Apollo sat in his wheelchair watching the technician put the end of the straw into the vial of semen and place a drop on the slide and shove it under the special microscope. He and Cayman watched on a screen located over the instrument as the tailed swimmers covered the screen, frantically looking for an egg.
"Can you tell which ones will make girls?" Apollo put in his order.
"I can isolate a sperm and check its chromosomes." The tech waited for orders.
"They said we could find you here." Nathaniel and Wash entered the lab.
"Do you MIND," Apollo emphasized the last word loudly. "We are trying to make a baby here. A little privacy if you please."
"So you won't let us participate, but let this techie," Nathaniel gestured to the young man, "play with your wife's eggs. You're sick, man." He grabbed two stools and rolled one to Wash. He set on the second and gave it a push across the room. He stopped the motion with his foot next to Apollo, while Wash more maturely pushed hers and sat beside Cayman.
"How do you know those are yours?" Nathaniel looked at the screen.
"That cup hasn't left my sight." Apollo pointed to a small container on the counter. "And I witnessed techie here personally take those from that cup." He gestured with his middle finger to the screen.
"And the egg? Are you certain of the female you're about ready to impregnate?"
"Cayman just donated the egg and hasn't left this room where they took it in front of me. Any more stupid questions and why are you two even here?"
"Work seemed boring next to watching you and Cayman have sex. So Cayman wasn't with you when you donated into the cup?"
"No, but this cute nurs…ouch, that's my injured arm." Apollo laughed at Cayman as he rubbed his arm.
"There better not have been a nurse," Cayman threatened.
"I thought this was supposed to happen last night?" Wash was prepared to take care of Trey all night and take the week off when Cayman came home and went to bed saying her late nights at the hospital were catching up with her and they would work on the baby tomorrow.
"My egg is still viable for a few more hours so I let Apollo have one more night of rest before donating."
"So what did you use for stimulation?" Nathaniel was grinning at Apollo.
"Let's get on with this." Apollo didn't want to tell the truth, neither did Cayman. She helped in his private room just before the trip to the lab where they isolated the mature egg and sucked it up with a needle biopsy with her husband standing by holding her hand. They felt the details were nobody's business.
"Pick a specimen." The tech instructed with a mouse that he showed Apollo how to use.
"Let me." Nathaniel reached for the mouse.
"Alicia, get this pervert away from my sperm. He can play with his own."
Alicia was looking intently at the screen. "What about that one, Dad?" She put her hand over her father's and directed him to a lively little bugger.
Apollo sighed and shook his head. "Never thought I'd live to see the day my daughter picks her sibling." He looked at the technician. "Well, what chromosome is it carrying?" He moved his hand off the mouse and the tech punched a button.
"Y chromosome, it'd be a boy."
"Cayman, do we want to select the sex or pick randomly?"
"I want a girl."
"Lamebrain, your name isn't Cayman." Apollo glared at Nathaniel.
"But Trey had a terrible two moment last night. It was like a mini you."
Cayman had been quiet, letting the men banter like they were want to do. "I've have three boys. I know we should pick at random, but I would really like a little girl." She reached over and took Apollo's hand.
Apollo smiled at her. "They are pretty good." He went back to the screen and chose again and again for six times. "Maybe I produce only Y's."
Nathaniel grabbed the mouse and put it over one on his side of the screen. "Check that one." He ordered the tech.
The tech pushed the button again and X popped up.
"There's no way I'm using an X that you had a hand in." Apollo once again glared at Nathaniel.
"We'll take it," Cayman overrode his objections. "Look, Apollo, it's not like he made the sperm."
"It probably won't penetrate if you picked it," Apollo grumbled and watched the tech scoop the individual sperm from the squirming mass and recheck the chromosome. It was still the same one and carried the X."
Another screen appeared with the magnified egg. The sperm was released into a tube and they watched it swim to the egg and start its effort to penetrate. Suddenly it was in. "It has created its protective shell and fusion is complete. We have a zygote," the tech explained. "We'll keep it in this simulated fallopian tube for four days then put it in the prepared uterus. There it should become a blastocyst that attaches to the wall. If it accepts the wall and creates an embryo and placenta, the surgery will take place. Our survival rate is up to seventy percent and climbing. This is almost becoming a routine procedure."
"So when exactly will the uterus be placed in me?" Cayman assumed the uterus would be inserted right away once the first step was completed.
"You'll be scheduled for the operation in ten days from today which will be next Thursday if this little girl survives."
"She will. Did you see how fast and easy my sperm got in?" Apollo was getting excited.
"I'm going to have a sister." Wash smiled softly.
Nathaniel pulled her to his stool and whispered in her ear, "Someday it'll be us."
"I hope not this way," she whispered back drawing a chuckle from him. Then she spoke in a normal tone. "I have to go back to work don't I?"
Nathaniel nodded.
"I need to get rid of my seed." Apollo wanted everything destroyed. "I want the slide," he told the technician, who thought it an odd request and watched Apollo roll to the sink and rinse it off.
Alicia knew what he was doing. Her father was paranoid some would survive and be used to create a child with someone else. She took the cup and handed it to him. With all semen destroyed, Apollo asked Nathaniel to take him back to his room.
The women followed with Cayman walking a little slow. "How are you doing?" Wash asked her in the elevator.
