Chapter 2

Tied to Committment

Once inside the Jupiter they went their separate ways. Judy entered her room and worried about what was going through Don's mind, but she wanted to give him enough time to come to grips with whatever it was that was still haunting him. For her part, she wondered just what had possessed her to stand up to Effra and throw herself at Don afterwards.

'It's just that I love him, that all,' she told herself, but she knew that her actions were not those of a woman who trusted her man. She was afraid that he'd be taken in by Effra's advances and stepped in to be sure that Effra knew he was her property. And then her attempts to seduce him later just reinforced that notion. She wanted to put her stamp on him. 'What was it he used to say?' she asked herself, 'no sex… no commitment?'

She hugged her knees to her chest and told herself that she wouldn't cry. 'Don was right. I wanted him to make love to me because I was jealous of Effra and wanted him to prove that he is committed to me.' She lost her battle with the tears. She just hoped that she hadn't lost Don as well.


Don wasn't sure what to do with himself when he and Judy returned to the Jupiter. He knew that she had retreated to her room and he sat in his pilot's chair, hoping that no one would come and ask him about the day's events. He went through the motions of checking the ship's console, but finally tossed his clipboard aside. 'What the hell happened to me today?' he asked himself. 'I made a fool of myself and Judy had to step in to protect me.'

He thought back to his first year at the Academy. Effra had reminded him a lot of his first girlfriend at that time… Mia. Don just played along with her until he got tired of her controlling 'diva' ways. Then there was Lynn… He had told her that he didn't love her, but he let her get the best of him. 'What was it I told myself after that Thanksgiving night? No sex, no strings, no commitment… Wait… Did I ever tell Judy about that?' He put his head in his heads and wracked his brain, but couldn't remember. 'I've got to go talk to her.'

He descended the ladder and searched the lower deck for her, but before he found her, sounds of a rhythmic drum and chanting voices echoed throughout the ship. He, John and Maureen decided to investigate and Don went to find Smith so he could show them the way.

Before he pulled Smith out of his cabin, he quietly called Judy's name outside her door. She slid it open just enough to step out. "What's that noise?" she asked him.

"Your parents and I are going to find out. I'm getting Smith, but… can we talk when I come back?"

She nodded. Don smiled and moved to Smith's door, but Judy followed him. "Don?"

He turned to her. "I promise that nothing's going to happen, Judy,"

"I know… I just wanted to give you this," she said and then she stretched up to kiss his cheek and he pulled her in for a hug.


When they returned, Judy was waiting near the viewport. Don walked in twirling a leaf given to him by Effra. He handed it to Maureen and said, "Effra gave this to me before I left…" then glanced at Judy when he said, "as a 'remembrance.' You can probably test it tomorrow to find out more about their crops."

Maureen took it from him and looked from him to Judy. "Thank you, Don. I'll deposit it in the lab. John? Shall we?" She and her husband retreated to their cabin.

While Don was putting his weapon away, Dr. Smith entered the ship and greeted them. "Ah, Judith. What an unusual family they are. They were singing to the plants to help them grow. Isn't that quaint?" He turned to Don and added, "And that lovely Effra certainly has her eye on you, Major, but I must warn you that I will not allow that poor girl to be taken in by your charms just to have her hopes dashed."

Judy turned her back on Smith and stared out the window. She was in no mood to listen to Dr. Smith's ramblings. She crossed her arms and tried her best to tune him out. Don glanced at Judy and wanted to wring Smith's neck, which he thought would probably be the fastest way to get rid of him. He took a step towards Smith and threatened, "Effra has nothing to hope about, and you be sure to tell her that on your next visit. Now leave us alone before I…"

"Major, I am very glad to hear that," Smith exclaimed. "You know, she is such a sensitive young thing…" Don took another step towards him and grit his teeth. Smith backed away and stepped on the elevator. "It has been an exhausting day. Good night Judith," he called. He nodded to Don. "Major." Smith descended, and they were finally alone.

Don let out a long breath and turned to Judy. "I'm sorry, Judy…"

She faced him and interrupted, "No, Don. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"Oh, yes I do." He walked up to her and asked, "Sit in my lap?" She nodded, so he sat in his pilot's chair and pulled her down and she snuggled against his chest. "Hey, this reminds me of the Adirondack chair on your porch in Houston," Don commented.

She laughed. "You spent quite a bit of time in that chair, didn't you?"

"Yeah, that was my penance when I'd mess up…"

"Oh, Don, you never messed up."

"Oh, I did today. I should have stood up to her the moment she set her sights on me."

She thought about that a moment and then asked, "Why didn't you?"

"I was… flattered… By the way, thanks for saving me."

"I should have trusted you to get rid of her."

"But I didn't."

"You would have…"

"You don't sound convinced. Come on… be honest with me."

"I… I wasn't sure what you were going to do, so I took matters into my own hands."

"You didn't trust me."

"I didn't trusther…"

"And…?"

"And… you… I'm sorry. I know I was wrong…"

"Judy, there is no wrong or right here. Did we ever talk about that Thanksgiving Night when Lynn tried…"

"Yes," she interrupted. "You said, 'No sex… no commitment.'"

"It was 'No sex, nostrings, no commitment.' I am tied to you Judy. We may not have had sex, but you know that the commitment is there, and not just because there's no one else around. I mean, haven't we talked about marriage enough for you to believe that?" She absent mindedly moved her palm to his cheek and brushed her thumb against it.

"Well?" he asked. She picked her head up and nodded. "Then why don't you trust me?" he asked.

"Because… you don't know if… I can… satisfy you."

He started chuckling and then covered his mouth to stop from laughing. "Oh, Judy… if you only knew… You've satisfied me many times over in my dreams…"

"Really? Then why haven't you told me about your dreams."

"Well, it's… it's embarrassing…"

"I might find it flattering…"

He took a long look at her and nodded. "Yes, you would. Now… what do I need to do to prove to you that I am committed?"

"I don't know, Don… just… I guess just keep telling me that you love me."

"I love you… I love you… I love you… I lo—"

She giggled. "Ok, I believe you."

"Then show me."

She tilted her head and met his lips. They were both satisfied… for now…