Chapter Eleven
"I am not going, I don't want to see people." She argued with the man, the Shannon house had been vacated with the exception of her and the Commander.
Shannon had seen his kids to school and gone off, probably to supervise the construction of something and the doctor had headed to the infirmary once Taylor told her he planned to take Alicia with him to the Command Center. It was that comment that made fear build in the pit of her stomach, tamping it back fast she favored anger.
She had made her intentions clear to him, but it never seemed to matter; he wanted it his way. She had told him to find a new second, one who was up to the demands he made because she was long since over it. Then she had argued that had they been anywhere else in the future she would have got honorable discharge; her body was never going to be what it had before.
He didn't listen, heard her words but seemed to feel she should just get over it; walk on as if nothing had ever happened. Alicia couldn't do that, before maybe she had been able, but a person could only pick themselves up, heal and get on with it so many times. She hadn't planned on getting back up this time; hadn't thought she'd have the chance.
While she would never regret being given another day, or fighting tooth and nail to make it count she wasn't sure she wanted to fight so hard this time. She wasn't sure she wanted to fight for a living any more, surviving sounded alright to her. With her combat medical training she could work in the infirmary and if that didn't pan out construction detail didn't sound so bad. She could have a life that wasn't about war.
But Taylor wouldn't have it, wouldn't hear it and wanted her back in that damn Command Center today. To sit at the desk where those men had sat; had sat and watched. Oddly that memory was crystal clear, that and one other; both times she had thought she would die. Both times she had survived, once to crawl away in pain and the other lay lost in it for days.
The man could be impossible but she had known that for years, and she was just as stubborn as he was. But she also knew he was a good man, one she had a great deal of respect for. She knew how to call him to the line, and had done so on more than one occasion. He had made the military his life, given it his all, just as she had; the difference was she was done.
Since she was a little girl she had faced her fears head on, this time she wasn't; she could go her entire life without stepping back into that place and be happy. She never wanted to confront that memory, if she did Alicia wasn't sure she would be able to put it back together.
"Fine, then at least get out of this house, come to the market with me." The man standing across from the couch relented at last, but the trade was not much better.
"I can hardly walk." And she hated to admit that, but for now it served her purposes; the market would be full of people and some might have words for her.
"Then hang onto me." He crouched in front of her, those stunning blue eyes locking onto hers; she knew he knew that she loved his eyes. Not that she had ever said it, but still he knew; and he knew how to make her do what he wanted. Probably sensed that today a challenge would just be enough for her to crawl back into that bed; so instead he was supportive.
His hands came to her hips as her arms wrapped around his neck; he drew her against him with ease. For a moment he held her close, Alicia clenched her jaw, trying to ignore how solid his chest was; how safe he seemed.
Just as quickly he shifted her to his side, tucking her under his shoulder and guiding one arm around his back; his crossing over to hold her opposite hip. It took only a few paces for her to adjust to his stride and to realize it was taking a mountain of self control for him to let her stumble along.
They had barely gone a block when he began to ask if she needed to rest. "I walked to the plaza with help and stood through the ceremony."
He growled at her in response, apparently not able to come up with a good retort quick enough. It was enough to make her smile, although she contains it quickly, they are coming up on the market. Taylor chooses a spot at the edge and sets her on a large rock that acts as a bench; promising that he will be back quickly.
He returns with juice and some fresh fruit in only a matter of minutes. Alicia can feel the eyes of most of the colonists on her, some of the civilians openly staring while the security team sneaks glances from their various positions. When none approach she is thankful, and the food does not hurt either.
The Commander she knows is just biding his time. He got his way in getting her out of the house and while she will not cave on going to the Command Center she knows he has spent the time trying to devise a new plan.
His hand reaches out to brush her cheek, Alicia turns with a start; his touch is so gentle and obvious. Is he really going to toy with her now? And does he need to do it in front of the colony? Jerking away from his touch she fixes him with a glare. A cough makes her turn.
"Looking better Washington. I've missed having you around." She looks up at Boylan, the man actually sounds somewhat sincere, although that may just be a tactic to further irritate the Commander.
"Don't count on seeing me around too much more." As her confinement to the bar had been lifted she figured she wanted it to be a long time before she stepped foot in there again. But if the man hadn't gotten his hands on some weapons where she spent her time wouldn't be a concern. "And thanks."
"We need someone to keep Taylor in line, and everyone knows who keeps the line round here." The man smirked, maybe he was just here to have a few digs at the Commander; she looked up when something nudged her shoulder. "Have a few at home; might make a few better memories."
Alicia took the brown paper covered object with a slight hesitation; it would be a long time before she could stomach anymore of Boylan's hooch. Peeling back the paper a little bit she couldn't help but grin, this time she did thank the ex soldier with a little bit of pleasure; it was a full bottle of real whiskey.
