Chapter 13

Returning to his own room, Jason steeled himself for the discussion to come with Mark. He knew that he had to draw a line in the sand now to prevent Mark from moving in on his territory.

But why was he so concerned? Hadn't Mark told him that he wasn't going to hold on to Princess any longer?

But that was before she had come back to them. And before Mark had been able to contact Princess on his own, without Jason as an intermediary. Jason knew that the intimacy of telepathic conversation was hard to resist. Being in someone else's mind for hours at a time…

But deep down, what really frightened him was Princess' reaction to communicating with Mark. Jason knew that she had had strong feelings for him at one point. What if talking with Mark brought all of that back for her?

Entering the room, he looked at the Eagle. Outwardly there was no indication that he was awake, but almost immediately Mark spoke in Jason's mind.

"Nice going, Condor." he accused. "You got both of us kicked out!"

"What's your problem, man?" Jason growled. "Why are you trying to horn in on my time with Prin? She woke up tonight! I should be in there with her instead of shut out… and all because of you…"

"I'm not the one with the problem!" Mark protested. "You are! You're the one who's acting all possessive… like Princess isn't allowed to speak with anyone else!"

"And just why are you trying to get in cozy with her, all of a sudden?" Jason snapped. "Have you changed your mind about not holding onto her? Because I'm not going to let you…" the Condor threatened.

The Eagle laughed in genuine amusement.

Somehow, that wasn't the response that Jason had been expecting.

"Oh, Jason…" Mark cried between bursts of laughter, "You've got it bad… I never thought I'd see the Great Condor so tied up… over a woman!"

Jason had a sour look on his face.

"I don't see what's so funny!" he declared.

"You are!" Mark insisted. "I'm sorry, Jase. If I had realized this sooner, I wouldn't have been so pushy. I thought that you were just trying to monopolize her time… not that you were afraid of her spending time with me."

"I'm not afraid!" Jason protested, a little too quickly.

"Look, Jason…" Mark laid his hand on the table, "I'm not interested in Prin that way. Not to say that I don't find her attractive… I do… but I know a relationship between us would never work. Besides, I'd never move in on my best friend's girl."

Jason was floored.

"I… I appreciate that, Mark." he said quietly.

"But…" Mark continued, "It's been damn lonely, with just you for company. I'd like to talk to Prin too, okay? Not all the time… but some of the time."

A part of Jason resented that Mark was being so reasonable about this, but mostly he was just relieved to know that he didn't have to worry about Mark trying to steal Princess' affections.

"Okay…" he said, reluctantly. "Truce."

It was more for Princess' sake than his, but Jason had resolved to do whatever she asked. He wasn't going to break a promise to her now.

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Things were better after that. Now that Princess had awoken, she returned to her normal self within a few days. Mark's recovery took a significant turn for the better as he regained the ability to move his fingers. It wasn't much, but it was definitely a step on the road to full recovery. Between Mark's improvements, and Princess pulling out of her own comatose state, a sea of doctors, nurses and visitors surrounded the three G-Force members. At night, however, they were left to themselves. It was then that the three of them would open a conversation with each other and discuss anything that came to their minds. It was this, more than anything else, that helped dissipate any remaining hard feelings between the Eagle and the Condor.

One evening, shortly after Princess had regained consciousness, Jason contacted her only to find her already in conversation with Mark.

"And then, I wiggled my fingers, but somehow managed to poke her in the side. Who knew that Nurse Gorilla was ticklish?" the Eagle was saying.

"Oh, my!" Princess laughed, "Who knew that you had such a wicked, Condor-like streak in you, Mark?"

"Certainly not, this Condor." Jason interrupted.

"Jason, it's great to hear your voice!" Princess replied. "What have you been doing today while Mark was off tickling the nurses?"

"More physical therapy." Jason answered. "They had me running laps in the pool along with some other funky exercises."

"Sounds… dull." commented Mark. "Still, it would be incredibly exciting compared to what I've been doing lately."

"You'll get your turn." Princess encouraged him. "You've already started movement, Mark. I know you'll be back to your old self, soon."

"Not exactly." Mark replied. "How can I be back to my old self when my old world isn't there to return to? Zoltar and Mala are dead, the war is over, G-Force is on hiatus… what need is there for us anymore?"

Jason sighed. Mark hadn't just said anything he hadn't been thinking himself.

"We've had a lot of training and experience, Mark. And while I hate to think of it, there will probably be another war with someone else in our lifetimes. At the very least, they will want to tap the experiences and knowledge we've picked up in the last few years."

"You might be right, Jason." replied Princess thoughtfully. "And as it stands, we are the only people who have been successfully integrated with the implant technology. Galaxy Security isn't just going to let us disappear into the background and live normal lives."

"A normal life…" Jason's voice was quiet. "What is that, anyway? I wouldn't know normal if it hit me in the face."

"I think you've got a good start…" Mark said slyly. "After all, you and Prin seem to be making some plans along the lines of 'normal' adults…"

"I… I'm not sure what you mean, Mark…" muttered Princess in an embarrassed tone.

"What are you implying, Mark?" Jason asked indignantly.

"Hey, hey…" Mark sent out a mental image of himself throwing his hands up in defeat. "I think it's cute, that's all. I mean, here you two are, dying to be alone together and you're both surrounded all day by the Chief and Dr. Myers and Nurse Gorilla… not to mention Tiny and Keyop…"

"Well, I wouldn't say dying…" Princess grinned.

"You wouldn't?" asked the Condor in mock hurt.

"Maybe, I'd just maim myself to be alone with you…" Princess giggled.

"Did I say, cute? I meant, nauseating…" Mark laughed.

Despite Mark's joking commentary, he had hit a sore spot for the Condor. Jason desperately missed his private conversations with Princess. Between all of the visitors in the daytime and Mark's presence in their minds at night, they barely had any time alone together.

