A/N: I continue to marvel at the support you give this story. It now has more hits than any of my other stories.
I especially want to thank the reviewers that don't accept PMs and those who read and never review.
I've mentioned to a few reviewers in my replies that there will be more OC's showing up. If this is a world of about 1000 people, there are plenty of stories to tell.
Thanks for the assistance, NurseKelly.
Abigail woke up slowly. For the first time in a long time, she felt refreshed. She hadn't slept soundly without being medicated since the last time Will held her in his arms on the hammock. That memory seemed ages go, but it was only two weeks ago.
Feeling cool, she looked at the other side of the bed. Will? Where was he? She lifted her head and noticed the room was bright. Her alarm showed 11:23 am. Abigail sat bolt upright and hissed in pain.
She realized Will had laid her on her back and propped plenty of pillows around her arm to keep it sheltered if she should move too much. His thoughtfulness made her heart swell. It nearly burst when her eyes fell on her plex with a blinking light next to the bed. A single flower, similar to a calla lily, was lying on top of it. Abigail had once mentioned to Susanna Devlin that the flower was a favorite of hers. She moved, wincing at the stiffness in her shoulder, and turned on the plex.
"Good morning," Will said, a grin on his face. He really did look so much more handsome with the short hair. It made him look polished. Like the amazing man he really is. "I hope you're watching this at some point in the morning and that you got plenty of rest. I have some work to do at the command center so just call me on the communicator and I'll come running. I'll stop in at lunchtime so don't worry about anything. Just rest and get better. Sweet dreams." Will ended the message with a wink.
A grey communicator sat on the counter next to the Plex. Abigail closed her eyes and let out a long breath. There was no way she was going to bother him at work, but the fact that he left it meant that he wouldn't mind. Will wants to be around with me and take care of me. He can't remember what happened that night. Maybe if you take things slowly, the next time won't be so disappointed. Tears threatened because she wouldn't be able to deal with losing him like she thought she did for those few days.
Will carefully entered the new Porter residence with two boxes of food from the mess hall balanced in one hand and a bag from the marketplace in the other. Jess told him that Abby didn't buy clothes for herself that often. The two nightgowns he got her were the only new clothing that she got in years, the little girl said. He'd just spent a month's pay on a couple of dresses he thought would look amazing on her.
Will felt his chest tighten when he thought about what a sad life Abby had before Terra Nova. It didn't seem like she had anything good in it except for the kids. He was making it his mission to change that.
When he entered the house, he stopped dead in his tracks. Abigail was standing next to a huge vase of flowers that Susanna Devlin arranged. The botanist said they were Abby's favorite and it appeared so.
His angel stood with eyes closed and a soft smile on her face as she inhaled deeply the scent of the flowers. Her soft lips parted slightly as she exhaled. A look of total peace covered her beautiful features as she enjoyed the simple joy of a pleasant smell.
Will felt like he was viewing the sunrise for the first time once again. A feeling of peace and love filled him, nearly causing him to drop everything in his hands to rush forward and capture her in his arms. He knew this image of Abigail would stay etched in his heart forever.
"Hey," he said softly, hating to disturb her calm.
"Will," she gasped as her eyes flew open and she backed away from the flowers.
"You look better." He noted that she had more color and stood a bit straighter.
"The flowers are beautiful. Thank you," Abby said with the shy smile that drove him nuts.
"Susanna helped a lot. And Jess." He moved quickly to the kitchen to set the items down. When he turned, Abby was close behind him. "I brought lunch."
"Will, I really mean it. Thank you for everything."
"Anything for you, sweetheart," he said and almost kicked himself.
She flushed and looked away; the shy, peaceful look was gone. It was replaced by one full of doubt as she suddenly found the food more interesting than him.
"Did you see Jason yet?" she asked in a soft voice as she reached for the bag he set down.
"Yes. Doctor Shannon thinks he can come home tomorrow. I'm off the rest of the day so I thought I'd bring you to see Jay after we ate." Will snatched the bag away from her. "Go sit down. I'll get the food for you."
"I can help. I still have one hand." Abigail sounded upset.
"I know you can, but I want to take care of you," Will said as he gently slid an arm around her waist to direct her to the table.
"But I don't want everyone to take care of me," her voice cracked.
"Abigail." Will turned her to face him. A hand came up to cradle her cheek and catch the escaping tear. "I know it's hard to let someone help when you've been going it alone for so long. Hell, I almost ended up in juvenile detention because I didn't want to let the Richards' help me. My entire life, I had been looked down on as the poor kid whose old man beat his mother. All I had was my own sense of self. If I let someone take care of me or see me weakened, I suddenly had nothing. I might as well have died."
