"What time frame are we looking at for the calculations?" Evan asked Lucas a few days later. He watched the man pace his cell room that looked like it belonged to someone completely insane as the walls were covered in paper with calculations on them.
In fact Lucas looked more and more like a mentally unstable vagrant as his hair and beard had grown in. Apparently Taylor wasn't risking anything with Lucas not even a razor blade or Lucas just couldn't be bothered as his mentally stability was slowly eroding with being locked underground for such a long time or so Evan assumed as his fortnightly visits weren't enough to make a true assessment. There was also the fact that Evan didn't want to know.
"I'm not sure. I need my portable storage drive" Lucas said he saw the confusion on Evan's face "The weird purple box without seams" he told him, Lucas noted the same vague expression on Evan's face and realised he hadn't been informed about the box or knew anything about it.
"Why, you've been here for a few months and haven't needed it" Evan said as he was suspicious of everything Lucas requested. He had heard enough stories from people to take everything Lucas asked for or said to be treated as a double edged sword.
"Well it may be useless but it's for nostalgic purposes to help with my memory maybe spark something" Lucas told him.
"I'll talk to your father" Evan told him as he made moves to leave.
"How has my father been? I haven't seen him in for a long time" Lucas said making idle conversation. He hadn't seen his father in a few weeks or Mira for that fact and wondered what was going on. His guards wouldn't tell him anything as they kept their stony faces and did their duty of standing guard. The only person he did have contact with was Evan and even that was sporadic and rare.
"Busy" Evan said.
"I got that but usually he still stops by for a chat. What is going on?" Lucas asked.
"Do you actually care?" Evan asked him.
"No, not really I just felt the need for idle conversation that isn't with myself" Lucas told him.
"I'm sure but I'm not your buddy or your lackey who gets to be your eyes and ears to the outside world. I'm your boss or did you forget the part where you are a criminal earning his privileges? Because idle chatter about someone you obviously despise is counterproductive to your work" Evan told him as he got to his feet, he was ready to leave.
"I don't think so"
"I would disagree as I haven't seen any progress from your work. In fact I think your facial hair is progressing faster than your work" Evan told him in a droll tone as he moved to the door.
"You sound just like your sister" Lucas told him.
"I'll take that as a compliment as she is a highly decorated soldier who is the XO for the military contingent in Terra Nova. Quite an impressive position"
"I'm sure my father puts her in many impressive positions" Lucas drawled with a sick smile.
"First off that's disgusting and second I'm sure you have more important things to do than speculate your father's sex life" Evan said as he knocked on the door.
"Malcolm couldn't get away fast enough could he?" Kate asked Alicia a few days later, hating how needy and insecure she felt along with all her other woes. Malcolm had been released for a few hours and was off attending meetings and do some work. The beauty of 22nd Century medicine was that recovery time was cut down to half of the time with exception of broken bones. But a few broken ribs didn't stop a man from having a few meetings or so Malcolm said before he kissed Kate goodbye and left the room.
"I would say he was incredibly reluctant to leave, are you ok?" Alicia asked as she set up a cup of hot Zosui soup for Kate before she moved to Malcolm's side of the bed and sat next to Kate with the twins between them on pillows.
"I think he's tired of my fitful sleeping and the crying. I know I am" Kate mumbled as she took a sip of her soup. She knew she was sick of herself and could understand him wanting to escape her for a couple of hours.
"Kate, you're not that bad. Now, eat your soup it'll make you feel better. I added some ginger to help with the nausea" Alicia said as she watched Kate drink the Zosui soup and relax. Alicia had been bringing the soup with her every morning when she visited and it seemed to help Kate's appetite issues as the woman was having major issues with nausea besides the depression she was experiencing.
"You're here during the days, the drugs are making me have bad nightmares but Dr Hastings isn't listening to me" Kate said with a sigh.
"You're on a pretty low dose of medication so I can see why he doesn't agree with you" Alicia said.
"You're supposed to be taking my side" Kate said after swallowing some more of the rice porridge.
"I know but I decided I can only be Switzerland in this regard as I'm friends with Hastings. We went to medical school together, I ranked higher academically than him but you know someone has to be in second place" Alicia said smugly.
