Man Of Action owns Generator Rex, I don't claim any rights and make no money from this.

A/N: Here it is, the second part of Uncertainty and the last planned part of The Ties That Bind.


Uncertainty: Healing


Callan lay on his back looking at the ceiling. He wished he could get out of his bed but two things were stopping him. One: he really was in too much pain to move, and two: Dr. Holiday was hovering nearby. He may not see her at the moment but he knew she was monitoring him closely.

If he were to admit the truth, she scared him a bit. She was unlike any other woman he'd ever met. Beautiful, brilliant, but deadly when she needed to be. He also knew he owed her his life.

He didn't remember much about what happened on his last mission. He'd seen the report and heard Six's (brief) account of what happened. He supposed he should be grateful he didn't remember the pain. He was in enough of that now and he knew it must have been ten times worse. It was hard to fathom.

One thing that pinged his heart was the thought of Noah waiting in uncertainty while he was in surgery all those hours. He had called for his son as soon as he'd regained consciousness. At that time he'd seen the strain and sadness on Noah's face, it had eased somewhat over the last few weeks but it was still there. Now he was beginning to suspect there was something else bothering the boy.

"How are you this morning?" Dr. Holiday's bright voice warmed him.

He put on a brilliant smile and turned his head in her direction. "Better now. I think I'll be able to go three rounds with an EVO by tomorrow."

She laughed and shook her head. "Well, maybe not tomorrow, but soon." She looked at his bio readings and made a few short notes on his chart. She helped him sit up. "Did you eat this morning?"

He shook his head no and she was about to ask him what he wanted when the door opened. She glanced back to see Noah enter. She smiled at the two blonds then took her leave.

"Noah, what are you doing here so early?" Callan asked as he smiled at his son.

The young man shrugged. "I was out for a walk doing some thinking and Six came along. He gave me a ride."

Callan nodded. "Does Rex know you're here?" The captain noticed his son flinch ever so slightly.

"I don't know," he mumbled.

Callan watched him for some time. "Come on son, what's botherin' you?" Noah sighed but didn't meet his father's eyes. "Don't make me get out of this bed," he said with a smirk.

A smile twitched on Noah's lips but it quickly died and he glanced at the invalid. "I messed up with Rex." His words were almost a whisper, it pained him to say the words out loud, as if it made them more real.

"In what way?" Callan frowned.

"He hadn't gotten over the fact that we'd met because of White, now..." his voice trailed off.

"What happened?"

"It was this thing with you. It forced me to reveal our relationship. He didn't take me lying to him again very well. Not that I blame him." Noah hung his head.

Callan pondered his son's words. "Are you two speaking?"

Noah shook his head. "Not really. He lets me say hi to him when I see him in the halls, but not much more." He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. "Thing is he's not being hostile to me. I almost wish he'd smack me around and get it out of his system."

Callan allowed himself a small smile. "Give it time. You two are as close as whiskers on a catfish. He'll come around."

Noah sighed and nodded, but didn't comment.

Holiday came back carrying a tray of breakfast items. "I didn't know what you wanted so I got a little of everything," she smiled.

"Have you eaten?" Callan asked the boy.

"Nah, I figured I'd grab something later."

"Nonsense," Holiday piped, "There's plenty here for both of you." She set the tray down before leaving them alone again.

Noah looked at his father who nodded for him to stay. "Alright." They both picked what they wanted and settled in to eat.

Callan watched his son off and on throughout the meal. Though Noah put on a good face Callan could read the tension in him. He knew he'd have to do something about this.


After physical therapy and a short nap he summoned Rex, he enlisted Six's help to get the boy to him. Finally the doors swished open and Six came in with his iron grip on Rex's shoulder.

Rex looked less than happy and a bit confused. Six gave the boy a final shove and he stumbled forward, for which he shot a glare back to his agro-nanny before facing Callan. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Sit, please." Callan nodded to Six and he returned it before leaving.

Rex sat slowly on a chair near the bed. Callan watched the boy for a minute, all the while Rex was growing more nervous.

No reason not to cut to the chase. "You need to get over whatever bee crawled up your butt and forgive Noah."

Rex's eyes nearly popped out of his head at Callan's blunt statement. "What?" he stumbled out.

"It's not solely the boy's fault that he kept things from you. You are hopefully intelligent enough to understand that. He didn't want to. Even from the beginning he wanted to tell you everything." Callan watched Rex's face darken. "Go ahead son, say what's on your mind. I won't take offense."

Rex pushed himself out of the chair angrily and started pacing at the end of the bed. "He lied to me! Twice! Just when I'd started to trust him again, and I felt like I knew him, he throws me for a loop. I'm beginning to think all of Providence is laughing at me behind my back," he said sourly.

Callan shook his head with a sigh. "Only a select few know the whole truth about Noah and me."

Rex eyed him. "Who?"

"White, Six, and Dr. Holiday – who guessed only very recently. That's it."

Rex froze as he thought. His shoulders slumped and he sank back into the chair. "Is there anything else he's hiding from me?"

The captain pursed his lips, he honestly didn't know what his son had told the boy. "Have you asked him that?" Rex shook his head that he hadn't. "Than I suggest you do so, son."

The young man looked dubious but Callan knew he'd find Noah as soon as he was done here. Callan smiled knowingly. "You two are too good of friends to let something like this stand between you." His smile slipped. "I should know how secrets affect a friendship."

Rex looked at him, surprised and curious but didn't ask.

"Now, get out of here. I have to recuperate." He laced his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes.

"Yes, sir." Rex chuckled but was out the door in a minute.

"Do you really believe secrets harm friendships?"

Callan cracked his eyes to see Six emerge from a nearby shadow. The convalescing man sighed. "I used to. I was bugged I didn't know even your name. I really didn't know anything about you. It used to stick in my craw somethin' fierce."

"Used to?" Six parroted back.

Callan chuckled. "I eventually realized no one knew anything about you, but you chose to hang out with me."

"You were less annoying than most."

Callan burst out laughing, which petered off into a groan as he grabbed his ribs. "Ah, Six. We sure have seen a lot in our day."

"I'm glad you're still around to see even more." Six rested a hand on the other man's shoulder. Callan looked up at the dark glasses that held back the fierce man's gaze. Six nodded once and was out the door in pursuit of Rex.

Callan relaxed his head back on his pillows and drifted to sleep with a smile.


A/N: Well, here is the end of The Ties That Bind. I hadn't planned any more parts to this but if the inspiration strikes I'll add it on. I hope you enjoyed my musings into two of my favorite characters. I have enjoyed it. Thank you for reading and reviewing!