Chapter 6

Once they were safely in hyperspace, Don allowed himself to relax, and leaned back in his seat, his brow furrowed with the accumulation of stress and excitement that they had just experienced.

Judy came up behind him and massaged his shoulders, "Nice flying."

Don grunted. "Easy… All I need is a gas pedal and steering wheel."

"Kind of like me," she teased.

That brought a smile to his face.

"Pain level?"

"Fifteen."

"Hm, not good. Break time. You need to go and take care of yourself. The last thing you need right now is another infection."

His fingers curled around her hand and he brought it to his lips. "I know."

"I'll stay with Scotty until you're done, then we'll choose a sleeping berth."

"Sounds good."

As he motored away, Scotter turned to Judy and smiled. He had never seen a female interact with a man in such a familiar manner before.

"Do all men and women act like you two on Earth?"

She smiled, "If they love each other they do."

"Bah, love. That's an idealistic myth. I don't believe it exists."

"Then you've probably never been in love. But, tell me, Scotty, how do you feel when you think of your child?"

"My daughter?" he sighed. "I try not to."

"Because it hurts too much?"

He looked at her. "Yes."

"Then you know what a father's love is for his child. What I feel for Don is different from that, but it's still love. Did you ever feel that way for another woman, maybe with your 'vessel'?"

"No. Tier 2 and 3 men only procreate with their vessels. The women live with their Tier 1 male. Once the woman is with child, she's brought to the Ministry of Procreation until the birth."

"What happens to her after that?"

"She returns to her Tier 1 male, if he wants her, or is sent to another man to procreate."

"Scotty, who raises the children?"

"Fathers raise the males. The females are sent to the Ministry of Development so they can be protected. Men are allowed to visit their daughters, at least as long as they remain in good standing with the government. I had hoped to father a son, but..." He shrugged.

"And you'll never have another chance to procreate?"

"I've had my chance."

"If you could, would you want another child?"

"Nah. I am too old."

"Well, I think Don wouldn't mind if you adopted him as a son."

"Adopted?"

"Yes, it means acting like a father towards him, even though he's not your biological child."

"He has a father."

"Back on Earth, but he'll probably never see him again. My father treats him much like a son, but also as a friend. I don't think he'd mind having another father to turn to for advice."

"I don't have anything to offer him. He can take care of himself."

"Scotty, we never can have too many people who care about us."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek and left to go find her husband.

She found him sprawled on a bed with Ronon giving him a body massage. Judy was almost jealous when she saw how much they both seemed to be enjoying it. Ronon looked up from his work and greeted Judy by nodding to her.

"I am surprised at how well defined the major's muscles are, given his condition," he observed.

"He works hard at it, Ronon."

"I can see why you are so attracted to him."

"I'll admit that had something to do with my initial attraction to him, but that's not why I love him."

Don opened one eye and grinned sleepily at her.

"I am not sure I understand this thing called love," Ronon commented.

"That seems to be a common problem on Marvenius," Don mumbled.

Judy nodded. "I was just telling Scotty that caring for someone so much that it hurts when you can't be a part of their life is a form of love."

"But the love that you have for each other seems to be much more than that," Ronon continued.

"Oh, yes, much more," Judy stated.

"Not only do we love each other, but we love making love to each other," Don added.

"Now I am confused," Ronon replied. "What is 'making love'?"

Judy giggled and Don shook his head. "Thanks for the massage, Ronon. Sex education class will have to wait for another day. Right now, I'd like to make love to my wife."

Ronon nodded and left the room.

Judy undressed and lay down beside her husband. "Are you sure you want to make love? You can't keep your eyes open."

He turned over and smiled impishly. "I don't need to keep my eyes open, just my mouth."

She leaned over and kissed him deeply. She nuzzled his neck and covered his body halfway with her own. She realized that she was as tired as he was and didn't have the energy to move. "Don?"

"Hm?"

"Let's make love later."

"Sure. Judy?"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you're with me."

"Me too."

He kissed her tenderly, and when she was ready to pull away, didn't stop. He turned on his side and pulled her even closer, kissing her more insistently this time. She kissed him back, but was too tired to do much else.

When they came up for air, she whispered, "What happened to later?"

He breathed into her ear, "How about now and later?"

She sighed.

"You really want to sleep?"

"Yes."

"Okay, just checking. I'm okay with that too. Love you later."

And then they both fell fast asleep.

The blaring of an alarm jolted them awake. Judy hastily threw on some clothes and helped Don into his chair. They sped to the cockpit.

"Scotty, what's going on?" Don asked.

Scotter didn't need the translator to understand the words. He pointed to a gauge.

"Fuel leak," Don muttered. "Do we have anything to patch it with?"

Scotty nodded.

"I'll have to go out in EVA to fix it."

"Not by yourself!" Judy exclaimed.

"I'm the only one with EVA experience, besides it should be an easy fix."

"Don, please. Don't go out alone. Suppose something happens?"

"Judy, nothing's going to happen. Now get out of my way."

She stepped aside and followed him to the hatch.

"At least let me help you get into a suit."

She doubled checked all of the seals before putting his helmet on.

"This suit's too big for you."

"Better too big than too small."

Scotty stood by with the patching material and looked away as Judy gave Don a passionate kiss. "Please be extra careful and keep in communication with me."

Scotty attached the tether and placed the repair tools in a pouch on Don's suit.

Don gave the thumbs up sign and Scotty and Judy backed away from the hatch.

The doors opened and he was out in space. He used the hand holds that lined the ship to work his way over to the fuel lines.

Judy glanced at Scotter and mumbled, "I hate when he does this. It scares the living daylight out of me."

"I… heard that, Mrs. West. Some… astronaut's wife… you are."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah… Just… for the record?"

"Yes?"

"I love going EVA."