Eventually the dinner bell rings, Al shaking Molly awake. She whined, still tired and reluctant to wake.
"Come on Mol, dinner time!"
"M'not hungry..." her bed was so comfy...
He frowns softly. Then grins and tickles her.
She squirmed, mouth twitching as she tried not to smile. "Stop it..."
He chuckles getting her neck.
She squealed, laughing as she tried to pushing him off. "Alfred!"
He laughs sitting back.
"You git!" She hit him playfully, pouting. "You know I hate that!"
Al smiles teasingly. She blew a raspberry at him, slumping so her hair tumbled over her shoulders. He chuckles slipping Iain's book back in place and hugging her.
She sighed and hugged back, snuggling for a minute. "Do I really have to eat...?"
"Why don't you want too?"
"...There's people in there..." She whispered shamefully.
He hugs her again. "Tell ya what. What if we just walk up there and ask Matt to get us plates, then we can all sit outside and have a picnic kind of thing?"
"Can we?" she looked up hopefully. She didn't want to seem lazy by making Matt wait on her, but she didn't think she could stomach more people today...
"Sure thing!"
She sighed with relief and hugged him tighter. "Thank you..."
He smiles leading her out. She stayed close, smiling softly. She knew she'd be safe if she was with him...
They set off and head over. Ivan and Gil joining them as well. Matt and Arthur were waiting by the door to the mess. Matt smiled brightly when he saw them approaching, but Arthur still looked moody. Al smiles back explaining to Matt.
*Alright. I understand. It's gotta be hard for her, just the fact this base is filled with men...*
*Yeah..*
*Gimme a sec, I'll grab you both a plate.*
Al nods as the others head inside. Ivan and Gil following Matt back out as they all camp out in the grass. The sun warmed them all, making it rather pleasant. They chatted a bit swapping stories back and forth.
Too soon, the meal was over. Matt gathered up the plates and took them back to the mess. Al leans back on his hands.
Arthur shifted, glancing towards the door. "I... I'm going to check in on the others..."
Al glanced up. "Ok."
He got up and set off, nearly running into Matt as he came back out. Al frowns softly as his brother came back over. *He still seems off..*
*Papa had to force him to come eat... He didn't want to leave...*
*Leave who? Iain?*
*Who else? You know Dad frets over him...*
Al sighs softly, fingers playing with the grass. Matt frowned sadly, laying a hand over Al's. Al grips it.
*He'll be okay...*
Al nods softly. Matt gave his hand a squeeze, smiling lightly. Al smiles back leaning on him for a moment. He hugged him gently, just enjoying the moment. They continue on chatting for a while.
Molly lay down in the grass, curling up. Al holds her hand while leaning against Ivan. She gripped tightly to him, even after drifting back to sleep. Matt smiled softly. Gil sits next to Matt. Al had snuggled into the Russian half asleep as well. The last two nights hadn't been very restful.
*Just rest bro... we've got you..*
Al sighs closing his eyes. Ivan hugs him gently. Matt watched him as he snuggled up with Gil, just letting himself relax. Gil hugs him holding him close.
He smiled, twisting around to kiss him softly. All they had now was one last court case and then they could finally let it all go...
Time passed on, morning coming in. They had all ended up sleeping outside. Molly had curled up tight, shivering as she hugged Al's arm as tight as she could.
Al groans shifting. Any part not snuggled against Ivan or Molly felt cold.
Matt groaned, none too bothered by the chill, but the sun was waking him up. He sat up, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Al sits up pulling Molly in to warm them both. Gil snored softly and Ivan seemed fine.
She whimpered and snuggled, clinging tight. Matt shifted over to them. *Need a little more heat?*
Al nods. *We should probably go inside..*
*Come on,* he helped him up. *Go get her settled, I'll get the others.*
Al heads inside, as much as he didn't want to he goes into the med wing. Arthur was right about it being warm. Molly sighed, relaxing in his arms. Al sits on a bed wrapping up in a blanket. Matt came in soon after, just sitting next to them. Al leans on him dozing lightly, he still felt a little tired.
*Did you want to rest some more?* Matt hugged him warmly.
*Maybe just a nap..*
*Go ahead, it's still quite early.*
He snuggles in with a sigh. Matt just held them, humming soothingly.
They slept a while longer. Eventually Tammy coming in to check up on Iain. She needed to see Molly too. The Scot was being oddly placid with his treatments, letting her potter about calmly. Molly however... Just waking her up was getting harder. Al frowns at that worriedly.
