Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 9
Chapter 5: My Dinner With Dean
(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.)
I was well-rested as I was ready to go after what happened to me yesterday. Still, I had my duties at home on Skald Island as I would soon bid farewell to it, but not without making sure that Dean was okay. When I got ready to go after paying my bill at the Singer House, I was ready to go back to Skald Island as I would soon reunite with Reiko and the others again. Just as I was about to leave, I saw everyone fleeing into their homes as a storm was coming the moment everyone was being directed towards the underground shelters just in time when the weather hit Cordell Island. When I rushed outside, I saw a large barrier near the harbor as it was enacted to shield the island from damage coming from the storm. I never saw anything like it before as I spotted Yavanna directing everyone to go towards the underground shelters for safety reasons.
"Get to the shelters!" she yelled. "The weather shields may hold up, but they can't hold forever when we have something like this coming towards us!"
I felt the northern wind blowing more rapidly as I sensed that the storm was raging everywhere on Cordell Island. What I didn't expect was that some of the fishermen and dock workers were bringing in their catch and tools in which they were heading into the shelters the moment I saw a wave coming towards the harbor the moment I rushed over to the dock. It was a wave that had the strength of a tsunami as I had no other choice but to use my raw power to protect Cordell Island from the wave that was about to hit it directly. With the wave crashing down to the island, it was blocked as I used my raw power to block it the moment it hit the surrounding areas that were smaller off the island coast. With the weather threat averted, I fell to my knees as I fell straight into the water where the dock was. I was feeling the pinch of exhaustion as I was trying to get back up to the surface. By the time I nearly reached it, I was overwhelmed by the exhaustion as I was about to be pulled under until I felt a hand grab my own the moment I was pulled back up to the dock. Drenched and tired, I was sitting up as I spotted Dean next to me as he was worried about me, for he didn't want me to do too much yet.
"What the hell, Sam?!" he yelled as he slowly got me up on my feet. "Did you have to use your raw power to protect everyone again?!"
"Oh, no! Sam!" yelled Yavanna as she saw me exhausted from using my raw power. "We need to get him to one of the rotgut rooms!"
"Then I'll do it…" Dean lifts me up as he was ready to get me to safety. "You really jumped the gun again, but it's tough hauling your six-foot-four ass all the way to the shelter."
Dean and Yavanna hauled me away from the harbor as we were getting further away from the weather that was causing havoc all over Cordell Island. With the storm still raging, we had to get to safety as we also had to wait it out until it cleared, for the elements weren't too fond with what was going on at present…
Akio was in his office in the Order's main headquarters on Valinor as he was fresh off of going to a conference on Lannister earlier. The frequent attacks conducted by the Zenith Vectors became rampant as most of the planetary governments have issued a huge warrant against Jacob Doran and his group in which he was also responsible for Magda's death and the terrorist attack in the Alecrian capital of Isildur. When he got up from his desk, he left his office as he was going towards the cafeteria to get himself a cup of coffee. By the time he got that, he spotted Beryl standing in front of him as she was most likely to be giving him a warning, for she wasn't just here on business, but to cause a frequent headache for him. He never wanted to put up with Beryl Beauchamp to begin with as she was nothing more than just a dangerous person, for she was also one of the worst warmongers that ever lived all over the entire Ashizoka System in general.
"It seems that you won't go away quietly, can you?" he said as he sipped his coffee.
"It appears that the Zenith Vectors have made their presence known all over the galaxy and back," said Beryl. "You can't fight their presence, Akio, for they're here to finish what the Executive Division had started six months ago."
"If you're wanting to be the basic 'pick-me-girl' for those bastards, then be my guest. Everyone knows that the war ended six months ago, for there hasn't been much of the Executive Division these days."
"Everyone profits off of war, Akio. It is the greatest source of income in which everyone gets fed and clothed with a roof over their heads while every single man and woman fight the good fight just to keep the economy going. War isn't just an issue, but an industry. You should thank the defense of every planet to keep everything running smoothly. Without it, you wouldn't have any defense to protect you with."
"I had enough with your shit, Beryl! War may be a moneymaker, but it's also a frequent headache for those who fought in it. As for our new foes, they have a weakness in which diamond shards can penetrate those suits they wear. If Achilles can get shot in the heel with an arrow, then Jacob Doran and his group will get nailed with diamond shards."
