Small Miracles

Small Miracles 4.

Three hours later Dill was sitting by Cameron’s bedside, fighting to keep her eyes open, when McQueen and Ross walked in. On arriving back at the Saratoga a medical team had been standing by, and whisked Cameron away to sickbay as soon as McQueen carried him from the transport. Ty’d sent Dill, Hamish and Izzy along too, telling her they’d be in the safest place. He and Ross had headed to the bridge to find out exactly what was going on.

On reaching sickbay the doctor had taken one look at Dill and the other two children, and had them installed in a private room. It hadn’t taken her long to get both Hamish and Izzy to sleep in the room's other bed, and she’d been sitting with them, waiting while Cameron had been scanned, x-rayed, and thoroughly checked over, before finally he was brought back and tucked up in bed. His fair curls gone where they’d shaved him to treat the damage to his head. The doctors were keeping him unconscious to allow the slight swelling of his brain to subside, and Dill had been told that he should make a full recovery. His invitro genes were most certainly helping him.

Ross stood at the foot of the bed looking at the little boy. With his head and face bandaged, he looked even smaller in the huge hospital bed. “How is he?” he asked, his concern evident on his face.

“His skull is fractured. So’s his cheek and his nose. They say he must have hit the wall face on.” Dill kept her eyes on the tiny figure in the bed.

“Dill, I....” McQueen tried to speak, but looking at his son choked him. “I’m sorry, Dill,” he eventually whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. The whole room just went. I was thrown to the floor and he shot out of my arms. I’m sorry. This is my fault.” He couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eye, afraid of what he might see there.

Ross, realising that they needed privacy, smiled at Dill. “The same VIP quarters you had last time are being prepared for you now. I’d suggest you get some sleep yourself. Let Ty stay with him for a while.”

“Thank you, Glen. I really appreciate it. I’ll stay though. I want to be here when he wakes up.” Dill smiled at him before glancing at McQueen, whose eyes were firmly fixed on Cameron.

“We should be safe now. The chig fighter that did this was taken out, and we’ve several squads out on patrol. Relax, Dylan. Sleep,” Ross told her.

“Is that an order, commodore?” she smiled.

“If you want it to be. Now please excuse me. I do need to sleep.” Ross turned and left.

“Ty, sit down please. You’re making me nervous.“ Dill said wearily.

Ty sat on a chair in the corner of the room. “I’m sorry, Dill,” he whispered, burying his face in his hands before running them up through his hair, inadvertently giving away his exhaustion.

Dill got up and went to him. Kneeling in front of him, she pulled his hands away. “Look at me, Ty.” Reluctantly, he did so. “It’s not your fault. Do you seriously think that even for a single moment I thought you meant it to happen?”

“I should have kept him safe. If I’d gone straightaway, he wouldn’t have been hurt. But I stopped to get you some other clothes. I wasted time.” Ty looked at her, his face a picture of misery. “I know better, Dill. I disregarded all my training because I didn’t want everyone else seeing you in that dress. Look what happened,” he pointed to Cameron. “I did that, because I’m a stupid, jealous tank!”

“No, Ty, you’re not. You’re a wonderful, caring, loving man. A man that I’m proud to be married to. You didn’t want everyone seeing me in this dress? That’s okay. I understand that. I was hoping it’d persuade you to stay the night. I wasn’t planning on wearing it for everyday wear,” she smiled. “Its nice knowing you want me all to yourself.”

“If I’d listened to Glen this might not have happened,” he said softly.

“If I’d not brought them here this wouldn’t have happened. But I’m not going to think like that, and neither should you. It’s happened. Cameron is hurt, but he’s alive. It’s not your fault, and it’s not my fault. It’s nobody’s fault. You’re not superhuman, Ty. You can’t protect them from everything.” Dill wrapped her arms around him. “I know you want to try, and so do I , but life doesn’t work like that.“ She yawned. “I’m sorry. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Hop up on the bed with Cameron,” Ty told her.

“No, Ty. Help me with these two and I’ll get some sleep in our quarters. You come back and stay with him. Hold him, Ty. Hold him close and don’t let him go,” she told him, knowing that it was what McQueen needed, but would be reluctant to do.

“Should we leave him alone?” he asked worriedly.

“They’ve drugged him. They’re keeping him under for the next few hours. His brain has some swelling.“ She saw the panic on his face. “It’s okay. They said that’s normal with a fracture like this. But they want him to stay still and not move. So he won’t be waking up for a while yet.”

“The drugs, Dill - are they safe?” McQueen asked. “Did you tell them to check?”

“Yes, sweetie, of course I did,“ she yawned again.

“Come on then,” he smiled. “Let's get you to bed.” After a moments hesitation, Ty lifted Hamish into his arms. The boy settled himself comfortably on his father's shoulder and went back to sleep.

Dill did the same with Izzy, and once he was sure that Dill and both children were tucked up safe and sound, McQueen made his way back to sickbay.

