Two days later, Alicia stirred awake slowly and opened her eyes taking in the view of the ceiling. She knew immediately that she was in the rec centre because of the ceiling struts and the echo of noise in the large room. She turned her head and looked around at the make shift infirmary of cot beds, patients and medical staff. Her first thoughts were of the twins and Taylor but didn't see them anywhere. Only Guzman was by the right side her cot, she swallowed her disappointment as she had expected Taylor. Guzman, who had been tapping away at plex and stopped to look at her as he sensed her staring at him.
"Wash" He said casually in greeting.
"Guzman, where's Taylor and my girls?" Alicia asked ignoring how dry and raw her throat felt. Guzman lifted his hand signalling someone over before he answered.
"Your daughters are healthy and well" Guzman told her as he put his plex down on the floor giving her his full attention.
"What's the time?" Alicia asked him as she tried to push up in bed but stopped as it felt heavy and sore.
"1400 hours, you've been out for three days" he told her as Dr Hastings came over.
"Lieutenant Washington, welcome back from the dead" Dr Hastings said as he pulled up a stool to her left side.
"Thanks" Alicia said dryly, Hastings pulled out his pen light and turned it on and flashed the light in her eyes.
"How do you feel?" He asked as he checked her pupil reactions and vitals.
"Thirsty" Alicia replied as she blinked at the light. He turned off the pen light and pocketed it.
"Ok, well let's get you elevated" Hastings said, Guzman helped Alicia sit up and she winced at the pain that panged in her back as she rested back on the pillows the men had propped behind her so her chest was elevated. She ate some ice shavings that Guzman was spoon feeding her. She could see he was enjoying the moment as she felt like a child and that annoyed her so much she wanted to take the spoon and stick somewhere painful so he didn't look so smug.
She wondered where Taylor was, she didn't know why but it hurt more to know he wasn't here to greet her than it had been when Lucas stabbed her in the back. She tuned back into what Dr Hastings was saying as he had given her a rundown of what happened to her as if she didn't remember.
Lucas stabbed her in the back, it hurt like hell and she had bled out. Dr Hastings told her how lucky she was as she didn't had a kidney in that area and it was nowhere near her liver the two kill points in the body that led to toxic shock and death within minutes.
"Obviously due to the blood loss we'll need to run through some cognitive exercises to make sure-"
"Parts of my brain didn't die out from the blood loss and low oxygenation. I know the routine just do your tests" Alicia finished for Dr Hastings.
"Ok" Hastings said. He ran through a long list of questions from her full name, birthday to historical facts and common knowledge. He then went through mobility and reflex tests the full drill before a scan on the bio-bed along with a few more tests before he announced "No signs of any damage to your brain tissue or cognitive processes".
"Great, so when can I get out of here?" Alicia asked as she had no desire to lay around a makeshift infirmary. In fact she would prefer to be at home in bed with Taylor and the twins crawling all over them.
"A few more days at least, just to make sure we cross all our t's and dot all the i's" Hastings said, he was about to say more but a nurse called his attention and he excused himself. Alicia looked to Guzman who had stayed with her the whole entire time.
"Not that I don't appreciate the company, but what are you still doing here? And why haven't you called Taylor?" she asked him.
"He's dealing with the funeral arrangements today with the Preacher. He asked not to be disturbed" Guzman said lying through his teeth as Taylor hadn't returned from burying his son. He inwardly made a mental note to not tell Alicia the truth yet. He wanted to go OTG and talk with Taylor hopefully put some sense into the man. But all that didn't stop him from feeling like an asshole as he watched disappointment flicker across her features.
"Right, who's looking after the girls?" Alicia asked.
"Ah your brother and Doc Shannon" Guzman told her as he was pretty sure the twins were with Doc Shannon and Kate. Malcolm was getting his department back on track instead of squabbling about office space. Guzman knew Alicia wouldn't like that as he remembered her telling Kate that she was going to let Malcolm and Kate have their little bubble of 'family bonding' for a couple of weeks before they started having play dates with their kids. He inwardly mused at how he never thought he'd see Alicia having kids or saying 'play dates' and it not being a sarcastic joke.
"How's Tasha?" Alicia asked making conversation, she also wanted to show she wasn't as self centre as she felt as all she could think about how Taylor was not there. How his absence stung and the added fact he wasn't even looking after twins as a viable excuse.
"Fine, she and her friends are helping with clean up for underage drinking" Guzman told her.
"Kids" Alicia muttered. Guzman gave a smile.
