Chapter 33

"Hey pretty lady" Kate cooed at Anna, who gave a tired huff as she finally managed to open her eyes. She groaned as her vision was filled with Kate's bright and mockingly cheerful face. It was too much for Anna's drug soaked brain to take in.

"Oh, too close" Anna told her with a wince. Kate smiled and pulled back from her and moved to a nearby chair and sat down with a wince. Anna blinked a few times as she took in her surroundings, her stomach roiled at the bright lights and noxious smell of hospital grade antiseptic with a faint hint of blood.

"If you're looking for Tex; he went to go have a shower and get some coffee" Kate told her.

"You're looking better" Anna said looking at Kate but she was lying through her teeth as her friend looked like shit. Her red hair was a mess. She had dark circles under eyes and her skin was incredibly pale. Her jaw was tense like she was in pain but trying to hide it under a veneer of casual but cheerful demeanour.

"Fluids, rest and drugs work every time. So you crashed a Chinook" Kate said looking amused though they both knew she wasn't. She was concerned and upset for Anna because she in part that it was her fault for pushing her friend back into flying.

"Not on purpose" Anna told her as her eyes went to her leg that was in a cast.

"Most people don't" Kate said as she tried to get comfortable.

"So what's my prognosis?" Anna asked her.

"Leg is still attached but I don't think you'll be using it for a while. Doctors say you'll be laid up for 4-6 months at least" Kate told her.

"Just what I need" Anna sighed, she had been sick for the past 5 years and in the past year she had found herself so close to being the woman she had been before coeliacs disease and chronic fatigue syndrome ravaged her body. She hadn't been 100% healthy but she'd been about 80% and now she felt like she was slammed back to day one of her worst flare ups.

"Yeah, the news doesn't get any better" Kate told her, Anna swallowed as a lump burned her throat. She wasn't ready for more bad news, she had enough bad news to last her a while but she was not one to hide.

"Lay it on me" She said, knowing she'd feel better to just swallow all the bad in one go.

"You've been flagged in Lassiter Industries network and it's an open forum now. We're all wanted fugitives and this isn't just a local thing." Kate told her.

"I'm already a wanted criminal" Anna said as she felt like her fate was sealed. With her health gone to shit and a broken leg; she was dead. This was the end of the line for her and it was all for nothing as she didn't save Kate and she couldn't even keep a simple promise to Tex to find his daughter. She felt like a complete failure.

"This is international now, it shows your face and every dark secret you got as far as I've been told" Kate continued talking but Anna tuned her out as she didn't really feel concerned about it as there was nothing she could do to change her outcome and frankly she was just done. She was useless and completely fragile in her state. She would be kicked out service like the Army had done to her years ago and left behind by her friends again as they continued on their mission.

"-Anyway the Captain is packing you up and taking you with us for the ride" Kate said pulling Anna out of her dark and depressing thoughts.

"What?!" Anna said incredulously.

"He doesn't want any of us on dry land" Kate told her.

"I hate boats" Anna told her which was true but only because she couldn't handle being reminded of what happened on the Solace when she had been captured by Granderson's people. Nor could she stand sensory overload of the constant movement, the noises of the machinery and people. It would be too much for her and she knew how her body would react. She'd get migraines, sea sickness all of which would make her recovery from a broken leg that more torturous.

"It's a ship and you'll be in recovery. So what's the difference between here and ship?" Kate asked her, completely oblivious to the problems Anna would have. Anna knew Kate wasn't being insensitive on purpose. Hell, she once tried to explain what it was like to be long term ill to Kate but it was like trying to explain the colour purple in words to a person who was blind from birth. Completely impossible. But for all the bitchiness they exchanged, Kate was her best friend. The woman had supported throughout her time when she'd been to ill to even get out of bed.

