Chapter Nine
Crais couldn't sleep. He stared at the ceiling, his head cradled on one arm, the other wrapped protectively around Morgan. She had done everything in her power to fight the exhaustion that was rapidly overcoming her and when he had found her on the deck of the bridge, one hand still wrapped around her transponder, the other pillowing her cheek, he knew it was time to put his foot down and force her to rest. She moaned softly in her sleep, rolling away to lay on her other side. Crais swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pulled his boots on, tugging his shirt over his head as he left their quarters and headed for Talyn's bridge.
"Status, Talyn," he commanded softly, gazing at the growing resistance fleet as it floated soundlessly in the vast nebula. He only half absorbed the information the gunship fed him, his mind racing at Borin Tadace's last words. Crais was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he suddenly found himself the leader of a resistance movement, a rebellion fighting against the restraints of a doctrine that had been imposed on him and his brother from an early age. He sighed, pacing the bridge.
She carries the future.
Crais stopped pacing as Tadace's words echoed in his mind. He canted his head in thought, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he reached into the pocket of his pants, his fingers wrapping around the data chip Sulan had handed him.
Make sure no one gets this.
Sulan's voice joined Tadace's in his head and Crais twirled the chip between his fingers, wondering what was on it that was so important. He strode to the system console, slipping the data chip into the slot and watching as the clamshell came to life. The information on the chip was scrambled, as if only part of it was there. Crais opened the comm channel. "Crichton?" he called softly. He waited a moment, giving the human time to wake. "Crichton!" he called more insistently, his voice low so as not to wake Aeryn.
"Yeah, man. What?" Crichton finally answered sleepily.
Crais stroked his goatee, pulling the chip from the console. "Did Dr. Lias give you anything on the planet?"
It took Crichton a few moments to answer. "Uh, yeah, a data chip. Beats the hell out of me what's on it."
Crais turned on one heel, marching from the bridge. "Meet me in the medical bay." He had been there only a few minutes when Crichton staggered in, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Crais looked up at him, his hand held out for the data chip.
"What's up?" he asked, slapping the chip into the ex-Peacekeepers hand. Crichton leaned one hip against the console, scrubbing his face. "Where's Morgan?"
"Asleep," Crais answered, studying the two data chips. His brow furrowed in thought as he placed the two chips back to back, snapping them together before sliding them into the medical scanner. The holo-projector on the console came to life, a three-dimensional model of a body displaying before the two men, slowly rotating as information scrolled by next to it.
Suddenly wide awake, Crichton turned and propped his hands on the console across from Crais, the image between them. "Crais, what the frell is this?"
Crais shook his head as he studied the information. "I…believe it is a medical representation of…" he paused, his eyes meeting Crichton's through the hologram, "…your cousin."
Crichton chewed his thumb as he scanned some of the information. "Lias must have collected this when she was fixing up Morgan."
Crais' fingers flew over the console, the image between them splitting. He scratched his neck. "Sulan and Tadace had her do an entire workup on your physiology." He pointed to the second image, rotating in conjunction with the first. "This one is the typical model of a Sebacean."
Both men stared in amazement at the images. They knew their species were close, but neither of them were prepared for how close. Crichton whistled as he walked around the console to stand next to Crais. Something caught his eye and he pointed. "What is that?"
"What?" Crais looked up to where the human was pointing. He adjusted the image, going back through the information that was scrolling by. He stopped it, reading it again. "She carries the future," he whispered, his eyes returning to the image as he leaned forward.
"Who carries the future? Crais what are you talking about?" Crichton asked in confusion, staring at the other man.
Crais pushed himself away from the console, and began to pace the medical bay, rubbing his temple with one hand, the other clenched in a fist at the small of his back. He stopped, his back to Crichton, hiding the look of shock on his face. "When…we were escaping…as Borin died in Tauvo's arms…he told me to protect you and Morgan." He turned his head slightly towards Crichton. "Especially Morgan." Crais clasped both hands behind his back as he turned to look at his former nemesis. "Tadace told me that she…carries the future." Crais swallowed, trying to retain his composure while his emotions warred inside of him.
