Disclaimer: I do not own Dominion, its locations, characters, plot, etc. I do own this cray idea and a love for angels, and a few characters thrown in
Summary: Six weeks post 1x04 The Flood, AU. Ever since Michal returned to Vega after being stabbed, some of the Corps soldiers noticed he wasn't always the stoic, aloof archangel Vega's known for years. And Alex is about to find out why. Also...William Whele has a secret to tell about a night that went normally to everyone else but was actually something much bigger.
Chapter Two
Xxx
Noma not only got them to the hospital without suspicion, but slipped them up to the third floor to meet with the one doctor she trusted enough in this situation, stating simply he owed her a favor. Michael remained silent throughout all of it, following her without a word. Alex couldn't tell if the archangel was actually sick and in need of care, or was somehow just humoring them. Either way his sudden complacent mood was unsettling and not easing any of Alex's nerves. Ethan was no better, the usually talkative soldier hadn't spoken more than a handful of words around Michael, even his nervous rambling had ceased, he ensured no one was ever following them as they moved, but still kept his distance from the archangel.
Dr. Rogers was just finishing up at the nursing station on the third floor when they stepped out from the stair well, he gave Noma a short wave before motioning for them to wait a moment as he signed off on something. The look on the doctor's face when he recognized Michael set Alex on edge, but what worried the soldier more was that the archangel spun on a heel and ducked into the bathroom just down the hall, collapsing to his knees as he heaved into the toilet.
Alex followed, holding onto Michael's shoulders when he saw how the angel's arms were shaking. The angel's heaving was enough to nearly echo in the bathroom, the strangled sounds earning a wince from the human. He tried to focus on something else, but Noma's voice didn't carry through the door besides a low murmur, Dr. Roger's voice a tad deeper and just as quiet. Michael didn't seem to notice any of it, finally leaning back with a soft groan before Alex helped him to his feet and flushed the toilet with his foot. The fact that the archangel actually needed Alex's help to walk was even more concerning, leaning heavily on Lannon as they exited the bathroom once Michael had cleaned up quickly.
Ethan quickly took Michael's other side, helping him to the private exam room Noma was waiting at while Dr. Rogers fussed with a machine in the corner. The exam bed was tilted up halfway when they entered, the two soldiers helping Michael lay back once he was steady enough to tilt that much. Dr. Rogers had already set up an IV bag of saline, pulling out the needle and inserting it into the back of Michael's hand without so much as a "may I?". Michael didn't seem to notice the abruptness, watching listlessly before resting his head back and closing his eyes. He did shift a little when Dr. Rogers swung out a pair of stirrups , guiding the archangel's heels into the loops before turning back to his machine.
"How long have you been feeling ill?"
"Nearly two months."
Dr. Rogers remained expressionless, but Alex's brow furrowed, having probably been one of the few people who spent an extensive amount of time around the archangel this was news to him...other than the injury Michael had shown no signs of anything.
The doctor continued calibrating his machine, pulling a wand and cord from the cabinet and plugging it in as he spoke, "And when have you been feeling ill during the day? I assume it is not constant as there have been no medical reports indicating this."
Michael shook his head slightly, "Mostly early mornings, rarely any later than midday, though I am unable to consume anything until evening."
That earned a soft hum from the doctor before he motioned for Michael to lift his shirt, glancing to him for permission before squeezing a light blue gel over the archangel's stomach.
"An ultrasound will hopefully find the cause of the issue, lingering complications from the stab wound you sustained six weeks ago could be quite serious."
The wand pressing against his stomach made Michael wince slightly, face contorting in pain. Alex was beginning to wonder just how much of this illness had wrecked the archangel's self control and stoic exterior. Alex had moved to Vega with his father when he was five, an eight ball attack had gotten so bad that Jeep had been injured in the fight to the extent their solitude wasn't going to cut it. After the first initial meeting of the archangel, Alex had always seen Michael as someone cold and calculating, one not to speak unless absolutely necessary and only on facts. Something was definitely wrong.
The archangel let out a soft sigh, "It is not the wound."
"Oh?"
Michael grimaced when the doctor pressed the wand a little harder against the angel's navel, "This started before the stabbing."
Dr. Rogers hummed a bit disapprovingly, eyes flicking to meet Michael's before the angel closed them again. Adjusting the wand's position, the doctor enhanced the image on the screen, looking Michael over briefly before clearing his throat.
