A/N: Only one chapter this time busy masters schedule and muse has decided to take a small vacation... Please Enjoy!
Guzman and Jim watched over the infirmary bed where Dr Shannon and Hastings were working hard to stabilise Lucas, the man had stabbed himself in the neck with a pencil. Apparently he had nicked a major artery which explained the copious amount of blood. He felt like an asshole but he fervently wished Taylor's son would just die and let them all have a little peace back into their lives.
Guzman caught movement at his left in his peripheral vision and turned out of habit and saw Kate ambling their way. Guzman looked back to Jim and they exchanged looks before moving towards Kate.
They noticed her eyes were glassy as she walked toward them. Her hair mussed and her scrubs slightly askew as she had probably just rolled out of bed without bothering to straighten her clothing. She seemed completely oblivious to what was going on as she walked right by them without even stopping to say 'hello' or even check out all the noise and action around Lucas.
"I'm going to follow her. Just to make sure she's ok" Jim said as he didn't what to make of their odd encounter. Guzman raised a hand as if to say 'go for your life' or at least that's how Jim interpreted it as he left Guzman and slowly followed Kate to wherever she was going to.
A few moments later, Taylor came into the infirmary. He looked around for a second before he spotted Guzman and joined him where he stood.
"Report?" Taylor asked Guzman in a calm yet slightly perturbed tone.
"Tried to off himself with a pencil, he nicked a main artery but it looks like he will live" Guzman told him.
"How did this happen?" He asked.
"I don't know, the soldiers guarding the brig noted that he was restless and then he apparently tore down all of his work from the walls before reaching for the pencil, but he was carrying on for a good while. The soldiers are currently writing up their reports" Guzman said.
"I wonder whart set him off" Taylor said as his son had been very compliant to just up and kill himself seemed entirely out of character.
"I don't know. Do you want me to go over the footage?" Guzman asked.
"No, I will-" Taylor stopped midsentence when Jim joined them. "Shannon what are you doing here?" he asked the Sheriff who was looking rather amused for no reason considering suicide was not something to laugh about.
"I was walking my wife home when Lucas came in." Jim said.
"Kate?" Guzman asked Jim, catching Taylor's attention as he looked to the private room to see the door was open with Malcolm in bed by himself. He turned back to Jim who jutted his thumb over his shoulder.
"Bathroom, she seems to fine. Though I think the meds have her completely oblivious of everything around her. I'll check on her in a few minutes to make sure she hasn't fallen in" Jim said with an amused smile. Guzman gave a shake of his head trying to keep his professionalism but inwardly he was relieved that they wouldn't have to deal with Kate flipping her lid about Lucas being in the infirmary. Well until tomorrow. He also had to smile as the private room came with an ensuite so her walk to the other bathroom was completely unnecessary.
The men grew silent as they turned their attention back to where Lucas's prone body as the doctors and nurses worked quickly behind the opaque curtain.
He couldn't help but feel a twist of pain and concern for his son even now after everything that happened between them he still loved his son. Something he felt was a weakness but Alicia kept telling him it was a strength as he just had a greater capacity to love and forgive those he loved. Not that he agreed but he didn't argue with her either. He caught movement in his peripheral and turned to see Kate half walking half dragging her feet as she came from the back area. Jim was right the woman definitely looked out of it but not in bad shape considering her week.
She seemed to be having trouble with balancing herself as she walked since her arm was pinned to her side and under her bust in a sling. She looked up registering Jim, Guzman and Taylor gave them laziest of hand waves.
"Night" she mumbled as she didn't even stop and kept walking. They watched her as she returned back into the private room and didn't bother to close the door to the room behind her before climb back into bed. Jim gave a roll of his eyes as he went over to the room and closed the door giving Kate and Malcolm their privacy as Kate had forgotten.
Jim came back to stand with the men wondering how long they would be waiting, but still slightly smiling at Kate's little interruption. He was pretty sure he heard Kate snore before he closed the door but would save that tidbit to tease her with at a later date.
They watched on and soon the activity in the room lessened and the intensity that had filled the room earlier was gone. Dr Hastings stepped out from behind the opaque curtain and moved to them. It was hard not to miss the blood on his scrubs but they ignored so they could hear the prognosis.
