"It's been pretty quiet in there," Elizabeth commented after the merchants dropped new apparel in the main room and they were stacked in a heap covering one couch. She and Lenore visited and examined the items they purchased. Holding up an orange top, Elizabeth exclaimed, "My daughter, Maddy, will love this."
"Our daughter is close to Nathaniel's age and a grandmother," Lenore missed her not living in the same dome.
Elizabeth entered the antechamber to the master bedroom and continued to the next door and gave a soft rap. Presently Wash opened, smoothing unruly strands with her right hand.
"We fell sleep, sorry," she opened the door so Elizabeth could enter. The sight on the bed was priceless. Nathaniel was sound asleep, hand on Thaniel's bottom holding him to his chest while the baby was contently sucking his thumb in sleep.
"Wash, where's your miniplexi? Get a picture of that," Elizabeth pointed to the sleeping duo.
Wash smiled at the sight she missed when getting up to catch the door before it woke her husband. Grabbing her mini, she committed several shots to memory.
"The clothes arrived, thought you might want to look." At Wash's questioning glance, "Okay, Lenore and I are dying to see everything," her sheepish grin at being caught out brought a huge grin to her friend's countenance also.
Crossing to the bed, Wash carefully moved Nathaniel's hand and with a wince picked Thaniel off his father's chest. Elizabeth saw the pained look and hurried to take him. Without a sound they left the Commander sleeping.
One look from Wash and the observant soldiers without a word scooped the bags took them to the antechamber allowing the women privacy. The bedroom door finally opened and the Commander emerged to find Lenore holding the baby while his wife glided across the room and back showing long bare legs with shirttails hanging just above mid-thigh. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed as Wash provided a one person fashion show. Seeing Nathaniel she strolled up to him, "Like?"
No sound, just a slight nod and darkening eyes as he took in her cleavage from the top three buttons she left unfastened. A knock at the door and with one last appreciative peep directed at the tantalizing opening between her breasts, he straightened off his wooden support and went to see who ruined his fantasy of removing it.
General Caldwell and another officer behind him made Nathaniel slip out of the room, opening the door just wide enough for him to get past and hopefully nothing behind him leaked to their view.
"This is Corporal Binderson." Taylor shook his hand, "He's going to film the next part we need to get on the airwaves tonight. I opted for military, Nathaniel. Figured you might be more comfortable with one of our own."
"No other way?" Nathaniel felt a slight panic, being forced to perform with another person present.
"If what we've been led to believe is accurate, Lucas is unstable and your happiness is a cancer in his brain. I think he knew about you and Wash before he shot her. If nothing else, he knew injuring her would hurt you."
Reiterating the need once again, Nathaniel grudgingly nodded. Corporal Binderson took over, "Sir, I film military functions and battles. I also do the documentaries on officers and enlisted alike." He hoped his credentials would put the General at ease, but the cold blue eyes never wavered.
Nathaniel turned to Caldwell, "Hank, couldn't you find a woman? I don't want any man near my wife, especially if I have to do an intimate act. Not for me, her."
"I brought the best in. He's a professional, General, and I don't need to remind you, it IS your son who's causing all the problems," Caldwell was wearying of Taylor's damn selective morality.
Spinning without further verbalizing, Nathaniel knocked on the door and threw it open upon a bid to enter. Leading the way, he was relieved to see his wife in a different outfit that included pants. He stood morosely by while General Caldwell made the introductions. Binderson looked around the room and without waiting for an invite toured the bedroom, bathroom and swimming area. He quietly made plans. Returning to the outer room, he addressed Wash for the first time since their introduction.
"Have you seen the news vids, Mrs. Taylor?" He hoped she was more receptive than her husband.
A shake of her head making her long strait hair sway in the light catching his attention, "I've been busy getting shot."
"Well, you're the talk of all the news channels all over the world. You're a sensation and people can't get enough of you. They've tracked down your old childhood companions, but couldn't find any relatives. We are going to do an interview of carefully scribed questions. It is meant to lead to a conclusion. We'll let you answer naturally and if it isn't advantageous to our purpose, we'll tweak your replies," he waited for his information to take hold. "We're planning the scenario that we caught you relaxing, healing and tending your baby."
"That's not far from the truth," but she was getting hungry. "Can I eat first?"
