21. The Remembered Part II

Avocato survived.

Somehow, through experience and skill and stubbornness and sheer dumb luck, he survived.

He was damned fortunate Death didn't want him. So was Gary. And Little Cato.

The following hours or days passed in a hazy blur aboard the Sabertooth. Gary sat in a conference room close by medical, out of the way and endlessly waiting, for the doctors to give him any word on Avocato's condition.

It felt as if an eternity passed between each update.

Crewmen and medical staff came and went. He sat through multiple meetings that made zero impression on his memory. He dozed and someone fed him, though he couldn't remember who or what it was. At one point, Gary found himself inundated with excited, jabbering teenagers when the Crimson Light caught up with the Ventrexian fleet. There were hugs all around as Mooncake, Fox, Ash, and especially Little Cato were reunited with him. Gary listened more than he talked. He couldn't tell them what had happened. it was all too soon and raw, and besides, he didn't have an end to the story yet.

Little Cato could not stay long - despite anxiety levels to match Gary's, he was still a colonel and now a king, and his help and authority were needed in the aftermath of victory. Tribore breezed through, Commander Thunder on his heels, to check on Gary and Avocato and collect Fox and Ash, asking their help for a few days in getting the many fleets reorganized and accounted for. Suspecting Tribore and Cataloupe were conspiring to give him time to decompress, Gary promised he'd be exactly here, on the Sabertooth, whenever they were ready to come back and settle in. That settled it for them all. Mooncake, who was quite taken with all the children, opted to accompany Fox and Ash. More hugs were shared, and then Gary got back to waiting again.

Gary was busy staring at nothing when the door finally opened and the Ventrexian doctor, Mogs, entered. Miserable and anxious, Gary looked up, expecting the worst. He had not seen Mogs since that first Code Black. Green eyes in a gray face gazed at him with cool detachment, sizing him up critically.

"How-how is he?" Gary asked, his voice hoarse. He couldn't speak above a whisper. "He's not . . . ?"

"General Avocato is asleep," was the surprisingly gentle reply. "Something you might want to try, Captain."

A sound midway between a groan and a sigh escaped Gary and he dropped his head into his hands again. He felt himself pant in relief that Avocato had survived, and suddenly his whole body felt as if it weighed a ton. Tension drained away and exhaustion rolled in like a tide.

"Will he be okay? I mean, he'll wake up and all, right? He's not going to – to-"

He swallowed, unable to finish the thought, let alone the sentence. Witnessing this second seizure had been so much worse than the first. Perhaps it was because he was alone, or having borne witness to torture, or unable to really help because of their space suits, or having to wait so hideously long, listening to every labored breath and scream. Gary had never been so helpless and isolated in his life. He knew it would be a very long time before he'd be comfortable with Avocato out of his sight.

Mogs gave him a curious look before activating a comm unit on the wall. "Have food and drink brought to conference room 6-B," he ordered before taking the seat opposite Gary. "General Avocato is going to be as fine as he can be at this point. He's alive because of your help and because the poison in his system is somewhat diluted by now. It's been almost two standard years since he was poisoned, and for those few who survive, akusan is normally metabolized within three to four years. He's made it this far. I firmly believe he'll live out a normal lifespan."

"But . . . it was so long and I didn't think he was breathing."

"You're not wrong, but I suspect Ventrexians can survive longer than humans under such conditions."

Gary pressed a hand to his mouth, closing his eyes for a long moment and fighting tears. It was a losing battle. The doctor, who had been blessed with discretion and the gift of silence, let him stew and slowly regain his self-control. His reverie was broken by the arrival of an orderly carrying a tray. On it was an arrangement of Ventrexian snacks and service for hot drinks, and Gary's mind flashed back to having tea with Avocato and learning so much about the general that day.

