When Alex woke up, she had to readjust to the bright light of the room before she could get her bearings. Looking down she saw she was in a bed and instead of her ripped and bloody cargo pants and shirt, she had a white shirt and shorts on. She turned her head and saw Merrick asleep in the chair near her bed with a blanket over him. "Merrick?" she croaked. Merrick's eyes opened and they looked at Alex. He stood up and went over next to her bed, kneeling next to it. "Hey…" he said quietly. "How do you feel?"
Alex let out a breath. "Better than before." She said as she sat up. Merrick smiled. "When we got to the boats they had anti-venom and treated you. We're back on the carrier." He explained to her. Alex pulled the sheets back and looked at her leg. The gash on her thigh was stitched and bandaged and her calf was wrapped where the snake bit her. "How is it I have been in the military for ten years and a little snake bite is what gets me in the infirmary?" she questioned.
"You and I both know you have had your share of infirmary visits in the past." Merrick retorted.
"Am I allowed to leave?"
Merrick sighed. "Saw that coming…" he admitted. "The doctor said once you were awake you should feel fine with the medicine they gave you but you have to take an easy and rest."
"Come on Merrick I'm fi-" Alex began.
"Don't say you're fine, Alex." Merrick cut her off. "Don't be stubborn. I'm telling you to take an easy and rest."
"Is that an order?"
"I'm telling you as your brother, not your captain."
Alex fell silent and met Merrick's eyes. "Okay." she said. "But I'm not staying in here. I'm going back to my room."
"Deal." Merrick agreed.
Alex swung her legs around the bed and stood up with Merrick standing close. The siblings left the room together and Merrick walked to their rooms together. Merrick dropped Alex off at her room where she instantly fell onto her bed. She pulled the sheets over her and rolled onto her side where she came face to face with a photo of her, Merrick, and their three other brothers who were now dead. She let out a sad sigh. "You promised you'd never go anywhere." She said. She rolled onto her other side and fell asleep within minutes.
OOOOO
The next morning Hesh woke up pretty early and when he couldn't fall asleep, he quietly got dressed so he didn't wake his sleeping brother and dog and then slipped out into the hallway. He walked towards the mess hall to see if they were serving breakfast yet. They had a small station open where they served oatmeal, cereal, bagels, coffee, and fruit, but Hesh noticed someone sitting at one of the tables. He got a bowl of Cheerios, a cup of coffee, and a banana before approaching the person who he discovered was Alex. "Hey." He greeted as he sat down at the table. She looked up from the book she was reading and smiled at him before going back to the page. "You feeling better?" Hesh asked as he pushed his Cheerios around with his spoon before taking a bite. She simply nodded twice and took a sip of her coffee.
"Elias said we have a couple of days to relax until things calm down and we figure out where go go next." Hesh told Alex.
"Good to know." She replied, not taking her eyes off of her book.
Hesh looked at Alex and blew air out of his nose. "Okay I will get up and leave you alone and not bother you again if you can just tell me why you hate me so much." He said. Alex looked at him. "What makes you think I hate you?" she asked.
"Gee being that since Logan and I have gotten here you have acted like a complete bitch to me." Hesh said, annoyed. Alex closed her book and set it on the table. "Why do you care how I act towards you?" she questioned. "Why does it matter?"
"I just want to know what I did for you to hate me so much." Hesh said.
Alex leaned back in her chair and looked at him. "I don't…" she began. "I don't hate you."
"Then why do act like you do?"
"Hesh why do you think you're here?" Alex asked. "There aren't a lot of Ghosts left. Every time I look at you and Logan I just feel reminded of the people that died." Hesh fell silent. She had a reason. But was it a good one? "I get where you're coming from Alex, but-" he began.
"Merrick isn't my only brother." Alex cut him off. "He's the only one that's alive. I'm the youngest of five kids and the only girl. Two of my brothers were killed after they came onto the Ghosts and then it was Ajax…and others. I got close with other Ghosts and they died. Merrick and Keegan are all that I have along with Elias, Kick, and Neptune. I couldn't handle losing them let alone other people I learn to care about. Is that so bad? That I don't wanna get close with people so it doesn't hurt as much if they die?"
Hesh didn't say anything. Alex just grabbed her book and stood up. "There. You have an answer. Now you leave me alone."
OOOOO
Later that day, Hesh and Logan were with Elias in the command room hanging out with Riley at Hesh's feet. Elias was doing some work with the technicians and Logan and Hesh were waiting for him to have a free minute to talk. Hesh was petting Riley and Logan was sharpening a knife when Riley picked his head up and his ears perked up. He let out a bark and wagged his tail before taking off out of the room. "Riley!" Hesh called after him as he got out and chased after him out of the room.
Hesh ran through the hall and found Riley near the bedrooms near Alex. Alex was trying to shoo Riley away, but the dog stood a couple of feet in front of her wagging his tail. "Hesh can you please get your dog away from me?" Alex asked in a shaky tone.
"I don't know I think he likes you." Hesh replied with a smile.
"Hesh I'm serious." Alex said.
"Riley wouldn't hurt you. Unless you tried to kill me."
"I'm going to if you don't get him away from me I might."
"What's the big deal?"
"I'm afraid of dogs, alright!"
Hesh's smile disappeared. "Riley come." He commanded. Riley went over to Hesh and sat by his feet. "Sorry I didn't know." Hesh apologized. "Yeah well now you do." Alex said as she turned to leave. She took off down the hall and Hesh watched her until she was out of sight. He looked down at Riley and kneeled in front of him. "Today is just not my day, is it boy?" he said to the dog as he scratched his ears.