"Yeah, should of kept her locked up until she was 30" Guzman said thoughtfully.
"Still could." Alicia told him at that Guzman gave a laugh.
"Yeah except she has friends who could break her out and apparently there are some pesky laws about keeping family members hostage" Guzman said with a shrug, Alicia mustered a smile at his joke.
"Hey, why don't I call your brother and Jim. Make them drop by with the twins bring them for a visit?" Guzman suggested, he could see the woman needed more cheering than his two meagre jokes could do.
"No they should be napping right now but if you could call Taylor I'd like to see him" Alicia said. She didn't want to disturb her children's daily routine anymore than it had been three days ago. She watched as Guzman looked pensive as if he had something on his mind.
"Guz, you got a secret you want to tell me?" Alicia asked him.
"Many but none I want to share right now" Guzman told her with a faint smile playing on his lips. He felt the words he wanted to say were lodged in his throat. He felt conflicted in who he was supposed to be loyal to. Should he tell Alicia the truth or keep Taylor's absence a secret before had a chance to decide his comm. unit buzzed and he gave Alicia closed lip smile. "Duty calls, rest easy Wash" he told her.
"Yeah, I'll do my best" Alicia said.
"Kate" Malcolm murmured softly in Kate's ear, she was in their bed having a mid afternoon nap. He saw that Caleb was sleeping in his portable cot by the bed. He was half tempted to join them in a nap himself but settled for crawling into bed with his wife and holding her close from behind.
"Mmm" Kate said slowly waking up, she turned around in his arms and sighed as she pressed her face into his neck.
"I have good news" he told her.
"Mmm" Kate murmured.
"Are you awake?" He asked.
"Mmmhmm" Kate murmured, he chuckled as Kate's leg snaked over his hip and she snuggled closer to him.
"Alicia woke up" he told her as he brushed a hand down the back of her head, enjoying the softness of her hair. Kate's eyes snapped open at the news and lifted her head and looked at him.
"When?" She asked.
"Today, an hour ago they are running tests but apparently everything looks good. She is going to make a full recovery" Malcolm told Kate.
"I should go see her" Kate said, she tried to push herself up and out of bed but Malcolm pulled her in tight against him
"Ah no visitors until tomorrow. She needs to rest and Liz said you had to rest for at least three days yourself and it's only been two" He reminded her. Kate gave an aggravated sigh as she went limp in his arms.
"You two are mean" Kate said with a pout. Malcolm pulled the light cotton blanket and sheet that Kate had thrown off herself to get up and wrapped it back around her getting her comfortable again but also not letting her go.
"Yes, we are very cruel people" He said mocking as he kissed her forehead before she resumed her previous position curled at his side with her head on his shoulder. He ran a hand down her back in a soothing manner.
"Uhuh" Kate said in agreement as she snuggled in closer to him.
"Yes, I'll try to be kinder which means no massages and let you do all the cooking and cleaning etc. right?" He asked, a smile playing on his lips.
"Don't you dare. I'm a hungry and sore milk bar for our baby. I need you to feed and massage me, it's one of the many favourite parts of my day and do all that other stuff. It's all appreciated" Kate said as she nuzzled his neck.
"Good the massages are of my favourite parts too" he told her, Kate chucked and Malcolm placed a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder.
"You just like copping a feel" She said teasingly, she closed her eyes allowing her exhaustion to roll over her. She wasn't sour in her thoughts in fact she loved her new role as mother. She was kind of expecting herself to sink into some doom gloom postpartum but she felt fine, happy. She did feel tired and muscle fatigue but it wasn't a negative just a fact. She was also experience mood swings that made her PMS days look like a walk in the park but she was able to control them for most part. She was angry at Carter and Mira, she was angry at Taylor but also worried. It was not like him to up and leave like he had but there was nothing she could do.
"Definitely" he murmured, Kate laughed as his hand moved slowly across the curve of her ass and up her thigh to prove his point. "Shh Caleb is sleeping and you should be too. I hear newborns are very demanding" he told her as he continued moving his hands in soothing and relaxing motions. It was nirvana to her sore muscles as it lulled her into a sleepy state.
"Mmm doesn't sound like a bad idea at all" Kate told him in a sleepy voice.
Taylor swung around from the fire he'd been stoking with gun raised as he heard the movement and figured it best to pull his gun in case it was a less than friendly creature. When he turned he saw Guzman come out of the vegetation he was dressed in green BDU's with a kevlar vest and an sonic rifle clipped to his chest. It hung loose, as he came out with hands up in surrender.