Crichton leaned on the console, his arms crossed. "'Carries the future?' What kind of cryptic…" He stopped, looking at the model, then at Crais. He stood up, pointing to the hologram. "Are you saying she's…she's…"
"With child," Crais finished calmly.
Crichton's mouth dropped open. "You got my cousin knocked up?" Crais simply stared at him, his eyebrows raised. "How far along is she?" he sputtered.
Crais moved over to the console, tapping it. "Approximately two and one half monens along."
"Which means she was already pregnant when you two tied the knot," Crichton remarked. He shook his head, taking up where Crais left off in the pacing department, running his fingers through his hair. "I don't get it. The doctor's on Earth were so sure that she could never have children."
Crais crossed his arms as he leaned one hip on a medical bed. "Crichton, what is the normal gestation period for a human female?" he asked quietly. He knew that humans and Sebaceans could have children together, but Crais' main concern was how it was going to physically affect Morgan.
"Nine monens. Well, actually, forty weekens." Crichton hopped up on the medical table next to Crais, swinging his feet back and forth, his mind going to his sister's own pregnancies. "Hey Crais, with everything that been going on, have you noticed Morgan acting differently?" Crichton looked at him.
Crais considered the question. "Nausea. And she has been excessively tired lately." He smiled slightly. "And a few other things."
Crichton sighed, nodding knowingly. "And it's probably the last thing she would ever attribute it to." He looked at the image still turning silently before them. "I bet she has no idea."
"I would agree. Morgan would have said something." The two men looked at each other. "I will tell her."
Crichton hopped off the table. "You realize she's not going to believe you," he remarked, smiling smugly as he walked out of the medical bay.
Crais nodded, his eyes going back to the model. Talyn chirped at him. "I will find a way to tell her," he assured the excited gunship. Crais smiled, chuckling softly. "It will be interesting indeed."
Morgan slowly moved through Talyn, her feet bare on the steelskin deck as she wandered through the quiet gunship. Something was bothering Crais and for two solar days he brushed off her questions, keeping himself locked away with Tauvo and the other leaders of the resistance. He knew her opinions and they discussed all the options and Crais left her to rest. But she couldn't. She didn't feel like herself and she needed some time to think, leaving him asleep in their quarters as she paced the ship.
She walked to the end of the corridor, the door sliding silently open as she stepped through into Talyn's gallery. It was still small, compared to Moya's, the top gun turret visible above her. Morgan moved to the viewport, gazing at the shifting colors of the nebula they hid in. She sank to the deck, crossed her legs and just watched the nebula in fascination.
Talyn softly chirped at her, breaking her reverie, asking her what was wrong with Crais.
"I have no idea, Talyn. He won't tell me," she answered with a tired sigh. Morgan tilted her head when he chirped again. "Sure. What do you want me to see?"
Talyn made sure Crais was still asleep, blocking the transmission from him. He waited until Morgan was ready and opened the feed to her and her alone.
Morgan closed her eyes, her hands wrapped around the transponder, fighting off the brief wave of nausea that suddenly came up. She watched as Talyn shifted his image to that of her and Crais' quarters, unsure at first what the gunship was showing her. When she realized she was watching something Talyn had observed, she concentrated even harder, one hand going to her mouth as it opened.
Before her, in her minds eye, she could see Crais, haggard and worn, a bottle of raslak in one hand, the bracelet from her shelf in the other. He sat at his desk, his eyes closed, tears sliding down his cheeks until he finally broke down, the bottle bursting in his hand as he fell to his knees. Why Morgan? Damn you why? Why did you have to lag behind? How can you do this to me? He tore through the room like a madman. I need you and now you're gone!
"Talyn, stop, please," she sobbed, cutting the feed.
The gunship continued, despite her pleas, showing her her own cousin facing Crais, never backing down, pushing the Sebacean. And Talyn showed her the acceptance of the alliance that Crichton and Crais tried so hard to deny for the last few cycles.
You needed to know how he felt when he thought you were dead. He wouldn't even talk to me, Talyn said softly in her mind, his voice musical as he vocalized his thoughts to Morgan for the first time. And…Crichton actually helped.
