Mistakes
Chapter 9
Mike groaned in pain. They'd done a second surgery to resect something or other in Germany and he was tired constantly, but he had made it very clear that he needed to be able to walk himself, and go to the bathroom without any medical assistance. So far, so good. He had been in communication with President Reiss and would be transported back to the States as quickly as a transport plane become available. It wouldn't be a pleasant trip but Russ would be accompany him.
Captain Gray had been arrested and would be court martialed. Three men had ended up dying and the Mitchener would have to be hauled in due to damage. Thankfully, it hadn't sunk but if Mike hadn't given the order to abandon ship; more men would have died because it would have been shelled even further. Still, Mike blamed himself for the three that had died and the dozens of injured. If they hadn't been on the deck, they wouldn't have been hurt. His logic was flawed and he knew it; but he didn't feel right about any of it. One day; approximately a week after he had been shot; Russ walked in with a smile.
"So; transport plane will be chauffeuring you and I stateside late tonight. It won't be a pleasant or comfortable ride for you, but by breakfast; you might be seeing your baby girl." Russ told him.
"That will be the bright spot." Mike remarked. Russ knew how he felt and the guilt that was growing.
"Hey; you did everything right, and you are being heralded as a hero. You saved hundreds of lives. If there was wrongdoing, it was on Captain Gray's part. You and I couldn't just take over command without they're being major issues. And you had worked eighteen hours before you laid down for a short nap. As soon as we were both away from the bridge; he took the ship off Em-Comm, which led to the Russians finding us." Russ explained. It was all true. Every single bit, but that didn't make it any easier.
"That's not going to bring those three men back." Mike insisted.
"No, it won't. But you can carry on. If this is a career ender; you can go home and be a dad again. Work things out with Maddie. If you still stay in; you can use their deaths to train others not to do what Captain Gray did. In the meantime; go home and enjoy that baby. As worried as Maddie has been, she will help you and she has already said you are staying with her and the baby. She was adamant." Russ said.
"She has every reason in the world not to do that." Mike remarked.
"And she has one good reason to. She cares about you. Even loves you. And more than anything; she wants you in Molly's life. You are allowed happiness. Now; I am going to talk to the nurse and see what all needs to be done to get you on that plane and to Maddie's tomorrow." Russ said before walking out. Mike could only groan in response.
He spent the day sleeping and undergoing tests to make sure he was healthy enough to not be admitted to a stateside hospital. Russ would have to give Maddie a tutorial on his bandaging and medications and Mike would have to be careful, but for the next several weeks; he would only be lifting a baby girl anyways.
The C-130 was not comfortable, but thankfully or not, Mike was not the only injured man on it, so the crew was a bit more understanding and supplied pillows when Mike and the others needed it. Finally; about dawn, they landed. Due to the early hour, there was no media around and Mike was able to depart with no fanfare, which he was thankful for. Kara and Danny led him and Russ to an SUV that Maddie jumped out of.
"I was so worried about you!" Maddie said. She wrapped him in a gentle hug, and for the first time in a long time, Mike just allowed it. It felt good and he was tired. He needed to lean against her.
"The baby?" Mike asked quietly.
"My mom has her. I wanted to bring her, but its kind of windy out here." Maddie explained.
"Probably wise." Mike said.
"Let's get you home." Maddie said as she helped him into the SUV.
"I am so tired." Mike admitted. Danny and Kara were in the front, and Russ was on one side, and Maddie on the other.
"You can rest for a bit." Maddie answered. Mike wasn't sure how or when but he did fall asleep, not waking up until Danny pulled into the parking garage that belonged to Maddie's building. Thankfully, Mike wouldn't have to contend with any steps; like he would at his own apartment.
"Sir; Admiral Chandler went to your place and got you somethings for here. If you need more; we can figure that out." Danny explained. He and Russ helped Mike out of the SUV, which was not easy. Finally; they were mobile again and were in the elevator.
"And you'll have my bedroom. Mom and I will bunk together with Molly." Maddie told him. Mike was a bit surprised by that, but he was just glad to be close to Molly. Finally, he was helped into Maddie's apartment, and headed for her couch, not feeling up to much else. An unfamiliar woman, who looked a lot like Maddie walked in from one of the bedrooms and handed Molly a baby, wrapped in a swaddle.
"She's fed, changed, and burped. Ready to meet her daddy." The woman said.
"Mike; this is my mom, Teresa. She's been helping me with Molly." Maddie explained. Teresa leaned down and shook Mike's hand.
"Its nice to finally meet you, but you clearly would rather meet Molly." Teresa said with a smile.
"Here you go." Maddie said. She gently put Molly in Mike's arms. The baby was awake and as soon as she focused on Mike, her face crinkled up; but then she smiled at him. A rush of emotions came up and Mike was doing his best to fight back tears. Danny, Kara, Russ and Teresa were all in the kitchen, but Maddie sat down next to him and rubbed his arm.
"She's so perfect." Mike said. He knew the emotion was cracking through, but he didn't care.
"She likes you. She doesn't smile at anyone else." Maddie said.
"She and I are going to be recovery buddies. She doesn't have anything to recover from but she'll keep me from overdoing." Mike remarked.
"She is good like that. Mom said she's a cuddler. She loves to be held." Maddie told him as she stood up.
"Good. Thank you for letting me stay here. You had every reason not to." Mike said.
"Ah, its good for you and Molly both. Just relax. Nothing you have to do right now." Maddie answered. She walked away and Mike looked back down at Molly, who was falling asleep. Since he was basically alone, he let the tears fall finally. And Molly just absorbed them.
