Chapter Four
"Pilot! I am aboard! Starburst immediately!" Crais commanded as he strode from Moya's landing bay. He felt the great Leviathan pause in time then vibrate as her body was covered with the blue fire that came with star bursting, rocketing away from Zorosa 3. He made his way to the apothecary, only to find Morgan cowering in a corner looking like a caged and frightened animal, her eyes glassy, her face flushed with fever…her hand holding a pulse pistol that she aimed at anyone who came too close.
Zhaan turned at Crais' footsteps, studying her one time captor, watching as his stern expression softened at the sight of Morgan. "Crais, please talk to her. The fever is building rapidly and I am afraid it may already be too late. I have no idea what type of damage the fever may have caused."
Aeryn walked in behind Crais, stopping short when Morgan turned the pulse pistol on her with a feral snarl. "She has refused treatment until she knew you were safe." She chuckled wryly. "She even threatened to steal my Prowler."
Crais moved slowly towards his lover, his hands held up, palms toward her so that she could see he was unarmed. The pulse pistol swung towards him and Morgan's hands shook as she gripped it tightly. She stared at him, but didn't recognize him through the haze of fever. "Morgan, put the pulse pistol down," he commanded softly. He carefully knelt in front of her.
Morgan looked to one side and then the other, her head jerking almost spasmodically. "Where's Crais? You're not touching me until he is here." She tried to focus, but everything was blurry. She squinted at the figure before her, holding the pulse pistol out at arm's length.
Crais smiled softly at her, plucking the pulse pistol from her hands and sliding it on the deck towards Aeryn. He pulled Morgan into his arms, the human woman not even fighting him. She was very hot, hotter than any Sebacean could handle before the 'living death' took them. "I am right here," he whispered, lifting her up.
Morgan looked up at him, blinking, the fever-induced fog momentarily clearing as Crais carried her to the medical bed. "Bialar?" she whispered, her eyes rolling back in her head as her body finally gave out, sliding her into unconsciousness.
Crais stepped back as Zhaan took over, the Delvian priestess closing her eyes and chanting as she slowly floated her hands over Morgan's body. He backed away, turning on one heel and leaving the apothecary.
Aeryn looked at Chiana, who had stood quietly by waiting and their eyes met. The Nebari woman had also seen it.
The look of absolute agony on Crais' face.
Crais stood in Moya's dining area, contemplating the cup of coffee in his hands. He was still not used to the hot liquid, grimacing occasionally as he sipped at it. He finally set the mug down, pacing the room. Moya's gentle sounds surrounded him and he wondered if Crichton got off of Zorosa 3 with Talyn. He stopped at the viewport, his jaw set as he gazed at the stars, his worry for Morgan gnawing incessantly at his gut. He knew the Delvian priestess was doing everything in her power to help her.
"Crais?" Zhaan asked softly. She had been observing the former Peacekeeper for some time. He had cleaned himself up, his uniform now fresh and crisp, his hair once again pulled tightly back into its queue. He looked every bit the Peacekeeper Captain he once was, except his deep brown eyes betrayed him. Once hard and cold, they were now filled with concern and worry. Zhaan smiled softly in that knowing way she had, her hands folded before her.
Crais took a step towards her, stopping. "How…how is she?" he asked, using all his years of training to control his voice. He didn't know which he hated worse, his apparent vulnerability when it came to Morgan or they way he could still easily slip back into his old ways.
Zhaan approached him. "Resting, for now. I have managed to stop the fever from worsening, but it is still not lowering fast enough." She looked at him unafraid. "Crais, what happened down there? How did the two of you wind up on the planet?"
Crais sat down suddenly feeling tired. Tired of running, tired of fighting. His eyes met Zhaan's. "The…Scarrens attacked us…surprised us, actually," he admitted. "Morgan was able to…manually fly Talyn down to the planet surface, guiding and calming him and lessening the crash of his…frantic flight." He rubbed his eyes. "When we came to a stop, I discovered Morgan pinned beneath one of Talyn's support struts, her…leg broken from the weight."
"That's it," Zhaan softly exclaimed, standing up. She leaned her hands on the table, looking down at Crais. "You used your biogenetic engineering training to breed Talyn. I need that training to help save Morgan." She quickly turned, walking back up the corridor to the apothecary, her mind racing.
