Ice and Peace (18 page)
“Sure, come on in,” Keegan said.
“Thanks.” Berger closed the door behind him.
“Have a seat.
Berger smiled. “I just wanted to say it has been an honor to serve under you.”
“Thank you.” He poured himself a drink. After all that had transpired, he believed he’d earned it.
“Your wife is a remarkable woman.”
Keegan smiled. She was special, and he was lucky to have her.
“You know you’re the talk of the fleet,” Berger added.
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“At least this time, it’s something good.”
“I guess you’re right.” Keegan lifted the glass to his mouth then thought better of it. He was fine without it. He set the glass on the table in front of him.
“Gerald,” Keegan said, with his hand outstretched. “Thank you for stepping up. I’m not sure what’s going to happen next, but it has been a pleasure.”
“You’re welcome, sir. I’d serve with you anytime.”
The two shook hands.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to return to the bridge.”
“Very well.”
Keegan sat down in the chair across from his desk and stretched his legs out. Against the odds, they had worked together as a team and accomplished the mission successfully. He could not ask for anything more.
A knock at the door interrupted his moment of peace.
“Come in.” He stood up this time.
Caitlin walked in along with Doctor Bishop. Keegan didn’t know what to make of their visit.
“Hi,” he said, flustered.
He loved her, but guilt pounded at him. He wondered if he could ever look her in the eye again.
“Sorry to disturb you, Colonel.” Bishop closed the door behind him. “As any good doctor would do, I like to personally handle my patient’s follow-up.”
“Of course,” Keegan said, offering them a seat.
“First, I would like to offer my congratulations, not only for your wife’s medals but yours as well. I heard over the transom, that not only did you get this ship awarded for meritorious valor under combat, but you were awarded as well.”
He peeked at his wife and frowned. Instead of angry and hurt, she seemed to be glowing. “I don’t know, I hadn’t even checked.”
“Well, I did and believe me, this ship will have more ribbons on it than a Memorial Day parade.”
“If it helps the crew then I gladly receive them” Keegan stared at his wife. She winked at him.
Bishop handed him the scriv. “I also would like to inform you your wife is in good health, but is no longer on active duty per my orders.”
Keegan stumbled backward. “Really? How? Why?”
“For a couple of reasons. First, her body can’t take another beating like that. Besides, if it could, I would not recommend it. And I’ve given her the serum that will start to ease her off the cryo drugs, thereby reversing her condition.”
Speechless, Keegan closed the distance to his wife, not caring if his behavior might not be appropriate. He gripped her elbow with his free hand. Caitlin nodded with a big grin.
“You can do that?”
“Yes, I can and I’ve already done it.”
“That is the best news I’ve heard—”
“I had to,” Bishop said, interrupting him. “Those drugs aren’t good for the baby.”
The scriv in his hand fell to the floor. “The baby?” Keegan’s heart lurched into his throat.
“Yes, your wife is expecting. But nothing to fear, so far mother and child are fine. And in order to keep them that way, I’m effectively ending her career.”
Keegan gathered her in his embrace. As she wrapped her arms around him, he could feel all of misgivings melted away.
Bishop cleared his throat. “I always seem to catch you two in the middle of these things, so if you’ll excuse me….”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Keegan said, not bothering to watch him leave. He looked intently into his wife’s shining eyes. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes.” She nodded. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Are you happy?”
His mouth fell open before he gave her a warm, affectionate kiss. “Yes. Of course. A baby. We’re going to have a baby.”
“Yes!”
He drew back and settled a hand on her flat stomach. Wonder bombarded him. “How far along are you? When did you know?”
“He just told me before he told you and not far along. I guess it happened when we were together before you left.”
Keegan held her tightly once again then released her suddenly. “Oh my God. What did I do? I left you there. I could have killed you. I could have killed our child.” Anguish ran through him as he fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around her legs. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
She shushed him and stroked his hair. “I’m fine. The baby is fine. You did the right thing. And you came back for me. That is the most important thing. You came back for me.”
She beckoned him to rise. Nose to nose, they nuzzled each other.
“What are we going to do now?” she asked with a whisper.
For him, the answer was simple; it was time to go home, but could he? He still had his tour of duty to complete, even though Caitlin held everything he’d ever wanted, gave him everything he’d ever wanted. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he decided not to tell her.
He chuckled. “First, let’s get you back to port, then we’ll talk.”
“We have a lot to plan.” She nodded in agreement as he took her into his arms and kissed her.
“Indeed, we do.”
~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Clare Dargin is an author of Science Fiction and Military Science Fiction Romance. She has been writing stories all of her life before being published in 2007. She is a great fan of all things science fiction and romance and loves promoting the genre.
She is an educator by profession and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from a major mid-western university. She presently resides in the Midwestern United States and is pursuing a graduate degree. In the future she hopes to expand her writings to include non-fiction, historical romance, and contemporary novels.
You can visit Clare at:
A Wiccan descendent of a notorious victim of the Salem witch trials, Tessa Ledger is Kybernatia was supposed to be humanity’s newest paradise but that dream is all but gone. Ruined in an horrible terra forming accident, the planet was deemed no longer fit for humanity. Gabrielle Burle, project manager for the development of the planet, was forced out of her job as a veil of secrecy suddenly shrouded the planet.
Determined to find the truth, Gabrielle goes on a journey of discovery that leads to the one man with all the answers.
The Cold Warriors Universe – Book One
Left in cryogenic stasis for nearly a century, Caitlin Driskoll is awakened and drafted into a war she knows nothing about. Expected to defend a world where her kind is despised and expendable, she discovers love and respect from the one man who can’t be associated with her.
Lieutenant Colonel Medoro Keegan has spent a lifetime in the Marines. With no family to speak of, the Corps and his ship, the USS Blanchard, are all the loved ones he needs…until Caitlin sparks a fire within, that threatens to consume him if he doesn’t walk away.
Will he choose a life of certainty in the only world he knows or give it all to Caitlin and run the risk of losing someone, yet again?
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