Disclaimer etc: Not mine. Getting less so all the time.
A/N: We are in Zion. Pretty. Shadow gets some bad news. Be sad for Shadow. Uncomfortable silence ensues.
He got his own apartment. It was a tiny, cramped little place, partly burrowed into the solid wall of the well, but it was all his. And soundproofed.
The bed was a lot more comfortable that the thin mattress on board ship. He'd sleep well for the next few nights. They would be staying in Zion for at least a few days, maybe as much as a week. Not just to find out if Shadow would be well enough to keep serving on board, but to give the rest of the crew a break, let them spend some time with family and friends. Lacking somewhat in family and friends, Allan was left to himself.
So he lay on his side in his tiny, bare little apartment and thought about Shadow. About the trust in her eyes when she said she felt safe around him. He was such a stupid little newbie. Why in hell should she trust him?
Somewhere during that evening, he drifted off to sleep. Dreamt of her, and woke up with hard (ahem) evidence that his hormones were once more working fine.
After returning from the bathroom, he lay on his back on the bed and thought. She'd probably be out of surgery by now. They had taken her off the minute they had arrived and he hadn't seen her since. He dug through his mental files on Zion for the medical section, finding it easily. He rolled off his bed and started for the door.
Before he could reach it, a knock sounded. It was Jump, with a slim, worn-looking woman and a little girl of about ten. "Allan, my man, this is Byte," he indicated the woman, "and Bit, my daughter." Byte reached out a hand to be shaken. As he did so, he noted she had plugs in her arms.
Bit hid behind Jump, peering out around his hip. "Hey, we were just going to visit Shadow. You coming?" asked Jump, hugging the girl.
"For sure," replied Allan, relieved.
They made their slow way to the elevator. Jump and Byte were holding hands as they walked ahead, and Bit soon overcame her shyness and gazed up at Allan unabashedly. "Hi," he said uncertainly.
"Are you Shadow's friend?" she asked as they reached the elevator.
"I guess so," he replied. "I haven't really known her that long."
The girl nodded. "She's my friend," she said determinedly. "She used to babysit me when Mom had to work and Daddy was on the ship." The girl went quiet. "I hope she's okay."
"I'm sure she will be," said Allan as the elevator door closed. "She's very brave."
Bit nodded. "I know. She taught me how to fight. Most people won't bother with you if you can't plug in, but she taught me anyway. The hard way."
"That was good of her," said Allan.
They reached the medical level. It looked just like all the others, but Jump set off as if he knew where he was going. The others trailed after him, and after a few steps, Bit slipped her small hand into Allan's and started to swing it as she walked.
Shadow was sitting on the edge of her bed, in a long, low room filled with such beds, talking to another man with a grim expression on her face. Her left hand was in a chunky cast to the elbow.
"Shadow!" shrieked Bit, running towards her. She forgot to let go of Allan's hand first, and pulled him along in her wake. The child flung herself onto Shadow, who caught her awkwardly, one-handed, holding the cast clear.
"Hiya, Bits. How are you doing?"
"I'm good," replied the girl, settling in her lap. "How's your hand?"
"Sore," replied Shadow with a grimace. "Hey, Allan."
"Hey," he answered. "What's the verdict?"
She sighed and shook her head. "Probably be okay. But I'm not going to be fit for active shipboard duty for at least two months. Right, Doc?" She directed this question at the man she had been talking to, a man of medium build with the most startlingly blue eyes Allan had ever seen.
"Correct," he said regretfully. "I can't allow you serve on board a ship for at least eight or nine weeks. You need to stay in the city for a while." She slumped, cradling Bit, as Jump and Byte approached.
"Bad news?" asked Byte. She nodded.
"I'm off ship for a couple of months."
Jump frowned. "Damn, girl."
Shadow sighed, leaning back onto the bed, shifting Bit's slight weight in her lap. "It's so stupid, you know? I got my freaking hand jammed in a door and now I'm down for two months. This sucks."
"Two months?" came Munin's deep voice. He walked over from the entrance, frowning thunderously. "You're going to be down for two whole months?" Shadow nodded meekly. Munin sighed. "Damn." He shook his head and turned to Allan. "You know you'll have to take up the slack," he said firmly. It was not a voice you could say no to.
"Yessir," said Allan meekly. With a last irritated grimace, he nodded to Byte and left.
Jump sat down on the edge of the bed and noticed Shadow's despondent expression. "Don't mind him, honey. He's just a bear."
"I know," she said. 'It's my own stupid fault."
"Don't be sad," said Bit hopefully. "You can come and stay with us, can't she Mom?"
Byte smiled. "Or you could go and stay with her while your dad's home, honey."
Bit lit up at that idea while Shadow and Allan valiantly attempted to stifle grins. Jump nudged his wife with a reprimanding look doing nothing to hide his 'Hmm, there's an idea….' reaction.
"Can I, Shadow? Can I?"
"Sure, sweetie, but I gotta get out of this place first."
"Oh, that should be okay," said Doc. "You're free to go. Come back every couple of days for a check-up, but you know the drill, right?"
"Yep." She hopped off the bed and put Bit down. Jump picked up her bags from the floor. Shadow looked for a moment as though she were about to protest that she could carry it herself, but didn't, instead taking Bit's hand. With her other hand, Bit grabbed hold of Allan, and he grinned at Shadow over her head. She smiled back, acknowledging the weirdness of the situation.
They moved to the elevator, letting Bit's chatter fill the silence. Upon reaching their level, Jump and Byte took the excited child firmly away to pack some things for her. Shadow and Allan walked calmly down the walkway until they reached his apartment.
"I'm just three doors down thataway," she said, pointing. "If you need anything, just come and bang on the door." "Thanks," he said, and watched her walk away, carrying her heavy bag. He shook his head and went back inside.
A/N Er… that was pointless. Next one will be better, promise! *puppy eyes* Review!