Crais followed her. "What is it? What have you found?"
Zhaan stopped, turning to him. "I found traces of Talyn's DNA in Morgan's blood. I did not know how it could've got there. Crais, she is suffering from a type of blood poisoning. Her human blood is having an allergic reaction to Talyn's DNA. Her body is fighting it, but losing."
Crais' eyes widened slightly in realization. "The strut was leaking synaptic fluid." He held his arm out for Zhaan to go ahead of him. "What do you suggest?" he asked, stepping into the apothecary.
Crichton glared at the command carrier's Lieutenant. "All dead. The fugitives sabotaged the transport," he reported, his voice flat and calm, no trace of emotion apparent.
The Lieutenant blanched. "And the fugitives sir? Your ship left the sector over five arns ago."
Crichton graced her with an evil smile. "I have taken command of the gunship. I will personally deliver it to Scorpius. My ship was recalled and you may report that Captain Bialar Crais and the human, Morgan Langtree, are dead." Crichton waited, hoping the Lieutenant fell for the lie. Her face betrayed her feelings over Torsin's death. "You are released from your mission and may return to your normal duties. Is that clear?"
The Lieutenant nodded. "Yes sir. Thank you sir." She turned, nodding to the communications officer.
The screen went blank and Crichton turned to Shantar. "As soon as they leave orbit, we're outta here."
Shantar nodded. "Thank you for your help, Crichton. They might have captured all of us if not for your quick intervention."
Bian turned from the sensor console. "They just broke orbit and are heading out of the system," she reported.
Crichton shook their hands. "Take care."
"Good health to you, John Crichton," Shantar answered, watching the human walk from the building.
He headed up the path towards the caves, unzipping the Peacekeeper jacket. He hoped he would never have to wear one again, but seriously doubted it. Something glinted on the path ahead of him and he stopped, kneeling down. Laying in the dirt and leaves, half buried, was Morgan's necklace, the Celtic knot shining in the dappled light reflected from the trees. Crichton picked it up, standing as he brushed the debris from it, smiling to himself. He slipped it into his pocket and keyed his comm badge as he headed towards the rock formation that still hid Talyn. "D'Argo, Stark, I'm on my way. Let's get the frell out of Dodge."
Crais sat beside Morgan in the apothecary, the lights low. Moya drifted quietly in deep space, the tracker Morgan had developed in Pilot's den, sending out signals for Talyn to follow. He watched her chest rise and fall with shallow breaths. He had helped Zhaan filter Morgan's blood, removing the fluid that was tainting it. It was now a waiting game. He brushed a lock of hair from her face, gently tracing the curve of her jaw with his finger, relieved that the fever was all but gone. He reached down, taking her hand, entwining her slim fingers with his. Crais rested his forehead to hers, closing his eyes and breathing in the soft scent of her hair.
"I have done nothing to deserve your love," he whispered. "And yet, you love me unconditionally. Your cousin destroyed my life and then…you barged in… turning it upside down further." He paused, smiling, even though she could not see it. "I am thankful for that."
Crais sighed. "I have struggled with these feelings, Morgan, since Tauvo was killed, feelings I thought the Peacekeepers had destroyed. And…I realized my mistake too late." He leaned back, gazing down at her peaceful face, still bruised from Torsin. "I meant what I said to Torsin about you and Crichton being…part of my family, not that he would…ever believe it or trust me." He stopped. "Even though you have proved to everyone that I am not the monster they thought I was. You have shown Talyn and I a whole different point of view." He hesitated. "I love you, Morgan."
Aeryn stood in the doorway, her arms crossed listening as Crais softly poured his soul out to Morgan. She wanted to walk away, but couldn't, knowing exactly what he was feeling. "It is an odd emotion, love," she commented quietly when he fell silent.
Crais turned and looked at her. "Aeryn. I did not hear you come in."
Aeryn never moved. "Moya has picked up Talyn's signal. They will be here in a few arns." She walked towards Crais and Morgan, stepping to the other side of the bed, adjusting the blanket around the woman she called friend. Her eyes met Crais' and she could see the changes that were happening within him. Changes she watched occur within her herself. "Ironic, isn't it, that you should lose your heart to a human." She walked past him, laying a hand briefly on his shoulder as she left the apothecary.