"No," Abigail sobbed as she threw her arms around him. "If you'd died back then the kids and I would never have met you."
Will couldn't help but smile at her words. She did care about him. But she has no clue what to do with those feelings. Leaning down to press a kiss against her flowery smelling hair, he said, "I feel the same about you. You survived hell and never gave up. I'll say it again I am so proud of you."
She sniffled a little less but continued to squeeze his waist tightly with her single arm. Will was cautious not to press against her arm too much when hugging her. He stood for a long time just holding her and stroking her hair, praying she could let go of her pride and let him help her.
"I've been hiding all my life," she said quietly. "I don't know how to live. I don't know how to be a friend. I…"
"I didn't either, but I figured it out. You are way smarter than me so you're gonna figure it out in no time." Will smiled at her spirit. To admit you don't know something and ask for help was something Will admired in other people. "Now lets get you some food."
She nodded against his chest and looked up with watery eyes. The desire to kiss her was always there but very strong at this moment. He leaned forward, seeing her eyes close, and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Now sit down, so I can feed you."
"This house is bigger than the other one," Abby said. "I thought Kyle was just blustering when he said he wanted a bigger house."
"What?" Will was caught staring; he'd been absorbed with watching Abby eat. Spending time with just her as Jess suggested was something he could get used to.
"He tried to buy a house from…" she paused, a look of concentration on her face, "Mac… Mic… something. The woman cuts hair."
"The MacMillan's?" Will's eyebrows shot up.
"Yes. Do you know them?"
"Their house used to be Mira's." Will shook his head. That son-of-a-bitch had been trying to help the Sixers since he got here.
"So Kyle was supposed to get something for the Sixers, but Leah did it instead. He made a comment about Sixers not doing what they were supposed to do." Her blue eyes widened and filled with tears once again. She bowed her head and started crying. "I hate this! I cry all the time."
"It's the shock, honey," Will said as he quickly moved to wrap her in his arms.
"I just want it all to go away. The fear. The pain. The guilt."
"Guilt?"
"If I told someone what Kyle was capable of maybe Olivia would be alive."
Will scooped her out of the chair and once again sat with a sobbing Abigail on his lap. On top of everything it now appeared she was suffering from survivor's guilt.
The next day Abigail again woke up without Will in her bed. He curled up behind her and helped her fall asleep after he'd tucked Jess in, but was gone once again. Jason would be home today and Abigail knew she had to get her act together. If I cry in Will's arms one more time, I'm throwing myself to some dinosaurs.
"Hello?" Kathy Hansen's voice rang through the house. "Are you awake?"
Abigail couldn't help but smile at the sound of her friend's voice. "Yes and in need of having my hair washed."
"Great, I'll go get that giant puppy dog you have. The one with the crew cut and really, really nice muscles to help." Kathy appeared with a grin at her bedroom door.
"You are not getting Will to wash my hair!" Abigail growled.
"Carter's moved in already. Boy, girlfriend, you work faster than me." Kathy smirked.
"Will doesn't live here!" Abigail shrieked. "He's only helping with Jess and Jason when he gets home tonight."
"Sure. It's only to help the kids." Kathy laughed. "Once you get past all this, you and I are going to have a long talk about how much that man adores you and how I get some guy to do the same to me."
"I don't think I'd be very helpful with that."
"I will hit you one of these days," Kathy said with a smile. "Now, let's get you washed and primped so you can go pick up Jason and knock Will Carter's socks off."
Abigail missed having Will come for lunch, but did enjoy the company of the bubbly, outgoing nurse. As Kathy washed her hair she told Abigail how she was going to bring her to girl's poker night, which took place after the self-defense class, which Abigail was going to have to take.
"It builds self-esteem. I mean imagine taking down Carter, not that he'd ever hurt you. It just does something to your confidence," Kathy explained as she washed and combed Abigail's hair and helped her get dressed. She expanded on the strength you felt from overcoming someone much larger than you.
Abigail had to admit, not being afraid all the time would be nice. And Will can't always be around to calm you down.
After Kathy left, Abigail fell back to sleep. When she woke up it was 2:30pm. I can get to the school by 3:00pm and then go to the infirmary to see Jason with Jess.
Finally feeling like she could do something besides cry and be a burden on Will and her new friends, Abigail set off on foot to the school. It was a bit further away than their old house, but still should be only a twenty-minute walk.
Forty minutes later a slow and tired Abigail entered the schoolyard. She really had no idea that having a sore arm would slow her down so much. By the time she slumped on a bench near the kindergarten building, she was exhausted and fearful that she'd pass out.
