"I refuse to go out of this ship on my back."
Maura was frustrated with her sister. "We need Mags to strengthen the bones before you can safely even use crutches, Mir!" She fussed with the air cast around her sister's leg and pulled the fasteners tighter, making Miriah hiss in pain. Miriah had been able to sit up some, but only long enough to eat. Her lower back had been strained in the fall, and was as painful as her leg sometimes. "You're in so much pain, why would you risk another accident?"
"Because," Miriah said through gritted teeth, "I cannot be seen as weak. That's not good for the Alliance, Maura." She squirmed on the hard bed, trying to ease her protesting muscles. "Just bring Mags to the orbital station, and she can meet us, do her thing, and then we can land." Maura rolled her eyes.
"They already know you were injured, Mir." She busied herself, giving her a moment to think. "Tell you what, if you can sit up on the edge of this bed, by yourself, then I'll get the crutches for you." Miriah sent her sister a triumphant smile, and grasped the edge with both hands. She grunted and pulled and managed to swing herself up, sweat dripping down her face.
"There," she said weakly, her muscles quivering but her body upright, her legs over the edge of the exam bed.
Maura grinned at her, knowing what it must have cost her to be sitting there, and brought over the crutches. Miriah took them in her hands, but before she could try to stand, her body gave out and she slumped to the bed. "Hey!" Corso said, running to her side. "Maura, are you trying to kill her?"
Maura shrugged. "She doesn't want to be taken from the ship on a sled," she simply said, and left them, knowing Corso would be the only one who could reason with her sister. He helped her try to get comfortable, seeing the strain in her eyes. When she was stretched out, pillows supporting her on her side, he sat and kissed her nose.
"Once the bones are more stable, you can sleep in a regular bed, that's gotta help some," he told her, brushing her hair away from her face. "Aric says we should be landing in about six hours, so close your eyes and rest. I'll be beside you, all the way." Miriah closed her eyes then, and Corso sighed. He'd been with her when she would let him, but the pain made her hard to deal with sometimes, and she'd sent him away on more than one occasion. Now, he saw, she was exhausted, and he thought he detected a little fear. She'd also refused pain medication, wanting her mind to be clear when they finally got home. Home, he thought, and felt the yearning to be back at the Odessen base, with his children and grandson. Just a little longer.
Maura sat in the copilot's seat beside Aric, and saw that once again he was deep in thought. He'd been up while she slept, and woke her, pacing. When she'd asked, he'd told her that nothing was wrong, that he was just trying to figure it all out, and she'd let him pass. Now, they were getting close to home, and she touched his arm. "Until you can test Miriah's pants, you can't do anything," she said softly, and saw his eyes focus on her.
"I know," he said gruffly, "but it won't leave me alone. Come over here and distract me." He pulled her onto his lap and purred with pleasure before kissing her deeply. When they broke, he sighed and smiled. "Now, that's better. How's our patient?"
"Grumpy, and determined to walk off the ship when we land," she told him, and watched his eyebrows go up before his expression settled into his normal one.
"Not wanting to alarm the base, I'm guessing," he replied, and she nodded. He nuzzled her neck, and she snuggled into him, putting his arms around her, and his warmth lulled her to sleep as they streaked for home.
Lana was in the medcenter, briefing the team there on Miriah's condition, when she saw Magdalane. She made her way over to the Jedi, questions on her tongue but trying to be respectful. When she had Mag's attention, she started. "What do we need to do? Does she need transport? What about after she gets here?"
Mags smiled at Lana before replying. "Devin tells me that she's in an air cast, and that the swelling has lessened a great deal. When she's off the ship, I will use force healing to strengthen the bones and heal the soft tissue damage. She still can't put weight on it for a bit yet, and she'll need therapy to regain full range of motion, but I believe we can put her to rights, given time." They had made their way out of the glass enclosed medical unit as she talked, and over to the elevators.
"So, really, all we can do is wait," Lana said, her voice thoughtful. "I can't get the thought out of my mind that it seems she or Corso are injured every time they go out on missions." Mags hummed her agreement.
"Miriah's always been an 'all or nothing' person, she cannot do anything halfway, and sometimes life bites her back," she replied, and Mags put her hand on Lana's arm. "She'll be okay, and she'll go out on missions again. She can do nothing else. I do think we need to send a Jedi healer with all our missions, just in case something crazy happens again." Lana nodded, she'd had a similar thought when told of the kolto tank malfunction. They parted at the war room, with a quick nod, and Lana saw Theron waiting for her.
"What's their ETA?" he asked, after kissing her cheek.
"Devin told Magdalane that they were about six hours out, but also that Aric had been punishing the engines, trying to get here as fast as possible." She motioned toward her office and turned to walk, Theron following.
"What can I do?" he asked her, and she shook her head.
"Mags says nothing until they can holo," she replied, and sat down. Theron sat across from her. "How long are we going to dance around?" she asked him, and saw his eyes go wide.