"That's not to say there won't be permanent damage," said Mogs, pouring for them both as the orderly closed the door behind him. He handed Gary one of the cups, then selected from what looked like sliced meats and cheese and fruit, piling the offering onto a small plate that he held out to Gary. No utensils were offered, so Gary assumed it was finger food. Or claw food or paw food or whatever Ventrexians called it. Continued Mogs, "I don't believe his body will ever regain the ability to regulate his temperature properly, and the fatigue and difficulty with swallowing will persist for several years at least. The other symptoms should, with time and care, correct themselves."

He took the plate in both hands. "Good. That's-that's good. We can work with that. How - how long has it been since . . ."

"You've been aboard four solar days. I'm not all that familiar with humans, Captain Goodspeed," continued the doctor, giving him a shrewd once-over. "But I can tell you haven't taken care of yourself as you should. I'll allow that you've had a stressful time of it, but if you're to be of any help to the general, you must be healthy."

"Fair," he allowed. "Have you told Little Cato?"

Mogs pointed at the food, refusing to answer until Gary consumed something. Giving in – and because he was genuinely hungry - Gary tried something that looked and acted like cheese. He couldn't say for sure what it was, but it had a sharp, spicy flavor and crumbly texture. Delicious. After watching him take a few more bites, Mogs relented.

"His Highness has been given regular updates and will be visiting later today. He would be here now, but duty calls. He's content that you're on hand for Avocato, and asks that you stay with him."

"Yeah. Yeah, of course," he said, eating a slice of smoked meat. As if he could be pried away with a crowbar at this point. "Can I see him? I mean - sit with him?"

"Soon. Eat."

He took a few more bites. The food here was seriously tasty. When his plate was half empty, he ventured another question. "How long will he be in a recovery pod?"

The doctor shifted and frowned. "Unfortunately, Captain, General Avocato can't go into a pod. We discovered early on – with almost tragic results - that any accelerated healing will reactivate the akusan. He's going to have to do this the old fashioned way and recover naturally."

Gary felt something inside him quail at the difficult path before Avocato. Could something be easy for him? Just once? "The Lord Commander put him through a wall!"

"I know," Mogs replied softly. "I know. He has a list of injuries as long as my tail. It's nothing short of a miracle that he's alive right now. He's going to be a long time healing. And for that, he's going to need you – your presence, your support, your patience."

"He's got me. Anything he needs."

"Good." Mogs smiled faintly. "You'll be housed aboard ship by the general and His Highness. Quarters will be provided for you and your children when they return."

"Children," he repeated, stunned.

"Yes," said Mogs, giving him an odd look. "Fox and Ash Goodspeed. They told His Highness you're their parent."

Gary blinked, fighting to wrap his brain around this sudden state of fatherhood. Well, why not? They weren't bad kids in any way, and it wasn't like he'd kick them to the curb now that they were alone. "Yeee-essss," he finally managed to get out. "Yes, I am." He took a bite of fruit to buy himself time to think.

"Mmm," was the unconvinced reply, though Mogs tactfully let it drop. "And since you're here, I would like to perform a physical and biocompatibility scan on you."

"A biocompata-what?" he stammered through his mouthful.

"Biocompatibility scan. It will provide a baseline for your health and establish compatibility between human and Ventrexian biology. Unless I'm reading the situation and relationship incorrectly."

Gary stared at Mogs. Dear god, was he about to get the talk from an overgrown cat? How did he react to this? Seemed like this inter-species relationship was going to get really interesting really fast. He felt his face grow hot as he forced himself to chew and swallow the fruit before trying to find words. Any words. His voice was a little squeak as he said,

"Nothing's confirmed yet, but I'm . . . hoping . . . you're not wrong?"

Impatient with Gary's sudden fit of bashfulness, Mogs made a sour face at this uptight display. "Can you prove your saliva won't poison the general?"

Wait. Was Mogs cool with this? With them? Him, Avocato – together?

"I . . . can't," he admitted, trying to wrap his brain around all that was being implied.