He climbed onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Cameron. ”I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I love you so much, Cameron. Please get better. Please be okay. I don’t want to lose you.”

He was sound asleep, Cameron in his arms, when the nurse came in to check an hour later. Smiling, she checked Cameron over and left, turning the light down low as she did.

~~~~~~~~~~

Several hours later Dill crept back into the room. She was wearing a pair of McQueen’s jeans, the legs rolled up and with a belt securely holding them up. The shirt she wore, however, was one of her own.

When she’d woken up, she’d discovered the two bags Ty’d packed. She smiled, seeing one of them full of the children’s toys. And the other, to her amusement, contained an odd assortment of clothing. There were several pairs of shorts and a few t-shirts, along with a handful of underwear for the boys, a single pair of overalls and a very pretty dress for Izzy. But for Dill it had been a shirt and a handful of underwear. She’d laughed when she realised that even in his rush, Ty’d unconsciously gone for the sexy underwear. And now all she had to wear was a shirt and her choice of some very flimsy bras. She’d pulled her dress back on and run barefoot to his quarters, rummaging through his clothes to borrow some jeans and a pair of the silk boxers she’d bought him.

Now she stood at the foot of the bed and looked at him, asleep still, Cameron cradled in his arms as if he were made of china. She called to him softly, “Ty”

He stirred and opened his eyes slowly. “Hey Dill,” he yawned.

“I thought I’d come and relieve you... let you get a few hours sleep in your own bed,” she smiled, walking around to him and kissing his cheek. “Ooh, whiskers. Sexy!”

“Are those my jeans?” McQueen asked, loosening his hold on Cameron and slipping from the bed.

“They are indeed,” Dill smiled. “I raided your wardrobe, I’m afraid. I found the clothes you packed for us.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, and as he hoisted her up onto his hips, she wrapped her legs around him. “You didn’t grab anything for the bottom half of me, so I needed to borrow them. Unless, of course, you were planning on keeping me naked from the waist down?”

“I wasted time grabbing clothes, and I didn’t even do that properly,” he sighed. “If I’d left as soon as I found Cashus we wouldn’t have been near the room when the wall blew. I wouldn’t have been knocked off my feet, and Cameron wouldn’t be lying in that bed.” Ty held Dill tightly to him as if afraid he might drop her too. “Dill, you have bare feet.”

“I know. I left my shoes behind when we grabbed the kids and ran. I almost borrowed your running shoes, but they’re far too big for me. I’m fine like this,” she smiled. “Go and take a shower. Get some clean clothes and something to eat, then go say hello to Izzy and Hamish.”

“You left them on their own?” Ty asked, putting her down.

“No, Vanessa and Shane are with them. But I think you need to speak to Hamish. He cried for quite some time about the fact that you’d shouted at him. He was frightened of you, Ty.” Dill looked up at his face. “I know you tried to explain to him, but he’s still a baby. He didn’t understand. You did a good job though, as well as could be expected in the circumstances. I’m proud of you. Don’t wonder about if’s. I love you. Cameron will still love you. We all love you, Ty. We don’t expect you to be superman, able to do everything. We just want to love you.”

McQueen rubbed a hand over his face. “I screwed up, Dill, and our baby got hurt. I can’t just forget it.”

“Stop it! Right now, right this instant!” she growled at him. “I’m not asking you to forget it. How can you, with him laying there, looking like that? What I’m doing is telling you to let it go. Don’t keep worrying about it. It’s done. Let’s move on.”

“Dill…,” he started.

She pushed him into the chair by the bed and stood over him. “Tyrus Cassius McQueen! I’m going to say this to you one more time, and then I’m going to withhold your conjugal rights.” She tried not to laugh at the look on his face. “I don’t blame you for what happened to Cameron. Nobody blames you, except you. It was no one's fault. It happened, but he’s going to be okay. That’s the important factor here.”

“I shouted at him, Dill, just before it happened. I told him to stop crying…,” Ty said softly.

“Why was he crying?”

“Because I shut the door on him. I left him outside on his own while I found Cashus.”

“Why did you shut the door?”

“The wall was bulging. It looked ready to blow. I didn’t want him to be there if it did. I wanted him to at least stand a chance. When I opened the door, he was crying. I told him to stop crying because I had Cashus.”

Dill sighed and sat herself on his lap, hugging him. “I doubt that he’ll remember that, Ty. And even if he does, it’s not the end of the world. Wait till he’s a teenager. If he’s anything like I was, you’ll find that you only ever shout at him. Come on, my lover. He doesn’t need to feel you worrying yourself silly over this. He needs to wake up and feel you being the strong, loving daddy that you are.” She kissed him gently. “Now go and take that shower. Eat, and say hello to your other babies. I’ll get them to call you when they’re going to wake him up.”

“Yes, Dill,” Ty sighed. He knew she was right, but it didn’t take the guilt away. He was Cameron’s father. He was supposed to protect him and keep him safe, not hurt him and put him in sickbay. What kind of a father did that to his own child? ‘A stupid tank, that’s who. A stupid, jealous tank who doesn’t deserve the family he has. Who always does everything wrong and ends up hurting them over and over again.’

Dill climbed off his lap. Watching Ty's face, seeing the anxious glance at Cameron as he stood up, she was well aware that he still felt guilty and little she could do or say would change that. All she could do was let him know she didn’t blame him and that she still loved him. She patted his behind. ”Scoot. Go on.”

McQueen turned to kiss Cameron’s forehead, before hugging her tight and leaving.