"Dr Smartypants" Kate said.
"That's you're nightmares are probably more psychological not pharmacological in nature" Alicia informed her.
"Thanks" Kate said in a dull voice.
"Look you've had a rough time-" Alicia started but Kate cut her off.
"I've had worse" Kate told her. Alicia offered an understanding smile as Kate drank some more of her soup she would soon have to change to a spoon to get the rest of the meat, rice and vegetables from the cup.
"I've been where you are. First pregnancy and realising you can't do crazy stunts where whether you live or die actually matters. Then there's all the hormones and the expectations of having your child feeling them alive in you" Alicia tickled Ella's stomach and smiled at her daughter "I know how real and scary it all feels to have your world go from invisible to incredibly fragile. It has a way of making all the bad memories rear their ugly little heads" Alicia told her.
"I feel haunted" Kate told her, Alicia looked up at Kate and saw the tears in her eyes.
"I know" Alicia said, anyone could just look at Kate and know that.
"But I can't share my little horror show with Malcolm" Kate said with a sigh as she placed the cup back on the tray table in front of her.
"Why not?" Alicia asked.
"He's so far removed from that world. I feel like we have this delicate balance of what he read and actually hears from my lips. You can read a book and that doesn't make it sink in like the cold reality of hearing someone tell you firsthand what it's like" Kate said in a low voice.
"I think you'd be surprised" Alicia told her in an equally low voice.
"I also don't want the pity" Kate said as she looked down at the twins who were staring back up at them.
"He wouldn't pity you Kate. I think you need to give him a little more credit, he can handle it and he loves you"
"I know"
"I'm not saying that talking about it will miraculously cure you but it might help. Tell me how's the soup?" Alicia asked her.
"Delicious, thank you" Kate said.
"You're welcome" Alicia told her.
"Malcolm said he's going to bring me Miso soup to have with my lunch"
"You're obsessed with that stuff. I'm amazed your blood isn't lightly diluted miso paste the way you eat it all the time"
"Hey Miso paste diluted with green tea and this kid was happily thriving on that mixture before all these stupid dietary restrictions for being preggers" Kate said with a smile so she didn't come off as grouchy as she felt. She knew what was right for her and apparently Dr Hastings felt it was all wrong.
"Oh yeah I forgot though all that caffiene in the first few weeks is probably why he's such an active little guy" Alicia said with a smile.
"Yeah probably. I could really go for a cup of green tea"
"Hmm I was the same with coffee"
"So you were so desperate you'd do anything for it?"
"Not that desperate"
"I'd lick your feet for a cup of green tea" Kate told her, Alicia gave an odd smile.
"I'm not sure whether I should be turned on by that or not" Alicia said chuckling as she lifted Ava who was getting restless and settled the baby girl so she sitting upright in her lap.
"I'd be turned on as you have no idea what I can do with my tongue" Kate told her as she gave a salacious smile and wriggling her eyebrows suggestively for a moment before they both burst out laughing.
"Out of the question, I don't even know what that box does and I don't trust my son's word that it's just a storage device. I've seen him use it to control the terminus" Taylor said to Evan. He, Malcolm and Evan were in the command centre catching up on the progress of Evan and Lucas's project. Evan had asked about the box that Lucas asked for and so Taylor indulged his brother in law with bringing it out the vault. He was hoping Evan might have seen it before and would know what to make of it.
"I assumed it wasn't. Have you tried to open it?" Evan asked the two men as he turned the box in his hands.
"No, locked by biometric security system. I apparently wasn't game to try and use Lucas's severed hand to open it in case it deleted the information stored in it" Malcolm said, he didn't like how he had to preface a lot of sentences with 'I apparently' because he couldn't actually remember. He also wasn't enjoying his short term release from the infirmary as it was too soon. He was taking his meds but they were a lower dose so he still had some aches and pains and tightness in muscles from lack of use. He also missed his wife which he felt was juvenile of him as she was only a 10 minute walk away and he'd see her in a few hours for lunch.
"Good point, it obviously this is a prototype of a new portable computer. I only heard rumours about it. I heard it was supposed to have amazing processing system and memory capacity and a nice holographic heads up display with internal wifi which would explain how it can connect with the Terminus. If so, we will just have to make sure the Terminus is set on a rotating frequency or isn't active while Lucas is using the device." Evan said still looking at the device.