"The hospital doesn't rock and roll and the rooms are bigger" Anna said taking a deep breath to try and settle the anxiety she was feeling as her brain was now telling her of all the problems of being on a naval vessel with her issues. Hell, just being a coeliac was going to be a nightmare. The only saving grace was that Kate understood what Anna needed in terms of her diet.

"I know but you're a wanted person and the Captain doesn't want you painting a target on Norfolk given his kids are here." Kate said stating the obvious as Anna understood the Captain's reasons.

"Oh because his ship is so safe" Anna scoffed.

"Well, the ship is already a target. Look, I know it's not going to be easy for you but I'll make sure they'll look after you" Kate assured her.

"I don't want to go on the ship, I'm better on solid ground. I need to stay here" Anna said, she hated how her eyes filled with tears and how pitiful she sounded. "Please Kate. Don't make them put me on the Nathan James. I can't go back onto a ship not after the Solace" Anna told her in a hushed tone.

"Anna, I wish I could help but I can't. I don't even get a choice in the matter but it'll be ok" Kate assured her as she grasped Anna's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Anna pressed her lips into a thin line and looked away as she swallowed hard as the lump in her throat threatened to choke her as she felt the agony of years of hard work to recover had been wasted. The painful knowledge that she would be tossed into an unknown situation even if it was surrounded by people that could be trusted it still hurt.

"Anna" Kate said in a hushed and empathetic tone that cut deeply inside Anna.

"Could you just go?" Anna half asked and told Kate as she didn't want to talk any more. She just wanted to be alone. Kate must have sensed her need for solitude as she felt her friend pull her hand away.

"I'll be back later" Kate told her.

"That is quite an offer" Rachel said feeling rather unsure about Tom's invitation. She was sure it came from a good place but he looked so uncomfortable about offering it. She already knew she unsettled him and wasn't entirely sure why. The only thing that came to mind was the fact that she was pregnant.

"I know my place isn't as lively but it's a comfortable bed and it'd be yours" he said to her. He felt like a lame duck as his delivery of his invitation left much to be desired. He couldn't believe it but he was nervous of her response and annoyed because he remembered what Tex saying 'Carpe diem' Not what this is about... Tom reminded himself silently.

"Why are you offering me a place to stay when it clearly makes you uncomfortable?" she asked to bluntly. She figured the more time she spent with him as a friend would make it easier to stop romanticising him when he kept showing her that he had no interest.

"I'm genuine in my offer. I just don't want you getting the wrong idea" Tom said to her. Rachel looked confused for a moment before she spoke up.

"That you're a friend offering me a place to stay given I have no residence here?" she asked helping him out.

"Ah yeah, I'm not making any sense" Tom said feeling like an idiot as he realised there wasn't anything untoward in his invitation but why did he feel like he'd given her an open invitation to his bed? Obviously it was what Tex had said was getting to him and didn't want Rachel thinking what the others thought. That he had some secret motive to woo her when really he just wanted to give her a place to stay that meant she would have her own space unlike the Slattery household where privacy was non existant thanks to Mike's mother and smallest daughter. He still remembered how nosy his kids were when they were under the age of 6. At least those were the excuses he was going with.

"No, you're not" She said with a smile. Tom rubbed a hand down his face and shook his head not sure of what to say but Rachel saved him.

"But if the offer is truly genuine. I wouldn't mind taking you up on it" she said a little shyly. She knew she should keep her distance but part of her knew in his house she would get some modicum of privacy to sort her thoughts out even if it was for one night.

"Sure, I'll pick you up in the afternoon" Tom said ignoring the zing of pleasure at knowing she'd be coming over to his house.

"Sounds good" Rachel said.

"What sounds good?" Kate asked as she slowly came into the room before Tom could suggest a time.

"You're late" Tom said as he didn't need to hear Kate's insinuations about Rachel staying at his house. So he picked a volatile subject.

"I was busy, you want to talk now?" Kate asked not offering him much of an avenue of questions in regards to Anna. He had a feeling something was wrong with her friend as Kate looked completely drained and judging by the down turn of her lips it had not been a good visit.

