"You sure you're ok?" Tucker asked catching Carolina as she winced from lifting her bag off the ground.

"Yes, I'm sure," Carolina rolled her eyes. "It's not my first bruise."

"Yea, but that was-"

"Tucker," Carolina cut him off. "I'm going to turn you in to a bruise if you ask me again."

"All in all, I'd say it was pretty successful," Sarge piped up.

"I agree," Carolina nodded with a chuckle. "You two rest up and I'll see you tomorrow. Any notes you want me to discuss with Wash, have to me after drill tomorrow."

"G'nite C," Tucker waved.

"Say hello to the mister and the little ones," Sarge called.

"Will do," Carolina waved as she headed out of the Garage.

A few minutes later, she was walking into her house. She paused as she looked around to see what a mess the living room had turned into, not a soul in sight. Closing her eyes, she took a few breaths threw her nose before turning to head upstairs. After tossing her bag down, she walked over to the bathroom, lifting her shirt over her head. When she got to the mirror, she huffed, seeing that the purple bruise on her side took up a larger area than what she had been expecting.

"Whose ass am I kicking?" York huffed making her jump. She glared at him. "Hey, you were the one who didn't call out that you were home. I heard you walk by Tyler's room and thought someone had broken in."

"Would it be a break in if the door wasn't locked?" Carolina raised an eyebrow.

"Did you have your house key?" York countered. Carolina made a face. "Exactly. I saw it downstairs where you normally keep them when your home. Now whose ass am I kicking?"

"Oh don't be macho. It was my fault," Carolina rolled her eyes. "And seriously, you want a list of everyone who's ever left a mark on me for a few days?"

"Actually, now that you mention it," he grinned at her.

She gave him an unamused look as she pulled her ponytail out. "So what's with the mess downstairs? I was only gone a day."

"Oh…that. Well, I was going to clean it up before you got home, but then Ally forgot to do her homework and Tyler started getting cranky…" he scratched his head.

"Ally doesn't have homework right now. They're on break," Carolina gave him a look.

"Oh…"

"How about you go straighten up while I shower?"

"I suppose," York chuckled. "One thing first."

"What's that?" Carolina gave him a confused look. He stepped closer and kissed her. She smiled at him, "Sap."

"Would you have me any other way?" he grinned back with a wink. "Tyler just went to sleep. Ally was reading. I'll let her know you're home."

Carolina returned the wink as he turned to leave the room. She washed up quick before heading into the bedroom, grabbing one of York's shirts and her night coat before heading from the room. She quietly stuck her head into Tyler's room to check on him before going to Ally's room next. Ally was under her covers, her eyes had been going back and forth on her data-pad, but looked over at Carolina. She smiled and gave a tired wave.

"Why don't you go to sleep?" Carolina chuckled as she walked in to sit down on the edge of Ally's bed.

"I was going to, but then daddy said you were home," Ally shrugged. "How'd it go?"

"Alright," Carolina shrugged. "Tucker and Sarge had fun. The recruits held their own though."

"That's good."

"How'd it go here?" Carolina asked.

"Ok," Ally shrugged. "Tyler got cranky last night when we were next door, but I think it's cuz Oliver was cranky so he didn't want to be left out. Aunty Emma said he might be teething."

"Oh yea?"

"Yea. And I got to feel Lucy move a little last night."

"I bet that was exciting," Carolina chuckled.

"Yup. Nathan was weirded out, but it was a cool weird cuz he never got to feel a baby move before."

"No trouble from anyone otherwise?" Carolina asked.

Ally shook her head, "Nope. Uncle Wash and I got to skate and hang out a bit which was nice cuz it's been awhile since we did that."

"Well I'm glad things went well and that there didn't seem to be any problems," Carolina replied. Ally nodded before yawning. "Bedtime. I love you and I'll see you in the morning."

"Love you too."

Carolina leaned forward to kiss Ally on the top of the head, hiding the wince from her bruise. She pushed up off of the bed and headed downstairs as York was finishing up cleaning the living room. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"What's with the hug?" York asked giving her a playfully suspicious look. "Did you miss me?"

"Am I not allowed to?" she chuckled.

"True. Oh, so Tuesday, I'm going with the guys to help Locus pick up Nathan's stuff that's at his old house."

"He staying with them then?" Carolina asked as she let York go to carefully sit down on the couch.

"Supposedly," York answered. "He's not too bad a kid and they'll be great once everything settles down. He's still kinda dealing his mom's death, but South sounds like she's doing well handling it according to Locus."

"That's good. He's only a year older than I was when I lost my mom. I hope she knows she can come talk to me."

"I'm sure," York said as he finished adding stuff to the pile he had been making. He joined her on the couch, "Anyway, shouldn't be more than a day and yes I'll be back for my appointment on Thursday."

"If not I know where to find you," Carolina winked at him before propping a leg up onto the coffee table.

York glanced down and back up at her, "Are…are you only wearing one of my shirts?"

"And my night coat," Carolina shrugged giving him a coy look.

