His attire was as casual as theirs. When the usual shift was over he moved fast to secure the feast he didn’t change. Though his eagerness didn’t change his awkward demeanor at this impromptu dinner.

“How’s the food?”

“Relax your arm Ripley,” he said guiding their arm back to a safe position by their side with careful force.

“You got worked over in the corridor. We’re back on the Dauntless now.” The staff had told him that this would be a shock when they woke up.

He watched them attempt to move their arm until realizing they were trying to get the cast off.

“Hey,” the man said reaching out his left hand to take their wrist.

“Wait Ripley. You’re in a cast.”

When Ripley began to stir he didn’t react because he thought it was just another unconscious movement. Though when they slowly opened their struggling eyes his widened. Relief and frustration washed over him. He was glad to see them awoken, yet frustrated that he doubted they would on some level.
-

In his sweatshirt covering his bandages.

Like a watchful hawk he stayed there. Waiting for them to wake up. So he could be sure.

going to make things worse.”

His body was starting to overpower his stubbornness. Though he gave no reply he turned and followed her off for treatment.

It would be some 10 hours before he returned. Most of the surgery was finished enough that visitors were allowed. Reigh sat himself by their bed-

look their way.

“Yes?”

“It’s been two hours sir. We need to give you a full once over. Please.”

The feeling of pain still covered half his body. He wore only his tech suit after the armor was removed hastily for emergency care.

“How long,” he asked.

“I don’t know sir. But staying here is only-

He had said it enough times to re-convince himself of it ten times over. Reigh didn’t know why he kept repeating it. Since they both got back he hadn’t left them. Even his wounds only received minor treatment.

“Commander?”

The voice came from a medical officer from his left. He made no effort to-

knelt by their side holding them steady as the pelican entered the atmosphere. His body still burning under scorched armor, alive. Homeward bound by Ripley’s side.

𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸.. 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴..

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸..

𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘧𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨.. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵.. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵..

….

The medic linked their tacpad to Ripley’s sensors. “Stabilizing in progress.”

Reigh was-

down onto the field landing gear out.

“Ripley..” he said pulling them into his arms. “We made it..”

𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘴. 𝘕𝘪𝘫𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥-

𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘺..

He came to hearing the warning beeps from his Mjolnir. His visor was cracked down the middle and his body felt like it was on fire.

“𝘚𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢. 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭. 𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺?”

Reigh forced himself into a kneel. Ripley was at his side… still alive.. the pelican roared-