Victoria's Challenge (27 page)

“Okay.
” Turning Victoria quickly scans him trying to ignore the pronounced bones showing on his back.

“You’re clean, head for the door
. Lucas! Here comes dad.”

“Okay
. Finish and get out there, you’ve been in too long.”

“Yeah I know.
” Turning, she gathers up her supplies, strips down and scans. Coming up clean, she heads for the door. Stepping through to find Lucas waiting. Reaching for a towel, she quickly dries.

“How are they doing?”

“Stunned and exhausted.” Picking up another towel, Lucas starts on her hair.

“I’m not surprised
. Fuck Lucas, they’re barely alive, I don’t know how they’re standing.”

“We’ll fix that
. How are you?” He tips her face up, seeing the pain in her eyes. “It’s going to be okay.” He pulls her into his arms.

Laying her head against his
chest, she lets herself relax for a moment, drawing on his strength. “I need to download these scans so the computer can calculate the proper nutrition supplements they need.” She steps away.

“I’ll do that while you dress, don’t be long.
” Touching her cheek, he limps away. Pulling on her clothes, she quickly follows.

Lucas is at the communications console when Victoria enters the living quarters, her family looking like lost refugees huddled together on a couch. Had she and Aunt Cassie looked like that when they’d first arrived on the Retribution?

“Let’s get you guys something to eat.
” Stepping into the galley, she comes back with a tray of large cups. “This is a fortified soup.” Setting the tray down, she hands a spoon to each. “The texture might seem odd at first but…” She shouldn’t have bothered, all three heads lower to eat, they're starving. Closing her eyes, she feels Lucas touch her shoulder, understanding.

“You need to rest your leg
. Please?” She inserts before he can argue. Knowing it will help her if he does, he nods and sits in one of the chairs. With a grateful look, she turns back to her family. Frowning, she watches her father pours some of his soup into Brett’s cup.

“Dad, there’s plenty, don’t do that.
” Standing she heads back for three more cups. “Here, you need to eat as much as you can, keep down as much as you can.” Taking his empty cup, she hands him a full one. “Mom? Brett?”

While they
eat, Victoria walks over to Lucas. She can see the fatigue around his eyes. He’d been hurt helping save her family, but he's still at her side. Touching his face, her thumb gently caresses his cheek, turning his head he kisses her palm.

“Sit for a while
. You’re tired,” he says quietly.

“I’m okay
. How’s the leg feeling? Truth.”

“Sore but better.”

“You want some pain meds?”

“No.
” His eyes are steady as they meet hers. “I’ve secured the cockpit.”

“What
? Why?” She frowns at him.

“Curious fingers
? Why chance it?”

“I
… your right, I should have thought of it.”

“That’s what I’m here for
. You concentrate on your family.” He glances over her head. “Looks like they’re full.” Turning Victoria sees he’s right. They’ve put their cups aside and now look totally exhausted.

“Do you want more
? Brett?”

“No.
” Her brother answers as he lays his head down in his mom’s lap.

“Okay, one more
thing, and then we’ll let you rest. The scans I did earlier let me know what nutrients your bodies are missing. I’m going to give you a shot to start replacing them. It will help you recover faster.” Going to the computer, she studies the results then loads the syringes.

With the shots
given, she smiles. “Now sleep, your bodies need it. Quarters are this way. Dad, if you’ll help Brett, I’ll help mom.” In the room she prayed she’d get to use, she leads Cyndy to the bed, helps her sit.

“There’s a bathroom through that door.
” She points. “The couch is big enough for Brett. This is water, safe water.” Victoria shows them how to open the bottle. “Have as much as you want. I’ll be checking on you every couple hours. Run more scans to see how your bodies are absorbing the nutrients so I can adjust your next shots.”

“Victoria…
” Seeing the tears in her mother’s eyes, Victoria sits, pulling her into her arms letting her own tears flow.

“I know mom
but you're safe now, everyone is safe. We have time, to talk, to understand what’s happened, to get to know each other again. So right now, all you have to do is rest and get healthy. Okay?” Feeling her nod, Victoria kisses the top of her head.

“Now lay down,
you're exhausted. Dad, you and Brett too, here’s the light controls.” She shows her father how it works. “I’ll put the light on in the bathroom.” Doing so, she walks over to her father, wraps her arms around his waist, resting her head on his boney chest.

“I love you
daddy.” She looks into her father’s exhausted eyes. “Rest, please?” When he finally nods, she gives him an open smile, then, closing the door, she walks straight into Lucas’ arms.

Lifting tear filled eyes from Lucas’ chest she wonders how she’d ended up in their bed. Looking at her life mate, she sees sympathy and understanding.

“You need to rest
, baby.” He caresses her cheek then puts her head back to his chest. Knowing he’s right, she tries to relax, slipping a hand under his shirt to caress his abdomen, she needs the contact.

“They’re so much worse than I thought they’d be Lucas
. Did you see mom?” Her tears start again.

“I saw
. She and your father have been making sure Brett had enough.”

“I know
, but he’s still malnourished.”

“Yes, there was only so much they could do
. That’s love Victoria. They were literally starving themselves to save their son. They’re not anything like Reymont.”

“No, they’re not.”

“Now they have you. You know how to help them. It’ll just take time.”

“We have that.”

“Victoria….”

“
Hmm…?”

“What you said
… on the surface…”

Raising her
head, she looks at her life mate.

“About you
? How did you hear? You had your helmet on.”

