A warm hand squeezed mine. Maverick? It's got to be him... am I still at home? The hand squeezed mine again. "Come on Tia. Wake up for me." Maverick's voice whispered to me.

No this is too soft to be the floor. I don't hurt as much. "Please wake up Tia. I need you. Tobin needs you."

Tobin! He's... right here... I feel him. "That's it, Tia. I know you can hear me."

I can hear you Maverick, but my body's not answering me.

"Do that again.... yes that's it. You see she is waking up."

Waking up? I'm not asleep. "She's moving but..."

What's going on? Why didn't that man finish his sentence? His hand is still there... maybe if I concentrate on it. "Tia!"

Maverick I'm here you don't need to shout. "You see she's holding my hand now."

"Yes I see it but it could be just a spasm."

Spasm? Not a chance. "Tia he's not convinced. They are trying to take Tobin."

They want to take Tobin! No, they can't! Come on Tia speak. A moan escaped me as I tried to speak. A flash of light as I tried to open my eyes.

"You see she's trying, so give her time."

"We don't have time. The boy's father wants him back, and there's no evidence to say he was in the cult."

Ouch, Tobin that.. "hurts."

What's wrong? Why is the room silent? "Tia? What did you say?"

"Tobin.." that hurts.

"OK, there's no denying that."

Tobin "don't cry."

"Tia it's so good to hear your voice."

Maverick are you crying? "I'll get someone."

"Mum.. they want me to go back to him..."

Not if I have anything to do with it! "Can you open your eyes for me, Tia?"

I want to Maverick... but it's "bright."

"I know, it's daytime. I can close the blinds." I felt him pull at my arm. "There it's darker."

I opened my eyes slowly. Maverick smiled and squeezed my hand. I squeezed back. "There you are."

He moved and kissed my forehead. "Mum!" I looked down at Tobin.

I move my other arm to rest over him. It felt heavy and alien to me. "Tobin... don't cry." He gripped me tighter. "Ahh!"

"Be gentle Tobin. She's still got stitches."

Maverick offered me a straw. I drank the water. Why does my mouth feel like I haven't drunk in days?

Two men walked into the room. One looked like a doctor the other was a man with a folder. "Miss Frost?" I looked at the doctor. "Miss Frost, do you know where you are?"

We're doing this, are we? Alright, I'll play. They are not taking Tobin! "Hospital."

"Do you know what happened to you?"

I looked at Maverick and then at Tobin. I don't know what they have said. "I was stabbed, shot and beaten."

The doctor nodded and the other man spoke up. "Miss Frost, Tobin's farther..."

"Is a member of a cult. I was there when he joined. I'm tired." My voice sounded strained and faded in and out.

Maverick stroked my hair. "Can this wait she's only just woken up?"

"Yes.. but not for long. We need to get this sorted. We need more than your word on this."

I used the hand that Maverick had been holding to stroke his face. "8 of 8, 12 of 12."

Maverick smiled. "I'll tell Roland. You will have your proof."

"She's talking nonsense." The man with the folder said.

I frowned at him. "She's not talking nonsense. She just told me where to find your proof."

"That's true. She uses cryptic clues to tell us where things are. Tia, it's so good to see you awake." Roland stood in the doorway, smiling and holding flowers.

"We will leave you for a while. Don't keep her up too long. If she's tired let her rest." The doctor said, then he led the other man out.

Roland came in followed by the chief and Janna. "What are you all doing here?" I asked.

"Mac hasn't left your side for more than an hour since you came in here. We've been coming to make sure he takes care of himself. A week ago he said your eyes fluttered and you flinched when the nurse tried to look in your eyes. Every time we came in he told us of your attempts to wake up."

I smiled looking up at Maverick. He didn't leave me... I think I knew that. "I see. I seem to remember my hand being held, and a small warm lump next to me." I looked at Tobin.

He looked up at me tears rolling down his cheeks. "Tia.. we tried to keep them from taking Tobin, but just after the attack, a man stepped forward to claim him. We were able to slow it all down because he was a witness to what happened. Unfortunately, they have been pushing to get this sorted."

"What can I do?" I asked.

The chief sighed and looked at Janna. "Tobin, would you show me to that garden?" Tobin shook his head holding me.

I tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up at me and I used my hands to say. I need to tell them what happened in sky. Do you want to stay for this? He answered me by nodding. That means you will need to tell them what you saw.

He took a deep breath. "I know Mum. I want to live with you... no new rules!" Maverick chuckled and kissed Tobin's head.

"No new rules." I frowned at them both.

"I said the word's mum. He's my dad now."

I laughed. "Ahh, I see. In that case, I guess I should talk to Maverick. For now, I think we should talk about your past."

Maverick frowned at me for that. I smiled at him and sipped at the water he offered me. "I was a member of the church of sky. My husband was the right-hand man of the leader at the time. I was there next to him at every event. Including the acceptance and marriage of Tobin's father. I saw him beat his wife at the time of punishment. I was there when he took his second and third wife. I left before Tobin was born. When I saw his mother at my charity with Tobin I reached out to her and she knew me. We saw each other frequently and she showed me her bruises. She wasn't just punished at the time of punishment."

I shifted winching at the pain in my side. Maverick helped me sit up and offered me a drink. Tobin moved when I did so he could cuddle into my chest. To my surprise, he took up the story.

"My real mum told me she needed to get me to safety. We left the house in the night. We walked and walked, we hid when we heard people. They came for us. We slept in bushes and under trees. We had to hunt to eat but food was hard to find as we had to keep moving. We were hungry all the time until we were close to Mum Tia's house. We were walking at night when we heard people. Mum hid me in a bush as they got close. My dad... he hit her... over and over..."

Tears welled up in his eyes. I rubbed his back and whispered, "You don't have to keep going."

He turned his face into my chest. "He killed her!" I hugged him to me and he gripped the hospital gown I was in.

Maverick rubbed his back. "That's enough Tobin. You don't need to say any more" Maverick's voice was soft and full of sorrow.

"Mac is right Tobin. I heard you say that and can pass that on to the people that are dealing with this. You saw him commit murder, so he can't have you." Tobin nodded against me.

The room went quiet as Tobin sniffled and cried, I held him to me and yawned. My body hurt and felt wrong. My muscles wobbled like they were unused for a long time.

"Now as lovely as I'm sure it is for her to see you all, Tia needs rest." Maverick stood as he spoke.

"Alright, Mac. We will be back later." The chief said smiling at me.

Janna came over while Maverick through the dead flowers out of the vase. "I made you some nice biscuits." She put them down on the bedside table and patted my hand. "I'll try and get back soon."

"Thanks, Janna."

She left with the chief. Maverick and Roland were whispering in the corner over the fresh flowers. "What are you two arguing about?"

They both turned looking like two naughty boys. "I was just saying Maverick should come with me. He said no."

I smiled. "Maybe later. For now, I'd like him to stay." Roland smiled and nodded.

He left the room and Maverick came back to my side. He took my hand and I sighed. "Are you OK Tia?"

"I'm fine. We do need to talk."

He nodded. "What about?"

I smiled looking down at Tobin who was almost asleep. "Tobin made you his dad.. he didn't tell you what that means did he?" Maverick shook his head looking confused. I couldn't help laughing softly. "In the church of sky men were the pillars of community. Women had to do what they were told. In essence, any man was above a woman even their son's. So if a woman is told she is a boy's mother then asks a man to be his dad... if the man accepts then they are essentially married."

Maverick looked stunned. "I walked right into that one huh?"

I nodded. "Yep. Although I didn't exactly make it clear to you what sky was like..."

"Oh, you did make it clear... in words and the way you acted towards me. I should have realised."

He surprised me by smiling "What does being your husband mean?"

I frowned. "I won't hold you to it Maverick."

He leaned over me and kissed me. "What if I don't mind?"

It was my turn to be stunned. "What?"

He chuckled. "I watched you move about, dodge bullets and be beaten, all while being hurt and exhausted from the fits you were having. When you fell unconscious on your living room floor... everyone saw what I've been denying myself. You're a strong, intelligent woman and I really like you."

I smiled. "I really like you too Maverick. I'm still not going to hold you to it."

He sat on his chair and held my hand. "I was scared you wouldn't wake up."

"We've been there before. After fighting so hard to be free of those people do you think I'd let myself die?"

