A/N: I'm still working on this. It's been slow but I haven't given it up yet! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Previously:

He allowed me to guide him for a few steps before he stopped and pulled out of my hold. He took a step away and asked again, "Theron," his breathing growing more rapid and shallow as his anxiety skyrocketed. "If you're here," he managed between ragged breaths, "then is he... ," Zane trailed off, shaking his head. He took another step back and tried to sit down on the edge of the bed but missed, sliding to the floor instead, dazed and devastated. He finally reached the only conclusion that he could with the information that he had. Theron wasn't here, I was and no one would tell him what was going on. .

"Oh god. Dead—Theron's dead."

Taking Down a Fortress

Chapter 15

Jace's POV

"Oh god. Dead—Theron's dead."

Zane bowed his head and covered his face with his free hand, and finally his shoulders silently started to shake as his grief overwhelmed him.

For a moment everyone was frozen in shock at the sudden turn in the situation as the emotions in the room swung from one extreme to the other.

Jayd came out of it first and cleared the room of onlookers. "Everyone out," his tone left no room for argument. No one need to see their Commander break down, even if it was understandable.

I nodded my thanks to the doctor as we knelt down next to my son's grief stricken partner, one on each side of him.

"Commander." Jayd tried as he gently laid a hand on the man's shoulder. "Listen to me."

Zane just shook his head and refused to look up, as his shoulders continued to shake with sobs. He was drowning in his grief.

When that failed, I tried to get the younger man's attention. "Zane," I called from his other side, a note of command still in my voice.

After a moment, his shoulders quit shaking and he took a deep breath before looking up and meeting my gaze. His eyes were filled with pain and grief for my son's, his mate's, supposed death.

I made a motion to the doctor on his other side, "Hear Jayd out."

Without a word, he turned and looked to the man on his other side. As he waited silently for the doctor's explanation, Zane took short, shallow breaths almost panting for air. The pain was close to the surface and threatened to overwhelm him.

"Theron isn't dead."

"He isn't here," Zane argued softly "nothing else would keep him away." He inclined his head towards me. "And Jace is."

"Just listen," I said.

"Theron is alive," Jayd met Zane's gaze, his eyes hard and determined, "I swear it."

With Jayd's words of reassurance, the tension drained from Zane's body and he sagged back against the bed. He looked up and seemed to struggle with tears before he mumbled, "Thank the gods." He took a breath, looked back at the doctor, and asked, "Where is he then?"

When Jayd didn't answer right away, I could see the muscles in Zane's body tense, readying for another fight. None of us need another brawl, so I answered the younger man. "He's been badly injured. I don't know all the details," I looked to Jayd, "...yet...but I do know he's alive and fighting."

"What happened?" Zane asked, adjusting his position a bit and holding on to his arm that was in the sling, "The last I saw him on the shuttle he was fine."

"What do you remember of the mission?" I asked, readying to tell him what I knew.

He wrinkled his nose and made a disgusted face. "Successful but it went fubar." (Fubar is Military slang meaning=Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition)

Before I could say anything, Jayd raised his hand and interrupted us. "Let's get you back up on the bed and I can take a look at your head and shoulder while Jace fills you in." He offered Zane his free hand, "After that I'll fill in any missing details."

Zane took the proffered hand and with a grimace of pain, Jayd helped him to his feet and on to the bed behind him. He sat on the edge of the bed while the doctor got to work, checking him over. He ignored Jayd's ministrations and looked at me. "Go on."

I stood up and stepped back from the bed, giving the doctor some space to work. I crossed my arms across my chest and leaned against a nearby dresser. I took a breath and collected my thoughts. "It definitely went fubar," my face darkened at the thought of Samgir, "but you made it back to the shuttle and escaped before the explosion."

"We did," Zane agreed, voice laced with pain as the doctor took his injured arm out of the sling. "But you still haven't explained how Theron was hurt. There weren't any other other missions planned and he's safe here on the base."

"He should've been," I agreed.

Zane had been watching the doctor and looked up sharply at my words. I could see something dark and angry in his eyes. It promised swift and painful retribution to anyone that harmed his mate. For less than a split second I felt bad for Samgir and Lana but it was ended by the remembered sound of Theron's heart rate monitor flat-lining. "Go on," he said low, tone full of danger.

My own body language reflected Zane's mood and he nodded sharply, acknowledging it. As Jayd continued to work on him, I launched into the story, giving him as many details as I knew about Samgir and the unfair fight, which made Zane growl low in his chest. I went on to explain how Vortena stepped in to try and break it up.