Crais turned back to Morgan. "Yes. It is."
Morgan opened her eyes slowly, squinting in the lights of Moya's apothecary. Her head ached, but her mind was clear. She looked around, realizing where she was. Safe. On Moya. She couldn't feel Talyn and realized the transponder was still in privacy mode. Something weighed down the blanket and Morgan slowly turned her head, smiling as she gazed down on Crichton's sleeping face. He had a death grip on her hand, and he was mumbling in his sleep. Morgan tried to free herself, her fingers tingling. "John, get off my hand," she whispered, her throat dry. She tried to swallow, lifting her head.
"It's okay, DK. You'll see. It'll mix fine," he mumbled, shifting slightly.
Morgan let her head fall back on the pillow, trying not to laugh. She reached across to flick the top of Crichton's head and he snorted. "John, can I please have my hand back?" she managed to croak a little louder.
Crichton turned his head, kissing Morgan's hand. "Aeryn, stop that."
Morgan's eyes widened and she laughed, her sides hurting from the beating she took on the planet. She reached back, her fingers closing around the familiar metal and plastic of the transponder. She disengaged the privacy mode, closing her eyes and concentrating, quickly traversing the gunship. She found Crais on the bridge, heatedly discussing the repairs that needed to be finished with Stark and Chiana. She triggered the comm system. "Crais?" she said softly.
Talyn answered her first, the gunship sounding relieved that she was awake. He slowed down his data feed when he realized she still wasn't up to par, opening the comm the rest of the way.
"Morgan, you're awake," Crais said, smiling at the sound of her voice.
"Finally." She looked down at her cousin's slack jawed face and moaned. "I have my cousin drooling on me here. Think you could high tail it over here and save me?" Crichton snorted again, kissing her hand and shifting, laying his head on her wrist. "Crais? Please!?
Morgan slowly walked through Talyn's corridors, enjoying the silence. They were hidden in the shadow of a nebula, Moya and Talyn enjoying the heat from the gas that cast colors through the stars. It felt good to be home and she slipped into their quarters, sitting at the small table to the left of the bed. She was still tired.
Crais marched in, stopping short when he didn't see her. "Morgan?"
She smiled, not answering him.
"Morgan!" he called again, his voice taking on that demanding Peacekeeper tone.
"I'm over here."
Crais turned and walked to the table, pointing to the bed. "That is where you should be. The poison has not completely left your system and I will not tolerate you disobeying the orders to rest."
Morgan looked up at him. "You won't tolerate me disobeying orders from you? That's funny," she chuckled, standing. Her leg gave and she would've fallen had Crais not caught her, supporting her in his arms. She looked up at him, grinning devilishly.
Crais glared at her. "You did that on purpose," he commented.
She didn't answer him, standing up and wrapping her arms around his neck. "What's your point, Bialar?" she whispered, kissing his neck.
Crais closed his eyes. He couldn't think when she did that and she knew it. "Morgan, I do not think…"
"No, you think too much," she butted in, moving her lips to his.
Crais took a deep breath, regaining control, gently leading her back to the bed. "This is not a good idea," he said, sitting her on the bed. "Aeryn and Crichton are trying to sort out the mess Stark made and may need my assistance."
"You are such a killjoy some times," she commented, swinging her legs under the blankets.
Crais looked at her. "There is time for that later." He walked out, purposefully not looking back. She had only been back on the gunship a few days and he was not about to push her beyond her limit. Crais chuckled. "Oh, I know Talyn. Her limits tend to be more than average." He stopped just inside the bridge, staring at Crichton and Aeryn. "Morgan, being her stubborn self, is up and about."
"Good." Aeryn walked from the bridge, leaving Crais and Crichton gazing at each other.
Crichton laid the tools in his hand down, approaching the former Peacekeeper. "Why did you kill them?" he simply asked. "Wasn't there some other way to have handled that?"
Crais moved past him, reviewing the systems and scanners. "No." He looked at Crichton. "Unless you would've preferred a retrieval squad hounding us again." He raised an eyebrow.
"No." Crichton leaned against the console. "What about Torsin? What was the deal with him?"
Crais' head rose and he stared out the viewport. "Torsin was a mistake that should've been dealt with cycles ago." He looked at Crichton. "I don't expect you to understand."
