Maura got the twins settled in the apartment and Elara stayed with them. She made her way down to the med center, spotting the family quickly at the benches outside. As she hurried to join them, she saw Aric break away from the group to meet her, a long hug and kiss telling her he was stressed. She looked at the anxious faces around her, took a deep breath, and her natural leadership kicked in to allow her to take control of the situation.
"So, where do things stand now?" she asked, looking first at Corso, who had definitely seen better days, and Mags, who was pale and looked a little shaky.
"She's awake, off and on. No longer sedated, since her heart is doing better now, but the drug they're using to help the baby's lungs mature makes her sleepy, and they're trying to keep her heart rate down anyway so she's been pretty much left alone to rest." Corso stood to give her his spot on the bench, and to pace. "Hopefully later today they'll put her in a regular patient area and we can be with her."
"Even if they sedate her again, I can talk to her through the force," Magdalane told her. "I did earlier this morning, she said she was just really tired, and I explained why. She's holding on, and Devin is getting there as far as his lungs go. Really all we can do is wait." Mags looked at the floor, still feeling guilty that she'd not seen something wrong.
Maura started directing troops. "Corso, I can see that you're exhausted. Take Mags and you two get some food, she's shaky. Aric, come with me to get more info. Felix, please gather some bottles of water and a cooler, if we're going to be here for a while we'll need it, the air is dry in the station." No one even questioned her, just started off to do as she'd asked.
"That voice gets stuff done, Major, but be cautious, this group is fragile right now." Aric walked beside her as they approached the medical staff. Once they'd determined that Miriah was being moved in about an hour, they returned to the bench to wait for the group to reassemble. Aric held her hand, but didn't say much. He hadn't slept well without her, and told her so. She smiled at him, telling him she'd had the same problem. Felix returned, his task complete, just as Corso and Magdalane came back with several bags of food, a variety of dishes that might appeal to the group.
They'd just finished the food, both Corso and Mags feeling stronger, when the tech on duty approached them. "We've moved Captain Chantalle to a patient room, and you can see her now, but her condition is guarded. You can stay with her as long as her heart rate is stable, so no excitement. Calm is the word of the day," she smiled. She gave them directions, and Corso had to stop himself from running as the group made their way into the med center.
He spotted her from the doorway, sitting up in the bed. She looked pale, but just seeing her without all the monitors was such a relief. She had her eyes closed, and he entered quietly. She sensed him, though, and opened her eyes to smile and reach out her hand to him. He took it and moved closer to kiss her, his smile lighting up the room and his relief evident. They murmured to each other for a moment, words of love and concern, of promises and forevers. They were both comforted and restored by them, and when she looked up and saw her sisters and brothers in law, she was relaxed and smiling, Corso never letting go of her hand.
After catching up with them all, Felix and Aric took Corso with them to find Miriah some chocolate, a food staple, in her opinion, which left the sisters to help Miriah shower, the only thing she was allowed out of bed for. The shower had a bench, and Maura went in to shampoo her hair. The warm water felt heavenly after being still so long, and Miriah sighed as Maura massaged her peach scented shampoo through her long hair. The sisters helped her out and Magdalane had brought her favorite lotion. By the time the guys returned, Miriah looked like herself, her peach and vanilla scents present, her hair shining and loose around her shoulders, her eyes sparkling.
Aric presented her with a block of Balmorran chocolate, and Miriah grinned with happiness. Now, if only she could go home to Dantooine, she thought. But she knew she'd be here a while longer. They ate dinner together in her room, and the tech told them all that visiting hours were over. Everyone but Corso left, promising to be back in the morning. Corso was adamant, he was staying, at least until she slept. They lowered the lights, and Miriah tried, but even being drowsy she was having a hard time falling asleep. She tossed and turned, trying and failing to get comfortable in a bed that wasn't hers. She finally turned to Corso, who'd been dozing in the chair, and crooked her finger at him. He slipped off his boots and climbed onto the bed behind her, and she relaxed against his familiar form, feeling better than she had since she'd arrived.
Corso gently put his arms around her and felt her relax. He closed his eyes, offering her his warmth and comfort, his heart feeling whole again. "I could hear you talking to me," she told him, "it made me feel safe and loved, just hearing your voice." He blushed a little, remembering the things he'd told her, and snuggled closer to her, tucking her head under his chin. "This really wasn't the plan, was it?" She sighed, "I guess we're here for the duration. Who's caring for Lucky?" He told her that Akaavi had taken the rescued lynx kitten to the foreman, and that satisfied her.
"You need sleep, Mir, or they're gonna haul me outta here," he told her, keeping his voice low.
"I'd like to see them try," Miriah snorted. "They want me to stay calm, that won't happen without you." She turned to face him, not able to get too close because of the baby, but able to look into his eyes. "Tell me you won't leave, even if I fall asleep, okay?" He nodded, seeing the uncertainty in her eyes fade as he did. Reassured, she finally slept.