"Commander Taylor, we've stabilised your son and repaired the damage to the artery he nicked. He lost a lot of blood but after a couple of transfusions and a few days recuperation he will recover fully" Dr Hastings informed him.
"Good, I'll have guards posted at the bed and make sure you keep him restrained at all times" Taylor said in a well practiced and professional manner. He had decided it was time he drew a line where his son was concerned and distance himself so Lucas could no longer hold power over him.
"That's not going to help his recovery" Dr Hastings said, Taylor looked at the Doctor coldly, he didn't like it when the doctors gave him lip about patient care in regards to prisoners.
"He's a dangerous criminal Dr Hastings do as you are told as this is for your safety as well as the staffs'. The guards are also to stop anyone from being stupid." Taylor told Hastings as it wasn't just Lucas he was worried about but others wanting act out their anger on Lucas for the occupation. Taylor looked to Guzman "I want him transferred to the new cell as soon as he no longer requires medical attention" he ordered.
"Yes Sir" Guzman said.
"Good, now while he's here Doctor I suggest you give him a good scrub and get rid of his beard and cut his hair down to a number one. Lucas wasn't resistant to personal grooming but I need to see his face when I talk to him"
"This is the infirmary not a day spa" Hastings told him. Taylor gave his a cold and unwavering stare as he didn't appreciate the Doctor being smarmy.
"I'm well aware but that doesn't change that you'll do as I ask even if you have to bring in someone else to perform the task" Taylor said wondering why people kept talking back to him instead of accepting his orders lately especially the doctors in the infirmary.
"Very well" Dr Hastings said inclining his head.
"Tell me when will he be expected to wake up?" Taylor asked.
"I'm uncertain" Dr Hastings told him.
"Ok, I want to be notified as soon as he's awake" Taylor told him.
"Yes, Commander" Dr Hastings said, Taylor gave a nod and purposely turned to Jim dismissing the Doctor without saying the words. Hastings took his leave returning behind the opaque curtain.
"I'll inform Malcolm in the morning and have him and Evan clean out anything and everything regarding to the calculations. Will that suit your purposes?" Taylor asked Jim.
"Purposes?" Jim asked confused.
"You don't want to investigate this? And make it all official for the records?" Taylor asked as he and Jim had gone through the mountain of plexwork for official reports on all the murders and the subsequent death of Mrs Caetano the murderer. He didn't think Jim would want to start cutting corners even with an attempted suicide.
"May as well" Jim said somewhat reluctantly.
"Then let's go now" Taylor said as he gestured for Jim to start walking. "Guzman you're in charge here" he said to the man who gave a nod and turned away, pulling out a comm. unit to call soldiers in to stand guard over Lucas. Taylor and Jim made their way out of the Infirmary.
Malcolm woke up when Kate groaned in pain and shifted restlessly in the bed enough to wake him. He opened his eyes saw her lying face down on the bed trying to get comfortable. The back of her bed was flat and her face was buried in the pillow with her hair bedraggled.
"You ok there?" Malcolm asked her in an amused tone.
"I'm stuck and it hurts" Kate said as she turned her face to him, he reached down and pushed her hair out her face so he could see her making one of the most adorable yet pained of faces at him. He wondered how she even managed to get herself into such a twisted mess on the bed. He wondered why he was feeling a little cold and now the answer was beside him twisted up in the blankets.
"How did the back of your bed get flat?" he asked her.
"I dunno but it's uncomfortable and I need both arms but I'm broken" Kate said her voice slightly muffled as she had turned her face into the pillow.
"Ok, give me a second here to sort everything out" he told her, in a few seconds he managed to unravel her and get her comfortable lying on her back with the back of the bed elevated to the same angle as his. "There" he told her.
"Always taking care of me" She said with a sleepy but relieved sigh as she snuggled down on the bed now the blankets were straightened.
"Of course and I'll never stop taking care of you" he told her.
"You're saddled with a pregnant high maintenance wife" Kate said with a half chuckle half groan.
"If rearranging you in bed is your idea of high maintenance then I can definitely be able to manage" He told her.
