Before Everything

Chapter 6

Baltimore was a fiasco and Mike was even more worried about his family. The Maryland State Trooper had told him that there had been fighting at Deer Park. Rachel had made Tom realize that finding Hannah was priority number one and he was easily convinced once Darien died. Rachel had a cure, but she made it clear that she had to study Hannah's DNA structure and figure out how it differed from Bertrise's.

Mike was disappointed when he got to Deer Park, and Christine and the girls were nowhere around. He found a few of their items, including a photo album. They made the decision to go to the house. The other land teams were inoculating people anyways. When he and Tex pulled up to the house and it looked empty, Mike was scared. What if he didn't find his family?

Tex stayed outside and Mike unlocked his front door and walked in. Everything was covered in a layer of dust. Normally, it would have drove him crazy. Christine was a good housekeeper. He was beginning to lose all hope when he heard a crying noise from the master bedroom. He peeked in, thinking it might be a squatter. He saw Hannah sitting next to the bed and Christine and Kaitlyn laying on the bed. They were both still breathing but were not in good shape.

"Hannah, its okay. I'm here now." Mike told her as he walked into the bedroom that he had shared with Christine for a couple years.

"Mommy and Kaitlyn are really sick, and I'm scared." Hannah said as she buried her little face into his leg. Mike had already began drawing up the cure.

"I have to give them a shot." Mike explained. He gave Christine's her's first and then gave one to Kaitlyn. Hannah was still hugging his leg. Mike let Tex know to come inside. He needed Hannah away from the situation. Within just a minute, Tex was at the bedroom door. When he saw the state that Christine and Kaitlyn were in, he gently pulled Hannah away from Mike.

"Its pretty late." Tex remarked.

"Yeah. If you look in my bag, there's a couple granola bars and some water. Can you see that she eats?" Mike asked.

"Sure. Let's go, little lady." Tex said as he took Hannah's hand. Mike handed her a teddy bear that she had always carried with her and pushed her to follow Tex. He was not entirely sure that Christine and Kaitlyn were going to make it. He didn't want Hannah to watch that.

Three hours later, Christine and Kaitlyn both woke up. They were extremely weak, and Mike had to care for them. He bathed them and fed them some chicken soup he had found and heated using the fireplace. He had to carry them both to the Jeep and he knew getting them to the James was going to be an experience. He had been in communication with Rachel the entire time, and she was waiting on them on the deck. Christine and Kaitlyn were whisked away to the medical bay where Rios would take over their care, and Hannah's blood tests began.

Hannah hated needles and Mike had to hold her down for Rachel to get the samples. She also needed a bath and a hot meal in her belly. Mike was trying desperately to not resent her. She was scared and crying for Christine and Kaitlyn. Rachel was surprisingly good with her and seemed to sense Mike's hesitancy with her. He busied himself, making sure Bacon sent down a child-friendly meal with Hannah's favorite macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets and chocolate milk. Even if he resented his child, he would still make sure she was fed and reasonably happy. She deserved that.

Christine and Kaitlyn were still very weak but were taking fluids and were awake. Mike made the decision not to tell Christine about the tests that Hannah was going through. He would tell her once she was on better footing. He knew he would regret it and Christine had a right to know, but she was so sick.

Before Mike took Hannah back to his quarters to put her to bed, he took her to the medical bay. He felt she would sleep better if she saw that her mom and sister were on the mend and Christine would also rest better. Mike lifted Hannah up and Christine immediately noticed the bandage on Hannah's arm.

"What happened, baby?" Christine asked Hannah.

"Daddy made that lady stick needles in me. It hurt!" Hannah told her. Christine gave Mike a look.

"Why, Mike?" Christine asked.

"Our virologist needs to study her DNA structure, figure out what makes her different. Not a biggie." Mike said, downplaying what had happened. He didn't need to tell Christine that he had to hold Hannah down, her hyperventilating or that there might be more tests later.

"It hurt, Mommy. And Daddy wouldn't let me go. He wasn't even holding me nice." Hannah complained.

"Mike?" Christine asked.

"I had to hold her down, okay? She hates needles." Mike said.

"I know that. I can't believe this, Mike. I know you're…not happy but she is a little girl. How could you?" Christine asked.

"I was doing what I thought best. She'll forget about it soon enough." Mike said. Kaitlyn had gone to sleep, and Rios was letting Hannah play with his stethoscope.

"Just, the next time; talk to me before you let our child be a lab rat. I know how to calm her down." Christine insisted.

"Yes, ma'am. Hannah, its bedtime." Mike said as he reached a handout, Hannah sidestepped him, obviously still suspicious of Mike.

"You'll be alright, Hannah. I love you." Christine told her. He lifted the little girl up to give Christine a kiss. Christine whispered something in Hannah's ear and Hannah nodded at her.

"I will, Mommy; it just hurt." Hannah said.

"I know. Give your dad good cuddles. He needs them." Christine said giving Mike a look.

