Chapter Text
As Athena set the table a knock came at the door.
“I got it!” Ryan yelled as she got up from the couch.
Ryan May Nash.
Athena and Bobby’s 10 year old daughter.
Her curls bounced on her shoulders as she ran to the door. Her smile quickly dropped as she opened the door, expecting her Auntie Hen and Karen. Instead, she was greeted with two men, in military uniforms. Their faces stern, as if they were coming to deliver bad news, but nothing could compare to the news of April 17th, 2025.
The day had been particularly heavy for everyone, even for Ryan, and she couldn’t understand why. She spent most of her day with May since her parents were both at work.
The day seemed to drag, but she didn’t worry, not yet at least.
Athena always told her,
‘Your dad and I work dangerous and unpredictable jobs. Some days might be harder than others, but we will always make it back home to you.’
So when the day turned to night, and still no word from her parents, she didn’t worry.
Until May started acting weird. She kept leaving to answer the phone, and each call, she seemed to worry more.
“May, is everything okay?” Ryan asked, diverting her attention from the movie they were watching, not that she was paying attention to it anyway.
“Everythings fine, why’d you ask?” May spoke nervously.
“You’ve gotten up 5 times to answer phone calls that you’re being very secretive about. Mom and dad still aren’t home. What’s going on?”
May sighed, she knew she couldn’t lie to her sister. She was too smart for her own good, she could see right through any lie May tried to tell.
“Something happened at work. Mom and dad were on a call together, and it didn't go well. I don’t know anything else, they aren’t telling me much either.”
“They’re okay though, right?”
“Yeah, they’re okay.”
“Okay, so, no need to worry.”
Ryan relaxed back into the couch, eating the popcorn that rested in her lap. Her parents were strong individuals, and partners. They were going to be fine.
The night turned to morning. May slept in the guest room, while Ryan tried to sleep in her room, but sleep never found her. As strong as she was trying to be, she could only think of the worse.
Athena entered her home.
The world sounded quieter than normal. Her head had finally stopped spinning and was fixated on one memory.
Bobby kneeling to pray, as he took his final breaths.
On the drive home, she prayed that God would wake her from the nightmare she had to be living. But, it seems the closer she got to her house, the realer it started to feel.
As she walked through her house, little reminders of Bobby greeted her at each stop.
His shoes that rested by the front door, his coffee mug that rested on the kitchen counter. He had left it that morning as he left for work in a rush.
And the biggest reminder of all.
Ryan.
Athena stood in front of her daughter's room. Not sure how she was supposed to tell her that the number one man in her life wasn't coming home.
Ever again.
Seconds felt like hours, but she finally mustered the courage to have a conversation she didn’t want to be having.
Athena didn’t knock, she walked in slowly, seeing her daughter laying on her bed, eyes fixated on her ceiling.
“Mom!” Ryan quickly jumped from her bed, embracing her mother, nearly knocking her over.
“Baby girl.” Athena smiled, kissing the top of her daughter's head.
“Are you okay? May said you had a rough day at work yesterday.”
“I’m okay. It was tough, but you know I don’t let anything stop me.”
“Yeah, you’re the strongest person I know.” Ryan smiled. the room grew quiet before she spoke again, “where’s daddy? Is he still on call?”
Athena's energy shifted and Ryan could feel it. She wasn’t ready to have this conversation, but who would?
“Baby, your dad loves you so much, okay? I never want you to forget that.”
“Mom, what happened?” Ryan’s smile had disappeared, and a look of concern was plastered on her face.
“There was an accident at work today, baby, and daddy got hurt.”
“He’s okay though, right? He’s always okay.”
“No, Ry… He didn’t make it.”
The room grew quiet, everything seemed to stop.
Ryan looked at her mother, not with hurt or sadness, but anger.
“N- No, you're lying. He’s fine.” Ryan shook her head quickly, tears quickly feeling her eyes.
“Ryan baby, I’m sorry.”
“No, NO! He has to be okay.. He’s always okay. No matter what, you guys will always make it back home. That’s what you told me.”
“I know sweetheart, and I’m so sorry. If I could bring him back to you, I would, trust me I would. But I can’t baby. I can’t bring him back.” Athena's voice cracked as she struggled to contain her own emotions.
Ryan looked at her mother, her face wet from tears.
She couldn’t do anything but crash into Athena's arms. Her tears fell faster, which only caused her to fall deeper into her mom's embrace.
“This isn’t fair.”
“I know baby girl, I know.” Athena spoke softly, holding her daughter tightly against her chest.
Ryan froze looking at the two men standing in front of her.
“Who was at the door baby?” Athena asked as she stopped out of the kitchen.
“We’re looking for an Athena Nash.” One of the men in uniform spoke loudly.
“Ryan, go to your room please.”
Ryan didn’t argue with her mother, and quickly ran to her room.
“I’m Athena Nash, and what do I owe for this unannounced visit?”
“You might want to sit down.”
“I’m fine standing.”
The room went silent for a moment.
“We found your husband.”
“My- My husband?” Athena frowned, almost stumbling back.
“We have reason to believe after the incident in the research lab that ended in an unknown virus being exposed to two firefighters, one of which was saved with an anecdote. And the second firefighter, who reportedly succumbed to the virus and died. Your husband didn’t die in the lab, and has been held hostage by the people who ran the lab.”
“I’m sorry, what? With all due respect, I watched my husband die. I had to tell our nine year old daughter that her father was never coming home.. And you’re standing here, telling me, that my dead husband.. Is alive.”
The soldiers looked at Athena, taken back, but keeping their composer.
“Yes ma'am.”
“Well I’ll be damned.”