Once they finally managed it, Tammy asked the boys to leave so she could change Molly's bandages, but she didn't want to be alone.
Al sighs. "We'll be right outside ok? As soon as your done we'll come back."
"I don't want her here," she whispered, clinging tightly. "She'll make it hurt, please..."
Al rubs her back glancing for help. Matt shrugged. Tammy even looked uncomfortable. "If she won't calm down, we'll have to sedate her..."
Al shook his head. "That won't end well.."
"She's going to hurt herself like this.."
Al sighs.
Tammy sighed and moved back. "You've got ten minutes to calm her down. If you can't, I'll have to do it."
He turns to Molly. "Please Moll? She needs to see if you're ok.."
She shook her head, quivering. "I-I can't... I don't... I-I don't trust her, I.."
"Hey Molly look at me."
She looked up, eyes watering.
"I promise she's safe.. She helped me and Iain right?"
"I... I-I guess," she stammered. "What if she doesn't like me though? M-maybe she'll just be mean to me?!"
"Then just scream and we'll come back."
"Promise...?"
"Promise."
She hugged him tightly until Matt eased her off and lead him out, letting Tammy go in. Al and Matt waited by the door. *If it wasn't you guys treating me then I'm not sure I could have settled either..*
He sighed and hugged him. *Just be there when it's done... it's the best we can do right now...*
Al attempted a smile. *If I need a shot some time in the future you might have to slip me some sleeping pills.* He meant it as a joke but it probably would turn out true.
*We'll deal with that when we get there,* he chuckled softly, trying to lighten the tone. *I'm sure it won't be that bad.*
Al smiles hugging back.
A few minutes later, Tammy came out, her own arm wrapped up too now. "She's all yours..."
Al frowns softly at that. "You ok?"
She smiled tiredly, giving a halfhearted laugh. "She bit me."
Al sighs. "I'm sorry.. She just.. The guy who doctored her last was a madman.. He was using her for experiments.. If you want I can get Francis to look after her?"
"It's alright, really," she shrugged. "Some of her injuries were in some rather personal places... I think she just panicked. If you guys want to look after her though, that's okay. So long as you know what you're doing, obviously."
Al frowns softly, then gives her a quick hug. "Thanks for helping."
She was surprised at first then flushed softly. "It's okay. It's my job after all!" She laughed.
Al smiles warmly. Heading inside with Matt. She slipped off, likely to go get her breakfast. Molly had just curled up on her bed, trembling again. Al walks over hugging her. She flinched and yelped, not seeing him.
"Molly it's ok.."
She looked up, bursting into tears instantly.
He sighs hugging her. "I'm sorry.. If you want we can ask Francis to treat you instead."
"I-I don't know... It hurts," she sobbed. "I wanna go home..."
"I know Mol I know..."
She hiccuped, burying into his chest. He sits rocking.
"I can't do this anymore," she whimpered. She broke a little more each time.. Al sighs unsure what to do.
*We need to take her home...* Matt couldn't watch much more of this... *She can't relax here...*
Al nods. *I guess Patrick could stay with her there at least..*
*I don't know... he's not the best at handling these sorts of things... bro, maybe its time we all just went home... I mean, if being here is doing this much to her, it can't be doing much for you either...*
Al sighs. Who's home though? Should they stay together or split up? That was the issue... Maybe they did need a little bit of time just to settle back down... Molly did seem to have attached to Al though, which raised the issue of keeping her with him or sending her back with her brothers...
They'd need to get together and talk about it.. Maybe call everyone together after they've had a good lunch... For now Al just sits hugging Molly. She needed him... He really was the only one she seemed to trust right now...
He sits hugging her till she calms down some. She slowly settled down to sniffles, twitching edgily.
"Better?"
She shrugged dejectedly. "Guess..."
He rubs her back. "Wanna go walk in the woods today?"
She shrugged again, just wanting to cling. Al sighs picking her up. They set out to find Ro and head off for a walk. She ended up playing with the fae as they walked, a smile starting to form the further away from the base they got. He smiles too.
Soon, the base was out of sight. "Alfie... can I get down?"
He sets her on the ground. A bird flew over head catching his attention.
She wobbled a bit but got her feet. "I've missed the grass..."
Al smiles leaning on a tree. His gaze turning up again.