"I believe you miss the whole point of it being 'out of the question'." Taylor remarked.
"I just want to finish this and have that fracture tethered and closed. Can't we just let this one slide and give him the purple box and get this finished?" Evan asked.
"Where are you in the repairs of the terminus?" Taylor asked with a sigh as he really didn't want to give Lucas anything that he'd have the potential to use against the colony. His son had damaged enough lives.
"Finished, I'm running diagnostics and making sure everything is in working order so it will take a couple of days. Hence we need to put a fire under Lucas" Evan said.
"Ok, fine. You two believe a rotating frequency will stop him from connecting to the terminus with the purple box?" Taylor asked the men.
"Should do. You should also factor in that he's also underground and a good distance from the terminus it will make it difficult if not impossible for him to try and connect with the Terminus" Malcolm offered.
"Ok he gets the box after the repairs are complete and I want the terminus offline until Lucas is finished and we are ready to go OTG. Is that understood?"
"Yes"
"Good" Taylor said in a tone that said they were also dismissed, the two got up from the guest chairs though Malcolm was a little slower in his movements and they left the command centre.
"You alright there Malcolm?" Evan asked as they made their way down the stairs, Evan couldn't help but imagine Malcolm at the age of seventy and hobbling around considering the way the man was moving now.
"Broken ribs aren't as much fun as people make them out to be" Malcolm said.
"Yeah, I know that well. How was Kate this morning with you leaving her by herself?" Evan asked as he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at how well Malcolm and Kate meshed in their relationship. That even though they were all broken and exhausted they were able to still have a sense of humour and show great care for one another. It made him missed the companionship that marriage and love offered.
"Good, she's still in the infirmary. You should drop by with the kids, I'm sure she'd be happy to see you and the kids as they didn't come last time" Malcolm said as they reached the end of the stairs and headed to the labs.
"I don't think she'll appreciate Olivia crawling all over her" Evan said, Malcolm chuckled.
"I spoke with Dr Hastings this morning before I left this morning and he wants to keep Kate on bed rest for 6 weeks because of her fractured ribs. So I'm sure she'll be a delighted for a vareity of visitors over the next few weeks though Olivia might have to be leashed" Malcolm said with a smile that was half forgiving and teasing.
"If only I could leash her" Evan said with a chuckle as he thought about his rambunctious little daughter. "Perhaps you should be on bed rest yourself" Evan said as he could see Malcolm was in pain as they walked across the main square heading the main research labs.
"I'm only doing half days and even then I might just do a turn of the labs and pick up more plex work before turning back to the infirmary" Malcolm said as he was already tired and ready to go back to lying down. He also had to admit he was enjoying lying about all day with Kate even with her emotionally fragile moments.
"So Kate hasn't driven you crazy yet?" Evan asked with a smile.
"No, she's perfect though she does have a touch of cabin fever and it doesn't help that she and Dr Hastings don't get along"
"I thought Dr Shannon was her doctor" Evan said.
"Normally Elisabeth is but Dr Hastings is in charge and he believes in consistant care. He treated Kate when she came in and wants to see her through her treatment and recovery. So between the friction of Hastings and Kate and having machines beep and staff walking in and out of the room it's not exactly helping Kate's general disposition" Malcolm said.
"Yes I can see how that and your injuries could hamper any relaxing activities and I'm pretty sure the infirmary staff would be disapproving of any bedroom related activities that would make the vital monitors spike" Evan said with a chuckle.
"Yes, you would think they had seen all before" Malcolm quipped. Evan laughed as he pushed open the door and held it as Malcolm walked into the labs.
"Oh Dr Wallace it's so good to see you back on your feet" Dr Haynes said rushing towards Malcolm and Evan, the men steeled themselves as they knew it would take a lot strength to endure Dr Haynes.
"Dr Haynes I appreciate your sentiments but we aren't scheduled for a meeting this week" Malcolm said or the next few months he added silently as he hoped she would take a hint and leave. He didn't want to put up with her overtures. Haynes smiled purposefully ignoring his hint.
