CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
It took a little convincing and a lot of motivating, but Mike managed to get Tom to come down to Ginny's when Ty got home. Mike got Ty through his homework then started in on making dinner. He wanted it all done on time. Tom left the couch and sat down at the kitchen table watching Mike cook.
"So domesticated," Tom quipped. Mike glanced at him and shook his head rolling his eyes.
"You're just jealous of my mad skills," Mike replied with a shrug. Tom laughed.
"I may be a little jealous of your culinary skills. That I will admit to," Tom said as he pointed at Mike. It was Mike's turn to laugh. Mike was glad Tom was coming out of the dark mood he was in after his session. He had been worried earlier in the day how tonight would go. He was still worried, but Tom's lightening mood was lessening that stress. "So, what's on your mind," Tom threw out nonchalantly. Mike glanced at him and saw the pressed smile and knowing look in his former CO's eyes. Mike knew Tom could read him as well as he could read Tom.
"Just some things. Nothing too major," Mike tossed out quickly. Tom quirked an eyebrow and cocked his head to the side. He contemplated Mike's answer.
"About you…or…me?" Tom asked. Mike focused on the food he was making. He knew that if he looked at Tom, Tom would know he was hiding something.
"About me," Mike said. It was partially true, as he had been thinking about his life a lot today. Tom was silent for a moment, but Mike didn't dare look at him.
"Making some big life changes?" Tom asked, seemingly letting it go that Mike was hiding something.
"Maybe," Mike mumbled and then sighed. He turned away after covering the food to simmer. He looked at Tom and licked his lips. He looked over into the living room and watched Ty and Wyatt interacting on the floor. He smiled absently.
"Go for it," Tom whispered. Mike looked back at him; an eyebrow raised. "You want to be here. Go for it," Tom continued then shrugged his shoulders. Mike thought about his words.
"It's a big step," Mike breathed out.
"Mike," Tom said in a fatherly tone. "Don't be an idiot."
"I'm not," Mike said defensively, his whole body tensing in reaction. Tom's grin spread wide. "What."
"She speaks your language," Tom said with a mini shrug and then he slapped his hands off the table. "And you speak hers. Take a leap."
"I've done that once. It didn't end well."
"Mike, this is different than Eng."
"Is it?" Mike said suddenly feeling all the feelings of fear of losing them. He knew it was irrational and that he didn't live in a world of danger around every turn anymore. But it was a hard feeling to shake after living under the pressure cooker for so long.
"Okay," Tom drawled out. "I've watched you these last six weeks. I've seen you turn from the darkness. I've seen you heal before my eyes. I don't know what she does for you…and quite frankly I don't really want to…but it's working. You're putting the weight down."
"Now it's your turn," Mike said without thinking. He saw the dark look pass over Tom's face and Mike cringed. "Sorry, I didn't mean. Forget I said anything."
"No…it's okay. Maybe you're right. I've been talking to the doc for a while now and some things…well some things are clearer in my head now. I think I'm starting to understand some things in my own brain."
"That's great," Mike said, genuinely happy that Tom felt like he was making progress. Tom nodded slowly.
"But you're still keeping something from me," Tom chirped. Mike froze and his grin faltered. He looked at the clock it was almost six thirty. Ginny should be home soon.
"Can you do me a favor and just let it drop for now? I'll tell you in half an hour…okay?"
"Half an hour?" Tom asked annoyed. Mike sighed.
"Please?" Mike pleaded. He turned back to the food and started to stir it.
"Fine," Tom huffed and got up and went to the couch. Ty joined him as Wyatt ran through the living room screeching. Mike cringed at the loud noise. Tom flinched and Ty leaned over the back of the couch and nabbed Wyatt in his arms.
"Holy crap, Little Bro!" Ty hissed out. "Too loud."
Wyatt screeched again and wiggled free of Ty's grasp. He bounced from foot to foot around the table and crashed into Mike's legs.
"Whoa," Mike said stumbling slightly. Mike covered the food again and bent down to get on eye level with Wyatt. "Slow down, Wyatt."
Wyatt looked at him from the side of his eye and nodded once, very slowly. Then he leaned his head against Mike's chest gently, before bouncing out of the kitchen and through the living room disappearing down the back hallway.
"He's crazy," Ty said as he flopped back onto the couch.
"He's not," Mike warned. Ty gave him a shoulder shrug and a smile. "Get cleaned up for dinner. Your mom will be home any minute," Mike ordered and then chased down Wyatt. "Time to clean up little buddy."