He gave her a suspicious look, "Is there a reason…?"

"Maybe because I'm hoping to have sex with my husband tonight because it might be a while until he's feeling up to it," she shrugged, glancing sideways at him.

"I feel like there's an insult in there somewhere…"

"No insult," she shrugged. "I've just read that some men don't feel all that up to it for a time after they've gotten fixed."

"I'm glad you have faith in my sexual prowess," he rolled his eye.

"So no sex tonight?"

"Oh no, I'm all for it," he chuckled. "I'm just slightly insulted that you think this whole thing would mean that I'd lose the urge." York leaned in to kiss her only to pause halfway when Tyler's cry echoed downstairs. He sighed, "There goes that plan."

"Oh stop," Carolina kissed his cheek before going to stand up. "I'll get him. He probably sensed I was home. I'll put him down and you go pull that bruise balm out and meet me in the bedroom."

"Mm, I'm liking the sound of that," York smirked up at her as she threw him a wink.


"You've got to be fucking kidding me," South growled quietly from her seat on the couch.

"What?" Locus gave her a confused look.

"You're telling me that the reason for him staying here is not out of the kindness of your heart and that you want to get to know him."

"South-"

"Don't." He sagged back and put a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose. "A ghost from your past leaves a message for you to take him in and you listen to it. A woman who you slept with all of once or twice almost a decade ago holds more influence on your decision than the one your currently living with and claim to be in love with. I'm allowed to be upset."

"I am not telling you this to get you upset."

"Well la-di-fucking-da," South snapped back.

"I thought you would be happy that the boy would be staying," Locus huffed. "It's what you wanted."

"But you're not doing it for me, or him. That's what I'm upset about."

"There is really no reason for you to be upset." South growled at him. "The only feelings who matter here are Nathan's."

"Oh, so you're going to tell him that you're his dad then?" South gave him a look of murder. Locus closed his eyes and gave a sigh. "Yea, you're real concerned about the kid…"

"In time, I will tell him. I think he has a lot more going on right now and until he gets settled in a new routine, this can wait."

"And I think telling him now would help him," South argued crossing her arms over her chest. "But apparently I know nothing."

"Can you please calm down and listen to what I'm trying to tell you?"

"Fine. What the fuck are you trying to tell me?" she asked through clenched teeth.

"I'm trying to tell you that I think there's something bigger here going on. There's no way she wanted him here with me if there wasn't. She knew what the ultimate end game was for this planet, yet she stayed here anyway and now wants the boy with me. There's something else going on. Something she couldn't send in a message."

"Well," South huffed after thinking about it for a minute, "You have fun with that."

Locus watched her get up and started putting her feet in her shoes. He sighed, "Where are you going?"

"Work off my pissed off-ness."

"South, it's late."

"You're a fucking genius," South snorted.

"Will you just stay and talk to me?"

"No. I need to go beat the shit out of some holograms so I don't beat the shit out of you," South said. "And yes, that means you stay here because your son is upstairs. Don't wait up."

South left the house before he could stop her, almost daring him to come after her in her mind. She knew he wouldn't. Hoped was the better word. Walking into the Facility, she headed to the locker room to grab her work-out clothes. Before she could even get a program started, Church had popped up.

"Screw off computer program. I'm not in the mood."

"I've taken notice," Church chuckled. "Wanna talk about it?"

"No. I want to hit something," South growled back.

"Is it about the message what's her name left for Locus?"

"Who knew a computer program was smart?" South scoffed as she shook out her arms and legs before stretching. "Get me things to hit."

"Coming up," Church chuckled.


"Aw, Katie you didn't have to bring us anything," Ross said as she held up a onesie from the bag Jensen handed her.

"Charlie said we should get little things for everyone," Jensen shrugged. "He picked most of it out, but I saw that and thought you'd love it."

"I can't wait to put it on her," Ross smiled.

"So you guys actually left the room then?" Miller chuckled from where she was sitting next to Ross.

"Occasionally," Jensen shrugged giving a giggle. She sighed, "It's good to be back though."

"Well, we missed you for sure," Weaver said putting an arm around Jensen.

"Did we miss anything exciting?" Jensen asked looking between them. "Drill seemed the same."

"I doubt that will ever change," Miller chuckled. "Unless you count Agent Washington getting crankier due to lack of sleep he'll be experiencing shortly."

"I could start keeping him up now so that no one is surprised by the mood change?" Ross suggested.

"No that's quite alright," Miller shook her head.

"How are you feeling?" Jensen asked looking at Miller.

"Still a little sore, but otherwise fine."

The girls chatted and caught up until a few minutes later when Locus approached them. He stood there awkward for a moment until Ross raised an eyebrow at him, "Hi, what's up?"

"May I talk to you?"

"Uh yea, sure," Ross said turning to push herself up out of her chair. They walked a short distance away from the others, Ross crossed her arms over her stomach. "What's up?"

"While we're gone tomorrow, would you be able to talk to South?" Locus asked quietly.

