Falling Back in Love
Chapter 3
Mike, Tex, and Green had left to stop some sort of weapon from firing on the James. Despite all the harsh words and hurt feelings between her and Mike, Christine was nervous. She had a bad feeling and didn't know why so when Mike and the others walked back up into the yard and Christine saw the blood streaking down Mike's arm, she was instantly concerned.
"Mike, what the hell happened?" Christine asked.
"You need to get yourself and the girls packed up. We're leaving now." Mike said. Rachel and Dr. Milowsky came out and saw the large amount of blood that Mike was losing. It was dripping on the ground.
"Commander, please let me see that arm. You've some arterial involvement, I'm afraid." Rachel said as she walked towards him, just in time for Mike to pass out and hit the ground.
"Let's carry him in." Tex said as he and a couple off the guys gently lifted Mike and carried him inside. They put him on the couch and Rachel and Dr. Milowsky began tending to the wound. It was a through and through but there was an artery that was hit, in addition to muscle and bone damage.
"Is he going to be okay?" Christine asked nervously. Fortunately, the girls were occupied.
"He needs to take it easy, but I don't think he will." Rachel said. Christine noticed Tex saunter up beside her and put an arm around her.
"He'll be okay. If it wasn't for the blood, we barely knew he had been shot." Tex explained.
"Yeah, he's too damn stubborn to die. He probably is refusing to die because it would make it too easy to not be married anymore." Christine remarked.
"Okay, I don't know what has gone on between the two of you but you do share two kids still. My guess is, somewhere down deep; the two of you still care about one another. You're just too busy snapping at one another. You both have two daughters who need you both. You both lost a son and you both need to find a way through that. My theory is that you'll do it best together." Tex told her.
"Mike and I were on the verge of divorce. I had filed but hadn't had a court date when the Flu hit. I don't think there's any together anymore." Christine explained. The entire time, she watched the doctor's working to repair the artery.
"You might be surprised. At the least you can find a common ground." Tex said before walking away. Christine knew that he was right but she wasn't good at asking for forgiveness. It was her that had cheated first and more often. It was her that caused most of the arguments and picked at Mike. He had only cheated and responded to her jibes when he couldn't handle it anymore. His cheating was even half-hearted. He had no real interest in the women he had slept with, unlike Christine who developed feelings for Peter.
After the impromptu surgery, Christine was left to tend Mike. He was still regaining consciousness and when he finally did come to, he was disoriented. For Christine, despite her marital issues, making sure Mike wasn't running a fever or bleeding through his stitches was oddly comforting. It was the most she had touched him in years and she found herself caressing his cheek. She wished she could go back in time and be a better wife to Mike. He had always deserved better.
Finally, about an hour later, Mike was alert enough to make the walk to the RHIBS and Christine had gotten herself and the girls packed up. The family that Rachel had cured was going to take the cow and chickens with them, along with some of the food. The only thing that probably shouldn't have been taken was an Australian Shepherd puppy that Hannah had become attached to. Mike was not good at telling his kids no. Mike sat down next to Christine on the RHIB and watched the girls with the puppy.
"Tom will kill me for bringing that puppy along." Mike said quietly.
"If Hannah pulls that pout on him, he'll understand." Christine teased. The pout worked on her too so she couldn't say much.
"Yeah. So, quarters are tight. I know it isn't ideal but you and the girls will be in my stateroom. I have a double bed that you can share. I'll sleep on the couch. Thankfully, I have my own bathroom so you all won't have to share with the other officers. The shower is really small though." Mike explained.
"We'll manage. Closest the two of us have been in years." Christine remarked.
"Yeah. Should be interesting." Mike said.
"By the time its all said and done, we'll want to tear each other's heads off." Christine answered.
"Maybe. Or maybe we'll find some sort of common ground. They have to have us get along. They've already lost their brother. They need to see us at least getting along." Mike told her.
"I agree but we haven't gotten along in years. I have no idea how to even start now." Christine said. She could see the ship coming into view and could see smoke coming from it.
"One step at a time. Remember when we got married? We got along well then." Mike asked.
"Yeah. A lot of water under a bridge we burnt years ago." Christine said.
"So, we build a new one." Mike said as he stood up and began commanding his sailors. Christine settled next to Hannah and took the puppy so she didn't become too excited. As the RHIB was raised up, Christine realized that she and the girls were going to have to adjust to Mike's life. She had never wanted to be a part of his Navy life.
As soon as they were on deck, Doc Rios put little patches behind Christine, Hannah and Kaitlyn's ears to prevent sea-sickness and began assessing Mike's wound. There was mentions of a couple days off and a sling that Mike refused.
"Tom, I just need a couple hours to shower and get the girls and Christine settled. They are going to stay with me. Puppy too." Christine heard Mike ask his CO, Tom. Christine and Tom had never gotten along.
"This should be interesting. I do want a ship left. You and Christine are like matches in a dynamite factory. I would prefer you keep the fireworks to a minimum." Tom answered.
"Yes, sir. We'll behave ourselves. No sex in the officer's showers or making out in the engine room." Mike teased.
"I seriously doubt you and her would do that, course it might help if you would." Tom said.
"Have sex? I already kissed her. She refused to be inoculated so it kind of forced things along." Mike asked her.
"I am so not having this conversation with you but there is something to be said for make up sex. Just wait until we find a safe place to land." Tom said before walking off. Christine was standing close enough to have heard the entire conversation. The girls were occupied with a few of their new friends and so Christine had a moment alone with Mike.
"I heard that." Christine said as she pointed at Tom.
"You know how Tom and I bicker." Mike answered.
