6 - father- daughter

She looked down and saw that she was stark naked. Memories from the previous night came flashing back.

"Didn't I fall asleep in the tub? How did I end up on the bed?" She rushed into her closet and put on some pajamas.

As she buttoned her pyjama top, she tried to recall how she got to bed last night, she recalled the light weightedness, the warm feeling.

The only person strong enough to carry her was her father and he would never enter her bathroom, not even his room except there was some fixing to do.

"Did I sleepwalk to bed?" a sudden thought came to her, but she shook it off with a light laugh.

"But who could it be?" she tried thinking back, no one came to mind. There was no one but Ms Linda that would enter her bathroom, but she was not strong enough to carry her and she would've helped her into something instead of leaving her naked.

"Maybe, I really did sleepwalk to bed, after all I was too tired." She shook her head.

She decided to go back to sleep seeing it was just 2:30 am. Once more, the moment she closes her eyes, the images from her dream will appear.

After tossing around for a long time, she looked at the clock, seeing it was 3:55am, she decided to go to her father's room - after all he usually wakes up at 4, a few minutes earlier won't hurt. Also, seeing him might calm her down.

She put on her slippers and headed to his room. Once before his room, she slowly opened his door and walked in.

"Sweetie? What's wrong?" A groggy voice asked.

Of course, a soldier of his caliber is quite conscious of his surroundings.

"Can I switch on the lights?" She asked, her hands already finding the switch.

" No,no, no" the general rushed off the bed and quickly guided his daughter out before closing the door behind him.

She arched an eyebrow at his behaviour but her dream was too urgent.

"Why are you awake this early on a day off, sweetie you look haggard" he playfully ruffled her hair.

"I had a really bad dream dad" Her hands easily found their way and hooked on him as they headed downstairs. The general kept quiet, giving her an encouraging smile.

"You…You…" her voice broke half way. "I lost you in the dream, in the most terrible way." she continued as they arrived at the dining room.

"Sweetie, it's okay. I don't know what'll happen tomorrow or the day after but I'm here now." he flicked her forehead and kissed the spot.

They entered the kitchen and he familiarly put the kettle to boil.

"I know, but somehow I can't get the image out of my mind" her hands resting on her hips and her head arched up to come eye to eye with her father.

"It's just a nightmare. Working in the hospital at times like this does this to you." A short chuckle followed after.

"Maybe" she shrugged, taking a seat on the kitchen stool. The general gave her a quick smile before turning his attention to preparing their morning tea.

A few minutes later.

"Here, have some ginger tea and go back to sleep" he said, a small smile gracing his lips.

"Thanks, I'll just have this in my room" she waved and turned around.

"Bella!" A serious voice called out, she froze half way up the stairs and turned around. Her father only used this tone when he was very serious.

"You skipped dinner last night, I'm guessing you were so tired you fell asleep." he stated, his brows knitted together.

"I fell asleep in the bathtub and slept and walked to bed," she replied, taking a sip of her tea.

"The stress of being on call in the hosp for so long seeing so many infected, you need to relax and focus." he advised holding his cup and passing by her up the stairs.

"I'm safe, sweetie don't worry" a reassuring smile on his face as he passed by her and went upstairs.

"What is the government planning to do now?" She asked, half interested, genuinely worried.

"Except three weak barracks to the south, all other barracks have been labeled 'safe'. So expect a huge increase in our population.

"Isn't that unsafe?" She sipped her tea, her body slightly leaning on the railing.

"A state of emergency has been declared, we don't have a choice. Besides, the security pass is strict enough." His soft voice echoed in the dimly lit area.

"And right, all doctors and health professionals are being called to different Barracks and hospitals will officially close down." He continued, his knitted eyebrows twitching.

"So, what you're saying is that soon, I won't have to leave the barracks?" Her voice tinged with curiosity, rising a few pitches higher.

"Yes,but don't think you're safe enough" he warned, knowing how complacent she can become.

"Fine, fine. I'll be in my best and most alert state." She rolled her eyes at him.

Suddenly, her phone rang and Bella answered without checking the caller.

"Dr Bella, I went over the surveillance and I seem to have noticed something we missed" a scruffy and scratchy voice came from the other end.

"I'll meet with you later. Thank you" her voice tinged with the taste of a small sense of relief.

"Okay, I'm also going to rest a bit and I'll join you for breakfast" The general's voice cut across , he then turned around and headed to his room.

A strange yet familiar aroma pervaded her senses when her father passed by her.

A knowing smile appeared on her lips as she recalled the hickeys she had spotted some days ago on him.

"You're right. I'm going back to sleep after this tea" she raised her cup, showing him what she meant.

"Sleep tight sweetie" he smiled back and continued up the stairs. Once at the top of the stairs, he was at the top of the stairs when Bella decided to tease him to ease the atmosphere.

"Say, Hi to your lady friend" she chuckled running away before her father could process her words.