Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "SPACE: Above and Beyond" are the creations of Glen Morgan and James Wong, Fox Broadcasting and Hard Eight Productions, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. Dylan Mackenzie belongs to me. Rating: NC-17

Chapter 3. Dill sat in the waiting room, her eyes fixed on the door to the operating theatre opposite. Her thoughts constantly drifted to the sight of Ty, pale and vulnerable, as they wheeled him into the theatre. She checked her watch. It had been four hours since the operation began; it was time for her to phone her mother and check on the children. With a sigh, she got up and headed outside the building, ensuring her phone wouldn't interfere with any of the medical equipment. After being told that 'yes, Dylan, the children all ate a good lunch' and 'No, Dylan, they are behaving themselves', she headed back inside, fetching a coffee from the machine on the way. As she was heading back to the waiting room, coffee in hand, she had to jump out of the way as a team of nurses rushed past, dragging a resuscitation trolley in their wake in response to a Code Blue alert. Thinking to herself that some poor soul was in trouble, her coffee hit the floor as she watched them burst through the doors into the room where her husband was. In a blind panic, she ran after them, her heart pounding. Grabbing a nurse who was leaving the room, she asked, "What's happening? Is he ok? Tell me, please!" "You're his family?" At Dill's nod, the nurse continued, "I'm sorry, I'm in a hurry. Sit down. Someone will come and speak to you in a moment." "Please?" Dill begged. "Tell me now what's going on?" "His heart stopped. We've restarted it, but the surgeon isn't happy. Look, sit down, grab a coffee, and someone will be out in a minute or two. I promise." With that, the nurse took off at a run. Dill sat in the waiting room for about 60 seconds before she jumped up and began pacing, her mind running over every horrific scenario that she could think of. By the time a nurse appeared, she was frantic with worry, convinced that Ty'd died, or that he'd suffered catastrophic brain damage. "Mrs. McQueen?" "Yes!" Dill practically yelled. "What's going on? Is he all right? Is he going to be ok?" She couldn't keep the fear from her voice, or the panic from her face. "Sit down," the nurse told her. "Dr. Ashbourne sent me out to let you know your husband is stable. Mr. Ashbourne will be out in a moment or two to speak to you himself. He says that you are not to worry. Now, if you'll excuse me." And that said, leaving Dill knowing no more than she had before, the nurse disappeared down the hallway at a run. Dill sat down to wait, her own heart racing as again her thoughts again drifted to the worst-case scenarios. ~~~~~~~~ Sometime later, her mother arrived with the children. "Dylan! Are you all right? I got a call asking me to come in now. Has Henry told you what's going on? How's TC?" "I don't know!" Dill wailed. "A nurse said he'd be out to talk to me, but that was over an hour ago! I'm so scared. What's gone wrong? Why did they call you now?" "Well, I imagine that Henry is ready for me to do the plastic surgery. That's good, Dylan. It means he's nearly finished. I'm sorry, but I had to bring the children. The sitter rang to say her car had broken down and she couldn't get in. They're all about ready for a nap, so why don't you take them down to TC's room and put them to sleep in his bed? Go on, and as soon as I can, I'll be along to let you know what's happened. I promise you, Dylan, I'll make sure they do the best they can for him. And remember, TC is a fighter. Look what he's gone through in his life. Now he has you and the children. He won't give up easily. He won't let go, Dylan. Go on, put the children to bed and try not to worry. I know it's hard, my darling, but you can do it if you try." Dill sighed, staring at the children. "Ok, mother, I'll see to the children. But promise me you'll look after Ty for me, please?" "Of course, Dylan. As if I'd do anything else." Moira looked up, worry on her face, as a light began to flash on the wall by the operating theatre door. "Dylan, take the children and go now!" she said forcefully, as once again nurses began rushing towards the door. Dill began to tremble, watching as people flew in and out of the door yelling to each other. "Mother, I need him! I just need to hold him." Her eyes were filled with tears. "Dylan! The children. Now!" Moira shook her. "Yes, mother," she answered meekly, gathering the children together and heading towards Ty's empty room. ~~~~~~~~~ By the time Moira had scrubbed up, the room was filled with people. She emerged from the scrub room to see Ashbourne leaning against a wall, watching the resuscitation team working on McQueen. "Henry! What the hell is going on?" she demanded. "Moira! Am I glad to see you! This man of yours is giving us no end of trouble. It turned out that the leg was more damaged that we knew, so I had to replace the whole leg. Fortunately I brought a whole one with me. You should have seen their faces at customs!" "Henry," she growled at him, "stop the wandering and spit it out, man!" "Sorry," he smiled. "Well, obviously we had to put him under all the way. Within minutes of deepening the anaesthesia, his blood pressure dropped quite dramatically. We stabilised him enough for me to finish getting the damn leg off, and his bloody heart stopped! Fortunately the team here is excellent, and got him going again, but his pressure is still low, and we don't know why." Ashbourne sighed. "I told them well beforehand that he's an invitro, so the drugs were all double checked - it can't be that. " "Are you sure, Henry? Did you check the drugs yourself? We can't lose him, Henry, we really can't." "Of course I checked the drugs. Just what kind of a surgeon do you think I am?" he exclaimed indignantly. "Sorry, Henry, but his heart's stopped again, hasn't it? Something's wrong. He's fit and disgustingly healthy, so why has his blood pressure dropped?" "I did think maybe the pain from removing the old leg, but we upped the anaesthesia, so it can't have been that. The new leg is attached now, that's why I had you called. But then off he went again!" "You upped the anaesthesia? Did you check that, Henry? Did