Washington DC
Lockdown Ward
22.00 Sunday Evening.
Porter Webb walked through the door of Casey's room and looked at her son, fast asleep in the converta-chair the hospital had placed by Casey's bed.
She smiled at the sight of Clay sitting in the chair his hand still holding Casey's, a little blonde haired angel curled up in a blanket, fast asleep against his chest.
Sensing someone else in the room, Clay woke with a start and looked directly at his mother.
"Mom, when did you get here?"
"A few hours ago, Tim called me and I came straight over."
She looked at Anya, still fast asleep on Clay's chest.
"It appears you may need some help getting up."
Clay smiled down at Anya, who made no sound at all except the soft sounds of her breathing.
"She's fine, let her sleep."
"How is Casey?"
Porter asked looking at the chart hanging at the foot of her bed and then at Casey, surrounded by machines and tubes.
"The Doctor says that the swelling in her brain is going down and the fracture in her skull is mending , he thinks she should come out of this without any...without any brain damage. "
Porter caught the look of fear in his eyes.
"What about the gunshot wound?"
"They said that should heal without any problems, but she just lost so much blood and they don't know if that affected her brain or not...oh Mom I just wish she'd wake up."
His voice broke again and his chest felt tight, Anya stirred in his lap and he stroked her hair and murmured softly to her until she slept again.
Porter watched her son as he comforted the little girl in his lap, and for the first time she thought what a good father Clay would be, he showed a rare patience with children that he didn't have for adults.
She looked again at Casey and wondered if she would ever have the chance to see her son as a father first hand.
"I brought you some clothes, and Harrison sent over some food."
Clay nodded, looking at Casey.
"I'm scared Mom" He said softly as he looked up into her eyes. "I'm so scared I'm going to lose her."
Porter nodded.
"We'll have to make sure that doesn't happen." She put her hand on his shoulder. "How is AJ taking it?"
Clay shook his head.
"Not good, She's his daughter Mom."
"But I thought you said she was AJ's niece..." Porter asked her son , confused.
"She thought she was too...she didn't know until last night. I found her in the attic, she was looking through some boxes at these letters...and she was crying."
Tears came to his own eyes at the memory...last night seemed a world away from where they were today.
"I asked her what was wrong... I asked her if it there was anything I could do and she just looked at me....and she said not unless I could turn back time.
She never knew about AJ...not until last night...and now maybe it's too late."
Porter watched as her son stroked Casey's hand softly.
"It's my fault that she's like this."
He whispered it so softly she barely heard it.
"That's not the way AJ tells it" Porter said watching her sons reaction.
"AJ wasn't there Mom. I know she jumped out of the jeep before I could stop her, but I should have stopped the car and gone back and pulled her back in..."
Porter took her sons hand in hers.
"Why do you think she did that Clayton...why do you think she jumped out of that jeep when she did?"
"She was trying to draw their fire so we could get away...I told her not to...told her I'd go..."
"But she made a choice Clay. My guess is that Casey was looking to protect someone she loved very much, from being hurt."
Clay looked at his mother, searching for some sign that she was lying to him, but all he saw was honesty in her eyes.
"How do you know?"
He asked.
"Because you would have done the same thing if you hadn't been behind the wheel!"
She said emphatically.
Clay shook his head his guilt still weighing heavily on him.
He looked at Casey.
"It should have been me."
00.12 EDT
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Washington DC
LockDown Ward
She was floating...suspended in the darkness.
The weightlessness was unnerving, but somehow comfortable at the same time...natural almost.
She could hear a voice, talking to her, floating through the darkness, a voice she would have recognised anywhere...AJ...her father.
She went to call out to him...but no words came...her mouth wouldn't move.
She tried again...but still no words came.
So she listened...unable to reply...as he talked...he was praying...
00.12 EDT
Bethesda Naval Hospital
Washington DC
LockDown Ward
AJ sat in the small hospital chapel, his hands clenched together
He was not a religious man, but he was hoping for a miracle.
"Seraphina, I don't know if you can hear me but I hope you can.
I don't pray often, it's never done me much good. But I'm praying now...
I always knew.
The minute I held her.
She was mine.
Yours.
Ours.
Maybe it was the eyes.
Those big blue eyes.
I have few regrets.
Live with no ghosts
Except you.
And the daughter I knew was mine.
But never told.
She found our letters.
At 'Orion's Reach'
Tucked away.
Where you knew she'd find them.
Hell of a way to find out.
Nick never blamed her.
He loved her anyway.
He never blamed me.
Or you.
He just accepted.
So forgiving it made me sick.
But I loved him.
Like a brother.
Like Cain loved Abel.
Casey's hurt real bad Sera.
She could die.
We could lose our baby girl.
She could leave never knowing.
Knowing that I love her.
That I've always loved her.
She should have known.
About me.
About us.
But I was a coward who couldn't tell her.
And you were a ghost she couldn't see.
I remember the day Nick died.
The sniper attack.
Lying there in the jungle.
Blood seeping through my fingers.
Willing him to live.
His gasping breath.
Promise me...he said.
Promise me you'll love her.
I promised.
And he went.
I'll never forget arriving home.
She was at the base waiting.
She knew.
Nobody had told her.
I asked them not to tell her.
But she knew.
She just walked towards me.
Onto the sun-warmed tarmac.
Blades of the helo still whipping.
Looking so small for 10 years old.
She had tears running down her face.
And she placed her hand in mine.
For the first time in years
I broke down and cried.
'Shhh..' she said wiping the tears away.
'SEAL's don't cry remember.'
She's so much like you.
She has that same fire.
That same strength.
She's a Company Woman,
Like you were.
Her partner's a pain.
But you'd like him.
Reminds me of me at his age.
Probably why we don't get along.
He loves her.
He's sat there for 24 hours straight now.
Afraid to leave.
Afraid she'll wake.
More afraid that she wont.
She has to wake up Sera,
You can't take her yet.
She has so much to live for.
Love to feel.
Places to see.
People who love her to come back to.
I have to be able to tell her.
Even if it's just once.
That I love her.
That I'm proud she's mine.
AJ swiped at the lone tear that ran down his weathered cheek.
He stared at it somewhat surprised...he thought he had forgotten how to cry long ago.
"SEAL's don't cry"
The memory of Casey's voice echoed in his ears.
And with that memory , the single tear became a flood.