"Thank you." Kowalski froze in his steps as the words found their way to his ears. He turned to see Skipper looking down at the ground, and then turned to see Layla smiling at them. "For doing this." They were in the middle of a deserted hallway, heading toward their destination which was only a few doors away. They almost got caught a few times along the way, but with Skipper's sneakiness and Kowalski's knowledge of the hallways, they managed to stay out of sight.

Kowalski looked to Layla again and back to Skipper. "Uh...no problem, McGrath."

Skipper sighed and looked up with a small smile. "You two didn't have to do this. In fact, you could be in trouble right now."

"All in this together, McGrath. If we fall, we're dragging you with us." Kowalski chuckled quietly as Skipper grinned.

"Got it."

Layla placed a hand on Skipper's shoulder as they paused before a door. "Besides, I would do anything to make sure families stay together and happy, contented at least. And you're my foster brother. I would do anything to keep you happy." Without waiting for a reply, the girl took a step away from the door and gestured to the door. "Go on."

Skipper took a deep breath before pushing down on the handle and opening the door slowly.

Kowalski looked at his watch. "You have ten minutes before someone checks in with the patients, McGrath."

"Nope. You're coming with me." Skipper shook his head with a smirk and proceeded to grab the two of them. "Come on." He pulled them inside and closed the door behind them. "She'd like to see you guys again."

The quiet beep beep beep was somehow calming to the three of them in the room. There was only one patient, but she was the only one that mattered at the moment.

"This is supposed to be your time, Skipper. We can't intrude."

"It's fine. I-"

"Skipper?" A weak voice called out to the boy, who froze, before slowly turning around.

He stared in awe at the woman hooked up to an IV bag and a machine, propped up on a few pillows. She looked worn and weary, but still beautiful in his eyes. He watched happily as she sat up slowly and looked over the three of them.

"Skipper," the voice was no longer weak, "what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here." He opened his mouth to speak but was quickly cut off. "Oh, get over here already." Without a word, the boy bounded into the open arm that wasn't being held down by the IV. "Oh my dear Leslie..."

"Mom." Skipper groaned as he leaned back, sitting on the bed. "It's Skipper. Not that, yuck." The woman frowned and slapped the back of his head. "Ow."

"Now you listen here, mister. I happen to like that name enough to give it to you."

"But it's girly." The boy whispered to the woman, earning another whack. "Ow."

"It is not, boy. Now stop complaining. There's nothing you can do about it." Skipper pouted. The woman smiled at him, before pinching his cheek with her one available hand.

"Mom! No, not," the next thing he was crushed in a hug that showed the strength of a bear rather than a woman on the hospital bed, "mhf." She held the boy away from her and pinched his cheek again.

"Aren't you just adorable, Skippy?"

"MOM. Stop it."

The woman chuckled lightly before pulling Skipper to one side and looking over to where Layla and Kowalski awkwardly stood, with smiles on their faces.

"Layla, Kowalski, come on." The two looked at each other before walking to the bed uncertainly.

"Good evening, Mrs. McGrath." They chorused at the same time, but the woman waved it away.

"Oh please, I'm not that old. And you're practically like my very own, since you two live with this little pig here."

"Agh." Skipper buried his head into a spare pillow and groaned into it as his mother ignored him and gave the two a warm smile.

"Now, how many times do I have to tell you two to call me Lady?"

"Around 5, 6, 7 times maybe," Kowalski tapped his chin as he looked at the ceiling, "I wasn't counting." Lady blinked at the boy before eyeing his figure up and down.

His eyes caught onto something, but he felt the gaze, and suddenly grew shy and rubbed his arm nervously as the woman shook her head.

"You, my boy, need to get out more." She turned to Skipper. "Have you been helping this poor boy?" She reached for one of Kowalski's arms and pulled him close. "Look at him. All frail and wimpy. So delicate. Only a lady should be delicate."

"Ow!" Kowalski cried out when she pinched his skin.

"So weak. And would you look at his skin? So pale and pasty. It's not a good color, boy. No." She tsked and dropped the limp arm as the pale boy turned bright red and rubbed the arm. "How is he going to get a girlfriend looking like that?"

"Wh-wha?" Kowalski stuttered, already a nice shade of red. To the side, Layla and Skipper giggled, stopping when Kowalski glared at them.

"I'm surprised you don't have glasses what with Layla talking about how you like to stay in your room doing whatchamacalit." At this statement though, both boys slowly turned to look at Layla, who quickly looked away.

"Layla," Kowalski folded his arms, "what is she talking about?"

"Have you been telling on us?" Skipper glared accusingly at the girl, who blinked back at them innocently and shook her head.

"By right," Lady burst out, "she should!" She gestured with one hand to Kowalski. "Just look at that boy. All lanky, no grace." She pointed at Layla. "You need to feed this boy. I want meat on those bones. Understood, soldier?"

Layla saluted the woman with a grin. "Yes, ma'am!"

"And you," Lady turned to Skipper, "make sure he gets fit and right. Exercise, every single day! No matter what."