you check it was safe for him?" she asked, still watching as the resuscitation team finally backed away from the table with smiles all round. "It looks like they've got him back, thank god!" Ashbourne paled as he admitted, "I didn't check all the bottles. I left that to Perkins, the anaesthesiologist. After all, that's his job." "Let's check now, Henry," Moira ordered, going to the head of the table. "Mr. Perkins, have you changed bottles?" "Yes, ma'am, when Dr. Ashbourne asked for a stronger mix. I added this bottle right here," he tapped the bottle farthest from Moira, "to the mix." Stepping around to the other side, Moira's face paled. "You didn't turn the bottle around to double check it, did you? Look at this. Do you see this bright red warning sticker? Do you know what it means? It means that this drug is not safe for invitros! No wonder his pressure dropped. And you're still making him breathe it. Change it! Do it now!" she demanded. Perkins hurriedly removed the offending bottle and grabbed another bottle, turning it rapidly in his hands to make sure it had no warning label before fixing it into place. "Good god, man!" Ashbourne yelled. "I told you to make sure that all the gas bottles were safe for us to use! This was your responsibility. You assured me you'd checked everything! Are you fit to continue here, or shall we call for a new anaesthesiologist?" He turned to Moira. "Shit, Moira, I could have killed him by not checking them all myself!" Moira placed her hand on Ashbourne's arm. "Henry, his pressure is rising," she told him, her gaze on the readout. "And his breathing is starting to even out. Thank god we found out now. How the hell do I explain this to my daughter? She's out there now, worried sick, terrified of losing him." She stared at the anaesthesiologist. "You have a lot of explaining to do, and I will ensure that disciplinary actions are taken. Now attend to your job while I finish up here and make this leg look presentable." Moira squeezed McQueen's hand, leaning over to whisper in his ear, "Everything's OK now, TC. You're going to be fine, I promise." She glanced over at Ashbourne. "Henry, stay here for me, please, and keep an eye on this chap. Make sure he doesn't cock anything else up!" "My pleasure," she heard, as Ashbourne settled himself at the head of the table. ~~~~~~~ Dill, however, was having problems of her own. "Come on, boys - I want you both to go to the toilet please, and then you're going to take a nap for me. Look, Izzy is already asleep there in the buggy. You boys can sleep in daddy's bed." "No, mummy!" Hamish told her. "Yes, Hamish. I think you do need to go - you're holding yourself. Please let's have no wet clothes today. Off you go." "Okay, mummy," he said, heaving an exaggerated sigh, and tugging at his shorts as he made his way into the bathroom. "What about you, Cameron - need a wee?" she asked. "No," he told her, yawning. "Come on then. Sandals off, and you can have a rest in daddy's bed. You can keep it warm for him." Dill lifted him up onto the bed, and after removing his shoes, tucked him in. "I'm not tired!" he complained. "Well, just lie there quietly then, because Hamish is a tired boy and he needs to sleep." "Yes, mummy," Cameron sighed, as Hamish returned, pulling up his shorts. "Did you wash your hands?" Dill asked him. "Yes," he told her, grinning. "I don't think so, little man - not if you're still pulling your shorts up. Come on, let's go wash them properly." Dill took his hand and led him back into the bathroom, smiling as she noticed Cameron snuggling down under the covers. When they came back, Cameron was asleep. Dill tucked Hamish up beside him and kissed them both, knowing that Hamish would be asleep in minutes. Throwing herself into the chair by the window, she sat and stared at her children, grateful that they all still slept in the afternoons. Dill sighed. Seeing the boys asleep in Ty's bed, looking so much like him, brought back all her worry and fear. What would she do if she lost him? She could hardly bear to think about it. She'd be devastated, as would the boys. And Isobel had hardly got to know him. Feeling the tears welling, she shook her head, telling herself that she mustn't think such things. But however hard she tried, the dark thoughts kept intruding, until finally, almost two hours after she'd settled the boys to sleep, there was a tap at the door. Jumping up, she flung the door open, making the nurse jump back in fright. "Sorry," Dill whispered, pointing to the sleeping children. "They'll be waking up any minute, but I'd like them to sleep as long as possible." "That's okay," the nurse smiled. "Dr. Mackenzie sent me to tell you that everything is fine. Your husband is stable. The new leg looks as if it's a perfect fit, and she's covering it. So that'll take about another hour. He should be back by about," she consulted her watch, "five o'clock. Perhaps you'd like to take the children out for a bit. He's going to be quite groggy when he gets back." "I'll need to take the children out for some food, but I can't bear not to be here if anything else happens," Dill told her. "Tell me, please, what happened earlier?" "Well, his blood pressure dropped, and his heart stopped. We managed to revive him and he's fine now. Nothing else is going to go wrong," the nurse assured her. "When you take the children out, stop at the nurses' station and let us know where you'll be." Dill frowned, as Isobel began to cry. "I'd better get her before she wakes up the boys." "Ok, but remember to stop in and tell us where you'll be!" Nodding, Dill went to pick up Isobel. "Shush, Izzy. Are you hungry, little one? Let's see to your stinky bottom before your brothers wake up, shall we?" She carried her daughter into the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later to found that the boys were awake too. "Ok boys, off for a wee, please," she told them. Both boys began to wail. "I don't need to!" "Mummy, no!" "Just go and try for me, please?" she asked them. "I don't need a wee!" Cameron yelled crossly. Hamish looked at his brother and then at the look on Dill's face. Without a word, he slipped off the bed, his small bare feet slapping on the floor as he headed to the bathroom. "Cameron McQueen, I asked you to go to the bathroom, please. You had