"I can try? What about?"

"South is refusing to talk to me because she thinks I'd rather listen to a dead woman than her and that that's the only reason I let Nathan stay with us."

"Ah," Ross nodded. "Gotcha."

"I tried to explain, but she didn't want to listen to me."

"South does tend to get emotional I've heard," Ross sighed. "Yea, I can try to talk to her I guess. Don't know what good it'll do, but I can certainly try."

"I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it." He gave her a nod and made to walk away, but she cleared her throat making him stop. "Though I am curious as to one thing…"

"What?" he asked giving her a suspicious look.

"You don't seem the type that would necessarily only make a decision this life changing just because a dead woman told you to."

"I'm unclear your point," Locus sighed.

"Why did you really agree to let him stay with you?" Ross asked giving him a curious look. He raised an eyebrow at her and was about to respond when Palomo came hurrying in from outside.

"Hey, what's up?" she heard Jensen ask him. Ross caught Locus slip away from her and rolled her eyes before walking back over to the girls. She'd figure it out later.

Palomo reached up and gave Miller a nervous look, "So we were fooling around outside, well not fooling exactly…technically it was work."

"What'd Marcos do…?" Miller gave a heavy sigh.

"He may have locked up his leg…" Palomo answered rubbing the back of his neck.

"Marcos knows how to unlock it," Ross said exchanging looks with Miller as she picked up her bag.

"Normally, yes…but there may be a slight issue that is not letting him do that…"

"Dammit…" Miller huffed standing up to walk towards the door outside. She glanced at Ross who had started following her, "Where are you going?"

"You really think I'm going to miss what he did to himself?" Ross chuckled. "Besides, what else am I supposed to do with my time? I'm not allowed to do anything but target practice."

They were almost outside when the door opened and Smith walked in with Diaz's arm over his shoulder as Diaz limped next to him. Both girls paused and looked down at his leg. His foot was at an odd angle. Ross started laughing while Miller gave a groan.

"So any chance we still have those crutches here?" Diaz grinned at them both.

"What idiotic thing did you do this time…?" Miller asked as they turned to head towards Medbay.

"We were helping to clear out the brush that overgrew over near the rope course and I kinda slipped and fell and landed on my bad leg," Diaz explained. "As you can see, we'll need to put a call in to Dr. Grey."

"We? You mean you get to put a call in to Grey," Miller rolled her eyes.

"Aw, but don't you love me baby-girl?"

"I'm not the one who told you to go up high without a safety harness on," Miller grumbled back at him.

"I'm gonna go let Agent Carolina know he'll be missing her afternoon class," Ross chuckled as they passed the stairs. They gave her a wave as she headed up the stairs. She knocked on Carolina's office door before cracking it to poke her head in. "Sorry to disturb."

"Everything ok?" Wash asked giving her a concerned look when she walked in.

"With me? Yea," Ross said walking up to the chair he was in to wrap her arms around him from behind. She looked at Carolina, "Marcos will be missing your class this afternoon."

"Why?" Carolina gave her a confused look.

"I guess he was down with a few of the other guys and they were clearing out over by the ropes course and he fell and smashed up his ankle on his prosthetic."

"Great," Carolina replied shaking her head.

"Smith was helping him to Medbay and Felicity was going with. She was making him call Dr. Grey to see what steps to get it fixed."

"George is in the lab today, maybe he can take a look until Grey can get here," Carolina said leaning forward to send him a message.

"I'm sure Felicity will appreciate any help," Ross nodded.

"Oh I bet she's ready to kill him," Wash shook his head. He finally took notice to the bag on Ross's arm. "What's that?"

"Oh," Ross said dropping it in his lap. "Katie and Charles brought souvenirs for all of us. Katie said they saw this and thought of us."

"Cute," Wash said after he pulled out the onesie.

"They brought similar ones back for the boys and a shirt for Ally," Carolina said smiling at them both.

"They're good people," Ross replied. "Speaking of people…had a strange request before Diaz came in."

"From who?" Wash gave her a confused look.

"Locus. He wants me to talk to South," Ross said leaning against the other chair.

"She's in a mood. Might not be smart," Carolina shook her head.

Wash sighed, "Carolina has a point."

"I know, but I said I'd try," Ross shrugged.

"I wish you wouldn't, but I won't stop you," Wash gave her a look. She patted him on the face. "Don't patronize me."

"I'm not," Ross rolled her eyes. "Who's to say she's even going to want to talk to me? She might just send me on my way. Plus I have to figure out when would be a good time because I'm going over to your sister's tomorrow for dinner."

"Since when…?" Wash gave her a confused look.

"Since you decided you were going with the guys," Ross shrugged. "She wants to go shopping for something for the baby."

"Ah."

"There went my plan of inviting you over for dinner," Carolina chuckled.

"I don't have anything Wednesday night at this point."

"Sounds good. Though I warn you, if York is home, you might have to listen to him whine."

"I can handle him," Ross waved a hand as Carolina gave a laugh.