Thank you a lot to the readers, cant wait to continue this story, my pleasure will be yours :)
They'd planned everything and when Mike announced who was deployed on the field, she silently swallowed her anger and frustration. She noticed she was more easily annoyed now, due to the hormones. And she knew it was for her health and the baby's one, but she couldn't help herself being sad of being left off vulture team. She missed action, staying on the ship to run the mission wasn't as exciting as executing the orders for real.
She dared looking at Tom who was already staring at her, and every traits on his face were clear. Try me. She knew she had 0 chances to convince him, or Mike. She knew she was lucky to be allowed on the bridge. Carrying Tom's child was a blessing because she was nearly 40's so her countdown to be a mom had already started well. But that was also some concessions to make. And she did realize them only past second trimester.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear Mike last sentence "that is all. Do your best." Tom joined her and put his hand on her arm.
They silently exchanged some reassuring words, and he left to get ready with the rest of the team. She just hoped he would be careful and come back to her alive. She loved being deployed with him and the others, and at least they were always catching the other's back. Even if they didn't need it that much, they were well trained and the best in their jobs, nothing was able to stop them.
Few hours passed and the mission was running well. They had to investigates an island to discover what Omar's and Giorgio business was. And what they were trying to hide. It seemed too quiet to be normal and none of them believed the official story.
« Vulture team heading to the south of the island, get on your positions, over »
They continued their exploration, rifles ready, having a weird feeling growing into them, like something wasn't normal at all.
Back on the ship, Sasha was bitting her nails, unable to stay put. She was fully black dressed, trying her best to hide her pregnancy shapes. She really wanted to be as normal as possible, she knew the crew wouldn't speak out loud on Tom and her, but she didn't want to expose her 'failure to the rules' in front of them everyday.
She was following the red signal on the screen when she felt a new kick in her stomach, harder than the ones who woke her up the previous nights. She barely had time to recover from the first that she felt the second one in her ribs, and this time she couldn't keep for herself the moaning pain.
"Please excuse me" she said, going out on the deck, wanting to handle this alone, and not being a burden to the other ones.
She thought fresh air would make her feel better but instead, it made her feel more nauseous. Her hands gripped the barrier in from of her, so hard that her fists were almost white. She was bitting her lower lip when she heard a voice behind her.
"You okay Sasha ?"
It was Mike. He saw her leaving the bridge and obviously noticed that something was going on. She'd always been fierce and strong, and this morning she looked pale and tired. Something was definitely up but he didn't know what. Tom had talked to him on the way to the helo bay and asked him to keep a light eye on her during his absence, because this morning got him kinda worried. And his friend was right, Sasha wasn't herself today.
She nodded, knowing Tom asked him to keep an eye on her and knowing he would tell him everything once vulture team would be back on the ship. She just didn't want him to be worried.
"Yes nothing to worry I'm just..."
Tom's child gave another kick and this time Sasha couldn't contain the grimace. That was freaking painful, and it usually never happened during the day. She tried to keep up, but it didn't last long before she fell on her knees in front of him, feeling some wetness between her legs. What he saw made his blood froze, his friend was in a visible pain and he didn't know what to do to help her.
She looked down and what she saw terrified her, her pants were wet, and bloody.
"I...huh... mike, please don't tell Tom about it, it's gonna be fine"
Her face was literally screaming the opposite of what her mouth was saying. She was in a lot of pain and he could see that. But she was stubborn and wasn't even able to admit when she was in danger.
"Sorry Sasha, I've made a promise and I want to live" he said. Today he would take madness rather than something worst, he couldn't imagine how they would be devastated if something would happens to the baby. Or even to Sasha, Tom would kill him, get him back to life only to kill him again after torturing him for several hours. Definitely not an option for Mike who raised his voice to alert people on the bridge. "I need doctor Rios on the deck, now!"
Tom had juste returned from the island, and was taking off his gear and guns in the helo bay, highly satisfied of being back with all of his team. Losses were terrible and that was hard to continue the fight, even if continuing was the best way to honour their memories. He still had nightmares about all the men he'd lost during the last years, those names still haunted him. O'Connor, Cruz, Rachel, Kudelski, Frankie and so much more. They gave their lives fighting for a better world, they left behind them families, friends, a devoted crew. And even though he knew that was impossible, Tom's biggest wish was to stop the losses.
