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Victoria raising an eyebrow.
    “Right and I’m six foot. Anyway, we’ll get a chair, get you to quarters and get you into bed. Then we’ll see about third meal, something light. Any questions?”
    “No . Let me tell you how it’s going to work. Someone is going to get me my clothes .” he yells. "I’m going to walk to my flight deck, and when I’m ready, I will go to my quarters and go to bed!” By the time he’s finished, the entire medical facility is cringing. All but Victoria.
    “Oh really ? Here.” She picks up his ruined clothes, tossing them at him. “Put them on.” Waiting, she sees him just look them. “Come on. Let’s see you pick them up.” Victoria’s eyes are hard and flashing at him. “What? Can’t do it?” She whips the covers off the cot, revealing his barely covered front.
    “Stop that ! What’s wrong with you?” He grabs for the sheet, wincing at the pain it causes.
    “Me ! Me! What’s wrong with you! You have second-degree burns, are too pig headed to admit you’re in pain, and it has nothing to do with the bump on your head. Your body needs time to recover, Major, and you’re going to give it that time. That means for the next few days you’re going to shut up and take orders, or I’ll bounce your head off the deck so you have a real concussion. Understand?” No one speaks. “Good. Now I’m going to find you some pants because no matter how fine of an ass you have, no one really wants to see it hanging out of a gown.”
    Lucas is left watching her leave, his mouth hanging open . What was that? Where the fuck had that come from? She eighteen for God’s sake. When had she gotten that tough? His mind nudges him to remember another time, when she stood in front of the Full Assembly, a nine cycle, demanding her right to be heard, stating her case for imprisonment for Audric instead of death, hoping for him to live a long, long life. She’d stood strong, for herself, her family and for her beliefs.
     
    Pushing the chair, Victoria waits behind the curtain for Wingate to help Lucas into the sleeping pants they’d found. She’s not pushing her luck by helping him herself. When the curtain is pulled back, she moves the chair to where Lucas is leaning against the bed.
    “In. ” She gestures to the chair.
    “I can walk. ” He’s not going to admit he’s starting to ache so bad, he’s not sure he can walk.
    “Sit , Major.” Victoria can see he’s pushing. He’s pale and sweating, if he goes down, he’ll hurt himself. “Please.” It’s the please that seems to reach him.
    T wisting he sits, telling himself his knees didn’t just give out.
    Letting Wingate push the chair , she picks up the bag of supplies Gabor put together and follows. Reaching his quarters, she moves to the security panel.
    “What’s your code , Major?”
    “My what? ” Looking at him, she can see the pain is getting the upper hand.
    “Your door code.”
    “I’ll get it.” Raising his hands, he just looks at them, he can’t push in the code.
    “Give me the code ,” she says softly.
    “16-03-5254” Entering the code, she wonders why those numbers are so familiar to her.
    “Let’s get him into the bed , Wingate.”
    “I’m fine.”
    “Of course you are,” Victoria agrees, then looks to Wingate. “Do you want to stay or get the soup?”
    “Soup. ” Wingate doesn’t hesitate. Victoria gives him an understanding smile. With Lucas sitting on the bed, he makes a hasty retreat.
    “Major , let’s get you some pain medication.”
    “I’m fine!”
    “You’re not! You’re in pain and it’s a waste of energy. Energy your body could be using to heal. Therefore, I’m going to give you a shot, you’re going to lie down and rest until Wingate brings the third meal. Then you’ll eat.”
    “You are so not telling me what to do.”
    Victoria lifts his sleeve and gives him the shot . “I so am. Now lay back.”
    “No, and stop calling me fucking Major. ” However, just the slightest