"Slight cramping. It didn't hurt when they put the needle in. I'm going to put Apollo to bed and go home and relax."
"You could relax with me." Apollo didn't want to be alone.
"I was told to sleep and let my body recover."
Nathaniel helped Apollo onto the bed. Apollo slid over and patted an empty spot. "I want you here with me; it's been so long."
"I need a pain pill." A pang shot though her right side where they took the egg.
"I have one." He took one off the table and handed it to her.
"They're too strong for me. I'll sleep all night with one of these." Cayman handed it back.
Wash summoned a nurse. "We need a mild sedative, please." A prompt nurse arrived and handed Cayman the usual dose for women with biopsy procedures.
Cayman took it and looked at a hopeful husband. It was noon and a snuggle with him would do her good. "Okay, just for a little bit." She sat on the bed and kicked her shoes off. He had his good arm under her neck as she snuggled against his side for the first time in over a week. Wash pulled the cover up and they went back to work.
Apollo opened an eye. "You again." He closed his eye and pulled Cayman closer. She was still sleeping.
"Dr. Abraham told me you two created a baby today. I just wanted to congratulate you."
"Fine, and everything's okay between us. She forgave me and I'm taking care of my family. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Apollo opened both eyes to look at his visitor.
"She went through a traumatic experience. When that wears off, will she feel the same?"
"We talked and believe it or not we can work our problems out without you, like the time we separated for a few weeks."
"I'll accept your word, but if you or Cayman need to talk in the future, you know where I live." Chris turned and left.
"How long have I been sleeping?" Cayman woke to men talking, but didn't want to move. The pill gave her a pleasant buzz and she was where she wanted to be, in her husband's arms.
Apollo looked at the clock on the wall. "Five hours." He kissed her forehead.
"I need to get Trey." She struggled to sit up.
"I want to come home and be with my family." Apollo didn't want to spend another night in the hospital.
"I'll go ask the doctor if you can leave." Cayman brushed her hair with his comb and went to the bathroom to check her makeup before searching for his doctor.
She returned shortly with his physician. The doctor checked the readings and told him to lie still and flipped the bio screen on. He looked carefully at the calf muscle and finally spoke. "You're healing, but it's not as fast as if you'd gotten here three days sooner. You have to stay completely off that calf for a few more days or the graphs won't take properly."
"I can do that at home, I promise." Apollo gave it his most sincere try.
"I've been a doctor here for thirty years and watched you soldier boys lie, cheat, steal and molest my nurses. When a soldier says they'll be good, I never believe it. You have to be off that leg completely for at least three more days. I'm not releasing you until those graphs are holding." With a stern look to Cayman, the doctor left.
"Three days." Apollo was thinking about throwing a Trey sized tantrum.
"A few more days won't kill you. I'll be back tomorrow." She kissed his pouting lips.
"Two weeks on crutches and then we'll put you in a brace." The doctor was releasing him. The doctor kept him four more days and finally released him on Friday afternoon. He was jubilant be home for the weekend, on his own couch and sleeping in his own bed and most importantly, not alone.
Cayman had her operation the following Thursday and it was her turn to do a hospital stay. It took three days to adjust the hormones and make everything function. The added hormones all at once made her sick. Not all women got sick, but at her age, she wasn't so lucky. She didn't get released until Monday and was told to take it easy for the next nine months, no working or heavy housework.
Wash took the week off to care for both of them and Trey. The following Monday found her back at work. Nathaniel turned the unit over to her first thing and went to headquarters stating he needed to talk to Philbrick about something.
"Come in, Nathaniel." General Philbrick motioned him into his office and pointed to a chair. "What brings you to my office this fine spring morning?"
"Personnel request, Sir. I need a special person, and I know who I want and what the job will entail."
"And what did we, with all our massive planning and endless meetings overlook?"
"I need someone to be my personal liaison after I leave. A person I absolutely trust to do the job and make sure what I need is delivered."
"We have the entire headquarters vying for that job. We're aware of your needs and will fill the position."
"I don't want just anyone. It has to be someone I work well with and I know will have my back for years to come. I want to choose who has this position," Nathaniel pressed.
"Why now?"
"They are finalizing the portal. We may leave sooner than expected and I want to be ready and have the person trained to my needs and way of doing things."
"And who is this special person that you can't do without?"
"I want Cayman. And not only that, I need her restored to a Commander." Nathaniel put his hand up to stop any interruption. "Hear me out. I need someone of my rank that doesn't have to blindly obey me. I need a person who can think for themselves and procure what I need. And most importantly, I need someone I work well with and respect and vice versa."
"And what does lesser Washington say about this?"
"I haven't asked her yet. I didn't want to get her hopes up and you veto the idea."
"I understand she's in the family way again?"
Nathaniel laughed. "Yeah, I was there when the baby was made."
"Does Apollo know?" Philbrick figured there was a catch, but played his game.
"They wanted a girl and Apollo couldn't find his ass with both hands and a map. I found the X sperm." Was his self-satisfied answer.
"So he's guaranteed a replacement Alicia." Philbrick went back to the request. "This position is limited in scope. Will Cayman have enough to keep her busy?"
