Sounds of Silence Chapter Twelve
Characters: Serena, Critic, Rob. Linkara
Warnings: Fluff.
Rating: G
Summary: Critic has found the woman of his dreams. She just happens to be from beyond the stars.
Note: Most likely there will be one more chapter after this. Though I don't know if anyone is actually still reading it. Oh well.
Chapter Twelve: Home Returning
Doug lasted a grand total of five minutes before he was climbing into the bed Serena lay comatose on. It was a bit of a tight fit, but that only meant that he could pull her closer, wrap her cold and still body with his in an attempt to warm her up. He could feel the slow rise and fall of her chest, and Linksano assured him that, while slow, her recovery was coming along nicely. The doctor had spouted a bunch of scientific mumbo jumbo that made Doug's head spin, but the gist of the matter was that Serena would recover by the time they reached Earth.
Doug reflected that, under normal circumstances, being this close to a naked Serena would have his libido going into overdrive. But these were far from normal circumstances, and the only thing he cared about now was when would she wake up? He stroked her cold arm with the tips of his fingers, staring into her still face. "I really wish you could see the view from here. I have to admit, one thing I genuinely do miss from my time in the Plot Hole is the view of the stars and planets from up here. They're so much...more than they are when you see them on Earth. Up here, you can almost see them dancing. There's music, too, if you know how to listen." Doug began humming, trying his best to replicate a music more ancient than Time through his human lips. He was surprised at how much of it he still remembered. Words formed in his mind, and he sang softly. He had always prided himself on his singing voice. "Dance and spin and live and love, look you to us up above. Sun and stars and orbs and moon, know the dance is starting soon. Steps that come from beyond all Time, echo in this ancient rhyme. Take the hands of whom you love, look up to the worlds above, and we will dance and live and love." It was, he knew, not an exact translation of the Song he had heard and sung, but no human tongue could sing that.
"Where did you hear that song?" Rob had come in while Doug was singing, and stood in the doorway, listening as his brother sang. Rob had felt...he really couldn't describe the feeling. He had always known that Doug had a great voice, but he had never heard him sing like this, a soft tenor that sent shivers up Rob's spine.
"It's the Music of the Spheres," Doug said, looking over at his brother. Rob didn't understand, not really, but he nodded and came into the Infirmary, sitting down on the narrow bed across from Serena's.
"How's she doing?"
"Better. She was so...so cold when we found her. But Linksano says she should be okay." Doug sighed. "I just wish she would wake up."
Rob smiled in sympathy at his brother. "She will. She's strong. Doug...I never got the chance to say this, but...I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything that happened to you. For the pains you had to endure. You didn't just take on the universe, you were the universe. I missed you so damn much during those few months. I'd look up, but I never knew if you were actually looking back down or if you were too busy running things to worry about your family. He'll deny it until the day he dies, but Guy missed you too."
Doug snorted. "Probably missed having his chew toy around."
Rob shook his head. "No, he really did. And ...I tried to explain to our parents what had happened, but Dad really didn't get it, and Mom...you can guess what she did."
"Crawled into the bottle?"
"Big time. When you...came back, she accused me of lying, said that I had made up this story to keep you away from her. I couldn't say anything, because I didn't know myself why things had changed." He sighed, running his fingers through his thinning hair. "I didn't know how to react when you returned. You were still my brother, but...there was something else underneath, something that scared me. So instead of trying to understand it, I kept you at arm's length. I should never have done that."
Doug sighed. "Rob, I wasn't exactly Mr Touchy Feely for a long time after I became human again. I had spent all those months feeling everything, so I thought that it would be better to not feel anything. I know how stupid that is, but I told myself that I didn't need anyone, that I'd be fine on my own." He chuckled. "You know how well that went."
Rob nodded, then reached across and took Doug's left hand in his right. "I will always be here for you, little brother. Always." He glanced at Serena, then back to his brother. "You really love her, don't you?"
"More than I have ever loved anything."
Serena could feel something warm and solid pressed against her. She slowly opened her eyes, the room she was in coming into focus. It was some sort of hospital room. She was pretty sure that it was on a spaceship of some sort, because she could see stars through the large window. Her mind, still sluggish from the weeks of torture, was slow to put together the pieces.
She was on a spaceship.
Something was in the bed with her.
She was warm(not as warm as she normally was, but not the icicle she had been)
Something was in bed with her...no, not something.
Someone.
Hardly daring to hope, Serena carefully turned around, wincing a bit at how stiff her muscles had become, and stared in incredulous joy at a sleeping Doug. She reached out a trembling hand and touched his cheek. It was solid under her touch. She knew where she was now, remembered that the human called Linkara had said he had a spaceship. Tears welled in her eyes. He had found her. He had...
Doug opened his eyes. He gaped at her, staring into her dark blue depths. She stared back, tears flowing freely down her face, and then they were in each others arms and kissing, their tears mingling.
Eventually, the need for air became paramount, and they broke the kiss, still staring into each others' eyes. Doug broke the silence. "Serena, I...I am so sorry." She tilted her head at him, puzzled. "I..it's my fault you got recaptured. I should have tried harder to..." He stopped, because she was shaking her head vigorously. "You promise you aren't mad at me?" She smiled and nodded. "Okay." He pulled her into a gentle kiss. "I love you, you know." She pointed at herself, then back at him. 'I love you too.'
"Marry me." Serena blinked at him in shock, her mouth open. Doug gently closed it with his finger. "Serena, we love each other. I want to spend my life with you. Marry me."
Serena nodded, then kissed Doug hard. He kissed her back, feeling happier than he ever had in his life.
"You want me to do what?!" Linkara gaped at Doug and Serena(who had recovered quite nicely, thank you).
"Marry us." Doug said, blithely. Linkara blinked at them both.
"I...I'm not a priest. Not even close to one."
Doug shrugged. "You're a captain, aren't you?"
"What does that have to do with...oh. Oh! Right! Umm...you do realize that this marriage won't be exactly..um...legal back home, right?"
Doug nodded. "I'll worry about the paperwork when we get back."
"Well, then, umm...we need witnesses."
"You've got one." Rob stepped onto the Bridge, grinning. "Well, one human one. Everyone else is sound asleep."
Linkara sighed. "There has to be at least two."
'This unit will be the second witness.'
"Thanks, Nimue," said Doug, then looked over at Linkara. "Your move, Hero."
"Right! Umm...dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to...umm..join this man and woman in marriage, which is great because they obviously love each other quite a lot, and they both deserve good things in their lives. I...do you have any rings?"
Doug shook his head. "I'll get them when we get home. Keep going."
"Right! Where was...oh, umm...Doug, do you take this woman to be your wife, to...umm...love her until you die?"
"I do."
"Great! Serena, do you...take this man to be your husband, and to do the same thing?"
Serena nodded.
"Then by the power vested in me as Captain of this ship, I pronounce you married. I think you know what to do next."
Doug grinned. "I certainly do." And with that, he dipped Serena and pulled her into a kiss so passionate her toes curled.
