First prompt of many !
I've decided to create a prompt collection instead of uploading mini-fics everywhere, so here we go !
Prompt from the Kabby Valentine Challenge : Teenage Kabby kisses! Abby in the aftermath of Jake's execution! Pre-series hate sex in the Council Chamber! OT3's with Jake or Callie! Jealous Jaha! Anything set on the Ark prior to the events of the pilot is fair game.
It would be melodramatic to say that the first time he met her, she saved him. And yet. That's the way he had always thought about it, about that evening, about how she had taken his hand and led him away from the fears and doubts that ran deep in his mind. He never had to thank her for she knew already how much it meant to him, how much her smiles healed him every single time.
Innoculation day. Marcus Kane's most hated fay ever. Sometimes it happened several times a year, specially for young children such as him, and 2114 had been one of those to his great despair. A confinement breach in a quarantined area, the announcement on the speaker brought tears to his eyes, putting an abrupt stop to the homework he was working on with his mother's help. He heard her sigh above him, the thought hit him that she most probably hated these days as much as he did, because of him. Every time he tried, he really did, to act like a grown up and not a crybaby like he had heard some of the older boys call him, so he fought back the lump in his throat and put on a brave face, which of course didn't fool Vera for a second. One of her hands was on his neck as she leaned forward and whispered in his ear to not worry, that they would deal with it later, and for the next hour she did her best to distract him from his dark thoughts.
They were the last ones in line. By the time they entered the room, Marcus was shaking so much he had trouble walking straight, but his arms were crossed on his tiny chest, doing his best to appear nonchalant about it and not succeeding well. A man he had never seen before greeted them, he had short brown hair and green, kind eyes that were smiling at him as the doctor crouched in front of him and introduced himself as Arthur Walters. The last few times they were in the room, another man had been the one to take care of Marcus, someone who had no patience for kids and even less for scared kids. It had hurt every time, a hell of a lot. He had grabbed his wrist and forced the torture tool in his arm without an ounce of compassion, railing because he couldn't find a vein and had to do it two or three times under the soft sobs of the son and the growing frown of the mother.
He remembered his manners when Vera nudged his shoulder, a sorry smile on his lips when he answered and told him his name, politeness always was a very important point for his mother, something that he did his best to not forget. It could be hard sometimes because he had an habit to get lost in thoughts and become oblivious to the rest of the world. Knowing perfectly well how the procedure worked, Marcus made his way slowly to the medical cot in the center of the room, looking every bit as if he were walking the plank.
''Why don't we make ourselves comfortable on the couch instead ?''
Surprised, he noticed for the first time that a small couch had found its way in a well lit corner, shabby but looked comfortable all the same. He sat down besides his mom, glad when she wrapped an arm around his shoulders and brough him closer to her. He leaned in her embrace, his head on her chest, and for a while he forgot his earlier resolutions about needing to grow up and stop relying on her that much. The doctor seemed very nice and wasn't at all like the kids at school who were always teasing him, he didn't judge him, rather he was looking at the pair with a genuine smile while he rolled a tray and a chair with him to sit in front of the boy.
''So Marcus, what's your favorite subject at school ?''
His eyes were focused on the syringe in Dr. Walters' hands who, when he noticed it, turned away from the prying look and hid it away from Marcus' sight, as he answered the question in a small voice.
''Earth Skills. I like Earth Skills. And History.''
''Really ? My daughter Abby, do you know her ? No ? She's a little bit younger than you, well anyway, she thinks it's boring, but then she doesn't have much patience, so I wouldn't take her word on it. She's still in her 'I don't like it so it's useless' phase.''
He didn't really listen to what he was saying – even though he should have, for he would learn the hard way how very little patience Abigail Walters had –, his heart was pounding so fast in his chest he was sure it could be heard all the way back to Farm Station, he knew the doctor was trying to distract him from what was going to happen but Marcus' only thought was on the hidden torture instrument. Vera joined in the happy chatter, explaining how she both teached History classes and took care of the Eden Tree, the pride in her voice unmistakable when she spoke of how much Marcus helped her during mass and relieved her a lot from her work of tending the religious symbol.
''I'm ready. Can you give me your arm, Marcus ?''
There it was, the moment his breathing reached a pace so quick he saw Dr. Walters exchange a worried look with his mother, maybe wondering if he was having a panic attack. He liked that the doctor was giving him a choice, even if he knew it wasn't really one since he would have to get innoculated one way or another, and didn't want to disappoint him, the man was nice and Marcus feared that he wouldn't want to take care of him next time if he didn't obey. However, his body had another idea and suddenly he couldn't hold back his tears anymore. He hid his face in Vera's chest the exact moment a first sob ripped through his throat, stress and shame taking the better of his control.
''You know, it's normal to be scared, I was too when I was about your age, and I think you're handling this way better than I did. I used to throw tantrums and kick everyone who would dare come too close. Once I even kicked the doctor where it hurts the most, after that the poor man was more afraid of me than I was of needles.''
A small smile made its way to his face, and even though they couldn't see it, Vera felt him relax slightly and gave a encouraging nod to Arthur, who kept coaxing him for a few minutes with stories and lame jokes. After a little while, Marcus turned his head back to the man, his face still stained with tears, his teeth chewing on his lower lip. He hesitated once more before finally giving in, his arm shook as he presented it for him to take it in his hands. Marcus didn't even hear his mother whisper to him how proud she was, his concentration on the man's beaming face who looked like he had just received the best birthday present ever. He rolled the child's sleeve up, a hand under his arm to keep it steady while he made sure that the vein wouldn't roll off under his thumb, he then took the syringe, checked that it worked and looked at Marcus.
''It's better if you don't watch, son.''
He didn't have the time the react, his mom did it for him and brought his face back on her chest, her mouth and nose pressed on his head as she worked to calm him with one of her hands forming soothing circles on his shoulder. It didn't take long. A moan escaped his lips when he felt the sting of the needle break through his skin, his first instinct was to jerk his arm back but thankfully the doctor had a firm hold on it and didn't let it move an inch, or else he'd have hurt himself pretty bad. He hated the pain. He hated that his arm would be sore for a few days afterwards. It hurt and there was nothing he could do about it.
''There, all done !''
He hadn't felt the needle get out of his skin, and when he opened his eyes and turned to have a look at his arm, he barely had the time to see a small drop of blood before it was covered by a white patch.
''You did great kiddo, really gr -''
''Dad ! You're done yet ? You promised you'd have a look at my project !''
All three heads turned to see a young girl barge in the room, her long blond wavy hair billowing in her run. Her big brown eyes were frowning at her father before she realized what she had just interrupted.
''Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to – hey ! I've seen you around, you're in an older class, right ? Yes ? Then you can help me, come, come !''
Still pale from what he endured, and not yet used to the over energetic girl, Marcus didn't know how to react when she took his hand and forced him to follow her as she babbled over and over about the project she had to present to her agemates, about bones in the human body. He threw a desesperate look at his mother over his shoulder, whose only answer was a laugh and a hand sign for him to go with Abby Walters.
Five minutes later, he was laughing so much he had cramps in his stomach and tears of joy in his eyes. He had forgotten all about the vaccine and wouldn't think about it until his shower the next morning. He would never know if she had planned it or it was a pure accident, but it quickly became a ritual. After every single innoculation she would take his hand and take him away from the medical room, her smile made him feel better, it lit up her face and made butterflies fly in his stomach.
Thirteen years later, when Arthur Walters died of an incurable disease, Abby took his place and became his appointed doctor, one hand still and forever clasped in his.