xp_logs | Nathan, Friday morning

Nathan wakes up to the realization that things are indeed under control.

There was a baby making noises at him. And oddly, it was not his daughter. Nathan opened his eyes blearily and found himself face-to-face with his namesake, who was sitting on the bed scowling at him.

"Good morning to you too," he muttered to the baby, whose scowl only deepened.

"Doesn't he look chipper this morning?" Mina asked cheerfully, from somewhere on the other side of the room, just before sunlight abruptly flooded the place. Nathan groaned and pulled the covers over his head, and she laughed. "You've been asleep for twelve hours, Nathan. Not that I begrudge you the rest, but if I let this go on much longer you'd be barking at all of us."

"I would not," Nathan grumbled, as he shoved the covers back and sat up - or tried to. "Ow." His ribs hurt. His head hurt too, possibly more. "Shit, I feel like shit..." Young Nathan George chose that moment to essay one of his rare smiles, and Nathan raised an eyebrow at him. "Mina, your son disturbs me."

"I know. Isn't he wonderful?" Mina was giving him one of her more-than-slightly-disturbing smiles. But she was also advancing on him with a cup of coffee, which she handed over as she sat down on the edge. Nate immediately crawled over to his mother's lap, and she smiled down at him much more tenderly.

It was very good coffee. Of course. "Twelve hours," Nathan said, after he'd had a few more sips. "So it's-"

"About noon, yes."

"Damn. I'm supposed to be at the hospital."

"Dom and the others aren't going anywhere," Mina said gently, meeting his eyes.

"Well, actually, they were talking about letting Chris out today," Nathan pointed out, taking as deep a breath as he dared and letting it out slowly. He was sore, but his head was actually clearer than it had been. The sleep had done him good. "Those phone calls-"

"Have been made."

"Oh. Good," Nathan said after a moment, smiling a little. The baby was playing very intently with the buttons on Mina's blouse, and Nathan tilted his head at mother and child, feeling oddly wistful. He missed Ray and Moira.

Mina was giving him a knowing look. "When are you going home, Nathan?"

"I was thinking Monday. Since the hospital and the nursing service thinks we can get everyone home over the weekend."

"Good," she said firmly. "Just keep in mind, there's nothing stopping you from going home and then coming back."

Nathan met his friend's understanding gaze, and after a moment, smiled. "True."