"No, I have a meeting to get to" Tom said deciding to let what he wanted to say lay for now.

"Shame" Kate quipped in a dry tone as she slowly moved to the bed. Tom winced as she was moving like she was in a lot of pain.

"Not really, get some rest. You got a week before you're back on the ship in my domain" He told her in a wry tone.

"That sounds rather threatening" Kate said as she placed her hands on the bed and gave him a look daring him to challenge her.

"Nope just a friendly reminder" Tom said, he left the room before Kate could make a comeback.

"He looks terrible" Kate said to Rachel after she assumed Tom was out of ear shot.

"He didn't sleep well" Rachel informed her as she rose from her chair and moved to Kate's side.

"Mmm, he's not the only one with that problem. Do you think I can get out of here today?" Kate asked as she lowered the top half of her body onto the bed and sighed.

"You can barely walk and two nights ago you were vomiting-" Rachel started to remind Kate of her physical condition but Kate cut her off.

"But I feel 50% good and the IV is out. By the way, the meds are doing jack shit. I'm feeling everything. So what's the point of being in here; if they can't fix what's wrong?" Kate grumbled.

"Medical observation and I can get them to give you morphine" Rachel said as she helped Kate back into bed.

"No, I'm trying to get clean remember and I can walk so no more drugs than what's absolutely required to keep me functioning" Kate told her.

"You know this is a long process. Pain puts stress on your body which only exacerbates your symptoms" Rachel informed her.

"Yeah well, I think I'll just suck up the pain and sleep for a while" Kate informed her with a resigned sigh as Rachel tucked the blankets around her. Rachel watched her doze off to sleep within seconds. She felt for them all as they were all completely fractured trying to piece themselves back together.

Later that afternoon,

"You have a very lovely home" Rachel remarked as Tom stopped outside his house. He turned up just as Kate sat down in a wheelchair in preparation of being discharged from the hospital. Tex helped Kate whilst he charmed Mrs Slattery with his brand of innocuous flirtations. He waited patiently for Rachel to finish up and ignored the eyebrow raise from Kate, the annoying smile from Tex and Mrs Slattery's curious gaze as he informed them he was there to take Rachel to his place for dinner. He felt like they were all reading way too much into it. Like he had set up some kind of candle lit dinner for two when it wasn't like that at all.

"it was Darien's domain" Tom said taking none of the credit. Granted he'd cleaned up the front and most of the house but Darien was the one who made it a home. It gutted him just to think about and know he would never see her again.

"She has beautiful taste" Rachel said, Tom couldn't help but notice that while he used past tense in reference to his wife. Rachel used present tense like Darien wasn't gone.

"Yeah she did" he said not bothering to correct her tenses. Instead he took a solidifying breath and unclipped his seat belt. "Let me show you around. The kids and my dad must be over at Mike's place" Tom said as he didn't see any movement in the windows of the house nor did his father come out the front door as he was in a habit of doing these days to greet him. He was grateful that they would have the place to themselves before he had to explain himself to his father and the kids. He jumped out of the vehicle and went to the other of the vehicle and opened Rachel's door. She thanked him as she slipped out to the ground.

"I forgot to ask if you needed to pick up your things. We can go to the ship" He said feeling stupid as he realised she wasn't carrying a bag with her.

"It's fine. I have my tooth brush" She said patting her jacket pocket. She was so low maintenance it was very different to Darien who'd pack a kitchen sink of gear for an overnight trip because she hated being unprepared.

"I'll lend you something to sleep in" He said not thinking of how his words would be interpreted. He didn't like how everything thought he had in regards to Rachel had a hint of sex to it as he could just imagine her rumpled from sleep in his shirt, her long hair cascading over one shoulder. Something he shouldn't think about but now the image was there in his head.

"I was going to sleep in what I'm wearing now but if it will make you feel better." Rachel said looking uncomfortable about talking about her wardrobe.

