AN: The description of the story will come into play in part 3.


Part 1

The ship came to an abrupt stop, and started up again. Jim's head banged on the

dashboard. He slowly sat back in his seat, placing his hand on forehead. Blood was

dripping from a gash on his head.


"What the hell Gene!" Jim yelled out barely chocking out the words.


"Aww...little baby hit his head?" Gene said taunting Jim.


"Gah...shut up!" Jim said as he pulled strands of hair out of the stringing wound. He

sniffed back tears; he didn't want to cry. He didn't want to listen to Gene make fun of

him.


"Gilliam, where's the next stop?" Jim asked.


"A ship docking bay area is about 40 minutes away, If we stay at this speed." Gilliam

responded.

*~Docking Bay~*


They restocked the food supply. They do other maintenance, while Melfina bandages

Jim's wound in the kitchen. Gene walks into the room and sets two brown bags on the

table. He took some small boxes out of the bag and sat it on the table. (Chinese food, if

the clues haven't given it away.) He places one of the places in front of Jim, and then

ruffles the boy's hair. "Aren't you going to eat?" Gene asked in a concern way that he

tried to mask as jokingly.

They ate the almost the same way they always do. Melfina offer food to Jim so he can try

them, but there was something different. Jim and Gene didn't do their usual eating contests. After Mel and Gene was done eating, she starting to clean the kitchen. She let

the dishes soak in the soapy water, while she went to the cabinet. She pulled out a bottle

of pills, and studied the back of it. She sat it in front of Jim. "Take one of these," She said.

"it will make you feel better."

Jim struggled with the bottle for a few minutes. He looked down at it frustrated. "Can't

you open it?" Melfina said concerned. Gene yanked the bottle almost effortlessly out of

Jim's grasp. He opened it and placed the pill in front of Jim. "Would you like me to cut it

into pieces for you, I can cut your food up for you too." Gene said teasingly


He swallowed the pill and quickly sat up. He walked fast to his room and once inside shut

the door. He sat on his bed, leaning against his headboard.

*~Kitchen~*

Melfina glared at Gene. "You shouldn't tease him like that!"


Gene smiled. "He likes it."


"Sure." Melfina said as she walked out of the room. She sat on the couch and started

reading a book.


*~Jim's Room~*

He sat there, his small frame still leaning against the headboard. "Today hasn't been a

good day at all." Jim whispered aloud to himself. He stared at the wall across from him. It

was a very in personal room. All that side of the room was furnished with was his dresser,

and then his closet was there. He started to go through the motions of crying. There were

no tears, just chocked back cries that could have easily been mistaken for coughing.


"Why do I have to cry?" He thought to himself. He got off his bed, and threw his jacket

on the floor. He laid back on his bed in a fetal position. He was cold but didn't feel like

getting under the blankets. He let the tears slide off the side of his face; every now and

then he let out a chocked coughing cry.

*~Family Room~*

Gene walked into the family room. He sat down by Melfina and put his arm around her.

She laid down her book and looked at Gene.


"What do you want?" She asked softly.


" I was just about to go to sleep, and I wanted to wish you a good night." Gene said.


Melfina hug him. "Good night." She kissed him on the cheek, and then pulled away. They

both stood up and walked to Jim's room. He was already asleep.


"Oh...Gene...he looks cold maybe we should cover him up." Melfina said troubled.


"He's just fine...if he wanted them on he would of put them on." Gene thought to himself,

but aloud he said. "Yeah...you're right Mel." He picked Jim up, while Melfina got the bed

ready. He felt his soft breathing against his neck, and the little boy's arms wrapping

around his neck. He thought for a second that he heard the boy whisper "Aniki."


"Gene?" He heard Melfina's voice and looked at her. "Put him in the bed now." He started

to lay Jim down. He felt the child make his gasp tighter, but then loosened it. Melfina

covered him with the blankets. She bent down, and kissed him on the cheek. She

straightens up and looked at Gene.


"I wonder if I'm capable of having kids." Melfina thought aloud. Gene smiled to himself,

and then they left the room.