"I know but I just had to see you for myself and you weren't allowing visitors in the infirmary but I-"
"My wife Kate is still not up to having visitors other than close friends and family" Malcolm said he emphasised 'wife' so it clear to Haynes didn't make any assumptions about her position with him.
"Besides Commander Taylor, Lt Washington and their twins? And Evan he's visited you too. Aren't we close friends? we've known each other for years" Haynes asked him with a smile.
"No, we are not close friends. I am your boss our relationship is purely professional. I have never misled you in that regard but if you feel I have then I suggest we have a sit down with Commander Taylor and we can make new arrangements suitable for you" Malcolm said in a clipped and professional tone.
"Oh that won't be necessary" Dr Haynes said ducking her head slightly and looking well put in her place.
"Well then if you'll excuse us, Dr Washington and I have a scheduled meeting" Malcolm said, Dr Haynes took her cue for the first time since he could recall and left the labs.
"Wow I'm impressed" Evan said, as he had never seen Haynes leave a room so quickly.
"Really?" Malcolm asked.
"That was cut throat looks like Kate's rubbing off on you" Evan said with an amused expression.
"I'm sure she'll be proud" Malcolm said dryly.
"Considering it's Haynes? definitely will earn you some brownie points" Evan said.
"I think I'll garner more brownie points with miso soup than with putting Haynes in her place." Malcolm said.
"Bed rest for 6 weeks which-"
"What? Why? You said everything is fine" Kate said cutting off Dr Hastings as he and Elisabeth had been giving her a rundown of her recovery schedule. What she wanted seemed to be the opposite of what Dr Hastings wanted. Elisabeth apparently was in the room to witness Kate's 'hostile' behaviour in case she wanted to complain to Taylor later not to have a say in anything.
Kate had wished Taylor and Alicia had stayed to be her witnesses but it was too late to ask them back and anyway from the looks Taylor was shooting Alicia it looked like the twins were going to have an early lunch and nap while Mummy and Daddy had an afternoon delight. It was good to know Alicia and Taylor were getting along better and Alicia looked happier which made Kate happy.
"Yes, every thing is fine with the baby but you on the other hand" Hastings made a face "Are in a lot worse shape with broken ribs and shoulder along with other contributing factors" Hastings told her.
"What other contributing factors?" Kate asked him.
"You've been under a lot of stress, not sleeping well and you're depressed" Hastings said.
"I'm not depressed" Kate said firmly, she'd admit she was having her ups and downs but didn't like being labelled as depressed. Elisabeth didn't agree with Hastings diagnosis either but he was second in charge of the infirmary.
"Your prolactin levels say differently" Dr Hastings remarked looking at the blood test results on his hand held plex.
"Do you concur with him?" Kate asked Elisabeth.
"There is research that suggests that patients with high levels of prolactin may suffer from Anxiety, depression and many other conditions but it's not something we use as a criterion to make such a diagnosis" Elisabeth said diplomatically. She slid a look at Dr Hastings to see him shift slightly and looked displeased at Elisabeth speaking up. Elisabeth was already in a precarious position as Dr Hastings was threatening to right her up for several infractions and have her fired. She wasn't worried about her job as Taylor would never let her go she was too good of a doctor to have sitting around unemployed but she was concerned about Dr Hastings patients namely Kate.
"Look I understand you're pregnant-" Dr Hastings started only for Kate to interrupt him.
"I'm sure you understand because you've pop kids outta your special place in your spare time as a hobby right?" Kate asked him sarcastically. Elisabeth smothered a smile as Dr Hastings took the comment in his stride.
"I had kidney stones once. I'm told it's similiar" he said with a slight smile as if it were the same thing before he looked down at his hand held plex and continued. "Anyway, you need to be monitored and kept on a strict medication regime which We all know you won't take unless you are here with an IV in your arm" he told her.
"Don't use the royal 'we' when I have been taking my prenatal vitamins and looking after myself very well. Now what I need is fresh air, sunshine and my own bed. Time to relax and centre myself-" Kate started but he cut her off before she said 'not your stupid drug regime'.
"How very new age of you" he remarked in a patronizing tone.
