Lifeline.

By DekotaSkye

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters, the Jim Henson Company does, and.whoever else. Just using them for a moment. FrellByFate and Kazybaby for their great suggestions and Beta. Rated: PG-shippy

Chiana woke from a restless slumber. Glancing around, she pondered why she was in John's old quarters. Sitting on the side of the bunk, she looked at all the junk that had accumulated since he had moved in with Aeryn. Aeryn.dren she was suppose to be meeting her in command.

Quickly rising, she started out the door and for the first time she noticed Aeryn sitting on a large storage container just inside the quarters. Aeryn was stiff as a board, her face and eyes completely blank. She didn't acknowledge Chiana's presence or make any movement, almost as if she had turned to stone.

"Aeryn?" Chiana whispered in fear.

There wasn't any response, absolutely none at all. Chiana stood in front of her and tried again. "Aeryn, what is wrong? Is it the baby.Aeryanna?"

At the sound of the names, Aeryn's eyes flickered, but she still didn't move. Getting no answer from her friend Chiana actived her comm, she said," John.D'Argo." No response. Intently looking at Aeryn, she could have sworn Aeryn had just flinched at hearing John's name. No, maybe she'd been wrong.

"Pilot.Pilot?" she shouted.

"Yes, Chiana."

"Where is John an.and D'Argo?"

"Don't you remember?" Pilot asked surprised.

"Remember what? Aeryn, is setting here in John's old quarters in.in.I don't know .shock. No one is answering me. Where are the kids?"

"In their quarters sleeping with their DRDs watching over them. Is Officer Sun all right?"

"NO! What the frell is going on?"

Chiana was ready to scream after a long pause, but Pilot finally answered. "Commander Crichton is dead. D'Argo is on the planet retrieving his body. Surely you remember?"

Shocked Chiana just shook her head and murmured. "No.Pilot, I don't remember that." Chiana turned back to Aeryn and knelt next to her, looking her up and down. "Aeryn, how did.what happen on the planet? What happen to John?"

Chiana was frantic. She didn't remember any of this. She was in some kind of nightmare. Yes, that's it she was in a nightmare. They wouldn't have gone down without her and.and she was going with them. Aeryn was to stay with the children this time. There weren't any wanted beacons here, not this far into the Uncharted. No, she would have remembered if John or D'Argo had made someone mad. Then why was she still on Moya asleep in John's old quarters and D'Argo was going back for.wait. how was it D'Argo had to go back for John's body? Aeryn would have killed John if he had tried to go down alone. No, it just didn't make any sense. Hitting her comm once more she shouted D'Argo's name.

"D'Argo, where in the hezmana are you?"

"Chiana, I'm on my way back. What's wrong?"

"Aeryn.is it true that John is died?" .

"Yes, don't you remember?"

She jumped to her feet, and spinned around the room, screaming. "No! It's not true.it's not."

The sight of Aeryn quietly sitting stopped Chiana in her tracks. Her tantrum coming to a complete halt with only single tear trailing down her gray cheek. Still shaking her head in denial, her voice dropped to a whisper, "It can't be true.please say it isn't true, D'Argo.please say it."

"Chiana, please." D'Argo begged. "Please. We need you.I need.Aeryn need us now. Take her back to their quarters. Stay with her, the baby and Aeryanna until I get back. Can you do that?"

Frozen in place Chiana stared at the etched in pain statue of Aeryn. "Chiana, can you do that?" D'Argo asked again.

Clearing her throat she said hoarsely. "Yeah, for Aeryn, and the kids.yeah."

After D'Argo had broken contact, Chiana took Aeryn's hand. There was no resistance, but Chiana felt as though she were leading a sleepy child rather then an ex-Peacekeeper.

Out in the corridor Rygel was waiting for them. Sadness and pain radiated off of the little Dominar. He silently followed them to John and Aeryn's quarters. Helping Aeryn to the bed, Chiana gently spoke to her as she settled her in. Chiana pulled the cover over Aeryn, Rygel murmured under his breath.

"This is not our Aeryn."

"I know," Chiana said quietly. "I just wish I knew what had happened.how."

Puzzled Rygel glanced over at her sharply. "Crichton got himself killed. That's what happen." He turned his thronesled back toward Aeryn. "She's had a nasty shock."

Chiana kneeled beside the bed. Aeryn lie there staring into nothingness, still unresponsive. "Aeryn, think of the baby. Think of Aeryanna," she pleaded, hoping to somehow break through the wall that Aeryn had erected to protect herself.

Only then did Aeryn show any sign of emotions, and neither Chiana nor Rygel had ever witnessed such agony. Rygel maneuver closer. "Aeryn.you must take care of Aeryanna and the baby. No matter what has happened, you must protect the children."

Slowly, Aeryn nodded, accepting the words, but her face had settled back into nothingness. Straightening up, Chiana stood frozen in front of the bed staring silently down at Aeryn, letting her mind race over what could have happen to cause John's death. Why couldn't she remember?

Pilot announced that D'Argo had returned, bringing her out of her contemplation. She noticed Rygel had already left. Glancing down once more at Aeryn, she gently touched the grief-stricken woman before turning to go.

As she started to leave Chiana was hit by a wave of nauseating dizziness. Jerking around, Chiana fell backwards, landing with a thump on the floor. Slowly rolling over onto her knees, she opened her eyes, but had to rapidly blink them as she glanced about the dim room. Sitting up she recognized John's old quarters. Frell.

Finis