Peaceful

Chapter 7

"The baby has moved into position and I imagine he will be ready to go within a few weeks. I wish he would stay in longer but it's close to time." Dr. Summers said. Mike nodded in response and squeezed Christine's hand.

"Will he be okay?" Christine asked.

"Lower birth rate but he'll be at term, or as near as we can figure. His lungs will be just fine." Dr. Summers answered.

"And she'll be alright?" Mike asked.

"Yes. I will want to move the birth along as quickly as possible, because you don't have the reserves for a long, drawn out labor, but I think they will both be okay. I am prescribing you some vitamins that will help build up your system, Mrs. Slattery." Dr. Summers said.

"Good." Christine said. Dr. Summers cleaned the jelly off of her abdomen and Mike helped her sit up.

"Just be prepared. It really could be anytime once you start having contractions." Dr. Summers told her.

"Fortunately, my labors were always pretty quick too. Mike; you ready?" Christine asked. She could tell something was bothering him but couldn't figure it out. It was like they were strangers now.

"I am." Mike answered. Dr. Summers handed him the prescription and shook both their hands.

"Same day and time next week?" The nurse asked and Christine nodded in response. She was handed the appointment time and they left the office.

"Do you have to get back to the office immediately?" Christine asked Mike.

"No, I took the rest of the day off." Mike answered as he helped her into the truck. She wanted to suggest going for lunch but she didn't want to cost Mike more money.

"You know, Sasha said she could stay the afternoon with the girls. If you wanted to do something…?" Christine hinted once he settled in the driver's seat.

"I figured you would want to get back to the girls." Mike remarked.

"I…do, but I would also like to spend a bit of time with you. We've barely talked this week." Christine said.

"Just been busy with work so that I can take two weeks off when you have the baby. And trying to ensure that I can avoid deployment until after Christmas and Hannah's birthday." Mike answered.

"I see." Christine answered. She looked away, so he didn't see the tears that were threatening to overflow.

"So, home then?" Mike asked.

"Mike…I was gone a long time. Really a long time. You are very powerful now and…I suppose I am wondering…did you ever…find someone else? A girlfriend…lover? Someone you care about? You have been amazing to me, but if there is someone else you care about, I don't want to hold you back." Christine asked. She even shocked herself, and she was terrified Mike would be angry.

"No." Mike answered simply as he maneuvered the truck through traffic. She had expected more of an answer.

"Just no, huh?" Christine finally asked.

"Yes, just no. There have been opportunities but I never strayed. I would have died alone. Will probably die alone anyways, because my wife and daughters sure as hell don't touch me. You all hesitate and I know enough not to initiate it." Mike said. Now Christine was really shocked.

"Mike…it'll take time. I understand that it is hard for you right now, but I need you to know how much we love you and how we appreciate everything you have done for us. You will never be alone. Will it be perfect? No. There will be hang-ups and moments that we panic, but I assure you, there is no one we would rather have in our corner than you. I don't really know how to at the moment, but I do want a marriage with you where we are intimate, both physically and emotionally. It'll just take time." Christine told him as she squeezed his hand on the console. It was the limit to their physical contact.

"And I don't deserve it." Mike said. She must have looked at him in complete confusion, because he continued. "I choose to go back to the ship. I could have kept searching. Everyone would have understood. But I went back and you three went through hell." Mike said.

"Oh, Mike. This is not your fault. I don't blame you and neither do the girls. But, the problem isn't us blaming you. Its you blaming you. And I don't know how to help you with that, but I do want you to know we don't blame you and we do love you." Christine told him. Mike blaming himself would be the crux of their problems from that day forward. She picked his hand up off the console and kissed it, not knowing how else to show him affection. Could she hug him and not be reminded of all the things that had been done to her? It was Mike after all.