Chapter 12 Formality
Standing there in the doorway Carter took in the scene. The new kids, he knew each from their pictures, were scattered about Dana's room, while she lay on her stomach on the bed. She reminded him of a kid herself, her pretty eyes were lost though, not happy, like the brunette girl's or mischievous like the green clad boy's. No, Dana didn't look good.
When He'd arrived at the hospital he'd been a little surprised when he was told she'd left. He'd have thought the injuries were much too severe for her to just leave so soon. He was glad they weren't but until he'd seen her he'd been afraid that something had happened on the way there. Now though he tried to think what to say. They weren't alone; he couldn't tell her the truth…
"It's good to see you've all gotten acquainted."
"You must be the guy Doc's..." Brent began and Hollie leaned over and whacked him on the head. "Ouch!"
"Rangers meet Captain Carter Grayson." Dana said lifting her head up slightly.
"Sir." Brian said jumping to his feet and soon all were doing likewise.
"At ease rangers. You're on your own time so go back to your..."Carter told them and knew he'd chosen well. Brian was so like him it was almost frightening.
"Movie night." Ollie called helpfully.
"Right, I just wanted to say I'm back." Carter said noting that Dana hadn't moved. Maybe she wasn't as well as she was letting on. That would be just like her. When she set her mind to a task she did it no matter the cost.
"You can stay if you want sir." Marie called and he looked to the brunette girl clad ranger. She was like Dana, even her tone, cheery and yet reserved.
"No, I should go fill out my paperwork." Carter said noting that Dana hadn't said anything else. She probably didn't
***
Dana felt sick, was that how it would be? Formal? So she had been wrong, it had just been a... A what? A fluke? A mistake? She felt tears filling her eyes and wanted to hit something. After the transmission she'd thought that he felt it too but...
"SO that was the great Cap Grayson, looks kind of like Brian."Bretn said and Hollie rolled her eyes.
"Funny airhead." Marie stuck out her tongue at Brent.
"Just because I fly..."the sonic arrow began and was promptly ignored.
Dana didn't hear the kids, her mind on what had just happened.
She still couldn't believe he'd acted like nothing had happened,
As if she was only his co-worker. Well, what had she thought?
Nothing had changed; he was still the head of the unit and she
The doctor. The night before he'd left had just been... What? A mistake? No, she didn't think so but maybe he had after all.
Maybe the way he'd sounded and looked on the transmission had
Just been nerves about the' mission he'd been going on.
"Dana?" Ryan's quiet voice pulled her from her thoughts and she found him looking at her in concern. He probably thought her back was bugging her.
"Hmm?"
"You ok?" He asked and she wanted to smile. He was ever the big brother, worried. There had been a time when that hadn't been the case but that was behind them. Just like what happened with Carter was.
"Oh, yeah I'm just a little tired." She mumbled and Hollie sprang to her feet.
"You heard her boys lets go!"
"No, you can stay, I'm just um..."Dana began but Chris was there, bending slightly so she was looking at him.
"No, it's ok Doc, you've been through a lot lately." He said and Dana watched with admiration as he rounded the others up with Marie's help and herded them down to the common room for the rest of the night.
"Dana?" Ryan was still there and had moved right beside her elbow.
"Hmm?" She asked resting her cheek on her forearms.
"Want to tell me what's been eating at you?" He asked quietly and she frowned a little, how could he read her that well?
"Nothing why?" She lied, how could she tell him?
"Dana, I know something's bugging you, you've looked worried ever since Carter left and you were acting weird before that." He told her matter-of-factly.
"Ryan, I'm fine, a little tired but ok." She tried again and he just looked at her a moment before shifting into a more comfortable position.
"It's about Carter. You still have feelings for him." He said wisely and she thought about screaming, why was he being like this, she didn't want to talk about, she didn't even know what there was to talk about.
"Ryan..."
