Chapter 20: warm
Harry glanced around her room a smile on her face, things were looking up. She thought of drinking less and less as the days passed and when the urge hit so strong that her stomach coiled in and her hands trembled she would go for a walk outside. She would surround herself with children, children who trusted her and believed in her.
Tonight she wasnt laying awake in her own sweat, instead she was laying awake thinking of a future, a future to look forward to. What if she could have a family?
Soon after detox she thought she would be moved into a room with roommates but instead Mycroft must have made arrangements for her to have her own private room. As much as she hated to admit it the she owed Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. They were taking better care of John than she ever had. The only reason Mycroft was ensuring her comfort was because he accepted John as part of his family, and Alphas took care of what belonged to them.
Territory extended around family and included the mates of those family members. For a minute Harry wondered what that kind of protection could feel like, to be apart of a unit, she had the military but she'd never known a family's arms, the kin scent that would mark each member. And John had smelled different, smelled like himself but clearly he was marked by those Alphas that considered him family.
Good, she thought, John deserved to be loved, protected and held dear. A heavy knock had her sitting up in bed, "It's not locked come in." She squinted when the light was turned on.
"Harry?" It was Clara, the Omega was wearing a white dressing gown, a sleeveless and thin white dressing gown, her full breasts and belly pushed against the material, "Harry." Clara moved forward her barefoot feet silent on the white carpet around the bed. Harry pulled her thought away from breasts and breeding, but God Clara smelled so good. Her scent was sharper and sweeter, her skin was so perfect almost glowing from the hormones of pregnancy and the vitamins she took to stay healthy.
"Clara?" Harry felt like a horny teenager looking up at the upset Omega. This had the Alpha on her feet, forgetting she was only wearing a pair of black boy shorts and a white tank top. Tears were streaking down Clara's face and she looked pale, her eyes kept darting towards the door. Harry couldn't help but pull her into her arms, hands took the slender forearms and Harry could see what the cardigans covered. So many scars, bite marks, and what looked like cigarette burns, some scars had been made with a knife.
"It's Stephanie-" Clara sobbed. "Her aunt is going to make her give up the baby so she ran away and now no one can find her. We cant let her be alone. She's scared." Clara allowed her head to rest under Harry's chin. The Omega never allowed this kind of contact but with Harry it felt safe, Harry always felt safe.
"Have you told Dr. Sawyer and any other staff?"
"Yes, but they cant find her, she could be lost in those woods. Or worse it's cold out. She'll be more scared by the security, most of them are Alphas, she's not in her right mind." Clara sobbed burying her head against the clefts of Harry's breasts.
Arms held her tighter in response, the Omega wondered why she felt like home here in Harry's room. The two barely knew each other but ever since their first meeting this Alpha was all Clara could think about. It was silly, Harry was important she was in the army, she had a life. No one would want a pregnant Omega, especially one as jumpy as Clara, one as scarred and ruined. Clara tried to pull out of the secure embrace realizing her body wasn't properly covered. Those well toned arms only held her closer, warm breath whispered into her hair.
"Alright, alright. Just be calm. I'm going to get dressed and then we're going back to your room, I'll see if I can't lend a hand. I'll find her. Okay, trust me. I'll find her."
Clara was grateful the Alpha was holding her and petting her head, because at that moment when the younger Omega realized Harry was in a state of near undress, Clara's cheeks burned bright red.
"Here sit down. Stress isn't good for our boy." The Alpha was gentle but firm in her command and Clara happily submitted. She tried not to watch the blond pull on a pair of snug fitting jeans, then a t-shirt that read ARMY across the front as well as a black hoodie. She then surprised Clara by taking a gray jumper from the small closet and handing it to the trembling Omega.
Clara gratefully pulled the warm material on over her head, the scent of Harry was all around and she felt instantly calm.
Harry kneeled down in front of Clara who still was sitting on the Alpha's rather large and comfortable bed.
"Now, can't have you out to catch your cold." The blond Omega was pulling a pair of warm wool socks on over Clara's shapely calves, again the Omega blushed.
"Sorry I was just so worried when Stephanie wasn't in bed at lights out. I didn't even think-I just came straight here."
"Sssh, don't get upset. I'm not mad at you. I know how it is to be frantic about a loved one. Let's get you back, encase she returns." Clara nodded and the two hurried down the near empty corridor, Harry had pulled her boots on and she'd heard a whistle from one of the rooms.
She halted briefly glaring at Thomsen who only smiled suggestively. "Well wish we all had the Holmes suite, looks like it comes with a complementary Omega-"
Clara clung to Harry's forearm feeling the Alpha tense and hearing the deep growl.
"Oi, Major what's going on?" Liam stepped out of his room shooting his own warning glare across the hall.
"Seems one of the girls has managed to get herself lost out in the woods. I'm going to see if I can't help."
"Liam frowned. The little pregnant one?" Harry nodded keeping Clara protectively behind her, she didn't feel a threat from Liam's curiosity but she wouldn't take a chance.
"I'll lend a hand, you know how these civilians are trained, couldn't find a watch in a watch shop."
"T-tthank you." Clara shyly spoke up, keeping her eyes averted. Liam wearing a pair of sweats and his long sleeved green army issued t-shirt grabbed his boots and a Jumper it was chilly out after all.
Harry took Clara back to her room, cutting off Nurse Hanna's dressing down and informing Harry the rules on Alpha and Omega protocols. Especially at night, it wasn't allowed to have either gender unsupervised in any room especially at lights out. Harry explained the situation and Clara just stood holding onto the taller Alpha's arm.
"We've decided to help." Harry stated firmly.
"Fine, but if you two get lost out there-"the nurse looked between the two alcoholics.
"You're talking to two combat veterans. I don't think a little foliage will give us a problem. We'll need flashlights and Liam here will need something that smells like Annie. It might help find her." The nurse used her radio to alert the security that two more were joining the search party.
Clara watched from the doorway of her room, several other pregnant young Omegas were crowding behind her, "You smell like-"
"Sunblock and peppermint." Clara finished one of the Omegas disgusted sentences.
Some of the older Omegas giggled watching the usually shy Clara, the scarred Omega had her eyes on the tall blond Alpha, talking quickly and sternly to the security personal.
"She'll find Annie." Clara whispered to herself, a hand rubbing her belly over the warm jumper.
"You think so?" Helena put a protective arm around her friend.
"Yes, Lena. Harry isn't like the others she doesn't make empty promises."
"She's an alcoholic you idiot that's the only kind of promise she can make." Max shoved away from the door, his arms coming around his swollen stomach. "And keep that Alpha stink to yourself. I'm trying to sleep."
"Don't listen to him Clara he's just grumpy that you found the only good Alpha out there." Henry shot another glare towards the brown haired Max. "Besides we all know Harry is a good person. Alpha or not."
Clara turned to her friend Henry pulling him into the semicircle that Helena was forming by keeping an arm around Clara. "Oh, Henry they can't all be so bad."
"Maybe." Henry shrugged, the three continued to stare down the now empty corridor.