better not have wee'd in daddy's bed or I will be very cross!" Dill told him sternly, as she put Isobel on the floor and rummaged in the buggy for a toy for her. "I didn't wee in the bed, and I don't need a wee!" he shouted at her, his sun brown face flushing red as his rage built. "Cameron, I'm going to count to three, and you'd better be getting out of that bed. One," she glared at him. "Two." He glared back at her. "Three! Now out!" Dill stood up and picked him up. "No, mummy!" he yelled. "Yes, young man. I asked you nicely, and I counted. Now into the bathroom with you!" Cameron flung himself onto the floor next to his sister and began to scream. Hamish peered round the bathroom door. "I did a wee, mummy," he said. "Good boy," she told him. "And when your brother is quite finished, we'll go and get you all something to eat." Hamish beamed at her and her heart skipped; his smile was so like his fathers. She held out her arms and he ran into them. " Oh, Hamish, I love you so much. I really do, and I wish your daddy was here to see you being such a good boy." All the while Cameron lay on the floor, his eyes tightly closed, as he flailed his limbs about and screamed. Dill picked up Isobel, and taking Hamish by the hand, led him out of the room, leaving the door ajar. "When you're quite finished, Cameron, and you're ready to behave, we'll be outside." she said as they left the room. Taking seats in the hallway, they waited for Cameron to calm down. Dill knew that once he no longer had an audience, he'd soon stop. "Mummy?" Hamish whispered. "Yes, my love?" "Cameron is a bad boy." "Oh, yes, he surely is." she laughed. "I'm a good boy," he whispered, snuggling up to her. "Yes, my darling, you surely are." Dill wrapped her free arm around him, holding him close. She smiled to herself - Ty had yet to witness one of Cameron's temper tantrums. The thought made her frown, as she prayed that he'd be around to witness the next one. And suddenly all her fears were back, and she barely noticed when Cameron appeared in the doorway. "Mummy," he whispered. "Oh, Cameron!" she sighed. "Look at you - you've wet yourself. Into that bathroom this instant, young man!" Dill rose, and with Hamish following at her heels, went back into the room. She sat Isobel on the floor. "Play nicely with Izzy for me while I see to Cameron." she asked Hamish, as she rummaged in her capacious buggy bag for spare clothing. When she emerged from the bathroom with a clean and changed Cameron, she found Hamish laughing as he fed Isobel the crumbs and fluff from the bottom of the buggy. "Oh, for goodness sake, Hamish!" she chided him. "Come on now - shoes on, everyone. Let's go get you guys some dinner." Dill strapped Isobel into the buggy, and with a brief stop at the nurse's station, they left, heading for the diner across the street from the clinic. An hour or so later, after yet another tantrum from Cameron because the diner didn't have any 'little fishes', Dill was about ready to scream, as they headed back to Ty's room in the clinic. Isobel was happily chuckling to herself in the buggy, clutching in her podgy hand a chocolate muffin, of which she took an occasional bite. Hamish was holding on to the buggy with one hand and eating his chocolate muffin with the other. Cameron had thrown his on the floor and stomped on it, and was now trailing behind, every so often telling Dill that she was a 'bad mummy' and that he was 'going to tell daddy on her'. Dill ignored him, just checking every so often that he was still following them. As they reached Ty's room she could see that the door was open and the nurses were just leaving. She sped up, desperate to see for herself that her husband was okay. "Mrs. McQueen - there you are," a nurse called. "We wondered where you'd gone. The operation went well, and he's fine. A little groggy, but fine." "He's awake?" Dill asked excitedly. "Oh, yes. Just don't expect to discuss the meaning of life with him for now!" the nurse laughed. Dill grinned, relieved that he was safe and sound. "Did everything go okay?" "Dr. Ashbourne is very happy. He says bed rest for three days, and then it's up and walking on the new leg. I wouldn't bring the children in for that, if I were you. In my experience, the air is usually blue the first few days!" the nurse told her. "Go on in. I'm sure he's dying to see you." "Thanks," Dill smiled, going into the room and parking Isobel's buggy by the window, temporarily forgetting about Cameron's bad mood. "Hey, Dill," came a hoarse whisper from the bed. "Oh, Ty!" she cried. "You had me so worried, my lover. How do you feel?" She looked him over carefully, unconvinced that he truly was fine. "I feel fine," he smiled. "I can feel the leg." "Does it hurt?" "No, it just feels…. kind of strange. Different from before." "Well, it's a whole new leg, my love. They had to replace the whole thing." Dill sat on the bed and hugged him tightly. "God, Ty, I'm so glad you're okay. You gave us all a really bad scare." "I know," he whispered, hugging her back. "The nurse here told me I'd had them all worried for a moment or two. Now where are those kids of mine?" "Which ones?" she asked. "Our babies, or the 58th?" "Our babies," he chuckled. "Why would I want to see the 58th?" "Well, they're the ones you usually call your kids." she grinned. "Am I supposed to be a mind reader now, too?" "Of course you are!" Ty laughed. He looked around the room and saw Hamish hiding in the doorway. "Hey, little guy. Coming up to see me?" With a grin, Hamish clambered up onto the bed, while Dill unstrapped Isobel and put her on the bed too. "Where's Cameron?" Ty asked. "He's been a monster all afternoon. I expect he's having another tantrum outside. I'll go get him." Dill sighed. "Cameron's been a bad boy," Hamish told him. "I've been a good boy." Dill poked her head around the door. "Cameron, come and say hi to daddy. He needs his boy." she called. There was no sign of her son in the hallway, and Dill's heart pounded in her chest. "Christ!" "What's the matter?" she heard Ty call. "Nothing!" she called back, as she hared off down the hallway looking for Cameron. Reaching the nurses' station, she stopped. "I've lost one of my boys. Have you seen him?" "What does he look like? We'll alert security." she was told. "He's about so