Chapter Text
The journey to the medical center was easy enough, given it was just on the other side of their humble bio-den, attached to make easy access for both humans and Eridians alike. It was obviously bustling with life now, but before this, it hadn't been in much use…besides Simon's time there, of course. The two men were actually rather careful on a day-to-day basis, if anyone were to ask Grace. Of course, there were always naysayers (Rocky) who claimed that the two were anything but.
Grace could vividly remember the day Simon got here as well. The way his body was caked in blood, and his eyes were wide, filled with so much fear. How he kept himself curled up in the corner of the hospital room, trying to make himself as small as possible. It took a long time to get Simon to settle in, and even longer to prove that Grace could be trusted, but it was all worth it. Grace thought some of Simon's tenancies were cat-like and even mentioned such one time as a half-joke. The other man just tilted his head in confusion before going back to whatever task he was doing at the time. A lot of their conversations went like this.
The scientist hoped, guiltily, that this time around would be easier. That he wouldn't have to fight tooth and nail for trust. He would do it, of course! But Grace was tired. Constantly having to prove that he was trustworthy to the only other human he had seen in years was draining, especially once he learned about their many—and there were many—cultural differences. So many that after messing one of them up for what felt like the hundredth time and reverting some of their progress, Grace had them use the handy-dandy whiteboard to explain where exactly both of their cultures differed. It took some time, but in the end, it ultimately ended up being why the two grew closer.
As the men entered the small hospital-like structure, they were greeted by the chirps of an Eridian who was walking by. They were one of the nurses who helped take care of both Simon and Grace, Peridot.
They were a short, stout Eridian with a green marbled body that shimmered when they were in the light. So obviously, Grace named them Peridot in his delirious state when he first arrived.
"Hello, Savior Grace! Hello, Simon!" They chirped in a typical Eridian greeting. "Are you here to see new small human, question?"
"Yeah, we are," Simon answered at the same moment Grace nodded along. Grace would be lying if he said the quickness with which Simon was able to pick up the Eridian's language didn't leave him a bit jealous. But that was part of Simon's charm, how he could adapt to the situations he was in once he had an understanding of what was going on.
"Good, good, good! Follow me!"
Both Grace and Simon followed behind the Eridian as they guided them towards the small hospital room. There was only one here, given Grace was the lone human on Erid at first, but it seemed to be working just fine.
The room, like the rest of the center, was made of xenonite and filled with equipment brought from Mary (along with the reconstruction of some equipment created by the Eridians). Rocky and the others did their best while Grace was on the brink of death to make the room as comfortable as possible. Grace was able to help do the same for Simon when they found him.
Now, the room was…well, as comfortable as a hospital room could be. Extra blankets, spare clothes, warm lights that were added in for Simon specifically, as well as a few puzzles and books.
When they got closer to the xenonite wall, Grace could see the young girl lying on the bed. There was a quilt tucked around her, rising and falling gently as she slept. Her hair was long and dark brown; her face was relaxed. Adrian waved from where they were sitting next to the bed, legs tucked under themself to fit a bit better in the small area.
Grace waved back and then looked over to where Simon was standing next to him. His expression was tight, eyebrows furrowed, and lips pressed in a pout he—unconsciously— stole from Grace. Not that Grace would ever point it out; he was too afraid the other would stop doing it. His eyes were fixed on the young girl in the bed, and Grace knew he was spiraling about something.
"Adrian has been watching small human sleep!" Peridot informed the two of them. "Was difficult getting small human out of small ship, but small human is stable now!"
Okay…what did that mean? What made it so hard to get a small girl out of a ship? With Simon, Grace knew it had been difficult, given the man was built like a truck and weighed down by the sheer amount of blood surrounding him, but this kid looked fine! Well…not covered in blood or anything like that. What about her ship made it so difficult to get her out of?
Grace decided to save that question for Rocky.
"Thanks Perry, you guys are doing great." The Eridian chirped happily in response before going about their work once more, leaving Grace and Simon in front of the barrier, watching the gentle rise and fall of the girl's chest. Beside her was a stuffed bear that Grace could only assume was hers, given he nor Simon owned one.
Simon deserved one in Grace's Humble opinion. Simon deserved anything that made his life more comfortable…more soft. He thrived in their little community once he realized they all accepted him as he was. He leaned on Adrian while they tinkered and tucked his feet under Grace's legs on the couch while they watched movies or simply wanted to be in each other's company. The pebbles loved him and found his mutations very cool, as well as his strength. His relationship with Rocky had improved as well. Now they often spoke casually while Simon worked in the greenhouse.
