Author's Note: Fill for a LiveJournal Week 30 Friday one word prompt "Force" for Wash and Taylor.

And this one's wrapped up. Yes, Gracie takes Malcolm down a notch.

This is set in the context of my other stories, post-series.

Disclaimer is as usual – no profit, not mine, just borrowing.

Alicia finishes stitching up the gash in Nathaniel's shoulder. She's feeling slightly mortified about her little break down. She doesn't ever do that, and now that she did, she isn't quite sure how to act. Nathaniel, of course, can tell that she's uncomfortable. He turns slightly, and she meets his eyes. He looks concerned, but he doesn't say anything due to the fact that Carter, Shannon and Reynolds are all hovering nearby.

She just nods slightly to let him know she's OK, or at least that she's OK enough. He nods back and turns away again, letting her bandage the stitched up area. "How many?" His voice is gruff when he speaks, but she can hear a teasing note to it.

She snorts. "Only fifteen. Just a scratch." She pauses, getting serious. "We'll need to let Elisabeth check it when we get home. We cleaned it as best we could, but I want to be sure it doesn't get infected. How's your head?"

With his left hand, he reaches back and gingerly rubs at the bump on the back of his head. "Pounding a little, but it's OK."

She hums in disapproval at that. "Carter, do we have any pain meds?"

He comes over, rummaging through the kit. "Basic analgesics, codeine or morphine?"

Nathaniel speaks before she can reply. "The analgesics."

"Nathaniel…"

"Alicia, I'm OK. The analgesics will take the edge off. That's all I need." His tone makes it clear that he will brook no arguments on this.

She holds up her hands in defeat, and his eyes narrow slightly. As Carter hands him the pills, Nathaniel says, "Carter, now that I'm seen to, take a look at her hands and arms, please."

Alicia furrows her brow. "I'm fine."

Carter gets to her and looks at her arms. "Sit, Wash. You're not fine. These scrapes need to be cleaned, and there's a gash on your left hand that may need a stitch or two."

"Carter, I don't need stitches." She suddenly feels a flash of anxiety at the thought of staying in the cave for even another few minutes.

"I'll be the judge of that. Sit." Carter gives her a hard look, and she just expels a breath and sits down next to Nathaniel, knowing Carter's right. She actually thinks the gash in her hand will require at least three stitches to close.

He works silently for a moment, and then he quietly asks, "You had to know this needed to be stitched. Why fight me?"

She looks away. "I just really don't want to be here anymore."

Her voice is shakier than usual, and Carter sounds chagrined when he replies, "Damn, I'm sorry Wash, we could've done this in the rhino."

She shakes her head as she feels Nathaniel's left hand find her right, squeezing it tight. The small, comforting action ratchets her sudden anxiety down a few notches, and she squeezes back in gratitude. "It's OK. Just finish it up so we can get the hell out of this place."

"What happened?" Alicia and Nathaniel both look up to see Jim standing there, a questioning look on his face.

Nathaniel offers, "We got all the questions right."

That makes Jim and Carter look up with near-comical looks of surprise, somehow breaking through the last remnants of Alicia's uneasiness. She shakes her head. "And it turns out, we were right. Lucas didn't play fair. The barrier did shut down, but then the system blew up anyway. Per the hologram, there's no way we could have gotten them all, and so we must have gamed the system. Apparently, he tries to blow up cheaters."

Nathaniel is silent, but he keeps the pressure on her hand. She looks pensive for a moment. "What I don't get is why the barrier dropped. Why not just blow up the system with it still up? It certainly gave us time to get clear of the blast. If we'd been trapped in there, even if we'd gotten all the way to the barrier, the debris and shrapnel would likely have ripped us both to shreds."

Malcolm speaks up. "It may be as simple as he didn't know how. If he designed it one way and then decided to not let it really let you go, a secondary system might've been easier to set up than a redesign of the original system."

"At this point, I don't care." She looks at Malcolm. "Is it one hundred percent dead?"

"I believe so." Malcolm nods.

She turns to Nathaniel, who appears to be lost in thought. She quashes any concerns that gives her for now, turning back to Malcolm. "Not good enough. I want you to get a containment team back here within a few days. We're serious that Nathaniel and I aren't coming with you, believe it or not. Reilly or Reynolds will head up your escort team."