~~~~~~~~~

Ty stood in the shower, letting the hot water run over him. He took a few deep, calming breaths, and told himself to stop it. Dill was right. It wasn’t his fault. Yes, he should have grabbed Cameron and run when he’d found Cashus. But he didn’t and Cameron got hurt. But Cameron was going to be fine and need his daddy to be there for him, not wallowing in self pity. Besides, he could always get extra hugs from Dill if he needed to. That thought made him smile. Withhold conjugal rights indeed! Ty grinned wickedly. He’d show her who could last longer without. She’d be begging for it by the time he’d finished with her. He chuckled to himself. Once Cameron was well on the road to recovery she’d pay for that remark. Grabbing a towel, McQueen stepped out of the shower to dry himself and find a clean flight suit. Once he was dressed, he headed to the mess, his stomach growling. He’d got himself a plate heaped with food and sat down when Ross appeared at his side.

“May I?” he asked, his own plate held in his hand.

McQueen looked up. “Of course.”

“Any news on Cameron?” Ross asked as he sat down and began tucking into his food.

“Dill says they’re keeping him sedated to stop him moving about. She’ll get them to call me when they wake him up.” McQueen looked at Ross. “I feel awful, Glen. I know Dill says it’s not my fault, and logically I can see that, but still there’s a tiny voice asking me what kind of father hurts his own child?”

“Ty, that tiny voice is the one that’ll guide you through the minefield that is fatherhood. Sometimes it’ll steer you right, and sometimes it won’t. This time it’s wrong and Dylan is right.”

“How can you be so sure?” McQueen asked between mouthfuls of food.

“Because I’ve seen the report on the attack. Three hits were made, all of them on the side of the station where Dylan and the children were quartered. Add to that the fact that, as you say, they gave her VIP quarters and asked for her by name. Something’s rotten in the state of Denmark, Ty.”

McQueen gaped at him. “Aerotech,” he whispered. “Aerotech are after my kids. I have to get them away, Glen.“ His voice rose in panic.

“Ty, calm down,” Ross growled. “Why would Aerotech be after your children?”

“Because,“ he pushed his half eaten plate away, as suddenly he’d lost his appetite, ”Cameron has… abilities. He knows how I’m feeling most of the time, even when I’m out here and he’s at home. He can read other people's feelings too.”

“He’s empathic?”

“It looks that way.” McQueen lowered his voice so that only Ross would hear him. “You remember me telling you about Valentine? Works for Aerotech?”

Ross nodded.

“Well, I’m still not sure if I can trust him. I think so, but things like this make me suspicious.” McQueen leaned in close. ”He did some digging into my background. Apparently I was part of an experiment to create tanks with psi powers. It didn’t work, and they thought it would be a latent gene, showing in our children. But that failed too, so my batch was shipped off to the mines in the hope we’d all die and the evidence would be lost.”

“Except you didn’t die and now you have children,” Ross’s eyebrows quirked. “Hamish? Isobel?”

“Not so far as we can tell, though Izzy does have an odd habit. But I can’t see that it’s related.” McQueen looked at the food in front of him, contemplating whether to finish it or not, and then looked up at Ross. ”I don’t know what to do, Glen. I don’t know how to protect them. They know where we live, so they’re not safe at home anymore. They obviously know that they’re here. How long before something happens on the ‘Toga? I can’t protect my own family.”

He sounded so lost, so forlorn, that Ross reached out and squeezed his arm. “I’ve upped security around their quarters. Hell, on the whole ship, Ty. Tell the 58th - they’ll help keep an eye on her and the children. They’d do it anyway, but this will give them focus.”

“I can’t tell them. We need them focussed on their patrols, not worrying about my family.”

“Only you can worry about your family, is that it?” Ross smiled. “They care about you, Ty. They consider Dylan and the children as much a part of the 58th as you are. A threat to them is a threat to you all.”

McQueen frowned. “It shouldn’t be like that, Glen. I’m their C.O., not their father!”

“That’s what you think. But what they think, well… that’s something else entirely.” Ross ate some food and watched the emotions playing across his friend's face. “You can’t tell them how to feel, Ty, anymore than me telling you that what happened to Cameron was not your fault will change the way you feel.”

McQueen sighed. “I can’t help it. If only I’d been holding him tighter, maybe he wouldn’t have hit the wall.”

“No, you’d have fallen on him and now he’d have crush injuries instead,” Ross told him.

McQueen shrugged. “I guess so. I’d better go speak to Hamish. Dill says I scared him. Sometimes I think I’m just not cut out for this fatherhood stuff.”

