Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 8
Chapter 31: Chicken Sandwiches, He Clucked!
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
It had been four days since I was getting bedrest as I was mainly laying there in my bed and not doing anything. Still, I was glad to be here as I would soon be led out of my personal sanctuary so that the servants here in the castle would do their usual cleaning. I didn't blame them as I later heard the door opening up to see Reiko rushing in here to collect me, for she was most likely to be ushering me somewhere so that the servants would do their job cleaning up our room.
"Sorry, Sammy, but the Medical Corps wants our room cleaned and sterilized," I heard her say to me as she steered me out of our bed. "Minara wanted it cleaned up so that Reuben wouldn't fret too much."
"Reuben's here?" I said as I was on my feet.
"He is, but he wants this room cleaned in which you would be comfortable afterwards."
"I guess that I should take a stroll until it's all done…"
I went to the closet as I got on my kimono and overrobe while I draped the blue scarf around my neck. When I put on my socks and boots, I was on my way out as I slowly left the room the moment I carefully went down the stairs without falling down. By the time I reached the bottom, I went to my wheelchair as I sat down in which I later spotted several members of the Medical Corps cleaning up the castle in which they were adamant into making sure that it was polished when it came to me on the further cusp of being under a future caesarian section. The four days I stayed in bed were healing me, but it was a shame that I missed out on the Halloween party that the children had due to the bags of candy that were there. It wasn't long until I dug into one of the bags as I got out a chocolate bar and began to eat it. The taste of chocolate and almonds kept my appetite quiet until later as I was also wanting breakfast to feed the little ones that I had in me. Even though it was in the start of November, I was more than likely to be out of further duty until I decided to go out to the town and see what was going on.
When I got out my coat, I put it on as I wheeled myself out of the castle and further to the town square as I noticed a peculiar museum that was next to the Kwangya in Motion. It was a museum of watches as I wanted to check it out. By the time I got there, I noticed that it was closed as today was a holiday due to it being the second day of November, which was a worldwide holiday here on Valinor. I was devastated that I didn't get to see the museum as I decided to go back home, but I found that my adventure wasn't in vain the moment Drusus caught up to me. I wheeled myself around to face him as he was exhausted from his run into the town square, for he didn't want me to feel depressed all the time.
"Hey! I finally caught up to you!" I heard him say as he was still panting from exhaustion.
"I'm going back home, Drusus," I said. "I wanted to go to visit the watch museum, but it's closed."
"Today's Azazel Day. It's a holiday that is remembered by everyone here on Valinor in which the demon killed the past life of Princess Mary. It's also the same day that she was also killed in which John was left devastated when it was Sawney Masbath who orchestrated her killing."
"It's sad, but it's also a shame that Azazel Day becomes a holiday in which museums, banks, libraries, and post offices are closed. Everything's closed on federal holidays…"
"Not exactly, Sam. From what I heard, there's the Sylphine Thread, which is a diner that first made its way here. There's even a sister location in Jomon Village as well and they make the best chicken sandwiches that can make your mouth water and wanting more."
"This trip to the square made me lose my appetite just now. It sucks that some of the good spots are closed due to the holidays that bind them together yearly. As for the Sylphine Thread, you can go ahead."
"C'mon, don't be a wet blanket!" Drusus wheels me towards the destination he talked about earlier as he was brimming with excitement. "You gotta try out the chicken sandwiches. They're out of this world!"
I was defeated by Drusus' form of optimism as I had no other choice but to take a gander at the Sylphine Thread. Still, I had to deal with the holiday that was imposed, but I was also about to feel the pinch of by babies feeling fidgety in which they were craving what I was about to try, for their appetite was ravenous, but essential indeed…
Maro was on top of one of the buildings in the square as he spotted me in the distance in front of the watch museum. Even though he knew of it being closed on Azazel Day, he didn't help it when he began to laugh at my folly below. The sight of me being devastated by the watch museum's closure for today brought a smile on his face as he was also basking in my humiliation after all those times I got roped into his form of being forced back on the field. It was his way of getting back at me for not doing enough to return to the battlefield as he was wanting to see a little more of my folly, for he would soon learn that I wasn't about to break so easily.