"We'll be stocking a colony with about two hundred people a year. She'll have to do background checks on everyone and have all their records, criminal and health. On top of that, she'll be gathering and packing supplies for every member of the colony. I expect once we get a few hundred people, she'll need an assistant. Why, did you have something else planned for her?" Nathaniel was curious.
"No, she was a problem. I have plenty of people with a Commander rating whose never commanded a unit or been demoted. She's the only one to fall into both categories. I wasn't in favor of what happened to her and I got overruled. She's been punished beyond penal. I don't want to give her a position that resembles additional punitive action and anything I have would definitely look like I was reprimanding her all over again. I only have headquarters work. I need high-level officers to discharge those duties, but would hate to put her in that position after an active life in the field. I realize she'll probably never be in the field again."
"So it's alright with you if I ask her?"
"It's the best solution to my problem."
"And her rank?"
Philbrick nodded. "I don't care which General whines over it, she earned that rank and I'll restore her to full Commander."
"Thank you, Sir. I want to be the one to tell her, okay?" Nathaniel wondered how he was going to approach her.
Philbrick smiled and waved him out of the office. "You make sure she takes the job because her rank's attached to it."
"Apollo has a birthday soon. I'll try and find the right moment to ask her before then." Nathaniel went back to work smiling and whistling, something he rarely did.
Alex sidled up and spoke in a low tone. "Wash is here so you didn't get laid, I hope."
Nathaniel grinned at him. "I had a good meeting with Philbrick."
"He did you?"
"Get your sorry worm riddled mind out of the gutter or I'll make you run all day."
"Well if you're not going to tell me…. You know, I'm feeling really left out here. First you don't take me to South America and now keep your wonderful secret to yourself. I'll just go hang out with our guys who when they get laid….dish."
"Going to be a quiet day then with those virgins." Nathaniel laughed, slapped Alex on the shoulder and continued on to his office.
After supper, Nathaniel quietly observed Cayman, wondering if she would really want to be his partner on this side of the portal. Apollo was sitting on the couch he commandeered when he got out of the hospital, with his leg propped up on a pillow that was situated on the low coffee table. Cayman had taken up a permanent position next to him every night, leaving the chairs for Wash and himself. "I'll be glad when we get our couch back, Wash."
"Why don't we move ours in?" She looked around the room. "We could do an L shape with two couches." She pointed to the end of the couch closest to the kitchen. "All we have to do is move this chair."
"Can we do that, Cayman?" Nathaniel looked over at her.
"If you want a couch, you're going to have to provide your own. I like having mine back." She squeezed Apollo's thigh and he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against him where they exchanged a long kiss.
"If we had a couch, that could be us." Nathaniel missed his sedentary activities with his wife. Since Apollo came home two weeks ago, he monopolized that particular piece of furniture when he wasn't in bed. Cayman even brought his meals to be eaten so he didn't have to sit at the table. Nathaniel had enough; he wanted to snuggle with his wife.
"In here, men," Nathaniel opened the door and directed Alex Tate and Casey Durwin, whom each had an end of the couch from Wash's house. He didn't bother informing Cayman he was coming the very next day and caught her stretched out on her couch watching Trey play.
She sat up. "Nathaniel, what the hell are you doing?"
"You told me if I wanted a couch, I had to bring my own. Well, I didn't want to part with mine, but Wash won't miss hers as she spends all her time here anyway." He grabbed the chair and slid it out of the way. "Sit it down right here," he directed.
"That is an abuse of manpower." Cayman was shocked he'd use his soldiers in such a manner.
"Yes, Ma'am. I tried to tell him that." Alex sounded doleful while Casey grinned.
"Is this good enough, Cayman?" Nathaniel ignored his men.
Cayman looked at her shrunken living room. She really didn't expect him to do this, but it was done. "I guess. If I don't like it, you and Alicia will move it around tonight until I'm satisfied." She heard Taylor's men laugh.
"Okay guys, get that stolen flatbed back to the motor pool and don't get caught or I'll deny everything." With a wink to Cayman, Nathaniel led his men back outside just as fast.
"What do you want for your birthday?" Cayman asked Apollo that night. They were on their couch while Nathaniel and Alicia snuggled on the second. Trey walked from couch to couch climbing over the ends. Once, he fell and let out a loud wail until his sister picked him up and cuddled him. Soon he was back to his game.
"I want those two to take him," he pointed to his youngest, "and disappear for the entire night."
Cayman ignored his request. "Barry and Gail are coming and Darrell promised not to bring anyone. Is there anyone else you want to come? We haven't had a party with our friends since before Somalia. I think it's time for a gathering and your birthday is the perfect opportunity."
Nathaniel frowned. He didn't want her too busy planning a party to think on his offer.
"If you insist, and I know you'll do it anyway," Apollo conceded.
"We'll have a party in lieu of gifts with friends." Cayman grabbed her plexpad and started making notes.
"We have a gift for you, Dad," Alicia objected. Why wouldn't Cayman want gifts? She just had to ask, "Cayman, why no gifts?"
"The family can give gifts if they want, but I don't expect non-relatives to bring anything except a bottle of something, which they always do."
"What are you getting him so we don't duplicate." Wash smirked, daring Cayman to tell in front of Apollo who looked interested.
"He's getting a brace from me." She patted his leg and smiled at him.
"You better include something I get to unwrap in the bedroom." Apollo grabbed her hand, brought it to his mouth, gave the back a raspberry and laughed as she pulled away in a hurry.