"I can do it, ma'am." Reilly joins them. "I'm sorry to intrude, but if we want to get back to the outpost by dark, we need to go."

Alicia nods. "Thanks, Laura." She stands, still holding Nathaniel's hand, prompting him to stand with her. She sees him wince a little when his right arm moves, so she looks back at Reilly. "Can you dig up something for me to use to immobilize the commander's arm? We'll be right behind you."

"Yes, ma'am!" The young woman, followed closely by Malcolm, heads out, and Jim and Carter grab Alicia and Nathaniel's packs. The others go as well, leaving Alicia and Nathaniel alone.

She looks up at him. "Are you OK?" He lifts an eyebrow at her. "Yes, I did lose it, and yes, I then freaked out a little just now, but you're quiet and you're rarely quiet. I got all my melting down out of the way, but I know you probably just have to process a little before your melt down." He actually snorts at that, but he doesn't argue.

He lifts their joined hands and drops a soft kiss on the back of hers. When he speaks, he sounds more tired than he has in a long time. "Let's get out of here, Alicia."

She knows that's his way of telling her that she's right but he isn't ready to talk about it. She just heads out, still holding his hand, him following close behind her. They make their way out and down the rocky hillside to the waiting rovers and rhino. Everyone is looking at them expectantly, clearly waiting for direction.

As much as she wants to be alone with Nathaniel, she doesn't think it's a good idea for her to drive them anywhere, as she's almost as physically and emotionally tired as he is. She makes the call for both of them. "Carter, Shannon," she looks at them, "Nathaniel and I will ride with you two in one of the rovers. Reilly, you can take Dunham and one of the privates in the other, and Mark, you take Maddy, Malcolm and the others in the rhino."

She doesn't wait for the others to agree, just heads to the rover she drove here yesterday. That gives her a moment's pause. She can't believe that she's only been here a little over twenty-four hours. Shaking her head, she keeps walking. Reilly meets them at their rover. She has a long piece of fabric in her hand.

Alicia smiles weakly at the young woman when she hands the fabric over. "Thanks, Laura." Reilly nods and heads to the other rover. Alicia drops Nathaniel's hand as Carter approaches. She calls, "Carter, come help me sling his right arm."

As Carter comes over, Nathaniel shoots her an irritated look. "It's fine. I don't need…"

She meets his irritation with tired exasperation. Before Carter gets to them, she says quietly, "Nathaniel, it's a bumpy ride, and we need to try to keep your arm still so the stitches in your shoulder don't pull. Please just let us do this with minimal fuss."

There must be something in her eyes that tells him that she's not up for their usual push-and-pull over injuries, because he nods, an apologetic look in his eyes. Her face softens, and she shoots him a grateful look as Carter gets to them. She doesn't say anything further, as she doesn't really want to say anything in front of Carter.

They help him get his arm immobilized while Jim loads their packs in the back of the rover. Once they have Nathaniel's arm set, Carter looks at Jim and then back at the two of them. "Wash, who do you want behind the wheel?"

She knows he's asking her if she wants to drive. Normally, she'd take control, but today, she doesn't want it. "You or Shannon. Fight it out between you. Nathaniel and I will take the back."

Nathaniel looks a little surprised, and so do Carter and Jim. Nathaniel rallies first. "You heard the lady, boys. Figure it out yourselves."

She smiles a little and climbs into the back seat of the rover, in the seat behind the driver. He climbs in the other side, sliding close to the middle. As soon as he settles, she scoots up next to him. He clearly anticipated her move, as he automatically raises his left arm, letting her curl into his side. He wraps his arm around her, and she drops her head to his good shoulder.

A moment later, Carter climbs in behind the wheel, and a disgruntled looking Jim takes the passenger side. Jim turns around to look at them, and taking in their positions, he smirks. "No making out back there, kids, and keep your hands where I can see them."

Carter's chuckle at that turns into an outright guffaw when Alicia and Nathaniel reply in unison, "Shut up, Shannon."

**WT**WT**WT**

Just as darkness is falling, they pull into the outpost. They all get out as the other rover and the rhino follow them into the gated area, and Carter and Jim close the gate behind the third vehicle. Alicia goes to the back and pulls out her pack and Nathaniel's. She puts hers over her shoulder and carries his with her uninjured hand. When he tries to take it from him, she shoots him an incredulous look. He looks annoyed, but he holds his free hand up in defeat.

