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Spider was struggling to keep his head above the swampy bog as they continued their frantic retreat from the Makwang. Water kept getting into the bottom of his mask and he was continuously having to lift the bottom up to let it out. He was getting more and more frustrated, and more and more exhausted as he pushed on.
Lo'ak was carrying Tuk on his back, but the others were having no trouble in the depth. Never wanting to be a burden, or seen as different, Spider was managing as best he could and trying not to let on that he was struggling.
After a good half hour of wading through the mire, Quaritch came up behind him and grabbed his arm. Spider jumped, startled, then shook him off with a frown.
"Kid, climb on my back."
"Piss off," Spider muttered.
His show of defiance was slightly less impressive as right after he spoke, his foot slipped on the muddy riverbed and his face dipped below the water. Quaritch pulled him up, growling with annoyance.
“Come on kid, quit being so stubborn. You’re worn out. What, you’d rather drown than accept help from your old man?”
Spider growled deep in his throat at the familial term then splashed ahead, pulling closer to the others. Jake looked back, trying to keep the satisfaction off his face. He reached out an arm.
“Here Spider, climb on.”
Spider shot one last defiant glance back at Quaritch then scrambled wearily onto Jake’s back, relieved to rest. Quaritch just rolled his eyes, then ducked as Jake released a fern that nearly slapped him in the face.
****
Quaritch stared, pensive, as Spider slept peacefully a few feet away from him.
"You and the missus must have done something right, I'll give you that. He's a good kid."
Jake smiled tiredly. "He's a great kid."
Quaritch nodded agreeably.
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the only sound the lapping of water and the insects of the night. Eventually Quaritch spoke again.
"...You know he's not safe with you, right?"
Jake gave him a hard look. "He's part of this family; and I protect this family."
Quaritch scowled. "You and I both know he's one dead battery away from...you know. Can you honestly tell me you haven't had a single scare? Not one close call?"
Jake shifted uncomfortably, staring at the ground.
“You have,” Quaritch said accusingly. “And you’re still gonna be this stubborn.”
Jake glanced over at his kids, all of his kids, sleeping peacefully on the riverbank.
"I can take him,” Quaritch said softly. “I can protect him."
Jake looked up sharply. He searched the soldier's face for an angle, for any sign of malice. All he saw was concern though.
"He's not yours," Jake said firmly.
“Now you and I both know that’s not exactly true. But if we’re going by that logic, then he ain’t really yours either, now is he?”
Jake’s tail flicked with agitation. He hated to admit that Quaritch could ever be right about anything, but if he was honest to himself, inside he was already wavering. He couldn't let Quaritch take Spider again. He could never let him go back to the RDA. And yet. Infuriatingly, Quaritch was right. Hadn't they just had an awful scare? Hadn't Jake just decided it wasn't safe for Spider to stay with them?
They’d almost lost him, and all he’d been doing was sleeping. What would happen when shit really hit the fan?
Quaritch watched the wrestling play out on Jake's face and tried to suppress his eagerness. Maybe it would be as simple as this. Maybe Jake would just let the kid leave with him. Finally home with his real dad. The thought made him feel…he wasn’t sure what. Triumphant? Like he’d won something? Yes. But also…he wasn’t sure what this feeling was. Hope? Happiness?
Love?
At last Jake spoke, breaking the stillness of the quiet night. “I’ll have to think about it,” he said begrudgingly.
“That’s not a no,” Quaritch said with a smile. He leaned back, crossing his hands behind his head. “That’s not a no.”