"Guzman" Taylor said, he holstered his gun not taking his eyes off Guzman.
"Sir" Guzman said casually in greeting as if they had just walked into one another instead of Guzman tracking him for a solid two hours on foot.
"What are you doing out here?" Taylor asked he didn't bother asking how the man found him as he had trained Guzman. The man had picked up on Taylor's faint tracks and found him.
"I thought I'd inform you that your daughters are well and a little a cranky and your wife is awake. Doc Hastings confirmed she has no brain damage or memory loss. She's asking where you are" Guzman said as he rested his hands on the butt of his gun that was clipped to his vest.
"Didn't anyone tell her that I'm here?" Taylor asked as he stoked the small fire in front of him.
"We all assumed that you'd be back in the Colony two days are you doing out here?" Guzman asked.
"I'm communing with nature. What do you think I'm doing?" Taylor asked him in a scathing tone.
"Permissions to speak freely?" Guzman asked.
"When has not having permission ever stopped you?" Taylor grumbled.
"I think you've gone off the reservation and I'm wondering if you're coming back at all not when. So why don't you save me some time and just tell me you're not coming back. That way I can inform everyone and we can sort out a schedule to help your wife get back on her feet." Guzman said, Taylor's hands tightened into fists annoyed as Guzman made his feel like a petulant teenager.
"It's been less than three days" Taylor said.
"Less than three days with no communication. You took off your tags and left them at Snakehead Falls with the Rhino then trailed into the jungle. Tell me do those actions speak of a man coming back to the Colony to look after his family?" Guzman asked.
"I need a break" Taylor said like he even had to explain himself to the man but he did.
"And you think now of all times is the best to leave?" Guzman asked by his tone Taylor could tell Guzman didn't approve of Taylor's actions.
"When you're a Commander, you'll learn that there is no good time to leave. Sometimes it's just better to go-"
"Before consulting anyone?" Guzman asked cutting him off again.
"You bucking for a court martial for insubordination?" Taylor asked.
"If you're not coming back then technically I'm not being insubordinate as you're currently AWOL" Guzman told him.
"That so?" Taylor asked dryly.
"Yes, you left without authorisation or handing your station over to a soldier of equal rank. You claimed you'd be back in less than 12 hours and have been gone for nearly 72. You went radio silent and left your tags at Snakehead falls and trekked into the Jungle. Judging by the tracks at least a day and half ago." Guzman told him.
"I-" Taylor started but Guzman cut him off again something Taylor found aggravating as not many people interrupted him.
"Sir, I get we all grieve in our own way but some heads up would have been nice. Hell it only took one call and we'd give you your space and time. Sure Wash wouldn't understand but that's between you and her." Guzman said, he looked away for a moment taking a breather before looking back at Taylor.
"I know what you're going through. The circumstances maybe slightly different but I've lost my son and wife. I know everything you're thinking. The loss of never knowing him, of thinking about what kind of man he could have been and how if only you had picked up the early signs of trouble. Every conceivable thought I've had them and they still plague me" Guzman said in a deadened tone. Taylor dropped his head as Guzman was definitely the authority on the subject since he lost his wife and unborn son to Sincyllic fever.
"I'll admit I lost my way into a bottle and not a Jungle for three days but Wash was the one who kicked my ass into shape before it became a real problem and reminded me that I had Tasha to think of. Someone had to look after her and wallowing in my grief and ignoring my kid because of my pain was not doing her any good" Guzman told him.
"If I remember rightly, you and Alicia turned up to PT reeking of booze and spent most of the morning run stopping to spew up your guts and then you passed out" Taylor said.
"Yeah and it was disgraceful. I was drunk under a table by a slip of woman and then outrun by her the next day but I learned, cleaned up my act" Guzman said with a wry smile before he grew serious again. "You're not the kind of man to drop his responsibilities and high tail it. Are you coming back? If not I'd rather tell Wash now than watch her sit around with hope and your kids deserve better" Guzman said in a serious manner. He was wondering what they were going to do if his ploy of 'make Taylor feel like he was less than the honourable man he was so he would shape up and come back' didn't work. From how he was doing Guzman knew he was failing as Taylor would have taken a swing at him by now.
He really didn't want to tell Alicia that Taylor decided to go off the reservation and wouldn't come back. He knew Alicia would be crushed and would take it personally. He'd rather be the hero and bring Taylor back than be the bearer of bad news.
"I don't know how long I'll be. I have a lot to think about" Taylor said.
