Oops! I guess this is going up early because I hit the wrong button on my other site! hahaha, Chapter 19, enjoy.
(Sophia's pov)
I walked into the link-room in my bathrobe and slippers, ignoring the looks around me and made my way to my bed. After spending the night with Lyle I felt slightly better, that ever looming weight on my shoulders felt slightly better.
"Hey Max?" he and Grace turn at my voice, my hand lifting the lid "Turn on link four."
The machine whirs to life as footsteps move closer to me. I shut my eyes, willing Grace away and by the grace of Eywa she turns back.
"Link four is up," Max's soft voice says.
I shrug off my coat, hanging it on the hook and glance at my pink sparkly kitten PJs as I lie down.
"Oh, dressing up for me now huh?" Max teases softly
"You know it…" My hand hovers on the second lid "Hey Max, can you tell Dad I'll eat dinner with him at nine?"
He smiles, holding my face "Sure Squeaks."
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(Norms' POV)
I wheeled into the med-bay, taking in the empty beds and Trudy's sleeping form. I paused, seeing the dark bruising around her neck. The cast on her left arm, the tubes running in her arms and the large swollen ball over her left eye. Guilt hit me like a truck. Unhelpful guilt.
I park my chair by the bed, grabbing the switch and lower her bed closer to me. My fingers adjusted her blanket when her right eye flickers open.
"Hey stranger…" A soft voice says.
The simple words were enough to bring out the tears, I reach over grabbing her hand and carefully hold it to my cheek "I'm sorry."
Her eyebrow lifts "For what? You didn't work me over."
"No but I might as well have," I sigh, kissing her hand softly "If you had been with me in the cafeteria this wouldn't have happened."
"Hey," her hand shifts, holding my cheek "Don't talk like that. I'm not mad at you."
"Well you should be," I sighed, leaning an elbow on the bed "I acted like an ass…"
She lets out a soft chuckle before wincing "Why did you blow up like that anyway?"
That blush dusts my cheeks "While I'm eternally grateful to have this," my fingers flicker between us "I'm not exactly swinging at my usual height here."
Her eyebrow lists "are you implying you had game before the wheel-chair?"
"Well no," I grin sheepishly "I've always been a nerd, getting shot six years into space won't change that but I knew who I was, where I stood." i hold her hand, tracing her many scars "I had a plan you know? Delusions of grandeur maybe," I roll my eye as they tear up "I mean I spent four years training for this mission Trudy and now, I'm here and everything's different."
Her thumb wipes away a tear "Norm…"
"I'm not complaining okay? I mean never in a million years did I think a warrior goddess like you would fall for someone like me," I sigh deeply "When I saw you with him, I got jealous. Mr. Six foot three, perfect blonde hair and two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle I got jealous, and I lashed out at you like a child…"
Her braced hand rests over mine "I think I made it pretty clear who I like last time we were in here."
I know, it was childish of me, but I already feel unworthy of you and watching you laughing with Mr. Six foot three, his perfect blonde hair and two hundred and fifty pounds of muscle it's hard to feel like a man…"
"Well you were certainly feeling like man that night," Trudy grins
"Trudy!" I whisper/shout, glancing around for any wondering nurses
"What?" her fingers loop around my tags, pulling me slightly closer to her "I mean I did pop your cheery in this very room my nerdy prince…"
flashback (3 weeks ago)
"Well well well, look who's awake." Trudy grins. I groan, world spinning slightly "Easy sleeping beauty, you were out for a while."
"Yeah… that seems about right." I sit up with a wince
"Hey be proud, you saved Jake's life."
"And got screwed over in the process. I can't even walk now."
"The doctors said it would be temporary. You will get it back."
"It sure as hell doesn't feel temporary." I hit the bed angerly "I mean I put my life on the line and this happens."
"There are always risks Norm, that's the same for me as it is for you."
"Yeah but at least you're not dying a virgin!" I snap, my confession slapping me in the face.
"What?" she laughs, clearly not believing me "You're joking" The massive blush worked its way from my neck to my ears "Tell me you're joking." I squeeze my eyes shut, covering my face "Oh my god… you're not joking."
