Thank you to AtheniandreamElsa Jayhomel001 and guest for reviews sorry for not updating sooner, hope you enjoy this latest chapter.
It could be nothing after all. And Marina would be fine.
But the commander couldn't stop thinking realistically that it wouldn't.
Besides, after Tempest's run in earlier with Titian's men, discovering a vessel that could have been watching them and the cause of the set up, Troy was the kind of guy crazy enough to have wanted to go check it out. even without Stingray. Or any regard for safety and regulations. And Atlanta didn't need to be worried about him for the second time that day.
"Always ready to dive in to danger that one", he mused aloud. Courageous and dashing yes. But for a captain, Troy was sure a barmy coot at times. And worse Titian had clearly figured that out and used that to his advantage. It could mean more dangers in the future…
Would it be worth getting Phones could go out alone? He could possibly recognise a sound scan of the ship and they could identify it as friend or foe.
Or he might have if it wasn't for Marina. Shore doubted either would want to go or leave the hospital until they knew for certain what was going on. He couldn't blame them. Or Fisher, for that matter.
Marina...
The attack on stingray...
And now the strange craft…
Could these three things possibly be linked? Or at least two of the three? It seemed like too much of a coincidence they all happened today. This morning even, Commander realised drawing a long inhale from his cidar. Those few hours now seemed very long ago and-
"You shouldn't smoke those, sir they're not good for you."
"And the hospital has a strict no smoking policy." Atlanta agreed.
Commander Shore did his best not to flinch. Or choke on his cigar. In his musing he hadn't heard Phones and Atlanta approach.
"Neptune's beard!" he growled, puffing smoke between gritted teeth, "One day you'll sneak up on me and I'll jump right out of this chair with working legs!"
Atlanta's eyes narrowed. "Father, did you come out here for the radio or a smoke?"
"Both. Don't take that tone with me. And I don't need your comments on my health." The Commander scoffed, glaring at Phones and flicked the stub away, much to Atlanta's distain. "Well?"
"W-well what sir?"
"I gave you direct instructions not to move-!"
"But sir-!"
"Don't be mad at Phones, Father." Atlanta countered. She went over to where the cigar butt had landed and crushed it with her heel, before picking it up and tossing it in a trashcan; Tidying up the little things as she always did when bothered. Despite her irritated attitude however, Shore suddenly saw she'd been crying. This realisation was enough to stop him in his tracks. One moment he was her commanding officer the next he was a concerned father. One glower and jerk of his head, and Phones bolted. "He was just escorting me, this place is like a maze."
"It's not like you to get lost."
Atlanta turned back to face him brushing off her hands. Arguing must have been overrated or she was to tired to do so. Instead she went to his side and crouched down next to him, resting her head against the low arm rest, letting her father wrap an arm around her gold studded shoulders. Even all grown up she was still his little girl.
"It's silly." Atlanta sniffed, "I just meant to- I'm supposed to be helping you keep everything 'ship shape'."
"It's not silly. it's one hell of a day for everyone. And I don't think you've had a minate when you're not worrying over someone else. Let it all out." He mumbled, attempting to be compforting. even Patted her curls absent mildly, Her hair aflame in in the sunshine. Ugly hevy sobbing he could deal with easily, brutishly even. trying not to cry crying not so much. But he tried his best until her breath evened out. "I'm sorry sweet heart if I could make everything better I would. You know that right?"
Atlanta nodded, kissed his cheek and stood back up, squeezing his hand tight in hers wiping under her eyes with her other. Lutenient Shore tried to then apologise to her Commander for her behaviour and out burst but he dismissed it.
"Did I miss anything?" He sighed.
"Troy's head started bleeding again so he's getting that fixed up again. And Fisher's fallen asleep in the chair."
"It might be the nearest thing he gets to a rest at this point." Shore grunted, Unable to shake the nagging feeling that one day Tempest would break his little girl's heart. Instead he gave her hand another squeeze before letting it drop, swivelling his hover chair about. "Go ahead back inside, Lieutenant. Keep an eye on those lug heads, I'll go see if I can talk the doctors."
Atlanta did as she was ordered. Almost. At the door she paused. "Father, I'm worried."
"Yeah, I know. I don't need to be Nancy Drew to see that." Shore grunted, wishing he had kept the stub to chew on.
"But Sir,!"
"I know we don't know about Marina yet but those two will be fine. Phones too. Maybe some of their dumb luck will have rubbed off on her? and she's just giving us a scare before being right as rain."
"And what about that craft from earlier? Has it been spotted again? Is that was the call was?"
His daughter had inherited her mothers habit of guessing correctly. Or jump to the right conclusion.
"One problem at a time Honey. There's nothing we can do about that till we can get a clear fix on it."
"Do you think there connected?"
"I don't think so." he lied. "go back inside, sweetheart. I need someone in there who's not a buffoon."
"Troy's not a buffoon, father." Atlanta scoffed but did as he said, the sunlight bouncing off her curly red hair as she left. The neon lights of the hospital seemed to make everything look dull. Commander Shore took one last breath of fresh non-sanatized air before following her.
It was too nicer day to be he thought, to be in a hospital waiting room and stuck thinking of nothing but cigars, submarines, and young ladies in life and death situations.
(Trying to add a wee bit of doom, gloom and depth to the Shores. hope it wasn't to OoT, thanks for reading, and happy holidays if your celebrating.)