A/N: Yay for another update! LOL! I hope you all are still enjoying this because there is still more to come. I just want to thank everyone who alerts and reviews they really do help to keep me motivated and make me happy. :)
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Kurt left the conference room aching and raw from his encounter with his dad. He slowly made his trek to the nearest transporter, trying to hide the way he was feeling from anyone passing by and took it down to the labs to find Rachel. He was hoping his friend would be able to sooth his mind and possibly come up with a plan to help him out.
When he walked into the lab he found Rachel talking with one of the other scientists. They were huddled around a laptop and chatting quietly. Kurt recognized the girl as one of the new science staff that had arrived on the Daedalus, Tina Cohen-Chang. She was Miko Kusanagi's cousin and Rodney had felt uncomfortable around her, fearing she would be like her cousin and idolize him. Rodney had pushed her off on some of the other labs and as a result Kurt and Rachel had worked with her a lot since her arrival. She was close to their age and both he and Rachel liked her a lot, but he didn't feel like he could face anyone other than Rachel at the moment. Squaring his shoulders and preparing to leave and come back later Kurt turned around. Rachel had spotted the motion in the entry way and upon seeing Kurt she excitedly called out to him.
"Kurt! What was all of that? Where did you go?" She was smiling as he turned back to face her, but as soon as she saw the stricken look on his face she was at his side in an instant. She was quickly checking him over, looking for any indication he was injured but she couldn't see any visible wounds as she glanced back up to his pale face, concern shadowing her features. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
Nervously peeking up to his friend he shifted his weight between his feet. "I'm fine Rachel, it's okay." He spoke softly darting his eyes over to Tina and then down to the floor in embarrassment.
Rachel understood her friend's apprehension to speak in front of the other girl. Looking to Tina Rachel put on a friendly smile. "Tina do you mind giving Kurt and I a little time alone. We can finish discussing what you found later."
Nodding, the scientist with blue streaked hair gathered up her things and hastily shuffled out the door leaving the two friends alone in the all too quiet room. Rachel eased Kurt over to a stool and sat down next to him, taking his hands in hers and turning her concerned eyes on him. "Kurt what happened? I thought you were with my dad?"
"I was…I was also with my dad." He couldn't bring himself to make eye contact, afraid of what he might see shinning in his friend's wide eyes. "We told my dad why I have been taking so many jumper lessons lately. He didn't really take the news very well."
Rachel scrunched up her brows in confusion, she had thought Kurt was just taking lessons like all the others with the ancient gene. "What do you mean Kurt? What news?"
Kurt knew he had to tell Rachel but he wasn't sure how she was going to take it when he did tell her. Squeezing her hands in his, he met her gaze. "I want on a gate team."
Rachel jerked back in shock and gaped at her friend. "What? Why would you want that? It's dangerous and would distract from our research."
Kurt searched for the right words to explain his reasons for wanting on a team. He had failed to convince his father but had hoped Rachel would just understand. "I hate never being the first person to uncover new technology. We're always the second…or third to get a chance to get our hands on the new tech that is brought back. I don't want to go to a planet after a discovery is made. I want the excitement of being the one to discover it, to be first." He managed a smile and hoped he had got his point across but Rachel looked more concerned than ever.
"Yes, yes." She said flapping her hands at Kurt. "That's all well and good…until some locals decide to feed you to their deity as a sacrifice for a plentiful harvest." The look she gave Kurt and the tone of her voice told him she was serious.
"Rachel that…" He paused, thinking on how to answer that question. "Rarely ever happens ...and besides none who have ever tried that has ever been successful in doing so."
Rachel jumped up from her seat and started pacing the room. "That is not my point Kurt. It's about all of the risks. My dad is put in danger every time he goes on a mission. He's been hurt so many times I've lost count." She was chewing on her lower lip while continuing her nervous pacing.
Kurt sighed and looked down at his black military issued boots he was still wearing from earlier, and hoped they'd give him the answers he needed. But as he stared, no answers came and he forced himself to look back up at her eyes. Her dark concerned gaze unnerved him and he shot her a glare of disappointment. "I didn't expect you to understand but…I did think you would support my decision." He spoke quietly, silently pleading with her to understand. "Why is it no one thinks I can do this?"
Rachel timidly stepped back to her seat and faced Kurt, reading how badly Kurt wanted this just from the look on his face. "It's not that I don't think you can Kurt. I just don't understand why you want this so badly."
Kurt shook his head at her and brushed a shaky hand through his bangs, trying to instill some kind of confidence back into his wary mind. "Rachel you are always trying to weasel yourself on missions." It was both a statement and a question and Kurt had hoped she would understand that.
"Yes but I wouldn't want to go everyday. Only when a safe opportunity arises and never on a dangerous mission where no one knows what's waiting for them." She searched Kurt's pale eyes for understanding. "Kurt I thrive on new discoveries, I need them to live. But… I wouldn't put myself in any kind of danger willingly just to get that."
Kurt couldn't help the laugh that slipped out at his friends over the top dramatics. "Rachel I really want to at least try. Especially now more than ever since everyone thinks I can't." His anger was building again and he didn't want to feel that way any longer. "There's more to me than just good fashion sense and a brain."
"I know that!" she defended, hurt that he would even think she would believe anything else.
"Yes, but others don't. They treat me like I'm some... frail girl."
Rachel narrowed her eyes at him. "Hey!"
Dismissing her retort he continued to press his point. "You know what I mean. I'm a guy and no one seems to see that."
