<snip>

“I don’t know Calvin…” She scoffed softly, but her eyes never met his. “Maybe they finally did it. Maybe they finally broke me beyond repair…” For a moment Molly paused as if she was thinking about what to say next. “I saw Ryan die by my own hands…” Harris would know that she was referring to the final test Intelligence made their officers go through. “… and it was never like this.” She scoffed once again. “They tell you that in this line of work loving someone is nothing but a liability… and that’s why regardless of what happens in the Farm we cannot get involved with our partners… and yet… they never told us we couldn’t fall in love for someone else…” Molly shook her head. “Maybe they’re right, Calvin.” For the first time, Wright’s eyes met his. “Maybe they’re right. I…” She shook her head once again before returning her deep gaze into Harris’s eyes. “I can’t risk losing you Calvin… I can’t…” Her fingers wrapped around his tightly.

Scoffing softly, Harris smiled with both his lips and eyes. “Mol’s… listen beautiful…” His tone was very caring. “… ain’t nothin’ gonna happen to me. Between my own skills and your crazy ass looking after me…” He smirked. “… I think I’m good to go.”

Brown eyes gazed deeply into blue ones. The word ‘beautiful’ leaving a slight shade of pink on Molly’s cheeks. It wasn’t the first time Calvin had directed the name at her, but every time he did it felt like the first, leaving Molly’s heart fluttering and her cheeks warm. Shaking her head, Molly looked away. “You don’t know how close—“ Molly’s voice faltered. “I didn’t save you, Calvin. The universe did.”

Cal softly but firmly shushed Molly as he gently ran his hand through her hair. “Don’t you ever sell short what you did for me, for Ali. Just… just don’t.” Harris’ voice cracked with the final word and from his blue eyes rolled two shimmering tears, his hand now trembling against Molly’s hair. “You gave me… my little girl… a second chance. Gave us everything. Everything Mols. You got me out, got me home.” The smile on his face was glowing and the love in his eyes undeniable. “Which is why I worry about you pulling stunts like you did today.

Molly shook her head and smiled softly. She knew there was nothing she could ever say to convince the Marine otherwise. With her free hand, she slowly wiped the tears from Calvin’s eyes. “I love you Calvin. I would never do anything that would take me away from you. And I’m never going let anything take you away from me. Unless you specifically tell me otherwise.”

“I honestly don’t know what I was expecting this morning.” Molly finally broached the subject she knew she would have to speak about eventually. “I needed to feel.” Her eyes raised back to his. “I needed to feel that I wasn’t back there. That we didn’t die in that shuttle and that this is not a dream… I needed to feel alive.” Guilt and sorrow filled her face. “I usually set my program to level four… five if I’m feeling daring. I cranked it up to ten… I didn’t know what was going to happen. Laura never told me.” Looking at Cal’s expression she continued. “Sorry, Laura Ramirez… she was my roommate on the Earhart. She based my program on hers. Brilliant girl. Never heard about her again…” Molly sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Wright, CIO

“Listen…” Harris sighed as he intertwined his fingers with hers. “… if you feel you need to push yourself that damn hard, do something useful… hit the range, pick up karate, or start power-lifting… instead of nearly getting yourself killed. OK Babe?”

Harris, CO

“It’s not a need of pushing myself, Calvin… it’s something else. It’s the need to feel I didn’t die in that shuttle and that this is not some weird dream… it’s the need to feel I’m alive.” Molly exhaled. “It’s like I need to feel pain…” She said faintly before moving back to a more comfortable position. She felt lost. For the first time in a long time, Molly felt like she needed to talk to someone and couldn’t. And she didn’t want to scare Cal with the things that really were in her mind.

It was clear Wright was still weak, and that the medical procedures and medication had taken a toll on her. She closed her eyes as if the light in the Sickbay was still too bright for her eyes. Slowly, Molly’s breathing slowed down and her fingers loosened their grip on Cal’s hand. It only took a few minutes before Molly was fast asleep again.

