This is fourth story in a series starting with:
Strange Allies
Decision Made
The Dominance Part One
The Dominance Part Two
She came awake slowly. Instead of jerking or stirring she lay quietly listening to the sounds of the hospital before opening her eyes. Feeling a warm pressure against her wrist, she looked to her husband sitting beside her bed, arm extended and fingers wrapped around her wrist, his index finger slowly and very faintly rubbing over her pulse as if assuring himself her heart was still with him.
"Hey," Alicia let him know she was awake.
He looked tired and dropped his plexi onto a leg. "You've been asleep since I left hours ago. I have a nutrition shake I'm supposed to make you drink," relieved she was awake and apparently cognizant of her situation.
"In a minute," looking beyond him, "Are we alone?"
"I gave the boys the night off," he stood and leaned over for a kiss.
"No, I need to brush, help me up," she swiveled her mouth away.
"All I am is support to the bathroom," a mock complaint as he carefully walked her across the room, "I put your things on the sink," a kiss to her temple was all she would allow.
"You may kiss me now, Soldier," she felt much better and the pain meds left her shoulder nothing more than a dull throb which she could ignore as long as it was left alone.
Slipping his arms loosely around her waist, his lips covered hers. It was a therapeutic kiss, not of passion, reaffirming she survived one more brush with death. He broke off, "Bed and drink, in that order," helping her back to the adjustable bed, fussing with her covers and raising the head.
"Did you eat?" she accepted the glass while he repositioned his chair to face her.
"Lenore brought me a plate. They stopped by, but didn't want you woke just for them. We moved outside and I ate off the nurse's station."
"Boys?" she interrupted between gulps that had a rich strawberry flavor, suddenly hungry.
"Huh?"
"You said you gave the boys the night off."
"Oh, Reynolds and Dunham. Made them come and guard you," he smiled at her annoyed look, "you have to humor me and I'm holding all the cards. They take orders from me."
"Fuck you," her smirk betrayed a pretend anger.
"Wish you would," his smile dared her to act.
Finally with a snort and shake of her head, "I'm sure Maddy is going to be a handful for her father with Mark here. I approve," she smiled at the thought of Jim consoling a worried daughter. Changing the subject, "Did Mira come?"
Nathaniel settled back in his chair, "She did. Shannon was on the other side threatening to come. I actually had to remind him he was in charge and order him not to. He didn't take you getting shot too well. Said he wanted you to come home for Elizabeth to take care of. You know, that's not a bad idea."
"Oh no you don't. You're not getting rid of me that fast. This little scratch isn't sending me home, unless you're with me," she was getting upset and the pain intensified at the thought of separating from him.
Getting up, he took her empty glass, "Hey, I'm not forcing you to go anyplace. Remember what I said. I'm done ordering you. A suggestion only," he cupped her jaw with his free hand and kissed her, "besides," he mumbled against her lips, "I like being able to do this," he deepened the kiss for a moment before sitting the glass on the tray to the side of the bed and settling back in his chair. "No more trying to convince you to do something you don't want to."
"Tell me about your afternoon," pulling the cover up with her good hand then lowered the head a little so she was reclining less as he began.
"Mira and the boys came in earlier than I expected. I sent Reynolds and Dunham straight here with instructions to tell Casey he was going home, get packed. We took a platoon along with Mira and went to where Carter said he was hiding. Seems like Lucas contacted him a couple days ago before sending the Phoenix soldier to The Dominance, and offered a bounty on me. Carter said he would have told me, but was scared to in a room full of Generals; he didn't want to be detained away from his people. The group is all ages. Carter and Mira talked about going to the other side of the badlands and starting a new colony with their group. The difference is, where we have professional labor, they are unskillful laborers. My concern is they will rely on us in the end."
"Are you letting them return?"
"I stalled. I wanted to talk to you first, what'd you think?" his admission brought a smile and a few rapid beats to her heart that he considered her.
"Did you get a read on their intent?" her dark eyes brightened at being included once again by him in his work, not unnoticed by him as he continued.
"They can't get the freedom and environment out of their minds. All they talk about to their families is fresh water, clear skies and real food. Carter saw the sedonafruit and we had breakfast. By the way, Carter did apologize for what he did to you back when you and Dunham got captured. Mira told me he was the unpredictable one of her group. A hothead, but loyal. If he comes back, he has to swear loyalty to me in front of the colony. In fact they all will, but him in particular after trying to kill me a couple times."