"I will agree with you on that the wound was not the cause of this, not so surprising symptoms wise all things considered."
Noma shifted from where she leaned against the closed door, arms crossing as she tried to look over Dr. Rogers' shoulder without moving from her post. "Considering what doc?"
"According to these scans and my estimate Michael, you are ten weeks pregnant."
Michael sat up abruptly, getting shoved back down when the image distorted on the screen. Noma moved to hold him down if needed while Dr. Rogers adjusted the wand again, turning the screen so the archangel could see what he was seeing.
The image wasn't perfect, but it was clear enough to see the curled form inside the angel, a bit odd looking due to its age but it was obviously a baby.
Alex was about to ask the obvious question of how when Michael started gasping for air, eyes fluttering as he dropped back against the bed. Whether it was shock or something else, Michael went limp and Dr. Rogers jerked to his feet and grabbed an oxygen mask behind the exam bed, handing it to Noma to slide neatly over the angel's face while Rogers examined Michael further.
The angel came to a few minutes later, groaning slightly before he yanked the mask off and threw up. At least Dr. Rogers expected that, having a bucket waiting once Michael had stirred more than blinking sluggishly.
Once settled back down, Dr. Rogers showed the still images again, handing Michael a damp cloth to wipe off his stomach while the doctor spoke.
"Unless this new machine is faulty, that is a developing fetus. And the symptoms Noma here relayed to me as well-the fatigue and weight gain-and you confirming the morning sickness only adds to this. With your permission I can run a few blood tests to confirm further, to be safe I'd like to do an MRI as well to ensure things are alright."
Michael hesitated before nodding, staring at the far wall and refusing to make eye contact with any of them. Dr. Rogers was quick to note his mood change, proceeding with drawing two vials of blood before adjusting the IV flow.
"If you will allow me, I'd rather admit you to a private room, based on your hospital file archangel you are severely dehydrated. Pregnant or no that is not safe for anyone."
Again Michael simply nodded, jaw clenching slightly as the doctor erased the ultrasound memory after copying the data to his computer pad for safe keeping. On the way to the hospital, Noma had assured them that Rogers would not only be the doctor to handle this professionally, but would maintain the strictest confidentiality.
None of that seemed to matter now to Michael, the archangel laying on the bed and staring blankly at the wall. Dr. Rogers left to make preparations to move the archangel, assuring them he'd return soon. Michael didn't respond, one hand gripping the sheet on the exam bed tightly while the other rested on his stomach.
"Michael-"
The archangel jerked to his feet, yanking the IV out of his hand in split second as he began to move. Alex had seen him mad before, but nothing like this...this level of frustration was completely new to him. Michael growled softly, not meeting Lannon's or Noma's gaze as he paced, hands running through his short hair and down his face in irritation.
Neither soldier dared try getting him to stop, letting him pace undisturbed. While pale and obviously exhausted, Michael could still easily lay them out without even blinking, and neither wanted to take that risk. Michael didn't speak as he moved back and forth across the small room, staring at nothing as his mind raced.
Dr. Rogers had just stepped back in the side door, a gurney visible on the other side before he shut it again, leaning back on the wood once he saw how agitated Michael was. None of them spoke for several minutes, letting the archangel be, though Rogers did keep eyeing the slight bleeding on Michael's hand from where he had yanked the IV out.
Michael had just begun to slow down a bit in his pacing when he suddenly doubled over, crying out in pain as an arm wrapped around his stomach, the other bracing on the exam table to keep him on his feet.
Dr. Rogers was at his side in an instant, steadying him upright as a hand slid under Michael's, "Cramping or pain?"
"Both…" Michael's voice was breathless, gasping for air like he'd gotten socked in the chest, "Oh father it hurts…"
Whether he noticed his slip up Michael didn't show it, grimacing as he nearly bent in half in pain, groaning loudly.
"Noma, top cabinet shelf, muscle relaxant." said Rogers, already checking Michael's heart rate with his stethoscope/
"Got it."
The syringe was handed over and its contents injected into a vein in Michael's arm. The long minutes between the administering and the drug actually kicking in only added to the tension in the room. The notable difference in Michael was enough for everyone to breathe a sigh of relief, the angel able to breathe normally again as he straightened a little with a grimace. Whether he noticed it or not, Michael kept a hand on his stomach, nodding when Dr. Rogers made to step away and bring the gurney in. The pain had left Michael breathless, and he sagged down onto the wheeled bed as soon as he could, accepting the oxygen mask for a moment while Ethan stepped in the room as well.