"Miss Porter," a tiny voice cried.
She turned to see Nina Fitzgerald run toward her from the playground. A smile lit up the five-year-olds face, her long raven hair flying behind her as she hurried to greet her teacher.
"Miss Porter, we've missed you," she cried.
"I've missed all of you." Abigail smiled and tried to push her exhaustion aside. She hugged the little girl once she got over to the bench. "Thank you and your friends so much for the big sign you painted."
"Mister Josh helped us. I'm sorry I couldn't go to your party." Nina looked past Abigail and spoke to someone behind the bench. "Daddy, this is Miss Porter."
"Your father's home. How wonderful," Abigail said, as she turned to greet Nina's father.
The man who was coming toward her looked like he'd stepped out of a movie. His hair, face, smile, teeth were perfect. He was as perfect looking, not a hair out of place, as her super-model sister-in-law had been. The uniform he wore had obviously been freshly pressed and even his boots lacked the dust and dirt of the other soldiers.
"Miss Porter, I am so honored to finally make your acquaintance," Mister Fitzgerald said when their eyes connected.
Abigail started to get up only to be stopped by his voice.
"No, no, Miss Porter, please do not get up on my account." His tone was gentle as he held out his hand telling her to remain seated.
"Nina has told us many stories about your adventures, Mister Fitzgerald," Abigail responded. "It is nice to meet you."
He finally arrived in front of the bench and reached out to take Abigail's hand in his.
Nina's father reverently bowed and placed a kiss on her knuckles before releasing her hand. "As am I, Miss Porter. We only received communications five days ago from the colony. It was wonderful to get my children's messages and my Nina did nothing but expound on the virtues of her new teacher."
"Nina is a wonderful student." Abigail couldn't help but flush at his compliments. Expound on her virtues? His language and mannerisms made her feel like she'd just landed in a Shakespearean play.
"If I may be so bold as to inquire about your injury? You look slightly flushed, Miss Porter. Do you need medical attention?" He looked like he asked something deeply personal by the way his eyes looked down.
"I had an accident recently. This is the first time I've gotten out in days." Abigail smiled and tried hard not to laugh. He was being so polite it amused her. The conversation in the Eye came back to her when Will mentioned Owen's father, distaste filled his tone and face when he mentioned John Fitzgerald.
"How terrible. Were you severely injured?"
"Dislocated shoulder," she said. Abigail realized she was looking too closely at the man, but she couldn't help but size him up against Will. Fitzgerald wasn't very tall and had no visible muscles under his shirt that she could tell. He was handsome in a refined, polished fashion, not like the ruggedness of Will's appearance.
"That's awful," he cried. "You should be resting. Allow us to escort you back to your home."
"No, that's not necessary." Abigail tried to wave him off. "I need to pick up someone at the infirmary."
"They we shall escort you to the infirmary." He held out a hand. "Allow me to help you up, Miss Porter. I realize this is rather forward, but you can use my arm for support if you need to."
"That is too kind, but I'm okay." Abigail pushed herself up and thought she was going to pitch forward so she took a couple of quick steps.
"Miss Porter, are you sure you sure you don't need my daddy?" Nina asked.
"I am fine, Nina. Mister Fitzgerald." Abigail started to turn away.
"Then I beg that you allow us to walk with you," he asked. "Just in case you should need to rest."
Abigail saw no way to get rid of the man without being rude. She didn't want to do anything that could make Will think she was leading another man on, but she had no reason to be rude to this strange man. "That would be nice. Perhaps you can share some stories of what you and Doctor Horton's team discovered."
"It would be my pleasure." A grin like the one a child gets when presented with a long desired toy spread over his face.
Jess snuck quietly into her brother's room with a blanket and pillow. Jason had his own room at the other house, but the little boy had been having nightmares just like she and their aunt Abby.
"Jay? Are you awake?" Jess asked quietly as she set the blanket down on the rug next to his bed.
"I am now," he said.
Her brother had been very sad lately and Jess worried about him. He'd been prone to long periods of sadness before they came to Terra Nova, but never since they got here.
A blood curdling scream erupted from Abby's room down the hall, followed by the sound of running feet.
"Jess, help me get up." Jason pushed his blankets back.
"It's okay. Will's got it." Jess covered her brother back up and sat down.
"Will stayed after getting me to bed?" Jason's eyes widened and a look of surprise covered his face.
"He basically lives here. Aunt Abby has nightmares, Will goes into her room and the nightmares go away," Jess explained. "He made mine go away the first night too. Now that I know he's here, I know Kyle can't come back and hurt us."