"I was trying to give you time to like me again," he stated, his heart rate accelerating, not in an unpleasant way.
"Theron, every single day is a gift. You, of all people, should know that. If you want to continue our...whatever it is… I'm ready. If you don't, then we both walk away, but I'm tired of not knowing." Theron had stood and quickly caught her mouth under his as she finished her sentence, pulling her up. Together they hurried to his apartment, ignoring everyone as they began again.
Aric shook Maura awake. "I love having you all warm and pliant in my arms, love, but we're approaching the orbital station." Maura sat up with a start, and moved out of her husband's way. Immediately the holo chime started, and she ran to answer it. The image of Lana Beniko appeared, and Maura sighed with relief.
"Colonel Jorgan, so glad to see you," Lana said, and Maura smiled. "How's the Commander holding up?"
"She insists on walking out of the ship, so have Mags waiting in the medcenter," Maura instructed.
"What? That's..."
"I know, but try telling her that. She's more stubborn than any rancor you've ever faced." They chatted a minute about who would be where when the ship landed, and Lana signed off. Maura made her way to the medbay.
Miriah lifted her head when Maura came in, and let it fall back again. "I could hear the holo, who was it?" she asked. Maura briefed her on the call with Lana, and tried once again to talk her sister out of walking out of the ship, to no avail. Corso was quiet, taking it all in, and gently rubbing Miriah's lower back. When Maura was satisfied that Miriah wouldn't change her mind, she left them, getting ready for the landing.
Aric set the ship down as easily as possible, and ran down the short hallway to see if Miriah needed his help. Even if she doesn't, he thought, he needed to assure her safe passage to the medcenter. He stood at the door of the medbay, and watched as Miriah used her sheer will to get on the crutches and take the first step she'd made in two days. Her face was drawn and pale, and Corso hovered, there to catch her should she need him. Slowly they approached the air lock and cycled the door. When the outer door opened, Calypso shot past them and nearly tackled her mother.
"Caly, honey, careful," Maura cautioned, seeing that the sudden maneuver had Miriah sweating in pain. "Let's go out and start for the hangar." Caly hugged her mother once more then stepped back.
"Okay, darlin'?" Corso asked, and got a curt nod in reply. They got down the ramp, but at the bottom, had to give Miriah a moment, her strength waning quickly. When they started off again, Aric caught Corso's eye and he pointed to Miriah. Corso merely shrugged and stayed at Miriah's side. Slowly and painfully they progressed, stopping every few minutes to let Miriah try and rest. By mid field, she gave up and looked at Corso, agony in her eyes, her whole body drenched. He gave the crutches to Maura and swung her up in his arms with a grin and a kiss. She smiled back weakly.
"Sugar, I'm feeling sick, so if I get your attention..."
"Got it, love. I'll try not to jostle you too much." She laid her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. Caly shot a worried look to her aunt, but Maura patted her arm and they continued, now at a much brisker pace, to the hangar. Once there, Aric gave up any illusion of protection and cleared a path instead, wanting Miriah to be in healing hands as quickly as possible.
Devin had hung back from the group, attempting to read the attitude of the base. Concern was all he felt, no doubt or dissent. He sighed, then saw Mia approaching him. He wanted to feel her against him, but he also wanted to make sure his mother was settled. Mia kissed him and nodded, and together they walked through the base, to where everyone was waiting for the elevator. Lana was there but hung back, letting the family be together.
Magdalane waited in the medcenter, and strode forward when she saw Corso carrying Miriah. "Stubborn," was all she said as Miriah was put into a special gel filled bed. Louder, she said, "Everyone out! This will not be fast, and the Commander needs some space." One by one they filed out, and Miriah grasped Mag's hand.
"Thank you," she said, her voice thready. Mags had already determined that she'd passed the point of being cognizant and the pain had taken over. Nodding to the tech that remained, the injection of pain medication quickly put Miriah in a hazy sleep, and Mags got to work.
Corso sat outside, Caly snuggled against him, and waited. Tired, he closed his eyes. Mir, darlin', we're here, and we love you, he thought. The trip here was awful and she'd been in so much pain the last hours that she had cried until she was sick, which had him in knots. Still, he thought, it's good to be home. Aric sat beside him, and he opened his eyes when he smelled caffa. "Thank you," he told Aric.
Aric merely nodded. After they'd both been fortified, he spoke. "I know Miriah's been through hell, but you have, too," he told his friend. "Take Caly, go shower and eat something, and relax for a bit. I'll contact you if anything changes here." He handed Corso a relay, and made shooing motions with his hands. "Go," he repeated, and Corso stood.
"I'll be back soon," he said, and Aric nodded. He knew Corso could no more stay away from Miriah than the planet could stop spinning, and grinned to himself at his analogy. He concentrated on the intense light coming from the medcenter, and looked for Maura to bring the fabric he'd stored. We'll see, soon enough, he thought, and settled in to wait.