“Your mic was still active, I could hear you
. Would you have done it?” he has to ask.

“Left them?
” Victoria sees his horror at the idea. “It would have haunted me for the rest of my life, but we all make our own choices. Mine will always be you.” Stretching up, she kisses him. “You are my life, you come first.”

Unable to speak
, Lucas pulls her close. She would have abandoned her family for him, a family she traveled across the universe to find. Had he ever known what true love was before now?

“Sleep.
” He’s finally able to force out of his throat. “I love you, Victoria Lynn.”

“I love you too.
” Comes her sleepy reply.

Sitting straight up in bed, Victoria looks around.

“What is it?
” Lucas asks as she climbs over him.

“Something’s wrong.
” She quickly moves to the hatch. Entering her family’s quarters, she finds Brett and her father sleeping, her mother is nowhere to be found. Seeing the bathroom door’s closed, she heads for it.

“Mom?
” Pushing the door open, she finds her lying on the floor. “Mom!” Immediately she’s beside her. “Mom, talk to me.”

“Tori?
” Glazed eyes meet hers as a cough racks her fragile frame. Moving her hand away, it’s full of black globules.

“Come on mom, sit up, it’ll come up easier that way.”

“I’ll wake up your father,” she wheezes.

“We’ll go into the living quarters, come on
, I’ll help you up.”

“Victoria, let me carry her.
” Turning, she sees Lucas has followed her.

“Your leg….”

“I’m fine, she doesn’t weigh anything. Madam Chamberlain,” Lucas squats down in front of her, ignoring his protesting leg. “Is it okay if I pick you up?” When she nods, he scoops her up. “Get the hatch Victoria.” Entering the living quarters, Lucas gently places her on the couch.

Victoria quickly scans her and prepares a syringe
. “This will help mom.”

“Tori
… I am so tired.”

“I know mom
. You’ve been fighting for a long time, but I’m here now. Your lungs, they’ve been damaged by the dust. It’s blocking your ability to get enough oxygen. The meds I’ve given you are trying to repair the damage but to do that, you need to get rid of the foreign matter, that’s what you’re coughing up. It’s a good thing.”

“I don’t know that I can.
” Even Lucas can hear the defeat and exhaustion in her voice, she’s giving up.

“No mom, you can’t give up
. Not now!” Sitting next her, Victoria pulls her close. “I’m here mom, you’re not fighting alone, feel me!” Taking her mother’s hand, she pulls it against her heart.

“Remember in Kayseri, after I’d been abducted, how I wouldn’t sleep
? How as soon as I did I’d start to scream?” Feeling her mother’s nod, she continues. “That doctor, he told you I’d never get better, that you should give up on me, put me somewhere, forget about me. Do you remember what you told him?”

“I tore him apart”
is the weak reply, “told him he didn’t know
my
daughter.”

“And you brought me home
. You brought me home and held me, you told me I wasn’t alone, that you wouldn’t leave me, that I could sleep and you’d hold me if I had a nightmare,
you’d
be my strength.”

“You were so little…”

“It was that way for months. I wouldn’t let dad or grandpa near me. You’d talk to me. Sing to me. Tell me it was going to be okay because we were together, that all I had to do was trust you. Remember?”

“Ye
s.”

“It’s my turn now
, mom. I’ll be your strength. You’re not alone. I’m not leaving you. It’s going to be okay, I promise. We’re together again. We’ve always been stronger together. All you have to do is sleep and concentrate on getting well. I’ll take care of everything else.”

“
Your brother…”

“I’ll take care of him
, mom, but we need you, we both need you. Please don’t give up, not now, trust me.” Feeling her slight nod, her mother’s body goes lax as she falls into an exhausted sleep.

Lucas
had stepped away to give Victoria and her mother some room but he’s heard everything said. Cassie had told them they’d had to sedate Victoria before a doctor could exam her. He’d known she’d had nightmares. Had witnessed some and had felt so horribly helpless, for her to be that way for months…. how had her parents survived it? How had she, would he? If it was his and Victoria’s child?

Moving to the
galley, he brings out bottles of water. Opening one, he hands it to her. With a grateful smile, she takes it and drinks.

“You should go back to bed
. Get some sleep.”

“I’ll stay
with her. You still need to treat Brett and your father. She won’t be alone.”

“I…
” Looking at her mother, she doesn’t want to leave her but she knows Lucas is right. Nodding, she eases her mother back, adjusting the cushions to stabilize her head. Sliding away, Lucas takes her place.

“I won’t be long.”

“Take the time you need, Victoria. They need you too.” Nodding, she goes to treat the rest of her family.

As coughs again rack the small woman’s frame
, Lucas puts an arm around her, helping her to sit up, wiping her mouth as her body ejects the poison.

“Here, sip.
” He holds the bottle to her mouth. “It’s just water.” After several sips, she slumps against him. Thinking she’s asleep, Lucas is surprised to find her watching him.

“Tori?
” Cyndy croaks out.

“She’s treating Brett and Peter.”

“You’re Lucas.”

“Yes
. Lucas Zafar.”

“It was you that Cassie brought to the cabin.”

“Yes.”

“My daughter is in love with you.”

“It’s mutual. I’d die for her. She’s the most important thing in my life.”

“Yet
, you brought her to a dead planet.”

“She knew in her heart you were alive
. She asked for help, I wouldn’t deny her. Rest Madame Chamberlain, you need your rest.”

“Cyndy
,” she whispers. “Call me Cyndy.” Then she’s asleep.