“Yes you are, Ty. Everyone who sees you with your children knows that,” Ross chuckled. “Go see him, and then go to sickbay. I don’t want to see you on the bridge again until Cameron is wide awake and driving the nurses mad.”

“Glen! I can’t neglect my duties.” McQueen was shocked.

“Let’s make it an order then, shall we,” Ross frowned. “Colonel McQueen, I don’t expect to see you on duty for the next twenty-four hours. Do I make myself understood?”

“Yes, sir”

“Good.”

~~~~~~~~~~

McQueen stepped through the door to Dill's quarters carefully, looking around to see where his children were. Izzy was sitting on a sofa playing with Vansen’s ponytail, whilst Hamish cuddled up to Damphousse as she read him a story.

“Daddy!” Isobel cried, climbing down and toddling to him.

“Hey dumpling.” Ty picked her up and swung her into the air before kissing her. “Hey Hamish,” he smiled at the little boy on the sofa.

Hamish looked at him and ran from the sofa and into the other room, his cry of 'No daddy!' causing both Vansen and Damphousse to stare after him.

McQueen sighed. “Has he said anything to you?” he asked, aware of both women’s startled looks.

“No sir,” Damphousse told him. “He’s been perfectly happy since he woke up - chatty and really well behaved. But he’s said nothing to make him do that.”

“Okay dumpling, I need to talk to your brother. You be a good girl for me and stay here with Vanessa and Shane, okay?”

Izzy merely smiled at him.

“Good girl,” he smiled, kissing her again before putting her down on the sofa and heading after Hamish. In the doorway, he stopped. “Breakfast is being delivered for all of you in about fifteen mikes. If it’s not Corporal Hudson delivering it, refuse it. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir,” Vansen snapped.

“Are we allowed to ask why, sir?” Damphousse asked.

“I’ll explain later. I need to speak to Hamish now, but I’ll brief all of you at...,“ he looked at his watch, ”10:00. Unless Cameron is awake. Then it’ll be later.”

“Yes, sir,” Damphousse smiled.

McQueen smiled a small, quick half smile, and went in search of his small son.

~~~~~~~~~

McQueen opened the door to the children’s room. Hamish was huddled on a bed, tears streaming down his face. “No, daddy!” he screamed. “No smacking! Please, daddy, no smacking! Please, daddy!”

McQueen sighed. Closing the door behind him, he went and sat on the end of the bed. “I’m not going to smack you, Hamish. You haven’t done anything bad. You’ve been a good boy. Why would I smack you?”

“Don’t smack me, daddy, please,” Hamish begged.

“Come here, little guy.” Ty patted the bed next to him. “Come over here.”

“Yes, daddy,“ Hamish sobbed, crawling over to him, and watching him warily.

“It’s okay. There’ll be no smacking, but I need a hug from my little guy.”

Hamish crawled into his lap and hugged him. McQueen held him close, rocking him gently. “I love you, Hamish. I would never smack you. Have I ever smacked you?”

“No daddy,” Hamish whispered as his sobs subsided.

“Why do you keep thinking I’m gonna smack you? Does mommy smack you?”

“No, daddy,” Hamish looked at him. “You say that funny.”

“Say what funny?”

“Mummy. You say mommy,” Hamish whispered, as McQueen gently stroked his back.

“I guess I do,” McQueen smiled. ”Tell me, little guy, why do you think I’m gonna smack you?”

“That’s what daddies do,” Hamish told him. “Smack their boys. Smacking makes you cry.”

“Has someone smacked you? Gamma? Has Gamma smacked you? Grandpa... did he smack you?”

“No,“ Hamish said quietly. “Gamma tells me off, but she doesn’t smack me. Grandpa said he’d tell mummy on me if I’m naughty.”

“Oh no,” McQueen chuckled. “Not tell mommy on you! Mommy gets real ticked off, doesn’t she? I hate it when mommy tells me off.”

Hamish giggled. “Sometimes you’s a bad daddy.”

“Sometimes I am,” McQueen agreed. “I try to be good, but sometimes… well, sometimes I’m just plain bad.”

“Does mummy smack you?” Hamish asked softly.

“Nope, mommy never smacks me. She tells me off, and then she hugs me. Sometimes I get a kiss too,” he answered. “Why do daddies smack, Hamish? Nobody told me daddies had to smack.”

“Oliver’s daddy smacked him. Oliver cried,” Hamish said.

“Why did Oliver’s daddy smack him?” McQueen asked, still gently rocking and stroking his young son.

“Because he didn’t come when he called him.”

“Oliver’s daddy called Oliver, but Oliver didn’t come?” McQueen repeated. Hamish nodded.
”And so Oliver’s daddy smacked him?”

“Yes, daddy,”

McQueen pondered for a moment. “Hamish, do you always come when I call you?”

“No, daddy.”

“Why don’t you come?” McQueen asked.

“Sometimes I don’t hear you,” Hamish told him.

