Disclaimer: I own none of these characters except Ryan
Okay, now this is the part where things change dramatically. This story is up to part 15, and I am probably going to wrap it up soon
Part Four – Tragedy
Now twenty-one, and almost finished at the naval academy, Meg was getting excited about being in the navy. She was going to go straight into law school after her two years as an ensign, which would mean she would be a lieutenant junior grade at twenty-five, or twenty-six. Meg smiled to herself as she walked down to watch the baseball game of the week. Suddenly Meg slipped on the stairs, falling all the way to the bottom, getting knocked around badly. When she came to rest in a heap at the bottom, she was unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.
"Meg?" Angela called, searching the grounds for her. She hadn't turned up for the game, and Angela was worried. Today was the first time in months she had pried Meg away from her studies, and now something didn't feel right. Angela ventured down the same stairs as Meg, and practically bolted down when she saw Meg lying at the bottom.
"Meg!" Angela fell to her knees beside Meg, and yelled to whoever was around for help. Midshipman Ryan Clemens came running down, and scooped Meg up.
"Angela, what happened?" he asked her as they took Meg quickly to sick bay. Angela shrugged.
"I don't know, she hadn't turned up to the game, so I came looking for her – I got worried."
Ryan bit his lip as he tentatively wound his jacket around Meg's head.
"All right, let's get her to the doctor. You can call her family when we know something,"
The doctors fussed over Meg, cleaning her head wound, stitching it up and then attending to her other wounds. Ryan and Angela sat outside waiting anxiously for news on their friend. Angela played over in her mind how she would tell Mrs Austin when a doctor came out.
"Midshipman Austin is stable. It'll be another day or so before she wakes up, but the good news is there is no permanent damage, and she is not comatose. The Academy will inform her family so you don't need to worry about that. You can go in and see her now."
Angela and Ryan entered Meg's room. Breathing alone, with an IV drip in her hand, Meg was sleeping. Angela took Meg's hand.
"Hey sweetie, your mom should be here soon…" Angela trailed off, sitting deeply in thought.
"Angela? Are you okay?" Ryan asked her, rubbing Meg's other hand. He hardly knew her, but was still concerned about her welfare.
"There is someone I need to contact," and she swept out of the room, Ryan behind her.
A few days later Meg was awake and being hugged and smothered by her mother and Ollie.
"Mom, I am fine!" Meg objected as her mother tried to coax some food into her. "I ate before you came, I am not hungry."
"Meg, listen to your mother," Ollie said gently. "She only wants what is best for you; as do I."
Mrs Austin hugged her daughter. "Oh Meg, I'm glad you're okay!"
"I slipped mom, no big deal." Meg pushed her mother away. "I'm tired," Meg snapped at them, pulling the covers up over her. Her mother, Ollie and Angela left then, and ten minutes later Harm entered.
"Meg?" he asked gently, having been sent back from the carrier urgently upon hearing she was hurt. Meg looked at him quizzically.
"I'm sorry have we met?" Meg asked innocently, not recognising him.
"Meg, Meg, its me -- Harm!"
Meg shook her head. "I don't think I know you sir," she said upon seeing his lieutenant's uniform. Harm sighed in resignation.
"Well, get well soon Meg." He half-waved and left the room, leaving Meg very confused.
When Meg returned to her room with Angela three days later, she saw the picture of Harm on her bed side table. Afraid and confused, she grabbed it, staring at it for some time. Who is he? Meg asked herself as she sat on her bed tearfully. Shaking, she thrust the picture into a drawer, and Angela turned away as Meg got into bed, pulling the covers over her, crying softly.
TBC