"You know, a party's a good idea. Can we invite a few of our friends as well?" Wash liked the idea.
"I'm inviting four couples so we have them plus Barry and Gail and Darrell. Who are you inviting?"
"I think Alex and Debora. Chris should be invited and General Philbrick," Wash added watching Cayman nod.
"Good choices. We're inviting the Meyers'. I want to see the baby and they'll have to bring him."
"I finally got to see him. He's cute." Wash got to visit Cathy the day after they returned.
"Also the Guzman's, I haven't seen Marcella in such a long time, and the Levenswitz's and Mallawarri's. Levenswitz was Apollo's CO for many years. They're retired and living near here." Cayman finished her list.
"I remember him." Wash knew her father's CO from her youth.
"How did you know Guzman's, Cayman?" Nathaniel asked.
"Marcella babysat once in a while for the boys from the pool of sitters."
"I didn't know that. Don't forget Dotti," Nathaniel added.
"Invite the Adams'," Apollo reminded her and she nodded and added them to her plexpad.
"I think we ought to rent the private room at The Regent." Cayman looked to Apollo and he nodded his approval.
"Just make sure I have a chair to prop my leg up on." He hated to admit it, but keeping it down too long made it ache.
"If we have it there, they have a stocked bar and can cater to us." Nathaniel offered his suggestion and went back to thinking about when he should talk to Cayman.
"How are you feeling?" Wash looked directly at Cayman who looked tired in the light.
"My body is starting to adjust to all these hormones and the little foreign invader. I'm not so nauseated, but still sleep a lot more than normal."
"Speaking of which, you should let Alicia put Trey to bed." Apollo pointed to where Trey, worn out from his exertions was sound asleep at the end of their couch.
"I'm not long for this world either." Cayman needed to lie down.
Nathaniel scooped Trey up and took him to the master bedroom followed by Wash.
Cayman got Apollo's crutches and helped him up. He still got stiff if sitting too long. She locked the front door and let him precede her to the bedroom.
Nathaniel had Trey stripped down and was checking his diaper while Wash got his jammies out. Cayman and Apollo stood by while Alicia dressed him. She took the dirty clothes to the washer while Nathaniel picked him up careful not to wake him. He looked at Apollo. "Kiss goodnight?" Apollo shook his head so Nathaniel kissed the top of his head and murmured, "Daddy doesn't love you." He no sooner got him covered when a crutch smacked him across the back.
"Goodnight Dad." Alicia returned and went to him for a kiss.
"So you kiss one kid, but not the other, hmmmm." Nathaniel rubbed his chin in fake contemplation.
"I prefer to kiss my female kids. Now get your sorry ass out of my bedroom." He raised his crutch again.
Nathaniel made a move for it and stopped abruptly at Cayman's drill sergeant, "STOP." Both men looked at her. "If you set him back, I'm making him sleep with you." She glared at Nathaniel.
Trey started crying. Nathaniel turned and picked him up and rocked him. "Don't cry. Mommy wasn't talking to you in that tone…yet. Wait until you're a teenager then oh boy…" He spoke in a low soothing tone and Trey fell back asleep almost as soon as he woke. Neither parent interrupted, as Nathaniel had a way with babies.
With Trey sleeping again, Nathaniel turned to leave. Apollo was struggling out of his pants and looked to be in pain. Nathaniel crossed the room in a hurry. "For crying aloud, I have to undress you like I did your baby." He took the cuff of the leg Apollo was struggling with and carefully pulled it off. Apollo didn't retort so Nathaniel looked up to find him motioning to Cayman for his pills. "I'll get them." He brushed by Cayman, found the bottle and grabbed a fresh glass of water. He passed her entering the bathroom and she shut the door.
Apollo pulled his socks off and waited for the pills. He popped two in and set them and the glass by his side of the bed. He stood to pull the cover back and Nathaniel beat him to it. "Are you like one of those male nurses now?"
"Don't want you straining yourself and be more of a burden on your wife. Didn't you notice how tired she looked?" Nathaniel kept his voice down.
Apollo pulled his tee shirt off and tossed it on the floor. "I see. By night, she's done in. I'll be glad to get mobile and take Trey over."
"I gave Wash the day off today. Where were they when I brought the couch by?"
"She took Trey and went shopping." He carefully lay down, placing his leg over in the bed and didn't even protest when Nathaniel pulled the cover up.
"I draw the line at kissing you," Nathaniel joked.
"Get out of my bedroom. Cayman might come out nude and I don't want shooting you to spoil the view."
With a chuckle, Nathaniel left and shut the door.
Apollo tested his brace. It provided the necessary support and he nodded to the doctor. He walked around for the physician to observe. He managed to get off the crutches three days before his birthday. Cayman came with him and was in obstetrics for her weekly checkup. He limped down the hall into the room where several women were waiting. Not seeing his wife, he went to the desk. "Where is Cayman Washington?"
"In exam one," the young receptionist told him.
In the small room, he found the doctor looking at the bioscreen while she did something to his wife. He alerted them to his presence when he went to stand beside the bed. The doctor was injecting fluid into a vein. Seeing Apollo, she explained what she was doing. "I can fix everything except the fatigue. She'll feel better once I regulate the hormones again." She looked back to Cayman. "If you start feeling sick, come back and we'll check you again. In the meantime, I want lots of sleep and inactivity."