"Sounds like Koth and his crew," Zane said as Jayd carefully moved his arm, checking range of motion and his shoulder.

"That's not the worst part," I informed him, echoing Nico's earlier words to me.

"With no warning, a strong Force wave was used, supposedly in an attempt to end the brawling," my tone was colored by my growing anger.

"Theron was already badly injured from the fist fight," Jayd took over the story as he looked over the injuries to the back of Zane's head. "From what I understand, he wasn't ready when the force wave hit him and it knocked him off his feet." He stepped around and sat down on the bed next to Zane. "When he fell, Theron fell on to a broken metal table."

I watched as every muscle in Zane's body was tensed, his breathing rapid and shallow as he worked to contain his emotions. Concerned for his health, I watched Zane closely as Jayd finished our tale. Zane's emotions seemed to swing madly like a pendulum from one extreme to the other. I knew this last part wouldn't be easy for the younger man. People he trusted had caused mortal harm to Theron, accidental or not.

Jayd was silent for a moment, watching his patient. I'm not sure what he was looking for but he finished, "He was run through by a broken table leg. It tore through his lower back muscles and came out just under his belly button."

All of the blood drained from Zane's face, he was white as a sheet. "How bad?"

"If not for the quick thinking of Ash'dani, a medic who happened to be in the cafeteria, Theron would've bled out before he ever made it to the medical bay," Jayd rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Unable to contain his emotions, Zane closed his eyes and hung his head as silent tears streaked down his face.

"But he made it," I reassured the grieving man, "And Jayd was there."

"I was," the doctor agreed. "My team worked to stabilize him as I contacted Jace. We rushed him to surgery after that."

Zane took a deep breath and let it out slowly, visibly steadying himself. He wiped at his face with the back of his free hand before looking up again. "And?" his voice was rough and grief filled, "How did it go?"

"Between the damage to Theron's body and massive blood loss, I didn't expect him to pull through," Jayd admitted, "And we lost him more than once while he was on the table."

Anger flared and burned through me. I'd nearly lost my son again...and still may...due to someone else's negligence and stupidity. "Frack," I growled as I turned and pulled back my fist, the need to hit was overwhelming. I needed to feel something, anything other than anger, worry and grief.

"Jace!" Jayd shouted but he was too late.

My fist collided with the metal wall, once and twice. Pain surged through my hand and washed away some of the dark emotions weighing me down. Ever since Jayd's fateful holocall, I've had no time or privacy to deal with my pent up feelings about Theron's injuries. This was just the last straw. I punched the wall again. White hot agony burned out the rest of my rage. I rested my undamaged hand against the wall and leaned into it. My chest was heaving and my injured hand throbbed with my heart beat.

"Damn it Malcolm."

I ignored him for now. I slowly breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth, in and out until I could think clearly again. Theron did not die. He was still with us, still fighting.

"Come over here and sit down with Zane, so I can take a look at your hand," Jayd interrupted my thoughts.

I opened an eyes and glanced down at my damaged hand. The skin on the back of it was already turning some vivid colors. There were at least two large lumps already forming under the skin and it was badly swollen. The worst, I was unable to move a few of my fingers. After a last deep breath, I straightened up, walked to the bed, and sat down next to the younger trooper.

"So that's where Theron gets his temper," Zane said as he looked at my hand. "Doc's gonna have your head."

"Wouldn't be the first time," I shrugged.

Zane just shook his head.

Jayd leaned out the door and called to someone I couldn't see. "Genna can you bring me a wrist splint, a wrap, and a sling."

"Right away," a feminine voice answered.

"Thanks," Jayd let the door slide shut as he grabbed a stool, dragged over next to the bed, and sat down on it. He carefully took my injured hand into both of his, making me hiss in pain. "Now where we before Jace decided to go off the rails and mangle his hand again," he said as he continued to examine my hand.

"You lost Theron more than once during surgery," Zane whispered, his voice breaking.

"Right," Jayd reluctantly agreed as he looked up, "but the important part, we got him back each time. He's a fighter and he hasn't given up yet," he held Zane's gaze, "And we won't give up either."

The moment ended when the nurse brought in the requested items. "Here you go doctor."

"Thanks Geena," she handed the supplies to him. "I've got this. Can you see if x-ray has time to take a look at Commander Malcom's hand."

She acknowledged him with a sharp nod before leaving the room again.

"Theron really was incredibly lucky," the doctor continued as he carefully placed the splint against my wrist.

"How do you figure that?" I asked, my tone laced with pain both physical and emotional..

