<USS Avalon> Homecoming

"Homecoming"
Mac and Anna McEntire, Josh and Annabelle Garrity, Li Vilya and Patrick Kabuki 
and Dr. Ezra Lincoln

Mac opened a channel home, Belle, and to the Kabuki's as well, waited 
impatiently for someone to answer at each and then, made one statement - "Josh 
is in sickbay" -  before closing it again as he entered sickbay himself.  

Dr. Ezra Lincoln glanced up from where he worked on the pale young wraith, 
placing a cautious finger to his lips as Mac entered, reminding him to keep it 
down, as all but the most nocturnal of the patients there slept on. 

Anna blinked the sleep out of her eyes.  It took about a minute before the full 
meaning of those words hit her and she was on her feet, dragging on a dressing 
gown and belting through to Sick Bay.  Skidding to a halt, she glanced up at 
Ezra and whispered, "Need a hand, Doc?"

Ming had hit the comm by sheer instinct but the four words knocked every bit of 
sleep right out of his brain.  Vilya was in the rocking chair her father had 
some how manged to procure.  She was asleep, holding the baby to her, letting 
him eat.  "Wake up, little mama.  He's home."

Warm brown eyes flew open.  "Prophets!  Really?!  OH my...I have to get 
dressed.  Hold him?"

Linc grinned, shaking his head. "No, ma'am, I got him, but you're welcomed to 
hang around if you like. It's your 'bay, right?" giving her a wink, he turned 
his attention back to the Joshua, increasing the oxygen levels as he clucked 
over the rest of his readouts.

Hugging her arms around herself, Anna just stared in wonder.  I prayed for 
this...  Years of throwing religion in her father's face crumbled at that one 
realisation and she doubted her own convictions.  "He's home," she said softly.

 Nodding his head, Linc answered with a smile, "Yes he is."


"Your mother's excited, son.  Pay no attention to the airiness.  She's really 
very solid," Ming told the baby as he waited for Vilya to emerge from the 
bathroom.  

Vilya hadn't scrubbed up so quickly since the Academy and was back and 
presentable in less than five minutes flat.  She kissed Ming's cheek the said, 
"You're half dressed.  Are you coming with us?"

A quick brush of his hair and a UCLA sweatshirt and Ming sketched a brief bow.  
"Let's go."

The thought occurred to her that they were parents now and ought have been more 
dignified but Vilya found herself practically giggling as they reached Sick Bay.

Both Linc and Mac put a finger to their lips as the Kabuki's arrived, 
encouraging quiet for the sake of the sleeping patients. Linc continued tending 
to the young man upon the biobed as Mac looked on, his ___expression warring 
between concern and elation at his friend's return.

Vilya felt tears of relief in her eyes and she leaned into Ming's embrace.  She 
looked up at him and could see his lips moving.  She had no doubt that it was 
some one of his prayers.  

For a moment, Annabelle had thought she was dreaming. Josh is in sickbay? But 
the tone of Mac's voice slowly started to become clear in her haze. Josh is in 
sickbay! "He's come home." She whispered to the room before running out the 
door of their cabin. Barefoot and wearing only a sweatshirt that was three 
sizes to big, Annabelle made her way to sickbay. When the doors hissed open she 
saw Anna and Mac, Vilya and Ming, but where was Josh?

Linc glanced up and smiled slightly from where he worked as Mac drew Belle to 
Anna and himself, gesturing at the still form on the bed. "He's alive, Belle. 
Don't worry. He'll be fine."

Looking over to where Mac had pointed, Annebelle saw Josh laying on a biobed 
and tears welled in her eyes as her knees suddenly went weak. "Oh God." She 
whispered softly. 

Mac held her tightly, refusing to let her fall. "He'll be fine," he repeated 
again, this time with more conviction. 

"Yes, he will," Linc agreed, inspecting the biobed scans once again. "Can't say 
how, 'cause by all rights, I'll be honest, he shouldn't be fine at all. But he 
will. Brain scans show no decreased function. Lungs show no permanent damage. 
He's breathing on his own again. BP's a bit low, heartrate a bit fast, 
temperature a bit high, but I understand from his files that's all normal for 
him." Beaming over at her, he added. "Just get him rested some, feed him good, 
you know..fatten him up some...and let him rest awhile, and he'll be fine." As 
an afterthought he added. "Well, that and keep him home awhile, of course. No 
more hush hush shuttle trips for awhile, alright?"

"I'm never letting him leave me again." Annabelle replied. "But the other 
stuff, the rest and food, your asking the imposable, Doctor. My husband doesn't 
do sitting still or pigging out."

Linc laughed as he answered, "I can see that." Looking at her seriously, he 
added. "Do your best. Looks like you've got enough to help you with it." 
Nodding to the others, he finished up, then stepped back. "I got me some rounds 
to make, and a commanding officer to notify about your boy there. You can all 
stay, as long as your quiet. Just so you come for me if he wakes, understood?"

Annabelle nodded as she gently pulled away from Mac and headed over to Josh's 
bed. Pulling up a stool she sat next to Josh and took his hand into her own, 
the wedding pressed together. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked down 
into Josh's face. "Don't you ever do this to me again, Joshua Garrity, do you 
hear me?"

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