<<Please note, this log takes place before docking at DS9>>

Morning Sunshine

Josh and Annabelle Garrity, Mac and Anna McEntire, Ming and Li Vilya Kabuki and Dr Ezra Lincoln with Li Nalas Zachary Kabuki

Josh stirred slightly, opening his eyes slowly and looking around in the dimness as he shivered in the chill of the room. He raised a brow slightly in surprise to see Mac and Anna asleep in the chairs to his left, Ming and Vilya asleep in the chairs to his right clutching a small blanket-wrapped parcel between them, and Annabelle sleeping right next to him with her head upon his chest.

 

"Morning, sunshine," Linc whispered from nearby where he looked in on another patient. "Good to see you're still with us." He moved quickly to Josh's side, placing one large hand firmly but gently upon the young man's shoulder. "Not yet. Do your lungs a favor and just lie still and enjoy breathing awhile. I'm gonna finish up with the others and then I'll be with you. Stay put. Don't wake the lady."

 

Josh looked down again at the beauty resting there with him and nodded slightly. He'd be still for the moment. He wasn't about to risk disturbing her.

 

His feet were cold.  Ming roused from a doze because his feet were cold.  The first thing he realized that he wasn't wearing shoes because he'd run out of their cabin straight from waking up.  The second thing he realized was that his weren't the only blue eyes opened.

 

"Welcome home," he said in a whisper soft tone.

 

Josh blinked, surprised to find him awake all at once, then nodded his thanks. It was good to be home.

 

Ming nodded to Vilya and Zachan, asleep on his lap.  "We've all missed you."

 

Josh's eyes widened as the meaning of that statement finally hit him, glancing at the tiny bundle in Vilya's arms. "Zachan?" he asked, though virtually silent, his throat feeling oddly burnt, raw and swollen.

 

Ming nodded very slowly.  How did he know that?  I don't think we told anybody but Kaera and he's been gone..."Yes, Li Nalas Zachary Kabuki."

Anna sighed and tried to roll over, only to find the arm of a chair stab into her ribs.  Blinking hard to clear her eyes, she stared blearily around Sick Bay and then up into Josh's eyes.  A warm, relieved smile broke over her face and she whispered, "Hey Sport. You look like shit."  Then she chuckled and sat up straighter.  "How you feeling?"

 

With a soft smirk he answered quietly, swallowing hard against the pain in his throat, "Like I look."

 

Mac, who'd wakened as Anna shifted laughed merrily at that before scolding him gently,"Time to knock shit like this off, kiddo. I'm not about to start going all gray haired over you."

"But you'd look so gorgeous in silver, sweetie," Anna teased.  Her smile and eyes were all for Josh though as she said, "Don't do it again, okay?  I don't ever want to lose one of my only friends, especially when he was being all heroic and dumb."

 

Shooting her a questioning look, Josh stroked Annabelle's hair gently. Heroic and dumb? No...he didn't think so. Necessary at the time. Nothing more.

 

"Look here, you dumbass, let me clarify this for you, " Mac persisted. "I swear you are the dumbest genius I've ever met. Next time you think you want to worry about a timeline, focus on ours, okay? This one, right here, right now. The future will be whatever it will be. You just worry about coming home to your lady at night and let the rest of the fucking universe take care of itself. You got it?"

Anna gave her husband a stunned look and then grinned.  "As rude and annoying as you are sometimes, love, I think you're wonderful."  Sliding her arms around his waist, she added, "And wise.  You listen to this man, Sport.  Besides, we kinda need you here to hold your five nieces and nephews when they come, teach them how to be the strong, silent type and how not to go running off to save life-kind as we know it."