"You can't defeat the Zenith Vectors; no one can. All they're doing is to be top dog while finishing what the Executive Division started."
"Go to hell!"
Beryl left the cafeteria as Akio was not too happy with her for supporting terrorism on the sly. Still, he had to protect everyone as he also had to watch his back when it came to the Zenith Vectors coming and going just to commit their next act. It was hell since the war ended as the Zenith Vectors weren't the types that were taken lightly, for they only wanted human supremacy and purity in their ranks so far…
I woke up in a bed as I found myself in a rotgut room in which I noticed that I was cleaned and newly dressed in nightclothes after all that has happened. What I didn't expect was that Dean was there looking after me as he didn't want to lose me after I saved everyone from the wave that nearly took out Cordell Island earlier. Sitting up, I heard the storm raging from outside as I wanted to get up to see what was going on until Dean stopped me before I did that. He wasn't about to let me out of his sight as he had to do his best to make sure that I felt better, for I still wasn't up to full even if it meant by saving Cordell Island from being washed away in the ocean.
"Don't even try to get up," I heard him say to me as he was not budging from his spot in the rotgut room we stayed in. "You overexerted your raw power again and for what?! By catching a wave?"
"No, but if I didn't use it even after I was in a weakened state, Cordell Island would've been washed away by now," I said as I began to cough.
"It'll be a while before we get to Skald Island, but you're in deep crap right now."
"Reuben's looking after the other patients right now. He doesn't have time for me right now." I continue to cough as I felt my body aching all over. "This day is crap, but I can manage in this storm."
"Like hell you are! You put your ass on the line to save Cordell Island twice, Sam! It's high time you stayed in bed as soon as you're fit to get back to Skald Island."
I continued to cough as I felt Dean's hand touch my hot forehead. I was getting a cold as I had no other choice but to stay in bed until Reuben got here. It wasn't long until I had a thermometer shoved into my mouth as I stayed put in which Dean didn't want to leave my side. He didn't want me to fade away as he was aware of me overexerting my raw power to protect Cordell Island from a wave that would've washed it away. When he took the thermometer out of my mouth, he noticed that I had a very high fever in which I had a temperature of 102.7, which was better than being at 107. Still, I was stuck with Dean acting more like a mother hen as he didn't want anything bad to happen to me, for my life was on the line after what happened earlier.
"You had your reasons to save our asses, but protecting Cordell Island from a tidal wave takes the cake," he said to me. "Therefore, I'm here 'cause I'm gonna be cooking some dinner which consists of some seafood chowder and some bread."
"But we don't have any seafood other than the canned meat that's in the cupboard of this rotgut room," I said. "After the storm dies down, we'll be going to Skald Island once the weather is clear."
"Is that so? When Yavanna and I dragged your gargantuan ass here to the rotgut room, we noticed some lobsters and langoustines tangled in your hair in which we had them taken off, cleaned and boiling in a pot just in time for some chowder. From what I heard, this ain't the first time you caught lobsters and langoustines in which you shoved your wheelchair off the dock when they got caught in the wheels. You're very lucky to catch things for dinner so we won't starve, but you can't just put yourself at risk just for our sakes."
"The priorities of our family come first before ourselves. That's how it is…"
"You're putting your own priority first right now 'cause you need to eat to get your strength back, you got that?"
"Okay, Pepe Le Pew…"
I stayed in bed as I saw Dean walk towards a pot filled with the seafood chowder that was made. He was making it with some of the lobsters that I caught in which there was some shrimp in it as well. In another pot, he was cooking the rest of the lobsters and langoustines in which he was also boiling some corn on the cob with them, for he wanted us to have a good dinner with what I caught earlier. He never expected himself to cook in a while as he was doing his best, for he also didn't want me to lose my appetite after what happened earlier. He was worried about me as he also viewed my raw power as a godsend that saved Cordell Island from a tsunami. He couldn't let me fade yet as he also had to make sure that I was safe, for he couldn't shirk his duty as not only my protector, but my older brother as well...