"You know, Mira's found a nitch in the colony. Her prowess in gathering and hunting has helped us a lot. They would survive and maybe thrive, but like you said not at our level. For Mariah's and the other children's sake, we owe it to them an education and medical treatment. We can find something for them in the colony, but they have to be truth verified," her advice was on par with his. He'd show his appreciation when she was able.
"If they pass and want to leave, I think we should let them," he respected Mira's skill as a leader and fighter. There was plenty of room on the Continent, after all it was this times land masses not broken apart. His most demanding issue all but solved, Nathaniel grabbed his comm, "Commander Taylor to Mira."
"I've been waiting, Commander. Took you long enough to think," Mira's usual brusque tone made Nathaniel grin and wink at Wash.
"Still enjoying the park?"
"Of course. Your country did wonders to it."
"Tomorrow I'll bring a veracity monitor. If your people pass a few questions, I'll let them go to the past. If not, they stay, either individuals or as a whole. Tell your Sixers, they need to pass. Taylor out," he broke the connection.
"Anything from the Phoenix or Lucas?" Alicia wanted work to be over and turn conversation to the intimate heart-to-heart that got interrupted with her untimely shooting.
"Nothing besides the one who shot you. They're too quiet," a doctor entering ended talk of work.
"Evenin folks," he flipped on the bioscreen. Pointing to a spot, "I've never seen anyone heal this fast," he hit a button and a person shot to pieces overlaid the current image, "this is you, twelve years ago."
Horror flooded over Nathaniel and after a glance looked away, while Wash observed with fascination, "Wash, how can you look at that?" he pulled his gaze away from the pulverized mess.
"It's been a long time since I've seen it. I don't even have many scars. They did such a good job."
"What I want to show you," the doctor pointed to the area closest to her new wound, "The same amount of time has elapsed between both shootings. That's why I stayed late. I wanted to compare the exact healing now versus then."
Nathaniel's fickle eyes looked even though his brain said not to. The screen was enlarged to the area.
"You're healing is about ten times faster now. Your system living in a pristine environment allows for faster healing. I expect to kick you out either late tomorrow or the next day. Normally with a shot like this, a two week stay is automatic," he smiled down at her, "I'm going to get a publication in the medical journal out of this, thank you….er, not for getting shot…"
Wash's mirth was all over her face, "I know what you mean, it's okay."
Turning his attention to the Commander, "Sir, I'm going to have to kick you out for the night so your wife can rest."
"I'm on guard duty tonight. You may have noticed the soldiers here all afternoon?"
"I did. Don't remember ever seeing them here before, they transfers?"
Taylor smiled, "They came from Terra Nova, just to guard her," his agitated hand jerked towards the bed. Nobody, doctor included was separating him from his wife.
"In that case, I'd like to perform a physical on them, for my research of course."
"And I'd like to spend the nights with my wife," the gauntlet thrown.
The doctor smiled, "A fair trade, agreed," he held his hand out, "need another bed brought in for you?"
Nathaniel released the offered hand, "I've got practice sleeping with her in hospital beds. Just put a do not disturb sign on the door and we'll be just fine."
"I'll inform the night staff to let you rest in peace. If you need anything, press this button," he showed them the emergency button on the keypad on the bed, "Anything else?"
"Could I get this port taken out?" Wash held her hand up, "They're down to almost nothing for injections now."
The doctor hit a button on her bioscreen and studied the meds and her chart once again, "I don't see why not," he took her hand and swiftly pulled the catheter out. Placing a cotton ball to stop the bleeding, he sprayed the back of her hand with skin replacer. Not one sign remained she had a needle hole.
Flexing the hand, "Thank you, this is much better. Can I use the bathroom to shower?"
The doctor grinned, "Want the kitchen to send some food also?"
Wash thought and looked at her husband, "I could use real food. How about you?"
Looking at the doctor, "She's feeling better. I had to force feed her last night. I've eaten, but will take desert."
"We just got a shipment of peach pies."
Smiling at each other, Nathaniel spoke for both of them, "Send an entire pie, a la cart, warmed up and two forks. Can Alicia have coffee?"
"No, might cause minor bleeding. You can, I'll send milk for her," he left before they asked for a double bed to be brought.
"Wanna shower before we eat?"
"I may need help, Nathaniel," she swung her legs out of bed. He was there to catch her.