She turned, following his gaze. "What'cha lookin at...?"
"...nothin.."
"...you sure...?"
"Yeah.. It's just.. The night of the raid Iain grew my wings back.. Except for chasing after the planes I haven't had a chance to use them.."
She gave him a sad look then glanced around. "...I doubt anyone would see...?"
He glanced over. He didn't want to leave her alone though.. She just shrugged, rubbing her arms with an awkward smile. Al stands there a minute before walking over to her.
She watched him as he did, honestly confused."What..."
He smiles softly pulling her to his chest. "Hang on tight." In a flash his wings pumped carrying them up through the branches.
She squeaked, grabbing on tight as he took off. As soon as the rush of air stopped and they leveled out though, she looked down at let out a joyous laugh. "We're flying!"
Al grins. He wraps his legs around hers for better balance. Ro clinging tight to Molly's hair. She couldn't stop smiling now. This was amazing! Al laughs weaving through the tree tops. She grinned, giggling as birds squawked and took flight.
They soar for about an hour before landing. Al's flight muscles sore from disuse. By the time they landed, she was serene, soothed into a peaceful lull by the grace of his flight. It was like a moment away from the world... Al smiles sitting on the ground to rest.
She sighed contentedly, hugging him. "Thank you..."
He hugs back. "No prob."
Just being outside had helped her... But now they had to go back... Al was getting rather hungry, neither of them ate breakfast.
Her stomach grumbled loudly and her face turned red. "Uh..."
"I think it's time for lunch." Al chuckles.
She just nodded softly, quietly embarrassed. He smiles taking her hand and leading back.
She followed along, nearly making it all the way before she made him stop, wincing. "I-I need a rest..."
Al turns back to her. She was pale, starting to sweat. Her legs were shaking. He frowns softly sitting next to her. She just leaned against him, trying to catch her breath. He sits waiting.
She didn't quite stop shaking, but she got up again after a few minutes. "I'm okay.."
"Wanna lift?"
"I'm fine, it's only a little further."
Al kept ahold of her arm anyway. They continue on.
By the time they made it back to the base, she was verging on collapse. It was pride and sheer determination keeping her on her feet.
*Matt! Find Tammy or Papa, Molly doesn't look good!*
A little wave of panic washed through the link and just a few minutes later, Matt appeared with medic and nation in tow. Francis plucks her up carrying her off to the med wing.
"She insisted on walking the whole way.." Al explained.
"She's so stubborn," Matt sighed. *Arguably, you weren't too much better at this stage...*
Molly just curled into Francis, blood seeping through her bandages. Al grins sheepishly as they walked back.
As soon as she saw where they were headed, she whined, starting to squirm weakly. "Francis, please..."
"Molly.. we need to fix you up real quick. If you want you can sit next to Iain."
"I don't like it in here..." she whined. "I-it smells funny, and..."
"I know.. Just for a few minutes ok? Have you eaten yet?"
"I might have forgotten," she muttered.
Francis sighs. "Have any of you?" He turns to the boys.
Al shakes his head slightly. "Sorry Pops.."
"I did," Matt shrugged. "Al and Molly needed some air, but I guess they took longer than planned."
Francis just shook his head and they head inside.
Iain sat up as they walked in, frowning softly. "What's happened?"
Francis walks over setting her down next to him as Tammy fetched bandages. "Alfred took her for a walk and she pushed too hard..."
He sighed and tutted, scolding her gently. "Honey, you need to give yourself time..."
She just hung her head, flushing with embarrassment. The twins left as the others fix her up.
It went smoother with Francis and Iain there too... or at least, no one got bitten this time...
Francis calls them back in when they were done. Molly had snuggled with her brother, sulking more than anything. Tammy just gave them a passing smile as she left them in peace. Al sits on the bed across from them. Francis washed up.
Iain just smiled tiredly. "You alright kiddo?"
"Yeah. Is she?" To be honest his back was still sore, he needed to start working those muscles again too.
"She'll be fine," he smiled tenderly at her, giving her an affectionate squeeze. "She just needs to relax a bit."
"Speaking of which I want you both to eat." Francis comes back over.
"Who both? Because I already ate," Iain chuckled.
"Them." He points between Molly and Al. "Apparently they skipped breakfast."
Iain tutted playfully, in an oddly good mood today, it seemed. "Best go fetch them some lunch then."
Francis nods pulling Matt along with him to help.