Even for me this has been a long time coming - apologies to those interested in this story.
There is more to come ...
Sleepless – Part 2
Chloe let herself wake slowly. For the first time in weeks she had slept soundly, undisturbed by the nightmares that usually left her wide eyed and shaking. Cocooned in contentment she refused to open her eyes and risk losing the feeling any sooner than necessary. She slid her hand under the covers, searching for the warmth of Matthew's body on the other side of the bed. Finding no one there, she cracked open an eye and with a start remembered where she was. She sat up and glanced around guiltily, relieved to find herself alone.
She wriggled back until she could lean against the wall and surveyed her surroundings. The layout and furnishings were virtually identical to the other cabins she had seen but, while no one on board had much in the way of personal effects, this room was more sterile than most. Only the pile of circuitry and computer boards on the table gave any sign she had not chosen a random unoccupied room in which to sleep.
Rush was gone and she assumed he would already be at a console, engrossed in his work to unravel the mysteries of Destiny's systems. She had initially thought his voluntary segregation from the crew to be appropriate - abrasive and condescending, his behaviour did nothing to lift morale. Only recently had she come to see hints of carefully hidden compassion beneath his callous exterior. When he had suggested she stay the night her first instinct was to decline. Her looks and her father's position meant she was experienced in gently rebuffing unwelcome suitors, but her political work had honed her skills in reading body language and she had accepted his invitation, confident it was no clumsy attempt at seduction.
Her stomach rumbled and she realised she was starving, another novelty since the abduction. The rest of he crew would be sitting down to breakfast in the mess and she hoped she would be able to see Matt before he left for his morning duties. She slipped out from under the covers and quickly made the bed, a small thank you for a rare night of restful sleep, and headed out the door.
As she navigated the maze of corridors that would lead to the mess, she fretted about what to tell Matt. Sure that he would understand that she had done nothing wrong, her concerns were for Rush. Even before they arrived on Destiny the military personnel had distrusted him, and his role in the failed coup attempt had done nothing to reduce the tension. If Matt got it into his head that Rush had any romantic intentions towards her she was worried what the repercussions might be. She reached a junction and rounded the corner, almost colliding with T.J., and yelped in surprise.
T.J grinned good-naturedly, "Heading to the mess?" Chloe smiled and nodded and they fell into step.
As they walked T.J could see that for the first time in weeks the black rings under Chloe's eyes were almost gone. She no longer seemed painfully exhausted and with renewed energy easily kept up a brisk pace. "How're you feeling?" she asked.
"Great," Chloe said, "I finally got a good night's sleep."
T.J raised an eyebrow, "No nightmares?"
"Not one."
"That's great," T.J said, glad of any sign Chloe might be starting to move beyond the trauma she had experienced.
They reached the last junction before the mess and T.J spotted Colonel Young in an adjacent corridor. He signalled he needed to speak to her and she stopped walking and nodded that she would join him.
Before she left Chloe she asked, "Did you try something different to help you sleep? I'd really like to have something new to suggest to Doctor Rush."
"Nothing he doesn't know about already," Chloe said and ducked into the mess before T.J could ask her what she was referring to.
Most of the tables were occupied by small groups and despite the meagre breakfast rations the room was filled with a warm hum of conversation. Loud laughter erupted from one of the tables and Chloe spotted Matt in the group who were guffawing over the antics of one of the junior marines. She was about to head over to join them when spotted Rush sitting with Eli at a table in a far corner of the mess, segregated as usual. Eli was talking animatedly and from the distant look on Rush's face she assumed he had been talking for quite a while.
As she approached their table she could hear Eli describing in detail some new project he was working on with one of the Kinos. When he noticed her he stopped talking, to Rush's relief, and saluted Chloe with his cup, "Ave."
"Morning Eli."
Rush looked up at her and his lips twitched briefly in what Chloe was coming to understand was his version of a smile.
"Thank you for last night," she said.
Rush bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement, "Any time."
Eli watched the brief exchange, eyebrows raised. As Chloe walked over to join the marines he watched her go then turned back and focussed on Rush, "What was that about?"
"We slept together last night."
Eli's jaw dropped and he stared open-mouthed at Rush who, amused by the young man's credulity, failed to hide a smirk behind his mug of what passed for coffee. With and exasperated grunt Eli said, "Well if you are going to be like that…"
Not easily discouraged, Eli soon returned to his monologue. Rush had no interest in his ongoing foolishness, there were vastly more important things for them to spend their time on than Kino video-diaries, nonetheless he tried to focus on what Eli was saying. The alternative, watching Choe talking and laughing with Matt and the other marines, did not seem prudent.