"Oh, look at you now, Sammy!" he said as he saw me below. "How does it feel to be humiliated by your own set of guidelines in your piss-poor furlough? Not doing too well, are you? Perhaps you're having a 'wheelie' bad day just now!"
CLONG!
It wasn't long until Seto came towards him as she punched Maro in the face the moment he landed on the floor of the building top. She wasn't too thrilled at him for making fun of me as she knew of my condition very well in which she wanted to put him in his place. This wasn't the first time that she glared at the Crossroads demon directly as she was more than likely to be giving him a word of warning, for she wasn't having it right now.
"You sure know how to rain on my parade, don't you, Seto?" he said as he was also feeling at the collar around his neck. "I hope that your nice Hawaiian Punch is worth it!"
"You love to point out everything wrong with Sam, don't you, Maro?" she said.
"I had worse, but Sam won't last a day without the Medical Corps cleaning up after him."
"I love the dog collar you got, which is a shock to the system."
"As I recall, didn't you of all people want Sam to go back on the battlefield the first time?"
"I did until his condition took a turn for the worst. He's also got that bun in the oven in which the higher-ups in the Order are keeping him classified at the moment."
"Sam wasn't the only pregnant man in the Order's ranks. Minara Mitani was also pregnant as well in which our enemies in the Executive Division tried to kill him last year. In that ambush, he fled with Dean and Desna in that piece of crap car from the Elder Days in which they narrowly escaped from Plantagenet, who was shot with bullets that had Devil's Traps etched into them. Minara, on the other hand, had an emergency caesarian section and gave birth to a healthy Elfling girl who is blessed with her father's Nephilim abilities."
"I knew of that when I went and visited New Capua, but the Order kept Minara from venturing further in which the afterbirth that he obtained from his newborn daughter is meant for research for a possible cure for Tabata Syndrome. And yet I got angry at Sam for being pregnant in which Jack had his reasons to put those parcels there just to keep him from going back on the battlefield. As I recall, didn't Jack put that dog collar you to behave like a trained poodle?"
Maro was not too happy to hear Seto's words as she left the top of the building. Therefore, he didn't say another word as he was reminded of the collar that he wore around his neck. Still, he wanted to humiliate me, but he was on the receiving end in which he was becoming the butt of his own folly. By the time he saw Drusus coming to my aid, he was backing off very quickly as he noticed the sight of the Sylphine Thread that was there. He remembered going there at the time as there was the sight of the best chicken sandwiches of all Valinor, for he would go there next to see what happens to me in the long run…
Drusus and I made our way to the Sylphine Thread as we found it to be a homely one indeed. It was a pleasant place as we also noticed several banners of the Winchester sigil on the wall as it also had an array of Supernatural books on the shelf along with The Winchesters. I also noticed that there was a great menu of chicken items in which it was the poultry of choice here. When Drusus and I entered to a table that catered to handicapped people, we sat down as we were more than likely to be looking at the menu that was put in this diner, but I was still too depressed after my trip to the watch museum was a bust, for my luck would soon change in this form of predicament.
"This menu's mainly a smorgasbord for hunters," said Drusus as he was looking at it. "Take a look at the chicken sandwiches on this thing."
"There's a sampler of what is put there," I said as I looked at my own menu. "There's an Italian chicken sandwich, a Korean chicken sandwich, Chicken katsu-sando, chicken banh-mi, black pepper garlic chicken sandwich—"
"—Nashville hot chicken sandwich, parmesan encrusted chicken sandwich, lemon pepper chicken sandwich, pulled chicken sandwich, and so on and so on," said Maro as he entered into the restaurant.
