And on it goes...

"Absolutely not." Manning sat at a desk in front of Abe and me, quite adamant in his decision. I still had to act blind and it was beginning to bug me.

"Why not?" Abe was trying to be reasonable, but I could tell how agitated he was getting.

"Everyone here has a job. She can't just stay here and do nothing."

"Please don't talk like I'm not here. I'm not deaf," I said, trying to control my voice. It's irritating when people know I'm there and talk like I'm not.

"Sorry." He didn't sound apologetic.

"I won't be doing nothing. I'll work around here, clean up or something."

"No offense, but how will you know if something's clean?"

"Tell him," I said to Abe. He stared at me.

"Tell me what?" Manning asked.

"Tell him or I will," I told Abe again. He remained silent. "Fine. I'm not blind, not anymore." Manning looked at me, dumbfounded, and Abe put a hand over his eyes.

"What?"

"I'm. Not. Blind." I punctuated each word as if each were a separate sentence.

"Fishstick, I told you—"

"Would you stop calling him 'Fishstick'!?" He didn't respond. "Did you ever think that might be why he didn't listen?" I stared him down until he looked away, then I turned to Abe. "I'm sorry, Abe. I'm doing it to you, too."

"What?"

"Talking like you're not here."

"I don't care. Go ahead." I nodded.

"Mr. Manning, sir…"

"Yes?"

"I ask you not to punish him. Yes, he went against orders, but if it weren't for him, I'd be dead."

"I know. I won't punish you Fi—" I glared; "—Abraham."

"So, you see, I can do a lot of things. Even paperwork, if I must." He lit up at that.

"You would do paperwork while they're gone, just as long as you aren't put in danger?"

"If that's what it takes, then yes; but when they're back, I have free time. That's the deal: I'm not put in danger, so I'll work and stay here."

"Done." We shook hands.

"Are you happy with that, Abe?"

"Yes," he responded and led me from the office.

--

That's how it went. When they went out on missions, I stayed behind and did whatever odd jobs needed doing, most of which was paperwork. I would stop as soon as Abe returned and make sure he wasn't injured. The times that he was, I would take care of him.

It had been a few months since we found the solution. Abe and I were sitting in the library, and I was gently bandaging his freshly injured hand. When I finished, I lay against him and he put his arm around my waist. It was nice to just sit there for a moment.

"Laura?" His hand was on my stomach.

"Yes?" My eyes were closed because I was tired and content.

"Laura…you're pregnant." My eyes shot open and I turned my head and body to see him better.

"Are you sure?" He moved his hand to hold mine and nodded.

"Yes. Very sure." I relaxed back against him.

"I knew something was different. I just wasn't sure what."

"You don't seem very surprised."

"I am. I just…kind of…wanted it to happen." He put his other arm around me in a hug. "What about you? Are you excited?" His projected feelings told me the answer, but I asked anyway.

Very. I heard him in my head again and smiled. He said something else, but I won't relay that. It made me blush, so I stood and went to a bookshelf. He seemed startled, but didn't follow. "What is it?" he asked aloud this time.

"Nothing." I could feel how red my face was.

"Are you blushing?" He walked up behind me and turned me around, but I stared at the book in my hands.

"Yeah…"

"Why? You weren't blushing the other day," he kidded. If possible, my blush deepened.

"Well…that wasn't out of the blue…"

"This wasn't exactly out of the blue, either."

"I'm just not used to having someone say that kind of thing to me…"

"Even after the few months we've been together?"

"Even if I was used to it, it doesn't mean I still wouldn't blush." He put a finger under my chin to lift my face up.

"Well, I like it when you blush." At that moment, someone entered the library. Abe looked to see whom it was, then quickly turned to the bookshelf beside us, taking the book from my hands as he did so. It startled me, so I turned to see who it was, because my senses had to be wrong. They said it was John.

TBC

Could it be John?

Find out next chapter!

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