"I plan on washing you," he escorted her to the bathroom and hurried back, throwing her pack open, he looked for something she didn't have to pull on. With a curse, he opened his and pulled out a button up shirt. Back to her pack for a hair dryer and panties. Back to his for clean briefs and he all but ran into the bathroom, hoping to help his wife out of her hospital issued gown. He was too late. She had the water running and was standing in the spray, one hand running over her hair. Stripping with lightning speed, he joined her. Telling himself she was injured and they could do this professionally, he poured universal soap in his hand. Telling her to turn around, she brushed him in the small enclosure. He looked down at his other brain, 'Not Now'. His semi-hardened state wouldn't go unnoticed for long. As he washed her hair his thoughts turned to wishing her nakedness was platonic for him at times like this. It just wasn't and not his fault he reasoned. Hair clean, he grabbed a soft scrubber and started washing her back, avoiding the bruise on her upper left shoulder. Even though the bone knitter mended the broken bones, soft tissue and cartilage took longer to mend. Funny he thought as he reached her bottom, 'Used to be opposite, now bones can be repaired faster.'
"Turn around," she faced him.
"We going to make it?" she was looking down at him.
Her simple question caused his organ to twitch, causing her to laugh softly and wrap her right hand around his shaft.
"I would have, until you touched. Now let me finish, then you can do me, and I mean that both ways," his breathing roughened as he leaned in for a kiss. This time passion entered for the first time in two days. He got his first good look at the new wound. This one, like the others would leave a faint scar, "one more for me to kiss," he murmured out loud and noticed she was also looking.
She reached up and squeezed a breast, "Dry," the sorrow in her voice made him stop.
Throwing the pad into its dish, he cupped her face in both his hands, tilting her to look into his eyes, "Alicia, we may have had to cut this time short. Next time, we'll do our best to keep the baby suckling until it bites with a full set of teeth," his trying to lessen her loss made her smile at him.
"I know what you're trying to do…and thank you," she kissed him softly.
He grabbed the sponge and continued washing, saving his favorite place for last. Slowly he massaged between her legs, "You'll sleep better relaxed," he replaced the sponge with his hand.
Taking the sponge, "My turn, turn around," she loved washing his wide shoulders, "We don't do this often enough," working down her gaze appreciated his toned physic.
"You're right, twice a week isn't near enough," he moaned as her tongue licked up his spine. Turning around, "We done with this silly washing yet?"
"Almost," she washed his chest and worked down until she washed between his legs. "You do your arms and legs," giving him the sponge, which he did in a rush. Hand free, she cupped his balls, playing in a way she knew drove him crazy.
Grabbing her hand, he moved it to his shaft, "don't want this over before I've had my turn," he brought his mouth to hers, tongues sparring. His hand found her clit. Not playing around, he got down to business. Her head leaned against the shower door as he inserted two digits inside and thrust, thumb applying just the right pressure and motion. All too soon, "Nathaniel," ripped from her throat as she spasmed around his fingers. Her hand never stopped stroking and he joined her, shooting across her stomach.
"I can't believe forty eight hours ago you were shot, Wash," he sponged her off.
"I'm tired again," his cue to cut the water and help her out.
Dressing her in his overlarge shirt after applying a new bandage, he dried her hair while she sat in his chair. He donned a pair of fatigues pants in case their request for privacy went unheeded. It was a hospital after all and not the hotel.
Sharing the pie, and forgoing his coffee, he occasionally gulped his wife's milk as they ate. He gathered his clothes from the bathroom as she brushed her teeth again. Helping her to bed, he went and brushed, turned the light down shed his pants and slipped beside her, hugging the edge on her uninjured side. His bare skin pressed to her coupled with the pain pill she took with her pie made a warm fuzzy cocoon to fall quickly and deeply asleep. He looked at her sleeping for a few minutes, counting his blessings once again.
Loud booming jarred him awake. Looking at the clock, four twenty. Artillery fire brought him to his feet. His comm was beeping. Looking for it, he remembered it was in his dirty pants. "Taylor," he looked to see if Wash were awake. She was still sleeping so he kept his voice down.
"General, Corporal Williams here, we're under attack. Explosives blew up the main gate. We have some infiltration wearing our side's uniforms. Hard to tell who to shoot at."
Looking at his sleeping wife, he was sure it was Lucas after them, "They're probably after Lieutenant Taylor and me. Send extra troops to the hospital."
"Yes Sir, Williams out."
"Taylor to Reynolds"
"Sir?" he and Dunham had awaken to the blasting and were dressing.
"Get here ASAP. Looks like Lucas has been heard from."
"On our way," he cut the connection before Reynolds had time to add Sir.
Waiting for them to hustle over, Taylor dressed in black and for the first time put armor over his jacket.
