Mike carried his shivering blonde haired bundle down towards the spare cabin Swain had claimed as his own. He side stepped past Chefo and ET who were hovering by the door before hopping into the cabin and sitting down on the cushioned seat. The little boy was still curled against his chest, blonde tuffs of hair sticking out from underneath the blanket at odd angles; the slow rising of his chest against Mike's being the only indication that he was alive.
"Let's have a look at you" said Swain, sliding towards where Mike sat to reach for the shivering child. He placed one hand slowly on the boy's back hoping not to startle him, but the boy seemed unused to being around other people and cried out in alarm at having to move. Mike could feel the water from the soaked child begin to seep through his shirt and wonder briefly if any tears were mixed in as well. He gently pulled the clinging boy away from his chest, still holding him close but far enough so that he could get a good look at the child. Two dark eyes held Mike's glance and the man couldn't help but notice the tears welling up around the edges. He ran a soothing hand up the boys back, rubbing it gently to help calm the child down before brushing some mud from his face with a soft tissue. All the while he smiled encouragingly at the boy, talking to him softly to tell him what he was doing and that he was safe now; that what ever he was scared about he shouldn't worry because he would be fine on the ship. He watched as the boy's breathing slowed from haggard intakes of air to a calm, steady pattern and as the rims of water around his eyes where blinked away quickly.
With a smile Mike leaned the child back against the table before lifting him onto the wooden surface so Swain could get a look at him. From a safe distance away the medic started studying the child for any bumps and bruises, allowing Mike to keep a hold on the boy and talk to him steadily, acting as a distraction from the other men in the room.
The child was still wary of the man seated next to him and was keeping a trained eye for any movement but he felt safe seated in front of the brown haired man who had carried him and after a few minutes let his focus drift towards the questions being asked.
"Did a tree run into you?" asked Mike curiously, noticing the angry bruise shining against the child's pale head. He watched in amusement as four heads shot towards him, all looking at him like he'd lost his mind momentarily while standing in the rain. Chefo went to correct his question but Mike shushed him quickly, a short nod assuring the man that he'd asked the right one. The boy meanwhile was running the words over in his head, a small smile creeping onto his face as the silly image of a tree sprinting around in a frenzy ran through his mind.
"Tree's can't run" he concluded moments later, looking at the silly man before him like he'd lost his mind. Mike opened his mouth in a dramatic O, secretly glad that he'd gotten the boy to finally speak, as he let his childish side take over in conversation.
"What do you mean they can't run?" he asked, pretending to be shocked by such a revelation. The boy, even more surprised at how silly the man was couldn't help giggling as he shook his head "They can't" he called, his focus now completely on the man before him. "Haven't you ever seen a tree run around before?" asked Mike in amazement, acting as if tree races were an everyday occurrence.
"No" cried the boy again, dissolving into giggles as Mike sighed dramatically.
"Well then" nodded Mike in amusement, throwing his arms up in the air. He waited a moment for the boy to calm down again; secretly congratulating himself that he'd not only gotten the child to speak but also succeeded in distracting him long enough for Swain to bandage him up without protest. He sighed once more dramatically, noting the amused looks ET, Swain and Chefo were sharing at their unusually playful captain.
"Did a pole run into you then?" he asked, his face the model of complete seriousness as the boy erupted in giggles once more.
Laughing along distractedly as the boy shook his head in hysterics of giggles, Mike allowed himself to glance towards the door to ponder if Kate was coming. Surely she must have to bring the baby down he realised painfully, finding himself praying that that would not be the case. The three men opposite him watched on as their playful captain tuned quiet once more, his face twisted towards the door in sadness and longing while the boy sat giggling in his arms. Breaking his glance away from the door Mike turned swiftly back towards the child, plastering a happy smile on his face before holding out his hand for a shake.
"Mike" he introduced informally, grabbing the boys hand to shake it gently. A wave of shyness hit the boy again and he curled away from Mike's hand like he had earlier, causing the man to realise he had a harder struggle a head of him than he had perceived.
"What's your name" he asked encouragingly, keeping the smile while searching for the boys dark eyes with his own.
"Zachary" whispered the blonde haired child moments later, glancing quickly around at the men before looking down at his hands.
"Well then Zach" smiled Mike "Would you like something to eat?" he asked, glancing at Chefo who immediately sprung into action and scurried towards the door.
