become teachers.”
The shadows returned to her eyes when she mentioned her brother.
“But you didn’t. You are here. Did your brother become a teacher?” He thought she’d ignore the question when she hesitated.
“My brother,” another pause, “became ill, but I think he would have. He liked academia more than I did.”
“I am sorry.” There was more to it, but he didn’t press. His curiosity was no match for the brief flare of pain in her eyes.
“Thank you.” Her smile was tinged with sadness, but she was less healer, more real Delilah. She gave a tiny shake and held up her stethoscope. “We’ve strayed from the reason I’m here.”
The purple returned to her eyes, as she positioned the stethoscope on his chest and took a listen. Her voice was light, professional as she discussed his progress, but the pulse at her neck belied her outward mien. They were both waiting. They both knew it.
“I would like to show you my home,” he said, surprising himself as much as he did Delilah. Now was not a good time for a visit, as he had good cause to know.
She looked up from her notes. “That would be,” she swallowed, “nice.”
She dragged out the word, as if she also knew it would never happen. It stirred a desire to push the issue and after a very brief struggle, he gave into it.
“Then you will come.”
“No, but thank you for the invitation.”
The General would fight a visit, but Rockley would jump at the chance to get someone back on the planet.
“I will arrange it.”
“You’re very confident.” She sounded more amused than annoyed.
“I am the Leader. If I wish it, it will happen.”
She chuckled.
“What?” Had a woman ever laughed at him?
“I’ve just never met anyone quite like you before.”
“And you never will.” He spread his hands and shrugged. “I am unique.”
“I won’t argue with you about that.”
“It would be wise not to argue with me about anything.” It was a serious truth, but he kept his tone light and teasing. It wouldn’t do to spook her.
His gaze caught hers, and he could see the purple building in their depths again. Perhaps he couldn’t wait. But the move to reach out for her was halted before it began.
Simmons arrived. Her timing was impeccable—and annoying.
* * * * *
Saved by the nurse again. Did Simmons have built-in radar for when Doc was getting in over her head? Doc headed for her temporary office and sank down in the desk chair, her hands on her cheeks. That had not gone as planned. It hadn’t even gone as expected. She’d never told anyone about her family. Even the Major only knew the basic facts of their lives and deaths. He knew about her brother. It was a matter of record. He didn’t know Doc fought the same demons that had put Robert in a mental institution. If he knew—
Don’t let them get you, Del.
She could see his face the first time he said that to her. He was five years older and seemed fifty feet taller in her memory. He’d crouched to bring their faces level, horror in his eyes. Even at nine, Doc didn’t have to ask what he meant. She knew. She’d always known. The thing she didn’t know was why they hadn’t got her, too. Robert was older and stronger, but they’d taken him down like he was a straw man.
She shivered, but not with cold. Thinking about them brought them in close. She shifted, needing something to do, something easy, something that required her to focus, something that would distract her from the racket inside her head, help her figure out how to get answers to questions spinning inside her head.
Her gaze glanced off her Wii remote. Of course. A few games of Mario Kart were just what the doctor ordered, well, this doctor ordered. She booted up the game, picked her character and kart, then started a Grand Prix, losing herself in its whacky reality. They and the din faded into the distance as she battled her way through the various maps to victory. And while she played, other parts of her brain
The shadows returned to her eyes when she mentioned her brother.
“But you didn’t. You are here. Did your brother become a teacher?” He thought she’d ignore the question when she hesitated.
“My brother,” another pause, “became ill, but I think he would have. He liked academia more than I did.”
“I am sorry.” There was more to it, but he didn’t press. His curiosity was no match for the brief flare of pain in her eyes.
“Thank you.” Her smile was tinged with sadness, but she was less healer, more real Delilah. She gave a tiny shake and held up her stethoscope. “We’ve strayed from the reason I’m here.”
The purple returned to her eyes, as she positioned the stethoscope on his chest and took a listen. Her voice was light, professional as she discussed his progress, but the pulse at her neck belied her outward mien. They were both waiting. They both knew it.
“I would like to show you my home,” he said, surprising himself as much as he did Delilah. Now was not a good time for a visit, as he had good cause to know.
She looked up from her notes. “That would be,” she swallowed, “nice.”
She dragged out the word, as if she also knew it would never happen. It stirred a desire to push the issue and after a very brief struggle, he gave into it.
“Then you will come.”
“No, but thank you for the invitation.”
The General would fight a visit, but Rockley would jump at the chance to get someone back on the planet.
“I will arrange it.”
“You’re very confident.” She sounded more amused than annoyed.
“I am the Leader. If I wish it, it will happen.”
She chuckled.
“What?” Had a woman ever laughed at him?
“I’ve just never met anyone quite like you before.”
“And you never will.” He spread his hands and shrugged. “I am unique.”
“I won’t argue with you about that.”
“It would be wise not to argue with me about anything.” It was a serious truth, but he kept his tone light and teasing. It wouldn’t do to spook her.
His gaze caught hers, and he could see the purple building in their depths again. Perhaps he couldn’t wait. But the move to reach out for her was halted before it began.
Simmons arrived. Her timing was impeccable—and annoying.
* * * * *
Saved by the nurse again. Did Simmons have built-in radar for when Doc was getting in over her head? Doc headed for her temporary office and sank down in the desk chair, her hands on her cheeks. That had not gone as planned. It hadn’t even gone as expected. She’d never told anyone about her family. Even the Major only knew the basic facts of their lives and deaths. He knew about her brother. It was a matter of record. He didn’t know Doc fought the same demons that had put Robert in a mental institution. If he knew—
Don’t let them get you, Del.
She could see his face the first time he said that to her. He was five years older and seemed fifty feet taller in her memory. He’d crouched to bring their faces level, horror in his eyes. Even at nine, Doc didn’t have to ask what he meant. She knew. She’d always known. The thing she didn’t know was why they hadn’t got her, too. Robert was older and stronger, but they’d taken him down like he was a straw man.
She shivered, but not with cold. Thinking about them brought them in close. She shifted, needing something to do, something easy, something that required her to focus, something that would distract her from the racket inside her head, help her figure out how to get answers to questions spinning inside her head.
Her gaze glanced off her Wii remote. Of course. A few games of Mario Kart were just what the doctor ordered, well, this doctor ordered. She booted up the game, picked her character and kart, then started a Grand Prix, losing herself in its whacky reality. They and the din faded into the distance as she battled her way through the various maps to victory. And while she played, other parts of her brain
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