"What the hell are you doing here? Are you here to do more damage to me?" I was getting testy as I put down my menu. "The last time you did your damnedest to get me back onto the field work, I was forced to get rid of a drowner nest on Cordell Island and after that, you pilfered me to Fury Island on Shiganshina to get the Rat Key in which you got your ass handed to you by that entity."
"Aren't you a little arrogant today, Sammy? It seems that you haven't learned your lesson when it comes to the beckoning of your return to battle."
"Back off," said Drusus defensively. "Sam's in no condition after I got an earful from Reuben earlier. And another thing, he's not going back on the field and if you even try to accost me, you'll meet your death at the hands of pissed-off angels that will melt your eyes out of your skull."
"Drusus Trelundar, we meet again. Therefore, I have been barred from taking Sam out of his comfort zone in which I still have that infernal collar around my neck. And to sweeten the pot, Sammy here is with child and he still refuses to get rid of the excess baggage that he has."
"I already know about it. Jack told me everything in which he had his reasons to shift his unborn twins into him so he wouldn't go back on the battlefield after all that has happened two years ago."
Without warning, Maro felt the collar around his neck burning him as he left the restaurant and left us alone. When he ran outside, he saw Jack standing in front of him as he wasn't too thrilled with what he was doing, for he was here to collect him so he wouldn't cause any more trouble towards me.
"You were warned the first time, Maro," he heard him say as he stood firm. "That collar around your neck is what prevents you from causing trouble in which Sam is still off limits."
"Once again, I get chastised by Lucifer Junior," he said as he was fiddling with the collar around his neck. "If only Sam were back on the battlefield, then he would be very revered further."
"'Revered further?' If he was 'revered further,' then why is he still suffering from overexertion after he shut down that drowner nest on Cordell Island? He's with child and no one will try to go near him and force him out on the field in his delicate condition, especially you."
"You can't fight the public opinion forever, Jack. You should just bring Sam out so he can aid us to end this ongoing war or else Liesel and her cronies will enslave the entire Ashizoka System. Sooner or later, you'll thank me for putting Sam back in the saddle after I encouraged him to destroy that drowner nest on Cordell Island."
"There are others who are fighting in Sam's stead. Therefore, you should look behind you."
Maro turned around as he noticed Damien armed with his bow and arrow. He also didn't expect him to be blessed with an imprint of raw power due to his left arm and eye changing, It was a stroke of luck that my newest bodyguard showed up in the nick of time as he was also on hand to watch over me in which he was also thankful that I saved his life from an assassin's bullet.
"Hey, Legolas, this isn't your fight here," said Maro as he stood firm.
"Move away or bleed, demon," said Damien as he was still armed with his bow and arrow.
"Okay, I'll leave, but I'm still won't let Sam shirk his further responsibilities."
"You were told to leave, so I suggest that you go quietly before I put an arrow in you."
Maro left as he was about to vanish in a plume. Unfortunately, his abilities were limited due to the collar that was put around his neck as he was starting to fiddle with it even further. Still, he wasn't about to give up on forcing me to go back on the battlefield as he refused to back down in this ongoing battle against the Executive Division, for he was walking away in disappointment.
"Son-of-a-bitch!" he yelled in disgust. "I really hate this fucking collar!"
Maro was leaving the town square as Jack and Damien watched him still fiddling with the collar around his neck. Even though I was safe for the time being, I still had my typical "toxic fans" that would force me to go back on the field, but not now. I was eager to have a calm day in peace, for I had to remain in my long furlough until I healed up to full in the long run…
Reuben was in the castle as he was making sure that my room was cleaned just in time for me to return home. Still, he was concerned about my well-being as he would soon do his best to collect me after I came back. When he reached the nursery, he looked the younger children as they were in their playpens waking up from their nap. He noticed Zoran getting out of his playpen as he later fell on his bottom, only to get up afterwards. The only boy among the smaller children was staring at Reuben directly as he wasn't afraid of him, for he was very curious like me.