"Fine, I left your bike at Snakehead falls covered up. I'm taking the Rhino back to colony. Shannon would like you to check in every second day so we know you aren't dead" Guzman told him, he waited a few beats for Taylor to say something, to throw an order at him but he said nothing. Instead the man just went back to stoking his fire.
Guzman pressed his lips into a fine line taking Taylor's silence as a dismissal and turned on his feet and headed back into the jungle.
The following morning,
"So are we going to tell her?" Kate asked Jim as she sat the twins in her lap in the passenger seat of the Rover. She felt like an idiot as they were barely doing 5km an hour. She could walk faster but Malcolm and Jim both actually agreed on something together and refused to let her waste energy walking.
"I don't know" Jim said. as he pulled to rover to a stop and put on the handbrake getting out of the rover and going to her side.
"We have to tell her, you said Guzman had no luck in bringing Taylor back" Kate said.
"Tell me would you want to know?" Jim asked.
"Ah gee let me think about this. Spend my months foolishly hoping he'll come back while we all know it won't happen or know right away and not look like a complete idiot as well as being broken hearted. It's a tough one but I'd like the truth no matter how hard" Kate said in an annoyed tone as she got out of the rover with Ava on her hip. Her muscles complained at her moving around but not as bad as they had four days ago.
"You ok?" Jim asked Kate as he felt the waves of anger and annoyance roll off her. He knew it was probably the worst question to ask but then Kate's anger spells usually ran out of steam quickly once she just said what was annoying her.
"No, I'm currently compiling a list of people I want to punch. Carter and Taylor are tied in at number one" Kate said.
"Who's second?" Jim asked out of curiosity.
"Doctor Haynes, can you believe she had the nerve to come to my house?" Kate asked him.
"Wasn't it a meeting?" Jim asked out of curiosity.
"Hey, 30 scientists were able to go around the side of the house but no she thinks just cause a few months have passed she can tramp through my house and pick my baby up without permission." Kate said as they moved into the rec centre and towards the curtained off section for the infirmary. A few seconds later they spotted Alicia lying in the cot staring at the ceiling. She didn't look happy, in fact she looked incredibly sad but Ella and Ava squealed in delight at seeing their mother. Alicia's eyes snapped to them and a smile slowly spread across her lips.
"Hello" Kate said as she walked over to Alicia's bed she groaned as she placed Ava on top of Alicia before even asking if it was ok. But Alicia didn't complain as she hugged Ava to her chest and kissed the tiny girls face. She looked to Kate who plonked herself down on a chair looking exhausted and a little angry.
"Hey, you look angry" Alicia said.
"Haynes came to my house and picked up my baby without permission. Seriously two psychotic killers, a bad storm and an explosion. This woman survives all of them completely unscathed" Kate grumbled.
"Kate" Jim said looking slightly scandalized at how inappropiate her comment was. Alicia on the other hand could understand Kate's anger. Haynes had been giving them a wide berth for months.
"The only silver outlining of the whole event was that I have just put him down to get the door. So when she picked him up, he gave a super spew all over her nice shirt. She won't be dropping by anytime soon" Kate said with a smug smile.
"Is Caleb alright?" Alicia asked.
"Yeah this was yesterday. He had his spew, I bathed him then he had a nice nap and woke up hungry half an hour later. He is a hungry little guy" Kate said with a smile. Alicia smiled and Jim smiled as well but shook his head at Kate.
"So how you going?" Kate asked her.
"Alright, better now that these two are here." Alicia said smiling at her daughters. They looked healthy and happy. She looked to Kate "You on the other hand look like hell" Alicia joked, the anger that had marred Kate's features had seeped out but she could see Kate was tired and by how she kept shifting on the stool by her cot was probably suffering sore muscles among other sore parts. But Alicia appreciated her coming to visit.
"Yeah so do you, what's your excuse?" Kate asked with a smile on her lips, not insulted at all.
"I was stabbed in the back, I lost a lot of blood and nearly died. Yours?" Alicia asked in a mockingly terse tone.
"I pushed 3 kilos of baby out of my special place and now my boobs have become leaky milk taps for said baby. You didn't tell me about how sore and tired I would be. I felt quite shocked and unprepared" Kate said in such a serious manner Alicia couldn't keep a straight face and burst out laughing, she immediately groaned as her back complained the motion. Jim looked incredibly uncomfortable as he took a seat on the other side of Alicia's cot and gently laid Ella down on Alicia's only free side. It was a warming sight to the two little girls relax and lay with their mother on the bed.
