Disclaimer: I only own the idea and the story. Henson own Farscape and the characters. Except Neeha who is my creation!
D'argo laid a hand on Crichton's shoulder; he could see that Crichton needed to talk. Whether he would talk was another matter. "Maybe you should go and talk to her. It may help." He said, pouring himself and John a raslack from the silver tankard.
John Crichton shook his head sadly and downed it quickly, "I doubt it, ever since this whole thing happened she has hardly spoken a word to anyone. At night when I try and hold her...she just stiffens or pulls away like my touch burns her...she has hardly eaten in days." He paused. "It's like she's a different person...this hasn't only affected her, it's affected us all...I am trying to be strong for the both of us but..." he looked at D'argo, "I can't help crying sometimes...and she doesn't seem to care that it hurt me...more than anything."
"I do understand John. It was the same with Lo'laan and myself. It was weekens before she even looked at me no matter what I tried. You know Aeryn takes time but I still think it would be best if you at least try talking to her. Here...take her some food," he said, giving John a tray with three or four small dishes of food on it. "Noranti made it especially. It should do her good."
"Thanks D." John gave a slight smile as he took the tray from D'argo and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's hope you're right Big Guy."
Crichton approached his quarters, and pressed his palm to the door release. Pain stabbed at him as he saw Aeryn hugging her knees with her back pressed against the wall, her dark hair hung limply around her shoulders and down her back. "How are you feeling now?" he asked softly. He could no longer see the strong Aeryn he once knew, but a weaker and emotional one. He just wished that she would open up and talk to him. But talking to Aeryn when she was like this was like talking to a brick wall.
Aeryn looked up at him briefly, her grey eyes no longer shining the way the used to; before looking away again. She didn't reply.
"I...uh...thought you might like something to eat. You know...to keep your strength up?" John said approaching his mate slowly, "I'll leave it here for you okay?" he said placing it on the bed.
"John. I'm not hungry," Aeryn replied, pushing the food away. She wondered why he wouldn't understand that she didn't want to talk or eat. She just wanted time alone to get her head together and maybe to understand why what happened had happened. She thought maybe Crichton would take the hint when she turned away from him at night, or stiffened when he touched her, but as yet it proved pointless. She had married him and now he acted like he owned her, when he had told her nothing would change between them.
"Come on baby...you have to eat something." He balanced himself in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to gage her mood, but he knew it was pointless. He could never really tell what she was feeling, it was just guessing. "Please?" he asked.
Aeryn's arm shot out giving John a Pantak jab, "I said, I'm not hungry!" she hissed, before getting up and storming out of their quarters. Crichton had pushed her too far. She headed to her own old quarters, and grabbed her bag filling it with clothing and possessions. She pulled her hair back into a tight braid and looked at herself in a mirror. "Pull yourself together Aeryn," she muttered to herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath telling herself she could do this. "Pilot! Is my Prowler ready for launch?" She asked as calmly as she could so she didn't raise suspicion.
"Yes Officer Sun, why?" Pilot replied.
"Thank you." She said simply. "I'd prefer it if you didn't inform the others where I am going."
"Of course Aeryn."
She glanced down at her left hand and the engagement and wedding rings on her fingers. She sighed sadly and pulled them off, marvelling for one more time at the way they sparkled in the light. "I'm sorry John Crichton," she said, leaving them on a table with a note scrawled in Sebacean, before heading to the maintenance bay where her Prowler was held. She threw her bag into the cockpit and grabbed some weapons; a pulse rifle, a knife and a dozen spare chakkan oil cartridges. She hadn't noticed Chiana watching her every move.
"Hey Aeryn... you and Crichton taking some planet leave?" she asked, "You know after...well...you should take a break or something. D'argo says these things happen, and there's nothing you can do about it. It happened to him and Lo'Laan!" she said, trying to be sympathetic.
Aeryn turned and glared at the grey Nebari girl, "Stay out of it." She spat.