He shook his head chuckling. "I'd believe you if you told me you outwitted the Grim Reaper"

I laughed and it turned into a yawn.

A nurse walked in and saw me yawning. "I think it's time for you two, to go home."

Maverick opened his mouth to protest but I squeezed his hand. "Tobin needs to sleep. I mean real sleep, I know you two have been by my side this whole time. How long was it?"

Maverick shook his head. "I don't know. I've not kept track."

"It's been a little over a month."

Maverick looked surprised at the nurse. "A month?" The nurse nodded.

I stroked his hand with my thumb. "Go home Maverick. Take Tobin and have a bath and some sleep."

He stood and kissed me. "I'll call Roland to come and get us."

I let his hand go and he strode out of the room. "Miss Frost... when he leaves we must talk about your health."

"You can talk to me now." I yawned again.

"I'd rather discuss this when your friend has gone."

I laid my head back too tired to argue any more. "Fine. It doesn't matter though, I'll tell him what you said."

She smiled sadly at me and I closed my eyes. I heard her leave and was dozing until I heard footsteps again. I opened my eyes and smiled. "You didn't need to wake up."

"I was only dozing. How long do I have you for?"

He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "About an hour. I left him a message on the answering machine."

I reached for him and he took my hand. "That nurse was acting odd, what did you tell her?" He looked angry all of a sudden and made to get up. "Maverick. I'm asking, not upset."

He took a deep breath and then looked at the floor. "She asked about Tobin. I told her you both came from the same abusive home and that you had rescued him. She saw him making those hand gestures at me and I told him to stop. I had to answer her questions, Tia."

I squeezed his hand drawing his attention to me. "It's alright. You haven't upset me or done anything I wouldn't have done."

He sighed shaking his head. "I'm pretty sure she thinks I hurt you."

I pulled him and he stood and leaned over. I gave him a kiss. "I will set her straight husband."

He straightened and smiled. "You an odd woman Tia. That's not to say I don't like it."

"I like being unpredictable. It suits me."

He smiled sitting on his chair again. "You know I'm not holding you to that ether."

"You couldn't even if you wanted to. My last husband couldn't and we were married in the legal sense."

Tobin shifted and started moaning. I stroked his head. "Shhh Tobin you're safe." He settled instantly.

"How do you do that? When he did that while you were unconscious it took an hour to settle him down."

"The magic of mum."

I smiled and laid my head back. "Well, that's not fair."

"Didn't you sometimes just want your mum?"

Maverick nodded. "Yes, I did. She had a way of making everything better."

"See. Boys and their mums."

He sighed looking at Tobin. "I truly am blind if even he saw it before me." I yawned covering my mouth with my hand. "You should go to sleep, Tia."

I smiled at him. "I will when you're gone. Besides I just spent a month asleep according to the nurse."

Maverick didn't look amused. "Tia you're exhausted."

"I want to stay awake and talk to you. There's a lot more on your mind that you're not saying and I wish to hear you out."

The cool look he had on his face melted into one of concern "Can I stay with you and let Roland take Tobin?"

What on earth would he refuse a comfortable bed for? "I can't and won't make you do anything, but I don't know why you want to stay so badly you would make your back ache worse."

"You." The word was quiet and he was looking at the floor.

"Oh, Lancelot what would Arthur say?"

He blushed? He's blushing over a pet name. "You don't know how much I wanted to hear you call me Lancelot"

I chuckled and he looked at me. "You truly have fallen for me haven't you?"

He nodded blushing like a schoolboy. "Your sweet I..." My words trailed off as a wave of nausea hit me like a train.

"Tia?" Maverick stood and touched my face.

"I'm...." Again the nausea hit me and I tasted that metallic flavour on the back of my tongue that I got every time I was going to be sick.

Maverick hit the call button and a nurse ran in. "What's..."

Maverick picked up Tobin and I rolled to the other side. I threw up over the side of the bed. My body tried to throw up more than I had in my stomach. It left me feeling weak and shaking. Maverick was rubbing my back and the nurse came over offering one of those cardboard bowls they give you in the hospital.

"Are you alright now Tia?" Maverick asked.

I rolled back seeing Tobin kneeling on the bed rubbing his eyes. "I think so."

Maverick brushed a bit of hair out of my face. "You sure?"