"I'm not very good at this" Tom said awkwardly. He couldn't figure out why one day it was easy to be her friend and others felt like he was the gawky teenager trying to chat up the prettiest girl in class.

"At being friends with a woman?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah" Tom lied as he could be friends with a woman with ease but damn there was something about Rachel that made it hard for him to keep the lines of their relationship clear in his head.

"If you want I can still go to Kate and the Commander's house"

"No stay, I offered and frankly I'm just uncomfortable with my life in general which is difficult for me" he confessed.

"Look who I brought home" Lena said as she came through the front door with her usual flourish. She carried a couple of canvas bags that were filled with food and other sundries. Mike rose from the floor where he had been playing memory with pictures of disney princesses on them instead of normal playing cards to help his mother. To his surprise, Kate came in slowly behind her.

"Kate!" Zoe said in excitement. She jumped off the floor and rushed at Kate nearly knocking her over as she slammed into Kate's legs to hug her.

"Omph!" Kate said as she smiled and winced in pain from Zoe's exuberant attack jarred her body. She looked down at the girl and tugged on one of her blonde pigtails. "Hey short stuff" Kate said to her. The little girl gripped her legs and looked up with a grin.

"Daddy said you were visiting a friend who got hurt" Zoe said, Kate wondered if the girl was expecting her to pick her up. If Kate was able she would have but bending over and heavy lifting wasn't something she was capable of at the moment. Luckily, Mike came to the rescue as he extricated the little girl from her and lifted Zoe up into his arms so she was at the same height as the rest of them.

"Yeah sorry I didn't say goodbye. It was all very quick" Kate told Zoe.

"Is she dead?" Maddy asked from her place on the lounge.

"Maddy" Mike gently scolded as it wasn't appropriate behaviour. He gave an apologetic look and Kate kind of felt like saying the only he should be apologising for was for not kissing her 'hello' but she understood his reasons behind that. She however didn't give a rat's arse about Maddy trying to take a chunk out of her as Maddy was just testing her and sure they had a truce of sorts. It didn't mean they were going to best friends right away, so Kate was fine with it.

"No, she's a survivor. She'll be up and around in no time" Kate informed Maddy letting her know she wasn't ruffled by the question.

"The doctors going to make her better?" Zoe asked completely oblivious to Maddy's question.

"Yes, they are doing their best work on her. So what did I miss?" Kate asked the little girl.

"So Rachel, how's Kate going?" Jed asked making conversation as everyone was quiet at the dinner table in the kitchen. It had to be the most awkward dinner since their return to the house. Jed didn't want to say it out loud but he was beginning to hate this house, he understood the kids needed stability but there was a heavy weight in the air of the house. It wasn't home, it was just this shell where they all existed where visitors felt like these unwanted entities but Tom brought Rachel here and the young woman was doing her best to be polite and unobtrusive as possible. It just didn't sit well with Jed as he missed the old days of noisy, happy kids and laughter.

"She's doing well" Rachel said as she pushed her spoon around her bowl to cool down the hot chicken noodle soup inside. She gave Jed a kind smile as having dinner with them was definitely a more subdued affair in comparison to the Slattery household. The children were quiet for most part, Sam seemed to have the most issues with keeping his attitude in check as he didn't like Rachel being there. Ashley however was neutral on the matter as she seemed to understand that Rachel's presence really meant nothing. "She was released this afternoon and is probably with the Commander and his family right now" She added.

"Good to hear, so how long will we have you here for?" Jed asked in a casual manner as he made conversation. He couldn't help but be curious as his son had scrubbed that guest bedroom to an inch of it's life and now here Dr Scott was in their house sharing a meal and spending the night. They were apparently 'friends' which Jed was having difficulty swallowing given his son was not being overly friendly. In fact the man was acting rather like Rachel was a fragile piece of glass than a person.

