Getting Back on One's Feet

Posted on Mon Jun 19th, 2023 @ 5:33pm by Lieutenant Samaire MacBride-Reece [Lalor] & Skylah McBride [Lalor] & Staff Sergeant Liam "Swede" Reece [Reece]

Mission: Season 6: Episode 2: Survival
Location: Camp Cave, MacBride-Reece family tent
Timeline: MD 6 / 0800 hours
1327 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Liam opened his eyes and for the first time, he didn't feel any pain when he breathed. He took a few quiet, deep breaths, and found that while there was still a slight tickle if he took in too deep of a breath, he could breath normally again.

Looking over and down, he saw a sight that made him smile. His beautiful wife and partner, Samaire, was curled up against his left side, her head resting on his left shoulder. Leaning his head down, he gently kissed the top of her head.

"Mmphh," she mumbled as she slowly woke up. "Hey," she said, blinking blearily at him.

"There's my beautiful angel." He grinned happily as he looked at Samaire with complete love in his eyes.

"How are you feeling love?" Samaire asked him sleepily.

Liam smiled softly. "Better. My lungs don't hurt as bad anymore."

"Thats good. Do you think the doctors will clear you soon?"

"I hope so," he replied. "I'm starting to feel bad for not pulling my weight around here."

"I think you are over reacting to it." Samaire said softly. "Besides, Seraph thinks its great," she pointed to their pet who, as almost always, was curled up beside Liam.

Smiling as he looked over, Liam reached down and gave the feline a few gentle scritches. "What can I say? I've got raw animal magnetism." He chuckled softly as he turned back to look into his wife's eyes. "I love you all so much."

"We love you too." She smiled. "So once you are up on your feet, you can do snowball fights with Skylah and Hendor."

This made him smile even broader. "We all could. We could do boys against girls?" He chuckled as he finished speaking.

"Hmm you boys will cheat," she teased. Sitting up she pushed a hand through her hair. "I should get food for us."

"Cheat? We are men of honor my good woman! I am a Marine, and he is the son of a Marine...we don't cheat!" He paused a few beats as a grin grew across his face. "We just ensure we are more ready for battle than our enemies are" He then reached over and started to tickle his beautiful wife.

Samaire laughed and leaned down and kissed him. "When the doctors give you the all clear love, you and I are locking our cabin door for a while."

"Once we have a cabin door to lock again, I'm all yours, beloved." Liam smiled and returned Samaire's kiss with one of his own. "Now. Breakfast. I'll get the table set and Little Miss up and ready."

"Hmm ok." She stood up and grabbed her jacket. "Any specific order for breakfast?"

He shook his head. "Whatever you're having my love. Thank you." He got up and carefully stretched, then pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top. He then set about getting their small table set up. Once done, he moved to the other side of the tent, where Skylah was sleeping. "Skylah..." he said softly as he gently moved a few loose strands of hair out of her little face. "Time to wake up Little Miss." He placed his left hand on her back gently and shook her softly.

Skylah grumbled and pulled the covers over her head. "Nope," she said, her voice muffled. "No School, no waking up."

Liam grinned, then shook his little angel again. "Come on. You gotta wash up for breakfast."

The head that came out from under the blankets had dark rimmed eyes. "Sleep." she moaned. She was exhausted in the face.

Liam gave his daughter a soft, loving look. "I know you're tired, baby, but, we're going to have a little fun today. You, me, Samaire and Hendor are gonna have a snowball fight later, okay?"

"Hmmph. Didn't sleep well. Need more sleep.. please?" Skylah begged.

Reaching up to gently caress her tiny face, Liam nodded. "Of course, sweetheart. We can play later." He paused fir a beat, then asked, "Do you want to tell my about your dreams, honey?"

She shook her head and burrowed down. "Sorry..."

Liam leand down closer and gently consoled the small child. "Oh baby, no! You dont have to apologize!" He carefully scooped Skylah up out from under her covers and held her protectively against his chest. "Sweetheart, I will always keep you safe, no matter what." He adjusted how he was sitting so he could pull up her blankets over her back, using both thm and his own body to give her warmth and safety. as he held her, he started to slowly rock and quietly hum the tune of a lullaby that his mother would hum to him when he was little and scared.

Skylah was back to sleep almost immediately. The events of her past and the current situation was taking its toll. She was barely speaking except for family and Hendor and it was clear she was not sleeping well.

Though he knew that Skylah had fallen back to sleep, Liam didn't stop his gentle rocking or soft humming. He would do anything and everything for his little girl to feel safe.

As he continued caring for Skylah, Seraph walked over and hopped up onto Skylah's bed and curled up into a ball, laying next to Liam's right leg. The three of them were still there when Samaire returned with breakfast.

Samaire paused inside the door to their section with the food and frowned. "She ok?" she asked softly.

"She said she didn't sleep good," Liam replied softly as he continued to rock gently. "She asked to stay sleeping, then apologized!" The look on his face showed that his heart was breaking for the tiny angel in his arms.

Samaire sighed "She used to do that when we first got back. I am not sure why it has started again."

"I don't know," Liam replied softly. "But if I never see that look on her face again, it'll be too soon." Feeling that Skylah was truly and deeply out, he carefully rotated her back down onto her small bed. He did it so her blankets never left her body, holding in the warmth of both of them.

Once he was down, he gently moved some stray hair out of her face, then leaned down and gently kissed the top of her head. He then stood up, just standing there looking over her, like a protective statue.

"Come, eat. We can save her's easily enough," Samaire said softly. She touched his arm. "Seraph will watch over her."

When he felt Samaire's gentle touch, Liam looked over and nodded. Then, stealing one more look at Skylah, he followed his wife over to the other side of the tent. "It breaks my heart seeing either of you like that," he said quietly as he pulled Samaire into his arms.

Samaire nodded. "I am sure once we get back on the ship, she will feel better. " She hoped it was just their being planet side and the recent events that was affecting her niece. "Back to some normality."

Liam nodded in agreement. "I sure hope so, sweetheart." He shook his head sadly. "First what those aliens did, then your family's descendants, and now this? That little girl is one of the strongest people I know. To have all that happen, and she still has her innocence about life." He placed his forehead against Samaire's. "I sure hope I never let either of you down."

"You saved her life my Love You won't ever let us down. Now lets eat."

Liam felt a strong warmth in his chest when he heard his wife's words. Grinning softly, he replied. "Sounds like a great idea." He then gave her a quick, tender kiss, before releasing her and moving to their small table, moving it so she could sit where she wanted.

Samaire joined him and together they settled in to eat their breakfast.

OFF