And then there were five For Amethyst Part 3 David sighed again. He'd better make a list of alternate agents just in case, but they'd all be a far slide down to second best. Just as Mark was a perfect candidate for the program, Charles was the perfect man for this mission, and replacing him could very well cost them the war. Which put David in an awkward position: hoping his best friend would choose duty over love. Knowing which way Charles usually leaned, David had to wonder why Madeline had ever seen anything in either of them. Frankly, she deserved better. # David stared at his phone. A single text stared back: "We follow Mad's plan. Congrats. It's a boy!" After all his trouble to talk to Charles in person, this is the thanks he gets? A text congratulating him on becoming an instant father? Having that shipping container take some extra, bumpy detours before reaching Riga was starting to sound pretty good. Grumbling under his breath, David turned his attention back to his work. Hours of running around had seriously eaten into his day. A moment later, his office door opened, and Rona -- his secretary -- peeked inside. He eyed her apologetic expression with slight dread. "What is it now?" "Madeline asked me to remind you to collect Mark from daycare and bring him to the hospital." David frowned, the pressures already starting to suffocate him. What would it be like in three days? "I'm pretty sure she has a husband." "Who's currently prepping for a test flight." Damn. David sighed, checking the time. Didn't they have any other friends? "I have something I need to finish. Remind me in a half hour." "Of course." He waited until the door closed before groaning in frustration. There was no point in calling Madeline. She'd just tell him to get used to it, and to let Mark get used to him. Most fathers got at least nine months' warning. Three days, three weeks, or even three months wasn't enough time. Not to figure out how to be a father. A spark of disgust drove away his self-pity, though. Madeline was dying. Charles had to leave her and Mark behind for the sake of every citizen and world within the Federation. And a happy four-year-old child was about to have his own world changed, forever. As problems went, David supposed his paled in comparison. He headed back toward the office, reminding himself that didn't have the luxury of hoping he'd make this work. He had no other choice. For Madeline's sake, he had to. # David stared down at curious blue eyes, wondering how to best approach this. "Your mother asked me to pick you up." The four-year-old loosely held a stuffed powder blue airplane. "Why?" Now there was a loaded question. With relief, David noticed Celia, the daycare manager, approaching. Due to testing so many children within Intergalactic Security, he spoke with Celia fairly often. Her smile was definitely forced. Did she know? "Madeline called," said Celia, sadness etching fine lines in her friendly features. "She realized you don't have a car seat." Yes, she knew. And he hadn't even considered that he'd need a special seat. "No, I don't." "We have a spare. I'll get it." Mark had given up waiting for an answer to his question. Watching him pretend his plane was flying, David wished life could stay that simple. Would the other children he found for his project be like this? So young and full of life? They'd be orphans, just like Mark would be within a month, technically. At least he'd have caretakers for the project's children, or he hoped. Surely Security Chief Paulson was just joking when suggesting that David house and raise the whole brood. "Patty, watch the kids for a moment," called Celia. She approached with a car seat. "They're not the easiest things to install if you've never done it before. I'll give you a hand." David took the odd contraption from her, and she scooped the boy into her arms. He tuned out her chatter as she kept Mark entertained, juggling work and personal issues in his head, then swapped the car seat for the boy so Celia could install it. While he'd carried Mark before to take him to testing, the process never felt natural. Now it felt even less so. The boy squirmed in his arms, straining toward something. "My plane!" "I'll get it." Celia picked up the plane, setting it in the back seat. "All right, let's get you situated." David gladly handed Mark over. The moment the boy could reach the plane, it was back in his grubby little hands, mock flying as Celia cinched him in. "Is that sanitary?" David watched uneasily. "Helps build their immune systems." Celia smiled, touching Mark's cheek. "Be good for David." "Okay." She closed the door and sighed. "Poor thing. It's good of you to help." "It's what friends do." David shifted uncomfortably on his feet. How could he not help? Madeline was ill because of his project, while he sent Charles for a mission deep into dangerous territory. Yeah, he was a great friend. # David drifted in and out of listening to Mark's excited tale. Apparently his plane was flying around the world, with Charles piloting and Mark co-piloting. David couldn't help but wonder if Mark would retain his enthusiasm for aircraft and flight after his father's "crash." When they arrived at the hospital, David parked in the visitors' lot. It took him a moment to free Mark from his strappy prison, and he had a minor heart attack as the boy leapt from the back seat onto the asphalt, plane held high for an apparent dive-bombing run. The child had his father's fearlessness, that was for sure. Somehow he closed the doors and locked the car without losing Mark. He turned to his charge, who smiled up at him with bright eyes so much like his mother's. When Mark offered his hand, David took it, seeing the value in an impromptu leash. Though being a tall man, walking while holding a four-year-old's hand required some adjustments. Hopefully with practice he could manage it with dignity. As they crossed the parking lot, David revised his estimate of just how much help he'd need for his project. Five children, all to receive implants that would make them something more than human. Whether any of them would be as young as Mark when they arrived remained to be seen, but he had the bad feeling that another year here and there would make them more of a handful, not less. When they reached the automatic doors, Mark suddenly stopped. He looked around the bland lobby with wide eyes, gripping David's hand harder, and David was forced to stop and lift him. "Mama's here?" Mark gripped David's suit coat. There was no point in lying. "Yes. She's here." David already knew which room she was in. When they stepped in to see her, Mark went completely still and quiet, taking in the sight of his mother hooked up to an IV and monitors. She looked pale, though a bit better than she had when she collapsed. "Hey, Munchkin," Madeline said with a tired smile, holding out her hands to Mark. The boy reached for her. Still reeling from the sight of her weakened form, and not sure what else to do, David set him on her bed. She pulled Mark in close, stroking his hair and offering soft assurances. The enormity of what David had promised hit him again. Mark wouldn't be part of the program. They wouldn't have the barrier of superior and trainee between them. In three weeks, if the worst-case prognosis was correct, he really would be the father of Madeline's son.