Victoria's Challenge (13 page)

“You need to sit
so I can check your hands.” Victoria walks up to him her face blank. Saying nothing, he turns and sits.

Sitting across from
him, she reaches for his arm. “No cramping or pain?” she asks, carefully removing the bandages.

“No.
”

“Did you hit them
on anything?”

“No.”

Inspecting
them, she can find no new tears or bruising. They look good, the deep healing nearly complete. There wouldn’t be much more she needs to do for him, treatment wise, unless they started to cramp.

“They look good. Dr Magnes will need to verify, but you should be able to go back on light duty. No flying, not until your hand strength is built back up, a week or two I would think. Magnes should have some protective gloves you can wear. That way, you won’t have to be bandaged all the time. They’ll let your skin breath while keeping dirt and debris out.”

“You’re serious
? I can go back to work?” He’s shocked.

“As long as you’re careful
, I don’t see any problems. You’ll still need to do rehab. The keys are you’re best option for dexterity. I’ll see if Magnes has any strength balls. You can use them anytime. You know what it feels like it when the tendons get too tight, if that happens, let me know and I’ll give you a treatment.”

“No more treatments?”

“Not unless you feel you need one.” Serious eyes look at him. “Don’t let it get that far, not if you want back in a Blade.”

“Victoria…
” He looks from his hands to her. “I never thought it would be this soon.”

“You
didn’t fight the treatments and listened, mostly, makes a big difference. I’d like to wrap your hands, loosely, if that’s okay, it will keep the dirt out.”

“Yeah, sure.
” Watching her, Lucas is in shock. She’s gotten him healed in record time. He knows that. From talking to Dodge, he thought it’d be months.

“You’re good to go
. I’d like to wait until tomorrow to talk to Magnes, but otherwise…”

“Victoria…
” He waits until she looks at him. “Thank you.” Gently, he touches her bruised cheek.

“I owed you.
” She pulls away.

“No
!” God, could anything hurt as bad? When she stands, he sees her pale. “Damn it Victoria!” He catches her as she falls.

“Your hands!”
she protests.

“Are fine, you’re not.”

“I just need to sit down for a minute.”

“You need to lie down, come on
, let’s get you to bed.”

“The couch is fine.”

“No.” He’s putting her in his bed. Supporting her, he leads her across the room. When she stumbles, he scoops her up in his arms.

“Lucas, put me down.
” Her voice slurs from exhaustion. She doesn’t realize she’s called him by name.

He does
, and to hear it from her lips again, brings him to tears. “Shh.” He whispers hoarsely, laying her down as he works her boots off. “Sleep Victoria.” He slides her legs under the blankets as he pulls them up, tucking them around her. Watching her, Lucas can’t stop himself from leaning down, gently kissing her bruised cheek. She’d gotten that bruise because of him, because she hadn’t wanted to damage her hands.

Rising
, he secures the hatch, dims the lights and changes into his sleeping bottoms. Returning to bed, he slides in next to her, putting himself between her and the hatch. Propping himself up on an elbow, he indulges himself and just
looks
at her.

She is the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, even bruised and exhausted
. She’s eighteen… could that truly be? There will be talk. She’s half his age. Does he care? No. He’s just spent a moon cycle with her close but out of reach and this time, it was his own doing. He’s caused her to doubt him, his father and herself. All because of
his
fear. A fear that she was too young to know him as a man.

She’d proven him wrong
. Time and again. He hurt her and still she helped him. She’d been attacked and still tried to save Jager’s life, honestly upset when she couldn’t. His father had been right. He’d gone to the extreme in trying to stay away from her and in doing so,
he
was the one who didn’t know. Didn’t know her, what she’d had to go through to get to this point.
He’d
made them strangers. He’d correct that. He had too. He couldn’t live without her any longer. He wouldn’t.

Lying down
, he puts an arm around her waist and frowns. She’s too thin. She’s always been small, but this… carefully he scans her face and realizes her cheekbones are more pronounced, her eyes sunken. Resting his forehead against hers, he sighs. He needs to take better care of her.

“Lucas…
” She mutters in her sleep. “What’s wrong?” Green eyes, more asleep than awake, search his.

“
Shh… sleep baby. I’ve got you. I love you, Victoria.” Kissing her sleep softened lips he pulls her close.

“What?”

“Sleep.” With a sigh, she rests her head on his chest, wrapping an arm around his waist. Feeling her go lax, Lucas’ eyes fill. Here, in his arms, is everything he’s wanted for nine cycles. He is holding on tight, trusting her. Closing his eyes, he sleeps.

Waking slowly, Victoria’s slides her hand along the bed and frowns, since when does a bed move? What’s that sound? Opening her eyes, she discovers she’s lying across Lucas’ chest, her hand caressing his side. What’s going on? How had she gotten here? Better question, how did she get out?

“What’s wrong?
” Sleepy violet eyes look into hers as she lifts her head, arms tightening around her.

“I
… I need to get up.” She pushes against his chest then quickly removes her hand. Oh God, he doesn’t have a shirt on.

“You need to rest longer.
” He pulls her back down.

“I
want up.” Hearing the growing panic in her voice, Lucas’ grip instantly relaxes.

“Okay, wait.
” Sliding out of the bed, he raises the lights then holds out his hand.

‘
God, look at him.’ Is all she can think, he’s the most beautiful man she’s ever seen but he isn’t hers, ignoring his hand, she rolls out of bed.