"I do yoga" Kate said fighting the urge to flip him the bird. She couldn't understand why they didn't get along better. She had apologised for nearly strangling him and being a bitch but he just had a way about him that kept making her hostile.
"Good for you, still doesn't change that you'll be here for 6 weeks and I wasn't referring to your prenatal vitamins regime" Dr Hastings said.
"You know your bedside manner sucks and I'm still wondering why I can't have Dr Shannon as my doctor" Kate told him.
"Because I am your attending physician" he told her in a dull tone as they had been over this many times.
"Then trade places, hand over my case I don't care as long as you get out of my room" Kate told him as her patience was lost for the day.
"We've been over this-"
"No, you dictated your terms to me like I'm a small child and have been patronizing me for the past week and I've here taking the meds and trying to keep a civil tongue cause I thought you being an asshole was just an occupational thing but no it's just you and whatever reason you don't like me or trust me to look after myself."
"Are you suggesting-"
"That you're an asshole because I made that pretty clear." Kate said with a groan as her head spun when she leaned forward. She pulled the blankets off her legs and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
"What are you doing?" Elisabeth asked her.
"I'm going home, I'm not going to be treated by a doctor who will patronize me and try to make me feel like the dirt on his boots. Give me drugs that I don't want which make me feel miserable and ill" Kate said as she pulled off the heart monitor and unplugged her IV drip.
"Get back into bed. We can find a compromise" Elisabeth told her in a placating tone.
"Hell no" Kate said.
"You heard Dr Shannon, if you leave that bed then you are going against medical advice" Dr Hastings told Kate. Elisabeth shot Dr Hastings a look that said 'you're not helping' before turning her attention back to Kate.
"Then I'll sign an A.M.A. form" Kate said.
"I will sedate you Kate" Elisabeth said.
"No you won't because you actually listen to your patients and adhere to their wishes" Kate told her as she slid to her feet and took a tentative step forward. It was hard to walk with the leftovers of her last dose still running through her. She couldn't feel her body, it was like it was she was in a bubble. So she focused on the information her eyes were giving her as they were the only part of her semi functioning.
"Kate, I know but you're in no condition to be walking around" Elisabeth said.
"Let her go Dr Shannon" Dr Hastings said. Elisabeth looked to him shocked he would even allow a patient in Kate's state to walk around let alone out of the infirmary. "If Kate wants to leave then it is her decision. Now step aside" he added as he moved forward to Kate.
He pulled out his hand held plex and a stylus and held it out to Kate. "I'll need your signature" he told Kate, she took the plex and placed it on the tray table and took the stylus and haphazardly signed with her left hand. It was barely a scribble just a stroke with a wiggle in it. She picked up the plex and before Hastings could stop her she dropped it into her water jug. The plex fried and fizzled in the water as Kate walked out of the room at a slow pace.
"Real mature" Dr Hastings said as he pulled the plex from the water jug. He should have seen it coming, he turned his attention to see Elisabeth follow Kate out of the infirmary door. So he left the plex and followed them as he decided it was time for Kate to learn a lesson.
He grabbed Elisabeth by the upper arm and pulled her back away from Kate. "I told you to stand down. Your insubordination knows no bounds" he said to her. Elisabeth looked at him incredulously.
"You can't let her walk out of the infirmary-"
"Sometimes a patient has to hit rock bottom before they accept that they need help" Hastings told Elisabeth as grabbed her arm to stop her from going to Kate who was swerving her way slowly to the door like someone who had one too many drinks.
"Maybe that is your idea of patient treatment but it's not mine" Elisabeth said as she tried to shuck his hand but he kept his grip.
"Noted but she's acting as though she's privileged" Dr Hastings told her.
"No she isn't, she is acting like a person who wants to be anywhere but here. Something you should be able to recognise from your many years working in a Military hospital. You don't like her because she has been second guessing your work" Elisabeth said in a low voice trying to not make anymore of a show.
"My ego can take a little second guessing but I will not be dressed down like an intern by an ex-mercenary who is too stubborn to see the reality of her situation. When she falls over not if but when she falls to the ground in a heap we'll get a couple of soldiers to carry her back" Hasting told her.
"You really are an asshole" Elisabeth told him.
