Understanding... of sorts

Posted on Thu Nov 12th, 2020 @ 4:55pm by Liam O'Connor & Commander Hades,MD

791 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Episode 107 – Recovery
Location: Kitty O'Shea Bar, Promenade
Timeline: MD5

Today had been quite the day and it wasn't over yet.

Dressed as a wicked witch, Kitty O'Shea had thrown herself into the celebrations. Not only was O'Shea's looking every inch the part but she was still on cloud nine having her family back around her. Oh she nagged and complained yet she had so badly missed her husband and - despite his mutterings - she knew he had missed her too.

But it was not only Jimmy back under her roof. Her nephew and his son had come all the way from Earth for an extended visit.

And oh, he was adorable! Joshua had grown so much since she had said a tearful goodbye and he had her firmly wrapped around his tiny little finger. Without doubt, this witch was completely smitten.

He now slept, having attended a children's party earlier. And the owner of the bar was in high spirits as she stood at the bar, updating their old fashioned chalkboard with the spooktacular specials for the night ahead. It was those quiet few minutes when the staff outnumbered patrons and she had long ago learned to use these times wisely.

Half way through drawing a ghost, she heard the sound of glass shattering and ungentlemanly cursing. "Boys!" she bellowed just as she was distracted by a new arrival in the bar, her irritation morphing into a delighted smile.

"Doctor Hades! Come in, have a seat. Let me pour you a drink..." she ushered him in as she set aside the board, already setting down a glass on the bar. "Delighted to see you."

"I won't stay long. I wanted to thank you for the food. Skye and I both enjoyed it."

Kitty beamed, never one to miss a compliment. "You are most welcome dear," she said kindly. "Now, I can't have you stop in and not give you -"

She was about to say 'a drink' when there was another commotion from the back. She sighed, propping open the door, "for the love of all that is holy, what are you two doing back there, you are going to wake the baby!"

About to close the door she stopped, adding in, "and I heard that Jimmy O'Shea!" before she shut the door. Taking a deep breath she turned to face Hades, smiling, "now, where was I..."

"Uncle Jimmy wants to know how many you -" Entering from the door behind Kitty, Liam's question died in his throat when he saw the man she was talking to. He was clearly braced for something bad but took a deep breath and inwardly steeled himself as he nodded in greeting. "Doctor Hades."

Hades looked up at Liam. "Hello" He simply said.

"Good to see you," the Irishman offered.

"Jimmy came home yesterday," Kitty smiled, "not a word to me, mind. And in behind him comes this one and the wee lad. Oh! He is just so handsome. Don't know where he gets it from..."

"Indeed." He eyed Liam. "And your wife?"

"Oh, his mom and I didn't get married. Turned out she wasn't that keen on being a mother at all, she bailed. It's just the two of us, and Kitty of course," Liam said, attempting for nonchalant and missing the mark. He was angry. Not for himself, but for his son. He deserved a mother who gave a damn about him.

"I am sorry. That is not right." He said. He still wanted to not trust this man. He wondered briefly if Carolyn and he...then he chided himself. No. She was his son's wife and always would be.

"I saw Carolyn earlier. She... she looked amazing. And. you know, pregnant. We didn't get a chance to talk but I promise you, just like before, I have no intention of hurting her. I wont get involved in her life unless she wants it. So you can keep the airlocks sealed."

"The pregnancy is progressing well and both she and my grandchild are well." He looked at Liam. "Airlocks are always unsealed."

Only barely hiding his surprise at the mention of 'grandchild', Liam nodded. What was he talking about... grandchild? Yet he didn't voice his question. He'd speak to Carolyn eventually, he was sure. As for airlocks, he didn’t doubt he would be on the wrong side of one if he made the wrong move.

“Unsealed, gotcha Doc. Did you hear that? He must be awake...”

Kitty chuckled as he made a hasty and far from subtle retreat. Shaking her head she reached under the bar and set down a small box, “some extras from my baking earlier today. No arguments. You can share them with your daughter. Now, how about a quick drink before you go..?”


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