high." Dill held her hand a couple of feet above the ground. "He has short, blonde, curly hair, big blue eyes, and he's wearing denim short overalls, a white short sleeved shirt, and brown, open sandals. Cameron - his name is Cameron." "The little one?" she was asked. "Yes, he's the little one. He was here a minute ago, and now he's gone…he never runs off, usually!" "I think I saw him a minute or two ago… going in that direction," a young nurse pointed. Dill ran, desperately looking in every open doorway, down every hallway, until all that was left was outside. On her way out, she ran into a security guard also looking for him. "Where were you before you lost him?" he asked her. "We'd just arrived back at my husband's room." she told him. "And where had you been?" "I took them for some food, at the diner across the street." A look of panic crossed Dill's face as she realised he hadn't been carrying Cashus. "My god, what if he's going back there? I think we left his doll behind!" She turned and ran. To her relief, he was standing on the kerb, waiting for the lights to change. "Cameron!" she called. The little boy turned, and she saw the tears streaming down his face. "I left Cashus behind!" he wailed. "Oh, my lover!" Dill hugged him to her. "You should have told me! You gave me such a fright." "I need Cashus!" he cried. "I know, baby. Let's go get him together, shall we? Then daddy is waiting to say hello to you." "Daddy?" Cameron asked, wiping his eyes. "Yes, daddy. He wanted a cuddle, but you weren't there," she told him, picking him up in her arms as they crossed the road to collect Cashus from the diner. On their way back, Dill alerted security to the fact that she'd found her young son. They headed back to McQueen's room, where she could hear Isobel crying and Hamish telling Ty that it was her bedtime. "Hey, Cameron," Ty smiled. "What's up, little guy?" "I left Cashus behind," Cameron told him, as Dill put him down on the bed. McQueen looked at Dill, eyebrows raised. "Don't ask. He was going back to the diner. I found him before he crossed the road, thank god." She sighed, picking up Isobel and flopping into the chair with the baby on her lap. "I think it's time I took these children home and put them to bed," she told him. "You need to get some rest, too. I'll see you in the morning, sweetie." Dill stood up and strapped Isobel into the buggy, before helping the boys down off the bed. "Dill?" Ty whispered. She turned to him, her exhaustion plain to see on her face. But as soon as she saw his pale face, tired and sleepy, she smiled, despite her tiredness. "Yes, my lover?" "Can I have a proper kiss and a hug before you go?" "Of course you can," she smiled. "I'm sorry that I have to go, but it's been a hell of a day. I just want to get these monsters bathed and into bed so I can collapse myself." "So what are you waiting for?" he smiled. "Come and give me my kiss, and you can go home and relax. I'm sorry if I scared you." "Oh, you!" she cried, sitting on the bed and snuggling into his arms as he kissed her, letting him feel her love for him as he held her close. When they came up for air, she sighed. "I really thought I was going to lose you today. You have no idea how happy I was to see you back in that bed." "If it was half as happy as I was to be back in it, then I know how you felt!" he chuckled. "You'd better go Dill. You're right. I am tired, and so is Izzy. Look." Isobel lay back in her buggy, thumb in mouth, her eyelids slowly drooping as she tried to stay awake. "Poor wee thing!" Dill laughed. "Come on then boys - last kisses for daddy and off we go!" By the time the boys had scrabbled over to Ty for a few farewell kisses, Isobel was sound asleep, and Ty himself was yawning, the effects of the sedatives still in his system. Dill tucked him in and herded up the boys, leaving her husband to sleep in peace. ~~~~~~~~~ Three days later Dill sat in the chair, having pushed it as far from the bed as possible and watched as Ty picked himself up again. "I'm telling you, it feels odd!" he fumed at the therapist helping him up. "What do you mean, it feels odd?" the woman asked. "I don't know. It just feels different than the other one!" he snapped. "Does it hurt?" the therapist asked. "No, it just feels…odd!" Ty glared at Dill, who was trying to hide a smile. "You can stop grinning, too!" "I am so glad the children are with mother. You're so grumpy. I can see where the boys get it from! Are you sure it doesn't hurt?" Dill smiled. "I told you, didn't I? I've been telling everyone for days. It doesn't bloody well hurt - it just feels…odd!" "Define odd," Dill asked him, as he gingerly stood upright and reached for the crutches the therapist was holding. He glared at her again. "I can't describe it. I can feel it, and it feels… odd." "You have to do better than that if you're going to be so grumpy, mister!" Dill laughed. "You sound like Hamish." "See if you can walk now," the therapist told him. "Take it easy though." "Okay, okay! I'm doing it!" Ty yelled, the frustration of the last hour in his voice. An hour in which he'd lost his balance more times than he cared to remember, and he hadn't yet managed a step with the crutches. McQueen rammed the crutches under his arms and leant his weight on them, smiling as he remained upright. "That's a good start," Dill offered. "Hmm," he frowned, before he began toppling towards her. "Shit!" Dill leapt up to grab him. "Don't worry, you'll get here. You'll soon be rushing around after the children on these things." "Yeah, when hell freezes over," Ty grumbled, as she sat him back on the bed. "Come on, let's try again," the therapist said brightly, ignoring the glare Ty gave her as she took the crutches away. Once again McQueen stood himself upright, and when he was balanced, reached for the crutches. Having firmly rammed them under his arms, he tried taking a step towards Dill. A small satisfied smile crossed his face as he managed to walk to her. "See, I knew you could do it!" Dill laughed, jumping up from her seat and hugging him. "Careful Dill!" he cried as he lost his balance again. She grabbed him tightly and helped him upright. "Sorry, my lover," she chuckled. "I got a little carried away there" "I think you're doing very well," the therapist told him with a smile. McQueen stared at her and shook his head. He turned to Dill and whispered, "Do you think she's retarded? All she does is stand there, grinning aimlessly." "Tyrus McQueen!" Dill exclaimed. He had the grace to blush. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I should think so too! " Dill told him sternly. "Come on now - do you think you can get back to the bed?" "Of course I can! You know, this leg feels really strange - I can feel the floor," he said, as he slowly made his way back to the bed. "Oh, we've moved up from odd to strange, have we?" Dill smiled. "I should hope you can feel the floor," Ashbourne said from the doorway. "That foot has sensors in the sole. You're supposed to be able to feel the floor. So how are you feeling? Up and about, I see." "Just about," McQueen frowned. "But this leg feels odd." "Back to odd," Dill laughed. "You'll get used to it. I expect it feels very different from the last one, yes?" Ashbourne smiled. "Hell, yes!" McQueen grinned. "This is easier to use. I don't have to think about it too much." "I told you, didn't I?" Ashbourne smiled. "You'll be fine on those crutches in a day or two, but you do need to use them for the next six weeks. And no trying without them until I say so." He looked at Dill. "I'm relying on you to make sure he does. Your mother says you know how to make him behave. Now then, let's take a look at this leg then, shall we? Hop up onto the bed for me, will you please?" McQueen leant the crutches on the bed and sat down, scooting backwards to support himself properly. "Ah, now then, I need to see it. Slip these charming pyjamas off for me, please," Ashbourne said. Dill jumped up to help her husband, ensuring that the pyjama top was pulled down as far as it would go. This caused both McQueen and Ashbourne to laugh. "Nothing like a woman to make sure your modesty is preserved!" Ashbourne chuckled. "Oh, it's not that. She's not bothered about my modesty," McQueen smirked. "She just doesn't want anyone else seeing more of me than necessary!" "Shut up, you!" Dill giggled, sitting next to him on the bed and giving him a gentle slap on the arm as Ashbourne lifted McQueen's leg, flexing the knee and feeling the connection. "Any pain?" Ashbourne asked. "None? Not at all?" as McQueen shook his head. "No, not that I've noticed. Unless you've been feeding me painkillers without telling me," McQueen told him. "Ah," Ashbourne smiled. "No, not been doing that." He continued to knead McQueen's leg, feeling around the join. "Well, I'm pleased to say this leg appears a perfect match for you. There seems to be no sign of rejection. We'd know by now. And accidents aside, it should last you the rest of your life. Now up you get - let's see you on those crutches." Hopping down off the bed and grabbing the crutches, McQueen fairly flew across the room and back, his confidence increasing with each step. "Good, man. We'll have you home tomorrow, I think." Ashbourne looked sternly at Dill. "But, ah, no… umm 'activities', shall we say, for the next week. That leg needs to be broken in gently." At her blush, he laughed. "Well, I suppose if you took control that would be alright. But he stays flat on his back, understand?" At her red-faced nod, Ashbourne grabbed the therapist by the arm and led her out of the room. "Oh my god!" Dill laughed. "I can't believe he just said that!" "Well, at least we can," McQueen grinned, as he walked across the room again, "providing you do all the work for once!" "Get back here, flyboy, and get your pants on!" she laughed. "I do my fair share, mister. I've not heard you complaining." With a chuckle, Ty made his way back to her, and with her, help pulled his pyjamas back on. "You know, these red ones are even worse than the navy ones," he told her. "I can't believe I'm actually wearing them." He shuddered. "Hamish will be pleased. He's been so good these last few days, but Cameron has played me up merry hell. Nothing but tantrums from the moment he wakes up to the minute he goes to bed. I'm sure he's stressed about you being in here, it'll be good to get you home. I just wish we were going home, not staying here." Dill sighed. "I really miss the loch." Ty leant in to kiss her. "Tomorrow he said, didn't he? But how do you feel about doing some work now?" "Ty!" she laughed. "No way, mister. You can just jolly well wait until tomorrow." "Damn you, woman," he moaned as he took her in his arms and kissed her again. "Oh, give over," she sighed, surrendering herself to his kiss. "God, how I love you Dill." Ty growled softly. "And I love you, too," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him longingly. "When I get you home, I'll do all the work you like." "Promise?" "Oh yes, flyboy, that's a promise," Dill whispered huskily. There was a tap on the door, and a youngish, dark haired man appeared, dressed in a suit and holding out a business card to McQueen. "Colonel McQueen?" he asked. "Yes?" McQueen frowned. The card said Aerotech. "I'm here about your leg. The name's Bob Dwyer." He held out his hand, withdrawing it when it became obvious that neither was going to shake it. In fact, the temperature appeared to have dropped several degrees. "What about my leg?" McQueen asked warily. "You damaged it, didn't you? I'm here to organise repairs." Dwyer told them, looking suspiciously at McQueen's legs. "I don't need repairs from you," McQueen told him firmly. "Apparently not. We must have been mis-informed. I was told you'd lost a foot." "I did, but I have a new leg now. One that doesn't belong to you," McQueen growled, glaring at him. "Did you request permission to remove the Aerotech leg?" Dwyer demanded, determined not to be intimidated by McQueen. "What?" Dill yelled, astonished at such a question. "What the hell did you expect him to do? Call up Aerotech and ask if it's okay to get his leg smashed up by a cargo container?" She moved to get off the bed, but McQueen's hand pressed firmly on her thigh restrained her. "Why would I need your permission to remove my leg?" McQueen asked calmly. Dill's yelling had brought a nurse to the door. "Can I help?" she asked. "Yes, can you get Dr. Ashbourne back here, please?" Dill asked her, breathing deeply, trying not to lose her temper. "Ashbourne? You have an Ashbourne leg?" Dwyer asked. "Yes, I do. What of it?" McQueen