"I was thinking just overnight. I wanted to be close by in case Kate needed me and the Captain offered the guest bedroom given how crowded the Slattery household is. I hope you don't mind the intrusion" Rachel said being incredibly polite.

"Not at all, stay as long as you like. If I were you, I'd lap up the luxury before you head back out to sea" Jed said, hoping his not so subtle invitation would be taken up. He couldn't help but want to know what was going on given Tom hadn't extended the invitation for anyone to stay with them except for her. He just quietly wished that maybe her extended presence would jolt some life back into the family before Tom and she left to complete the mission.

"You sure you're ok?" Mike asked Kate as he watched her down about 6 tablets in the last 2 hours and now she was swallowing another 2 with water before she placed the glass of water on the bedside table. He'd half expected Rachel to show up and had resigned himself to sleeping on the couch but this was better even if he was concerned about the amount of pills being taken by Kate. He was just grateful she was home, he leaned over to his side and turned off the light as Kate gingerly got into bed with him.

"Yeah, I'm good. I'm worried about you" Kate said as the light went out. She shifted until she was on her side and looked across to Mike in the dark.

"Me? I'm fine" He said. Kate felt the mattress shift as he moved closer to her closing the distance between them. He didn't crowd her on the bed or pull her into his arms as he was afraid of causing her pain. "You're taking a lot of pills" he said changing the topic.

"It's not getting rid of the pain but it does stop it from getting worse. I'll be ok and we're talking about you" Kate said directing the conversation back onto him.

"Maybe you should of stayed in the hospital" Mike said concerned for her health even if he did love having her back in bed with him. He was too used to her presence in his life that he didn't like it when she wasn't around.

"There's nothing they can do. It's my period or a ruptured cyst. Who knows but it's a womanly thing I have to endure. Anyway you're not really getting the R&R you need with all this drama I'm causing. If you want. I can to go to the ship, so you can relax. I can entertain myself by annoying Taylor and gossiping with Ravit" Kate said.

"I don't want you to go anywhere without me" Mike said, he didn't mind her hanging out with Ravit but Taylor was another issue. Not that he'd ever say it to Kate but he didn't like how flirtatious the Senior Chief was or the fact that he and Kate had common ground of being military and from the same country. He wasn't worried about being replaced but he was worried about the two of them conspiring to cause mischief or at worst Kate breaking more than the man's nose. They needed every able body soldier they could get.

"Not even when I need to use the loo because that's crossing a boundary for me" Kate informed him in a smart ass tone.

"You know what I mean" He said as he reached out and smoothed a hand down her arm before taking her hand in his. "I got you and the girls under one roof. It's all I need" he told her and it was true. He didn't need or want for more than what was possible in the moment. As he just wanted to be as content as he could.

"I could think of a few more things you need" Kate said looking at him. he couldn't see her expression clearly but he knew she wasn't being salacious given her tone had no sexual connotation attached to it. It made him wonder what she was getting at.

"Such as?" He asked he moved his head to the edge of his pillow and his body closer to Kate as could given she had her legs curled up in front of her.

"Time for just yourself" Kate said seriously. She kept waiting for Mike to completely lose it but he was like a rock. Completely solid and keeping it together. She wondered if maybe he needed solitude to breakdown and recharge.

"I don't want to be alone" Mike argued.

"You haven't had time to really let yourself go. You kind of just focus on everyone and hope that we ignore what's going on with you." Kate told him.

"I'm ok" He assured, he was tempted to turn on the light so he could clearly see her face but couldn't find the motivation to move. He felt if he did turn on the light Kate might lose the courage to tell him whatever was gnawing at her.

"I noticed that you don't talk about Lucas with the girls. In fact it's kind of a no go topic" Kate said, Mike took a deep breath and exhaled as it was true. He avidly avoided the topic as it had been hard enough to talk with his mother about it.

"And yet you bring it up" Mike commented keeping his tone neutral.

