Blood Sisters
Chapter 24

The family gathered by the side of Marty Goldstar. He had been in surgery for hours and had yet to regain consciousness. The family all bore their wounds, seen and unseen. Winter had her leg in a proper cast now. Allisons wounds had mostly healed already as her bio-mutant energy restored her body, but the stress of the ordeal had taken its toll. She looked exauhsted and pale. She had asked for a chair. Jenny, sporting mostly bruises still had some dried blood under her nose. She stood mutely, arms crossed, her face a study in sorrow. Cricket lay wrapped in blankets in the next bed, right behind Jenny, who appeared to be standing guard before her fallen sister.

An older man with short salt and pepper hair and a military bearing walked into the room. He had sunken grey eyes and leathery skin that had seen too much sun. “Mrs. Ashton? I am Colonel Clarke. I'm the Chief of Medicine here at Ft. Miles.” Allison wearily looked over at the man. “Do you treat prisoners from Shay's Mountain here, Colonel?” “No Ma'am, this is strictly an Army hosiptal. The Prison has its own facilities.” Allison nodded and looked back to her sleeping husband. “Mrs. Ashton, if I could have a word, I can report on your husband...” Allison just nodded. “The good news is his bio-mutant energies, like many New Humans fortifies the body and aids its recovery.” Allison nodded patiently “...which I am sure you know... it also often makes it possible to survive injury sthat would generally kill a normal human, and healing injuries that normally don't heal...” Allison glanced back at the man “Doctor...” the Colonel cleared his throat. “This is fortunate, Mr. Goldstar's collision with the floor did extensive damage to his skull, neck and spine. He has serious swelling in his brain, and he is currently in a coma. There is also injury to the spinal cord itself, and we believe he is currently suffering partial paralysis...” Allison groaned into her hands. “We won't know the full extent of his injuries until the swelling goes down, however, even with the healing factor of New Humans, he is likely to remain in a coma for at least a few days...” Allison looked back at the man “We need to have him transferd to New Avalon MSCC as soon as he can be moved safely.” “I agree Ma'am, they have the equipment and expertise their for treating your... I mean, for treating New Humans.” Allison nodded “Fine, coordinate with Dr. Goldberg there would you? We know him.”

The Colonel hesitated “This may be the wrong time Ma'am, but I wanted you to know that I have been an admirer for a long time. I sincerely wish you and your family all the best. I will be praying for your husband's full and fast recovery.” Allison gave a weak smile “Thank you Doctor.” Colonel Clarke gave a reassuing nod and left the family to themselves. As he left, Allison noticed for the first time that armed guards had been stationed outside her husbands room. “Heh” she shrugged.

“Dad's gonna be OK Mom, I know it. Don't worry.” Jenny siad. Allison nodded, speaking thickly “of course he'll be”. She got up and joined Jenny over by the swaddled body of Cricket. Winter came over too. The three women held each other in shared sorrow. Jenny cried in silence.

***

It was the day, and for the first time in her young life, Miracle wore black. Allison had been resolute in keeping the events of recent weeks as private. Not easy for a woman, and a family, with so much fame. In keeping with this only a select few were invited to the memorial events held at the Goldstar Ranch.

They buried Cricket in a small cemetary on the Ranch called momument hill. It had been the private cemetary belonging to the two families previous to the Goldstar's, and it housed many of their number, dating back to the mid 19th century when the Ranch was first settled. This was the first plot to house a member of the current family.

Not particularly religious, the Goldstar's held a simple memorial service on the hill. Those gathered were Marty, Allison and Miracle. Winter and her partner Kate. Jake and Trixie. And the ghosts of Momument Hill. People said, what they needed to say.

“I never had a daughter. She was that to me. I've cared for many, but only loved a few. I don't know where that little bug came from, but she brought her own special love into an old man's life. I wanted to see her grow. I wanted to buy her first beer. Should have told her more. Think I woulda learned from the other friends I've lost. You never seem to get to tell them what you needed to. Or maybee thats just me. Anyway, I love ya Cricket, here's too ya.”

“I am just... so sorry. I didn't know. I should have asked. I'll never fight my family again. That is my promise to Cricket, and my lesson, and my oath. Those I love will come first, before anything else. I ..am so sorry.”

“Wherever you came from, whoever you were. We knew what you became. And you were our little Cricket. I heard what the people say, but I say you were the real deal Man. You were the real deal. You got cheated, we all did. And I guess I am pretty mad about that. And I am not sure what to do about that. Ally and I, we've always wanted more children, and we're still trying hard as we can. You let us see a glimpe of what it will be like if we can make another one, and Man will it be great. Man, I hate this. I really do. Nothing about this that isn't just... anyway. You were great Cricket, you were great. Rock on lil' bug.

“You were my sister, I know you were, and this sucks... so much. I...”

“They made you from my body. So you were mine. And I lost that part of me just as I got to know it. You were taken from our family, in pain and tragedy. It is up to us now to fill the space you left with love, a space we did not know was there until you showed it to us. You wanted nothing more then to grow, to know who you were. To protect those you loved. There are no finer things, and you are my hero. You left us too soon, and punched a hole in the sky where a new star shone through, with a special light just for us. And my wish on that star is that you, and all of us will know peace, and will know joy and will know love. Goodbye, sweet child. Goodbye.” Allison then picked up her guitar, and played a new song without words, because some things just can't be siad with words.

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