Before Everything

Chapter 7

Christine and Kaitlyn were incredibly weak and barely out of the woods when Rios released them into Mike's care. If it wasn't for the crew, Mike would be completely lost. They helped babysit Hannah and once Christine and Kaitlyn were back in Mike's cabin, helped care for them. Bacon kept them eating with food that wouldn't upset their stomachs and would give them the vitamins and nutrients that they had lost. Hannah was also all about caring for Christine and Kaitlyn, taking her role as helper very seriously.

Mike was busy. There were new crew members that needed to be brought up to speed on how the ship ran. Thankfully, Wolfe and Ravit were accomplished operators and were true professionals. And right off the bat, the Solace tested them all. Mike had to switch back into an interrogator's role.

Rachel was still hard at work. She had a cure but now she had to figure out an easy way to mass-produce it. She had to do more tests on Hannah, including some sort of lung induction test. Mike didn't understand it and Christine didn't have the energy to refuse them. Mike knew eventually he would have hell to pay but for now, Hannah being poked, prodded and made to be miserable was giving Rachel what she needed. Mike was not particularly thrilled with the tests either because after every one of them, Hannah become increasingly convinced that he hated her. It made his heart break. After one test that involved a scope going up Hannah's nose, down her throat and into her lungs, Mike tried to make her happy before she got back to Christine.

"Bacon told me this morning he made strawberry ice cream and has hot fudge. It's your favorite and I think he made it special for you. He knew you were having the scope done today." Mike offered.

"My throat hurts and I want Mommy." Hannah said. Normally, she wasn't very whiny, but she was uncomfortable.

"How about we get you that ice cream. It might help your throat. And if Bacon has enough, maybe we can take some back to your mom and sister." Mike offered.

"Okay. Will Mister Tex be there?" Hannah said.

"I don't know. Maybe. You like him a lot." Mike remarked.

"He doesn't treat me like a lab rat like you do." Hannah said. She had apparently heard what Christine said back in the sick bay.

"Honey, I don't treat you like a lab rat. If I did, I wouldn't take you for ice cream after." Mike said. Hannah was eight and her reasoning skills were off.

"I DON'T WANT ICE CREAM! I WANT MY MOMMY!" Hannah shouted. Miller and a couple other enlisted men passed by. Thankfully, they paid Hannah no credence. Miller threw Mike a sympathetic look but got out of the way. Mike was not used to dealing with temper tantrums and Hannah was usually always well-mannered and sweet. She'd simply been through too much.

"Alright, I'll take you to your mom and go get ice cream if you want to act like this. Not sure you need the ice cream, though." Mike said. He was having to pull Hannah by the hand through the p-way. It was like dragging an anchor.

"You said it would help my throat. Don't you want to help my throat?" Hannah said in a whiny voice. Mike knew she was picking a fight and he wasn't particularly wanting to give into it.

"That's why I said I would go get you some. Stop fighting, Hannah!" Mike said. He had said it a bit more forcefully then he wanted and jerked a little harder than necessary. Hannah gave him a hurt expression but finally complied. As he walked, he could hear her crying. Now, he felt badly and knew he would to explain it to Christine which wouldn't be fun.

He finally made it back to his cabin, where he happily deposited Hannah into Christine's loving care. He did explain what happened. If they had more privacy, Christine would have probably let him have it, but for now; it was more important to just get Hannah's mood improved. She had more tests the next morning and Mike needed her in a better mindset. He left with a promise to bring back the ice cream for both of his girls.

Bacon was a miracle worker, because he had a full tray of ice cream, toppings and hot fudge. It might be a bit rich for Christine and Kaitlyn, but they had lost a lot of weight. They needed to be spoiled. He made his way back to his cabin, where Hannah and Kaitlyn were reading a book and Christine was tidying up, except she was getting too winded.

"Ice cream is here." Mike said as he sat the tray down on the table. Hannah gave him a very wary look but told Kaitlyn what toppings she wanted.

"You and I need to have a conversation later." Christine said.

"Why am I not surprised." Mike argued. Christine gave him 'the look' and grabbed his hand, pulling him into the bedroom area and shutting the door.

"Mike, give her a break. She is young and scared. Within just a few months, she's lost her twin, most; if not all her friends, her home and everything normal. This is not her world. Its yours. You can't expect her to just blend in." Christine lectured.

"I know. I was really only trying to help her." Mike commented.

"I know that, but she doesn't understand it. She doesn't understand why she has to have all these tests and examinations. She doesn't understand that she has some sort of genetic anomaly. She only knows that her twin and her best friend died when she lived. She only knows that she cared for Kaitlyn and me for days before you found us. As adults, we understand what's happening but imagine yourself at eight years old, going through what she's going through and having a parent who is giving her no option." Christine continued.

"I don't like putting her through this, but we have to find a way to make this cure passable by human contact. Hannah might hold the key." Mike argued.

"I get that, Mike. And the thing is, Hannah wants to do this. She knows that by doing this, she is potentially saving millions of lives. What she wants though, is to know that you don't expect this of her. You aren't punishing her for living when Lucas died, for not getting sick when Kaitlyn and I were so sick. She wants an option in it." Christine explained quietly. She had sat down on the bed and pulled Mike down next to her.

"She's eight! I don't even get an option in it. I don't like what she's going through either, but I was told that they could do this with or without our consent. At least if I am present for every test and exam, I know if she's in pain or if her needs are being met. I can comfort her if she allows it. Chrissy, I know she's going through hell and I hate that. If I could take her pain away, I would in a heartbeat. I know by doing this, I may lose my beautiful, sweet little girl because she'll hate me, and I hate that. I have no choice." Mike said. Christine had taken his hand in her own and squeezed it. Before she said anything, there was a knock on the door and Hannah stuck her head in.

"Can I come in?" Hannah asked. Mike could tell she was nervous.

"Yeah." Mike answered. He had dropped his hand from Christine's and had his elbows propped on his legs. Hannah came to where she was facing him and pulled his hands down away from his face.

"Daddy, I couldn't ever hate you, ever. I am sorry I was mean to you. My throat just hurt, and I wanted Mommy. I hope you can forgive me?" Hannah said. Instead of answering her, Mike pulled her into a hug. At some point, Kaitlyn came in and cuddled close. For Mike, it was perfect.