He didn't have to wait long before a soldier contacted him and said two men named Reynolds and Dunham were requesting entrance. "I've been waiting for them." Opening the door, he saw them rush down the hall, each holding the rifle they came through the portal with. Putting a finger to his lips, he stopped them outside to talk. "Wash is still sleeping. What's it like out there?"
Reynolds spoke for the duo, "Chaotic, Sir. They're in the process of locking the base down." They saw injured starting to arrive and stepped aside as a line of gurneys rushed by them to the operating theater.
His comm beeped again, "Taylor"
"Hudson here, Nathaniel. We caught an insurgent. He's not talking, but he will. The Generals have been ordered to stay away until lockdown is complete. Could take several hours. I'm at the terminus now, but am going to talk with the prisoner. We're getting our troops rallied, but need help. Can you send your boys?"
He looked at Reynolds and Dunham and back towards the room, "You can have them. How about bringing my troops back from Terra Nova to guard the terminus?"
"Well, it would free mine up to secure the base. I doubt your troops in Terra Nova will take orders from me. I'll send a rover to collect you and your men."
"I can't leave Wash unattended. I'll bring one, Taylor out." Looking grimly at his people he opened the door and peeked in. His wife was still sleeping. Crossing to her, he leaned over, placing a hand on each side of her shoulders intending to kiss her awake. His shirt he helped her into the night before was open below her breast and a visible soft swelling made him want to take a finger and unwrap all the way. Instead, quietly without waking her, he carefully pulled the sides together and buttoned two buttons. The tugging of material made her eyes open.
"Didn't get enough last night?"
With a grin he leaned over and kissed her, "Careful what you say," a murmur just above her lips, "the boys are listening."
"What time is it? Too early for you to be up," she just noticed his attire, "What happened, Nathaniel?"
"It's almost five. Been an attack on the base, probably Lucas," he hated having to inform her, but the commotion in the hall was a dead giveaway something was amiss, "Dunham and I are going to the terminus. I'll leave Reynolds to babysit. Besides he has something to show you," with another lingering kiss, he stood back satisfied she was covered adequately.
The soldiers stepped closer to the bed, "Lieutenant," Reynolds greeted.
"Ma'am," echoed by Dunham. They both were looking her over assessing for themselves she wasn't hurt too bad. When they got the order to come and guard her, they were both most eager as were several others. Corporal Guzman overrode several requests with 'the Commander made the choice who was going.'
"Nathaniel, before you go, I need to," she struggled out of bed.
"Turn around you two," he issued a quick bark as the young men spun.
He noticed her panties were clearly visible when he pull the cover back. As soon as the bathroom door was closed, he went to her pack looking for bottoms of some sort. Dunham and Reynolds never moved, staring at the far wall. He found nothing except her pants and he knew she would veto any asking to lay in bed almost fully dressed. "Reynolds."
"Sir?" He looked at the Commander closing a backpack.
A knock on the door and Dunham looked to see if he should get it as he was closest. At the Commander's nod, he opened, pistol in hand. Another soldier was outside, "I'm here to escort General Taylor to Colonial Hudson."
Taylor went to the door while Reynolds and Dunham exchanged surprised glances.
"We'll be right out, Soldier," he shut the door before the private could respond.
No sooner than one door shut the other opened. Spinning, he hurried to help his wife back to bed. Seeing her pale skin, he uttered, "Wash?" With a concerned expression and hand to her forehead. She seemed warm and clammy to him.
"I need to lay down, Sweetheart, " she usually didn't use terms of endearment, but he'd been so concerned and good to her, and she did feel faint.
Helping her to lie down and covering her legs and waist, he ordered. "You can turn around," he heard rustling. "I'll send a doctor in."
"No, they'll be busy. Give me a pain pill, I'm hurting again," she watched him pour a pill into his palm and snag her water glass off her tray.
"I gotta go," he leaned over and kissed her again and whispered, "I love you," in an ear just for her.
One last stroke of her hand down his beard, he left with a clap to Dunham's shoulder to follow.
Mark Reynolds slung his rifle over a shoulder and approached the bed, "Wash, the colony is furious they got close enough to hurt you. Some even blame the Commander."
"Why? He pulled me back so I didn't take more than one bullet. She'd have a talk with anyone who dared suggest her husband put her in harm's way, "Better not be a soldier."
"No Ma'am, they're civilians, just talk," he pulled a miniplex from his pants pocket and handed it to her. "I showed this to the Commander when I came through the portal yesterday. He said to keep it and show you," he smiled, knowing she would love it.