General Caldwell cut in, "Of course, Wash. What can you have?" He glanced at the doctor.
"She can eat solid foods and has since her shooting I hear," Dr. Shannon looked pointedly at Taylor who had moved to his wife's side and slipped an arm around her waist.
Dinner done they returned to the antechamber. Binderson had lain out the garments for everyone. To Nathaniel's dismay, he chose the nightshirt she was wearing when he woke. For him, Binderson chose a pair of blue jeans and black leather belt. Looking around for a shirt, he saw none, "What shirt do you want on me?"
"None, your wife is getting free access to ogle you at will. Besides a poll was taken and seeing you without a shirt was number one on the Nathaniel Taylor fantasy list."
"What was on Wash's?" He was displeased that any man might get their wish concerning his wife.
"Let's just say, she won't be granting that wish." At Nathaniel's perplexed look, he answered, "Centerfold."
"They ain't getting that one, that's for sure," Nathaniel agreed.
Wash was positioned reclining on the white leather sofa in the main room. It had an idealistically setting complete with the fake fireplace blazing cheerily and glowing off Wash's face from certain angles. Binderson had Wash brush her hair to perfection and oversaw her makeup with Nathaniel standing protectively beside her in the bathroom.
Wash's long bare legs were draped over her sitting husband and baby Thaniel perched on her thighs with a bottle in his mouth. It was the perfect day ending scene for the hero family of Terra Nova. Nathaniel was instructed to surreptitiously stroke her thigh and squeeze her knee as she talked to the interviewer. Her shirt was unbuttoned like before and Nathaniel felt himself growing aroused as he looked at her cleavage. When Wash pointed the ogling out, Binderson told her that was a normal male response and encouraged him to continue.
Taylor allowed his personal handpicked soldiers from Terra Nova to watch, knowing they would report every detail back to the colony. Dr. Shannon was inconspicuously recording the proceeding for Jim. The interview proceeded smoothly as everyone settled into their roles. When it came time to move the full baby for burping, cameras were paused while Dr. Shannon repositioned him on his mother's breast, on a baby blue blanket covering her shirt. He slowly went to sleep with his mother gently massaging his back and his thumb once again found his mouth.
In spite of his misgivings, Nathaniel had to admit, Binderson was a professional and finally he got his cue. Leaning over, his soft whiskers brushed the outside of her knee and a soft kiss followed. Lifting the legs he slid down and out from under her. Picking up his son, he gave the cameras a good view of his considerable muscles. Handing Thaniel to Sergeant Reynolds who was the closest, he pulled his wife off the sofa. Hands discretely and platonically on each side of her waist, he let hers wander, the injured side hand across his ripped stomach and the other caressing lightly up his sternum, running a finger along his clavicle and up his neck, finally to the nape of his neck. Their lips came together with tantalizing slowness and the camera caught first lips then tongues meeting and Wash was pulled close to her husband as he deepened the kiss.
"Very well done, General," Binderson clapped and soon the entire room joined with an audible appreciation the show he gave them.
"Put some clothes on, Lieutenant and bring me a shirt," Nathaniel pushed her in the direction of their bedroom. All business, he turned back to the editing equipment set up at the table. A knock sounded and Hudson joined the group at the table watching Binderson work his magic. Wash rejoined them wearing black fatigue pants and the same shirt, just buttoned demurely compared to her earlier display. Taking his long sleeve Henley, her husband nodded approvingly, relieved she was once again covered.
"These unique individuals have impressive careers separately, but together create a perfect union between a woman and a man," Binderson spoke the preamble to the short documentary about to be broadcast to waiting media outlets around the world. By tomorrow every talk show and news clips would show an intimate evening with the Taylors. Binderson stood before the cheery fireplace and spoke the beginning and ending and added them to his final cropped segment.
It was late when they were left alone, as alone as one could get with four guards and a doctor, but they were considered extended family from home. Taylor bid them to eat from the sumptuous fare he ordered just for them. He sat back on the couch holding Wash's hand, each lost to the day and relishing the moment, staring into the flames. "What you thinking?" He slid his arm across her shoulders, careful not to let his hand hit the injured spot still bandaged, not because the skin wasn't healed, but the area beneath still sported bruising.
"That the campfires at home with the stars are so much better than here," she laid her head on his shoulder. The boys were laughing and joking behind them, a comfort in the now foreign land.