"We have a twenty-two month old." Apollo informed the doctor.
"She can take care of him, just not run and work all day. Do you have someone who can come in during the day and help with him?" The doctor directed her question to Cayman.
"We could ask Angie." She looked at her husband.
"Or I could do part of my work from home and we can rely on Alicia. I'm sure she's not doing anything that can't be cut back to half days."
"I'd rather have the family around him as much as possible," Cayman admitted. She liked Angie, but family was better.
Nathaniel came home for lunch the next day alone. He told Wash he had to have a working lunch and if he wasn't back in an hour to start the next project without him. Cayman wasn't in the living room so he called out, "Cayman, where are you and snotter boy?"
"Back here."
He followed the voice and found her folding laundry. "Are you supposed to be doing that?"
"I'm not supposed to be doing heavy housework. This is nothing." She put the last folded shirt for Trey in the basket and went to lift it.
Nathaniel put his hand on her arm. "Let me." He took the basket to the bedroom. "You sit and tell me where everything goes." He looked around, expecting to find Apollo lying on the bed with his leg up since the living room was empty. "Where's Apollo?"
"Apollo's feeling mobile and went to check on his unit." She went from informative to, "Nathaniel, my private things are not going to be put away by you, now get your ass out of my bedroom." She wondered at his sudden grin, but he told her he'd start lunch. Picking up Trey, who followed Mommy everywhere now, he left her alone.
He had chicken flavored soymeat sandwiches made when she sank into her chair at the kitchen table. "What brings you home for lunch and where's Alicia?"
He sat a sandwich before her and asked what she wanted to drink. She chose water. Getting the same for himself, he poured milk in a bottle for Trey. He put him in the highchair and gave him chicken flavored meat mix and a bowl of fruit. Sitting down, he took a bite before answering. He was thinking the best way to open. Finally, he started with, "Have you given any thought to what you're going to do in a year?"
"I try not to."
"How would you like to get your Commander rank back and be a stay at home mom to boot?"
"Does Alicia know you drink at work?" She took a bite of what passed for food this winter.
"I'm serious. I have a position that needs to be filled and Philbrick gave me freedom to pick who I wanted and I told him, you." He watched her reaction closely.
"What was that about my rank?"
"The position requires an equal. I need someone who will tell me to get the hell out of their bedroom. A subordinate won't work."
"Okay, I'll bite. What is this position you have that you want only me for?" She really was curious.
"My partner on this side of the portal." There, he came out with his proposal.
She looked at him in surprise. "Partner?"
"I need a person in charge of supplies and personnel going to Terra Nova. It'll be a demanding job after a few hundred people start living there and they'll want things shipped, as will I. I need someone I trust on this end. This job will last as long as you stay on this side. Since we haven't left yet, you won't have much to do except learn and you can do that with a plexpad right here. The job will be all done on a plexpad, ordering, coordinating, and background checks. You don't need to be in an office for that. You'll be an entity on the base that is unique and answer to Philbrick alone. It's a new position that will be tailored to our needs from the ground up and I want you in on learning everything so you know how supplying Terra Nova will work. How about it, come work with me?"
"You said something about rank?"
"Philbrick said the attached string to getting your Commander rank restored is to accept the job. He also told me he only had general office work for you." Nathaniel looked totally serious, not the teasing he liked to use with her and Apollo.
"Equals?"
Nathaniel nodded. "We need to fight like we're married."
"Have you talked about this with Apollo or Alicia?" She still kept the questions coming without an acceptance. That was good, he thought, showed interest.
He shook a no. "Outside Philbrick, you're the first to hear it."
"What did Philbrick think, really?"
"You're a problem for him and I offered him a way out with you. He hoped you'd take it."
"How did I become such a burden?" She finished her sandwich and reached for the bowl of fruit he had for her.
"Any position he had for you, he figured you would presume as further punishment and he didn't want that." He shoved his last bite in and reached for his own bowl.
"When would I start and what would my status be? I'm officially on injured reserve."
"If you accept, I'll tell Philbrick and let him make the decision what to change your status to, but expect maternity status as it will allow you to work."
Cayman was silent while she ate her fruit. Nathaniel gave her a space to process his proposal. Finally she spoke softly, "I suppose I'll never command a unit again."
He felt bad for her. She shouldn't have been removed from command and from what Apollo told him, no woman in this group was nearly as good as Cayman or even Whiley. "Anything's possible, but I wouldn't want to sit for the rest of my career in headquarters shuffling plexpad's, waiting."
"This is a way of marginalizing me," was how she looked at it.
"You can look at it that way." He reached across the table and covered her hand. "Or having a job so specialized in the military that nobody will mess with you for fear of what you know. We'll keep a few secrets between us so nobody can step into your shoes and fill it easily." He pulled away and crossed his arms, waiting.
"You do have a silver tongue, Nathaniel." She smiled at him. "Why do you want me?"
"You don't have a duplicitous nature. I know I can trust you to do your best for me and the colonist and not be self-serving. Can you see how I would fare with someone like Natalie Miller in that job, and she's bucking hard for it. I wouldn't know what was coming or trust the people coming through. No, I need to know my back is covered here."