"Oh," her response changed as a wide smile graced her face. "When was this taken?"
"Yesterday. I went to the clinic to tell Maddy I was leaving. She's been hanging out babysitting while Mrs. Shannon works. She was holding him so I took it for you. There's more," he indicated her to look further.
"Get my mini from the outer pouch on my backpack, would you, Mark. The pouch on the right side," she never took her eyes off her baby. She brought her own, but these were new. Oh, how she missed him. He was too young for her to be gone this long. "How's he doing?"
"He misses you, cries more. He senses something's different," he handed her the miniplex he fished out of her outer pocket.
She transferred the images, both stills and live. Elizabeth came with the next shot, "Wash, Commander, I'm putting you on notice. I've decided to keep him." She was smiling and holding Thaniel so the lens captured his face, "I miss having a baby around. Am working on Jim to have another. He plays with Thaniel at night, but will never tell you. He even got up with him last night. Thaniel is taking to the formula just fine. I have a few more pouches of your milk, but am weaning him." She turned serious, "Wash, Mark came and told us you got shot. Come home if you can. I will feel better with you under my care over those army butchers." The message ended.
"Thanks Mark," she handed his devise back.
"Up to telling me the details of how you came to end up here?" He sat in the chair.
She told the story and about the date. By the time she was done she was yawning, "Time to pass out again."
As she fell asleep, he realized he forgot to ask about the Commander being addressed as General.
In the rover, Taylor placed a call to Casey Durwin. A sleepy voice answered. "Gather up, we're opening the portal. Meet me there in fifteen."
In the rover, Dunham had been waiting his chance, "Sir, I have a question."
"What Dunham," he kept an eye out for intruders from the passenger seat while Dunham was in back.
"The private here called you General," the Commander's laugh cut him off.
"My deep dark secret. Too military a handle for a place like Terra Nova. Commander is equal to General, but more widely accepted by the civilians. Don't want the pilgrims to think they're going into a military compound."
"So you're really a General?"
"That I am," they rolled through the open hangar door and it closed behind them.
General Caldwell met them.
"How'd you get in, General?" Nathaniel knew of the lockout.
"I run this base after Philbrick vanished. My place is here," he noticed Dunham standing at Taylor's shoulder much like Casey did. Speaking of Casey, the door opened again and a rhino rolled to a stop and he got out and started pulling items from the back. Dunham went to help.
"Your people loyal to you, Nathaniel?" Caldwell looked at Casey and Dunham as he spoke.
"Most are. Had one incident, with Curran, but I managed to bring him back in line and he's been a good soldier since then."
"How's Wash this morning?" They had peaked in through the door at her sleeping the night before when they went to visit. Nathaniel had gotten their about half an hour before them after the long work day ended. Caldwell told him Lenore had food, but he said no he wanted to get back to his wife. Hank called Lenore to make a plate and he'd pick her up and they followed to the hospital. They found Nathaniel sitting in the chair by the bed staring at his wife. Lenore told him later, he had such a tender expression on his face which vanished as soon as they made their presence known.
"Better. Still has trouble standing too long. They had to rebuild the lung and it's partly deflated for healing. She can't move without getting winded." They watched the technician power up the terminal. Taylor stepped to the portal mic.
"Taylor to Terra Nova," Casey and Dunham moved to stand closer.
"Carter here, Commander."
"Crap, I forgot about Mira," Carter's name reminded him of another Carter.
"Sir?" Carter didn't quite catch what was said, something about Mira.
"Stand by, Carter," he turned to Caldwell. "Do we have our troops at the park?"
"I left enough to protect them or stop them if they decided to cause mischief. We haven't heard from them," he watched Taylor grab is comm.
"Taylor to Mira."
An alert Mira answered, "Go head, Taylor."
"You still at the park?"
"We haven't moved. If we had, your troops would have told you?"
"So your people aren't part of this morning's attack?"
"First I've heard about it. Look Taylor, you know I'm not going to jeopardize not seeing my kid again. Hope this doesn't change our plans. My people are innocent, even Carter. We'll take your truth test, but want to get out of this pollution soon. Not everyone has rebreathers."
"Hold on a moment while I check with the higher ups," he muted the phone and looked at the General who'd been listening. "I got two people on hold and haven't had any coffee yet." He looked pointedly at Dunham, "Dunham, you fix my coffee problem. That way," he pointed in a direction.
"Did Hudson tell you I'm bringing some of my people back to guard the portal?"