Once Michael had laid back and was ready, Dr. Rogers instructed Ethan and Alex to push the bed, directing them out and down the hallway with Noma right behind them.
"Have to say Noma, I applaud your deduction skills on that one, that and happening upon a rare week when half my ward is empty."
"Your ward doc?"
Rogers glanced over his shoulder as he held open a set of swinging doors leading to the private rooms, "Yes Sgt. Lannon, if you hadn't noticed you are on the maternity floor, I not only run this ward but it just so happens to only be half occupied this week, I also supervise the ICU section for castes V-3 and higher, keeping my mouth shut is as common as breathing."
"Noma-"
"Shut up Alex...I told you I took medical training, just didn't specify what field, had a hunch and rolled with it."
Alex just shook his head, glancing down at Michael on the bed, the archangel had let his eyes close again, but Alex couldn't tell if it was in exhaustion or because he was about to get sick again. The angel swallowing thickly only confirmed the nausea theory, and Alex slowed his fast pace a bit to smooth out the ride.
The private room was already prepped with monitors and a fresh IV bag, a set of hospital garb was laid out on the counter next to the bathroom, but Rogers made no inclination to have Michael change when the doctor helped him transfer to the regular bed, adjusting the head a little to ease Michael's breathing.
A fresh IV needle was put in on the opposite hand, a bandage wrapping up the cut from the first one. Michael watched silently as the heart monitor was clamped on his index finger, merely shifting to remove his boots and hand Noma his coat to set aside before laying back fully once Rogers stepped away.
"I would recommend getting some rest, I will go run these tests and return with the results by this evening. My assistant will deliver food at noon-"
Michael gagged, coughing into his arm at the mere mention of food, face contorted in pain as he fell back against the pillows.
Rogers didn't even blink, "Deliver at noon, a light meal, something unlikely to turn a stomach. I will be back after then to discuss everything with you."
Without waiting for a response the doctor left, ensuring the door was shut behind him as he pulled the gurney out with him.
Ethan glanced to each of them before clearing his throat, "Is it too early to ask about the elephant in the room?"
Michael responded by reaching over and promptly throwing his boot at the soldier, rubbing at his face tiredly.
Noma rolled her eyes as she dropped into a chair, yawning behind a hand, "Ethan...shut up."
"But seriously though…" Alex waited to continue until Michael looked to him, eyes strained with barely held back frustration. "What the hell Michael?"
With a sigh Michael shook his head, shifting on the bed before speaking, "I cannot give you information I do not possess Alex."
"So what now?"
"Now I would much rather you refrain from speaking...I would rather just sleep."
The pained tone in Michael's voice made Alex sigh before he moved to sit against the far wall, watching Michael shift a little before letting his head list to one side as exhaustion pulled at him.
"Ethan...guard the door for the hour and then switch?"
His friend looked eager to take the out, nodding and moving before he even spoke, "Yeah, sure."
Once the door was shut, Michael groaned softly, rubbing at his face in frustration, "Damn."
"What?"
"Senate meeting started twenty minutes ago…"
Noma snorted as she stood, tugging at the blankets at the foot of the bed to unfold them, Michael ignored her fussing but did adjust the covers to lie at his waist once she stepped back, "Missed that one...don't worry about them hearing anything from Rogers, he's a bit of a rambler if he gets going, but keeping a tight lip is his best trait. Nothing will get out."
Michael nodded before letting his eyes close finally, sighing as he relaxed back against the pillows. It was a matter of minutes before his breathing evened out and he fell asleep.
Xxx
Dr. Eric Rogers glanced over his shoulder at the centrifuge, wishing it would work faster as he scanned through the Archangel's limited medical file on the computer in front of him.
Bizarre wouldn't even be the tip of the iceberg if he were to describe what just happened, only decades of experience kept him calm and collected as he ran routine tests on the blood samples.
Least to say when the phone rang he wasn't expecting it to be from House Thorn.
"How can I help you Consul?"
"You can start by confirming to me that you are aware certain medical files are flagged in the database, should one in particular be accessed a notice is sent to the corresponding receivers."
"I am aware of this yes, but why are you calling me Consul Thorn?"
"Because I want to know why you accessed Archangel Michael's records."
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