Reuben was in another rotgut room as he was busy taking care of the patients that were in his care. The sound of the wind outside worried him as he had to make sure that I was safe the moment he finished up his rounds. Still, he had so much work to do as he was also more than likely to be finding where I was staying at, for my life was on the line right now. When he left the rotgut room, he saw the wind blowing everything as everyone was securing their trawlers while trying to get to safety in this storm. Everything was a mess as some of the boats were blowing sideways near the docking bays with only the Thunderstruck still standing due to its strong resistance from the storm. When he rushed to the Grand Hill District, he noticed the Impala safe in a cave that was a makeshift garage as it didn't get tipped over. Still, he had to find where I was until he spotted Ravenna tending to some of the people fleeing the storm in which she was also wanting to find Dean, for she was quite fond of him.
"Looks like you're looking for Dean, aren't you?" he said.
"I'm hoping that he made it to one of the rotgut rooms here after that storm touching down on Cordell Island," said Ravenna.
"That's not all that's been troubling. I saw a surge of raw power shielding this island from a tsunami wave earlier. As for the one who overexerted it, I hope that Dean finds him and keeps him where they're staying at."
"Are you talking about Sam Winchester?"
"Sam's been an easy target since birth in which everyone wants a piece of the raw power that he has. He had it rough in which when our father died, Sylvanus took him away to Gehenna with Dean in tow."
"You could've stopped him from going…"
"I was young, but my mother tried to get my older half-brothers to stay with her, but to no avail. Sylvanus knew that a member of the MacVicker Clan always has a bunch of bad apples in the family, but at least we reunited with our wayward half-brothers in the end. With me being steeped in both lore and medicine, I became a top student in the Medical Corps in which I studied under Yoichi Yano before he got sacked and Kazuo took over."
"You weren't into Yano, were you?"
"I never liked Yoichi because of his ignorance of psychology. I was also glad that Kazuo took over until he passed away."
"It was good while it lasted, but Kazuo was a good man till the end..."
"I'm the new Medic General of the Medical Corps in which I'm committed to do one thing and that is 'first do no harm.' As for finding Sam, I won't be happy with him for overexerting his raw power to protect this island after—"
"You shouldn't be angry with him, Reuben," said Jack as he appeared out of nowhere.
Jack was here on business as he saw everyone recovering from the weather that was wreaking havoc all over Cordell Island. When he saw some of the islanders fleeing the storm, he had to help out as he used his powers to shield them from the cold in which Reuben and Ravenna escorted them to safety. With everyone going towards the rotgut room near the cave where the Impala was parked at. With the winds blowing harshly, everyone was safe inside from the weather as the northern wind wasn't letting up anytime soon, for it was a storm to remember…
Merrick was assessing the danger from the storm as he saw some of the Norsefolk tethering their trawlers to prevent them from blowing away. The wind coming from all over the place had subsided after he got reports from a surge of raw power protecting Cordell Island from a tidal wave earlier in which he was concerned about my overall health. When he returned to the Thunderstruck, he noticed Agni bringing in some of the Norsefolk into the cargo bay as they were worried about the weather getting much worse in which the storm was not letting up at this time. Still, everyone had to do their part as the weather wasn't doing anyone any favors, for this was the way of the northern wind blowing everywhere in the Skalvarg Archipelago.
"Sorry, but it's temporary for the locals," said Agni.
"This storm is one of many that keeps anyone bound to the island," said Merrick.
"According to the weather report, the storm shall die down in the evening, but the surge of raw power that protected Cordell Island caused the weather to back off for now."
"Most islands have their storms, but the mainlands also have them."
"I just hope that Sam's okay… He's done too much for everyone in which he has so much on his hands."
"I'm hoping the same thing…"
Merrick walked out of the Thunderstruck as he went towards the harbor. To his shock, he saw a white crow perched on one of the buoys as it was a terrible omen that wouldn't go away quietly. Still, he had to be vigilant to himself and the crew on his ship as he also had to deal with the Zenith Vectors that were gaining ground, for there would be trouble coming without warning so far…
Dean was busy at the stove as he wasn't leaving the rotgut room we were in. The smell of the seafood chowder and the boiling of the rest of our meal filled the room as I sat up in my bed in which I was still under the fever's grip after I protected Cordell Island from certain death. I wanted to get up out of bed as I was still aching from what happened to me. With the raw power I used weakening me, I was trying to do so until Dean stopped me in which he wasn't about to let me out of his sight right now, for he wasn't about to let me go without anything to eat after this.
