Ryekerb: I love your enthusiasm, seriously, that's so motivating! :D Thanks a lot for leaving me a review, I appreciate it! Hope you'll like the rest of the story too!
EFBT: Yeah, kinda felt mean for not allowing Nathaniel time to respond but knowing myself to be the coward that I am I totally get why Hera runs..it's what I would've done! haha Still, she can't run forever and he's definitely gonna want to talk to her about it… ooh a man with a mission! ;p And yes, Malcom will have to learn to share his new toy at some point, but we're looking at part three for that so he's still got plenty of time left. And, yes, you might have mentioned it before but I really can't get enough of reading that you're enjoying my silly fanfic! For me reading commodity was the exact same, it's jus such an awesome feeling to play around in the Terra Nova universe and then follow stories other people wrote and the not knowing what's going to happen next is what makes it so much fun! Already looking forward to whenever you'll start posting your new story! :D :D :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Terra Nova or any of its characters, this is solely a non-profit fan activity.
CHAPTER 29
Homecoming
LOOKING around him at all the people gathered to welcome them home, Malcolm knew he could easily get used to the thunderous applause and many smiles awaiting them when they passed the gates. He got out of the rover, broadly grinning, the very next moment he was busy shaking hands and receiving pats on his back. In all the bustle his assistant, Doctor Chekov, even managed to fling her arms around him. He smiled awkwardly at her, trying his best to untangle himself from her as soon as he could. Luckily the perfect opportunity for that conveniently arose when everyone's attention was drawn to Commander Taylor. Malcolm fixed his eyes on the proud man standing in the center of the square, surveying with a solemn look those around him.
Spreading his hands the Commander addressed all of them in his low booming voice, "Thank you. For being here and welcoming us back. We've had several trying weeks out there.." He wavered for a moment and Malcolm could see a dark cloud passing over his face. Then, Commander Taylor shook his head and a weary smile parted his lips, "Even though we reached our goal, did what we set out to do, I'm sure that I speak for everyone when I say that it sure is good to be home again." His words met with another round of applause and jubilant cheering.
Commander Taylor turned to his soldiers again, focusing on organizing their arrival and the bustle around him soon resumed; a few colonists were still hugging their loved ones while the majority of the soldiers started unpacking the rovers. Malcolm knew, however, as he watched it drive on and disappear around the corner, that the Rhino would have to wait unloading its passengers; it transported the six former Sixers. He didn't doubt they'd be heading straight for either the barracks or even the brig. Malcolm ran a hand through his hair, not sure why all this secrecy, although necessary, was making him feel this itchy. Nor did he understand the sensation of pity that stirred in him as he imagined the Sixers doomed to be locked up. After all, it was only to be expected that they were treated this way, for now at least.
And yet, Malcolm thought as he got his backpack from the backseat of the rover, instinct told him Commander Taylor would do well to keep his promise to Mira. Offer them a chance to become a part of the colony again. If he didn't.. Then those Sixers might potentially wrench away from them that recently reacquired and hard won peace. And he simply didn't want to imagine what the Commander, a man known to show less mercy than a Carnotaurus, would do to them if that were to happen.
"Where do you want this, Doctor?" Malcolm whipped around to find Corporal Dunham walking up to him, carrying a heavy crate in his hands.
"Uh.. Wait. I'll go with you." He offered and quickly abandoned his premature fretting. Leaving the bulky crate to Dunham and picking up a considerably smaller one himself he showed him the way to his laboratory.
Excited at the prospect of finally being back in his favorite and natural habitat of plant samples and glassware with liquids broiling away in the middle of some fascinating chemical process or other, Malcolm held the door open and excitedly followed Dunham inside.
He went straight for his office, placing the small container on his desk next to his inactive plex-pad which he threw a longing look. Not able to resist the temptation he unslung his pack and sat down behind the desk, reveling for a moment in the comfort of his chair, the cool breeze from the air-conditioning on his tanned face, simply enjoying the cleanliness of everything around him. Especially appreciating the lack of sand and glaring sunlight overhead burning through his skull.
"Um… So.. Where can I put this?" Dunham asked him in an exhausted voice, standing in front of his desk and looking as if he had to strain every muscle to keep from dropping the oversized crate. Malcolm hastily showed the corporal where to store the crate for now. Visibly relieved to have gotten rid of the weight Dunham nodded once in his usual friendly way and was gone. Watching him go Malcolm was sure he'd think twice before helping him again. Stepping inside his office, though, he soon forgot his guilt and found himself actually and heartily agreeing with the Commander for once; it was good to be home again.
Feeling he'd turn in for an early night and prepare for tomorrow's debriefing in the morning, Malcolm left his lab again an hour later. With the old logbook foremost in his mind he told his staff not to touch anything in his absence and stepped outside into a muggy evening. He'd only gone a few yards in the direction of his home when he ran into Hera. One look at her unhappy face made him instantly change his plans for the evening.