"And being family, will that make it too difficult?"
"No. If we can live together, we can work together."
"You're putting a lot of trust in me, and quite frankly I feel pretty depressed that I got myself in such a stupid situation as to lose my unit."
"Three fat Generals thought you should be demoted. I don't know of one other person who thinks that."
"Apollo told me he could have intervened and didn't. He might have saved my command." Cayman still felt a twinge of hurt that her husband didn't come to her rescue.
"You didn't see Apollo after we found you. He turned everything over to me without thought when the second attack happened. He put you first and rushed home to protect you. He loves you so much and almost lost you and can't bare even the tiniest threat to you. He rose in the ranks by being brutal and did what the Generals needed to be to clean up messes and bury their skeletons. I've known him for over ten years; he didn't care about anybody except his daughter. I started seeing a change even before we knew you existed. He was happy and his scowl became a smile. Now he has a new family and if anything happened to you, he wouldn't be able to raise and be a father to them. I fear he'd go into battle and die on purpose. You're that important to him and this family. I'm giving you a chance to give Apollo what he wants most, you safe; and for you, your career and rank restored. I know it's not as glamorous as commanding a Special Forces unit, but unfortunately those days are over." Once again, he hoped he made his case.
"I'll be able to hold my head up around here again with my rank restored." Cayman slowly nodded. "I'll take it." She reached out her hand and he met her halfway.
"I expect every major issue that comes up, you'll grill the hell out of it like you just did me." Nathaniel was back to teasing.
He called Philbrick when he got into his vehicle.
"I'm relieved she accepted. Her status, you ask?" Philbrick thought a moment. "I think maternity status will allow her to still recover and be productive for you also."
"Did you get your invite to Apollo's birthday bash on Friday night?"
"I did and was planning on attending." The General looked forward to some down time with his officers, past and present.
"Why don't you restore her rank and announce the position at his party. I'll get her to say nothing as I want to surprise Apollo with it." Nathaniel pitched his idea.
Philbrick laughed. "Sounds like a plan."
Nathaniel called Cayman when he got off with the General. "Just talked to Philbrick. He said he'd think about your status and not to tell Apollo or Wash. He wants to announce it at the party."
"I can wait until then," Cayman agreed, not knowing the surprise for her as well.
Nathaniel and Dotti were last to arrive and the party was in full swing. Groups had formed and everyone was catching up and drinking a before dinner libation provided by the bar. Nathaniel looked around for Wash. She was with the Lieutenant's and Major's and they were telling the Tate's and wives the details of the rescue again. Nathaniel filled Dotti in while on the way and warned her that would be the predominant topic of conversation. Cathy was showing the baby to Cayman and Apollo. "Who do you not know, Dotti?"
Dotti looked around. "I don't know them." She pointed to an older couple talking to General Philbrick.
Nathaniel led her to them. "Sir," he greeted his General.
Philbrick smiled when he saw Dotti on Nathaniel's arm. "I approve in your choice of dates, Nathaniel."
Nathaniel and Dotti laughed and Nathaniel spoke. "This is my mother-in-law, Dotti Carmichael. These folks are retired General Adam Levenswitz and his wife, Isabella." The general stood and shook Dotti's hand and then the women greeted each other with smiles.
"Well, Commander, are you looking forward to leaving?" General Levenswitz asked.
"Yes and no. I'm looking forward to starting humanity over in a pristine location and the adventure, but hate leaving people like Dotti here." He patted her shoulder and they exchanged a smile.
Apollo limped up. "Dotti, I'm glad you could make it." He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "It's my birthday so I get to kiss all the women here." He grinned and looked at Nathaniel. "I'll make an exception for you, woman." He got the requisite chuckles he was after.
"Don't forget you had to have my help making your last kid," Nathaniel retorted in kind and Apollo explained that Cayman was pregnant again and how it happened. Word circled the room rapidly and Cayman was bombarded with congratulations.
Right before the party.
"Bout time you showed up. I thought maybe you got lost," Apollo commented as Nathaniel rushed through the door a few minutes late from work, grumbling about traffic. Wash materialized at the sound of talking. She was wearing a tight pair of black jeans and heels. Her top was a low cut black pull on with three quarter sleeves that Nathaniel had never seen before. He looked at her cleavage accentuated by her push up bra. Not removing his gaze from her breasts, he told her he needed to talk to her in the bedroom and followed with a wink to Apollo. The pizza, Wash was taking to Melissa Adams arrived so Apollo paid and set it on the table. With an evil grin, he limped to his daughter's bedroom door and knocked. "Alicia, pizza's here, can I come in?"
A duel no resounded through the wood door. "We'll be out soon, Dad," Alicia called.
He chuckled and limped back to the living room and settled on the couch putting his leg up. Trey was running around and came to be picked up so he sat him on his good leg and looked at the clock. He hated waiting and with two women in the house, he did way too much in his humble opinion. Ten minutes later Nathaniel appeared with a pleased smile and changed clothes. "You still finish too quickly to properly satisfy a woman."
"Wash didn't complain and that was the appetizer. She'll get the main course when we return, unlike you who's only good for one shot a week."
"That one shot's better be tonight. It is my birthday after all and I put in an order for a special present before the little woman's too big to look good."
"I don't look good pregnant?" Cayman entered unnoticed and glared at her husband.