"You really know how to escape your playpen, don't you?" he said to Zoran.
"Zoran!" yelled Ghimru as he ran into the nursery. "You know that Mommy won't be too happy with you when you get out of your playpen!"
"He's a lot like his father." Reuben picks up the toddler as he places him back into the playpen once again. "Sam also got out of his playpen in which Dad put him back in there."
"Did Daddy really do that?"
"He knew how to slip off anywhere in which he had great adventures. These days, he's been incapacitated after he destroyed Project Amaterasu two years ago."
"But Daddy's always feeling sick all the time. I just wish he would get better. Carly says that he's gonna have a baby, is that true?"
Reuben was alarmed by Ghimru's words as he had to tell him the truth. He was backed in a corner as he also had no other choice but to tell him directly. Just as he was about to do so, he noticed Reiko coming into the nursery as she was more than likely to be checking up on the younger children, for she would soon attempt to scold Ghimru for attempting to spill the beans.
"There you are, young man," she said.
"He's not doing anything wrong right now," said Reuben.
"He needs to take his vitamins and cod liver oil if he wants to brave the northern weather here."
"Yuck! I hate cod liver oil!" yelled Ghimru defiantly. "Daddy should take it so he can provide for the baby!"
"You can't blurt what is said here out in the open, young man," said Reuben cautiously. "There are prying eyes and opened ears that would put your father at risk."
"Is Daddy in trouble?"
"He's not in trouble, sweetheart," said Reiko. "It's just that he's carrying what Mommy always had. He's not in further danger, but you can't say too much or else you won't get any dessert after dinner."
Ghimru didn't say another word as he left the nursery. When he saw Carly coming home from school with the rest of the older children, she rushed towards to the sitting room in which he followed her there. They had a feeling that I wasn't there as they had to look for me. It wasn't long until they saw Aora near the shelf of books while in a rocking chair as he was wearing a pair of booties that were too big for a baby's foot. Still, they never expected me not to be in the sitting room as they also had plenty of curiosity that was the typical scuttlebutt of my classified furlough, for they would soon go and venture off to find me soon enough.
"I got some nice socks on my feet," said Aora.
"You're sitting in Mr. Sam's spot!" yelled Carly.
"Didn't Daddy make those booties?" asked Ghimru.
"He always made those booties," said Aora. "He even made some smaller ones, too."
It wasn't long until Reiko burst into the sitting room and noticed Carly and the older twins there. She was aware of their curiosity getting the better of them as they were also knowing more of the unmentionable condition that I had, for they would also be willing to help me in their own way.
"You were trying out booties, weren't you?" she said as she saw Aora showing them off.
"Some of them were too small," he said.
"It's because they're reserved for the babies that Mr. Sam is carrying," said Carly.
"You can't blurt that out loud," said Reiko cautiously. "Sammy is under strict care because of the fact that there are some mean people who won't let him stay in his convalescence."
"There are some mean people wanting to hurt Daddy?" said Ghimru as he was worried about me all of a sudden. "I hope that those meanies leave him alone. He's not doing too well and he used his raw power too much to save everyone."
Everyone was concerned with the truth about my condition as it was starting to get harder to keep it under wraps. Still, the children now knew about what I was carrying within my body as they would also be on hand to protect me when the birth happens, for they were part of our family after all…
I was sitting at the table in the Sylphine Thread as I was wanting to try one of the chicken sandwiches that were on the menu. After a failed attempt by Maro to force me to go on the field backfired, I was safe once more as I noticed Drusus staring at the menu just to try what was there in this restaurant. To my surprise, I saw a waitress coming towards us with a large tray of chicken sandwiches as they were given to us in which I spotted a piece of paper attached to it. Picking it up, I knew that it was paid for by an unknown party in which I also noticed Drusus getting his order of a Nashville Hot chicken sandwich with a strawberry milkshake. We were having our lunch here, but my own order of the chicken sandwiches was a little too much complete with a blackberry milkshake to wash it down with. What I didn't expect was that my little ones were moving around as they were craving something, for I was overwhelmed by their relentless appetite to keep them fed.