"Please you only feel that way because you, Commander Taylor and Lt Washington and half the colony treat her like she walks on water. When all she did was kill a few people who we didn't like"
"She is my friend and we treat her as an equal as we would like to be treated. Now remove your hand" Elisabeth told him in a cold and dark tone.
"We'll call a meeting with- what the hell is going on there?" Taylor asked Jim as they were heading over to the west side of the colony to deal with a power distribution issue. Taylor wanted to deal with it after lunch but Jim had assured him it would be quick. Alicia told him she'd hold lunch until he got back. They were just on the outskirts of the main square when Taylor's eyes landed Kate who was supposed to be in the infirmary resting not hobbling away from said infirmary.
"I have no idea" Jim said as they continued down the stairs and walked over to where Kate was, He saw his wife a few steps away bickering with Dr Hastings which was unlike them as they usually got on like a house on fire.
"Lovely afternoon for a walk, though this gravel has to be hell on your feet" Jim commented as he and Taylor exchanged looks. Jim noticed Dr Hastings grab his wife's arm and frowned as he didn't like the energy between the two or the Doctor touching his wife.
"Yeah well I'd walk through broken glass to get away from that place" Kate said waving a hand that they all took for the direction of the Infirmary.
"Shannon get your wife and Dr Hastings over here to explain themselves" Taylor said as he stepped in front of Kate to block her path. Jim gave a nod before leaving them.
"Kate you want to explain yourself?" Taylor asked as he looked her over, her eyes were blood shot and had tears ready to fall. Her hair was a dishevelled mess and she wore the white infirmary scrubs the patients wore it made emphasised her pregnant stomach and it was surprised at how big she was for 21 weeks as it was hard to tell with lying down but easier now she was standing up and walking around. 'Around' being an accurate term as she looked incredibly disoriented as she was swaying rather dangerously on her feet as she walked.
"I'm going home, I'm finished convalescing in the infirmary" Kate told as she came to a stop in front of him and nearly fell backwards but Taylor caught her by the elbow and steadied her.
"Has the Doctor cleared you?" he asked as he tried to catch her eyes, he knew it was a stupid question but felt he should cover his bases.
"No" she told him.
"Then you're not going anywhere but back to the infirmary" He told her she shook her head.
"No I'm going home" She told him as she tried to free her arm but he kept a hold on it as he was more concerned about her falling over.
"Your house is still under repairs" he informed her as he wanted to reason with her before strong arming her. He really wished she looked a little less strung out as she gave a half shrug.
"I don't care" she told him.
"Look at me" he told her and she did as he asked and locked eyes with him. "If you don't turn around right now and go back to that infirmary I will throw you over my shoulder and take you back" Taylor told her in a serious tone.
"I'm tired of that place" she said in an exhausted tone. It was the kind of exhaustion that sounded bone deep.
"I don't care, you're no condition to be anywhere but in bed in the infirmary" he told her as if she were an errant child.
"I've been in worse condition before" She told him it was her most overused excuse along with 'I need a break'.
"No you haven't" Taylor told her, Kate closed her eyes and tears streaked down her face as she swayed on feet. He gave her a moment to process and collect herself. He knew what he was doing was harsh but someone had to tell her put her in her place. "You've been worse physically but mentally and emotionally this is the worse I've ever seen you." he told her in a low voice.
"Maybe you're right but I don't want to go back. I've been kicked around enough these past few weeks that I-"
"Need a break" he finished for her.
"Yes" she said looking down at the gun strapped to his chest. She was exhausted from just standing there. She was sure she could have made it home if she had kept up her pace up instead of stopping. Taylor touched her chin and lifted it so he could look her in the eyes.
"You've been saying that a lot these past couple of months and if you in any shape I'd take you OTG for R&R myself but you're physical state wouldn't be able to hack it. So instead you're going to go back to the infirmary. Do you want to walk or am I going to carry you?" he asked her.
"I can walk" She answered in a hushed voice. Taylor gave a nod and dropped his hand from her chin. He noted Jim and the two doctors nearing them.
"Ok, Shannon is going to take you back to the infirmary while I talk with your doctors about what I consider to be appropiate and inappropiate patient care" He said as Jim stepped forward he had gone to reach for her arm but she waved him away as she turned around headed back to the infirmary.