"Zachary" pressed the child, his voice a little louder this time and surprising all four adults. "What did you say buddy?" asked Mike, leaning in closer to make sure he hadn't missed what the boy had said.
"Nobodies called me Zach before" informed the boy, saying the name as if he were testing it out for the first time. Sitting back in surprise Mike mulled over what the child had just told him, wondering briefly it is was custom or just a family decision, or if the child hadn't been around adults long enough for one to call him Zach.
"Do you like the name Zach?" he asked a moment later, figuring it wasn't up to anyone else but the boy to decide. The little child pondered over the question for a moment, leaning his head to the side and whispering the name to try it out. He sat in silence a moment longer before picking his head up and nodding happily, quite proud to have what he had decided was a big boy name.
"Well then Zach" smiled Mike "How bout we follow my friend Chefo here and find you something yummy" he suggested, noticing the boy's delight at both the mention of food and the name of the man cooking it. He picked up the boy, carrying him once more out of the room with ease while the trio of men behind him followed. Once they reached the kitchen Chefo took over the talking, happy to be in his domain, while Mike and Zach looked on with interest.
"So, what do you feel like little man?" asked Chefo, glancing at the child while walking around the kitchen. Zach's eyes widened in surprise at being able to chose his own meal and he suddenly realised he didn't know what half the foods he liked were called, let alone what he wanted. Noticing the little boy's confusion Mike sat him down on the table, smiling at him encouragingly before suggesting Chefo make him a special surprise. At the mention of this both the Chef and the child's eyes met in excitement and Mike felt safe enough to leave Zach alone for a moment. He leaned down to the boy's eye level
"Zach, I have to go see a friend of mine now but I'll be back soon. Will you be okay?" he asked. Zach's free hand shot out to clench his tightly, his eyes widening in fright before he settled down again. "You'll be very safe here, I promise" Mike assured, and he noticed Zach's little body relax once more. With a smile he turned quickly, sending all three men a look before walking towards the door, only stopping when he heard a small gasp from Zach.
"Are you going to see Emily?" he asked, looking pleadingly towards Mike. The captain stood still a moment, frozen by the naming of the small bundle that Kate had whisked away with, the small bundle that chocked his inside to think about and scared him to his very core.
"Yes" he nodded quickly, his voice hoarse through his dry throat "Yes, I'll see her" he replied once more, forcing a smile onto his face to settle the little boy.
He turned quickly on his heels, avoiding the questioning looks from the men around him before striding down the corridor with haste, desperately trying to hold down the tearing feeling growing inside of him. He ran up the ladder quickly, pulling at the handles with a ferocious terror before escaping out into the rain, praying that the pounding water would wash away the sickness he was feeling.
"Oh god" he murmured in alarm, wondering how one earth he was ever going to make it downstairs if he was breaking down at the name of the tiny infant.
He wouldn't be able to handle going near her, would stop breathing in terror before he even reached the door, let alone if Kate was there.
It had physically hurt to see her carry the child earlier. It had knocked him hard in the guts and teared at his heart from all directions while he had struggled to breathe in and out in a normal pattern.
He desperately wished he'd never told Zach he'd see Emily, never talked to Zach in the first place or allowed the team to bring the children back over to him. He wished he'd never allowed them to go to the sinking ship to investigate or even replied to the call from NavCom earlier that day. As he drew in one shaking breath after another and leaned against the railing for support he wished he'd never let the Commander send Kate onto his ship as his XO, he wished he'd said no to the idea, that they needed her elsewhere and Mike could survive until another XO came along. As his mind drifted back and his heartbeat slowed he wished he'd never met the smiling, blonde haired sailor in the first place, that she'd gone to another lecture or that he'd followed his instincts and not taken the offer of teaching. He wished he hadn't asked her out for drink and she'd never accepted and more than anything he wished that when she had told him the night before had been a mistake that he hadn't kissed her deeply and told her that it wasn't.
"Why did I follow you" he murmured softly, one shaky breath after another whisked away in the swirling wind above as the pelting rain soaked him through. "Why didn't I just leave it alone? Why did I have to know the truth?" he sobbed. He felt his chest heave suddenly but instead of being sick he felt the hot trickle of tears fall down his red cheeks. The warm salty drops mixing with the freezing rain on his face.