"There's no end to your ravenous appetite, is there?" I said as I was touching at my stomach.
"Whoever got you those chicken sandwiches must've known about your unmentionable problem right away," said Drusus as he was chowing down on his meal. "This stuff is spicy complete with the pickles."
"This is good…" I took a bite of one of the chicken sandwiches as I was quelling the cravings that I had. "The sandwich is prepared just right." I took another bite as I even enjoyed the extra bells and whistles that were put into it. "It's so good, especially the pickles." I finished up the sandwich as I was ready to devour another one in front of me. "Love those pickles on the sandwich."
"Is that so? According to some of the people who lived at Paradigm Castle on Gehenna, the women who normally carry their babies to term often crave pickles. They even crave ice cream, too."
"Pickles and ice cream…" I took another chicken sandwich as I began to eat at it. "Oh, this is so good!"
"You sure love your chicken sandwiches, don't you?"
I ate at the sandwich as I later continued to eat what was left on the tray while I finished it off with the blackberry milkshake that was there. With Drusus finishing up his meal, he was ready to pay the bill for his meal as he got up and fished out his wallet to do so. By the time we were about to leave the Sylphine Thread, I spotted Damien coming into the restaurant as he was ready to bring me back home to the castle, for it was high time that I returned after a long day.
"Thank Yavanna the Elder and the Matriarch that Maro didn't coerce you to go back on the field, My Lord," he said to me. "If you're opting to pay for your large meal, the waitress who gave it to you paid for it earlier."
"I never expected anyone to pay for my meal before until now," I said.
"According to what I heard earlier, the waitress was grateful that you saved Cordell Island from a drowner infestation."
"I should thank her for it…"
"The waitress who paid for your meal has family that lives on Cordell Island. It's a godsend that you saved them from further drowner attacks, but you should also return home at the behest of Reuben."
"Oh, dear…" I was ready to leave as I was wheeling myself towards the door. "Well, shall we get going?"
And so, I left with Drusus and Damien following me as we were on our way home. With a full belly to satisfy my cravings, I was happy that my delicate passengers got their fill as there would be no problems until dinner comes along. Little did we all know was that Jack was watching in the distance as he was more than glad that I wasn't goaded back into the field in my condition, for he was meddling in my favor after all…
I was in the infirmary wing of the castle as I was under the watchful eye of Reuben, who was busy examining me while I was laying on the scanner table. He was looking at the twins on screen as they were progressing without any more delays. The babies were healthy, but were also under the microscope as there was no end to the assessments that were put towards me. I had gotten used to the endless assessments that the Medical Corps as I was also appreciating them for keeping me safe, for it was necessary to do so.
"I take it that you had a smorgasbord of chicken sandwiches at the Sylphine Thread earlier," I heard Reuben say to me. "The babies have taken in the nutrients that you ate, but you should also be aware of Maro and his trickery."
"He tried his damnedest, but I resisted," I said.
"You're lucky that I dispatched Damien to find you and bring you home. As for your 'light lunch,' your babies seemed to like it."
"Oh, I loved the pickles on that chicken sandwich. It was so good…"
"I bet you did." Reuben looks at the screen as he noticed my stress levels being lowered. "It's also a first that you're not bent out of shape in which you didn't have a problem other than seeing the watch museum being closed for today. As for the remainder of the possible scuttlebutt here, Carly's been talking about your pregnancy in which she's more than likely to be in protective mode to your babies."
"She shouldn't be doing that at her age. When she felt at the twins, she thought that Reiko fattened me up, but when they were moving, she got scared and thought that I had a giant parasite in my body."
"Carly, get back here!"
It wasn't long until I sat up as I noticed my young ward sprinting towards me where I was still on the scanner table. What I didn't expect was that Reiko was chasing after as she caught up to her directly. I couldn't help but be more happy than ever as I couldn't get enough of Carly's antics, for she was someone who would do anything to help protect the unborn parcels that I had inside of me.