Morgan's shoulders shook as she cried, laying her head in her hands. "Thank you," she whispered. She had never doubted Crais' feelings, but to see his grief, his pain…it tore a deep hole in her heart. Morgan wiped her eyes, standing up. She turned and stopped, staring at Crais who stood silently in the room.
"What did he show you?" he asked softly. Talyn chirped nervously and Crais smiled, looking away briefly. "No Talyn. You are not in trouble."
Morgan wiped her nose with the back of her hand as Crais approached her. "He…um…showed me what happened after you escaped the base," she whispered. "Oh, god, Bialar. I'm so sorry. Why didn't you…I…"
Crais laid his fingers on her lips. "That is how much you mean to me, Morgan. I…find that I lack the…capability of expressing those feelings and it frustrates me."
Morgan gazed up at him, her eyes red. She didn't know what to say. She had watched him change in the time she had been there. The Peacekeeper he had once been was gone unless it was absolutely needed, a more refined man in its place. She licked her lips. "You express them fine, Bialar," she responded, moving into his arms.
Crais shook his head. "No, Morgan, I do not. And I do not tell you how much I love you enough," he answered. His lips met hers as he pulled her closer, drawing her to the deck with him as he sank to his knees, pulling her into his arms tightly, wrapping her legs around his waist as his tongue danced with hers, her body fitted perfectly to his. "I can not bear the thought of losing you," he whispered, simply holding her, his face buried in the crook of her neck, breathing in her soft scent. "Especially not now."
Morgan leaned back, tucking her finger under his chin and making him look up at her. "Crais, what is going on?" she asked quietly, her stomach in knots.
His brown eyes met hers and he released her for a moment, waiting until she settled on the deck next to him. He pulled a small holo- projector from the pocket of his pants, running his thumb along the side, waiting as it flared to life. A small medical model appeared, slowly turning. "Sulan and Dr. Lias discovered this. I was waiting for you to tell me."
Morgan watched the little projection turn before her. "Tell you what?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.
"Crichton and I put the medical information Dr. Lias gathered on you together. This representation is of you." He waited, placing the holo- projector on the deck.
"And?" Morgan said. "Bialar what are you talking about?"
It dawned on Crais that Morgan did not know. "They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?" she asked exasperated, throwing her hands up in frustration.
Crais stroked his goatee, watching the image turn before looking back at his wife. "Morgan, you are pregnant."
Morgan stared at him. "Bialar, what sort of sick, twisted joke is this?" she whispered angrily.
Crais pulled one knee up and rubbed his eyes, leaning his elbow on his leg. "Crichton said you wouldn't believe it."
Morgan stood up and moved towards the viewport. "I can't have kids Crais. End of sentence. Not possible."
Crais stood up, grabbing the projector and changing the image. He marched over to her, grabbing her arm and turning her around, thrusting the device in her face. "Look at this," he hissed. "And don't tell me you cannot read Sebacean for I know better."
"Crais," she started.
"READ IT!"
Morgan read the information on the small image, her face going pale. She looked away, the fear and elation of being pregnant warring within her. "How?" she finally managed to choke out.
Crais pocketed the projector, a smug smile pulling at his lips. "I would have thought you knew how," he teased softly.
Morgan punched his shoulder. "I know how, I…oh never mind," she finally whispered. A tear slipped down her cheek and she turned away, wrapping her arms around her.
Crais stepped up behind her, wrapping his own arms around her, clasping her hands in his. "I would have thought you would be happy," he whispered, tilting his head to peer down at her.
"I am, but…" She shook her head, smiling sadly. "The timing is not exactly the best, is it?"
Crais kissed her head gently. "Morgan, there is nothing we can do about this."
She turned in his arms, gazing up at him. "No, but I don't want to raise our child alone, either."
Crais' eyebrows drew down and he turned her completely around to face him. "What…are you saying?"
Morgan sighed, looking away. "You're the leader of the resistance now, Bialar. What if something…"
Crais took her chin in his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly as he made her look at him. "Then you will be taken care of. And you know how to return to Earth if you so choose."