Mike got the boys settled as Tom took his chair as well. Ginny came in and kissed Mike, smiling at the food that was being set at the table. She excused herself to get changed. Mike was just finishing up dinner when there was a knock at the door. Mike looked at Tom.
"Can you get the door, Tom?" Mike asked. Tom gave him a suspicious look and paused briefly. He slowly got to his feet; his eyes locked on Mike for a long moment before he turned and walked to the door. Tom opened it and Mike saw him freeze. A curious look came over Tom, a mixture of happiness, fear, sadness, and heartache. Mike had never seen him look quite like that before. Tom still hadn't said a word and he took a step back holding the door open wider. Mike watched Sasha step inside, and they simply stood and stared at each other.
"Who's that?" Ty finally asked, breaking the spell that had taken over the room. Ginny walked out of the bedroom and stopped, looking at Mike. Still, no one said anything and Mike was beginning to feel he shouldn't have sprung this on Tom as a surprise.
"Hey, Sasha, come on in," Mike finally said, looking at Tom. It seemed to break the hold on him, and Tom turned and looked at Mike, a look of turmoil on his face. He then closed the front door and walked to Sasha.
"Hi," Tom croaked out. Sasha smiled at him.
"Hi," she said softly. "I wanted to surprise you."
"You did," Tom breathed out. Sasha looked at Mike.
"So, Mike didn't spoil it?" she asked. Ginny came around and wrapped an arm around Mike's waist. He draped his over her shoulders. He felt Ginny's hand slip into the back pocket of his jeans.
"No, he didn't," Tom said, then turned and looked at Mike, then at the clock. "Half an hour."
"Half an hour, Buddy," Mike replied with a smile and a wink. Tom shook his head.
"Half an hour?" Ginny asked. Mike shrugged.
"Any one ready to eat?" Mike asked as he waved a hand at the food on the table.
"I'm starved!" Ty shouted, and everyone looked at him. "What?"
"Nothing, but manners, young man."
"You asked," he said defensively, and Mike stifled a chuckle. He shook his head instead. Ginny released her hold on him and walked to the table while Mike took the seat next to her. Tom and Sasha sat down as well.
"Sasha, this is Ty. Ty, this is Sasha, Tom's girlfriend," Mike made introduction. "You've met everyone else." That got an eyebrow raise from Tom.
"We had lunch," Sasha said quietly to him. "It was my idea, so don't be mad at Mike."
"I'm not," Tom breathed out.
Dinner went well as they all relaxed and talked. Ginny and Sasha took to each other and were making great efforts to get to know each other. Tom was a little withdrawn and Mike was worried about how it was affecting him. He remembered Sasha's words and hoped that it didn't set him back. They had finished dinner, the dishes were piled in the sink, Ty had retreated to his room, and Wyatt was busy watching television. Sasha and Ginny were still chatting away, and Tom was sitting watching Sasha, a strange look on his face. Mike leaned over.
"You, okay?" he whispered, trying to avoid catching the attention of the woman. Tom broke his stare from Sasha and slowly looked at Mike.
"I was just wondering that about her," Tom whispered. He licked his lips, his attention going back to Sasha.
"What do you mean?" Mike asked. He noticed Ginny glance at him and knew he had said it too loud. Tom looked at him, studying his face. Mike knew he couldn't hide the fact that he knew something from Tom. After what seemed like hours Tom quirked an eyebrow at Mike.
"Spill," Tom demanded. Both women stopped talking and looked at them. Mike felt like he was caught with his hand in the cook jar. He glanced at Sasha for help. Tom continued to lock him down with a hard stare and Mike felt his mouth go dry. Mike looked at Sasha again.
"Help," Mike squeaked, drawing a smile from Sasha. Mike was frantic now as Tom had his interrogation face locked on. He finally broke his stare from Mike and looked at Sasha, scrutinizing everything. Sasha's smile faltered and Tom narrowed his eyebrows.
"Someone better say something…and soon," Tom said, exhaling loudly. Sasha looked down at her hands and Mike looked anywhere but at Tom.
"Sasha, you have to tell him," Mike said suddenly. He stood from the table and grabbed Ginny's hand, pulling her to her feet. She was a little surprised but let Mike guide her. "We'll give you some space."
Mike pulled Ginny along behind him and squeezed Sasha's shoulder on the way by. He could feel Tom's stare boring holes in his back. Mike looked back at him.
"Mike, what the hell is going on," Tom asked, but Mike just shook his head. Then he looked at Sasha.