"I saw that," he said to me as he caught me trying to get out of bed. "There's no way in hell that you're getting out of bed, Sammy. You nearly bit the bullet into saving our asses again in which you nearly drowned after you fell off of the dock."
"There's no end to the helicopter parenting, is there?" I said as I laid back down. "Time flies when you really have fun, but overstaying my welcome is a lot more harder than I thought."
"I'm not letting you go anywhere, Sam. You've gone back to square one after you saved Cordell Island from a tidal wave. Hell, I can't even let you drive the Impala all over the place without you falling asleep at the wheel."
"I couldn't let this island sink into the ocean, Dean. I had to protect it or else it would've been dragged underwater."
"This isn't your first rodeo saving this island. The last time you were here, you ended up being forced by Maro to use your raw power to bust up a drowner nest at that abandoned meadery almost a year ago."
"I know…" I started to cough as I felt the fever overwhelming me. "Protecting everyone isn't an easy job, but I'm used to it."
"For the record, you've been used to the insults, cruelty, illnesses, sadness, and judgment, but you can't let that crap slide or overwhelm you. You even had to be a servant while studying in the school at the fort on Gehenna over the years in which you often get roped into cleaning up the chicken house from time to time. I also remembered all those times you end up in either the infirmary wing or in your room that gets bonechilling cold all the time. Such fun times, right?"
"It never ends, does it?"
I tried to sit up as I noticed Dean rushing towards the stove in the kitchen area. With the smell of the seafood chowder cooking along with the lobster and langoustine boil, I was in for a feast to fend off my lingering cold as I also smelled the scent of baked bread in the oven. When I noticed everything done, I spotted Dean getting out the bread with a pair of oven mitts as he placed it on a table near the wall. What I didn't expect was that he had some dinnerware and utensils on the table as he was also bringing the seafood chowder towards it along with the lobster and langoustine boil that was there. It was dinner time as I was also starting to get hungry after resting from what I endured. When I got up, I walked towards the kitchen area as I washed my hands in the sink. After I did that, I walked to the table as I sat down in the bench that was attached to it. The table itself was like a booth in a restaurant as it also reminded me of all those times I sat at the one by the window over the years at the fort on Gehenna, for I was also eating alone back then. When Dean sat at the other bench across from me, he began to get out the bowls and bread as he put some seafood chowder into them in which we were ready to have our dinner, for I wasn't eating alone this time.
"Oh, how I miss those times at the fort, but you being at the table alone was hell for you," he said as he took a bite of his food. "It's a godsend that we're here in this rotgut room, but at least we're having dinner without any difficulty."
"I remember being at a table like this," I said as I took a bite of my food. "This is good… It's better than any other chowder I tasted."
"I cooked some of the lobsters and langoustines into it with some shrimp. It goes great with bread. I cooked the rest of the catch that got caught in your hair in a pot for a seafood boil. I had some cooking skills during my missions with my unit and making a seafood chowder was a huge perk that I picked up. As for our years living on Gehenna, they might still have that table by the window somewhere."
"Sadie actually got rid of it when I went over there three years ago. She said that no one should be eating alone at a separate table in which all are welcome to share a meal. Still, she had her reasons to get rid of it in which she also wants the less fortunate to eat at the table with her subordinates at the fort on Gehenna."
"Well, at least we're not excluded from everything when it comes to sitting at the dinner table and enjoying our meal together."
"I bet that our past selves would probably be envious that we're enjoying a good meal that's fit for a fancy restaurant. They never expected this to be at our table until now…"
We continued to eat at our dinner as we couldn't get enough of the seafood chowder that was put in front of us. When we got into the seafood boil, we ate at the lobsters and langoustines that were surrounded by half-ears of corn on the cob. We were there to enjoy our meal as we braved the storm in the rotgut room we were in, for this was a dinner that we had together while we were away from the weather that came forth without warning…
Two thousand years in the past…
Sam was in his room as he was still not into it after he failed to bring back Jack and Mary from the apocalyptic time loop. He was beginning to feel the depression creeping up on him as he kept stewing at the past mistakes and failures that he had. Even though he was saved after helping Donna three days ago, he wasn't into it as he wanted to stay in bed. All he wanted was to stay put in his room as he didn't want anything to do with the failure that he had, for this wasn't a good deal with him. He simply wanted to stay put after all that has happened in which he even spent time in another dimension with Dean where he ate lizard on a stick that "tasted like chicken." Still, he never forgave himself for not being able to save Mary or Jack as he was simply wanting to stay in bed forever.
