Fighters

Chapter Seven

Tristan POV

Dad was sitting with his legs stretched out in front of him, Aurora asleep with her head in his lap. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. I loved dad, but Aurora was such a daddy's girl. Hearing us coming, dad lifts his head to look at me and I almost stop in my tracks... and I realized I'd never seen him look so devastated. It put dread in my heart. "Dad? How's mom? Did you get bad news?" I rushed out.

Before he could answer Eric cleared his throat and said, "I'm going to take them to the holding area Tristan, you stay here with them." And continued walking. God I love that man.

I sit down on the other side of him and he wraps his arm around me, pulling me close and laying his head on mine. "Your mom is still in surgery...." He trailed off, playing with Aurora's hair as he holds me closer. "She's strong, I know, but it was hard watching that happen and feeling so helpless. She's never seemed..."

"Like she could get hurt?" I asked, and he nodded. "I felt the same way." I told him. About 5 minutes later Eric was back, sitting down against the wall next to me. He folded his legs up so he could rest his elbow on one, and hold my hand behind his legs. I pulled him closer, surprising him, but he came willingly.

About two hours later, Mac comes out and dad shakes Aurora awake as we all get to our feet.

"What's the news, Doc?" Dad asks quickly as he squeezed my shoulders. It felt like forevever before Mac finally responded.

"She's good and she's going to be just fine." Everyone sighed in relief and dad pulled us all in for a group hug. He even had happy tears. "She's going to be waking up soon, in pain and groggy from the anesthesia." He looked to Aurora and smiled, "you did great in there today, Aurora. I can't wait to continue your training." She beamed at him, throwing herself into his arms. I could hear her muffled "thank you" barely.

Dad didn't waste any time in pulling us into the med unit, but I looked back as Eric stayed behind. He smiled and motioned for me to keep going, which got dad's attention as he looked back. "Eric is part of this family whether you want to admit to us or not, Tristan. Tell him he should be here." I stared at him stunned, and he ruffled my hair and kept walking with Aurora toward mom's room. I walked back to Eric, who raised an eyebrow and I chuckled. I came into the hallway and hugged him, pushing him against the wall to kiss him.

"What has gotten into you, babe?" he asked, but he had a huge smile on his face. I told him what dad said and his jaw dropped. "Are you ready to do that? I know you've been really scared." Everyone already knew about Eric, I wasn't his first boyfriend since living in the compound. It was ME hiding in the closet...

"I'm ready" I told him, taking his hand and leading him through the med bay to where mom's room is. We peeked inside and I felt my eyes glaze over a bit watching my dad hold her hand like it was made of glass and kissed every inch of her face. I walked in and took up the other chair on beside her bed. Aurora had already curled up like a cat and gone back to sleep at the end of the bed. Looking at them and back at Eric, I just knew... that this was my family. This right here in this room, not in the holding cell down the hall. But I still worried about what would happen when mom woke up.

"Clay?" I heard her choke out, knocking me out of day dream land.

"I'm here baby" he whispered, "the kids are too." He kissed her hand and rubbed it against his cheek. "I was so worried..." he choked back a sob, leaning forward to rest his face in her stomach.

Mom immediately shushed him, running her hand through his hair and dad visibly began to relax. She looked over at me and smiled brightly, then down at the end of the bed at Aurora. She chuckled and winced, bringing her hand to her shoulder. Dad was back up in seconds reaching a hand out to cup her cheek. "Are you okay?" he rushed out and she smiled, nuzzling his hand for a second.

"I'm fine, babe" she said patting his hand and pulling it down to intertwine her fingers with his. "Are YOU okay? You took way too long, I almost sent Tristan two days ago and..."

Dad interrupted her, "I was fine, babe. There's actually something we need to tell you...." He trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Mom's eyes darkened at she narrowed them at him, and then me.

"Tristan?" She asked in her 'I'm close to losing my shit' voice. "What do I need to know?"

I cleared my throat. "Dad found them, ma."