The Life I Live

The Wrong Words with Good Intentions

"How are you feeling?"

Liam tried lifting himself into a sitting position on the bed. When his arms started quivering Summer gently helped him up. He grimaced a little and gave a nod in thanks.

"Still really stiff and sore, but otherwise ok." He stubbornly scratched at the bandages wrapped around his chest, earning a small glare from Summer.

"What did Law tell you about doing that?" She asked, to which he sighed heavily.

"I'm telling you, I can get up and start walking. I'm fine now." He moved to swing his legs over the side of the bed, but Summer stopped him with a hand on his chest.

"Ah ah, sit your ass back down in that bed and stay there until Law tells you you can leave." He slowly leaned back, and she laughed at his pained face.

"What are you laughing at?" He whined.

"Nothing, just that medics make the worst patients."

"Shut up..."

"Sometimes you're just as stubborn as Law." He leaned all the way back against the cot and sighed again.

"Are there any books or something lying around? I'm losing my mind just sitting here." With a grin, she stood and left the infirmary in search of reading material.

"I'll get you some. And don't even think about getting up while I'm gone because I will know and I will hurt you." She pointed two of her fingers at her narrowed eyes and then turned them towards Liam. This earned her a small grin before she was out the door.

In the hall, Summer smiled quietly to herself. The sub hadn't been the same without Liam's quiet confidence and subtle sass. She'd missed having someone to talk to in earnest. Sure, there were others on the sub she was friends with, but Liam had been the first person she'd bonded with when she'd sneaked on board the yellow submarine.

Finding Shachi and Penguin's quarters, she rapped loudly and waited. There wasn't an answer. They were probably in the engine room or the mess deck, and she didn't want to intrude, so she went off to look in Liam's room for books.

Opening the door slowly, she peeked her head inside. Liam's room was neat and orderly, just like she would expect it to be. Like the rest of the quarters on the sub, it was pretty spartan. A closet, a dresser, a side table, a bed, and some personal items were all that decorated the inside. Closing the door behind her, she paced across the floor to the small bedside table. Opening the top drawer, she moved a few pictures over.

Something caught the light and Summer picked it up in curiosity. It was a necklace, with the pendant in the shape of a bird. Distracted, she eyed the purple gems in the place of the eyes and smirked.

'Just like mine.' She wondered.

Deciding that she had snooped enough, she returned the bird back to its spot in the drawer and closed it. A search of the bottom drawer proved futile and she stood up with a sigh.

'Who else has books?' She asked herself. Immediately, she remembered who and set off toward his quarters.

'I hope he's in here.' She rapped on the door and waited. For a moment, there was nothing. She was starting to leave when soft footsteps approached the door, and a moment later it swung open.

An exhausted-looking Law stood behind it, eyeing her curiously. "Do you need something?" He asked softly. She gave a small smile.

"Liam was asking for something to read, and I was wondering if I could borrow one of your books? I know you have lots of them in there." She gestured behind the captain. He unconsciously rubbed at the sleep in his eyes for a moment, which Summer didn't miss.