"Yes ma'am!" Skipper copied Layla's earlier response.

"Alright. Now," she frowned at Skipper, "I also heard that you're a big bully to this very boy here."

"Uh," he winced when Lady clamped two fingers and a thumb onto his ear, "ow ow ow ow ow."

"Play nice, Leslie. Or else. Do you hear me, mister?" She finally let go of his ear.

"Ow." He rubbed his ear and frowned.

"I said, do you-"

"Yes ma'am." He quickly spoke, straightening his back in the process and saluting her yet again.

Lady let out a long, ragged breath and leaned back against the mountain of pillows propped on the headboard as she closed her eyes.

"Mom?" Skipper blinked and scooted closer. "Are you okay? Did you take your medicine? Do I have to call the doctor?"

"I'm fine, Skipper." She spoke softly, using the one hand to stroke his head before pulling it closer for a kiss on top. "I'm fine, my baby..."

"Mom?"

Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head to look at Skipper. "Aw...Look at you. The last time I saw you, you were just a tiny wittle," she cooed and pinched his cheek again, "baby."

The boy frowned and rubbed his sore cheek. "Mom. I was here yesterday."

She ignored him and pulled him into another hug. "And you've grown so much. Oh my baby's a big boy now." Skipper groaned again, burying his face into the woman's neck when he heard snickers coming from behind him. She moved back and smiled at him. "Now, tell me. Do you have a girlfriend?"

The blood rushed to his cheeks as the snickers grew into barely contained laughter. "MOM. No. Never."

"Are you sure? I'd really like to meet my replacement."

"No. Nobody's replacing you."

Lady sighed and ruffled his hair at bit. "I'd like to think that there would be someone to take care of you."

"I have Layla. Ow." He rubbed his head after she whacked the back of his head again and wagged a finger at him.

"She is not your housemaid, boy. She's your sister. You better treat your sister right, do you hear me, soldier?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Lady sighed again and stroked his head before placing her hand on the mattress. She felt someone squeeze her hand and looked down to see Skipper holding onto it with both hands, although he wasn't looking at her.

"I'll be fine, Skipper. I just want you to be happy, okay?" He didn't answer but continued to hold onto her hand. "You two." Lady narrowed her eyes at Layla and Kowalski. "Help him find a proper woman. I want someone who will stand up to him and love him. Nothing much I want from the unlucky girl, but that's all I need. Is that clear?"

"Yes ma'am." The two chorused again, though Kowalski was feeling a little uneasy as his eyes drifted back to the machine on the other side of the bed.

"Alright." She let out another ragged breath and closed her eyes. "That was painfully exhausting."

"Mom?" Skipper raised his head and studied her relaxed features. "Do you want me to call the doctors now?"

A murmur passed her lips but he didn't catch it.

"What was that, mom?" He leaned closer and she murmured again.

"I love you..." The words were forced and wispy and he looked back to study her again, unintentionally squeezing her hand again.

"I love you too, mom." A small smile managed to grace her face, but she didn't open her eyes. "But I'm still calling the doctors. You look in pain." Indeed, the smile was gone and replaced by a grimace.

Skipper turned to Layla and Kowalski, each in their own world, minding their own business. "Uh, could one of you-" He was interrupted by a sharp shrill that sent his heart tumbling.

Layla gasped and stepped away as Kowalski paled, if it was possible for the already pale boy.

"Skipper. I..."

He ignored him and turned to the hand nestled in his. It was no longer holding onto him; just lying limp. "Mom." He looked up at the peaceful looking face. "Mom?" He gently squeezed the hand, not even realizing that Layla had run out of the room. "Mom?" The shrill sound kept mocking him, telling him what had happened to her. "Mom, please don't do this to me." He shook her head again, suddenly feeling tears fall down his face and onto the white bedspread. Her voice filled his head, reprimanding him and telling him that soldiers do not cry. He quickly wiped them away but gave up on the task and placed his hands on her shoulders, shaking her again. "Mom, please. Don't do this to me. I can't," he sniffled, "I can't do this right now. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow. You have, to be there." He breathed in deeply and forced a smile on. "You promised."

"Skipper," Kowalski spoke slowly and uncertainly, "I don't think she's..." He trailed off when Skipper dropped his head and wrapped his arms around Lady. "I'm sorry..."

It was a complete blur to Skipper afterwards.

The door opened in the distance, letting in a stream of people. Someone tried to get him off, but he refused to let go until a few more hands joined in. He struggled out of the hold as orders and words were thrown around him.

"Hurry! We need to get her back online, NOW!"

"Skipper?"

"Someone get the Captain!"

"No! Let me go! I need her!"

"She'll be fine, Skipper. You need to calm down."

"Please!"

"Listen to me."

"She's my mom! Let me go!"

"You need to calm down, boy."

"Skipper, you need to-"

"NO! MOMMY!"

"Skipper, please."

Next thing he knew, he was pushing through the double doors leading to the parking lot.

"Leslie! Wait!"