Chapter 19

As dawn broke, the team was already itching to go in to see Liz. They hardly slept knowing one of their own needed them, needed their comfort. They all lay in their bunks, fidgeting to get up and get the day started. But they all knew it was too early to be allowed into her room and so they waited for Jason to come into their room and get them.

After about an hour of laying in silence waiting, their door slammed open. "Rise and shine, boys!" Jason came barreling in with a big smile on his face. Although he did not sleep much like the rest, his spirits were a bit lifted as there was no phone call in the middle of the night, so Liz did not make a turn for the worse, and he was overly relieved he had his little girl back. Emma was his baby girl and always would be, but Liz has managed to snag a piece of his heart and become his daughter. He had his family whole again. His wonder twins are home on base and relatively healthy and safe, his brothers here and his kids at home. He was back to his known normal, and for that, he was grateful.

"About time, Jase; I think my bunk was about to crumble with Peter Pan up there vibrating with anticipation." Sonny drawled as he yawned and slowly sat up on his bed, ready to go, sliding his boots on.

The whole team slept in their clothes with their boots at the ready in case they got that dreaded phone call during the night and needed to rush over. There was no time to waste trying to get sorted and a form of clothes on.

"Well, let's get a move on then. We have a coffee order to fulfill. Trent, can Liz have normal food? Maybe we can bring her something from the mess tent. The food she may be given will not be very appetizing." Ray called as he showed up in the doorway.

"As long as there was no more swelling, she should be. But should be soft and warm if possible to help soothe her throat. It will be coarse and rough for her for a while." Trent nodded as he finished tying his boots up.

…..

The team slowly piled into the room and noted Davis was awake and on her phone beside Liz's bed as she was still sound asleep.

"How is she? How was the night?" Trent asked in a whisper as he handed her a coffee and a fruit cup.

Davis blinked and took their presence as a bit of a surprise. They were way earlier than she expected, but at the same time, she was surprised they were not sneaking in earlier this morning. "She slept all through the night and had no further problems. She shifted a bit and was crying out quietly, but I could not understand what she was saying. So it could have been one of her old nightmares, or she slowly remembers what happened with Delta. But her throat stayed the same. The doctor was in about an hr ago and said he is confident she will not have any complications with further swelling. They also changed her burn dressings but mentioned she would be in here for another day at least."

"Good." Trent nodded in approval, hearing her update as he went over to her chart and looked at the notes from the night shift.

"How are you doing this fine morning Miss Davis?" Sonny asked as he pulled up a chair beside her. He knew she was rocky sitting here from all the events from the days before and being alone with her thoughts over, watching over her best friend and waiting for Karma to show her ugly head and throw them another punch.

"I'm ok. I have been better, but seeing no changes has helped me relax. I think I will head out now that you guys are here and try and rack out for a few hours. I talked to Blackburn, and he will be by later today and said we all have the day off today." Davis replied as she put a hand on Sonny's arm and nodded as she let out a large sigh. "I'll be back in a few hours. Be nice, boys."

She slowly got up, and Jason headed over and put an arm on her shoulder as he nodded and slipped into her chair.

Clay pulled up another chair and sat on the right side of her head, slowly leaning back, taking in the sight of his best friend and watching her monitors and chest rise and fall. Trent, Brock and Ray settled in their chairs further back along the foot of her bed. They did not want to crowd her too much and leave room for any nurses or doctors to enter the room or if she needed to get out of bed. Brock and Ray were the stay-back-and-watch type of people and aid when required when one of the wonder twins got injured. It was not that they cared any less they just knew how stubborn and anxious those two could be when injured, and they responded best to the other three voices or help when laying in a hospital bed. Trent wanted a view of the whole situation and assess all winces, grimaces, breaths and monitors as he was always in medic mode as soon as he stepped foot in any hospital setting. He knew from experience that the wonder twins liked to keep a lot to themselves, so he picked up on their body language more and did not trust their words. Sitting at the foot of the bed allowed him to hawk all movements without being overbearing as they tended to clam up even more and hide more of their symptoms. He knew how to work around these two now and almost trick them into feeling like they were getting away with their attitudes, but he knew better. The children liked to play games, so he would join in on his own game.

As the team leaned back in their chairs, still slowly settling in and drinking their coffee, they all glanced around the room and noticed everyone's demeanour had changed. The shift in the room was positive as the stress clouds that loomed over their shoulders seemed to evaporate as they relaxed, knowing it would be ok. Everyone was home and safe. After about an hour of small whispers and food Liz started to shift in her bed.

The team all stiffened, waiting for her to wake up. They never knew how grumpy she would be in the morning on a typical day as she was far from a morning person but now add in the fact she was hauled up on a hospital bed, injured and miserable they were in for a bomb to go off if they were not careful.

"Hey, Jellybean," Jason called to her as he saw her eyes open up slowly and take in her surroundings.

At her name, her eyes flashed open toward Jason, and she smiled at him. But then slowly looked around the room again and groaned.

"Well, good morning to you too, Tinkerbell." Sonny laughed as he watched her shut her eyes and hold them closed for a moment to open them again and look around the room. She was hoping it was a dream, and he could not let out a low chuckle as she groaned again and slumped further into her pillow.

"H-How long…h-h-here." Liz croaked out as she swallowed and winced with her throat feeling like sandpaper.

"You have been here for a day and night. Always trying to show off there, hey? And before you ask, you have a whole string of injuries again. Could not just let me be the only one to get shot this year, hey?" Clay chuckled as he watched her gaze travel around her body and take in all her injuries and wires.

"Do you remember anything about being with Delta?" Trent asked as she was still trying to take in her injuries. She was still a bit slow and confused with her concussion.