As they enter the outpost, she remembers that the room she used last time has full size twin beds in it. The others have military style cots. She fully intends to take her usual space. She looks back at Jim and Carter. "Boys, hope you can find beds in the regular barrack space. You're evicted from my room."

While they sputter in protest, Alicia leads Nathaniel towards their room. He's laughing as they walk. "We both need a shower."

"Yes, we do. A shower and food. But I wanted Shannon and Carter to know that the 'no vacancy' sign is lit."

They get to the room, and he grins at her as she dumps their packs on one of the beds. "So, should I be concerned about the fact that my beautiful, young wife is bunking with two married men when OTG?"

She snorts. "You have a young wife? Where the hell is she? I'm really not in the mood for competition."

He laughs, catching her around the waist and hugging her to him with his good arm. He drops a kiss on her neck. "Everything's relative, Alicia, and keeping you classified as young in my mind makes me feel at least slightly less damned old. But really, shacking up with Carter and Shannon?"

She pulls away from him, making a face. "Eew, Nathaniel. Don't say it like that, even as a joke. They're really like my brothers, so that's just gross." He laughs again, and she has to smile at him. "Come on, Old Man. Showers."

"Can we share?" He gives her a leer.

"If you promise to behave, yes." She pulls clean clothes out of both of their packs, slipping them and their bags of toiletries into a small bag she keeps in her pack. She then turns and heads for the showers, and he follows close behind her.

An hour later, they wander into the kitchen area, both of them feeling a little better after their very innocent shared shower – or at least innocent by their standards. The most either of them was up for was some relatively serious making out. She's happy to see that Reilly and Dunham commandeered the kitchen and have made dinner for everyone from the supplies kept here at the outpost. It's a simple stew, but it's perfect in part because she didn't have to make it.

Reilly sees them enter. "Lieutenant, Commander, can we make you a plate?"

Alicia nods, walking over to get them both a glass of water while Nathaniel grabs two empty chairs at the table. "Thanks, Reilly."

"No problem ma'am. I'll bring your plates over, and there's bread on the table."

Alicia takes their water and gives Reilly a grateful nod. She puts the glasses down on the table and drops into the chair next to Nathaniel. Carter and Jim are already there, eating their dinners. Carter gives her a leer. "So, taking community showers to a new level?"

Alicia kicks him hard under the table. "Shut up, Carter."

"Ow, Wash! That actually hurt."

"Good." She flops back in her chair, arms crossed. She stops short of sticking her tongue out at him, but she knows her expression conveys that emotion.

"Behave, children." Jim is grinning at them, and so is Nathaniel.

They fall silent, but eventually, Jim says, "So you two are really going to refuse to go OTG with Malcolm from now on? You're never going to go with him again?"

Alicia and Nathaniel exchange a glance. He sighs. "Never is probably too strong, Shannon, but honestly, Gracie got really upset before Alicia left, and now my first stop when we get home has to be the infirmary. Until she's old enough to parse that it's not Malcolm's fault, it's not worth how much it upsets her. Reilly is more than capable of looking after a science team, even one led by Malcolm."

Alicia nods. "And we'll be sure to make it clear to Malcolm that anything regarding safety or security will be the military team leader's call, and when in a grey area, it's also the military lead's call."

Carter looks relieved at that. "That's what I was worried about. I remember how he was on the mountain trip."

Nathaniel gives her a funny look. "I told you he got a little pushy, Nathaniel."

"A little pushy?" Jim pulls a face.

"Let it go, Shannon. Who won?" She gives Jim a near-threatening look as Reilly puts plates in front of them. "Thanks, Laura."

"You're welcome, ma'am, sir. Can I get you anything else?" She smiles at them.

Alicia shakes her head. "Have you eaten?" She can tell by the look on her face that the answer is no. "You and Dunham have dinner and stop waiting on the rest of us. We're good. And we can clean up."

"Ma'am, you don't have to do that!"

Nathaniel gently interrupts. "That's an order, Corporal. Dinner and then out. You cooked. We can clean."

"Yes sir." She gives them a small smile and heads back over to Dunham.

