"Well, why can't I go?"
Aeryn sighed and motioned for the Nebari to step out of her way to let her into the transport. "Because, Chiana, we need you and Rygel to stay onboard Moya."
"But I went with Crichton to the Gammak Base when you needed that tissue sample. You wouldn't have got it in time if it wasn't for me."
"Yes, Chiana, and I am grateful, but this mission won't play to your…strengths." Aeryn's smile was a little forced.
"Right." Chiana rolled her eyes, and then spotted D'Argo coming into the hanger. She rushed up to him. "Why can't I go?"
D'Argo placed his hands on her upper arms and gently moved her to one side. "Because, Chiana, we need you and Rygel to stay onboard Moya."
"But…" Chiana was interrupted by Pilot's voice.
"I am receiving a transmission from Zhaan." He said, sounding surprised. "She is… coming back to Moya."
"Is this a trick?" D'Argo looked at Aeryn.
She shook her head in confusion "Pilot, can we speak to Zhaan?"
"Yes."
"Zhaan?"
"Aeryn." Zhaan sounded pleased to hear the ex-Peacekeeper's voice. "We are coming back to Moya. I'll explain everything later."
"Is Tarone still with you?"
"Yes, but he has surrendered. I think that John was right about him." The transmission ended.
Aeryn frowned at D'Argo.
"I wish this child would make his frelling mind up whether he is our enemy or our friend." He said angrily.
"Well, at least Zhaan's coming back." Chiana said looking up at him and taking his hand. "I'd say things were looking up again."
"Let's hope so." Aeryn didn't sound convinced. "Pilot, how long until they dock?"
"Less than an arn. And Officer Sun?"
"Yes, Pilot?"
"Crichton has regained consciousness and would like to see you in his quarters."
Aeryn ignored Chiana's giggle. "Frell!" She turned to D'Argo. "When Zhaan gets on board we need to put Tarone right back in his cell, no matter what Zhaan or Crichton say. Agreed?"
"Yes." D'Argo said firmly.
Aeryn nodded satisfied. "Right, I'd better go and see Crichton."
As she left D'Argo shook his head and grimaced in sympathy.
00000000000000000000000000000000000
When Aeryn reached Crichton's quarters she could see him sitting on his bed, elbows on knees, head in hands. He looked up as he heard his door open.
"How are you feeling?" Aeryn said cautiously.
Crichton sighed and stood up. "Well, Aeryn, I wasn't feeling too great when this whole thing started, but I'm feeling a whole lot worse now." He walked towards her.
"Zhaan is…"
"On her way back to Moya. Pilot told me." He came to a halt directly in front of her so that they were almost nose-to-nose. "He also told me that you and D'Argo were about to leave for Tean when the news came in."
She opened her mouth, but shut it again when she realised she didn't really know what to say. She couldn't tell if he was angry, or upset or just tired.
He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "D'Argo knocked me out with the Luxan stun tongue." His smile got wider which only made Aeryn more uneasy.
She nodded slowly and he mirrored her.
"And you," He seemed to be searching her face for something as he spoke "you helped him." His eyes locked on to hers.
"It would have been suicide to go down alone. You wouldn't listen to reason, so we took the only option open to us."
"Hmm," He nodded. "Knock me out and go instead. Good plan." His voice was soft but sarcastic.
She raised her chin defiantly. "Despite what you say, two stood a better chance than one."
"That's crap, Aeryn and you know it." He cocked his head slightly to one side, maintaining eye contact all the while. "When I woke up, I thought you were gone. That I might not see you again." He grazed her cheek lightly with the back of his fingers. "It scared me." He closed his eyes and touched his forehead to hers. "Don't put me in that position again, Aeryn." He drew back opening his eyes. " I know that our freaky lives don't leave much time when one of us isn't in some kind of danger, it's been like that from day 1, but don't ever put yourself in danger in my place. And don't ever knock me out and leave me behind like that, not knowing what your plans are. Not knowing how to help. Without the chance to not say goodbye." He smiled faintly.
Aeryn struggled to get the words out. "Then don't threaten to go on foolish missions without your comrades."
"My comrades?" He was part amused and part frustrated by her choice of word.
"Your friends." She amended. " Those who know and care for you…Me. " She finished in whisper. She frowned a little with the effort of keeping her voice steady. " It would have been no less painful for me to sit on Moya wondering whether you were dead and whether I could have prevented it had I been there."
He took her face between his hands. "I know." His thumbs stroked her cheeks.
She continued, "It doesn't always have to be you that shoulders the blame or you that comes up with the plan or you that goes on the hopeless rescue mission. We have no leader aboard Moya. We all take an equal share in the decisions and the consequences of those decisions." She covered his hand with hers. "Please remember that."
He looked as though he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Instead he drew her into his chest, kissing her temple and burying his face in her hair. They remained like that for several microts until Aeryn felt him kiss the side of her head and straighten. He looked down at her and smiled; almost embarrassed.
She smiled back at him. Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them away and took a step back from him, regaining her composure. "Zhaan will be here within the arn. She says that Tarone has given himself up but…"
"I know. Pilot told me." He reminded her softly. "We need to keep him locked up this time."
She nodded.
He sighed. "I'm beat. I'm gonna have a shower. Try and wake myself up."
She nodded again but continued to stand where she was, looking at him.
"You're welcome to stay of course, but I would have thought…" His words seemed to jar her into life. She quickly left his quarters and made her way back to the hanger bay.
She thought he looked tired. Really tired. And something else that she couldn't quite place. It worried her.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000
"There is really no need to lock him up." Zhaan tried to reason. "He presents no danger to us now."
"I wish I could believe that, Zhaan." D'Argo said firmly. "But experience tells me otherwise. He stays locked in his cell."
"I agree with D'Argo. He stays in his cell until we are sure we can trust him." She turned to D'Argo and Rygel and added more softly so that Zhaan could not hear "Or we are sure that we cannot."
D'Argo grunted in agreement.
"Hey Zhaanie! Good to see ya." Crichton came up to her beaming. " You gave us quite a scare."
"I was quite scared myself for a time." She said smiling fondly back at him. "You have arrived just in time to persuade our more distrustful friends that Tarone need not be locked up."
Crichton's smile faded to a grimace "Count me in with the once bitten twice shy brigade, Blue. Sorry."
Aeryn's expression said 'I told you so'.
"Where is he anyway? Back in his usual cell?"
D'Argo nodded. "We thought it best to wait until we were all together before questioning him."
"Well let's go talk to Boba Fett junior." As Crichton walked out the door he didn't need to turn round to see Aeryn's puzzled look to know it was there. "Earth film reference, Aeryn."
000000000000000000000000000000000000
TBC