"Just tell him," Mike pleaded and then he was pulling Ginny down the hall towards her bedroom.
"Mike?" Ginny asked curiously as he pulled her in the room and shut the door. He blew out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and closed his eyes leaning back against the door. He felt Ginny's hands cradle each side of his jaw and he opened his eyes. He sighed, then wrapped his arms around Ginny and pulled her in tight.
"How did he know you knew something?"
"We spent a lot of time together, in command. We can read each other pretty well," Mike replied with a shrug.
"How long do we give her?" Ginny asked, her arms rubbing at his lower back. Mike leaned down and kissed her slowly, then sighed against her lips, before pulling away. Ginny looked at him curiously. "You, okay?"
"Yes," he replied quickly with a grin. In that moment he knew he wanted to take that leap he was afraid to take. "Remember when you said I'd come around and talk to you when I was ready?"
"Yeah," Ginny replied.
"Well, I'm…ready," Mike breathed out. Ginny looked at him with creased brow. "You mean the world to me, Ginny."
"I know. I love you too, Mike," Ginny responded. Mike smiled.
"I was thinking," Mike continued.
"Ut-oh," Ginny replied with a smile.
"I want to wake up next to you every morning," Mike whispered in her ear before he kissed it, then nipped at her earlobe. He kissed a trail of kisses down her jaw, her neck, her clavicle. She shivered against him, her hands at his back slipping under his shirt.
"Mike," she breathed out. He pulled his mouth away from her and brought his head back up to stare her in the eye. "Does that mean you want to stay here?"
"Yeah," he breathed out. "I thought maybe letting Tom have my place and just staying down here…with you…and our boys."
She smiled at the last part and slowly nodded before burying her head in his chest. He squeezed his arms around her and laid his head on top of hers. Soaking in the feelings it was stirring.
"Think it's been long enough?" Ginny asked, her words muffled against his chest. Mike pulled away and let her step back.
"Maybe," he mumbled.
"What is it that she needs to tell him?" Ginny asked. Mike looked down at her.
"That she's pregnant and he's going to be a dad again," Mike tossed out. Ginny's jaw dropped and Mike smirked.
"Get out," Ginny hissed out. Mike shook his head.
"No. That's what she wanted to tell me at lunch."
"That's so exciting," Ginny said with a grin. Mike frowned a little.
"I hope they fell that way," Mike replied, and Ginny's grin faltered.
"Why wouldn't they?" Ginny asked confused. Mike sighed.
"Well, Tom already feels like a failure on the parental front with his two kids he has already. And Sasha…well…kids were never on the table for her."
"She doesn't want it?" Ginny asked, a sadness in her voice.
"I didn't say that. She just never wanted kids. Now that she's having one," Mike said, his words trailing off. He looked at the clock. "Come on, let's check on them."
Mike stepped away from the door and opened it, peering cautiously into the hallway. They weren't shouting at each other, so that was a good sign…right? Mike stepped out of the room with Ginny on his heals. He felt her fingers slip into the back pockets on his jeans. He stopped as he came into the living room and saw Sasha and Tom still at the table staring at each other. Ginny circled around him, sidling her back up against Mike's chest. He placed his hands on her shoulders. Mike cleared his throat and Tom's head slowly tore away from Sasha and looked at him. Mike couldn't read Tom's face.
"Everything, okay?" Mike asked as he inched closer, Ginny matching his steps. Tom considered him for a long while, then licked his lips and averted his gaze back to Sasha. They were both still quiet and Mike was a little unnerved. Tom finally spoke.
"So, you knew that little tidbit before me too," Tom said, glancing at Mike again.
"Tom," Sasha said in a warning tone. Tom brought his eyes back to her and creased his brow.
"So, I'm not allowed to be upset that you told my best friend you were pregnant before you told me?" Tom asked.
"Tom," Mike said in a rush of breath. "I wanted to tell you, but she asked me," Mike tried, but Tom cut him off by holding up his hand. He was quiet a little longer.
"Not mad at you, Mike."
"I told you he wouldn't take this well," Sasha replied, voice shaky, her eyes darting to Mike briefly before landing on Tom again.
"Sasha, it's a big thing…and you didn't…"
"What?" Sasha asked harshly. Mike blew out a breath. He felt Ginny sidestep away from him.
"I'm going to check on Wyatt," she mumbled softly to Mike then disappeared down the hallway. Mike sighed heavily and walked to the table, sitting down with them.
"It all leads to a fight," Sasha hissed out, looking at Tom.