Alicia is about to dig into her food when Nathaniel says, "Now just how pushy did our esteemed Dr. Wallace get, Lieutenant?"

She rolls her eyes and groans, ready to kill Jim. On balance, though, she reflects that it's nice. At least everything feels pretty normal.

It's late when they return to their room after finishing the dishes, and he's a little put out with her. When she closes the door behind them, he growls, "You really should have told me about what Malcolm said to you."

She glares at him. He's been petulant and grouchy since Carter and Jim explained how Malcolm had questioned her and been openly rude and derisive of her. "To what end, Nathaniel? What Carter and Shannon don't know in detail is that Malcolm came to me the next morning and apologized. He truly felt bad for being an ass. The conflict was done. And I don't need you to protect me from the likes of Malcolm."

"I'm tired of people disrespecting you!" He's actually turning a little red, and she just doesn't understand it.

"Nathaniel, what are you talking about?" She's honestly confused. "Who else has disrespected me?"

"Lucas!" He's pacing now, and she realizes that this is his melt down. She just goes quiet and lets him vent. "I've spent years alternating between sadness, disappointment and self-loathing when it comes to him, but outside of the night that I expelled him, this is the first time I've ever felt pure rage with him. Even when I watched him shoot you during the Phoenix Group occupation – even then, it was the self-loathing, rage at myself for leaving you, for putting you in that position."

"But today, today I almost wish he wasn't dead just so I could kick his ass. I loved him, you know that, but today I realized just how twisted he really was, and how self-centered. I'm starting to believe that he hated me, or at least resented me, long before Somalia. That he was angry about everything. My job, my being gone, even our, mine and Ayani's, our friendship with you. It was like he hated anything that took focus off of him." He stops and runs his free hand through his hair. "How did I not see that, Alicia? How did I not know?"

He sits down hard on the edge of the bed. "You were right, Alicia. It was a prolonged exercise in futility, and this is the third time that exercise in futility almost cost you your life."

"No."

"What?" He looks up, confused.

"I said no, Nathaniel. Lucas almost cost me my life three times. Lucas. Not you, and not your attempts to reconcile with him. Those attempts, they were like wallpaper to Lucas. Blips on the radar. He decided a long time ago that he was going to hate you and, by extension, anyone loyal to you." She kneels in front of him taking his hand with hers. "You could not have prevented this. Period. You can't control everything and fix everything."

"But Alicia…"

"No, Nathaniel, no arguments. You have two choices. You can mourn the loss of a brilliant child or you can sit around hating yourself for every mistake you think you ever made with him. It seems to me that the former is the better plan in the long run."

He goes silent, holding her hand in a near death grip. After a few moments, he breathes out, "I'm tired, Alicia."

"I know." She stands up and pulls her hand free.

She turns on a light next to the bed, and she walks over to the door and extinguishes the overhead light. Getting back to the bed, she takes his hand again and pulls him up, and she pulls back the sheets and blanket. She motions to the bed, and he climbs in. He rolls to his left side, and she gets into the small bed alongside him. She reaches back and turns off the light, and she curls into him, gently wrapping her arms around his waist. "Sleep, Nathaniel."

They sleep for a solid twelve hours. Alicia wakes up the next morning to find Nathaniel rolled to his back and herself draped across him. In this position, the two of them barely fit in the small bed. She opens her eyes and looks up at him, only to find him watching her, a soft, affectionate look on his face.

She gives him a slightly bleary smile. "Hi."

He grins. "Hi."

She blinks a few times. "What time is it?"

"It's after nine. We should probably get up."

"After nine?" She sits up slightly.

He nods. "Yes. Reilly poked her head in a few minutes ago. Everyone is packed up, but they knew we were both tired, and they let us sleep."

She stands up and arches her back in a stretch. "I appreciate it, but I am ready to go home." He follows her, standing himself, gingerly rolling his injured shoulder. "Is it OK?"

"Think so. May want to check the stitches, though." He sits and lets her remove his sling and look under the bandage. As she looks, he stretches his arm out. "So, are we going to relegate Carter and Shannon to the back seat going home?"

She grins and recovers his miraculously still intact stitches. "Of course. It'll be fun to listen to them bicker all the way back to the colony."