When he pulled the covers over his head, he simply reminded himself of the past mistakes and failures that prevented him from seeking forgiveness in which he didn't deserve it. He never wanted to be forgiven for his past actions as he simply wanted to see himself come to an end the moment he decided to never come out of his room again. It was the most he could do as he also couldn't shake off the depression that he had.
"I should've saved you, Mom… I'm sorry that I even failed to save Jack," he said to himself as he had tears in his eyes. "I will never be worthy of anything other than being the butt of the past mistakes I made. I'll always be useless to everyone, no matter what I try to do…"
Sam wanted to cry a little more as he wiped the tears from his face. Still, he was on the verge of giving up on everything as he also didn't want to socialize with everything after losing Jack and Mary in the apocalyptic time loop. He had to focus as he was trying to keep his head above water the moment he saw the time on his cellphone that was close to three in the afternoon. Before that, he stayed in his room till ten in the morning in which he felt the depression getting the better of him. When all hope was nearly lost, it wasn't long until he heard a knock on the door as he got up and opened it up. When he spotted Dean standing there, he was concerned about him as he refused to let him stay put in his room forever, for he had a job to do when it came to hunting.
"There's no use staying in your room forever, Sammy," said Dean.
"Look, there's no use for me if I can't save Mom or Jack," said Sam as he was trying to close the door. "It sucks that I can't save anyone even after we stopped the British Men of Letters from pegging off our fellow hunters, but after what happened, it's my past mistakes all over again and those mistakes could never go away."
"So? You can't just be one of those hermits who live in their rooms all the live long. As soon as we find a way to rescue Mom and Jack, the better we have a chance, okay?"
"It won't work, Dean. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to get back to bed."
"Dude, it's almost three in the afternoon. You can't just sulk in your room forever. Besides, we'll find a way like we always do, okay?"
"I'll try to remain positive..."
Sam reluctantly agreed as he followed Dean out of his room and into the kitchen. The smell of roast beef in the oven was more than enough for them to be staring at the oven as they watched it cook while they watched the timer still ticking at how many hours it had left. Still, they didn't mind the wait as they also went towards the main hall where the tables and switchboard were kept. Sam, on the other hand, was still concerned about what was going on as he was worried about Jack and Mary, for they were family after all.
"I should've helped to get them out of there," he said as he sat down at the switchboard.
"We'll find them, okay?" said Dean as he didn't want his little brother to feel too depressed.
"After all that has happened, nothing goes right anymore."
"Hey, you can't be all depressed forever 'cause you just can't be hiding in your room like some hermit in a cave. Besides, there's always the next day, right?"
Sam was moved by Dean's words as he didn't want the depression getting the better of him in which he vowed to find Jack and Mary. As for what happened next, there would be a time to try again to find them, for it was a goal to do so after all…
Meanwhile, back in the present…
Dean and I were still eating at our meal as we heard a knock at the door to the rotgut room. When I got up to answer it, we noticed a Draaza woman with prosthetics charging in here as she had two young Elf boys with her. The Draaza woman herself had a navy comb and green eyes as she was dressed in a tank top with a pair of blue camo pants and boots. The boys in her care had Elven features as they had brown skin in which one of them had navy hair and the other had black while wearing the same clothes as she did, for they were seeking refuge from the storm like us.
"Aunt Lavinia never told us about such weather like this before," said the Draaza woman as she sat down at a chair next to the couch. "At least the prosthetics didn't get rusty because they're high-grade and rust-proof."
"You're far away from the mainlands, aren't you?" said Dean.
"My sister told me to come here in which we found shelter."
"Sister?"
"My name's Monica and you know my older sis, Ravenna, don't you?"
"She's in the Medical Corps," said one of the Elf boys.
"Wyatt, don't be rude!"
"Sorry, Mom…"
"I take it that you live here on Cordell Island," I said.
"I've lived here since my husband passed away, but that didn't stop me from living my best life, but I don't talk to my mum that much. She… doesn't speak of me that much because I was born without limbs in which my Aunt Lavinia did her best to raise me and give me the prosthetics that I have relied on over the years. If only I went and talked with Ravenna from time to time while she was studying to be a member of the Medical Corps."