"Come on I see how you look at him, and I know he looks at you the same way." He was wrong, didn't he see that, he'd acted like nothing had changed, like nothing had happened.
"Ryan..."
***
"No let me finish," Ryan said holding up a hand to silence her. He had to do this, he hated seeing her so unhappy. She was such a good person. "Sis I was wondering what had happened with you 2 the night he left but DANA it really doesn't matter. What does is that you 2 have a chance to be together now and I think you should take it."
"Tell me something?" Her tone didn't sound pissed and he was relieved, she was not someone he wanted to piss off.
"What's that?" he asked brushing hair from her forehead.
"How did you get to be such a smart guy?" She asked and he smirked.
"Watching you." He said and his eyes seemed to go distant a moment before he added.
***
"Dana do you remember when I first came back and the nightmares started up?" Ryun asked and she nodded. She had never been able to forget that. It was as she'd felt when he stayed up with her.
"Yeah, I heard you crying in the hall."
"What did you do?" Her mind raced for a second, what did he want, then she smiled slowly.
"I put my old sleeping bag on the floor by your bed."
"Yes, even without saying a word you knew and showed you cared." She liked when he talked to her like this, even when he was being all big brotherly. It was something she'd never thought she'd have. Now she doubted she'd ever get rid of it.
"You've done the same Ryan, more times than..."she began but he cut her off.
"That's not the point, Dana, what is is that some times it's not what you say but what you do." With that he kissed her cheek and strode from the room.
***
Well, Grayson that went really well, Carter told himself. In annoyance as he moved into his darkened office. He'd gone right to Dana's room and what had happened? She'd been surrounded by the whole gang minus the Rawlings'. Then she'd acted like he was just her boss. He knew she was trying to make things right for he and the new team right off the bat but it still erked him. He'd been half crazy to get home and what happened? She didn't even say hi. No it was Captain Grayson.
In a rare show of temper Carter gave his trash can a vicious kick. Had he been wrong did the other night mean nothing more than a few kisses and... No, he'd not believe that. Dana wouldn't kiss anyone she didn't have feelings for let alone sleep beside him. Easing into his seat he dove into the updates on the new team as a distraction.
***
Ok, she'd been wrong, she didn't feel so well, Dana mused as she sighed and reached for the wall with her free hand. Some of the herbal tea sloshed over the trey she clutched to her with the other arm.
"Come on… You can do this, just..." She took another step and then was in the doorway. She could see the light and was glad, he'd come here after all. She didn't know if she could get back down the hall just then. She was so dizzy. Still she was going to give this to Carter.
***
The slight breathing had Carter looking up and the sight that met his eyes robbing him of his breath. There in the doorway stood Dana, her blonde hair glowing in the lamp light, her face...
"Dana!" He was on his feet and catching the trey as she swayed. "Dana what are you doing up? You should be..."
"I wanted to be sure you eat something. You've busy." She said and the blush that came to her cheeks only made her seem all the more pale.
"Dana I'm fine. Here let's sit you down a minute."
"Ok." She let him lead her to a chair and then sat in the one beside it.
"Thank you I didn't realize just how right Ryan and the doctor were." Dana said wanly and he frowned.
"There's just one thing I don't understand, you were really hurt why aren't you still in the hospital?"
"Because I threatened to walk out if I was not allowed to go."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
"Well," Dana blushed. "I threatened to leave the country."
"Y..." Carter's eyes widened. Then he saw the humor in her blue eyes and smiled.
"Actually I'm healing pretty fast. I still have to take it easy though. I'm on bed rest till tomorrow and then..."
"And you're out roaming the halls." He frown.
"You have to eat."
"Dana, I'm 23 years old, I can take care of myself."
"I know but Carter you have to be exhausted and..."
"Dana..."
"Good you found her, I got worried when I went down to look in' on her and she was gone." Angela said and Dana blushed. Carter didn't though.
"Yes, she um, came to bring me dinner."
"Oh, well I need to check her vitals."
