Corso woke with a start, and realized it was still nighttime. He hesitantly reached out his hand and almost sighed out loud when he touched Miriah. He moved to his side to look at her. Poor darlin', he thought. She did too much today, so soon after being ill. She slept deeply, her breathing slow and even, and though his arms ached to hold her, he didn't pull her to him. She really needs to rest, he thought, and felt a cold, sad sensation travel all the way through him. His heart had been fine since he ate, and he'd managed to get Miriah to eat a good dinner, too. I need her, so much, he heard in his head. He shifted closer to her and she rolled into his arms, and he felt her warmth against him, her arms around him, and it settled his uneasiness. He pressed a gentle kiss on her temple, and rested his head against hers. I don't want to leave her, was the statement that went through his mind. Nonsense, he told himself. I'm perfectly fine. He didn't move but didn't sleep for a long time.
Caly examined her face in the mirror. The bruises were fading quickly, and she could barely see the cut on her lip. She brushed her hair and opened the door, steam pouring out. Torian had gone to get them some breakfast as she got ready for her online class. She logged into the classroom and saw only a few people. Hmm, she thought, and looked at the time. She wasn't too early, only a few minutes, and sat there observing the class. Torian eased his way in and brought food to her, gaining a grateful smile from her.
Torian was going to go talk to his commanding officer, and last night, he'd had another idea. Maybe Gursan will have some advice for me, he'd wondered one of the times he'd woken with Caly's elbow or knee in a sensitive spot. We have to get a bigger bed for here, was his other mission. He smiled thinking about that, and when Caly had a break, he pulled her up and into a long kiss before taking their trash and heading out.
Missy felt so much better. She pulled on her warm clothes and made her way down to the mess hall. It was mid morning, and she knew that by this hour there would be a mixture of breakfast and lunch foods. It was her favorite time to come, so she could choose exactly the right thing. She had gathered a few items, nothing too heavy so that her recovering shoulder wouldn't be stressed, when Aric appeared at her side, taking the tray and motioning her to sit. He put his mug of caf beside her things and sat with her when she sat.
"Great to see you up and about," he told her, taking a long sip of the hot beverage. "Oh, man. That's the stuff," he said, and grinned. Missy smiled back, it made her happy to see him so much himself, larger than life.
"I'm doing well. I'm anxious to get started with my new life, but I know I need to be at one hundred percent for that." She quietly started to eat, and realized she didn't feel self conscious with him anymore. "How is everyone?"
"Maura is with Miriah this morning, and Corso and I are about to go get our daily workout in," he explained. "I was on my way to the office when I saw you and wanted to make sure you have everything you need."
Missy nodded. "I'm fine, Aric. I'm going to eat and then go nap, probably just rinse and repeat later."
"Good, that's what you should be doing. Just, let me know if you need clothing, or something for your place. We have tons of stuff in storage, that we will probably never dig out again. Maura already made me remember twice today to tell you." Missy giggled at that.
"I'll let you know if I think of anything," she replied softly, sipping the hot cider she had found to be a balm for her soul. They sat quietly for a few moment, enjoying the brief respite, then Aric stood.
"I'll get going, but I have one more question." When Missy looked at him, he smiled. "Missy is short for something."
Missy let a soft trill escape her. "Missandre Marath, at your service," she laughed, holding our her hand. Aric shook it, and with a short bow, waved as he took his long strides out the door. He so reminds me of Dad, she thought, but the thought didn't make her sad, as it usually did.
Miriah glanced over to where Corso stood, lazily propped up on a map table. She had requested to visit with the various branches of the inner base, and was now chatting with the duty officer by the main holo. She had woken completely wrapped in his arms, and while it made her feel safe and wanted, it was not their normal tangle of limbs. He'd been particularly attentive as they'd eaten breakfast in their kitchen, and even through the morning she'd noticed him staring at her. Now, his look was hungry as he gazed at her, ignoring everything around him, and she felt her body heat up. She raised an eyebrow at him, and was rewarded with a slow grin. Silly man, she thought, but she loved that he still flirted with her. She saw him push off the table, and with a slow saunter, make his way to her side. She nodded at the duty officer, who turned with a smirk of knowing on his face as Corso bent his head to kiss her cheek, letting his mouth slide to her ear. "Easy there, sugar. I figured I'd managed to slake this particular thirst last night," she murmured to him, letting her eyes close as she shivered under his tongue.
"As if I'd ever not want you," he replied, his voice rough with emotion, which made her wonder what he was thinking. "Lunch?"
"Food or fun?" she asked, just before she saw Caly heading toward them.
Caly saw her parents and at once had two thoughts. One, that they were so embarrassingly affectionate with each other, and immediately after, that she wanted that with Torian. Her dad straightened from kissing her mom and waved to her. "Mom, Dad. How are things?"
Miriah waited until Caly was close enough and gently took her daughter's face in her hands, turning her toward the light. "Mom," Caly protested.
"Looks good, Caly. How are you doing in here?" Miriah asked and ran her hand over the silky hair, which hung loose around the young woman's shoulders.
"I'm great, Mom. Really. Just going to meet Torian for lunch," she told them, and sighed when her Dad hugged her.
"Well then, go have lunch," Corso told her, getting a kiss on the cheek from her. He saw that she barely had to lift her head to reach him, and wondered when his little girl had gotten so tall. So much to be thankful for, he thought, and so much yet to come. It was then that he felt the flutter of his errant heart, though it steadied in only a few seconds.