She was silent as the men exchanged a look, words neither would ever say. Finally the bar owner ambled away, they both watched him go. The Commander was the first to speak. "Guess you should put that away."
She nodded silently, letting him take the concealed bottle and help her up. It takes her only a few strides to know where he is taking her and oddly she is alright with it. Within moments they are entering her house, it is safe and familiar; yet different.
As she begins to take it in critically she frowns, things aren't right; they have been moved and some are gone altogether. Someone had been here, and had gone through her stuff; the Commander answered the question before she asked. "We found it trashed, put it back together the best we could."
Letting him set her on the couch Alicia looked around and fought a wave of disappointment. Her home was safe, it was her place and she allowed very few into it. The thought of people tossing through her things, especially those mercenaries made her sick.
The radio crackled and Wash turned instinctively, only to see the Commander's retreating back. So he wanted her back, but he didn't want her in the loop; that just figured. Tipping her head back against the cushion Alicia sighed, her home might have been violated; but it was still hers.
She couldn't deny that there was something comforting about being in her own home, with her own things. It was only mid morning but the idea of crawling into her bed seemed very good. Pushing herself up very slowly she took a few steps to get to the hall and then braced her hands on either wall and headed for her room.
There was something about being home, about being in this house; there was something here. She just couldn't put together what it was. Hands on her hips make her stiffen, if she didn't know the touch she would have thrown an elbow back at such an action.
"Gotta take you back to Shannon's." He turned her around and settled her under his shoulder as though she were a small child; the thought alone made her fume.
Alicia allowed herself to be deposited on the bed in the Shannon's house, silently cursing the man who told her to rest and then left. She gave him five minutes and then pushed herself to sit up. A few moments in her home was a tease, especially when she could feel something was there.
Shoving to her feet Alicia struggled to get her balance and make her way out of the room. She needed to get this down, once she got out of the house there would be a lot more eyes and some might take the chance of trying to help her; she wasn't in the mood for company.
But she had been trained in stealth and while her balance was off and her body was weak it was still capable. She slipped around the side of the house, going around the long way, keeping clear of the market and prying eyes. It took her a long time to get there, she had to stop several times as her vision swam.
Finally at the front door she slipped inside and took a deep breath; she was alone. Alicia moved slowly through her home, reaching the bedroom this time she debated crawling under the covers and staying there; someone would undoubtedly disturb her. She had a better idea, and right now she wanted a little comfort; a piece of home.
Opening the closet in her room she noted things were not in the proper places either on the rack or the shelves; but everything looked to be there. Finding a box she usually kept on the top shelf, now in the middle she opened it; choosing one of the little cups of wax in it.
The little scented wax cup was one of only a few she had left, a gift from her grandmother who raised her; she had passed before they came. Had she survived Alicia would have tried to bring her through, it would have been wonderful to have the woman who mothered her here with her; although she knew there would have also been some awkward arguments over her lifestyle. Alicia missed her, missed her more when she was hurting.
Lighting the little thing she took a summer sheet and eased herself to her knees by the bed. She'd had this bed built after her childhood one, it was big and high; hiding a cubby underneath. She'd told herself she was doing it in case she'd ever needed to stow gear.
It was the perfect place to escape the Commander and the colony, when she eased into the cubby she relaxed. Closed in on three sides, open at the head board to allow a little air flow. Curled into the blanket and letting the comforting scent envelope her Alicia rested.
It had been a very long time since she had felt so warm and comfortable, it reminded her of being home with her family; those visits had been few and far between over the years. Her father's job had taken him away a great deal of the time, leaving most of her upbringing to her grandparents and the older couple had done their best; life hadn't been fair.
She had been thirteen when her dad was killed in the line of duty, he had been trying to find a young family taken hostage in war. In exchange for information her father had been sent in to get them back; he had never returned.
Her decision had been made the day his Commanding Officer came and gave her a flag; she would live and die in the same manor. She had never wavered in her decision, her innocence taken long before she decided to go into the military. At thirteen she began to train herself in the way she had seen her father prepare.
Twenty years had passed since she made that decision, she had seen a lot of war, and she had fought for the lives of others, in the process taken many as well. She lived with that, and had come to this place believing it was the road to the end; now a new war was brewing. As much as she wanted to leave the military she didn't know if she could stand down should the colony be threatened.
Alicia drifted to sleep with memories from long ago to comfort her, confident no one would disturb her here. Her body needed to heal, her strength to rally that she could be ready to fight again; because the time would come again. And right now she was too tired to focus on it, to imagine what a war would do to this beautiful land.