"No. I'm never going back to Earth." Morgan moved away from him, her emotions battling for position. "Promise me something," she whispered.
"Anything Morgan."
She looked at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Promise me that we will raise this child with love and patience and…" She swallowed past the lump in her throat, her blue eyes pleading with him. "…and that no one will take our child away from us."
Crais nodded, cupping her face in his hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. He stepped back from her, reaching under his shirt to pull loose the chain with her wedding band and Celtic knot. Carefully, Crais removed the ring from the chain and slipped it on Morgan's finger. "I promise."
Crichton found Morgan standing at the system's console the next afternoon, her head tilted as she listened to Talyn. He gazed at her, trying to see any telltale signs of her condition. Crichton crossed his arms as he leaned in the bridge's doorway. "Hey cous," he said softly.
Morgan turned and looked at him, smiling. "Hey." She walked over to him and hugged him. "Thank you."
Crichton looked down at her. "For what?"
"Coming after us."
Crichton snorted softly. "As if I wouldn't."
Morgan ran her fingers through her hair, chuckling. "For talking some sense into Crais."
"He tell you?"
"No." She tapped the transponder at the back of her neck. "Talyn did. Surprisingly enough, Talyn actually gave you credit."
Crichton's eyes grew round. "Wow. And here I thought he hated me."
Morgan returned to the console. "He does." She peered over her shoulder and saw the crestfallen look on Crichton's face. "I'm just teasing John."
"You're bad." He walked over to stand next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
Morgan nodded, her hands tapping the console as she ran through a system's test. "Alright as long as eat something whenever I get queasy. At least I know why now." She stopped, looking up at her cousin. "Who would have thought…"
"Yeah. I know," he interrupted.
Morgan swallowed, finding that she was having a problem talking with Crichton. "John, could you do me a favor?" she asked blushing.
"Name it Morgan."
Morgan licked her lips and gazed at him. "Could you please convince Crais that I'm not a china doll and I can still perform my duties on this ship?"
Crichton laughed. "I'll see what I can do."
Copyright 2002 Beth A. Carpenter
Crais couldn't sleep. He stared at the ceiling, his head cradled on one arm, the other wrapped protectively around Morgan. She had done everything in her power to fight the exhaustion that was rapidly overcoming her and when he had found her on the deck of the bridge, one hand still wrapped around her transponder, the other pillowing her cheek, he knew it was time to put his foot down and force her to rest. She moaned softly in her sleep, rolling away to lay on her other side. Crais swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pulled his boots on, tugging his shirt over his head as he left their quarters and headed for Talyn's bridge.
"Status, Talyn," he commanded softly, gazing at the growing resistance fleet as it floated soundlessly in the vast nebula. He only half absorbed the information the gunship fed him, his mind racing at Borin Tadace's last words. Crais was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he suddenly found himself the leader of a resistance movement, a rebellion fighting against the restraints of a doctrine that had been imposed on him and his brother from an early age. He sighed, pacing the bridge.
She carries the future.
Crais stopped pacing as Tadace's words echoed in his mind. He canted his head in thought, his dark eyes narrowing slightly as he reached into the pocket of his pants, his fingers wrapping around the data chip Sulan had handed him.
Make sure no one gets this.
Sulan's voice joined Tadace's in his head and Crais twirled the chip between his fingers, wondering what was on it that was so important. He strode to the system console, slipping the data chip into the slot and watching as the clamshell came to life. The information on the chip was scrambled, as if only part of it was there. Crais opened the comm channel. "Crichton?" he called softly. He waited a moment, giving the human time to wake. "Crichton!" he called more insistently, his voice low so as not to wake Aeryn.
"Yeah, man. What?" Crichton finally answered sleepily.
Crais stroked his goatee, pulling the chip from the console. "Did Dr. Lias give you anything on the planet?"
It took Crichton a few moments to answer. "Uh, yeah, a data chip. Beats the hell out of me what's on it."
Crais turned on one heel, marching from the bridge. "Meet me in the medical bay." He had been there only a few minutes when Crichton staggered in, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Crais looked up at him, his hand held out for the data chip.