"Well you didn't ask and I had a c-section. It was different for me" Alicia said, Jim made a noise of discomfort and the women looked to him.
"Please tell me I'm not going to be sitting in a mother's group of horror stories" Jim said to them.
"Speaking of, where's your little horror story?" Alicia asked Kate, the redhead smiled softly.
"with Malcolm being an absolute treasure while my husband is probably counting down the minutes until my return" Kate told her in a sweet tone that conflicted with a roll of her eyes. Alicia was a little confused and looked to Jim for help.
"Malcolm is concerned about Kate's welfare. The first few days are rough and exhausting for everyone involved" Jim explained. Alicia was a little amused as she could just imagine how Malcolm was acting. It gnawed at her a little that her own husband was still missing in action.
"I know and I'm feeling it" Kate said with a sigh as she wished Terra Novan furniture had more supportive backs as she really needed to recline back. "But I also wanted to see Alicia and I fed Caleb before I left." Kate added with a dismissive wave as if it was enough to give her free pass as she had fufilled her motherly duty for the next half an hour or more.
"Where's Taylor?" Alicia asked watched as the two exchanged looks for a moment as if having some kind of telepathic conversation she wasn't privvy to before Kate spoke.
"Taylor left the colony to bury Lucas" she said.
"Oh" Alicia said her face falling as she should have expected him to bury his son but she wondered why she was on the outside. No she really didn't need to wonder, she was the one who killed his son and now he had to bury Lucas and deal with the emotions that came with surviving his first family and wife.
"He'll be back" Kate assured her.
"Yeah" Alicia said, she tried to muster a more positive attitude as she repositioned Ava and Ella on her chest. She found holding the little girls feeling their warmth and presence comforting. Kate gave her a sympathetic look as Alicia felt like Kate knew exactly what she was thinking. She hated how the woman could read her so well where others failed.
"So how long are you going to be kicking it in here?" Kate asked changing the topic so Alicia couldn't dwell on Taylor not being there. It was a shame Kate couldn't just stay with her until Taylor did come back.
"A few more days. Hey Shannon, thanks for looking after the twins for me. I know it's not easy having a full house" Alicia said as she remember Guzman saying the twins were staying at Shannon's house. She didn't know that Jim and Elisabeth had been taking turns spending the night over at Alicia's home so the twins slept in their own cribs.
"No problem" Jim said letting Alicia keep her assumptions.
"It's like a trial run for when they have more babies" Kate teased with a mischievous grin.
"Oh no, three is enough" Jim said laughing as he had his hands full with the three he had he couldn't imagine adding more to the mix. Though on one hand he could be swayed to have another but maybe after Josh moved out as they didn't really have enough money or space to have another kid in the house.
"I don't know, your wife is rather broody" Alicia commented lightly as she and Kate enjoyed ribbing Jim about babies.
"Speaking of your wife she's coming over here" Kate drawled, she put on a bright smile as Elisabeth came over to the group.
"Hello, I see we have some visitors" Elisabeth remarked warmly as she stood at the end of the cot with her hands in her lab coat pockets.
"Yes" Alicia said, she felt like the only thing missing was Taylor and her good mood dulled slightly.
"Well I hate to break up a party but Kate could I borrow you for a quick scan?" Elisabeth asked.
"Sure" Kate said getting up, "Hey I was wondering when do my guts drop?" Kate asked in an casual manner. Everyone looked at her for a moment wondering if she was being serious or just messing with them.
"Excuse me?" Elisabeth asked wanting to clarify that there wasn't some 21st -22nd century miscommunication as Kate did have many colloqualisms and phrases she had never heard spoken in her time.
"Well when Caleb was in there everything was all pushed and smooshed up and I was wondering when they'd all go back into place as I'm not game to go poking around yet" Kate said, Elisabeth looked part amused and part bewildered as no one had ever asked her such an odd question. She guessd it was that the answer was pretty obvious.
"Ah, your insides would have settled back into their old place once your uterus contracted" Elisabeth answered as she tried not laugh as Kate nodded thoughtfully as she took the information in.
"Ok" Kate said.
"Any other questions?" Elisabeth asked she felt like she was in Zoe's class on career day again as the question was right up there with 'Do you
"Yes but I don't want to scar Jim, he has a very delicate disposition" Kate said as she followed Elisabeth to the Bio bed that was against the far wall. Well away from Jim and Alicia. Jim shook his head at the 'delicate disposition' comment while Alicia chuckled.