He chuckles as she puts his sling back in place. "You have to let me tell them. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces."

"Have at it." She smiles. "You're good to go."

He stands again, turning serious for a moment. "I'm sorry for the little drama last night."

She shakes her head. "You don't owe me an apology, Nathaniel. It was a long day that dragged a lot of crap back to the surface. And it's not like I didn't have my own little drama."

He steps forward and wraps her up in a hug with his good arm. "I admit that your minor anxiety attack worried me more than the crying. I don't think I've ever seen you like that before."

She winds her arms around his waist, pressing herself close to him. "I don't know if I've ever really been like that before. I didn't like it – I don't like feeling so ruled by emotion, particularly not when that emotion is fear, and pretty irrational fear at that."

"I know." He squeezes her a little tighter and turns his head to kiss her temple. "Enough of that for now. Get ready, and we'll go." He releases her and leans down to pull his boots on, only to realize that tying them with one hand is hard to do. He gives her a funny look, and she snorts, crouching down to tie his boots for him.

When she's done, she straightens up and kisses his cheek before using her fingers to tidy his hair. "There you go, sweetie. Now go play with your friends."

He rolls his eyes. "Have I ever mentioned that you're a smart ass?"

She smirks and turns to change into her cargoes and a clean t-shirt. In her most innocent voice, she replies, "No, I don't think you ever have."

He chuckles. "I'll see you later, Lieutenant." Before he leaves, he pops her sharply on the rear, making her squeak in surprise and turn to glare at him. "Smart ass. And that was for not leaving the cave when I told you to." He turns and leaves before she can reply. She can help grinning at his retreating back, as she imagines some creative ways to get him back for that one.

**WT**WT**WT**

Hours later, the colony gates come into view. "Thank God," she mutters under her breath. Jim and Carter were slightly entertaining at first, but after about two hours, Alicia was ready to kill them. They really did bicker and fight like little kids all the way back. Even Nathaniel, who is generally slightly more patient than she is, looks ready to rip their heads off.

Nathaniel reaches for the radio and calls ahead to have them open the gates in two minutes. They pull through the gates not long after they went up, and Alicia grins at the sight before her. Along with several others, Elisabeth, Zoe and Josh Shannon are waiting for them, and Gracie is planted on Josh's hip.

After killing the engine, Alicia hops out of the rover. She hears Gracie say, "Down please, Unca Josh!" And moment later, a small, black haired blur is barreling towards Alicia. She meets her halfway, scooping her up. Gracie attaches onto her, legs wrapping around her waist and arms around her neck, where she buries her face. "Mama."

Alicia wraps her arms tight around Gracie's little body. "Hi, my Baby Bug. I missed you."

"Missed Mama. No more go with Unca Mowcome."

Alicia leans back, and Gracie looks up at her. She presses her forehead to Gracie's. "Agreed, Bug. No more trips with Malcolm."

"None for me, either." Nathaniel's voice makes them both turn.

Gracie's eyes widen at the sight of the sling on Nathaniel's right arm. Then, almost comically, they narrow again as she starts looking around. "Bug?" Nathaniel looks first at her and then at Alicia, who has an idea as to who Gracie is trying to find.

Suddenly, she points. Alicia and Nathaniel both follow her outstretched hand, and their eyes land on Malcolm, who is directing the unloading of the rhino. "Down, please, Mama."

"Gracie…"

"Mama, down!"

Realizing that this is probably unavoidable, Alicia lowers Gracie to the ground. Before she can turn and head for Malcolm, Alicia says, "Bug." Gracie's eyes swing back to her. "We do not hit. Or kick. Or bite. Do you hear me?" Nathaniel snorts, but Gracie looks stubborn. "Bug, do you hear me?"

She lets out a little frustrated huff but nods. "'K, Mama. Do we yell?"

Alicia swallows a grin. "Yes. We yell."

"'K." She turns on her heel and heads straight for Malcolm, the ribbons on her pigtails streaming behind her and her little dress flouncing as she walks.

Alicia and Nathaniel follow close behind her. "Really, Alicia? We do not hit, kick or bite? You thought that was necessary?"

She gives him an incredulous look. "She's our child, Nathaniel, and the fruit rarely falls far from the tree."

He seems to ponder that, and then he winces a little. "Touché."

