Chapter Five

He washed her, fed her and crawled into bed beside her. Alicia fell asleep on his chest, the first sound sleep either had in weeks. Nathaniel woke to sunlight streaming into the room, he had slept flat on his back; pinned by anther form. He was confused for a moment until he remembered the images of his wife in heavy gear looking rough from a jungle trek standing in the shadows, and warm, wet from the shower welcoming him into her arms. As he looked at her sleeping form he smiled while a pleasant dream it was a reality he had needed. The strong powerful, soldier who stood beside him at the head of this colony was currently soft and warm and very much his wife.

He shifted so she lay fully on his chest, the thin sheet tangled about them and her weight a comfort. When she didn't wake he smiled, it spoke to her trust of him; proved that she felt safe. Nuzzling her hair he closed his eyes and prepared to settle again. If ever a man was allowed a day to be lazy this was it.

Not a moment later someone began pounding n the front door and he was snarling as he tried to get out of the bed without waking Alicia. He yanked on a pair of cargos and pulled a shirt over his head as he moved into the entryway. Jerking the door open to snarl at whatever fool had the misfortune of bothering him.

Jim Shannon stood, arm still raised; frowning at him. "Late morning sir? It is oh eight hundred."

"I am aware of the time Shannon. It is Saturday." He growled, running through his orders from the night before; he had no obligations this morning. He had assigned a soldier to hand out rotation orders this morning, intending to do a walk through; but he hadn't shared that. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Elisabeth had some questions for you; it is about Wash." He worked to school his expression, currently he had no concerns about his wife; none whatsoever as she was still curled safely in their bed. But Shannon didn't know that.

"Will it keep until noon?" He would do the doc one better, Alicia should probably visit her friend anyways.

"Why do you always have to be up at the crack of dawn? There are other things a bed is good for." They both froze with the voice from in the house; Boxer's head came up as the little dinosaur scented the air. Alicia wore only a tank top and girl jockeys, he nearly growled, her hair was still loose and wavy as she rubbed sleep from her eyes.

Shannon coughed shifting on the balls of his feet; Nathaniel grinned at his wife who only squared her shoulders. This was their house, she could do what ever she wanted and dress the same as far as he cared; he could care less if it made Shannon uncomfortable.

"I will meet the doctor at noon; this does not need to spread." He glared at the man until he nodded; with that he shut the door. He heard Shannon say something on the other side but he wasn't concerned, everything was squared with the colony for a few hours.

"Whoops." Alicia smirked, tugging the hem of her tank to her waist, covering the sliver of skin she had been showing.

Nathaniel slid an arm around her waist, running his other hand over her shoulder. "You know that news will not keep long."

"What does Elisabeth need with you?" She murmured as they settled on the couch, depositing Boxer on the floor much to the critter's displeasure.

"Questions about you, figure they won't matter so much now." Alicia's health had been a great concern for through the past six months. She had been gone just over half the time they had been married and her voice over the radio was a poor second for having her here. Being able to feel and hold her.

He had needed last night, and needed this now. Both had known the military and what it could do to a relationship. His first marriage had struggled through dangerous deployments and months apart, but he hadn't had to worry about the battlefield she stood on. With Alicia he had a match who understood him, and who would match him stride for stride and blow for blow.

Yet for years he had served beside her and counted on her, now he came home to her; waited home for her he knew it changed things. Their relationship was different, and somehow in it he felt at home, it may have been new but it felt comfortable as a relationship they had for years shifted into what it should have been long ago.

The morning passed to quickly and a part of him was sad to share her with the colony again so soon. Instead he had to settle for being the one she trusted to fiddle with the strap on the weapon strapped to her hip; one arm slid around her. They walked through the colony, ignoring the whispers and looks that followed them; everyone aware that last night he had eagerly been awaiting the moment he could send a team to search for his wife.

Now they walked side by side to the infirmary, he couldn't deny a feeling of satisfaction. Without power the colony hummed with activity, technology down people had little to do within their homes and as it was Saturday most of the work crews had the day off. Those who wanted a hot meal or groceries were in the market, many others sat around the square visiting or watching children play.