Kate stared, lost in a trance, at the small bundle breathing slowly in her arms. The baby had long since fallen asleep, the dramatic events of the afternoon tiring her out for the night. She had small wisp's of light brown hair curled a top her damp forehead and if she had been awake two light blue eyes would have stared solemnly out at the woman holding her. Kate was unknowingly rocking the baby back and forth slowly, shifting slightly to find a comfortable spot on her bed while the infant lay still in her arms, its only movement being the soft rise and fall of her chest beneath her light pink blanket.
"She's gorgeous" whispered Nav from the doorway, hoping not to wake the child or scare the woman holding her who appeared to be lost in her thoughts.
"Yes" murmured Kate in agreement, breaking her steady gaze to peer down at the bundle.
Nav slowly crossed the small room before smiling down at the sleeping baby. Glancing back up as she sat on the bed she asked Kate if she wanted a break for a moment, maybe a drink of water or a rest for her arms "You've been holding her for almost an hour" laughed Nav slowly, aware of the fragile state Kate seemed to be in.
"Have I" murmured the woman in response, glancing quickly towards the clock before laughing slowly "I guess I have". She slowly placed the bundle into Nav's awaiting arms, watching the child nervously as the distinct absence of her warmth crept though the woman's body.
"How's the boy?" she asked moments later, her gaze not leaving the baby girl.
"I'm not sure" replied Nav, looking purposely towards Kate in the hopes of grabbing her attention. She was getting quite scared, watching her XO in such a state. First Mike had practically broken down and now Kate was off in another world. And all because two children had come aboard.
"How about you go and check in on him and I'll stay with the baby" she suggested, thinking a change of scenery might break Kate out of her trance.
"No" cried Kate, looking quickly towards Nav in alarm before glancing back down. Her hands were shaking and she desperately tried to bury them beneath the blanket she was still holding. She bit down hard on her bottom lip to hold in the shaking breathes she was taking all the while willing herself to keep it together, breathe deeply, calm herself down until the Nav left and the baby was back in her arms.
"How about I go and see him" breathed out Nav slowly, hurriedly placing the infant in Kate's arms before looking at the XO worriedly. She scurried out of the room, almost barrelling into her soaking wet captain who was hurrying down the corridor.
"Oh god" she cried in surprise, jumping back at his sudden appearance "I didn't see you sir" she murmured, laying a hand against her heart to stop its racing beat. Mike laughed nervously in return, apologising profusely and stumbling out of Nav's way once more; all the while keeping his head down and eyes stuck on the floor.
"Sir" called Nav in alarm, much like she had done moments earlier while her thoughts swirled around the mystery surrounding these children. She side stepped past the captain, realising for the first time he was soaking with water before letting him hurry off in the other direction. Her mind was racing a million miles per hour, trying to connect the appearance of the children with her CO and XO's behaviours but no solution presented itself.
"Sir" she called on an after thought, spinning around to face him "Could you check in on the XO for me, I think she might be a bit shaken from this afternoon" she suggested, hoping that the two speaking would help both. She spun back around, not bothering for an answer before setting off in search of ET and Swain.
Mike stood silently by Kate's door, breathing in deeply as he mulled over the possibilities. He's promised Zach he'd check on Emily and Nav had asked him to check on Kate and as far as he knew both of those people were located behind the door. Normally the thought of seeing Kate would have comforted him; normally the shaking in his hands and tugging at his heart would have been cured by standing by her side. The problem with today was that this would not be the case for not only were Emily and Zach the cause of his terror but Kate herself. And that on its own was enough to make him feel sick.
He swung open the door, not caring to knock, only wanting to get this over and done with without her knowing that he knew. It would kill them both if the truth came out. Maybe not physically but mentally and he couldn't bear the thought of that right now.
"Sir" gasped Kate in horror, looking towards the soaking form of her captain who stood pale faced at the door. She drew in a shaky breath, praying that she could hold herself together and not let anything slip until he had left her alone again and she could break down.
Mike stood as still as possible in front of Kate, took one, slow glance at the child wrapped securely in her arms and the natural way in which Kate held herself, and realised that the cuts he had thought had been long buried in the past were in fact raw, red wounds that hadn't even begun to heal.
He took one look at the woman in front of him and the baby that should have been his and ran.