Crichton moved towards Crais. "Oh, I understand. I also know you almost got my cousin killed."
Crais' anger flared. "If it had not been for your cousin, all three of us would be dead or prisoners of the Scarrens." He folded his hands behind his back to keep from pulling his pulse pistol on Crichton.
"That just burns you, doesn't it?" Crichton challenged softly.
Crais folded his arms. "I am very proud of your cousin. Her grasp of tense situations makes her a valuable asset to Talyn and I."
"Besides the fact that you love her." Crichton let the comment hang in the air, waiting. He wanted to hear it; he wanted to hear Crais admit it.
"Yes. Besides the fact that I love her." Crais smiled. "Which…'burns' you."
Crichton shook his head. "More than you'll ever know." He spun on one heel, leaving the bridge.
Crichton lay on the bed in the quarters he shared with Aeryn on Talyn. It had been agreed that the two Leviathans would remain together until the repairs to the gunship were complete. Which was fine with him. He wanted to talk to Morgan, wanted to find out where they had gone, what she had seen. He turned his head to look at the door. "Hey," he said softly.
"Hey yourself," Morgan answered, slipping in and sitting on the bed next to her cousin as he sat up. She hugged him, holding him tightly.
"I'm glad your safe." He held her at arms length and groaned. "Aw, you look happy."
Morgan laughed. "Stop worrying. I am." She wrapped her fingers in his. "Hey, I made this choice and I don't regret one minute of it."
Crichton grimaced. "I know. But why Crais?"
Morgan nudged him. "Sorry about spitting in your face."
Crichton laughed, draping his arm around her shoulders. "It's cool. It's not the first time you have ever spit on me."
Morgan gazed at him. "You are not talking about that time in second grade when you and DK…"
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," he laughed.
Aeryn stepped back from the door, smiling. She headed back to the bridge to make sure Crais stayed occupied long enough for Morgan and Crichton to have some time together. She could tell by the sounds around her that things were returning to normal.
Whatever that was in the Uncharted Territories.
Copyright 2002, Beth A. Carpenter
"Pilot! I am aboard! Starburst immediately!" Crais commanded as he strode from Moya's landing bay. He felt the great Leviathan pause in time then vibrate as her body was covered with the blue fire that came with star bursting, rocketing away from Zorosa 3. He made his way to the apothecary, only to find Morgan cowering in a corner looking like a caged and frightened animal, her eyes glassy, her face flushed with fever…her hand holding a pulse pistol that she aimed at anyone who came too close.
Zhaan turned at Crais' footsteps, studying her one time captor, watching as his stern expression softened at the sight of Morgan. "Crais, please talk to her. The fever is building rapidly and I am afraid it may already be too late. I have no idea what type of damage the fever may have caused."
Aeryn walked in behind Crais, stopping short when Morgan turned the pulse pistol on her with a feral snarl. "She has refused treatment until she knew you were safe." She chuckled wryly. "She even threatened to steal my Prowler."
Crais moved slowly towards his lover, his hands held up, palms toward her so that she could see he was unarmed. The pulse pistol swung towards him and Morgan's hands shook as she gripped it tightly. She stared at him, but didn't recognize him through the haze of fever. "Morgan, put the pulse pistol down," he commanded softly. He carefully knelt in front of her.
Morgan looked to one side and then the other, her head jerking almost spasmodically. "Where's Crais? You're not touching me until he is here." She tried to focus, but everything was blurry. She squinted at the figure before her, holding the pulse pistol out at arm's length.
Crais smiled softly at her, plucking the pulse pistol from her hands and sliding it on the deck towards Aeryn. He pulled Morgan into his arms, the human woman not even fighting him. She was very hot, hotter than any Sebacean could handle before the 'living death' took them. "I am right here," he whispered, lifting her up.
Morgan looked up at him, blinking, the fever-induced fog momentarily clearing as Crais carried her to the medical bed. "Bialar?" she whispered, her eyes rolling back in her head as her body finally gave out, sliding her into unconsciousness.
Crais stepped back as Zhaan took over, the Delvian priestess closing her eyes and chanting as she slowly floated her hands over Morgan's body. He backed away, turning on one heel and leaving the apothecary.