Nathaniel started laughing. "So much for once a week."
Apollo put Trey down and went to do damage control. Wrapping her in his arms he murmured, "You are beautiful pregnant, but my personal preference is the thin version in a sexy nightgown that I haven't seen before, like tonight, I hope." He kissed her neck and whispered he loved her in her ear.
"You get a pass because it's your birthday," Cayman informed him and accepted his apology kiss. She knew what he was saying to Nathaniel, but couldn't let it pass without giving him a bad time and watching him grovel. The doorbell sounded and she went to get it. Her sons and Gail hurried in apologizing for being late.
"The transport landed late," Darrell explained. He went to the dome airport to retrieve the other two. They went up to Apollo, who stood back letting Cayman greet her children. "We went in together and got you a bottle of the good stuff, to be shared with Mom, of course." He handed a bottle of expensive ruby wine to Apollo, while Barry shook his hand and Gail kissed his cheek, making him smile.
"We'll drink it soon, before your mother can't."
Three heads turned to Cayman who moved up and slipped an arm around her husband's waist. "We wanted you to be here when we broke the news. If all goes well, in eight and a half months, you'll have a sister."
"You found a surrogate?" Darrell and Barry exchanged glances.
"Not exactly." She filled them in on her procedure and patted her belly. "She's right here."
Alicia rushed out and greeted them with a gift in her hand. "I'll hold that while you open this." She took the bottle, read the label and whistled softly. This year of Syrah made history for its rich, full body and it packed an extra punch. Barry told her, he saw a bottle on a shelf while browsing the upper end shops in the Richmond dome.
Apollo unwrapped a small box. Inside was another miniplex.
"Try and keep this one at least a year." Wash went and kissed his cheek.
Apollo turned it over and grinned. On the back were his engraved name and a patch where the hole had punched though the top.
"We had the back fixed and put on a new unit," Nathaniel explained.
Apollo nodded. "It has character now. I thought this was gone forever."
"One of your private's found it. You'll have to ask your unit who." Nathaniel looked at the clock, "I better go if I'm picking Dotti up." With a kiss to Wash, he left.
"The Adams' can't leave until I show up with Trey," Alicia went to the hall and grabbed Trey's jacket and called him. "I have food, you have to walk to the vehicle. Can you do it?" She asked him. He looked up at her not sure what to do.
"No he can't," Apollo motioned for Darrell to take Trey and told him to go with Alicia and let Barry take his vehicle.
"I have another gift for you, but it'll wait until we get home," Cayman spoke softly into his ear, drawing a smile just for her.
"You mean all those clothes weren't my present?" He spoke just as softly back to her.
"You know I'll have a little something special just for us." They had moved until they were holding each other and taking into their ears so the others couldn't hear the private conversation.
"That's what Darrell and I had to get used to," Barry indicated the entwined couple.
"They look so cute and in love," Gail hoped they had that strong of love at their age.
People mingled and jokes and stories were exchanged. Isabella made Dotti sit by her so they could get acquainted. Cathy made the rounds with her son and husband, Brian Meyers, not far from her. A delightful meal was served ending with a vanilla cake with fresh strawberries on top of the cream cheese frosting. General Philbrick stood and clinked his glass. He looked down the table where Apollo was sitting at the opposite end from him. Cayman sat by General Philbrick while Apollo had the Levenswitz's on one side and Guzman's on the other. The other guests were spread along the elongated table. Wash sat with Mallawarri's on one side and Tate's the other. Chris was beside Nathaniel and he had Major Adam's to his left. Nathaniel and Cayman exchanged a glance then looked to the General.
"Apollo, happy birthday. I have a surprise for you." He looked at Cayman. "Commander Cayman Washington, I hereby restore your rank to full Commander." He had to wait for the applause to die down. Cayman shot a look to Apollo and was pleased to see he was very surprised and looked uncertain. Philbrick continued while watching Apollo, "Cayman, has agreed to a one of a kind position; liaison officer for Terra Nova. She'll be working on this side for the wellbeing of our soldiers and colonist in the past. Also," he smiled at Cayman, "I'm placing you on maternity status so you can start work on Monday."
Cayman looked surprised and then to Nathaniel, who grinned back and then laughed at her finger shaking in his direction. She risked another look down the table to find her husband watching her. She knew he hated surprises of this nature, but too bad. It was her choice and career.
Apollo watched as her look went from uncertainty to one of unmitigated challenge of her decision. He saw the fire in her eyes. No longer was she beating herself up. Now she had a purpose and a new job, and most importantly, her dignity of rank back. Before he could speak, Nathaniel declared to everyone, "I asked her a couple days ago to be my partner on this side of the portal. I can't think of a single person I trust more and I want to thank you for easing my mind."
Alicia spoke up also. "That's great. We'll have you attend all the meetings on the final preparation with us and you and I can take a trip to Chicago and go on a tour of Hope Plaza so you know what we'll have to work with."
Others joined in the discussion and Apollo seemed to be forgotten. Cayman was worried. He never said a word and when she looked down the table again, he was deep in conversation with Adam Levenswitz.
Chris watched the exchange and wondered if their relationship was as sound as Apollo wanted him to believe.
The party broke up shortly afterwards and Apollo was grateful. He spent too much time on his leg and it was throbbing. He wanted nothing more than to go home and take his pills. On the way he asked, "Why did you not tell me?"