For his part, Mark tried to be sensitive to Jason's feelings regarding Princess, and Jason tried to give Mark the benefit of the doubt. It wasn't always easy, but they had made their way back to the deep friendship they had shared since childhood.

Then came the day Jason had been waiting for. He was sitting on his bed as Dr. Myers gave him one last checkup.

"Well, Jason." Chief Anderson smiled, "I'm happy to say that it looks like you can be released from the Medical Center."

Jason grinned back at Anderson.

"Music to my ears, Chief!" the Condor replied.

"Are you going to move back into your trailer?" Anderson asked.

"Actually…" Jason gave the Chief a sly look, "I was thinking of staying right here."

"What?" Anderson asked in surprise.

"You are?" asked Mark, shocked.

"Well, you let Princess stay here to take care of us. I can't leave either." He looked over at his Commander. "Not while the Eagle is still recovering."

"I… appreciate… your loyalty to Mark." Anderson replied. "But don't you think it's time that you… and Princess… rejoined the rest of the world?" The Chief winced as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

"There's nothing to rejoin without my best friend." Jason answered firmly. He didn't take offense to the Chief's comments, but he needed to make his position clear.

"Jase…" Mark said, "I know what you're trying to do… and it means a lot to me… but if you want Prin want to get outside… live a normal life…"

Jason turned to look at Mark, but spoke his response aloud.

"And you can just stop with the self-sacrificing crap, Commander." the Condor chuckled. "I know from personal experience how damn lonely it is when you can't talk to anyone. Prin and I are not leaving you. At least, not until you've recovered too."

"Thanks…" Mark sounded emotional.

"You would do the same for me." Jason said in the Eagle's mind.

And the matter was settled.

"I'm going to stay right here, in this room." Jason told Anderson. "Unless you want to try and make me leave…" the Condor smiled wickedly.

"No." the Chief sighed. "I would never do that. I understand how you feel, Jason. I'll let you stay on one condition…"

"I think I know what you're going to ask for, Chief." Jason said. "And I promise, as soon as Mark is better, I'll make sure all of us get out of here."

"I'm going to hold you to that, Jason." Anderson replied with a wry smile.

Jason acknowledged the comment with an amused nod.

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That evening, after Mark had fallen asleep, Jason used his implant to contact Princess. Earlier, he had told her about his being released, and she had been thrilled. Unfortunately, however, she had been held up with her own medical examinations while the doctors tried to determine what damage the power surge had done to her brain, if any. Fortunately they had not yet found any problems with the Swan's mind whatsoever. It looked as if she was making a full recovery.

However, the tests had kept her out of her room all day and into the early evening, and Mark had been so tired that he had fallen asleep before their usual three-way nighttime conversation.

"Princess…" Jason said, "Are you there?"

"Yes..." she answered. "How are you, Jason?"

"Missing you." he answered honestly. "I don't suppose I could come and visit?"

"What about Mark?" Princess asked.

"He's asleep." Jason answered. "I think today was pretty exhausting for him."

"Okay." Princess replied. "Come on over!"

Jason grinned to himself. Quietly he slipped out of his room and into the Swan's. Her room was dark, but he was easily able to see her as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

"Hi!" Princess said warmly, using her implant. "It's great to see you… alone…" she winked at him as she sat on her bed.

"I've been missing you…" Jason said in her mind.

"How much?" she asked, flirtatiously.

"Let me show you…" he drawled.

Slowly, he pulled her to her feet and into his arms. Like the mental image they had played with so long ago, he held her close and lowered his lips to hers.

Princess melted into Jason's body, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him.

"Mmmmm…. it's nice to be missed…" she said in his head, while they were still kissing.

"I thought it would be great to have some quality time alone together." Jason replied. "In fact, this is all I've been thinking about…"

"Well then, Condor, feel free to indulge…" giggled the Swan.

The kiss deepened in intensity, and words were forgotten as they soared with each other.

Jason pulled back slightly from Princess, and inwardly smiled as she moaned.

"Ssssshhhhhh… trust me, my Swan…" he whispered, as his hands moved over her body. He couldn't get enough of her gentle curves and soft places… places he had dreamed of exploring.

Princess followed his lead and he felt her touching his bare skin. She had slipped her hands underneath his shirt, and the sensation was setting him afire.

With near-excruciating slowness, they kissed and caressed, until all of their clothing was removed and they fell down on the bed together.

Jason had never experienced intimacy in this fashion. Although they were no words between them, they were using their implants to communicate. Feelings and images flashed through his mind, guiding him as they explored each other's wants and desires. He knew what was giving her the most pleasure, and she knew the same of him in return.

It was incredible.

When their passions were temporarily sated, Princess lay cuddled in his arms as he enjoyed the warm sensation of her lying next to him. Not wanting to disturb the perfect quiet in the room, he spoke in her mind.

"Princess…" he whispered, "I don't know where to begin…"

Jason could feel her smile in response.

"I've dreamed… fantasized… about this for weeks… months…" he continued, searching for words. "But I never expected… this…"

"I know what you mean…" Princess sighed. "I wasn't prepared for the… intimacy… of having you inside my head while…" he could feel her blush.

Jason turned his face to look deeply into Princess' emerald eyes.

"I feel… connected… to you, Prin." he said softly. "I feel like there's a bond between us now… forever."

Her eyes widened in understanding.

"That's exactly what I'm feeling, Jase." she replied. "It's like… by connecting physically, we've strengthened the link in some way, and we'll never be apart."

"I don't want to ever be apart from you, Princess." Jason said. "I love you."

"I love you, Jason." Princess whispered aloud. Then she kissed him, and he was lost again in the whirling maelstrom of their shared passion.