Aeryn looked at Chiana, who had stood quietly by waiting and their eyes met. The Nebari woman had also seen it.
The look of absolute agony on Crais' face.
Crais stood in Moya's dining area, contemplating the cup of coffee in his hands. He was still not used to the hot liquid, grimacing occasionally as he sipped at it. He finally set the mug down, pacing the room. Moya's gentle sounds surrounded him and he wondered if Crichton got off of Zorosa 3 with Talyn. He stopped at the viewport, his jaw set as he gazed at the stars, his worry for Morgan gnawing incessantly at his gut. He knew the Delvian priestess was doing everything in her power to help her.
"Crais?" Zhaan asked softly. She had been observing the former Peacekeeper for some time. He had cleaned himself up, his uniform now fresh and crisp, his hair once again pulled tightly back into its queue. He looked every bit the Peacekeeper Captain he once was, except his deep brown eyes betrayed him. Once hard and cold, they were now filled with concern and worry. Zhaan smiled softly in that knowing way she had, her hands folded before her.
Crais took a step towards her, stopping. "How…how is she?" he asked, using all his years of training to control his voice. He didn't know which he hated worse, his apparent vulnerability when it came to Morgan or they way he could still easily slip back into his old ways.
Zhaan approached him. "Resting, for now. I have managed to stop the fever from worsening, but it is still not lowering fast enough." She looked at him unafraid. "Crais, what happened down there? How did the two of you wind up on the planet?"
Crais sat down suddenly feeling tired. Tired of running, tired of fighting. His eyes met Zhaan's. "The…Scarrens attacked us…surprised us, actually," he admitted. "Morgan was able to…manually fly Talyn down to the planet surface, guiding and calming him and lessening the crash of his…frantic flight." He rubbed his eyes. "When we came to a stop, I discovered Morgan pinned beneath one of Talyn's support struts, her…leg broken from the weight."
"That's it," Zhaan softly exclaimed, standing up. She leaned her hands on the table, looking down at Crais. "You used your biogenetic engineering training to breed Talyn. I need that training to help save Morgan." She quickly turned, walking back up the corridor to the apothecary, her mind racing.
Crais followed her. "What is it? What have you found?"
Zhaan stopped, turning to him. "I found traces of Talyn's DNA in Morgan's blood. I did not know how it could've got there. Crais, she is suffering from a type of blood poisoning. Her human blood is having an allergic reaction to Talyn's DNA. Her body is fighting it, but losing."
Crais' eyes widened slightly in realization. "The strut was leaking synaptic fluid." He held his arm out for Zhaan to go ahead of him. "What do you suggest?" he asked, stepping into the apothecary.
Crichton glared at the command carrier's Lieutenant. "All dead. The fugitives sabotaged the transport," he reported, his voice flat and calm, no trace of emotion apparent.
The Lieutenant blanched. "And the fugitives sir? Your ship left the sector over five arns ago."
Crichton graced her with an evil smile. "I have taken command of the gunship. I will personally deliver it to Scorpius. My ship was recalled and you may report that Captain Bialar Crais and the human, Morgan Langtree, are dead." Crichton waited, hoping the Lieutenant fell for the lie. Her face betrayed her feelings over Torsin's death. "You are released from your mission and may return to your normal duties. Is that clear?"
The Lieutenant nodded. "Yes sir. Thank you sir." She turned, nodding to the communications officer.
The screen went blank and Crichton turned to Shantar. "As soon as they leave orbit, we're outta here."
Shantar nodded. "Thank you for your help, Crichton. They might have captured all of us if not for your quick intervention."
Bian turned from the sensor console. "They just broke orbit and are heading out of the system," she reported.
Crichton shook their hands. "Take care."
"Good health to you, John Crichton," Shantar answered, watching the human walk from the building.
He headed up the path towards the caves, unzipping the Peacekeeper jacket. He hoped he would never have to wear one again, but seriously doubted it. Something glinted on the path ahead of him and he stopped, kneeling down. Laying in the dirt and leaves, half buried, was Morgan's necklace, the Celtic knot shining in the dappled light reflected from the trees. Crichton picked it up, standing as he brushed the debris from it, smiling to himself. He slipped it into his pocket and keyed his comm badge as he headed towards the rock formation that still hid Talyn. "D'Argo, Stark, I'm on my way. Let's get the frell out of Dodge."