"Sammy's being examined right now," said Reiko as she was looking at Carly with a stern look on her face. "You can't just go rushing into the infirmary wing and worry him too much, young lady."
"But I wanna protect the babies!" she cried. "I don't want those meanies trying to put Mr. Sam back out there on the field while he's carrying them in his tummy! They won't leave him alone until he is forced to do so!"
"I already know of it," said Reuben. "Maro's not the type that can give up so readily. This isn't the first time that he would force Sam to go back on the field in his condition, but an angel tried to use scare tactics by allowing a killer clown to cause havoc near Jomon Village. Thankfully, the threat has been averted, only for the rest of us to shut down the circus and we all know that Sam's scared of clowns."
"Then I'll make sure that those clowns won't hurt Mr. Sam! I'll go and kick their butts!"
"You made your point, fusspot, but you're still too young to protect me," I said.
"But you're carrying something that is meant for Reiko's tummy. I can't let those meanies take you away!"
"He'll be fine, Carly," she said to her. "There won't be anything bad happening to Sammy, I assure you. Besides, the ones that you call meanies are being punished if they try to force him to go back on the field in his delicate condition."
Carly didn't say another word as she walked closer to the scanner table I was on. She noticed me clutching at my stomach as I was feeling at the movement that the twins were making inside of me. When I noticed her get a footstool, she placed it next to the scanner table as she was standing on it in which she felt at my stomach, which was fraught with movement from the twins. She wasn't afraid of what I had in me as she would do anything to protect me and what was there in my body, for she had her reasons to do so for a Cat Sidhe like her.
"Don't worry," she said as she felt the twins moving in my stomach. "We'll do everything to protect you, even if you're still in Mr. Sam's tummy. I'll be a big sister to you just like Dirk is the big brother."
"I know you will, fusspot," I said.
"It seems that you've gotten braver," said Reuben as he was finishing up his work.
"I can't let Mr. Sam get taken away by those meanies," said Carly. "He's got the babies in him and they don't like that."
"I know…," said Reiko as she was looking at me with concern. "You shouldn't be worrying too much, Sammy." She walks closer to me as she touches at my hand. "Our little ones would fret all the time if you did."
I got up from the scanner table as I walked towards my wheelchair. After a long day, I left the infirmary wing as I was on my way to my room. By the time I got there, I noticed Minara arriving as he was more than likely to be knowing about what I did today, for he was more than likely to be putting me back to bed instead of having me wander around too much. When I got into bed, I was glad that another assessment came and went as Minara was opening up his medical bag to get out the portable ultrasound to examine me. Still, he was there as he also endured what I was going through, for it was hell for him while doing so. I didn't blame him because of the fact that he was there to not only protect me, but to offer support while I was enduring the usual throes of pregnancy.
"You had a rough day, didn't you?" he said to me.
"I had a good lunch at the Sylphine Thread," I said.
"Is it about their chicken sandwiches?"
"They're really good in which they did a great job with the pickles."
"The Sylphine Thread isn't an ordinary restaurant, Sam. It's also a hub for hunters, both in the Order and freelanced. The Supernatural memorabilia that adorn it is a reminder that it's also a hangout for the usual fangirls that are into the usual shipping while chowing down on a chicken sandwich."
"Oh, I can't wait for dinner right now…" I feel at my stomach as I felt the twins kicking. "Don't worry; Daddy will feed you two, okay?"
"It seems that the twins are hungry again. As for what they crave, they really love their protein, but they should also lay off the spicy food."
"I ate some spicy food, but it didn't phase me. As for your own predicament while you carried Sayoko, what did you eat?"
"I ate a Mediterranean dish known as moussaka, which is like a shepherd's pie, but with an ancient Greek flavor. The Claudians make it along with some of the other stuff in the Mediterranean category. It quelled my stomach and kept my baby fed in which I tolerated it a lot better than the shakshouka."