Liz shook her head. "I.. I only remember being with them… f-for the day and then h-heading to meet them with Metal." She tried to clear her throat, and Clay reached for her water as he held it up towards her mouth to take a few sips from the straw. "And it's only a graze." She snarled towards him.

Clay laughed as she tried to sound firm and angry, but he knew her too well. "Still a bullet wound. I don't think they categorize it based on the hole size there, grandma."

Liz stared at him and glared into his eyes, but she saw his cocky grin and smile in his eyes, and her heart instantly melted. She could not stay angry with him, even though she was not angry, but she was just irritated she was in a hospital again after she had only been out of one for a few months. Liz snorted out a laugh at her new nickname from Clay. He will pay for that. "Damage?"

With that, everyone gazed at Trent, allowing him to take this one.

"Well, since nothing is easy for you, it's a big list … again, but you're not as bad off as the last stay. You have a concussion, bruised ribs, broken forearm, burn on your shoulder, puncture wound on your thigh, bullet GRAZE on your lower hip and some smoke inhalation damage to your throat. You will be very stiff for a while as your whole body took a beating and has some bruises from the explosion, but you should be up and moving now and will be out of the cast in 6 weeks. Your burn will take time to heal, but as long as you follow my instructions for once, you will not lose any mobility there." Trent eyes her as he reviews the instructions and more after-injury care information.

Liz just groaned and rolled her eyes as she listened. She then looked at Clay with a smirk and a spark in her eyes.

"Oh no, you two! I see that look. You will not be trying to sneak off with him and will follow Trent's care plan." Jason piped in as he saw the look between the two twins as they plotted and planned silently.

"You and your boo-boo buddy are on strict orders and will be under a watchful eye there, Pebbles," Sonny added as he caught the look. He and Jason talked, and they did not care how much whining came from those two, but for the next few weeks, they would have a team member shadow at all times.

Clay looked up from Liz towards the two, shock and humour plastered on his face.

"Jase?" Liz whined, trying to give her best puppy eyes.

Jason just laughed and shook his head. He knew he would not give in to her whining and trying to play on his emotional card. He was standing firm with them.

Liz just whined again as she slumped down, defeated. After a few moments, she groaned and tried to shift herself up and swing her legs out of bed.

"And where do you think you are going, missy?" Ray pipped in cocking his eyebrow up.

"Well, if you must know, I have to pee." She glared at him. She was already rolling her eyes at her overbearing family.

Clay shot up out of his chair and went to help her stay sitting up as he caught her grimace and leaned into her ribs. "Well, grandma, I do not have your walker here, so you will have to just deal with my help." Clay huffed as she rolled her eyes and tried to pull herself away from him, stubborn to get up and walk herself. He challenged. "You can play nice, or I can get you a wheelchair? Your choice. How much is walking worth to you, darlin'."

She looked at him and huffed as she took her right hand, grabbed onto his, and leaned into his body for support as she slung his arm under her left shoulder, careful of her arm and ribs and lifted her. She winced and let out a tiny cry that only Clay heard, and his heart broke. He grabbed her tighter and pulled her into his arms to have her lean against his body as he supported her right side in a hug to help her walk with her leg. The team watched as they hobbled towards the bathroom, knowing they would cause a nuclear bomb to go off if they attempted to help. Clay was the only one able to help Liz physically; she would accept his help with the least fuss. She always seemed to calm with his touch, and they were able to be each other's rock, physically and emotionally and have a bond no one else could compare to. Jason was the next in line; she would take some form of aid, but she was always hesitant to have his help and looked weak in front of her superior. Her team accepted her heartily and would never judge her based on her gender, but there were still others in other groups, which caused her always to put on a façade when she was injured. She could not let them win and show weakness for being a girl.

As they made it to the bathroom, Clay opened the door, helped her into the room, and leaned against the sink counter. Being able to touch Liz and have her body against him, he could finally relax, but this feeling forced his emotions to flood forward. He was overwhelmed by how scared he was and how much he needed her here in his arms, under his gaze and knowing she would be ok. As he realized his feelings and under the protection of the bathroom, or so he thought no wandering eyes could see them, he leaned in and gave her a hug that she gladly returned and buried her head into his neck. He pulled away, and without thinking his body moved, he kissed her forehead lightly and whispered with a slightly embarrassed mumble, "I am so happy you are home; I was so scared I lost you. I need you here with me."

"It will take a lot more to get rid of me than some bumps and bruises. I will never leave you, I promise. I can't be away from you." She whispered back as she squeezed his hand; he took his other hand and grazed her cheek, staring into her eyes.

They stared at each other for a moment, and a smile plastered on their faces as they leaned into each other. Liz looked at his lips, looked up instantly, and did not meet his eyes. He was staring at her lips, still with a grin slowly pulling on his lips. Their bodies moved on autopilot as their minds were shut off at this moment, taking in each other's confessions. Just as they were inches apart, Sonny let out a loud sneeze and started to whine that he was allergic to hospitals.

Startled, they pulled apart instantly, and Liz blushed as she lowered her head. Clay cleared his throat, turned around, and shut the door behind him. The team sat there with grins and smiles as they tried to play it cool that they did not just witness their moment. Small talk floated in the room as they waited and heard the door open again. Liz tried and hobbled out of the room as Clay rushed over again to help her back into bed.

Jason reached over, handed her her coffee, and showed her she had some oatmeal on the table if she was feeling up for it and leaned back, watching her as everyone on the team joked and teased each other as they fell into a grove for the morning. Everyone was at ease and relaxed but never took their eyes off Liz and caught some hidden glances between her and Clay as they partook in the friendly banter that filled the room.