“Why don’t you hear me? You have ears that work, don’t you?” Ty tugged Hamish’s ear, making him giggle.

“Sometimes I’s playing too hard.”

“So, if you’re playing nicely but don’t hear me, then that means I have to smack you? Hmmmm. I don’t like that Hamish. I don’t think smacking you for playing is a good thing. I think that’d be a bad thing. If I do bad things mommy tells me off, and I don’t like it when she does that. So I don’t think I’ll smack you for not coming when I call you. Why else might I smack you?”

Hamish thought for a moment. “If I’ve been bad.”

“Have you been bad, Hamish?”

“Sometimes I’s bad,” Hamish nodded. “I tries to be good, like you tries, but sometimes I’s bad.”

“So, if mommy doesn’t smack me for being bad, it’s not fair if I smack you for being bad, is it? I don’t think I’ll smack you for being bad.” McQueen kissed Hamish's blonde hair, ruffling it with one hand. “Why else would I smack you?”

Hamish thought, his face screwing up with the effort. “I dunno,” he finally said.

“Well, I can’t think of anything else either,” McQueen told him. “So if I’m not going to smack you for not coming, and I’m not going to smack you for being bad, then I guess that means I’m not going to smack you. Doesn’t it?”

He could see the wheels turning as Hamish thought through the implications of what he’d said. “Would you smack me for being good?” the little boy eventually asked.

“Why would you need a smack if you were good? Only bad boys get smacks, surely. And what did we decide about smacking you for being bad?”

“You won’t smack me for being bad because mummy doesn’t smack you for being bad,” Hamish smiled, pleased with himself for working it out.

“So, no smacks for being bad, or being good. That means no smacks at all, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, Daddy!” Hamish nodded vigorously.

“So that’s settled then. I won’t be smacking you ever, so you don’t need to cry about it, do you?”

“No daddy.“ Hamish hesitated. “Will you do shouting?”

“Like I did yesterday? I’m afraid so. But shouting doesn’t hurt, does it?”

“You scareded me,” Hamish told him.

“I know. I’m sorry. I was scared about Cameron. I’m sorry I shouted at you when you needed a cuddle. It doesn’t mean that I don’t love you anymore, but I had to be Colonel daddy, not just daddy. And that meant I had jobs to do, and there wasn’t any time for cuddles. I had to make sure we got to the ‘Toga quickly to get Cameron to the doctors, and I had to be Colonel daddy to do that.”

“I don’t like Colonel daddy,” Hamish whispered. “He’s a scary daddy. I want you to be my daddy.”

“I’ll try, Hamish, I’ll try. But sometimes you might see me being Colonel daddy, and you need to know that even Colonel daddy wouldn’t smack you, because he loves you too.”

There was a tap on the door, and Damphousse poked her head round. “Breakfast has arrived, sir. I thought we’d better let you know so Hamish can eat his while it’s still warm.”

“Thank you, Vanessa. We’ll be right out.” Ty smiled at Hamish and held him close. “Ready for some food, little guy?”

“Yes, daddy,” Hamish smiled back.

“Come on then.“ Ty got off the bed, took his son’s hand, and led him out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~

After telling the girls that either he or Dill would be back shortly, McQueen made a quick stop at the PX and went to sickbay. Opening the door, he saw Dill sitting on the bed with Cameron. She was singing softly to him while she held his hand and stroked his stomach.

“Hey Dill,” he whispered.

She turned. “Hey you,” she smiled. “I’m just stroking his tummy. He likes that. Always has, from a tiny baby.”

“I know. He makes me do it when I put him to bed. Sends him right off to sleep,” Ty said, coming up behind her and hugging her close. “Why don’t you go and get some breakfast? I’ll stay with him.” He kissed the back of her neck. “I got you something from the PX.”

“Anything nice?” Dill smiled, lowering her head to offer him more of her neck, unconsciously mimicking what he did to her when they made love.

“This is the PX we’re talking about here, Dill, not Macy’s.” Ty kissed her neck again before he handed her a pair of trainers and a pair of jeans. ”It’s not much, but at least you have something for your feet now, and I get my pants back.”

Dill grinned at him. “You want them back right now? I can do that.” She hopped off the bed and began to unbuckle the belt, letting the jeans slip slowly to the floor.

“Stop it, Dill,” McQueen growled, as he realised he was getting turned on by the sight of her in his silk boxers, despite the fact that they were hanging dangerously low on her hips. Or maybe because of it, he thought.

“But I thought you wanted your pants back?” she teased softly.

Ty picked her up, and the jeans slid off her feet and onto the floor. ”Don’t tease, Dill. Not here, not now. I want you real bad, but later.” He kissed her hungrily before putting her back down and sitting down next to Cameron on the bed. “I spoke to Hamish. I think maybe we’ve worked out the whole smacking thing. He asked me if you smacked me for being bad.”

“What did you tell him?”

“The truth.“ He watched her as she dressed in the new jeans. “That you don’t smack me no matter how bad I’ve been. I told him that if you don’t smack me, how can I smack him?”