"Mmm I don't think the kid like being squished" Kate murmured. Malcolm wanted to tell her it would take more than lying on her stomach to cause any harm to the child but decided instead to play into it.
"Let me see" he said as moved closer to her and slowly massaged her stomach while he held a thoughtful expression. "I think everything is fine. It all feels like it should" he commented with a quirk of his lips as he looked to Kate but she didn't respond as she had fallen back to sleep. He gave a quiet chuckle as he adjusted the blankets around her making sure she was comfortable, he laid back and watched her peacefully sleep before he drifted off himself.
"Oh I feel your crankiness but you have no reason to complain kid" Alicia said in a soothing and sympathetic tone as she picked up Ava who was having a good crying spell with her sister. She hadn't slept well after Taylor disappeared to deal with Lucas and had tossed and turned until giving up and exercising early in the loungeroom and getting started on her day all before the twins morning feed. The twins had been fussy when they woke up and instead of settling they decided to escalate their behaviour. The only reprieve was that they had started crying loudly 5 minutes ago and at 7am it was a little more bearable than 2 am. The front door opened and Alicia peered out the side door of the nursery to see Taylor come in.
"Need a hand?" he asked as he kicked off his boots and moved into the nursery, he could see frustration in her face.
"More like six" Alicia said to him over the noise as she held out crying Ava to him so she could pick up Ella.
"Why you balling?" Taylor asked Ava as he held Ava to his chest and gently cupped the back of her head before gently rubbing her back. The baby only answered with cries of murder through tears. "Hey, awwh it's ok" he said to Ava before he looked to Alicia with a questioning look. She gave him a shrug as she picked up Ella.
"I have no idea. They are dry, fed and just plain cranky" Alicia told him as she went into the living area jiggling Ella on her hip. Taylor repositioned Ava in his arms and within a few minutes the little girl calmed down in his arms and stuck her hand in her mouth and started to drool as she became quiet.
"I think they are being spoiled by being held all the time" Alicia commented as Ella seemed to be just following her sister's behaviour as she settled down herself but she was still making small huffy noises which meant she was in stand by ready to set off again. Alicia relaxed as peace and quiet settled in the room, she hadn't realised how tense she was until her body gave a sigh.
"Possibly" Taylor said with a quirk of the lips before he kissed the top of Ava's head.
"How was Lucas?" Alicia asked.
"Alive" Taylor said, Alicia looked him over and saw the fatigue, the guilt and anguish written in his face. She knew how hard it was for Taylor to deal with Lucas.
"I guess that's something" Alicia said.
"Just a night and morning of odd behaviour" Taylor commented.
"How so?"
"Well Kate woke up and went to the bathroom passed Lucas's bed twice and didn't even register with her she was so out of it" Taylor said.
"That is what one would call a 'small blessing'." Alicia quipped as she gave a sigh of relief. She knew the twins were probably upset by the change in daily routine as Taylor usually took the morning to changed the twins and bring them to bed for a feed and cuddle time.
"True, I'm not complaining just commenting. Jim was enthusiastic with his deadline to have the inquiry closed by this afternoon instead of making a show of it taking longer and wanting to investigate every little detail and now these two acting up in the morning when they are morning kids just like us" he said adjusting Ava and ignoring the drool patch on his chest as it was pretty common place with the twins.
"I think they wanted their morning routine where their father does all the diaper changes and has long conversations with them while they are feeding" Alicia said as she passed Ella into his other arm so she could make some breakfast for them.
"Oh you saying I'm spoiling them" He said in an amused tone as he followed her to the kitchen and watched her open the fridge and bend over giving him a lovely view. He like her off the shoulder T shirt and short shorts look the best other than her being naked. But then anything she wore was just dressing.
"That's right. When you're not here I put them into the cupboard and keep the house as quiet as mausoleum. What do you want for breakfast?" She asked as she looked inside at the ingredients.
"Something hearty since I haven't had a lot of sleep and need to get through the day" Taylor answered.
"Well you can always come home and have an afternoon nap with me and twins" Alicia said as she pulled out the makings for a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, tomato and other food.
"We'll see, there's a lot to be done" Taylor said with a tired voice.