A beep sounded and Nathaniel hit a button on the console by the arm of the couch. A screen materialized along the wall. He ran a finger over the pad and the screen moved until it was positioned over the fireplace. Their interview was being broadcast. The boys stopped talking and congregated nearby with Elizabeth sitting beside Wash, who had straightened off Nathaniel's shoulder. The kissing scene at the end of their segment was accompanied with mood music causing the room to burst out laughing.
"Fireworks. What's wrong with Binderson, that kiss deserved nothing less than what we set off during the Harvest Festival," Taylor was laughing with his men. "You men want to be a General someday, be prepared to sacrifice for your country like I did tonight," he grinned at Wash.
"Well, General," she emphasized his title, "if this doesn't work, what's next?"
He shrugged, "A real porno flick, I guess."
"Can we take this home?" Dunham pushed his luck.
"No Soldier, this one hopefully will be old news in a few days and relegated to its proper place in the garbage can."
Elizabeth just smiled and secretly downloaded this version also.
Two more days and nothing. Taylor met with Mira to let her know she wasn't forgotten and they sorted through her convoy loaded with supplies that the Sixers were finally allowed to bring on the base. Every box was opened and scanned for nuclear devices. Nothing out of the ordinary turned up. The vehicles were sequestered away from the Sixers until they were to be driven through the portal.
Elizabeth sat on the steps to the pool watching Wash work on her sixth lap. She herself only managed three. A motion out of the corner of her eye made her turn. Commander Taylor entered and stood just behind her, also watching his wife.
"She amazing, Commander. Even under par as she puts it, she's outperforming me by twice."
Taylor watched Wash's form and could see she favored her good side, "I've ordered enough material to build a public swimming pool. I hope to have enough material leftover for a couple smaller lap pools, one for the military and one for her," he gestured to a struggling Wash. Concerned, they stopped talking and watched as she slowly made her way to them, stopping every few feet for a rest. Nathaniel was ready to shed clothes and dive in. Elizabeth on the same page pushed back into the deeper water and swam to Wash.
"Need assistance, Wash?" She was all doctor now.
"I can make it, but thanks," she was slowly learning to not be offended when someone offered a helping hand. Pregnancy taught her that valuable lesson on more than one occasion. Finally, her feet touched bottom. Holding her arm to her side, she judiciously climbed out into the towel Nathaniel was holding open. Folding it around her, he made sure Elizabeth was out and had a towel over her bikini.
"Anything?" Wash was grateful he held the towel in place for her. With a wave, Elizabeth, towel wrapped around her body, departed to give them privacy.
"No, we're going home. The last meeting convinced me I'll never be a paper pushing, non-combat General. I want to go back to being Commander to our people," he stripped her red newly purchased bikini off, "You are aware, this is for my eyes only?" He held the bottoms up on one finger waving it in front of her.
"I can't think of anyone I'd wear it for, just you," she headed for the shower knowing he'd follow. "We don't need clothing when we swim alone, but I could always start," her teasing earned her a slap on her bottom.
"You dare wear anything to our private swimming area and I'll shred it."
"Coming in?" She stepped out of sight.
"No, I have things to be done yet and you're not up to anything right now. I order you to rest and let someone else pack, Lieutenant," his order fell on silence, but he knew she heard.
Two hours later there was a small gathering at the portal while the vehicles were given a pecking order. An entire new fleet was commandeered for the colony doubling the mobility power and replacing a few the Carno's destroyed. Nathaniel's new rover, pulling a trailer brought up the rear. Each one of his men was behind the wheel of something laden to breaking point, alternated with Mira's vehicles, also fully stocked. Orders were they were to all go to the colony until Mira's people acclimated and the final decision would be made then if she would depart. Elizabeth was behind the wheel of the first ambulance loaded with crucial equipment and medicines. Malcolm had an entire trailer of equipment and supplies behind Reynolds' troop carrier loaded with supplies that were supposed to come through on the eleventh. Goodbyes exchanged and finally with come back and see us ringing in their ears, the Taylor family went home.
The surprise appearance of the largest convoy seen to date approached the colony unannounced. When the terminus came to life, Taylor ordered Private Carter, manning the other end to keep radio silence and disable the camera's sending signals back to the colony. Guzman led the convoy, happy to be home. With the monitor's suddenly darkened, Shannon and Reilly were in the yard, suspecting something animus.