growled, conscious that Dill was getting worked up and determined not to himself. "It's totally incompatible with Aerotech technology; it'll give you endless problems," Dwyer told him with a smug smile. "No, it won't," came Ashbourne's voice from the doorway. The nurse had taken one look at Dill's face and decided she'd better get him there as fast as humanly possible. "There's no Aerotech substandard technology left on his knee. I removed it all. And before you ask me, no, I didn't ask Aerotech's permission. But you can have the remains of the leg back. It might be useful for spares, though personally, I'd scrap it." Dwyer stared at him, a look of hatred on his face. "It is Aerotech policy that permission must be granted before the removal of any Aerotech limbs." "Why?" Ashbourne asked. "So that you can send one of your pet surgeons over to ensure no-one realises just how sub standard these limbs are?" "You have no right to say that!" Dwyer exploded. Ashbourne pointed at McQueen. "And I assume he has no rights regarding his leg?" he demanded angrily. "He's a tank! As much Aerotech's product as that damned leg we were forced to give him!" Dwyer spat. Dill was off the bed like a shot. McQueen grabbed her and pulled her back. "No, Dill. Let it go." He turned to Dwyer. "I served my indenture. I did my time. You people got back the money it cost you to make me. I don't belong to Aerotech, or to anyone. I'm my own man, and the only people I answer to are my family and the corps. I don't owe you anything. The corps paid you handsomely for my leg. Therefore it was my leg, and I don't have to ask your permission to replace it with something better!" "We'll see about that!" Dwyer fumed. "Yes, we will," Ashbourne told him coldly. "And you'll deal with my lawyers, not Colonel McQueen. As his surgeon, your gripe is with me. I removed the leg. All aspects of his surgery, no matter how small, will be done through my lawyers. You people don't scare me, and I'll be fighting you every step of the way, revealing all those nasty little secrets you hide in the darkest corners you can find! I did it before, and I'll do it again! Now get out of this clinic, and don't show your face again unless you are expressly invited by me!" As Dwyer left fuming, Ashbourne turned to McQueen. "Don't worry about a thing. If you'll pardon the pun, they don't have a leg to stand on! Good grief. To say that you're their product! Of all the damned cheek! How dare they!" he said angrily. "Well, I am an invitro. I was made by them, so I guess technically he's right," McQueen sighed. "Oh no, you don't!" Ashbourne told him. "You are no more a product than the rest of us. Good grief man - look in the mirror. What do you see? A sell-by date? Did you come with an extended warranty? No? Well, neither does anyone else. We are all the products of our parents, natural born or invitro. My lawyers are going to enjoy themselves with this one. I'm so glad I had my micro-recorder in my pocket! Let's see him weasel his way out of that remark." He left them alone as, still muttering to himself, he disappeared down the hallway. Dill turned to McQueen. "Oh god, Ty," she wailed, "that's all we need - Aerotech poking about. What if they see Hamish?" "Are you still worrying over that? Don't. It's probably nothing. Look at your father - he's huge, and Hamish takes after him, I'm sure." He hugged her close. "Don't lose it now, Dill. I need you too much. I need you to help me through this." At Dill's startled look, he smiled. "Oh, not this crap with Aerotech. But my leg. I need you to help me, to make sure I do as I'm told. I don't want to risk damaging it, and you know what I'm like. I need my bossy wife to keep me under control!" "I'm okay," she smiled. "I just wish those buggers hadn't turned up." "Well, once I leave here tomorrow they won't know where we are, will they? And we can start looking for that house you want. I'll be able to help you pick one." "I hadn't thought of that. Oh, you're such a clever boy!" she chuckled, kissing him. "I try," he laughed, pulling her down onto the bed. "Oh no, mister - I know your tricks!" she giggled. "None of that!" "Please, Dill," he pleaded in a low, sexy voice, gently stroking her back under her shirt. "Don't give me that voice and those sheep eyes!" she giggled, wriggling in his arms. "But Dill - I neeeeeed you" he whispered into her ear. "Feel how much." "You take the cake - you really do!" Dill giggled. "Let me up this instant!" With a sigh, he let go of her, pouting as she climbed off the bed. "It's these pyjamas, isn't it? Passion killers, that's what they are!" "Oh, stop being such a baby!" she chuckled as she walked to the door. Locking it, she returned to the bed and lay down next to him, her fingers reaching to undo the buttons of his top. Ty sighed contentedly as she pushed him flat on his back, her tongue licking at the scars on his chest as she moved slowly towards his nipples. Lavishing attention on them until they were hard under her tongue, she began to suckle them, occasionally giving them small gentle nips as he groaned beneath her. "Oh, Dill," he mumbled again, as her hands began to stroke his body never going below his waistband. "Lower, Dill, please," he begged. Laughing softly, she continued her assault on his nipples until his hips began to grind upwards. "No, no, Ty. You have to lay still, or I'll stop," she warned him. Slowly she began to lick her way down his body, each tiny lick being followed by a kiss, until finally she began to lick under his waistband with her tongue. Dill smiled as Ty's erection forced its way through the fly of his pyjamas. "You look happy to see me," she whispered, her hot breath on him making him groan loudly. "Stop teasing me," he moaned as she pinned his hips to the bed with her hands. "What do you want, flyboy?" she asked him, looking into his eyes, now a deep, dark blue and filled with desire. "I want you to suck me, Dill. Please. Take me into your mouth and suck me, all of me. Deep throat me Dill, please!" he gasped, as she gently licked the tip of his penis. "Oh god, please, Dill… suck me." With a chuckle she obliged, sucking him long and hard, giggling as he tried desperately to lift his hips and fuck her mouth. "Dill… please!" Ty begged. "If you giggle like that again, I'll