“True,“ Dill nodded.

“Then he asked me if I’d smack him for being good. I told him no. I think we worked it out. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. You should have seen the looks on Vansen and Damphousse’s faces when he started crying for me not to smack him the minute I walked into the room.” He stopped, a horrified look on his face. “Do you think he thinks I smacked Cameron and that’s why he’s here?”

“No, he knows you didn’t. He asked me what happened while Cameron was off being scanned, and I told him you fell. He asked me if you needed a plaster for your knee, and that I was to tell you that everybody falls sometimes.” Dill smiled. “See, even Hamish knows it was an accident. Ty, let's not go there again. It wasn’t your fault. Please, try not to let it get to you.”

She jumped up onto the bed and snuggled up to her husband, so that he pulled her onto his lap. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Dill reached up to kiss him, her fingers lightly brushing his navel. ”You cannot take responsibility for everything. No parent in the world is capable of protecting his or her children twenty-fours hours a day seven days a week. Not even you, mister! ”

“I know,” Ty smiled, rubbing his face in her hair. “Mmm, you smell so good. Come on though - one of us has to go relieve the girls. I’d like to stay with him if that’s okay?”

“Don’t you have bridge duty?”

“Glen relieved me of duty for twenty-four hours, so no, I don’t. I said I’d let the 58th know what was going on at ten hundred hours, but I really need to be with him when he wakes up, Dill.”

“I know you do, darling. I’ll go see to our other babies then. I’ll bring them along here to see Cameron, and you can go do your briefing or whatever it is, yes?” she said.

“That’d be good. It gives me what, an hour to be with him?”

Dill nodded. “He’ll still love you, Ty. You are his daddy, after all.” She kissed him and left, taking his jeans and the trainers with her. She smiled at Ross as he passed her in the corridor.

“Is Ty in there?” he asked.

“He is, yes, for the next hour or so,” she smiled. “Thank you, Glen, for the quarters... for everything.” She darted in and dropped a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thanks for your help last night.”

