The phone hung loosely in his bloody, skinless hand.
“I will, of course, want compensation for my losses,” his voice trembled with anger. He knew his dear old colleague and understood him well enough to fear his stone-cold retribution.
“Compensation?” Arkdone laughed loudly the echoes of which landed on Williams’ livid shoulders. “You’ll be fortunate if I decide not to trigger the Monarch sleeper I’ve had working at your precious Facility all these years,” the Senator responded coolly before hanging up on Dr. Williams.
Chapter 28 Is This Seat Taken?
Farrow rounded a corner on her way back to Dr. Winter’s hospital room where she assumed Alik and Danny would have gone, but what she saw stopped her in her tracks.
“I know you don’t like to wear shoes, big man, but we can’t walk around a hospital with all those germs on your bare feet.”
Farrow watched Danny scowl at the little white socks Alik was carefully putting on his little feet. They were sitting on the floor, Danny plopped in Alik’s crossed-legged lap.
Farrow’s heart tightened in her chest at the sight of Alik’s wide, muscular shoulders moving, curled around the tiny toddler’s frame. She watched his fingers maneuver nimbly as he worked the baby’s foot into each sock before reaching to put on his new racecar shoes. He carefully loosened the laces, pulled up the tongue and slipped Danny’s foot into place before gently tightening the laces and tying a slow, deliberate knot.
“I’ll teach you how to tie your own shoes someday, kiddo, but I don’t mind helping you while you need me. Cool?” Alik spoke to the top of Danny’s head as he worked on the other shoe. When he got to the laces on this shoe he chanted a little rhyme, "Build a teepee, come inside. Close it tight so we can hide. Over the mountain and around we go. Here's my arrow and here's my bow!” Alik’s fingers manipulated the laces to dance through the rhyme. Danny’s eyes were transfixed.
Once his shoes were back on his feet, Alik just let the little boy sit for a minute. His unhurried, gentle ways acted like a tonic to the three-year-old who eventually stood up, turned around and smiled genuinely at Alik before wrapping his scrawny little arms around his thick neck. Instinctively, Alik’s strong arms came up to support the little guy against him.
“You ready to go check on Mom, big guy?” Alik asked rhetorically. He moved into a standing position easily. Farrow loved to watch everything about Alik, his easy gracefulness, his gentle humor, his loyalty and devotion to family, but watching him interact with the small, traumatized child was a thing of absolute beauty.
Danny flopped his head onto Alik’s thick shoulder and yawned deeply. His long slender legs wrapped around Alik’s waist as he clung to his new brother as if he had always known what it was to be held with love and care. Alik responded with equal familiarity. They had only known each other for four days, but no one would know it by how they interacted.
“Hey, Farrow,” Alik had turned just so and noticed the beautiful metasoldier watching him with Danny.
“Hello.” She looked around her, as though she had been caught doing something embarrassing. Alik couldn’t help but smile at the blush coloring the apples of her cheeks.
“I thought you were heading back to the house with the others.”
“I was, but then I thought…well, I mean I was hoping to…” Farrow stammered. “I wanted to stay with you,” she spoke barely above a whisper.
Alik pat the back of the little brother in his arms. It was his turn to blush.
“I appreciate the company. It looks like my little sidekick has passed out for the night,” he said motioning to the soft snores coming from the toddler on his shoulder.
Farrow smiled adorably. She couldn’t help it. She was thrilled to see Alik accept her company with more than just graciousness. He seemed truly happy to know she wanted to spend time with him.
“How about we go find a place to lay him down?”
As if the sleeping child heard his words, Danny’s little hands moved to grip Alik’s blue T-shirt with both fists.
“Or I’ll just hold him while he sleeps and we can hang out,” Alik offered, smiling at his little brother’s affection even in his sleep.
“Sounds great,” Farrow grinned. They began walking toward the sofas nearest to Margo’s room when Alik stopped abruptly and turned to look down into his companion’s beautiful doe eyes.
“Are you thirsty? Or hungry?”
“Um, I’m not hungry, but I could drink something. How about you?”
“Are you kidding, I can always eat. Drinks are just there to help the food go down even faster.” Alik offered a sheepish grin.
Farrow laughed.
“Should we go to the cafeteria and grab a bite to eat? Or maybe order something to go so we can hurry back here to be near your mom?”
“Yes.”
“Yes to which idea?”
“Food, yes. To go, yes. And your use of the word ‘we’ is a big yes.” Alik wiggled his brows at Farrow.