Harris stayed beside Molly for a few moments after she had drifted off and more tears fell as he gently took her hand in his. “I will never, ever be able to express the amount of thanks I have for what you did for me.” Cal leaned forward and softly kissed Molly’s forehead as a couple tears fell in her hair. As his lips left her skin, his voice cracked as he spoke softly. “I’ll always love you… how could I not… you’re my hero.”

As the words left Cal’s lips, Molly’s fingers slowly entwined with his. In her sleep, it was hard to tell what she was thinking or maybe dreaming about. But as his lips touched her forehead an innocent smile settled on Molly’s face. She pulled his hand close to her chest and softly hugged it with her arms.

Silently wiping the tears from his eyes, the Marine straightened and with a whispered “Thank you” Harris quietly walked from Sickbay and disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the Dresden.

Harris, CO

---

It didn’t take long before Molly was back on her feet. In fact, Wright would never take too much time in Sickbay. She needed out and doing things. She needed to get back at her daily routine or she would be driven insane by both her own thoughts and terrible boredom.

The first day back to work was harder than she thought. Molly sat the whole day on the desk she was so familiar with, and yet, it was if she didn’t have a comfortable position to be in. But as she walked to her quarters earlier that evening, an idea sprung to mind.

The next day, Molly returned to sickbay. A slight limp still visible on her gait. She carried something with her – a box of sorts wrapped in brown paper. Stopping one of the nurses, Molly asked. “Excuse me, do you know where I might find Doctor Charlie Bailey?”

Capt. Wright, CIO

Nurse Johnson smiled warmly, pleased to see the Captain upright this time. “I’ll just get her for you ma’am,” she said politely and went to get Charlie from the lab.

“Thank you.” The smile was soft on her lips as she watched the nurse walk away.

“Captain Wright is here to see you doctor,” the nurse said as she popped her head round the door. Charlie nodded and grabbed her medical tricorder.

She approached Molly with tricorder poised. “Nice to see you again Captain, how are you feeling?” She asked gently, wondering if Molly has come in for further treatment.

Dr Bailey

“Doctor Bailey.” Molly nodded in way of greeting. “Tired, mostly. But I’ll be fine.” The smile she shot the doctor was a tired one, and against her pale skin the dark circles under her eyes only complemented the look.

Looking at the tricorder in Bailey’s hands, Molly spoke again. “I just wanted to come by and leave a token of my gratitude.” She said as she held out the box she was carrying. If Charlie opened it, she would find a box of chocolates and a thank you card decorated with pressed flowers. The latter was clearly handmade. “It’s nothing much. I going home on leave tomorrow and I didn’t want to go without coming by.” The way Wright spoke was slightly awkward. It was very obvious that she wasn’t used to these kind of social exchanges but had felt somehow obligated to do so.

Charlie was somewhat taken aback at the gift, she often received messages but she was genuinely touched as smiled warmly at Molly and carefully opened the box. “Thank you Captain, there really was no need but it’s beautiful,” she beamed, somewhat lost for words. “Will you make sure you rest up whilst you’re at home?” she asked, her doctor hat on.

“I…” She paused trying to choose her words. “I don’t have a good relationship with sickbays.” Molly smiled awkwardly and looked past Bailey. It would be weird to see the usually hard and cold Intel Officer so socially uncomfortable. “But… thank you for making it easier for me and uh…” For a moment it looked like Molly was going to say something else and changed her mind. “Thank you.”

Capt. Wright, CIO

Charlie put a gentle hand on Molly’s arm. “You’re very welcome Captain, I’m just glad to see you on your feet again,” she smiled. As Molly turned to go, Charlie gently kept hold of her arm. “Just one thing Captain…I’m not sure what happened in that holodeck or why the safeties were off…” she started nervously as she wasn’t sure it was her place to say, “…please do talk to someone about it…” she added quietly as she gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. Charlie wasn’t sure what was going on with the Captain but from her own experience she recognised when someone was tormented by the past.

Dr Bailey