"Dad, is everything okay?" Caly asked him, and he saw Miriah's worried face turned to him.
"I am perfectly fine," he assured them. "We're going home to eat, but enjoy your lunch, sweet girl."
With a slight frown, Caly left them, and Miriah took his hand. As they let the detail take them to the apartment, they didn't speak, but once they were inside, Miriah turned to him. "You're hiding something, something you think I'll not be able to handle. Spill it, sugar."
"Seriously, I'm fine," he told her. "Just a little heart skipping around."
"I'm calling Mags," she said, pulling her holo out. Corso put her hands over hers to stop her.
"What if I just go down to the medcenter, let her check me out. After lunch." Miriah stared at him for a long moment before sighing and moving into him. His arms circled around her and he felt her squeeze him hard. He wasn't ready to leave her, not yet. I'll do whatever Mags says, he vowed to himself.
Aric went looking for Corso, and finally sent him a message, grinning when he saw the response. Yeah, sure, just home for lunch. He walked up to Maura, who was standing post at the executive office tunnel. "How bout some time kissing a handsome man?" he teased her.
Maura made a show of looking around. "Where? I don't see.." He cut her words off with his kiss, and she laid her head on his shoulder. "I am so glad to see you, it's been boring this morning."
"Never boring," he replied. "Just calm. That's always good." They stood together, chatting, until they saw Lana running from her office.
"Where's the Commander?" she asked, and Maura told her that Mir and Corso had gone to the apartment. "Damn! I hate to interrupt them, but I have news. About Theron." Aric thought for a moment.
"She'd probably rather know than not know, but it also probably won't make a lot of difference whether it's right now or an hour from now," he said, and saw Lana slowly nod.
"You're right. The info I got from Saganu points to the Order of Zildrog, a Zakuulan based terror group. I want to get Senya on the holo with us and get some info on their past and what they've been doing, if she knows anything." Lana blew out a breath. "I'll go set that up and..."
"Lana," Aric said. "Go find Nico and have some lunch, or at least a break. You deserve that, you know."
Lana gave him a wry grin. "Maybe you're right. I can confer with Miriah and see what direction she wants to go when she gets back." They saw her put her datapad in a pocket and head to the elevators, and Aric swore she even walked happy.
Missy turned on the holo projector in her new home and watched the news updates from across the galaxies. We used to be able to do this, mom and I. Back before the bad happened. She had settled on the soft cushions of the sofa, and was almost dozing when the bounty on Theron Shan played on the newscast, and she sat up suddenly. Theron Shan. The name brought back memories of the dashing agent who had helped train her, then seduced her, before Valkorion had terrorized Coruscant. What has Theron been up to, that he would be wanted for treason here, she wondered, and took the new datapad from its box, powering it up and letting it run through its set up before doing a search. Her eyes widened when she saw the list of charges against Shan, including the attempted assassination of the Commander of the Eternal Alliance, considered a capitol crime that would cost him his life if he were caught. Wow, she thought. Theron's been a busy, naughty boy. She felt a moment of sadness for him, but realized that Aric would have taken his attempts on Commander Riggs' life personally and knew she would take Aric's side in this. She resolved to talk to Aric about it as soon as she saw him again. Missy lay back and let her memories consume her until her body shut down, and she rested.
Mags took them into an exam room and asked Corso about the episodes of arrhythmia. He described it to her and she examined the readouts of the multitude of instruments measuring everything about the man on the exam bed. She listened quietly, but it was Corso's last statement that had both her and Miriah gasping. "I don't want to die, Mags, but I have a very strong feeling that something is coming."
Miriah couldn't even speak, she just went to Corso and took his hand in hers. He threaded his fingers through hers and held on tight, not trusting his voice to be steady. "I don't see anything, Cor. No muscle damage, no indications of any chemistry off. Based on what you're telling me, it seems to be in the evening more than any other time, right?"
"Or if I get aroused… you know.." he blushed deep crimson, hating to have this discussion with his sister in law.
"Okay, I get it. Eliminating all the other factors, let's look at how you eat." Mags saw his blush recede and listened to his normal intake habits. When he mentioned caf three times before dinner, she stopped him. "Corso, you drink way too much caf. I think it might be causing this."
"I don't drink as much as Aric does," he replied defensively.
"He's Cathar, and metabolizes it differently than you do. And, he has no history of heart issues. Let's do this, because I know you can't completely cut it out, but stick to one cup in the morning, and if you need it, one in the afternoon." When he started to protest, she merely gave him a look and he meekly nodded. "We'll re-evaluate in two weeks, but if it starts up and lasts more than a minute, you need to call me, day or night."
"You can be sure we will," Miriah said, and Corso saw the shine of tears still in her eyes. He reached up to touch her face, and she held his palm to her cheek. Mags left them alone, and Corso sat up, pulling Miriah close, holding her as she shook with tears against his chest.
Lana had found out that they'd gone to the medcenter, and as much as she didn't want to intrude, she desperately needed Miriah's focus. If Theron is on Zakuul, then we have a chance to nab him, she thought. She had a sudden change of heart when she saw the boss's tear ravaged face, Corso holding her against his side. She made the decision to let it be for now, and abruptly turned away from the entrance to the medcenter, walking fast through the other side to the stairwell. I'll send her a message in a little bit, she resolved, and made her way to the office, afraid for her friend and worried about Corso.