“Victoria
…”

“I’m going to my quarters.
” He can sense her withdrawing from him.

“No you’re not
. It’s not safe yet.” He steps close, boxing her in. “When did you last eat?”

“What?”

“You’ve lost weight!” She hears the anger in his voice.

“Not your problem
,” she fires back.

“It so is
,” he informs her. “We’re going to go get something to eat, together, so I know you do.” Turning to his closet, he pulls on a shirt. When he whips off his bottoms, Victoria quickly turns her back. Damn! He has a fine ass.

“Victoria…”

“Look, Major, I don’t know…” It’s as far as she gets before she’s back in his arms.

“Do not start that
shit again!” Her eyes widen at the rage in his. “I know I’ve hurt you, but damn it Victoria, don’t shut me out! I can’t take it!” Pulling her up, he captures her lips for a hard kiss. “I’ve got a good grip and I’m trusting it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You… and me.”

“There is no you and me.”

“The fuck there isn’t!” He gives her a shake. “I know I’ve given you no reason to trust me but I’m asking, begging, you to give me a chance.”

“A chance to what?”

“To show you how much I love you.” He watches as pain fills her eyes, before they shut him out. Feeling her start to tremble, he swears. “Come on, you need to eat.” He drags her to the hatch.

“Stop
! I can’t go like this.” She gestures to her maintenance clothes. Running his eyes over her, he enjoys her compact curves but realizes he doesn’t want anyone else seeing them.

Spinning,
he pulls a shirt out of his closet. “Turn,” he orders then slides the button up shirt up her arms. “There.” Pulling the shirt together, he pulls her close. “You're mine, Victoria. I’m yours. Now you are going to eat if I have to shove it down your throat.”

Victoria’s eye
s narrow at his assumption that he can
make
her do anything. She isn’t a child, he isn’t her man, she can do as she pleases, just as he did.

“Don’t threaten me
,
Major
.” Victoria stresses the last word.

“That wasn’t a
threat
, Victoria. It was a promise and so help me, if you call me
Major
one more time...” He trails off as he finally takes a good look at her. She’s flushed and trembling and not with desire. Scrubbing a hand over his face he takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

Victoria
stares at him shocked. What’s gotten into him?

“Please, can we just go to first meal
? I need to know you’re eating, that you’re safe. When E Deck got hit yesterday...” He finds he can’t go, on his voice breaking.

“I wasn’t there
, Lucas.” She puts a reassuring hand on his arm, it’s quickly covered by his and her anger dissolves under the anguish in his eyes.

“I couldn’t be sure
. You didn’t answer when I called, weren’t here.”

“I’m fine.
” She tells him again, after several long seconds of his eyes searching hers as if he’s trying to convince himself she is, he nods then leads her from the room

Heads turn as they enter for first meal. When she hesitates, he puts a hand on her lower back, guiding her to the line. He frowns, watching what she takes.

“You need more than that.
” He criticizes.

“I’ll take what I want.
” Knowing she didn’t want a scene, he adds more to his tray for her. Looking for a place to sit, Lucas sees Dodge sitting alone.

“Over there.
” He nudges her towards Dodge.

“Dodge…
” Victoria sits down next to him, ignoring her food. “What’s wrong?”

“They kicked me out
.”

“What?”

“They said I wasn’t family and kicked me out.” Devastated eyes meet hers.

“Dodge, I’ll get you back in.”

“What’s going on?” Sitting across from Dodge, he looks at Victoria.

“Lorre.
” Tormented eyes turn to Lucas.

“What’s wrong with Lorre?
” He watches Victoria’s eyes go blank.

“She was hurt in the attack
,” Victoria tells him. “Dodge brought her into medical.”

“She has
n’t woken up yet, Tori. Why hasn’t she woken up?”

“I don’t know
. I’ll go check.”

“No!
” Lucas puts a hand on her arm. “You’ll eat first.”

“Look…”

“When did you last eat?” Lucas demands.

Dodge frowns and takes a good look at Tori.

“Tori, Lucas is right. Eat.”

Knowing she can’t fight both of them
, she sighs, picks up her spoon and eats. Dodge looks at Lucas as Tori eats, something’s changed here then he looks at his hands.

“
You’re feeding yourself.” His eyes shoot to Lucas.

“Yeah, Victoria says I’m ready for light duty.”

“What! In just over two weeks?” Stunned eyes fly to Tori.

“Light duty, no flying
. It’ll take a couple more weeks to build his hand strength back up,” she tells him.

“That’s great news man.”

“Yeah. So tell me about Lorre.” Lucas says, noticing Victoria’s slight pause before she resumes eating. While Dodge talks, Lucas moves some food from his tray to Victoria’s.

“Stop that.
” Her eyes flash to his.

“You need to eat more.
” Instead of answering, she rises.

“I’m going to head to medical,
to check on Lorre.” When Lucas grabs her arm she winces, he immediately releases her.

“
Victoria…” He’s talking to her back.

“What was that?
” Dodge demands.

“I don’t know
, but I’m going to find out.” Rising they follow her.

Reading the screen, Victoria frowns. Lorre’s internal injuries, while severe, have been efficiently treated. Her meds have been reduced. She should be waking up. Looking up, she checks her vitals everything is within range.

“Checking up on me?
” Magnes approaches the bed.

“Friend of a friend.
” Victoria replies. “Everything looks good.”

“Yeah, but she’s not waking up.”