"Nathaniel wanted to surprise you. He worked hard to get me this sought after position and rank restored."
"It's a glorified warehouse clerk."
"There's more to the job than that. Nathaniel wanted someone he trusted to make sure supplies and people were in order. I thought you would have loved me in this position, safe on the base instead of traipsing around the world getting shot at."
"It's, I wanted to make up for my inaction and get your rank restored and find a challenging job for you," he admitted.
"You don't like that Nathaniel beat you to it. I thought you'd be happy for me." She went silent.
"If you want it, you know I'll support you all the way, especially if it means you won't be getting injured and can be a mother to our children. I want to congratulate you properly, but my leg is hurting so bad I may have to take a rain check on the rest of my birthday." He reached over and patted her leg and let his hand remain. He let her drive him home while Alicia went to retrieve Trey in her vehicle. It was arranged all the kids would be at the house tomorrow so his plans of sleeping in with her would have to be moved back a day.
They made the rest of the drive in silence. Following her into the house, he limped to the bedroom, suddenly feeling all of his fifty-two years. Popping three pills in, he brushed his teeth and hobbled to the bed. He wanted to be lying down before Cayman came in with Trey. His leg was cramping under the brace and he hoped he didn't tear the graphs as he opted to forgo rest and pillow at the party. Looking back, he realized it was a mistake, but he didn't want to draw attention to his injury. It was bad enough everyone commented on him getting shot and how happy they were he wasn't injured more seriously. He had never been good at accepting even heartfelt condolences. It looked like he might have to check in with the doctor on Monday if the agony persisted. He got the brace off when Alicia and Cayman entered, halting disrobing. He didn't want to lie on the bed, as he knew the odds of getting off without help was non-existent.
Cayman and Alicia were chatting. "It was good to see everyone again. It's been way too long." Cayman sat Trey in his crib to start stripping him while Alicia went for his onesie. They both whirled at sound of something falling and military expletives that poured forth from the man on the floor.
"Dad, Apollo." The women cried as one and rushed to him. He sat up with his back against the side of the bed and grabbed his calf, in too much agony to try and suppress it and let out a groan.
"You overdid tonight, didn't you?" Cayman knelt and put a comforting hand on his thigh.
Alicia went to push his pant leg up.
"Don't, Alicia. My leg just gave out. Where the hell is my nurse," he growled.
"What are you talking about?" Cayman didn't have a clue.
"Oh, nothing. Look, I can get up." He slapped the helping hands away.
"You're going nowhere," Cayman ordered. "I'm calling an ambulance."
"Like hell you are," Apollo all but yelled. "Go put Trey to bed, I'll be okay."
"No." Again the two women spoke dually.
He tried again with a softer tone. "I'll be fine by morning. I took some pills when we got home." He reached out and stroked a hand down Cayman's arm. "I just need to lie down."
"Sleeping on the floor now?" Nathaniel heard voices when he entered and followed the talking to the master bedroom.
"These two are making much ado about nothing." Apollo was glad Nathaniel was here to help him up.
Nathaniel looked at Wash. "What happened?"
"Apparently his leg gave out." She pointed to the brace lying on the floor.
Nathaniel moved in to assist Apollo to the bed. "Wash, I need to help him to bed." His way of telling her to leave.
Alicia kissed her father goodnight and told him to call her if he needed something and not to be a silent hero.
"I take it you're the male nurse?" Cayman asked as she went back to Trey.
Nathaniel chuckled and affirmed his title then spoke to Apollo. "Wait till you get my bill and every time I have to take your pants off, it gets higher. Now stand up and no I'm not undoing your zipper."
"Least you can do is get on your knees while I undo my zipper," Apollo quipped as he pulled the pants down to bunch around his knees. He went to sit backwards on the bed and Nathaniel told him to wait and pulled the cover back first. He noticed the slight exertion brought sheen of sweat and a grimace.
Removing the socks, Nathaniel lifted the good leg and pulled the pant leg off. He looked at Apollo. "Ready?" At the nod he lifted the leg and removed the pants and helped hold the leg while Apollo shifted into bed. Nathaniel covered him. "I'll kiss your son for you." He went to help Cayman. "Let me, you're exhausted. Get ready for bed." He gently pushed her away. She had Trey's clothes off down to his diaper.
"His teeth," Cayman reminded him.
"On it." He scooped the boy up and they went to the bathroom. Cayman was sitting next to Apollo and they were holding hands when he returned. Slipping the onesie on Trey, Nathaniel kissed him and told him to go to sleep.
"No wild sex you two." Nathaniel grinned as he shut the door.
"You owe me a birthday night." Apollo saw how tired his wife was. "Get ready for bed and remember no clothes."
"You can't handle me in the buff tonight." She leaned over and kissed him before going to the bathroom.
He was asleep when she returned.
Two more weeks and Apollo was cleared for desk duty with his unit. "I guess I've put off the so called training long enough," he griped on the morning he got ready for work. He spent two additional weeks on the couch watching Nathaniel train Cayman. He had to admit, there was more to the position than filling orders. Cayman took to the job with her usual excellence at anything she put her hand to. He insisted she take a nap after lunch every day so Nathaniel could go back to work with his unit.