"Such as?"
Taylor rattled off his schedule for the day as he moved to the dining table to sit down. He wished he could take the day off and be 'Mommy' for the day with the twins than deal with anything in regards to his son. He just felt useless when it came to Lucas but not with Alicia and the twins, at home he could change diapers, feed the twins, clean house and comfort crying twins and comfort Alicia in more amorous ways maybe treat her with running a hot bath or a long massage.
Alicia listened as she pulled out everything she needed to make breakfast.
"Sounds like a big day, why don't you stay here this morning and work on your plex. I can drop by Evan's and tell him the news before I hit up the infirmary to see Kate. They won't be having breakfast until 8:30 plenty of time. You can also have Daddy-Daughter time, maybe have a mid morning nap instead of an afternoon nap" Alicia offered with a teasing smile.
"I'm not going to say 'no'." Taylor said with a smile as he liked her idea better.
"Kate get back into bed" Alicia told the woman who was walking slowly from one side of the bed to the other, then back and forth. Alicia had passed on the information about Lucas to Evan who said he'd tell Malcolm that way Malcolm could decide on whether he kept Kate in the dark about Lucas being in the infirmary. It left Alicia with the job of making the woman stay in the room which would be hard considering how Kate was wearing herself out.
"I can't lie around in bed all day, I need to exercise otherwise I'll become unfit and have to work twice as hard to get fit. It's also been 3 weeks give or take a couple of days. What day is it anyway?" Kate asked as she walked slowly from one side of the bed to the other.
"Thursday and you've been in here for three weeks, no extra days trust me the staff out there are marking it on a calender" Alicia told her as it was the second time in the last hour she had reminded Kate what day of the week it was.
"Wow three weeks, I think that's the longest Malcolm and I have gone-"
"Yeah I know, we've been over this" Alicia said with a smile as Kate's pregnancy brain was really starting to kick in.
"Right" Kate mumbled slightly embarrassed for repeating herself.
"You forget that you've got broken bones not to mention pregnant, you're allowed to take it easy and be lazy" Alicia said with an amused quirk of the lips as she watched her friend pace.
"I also have swollen ankles and fingers and stretch marks. I had to take off my wedding ring. It feels so demoralising that I was all hot and sexy pregnant and in a snap I feel pudgy and swollen gross pregnant" Kate grumbled as she had to take her wedding ring off as she was starting to lose feeling in her ring finger.
"Walking isn't going to stop any of those symptoms and you're still a freaking goddess you could grace the cover of a pregnancy magazine" Alicia told her.
"I know but I need to walk for a bit and anyway where are the twins?" Kate asked.
"Taylor wanted some father daughter time. I wasn't going to say no" Alicia said she also wasn't going to have Lucas and her twins breathe in the same room but not that she was going to tell Kate that.
"Awwh that's adorable he's probably telling them all about how to break down a sonic weapon" Kate said a little breathlessly as she continued to walk.
"Hopefully, you should slow down there" Alicia cautioned her.
"I'm fine" Kate told her.
"Broken Ribs" Alicia told her.
"Ok, Fine! I'm done for now" Kate said as she slowly got back into bed and winced as she rested on her back. "I feel like I'm a whale who decided to beach itself, I'm huge compared to when I first got in here and I'm starving and I'm forgetting things" Kate said.
"I know, it's really amusing" Alicia told her, Kate gently smacked her arm.
"Be sympathetic and rubbed my feet or something" Kate said with a pout.
"I brought you muffins" Alicia told her.
"Yes, you did and may I have another one?" Kate asked, Alicia opened the lid off the box, she had bought a dozen of mixed assortment figuring it would help Kate with her hunger pangs for the next few days and still have some left for Malcolm if he was interested.
"Sure, but it's your last until lunch time" Alicia told her as Kate had already eaten one and the muffins weren't exactly small. Kate smiled and pulled out a blueberry muffin.
"Mmm I'm thinking I'll need a nap before then." Kate said before taking a bite of her muffin.
"Probably a good idea" Alicia said looking at Kate.
"Hey, do you know how they are going with my house?" Kate asked after she swallowed her first bite.
