Chapter Text
“Welcome home ori’vods!” Crosshair looked up when Feral greeted the two medics as they arrived back, “Missed you!”
“Missed you too vod’ika.” Stitches said gently, the man looked like absolute crap, he always looked worse directly after a session, he wondered if Feral could smell the chemo coursing through the older clone’s frail body? Crosshair didn’t even say anything as he moved to the older clone and wrapped his arms around him, he had to make sure the man was real and here and not dead because of a complication, “Easy Cross’ika, I’m okay.” Stitches hugged him back, “I’m here.”
“I…” He didn’t know why he had become like this in such a short amount of time.
“You’re okay.” Stitches affirmed, “You’re alright, I’ll never leave your side Cross’ika.”
“I’m okay… you’re okay… everyone’s okay.” He tightened his hug a little.
“Exactly.” Stitches tightened his hug also, then chuckled, “Now, I need to sit down before I fall down.”
“Oh, sorry.” He released the hug with a blush, “How are you feeling?”
“Gross, I need a shower in the worst way.” The medic sighed as he plopped down on the couch, “Right now there is no signs of any malignant cells or any symptoms of them, so I am in what we call complete remission, however, given this there is a chance that it will come back again… I was in remission before and this was a recurrence, so it may come back again…”
“So… you’re not completely cured?” Crosshair felt his stomach fall through the floor.
“If it doesn’t slap me in the face again after five years, then yes, I am but until then Sawbones and myself will need to monitor me for any signs of a recurrence.” Stitches sighed again and leaned back into the couch, “Kark me I feel like crap.”
“Madcap has dinner on, you feel up to eating?” He asked gently.
“Not really but seeing as this is made for me then I should at least try.” Crosshair blinked and spotted the sly grin on the older man’s features, “I may feel like crap but I know the smell of my favourite food, Madcap doesn’t make it that often, only for special occasions involving me.”
“No idea how they plan surprises around you.” He chuckled in reply.
“They try and I pretend I didn’t know it was happening…” Stitches sighed again, “I suppose we should celebrate the completion of my treatment.”
“Well, it is an important occasion.” He wondered if Stitches only intended to celebrate that and not the other thing, did Stitches even remember it was also his decanting day? “So… how old are you now?” He laughed at the positively murderous glare from the older clone, if he didn’t remember before… he did now!
“I’ll have you know I am not sick enough that I can’t whoop your sheb boy.” The man hissed but Crosshair knew it wasn’t an actual threat, “Stop laughing boy, you know I’ll do it.”
“Mom! Stitches is threatening me with violence!” He called to the other medic who came over chuckling to himself.
“Cyar’ika, please stop threatening Crosshair with grievous bodily harm.” Sawbones sat down between them to split them up.
“He started it.” Stitches grumbled, earning a laugh from the two of them.
“Be the adult in the situation cyar’ika.” Sawbones smiled warmly, “Now, Madcap says dinner is just about ready, so head to the table.”
“Fine.” Stitches grumbled again and with help from the two of them, got to his feet and they went to the table, Grim and Feral were already there.
“I save you your favourite seat!” Feral said happily, the young clone had continued to sit beside Stitches ever since his first meal with them, it was his safe spot at the table because he still had issues with eating in a group, so it was more Feral’s favourite seat for the medic but Stitches seemed happy that Feral found safety in him too.
“Dinner is served!” Madcap appeared from the kitchen with Speedy and soon the table was full of life and conversation, Crosshair smiled as Stitches relaxed, he was enjoying this, he wasn’t tense and waiting for something bad to happen, obviously he wasn’t stupid and knew what was going to happen but he felt safe enough to just… let it happen.
“We… got you something small ori’vod.” Feral said in a small voice, “And I made you the cookies you like…”
“You…?” Stitches blinked and took the small package, “Ah, I see you all remembered my decanting day also.”
“Yep!” Madcap grinned.
“Some of you forgot, didn’t you?” Stitches looked at everyone but Feral and Sawbones.
“Uh… only briefly.” Speedy said in a small voice as he massaged the back of his neck.
“I see.” The older clone frowned, “Well, you remembered eventually, that’s all that matters I suppose.” Crosshair had absolutely no idea what Feral and Sawbones got the medic other than the treats but whatever it was, he hoped Stitches would like it, he needed safety and happiness just as much as anyone else, more in Crosshair’s opinion, “Oh good, not another bundle of hats, have enough to give to the whole GAR at this point.”
“I ran out of wool after the last one.” Feral grinned.
“Thank you all, for everything.” Stitches smiled gently, “I feel very loved right now.”
“Group hug!” Madcap yelled and Stitches was enveloped by bodies.
-
“Stitches? Sawbones?” He said as he approached the medics as they enjoyed the night air.
“Yes Cross’ika?” Stitches looked to him with a raised eyebrow.
“Thank you for the happiest year of my life.” Crosshair smiled gently as he sat between them.
“I’m glad you spent it with us.” Stitches softened and they embraced.
“You deserve safety my dear vod’ika.” Sawbones said gently sandwiching him between the two, he’d never felt safer in his entire life than he did at that moment.
“Thank… thank you buir and… buir.”
He was safe now.
Forever and almost always