Hello again! Hope you're enjoying so far - Again I to not own SGU.
The apology had been rushed – noticed only by a few members of the crew, made public in the Mess Hall, as per Young's orders. Chloe hadn't give Matt the chance to speak, having delivered her half-true apology as quickly as her lips would allow. She neither looked him in the eyes, nor bothered for his feelings as she had tacked on that their relationship was over, that it was better for them both to not be together anymore. She had felt the eyes of the crew as she had left, turning on her heel and practically running from the Mess Hall as fast as she could without looking like a coward. She had hoped that she had made it out with some dignity intact as the metal bowl crashed against the wall after her. So much for Matt taking the break up like an adult, Chloe though bitterly to herself as she rounded the corner quickly, crashing into a lithe chest, arms automatically wrapping around her to break her fall. She was fairly certain from the masculine smell that was assaulting her senses that she had run into the one person she had hoped to avoid today.
"Now, Miss Armstrong, where are you off to in such a hurry?" The Scottish voice filled her ears; the lit of his pronunciation making her insides tighten in pleasant ways, along with the overwhelming male scent of him. Chloe was having trouble keeping herself focused enough without having a reminder of why she had chose to end her relationship with Matt right in her face. Rush held her a moment long as she regained her footing. A blush spread across her cheeks as Chloe pushed a strand of stray hair away from her face, her eyes downturned, afraid that she'd start crying if she told the older man what she had just done. A commotion started in the Mess down the hall, and Rush's arms slid from her shoulders, certain that she had regained her balance, his lips sliding into a half-smirk as he listened to the yelling.
"What the hell was that?!" Came the raised voices from the Mess, Greer's tone clear that he was restraining someone. Certainly the Lieutenant wasn't trying to follow Chloe after the apology. Rush knew that Young had given her until today to make her apology to Scott, and he had hoped that all parties involved would keep some composure. Rush narrowed his eyes, scrubbing his face with both hands. Scott was hot-headed, arrogant, and downright an annoying prick when he didn't get his way. Rush had taken to avoiding the Lieutenant at every opportunity. It seemed today would be a good day for the both of them to avoid the younger man. Annoyed that the brilliant woman in front of him was obviously shaken by the experience, he came up with his plan immediately.
"Trying to be a man, and ending up being a child trying to play solider all along." He scoffed softly as he shook his head. "Alright, I need your help on the Bridge. We need to calculate the next jump." Rush turned away from her and started off down the hallway, assuming she would follow.
"Dr. Rush?" Chloe asked quietly, finally looking up, able to put her emotions back in check. He stopped and half-turned back to her, one eyebrow raised at her words. She took that as the only answer she was going to receive. "Thank you." She said softly, wringing her hands. "For catching me." Chloe tried to smile as she hid behind the masks she was so use to wearing. Dutiful daughter, Senator's aid, loving girlfriend, mathematical genius, all masks hiding the pain inside. Rush snorted, then nodded.
"We have calculations to make, Miss Armstrong. I suggest you pick up the pace." Was all he said as he turned to continue down the hallway. Chloe frowned as she rushed to follow, quickly falling in step behind him as he continued his assured pace down the hallway. She had practice in staying just a step and a half behind, especially when she had been working with her father. She didn't feel like an aid then, tennis shoes, yoga pants and tank top the only clothing that she felt was wearable during the day. It was that or her dress, or borrowed fatigues. Somehow Chloe though the dress was a bit pretentious even at the best of times. Rush slowed his pace, walking beside her, instead of in front of as they walked onto the Bridge. Volker looked up from the console he had been watching for the past few minutes.
"Three Gates are locked out, but we have two viable ones available down the line from what we can tell." Volker told them as Rush sat down in what had been dubbed the Captain's seat. Chloe slid behind an open console, thankful for the distraction. James smiled at her from where she was reviewing star-charts of the new galaxy. Chloe weakly returned the smile as James' brows knit together in sympathy, the two women's conversation completely unspoken, but not lost on Rush. Perceptive as always, he waited until they had shared a few more unspoken words that only women seemed to understand, because God Above knew he had no idea what was going on other than some form of telepathic communication that only women seemed to possess. At least Gloria had never subjected him to anything of the sort, may she rest in eternal bliss for being one of the most patient souls he had ever met. Rush had enough of the memory, and the younger girls conversation. He felt he was back at Uni teaching an irritating class of half listening students.
"Very good, Volker, now if Miss Armstrong can stop her gossiping for ten seconds, she might be able to calculate the jump to put us in range, or is that too difficult for you to master right now?" Chloe's eyes went wide as she turned to look at Rush, his mercurial mood towards her confusing her even more. He had just been semi-nice to her in the hallway, and now he was back to insufferable bastard again. Eyes narrowing as she bit back her own comment, she turned back to her screen, quickly taking in the course, and making minor adjustments, her teeth clenched together as she worked.
"I just sent the Jump coordinates over to your console, Dr. Rush." Chloe couldn't help the bitter way she twisted his name as she spoke, refusing to look at him for an entirely different reason than her refusal to look at Matt. She remained silent, eyes on her own console as he undoubtedly checked her math himself before imputing the coordinates to make the FTL jump. Her irritation grew with each passing second that he checked over the coordinates. He knew they were right, she knew they were right, why did he have to make such a humiliating show of checking her work when they both knew that there was no way her math was flawed.
"Finally someone useful." He muttered, hands moving across his console as Destiny jumped to FLT, taking them closer to the two active Gates, taking them to what could only be their next stop in the endless race to find water and food. Chloe rose from her console, intent on making a quick getaway from everyone. This latest bout of confinement making her yearn for the quiet of her own thoughts once again. Rush watched her as she moved to the steps, keeping her head high even if her step betrayed how angry she was at the moment. Chloe stopped as he held up a hand to her. "The latest calculations?" He asked, half-smirk sliding back over his face as she stared at him, her immediate contempt of him evident in her face.
"I'll bring you your damned notebook later." She snipped at him, continuing up the stairs and out of the room before he could say anything else to set her blood boiling at him. She could almost hear the laughter in his eyes as she went, breaking into a run as she made it far enough down the hallway for the slap of her shoes to not be heard. She didn't stop until she was back at her rooms, her hand slamming into the panel to open the door, quickly palming the matching panel inside to close the door behind her. Back to the door, Chloe slid to the floor hugging her knees to her chest as she sobbed, ignoring the pull of the FLT light that had always seemed to soothe her. Three hours into her day, and already she was crying – it was not going to be a good day.
Back on the Bridge, Rush sat back in his chair, watching Destiny cut through space, his mind turning over and over newly gathered data. Arms folded across his chest, he made a decision he knew he was going to regret later.
"Vanessa?" He asked softly, as both James and Volker turned to look at him in disbelief. Rush rarely talked to anyone with their given name, always referring to others by rank, or by last name only. "Would you be as kind to peek in on Miss Armstrong and make sure that she is coping well after her public apology? I believe that neither party took it very well." James nodded once, still trying to figure out the sudden mood swings this morning.
"I'll be back soon." James said as she stood and quickly went after Chloe. Volker, sensing this was a time that he shouldn't poke at the beast, turned his gaze back to his console as if nothing had just happened. Rush continued to stare at the FLT light as the sliced through the black of space, mind continuing to work on this newest intrigue.
A/N: The song for this section is Mombosa By 2CELLOS, from the Inception Movie - Enjoy!