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Word Count: 585

Ship: Washington x Taylor

Genre: Hurt/Comfort

Time Taken: approx. 30 Minutes

Number Three

~ Morning ~

If there was one thing Alicia hated more than Sixers right now, it had to be mornings.

Mornings.

The stupid, absurd event that occurs after the sun rises in the sky, signaling most people that it was time to wake up. She hated waking up in the morning, and this specific morning was just making things extra unpleasant.

As if being captured and immobilized defensively by Sixers wasn't bad enough, Alicia still had to get up this morning, early, of course, for duty. And she did not look pretty, nor did her bones and muscles feel to great.

Bruises lined her face, splayed along her cheekbones, black and blue and just obvious, the split lip still slightly red and puffy, the cuts all over her arms, chest and face. To say the very least, she was a mess. Even after the long , hot shower the night before, she could still feel the remains of dried blood in her hair as she ran a hand through it, probably from refusing medical treatment. Wounds healed on their own time without the special treatments at the clinic.

Mornings were just not in Alicia Washington's 'favorite things' list. So as she pulled a brush through her hair and pulled it into a messy bun, she couldn't help but feel pissed as hell at the Sixers for making her morning worse then usual. Worse, that is, being an understatement.

And as she stepped out of her living quarters that morning, armed and ready (sort of) to face the day, she was more than just surprised to find Taylor leaned up beside the door, waiting for her.

"Sir." Washington said sharply, turning her face so she didn't have to show off her not-pretty state to the colonies leader. She hated mornings, and just wanted to get the hell to work and get this day over with so she could do it all over again tomorrow and probably for another week after. She moved quickly to step off the porch, and was shocked when she felt a hand reach out and grasp her arm, preventing her from leaving. She spun around to face Taylor, eyes boring into the Commander with venom.

"I was just making sure you were okay. Not that you can't handle yourself." he said with a serious air about him, looking his second-in-command dead in the eye.

Alicia swallowed hard, never having felt so sentimental before, really. With a hard face she nodded. "Fine. Just not to pretty, so if you'd stop looking at me I'd appreciate it." she spoke dryly, humor flooding from her words.

Commander Taylor laughed a true, happy laugh as he shook his head. Alicia stared down her superior, clearly not amused. He stopped, looking down at her. "Stop it, you're beautiful, Wash, inside and out."

Alicia was taken aback by the statement, a small smile lining her bruised face. Taylor let go of her arm, freeing her, and they just stood there for a moment, staring at each other. The moment was gone almost as quickly as it had come, but Alicia still felt it's truth.

Taylor smiled at the women, giving a curt nod. "Get to work, slacker." he joked, stepping off her porch and heading back to his office without another word. Washington stood and watched him go, a confused yet calm sense overtaking her. And with that, she turned and headed in the opposite direction, feeling a whole lot better then she had minutes ago that awful turned incredible morning.

I love Wash, she's got to be my favorite. Shhh, don't tell the others! :3 Hope you enjoyed, I love this one. Please review!