"I'm all for sticking my nose into your business and saying all the wrong things. It's one of my unflattering traits" Kate said a faint smile played on her lips as she curled her body up even tighter not because of the pain but just to protect herself. She knew Lucas would always be a soft and incredibly sore spot of Mike which was why she wanted to bring it up now in the privacy of his home. Just so she could gauge where he was at with his grief and keep an eye on him just as he did for her.

"I just can't talk about him yet. It'd be acknowledging something with the girls and my mother that I'm not ready to" Mike said as it was true. He just didn't have the right way to talk to his girls about their brother. He could hug and kiss their pain away, listen to them but he himself couldn't open up those wounds for himself. Not yet.

"Fair enough but if you do want to talk-" Kate started to say she would be there for him. He reached out and cupped her face.

"I know" He told her as he already knew she would do anything for him.

"I love you" Kate told him.

"I love you too" Mike replied smiling as he enjoyed the warmth and contentment of being able to share that with her.

Tom woke to the sound of a scream, he knew immediately it was Rachel and threw the covers off his body and pulled his side arm from the bedside drawer. He opened the door to the guest bedroom he'd been staying in to find his father and the kids standing with their heads out the doors of their rooms as they all woke to the same noise.

"Get back in your rooms and stay there" Tom ordered his kids as something smashed and Rachel was telling someone to get off of her. His father followed him as they rushed to where Rachel was staying. His father moved to the other side of the door frame and they shared a look of knowing. They didn't need to exchange words as Jed turned the knob of the door and pushed it open. Tom raised his weapon ready to shoot whoever was attacking Rachel.

He winced as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the overhead lighting but quickly lowered his weapon as there was no intruder with her and that she was just dreaming. Although just dreaming wasn't the right way to put what she was going through. Her body writhed on the bed, wrapped in a cocoon of sheets and blankets. Sweat poured off her, wetting her hair and the collar of the shirt he'd given her to sleep in. Her head was thrown back, and her neck was stretched at an extreme angle, as if she were trying to get away from something.

A horrible whimpering sound of terror welled from her mouth, and her face was streaked with tears. The crashing noise turned out to be a lamp which used to sit on the side table but now laid in pieces on the floor.

Tom flicked the safety on his weapon, he handed the gun to his father and moved into the room. Careful of the broken glass on the floor, he moved quickly to the bed not thinking but reacting as he pulled her into his arms, covers and all, trying to wake her.

"Rachel, wake up" He shook her and gently called her name, but she was too caught up in the nightmare to hear him. "Come on, it's just a dream. You're safe" he said as felt frantic with her pushing against him, he tried to drag her back into consciousness, squeezing her hand while he rocked her in his lap.

He continued on the same vein until she started to calm down. Her harsh breathing evened out, and she curled against him. He looked up and noted his father was no longer in the doorway and heard his voice travel down the hallway as he assured the kids it was just Rachel having a nightmare and that all was well.

Tom blew out a slow breath as the adrenaline that had been pumping in his system slowed and his heart calmed. "It's ok, I got you" he assured her as he continued to rock her.

"Tom?" she said in a confused and groggy voice. She wondered what he was doing in her room. Not that she minded as she had had a terrible nightmare and waking up in his arms. The soft caress of his hand across her face to push the hair out of the way soothed her momentarily as her heart raced a million miles an hour and nausea rolled violently within her.

"It's ok" Tom said to her as he could imagine how unsettled she was feeling. He just wanted to comfort her and make her feel safe as he looked down at her pale and clammy face.

"Oh my god" Rachel said as she reluctantly pushed herself out of his grip. She wanted to soak up his strength but right now her stomach was nearly two seconds away from revolting on her. She only know one thing. She was going to be sick and there was no way in hell she was doing that on him.

"Just relax, you had a nightmare" Tom said stating the obvious as he figured she was shocked by his presence in her bed. He was going to reassure it that he was just being a friend and comforting her but she cut him off.