"What's up?" he asked, slapping the chip into the ex-Peacekeepers hand. Crichton leaned one hip against the console, scrubbing his face. "Where's Morgan?"
"Asleep," Crais answered, studying the two data chips. His brow furrowed in thought as he placed the two chips back to back, snapping them together before sliding them into the medical scanner. The holo-projector on the console came to life, a three-dimensional model of a body displaying before the two men, slowly rotating as information scrolled by next to it.
Suddenly wide awake, Crichton turned and propped his hands on the console across from Crais, the image between them. "Crais, what the frell is this?"
Crais shook his head as he studied the information. "I…believe it is a medical representation of…" he paused, his eyes meeting Crichton's through the hologram, "…your cousin."
Crichton chewed his thumb as he scanned some of the information. "Lias must have collected this when she was fixing up Morgan."
Crais' fingers flew over the console, the image between them splitting. He scratched his neck. "Sulan and Tadace had her do an entire workup on your physiology." He pointed to the second image, rotating in conjunction with the first. "This one is the typical model of a Sebacean."
Both men stared in amazement at the images. They knew their species were close, but neither of them were prepared for how close. Crichton whistled as he walked around the console to stand next to Crais. Something caught his eye and he pointed. "What is that?"
"What?" Crais looked up to where the human was pointing. He adjusted the image, going back through the information that was scrolling by. He stopped it, reading it again. "She carries the future," he whispered, his eyes returning to the image as he leaned forward.
"Who carries the future? Crais what are you talking about?" Crichton asked in confusion, staring at the other man.
Crais pushed himself away from the console, and began to pace the medical bay, rubbing his temple with one hand, the other clenched in a fist at the small of his back. He stopped, his back to Crichton, hiding the look of shock on his face. "When…we were escaping…as Borin died in Tauvo's arms…he told me to protect you and Morgan." He turned his head slightly towards Crichton. "Especially Morgan." Crais clasped both hands behind his back as he turned to look at his former nemesis. "Tadace told me that she…carries the future." Crais swallowed, trying to retain his composure while his emotions warred inside of him.
Crichton leaned on the console, his arms crossed. "'Carries the future?' What kind of cryptic…" He stopped, looking at the model, then at Crais. He stood up, pointing to the hologram. "Are you saying she's…she's…"
"With child," Crais finished calmly.
Crichton's mouth dropped open. "You got my cousin knocked up?" Crais simply stared at him, his eyebrows raised. "How far along is she?" he sputtered.
Crais moved over to the console, tapping it. "Approximately two and one half monens along."
"Which means she was already pregnant when you two tied the knot," Crichton remarked. He shook his head, taking up where Crais left off in the pacing department, running his fingers through his hair. "I don't get it. The doctor's on Earth were so sure that she could never have children."
Crais crossed his arms as he leaned one hip on a medical bed. "Crichton, what is the normal gestation period for a human female?" he asked quietly. He knew that humans and Sebaceans could have children together, but Crais' main concern was how it was going to physically affect Morgan.
"Nine monens. Well, actually, forty weekens." Crichton hopped up on the medical table next to Crais, swinging his feet back and forth, his mind going to his sister's own pregnancies. "Hey Crais, with everything that been going on, have you noticed Morgan acting differently?" Crichton looked at him.
Crais considered the question. "Nausea. And she has been excessively tired lately." He smiled slightly. "And a few other things."
Crichton sighed, nodding knowingly. "And it's probably the last thing she would ever attribute it to." He looked at the image still turning silently before them. "I bet she has no idea."
"I would agree. Morgan would have said something." The two men looked at each other. "I will tell her."
Crichton hopped off the table. "You realize she's not going to believe you," he remarked, smiling smugly as he walked out of the medical bay.
Crais nodded, his eyes going back to the model. Talyn chirped at him. "I will find a way to tell her," he assured the excited gunship. Crais smiled, chuckling softly. "It will be interesting indeed."
Morgan slowly moved through Talyn, her feet bare on the steelskin deck as she wandered through the quiet gunship. Something was bothering Crais and for two solar days he brushed off her questions, keeping himself locked away with Tauvo and the other leaders of the resistance. He knew her opinions and they discussed all the options and Crais left her to rest. But she couldn't. She didn't feel like herself and she needed some time to think, leaving him asleep in their quarters as she paced the ship.
