An Unexpected Surprise

Chapter 13

Notes:

Here is another chapter for you!

I am so sorry that it is not as well edited as usual, but I just wanted to get another chapter out as quickly as possible.

As always, thank you for the continued support, and I would love to know your thoughts in the comments!

Mare POV

The first thing I feel is a searing pain shooting through my skull, running its way down the rest of my body and taking root again in my leg. I wince, scrunching up my eyes and causing my head to move slightly, which sends another wave of pain through my skull. I try to pry my eyes open, to take in my surroundings and figure out what is going on, but my brain feels foggy, like I am halfway between consciousness and unconsciousness. I can't find the strength to fully wake, the lull of sleep keeps growing stronger, threatening to pull me back with every passing second. The thick, dark blanket of sleep presents a promise to take away the pain and ease all my worries. I try to fight it off, but I can feel it winning. I can feel myself gently being pulled back into the realm of the subconscious.

Then I hear a voice. It is mumbled and deep, and I can't make out what it is saying, but it is just enough to catch my attention, giving me something to focus on to pull me back from the depths of sleep. The next thing I know I feel something warm pressing against my right arm. It must be a hand, because I soon feel a second object gently caress my cheek, brushing away any hair that must have fallen onto my face.

The voice sounds again, a bit clearer this time.

"Mare."

There is something soothing about the voice, something familiar, and somehow, I know that I'm not in any danger. But my brain still feels too foggy to figure out why. The warm hands on my body give my arm a quick squeeze.

"Mare, it's me."

Suddenly, I know who that voice belongs to, I know why the hand cupping my face feels so warm and comforting.

"Cal." I try to say, but no words come out, just mumbled sounds.

I curse at myself and the waves of pain that continue to course through my body, making this so hard. I brace myself against the pain and draw on the strength from Cal's warm touch to try again.

"Cal," I mumble, clearer this time, but still quiet.

He gently brushes his thumb along my cheek. "Shhh, I'm here. I'm right here."

My heart aches at his words, I want nothing more than to be able to see him right now, for him to wrap me in his comforting arms, to hear him say that it will all be okay, for him to take the pain away.

Those thoughts give me all the strength I need, and I slowly open my eyes, immediately blinking them shut again as I adjust to the light around me.

When my eyes have finally adapted, I open them fully and spot the only face I want to see right now looking down at me.

"Mare," he whispers, a soft smile spreading across his face. He looks tired, like he hasn't slept in days. Dark bags rest under his pale, sunken, eyes, and there is dark stubble lining his face where he hasn't shaved in days. The sight scares me and makes me worried for my husband. One of the last times I saw Cal like this was after the battle at Archeon.

"Cal." My voice is a little raspy from misuse, but Cal hears me all the same. I slowly move my hand up to meet Cal's where it rests on my shoulder, and he gives it a tight squeeze.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you, to hear you talk."

I smile at his words, but I can't help noticing the pain in his voice. My heart breaks thinking about the worry and pain he must have gone through in the past few hours, days? I don't even know. I have no idea how long I have been unconscious, but I can guess based on the stubble on his face, and the fact that Cal is out of his armor and cleaned up from battle, that it has at least been a few days.