Amelia gestured for Zac to follow her to the room where Laila was resting.
He paused in the doorway; stunned at how small she looked lying on the bed, her dark hair spread out around her. The room was brightly lit, with the same chemical smell all medical facilities had. After spending so long in recovery himself, he was all too familiar with the environment.
He approached the bed and looked down at the woman he loved, so still and pale against the white sheets. He took her small pale hand in his large golden one, the contrast between them apparent.
She was no longer hooked up to wires and tubes, but was lying underneath a Taurean medical monitor. They had moved the device next to the bed where it was positioned over her, like the top half of a cylinder. Earlier versions of the device were large and bulky, the patient needing to lie inside a coffin-like tube, but recent advances in technology had reduced the size of the unit and made it less invasive, with better outcomes for the patient.
He knew this because he had been one of the first test subjects. Enhanced medical monitoring wasn't its only function; it aided in the healing of wounds, which was why the medical bay on the Starship Zataras was equipped with the technology; when you went into battle, you needed to be prepared.
“Quite the mission, I hear,” Amelia said as she checked the monitor.
“I suppose you could say that,” Zac said as he pulled up a chair to sit next to Laila’s bed, watching her sleep.
“Let me know if you need anything, alright?”
Zac nodded, not taking his eyes from Laila's face, peaceful in sleep. He reached over and pushed a stray lock of hair back from her face, leaning over to brush a kiss against her forehead. Her scent filled his nostrils, and he breathed deeply, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. She was going to be all right, but he would stay here until she was.
He knew by now that she was heading back to Earth when she was physically able. The news hadn’t been unexpected, just sooner than he thought. He had to respect her position—she got orders, and she followed them. There wasn’t much either of them could do about it.
He thought back to their first meeting, the way she had spoken to him. Laila's directness and openness were unlike anything he had ever experienced before. She had accepted him with no hesitation. The first time she had seen his scars, she had been curious, not appalled like so many others, nor did she try to pretend they didn’t exist.
He ran a hand over his face. How could he make it up to her?
She had shown him what it meant to be accepted for who he was as an individual, and it had nothing to do with his rank, family, or how he looked. He watched as her chest rose and fell under the blankets; her face still and quiet.
She had done nothing but impress him with the way she had approached her mission. Her goals and her dreams were things Zac refused to try to take away from her, even if it meant they could be not together.
She and the team had shown great courage and skill in all the tests he had set for them, and in the mission that had almost cost Laila her life. They had more than proven themselves worthy of joining forces with the Taureans against the Xakul. He had to give a final report on the humans to the Supreme Commander, Karik Za’Rell, in the coming days and he would have nothing but praise for them.
He sighed, dropping his head onto his folded arms on the bed. He must have fallen asleep again because the next thing he knew, Laila was thrashing from side to side.
“Zac...?” she cried out, her eyes screwed shut and her body rigid.
“I'm here, Iriska. I'm here. You're safe,” he whispered, taking her hand in his and gently brushing her hair back from her forehead. She stilled and smiled softly, turning her face into his hand and snuggling into the blankets.
“Sleep.” Zac stroked her hair gently, and she closed her eyes.
“I’ve never asked before. What does that word mean? Iriska?” She mumbled.
He chuckled, relieved that she sounded like herself. “It means precious heart.”
“Oh. That's sweet.” Laila drifted back into unconsciousness, a small smile dancing across her lips.
Zac breathed easier now that he was certain she would be ok. He settled back to rest his head on the bed next to her, sleep taking him easily.
He woke with a start as CJ shook his shoulder.
“Commander? You should get something to eat and... maybe take a shower?” She wrinkled her nose at him as he looked from Laila, asleep in the bed, back to CJ. “You look like hell! I'll stay here in case she wakes, but….”
Zac looked down at his stained uniform, realizing CJ was right. “I won't be long.”
A quick trip to shower, change his clothes, and grab something to eat, and he was back at Laila's bedside, CJ sitting right where he had left her.
“Any change?”
“It's been close to 18 hours now. She's about halfway through the healing cycle. She's progressing well.” CJ gave him a small smile and left him alone with Laila.
Zac settled into the chair by Laila's bed, pulling out his tablet to write his final report to Taurean Command.
“You did well, Iriska,” he whispered, patting her hand. “I didn't understand, not really, but I do now. We're the same, you and me. We're fighters, warriors. Now heal up and come back to me.”