"Unca Mowcome!" The scientist turns, clearly surprised, and Reilly and Dunham, who were helping unload, both grin. At the sight of a scowling, glaring three year old, hands on her hips and clearly very angry, Malcolm actually shrinks back.

Alicia murmurs, "Chicken," prompting Nathaniel to poke her side with his free hand.

"Gracie, it wasn't my fault!" He holds his hands up placatingly.

"Was it your twip?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"Your twip, your fault. You bwoke my daddy! And you bwoke Mama before! You no go wif dem anymore! You gwounded, Unca Mowcome!" Gracie stomps her foot and shakes her finger at him.

"Gracie, I didn't break them. They both had accidents. It just happened to be when they were out with me." Alicia has to work hard not to laugh as Malcolm actually attempts to reason with a pissed off toddler.

She marches up even closer to him, crossing her arms across her chest and getting so close that she has to tilt her head back to look at him, or, more specifically, to glare at him. "They went wif you. They were there to pwotect you. They came back and needed to see Auntie Wisabeth. We only see Auntie Wisabeth when we bwoken!"

Alicia cocks her head, curious to see how Malcolm will try to dispute that rather decent logic. Next to her, she hears Nathaniel doing everything he can to stifle his laughter. She bumps him with her hip. "Behave!" He nods and coughs a little in response.

"Gracie, I promise I didn't break either one of them." Malcolm is now almost pleading with her. Alicia can't help but be somewhat entertained by how important it appears to be to Malcolm to have Gracie like him.

She's clearly unimpressed, though. She turns and marches over to Nathaniel, looking up at him. He leans down and scoops her up with his good arm, settling her on his left hip. "Daddy, you need go see Auntie Wisabeth?"

After shooting an apologetic look at Malcolm, Nathaniel says, "Yes, Bug, we just need to let her make sure I'm OK."

Gracie looks at Malcolm, leveling a hard look at him. Again, Alicia has to swallow a grin. It's like looking in a mirror, expression and all. Gracie is basically her with blue eyes. "See, Unca Mowcome? Bwoken."

Malcolm appears to be about to rebut her again, but Alicia catches his eye, giving him a look that basically says, "Stop trying. You cannot win."

Malcolm's shoulders drop in defeat. "I'm sorry, Bug. I didn't mean to break your Mama and Daddy."

She gives him a quick nod. "Just don't wet it happen again, Unca Mowcome."

"Yes ma'am." He brightens. "Can I buy you some ice cream later to make up for it?"

Gracie looks thoughtful for a moment. "'K." He looks briefly relieved, but Gracie continues, "But it's gonna take a wot of ice cweam, Unca Mowcome."

At that, the assembled listeners clearly lose control and most laugh out loud. Gracie ignores them, staring at Malcolm.

"Understood, Miss Gracie."

Led by Elisabeth, they turn to head towards the infirmary. Before they get too far, Gracie, still perched on Nathaniel's hip, looks back at Malcolm over Nathaniel's shoulder. "Unca Mowcome?" The scientist looks up again. "I wike chocolate candies too."

Alicia and Nathaniel both laugh, and Alicia takes Gracie from Nathaniel, able to see in his face that his shoulder is bothering him. He steps closer to her as they walk towards the infirmary, his left hand dropping to her lower back. Gracie sighs happily, resting her head on Alicia's shoulder.

As she walks, Alicia can't help feeling grateful that this particular trip is done and they're both mostly in one piece, a small favor but one she'll take. His voice breaks into her reverie. "Penny for your thoughts."

"I'm just really happy to be home," she pauses and smiles up at him, "And I hope Malcolm brings enough ice cream for all of us."

He laughs, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I just hope he can find some butter pecan."

"No! Chocolate chip mint!" She corrects him.

"Wocky woad." Gracie mumbles, almost asleep in Alicia's arms.

Nathaniel grins. "The lady speaks." He nods. "I can live with rocky road."

"Sounds good to me. Call Malcolm. Place our order." She smiles again.

"Yes, ma'am."

Nathaniel actually radios Malcolm, who sputters loudly through the comm. As they walk along, Nathaniel laughing, Malcolm complaining and Gracie asleep on her shoulder, she can't help but think that all's right with the world, at least for today.