"What are you talking about?"
One of the Elf boys, Wyatt, stood in front of Monica as he was adamant into protecting her. He loved his mother more than anything as he would stop at nothing to defend her honor at any cost necessary. The other Elf boy was also there to keep his mother safe as he loved her very much, for he was mainly there to protect his family in such trying times indeed.
"I smell dinner, Mom,' he said to her.
"We should've packed some food with us before we left our house," said Monica woefully. "It's a shame that we left our house in the inland district, but we didn't have a choice but to leave without taking a few canned things with us..."
"We've got plenty for you to eat instead of letting it going to waste," said Dean. "Besides, there's enough for everyone to get some."
It wasn't long until Monica and her sons were invited to have dinner with us as they washed their hands in the sink before eating. When they went to the coffee table by the couch, they got their fill of food as they were eating it in which they were happy to have it. I didn't blame them for seeking shelter from the storm as the weather wasn't letting up due to the northern wind having its way. By the time we all finished our dinner, we cleaned up the rotgut room as we made sure that it wasn't messy. After keeping it clean, I went towards a door next to the bathroom as I opened it up in which I noticed it to be a secret compartment filled with everything that was there. I saw it to be a bunker as I noticed a switchboard that was in the middle as I walked towards it until I felt my knees buckling to the point of me falling down until Dean rushed in to catch me, for he didn't want me to go off on my own in my weakened condition.
"You really know how to find things, Sammy," he said to me as he led me towards a chair next to the switchboard. "Still, as soon as Reuben finds us, he's not gonna be happy with you after you used your raw power to protect Cordell Island from being drenched to death."
"I'm still under the weather right now, Dean," I said.
"You jumped the gun again, Sam," said Minara as he appeared out of nowhere. "I saw what happened out there in which everyone was glad that the wave didn't wash away this island, but you can't risk your health like that."
"I know…" I began to cough again as I felt a headache coming over me. "If I hadn't done it, Cordell Island would've been wiped off the map by now."
"Let's get you to the infirmary…"
Minara helped me up as he escorted me further to where the infirmary was. The place was similar to the Men of Letters bunker, but the beds were in individual cubicles with sliding doors as I was led into one. When I laid down in it, I felt a quilt covering me as I was starting to get warm after being drenched earlier, for I was also not feeling well due to what I went through.
"We had seafood chowder earlier," I said.
"I bet that it helped you get some of your strength back," said Minara.
"The northern wind is a harsh mistress sometimes, but the Skalvarg Archipelago still stands so far."
"Reuben's gonna be pissed when he hears of you overexerting your raw power to save Cordell Island from being sunk below."
"He's too busy dealing with patients right now…"
I curled up in my blanket as I was feeling more warmer than ever the moment I felt more calmer. Still, I wasn't out of the woods yet as I stayed put in which I was still weakened by overexerting my raw power to protect Cordell Island. When I began to fall asleep, I heard footsteps approaching as I opened my eyes and noticed Jack standing in front of me, for he was disappointed that I used my raw power in my weakened state, but glad that no one was hurt when the storm hit the island.
"You shouldn't be jumping the gun like that," he said to me as he touched at my forehead in which he partially healed me. "Your body may be damaged in many ways than one, but please, don't try to overexert yourself again. You nearly lost your life in which you also caught a few bits of seafood in your hair before you were pulled up to the surface. Still, you remind me of your past self in which he was determined to put the lives of everyone first before his own, but even he had depression that could creep on him at the time."
"Thanks for the heads-up," I said as I was trying to fall asleep.
"You saved your friends, Sam. You saved Cordell Island. It's time that you get more rest in which it's best to do so."
I saw Jack leave without a trace as I was left with Minara watching over me in the cubicle where my bed was. Still, I was exhausted as I closed my eyes in which I later heard more footsteps coming to where I was. By the time Reuben came into the infirmary, he saw me asleep in the bed I was in as I didn't have any more problems so far. As usual, my body was still damaged in many ways than one as I was also trying to recover from what happened on the Sol-3 three years ago and on the Sol-4 six months prior. The war may have been over, but I also had to watch my back when it came to dealing with the Zenith Vectors, for their leader was at the top of the galaxy's most wanted list.
