Tina sat next to Craig's bed, watching over the four tiny bodies lined up along the wall before her. It had been an experience birthing these four bodies, these intelligent beings who would grow and become people, adults and hopefully loving, caring, responsible human beings.

"How did the pumping going?" Hana asked, her words coming to Tina's ears across the space.

"The weirdest thing I have ever done," Tina said, chuckling as she gently rubbed her thumb pad over the back of Craig's hand, "thanks for the bar fridge to keep it for them. There was quite a bit…" she shook her head, "have you ever had to do something like this before."

"No, but I heard something about the process," Hana said, grinning, "how is he?"

"He has a pulse, but he hasn't woken," Tina sighed, "Phoenix hasn't left his side."

"Where is Phoenix?" Hana asked.

Tina pointed to the other side of the bed, silently waiting while Hana moved around to follow her direction.

"Is he alive?" Hana asked.

"I'm guessing so," Tina said, "he said not to worry if it looked like he wasn't."

Nodding, Hana moved to check on Craig, adjusting his pillow and checking the drip running into his arm.

"Do you think the drip was necessary?" Tina asked, pointing at the bag attached to the IV line, "that's the third one you've given him."

"It's a mixture of electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and saline," Hana said, "everybody needs those things … I don't think it's a question of if it's necessary but if there is anything more we can do to help him recover and heal ... this would be it."

Tina sighed, "How bad is he?"

"He lost a lot of blood …" Hana started but was interrupted by Tina.

"I've heard all of that," Tina said, irritation running through her words, "how is he … really?"

Hana sighed, "Phoenix is worried, refuses to leave his side and is continuously talking to him."

"Yes, what does that mean?" Tina asked.

"I'm not sure," Hana said, "I've seen a few of their type struggle with recovery, but that was under some hectic circumstances. It'll become very concerning if they start gathering and chanting."

"I doubt that will happen," Phoenix said, rolling to his feet and stretching, "Craig is repairing well; something bad would have to happen to kill him off."

"That is good to hear," Hana said, straightening the covers, "does that mean you'll sleep in your own bed tonight?"

"That will happen when he wakens and not a minute before," Phoenix said, "besides, he's only been out for three days."

"Three days," Tina shook her head, "I would be perturbed if that were me …."

"I'm grateful it's not," a hoarse whisper came from the bed, and Craig's hand tightened around Tina's.

Tina gasped, "Craig," she whispered as tears gathered in her eyes, "you're back."

"Before you get all happy and huggy," Hana said, "let me check him over."

Tina nodded, moving to the side so Hana could reach where Craig lay. Waiting seemed an eternity before Hana nodded and indicated Tina could carry on.

Moving in next to the bed, Tina bent and kissed his cheek before laying her head on his shoulder, "I'm so glad you're back."

"I'm glad that I'm back," Craig murmured, before looking at Phoenix, "thank you, brother."

"That is what family is for," Phoenix smiled, "you'll feel a bit heavy while my Nano's finish their work, but the feeling will lighten as you regain more mobility."

Craig nodded sluggishly, "Thank you … for everything. Where is David?"

"Right here," David said, coming into the infirmary and giving Tina a sandwich and hot chocolate, "I went to get Tina something to eat before she needs to produce for the children again."

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"Produce?" Craig asked, a slight frown puckering between his eyes, "what is Tina producing?"

"Milk," David said, "at the moment, she is pumping out more than a cow could produce in a day."

Craig closed his eyes as his lips slowly curled into a grin, and a chuckle rumbled from his chest, "Graphic Dave … very graphic."

"Now that you're awake, I'm taking Phoenix for a shower," David said, "if we have him here another day without him cleaning up first, we won't be able to breathe."

Phoenix raised his hands in surrender before agreeing to go with David, "Brother," he gripped Craig's hand in his, "I'll be here after cleaning up and eating."

"I'll be here," Craig said, smiling, "you know I will."

Phoenix turns to David outside the infirmary, "What aren't you telling me?"

"Don't know what you talking about," David said, continuing around the corner, making Phoenix follow him, "besides, what exactly do you think is going on here? You do need a shower."