Chiana saw anger creeping in as Aeryn's glare turned icy, "You're leaving John!" she said in disbelief. But before Chiana had a chance to inform the rest of the crew, Aeryn inflicted another Pantak jab, knocking Chiana out, "I warned you to stay out of it." She was angry. Very angry. She tied Chiana up, and gagged her, knowing full well that when she came round, Chiana wouldn't be able to communicate with John. John would probably think that instead of leaving Moya, she had just escaped to the lower decks to be alone. Silently she climbed into her Prowler, closed the canopy and switched on the engines. Manoeuvring the Prowler out of the maintenance bay, she engaging the thrusters sped out of the hangar and away from Moya.
John opened his eyes, "I just wish..." Damn. He thought as he realised he was lying on his back. "Damn it woman...you could of just told me to get lost," he said to himself. Half of him felt angry, the other half was concerned. Getting up he sat on the marital bed and put his head in his hands. "It's not your fault Aeryn," he whispered sadly. "If anything its mine...I should of..." he paused and bit his thumb. He knew instantly where she would be. Where she normally was when she wanted to be alone. "Aeryn?" he asked, entering her dark quarters. "Honey are you in here?" He looked around and a shimmer caught his eye. He walked over to the table and found the engagement ring and wedding ring with a note on paper torn out of his note book and written in Sebacean. "She's just pissed at me." He told himself. "She did this before..." he said, hoping that his own words would reassure his nagging subconscious. He hit his comms, "D'argo, Chiana...can you guys meet me in command."
D'argo arrived in command first followed by John. "Where's Chi?" John asked.
"I am unsure John. She hasn't been answering her comms for the past half arn."
"Chi? Where the hell are you?" John yelled into his comms.
"Well can we start without her?"
John shook his head, "Not really...I was hoping that Chi could read this." But in truth he didn't really need to know what it said. He could probably guess.
"Uh, what is it John?" D'argo asked taking the paper from his hand.
"It's a note from Aeryn... I found it in her quarters along with these..." John held out his hand revealing the rings, "The note is in Sebacean..." he hung his head. "I just need to know what it says."
Rygel joined them in command, "So the Peacekeeper has finally gone then? She must be fed up with your smell."
John grabbed Rygel from his throne sled and held him by his robes, "What are you talking about Sparky." He asked, looking into Rygel's eyes.
He gave a chuckle, "Perhaps you would be best off asking Chiana"
"Talk buckwheat." John said bitterly, "What do you know about where Aeryn has gone?"
"Only that she left Chiana tied up in maintenance bay three."
John placed Rygel back in his throne sled, "Thanks Guido!" he said patting him on his head before running out of command followed by D'argo. He knew Aeryn was feeling a little moody, but full scale PK anger had set in she was going to be unpredictable and potentially dangerous. He didn't want to hurt Aeryn, so he picked up a stasis gun he had procured somehow. She needed to rest and the only way he was going to get her to, is if she was in stasis for a while. They found Chiana with her hands and feet bound tightly to each other and her mouth gagged tightly.
"Where the frell were you?" Chiana snapped as John removed the gag from her mouth, "I've been tied up for half an arn!"
"Where's Aeryn?" John asked as he finished loosening the bonds.
"Great! I've been tied up here for ages and it's 'Where's Aeryn?' not 'Are you okay Chiana?' or 'Did she hurt you?'" Chiana moaned.
"Look, just tell me where Aeryn is okay?" John pleaded.
"She's gone...she left in her prowler about three quarters of an arn ago..." she replied, "Look, I would of told you...if that tralk hadn't tied me up."
John blinked back the tears that began to form in his eyes as his worst fears came true, "No..." he whispered in quiet denial, ignoring the tralk comment. But denial soon gave way to anger, "Pilot! Why didn't you tell me Aeryn had left?!"
Pilot's holographic image flickered onto the clamshell, "I'm sorry Commander, but Officer Sun requested that none of you should be informed of her absence."
"You know how she's been lately! You must have known..." John realised he was shouting and took some deep breaths to calm down. He chewed his thumb slightly, "Look I'm sorry Pilot. We are just under a lot of stress...what with Aeryn..." his voice trailed off. "Can you run a long range scan for me please?"
Pilot sighed, "I'm sorry, but she is no longer on Moya's senses. We could however plot her trajectory and follow it."
"Do it Pilot." John sighed. He secretly cursed himself for pestering her when he could see she wanted to be alone. Why couldn't he have realised? But it was too late for recriminations now. It had happened and it couldn't be changed. The only thing left to do was to go after her and bring her back home.