"Yes, the repairs are nearly finished. A couple of days at least."
"Good, I want to go home and not because Lucas is here. I just want to sink into my own bed that's a little lower to the floor than keep struggling into this one" Kate said with a smile.
"How did you know about Lucas?" Alicia asked her.
"I saw him last night I thought it was a dream but then I overheard the nurses talking outside the room. I also want to make bacon pancakes with maple syrup" Kate said as she shifted getting comfortable.
"You are a list of wants this morning aren't you?" Alicia asked with a laugh.
"I've been a list of wants all my life" Kate said with a smile.
"I don't even get that joke" Alicia told her.
"Neither do I" Kate said smiling though she didn't laugh. The door slid open and Kate jumped up slightly before Elisabeth poked her head in. Alicia didn't miss it or the relief on Kate's face as she relaxed back down.
"Hey, how's everyone going in here?" Elisabeth asked.
"Good" Kate said before taking another bite.
"good because I'm on break-"
"Then get your ass in here, Kate was just bitching about everything she wants and there are muffins" Alicia told Elisabeth as she opened the box and offered it to Elisabeth. The woman smiled as she came into the room and closed the door before perusing the selection of muffins before taking one and moving to sit on the end of the bed.
"Thank you, though I have to say there is nothing new about Kate making demands" Elisabeth said as she pulled off a piece of muffin top and ate it.
"Hey" Kate said in a defensive tone.
"She really wants bacon pancakes with Maple syrup so that ranks where that ranks on the list is beyond me as it sounds disgusting" Alicia said pulling a face.
"I don't complain that much and you haven't eaten my bacon pancakes so don't wrinkle your nose at something that is delicious" Kate said in defensive tone before she took another bite of her muffin but neither of the women in the room looked convinced as they shared a mutual look of 'I don't think so' and shook their heads.
"This is going to make quite a delay on the project" Malcolm said as he and Evan stood in the brig, it was a mess papers strewn everywhere. Some torn to shreds and other pieces covered in blood. Both looked reluctant to start the job that was a head of them as Evan stood with his arms folded while Malcolm stood with his hands in his pockets toeing a piece of paper on the floor idly.
"I know, Lucas is just prolonging the evitable" Evan said, Malcolm shot him an odd look.
"Evitable?" Malcolm asked curious as to why Evan had used those words.
"Once the rift is sealed we'll no longer need his help and thus he'll be left alone here. I think I'd take my life if this is all I had to look forward." Evan said with a half shrug. It was a grim thought even to Malcolm, one which he didn't want to consider so he changed the direction of the conversation.
"Well let's see what we can recover and we'll scan them into a database and feed it through the 'Eye' and see what we get" Malcolm said.
"Sounds like a plan" Evan said as he picked a corner of the room and moved over to the area and started picking up pieces of paper.
"He just lost it" Jim said slightly distracted as he made his eyes go really wide and then small making faces at Ella who looked at him obstinately, refusing to smile. He just didn't get why he couldn't win Ella to his side as the baby didn't like him. He was beginning to think it was the lack of facial hair as Ella didn't have any problems with Malcolm or Taylor. He picked the baby up and placed her on the padded floor where Ava was before Ella spewed on him or acted up.
Taylor placed the plex on the table as he had spent a good portion of his morning watching over the footage and trying to find what triggered his son while doting attention on the twins. He had to admit he spent more of his attention on the twins than the situation with his son. He knew he should feel guilty but he was at his rope's end with Lucas.
He ran a hand down his face hoping to wipe the exhaustion away before he looked back at Jim. It sadly didn't work, instead he just felt the exhaustion sink deeper into his bones.
"So, how's the rest of the colony this morning?" Taylor asked.
"Alive and well, no complaints yet but we'll see" Jim said with a shrug, it was only midmorning there was lunch and a whole afternoon to go. "On a good note the repairs to Kate and Malcolm's place are finished. They thought it would take a few more days but overestimated it and the cell in the barracks is complete and ready for Lucas once he gets cleared by medical" Jim added.
