When You Least Expect It Part 13



Thanks to Neuroscpr for reading and helping me get through some difficulties in this final chapter.





The crew had returned from the planet Boreon. They were all mentally and physically exhausted especially John.

Jool and Aeryn helped him to the med bay despite his protests. He wanted to sleep in his quarters, but they wouldn't listen.

"John, you are far from healed," Jool said supporting him on one side. "We need to keep a close eye on you for the next couple of days."

"Frell, Jool. Just post a DRD in my room," John said breathing hard with this small amount of exertion.

Aeryn rolled her eyes at him. "Listen to yourself, John. You can't even breathe right. If you recover quickly, it will only be for a few days."

Aeryn and Jool helped John to the bed. He carefully sat on the edge, and closed his eyes. Dizziness suddenly came over him as he swayed on the bed. Aeryn caught him before he toppled over.

"Lay back, John," she said helping him swing his feet up on the bed. "You need sleep."

John lay back exhausted. The adrenalin had stopped pumping long ago. Relief had set in after living a nightmare for hours. He still wasn't sure how long he had been held captive. Everything had become a blur, except for Aeryn.

Thinking of her relaxed him, he thought, as the darkness quickly overcame him.



xxxxx



Chiana, D'Argo and Rygel were in the central chamber eating and discussing the events on the planet. D'Argo had explained most of what had happened to John.

Chiana was thinking about what D'Argo had told them. "D'Argo, I don't buy it," Chiana said shaking her head.

"Chiana, I don't understand. What do you want to buy?" D'Argo asked bewildered.

Chiana stood up agitated. "It just doesn't make any sense." She was now pacing up and down the chamber floor. "There has to be more. There has to be another reason Darion wanted John."

"But we will never know now that he is dead," she said looking at D'Argo as she sat down. "Will we?"

Rygel was getting tired of the whole conversation. They were all safe, and away from that frelling planet.

"Chiana quit trying to find something that's not there. I really don't care what they wanted. We're all safe on Moya and Jool thinks Crichton will recover with no problems. Let's just get on with our lives," Rygel said forcefully. Deep down inside he was thinking of all John had gone through. He will never forget how he looked when he got off the pod. It still made him feel sick.

"Maybe Chiana has a point, Rygel," D'Argo said with a worried look on his face.

"What's Chiana's point, D'Argo?" Jool asked walking into the chamber and helping herself to the food cubes.

"Chiana believes there must be another reason Darion wanted John," he replied in an exhausted voice.

"Maybe she's right. Did you ever think of that?" Jool said taking a seat next to D'Argo. "Now that I've had time to think about it, there does seem to be a question as to the motive."

Chiana looked at Jool in disbelief. "About time someone else started thinking around here."

All eyes in the room rested on her now. "What?"

Jool started giggling now.

D'Argo got up from the table in disgust. "We will discuss this later! I need to get some sleep!" He stormed out of the central chamber.

D'Argo was bothered by the conversation over dinner. He was on his way to see John before retiring, thoughts of the conversation going through his head. 'Frell, I hope they are wrong. We can't take much more.'



xxxxx



The Luxan entered the med bay, seeing Aeryn by John's bedside. 'Just like old times,' he thought clearing his throat at the entrance so she would know he was there.

Aeryn turned and upon seeing D'Argo smiled.

D'Argo placed his hand on her shoulder as he asked, "How is John doing?"

Aeryn stood to stretch saying, "He is sleeping well. He was having a little trouble breathing earlier, but that has passed."

D'Argo looked at Aeryn. "How are you feeling, Aeryn? You need rest also."

"I'll be fine. Really," she replied even though she was tired and hungry.

D'Argo grabbed her hand and led her towards the med bay door.

"Let go, D'Argo. Have you gone fahrbot or something!" Aeryn yanked her hand from his grasp.

D'Argo smiled. "I've been asked that before. I wasn't then and I'm not now," D'Argo replied remembering, as he knew Aeryn would. "I will sit with John while you get something to eat." She started to protest, as D'Argo said, "He is my friend also."

Aeryn relaxed and smiled. "Of course he is D'Argo. Promise you'll let me know if his condition changes. I won't be long."

"Trust me, he is in good hands. Now go."

Aeryn smiled back at D'Argo as she headed to the central chamber. She really needed a break. 'I haven't relaxed in how many arns?' She thought as she proceeded down Moya's corridors.



xxxxx



The figure in black stopped momentarily and looked around. Each step he took echoed off the walls and made him nervous. He didn't like having his arrival announced quite so loudly.

As he reached the designated tunnel, a sickening smell reached his nose. There was something lying a few feet ahead. What looked like a man sat there covered in blood. Dead eyes stared out in shock at their attacker. Whoever it had been.

He reached a gloved hand forward and pushed away the bloody rags around the dead man's face. They'd never seen each other before but somehow he knew this was the one. Only a Qualta Blade could inflict a wound like this.

"Who are you?" A beam of light cut through the dim and illuminated his face. The young man attached to the light looked frightened. He took a step back when he saw who he had uncovered. "You're him, aren't you?"

Scorpius put on his most winning smile and stood up. "At your service."