Chapter 9- Stand by your man

"You will find the living quarters that way", a sulkly Maxon pointed Dr Smith in the direction of the lower deck. 'Thank you my boy", Smith kept his eyes firmly on Maxon and not on the green blobs behind him. Maxon scowled at Smith and showed no sign of wanting to chat. He was obviously not like Will and that actually made Dr Smith feel somewhat sad.

Forcing a smile he walked past Maxon. He had just reached the door to the lower levels when a familiar voice made him stop.

"Move away from him now", Judy Robinson had never ever spoken to anyone in her life like that. It was fierce and tinged with a great deal of anger. Smith found himself turnng and walking back to the hatch where he beheld a stunning sight.

Judy stood back rigid , head held high, her hand outstretched. Through the gloom Smith could make out something in her hand. "I said move away", she yelled at Pax as he went to grab Don. It was then that Smith realized in a moment of stunning shock that sweet Judy Robinson had a gun trained upon them.

Pax stood unmoving ,he had unfortunately put his own weapon down, once he'd shot the Major, so no longer had the upper hand. But he still evaluated whether Judy Robinson would fire." If you don't move I will shoot you where you stand", Judy told him in a firm growling voice. She was Pax estimated deadly serious, so he backed away slowly.

Judy didn't move forward remaining partly in the shadows. She could not afford to let Pax know that she only held a long piece of wood and not a gun. It was only pure attitude holding the alien at bay and she was drawing deep on reserves she never knew existed. But all rational thought had vanished the moment she'd stepped from behind the rocks and saw Don lying motionless on the ground.

Pax was backing up and bumped into Maxon, "I suppose I can blame this on you", he grumbled.

Maxon mumbled under his breath, "she's just a girl. "She's armed and if I am reading Earth emotions right very angry. I don't underestimate that. But she can't keep it up forever", Pax told him.

Smith stepped around the aliens and down the ramp, "my dear", he stated soothingly to Judy, "I hope you don't think I am responsible for that", he gestured at Don. The look he got from Judy chilled him.

"Shut up", she snapped fiercely, "you are never ever to speak to me again. "

Smith was actually shaken at the usually even tempered Judy Robinson talking like that, 'but Judy please…, he tried to reason. "I said shut up Dr, you knew Don was here and you still tried to deal. I have nothing I want to say to you", Judy gave him a glare.

Smith swallowed, "my dear I was going to help him", he tried hard to convince her. "Liar", Judy countered fiercely, you just walked straight past him". I hate you", she said it in a tone that left little doubt that it was absolutely true. Dr Smith felt a stab of pain shift through him. Judy had always tried to defend him when Don ranted about his behavior.

She would never trust him again. He always tried to internalize his actions, or put the blame on others . Now he had simply no excuse ,Judy Robinson knew exactly what he'd done. It left him feeling empty and oh so alone. He sat on the ramp on put his head in his hands ,tears forming in his eyes.

Judy felt a sudden wave of compassion for his reaction but quickly squashed it down. Keeping her eyes on the aliens and the stick under her clothing she approached her love.

"Don", her soft fingers stroked him. Don could not even make his mouth work so settled for a blink of his eyes to let her know she was a welcome sight. He was totally stunned by her actions and her words, this was a new Judy Robinson.

"What did you do to him", Judy yelled at Pax. "its just a paralysing beam, it'll wear off", Pax swore.

"It had better", Judy growled fiercely. She moved closer to Don but did not crouch by his side very much aware that her act was all illusion and in reality she was outnumbered. She made a point to pick up Pax's gun from the ground. At least if things went bad she actually had a real weapon.

Pax kept his eyes on Judy evaluationg his chances, Maxon was right in one aspect, she was just a girl, it'd be easy enough to gain the upper hand back. Then Pax figured she'd make a good bargaining chip. Donald West would do exactly as he wanted if he thought Judy was in danger. But he had a time line to work against. The paralyzing beam would soon wear off and then they'd have to deal with West as well. He'd have to make a move soon. Eye fixed on Judy Robinson Pax waited for a moment to strike.

Don could feel sensation slowly return but knew he was not up to moving right away. He was close enough to Judy to see the tremors that passed through her body. She was totally scared and just putting on an act. He felt fierce pride in her actions surface along with fear, how much longer could she keep this up.

Also noticing the tremour Pax smiled to himself a took a step toward her. "Stop", Judy demanded. Pax slowed but did not totally stop, "come on young lady are you really going to shoot me".

"I am unarmed you know", Pax put his hands up to make himself look totally vulnerable. Judy felt her arm shake, this was getting more difficult. "Stop right there", she demanded again but it lacked the force of the last time. Pax grinned inwardly to himself, she had lost already ,all he had to do was get close enough. 'Personally I don't think you can do it Judy", he stated softly almost pleasantly, "look me straight in the eyes and shoot. I don't think its your style". Come now be a good girl and give me the gun".

Judy took another look down at Don who seemed to be pleading at her with his eyes. When she looked up she glimpsed a quickly vanishing smirk on Pax's face. Holding the gun with new steadiness Judy proclaimly loudly, "I am not a girl,I am a woman", then she fired.