"I do. Chrissy, I love you." Mike told her as he bent down and gave Christine a kiss on the cheek. He'd already given Kaitlyn her kiss before she fell asleep and he didn't want to wake her up.

"Love you too." Christine said. Hannah let Mike take her hand and lead her out of the medical bay.

"Is Mommy and Kaitlyn going to be okay?" Hannah asked Mike.

"Yeah, they just gotta get their strength back. I know you like your baths better, but I only have a shower. If you need help, I can have one of my female crewmembers help you?" Mike offered. Hannah was just old enough that he didn't need to help her with her showers.

"Its okay." Hannah said. They were walking down the p-ways towards Mike's cabin.

"We'll get you your shower and get you settled into bed. I bet your tired." Mike said. He was simply making conversation with Hannah. He didn't really know how to act with her. He knew that it was wrong of him to resent her for living when Lucas had died. He wished his parents were still alive to ask if it was a normal reaction. They reached his cabin and Mike was thankful to see the bags that Tex had packed for Christine and the girls, along with Hannah's teddy bear, the photo album, and a basket of toiletries that would be more of interest to his wife and daughters than him.

Mike showed Hannah how to start the shower and stayed in his bedroom area to hear her if she needed anything. She finally came out about ten minutes later, with the water still running.

"Daddy, I couldn't get the water to shut off." Hannah told him.

"I'll get it. Brush your hair." Mike told her as he handed her the brush and then walked into the bathroom. He took a deep breath and then walked back in. Hannah was staring at the brush like it was a foreign object.

"Mommy always braids my hair before bed. Can't you?" Hannah asked.

"Uh…no. I don't know how to." Mike said.

"If it don't get braided, it'll be like a rat's nest, Mommy says." Hannah told him. She was near tears.

"Give me just a second. I'll find someone." Mike said. He walked back out and stepped into the p-way. Thankfully Kara Foster was walking towards him. "Foster, you got a minute? I need a favor if you know how to braid hair." Mike said.

"Of course, sir. I'm just off for a few hours. It won't take long." Kara said as she followed him into the quarters. Mike realized how it would look so he gestured at Hannah to come into the office area.

"Hannah, this is Lieutenant Foster. She'll help you with your hair." Mike told her. Hannah nodded and knelt in front of Kara.

"Does your mom French Braid it or just a regular braid?" Kara asked.

"Just a regular braid at night. In the morning, I get Fishbone braids if Mommy has time. Do you know how to do Fishbones?" Hannah asked.

"I do but I need to practice. Alright, all done. That okay?" Kara asked.

"Yeah. Thank you; 'tenant." Hannah said and then gave Kara a hug. Mike thought about correcting her, but there was really no point in it. Hannah was cute enough that she could get away with butchering titles and ranks.

"Your welcome. You sleep good." Kara told her.

"Thanks, Lieutenant. I appreciate it." Mike told her before opening the door for her.

"Anytime, sir." Kara said before walking away.

Mike had intended on Hannah sleeping on the couch but when he turned around, she was getting comfortable in the bed. Mike thought about getting onto her, but she probably hadn't slept well lately. He helped her position the blankets around her and tucked her teddy bear in close.

"I miss Mommy." Hannah said before bursting into tears.

"Hey, hey; she's okay. She just needs to be watched close. I imagine she'll be here tomorrow or the next day." Mike assured her.

"Oh. When are you going to start loving me again? You're mad because Lucas died and I didn't, so you don't love me anymore." Hannah said. Mike was amazed at how perceptive the little girl was, but she was wrong about one thing.

"I still love you. Don't ever think I don't." Mike answered.

"I don't know about that. I really miss Lucas. I feel like a part of me is just gone." Hannah said, bursting into tears again.

"I know, honey. I felt the same way when your Aunt Katie died. She wasn't my twin, but we were eleven months apart so close. But you know what? Katie is still in my heart and Lucas is too. And he's in yours too. You will always miss him, but you will learn to get by. I know what doesn't seem possible now, but it is." Mike explained. He had settled on the bed next to Hannah and was rubbing her shoulder. He could feel her getting sleepy.

"Mommy said she really misses him. I would hear her cry sometimes. Do you miss him?" Hannah asked.

"Yeah, sweetie; I do." Mike admitted. Normally, he would want to hide his grief from his kids; but what good was that? Hannah needed to feel some sort of connection.

"Daddy, I can learn to play baseball and football like Lucas did. Maybe then you won't miss him so bad and you'll like me again?" Hannah offered. Mike bent down and kissed the top of her head.

"I like you just fine the way you are. You don't have to learn to play ball. Just be you." Mike told Hannah, sincerely.

"But you miss Lucas." Hannah said.

"And if you become a carbon copy of your brother, I'll miss my Hannah Banana." Mike said as he began tickling her. He finally stopped because Hannah really did need to settle down. "How about I hold you until you go to sleep?" Mike suggested and Hannah nodded vigorously. Within just a few moments, she was snoring slightly and had Mike stuck on the bed. He leaned over and shut the light off and relaxed.