Aeryn… She was alive. John's eyes fluttered open. Aeryn…
Part of him wanted to jump out of bed and throw some sort of a space party—if they did one in this side of the universe—but another part of him wanted the scream and shake himself for being so selfish.
Zhaan was dying. Aeryn was back, but Zhaan was dying. She was dying because she'd given up almost everything for Aeryn to return… She gave up everything for his Aeryn to return.
It had scared the former Peacekeeper. She knew what her return had cost Zhaan, but she truly didn't have much of a say in the matter. Aeryn didn't want anyone to die for her. She didn't want Zhaan to. She didn't want anyone to…
Aeryn…
That's why she had said they couldn't be together. She loved him and he her, but she said that 'emotion attachments' made judgments faulty. She didn't want anyone else to die for her.
She thought she was helping to save him… What she didn't understand, was that he'd already die for her. He'd do it gladly.
I love you, Aeryn…
Slowly, Crichton crawled out of bed. He threw a shirt over his chest and walked barefoot out into the halls of Moya. He wandered down the corridor and paused beside Aeryn's room.
John didn't go in, but he watched her threw the slits in the door. Aeryn…
She shifted in her sleep slightly, coming to face him and sigh.
He smiled. Yes, he would die for her. He would and Aeryn knew it. The thought probably terrified her.
"I love you, Aeryn," he whispered.
Aeryn's eyebrows knitted though she didn't completely awaken. He lips parted and she mumbled quietly.
"John…"
Crichton smiled slightly. He stood one more moment to soak in the picture of her sleeping into his mind. Then he returned to his chambers and tried in vain to go to sleep. He knew he wouldn't be able to. All he could do was hear her voice answering him in the dark.
I love you too…