"He did. I'll support your decisions in this, Nathaniel. You know your troops and Mira."
Taylor looked at the floor for a moment then turned to the technician, "Open the connection again."
"Established, Sir."
"Private Carter," he waited.
"Sir."
"Relay to Corporal Guzman, I order him and half the troops to come through the portal, complete armor. They are to safeguard from this end. Double the patrols on your end."
"Sir, hold on while I relay."
Taylor completed the relay and would expect his troops in an hour. He re-opened the connection to Mira, "Mira, you still there?"
"Waiting."
"Someone will be by in two to three hours to verify. If you check out, have an answer what you want to do by then," he took his coffee and sipped.
"We'll be waiting," she cut the connection.
Caldwell got off his own comm, "Nathaniel, I have food coming for us and your two men here." He led the way to a room off the main hanger.
Sitting in a break room, Taylor brought up the next problem, "Any update from Hudson?"
"He's still interrogating our prisoner. We have a few more in the hospital and more dead. Early identification came back Phoenix. Not all had the signature that they went to Terra Nova. Looks like they have more recruits." They stopped as food arrived. Each plate was laden with a stack of pancakes with simulated blueberries.
They ate in silence for a few minutes before Taylor turned to Casey, "I appreciate you keeping an eye on Wash, Casey."
"She'd do the same for me." He snorted, "In fact I never did get to repay her for saving my life all those years ago. I still owe her."
Taylor grinned broadly, "I'm in your debt for that." At Casey's puzzled look, he laughingly continuted, "I took advantage of her that night for the first time."
"No way, you did her before that, at least according to the rumor mill," Casey wasn't buying his bullshit.
"We did a lot of things, but not that," they noticed they were the only ones talking. The General and Dunham were listening intently; the younger with shock and older amusement. He changed the subject, "What's in the cases that you had to commandeer a cart for? Not that we can't use another cart at home."
"Well, I promised Thomas something expensive for his bar and with what I got paid, I bought the best. He also had some equipment coming in on the eleventh that I managed to round up."
Taylor shook his head in disgust, "All the items we need and you cater to Boylan. You and my wife I might add." His comm beeped, "Taylor."
"Hudson here, where you at?"
"The terminus hangar."
"Stay put. I got some interesting information out of our prisoner."
Dunham's comm beeped in the background.
"I have my people coming through in about an hour," Taylor thought he heard his wife's name.
"Excuse me, Sir," Dunham held his comm.
Focusing on Dunham he cut his link, "What is it?" He noticed General Caldwell leaving in a hurry with his aid Rex Sherman. He noticed they were all done eating and stood, but the news Reynolds had rooted his feet to the floor in the break room.
"Sergeant Reynolds for you sir, he says it's an emergency," his hand actually stung a little with the force the Commander took unit out of his hand.
"Report," the Commander exhibited the façade of a strong leader he was famous for. His emotions were shutting down. He could feel ice pouring through his veins, training taking over. Orders to be issued, decisions made. If anything happened to his Wash, he could function, but it was getting harder to want to go on with each harmful thing that happened to her. The urge to protect her was knocking at the door again.
"Sir, Lieutenant Washington…."
"Taylor," the Commander corrected.
"Errr, Taylor coughed up some blood so is back in surgery. I don't know anything beyond that, Sir," Reynolds hated making this call, especially with would be assassins maybe still on the loose.
Nathaniel's hand involuntarily tightened on the phone, the only outward sign the call ripped his heart out. Wanting to drop everything and rush to her side drove all other balls he was juggling out of his mind. He gave a couple short breaths while Dunham and Casey leaned closer at overhearing the news.
"Where are you, Sergeant?" His voice betrayed his stoic face with inflections of audible pain.
"Standing guard outside the surgery bay, Sir."
"You don't get far away from her. We don't have an all secure on the base yet."
"Yes, Sir," he was surprised the Commander wasn't coming right back, but not his place to question.
Cutting the link and handing the unit back to Dunham, he stalked off.
"Uh, Sir, should I come with you?" Dunham wasn't sure his place.
Spinning, the Commander ordered, "Stay put. I'm using the latrine. Be right back," he hurried off.
"I'm sure Wash would have gotten an invite, Dunham," Casey joked trying to lift the young soldier's spirit.
Cupping water in his hands, he splashed it all over his face. Nathaniel looked in the mirror. He saw an aging man looking back. He was sure this morning he looked a lot younger before Reynolds call. Not an overtly praying man, he pleaded once again for his wife not to die and went back to work.