Pax face registered absolute shock as he sunk to the ground. Maxon was himself stunned for a minute but quickly recovered. With anger building within him he rushed at Judy, only to have her fire on him as well.

Smith looked down at the two motionsless aliens and back at Judy who was no longer so familiar to him. Swallowing he quickly decided it was time to change sides again. "Well done my dear, you will have some time to get out of here", he stated. Judy just looked at him like he was a rotten piece of fuit, "I don't want you to say anything to me", she told him. 'But Judy dear, it's alright it,s over. You have the Major back", Smith reminded her. "Yes and I suppose you want to come back as well", Jusy countered. "Yes, Smith agreed, he was afterall not likely to be going to Earth now. He smiled his most pitiful smile at Judy, "I am really sorry Judy, I will never ever do anything like this again".

Judy stared at him for a full five seconds then told him her decision, "No", she stated. "What", Smith had never been more surprised. 'I don't want you back Dr. I can't look at you every day and know that you were going to let the aliens have Don. Looking down at her love she paled as she caught a glimpse of the tubing in his neck. "Look what they did to him Dr", she accused Smith.

Smith couldn't look. Judy felt Dons hands move upward and grip her own tightly, "Don was right not to trust you", she told Smith. Judy turned her gaze from him and back to Don, "we should go before that beam wears off", she stated calmly. "Can you stand". Sensation had returned to Don's legs though he still felt somewhat drained. He rose slowly and nearly fell back down until a strong grip took hold of him and anchored him. Hands entwined in hers Don found himself looking straight into Judys eyes. She pulled him closer into an embrace, "oh Don", tears now fell as reaction hit her.

"You were fantastic Judy", Don found his mouth could work again though the words came out a little slurred. He guessed he needed to talk more.. or..pulling Judy close he kissed her passionately," I love you so much", he told her as the kiss ended. Judy stayed close in his arms reveling in the warmth in his eyes and in his touch. She had no doubt in her mind when she answered him, "I love you too".

Judy was about to pull him into another kiss when Maxon groaned. She felt her nerves return as she realized the stun gun was already beginning to wear off off. "We need to go now", she told Don.

"Yes we do", Don agreed. Judy reached up to his neck and gently touched the tubing, "are you alright", she asked. Now that sensation had retunred Don could feel the area around his neck begin to burn . 'A little sore", he admitted, but I am up to getting moving".

"Then lets head back to the Jupiter", Judy put her arm around him for good measure.

"What about me" Smith begged from the ramp of the spaceship. "I hope you enjoy living with the aliens", Don replied bluntly. 'Yes", Judy agreed. "No, you can't leave me here", Smith moaned, "the aliens may do something to me". He was depending on Judy's compassionate side to surface agin.

"Good", Judy replied bluntly. Then she simply tunred her back on him and with Don by her side began to walk away.

"You really are going to leave him", Don couldn't quite believe Judy would do that. "Yes,", she said simply squeezing his hand tightly. "The aliens have not done anything to him yet and they have had the opportunity".

Don agreed with that. Focusing on moving one foot in front of the other he trudged on a quickly as he could manage. He didn't mention to Judy at this stage how tired he was. He just wanted to get far away from here.

Smith waited until they we almost out of sight before following. He figured his chances were better that way. Maxon and Pax could go nowhere without a pilot so would come after Don. He'd bide his time to see what happened then. He was very much a man of odds and would play for the team that had the best chance of winning

Smith had only been gone ten minutes when Maxon shook off the effects of the paralyser and stood to his feet. Looking over at Pax he saw , he was barely moving. Maxon guessed the weapon had depleated what was left of Pax's energy resources. He was now as useless as the rest of the crew. So it was up to him to hunt down and recapture West.

West of course had a head start but Maxon doubted he could keep up a fast pace. The man was tenacious though and would resist recapture. So Maxon had to find them quickly and render them harmless . Entering the space ship he made his way to their own all terrain vehicle.

"Judy I don't think I can go any further", it was the last thing Don had wanted to say but he knew it had to be said. His legs and arms felt like lead and he could barely lift them. Where the tubing entered his neck the throbbing had intensified and was now almost disabling him with the pain. Tiredness crept upon him.

"We'll stop for a while", Judy agreed. Don sunk to the ground in reilief. Judy was quickly beside him taking up his hand again. He was going to take her hand in his when he realized she was feeling his pulse. "Can I look at your neck", she asked after that. Don pulled down his tunic somewhat . Judy almost didn't want to touch the area around the tubing but steeled herself. She could feel the hardness of the tubing enter Dons neck and travel downward several centrimetres. Feeling herself shiver in fear at how deeply the tubing extended Judy hoped that extracting the tubing was going to be easier than it looked.

Don turned his head a little now facing Judy fully. "Are you up to moving yet, she asked him. Don was about to answer okay when a light shone on the ground in front of them and began to swivel about, obviously searching.

At the same time Judy realized she had made the same mistake as Pax and left the weapon on the ground behind her.

She had no time to retireve the weapon because the light settled upon both of them. Don pulled her close into his embrace, "no matter what happens remember I love you", he told Judy

Judy settled into his arms sending a clear message that this was her man and the only way they would be separated was by force.

"Don't even think of moving", the warning came clearly and firmly through the night.