"Finally some good news" Taylor said feeling a some weight lift off him because now they had back up plans. If they had trouble from the community about Lucas they could moved him into the new cell which had more room and facilities for long term imprisonment without having to rush Evan and Malcolm with their work. It also meant that Kate could leave the infirmary and go home as she wanted to do weeks.
Malcolm came into the private room of the infirmary and made no effort in being quiet as he knew better than to sneak around his sleeping wife. She was lying on the bed peacefully sleeping until he gently tapped on the glass pane in the door as she asked him to do if he came into the room and she was asleep. The noise of course while gentle woke her up and she opened her eyes tense for just a microsecond before she relaxed at the sight of him. She gave him a soft and sleepy smile as she stretched her legs and shifted on the bed.
"Hey, what's the time?" Kate murmured as he came over to her.
"1pm" he told her before kissing her in greeting and then moving his attention down and placing his hands on the sides of her protruding stomach. He pressed his lips to her stomach before straightening up and moving to sit on the side of the bed so he was facing her.
"Mmm I feel like I've been sleeping longer" Kate said as she remembered dozing off around 11:30am when Alicia and Elisabeth left her to rest.
"You feeling ok?" he asked her, he couldn't help but worry about her as he checked her forhead for her temperature. He was glad she allowed him such liberaties without making too much of a fuss.
"Just a little hungry but other than that I'm fine" Kate told him.
"Good, well the food is on its way but first we need to talk" he told her, Kate gave a groan as she used her one good arm to push up on the bed to sit up.
"Four words no one wants to hear" Kate joked.
"Luca-"
"Don't talk to me about that man" Kate said in a cold tone cutting him off immediately, he was amazed how she could make a room feel like it dropped five degrees with just a look or in this case her tone and body language.
"I have to because he's in the infirmary" Malcolm said, he watched his wife turn pale but continued as he felt she needed to know. "He's under guard and restrained to his bed and currently recovered"
"I know, he tried to kill himself. For genius you'd think he'd be able to get that right" Kate said her words chilled him slightly but then he remembered that there was no love lost between the two and if Malcolm could remember those days and the emotional hold that Kate did he'd probably share the same sentiment.
"Kate" He said in a patient manner.
"I will not pretend to have sympathy for him, not after everything that has passed between us" Kate told him in a firm tone.
"Ok, I just wanted you to know so you're aware in case you go for a wander but I'd prefer you don't go for a wander. At least not without me" he told her as he caught her left hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Well I don't plan on moving unless it's for a shower though I want a bath" Kate said, she had a whole list of wants.
"There's a bath in this suite" Malcolm said, Kate made a face and scrunched her nose in slight disgust.
"Babies were born in that bath. I can't relax with those mental images" Kate said which made Malcolm chuckle as she had some of the weirdest and juvenile thoughts.
"You know that they clean the bathroom regularly" he told her.
"Still doesn't change the fact that it's gross"
"How can you say that? When you coo over the twins"
"I'll coo over our kid too because he's going to be a handsome little heartbreaker" Kate said rubbing her stomach now looking smug.
"Well if he inherits my personality I seriously doubt it as I have never broken anyone's heart" Malcolm scoffed as his past record showed he was the one with the broken heart not the heart breaker.
"You broke my heart" Kate told him in a plain voice, he looked at her stunned at her admission.
"I did?" he asked in disbelief, he wasn't looking for pat on the back but he also couldn't see how he managed to break her heart. He didn't remember reading it in his journals.
"Yeah but you managed to put the pieces back together again" She told him with a soft smile he picked up her left hand and placed a gentle kiss on her palm.
"I promise I'll do my best never to do it again" he told her as they held each other's gaze for a moment. Kate shifted first and cleared her throat before speaking.
"So when can we go home?" Kate asked him changing the topic. She wore a hopeful smile that made Malcolm smile back.
"When you are cleared by Elisabeth to leave" he told her.
"So when we get home. Can we have nice long hot bath with benefits?" Kate asked a salacious smile spread across her lips as her tone full of hope. Malcolm chuckled at her as she was all about comfort, sex and food.
"One track mind" He quipped shaking his head at her with a smile.
"But you love it" She told him as her eyes roved his frame.
"I love you, anything and everything else is just an added bonus" he told her.
TBC- Cya all soon!