come." "No you won't, flyboy. I won't let you," she mumbled, continuing to suck him hard, her teeth gently scraping at his sensitive flesh as she lifted her head to look at him. "Dill," he moaned. "I'm coming!" Dill stopped, and began to gently stroke his stomach and chest until he'd calmed down and his breathing was regular. "Not yet, flyboy. Maybe next time, if you're a good boy and stop trying to move," she whispered into his soft blond pubic hair before her tongue again began to lick at his length. "Please, Dill - do it," he groaned. "I promise I won't move, but please suck me. Suck me now. I think I might actually burst in a minute." With a giggle, she sucked him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around him and sucking hard on the sensitive tip. She fucked his slit with her tongue, causing him to cry out when she stopped. "Please, Dill, don't stop! Oh god, Dill… please!" "That's want I want to hear. Beg for it, Ty. You know you want it," she grinned wickedly. "Suck me, Dill. Use your pokey finger… I want your pokey finger. Please, Dill. Fuck me and suck me, please," Ty begged her. "Good boy," she smiled, sucking on her finger. As she slipped her hand between the firm, well muscled cheeks of his behind, her mouth descended once again on his by now twitching cock, making him buck upwards as he felt her finger slip inside him. "No moving!" she told him. "Sorry," he groaned. "I couldn't help it - you hit the spot first time with that finger. How do you do it?" "It's a homing finger," she chuckled, gently stroking his prostate. "It knows just where to go." "Oh, yes," he sighed, as she stroked him in time with each suck on his rigid cock, until he could barely speak and his breathing was fast and shallow. "No!" he cried, as once again she stopped, this time just long enough to remove her shorts and underwear, before climbing on top of him and sliding down his length. "Oh, yeah," Ty groaned, clutching at the sheets as Dill began to move up and down on him. His overwhelming urge was to flip her over and pound himself inside her, but he knew if he did that, this would be the last time they made love - probably until his next leave. Instead, he held her in place, supporting her as she rode him to orgasm, his hips thrusting upwards beyond his control as he came, followed swiftly by her own orgasm. Dill collapsed on top of him, her breathing fast and ragged. "Jeez, Ty - this being in control business sure is hard work!" she gasped. He chuckled. "It sure is, but what's with the bossiness? I never had you down as a dominatrix!" "Oh, stop it!" Dill giggled, rolling off him and searching for her underwear. "I mean it," Ty grinned. "All this 'let me hear you beg' stuff?" "And you did!" she giggled, slipping into her shorts. "Of course I did. You had me so worked up, how could I not?" he laughed. "Am I going to have to buy you a sexy black leather outfit for your birthday?" he teased. "Just some cuffs and a whip will suffice!" she grinned, poking her tongue out at him. "Yes, mistress," he laughed. "Hey, you know far too much about this for my liking!" Dill cried. "Done it before, have you?" "That's for me to know…." "And me to find out!" she laughed. "You're a dark horse, Tyrus McQueen - you truly are!" "Me? No - what you see is what you get," he laughed. Her eyes widened. "That is so not true! Even after five years, I still don't know everything about you that I'd like to." "It works both ways," he told her, sitting up and doing up his pyjamas as she went to unlock the door. "There's still plenty about you I don't know." "That I doubt," she smiled, coming to cuddle with him. "I've always shown you the real me - whole and complete. " "Are you saying I put on a front for you?" he asked, puzzled. "No, I know you don't. You let go and relax with me and the children. And I love seeing you do it. But you never tell me anything about you - about your life - other than as a marine. I know it's painful for you, but then it creeps out a tiny bit at a time, generally causing us grief. Wouldn't it be better just to let it all out? Do you think I might not love you if I found out just where you've been… what you've done, or had done to you?" Dill looked up at him, her eyes shining brightly with her love. "I can't, Dill," Ty sighed. "I can't talk about it; it's too hard. One day, maybe, but not yet. I've been locking it away for twenty-five years, and that's a hard habit to break. I'm sorry, Dill." "It's okay," she smiled. "One day we'll get there, I'm sure. But I'll love you no matter what your history is, Ty. I swear." "I know that, Dill. That's why I love you. Can I keep you forever and for always?" "Just try getting rid of me, mister!" she laughed. "I never want to lose you, Dill. I'd never do anything to risk that. Not ever." Ty whispered, kissing her softly and holding her tight. She looked up at him. "Where did that come from?" "A few days ago I talked with your mother. She told me a few things I'd been too blind to see for myself. I've had the time to think long and hard about what she said, and I want you to know, no matter how far away I am, or how long we're apart, I made a commitment to you when we married, and I'd never do anything to damage that. Yes, I get approached by women, but my kids usually intercept most of them," he smiled. "They think I don't know. They look out for me, Dill, but I'd never look at another woman. Why should I? I have you; you're the only woman I want." "What about men?" she teased. "Do you want other men instead?" McQueen frowned at her. "I was forced to have, and be had, by men when I was in the mines. I don't want men, Dill. I much prefer women. You in particular. You're all I need." "Oh, Ty," she sighed. "I know that was a hard thing for you to say." "But true," he smiled. "What have you done to me, Dill? Before I met you, I could never have talked about stuff like this. I didn't understand it. I couldn't cope with it. I didn't know how to, but you seem to have made me do it without me realising." "It wasn't me. Blame those kids of yours. You were learning about real love from them before I came along. I have a lot to thank them for. I'm sure if you hadn't begun to understand about caring for people, you would never have flirted with me." Dill looked up at him. "In that