Most of the repaired circuits had been going to the infirmary and so stepping into the cool building was satisfying. Things might be tight but they could still care for their colony. Not all the bio beds were working but he saw many tools Alicia had once packed around for front line medicine out and in use; clearly Elisabeth Shannon knew how to use them as well. And was supplementing technology with less vulnerable tools.

…..

Nathaniel seemed reluctant to let her go as they walked through the colony. But when they stepped into the infirmary he seemed to ease closer. Alicia gave him a slow smile, looking around for Elisabeth, clearly her friend had been adapting a few things. She watched the woman trying to use a blood pressure cuff, and by the looks of it an artifact of one; clearly fighting frustration.

Not much different than the ones they used to ship over to her and the other medics working in the war zones; cheap gear that was expected to be destroyed and replaced several times a deployment. Silently she moved to the bed and unwrapped the cuff, turning it so the tubes were properly positioned and laid her hand over the doctor's to adjust the stethoscope.

Elisabeth's eyes searched hers a moment; surprise clear. She stepped back and waited for her to make the notations on the chart. Finished with her patient the doctor placed the tools on a cart and moved back to where she stood near Nathaniel. "You have used those before?"

"Too many times. In the war zones field medics didn't get tech they could ruin; it cost too much." She explained, all too aware that the doctor was scanning her for injuries; her husband had already done a careful examination of his own.

"When did you get home?" The woman asked, reaching out to trace a cut across her bicep; it had scabbed over but was framed by a nasty bruise.

"Late last night; I didn't come by the gate so word hasn't spread yet." Elisabeth gestured that they should walk with her, and they followed her back to a private room.

"So perhaps Nathaniel has another duty to see to?"

"Trying to get rid of me doc?" Her husband had stayed close and had put a possessive hand back on her hip. "Thought it was me you wanted to talk to."

"Our server with patient records, military medical records is low on the priority list. I had hoped you might remember an incident about four years ago, but having lived through it Alicia may have a clearer recollection." Clearly serious about this Elisabeth had taken out a pad and paper.

"You'll have to be more specific, there have been a lot of incidents over the years." She murmured, but she had good idea what it might be.

"A scouting trip I believe you were out with one other soldier; one of the nurses remembered the situation. My predecessor would have rendered treatment. You both returned with similar symptoms, out three or four days. Both of you had transient paresthesia, numbness and chills which for the other patient it progressed to paralysis and organ damage. I believe he died of an unrelated medical issue." The doctor gave brief details.

"Yeah, Mhendan, Kade was his first name I think." She glanced at Nathaniel to confirm, she had taken the kid on that mission because they had been trying to make a decision about court marshalling him.

Weapons had gone missing on his shift, later they had learned it had been the Sixers and he had been involved but not as much as they had initially thought. She had taken him out to sweat him a bit, it had been a hard trip and she hadn't let anything slide. Scouting the location of the third outpost. They had never learned what they had encountered, her suspicion had been some sort of insect.

"She was the one who drove back, couldn't even uncurl her hands from around the wheel; needed help out of the rover. One moment her legs wouldn't hold her the next she'd be able to walk but was shaking with cold. Mhendan was worse, the doctor at the time treated him with aggressive isobiotics and managed his pain; he overdosed on his pain meds about a year after. Never really recovered." Nathaniel explained.

She knew he would remember it clearly, he knew every soldier who served on security; remembered the ones who went wrong. Usually found some way to blame himself for the damage they did, she smiled sadly; he had pushed the doctor so hard to help that young man and had watched him waste away. She remembered it too but for a different reason; she had wanted to help but in so many ways the Army doctor who had first headed the infirmary was different than Elisabeth Shannon. She had considered him a hack and treated herself every time rather than letting him lay a hand on her; had offered to help Mhendan.

"Clearly you recovered, but never came to the infirmary for treatment. How?" Elisabeth asked, looking between them with other questions she didn't dare to voice.

Alicia understood, the woman would have heard plenty of stories about the man who first had her job; he had been another who went bad. But even the Sixers knew better than to trust a traitor, he had betrayed Terra Nova to them and when things got tough had died trying to betray the Sixers the colony he had left. Some people were only out for themselves and what ever would make their own lives easier; in her mind the easier way never paid off.