"Thank the King of the Grey Havens to get to you, Sam," said Reuben as he saw me sound asleep.
"At least he earned a right to take a nap," said Minara.
"It's better than letting him go into the undertow after he saved Cordell Island from a tidal wave. Still, his body is in a weakened state in which he went through too much, especially when he ended up giving birth to Kazuko and Giles eight months prior. For the record, he's no stranger into helping those in need the moment he puts the safety of others first before his own. No…, our dad raised us that way to value the needs of others over ourselves, but it wasn't enough for us. Sam eventually took the full brunt of putting others first more than the rest of us, but he should also put himself there instead of being on the bottom."
"I see what you mean, but Sam's had it rough when it comes to being backed into a corner. It may be how it is, but Sam should also need to put himself first so he wouldn't lose himself or let go of what makes him unique. He has to take care of his mental health just as much as his physical one anyway."
Minara looked at me in the bed I was in as I was sleeping deeply after all that I had earlier. Still, I had so much to do as I also had to take care of my mental health, for it was something that I had to manage just like my physical one at best, for it was the most I had to do at present…
I woke up the next morning as I was up and alert. Even though I felt my fever breaking, I still wasn't in fine fettle as I had to be careful where I walked at. When I got out of bed, I went further into the infirmary as I saw Reuben helping Monica in which he was busy tuning up the prosthetics that she had on her, for she was someone who braved the odds after having more rough patches than I did.
"What the hell are you doing out of bed?" he asked me as I was up and walking.
"I feel better and I can't just stay in bed all day," I said.
"Good morning," said Monica as she was flexing one of her prosthetic arms. "I trust that you slept better, but the storm's died down for now."
"You had it rougher than the rest of us, didn't you?"
"I managed fine, but if my late husband were here, he would thank you for saving Cordell Island."
"Monica!"
It wasn't long until Ravenna burst into the infirmary as she saw Monica sitting in an adjustable chair in which she was having her prosthetics checked up on while getting a tune-up on them. She was also aware of what was going on in which she noticed her younger sister with what she had, for she was more than just family.
"I'm glad that you and your boys are safe," she said as she hugged Monica.
"Did you find someone special?" she asked.
"I did, but he's been busy cooking breakfast for everyone."
"I know that it's not my business, but is Mum here?"
"She's at home with my boys on Skald Island, but she's still shaken at how the spirit of the widower I'm dating continues to haunt her. As for the lady of the house, she confronted the spirit in which she wasn't about to have it when she threatened to use salt if she didn't stop."
"Well, it's Mum's fault for keeping us widowed in which our relatives weren't having it."
"Both of you are entitled to being happy," I said. "There's no shame into finding someone who would love you for you."
"There you are!"
It wasn't long until Dean spotted me as he grabbed me by my long silver hair and led me out of the infirmary. He wasn't about to let me out of my sight as he led me into the main area of the rotgut room in which I saw the sight of breakfast being put on display. The smell of overnight French toast casserole in the oven baking was more than enough for me to sit down at the table near the wall. It wasn't long until I got a plate full of breakfast, but it wasn't the French toast casserole that was there, for it was a savory kind that was known as the typical mixed one with all the bells and whistles. What is a mixed breakfast, exactly? The mixed breakfast, or the Minara Special, consisted of a croissant stuffed with pancetta and mozzarella cheese, tomatoes charred with olive oil, egg bruschetta, spinach and egg white frittata, and pita bread stuffed with salmon and cream cheese, for it was something that I didn't get used to yet.
"Looks like I'm not getting French toast for breakfast," I said. "This is way too much for me anyway."
"Minara made it for you in which he wanted you to eat what's there," said Dean.
"He could've stuck with the French toast, but—"
"I tried to tell him not to make too much of the Mediterranean stuff, but he refused to budge in which you needed to eat this stuff to not only to get your strength back, but to recharge what you used after you saved this island from being pulled underwater."
"Okay, but let's hope for the best…"
I took a bite of my breakfast as I tasted the croissant in which I tasted the pancetta and mozzarella cheese that was put into it. It was something that I never tried before as I later tasted the rest of the breakfast that was in front of me. The taste of the tomatoes in olive oil were good as I was starting to feel a lot better due to the metabolism that was fueling me, for I was happy to get it when I needed it the most…
To be continued...