"Then you'll consent to a full scan," he was informed with a stern smile and a fierce look. "Believe me when I say, Ventrexians know the value of a good leader, and we value the general very, very highly. He's defended this planet, our prince, and our people all his life, and we honor him for it. We were not able to protect him as he deserved when the Lord Commander arrived, and so now that we can, we will do everything possible to ensure his health and safety and happiness. Since you are clearly part of that happiness, Captain, and since the next king of Ventrexia approves, we have a duty to you as well."

He could practically hear his brain come screeching to a halt. "W-wait. Little Cato . . ."

"As I said, His Highness approves."

"Of me. With his dad. That dad in the next room."

"The same. Yes."

He stared at Mogs, realizing if Little Cato knew and the doctor knew, then a hell of a lot more people knew that he and Avocato had a . . . a thing. A warm and fuzzy, snuggly thing that cuddled in Gary's breast and possibly Avocato's. They knew and were willing to help it grow. For Ventrexians, who almost never pursued relationships outside their species, this was big. Huge. And Gary would happily meet them halfway.

"So . . . what do you need from me?"

Mogs' eyes narrowed, and his smile was as full of sharp teeth as it was devoid of humor as he said, "A little bit of everything you've got."

Crap. Maybe happily wasn't the right word.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Well, it could have been a lot worse, all in all. Gary was a little sore from being jabbed and poked and prodded by doctors who had never met, let alone worked on, a human before. At least they were gentle and apologetic, unlike the vets at the monstertorium.

After a speech from Mogs warning him that Avocato was in no condition to do anything more strenuous than sleep and Gary's standing mission was to get some food into the general, he was finally allowed into the room set aside for Avocato. It was sparse and cramped and clearly a quick adaptation of office space attached to medical, private hospital rooms not being a thing on battleships. There was nothing in it but a bio-bed, equipment, and a chair. None of that mattered, because Avocato was alive, and Gary was going to see to it he stayed that way for a long time to come.

He had no idea of what was happening in the aftermath of the Tera Con Empire falling. He knew the fleet was en route to Ventrexia. He knew some of the forces helping the rebellion had dispersed. He knew he owed Tribore a drink. Beyond that, he only cared about keeping the kids and Mooncake safe, and Avocato recovering.

Avocato lay on the large, soft bio-bed, snugly dressed and covered with a multitude of blankets, hooked up to machines and fluids and things that quietly hummed. The room was warm, but Gary knew that the general was probably shivering cold. He shed his jacket before he carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and studied his sleeping friend. The teal Ventrexian lay on his side, propped up and braced by pillows to prevent jarring his ribs. Braces and bandages abounded. He looked frail, and Gary understood Mogs' worries about getting him to eat.

Large yellow eyes blinked open. Gary smiled at his sleepy expression and leaned over so Avocato would not have to strain to see him.

"Hi," he said lamely, blushing pink and not sure what else to do or how to start a conversation after all that had happened. There was so much to say, so many things to talk about, and . . . he had no words. Just being here and seeing Avocato alive and breathing overwhelmed him.

Luckily, the general had it covered. And it wasn't like he could actually talk much while wearing an oxygen mask. Avocato stirred, and a moment later he slid his paw from beneath the blankets. Gary clasped those cold fingers in his own. Holding on tight, Avocato moved his hand back under the covers, and then he just kept on pulling Gary in.

A Goodspeed didn't need to be told things twice. Even though he knew Mogs would scold him, Gary hastily kicked off his boots and gingerly lay down next to Avocato, letting himself be drawn in close. Still holding Gary's hand, Avocato curled his paws under his chin, nestling his head against Gary's chest and trusting the human to watch over him and guard his sleep. Shifting closer, Gary gently wrapped his arm around Avocato and settled his cheek against that furry head, letting the general know he was protected and treasured.

Avocato went back to sleep almost instantly, but Gary stayed awake for a while, reveling in the simple pleasure of being able to hold someone he loved.