"I'm the doctor here." Dana grouched as she stood so the scientist could check her heart, breathing and blood pressure.
"Yes, well right now you're the patient."
"I hate being sick."
"Then remember the next time you go into a flaming building." Carter said and she sighed.
"You'd have done the same thing."
"True but I'm a fire fighter."
"And I save lives, there were people in there I had to save." Dana shot back.
"Still you should have looked for more exits."
"Well, I was a bit more concerned with saving the child."
"Dana, you can't save anyone if you're dead thanks to the flames."
"Alright children, Dana you should head back to your room."
"I'll take her." Carter said before Angela could move to help. She just nodded and left.
"Now about that back." He said and she sighed.
"It's still there." She said flippantly.
"Obviously, but Dana how bad is it now?"
"Bad. Without the powers it would have taken about six months for it to heal, so a few days I guess isn't so bad really." Carter's stomach lurched at the thought of the damage he knew had been done. He'd seen those kinds of burns, they were not pretty. Now, he wanted to hug her to him, for both the attempt to take care of him, which it was, he knew and the pain she had to be in. She was just so amazing. He settled for reaching out to touch her cheek.
"Never scare me like that again."
"You were scared?"
"Yes, my girlfriend nearly died and I was half way to the moon. I was terrified."
"Oh..." She wanted to hug him but her back, besides what would he do? Did this mean, did he just call her his girlfriend? She didn't say a word remembering Ryan's words; an acts were more vivid than words.
Reaching up she caught his hand on her cheek and brought it to her lips, pressing a soft kiss into his palm.
"Dana?"
"I missed you." She said softly and felt again the loss she'd felt when he'd ended the transmission.
"I…' Carter couldn't stop himself then, pressing his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
Dana felt herself melting, her body going fluid, and she sighed and slid an arm around his neck to pull him a little closer.
"Can I take that to mean you missed me too?" She asked breathlessly when they pulled apart and he laughed also out of g\breath.
"Yeah." And she kissed him again.
"Carter man…'
"The pair pulled apart as Ryan came in and Dana blushed hiding her face in Carter's shirt.
"Oops."
"What did you need?"
"I just wanted to say you better not hurt my little sister." Ryan said and then he was gone as quickly as he'd come.
"Now then where were we?"
"I was just about to put you back to bed."
"Carter…"
"Dana, you taxed yourself enough, walking down here. You will be up and around in no time but right now you're going to rest."
***
Carter lay Dana gently on her belly on the bed and she sighed.
"Thanks." How was it until tonight she'd been ok? Sure there had been pain but now she felt completely drained.
"Right, now why don't you get settled?" He said and prepared to pull the sheets over her.
"And I thought Ryan was bossy." She laughed even as she shifted so she would only lay on the left side of the bed.
"What I am," Carter said matter-of-factly. "Is not going to lose you now so you're going to do what you're told."
"Fine but you have to stay." She said catching his arm as he moved to carefully tuck her in.
"Dana…" He began but she shook her head.
"If you don't I'll get up and come after you." She said sweetly and he sighed.
"Dana, you need to rest and…"
"I was really scared." She said quietly and that did it. He was moving to the left side of the bed, kicking off his shoes. He knew how it had felt, watching helplessly as she stood on the ledge, watching the glass explode and thinking she'd die. For her it had to have been horrible. to be there, the only one capable in the whole situation. He hoped to God she'd never have to go through that again.
"How are we going to do this?" Dana asked and Carter had to think a minute.
"Here." He adjusted her so she was laing on her belly but half atop him. At least that way she'd know he was there. And just like that they both drifted off to sleep.
TBC
***
another chapter finished. I hope you liked it.
Also I wanted to thank those who are still reading this. I am glad you like it so well. It's my favorite of the stories IU'm working on. I'm even considering making a sequel, ryan deserves his own story don't you think? PLZ R&R and let me know what you think about the story andmy idea. .