strange, confrontational way that you did." "Do you want the truth?" Ty asked her. "Always." "I fell in love with you when I saw you hunched up on your bed, looking terrified. It looked like you thought I was going to hit you. But that feeling… it scared me. I was trying to scare you off, make you think I was angry with you, so you'd stop smiling that smile at me. That one that makes my heart leap," Ty told her. Dill smiled at him, confused. "But… you knocked on my door. You took the next step." "The step that bound us together for always," he grinned. "You want the truth about that too?" She wriggled in his arms. "Don't let me stop this honesty kick you're on. Go with it, Ty." "'Phousse," he told her. "I was in the Tun, at the bar, and she asked me if I was okay, as I looked a little down. Hawkes said something along the lines of 'you should see him when we have to see Dylan'. She gave me this long hard stare, and then shook her head and went off with Hawkes, but came back to tell me to go for it." Ty chuckled. "I told her I had no idea what she was talking about…" "In your best 'I'm your CO' voice, I bet!" Dill laughed. "That's the one," he smiled. "But she smiled at me and simply said, 'yes, you do colonel' and walked away. She was right of course; I knew exactly what she meant. I sat there for another hour before I plucked up the courage. I swear my knees were shaking when I knocked on your door." "You did look a bit nervous," Dill chuckled. "I was terrified. You frightened the life out of me most of the time, so stiff and formal. I was attracted to you almost from the start. I remember walking - no, running, because you walked so fast - along behind you, looking at your neck and thinking how lovely it was. The desire to kiss it was overwhelming. That first session was the worst… rolling up the leg on your flight suit, the feel of your foot in my hands, the hairs on your leg." She shivered. "I can still feel it, even now. It really turned me on." "I know," he grinned. "It was written all over your face." "That's why you did the wheelbarrow," she said, realisation dawning. "You swine!" "I had such a hard on when I did that, I'm surprised you didn't feel it!" Ty laughed. "I was trying so hard not to let the fact that you were so close get to me, that I doubt I would have felt a chig attack!" Dill laughed. "Mind you, by that time I was in such a state, you could have made love to me there and then." "I'm glad I waited," her husband whispered. "You surprised the hell out of me though. I'd convinced myself that you'd never slept with anyone before - that I'd be your first." "Instead you found I was a slut who knew her way around a man's body pretty well!" "I have never thought you a slut, Dill! I mean, come on - you weren't my first, but you never called me anything like that," he said reasonably. "It's different for men though. It's okay to have a history...." "I certainly have one of those!" Ty laughed. "You know what I mean!" Dill scolded him, slapping his chest. "I do," he smiled. "I'm glad it wasn't your first time. It just surprised me a little when you whipped my pants off so quickly." "Well, as I recall, we didn't even get to finish our first drinks before you were on top of me!" she giggled. "I know," he grinned. "I couldn't help myself. I needed you so badly. But I was terrified you'd push me away - not want me like I wanted you." "There was never any danger of that!" Dill laughed. "But I didn't know that then, did I? I know it now. I know you're damned insatiable, and you only want me for my body," Ty teased. "What can you expect; it's such a damn fine and sexy body," his wife chuckled. There was a tap at the door, and a nurse popped her head around. "Mrs. McQueen? There's a call for you, from Dr. Mackenzie." "Damn," Dill sighed. "Okay. Thank you - I'm on my way." She got up from the bed and headed for the nurses station, returning a few minutes later looking rather weary. "Sorry, my lover, but I have to go. Cameron is playing mother up, far worse than usual. This time he's throwing his food around. It's times like this when I wish I believed in smacking them." "You don't smack them?" Ty asked her, puzzled. "No, of course not. They're babies," she told him. "But if they need it, why not? Everyone needs discipline." "True, but you can discipline them without smacking. I have smacked for dangerous things, like the time Hamish poked his fingers in a plug socket, and he needed to know straightaway that it was a bad thing to do. But just for tempers? Definitely not. Time out works best with Cameron. No audience, you see?" "How the hell did he get to a socket? You have those damn cover things I could never get off!" "I left one uncovered, so really it was my fault. I could have killed our baby, and as it was, I had to smack his hand. I felt awful for days. But he's never done it since." Dill kissed him, her hand rubbing his groin. "I have to go. I'll be back to collect you tomorrow. Mother says she'll come in to see you later, if you'd like." "Tell her thank you. I'd like that." With a final kiss, she left him, and he lay down thinking about how good it would be being home with his family. ~~~~~~~~~ The following day Ty arrived home to a hero's welcome. The boys ran out of the door and across the lawn, wrapping themselves around his legs, before Moira reminded them about his new leg. Standing back, they both proudly showed him the welcome home cards they'd made for him. Though a bit disappointed that he was unable to pick them up, or hold their hands, they nevertheless led the way round the house to the patio at the back, where Isobel sat happily digging in the sand tray, her face splitting into a wide grin as she saw him. Moira came through the backdoor, a tray of drinks in her hands, as Dill arrived, having deposited his bag indoors and now determined to ensure he sat down and rested. Ty allowed himself to be settled in a large and comfortable recliner, handed a drink, which to his disgust was non-alcoholic, and generally fussed over, happy to be back in the loving bosom of his family, content in the knowledge that tonight he would be sleeping in his own bed, cuddled with his wife, and waking to find his sons no doubt jumping up and down on the bed. ~~~~~~~~~ Previous : Part Two Next : Part Four Geek © 2005