awkward and uncomfortable it made her feel, she had moved forward on the wave from the elder Rivera. Either way she would be intruding on the family moment and at least if she did what was asked then she was intruding in a less unwelcome way. She flashed a smile at Katherine, bobbing her head slightly to show she had received the greeting. “A pleasure,” Poppy murmured softly.
Poppy moved toward the bed containing Marcus, smiling slightly sheepishly at him, coming to a stop along side it. “Are you feeling better?” she asked carefully, having not heard his answers to his mother. After a few seconds she lifted the plastic bag she was holding, the sheepish smile increasing.
“I brought you some grapes. Some for Katherine too but I wasn’t sure which you liked so I got white and red ones…” she trailed off, flushing and looking down at the ground.
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Marcus
Human
LAPD Detective: Homicide
I don't need to fight to prove I'm right; I don't need to be forgiven.
Posts: 97
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Post by Marcus on Mar 10, 2007 0:19:10 GMT
Marcus couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t a full-blown expression like it might have been if he wasn’t on one kind of painkiller or another, but it was still genuine and easy in its own way, and it seemed to mirror in Margaret Rivera as she stood on the side of the bed opposite Poppy. He was honestly touched by the concern the young woman showed, even though she barely knew Katherine and himself; just the fact that she cared to stop by was enough, really.
“Yeah, thanks,” he replied to her inquiry as to how he was feeling. Normally, he might have added a dry quip of some kind, but he wasn’t sure Poppy would really catch the standard Rivera humour, and he didn’t want to confuse her by adding a sarcastic comment about concussions or passing out. He glanced to the bag she held, as did his mother, and the older woman smiled.
“That was very thoughtful of you,” she remarked pleasantly, and Marcus looked up at her, inwardly relieved that Poppy had decided to show up; it was probably delaying what would have been an inevitable butting of heads between the two Rivera women.
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