A/N: Thank you so very much to metube and MissCallaLilly for reviewing the last chapter. Knowing that people are still out there reading my story inspired me to knock out another chapter. I hope you enjoy!
After an uncomfortable walk to Dr Audrey Cope's home, Wash and Taylor shared a brief moment of trepidation prior to knocking on the door. She halted his hand from making contact with the entrance. "Nathaniel, she has no proof that we're actually together. I think it would be best that we don't give her any ammunition. I would really not prefer that she was the one that began spreading tales through the colony with any actual evidence." She immediately regretted her words when she saw the hurt in his eyes. He wanted people to know, but she was not yet prepared. He simply nodded slowly in agreement before knocking on the door. When Dr Cope answered the door, Wash could not help but wonder how much longer she could or would continue to sport shockingly low cut shirts.
"Nathaniel! I wasn't expecting you to come as well, I'm so delighted you did though." She grasped his hand and pulled him into the house and into an embrace that lasted much too long for Wash's liking. "Please take a seat, I have some wine, not for me of course" she placed Taylor's hand on her belly. "There is some fresh fruit as well." Taylor sighed in relief that she had not actually 'cooked' anything.
Strategically, Wash was sure to occupy the seat next to Nathaniel, preventing Dr Cope from having easy access to her man. With a clear look of disdain, Audrey took the seat across the table from her guests.
Taylor's leg bounced under the table; Wash knew from experience that this was a habit of pent of energy or frustration. She grasped his knee to halt his movements. Dr Cope noticed this familiar touch, frowning, not bothering to hide her displeasure. She chose this moment to launch directly into serious matters with no preamble.
"Nathaniel, I think it would be best if we lived together as a family after the baby is born." Audrey reached across the table to clasp Taylor's hand. He made no effort to extract himself much to Wash's chagrin.
After a long pause Taylor responded, "I don't think that will work, Audrey." He chose this moment to slide his hand away from hers. Under the table, out of sight, he clasped Wash's hand.
Audrey cannot see their fingers entwined under the table, but makes assumptions from the smug look that Lieutenant Washington wears.
"Nathaniel, I can only assume that you have taken up sleeping with your Lieutenant. But, I rest assured that this is just a fling. Alicia dear, you may think that there is something more going on here" she gestured at the two of them "because of your shared history, but I know better. Nathaniel and I are going to be a family soon and we need to start acting like it. That leaves no room for whatever this 'distraction' is."
"Audrey, I will do my best to be a father to this child, but we'll have to be a non-traditional family." Taylor was attempting his best to remain diplomatic as Wash's hand clamped down on his with near crushing force.
"Babe, I don't think that is a healthy environment. Don't you fear that our child will resent you for leaving his mother?" Wash did not know whether to be more incensed at the pet name or the veiled reference to Taylor's relationship with his son.
Wash would have been across the table throttling the woman had Nathaniel's hand not been holding her steady. "Leaving you? You two were never together!"
Audrey responded with the mirthless laugh that Wash had grown to despise. "I don't know how much Nathaniel has told you about our relationship, but we've been fucking for two years."
Nathaniel holds up a hand, his eyes wide, "Audrey STOP!" He said with his most authoritative voice.
She was not deterred by his tone and focused clearly on her competition. "It was me he called when he was tired of other women, not you!"
Wash shot up out of her chair only to be placed unceremoniously back by her CO. "That's enough, Audrey! I'm going to spell this out for you. I will be a part of this child's life, but there is no chance of 'us'. You have to accept that! We're done here for now. Let's take some time to cool down and we'll discuss this rationally later, just the two of us." He knew that he did not need the added complication of Wash attempting to attack the other woman when provoked.
Taylor guided Wash towards the door before Audrey called out to him. "Nathaniel, we'll have to tell people, Dr Shannon especially. If you are going to be there for this child, a good time to start is at my 12 week exam tomorrow."
Taylor's face drained of color, yet he nodded agreeing to her suggestion. Not saying another word to her they made their way out the door.
Taylor consistently glanced at Wash as they walked in complete silence back to his home. She stared forward, a pinched look on her face, not making eye contact with him. The moment the door to his home closed she turned on him "Two years Nathaniel! Why didn't you tell me?"
He was shocked, he assumed she was angry with the botanist, not at him. "You didn't ask! It was purely physical, nothing else." He defended himself.
