When the good Doctor hadn't returned out of respawn, Eli knew right away that something wasn't right-- Desperately wanting to believe in anything other than he had simply vanished into the void. The first few days were spent staking that small space with just the small off chance he'd suddenly fizzle into reality.
Eventually, the BLU was taken from the room by force.
The team were down their Medic and by the end of the first week were already hurting for a replacement; with Elliot the only other remaining capable member until a more suitable one could be drafted in.
Swallowing down her emotions, the first two weeks were a rough transition between taking on an entire team worth of injuries, monitoring her own training, keeping a relationship and struggling with losing another precious friend.
Another memory for the album.
The first month finished with a breakdown.
Someone had moved Klaus' mug from his preserved desk, moved it without telling her and thusly caused a severe meltdown of emotion once it was returned.
Month two began by continuing to refuse acceptance, during a surgery with Soldier to try and remove part of his shovel that had gotten lodged in his abdomen, he began blabbering about the missing BLU but Eli couldn't hear, didn't want to hear-- No, shut up, of course he was coming back, this wasn't like before.
Klaus was different! He was efficient and understanding, his commitment was there... with them... as a team.
The Soldier lost a lot of blood.
Sleepless eyes could barely focus by the end of month three, still no replacement and still no sign of him. Yet his Med-bay would be ready, just as he left it, the desk in pristine condition, beds set up neatly with only the memory of Eli's muffled screaming into the pillows hours after a failed battle.
She had her own desk now, set up directly opposite his but filled with nothing but a pot of pens and old coffee mugs.
For now, she'd passed cleanout over her latest journal entry.
'...I hope he'll be proud.'