"My record of injuries will be far more detailed than my treatment records ever since I came to Terra Nova; before that it will be better. I didn't like the man who used to run the clinic and I certainly didn't trust him enough to touch me. If I was conscious I treated myself or instructed someone else on how to treat me." At that point she had moved out of barracks, and there had been anther soldier she had been close to and often turned to for help.

They had both been medics and had served different unit in Somalia but paths crossed. Eventually ended up in Terra Nova together, there had been no hard feelings about the difference in rank as it was her first CO in command. They had bunked together in barracks and often joked together after. Lara Consta had been one of few people she thought of as a friend, but had worked in the infirmary and treated many with syncillic fever before passing herself. The history of Terra Nova already had many good people who had given their lives to make this place happen, Alicia knew they would never be forgotten.

"That time I treated myself with poultices, they didn't cut the pain but drew out the toxins. To my way of thinking the isobiotics and pain medications only sped up the process. He was comfortable long before I was but he never walked again. I had radiating pain for weeks but the paresthesia and numbness stopped after about four days; I never let it get deep into my system." Alicia had applied the poultice her grandmother had taught her to make to every bite, scratch and scrape she could find on her body and kept doing it until it started to work.

"You let your body fight it off." The doctor commented, writing furiously on her pad.

"The area they were surveying wouldn't have been far from where they Sixers built their new camp. You figure it is the same thing that he's got now?" Nathaniel asked, she could see his jaw was set and she wondered what he was thinking.

"Actually I was able to match his blood work to a sample filed on Mhendan, more advanced with a higher concentration of the venom by-products in his blood but the same strain. Same symptoms too and I have used a similar method of treatment but I have not administered isobiotics. I believe Alicia may be right I noticed a particular marker which is common in insect venoms and many contact irritants from plants that would antagonize the isobiotics; it would make them essentially useless." Elisabeth took a breath as if to explain further but Nathaniel held up a hand.

"She may get half of what you are saying but I don't and I'd really like to know what you want with my wife. I'm rather attached." Alicia smirked, his possessiveness should bother her but today it was reassuring, he had missed her as much as she missed him.

"A blood transfusion, Alicia has fought this before, her body will have antibodies that will allow me to synthesize a vaccine; if we were running as normal. We are not so giving the man a transfusion of Alicia's blood will have a similar affect. Before that I will obviously need to examine her and if it would put her health at risk we will not do it. I am also going to ask that she teaches me how to make the poultices." The doctor explained quickly, eyes searching them both; she nodded in reassurance but waited for Nathaniel's opinion.

"And if she hadn't walked in with me today?" He asked, jaw still set in a hard line; she could tell he didn't like the idea.

"I wanted to ask if you knew how she had been treated; I got one better. You know I would do nothing to jeopardize her health Commander." Elisabeth clearly sensed that he was not sure as well.

Finally he looked to her, blue eyes clear and calm, Alicia smiled slightly; they didn't need to speak the words. He wasn't going to stand in the way of her choice; but she knew he wasn't happy about it. She was secretly pleased that he knew her well enough to know her choice and know it could be a fierce fight between them. "You have a watch rotation to dress down Sir."

"Cheeky." He growled, she rarely called him sir anymore, the title did not work when they were married; but every now and then she worked it in; same as he worked in the opportunities to use the rank he had given her. "Wait for me here when you are done."

She nodded and watched him go, relationships were never easy; relationships with two veteran soldiers were twice as hard. When things were good it only took calling up old memories to bring about a gut check; they had both had too many close calls. In the past few years she'd had more, but she could remember more than one time when she wondered if he was going to bleed out under her hands; letting those memories out of check could fall them.

Nathaniel left, presumably to round up those who had been on night watch and Alicia was still while Elisabeth poked and prodded. Without a bio bed there was even more of it than usual, conversation between them was fairly easy, she had been gone and there was plenty of news to catch up on. Rumors that the colony was going to stay partially in the dark were circulating and causing mixed reactions. Some expected it without the ties to the future and the supply line to keep things coming, others felt it was natural as they were starting over they should find or develop the most ecofriendly technology possible or learn to do with out. And a few were of course upset that things were not as convenient, given she had been home less than twelve hours she had yet to discuss much colony business with Nathaniel.

"There is one other thing." When the physical was over Alicia sat up, her friend scribbled quickly on the note pad; but paused to look at her. "Now that you are home it may be a minor concern, you were due for your birth control injection on your birthday."

