Surrendering Sanity

My Judgement Day

Casey's eyes fluttered open at the sound of another anguished moan from Jasper. Her arm stretching out lazily until she rested a soothing hand on his shoulder. They had done the best they could to make him comfortable.

The upper level of the dropship being designated Monty's workspace and Clarke's clinic. No one was allowed up, Casey having not left his side for more than a moment sense she had gathered the courage to face him. Every cry met with a comforting touch.

The small woman had curled up on the cold metal floor without complaint, speaking softly to the boy, her eyes on the rise and fall of Jasper's chest. As if she could keep him breathing by her will alone. She had eventually fallen asleep that way, someone Monty probably, drapping a jacket over her slumbering form.

Once the tormented boy had settled Casey allowed her stiff muscles to stretch, soarness coming with the motion as she rose to a sitting position. Her head was hammering, her spine pinched and aching, the wound on her arm a ever constant throb of pain.

Monty met her bleary-eyed gaze with a soft smile. The persistent man still at the small work table he had made himself, the same spot she had last seen him before sleep had swept her away. It made her own aches seem less important, her engineer pushing himself to exhaustion for their musketeer.

"Have you gotten any sleep?"

The dark haired boy shrugged off her concern but Casey could still see the evident circles under his eyes. The sluggish way his fingers moved on the tech in his hands.

"Yeah, some."

"Liar." Making it to her feet slowly the brunette made her way over to his side. Stopping for just a moment to lay the jacket she had used as a blanket over Jasper. Tone gentle she eyed the gathered wristbands and random bits of wire. "Any luck?"

Casey was not tech savvy. What Monty was able to accomplish had always amazed her, where he saw a clear image, all she could see was random bits of junk.

But with that junk he could make miracles.

The wristband in his hands was tossed to the table as he sighed in disappointment. Sadness and slight frustration leaked into his onyx eyes and she had her answer.

No luck, yet.

Nudging him playfully Casey offered a reassuring smile. Or at least attempted one, the stress of these horrific days on Earth where beginning to take its toll on her optimism.

"Don't worry. You'll figure it out. Remember that water filtration malfunction? It took a couple days and seemed hopeless but you got it done." Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder she slipped the discarded band into his expert hands. "You'll get this done. Genius takes time."

Monty held her gaze, accepting the strength she offered him. A determined nod meeting her efforts as he focused back on his tinkering.

"You always know what to say. But I should be the one praising you, you brought him home." Meeting her gaze briefly he paused in his work, returning her playful nudge from earlier. "And Happy Birthday."

Her wide eyed shock had him chuckling, Monty turning back to his work as he teased.

"Thought I'd forget did you?"

It couldn't be.

"No. I did."

Casey had completely forgotten. Today was the day, her judgement day. The reality of it seemed to slap her in the face, the sleep completely clearing from her mind to be replaced with dread.

She had long ago accepted her fate. But it seemed she had cheated death. It felt wrong to be there, still breathing. But at what cost?

As if to confirm some internal fear Jasper began groaning again, the sounds he made shattering her heart. She looked to him with concern filled eyes, Monty stopping her as she rose to go to his side.