Tukayyid City Hospital,

Tukayyid,

Free Rasalhague Republic.

Cairo awoke again to find McCoy looking over him, "How you doing lad?" The old tech-sergeant asked. Cairo shrugged, slowly pulling himself up into a seated position, "I've been better." He saw the look of concern on the other man's face, "Ok, what happened?" McCoy sighed, "You, we, have a visitor." Cairo blinked, "Who?"

"That would be me." A voice called from the doorway. Cairo looked round to see a face from his past: Lt. Élan Fraiser, her LADF uniform neatly pressed. She smiled tightly, "It's good to see you again Steven. It has been a while: a lot longer than it should have been." Cairo nodded, knowing what was coming next, "So command sent you to bring me back." Fraiser stepped forward, handing over a piece of paper, "You are officially ordered to return to Los Alamos on the first availably transport."

Cairo nodded, "I take it there will be charges." Fraiser handed over a second sheet of paper, "Here is the list, but they will no doubt add dereliction of duty leading to the Death of Lt. Jackson to it when we get home." Cairo scanned the list: dereliction of duty, absent without leave, misuse of LADF property (to wit 1 ON1-K Orion), misuse of LADF funds, failure to obey a direct order to return. The list went on and on. Cairo handed the paper to McCoy, "Look's like they are really going to throw the book at me. You must be very happy Élan."

Fraiser glared at him, "You've brought this upon yourself Steven." She brought herself to full attention, "Lt. Steven Clark, I do hear for charge you with the offences listed on the document before you, and place you under arrest until such time you can e returned to Los Alamos for trial. You have the right to select an officer to stand as you defence council. If there is any particular officer you want, please request them as soon as possible." Cairo smiled, "And what if I ask for you?" Fraiser smiled, "That would be impossible: I'm the prosecution."

"What the hell is going on?" Sinead asked from the doorway, her voice still groggy. Fraiser looked at her, "And you are?" Cairo's voice was flat and low, "She's my wife. Sinead, this is Lt. Élan Fraiser of the Los Alamos Defence Force. Élan, this is my wife, Sinead." Fraiser looked at the other woman like she was something to be scraped off the bottom of her shoe, "So you're the one mentioned in the reports, the mercenary spy." Cairo's eyes narrowed, "Back off Élan: she is a higher ranking officer than you, and you will treat her with respect."

Fraiser looked down at him, "Like I should you, Major? Don't try that bullshit with me Steven. There is a DropShip leaving for Luthien in two days: we will be on it. Your 'wife' can decide whether to stay or accompany us." Cairo looked at Sinead then McCoy, before turning back to Fraiser, "I resign. My commission, I resign it forthwith, and willingly revoke my claim to citizenship of Los Alamos. McCoy and the others can go back with you: they where following my orders, she no charges can be brought against them."

McCoy blinked, "Now you just wait a minute there lad, I'll make my own decisions." Cairo shook his head, "You have a family to go back to Shamus, I don't. Take the others home. See that granddaughter of yours. I refused a direct order to return after I killed Cain." McCoy blinked, "I never heard about that." Cairo shook his head, "You wouldn't: It was encoded so that only Paul and me could read it. I told him to take the Wataru and head home, but he refused. I knew that if I told you and the others that you'd do the same. I was worried that something like this might happen, so we didn't tell you." Fraiser scowled, "Very well Steven, if that is the way you want it, it'll save us the cost of a court marshal." She turned to face McCoy, "Be on the DropShip in two days or I will shoot you as a deserter." She span on her heel and left.

Sinead sat on the edge of the bed, "I take it she doesn't like you." Cairo rubbed his head, "We went through the academy together; we where even friends. She wanted to take it further, I didn't, and she felt rejected. Ever since then she's been looking for a way to get even with me." McCoy shook his head, "She may be an officer, but she's no lady, I'll tell you that."

Cairo pulled his wife down into his arms, "How are you doing?" Sinead smiled, resting her head on his shoulder, "I've been better."

To Be Continued