"There was a medic on-scene in the cafeteria to keep anyone from removing the table leg from Theron's back," he started, "And the placement couldn't have been better." The doctor started wrapping the bandage around my wrist to hold the splint in place. "While it nicked a few veins and caused severe internal bleeding, it missed his spine, most major organs, and his bowels." He slipped my injured arm into the sling and secured it around my neck. "Theron ruptured his spleen but that was caused by the fight, not the table leg and that caused most of the blood loss." The doctor sat back on the stool, "I removed it. We regrew him another. When Theron's stronger, it will be a quick surgery to replace it."

"And his prognosis?" I asked.

"Guarded," Jayd answered as he looked at both of us. "He's in serious condition and it's still touch and go." He crossed his arms over his chest. "He's still in the kolto tank and we plan on removing him tomorrow, if everything goes to plan."

"I want to see him," Zane said in a tone that left no room for argument.

"Me too," I added.

"I'm not sure that's..." Jayd started with a frown.

"Doc," Zane cut him off, face hard, "It wasn't a request. I will see Theron. You can cooperate or not...your choice."

I sat silently next to the Commander and watched the stand off between the two men. Zane Starwarrior was the Alliance Commander in charge of leading this faction in the battle against the Eternal Empire and Arcann. Doctor Jayd was the lead physician for the Alliance faction and the final authority in all medical matters. Neither man was used to having his orders questioned and I couldn't help but be curious about who would win this battle of wills.

The pair stared at each other for a few long seconds until Jayd finally sighed, "On a few conditions."

"Which are?" Zane's body relaxed a bit.

"You quit fighting the medical staff," the doctor directed at Zane, "And you let me double check your injuries, make sure you didn't do yourself some unseen damage."

Zane nodded his agreement, so Jayd turned his attention to me. "You've broken that hand in multiple places...again." I could hear the irritation in my friend's tone. "You let a doctor treat your broken hand before you see your son."

"It will be fine…," I tried but the hard look in Jayd's eyes had me rethinking my words. I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Fine, a doctor you trust while you check over Zane."

"Dr. Belman," Jayd said immediately before sliding the stool back, "And last but not least, you wait until I check on Theron's condition and get an update first."

We started to argue but Jayd raised a hand to stop us. Both Zane and I started to argue with the doctor but he raised a hand and stopped us. "It's non negotiable. I don't want any more surprises."

Zane seemed to think it over. He looked from the doctor to me and back again. "We'll wait," he reluctantly agreed, "But not for long, so let's get this done."

The doctor pulled a holo communicator from his jacket pocket. "Dr. Belman."

After a few moments there was an answer. "Yes doctor?"

"Can I see you in the Commander's room?"

"I was just finishing up some paperwork. I can be there in a few minutes," she answered, "Is there a problem with the Commander?"

"Commander Starwarrior's awake."

"Wasn't that the plan? So he'd be awake when Agent Shan's father arrived?" It sounded like she was walking down a passageway.

"Yes it was, though he woke a bit earlier than planned," Jayd agreed, "But he's not your patient."

The room door whooshed open. "Then who is?"

"Me."

"Supreme Commander Malcolm," surprise evident in the new doctor's tone. "When did you get here?"

"We docked just a short time ago."

She seemed to shake away her shock at my arrival and her professionalism took over. "I'm Doctor Belman," she took in the splint and sling, "What happened?"

Jayd answered her before I could. "Jace has a bad habit of punching walls."

"Sometimes, it's either punch a wall or someone's face." After finding my son dying of alcohol poisoning on the floor of his own apartment, I'd put my fist through a plexiglass in frustration. Later, I broke it a second time after the callousness of a young doctor got to me. It was either strike the wall or him. I took the wall but it hadn't made Jayd happy to have to reset the breaks a second time or the new one in my wrist.

"Maybe," Jayd allowed, "But I'd prefer to never again need to reset your broken bones."

"Probably a fool's hope," I told him with a grin.

"Probably," Jayd admitted with a laugh and a shake of his head. "Malcolm men will be the death of me."

That reminded me. "Speaking of Malcolm men," I glanced at Dr. Belman, "Give me a minute."

She nodded and motioned toward a computer on the far wall. "I'll be over there." She stepped away and gave us some privacy.

I wasn't sure how to tell Zane that his son was on the planet, so better just to say it. "Shane's with me."

Zane looked up sharply, his eyes quickly surveying the room as if he'd somehow missed the boy earlier. "He's here? My boy is here?"

TBC….