Colonist started converging as word spread of another approaching army. Boylan and Casey were talking in the market and let out huge smiles at the approaching procession. Other's weren't so sure and hoped it wasn't another attack. The gate remained down and the lead vehicle rolled to a stop. Guzman got out of the Rhino and yelled through the gate, "Honey, I'm home."
Reilly and Jim started laughing with relief and ordered the gate raised. The vehicles crept through the opening and started peeling off in two's and it soon they realized Mira's people were back and Shannon ordered a space near the main gate for them and let the military continue. Finally, Elizabeth drove through to a relieved Shannon family. On her tail was the Commander. The reunion was reminiscent of the end of the occupation. Everyone crowded around their 'Wash', and she was home where she belonged.
Lying pressed against her husband in their bed that night, she reminisced. "One of the longest weeks of my life," fingers entwined, they were too tired for anything else.
"Hmmm, I need a break from my break. Wish I could say our trip was a success, but we still have Lucas to deal with. He didn't take the bait," Nathaniel was more worried than he let on to his wife. She needed to get well and back to being his second. "I forgot," he jumped out of bed in spite her protest that she was comfortable. He returned to bed with something on a chain in his hand.
Dangling it over her face, she caught the tags and read out loud, "Lieutenant Alicia W. Taylor." Was engraved in gold inlay. He reached over and hit a button. Pictures flared to life, one of Thaniel and several of him, but it was the last one she would look at the most, the kiss they shared for the entire world.
"I got that one on mine also," he took them and gave a toss to her night table.
A figure moved in the shadows until it stood before the Commander's dwelling. Taking an electronic reader from his jacket pocket, Lucas Taylor ran it over the key pad unlocking the door. Without a sound he slipped through the house. The bedroom door was open; all too easy. The dim nightlight over the baby's crib outlined his little brother. Lifting his father's boot knife, he snagged from its holster inside the front door, and raised it to make the thrust that would end his brother's life. Thaniel woke, looked at the monster over his bed and cried a loud distressed sound, waking both parents that Lucas was saving for last. His plan, kill the baby, then Mom, saving dear old Dad for last and hopefully awake to see it was him.
The bullet ripped through his back. In his dying effort, he made another stab into the crib as a second bullet found its mark. Falling, he grabbed the crib upturning the contents onto him as he preceded it to the floor. The baby landed screaming on top of his chest. His arm tried to lift the knife again, but it was so heavy and then his father ripped it from his hand and pulled 'Dear Brother' off him and with a twisting motion all but threw him into his mother's arms. She still held her pistol and he saw his father also had one.
"Wh…who shot me?" Blood was pouring from each breath as both lungs received bullets.
"Wash first, then me," he looked into the unreadable eyes of his father. "You know she's faster on the draw than me. Well son, don't think you're getting out of this one. How'd you get here and are you alone?"
Lucas laughed and coughed weakly, "What no medical attention? Caught a lift under a transport. Hooper and Gustov abandoned me. Said I was eating too much profits in my war against you." He couldn't believe his father was letting him bleed out. "Please, Daddy." Once again he lifted his head and saw tears run down his father's cheeks.
"Sorry Son, not this time. I can't help you," he spoke around choking tears. Maybe now this hellish ordeal would be over.
A knock reverberated off the nearby houses at the force being exerted and Jim Shannon's voice yelled, "Commander, Wash," as he tried the unlocked knob. The lights in the bedroom drew him to the doorway, gun in hand. The normally talkative sheriff was speechless at the scene before him. On his knees in a pool of blood, the Commander in nothing but a pair of black briefs, gun in hand held vigil over his oldest son who was laboring with each breath. The crib was overturned and blankets and the mattress soaking up the blood on the floor. Wash was dressing, not caring that Jim was watching in stunned shocked silence.
"Finally got you to shut up, Shannon," Wash sat by Thaniel on the bed and pulled socks on.
"Uhhh, we need to get him to the hospital, Wash," Jim started into the room and stopped in his tracks at the Commander's words.