Crais sat beside Morgan in the apothecary, the lights low. Moya drifted quietly in deep space, the tracker Morgan had developed in Pilot's den, sending out signals for Talyn to follow. He watched her chest rise and fall with shallow breaths. He had helped Zhaan filter Morgan's blood, removing the fluid that was tainting it. It was now a waiting game. He brushed a lock of hair from her face, gently tracing the curve of her jaw with his finger, relieved that the fever was all but gone. He reached down, taking her hand, entwining her slim fingers with his. Crais rested his forehead to hers, closing his eyes and breathing in the soft scent of her hair.
"I have done nothing to deserve your love," he whispered. "And yet, you love me unconditionally. Your cousin destroyed my life and then…you barged in… turning it upside down further." He paused, smiling, even though she could not see it. "I am thankful for that."
Crais sighed. "I have struggled with these feelings, Morgan, since Tauvo was killed, feelings I thought the Peacekeepers had destroyed. And…I realized my mistake too late." He leaned back, gazing down at her peaceful face, still bruised from Torsin. "I meant what I said to Torsin about you and Crichton being…part of my family, not that he would…ever believe it or trust me." He stopped. "Even though you have proved to everyone that I am not the monster they thought I was. You have shown Talyn and I a whole different point of view." He hesitated. "I love you, Morgan."
Aeryn stood in the doorway, her arms crossed listening as Crais softly poured his soul out to Morgan. She wanted to walk away, but couldn't, knowing exactly what he was feeling. "It is an odd emotion, love," she commented quietly when he fell silent.
Crais turned and looked at her. "Aeryn. I did not hear you come in."
Aeryn never moved. "Moya has picked up Talyn's signal. They will be here in a few arns." She walked towards Crais and Morgan, stepping to the other side of the bed, adjusting the blanket around the woman she called friend. Her eyes met Crais' and she could see the changes that were happening within him. Changes she watched occur within her herself. "Ironic, isn't it, that you should lose your heart to a human." She walked past him, laying a hand briefly on his shoulder as she left the apothecary.
Crais turned back to Morgan. "Yes. It is."
Morgan opened her eyes slowly, squinting in the lights of Moya's apothecary. Her head ached, but her mind was clear. She looked around, realizing where she was. Safe. On Moya. She couldn't feel Talyn and realized the transponder was still in privacy mode. Something weighed down the blanket and Morgan slowly turned her head, smiling as she gazed down on Crichton's sleeping face. He had a death grip on her hand, and he was mumbling in his sleep. Morgan tried to free herself, her fingers tingling. "John, get off my hand," she whispered, her throat dry. She tried to swallow, lifting her head.
"It's okay, DK. You'll see. It'll mix fine," he mumbled, shifting slightly.
Morgan let her head fall back on the pillow, trying not to laugh. She reached across to flick the top of Crichton's head and he snorted. "John, can I please have my hand back?" she managed to croak a little louder.
Crichton turned his head, kissing Morgan's hand. "Aeryn, stop that."
Morgan's eyes widened and she laughed, her sides hurting from the beating she took on the planet. She reached back, her fingers closing around the familiar metal and plastic of the transponder. She disengaged the privacy mode, closing her eyes and concentrating, quickly traversing the gunship. She found Crais on the bridge, heatedly discussing the repairs that needed to be finished with Stark and Chiana. She triggered the comm system. "Crais?" she said softly.
Talyn answered her first, the gunship sounding relieved that she was awake. He slowed down his data feed when he realized she still wasn't up to par, opening the comm the rest of the way.
"Morgan, you're awake," Crais said, smiling at the sound of her voice.
"Finally." She looked down at her cousin's slack jawed face and moaned. "I have my cousin drooling on me here. Think you could high tail it over here and save me?" Crichton snorted again, kissing her hand and shifting, laying his head on her wrist. "Crais? Please!?
Morgan slowly walked through Talyn's corridors, enjoying the silence. They were hidden in the shadow of a nebula, Moya and Talyn enjoying the heat from the gas that cast colors through the stars. It felt good to be home and she slipped into their quarters, sitting at the small table to the left of the bed. She was still tired.
