The Vet's Life After...

The Next Journey - Part One

     Alex stretched his muscles, starting at his fingers and slowly moving up his arms. He then rolled his shoulders and neck, followed by him stretching his chest. He slowly stood next to his bed, stretching his legs carefully as he put weight on his feet. "Okay, not as strong but definitely not life-threatening.... yet."

     Alex heard a scoff behind him and smiled slightly. "Don't say that, I'm not staying in this hospital that long; two weeks is enough for me." Suso stood up, walking around the bed and standing in front of Alex; her taller frame making him seem small despite his bigger physique compared to the average human. "But in all seriousness, how are you feeling?"

     Alex's smile grew, raising his right hand and holding it in front of Suso. "Do you want to know what I experienced while I was nearly dead?" Suso looked at him with concern, but smiled anyway; she was trying to look strong for him, which only made him feel happier. "I talked with my brothers, all three of them." Alex lowered his right hand and used it to reach for her left, holding it tightly.

     Suso looked at Alex's hand on hers with shock, taking a second to hear what he had said. "Wai- h-hold on, you saw your brother's again? And your smiling?" Suso thought for a second before smiling, or thats what Alex assumed was smiling for her. "Oh, so you finally feel better about all of it?"

     Alex tightened his grip on the Sangheili's hand, and Suso could feel it. "Not all of it, but most of it." Alex looked the female Sangheili in the eye, his smile becoming more hollow. "I'll need your help for what's left, because I won't be able to move on until I accept that my heart has finally replaced her."

     Suso looked at Alex with a mixture of surprise and confusion. "You mean you've found someone that's replaced Takai in your heart?" Alex nodded slowly, causing Suso to stiffen a bit; her mandibles closing together tightly, and her head dropping slightly. "Oh, well what's her name? Can't help if I don't know her."

     Alex chuckled softly, turning to his bed and feeling his strength fade again. "Help me on the bed, the meds are kicking in again and I'm losing my strength." Suso quickly helped Alex onto the bed, trying to stand up when Alex wrapped his arm over her shoulder; he looked her in the eye with a gentle smile. "Lay next to me, we both know I sleep better when you're with me."

     Suso was about to argue, but stopped herself; crawling slowly into the bed. Alex chuckled when she tried to stay on the small bed while avoiding laying on him. "Suso, lean towards me a bit; you'll be more comfortable."

     "I don't want to crush you, we both know I'm heavy...." Suso turned to look away, and Alex could see her blue blood darken the skin on her cheeks. He chuckled slightly before reaching to her hip and pulled her partially onto him.

     "That's not so bad; you get more room, I get more warmth, and we both get to cuddle." Alex smiled as Suso's cheeks darkened further, reminding him of when he and Takai would do something similar. For once, the thought of her didn't immediately consume him; and he knew it was because Suso was with him. "Oh, and the name of the woman who now has my heart? Though she never told me the rest of her name, I do know what she goes by. Her first name was a bit weird for me, so I call her Suso."

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     Alex was standing near a shuttle bay, going over multiple tabs on his tablet to ensure everything was in order. "Alex!" He turned his head when he heard his name called, spotting the tall Sangheili woman jog towards him with something in her hands.

     "Hey, Suso, you're almost late; what's in the hand?" He motioned towards her closed hand, some paper sticking out of it.

     "It's a surprise!" Suso hid the paper behind her back, smiling as the male just rolled his eyes and went back to reading his tablet.