"Yeah. We should know by tomorrow morning."
The glare Lyta got in return was enough to
set her to laughing again. "So, what do we
do in the mean time?"

She headed to the rooms and went in one of
them. Puzzled, Marcus tried to lift her head
to look at her but she resisted, just
nuzzling further into his neck and holding
him closer. She put her hand on his
shoulder, which made him jump and turn
around. She got up and watched Marcus nod
before she got up and left.

"What happened?" Zack asked.

"I wasn't fair to Marcus and I apologize.
For chrissakes it was only a joke." She
smiled softly and she walked up to Zack
quietly. "Okay, so, his sense of humor
leaves its ALOT to be desired, but nobody is
perfect."

He raised his eyebrows pointedly. Marcus'
mouth dropped open at her admission.

"You are," he confirmed. His amusement
turned to sincerity as he added, "And still
the most beautiful woman I've ever met."

"Marcus, you're home," Susan said with a
sigh.

"In a few minutes. Susan, we need to talk,"
Lyta said, her expression one of concern.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing unpleasant. I watched every
ingredient go in, faithful puppy that I am!"

"The Shadow attacked him as he was leaving
and then this other one came up and they
began to fight. It was the weirdest thing
I've ever seen." Zack explained.

"Okay everybody. Marcus, tell me the instant
there is movement or the weapons are locking
on. I need to go talk to Lyta about
something very important." Susan ordered,
not making eye contact with him.

"She'll be in the way and have to be
terminated."

"I'm sorry. All the way here, I promised
myself I wouldn't do that and now look at
me, I must be a mess."

"You'll stay on the ship," Marcus replied.
Either that or it was a delirium.

"In my defense, I was only following
orders."

Marcus took over a station. "That doesn't
sound or look good." he said.

"You'll just have to wait and see." Without
hesitation, he removed his right hand from
her waist and rested it on the back of her
head. She saw Lyta sleeping and Zack
watching her.

"Let me refresh your memory. You call out
softly, a certain ranger's name." Marcus
gave her a brief glance.

"Yes or No?"

Marcus smiled like he was laughing.
Eventually, her crying subsided and she
moved out of his embrace, turning her back
to him as she wiped her eyes.

"We've come here to do a job," she retorted.

"She was simply showing her annoyance. And,
I must agree with her. Please, get off me."
Marcus said, sounding annoyed. He sat on a
chair by her bed. Marcus took Susan by the
shoulders, turned her around and cupped her
chin, gently lifting her bent head. "What's
your excuse?"

"We are talking, I thought. Something
wrong?" Susan asked.

This was the last thing that he'd expected
her to say.

Then Lyta stopped laughing and looked into
Susan's eyes. " Why don't you just sleep
with him and get it over with? This time."

"What makes you think he loves me?"

"You are too kind, my Lady. The guy who's
been in love with you since day one."

Susan entered the bridge while Marcus turned
around to see her come in.

Marcus and Susan gazed into each other's
eyes. "All right, you're forgiven." Her tone
was deep with suspicion. "I will not kill
another human," he told her, adamantly.

"Really?" she questioned in a shocked,
disbelieving tone.

"What makes you think you are going to go
down to Centauri Prime without me?"

"I don't know what you're talking about,
Marcus." Tears started to well up in her
eyes and not wanting him to see them, she
wrapped her arms around him again, burying
her face into his shoulder. Same problem. It
was obvious by her demeanor that she didn't
want to discuss the matter further.

"Do you love him back?"

"Oh stop being a childish Human."

"And the mission to Centauri Prime?"

"Leading my team on the surface."

"No, thank you."

Susan looked into his eyes and she began to
blush furiously.

"Oh really!"

"Leave her," Lyta responded cynically. "I
can't sleep."

Ivanova folded her arms across her chest.
"What was in the letter? You know, the one
you were reading with such gusto earlier. I
know, but I don't want to," Susan said in a
sad tone.

"You're crazy if you don't!"

She opened up a folder, spreading the papers
out, beginning to fill out reports. "Let's
look at the evidence, shall we?"

"Stop being absurd."

"And who got you out of there? And where
will you be?" Ivanova asked, playing devil's
advocate.

"It looks like we have company."

"Yes." They stopped walking and Marcus
looked at her.

"Oh yuck!" Ivanova was not impressed.

"I know. Dark hair, grey eyes, beard,
handsome. Yes, I am...extremely shy. I am
not being childish. I was simply-"

"We just detected these ships. They are of
an unknown configuration and there is no
signal or no weapons lock-on." Susan
explained.

Marcus nodded with a nice smile. He smiled
tenderly as he studied her face.

Susan and Lyta raised their eyebrows.

"I know what you said." Ivanova's hand came
down on the table, startling Marcus. "Lyta,
you do not need to feel nervous around me."

"I said I'd be. Really," she insisted.
"About your height."

"It is not my fault that I am what I am."

"Do you love him?"

Ivanova wiped her hands on a piece of cloth
provided for the purpose.

"But whichever way, it you were calling his
name, in shall we say, a more than friends
kind of way. Susan, you can't lie to
telepath. Not even when you are one."

"Well, we can become friends and then you
won't be so shy."

"Sleep with Marcus."

"You must be joking! He and I aren't right
for each other. I am, but you have to sleep
right now," Susan replied.

"I think you do."

"I do not!"

"I've got a deck of cards."

"Zack, I swear you are such a trouble
maker!" Marcus said with exasperation.

"It's all right. I know you love her and
that is fine with me. I am neither jealous
nor angry. But, I need to talk to her
privately."

"Did you realize you talk in your sleep? Is
that a yes?" He stood up and left the room.

"What?" Ivanova asked. The tone of her voice
stopped Marcus' hand.

"He's kind, gentle, intelligent, handsome
and he's nuts about you. No, come on! It's
not a difficult question."

Gently, he began to stroke her hair, his
hold on her tightening when he heard the
sniffles turn to harsh, racking sobs.

"You are shy. I can see that now," he said,
not sounding accusatory.

"I'll see you a bit later," Susan said with
finality, brushing her hair back.

"And here I thought you were supposed to be
asleep."

Her cheeks were streaked with tears, her
nose was red and her eyes were puffy.
Moments later, he was shaken to hear a
couple of muffled sniffles.

"She doesn't appreciate you, Marcus. You can
come to my room for as long as you like.
You'd be welcome!"

"Why am I not surprised?"