Crais marched in, stopping short when he didn't see her. "Morgan?"
She smiled, not answering him.
"Morgan!" he called again, his voice taking on that demanding Peacekeeper tone.
"I'm over here."
Crais turned and walked to the table, pointing to the bed. "That is where you should be. The poison has not completely left your system and I will not tolerate you disobeying the orders to rest."
Morgan looked up at him. "You won't tolerate me disobeying orders from you? That's funny," she chuckled, standing. Her leg gave and she would've fallen had Crais not caught her, supporting her in his arms. She looked up at him, grinning devilishly.
Crais glared at her. "You did that on purpose," he commented.
She didn't answer him, standing up and wrapping her arms around his neck. "What's your point, Bialar?" she whispered, kissing his neck.
Crais closed his eyes. He couldn't think when she did that and she knew it. "Morgan, I do not think…"
"No, you think too much," she butted in, moving her lips to his.
Crais took a deep breath, regaining control, gently leading her back to the bed. "This is not a good idea," he said, sitting her on the bed. "Aeryn and Crichton are trying to sort out the mess Stark made and may need my assistance."
"You are such a killjoy some times," she commented, swinging her legs under the blankets.
Crais looked at her. "There is time for that later." He walked out, purposefully not looking back. She had only been back on the gunship a few days and he was not about to push her beyond her limit. Crais chuckled. "Oh, I know Talyn. Her limits tend to be more than average." He stopped just inside the bridge, staring at Crichton and Aeryn. "Morgan, being her stubborn self, is up and about."
"Good." Aeryn walked from the bridge, leaving Crais and Crichton gazing at each other.
Crichton laid the tools in his hand down, approaching the former Peacekeeper. "Why did you kill them?" he simply asked. "Wasn't there some other way to have handled that?"
Crais moved past him, reviewing the systems and scanners. "No." He looked at Crichton. "Unless you would've preferred a retrieval squad hounding us again." He raised an eyebrow.
"No." Crichton leaned against the console. "What about Torsin? What was the deal with him?"
Crais' head rose and he stared out the viewport. "Torsin was a mistake that should've been dealt with cycles ago." He looked at Crichton. "I don't expect you to understand."
Crichton moved towards Crais. "Oh, I understand. I also know you almost got my cousin killed."
Crais' anger flared. "If it had not been for your cousin, all three of us would be dead or prisoners of the Scarrens." He folded his hands behind his back to keep from pulling his pulse pistol on Crichton.
"That just burns you, doesn't it?" Crichton challenged softly.
Crais folded his arms. "I am very proud of your cousin. Her grasp of tense situations makes her a valuable asset to Talyn and I."
"Besides the fact that you love her." Crichton let the comment hang in the air, waiting. He wanted to hear it; he wanted to hear Crais admit it.
"Yes. Besides the fact that I love her." Crais smiled. "Which…'burns' you."
Crichton shook his head. "More than you'll ever know." He spun on one heel, leaving the bridge.
Crichton lay on the bed in the quarters he shared with Aeryn on Talyn. It had been agreed that the two Leviathans would remain together until the repairs to the gunship were complete. Which was fine with him. He wanted to talk to Morgan, wanted to find out where they had gone, what she had seen. He turned his head to look at the door. "Hey," he said softly.
"Hey yourself," Morgan answered, slipping in and sitting on the bed next to her cousin as he sat up. She hugged him, holding him tightly.
"I'm glad your safe." He held her at arms length and groaned. "Aw, you look happy."
Morgan laughed. "Stop worrying. I am." She wrapped her fingers in his. "Hey, I made this choice and I don't regret one minute of it."
Crichton grimaced. "I know. But why Crais?"
Morgan nudged him. "Sorry about spitting in your face."
Crichton laughed, draping his arm around her shoulders. "It's cool. It's not the first time you have ever spit on me."
Morgan gazed at him. "You are not talking about that time in second grade when you and DK…"
"That's exactly what I'm talking about," he laughed.
Aeryn stepped back from the door, smiling. She headed back to the bridge to make sure Crais stayed occupied long enough for Morgan and Crichton to have some time together. She could tell by the sounds around her that things were returning to normal.
Whatever that was in the Uncharted Territories.
Copyright 2002, Beth A. Carpenter