"She's been really odd these last few days" Jim remarked with a smile as Kate and Elisabeth were out of hearing range.
"Kate was odd before her hormones were thrown out of whack" Alicia quipped, it was one of the things she liked about Kate.
"You have a point" Jim said
"So how long are you and the twins staying?" Alicia asked.
"Well Kate will have to go home in half an hour but by the looks of her it might be sooner. But I figured I'd stick around with the twins for a couple of hours or more depends on if you three behave otherwise I'll have to break up the party" Jim joked. Alicia gave him a closed lip smile before turning her attention to the twins. Normally they were little rompers wanting to belly roll all over the place but right now they were just content to lie with her on the cot.
"I hate to admit but this is nice" Kate said as Malcolm and her had their house to themselves with little Caleb.
The twins were still with Alicia thus there had been no change of shifts or entertaining the twins as well as looking after Caleb. No one coming and going from the house every few hours. They had even recieved a message from Jim saying the twins were staying with Alicia and then he would take them back to the Taylor's house for the night.
"Hmm agreed" Malcolm said, they were reclining on the lounge. Malcolm was looking over reports on his plex while Kate was lying down with her legs over his lap. She had been dozing on and off but otherwise just content to lay about and watch Caleb in his cot. There was something rather enjoyable about the domesticity their life had at the moment. Of course it was probably only seconds away from going to hell in an handbasket but right now it was peaceful.
"Hey, do we have any Japchae leftover in that fridge of ours?" Kate asked him, making conversation but also feeling a little hungry.
"Possibly" Malcolm said as he scrolled down to the next page of his plex.
"I think we should have it for dinner. I'm craving noodles and soy sauce like crazy and scones with tea, jam and cream. Not all at the same time though" Kate said, Malcolm smiled at Kate's idle tone as he continued to read.
"I also think we need a TV, just up on that far wall. It would be good and then we can watch movies" Kate added.
"TV's don't exist here" Malcolm told her.
"Ok a really big plex screen" Kate said dramatically as she stretched her arms out wide to demonstrate the size she wanted.
"Sadly all the plex screens are currently taken. I also don't think we need a plex screen anyway there are heaps of things we can do to entertain ourselves" Malcolm said.
"Really?" Kate asked.
"Yes" he told her.
"Ok then entertain me" Kate told him, Malcolm placed his plex on the coffee table and turned his attention to Kate.
"What would you like? A massage? Food?" He asked.
"Surprise me" Kate told him. Malcolm smiled as he pulled her up into his arms and settled her in his lap. They locked eyes for a moment enjoying the anticipation before the kiss. Kate knew she should be frustrated at not taking things further than kissing but considering she was still recovering, she was content to keep everything slow and above clothing for the requisite 6 weeks.
Malcolm leaned in closing the gap between their lips. He kissed her, slow and passionately as he didn't want to overwhelm her or start something he couldn't finish.
Late at night that same day, Taylor opened the door to his home and was surprised to see Jim crashed on his couch and hear the soft sounds of the twins sleeping. He closed the door and the lock clicked behind him. The noise was soft but loud enough to wake Jim up, he sat up looking at Taylor in surprise.
"Taylor" Jim said, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked at Taylor.
"Shannon" Taylor said as he dropped his duffel bag on the floor.
"You're back." Jim said. Taylor nodded, after Guzman had left him yesterday he had started hiking and every step he took the angrier he became with himself. Guzman's words and casual dress down of his character gnawed at Taylor. He decided in the end if he was going to be angry he'd at least be productive about it and use the energy to rebuild the colony and not have his reputation ruined because he needed to get himself squared away. He also knew that he wasn't ready to abandon his children or Alicia and if he disappeared into the jungle for any longer she would shut him out. So he hiked back to the Colony and surprised the Nightwatch and Guzman when he walked through the field to the main gate.
"I have responsibilities here that could no longer be ignored. You mind sticking around while I wash up?" Taylor asked, as he needed to shower. He would then sit down and get up to speed with the colony's repairs take a short sleep before visiting Alicia with the twins. He knew it was a coward's move to use their children as a buffer but he just wasn't sure how he or Alicia would react to one another considering what had happened.
"No, go ahead" Jim said as he got up from the couch and stretching his arms. Taylor nodded and disappeared into the bathroom, Jim gave a smile as he was going to be sleeping with wife tonight in the comfort of their bed instead of sleeping on Taylor's couch.
TBC- Thank you for the Reviews and Cya all soon!