Page 18 of Alien Engineer's Mate

"She had a little fall during playtime," the assistant explained, bouncing Emily gently. "Just a scraped knee. We cleaned it up and put a bandage on it. She's fine now."

His gaze locked onto the white bandage visible beneath the hem of Emily's dress as he took her from the assistant's arms. He cradled her against his chest. She felt so small, so fragile. One fall, one moment of inattention, and she could be seriously hurt.

"Did you check for other injuries? Concussion? Internal bleeding? Bone damage?"

The nursery assistant's expression shifted from professional concern to a barely concealed smile. "Sir, I assure you it's just a minor scrape. Children fall all the time. It's normal?—“

"I'm taking her to medical." He announced and turned on his heel, already moving toward the medical bay.

"Sir, there's really noneed!"

He ignored the assistant's call from behind him, his focus on Emily as she snuggled against his shoulder. Her small sniffles tore at his heart. Each sound of distress made his protective instincts stronger.

What if there was more damage than they could see? Human children were so delicate and fragile. He'd researched human physiology extensively since taking on Emily as his daughter, but that knowledge only made him more aware of how easily she could be hurt.

The walk to medical seemed endless. Every small whimper from Emily sent another spike of anxiety through him, making his stride longer, faster, until he was almost running down the corridor.

Station personnel flattened against the walls, his expression enough to send them scrambling for cover. Bursting through the medical bay doors, he almost knocked over a warrior who was holding a dressing to his arm. The medical bay was busy, warriors and other personnel moving between treatment areas.

None of that mattered.

Only Emily mattered.

"Where is Kellat?" His voice boomed through the bay, causing several healers to turn and frown at him. A group of warriors paused in their conversation, turning to look at the disruption.

A young warrior approached, his black leathers crossed with the teal sash that identified him as a healer. "Lead Engineer, Healer Kellat is with another patient at the moment?—"

"This cannot wait." He shifted Emily in his arms so the healer could see her bandaged knee. Her small fingers clutched at hisjacket, and the trust in that simple gesture nearly undid him. "My daughter is injured. She requires immediate attention."

"Sir, I can?—“

"Get. Kellat. Now."

Each word carried the weight of command, but Emily chose that moment to burst into fresh tears, the sound cutting through his anger in an instant. The warriors watching exchanged glances, but he couldn't bring himself to care about maintaining his usual composed demeanor.

"Shh, shh." He pressed his lips to her hair. "I'm sorry, little one. I didn't mean to frighten you."

The guilt hit like a hammer. His anger had frightened her more than the injury itself. Some protector he was turning out to be… he'd sworn to keep her safe, not add to her fears.

The healer shifted his center of balance, his tense expression betraying his agitation. "Please, Lead Engineer, let me examine her. I trained directly under Kellat. I assure you she'll receive the best care."

He hesitated, studying the steady hands and calm demeanor of the younger male. Emily's tears had subsided to hiccups, and she wasn't showing signs of severe pain. Then, he gave a sharp nod. "Very well."

Following the healer to a bay, he set Emily down on the examination bed. The equipment was designed for warriors of his size, so she looked tiny in the middle of it.

“Just lie here, poppet,” he told her. “The nice healer is going to make sure you feel better, okay?”

She nodded, her eyes wide as the healer started the diagnostic scan, and then smiled at the lights whirling around her. Maax kept a reassuring smile on his face, but every beep of the medical equipment set his teeth on edge.

"There now, see?" The healer worked efficiently, his movements designed to keep Emily calm and interested ratherthan frightened. "Just a minor abrasion. No sign of any other injury. She'll be completely healed in a few days."

Relief flooded through him, but he refused to let it show on his face. The tension eased from his shoulders. His daughter was going to be okay. "You're certain?"

"Absolutely certain." The healer smiled at Emily, who had stopped crying and was now watching the colorful lights on the scanner with interest.

“You’re a very brave girl. Braver than some warriors I treat," he added with a glance at the males still hovering nearby.

Maax gathered her up into his arms and pressed another kiss to her hair, inhaling her sweet scent. She was fine. She was safe.

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