So sue Grace if he thought Simon deserved a little bundle of comfort! He's been through a lot!
"What Grace and Simon doing here, question?" Grace jumped at the sudden chirps behind him. He must have been in really deep thought if he didn't notice the rhythmic tapping coming up behind the two of them.
"Ryland told me about the kid, so we came to see if she was okay," Simon answered once again, though his eyes didn't leave the barrier.
"Of course small human is okay. Eridians take care! Adrian watch sleep! Go home, is late!" The Eridian stomped his foot as if to make a point. "Humans get grumpy, angry, annoying when not sleep!"
"Okay. Whoa. We're grown men, Rock." Grace motioned towards himself and Simon. "We can handle being up late."
In fact, most nights they were up late. Not that they told Rocky that…in fear that the alien would find a way to enforce a bedtime.
Rocky grumbled out something about, "Grace, Simon already annoying, statement," but Grace just rolled his eyes and went back to looking at the girl just beyond the xenonite.
"What do you guys know about her?" Simon asked as Rocky shifted, still annoyed the two were refusing to go back to their home.
"Very little. No physical harm like Simon." The man in question hummed in reply.
That was good! Grace didn't know if he could handle seeing a kid injured. Heck, he could barely keep it together when he saw all the injuries Simon had when he arrived! But they were all healing rather nicely now. The teeth were still there on his cheek, but they were monitoring it, and the one eye that had been affected now had night vision (Grace had asked to study it; Simon humors him only sometimes), and his arm was obviously still gone…but he was healing!
"What about her ship?" Grace asked as he tuned back into the conversation.
"Ship is…confusing. Statement."
Okay, odd.
"What's that mean, Rock?" The scientist pushed, head tilted slightly.
Rocky made—what Grace had learned early on—an annoyed chirp that was rather close to a human sigh.
"If Grace, Simon not going home, be helpful! Come!" He turned back the way he had come from and began to walk away.
Grace began to follow before realizing that Simon hadn't moved.
"Si?" He turned back to the other man, whose expression was still furrowed and tight.
"Go see what Rocky's talking about. I'll stay here."
Grace gave a nod and began walking once more…before stopping to turn around.
"Rock's right, you know? The Eridians are like…experts in taking care of sick and injured humans by now." No reply. "They would probably be pretty good doctors back on Earth-"
"Yeah, I know, Ryland." There was a beat of silence. "I just need to think."
Right. That was fine! Grace encouraged all kinds of thinking! He said as such before finally turning around to catch up with Rocky, who had exclaimed for Grace to hurry up.
They ended up walking to where the ship was being held. A connecting tunnel from the medical center. Simon's submarine was kept here as well. The ship was rather small in comparison to both Mary and the sub. It was one little room with monitors, a seat, and a multitude of wires. Grace looked around the ship for a moment before coming to the realization that yeah, this ship was confusing. There was no room for movement, no kind of food, and no sign of other life. Like the kid was in space by herself.
"Hmm…"
"What Grace thinking, question?"
Grace sucked his teeth, hands on his hips as he looked at the ship. "I'm not sure yet." He muttered, knowing his best friend heard him anyway.
"Perry told me you guys struggled to get her out of the ship?"
"Yes. Small Human was attached to ship." Rocky motioned a claw to the wires inside the ship. "Took very long to make sure small human was not harmed."
Right. Okay. So, that wasn't normal. Grace looked around the ship again. The size, the lack of space, the wires and tubes. He thought about all they knew about the girl (which was very little). She was floating in this ship by herself, hooked up to all different kinds of wires and tubes, and currently in what they could only assume was a coma…almost like-
His eyes widened, and he turned to look at Rocky. "I don't think she was supposed to get out of the ship, Rock."
"What mean, question?"
Grace turned back to the ship and began to press buttons until it finally blinked to life. "I mean, look at this ship, Rocky! You know humans can't live in these conditions! Well—we can—but we shouldn't! Especially a child!"
"Yes, yes. Agree."
"Soo-" Grace flipped around to Rocky again. "Whoever put her in this ship didn't intend for her to get out of it, or even wake up for that matter!"
Rock was silent for a moment, "Why would humans send small human into space alone, question? Does not fit with standard human customs."
"That, Rock," Grace began, "Is the million-dollar question."
"I do not need a million dollars, statement."
Before Grace could dramatically tell his alien friend that it was one of the many human expressions, there was fast tapping against the ground as Peridot rounded the corner, chirping all the while. Their sounds were fast and hectic, and even if Grace wasn't fluent by now, the words were clearly understandable.
The girl was starting to wake up.