“You’re welcome,” he smiled, before heading to sickbay to talk to McQueen.

~~~~~~~

Ten o'clock found McQueen making his way to the 58ths quarters. He stopped outside and took a long look at the picture on the door. The Wildcards… his first kids. He smiled to himself, and with a loud knock, opened the door and strode inside.

They were sat on their beds waiting for him. They looked up as he entered, their faces showing their eagerness to hear what he had to say.

McQueen stopped, feeling slightly unsure of what exactly he was about to tell them. He looked around at them. At Hawkes, with his eager expression, keen to know just what was going on, his blue eyes searching McQueen’s face for clues. West sitting on his bunk just watching McQueen, quietly assessing his CO’s mood. The girls, Vansen and Damphousse, sitting together, eyeing him speculatively.

With a resigned sigh, McQueen sat himself at the small table, and for a moment wondered if he should just leave. If it was wrong to involve these youngsters in his personal business.

“What I’m about to tell you is highly personal to me, and I don’t expect you to discuss it with anyone else. Do you understand?”

A chorus of ‘yes sirs!’ rang out, causing him to give them a brief smile.

“You may or may not have noticed that Cameron has certain… abilities, shall we say,” he stated, watching to see if anyone nodded. They all looked slightly confused. He could see Hawkes framing a question. He decided to counter it. “He seems able to read peoples feelings, and he’s particularly tuned in to me. He can read other people too, if he tries. With me he doesn’t have to try.”

Damphousse stared at him. “He’s an empath?”

McQueen nodded. ”Seems like it. When I lost my leg again last summer, Dill and I met someone who became a friend. That friend works for Aerotech, and has been nosing around. He found out some things that shocked both him and me.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. ”Up until that point my concerns had been for Hamish. You can see for yourselves the differences in the boys. Hamish is a good head taller than Cameron, and a helluva lot sturdier and tougher.”

“He’s gonna be a marine,” Hawkes smiled.

“That’s what I thought too,” McQueen admitted. “My thoughts were running along the lines of the tank super soldier idea that Aerotech had apparently given up on when the tank platoons refused to fight.” He was conscious of embarrassed glances. ”I wondered if they’d done gene manipulation to ensure that tanks bred their own super soldiers.”

“Those soldiers would be natural born, with none of the associated stigmas,” Vansen whispered, horrified. ”They’d fit right in alongside the rest of their squads.”

McQueen nodded. “That’s where my thoughts were going. Especially when an Aerotech geek showed up and took note of my children, and made it plain he saw the differences between the two boys. And then my... friend,” he paused, “pointed out to me that it was Cameron that Aerotech would be interested in, not Hamish. That although Hamish is big and strong, has enhanced hearing, and a well developed sense of smell, those things were just a result of the amount of tank genes he has.”

“Do you trust this friend, sir?” West asked from his bunk. “He’s Aerotech.”

“I don’t know. I think so, but I’m undecided. You see, he found out things about me that I didn’t know. That I would never have known,” McQueen admitted.

He looked so uncomfortable that Damphousse spoke up. “Sir, you don’t have to tell us this.”

“Yes, Vanessa, I do, because I have to ask you something, and you need to know why I’m asking,” he told her. Taking a deep breath, he carried on, desperate to get it over with. ”Aerotech and the IVA decided to experiment to see if they could produce tanks with psi powers. The experiment appeared to fail, and then one bright spark thought that maybe it was a latent gene. So more manipulation was done to see if the tanks' children would have those powers. My batch was included in that second set of manipulations.”

“But why’d a miner need psi powers?” Hawkes asked.

“I wasn’t supposed to be a miner, Hawkes. They decided that the experiment was a total failure. None of the children from the first batch of tanks survived more than a few days after birth. They had terrible birth defects from too much gene manipulation, even though they were born to natural born women. So my batch was sent off to the mines, to get rid of the evidence. They hoped we’d all die.” McQueen fell silent for a moment.

“So what were you supposed to be, sir?” It was Vansen this time.

He looked at her, his face flushing red. “That doesn’t matter. It’s not relevant.”

“Other than the fact that you have three children with no birth defects, and one is an empath,” West said to him. “Which is why Aerotech are interested in your children.”

McQueen nodded, as both girls gasped at the thought.

“Sex,“ Hawkes said quietly. “You were s’posed to be used for sex. You’d have sex with these women and get them pregnant.” He looked McQueen squarely in the eye, a wide grin appearing on his face. “Only you got Dylan pregnant instead, because you didn’t die. One in the eye for Aerotech.”

“You could look at it like that,” McQueen remarked dryly.

“Or you could look at it that Aerotech want to get their hands on your children,” West said slowly and deliberately.

“That’s how I am looking at it. Two months ago a request was sent to Dill’s mom, apparently from the military high ups, asking that Dill repeat the play sessions she did before. The ones she did here.”

“Where the two of you met,” Damphousse smiled.

“Yes, where we met,” McQueen frowned. “They asked for her by name. She told them that she couldn’t say yes or no until she’d spoken to me. Her letter to me never arrived. In fact no post from her to me has arrived in that time. Her mother sent a message using priority channels, which also never arrived. She asked them to arrange a live link so she could speak to me,” he grimaced. “Apparently we were ‘too far away’.”

“That’s what the satellites are for!” Hawkes declared.

“We know that, Hawkes, but Dill believed them. She gave them a list of requirements to be met before she’d say yes. They met every one without a murmur. So she bought the children to Mir. She was given the best quarters on the station. Quarters which were on the only side of the station to receive any direct hits from the chig fighter. All three missiles were aimed at one spot.”

“Her quarters,” Vansen whispered.

McQueen nodded. “They’re lucky to be alive, and I’d like them to stay that way.”

“Someone is trying to get rid of the evidence of that experiment,” West said confidently.

“My thoughts exactly. The commodore thinks so too,” McQueen agreed. ”That’s why I’m here. I want to ask you to help me keep them safe while they’re on board. I need someone to be guarding them whenever I’m not about. But Dill mustn’t know that’s what you’re doing, if you agree to help.”

Vansen smiled broadly. ”It would be an honour, sir, to help protect your family. They’re part of the 58th too. We protect our own. No one is going to get near them while they’re here.”

The others all nodded their agreement.

“How you gonna stop it?” Hawkes asked, ever practical.

“I don’t know,” McQueen admitted. “Hell, I don’t even know who it is yet. Commodore Ross is putting out feelers, but it has to be done gently. They mustn’t know we’re looking for them.”

“It’s Aerotech,” West said tersely. “Stands to reason.”

“Well, whoever it is, I ain’t gonna be gentle when we find ‘em!” Hawkes grinned evilly.

McQueen stood. “Thank you,“ he said. ”I’m going back to sick bay. I’m off duty till oh six thirty tomorrow, but I’d like someone to be there for them then.”

“Me,“ Hawkes said. “I can pretend I want news of Iona.” He blushed. “Ain’t no one gonna hurt Izzy while I’m about.”

McQueen smiled at him. “Thank you, Cooper. You too, Shane, Vanessa, and Nathan.“ He turned and left them, his heart lighter than it had been since he’d talked this over with Ross earlier.

~~~~

Ty arrived back in sickbay in time to see the doctor going into Cameron’s room. Following him in, he smiled as he saw Hamish sound asleep on the other bed, Izzy cuddled up next to him stroking his hair as her own eyes drooped.

“What is it with our kids?” he whispered to Dill. “They always seem to be sleeping. Do you drug them?”

“Silly,” she whispered back, “they’ve had rather a lot of excitement recently, and they were both up before five this morning.”

The doctor finished his examination of Cameron and turned to them. “I’m going to wake him up now. He might be a little groggy. Most likely scared and tearful. You might want to take the other two out of the room so they don’t get frightened.” He glanced across at them and smiled. “Sound asleep. Well, let’s get on then. Would one of you like to hold him while I do it?”

