In which Thane wants to go back to sleep, Kolyat bugs his father about work, and Irikah is suspicious. She has reason to be. Then again, we must consider her husband's profession.

Chapter 5 – Leave

Thane slapped the alarm and rolled over, grumbling and pulling the blankets over his head. They were peeled back a moment later. "Rise and shine, dear."

"Can't I sleep in for once?"

"That's what you said yesterday. Up. I'll get breakfast."

He sat up with a pout as Irikah flounced into the bathroom. "Where do you get all that energy?" She answered by humming a little tune, and he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Fine. I'm up."

"Change your bandages, get dressed, and wake Kolyat, then come down for breakfast. And sit in the living room this time. You need to stay put as much as possible." She emerged in a long-sleeved, golden yellow dress, one hand on the doorknob, the other on her hip.

"If I need to stay put, why can't I stay in bed? I fail to follow your logic."

"Staying off your leg and sleeping all day are two entirely different things." She moved to stand in front of him, then leaned down to kiss the pentagon of black scales on his forehead. "You'll get lazy."

"I can't believe this is the treatment I'm getting after, to all intents and purposes, coming back from the dead."

"I love you, darling."

"That's your answer to everything now, isn't it?" He smiled.

She went out into the hall. "I'll meet you downstairs."

"I'm sitting at the table."

"Stubborn."

"Pot calling the kettle black."

Irikah gave him a look before heading down the stairs, humming again.

Thane started unwrapping the bandages around his arms and leg and replacing them with fresh ones. Irikah had been on the crest of some jubilant wave ever since he'd gotten home. She really did love him, even after all these years, all he'd had to put her through… He threw on a navy sweater and pants, then got up, walked across the hall, and rapped on the door. "Kolyat? Are you awake?"

"Can't I sleep in for once?"

Thane smiled. "You'll get lazy."

The door opened a few moments later, revealing a squinting Kolyat. "What's in it for me?"

"How about a nice, hot breakfast, a chat with your parents, and a college education?"

"I wanna stay in bed."

"You're already out of bed."

"I can go back to bed."

"Don't make me drag you downstairs."

"Good luck, Gimpy."

"Get dressed and come down, Kolyat. The longer you stall, the less time you have before you need to get to the campus." Thane smiled.

Kolyat scowled at him a moment longer before smiling back. "Okay. I'm coming, Dad." He shut the door.

Thane turned and carefully made his way down the stairs, then to the head of the table. He closed his eyes, more out of habit than anything else, and thought. Life had been better than he'd imagined it could be since he'd returned. He wasn't bitter about what it had taken to get to this point. He was too happy to have gotten here at all. His wounds were healing well – the bandages on his arms would be off in another day or two, and his leg was only a bit sore – and he was finally getting the time with his family that he'd so desperately longed for. He knew that it was temporary, but that was why he had to make the most of it.

Thane opened his eyes when he heard Kolyat and watched him sit. "Still tired?"

"Of course. Why do you think I didn't want to get out of bed?" Kolyat yawned for emphasis.

"Will it affect your schoolwork?"

"Are you kidding? I've worked on two hours of sleep before."

"Yes," Irikah said, placing a plate before him, "and you had to redo your entire essay. How late did you stay up?" She put a second plate in front of Thane and went back into the kitchen for her own.

"Hey, it was only midnight. That's not bad, is it?" He had a mouthful of eggs a moment later.

"No, not really," Thane said, smiling.

"Don't encourage him, dear. Your sleeping habits can be worse than his. You two are dangerous together." Irikah returned with her food and sat.

"If he wakes up at eight, midnight is perfectly reasonable."

"Eat before I stab you with a fork, dear."

Thane chuckled and started on his own breakfast. Kolyat had a triumphant look on, and Irikah was giving both men the evil eye. All was well in the household.

As usual, Kolyat finished first. He looked at Thane. "How much time do I have left before I have to leave?"

"Your father isn't a watch, Kolyat. It's 8:52." Irikah gave him an unimpressed look.

"So about twenty minutes. Cool."

"Err on the side of caution. Think of the traffic." Thane set his fork down on his empty plate.

"I'll be fine, Dad. I wanted to talk to you."

"What about? We've talked about everything under the sun in the past two weeks. I know I've run out of subjects."

