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Chapter 22

Christine was shocked just how soundly Mike, Katie and Hannah all slept. She took Levi downstairs and began fixing breakfast, hoping Katie would call for her or even Mike to help her down the stairs. Finally, at almost ten am; she heard all three of them coming down the stairs with Mike guiding Katie down.

"Good morning. I have your breakfast ready." Christine said. Mike guided Katie to a chair and helped her settle at the table. Levi watched him with some interest from his high chair.

"He's grown so much. Is he walking?" Hannah asked, tickling Levi's belly.

"He's been walking along furniture but hasn't taken a step of his own yet. I think he was waiting on you all." Christine remarked.

"I want to eat breakfast and then get to know him." Mike said as he smiled down at Levi, who was much more interested in his scrambled eggs and his pretty sisters.

"Can I hold him too?" Katie asked. Christine helped her take her fork in hand.

"Of course." Christine answered. She had looked over towards Mike, and noticed the look of guilt that crossed his face when he looked at Katie.

"They called me. Katie's appointment is a week from today here in Saint Louis." Mike said.

"Good." Christine replied.

"I hope they can make me see again." Katie remarked. Christine noticed that Mike looked away and she didn't miss the tears in his eyes. He distracted himself with Levi, but the emotion was still there.

She suspected it had all caught up with Mike. He had spent the year running away, thinking both his daughters had died. He'd lost countless crew and a ship that he loved. Christine could only hope he would stay home for awhile, but there was a Navy to rebuild…again. She had been considering a divorce due to the way Mike had treated her, but could he really stand another loss? Maybe she needed to see how he handled things with Katie.

He was gentle and very tender with her. He was careful about touching her due to the sexual assaults she had endured. Katie seemed to trust him though, but then again; she had always adored Mike. Both girls were easily exhausted and by mid-morning; they had both fallen asleep in the living room; giving Mike some needed time with Levi. Christine found him upstairs in Levi's room, playing blocks with the little boy.

"His favorite thing to do." Christine remarked. She sat down on the floor with Levi and Mike and watched them for a moment.

"He's not very sure of me." Mike remarked.

"He'll get there. He just needs a bit of time." Christine said.

"Is that your way of asking how long I'm here?" Mike asked.

"No, although I do need to." Christine remarked.

"Christine…I can't leave the Navy yet." Mike answered.

"I thought…" Christine started but Mike left his hand up.

"I can't leave until Katie has her surgery and has recovered. It will be…extremely expensive. I have been able to pull vacation and leave to get by until after. Once that's done; I'll leave the Navy." Mike answered.

"That makes sense." Christine said, understanding the logic.

"Look; I know I messed up. I know you are done with me and I can't blame you. And I know…I need to make this up to Katie too, but I just need a bit more time. Its a big ask and I can't blame you if you say no." Mike said, his voice catching.

"How…were they found?" Christine asked.

"My away team found them. It was at the compound that was raided. When they were brought aboard the Michener, Sasha barely got to me ahead of them to let me know about Katie's eyes and their injuries. I got to them and Katie…as soon as I spoke to her, she kept touching my face, almost like she was scared it wasn't me. Hannah even kept telling her it was." Mike explained.

"It must have been terrible seeing them like that." Christine remarked.

"It was…they were so disheveled. So thin. Thankfully, Kara and Sasha got them cleaned up. I don't think either of them were quite prepared for it." Mike said.

"Or you?" Christine asked as she watched Levi crawl to Mike.

"I had prepared myself that they were gone. I was not prepared for them being alive and in the shape they were." Mike remarked. He picked Levi up and the baby cuddled up to Mike.

"We will get through it. Even if Katie's sight doesn't return; we will manage." Christine said.

"You know…that first night…I watched them sleep and I almost wished…she hadn't survived. Not because I wished her dead. Because…she is going to have to be so strong to overcome this. I have no doubt she will but I am not sure I am strong enough to watch her struggle." Mike admitted quietly.

"I wish I had been there." Christine remarked.

"I appreciate that, but no; you don't." Mike replied. Levi was almost asleep in his arms.

"Mike…I can't help anything that's happened. I wish I could and I am glad you are here. This family needs to be together right now." Christine said.

"I noticed you didn't say much when I said that about screwing up?" Mike remarked.

"Because…it hurt. You were mentally abusive to me and I'm unsure of how to come back from that." Christine admitted.

"I'm not sure either but…I am sorry and I do love you." Mike said.

"I love you too but…you hurt me, Mike. I am not okay. We need to evaluate this marriage once Katie is through this. We remarried and it was almost like you flipped a light switch immediately. I understand part of it was because of what happened in the Mediterranean and you having to go through a grieving process for Emma and even Lucas. But, damn it; I needed you too and you weren't here…and when you did call, I got nothing but insults. I honestly don't know what to do. I just hope Katie never finds out some of things you said about her." Christine said.

"So, there's no hope?" Mike asked.

"I never said that. We both need to evaluate why we got married. The first time, I was pregnant with Katie and the second, insurance? Housing?" Christine replied.

"It was much more than that…" Mike said.

"Possibly. We just need to focus on the girls right now and you need to get to know Levi. If things are meant to be, it'll work out, but we should stop forcing things. It only ever has catastrophic results for us." Christine said. She stood up and kissed Mike's forehead. Levi was sound asleep in Mike's arms. "Do you need me to take him while you stand up?" Christine asked. Mike nodded and Christine held the baby while Mike slowly stood up. She gave Levi back to Mike.

"Christine…I am sorry." Mike said.

"Sorry that you did it or sorry I'm calling you on it?" Christine asked before walking out of the room.

Christine knew…she would forgive Mike again. He was saying and doing the right things. It was just a question of how long he could maintain.