He was about to go to the wardroom where the debriefing would take place when he saw Mike coming. And he didn't like the look he saw on his face. Something had happened and he wasn't there.
"Don't tell me its Sasha" he started, afraid of hearing his friend confirm his fears. And unfortunately, Mike nodded. His face looked serious, and worried at the same time.
"Maybe its time to ask the government to send her back to St Louis, at least until she give birth and get some rest. Im worried about her Tom."
So was he. Mike paused, like if he was searching the right words. "She felt sick few hours again, and when I checked on her she seemed to feel better. Until I saw blood running down and between her legs…." He immediately saw the panic in his friend's eyes. "Don't worry she's fine now, it was the start of a placental abruption but Doctor Rios stopped it at the right moment, he is taking care of her and your baby's heart is still beating."
"Jesus, why did it happened the day I wasn't here for her. I knew something was up to this morning, she wasn't feeling well and told me not to worry, that she would check herself to the infirmary if something was wrong. And I've listened to her because I didn't want to argue with her, god damn it!" He was furious at him for not insisting, furious that she was still too stubborn even after all those years, furious that he wasn't there for her and the child, he couldn't imagine loosing them, not now.
"I'll go check on her and I see you later in the wardroom, start the meeting without me."
He left the helo bay and once he reached the door, he stopped and softly spoke. "Thanks Mike", then he left and almost ran to the infirmary.
Sasha was laying down in bed, on a fetal position. She looked pale and tired, just like Mike had described her. One of her hand was on her lower bump, softly caressing it, just like she was cuddling the baby. When she saw Tom, she knew he was going to tell her that she was irresponsible. But she also saw how relieved he felt, to see her alive.
"Don't be upset, I didn't mean to." She started, as he silently approached the bed, grabbing a chair to sit next to her. He wasn't talking, just looking at her. She got scared, and realised how much she wanted this baby with him, probably the only one she would have in her life.
"I….I thought I was losing him…" The sadness in her voice broke his heart. How could he be still upset at her when she was grabbing his feelings this way ? He took her hand in his and slowly kissed it, eyes closed.
"God damn Sasha, I really can't leave you….." He whispered for himself, eyes still closed. "I can't even imagine what would've happened if…" The words stayed stuck in his throat. "How do you want this little one to behave if even her mother can't ?" He asked, more for himself than for her.
"Her ?" She finally said, trying to relax the atmosphere, because she knew him and knew that even if he didn't say much now, he would keep it mind, and think about the if for several days. He finally opened his eyes and locked his regard on hers. "I don't know why I imagine a mini Sasha running around, giving us all the trouble possible, being stubborn and unafraid of everything, beside of being beautiful and courageous like her mom…"
She felt a tear slowly running down her cheek, damn hormones. But he always knew the words to confort her, as much as he knew how to hurt her, he knew how to fix her. She never stopped having feeling for him, even when he left the crew for sixteen months. When he left her…. She was broken, and didn't think she could get up again.
But she did and after what seemed eternity, they decided to have a fresh start. "And what about a mini Tom ?" She softly asked, a smile on her lips, her piercing blue eyes looking at him with love. He didn't answer, but kissed her forehead, relieved to know she was fine, and so was their child. "Boy or girl, I'll be the happiest ever. And I know Sam and Ashley will be happy to welcome this little one into our family."
Thats what she needed to hear, for so long she had been scared that Tom's kids wouldn't like her, would reject her because she wasn't Darien, because she was the new woman in their dad's heart and life. But they didn't hate her, Ashley had been less enthusiastic than Sam but she still welcomed her, happy to finally have a feminine presence in the house. Sometimes, it was too hard for her to be alone with a brother and a dad. Even though she 'd never really told Tom about it.
Sasha quickly fell asleep, relaxed, knowing that Tom was back to her alive, and knowing that their child would live. God, she got so scared today, even if she didn't want to admit it out loud. Tom stayed with her few minutes again, and when she was fully sleeping, he left to join the other ones in the wardroom.