Kolyat grinned. "Maybe you could… talk about work a little?"

"Kolyat…" Irikah gave him a warning glare.

Thane sighed. "Not this again."

"Oh, come on! I can keep a secret!" Kolyat got up, walked behind Thane's chair, and gave him a hug. "Please?"

"The less you know, the safer you are. The answer is no, Kolyat."

"It's not like I'm asking you what happened this time."

"That's not the point. It's-" All three of them looked in the direction of the door when the bell rang. "…Were either of you expecting someone?"

"No… Stay put. I'll get it." Irikah got up and went to the door. The men exchanged a glance and went silent, listening. "Yes, may I help you?"

"You must be the amazing Irikah. Mind if I come in and talk to Thane?"

Thane got up and moved behind Irikah as she eyed the visitor. "Do I know you?"

"No, but I do," Thane said, making his wife jump. "What are you doing here, Feron?"

Silver eyes lit up as Feron smiled. "Hey, Thane. Thought I'd drop by and see how you're doing. Meeting the family's a plus."

Irikah looked over her shoulder. "Who is he, Thane?"

Thane frowned. "Someone who shouldn't be here. Aren't you on duty, Feron?"

"Nope. They're giving everyone a break. So can I come in?"

"Not until I know exactly who I'm letting in my house." Irikah crossed her arms and stood tall.

"You're exactly how Thane's described you, you know that?"

"He's… We know each other from work," Thane said.

"We're only best friends. So can I come in or what?"

Irikah still seemed suspicious, but she turned around, anyway. "Well, go on, Thane. Let the man in."

Thane backed up, allowing Irikah, then Feron, to pass. He shut the door behind his friend and followed as Irikah led them into the den. "Where's Khash?"

"With friends." Feron sat in the armchair farthest from the doorway. "Like I said, they're giving everyone a break."

Thane sat at the end of the couch. "Even-" He looked to make sure Irikah was gone, then said quietly, "Even the monitors?"

"Even Razh. The entire unit's on leave."

Thane's face became troubled. "How long?"

"Indefinite."

"Is it that bad already?"

"It was your data that got them off their asses, Thane."

"…And you know about the data."

"They had all the agents review it once it became clear what it all meant."

"…This is why you came. To tell me all of this." Thane sat back.

"Partially. I did honestly want to come see you, but… yeah. I felt like you should know."

"We shouldn't be talking about this. Not where my family can overhear. I don't want them to panic."

"You'll have to tell them sometime, Thane."

"They'll learn when the rest of Rakhana does."

They both fell silent when they heard footsteps. Irikah appeared in the doorway. "…Am I interrupting something?"

"No, just a lull in the conversation," Feron quickly replied.

She put a hand on her hip. "Alright. Can I get you anything?"

"Coffee would be nice, if it's not too much trouble."

"No one in this house drinks coffee. Sorry, but you're out of luck on that one."

Feron looked at Thane. "You don't drink coffee?"

Thane shook his head. "I've had it twice in my life. The first time was when I decided I didn't like the taste. The second was… shortly before the last time we met."

"…Ah."

"Plan B?" Irikah was looking suspicious again.

Feron thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I'm fine, thanks."

"Alright. I'll be doing dishes, so don't expect me back for a bit. Feron, you have my permission to tackle my husband if he gets up. I want him staying off that leg." She turned and left them as Feron laughed.

"She's quite a woman, Thane, I'll give you that," he finally managed to say.

Thane smiled. "She is."

"I'm out!" Kolyat was at the front door. "See you at lunch, Mom, Dad!"

"See you later, Kolyat," Thane called back. Once the door had opened and closed, he could faintly hear Irikah humming something again.

Feron leaned forward, elbows on his legs, hands clasped. "So. You and Kolyat patched things up?"

"Mm. He said that thinking I was dead put things into perspective for him."

"Well, hey, some good came out of that whole mess."

"I suppose you could think of it like that."

"Better than taking the 'glass-half-empty' view." Feron glanced at the doorway, then toward the sound of humming. "…Your family's accounted for, Thane."

Thane's expression became slightly strained. "You still want to talk about that."

"Your leave will end when ours does, Thane. I think it would be a good idea to have you up to date. How's that leg?"