I began to show a little bit of humor as I still felt my little ones continuously kicking. Sitting up, I was still feeling at my stomach as I was also developing a maternal instinct. I couldn't help myself as was more than likely to be protecting them from those who would stop at nothing to use me. In the long run, I had to remain vigilant as I had to protect the precious cargo that I bore, for they were the most delicate that I had so far.
"Don't forget, dinner consists of what I told you about earlier," said Minara.
"Is it the moussaka?" I asked.
"I made plenty in which is more than enough to feed everyone while the Norsefolk who run this castle are putting their efforts into cooking a nice smoked salmon."
It wasn't long until I noticed Reiko coming in with a tray of food in her hands. I was right about the dinner spread as it consisted of both the moussaka and the smoked salmon that were there for me. I was happy to get it as I was given the tray of food the moment I began to eat what was there. The taste of the moussaka was something different as I even tasted the ground lamb and eggplant that were put into it complete with the bechamel sauce that was placed on top of it. Even my precious parcels were satisfied to get what I ate, for I kept eating the dish until it was gone.
"Our little darlings loved what their Uncle Minara made for them," said Reiko.
"That's not all," I said as I took a bite of my smoked salmon. "The little ones really love to eat protein."
"Drusus told me about how you ate all those chicken sandwiches and Reuben also told me that you even craved the pickles in them."
"It had to be the pickles, hadn't it, Sam?" said Minara. "For me, it was ice cream after dinner, but we all have different cravings. Pickles, on the other hand, didn't settle with me because I often felt sick in the first few months of pregnancy. The acidity from the vinegar of those damn things made me feel nauseous."
I finished up my food as I was more than likely to be examined once again. With the tray put on the nightstand, I laid down as I had my robe exposed the moment I felt the cold gel being applied on my stomach. It wasn't long until I felt the base part touching my skin as I spotted Minara looking at the images on the portable ultrasound. The sight of my twins basking in the comfort of the crafted womb in my body was normal as he saw them to be in good condition despite the fact that my raw power somewhat jumpstarted the growth in my stomach. Even Reiko noticed the image of our twins as she was happy that they were safe and in good hands, for she couldn't wait to meet them when I had a chance to give birth.
"Look at them," she said as she was smiling at the image on the ultrasound. "They're beautiful when they're sleeping."
"It's because they had their dinner through me," I said.
"The little ones will always eat what you eat, Sammy. They need their protein from time to time."
"The babies have a healthy appetite due to what's been eaten," said Minara as he finished up his scanning on the ultrasound. "There are no problems or complications since your mishap at the Yock Island Memorial Hospital on Stohess. Thankfully, you've been guarded by everyone here so that you wouldn't be forced back on the battlefield in your condition."
It wasn't long until Minara put away the portable ultrasound machine as he later took out a cloth and wiped away the gel from my stomach. He noticed how my body was changing as he saw me close my robe and sit up. He also knew of his own pregnancy changing him once as he remembered that feeling very well. When I got up from my bed, I noticed Reiko helping me as Minara was doing the same the moment we all left the room and slowly went down the stairs. I was due for a bath before going to bed as I was most likely to be high maintenance. When we all went downstairs, we noticed Drusus standing at the front door as he was concerned about something in which he had to tell me in which he spotted an Order of Letters ship coming towards the castle. When I walked towards my wheelchair, I sat down in it as I rushed outside to see it landing near the harbor. What I didn't expect was that Marthonus was coming out of the ship as he had his entourage with him. I never expected him to be coming here before as he had business with me. What I didn't expect was that Reiko and Minara were in the same boat as me as they had a gut feeling that he would come and take me away from my island sanctuary like the others who would force me to go back on the battlefield.
"Marthonus Vallon," I said as I saw him approaching. "I've heard stories of him when Ippei told me about him, but showing up here in person?"