"I really didn't see this going this way," Mike cringed. He looked at Tom, searching for some sort of emotional response besides anger. He frowned when he didn't see any of it.
"And just how am I supposed to react?" Tom ground out. Mike shook his head slowly. "You know why she left me the first time?"
Mike shook his head slowly. His eyes darted from Sasha to Tom. He could see the pain in her eyes, mixed in with the anger. Tom's were filled with anger…and maybe something else. Neither seemed happy at all.
"Really, Tom? We're doing this?"
"Hey, guys, let's just," Mike tried to defuse the situation.
"Sasha doesn't want kids. Period. She left so I could find someone willing to give me children."
"Which you did," Sasha retorted. Tom cocked his head to the side. "It's not like I planned this. And clearly you don't want this child either so…"
"I never said that," Tom ground out harshly. Something flashed through his eyes and Mike knew he needed to get them on the same page.
"Hey," he barked in a command voice. They both jumped slightly and looked at him. "This needs to stop," Mike barked. Tom looked away and Sasha looked down at her hands. "You two love each other."
"Never the issue," Tom mumbled. It seemed his SOP when that was said.
"I know that," Mike snapped. "You're going to have a child together. Tom, you need to focus on getting your head back in shape. Sasha? You need to commit to this child, and to raising it with Tom. Whether the two of you are in a relationship at that point or not," Mike continued. They both leveled eyes at Mike briefly before locking on each other again.
"You want this baby?" Tom asked her point blank. Mike could see the pain in his features, the unknowing of what she really wanted. Afraid of how she might answer. Mike held his breath, as Sasha didn't answer. He watched her eyes grow shiny, then the tears fall down her cheeks. Tom never broke his gaze and Sasha squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Mike looked at Tom as he slowly exhaled, wondering how this would break him if she said no. Mike looked back at Sasha.
"Sasha?" Mike asked quietly. He didn't know how he would handle it if she said no. Her lips trembled and her shoulders shook as a sob escaped her. One hand went to her stomach and the other to her mouth. She let herself cry a moment before she brought her eyes back to Tom.
"I know you know how I've felt about this," she began looking at Tom. "But then it happened. And we were having a fight. I called to tell you, but you didn't answer. Mike did…and I chickened out. I spent those first four weeks that I knew debating what I wanted to do. But I couldn't make a decision, Tom, I couldn't do that to you. I knew any decision I made needed to be made with you. But then…I couldn't tell you because then…I'd have to face this and make that decision with you," Sasha said. Tom went to speak, and Sasha silenced him with her hand and a look. "Let me finish." Tom nodded slowly, swallowing thickly. "The longer I waited to tell you…the more I thought about the child growing in my stomach. The more I thought about it…the more I loved it," she burst out the last part followed by another sob.
That moment broke into Tom's armor, and he sprang from the chair, landing between her knees, squatting before her. His hand came up and cupped her jaw as she collapsed down on his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her as she cried into him. Mike sat there awkwardly staring at his hands. When Sasha finally pulled her head up and cupped Tom's face with both hands, she took a deep breath.
"Sasha," Tom breathed out. "We're going to have a baby?"
"Yes," she said with a tearful laugh, and Tom pushed up and met her lips with his. Tom's hands found her stomach as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"You're really okay with this?" Tom asked, his voice shaking with the fear he was feeling. Sasha nodded.
"Yes," she replied. "And I'm sorry if I made you feel I didn't want this baby."
"It's okay. We're going to have a baby," Tom said looking at Mike with a smile. Mike smiled in return.
"Congratulations," Mike replied. Mike looked at the clock. Tom glanced at it as well, then back at Sasha.
"Stay with me tonight," Tom breathed against Sasha's lips before he kissed her. Mike felt like a third wheel but didn't know what to do with himself.
"Where?" she asked as Tom stood up. He looked at Mike.
"Apartment 205, just down the hall," he replied looking back at Sasha. Mike smiled. Sasha looked slightly confused.
"My apartment," Mike said softly.
"Our apartment," Tom replied with a scowl. Mike laughed.
"I suppose it is, but maybe it can be your apartment," Mike countered with a shrug. Tom's eyebrow rose and a smirk came across his face.
"What do you say, Sash?" Tom asked as he held out his hand. Sasha took it and came to her feet. She kissed him and then pulled him for a hug.
"Okay," she breathed out.
To Be Continued…
Author's note: Not sure I'm 100% happy with this one or not. But I'm going with it. Hopefully you enjoyed it. Let me know. Dark rolling sea.