"I won't be running for at least a week, maybe more. How long do you think we have?"

"However long it takes for the turians to notice us making preparations."

"Have we started?"

"Three days ago."

"We don't have long, then…"

Feron shook his head. "Not long at all. Don't ask me for an estimate, though."

"Well, what good are you, then?"

Feron laughed. "You wound me."

Thane smiled, but only for a moment. "Will you be sent back to Fort Tox?"

Feron's thumb stroked his other hand. "Likely. Not a sure thing, but likely."

"They're fortifying it, aren't they?"

"Of course. But the turians are going to come at us in force right there. You know that. Tox isn't going to be a safe place to be, Thane. There are going to be a lot of casualties. We might lose the fort."

"They wouldn't send you there if they thought they were going to lose the fort – and you with it."

"Thinking it won't happen won't keep it from happening."

"It's not a certainty, Feron. Now who's seeing the glass as half empty?"

"Can you blame me for being a little nervous?"

They fell silent again when they heard Irikah approaching. She stood in the doorway, folding her arms. "Now I know I'm interrupting something."

Thane gave her a pitiful look. "Feron insists on talking about work."

"Should I leave you two alone, then?"

"No, please, come in and sit. It will make him stop."

Irikah smiled and sat next to Thane as Feron frowned. "I was trying to do you a favor. Stubborn."

"He is, but I love him that way. Still, I will admit that it can get infuriating." Irikah put a hand on her husband's arm. "At least talking to you has kept him in one place."

"Irikah, will you stop going on about that? My leg's almost healed." Thane was frowning now.

"You don't want to go backwards, do you? At least take it easy for a few more days."

"She does have a point, Thane." Feron sat up. "The sooner you're all healed up, the better. For everyone."

"I don't need you two teaming up on me. I know my own limits." He gave them both a look.

"Yeah, and you're known for pushing them," Feron said. "Mind you, I realize that's what makes you so good, at least in part, but still."

"Feron, you're treading the line."

"What, I can't even compliment you?"

"Don't talk about work. It may not matter to you, but I like to keep my family as out of the loop as possible. My apologies, Irikah."

"It's fine, dear, though that won't stop my rampant curiosity. Or Kolyat's." She smiled as Thane sighed.

"Sorry. I'm just not used to keeping secrets in a private setting. Khash is one of us, after all. My son," Feron quickly explained to Irikah.

"Funny," she said, "I never would have thought of you as a father. Then again, this is going off of first impressions."

"I'm not exactly a normal dad, so you're probably right in thinking that. Khash and I are more best friends than father and son."

"And your wife knows your secrets, too?"

"My wife passed away nine years ago. Head-on collision with a drunk driver. Don't say anything. I remember her fondly and move on."

"You're stronger than I am. When I thought I'd lost Thane, I fell apart."

"Irikah…" Thane wrapped an arm around her waist.

"No, I was pretty much a wreck for a good three years after she passed. The only thing that kept me moving was that I had to be there for Khash. I think everyone goes through that stage when they lose someone." Feron smiled. "But let's get off the depressing subjects and talk about something else."

Irikah returned the smile. "Sounds like a plan."

The three of them talked the morning away, with Kolyat added to the mix when he came home for lunch. Feron decided it was time to go shortly after Kolyat had left for the campus again. "It was good to see you, Thane. Not to mention a real pleasure to meet your family."

Thane smiled. "You can come by again if you keep your mouth shut."

"Right, no talking about work. I got it."

"Give Khash my regards."

"Will do. See ya, Thane."

"Take care, Feron." Thane stood in the doorway and watched until Feron's car was well up the road. He shut the door and turned to come face to face with Irikah. "…Yes?"

"Nice man, though not someone I would have pegged as one you'd choose for a friend."

"He chose me, actually, but I'm glad you like him."

"Go sit in the living room, dear. I'll be there in a moment."

"I can't help with anything?"

"Off that leg, Thane. Now shoo." She waved him off.

Thane sighed and smiled as he walked to the living room. Today was turning out to be another good day… even with dark thoughts now lurking in the back of his mind.

A day in the life. Irikah is fun to write, she really is. Then again, I'm having fun with this whole thing in general. Hope you are, too. Ferret out.