"Wanna tell me what happened to Derek?" Commander Palmer said, looking angry.

"Finn shot his arm off while we were retrieving the device ONI wanted us to get from the museum's ruins."

"Colonel, Derek could have died," Palmer said, with serious concern on her face. 

"He volunteered to-"

"Volunteered to go with you. I got the idea that he would. What else did you get down there?" 

"Something that I had left at my house. We also saved that kid that Asher tortured." Zeus said.

Palmer waited for a moment to speak. "Here's your orders: I want your team on standby for the next five days," Palmer said, "while send the UNSC Frigate Revenge to Harvest with a full detachment of ODST's. Wait for Asher's next move."

Zeus sighed. He knew that Asher would strike anywhere when the Spartan's presence was not on Harvest.

"Besides," Palmer stated, "You're WIA. You need to rest. With Riley." She grinned. "You two need some time together anyways, Makara. Palmer out."

He sighed and walked out of the Communications Room. Riley waited for him. "So, what did Palmer have to say?" She asked out of curiosity.

"That Exodus Team has the next five days off, and that we have to wait for the Revenge to get here."

"We both know you can't wait for the Revenge to get here. As soon as you recover, you're going to be right back after Asher."

"Well, we can. Wasn't that boy with us?" Zeus asked Riley.

"Yes, he was. Let's go try to get to know him and comfort him." She said.

"You read my mind." Zeus said.

-------------------------

Zeus and Riley walked into the infirmary to see the little boy staring at the ceiling. Heartbreak was in his eyes.

"Hey, buddy, what's your name?" Zeus asked. 

"P-Peter," the little boy sniffled.

Zeus saw the pain this little boy felt. It was a familiar pain to him.

"What's wrong?" Riley asked, kneeling down and putting her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm an orphan!" He wept. "T-they b-br-broke my a-a-arm and my leg!" He sniffled in between his words. He couldn't have been but five years old.

Zeus knelt down, moved with compassion, and hugged him. "Buddy, I know how you feel," he started, and cried with the little boy. Riley did the same.

For a couple hours, the three sat in the infirmary, getting to know each other. Zeus felt more and more inclined to love Peter with everything he had, and so did Riley.

"You want to sleep in my room tonight?" Zeus asked.

Peter's eyes lit up. "Yes, please. It would be a lot better than here."

Zeus arose and pressed the intercom. "Hey, Major. Can you move a bed into my room?"

"I've already put one in there, and made yours a double bed for you and the Lieutenant."

"Thanks Major. Anything I can do in return?" Zeus said with gratitude.

"No, but Commander Palmer told me Commander Akasutchi with the Chaplain's division is coming on the Revenge, so you guys might be having your wedding sooner than we thought."

Zeus smiled. He would tell Riley when the kiddo was asleep.

---------

Zeus put Peter on his shoulders and walked to his room, Riley in tow. Everyone they passed smiled. It was rare to see a little boy happy nowadays.

When they arrived to his room, Zeus set Peter on Peter's bed.  Peter started crying from the pain in his arm and leg. Riley looked at Zeus, and before he reached the door, Derek opened it with a bottle and a syringe.

"Erica says that this should help the little guy's pain go away and reform his bones faster," Derek said, walking up to Peter and kneeling down. "I'm gonna help it go away," he said, and before the little guy could protest Derek put the needle in his arm and injected the syringe. He arose afterwards then nodded, and left to go be with Erica.

Soon after Derek left, Peter fell asleep in his bed. Zeus got up and tucked him in.

"Poor guy," Riley whispered, walking up behind Zeus and wrapping her arms around her. "I gotta go get my clothes and get a shower." She kissed his neck, and his skin tingled. He almost called out for her not to leave but then realized she was coming right back.

Zeus turned around and looked out of his window at the planet below. The fires in the wilderness had subsided, and he saw a glow arise from the north. Someone had activated the Forerunner tower in the North, and it gleamed from the planet's surface. However, it didn't attack the Fire of Dusk. It just glowed like a torchlight like it was guiding somebody home.

It's probably Asher and his cronies, Zeus thought, and awaited Riley's return.

If I don't make it out of this... What of Riley and Peter? What of my calling? Zeus started to get aggravated with his racing thoughts.

"You will not lose anyone else," Jesus spoke into his heart.

He sighed a breath of relief. He trusted Jesus.

Riley returned a short time later, and Zeus went to go shower and change his bandages. He walked out of the bathroom shirtless. "Can you help wrap me up?" He whispered to Riley.

She nodded and gently wrapped the bandages tightly. "You think... you think that we could adopt Peter after we're married?'

Zeus smiled and nodded as she finished wrapping his bandages, and his skin tingled as she ran her fingers down his back lightly. "Commander Akasutchi is coming on the Revenge to marry us." 

She smiled. "Really? That's great! We'll have a family and become the protectors of Harvest after this is all over." 

He heard Peter turn over and silently giggled and put a finger to Riley's lips before he kissed her again. He fell back onto his pillow, smiling, and she cuddled up next to him.

"We will get out of this alive, won't we?" She asked.

"Yes, I'll make sure of it." He kissed her for a long time, feeling complete. She was beautiful in every single way to him and he loved her. Her blue eyes made him melt and he fell asleep centimeters from her bright pink lips. She smiled and pulled herself to where she could rest her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her.

The both of them, for the second time in three days, felt safe and secure.