"Our great-uncle was one of the members in Grandfather's unit during their mission to New Capua on Claudius," said Minara. "Whatever business he has here, he should make it brief because you're a high-risk target."
"I've never seen him here of all places before, but he can't interfere with Sammy's convalescence," said Reiko. "I won't let that happen to him after what he went through…"
It wasn't long until we noticed Marthonus approaching towards us as he was staring at me in sitting in my wheelchair. His assessment of me made him rethink his decision as he couldn't let me go back into battle in my condition. He was also aware of what I bore as he refused to let me leave my furlough, for I had a long way to go after all.
"We finally meet, Sam Winchester," he said to me.
"Marthonus," I said as I was clutching at my stomach. "It seems that you're not here to take me away, are you?"
"After getting an earful from my half-siblings to put you back on the field, my answer is no," he said. "Still, I'm astonished that the Medical Corps are here to keep you protected, but there's a slim chance that Phyllis and Neville will act and take you out of your sanctuary."
"Sorry, but Sam's not going anywhere," said Minara.
"I'm not here to take him away. I'm here to assess his condition after getting reports of him enduring the same condition that you suffered from, Minara."
"Sammy is safe for now," said Reiko as she held my hand tightly.
"First and foremost, we should get inside before the storm freezes us," I said.
And so, we all went inside of the castle as we sat down in the dining hall. Still, I was at the careful mercy of a close friend of Ippei's as he would stop at nothing to protect me from the scrutiny that refused to rear its ugly head. It was something that I never expected before, but I had to hear out the words that would come from the man who served alongside my former mentor.
"It seems that our model patient's well-being has slightly improved, but not out of the woods yet," I heard Marthonus say. "From what I also gather is that the precious cargo that he's carrying have a much high intake in protein, which denotes a healthy growth."
"It was the influx of chicken sandwiches," said Drusus as he sat down at the table.
"It also seems that Maro tried to goad you into returning to the field." Marthonus stares at me as he was noticing me clutch at my stomach protectively. "I heard about it from that kid who was watching in the distance. He says that he's the King of Heaven and the one who shifted your unborn cargo from Reiko's womb to your own body."
"That sums it up in a nutshell…," I said. "I also don't mind it after I—" I feel my little ones moving all over as if they were craving something. "You just had dinner! Daddy needs a break!"
"Then that calls for something a little more useful…"
I noticed Marthonus fish out a vidphone as he was fiddling with it for some odd reason. It wasn't long until we noticed a delivery drone from the Sylphine Thread coming in here as it landed on the table. Reiko, Drusus, and Minara saw a box that was delivered to me as it opened up to reveal a tray of chicken sandwiches just for me. For a bit, I was starting to feel a little guilty for not sharing until Reiko was wanting me to eat them all at once due to the cravings that I had. Even Drusus and Minara were astonished to see me marvel at one of the chicken sandwiches as I saw it to be a breaded slice of heaven with all the pickles. Taking a bite of it, I was happy to alleviate the cravings that I had as they were mainly to quell the fidgeting of my little ones that I carried. By the time I finished it off, I was going for another one as I couldn't help myself due to the fact that I was pigging out just to satisfy the hunger of the little ones, for this was something that I ended up getting used to.
"I can't believe that you ate the whole thing," said Drusus as he was astonished to see me eat what was there in front of me. "If Dean saw you, he would be crapping gold bars right now."
"That was so good," I said as I felt elated to quell the hunger that my babies caused. "I really love those pickles…"
And I meant it as I was more than blessed to taste the greatness in the form of a breaded chicken patty and pickles on a bun. Oh, I was finally full! Still, I was thankful that Marthonus was there as he was also more than likely to be watching over me like everyone else, for it was a godsend to see him in person. Little did all of us know was that Jack was watching in the distance as he was happy that I didn't go back on the field as he was adamant into making sure that I recovered up to full, for I was still not in fine fettle right now…
To be continued...