Dill nudged McQueen. “Go on - you hold him. We both know he’ll want daddy.”

McQueen climbed onto the bed and took the little boy in his arms.

“I’m going to remove the catheter while he’s still out cold. That way he won’t be distressed about it.” The doctor looked at Dill. ”He might say it hurts when he pees though.”

He removed it as he spoke, McQueen wincing at the sight. He’d had one himself a fair few times, but Cameron was so small. He held him closer, one hand unconsciously stroking the little boy’s stomach gently.

“That’s done. Now I’m going to administer this through the line in his arm. It should only take a minute or two, and once he’s fully awake, I’ll remove the drip.”

As McQueen sat there watching the doctor, his heart leapt as he felt Cameron moving in his arms. “Steady, little guy,“ he whispered to him. “It's okay. Daddy’s got you.”

“Daddy?” Cameron mumbled softly. “My head ouches.” He turned in McQueen’s arms and snuggled into his chest. “Make it stop daddy.”

McQueen looked at the doctor, who shrugged. “I’m not giving him painkillers. He shouldn’t need them.”

“He’s three years old and his head ouches. I think you can give him something,” McQueen growled.

“Ty!” Dill said softly.

“No, Dill, he doesn’t need to have a headache. If it was you or I, fair enough. But he’s a baby. He hurts and we can stop it.”

“If I give him a painkiller, he’ll get drowsy and we won’t be able to tell if there’s any permanent damage,” the doctor told them both. “I’m sorry. I know it seems harsh, but it’s for the best.”

“Who’s best? Not Cameron’s. Give him a painkiller,” McQueen snapped.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, little guy?” McQueen smiled down at the blue eyes looking up at him.

“Don’t be cross, daddy. I don’t like it when you’re cross. My head doesn’t ouch any more.”

“Are you telling me a fib?” McQueen asked him.

Cameron’s eyes grew wide. “McQueens don’t tell fibs, daddy!”

McQueen hugged his son, dropping a kiss on his head. “That’s true. We don’t, do we?” He watched carefully as the doctor removed the drip from Cameron’s arm without the little boy even noticing.

“No, daddy,” Cameron sighed, snuggling himself more comfortably. His hand came up to touch his head. “Where’s my hair gone?”

“They had to cut it, sweetie,” Dill told him. “They had to mend the ouchie on your head.”

Cameron smiled. “Now I look like daddy.”

“You always looked like daddy,” Dill smiled, kissing him.

“Where’s Cashus?”

“He’s here, right behind you,” McQueen showed him. “He’s been waiting for you to wake up.”

“Did you hurt yourself, daddy? Did you get an ouchie?” Cameron asked his father. The boy looked at Dill, who’d sat herself at the foot on the bed. “There was a big noise, mummy, and we fell over. But daddy got Cashus for me.”

“Well, I’d say his speech hasn’t been impaired. And the way he moved himself would seem to indicate that he’s not lost any gross motor functions, so I think I’ll leave you in peace,” the doctor smiled as he left the room.

“No, I didn’t get an ouchie. I’m afraid you got all those. I’m sorry, Cameron. Sorry you got hurt.” McQueen tried not to hold the boy too tightly, as he closed his eyes against the memory.

“Mummy?”

“Yes, darling?” Dill smiled.

“Daddy feels sad. Will you make him happy?”

“Maybe later, sweetie, not right now. He feels sad because we don’t like to see you feeling poorly.” She reached to squeeze McQueen’s leg, reassuring him that Cameron was fine.

“He wants you to, mummy,” Cameron told her.

“You don’t have to tell mummy everything,” McQueen whispered with a small smile. “You’re giving away all my secrets, Cameron.”

Dill laughed. “Daddy always wants me to make him happy. But he makes me happy too.”

“I know,” Cameron yawned.

“Why don’t you have a sleep, little guy. You’re tired,” McQueen told him.

“Yes, daddy,” Cameron answered, closing his eyes. “You won’t leave me, will you?”

“No. I’ll stay right here cuddling you till you tell me to go away.”

“I love you daddy,” Cameron sighed sleepily, as he snuggled still further against McQueen.

“And I love you too, little guy.” McQueen grinned at Dill like the Cheshire cat.

“I told you, didn’t I?” she whispered. “He loves you, Ty, no matter what.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “We all love you.”

Ty smiled and settled himself more comfortably. “I know you do, Dill. I don’t ever want to be without any of you.”

“You won’t be. We McQueens are a tenacious bunch,” she grinned.

“We McQueens,” he repeated. "Hell, Dill, that sure sounds good.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” she chuckled, climbing off the bed. “Want some coffee? I think I’d kill for one round about now.”

“Yes, please,” Ty smiled, watching as she opened the door and peered out before, with a quick grin, disappearing in search of refreshment. Then he snuggled lower on the bed until he was stretched out, with Cameron almost lying on top of him, as he held him as close as he possibly could, while the little boy slept soundly in his arms.

~~~~~~~~