At her sad tone my hands slam by my sides "Look at me Trudy! I'm six foot two, and a hundred and forty pounds." my hands flicker down my body "This is not exactly raking in the ladies okay?" her head tilts, a mix of emotions I couldn't place "What? If you're going to laugh do it."
"What?"
"I'm a thirty year old virgin, its pathetic I know."
"Oh don't get all whiney on me Spellman." my eyebrow lifts and she flips the door lock and closed the curtains.
"What are you doing?" I ask as she opens her belt, shuffling off her pants.
"Changing your perceptive on life." She crawls on my lap,
"But my legs don't work."
Her arms rest over my shoulders "I only need the thing between them. Does that still work?"
"Yes. but-"
Her finger moves to my lips "Norm, flying out here means something. Putting your life on the line for others, means something. Besides…" her fingers trail down my gown "Being stuck in bed all day does come with its perks."
I blush darkly "Are you saying its your turn for some med-bay loving?"
She grins "well that might be harder with my injuries and your legs lover."
My hands love down her legs "well, I might not be able use my legs for long, but my mouth works just fine."
Before she can respond a painful groan rips through the room "OH SHOOT ME FIRST AND THEN FUCK!"
Trudy laughs loudly as the curtain beside the bed slides open "And Wainfleets here."
"He was here the whole time?!" I slam my head on the bed, my blush darkening.
"He was supposed to be under sedation for a few more hours." she sighs but her smile wasn't missed.
"What can I say, this bodies too manly to sleep Chacon ."
"More like too stupid," she fires back.
It must have been marine humor because he grins "I've had worse from ex-girlfriends."
"Yeah, you look like you get your ass kicked a lot." her fist lifts, the two broken hands meeting in a soft punch.
"Exactly how much of that did your hear?"
"Well I could have done without the first part… but my mouth works just fine is golden!"
"OH MY GOD!"
He roars with laughter, coughing harshly "So, while the rest of us were fightin' for our lives out there, you two were bumpin' uglies in the med-bay!" he grins, looking just as beat up as Trudy. I take in the multiple sets of stitches going across his temple and neck "oh fuck laughing hurts!" his hand grabs his ribs "but damn tree hugger!" his eyes flicker to me "Leave it to the nerds to get freaky on ya!"
"Oh my god…" I groan, feeling Trudy's hand in my hair.
"I told you he was a sweet-talker."
(Sophia's POV)
My eyes take in the ceiling of the med room. The long heat source on my left told me I was with Manova.
Like she hears me her head slides into my view, yellow eyes holding mine. My arm lifts, sliding down her cue and hold the end tenderly.
"You had me worried little one."
I gasp, dropping the cue in shock. Manova shifts as well, clearly confused.
I grab the cue again "Say that again."
"You had me worried little one?" she tilts her head as my eyes widen "Can… can you hear me?"
"I… think so…?"
Those yellow eyes grow impossibly wide, probably matching mine.
"Can you hear me?" her head shakes slowly as I glance at my bandaged hand "It must have been the arrow-head."
I link us, rolling my shoulder experimentally. There was a bit of pain, like a deeper bruise.
"What time is it?"
Her paw lands on my chest "Are you seriously trying to play this off right now?"
"Manova-"
"You heard my thoughts! Without our connection!"
"I know!" I put my hand on my face "I just can't deal with this right now."
Before I can stop her she burrows into my thoughts and every thought and memories of the last eighteen hours poured into her mind. Her eyes widen again, fear, anger, rage, heartbreak flowing back.
"Oh child…." her face brushes against mine as the tears fall "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."
"You couldn't have helped me."
"If your father had not killed him I would have ripped that animal limb from limb."
"Isn't that insulting your own kind?"
She snorts, head bumping mine "To us, you are the animals child." My arm wraps around her neck as she huffs "Your mother is not worthy of a kit like you."
"I wasn't her choice."
"I didn't have one either and I treat you far better then her." her eyes flicker outside to the Navi puttering around home-tree "I will never understand your kinds capacity to hurt each other. We don't kill for… sport like you."
"I think we are smart enough to notice the problems but too dumb to really fix them."
"Well you are my kit now." my eyes find hers "You'll have nothing more worry about."
"What?"
She smiles softly "I will be your mother now." more tears spill down my cheeks as I'm flooded with overwhelming love and peace "I will love you in her place."
Read and Review, peace!