Sniffing the air around him, Phoenix grimaced, "Okay, you may be right about the shower," he said, tugging David to a stop, "something is going on other than me needing a shower."

"Remember that extraction we did … finding and bringing home Craig?" David asked.

Phoenix nodded but remained silent, waiting for David to continue.

"It turns out that there were others," David said, sighing, "outside of the fence captured by Michael's teams. Bre just found out Michael has them imprisoned somewhere …" he sighed again, propping his hands on his hips, "she is furious that information was withheld, but it seems we will have access to them to ask questions and gain information."

Phoenix frowned, "Ask questions and gain information. You mean … interrogate these people."

"I guess you can say that," David said, "why are you frowning?"

"These people are not ordinary criminals," Phoenix said, walking next to David again, "you don't just walk in and ask questions."

"Then how do you interrogate them?" David asked, curiosity stealing into his gaze, "You interest me."

"You don't ask anything," Phoenix said, narrowing his eyes, "I got it … you get them to gloat."

"About?" David asked, following Phoenix into his suite.

"What they can do better than us," Phoenix said, "that being said, help yourself to something to eat and drink but don't follow me into the bathroom."

David grinned as Phoenix closed the door on him. Wandering through his suite into the kitchen, he opened cupboards and the fridge to find cutlery and crockery; where food was concerned, there was nothing.

"How am I supposed to help myself to something to eat and drink when there is nothing here," David shook his head, "what does he eat?"

"Usually, his sister brings him something from the kitchens," a short, petite woman said from the doorway, "but she is in the tech room, so I'm dropping it off."

"Thanks, Jessica. I cannot believe he doesn't keep food in the place," David said, "and there is enough for two … does his sister usually eat with him?"

"Usually, but she ate earlier," Jessica said, "I have to get back to work, but I'll see you later in the training room."

David nodded as the woman disappeared. Why would he see her in the training room? Shaking his head in confusion, he pulled the containers of soup, sandwiches and two bottles of beer from the bag. How did she know there would be two of them?

"Where did you get that?" Phoenix asked as he came into the kitchen.

"Jessica dropped it off for your sister," David said, "why?"

"Really?" Phoenix asked, frowning, "My sister has been working for the past few days; I don't get to see her … never mind get food from her. How is Jessica?"

"She seems fine; she went back to work in the Tech room," David said, "think she made it?"

"No idea," Phoenix said, "never mind where it came from … let's eat while you tell me about this prison Michael has and where is it? I want to know everything you do."

"Which is not much," David sighed, "Bre is sending through information as she is finding out, and Valencia and Birgit are finding out as much as they can from Craig's recon data he sent through."

"How is Bre feeling about her behaviour toward Tina and Craig?" Phoenix asked.

"She apologised," David said, "but what I can make out now that she has had a sleep and rested …" he shook his head, "she's beating herself up at every turn. I have to make sure that she sticks to getting sleep every night…." David chuckled, "even if I have to tie her to the bed."

Phoenix glanced at David, "Sounds like you've had enough."

"I love her more than life," David said, sighing, "but she gets so focused on making sure everyone is safe that Bre forgets she's not a machine and needs to rest. I told Bre that since she can not be responsible for her wellbeing …" he shook his head, "I will be which means … she had a bedtime and a curfew."

"You're kidding me," Phoenix said, "you're treating her like a child."

"She's behaving like one," David said, "you want to know the scariest part?"

Phoenix stared at him, "Tell me."

"She agreed," David said, "didn't put up a fuss, simply caved and handed over the reins of her wellbeing to me."

"That is scary, but that also means trust," Phoenix said, his forehead creasing into a slight frown, "I've only seen her put herself out there once, and that was for Jesse. Bre must trust you to allow you to care for her that way."

David sighed, "She concerns me 'nix," sipping from his beer bottle, "I worry she won't have me to keep her on track one day … than what happens to her?"

Nodding, Phoenix sipped his beer, "That is one day … you're here now," he whispered, "make it count. Now … tell me about that prison."