Jason looked ill at the mention of their birth father's name.
"Jay, he'd never come back for us. You know that." She reached out and patted her brother on his hand.
"But he might come for Aunt Abby."
"No. Will knows about that. He won't let anything happen to her."
"But she came to the infirmary today, alone. You know Aunt Abby doesn't like to have people help her."
"Will's different. He loves her."
"Did he tell you that?" Jason asked, leaning forward and gripping his blanket tightly.
"Yup. And we have a plan to get Aunt Abby to fall in love with him. Or tell him she loves him because I think she already does."
"You and Will?" Jason looked shocked. "What do you know about love?"
"More than you," Jess snapped. "I told Will he needs to buy her stuff and take her places and do things for her."
"You don't have to buy stuff to show someone you love them. Aunt Abby could never buy us stuff but we always knew she loved her." Jason rolled his eyes. "You are going to ruin everything."
"I am not."
The door to Jason's room opened. "Will you two keep the noise down?" Will said.
"Sorry," Jess said.
"I think you should both be getting some sleep because you both have school tomorrow." Will crossed his arms as he stared at them from the doorway.
"Jay might get scared so I was going to sleep here," Jess said. "And aren't you supposed to be helping Aunt Abby go to sleep?"
"Jay, do you want Jess here?"
Her brother looked sheepish as he nodded.
"As for your Aunt, she heard your voices and I didn't want her to get up so I came." Will walked in and grabbed Jess's blanket off the floor. "There is a cot in the closet. I'll get it so you don't have to sleep on the floor."
"Thanks, Will," Jess replied.
"Will?" Jason questioned.
"What is it, Jay?"
"Do you really love Aunt Abby?"
"Yes, I do, but I'm not so sure she wants to hear that yet," Will replied.
"She'll think you feel sorry for her," Jason said.
"It is going to take some time for all of you to get over the terrible experience you had. When Abby's better, she'll know that I really love her because she's a wonderful person." Will knelt down to be at the kids' level on the bed. "Until then, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure she's happy and doesn't have to worry about anything. Even if that means locking you too up in your rooms."
Will suddenly grabbed Jess and tickled her, eliciting squeals of laughter from her.
"Don't you dare tickle me," Jason cried.
"You're not hiding behind that cast are you?" Will asked as one of his hands feinted toward the little boy.
Jason shrieked and grabbed Will's hand.
"I'll help you, Jay," Jess cried as she jumped onto Will's back.
"Hey, that's cheating," Will cried as he lost his balance and went down on his knees next to the bed. He reached around with his arms and started tickling Jess as she clung to his neck.
"I sent you to put them to bed, not rile them up," Abigail's voice came from the doorway.
The kids and Will looked at her with guilty faces and stopped laughing.
"Sorry, Aunt Abby," Jason said.
Abigail walked into the room and came over to the bed as Will set Jess back on the it. He hadn't fully gotten to his feet when Abigail leaned over him and blew into his ear.
"Hey," Will shouted, turning and tripping over Jess's pillow on the floor to land on his backside.
"Looks like Will's ticklish, too." Jason laughed.
"Abby! You are the ultimate cheater. You know I can't get revenge because you're injured." Will got to his feet with a look of surprise on his face.
"Us Porter's stick together. You can't tease the kids and get off scot free," she replied after getting her laughter under control.
"Oh when you least expect it, Abby, I will have my revenge." Will shook his finger at her.
"Aunt Abby's really ticklish," Jess said.
"Jessica Louise, how dare you!" Abby suddenly looked concerned.
"Thanks for that bit of info, Jess." Will high-fived her.
"This is the thanks I get for helping you?" She asked Jess. "The next time he can tickle you until you pass out."
"You can't get tickled until you pass out," Jason said.
"We can put that theory to the test once your Aunt is better." Will's eyes were bright as they looked over Abby's petite form.
"You wouldn't dare." Abby backed away.
"I'm helping Jason to become a better scientist. He has a theory and I'm more than happy to try to help him prove or disprove it." Will winked at the kids.
Jess and Jason went to sleep almost an hour past their bedtime, but had never been happier. Their aunt was actually playing with them and Will.
Before Jason drifted off to sleep, he admitted to Jess that her birthday wish just might come true after all.
A/N: I know it's not that long but I wanted to get something out before the Easter holiday tomorrow. Sorry for all that sugar at the end but there's a lot of candy around for Easter and I couldn't help myself ;-)
Happy Easter if you celebrate it and Happy Passover if you celebrate that.