Rachel could see the pain this was causing Kurt so she pursed her lips together and tried to come up with a solution. "Well your dad is concerned you won't be able to defend yourself in a hostile situation right?" Kurt nodded to her as a light bulb switched on in her brain. "Well then, we need to reconcile that! You need to learn to defend yourself." A triumphant smile was pulling her lips upwards and her brown eyes were shining with mirth. "And I have the perfect solution!"
Kurt was happy Rachel had finally decided to help but was a little apprehensive to hear the details of her plan.
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The previous day had been draining, but today Kurt felt more optimisitic, he tried to focus on his newfound confidence as he went looking for Puck. When Kurt found him, Puck was in the ready room, putting together the last of his gear for an upcoming mission. Finn was at Puck's side checking something in his pack when Kurt walked into the room. Both boys glanced up at the sound of the door, to see who had entered. When Puck locked eyes with the petite boy, the smile that he flashed was blinding. Kurt couldn't help but return the look with a coy grin of his own.
Puck dropped his bag as Kurt glided across the room. His heart leapt into his throat at the sight of the other boy moving closer, he took note of the fact that Kurt's clothing hugged him in all the right places. Kurt always looked so put together and polished, even in the ugly science uniform, those things never looked good on anyone, but Kurt still managed to rock the look. As Puck moved closer to meet him, the memory of their kiss slammed to the front of his thoughts.
If he closed his eyes he could still feel Kurt's hot breath against his mouth and the soft lips on his. Just the thought of that tender kiss had Puck's gut twisting with excitement. The desire to pull the smaller boy into his arms was intense; Puck longed to kiss him again, this time a proper kiss that spoke of all that he was feeling. Puck quickly scanned the room checking out the few occupants scattered around getting ready for their missions. He wished he was alone with Kurt, so he could crowd him into the nearest wall, tangle his hands in that pristine hair and kiss him breathless, leaving a rumpled disoriented boy in his wake. But now wasn't the time to be thinking about a wrinkled and dazed Kurt.
Puck dug his hands into his pockets and took a calming breath, trying to keep his desire at bay, at least for the moment. "Hey Kurt. What are you doing here?" His voice came out softer than he had intended.
Kurt blushed and ducked his head shyly, he looked up at the taller boy through his long lashes. "Hi. I know you're getting ready for a mission but I was wondering if when you get back… if you're not busy… could we talk?" Kurt hadn't expected it to be as difficult as it was to ask one question, but Puck's close proximity and the memories of their warm kiss had his stomach fluttering and his palms sweating as he tried to set Rachel's plan in motion.
"Yeah of course. I was gonna find you afterwards anyway."
Kurt nodded his head, happy to hear that the other boy was wanting to see him as well. "Okay. Good. Well… be safe and I'll talk to you when you get back."
"Yeah. See you later, princess." Puck smirked, he couldn't resist the opportunity to see the blush that spread across his pale features. Kurts' cheeks did flame at the nickname, and he shook his head fondly as he turned and left with a small smile tugging on his lips, phase one of their plan completed.
Kurt was already on his way out when Finn finally stalked up to his friend, eyeing him critically. "What did Kurt want?"
Puck hadn't told his friend about his feelings for Kurt yet and wanted to avoid doing so for as long as he could. It was not because he was ashamed of the other boy but because it had been so unexpected and exciting, he wanted to hold on to that feeling for as long as he could, without the complications his friend would bring. He knew Finn would ask him a million questions he didn't know if he had the answers to, and he just couldn't deal with that as of yet. In response to his tall friend's question he shrugged his shoulders and went in search for his bag.
Finn looked as if he wanted to say something more but was cut short when Major Lorne called for them to make their way to the gate room. Puck shouldered his pack and was glad for the interruption as he made his way out of the room. As he walked past Finn he patted his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile and led the way to the gate, Finn following after him.
Once all members of the team were assembled in the gate room Lorne looked to the small group, taking special care to stare pointedly at Puck and Finn when he started. "Let's not piss anyone off this time and I think this mission will be a success." He smiled.
"Hey last time it wasn't my fault! How many times do I have to say it?" Finn sounded wounded and several of the people in the control room chuckled at his tone.
"Dude, it was your fault. Your height scared the town's leader. He thought you were a giant from the hills come to steal his children. How is that not your fault?" Puck goaded his friend.
Throwing his hands up in defeat, Finn turned to the room. "How is that my fault? I can't help that."
That mission had been interesting to say the least and Lorne didn't think he would have believed that story had he not been there to witness the entire thing. The town leader was a very short man, standing at about four feet. He had been so frightened of Finn he had locked himself in his house and begged them not to take his kids. After nearly an hour of trying to convince the man they were friendly they ended up having to leave and send another team in their place because he was convinced that Finn was a giant trying to pass himself off as human.
Closing his eyes and sighing Lorne held up a hand negating any further dispute. "Be that as it may, every time I take you two out something happens. So that being said, the planet we are going to has a small population of farmers that built their town near an ancient research base. They didn't have any idea what it was and until we visited them, they had been using it to store extra grain in the winter. They have kindly given us permission to check it out and take whatever we want, so Doctor's David Parrish, Artie Abrams and Tina Cohen-Chang will be coming along with us. Artie and Tina will be checking out the base and Parrish will be with the townspeople checking out their crops." Eyes on the scientists now Lorne continued earnestly. "I don't think I need to say this but if anything happens the three of you need to do as we say and stick close." He received three nods in response as his answer. "Alright let's get to it then. You two, take our six." he pointed at Puck and Finn.
Lorne looked up to Chuck and gave him the signal to dial the gate. The blue reflective ripples filled the ring and Lorne stepped through with Dr. Parrish at his side, followed by Ronon and then the two other doctors went through together, leaving Puck and Finn to follow.