The look on her face was of purely indignant, Taylor feared slightly for his safety. "So, she's such a good lay that you came back to her for two damn years? Is this something I need to be worried about, you going back to her when you get bored with ME?"
Taylor was clearly becoming angry now. She could see the veins in his neck. His lips thinned as he strained to control his ire. "Christ Wash! We are in a relationship. You and I! I have never been unfaithful in my life and I'm not going to start now."
Prodding further Wash decided to twist the knife, "So rather than be unfaithful you'll just leave me to keep your morals intact?"
He was becoming exasperated now. Throwing his hands in the air and walking away from her, only to have her hot on his heels. "Where the hell is this coming from, Alicia? You know that's not true!"
She pushed him hard, jarring his injured shoulder. He growled more in annoyance than in pain clasping his shoulder. "I was supposed to have your baby! Not that whore!" She was shocked at her own words. They just started this 'relationship' when did she start thinking about children. Slightly embarrassed by her statement and frustrated with the events surrounding the damned botanist, she stormed out the door. "Don't follow me." She quietly said as he reached to stop her exit. Wash heard something shatter behind her as he threw something against the wall.
After a very restless night of sleep, a very bleary Lieutenant made her way into the Command Center reporting for a long day of administrative bullshit. She was greeted by the sight of her Commander poised in his traditional position behind the skull supported desk. Never looking up from the plex in his hands he simply stated "You didn't answer when I called you."
Annoyed with his presence she responded mocking his nonchalant tone. "I need time, Nathaniel. I have to figure out what to do."
"What is there to figure out? Are you saying you're thinking about giving up on us?" All attempts at being casual were lost as his voice flooded with emotion. She had trouble looking into his eyes, she could almost see his heart breaking.
"This, I mean 'us', it's so new. I've waited so long for it. Now that we've put the pieces together it feels like it's falling apart. I thought I could do this, but meeting with that bi… Dr Cope last night made everything too real. I don't want to have to fight her for the rest of my life." She stood her ground, finally making eye contact with him. He was up in a flash, encroaching on her personal space.
"Since when do you run away from a fight, soldier?"
At that moment the door to the Command Center burst open to reveal the man with the worst timing in all of the colony, Jim Shannon.
"Hey! Just the two I wanted to see." After a beat he noticed the strained aura that surrounded the colony's leader and his second. *Sweet merciful crap, what did I walk in on. Wash looks close to tears and Taylor looks like he wants to hit me.*
He considered turning tail and running out the door. Making excuses and leaving hastily, or feigning amnesia and fleeing. All of his best options including exiting the building.
"What do you want, Shannon?" Wash exuded an unadulterated air of pissed. Hands firmly planted on her hips with her lips pursed tightly as she assumed a menacing stance.
He cleared his throat unable to stop the stammering "I…uh" he held out his hand. "I found this." Still hovering just inside the door a good 30 feet away from the Commander and Lieutenant.
"Do you seriously expect me to see that from here, Shannon?" He was not typically afraid of Taylor, but at this moment he could tell that he was not in a mood to be toyed with, and Jim had serious concerns for his safety. *Run for your life you stupid man, you have a family.* Hand still poised, held out straight armed in front of his person, he slowly approached the pair as if they were poisonous snakes. He didn't understand their relationship. Sometimes they were the best of friends, other times Wash was insubordinately chastising her CO, and then at times like this they seemed to be in the midst of a major altercation.
Taylor snatched the proffered item out of Shannon's hand with shocking speed. *He's like a ninja!*
"It's a pulse regulator for a military issue sonic rifle, an older one, 2135 to 2138 model." Taylor said, barely looking at the item before tossing it back to the sheriff.
"I know that, sir. But it's illegal to remove these, I found it in the garbage near the market."
Alicia raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Why were you digging through the garbage, Shannon?"
"I wasn't digging! I just happened to see a perfectly good dragon fruit lying on top and wondered who would throw it away. Then I noticed this." He tossed the regulator from hand to hand.
Taylor looked exasperated with his Sheriff, "Some of the boys remove them from their weapons to speed up the automatic pulse and reduce the recharge time. It can cause overheating in the rifle, but it's pretty common practice."
Wash chimed in, affirming her Commander's statement. "When you have a slasher darting around you with a few friends you don't want to wait for a charge."