"Bad day?" He inquired needlessly. She shrugged, mumbling something incoherent and straining herself to look as if she was feeling all right. Never having been a particularly good liar it didn't convince him in the least. "How about a drink?" He suggested, trying not to sound as if he thought she looked like she needed one. Truth of it was, though, she did. Hera hesitated, seemingly torn between accepting his offer or resume her solitary brooding.
Making the decision on her behalf, Malcolm kindly pushed her in the right direction. Next moment they entered Boylan's bar, as usual filled to the brim with lively chatter and the odd boisterous customer.
He ordered drinks, careful not to spill anything as he walked over to the table Hera had picked, tucked away in one of the many nooks and corners of the bar. Making sure to plant the stronger of the two drinks in front of her they toasted in silence, Hera taking a generous swig of hers and he taking a cautious sip from his own. It tasted all right, considering it was Boylan's own recipe, Malcolm thought, smiling at the sense of nostalgia that stirred in him.
"I've got a feeling no one will believe what we found in the Badlands when we tell them about it in tomorrow's meeting. And I can't blame them.." He admitted, taking another sip of his drink.
Already halfway through hers, Hera nodded and muttered darkly, "Yeah, I know.. Really looking forward to that one.." Getting to her feet she downed the rest of her drink and threw him a questioning look. When he shook his head she walked over to the bar and returned not a minute later with a new drink in her hand.
As she sat down, hands folded around the glass in front of her and eyes blankly staring at the swirling drink inside, something suddenly clicked in his mind. Realizing the source for her feeling this blue he could hit himself on the head for not seeing it sooner.
"You've told Commander Taylor how you feel about him, haven't you?" He asked her, lowering his voice and leaning forward. Seeing the startled look in her widened eyes he could easily guess at the answer to that question. After a moment of hesitation, opening and closing her mouth again, she simply nodded in affirmation.
"What did he say?" He couldn't refrain from asking her, bringing his drink to his mouth and taking another sip to give her some time to gather her thoughts and think of how to tackle his sincere curiosity.
"I.. uh.. I sort of ran away before he could say anything." She confessed, color rising; not just as a result of the fact that she'd emptied her second glass immediately after.
Knowing he'd run the risk of sounding meddlesome Malcolm shoved his drink in her direction in way of support and said, "You know, if you're not going to give him a chance to answer you then what was the point in telling-"
"Malcolm." Hera interrupted him, gratefully raising his drink to her mouth and holding it there for a moment, "I appreciate what you're trying to do, really I do, but just don't get involved, okay?" She warned him, her voice slightly testy.
Respecting the boundaries she'd clearly set for him now, Malcolm accepted defeat. He raised his hands in surrender, "Fair enough." Then added in a tone of genuine concern, "But if there's anything I can do-"
Hera shook her head before he could finish. Suddenly squinting her eyes at him she went on to remark, "So, when were you planning on finally showing me that book you brought home as a souvenir?"
"What?" He replied completely caught off guard, hastily adding, "Oh, I-I was going to ask you to help me study it-" He abandoned that sentence and frowned instead, "Wait.. How did you know I had one?"
"Reilly caught a glimpse of it, told me all about it, based on her description it wasn't that hard to figure out what it was." Hera explained and winked, "Guess I'm not the only one bad at keeping secrets."
Malcolm smiled, not of a mind to deny that obvious truth and shook his head in amused disbelief. Lifting her glass invitingly at him Hera raised her voice, "Cheers!" Realizing a split second later she was holding his drink which left him effectively empty-handed; they locked eyes for a moment, both bursting out laughing the next.
Several drinks later they left the warmth and noises of the bar again and stepped out onto a deserted square. Taking in a refreshing lungful of air and rewinding their long conversation in his head they slowly made their way around it. As they passed the gates he was reminded of the plan she'd let slip. Malcolm stood still, waited for Hera to realize he had and started when she turned around to face him, "I doubt you'll be send there, but if you really are going to Outpost Three.. Let me know. Because I'll be coming with you."
Hera took a few unbalanced steps towards him, tears suddenly glinting in her eyes. "Thanks."
Together they resumed their walk, then, when an afterthought hit him, Malcolm added dryly, "Better bring a lot of coffee with you though, you know how cranky I get when I'm low on caffeine."
Smiling, Hera nodded in understanding, turning around and walking backwards a few steps when they'd reached his home.
"Good night." Malcolm said, rummaging in the pocket of his jacket for a key. She returned it with a somewhat sloppy salute, then disappeared around the corner.
He didn't know whether it was the alcohol in his system telling him this, but somehow despite the fact the she might not know it yet, he had a hunch she was going to be okay.
And so was he; he'd survived the Badlands and was now but all too eager to reap its rewards. He reached for the lock, key in his hand, when he changed his mind. Turning around abruptly he headed back in the opposite direction, envisioning the ink stained, tattered book, urging him on as he assured himself there'd still be time to prepare that meeting in the morning.
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