"I'm going to be sick" Rachel said, she jumped off the bed so fast that Tom barely had time to stop her as she tripped in the tangled sheets and landed in the broken glass. She ignored the sting of pain in her hands as she pushed to her feet and made to the sink just in time empty her stomach.

"You've got to have better thing to do" Anna told Tex in a rough voice. The man was sitting in a chair by the bed,staring off into space when he opened her eyes just a few minutes ago. Anna couldn't help but watch him, letting the sight of him sink into her memory as it was probably going to be the last time she'd see him given he'd leave her in the care of the Nathan James to find his daughter.

He sat up in his chair and looked at her with a smile. "You want to wet your whistle?" he asked her.

"Sure" she said as her throat felt dry and rough. He moved from his chair back to a table behind him and picked up a cup with a straw. She hated how dependant she was going to be on people for the next few weeks while her leg healed up and her energy returned. If it returned... She thought glumly, she took a mall sip from the cup and waved it away along with her morose thoughts. "Thanks" she told him.

"Anytime, you had me worried" he told her.

"I'll be fine" she assured him as she didn't want him to be obligated to him. "And I'm sorry" she told him.

"For what?"

"We were given that Chinook. I could of had us in Jackson today-" Anna stopped as Tex placed his hand on her forearm and gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"It's not your fault we crashed and I'll find her" Tex said with such confidence like he already knew what was going to happen. She wished she had his faith but she'd been through too much to be positive about anything in general.

"I-" Anna stopped as she hated how her emotions were suffocating her. She didn't want to cry, no she refused to as she didn't want his pity. "I just wanted to be useful and I fucked it up" She told him.

"I'll get my girl, she's alive and out there" Tex said to her.

"How can you be so sure?" Anna asked him.

"I feel it in my bones" he told her.

"Then why are you just sitting here wasting time. Go" Anna told him, he chuckled and shook his head at like she didn't understand the situation at all. "I don't know what you find so funny" Anna told him in a dark tone.

"I'm not a very good house guest" Rachel said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. They didn't seem to want to stop watering. She had brushed her teeth and a quick shower while Tom had cleaned up her room.

Now, she sat on the closed lid of the toilet in another set of Tom's flannel pyjamas. The man seemed to have a surplus of unworn sleepwear which only made her blush like a teenager as she figured it meant he slept in the nude. Of course, her mind liked to fill in the blanks of what he'd look without his clothes. She blamed her pregnancy hormones; she didn't care if they were non-existent at the moment to even be affecting her for all she knew but they were her best scapegoat at the moment. But the misconception of him sleeping naked was cleared up quickly given he was crouched down in front of her wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants.

She watched as he was bandaging her hand and all she could think was how she liked his bed hair and how good he smelt. Pregnancy hormones... she thought as she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth.

"It's ok, no one was harmed too badly and I'm already grey haired" he said giving her an amused smile as if to comfort her before he looked down at her hand. But somehow it made her feel worse as she had woken up the whole house and broken a lamp that had to be priceless. "Nightmares happen, it's to be expected" he said as he focussed on her hand.

"I've never acted out. If I had known I wouldn't have come. Are your kids ok?" Rachel asked.

"They are fine, already asleep. So is my Dad, if you listen carefully you can hear him snoring" Tom said wryly. Rachel took his word as she couldn't hear the snores but then she was busy focussing on Tom and his calming presence as it seemed to soothe her ragged nerves which was more important to her than seeing if she could hear Jed snore.

"Ok, you're all set" He announced as he secured the bandage and rose up to stand straight.

"Thank you" Rachel said as she gingerly flexed her hand inspecting his work. He moved to the first aid kit on the sink Rachel had scrubbed to an inch of it's life to make up for using it as a sick bowl.

"No problem, you want to cup of tea?" he asked her as he packed up what he hadn't used in the kit and closed the lid.

"I'd like that" Rachel said not ready to go back to sleep yet.