"I don't need it." Alicia could not deny that flare of satisfaction she felt in saying that. "It might be too late anyways."

"Mhm, maybe. If that is the route you two are going then be aware you started that regiment before you were twenty, you have been on it consistently for over fifteen years it may take some time after you are off it for you to be able to conceive. " Her friend had shifted entirely to work mode and Alicia schooled her expression.

She was not exactly young to be thinking about her first child and neither was Nathaniel; they had given it some thought. And time wasn't something they were opposed to, trying wasn't any hardship, she wondered if there had been some discussions with Maddie recently. It felt like Elisabeth had been geared up for a different discussion.

…..

Nathaniel would deny up and down that he enjoyed informing the night watch that they had been infiltrated, but he had trained Alicia and took some credit for her skills. And it was his wife, she was not a threat to anyone in the colony; she had simply been coming home. It did not excuse the fact that they were completely unaware of her presence, dawn patrol had missed the signs that she had snuck under the fence as well and so there was more than one lesson to be had.

He left them with extra sessions of physical training and the instruction to review the watch manual. Returning to the infirmary he found his wife sitting beside a bed, arm resting on a pillow; a line still attached. The sight of a bag nearly filled with blood made him clench his jaw again; he would make sure she ate a good meal tonight. She had eaten well this morning too but he figured she was half starved having been on the move for several days with no provisions; this was the last thing she needed to be doing.

Yet she had no serious injuries, she was on her feet and he knew if he told her not to it would only be a fight; that was the last thing he wanted right now. She glanced up to see him hovering. "I am going to be a little while yet."

He nodded, he could wait but he had a feeling he would only be in the way. "I'll go to the market and come back."

The time allowed him to school his feelings, she had been back only a short time and he had spent enough of it away from her already. He stocked some food that would last a little while without refrigeration, and stopped Reynolds; making arrangements to have tomorrow free. For one day he was going to stay at home with her, talk, listen and hold her.

When he returned to the infirmary Alicia was sitting on a bench outside and stood as he approached. He slid an arm around her and turned for home. She smiled, showing him her arm and that there was no damage done; leaning into him.

"Take me home Commander, clue me in; I've missed a lot the past few months." She was teasing him, and that was reassuring.

"Not till Monday. Tomorrow we don't leave the house. We have a lot to catch up on." He murmured, thankful she was not a woman who needed romance and sweet words; he didn't have very much of either.

"What if I want to work out?" She grinned as they opened the door, not bothering with the locks, with the power down no one was.

"I'll give you one." Little minx was baiting him and that was a lesson he was happy to give her; he had a feeling she was looking for it. "How bout now?"

Arms around her he didn't give Alicia a chance to duck him, walking her though to the bedroom and shutting a disgruntled dinosaur out. He didn't care if the thing missed her, he had missed her more. And it would probably get to spend all evening on her lap.

There were perks to being married, even after time apart he knew her; he knew what she needed. There was a satisfaction and a familiarity in knowing her body, knowing where to touch her and how to hold her. The way she reached for him and curled around him was something special; they needed each other.

Laying with her on his chest, still wound together and warm was never going to get old. He had slipped the hair tie she had been wearing and long inky strands splayed across her back and over his shoulder as she nuzzled the base of his throat; he slid his hand through to enjoy how soft it was.

"I had to tell Elisabeth I didn't need my birth control." She murmured, Nathaniel shifted at her tone; that was something they had talked about months ago. He thought they had settled it.

"Second thoughts?" He hoped not because privately he was hoping that they would do far more of this and perhaps expand their little family.

"No, but it is never fun discussing that with anyone. She said it could take awhile to conceive, a year or more even." Alicia raised her head, brown eyes studied his; he struggled to see what she was asking.

"We've got time, and we'll practice." He had figured that much, and he didn't care if it took a few months or a few years; he would always welcome a child with her but he already loved her. "If we have a baby in a year I will be happy but if it is just us I will be just as happy. We are in no rush."

She smiled and nuzzled back into his neck, he trailed a hand down her back. Sometimes his warrior wife was just a woman wanting to hear that he understood. Nathaniel held her for a long time as she slept on him; he knew she needed it.