"Yes."

The nurse watched us and went outside the room for a moment. Maverick offered me water. I took it in a shaking hand sipping it slowly. "What caused that?" Maverick took a hair tie and started to comb my hair into it with his fingers.

"I don't know. I just felt sick all of a sudden."

Tobin moved up the bed a little and offered me a new bear I'd not seen before. "Here mum. You need a bear." I took the toy and cuddled it to me. It was a giraffe. "I got him for you. Hugging Ted makes me feel better. So maybe it will make you better."

I smiled at him. "I feel better when I hug you."

He smiled and moved up the bed hugging me gently. "You hug this giraffe to fill him with your magic hugs and I'll be better even quicker."

He took it and hugged it tightly leaning against me. "You need to name him."

I smiled and stroked his hair. "Ernie."

"Ernie the giraffe meet Ted." Tobin cuddled both toys into his chest.

Maverick took the glass from me. He looked worried. "You know I'm in the right place me to find out why I was sick don't you?"

Maverick nodded looking more tired than I'd seen him before. "That's decided it! I'm staying here."

"Maverick I'll be fine. I'm sure you can go home and..."

He started shaking his head as soon as I said home. "No Tia I need to know your alright."

"I'm fine Maverick. I was just sick." He looked a little hurt.

The nurse and a doctor came in. "I was suggesting Maverick not telling. You want to stay you can stay." He brightened.

"Miss Frost we need to discuss your nausea." He looked meaningfully at Maverick and Tobin.

I sighed and hugged Tobin. "Roland's coming to take you to his house for a bath and to sleep in a bed. Will you go with Maverick to wait for him?"

Tobin nodded and slid off the bed. "OK, mum."

He took Maverick's hand. "I'll be back." Maverick said kissing my cheek.

"Bring me something nice." He smiled as Tobin pulled him out of the room.

The nurse closed the door and the doctor cleared his throat. "Miss Frost while we were putting you back together we noticed some odd bruises and scars on your body. We were wondering if you needed.."

"No. It wasn't Maverick that hurt me. The bruises were from that gear I was wearing I had a fit and the bloody stuff hurt me. The scars are from when I was with my ex-husband. He beat me badly."

The nurse shook her head. "But he said he wasn't sure if you should wake up!"

I frowned. "I superpose I can see why he would say that. I've had a hard lonely life. I'm sure he meant that it might be better because then I wouldn't be in pain anymore. What's this got to do with my nausea?"

They looked at each other "Miss Frost we need to do some tests but before we do we need..."

Maverick knocked on the door. "Can I come back in?"

"Do you want him here?" The nurse asked.

I nodded. The doctor opened the door and Maverick walked in. "Do you know what made you sick?" Maverick asked as he came to my side.

I shook my head and regretted it. The nausea was back. "More tests needed."

"You've gone pale?" Maverick said putting his hand on my head.

I moved the bowl closer to myself. "Miss Frost we need to ask you some personal questions. We think that we know why you are sick and...." He stopped talking as I put up a hand.

I picked up the bowl and threw up again. The water in my stomach had made it less painful than last time, but not by much.

Maverick rubbed my back and offered me a glass of water. The nurse took the bowl and left another on the bed for me. "Doctor if you know what this is..." I rested my hand on Maverick's arm and he stopped taking.

"Well, I think I've worked out your question doctor. If you want to know if I could be pregnant the answer is yes." Maverick sat down on the chair heavily.

The doctor nodded writing on the chart. "I've ordered the test. The nurse will be in shortly to help you with it."

He put the chart down and left the room. I looked over at Maverick and he held the giraffe Tobin had been hugging to his chest. "Are you alright?"

He looked up at me eyes dull. "I...."

I moved gingerly and patted the bed. "Come here."

Maverick responded to my request without thought. He came to my bedside and sat on the edge. I pulled at him gently and he climbed on. It was a bit of a squeeze on the hospital bed but it was also a comfort. I laid my head on his chest and had his arm around me. "Tia.."

"Shhh Maverick. I'm tired this can wait."

He stroked my back and kissed the top of my head. "You're right. This can wait." He yawned and I put the blanket over his legs. He put the cardboard bowl nearby. "Just in case." He whispered.