She walked to the end of the corridor, the door sliding silently open as she stepped through into Talyn's gallery. It was still small, compared to Moya's, the top gun turret visible above her. Morgan moved to the viewport, gazing at the shifting colors of the nebula they hid in. She sank to the deck, crossed her legs and just watched the nebula in fascination.
Talyn softly chirped at her, breaking her reverie, asking her what was wrong with Crais.
"I have no idea, Talyn. He won't tell me," she answered with a tired sigh. Morgan tilted her head when he chirped again. "Sure. What do you want me to see?"
Talyn made sure Crais was still asleep, blocking the transmission from him. He waited until Morgan was ready and opened the feed to her and her alone.
Morgan closed her eyes, her hands wrapped around the transponder, fighting off the brief wave of nausea that suddenly came up. She watched as Talyn shifted his image to that of her and Crais' quarters, unsure at first what the gunship was showing her. When she realized she was watching something Talyn had observed, she concentrated even harder, one hand going to her mouth as it opened.
Before her, in her minds eye, she could see Crais, haggard and worn, a bottle of raslak in one hand, the bracelet from her shelf in the other. He sat at his desk, his eyes closed, tears sliding down his cheeks until he finally broke down, the bottle bursting in his hand as he fell to his knees. Why Morgan? Damn you why? Why did you have to lag behind? How can you do this to me? He tore through the room like a madman. I need you and now you're gone!
"Talyn, stop, please," she sobbed, cutting the feed.
The gunship continued, despite her pleas, showing her her own cousin facing Crais, never backing down, pushing the Sebacean. And Talyn showed her the acceptance of the alliance that Crichton and Crais tried so hard to deny for the last few cycles.
You needed to know how he felt when he thought you were dead. He wouldn't even talk to me, Talyn said softly in her mind, his voice musical as he vocalized his thoughts to Morgan for the first time. And…Crichton actually helped.
Morgan's shoulders shook as she cried, laying her head in her hands. "Thank you," she whispered. She had never doubted Crais' feelings, but to see his grief, his pain…it tore a deep hole in her heart. Morgan wiped her eyes, standing up. She turned and stopped, staring at Crais who stood silently in the room.
"What did he show you?" he asked softly. Talyn chirped nervously and Crais smiled, looking away briefly. "No Talyn. You are not in trouble."
Morgan wiped her nose with the back of her hand as Crais approached her. "He…um…showed me what happened after you escaped the base," she whispered. "Oh, god, Bialar. I'm so sorry. Why didn't you…I…"
Crais laid his fingers on her lips. "That is how much you mean to me, Morgan. I…find that I lack the…capability of expressing those feelings and it frustrates me."
Morgan gazed up at him, her eyes red. She didn't know what to say. She had watched him change in the time she had been there. The Peacekeeper he had once been was gone unless it was absolutely needed, a more refined man in its place. She licked her lips. "You express them fine, Bialar," she responded, moving into his arms.
Crais shook his head. "No, Morgan, I do not. And I do not tell you how much I love you enough," he answered. His lips met hers as he pulled her closer, drawing her to the deck with him as he sank to his knees, pulling her into his arms tightly, wrapping her legs around his waist as his tongue danced with hers, her body fitted perfectly to his. "I can not bear the thought of losing you," he whispered, simply holding her, his face buried in the crook of her neck, breathing in her soft scent. "Especially not now."
Morgan leaned back, tucking her finger under his chin and making him look up at her. "Crais, what is going on?" she asked quietly, her stomach in knots.
His brown eyes met hers and he released her for a moment, waiting until she settled on the deck next to him. He pulled a small holo- projector from the pocket of his pants, running his thumb along the side, waiting as it flared to life. A small medical model appeared, slowly turning. "Sulan and Dr. Lias discovered this. I was waiting for you to tell me."
Morgan watched the little projection turn before her. "Tell you what?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.
"Crichton and I put the medical information Dr. Lias gathered on you together. This representation is of you." He waited, placing the holo- projector on the deck.