"No, Jim. It has to end. He's done enough damage and brought his dead mother shame. He has face of an angle, like his mother and soul of the devil probably like me," his eyes never left his son, but he did acquiesce and took Lucas's hand that kept reaching for him. Back to a dying Lucas, he spoke softly. "Son, I didn't kill your mother. She asked to go with me. All those years I made you stay safe at home made you a mamma's boy. We saw you were at an age where I needed more influence in your life to help you become a man. We only got a few months as a family before your mother was killed. Son, you go join her." He watched with an empty soul as Lucas with one last contortion stopped breathing and soon his eyes were fixed and dilated. Nathaniel softly shut the lids, but didn't move. A hand rested on his shoulder as he cried uncontrollably apologizing over and over to Lucas that he should have done more, tried harder both for him and his mother. Cried out, he quieted knowing it was time to move the body. He let the hand that never left his shoulder, assist him to his feet. It was Jim Shannon. His wife was gone with Thaniel. In the room, waiting quietly were Guzman and Reynolds with a body bag. Wash must have called them. "How'd you know?" He looked at Shannon.
"Your shooting woke the neighborhood. I got at least three calls before I got dressed." He looked at his bloody friend, "You need a shower," and led him to the bathroom. Closing the door, he didn't move until he heard the water start. He got back in time to right the crib and carefully pick up bloody blankets and sheets setting them in the middle of the crib, "We need to send someone to clean this mess up. They shouldn't have to with what they just went through," Jim wondered why Wash abandoned the room and where she was."
He held the front door open while Guzman and Reynolds wrestled the dead weight out of the house. Shutting the door, he searched and found Wash in the kitchen sitting at the table with a bottle in Thaniel's mouth. She didn't have another smart assed comment this time.
"I'll get someone to clean the blood up, Wash," he spoke softly uncertain what was going through her mind.
"Take the crib away and all the bedding. I can't look at it again," shock at almost losing her baby was replacing the training to fight and secure first, then deal with the fallout later. Now was later, both for her and Nathaniel.
"You probably need to spend time someplace else for a while."
"Ask Nathaniel," she squeezed Thaniel until he protested.
"Need help?" Jim remembered Wash was in no shape to be clutching a baby.
"A minor discomfort, Shannon. Feels good to hurt, I'm alive and so is Thaniel."
Nathaniel entered towel around his waist and clothes in hand. Wash looked at him and held her peace. She remembered how he was when Ayani died and figured he'd go through a period much like then. Throwing his clothes on the table, he grabbed his briefs and shed the towel. Jim sat at the table waiting for instructions.
Nathaniel leaned over and tied his boots, lips pressed together. Finally, he looked at his wife and son. She looked back trying to judge his mindset and they locked gazes. "I'm glad he didn't hurt Thaniel, Wash," his tone soft and expressed loss much like when his soldier was murdered. He had a wide range of vocal tones conveying his moods and she knew them all. This one was sad acceptance.
"I'm sorry he came back, Nathaniel," she pulled Thaniel to her right shoulder and ran her left over his back.
"I'm going to bury Lucas. I want you and Thaniel to go to your old place. You'll be safe there in case he had accomplices. I'll post guards. Might not be an accident that the Sixers came back tonight." He focused on Shannon. "Bring Mira and Carter to the Command Center," he rounded the table and knelt on one knee by Wash's side, hand reaching to touch his son's head and he leaned over and rested his head on hers. "Please, Hon, go. I couldn't take losing either of you. I'll join you in a couple hours. I need to get Lucas in the ground. Tomorrow I'll take you to the grave, okay?" He spoke in her ear softly so Shannon couldn't hear. All Jim saw was Wash nodding. With a kiss to the top of her head and a motion to Shannon they left.
"Been a long time since I've slipped into this room," he shed his clothes and the bed dipped as he settled his weight beside her. "Where's our boy?" He pulled Alicia to him in a tight embrace needing to feel her.
"Elizabeth came and took him home. She still has a crib set up," she settled willingly into his arms, her sore shoulder up, but managed to wrap her arm around his waist as her nose snuggled into his neck.
"Mira and Carter passed the veritruth and swore they had no contact with Lucas outside what Carter told me. With him dead, they have no incentive to cause mischief. Mira told me they decided to leave in the morning. We may or may not hear from them again." He didn't figure sleep would come before the pink in the eastern sky, but sunlight found them holding each other tightly, sound asleep.
The End