"I know. Just makes me wonder if there is any truth to what he said." Christine said.
"We are like matches in a dynamite factory." Mike responded.
"No, the make up sex." Christine answered.
"This conversation has never come up before." Mike said. She could tell he was shocked.
"Its something we always did well with and besides, what could it really hurt?" Christine asked. The truth was, she kind of wanted the physical comfort that Mike could provide. She had missed that.
"I am not sure it's a good idea. We had both decided we were done. Done with the affairs, the jibes and the fights. Wouldn't that just be adding to our drama? Besides, if the girls found out; they might get their hopes up. I can't do that to them." Mike asked.
"You're right. Sorry." Christine said. She really didn't want a fight with him and make things worse. She had just found herself missing him since Lucas had died.
"Look, if things were different; I would say yes to a second chance but I don't feel right about it just being sex. If it was a real shot at a second chance with a normal marriage, I would say yes; but I don't think either of us could do that. Too much in the past. Besides, our marriage was broken before Lucas died. Now, what's left to save? A lot of healthy marriages end after a child dies." Mike said.
"You're right." Christine agreed even though a part of her didn't agree. Mike had always wanted to give their marriage another shot but now he was telling her there was no point. It was a lonely feeling.
"Doesn't mean that we can't do better at getting along, even being friends. The girls need that and honestly, so do we. What you and I have been doing the past several years, it isn't healthy to us either. Not healthy to the kids and not healthy for us. You are the mother of my children. Children I would take a bullet in the gut for and give my last breath to. A part of me will always love you because of that. You gave me three people that I adore and they have both of our better points." Mike said. The girls were walking up and the conversation needed to end. Christine found herself hoping Mike could be convinced to give them one more shot.
"Iā¦agree." Christine said. A week before, she wouldn't have wanted to work things out with Mike but once she saw him; things changed. She wanted him back. Problem was, there were no marriage counselors to help her and they had lost a child. Christine was certain that at some point, Mike would blame her. She certainly blamed herself enough. Lucas had been her responsibility and she had failed him.
"Hey, Momma! Mister Tex told me that he would teach Red tricks and he gave me a ball he found!" Hannah said excitedly. Christine still had ahold of the puppy who was a fuzzy ball of red and white fur. Hannah had dubbed her Red. She adored the puppy.
"That's good. Girls, we'll have to share a bed. Dad will be on the couch and we have a small bathroom. We will just have to make do and consider ourselves lucky." Christine instructed them as Mike led them through p-ways and down ladders.
"I'll be working a lot so I won't be in the way. Once we find a safe place to land, I'll look into finding a house for you guys." Mike assured them.
"Can we have rooms of our own?" Kaitlyn asked.
"Maybe. Depends on what I find." Mike told her.
"Mom will want a big kitchen." Kaitlyn remarked. Cooking was one of Christine's outlets. It was one of the few things Mike and Christine could agree on. She loved to cook and bake and he loved to eat.
"Just a safe place is sufficient." Christine said, downplaying on her own desires. Cooking and baking were therapeutic and with a pantry full of ingredients, Christine could feed an army.
"I'll do my best. Alright, here we are. I will show you all around the ship a little later, once you're settled." Mike said as he opened the door to his quarters. It was not a large room at all. The double sized bed was pushed against the wall and the couch was pushed against the other wall. There was a desk on one wall, along with a door leading to the small bathroom. On the other side of the room was an armoire. It was a lot smaller than Christine thought but she would be grateful. If there was any hope at all with Mike, she had to be.
"Remember our first apartment? I think it was about the same size." Christine said. The apartment that they had come home to as newlyweds and got pregnant with Kaitlyn in. There was a lot of happy memories in that little studio apartment in.
"Close to." Mike said with a grin. He was apparently remembering the same thing. A happy young couple pregnant with their first child. Years before viruses, affairs, fights and therapy.
"I loved that time in our lives." Christine remarked.
"Me too." Mike agreed. He was rubbing his arm and Christine knew he was in pain.
"Daddy, can you tuck me in tonight?" Hannah asked.
"Of course, Sweet Pea." Mike told her as he bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"Alright. I'll call and have dinners brought in then I'll take a shower. I need to get cleaned up some." Mike said as he sat down at the desk and started talking on the phone. Hannah settled on his lap and Red settled on his boot. Christine began unpacking clothes with Kaitlyn's help when she focused on a picture of the kids on Mike's nightstand. She hadn't been prepared to see Lucas' face. She tunneled in and picked up the picture. Christine sat down on the edge of the bed and held the picture to her chest.
Christine sat there and cried until she felt someone sit down next to her. She figured it was Kaitlyn because normally it was her that tried to comfort Christine when her emotions got the best of her. It wasn't until she felt the stronger arm and smelled Mike's unique smell that she realized it was him. He pulled her to where her head was on his chest and she began crying in earnest. The girls were sitting on the couch, uncertain of what to do.
"I don't have any pictures of my baby boy and this is yours. You may take it and I'll have nothing of him." Christine said between sobs.
"Ssh. We'll get copies made and I have others. No big deal at all. I wouldn't do that to you." Mike told her quietly. Christine tried to reign her emotions in, but it felt so good to have Mike's arms around her.
"You wouldn't? After everything?" Christine asked as she raised up. She could tell Mike's arm was hurting that much more.
"No. I'm not that cruel. You were his mother. You carried him for nine months and cared for him when I was away. It was you that he went to for comfort. Even when you went back to work. I will never, ever forget that." Mike said as he wiped the tears away. Christine couldn't help but to feel a little hope because of how tender his touch was.