"But's it's illegal." Shannon stammered. Damn, these two could make him nervous sometimes.
"Not here, Shannon." Taylor said bluntly as he took moved to within striking range of the lawman. "I removed the regulator from a few of my rifles, are you going to arrest me?"
Instinctively Shannon backed away from the trained killer when he subconsciously heard the implied statement 'I'd like to see you try.'
"OK, then, good to know. Not illegal, I guess that's all then. It would just be nice to have some sort of list of things that are NOT technically illegal in Terra Nova. It's a handy tool for a Sheriff… I'm just saying."
"I'll work on that for you, Shannon." Taylor glared at the man slowly backing away from him.
Abruptly turning in attempt to make a hasty exit he ran forcefully into the door. Shaking off the impact he opened the offending parcel of wood and walked as quickly as his legs would carry him.
With the intent to pick up where they had left off Taylor turned to see his second covering her face, her shoulders violently shaking. "Alicia, are you OK?" It was only then that he realized that Wash was unsuccessfully stifling a laugh.
In an open guffaw she managed to squeak out "I think he may have wet himself."
Unable to hide his own smile, he tentatively reached for her, grasping her hips. Taylor was relieved that that she willingly slipped into his embrace. "Don't give up on me. I will do whatever it takes not to lose you." Bless Shannon and his antics to lighten the mood.
Her smile faded into a more thoughtful expression. She leaned into him, in an attempt to hide the vulnerability that showed in her face. "Nathaniel, I don't want to lose you either. However, I reserve the right to freak out periodically because you seriously fucked up."
"I know. I promise to not get any other women pregnant… other than you of course." He leaned back to gauge her reaction at his poorly timed tongue in cheek comment.
"Damn right you won't, because if you manage to knock up anyone else, I will remove your ability to procreate. Am I understood?" There was absolutely zero humor in her voice.
His blood ran cold as he realized that she was making him a promise not a threat. "Yes ma'am."
"Now go home, you're not supposed to be here. Go and REST." He rolls his eyes, frustrated at being benched.
Heeding his love's advice he headed towards his home, tossing a wave to a few colonists that greeted him on his way through the market. Catching a dragon fruit tossed to him by a lovely brunette vendor that he has spent some 'time' with, he winked at her out of habit, feeling a deep pang of guilt. He felt a presence behind him, and a slim arm tucked under his.
"Perfect timing, Darling, I was just headed to see Dr Shannon. " They earned curious looks from around the market.
Taking a defensive step away, distancing himself from the insistent woman, he quietly whispered. "All right let's go, but we really need to be more discreet Audrey."
"All right, but discreet now is silly, is it not? People will know the truth soon enough."
Taylor's whisper was pinched and harsh. "I would prefer that they know through a planned announcement rather than rumors being propagated by inappropriate public interaction."
Speaking in a hushed tone the rest of the way see Dr Shannon, the pair was halted by the doctor herself upon their arrival. "Commander! Hello. Are you feeling well?" It occurred to him that she assumed he was there for medical attention.
"Oh, yes Elisabeth, I'm feeling very well thank you." Raking a hand through his hair, he realized that the next few moments were going to be very difficult.
"Wonderful. However, I'm going to have to visit with you later, I have an appointment with Dr Cope." She picked up her plex to pull up her patient's medical records.
"Actually, Dr Shannon, I'd like him to stay." Elisabeth's face was a mask of confusion.
"Audrey, that's a bit inappropriate, don't you think…." She was cut short by the botanist.
Snatching the Commander's hand and settling it over her belly and smiling widely, Dr Cope announced "Dr Shannon, he's the father."
Elisabeth's fingers failed her as she fumbled with the plex in her hands causing it to crash to the ground. She looked in shock up at the Commander's face. He wore a pinched expression, as if he were waiting for inevitable admonishment. Taylor was first to speak. "We'd appreciate if you kept this information under wraps until we are ready to let the colony know."
Still n a dumbfounded haze Elisabeth managed to agree in what she assumed were coherent words as she prepped the exam table.
Ethics be damned, she needed to tell her husband about his. This information was going to rock the colony and she could not be tasked with containing this information.
Comment: I know it's poor writing to switch into first person with Jim every once in a while, but I like what in his head, so you will just have to forgive me