"And?" Morgan said. "Bialar what are you talking about?"
It dawned on Crais that Morgan did not know. "They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?" she asked exasperated, throwing her hands up in frustration.
Crais stroked his goatee, watching the image turn before looking back at his wife. "Morgan, you are pregnant."
Morgan stared at him. "Bialar, what sort of sick, twisted joke is this?" she whispered angrily.
Crais pulled one knee up and rubbed his eyes, leaning his elbow on his leg. "Crichton said you wouldn't believe it."
Morgan stood up and moved towards the viewport. "I can't have kids Crais. End of sentence. Not possible."
Crais stood up, grabbing the projector and changing the image. He marched over to her, grabbing her arm and turning her around, thrusting the device in her face. "Look at this," he hissed. "And don't tell me you cannot read Sebacean for I know better."
"Crais," she started.
"READ IT!"
Morgan read the information on the small image, her face going pale. She looked away, the fear and elation of being pregnant warring within her. "How?" she finally managed to choke out.
Crais pocketed the projector, a smug smile pulling at his lips. "I would have thought you knew how," he teased softly.
Morgan punched his shoulder. "I know how, I…oh never mind," she finally whispered. A tear slipped down her cheek and she turned away, wrapping her arms around her.
Crais stepped up behind her, wrapping his own arms around her, clasping her hands in his. "I would have thought you would be happy," he whispered, tilting his head to peer down at her.
"I am, but…" She shook her head, smiling sadly. "The timing is not exactly the best, is it?"
Crais kissed her head gently. "Morgan, there is nothing we can do about this."
She turned in his arms, gazing up at him. "No, but I don't want to raise our child alone, either."
Crais' eyebrows drew down and he turned her completely around to face him. "What…are you saying?"
Morgan sighed, looking away. "You're the leader of the resistance now, Bialar. What if something…"
Crais took her chin in his hand, his eyes narrowing slightly as he made her look at him. "Then you will be taken care of. And you know how to return to Earth if you so choose."
"No. I'm never going back to Earth." Morgan moved away from him, her emotions battling for position. "Promise me something," she whispered.
"Anything Morgan."
She looked at him, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Promise me that we will raise this child with love and patience and…" She swallowed past the lump in her throat, her blue eyes pleading with him. "…and that no one will take our child away from us."
Crais nodded, cupping her face in his hands, wiping her tears away with his thumbs. He stepped back from her, reaching under his shirt to pull loose the chain with her wedding band and Celtic knot. Carefully, Crais removed the ring from the chain and slipped it on Morgan's finger. "I promise."
Crichton found Morgan standing at the system's console the next afternoon, her head tilted as she listened to Talyn. He gazed at her, trying to see any telltale signs of her condition. Crichton crossed his arms as he leaned in the bridge's doorway. "Hey cous," he said softly.
Morgan turned and looked at him, smiling. "Hey." She walked over to him and hugged him. "Thank you."
Crichton looked down at her. "For what?"
"Coming after us."
Crichton snorted softly. "As if I wouldn't."
Morgan ran her fingers through her hair, chuckling. "For talking some sense into Crais."
"He tell you?"
"No." She tapped the transponder at the back of her neck. "Talyn did. Surprisingly enough, Talyn actually gave you credit."
Crichton's eyes grew round. "Wow. And here I thought he hated me."
Morgan returned to the console. "He does." She peered over her shoulder and saw the crestfallen look on Crichton's face. "I'm just teasing John."
"You're bad." He walked over to stand next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
Morgan nodded, her hands tapping the console as she ran through a system's test. "Alright as long as eat something whenever I get queasy. At least I know why now." She stopped, looking up at her cousin. "Who would have thought…"
"Yeah. I know," he interrupted.
Morgan swallowed, finding that she was having a problem talking with Crichton. "John, could you do me a favor?" she asked blushing.
"Name it Morgan."
Morgan licked her lips and gazed at him. "Could you please convince Crais that I'm not a china doll and I can still perform my duties on this ship?"
Crichton laughed. "I'll see what I can do."
Copyright 2002 Beth A. Carpenter