Part 6

Scorpius arrived in the med bay shortly after Crais. Scorpius began his examination. He considered carefully before administering any drugs to Aeryn. The drug he administered almost immediately stopped her twitching. Scorpius looked at Crais, "What happened to her?"

"We were having a discussion. When she left she made it around the bend and I heard her collapse. I found her unconscious, twitching on the deck. What's wrong with her?"

Scorpius could see the concern in Crais' face. "You were just having a simple discussion with her?" he asked probing for a more complete explanation.

Crais' eyes met Scorpius'. The Sebacean knew he could not lie, and it would do Aeryn no good to hide the truth. "We were arguing." He hoped that was good enough for the half-breed. He didn't want to discuss his personal life with this abomination.

Scorpius gave Crais and icy look, "As I'm sure she has told you, she is having a difficult pregnancy. She should not be placed under any undue stress."

"And?"

"You should leave and reduce the amount of stress she is under," Scorpius stated matter-of-factly.

"I will not leave her and my child."

"Crais, I believe she has made it clear that she does not want you around. She has done quite well without you."

Crais was adamant in his desire to not abandon them. "We are having a misunderstanding. Once I can clear that up, I am confident she will change her mind."

Scorpius leaned closer, "I will not have you upsetting her further. Additional stress could endanger both her and the child." Crais stared at Scorpius, trying to decide if the half-breed was telling the truth. Scorpius continued, "If you care so much about the child, I think it would be best if you were not here when she regains consciousness. It is entirely possible that the sight of you could send her into another fit." Crais and Scorpius stared eye-to-eye for a few microts before Crais stormed off.

Crais could hear Talyn's questions as he walked Moya's passages. Talyn was very concerned about Aeryn. He did not understand her strange behavior. Crais wished he could help Talyn understand Aeryn's behavior, but he himself did not understand it. He thought perhaps he could turn to those that had been around her in his absence for help. Crais knew that Aeryn had distanced herself from Crichton. It was unlikely he could provide Crais with the needed information. Besides Crichton still saw him as a rival for Aeryn's affections. D'Argo barely tolerated him and would be unlikely to be sympathetic. He was still sure that the Luxan wished him dead. Crais was not comfortable around Chiana, her sensuousness always put him off-balance. Rygel, while no longer as self-serving as he once was, was still not a candidate for this type of conversation. He was almost as big a gossip as Chiana. Sikozu he trusted about as much as he trusted Scorpius. He knew the two of them were close. That left Pilot. Crais knew Aeryn had a close relationship with Pilot and found himself heading for Pilot's den.

Pilot looked up when Crais entered. Pilot could not find it in his heart to be cruel to his former torturer. "Captain Crais, how is Aeryn?"

"Unknown. Scorpius is still treating her." There were several microts of silence before Crais continued, "Pilot, I have come to speak with you about Aeryn. I know that the two of you have a special.friendship. I am concerned about her behavior. She does not seem to be herself."

"Moya and I have noticed that as well. Unfortunately neither one of us has any experience with Sebacean pregnancy. All we have is Scorpius' assurances that her emotional imbalance is a normal part of the process. We had hoped that your arrival would help calm her, but it seems to have had the opposite effect."

Crais began pacing, hands behind his back, "I believe Visha may be partially responsible for that. She seems interested in claiming me for her own. This has provoked jealousy in Aeryn."

Pilot had to have more information, "Is.what she said to Aeryn true?"

"No." He sighed, "It's not that I did not think about it. Had our paths crossed under different circumstances I probably would have. I have too much respect for Aeryn to have done that. Unfortunately I cannot get her to listen to me. I.was hoping you could help," he looked Pilot in the eyes, his anguish clearly visible.

Pilot raised an eyebrow at this, "How exactly do you want me to help?" He had never thought the day would come when Crais would ask him for help.

"She will not listen to me. I cannot explain anything to her. She has thrown up walls to keep me out. I was hoping she might listen to you. I would never do anything to harm her or our child. My only wish right now is to take her somewhere that she will be safe. With both the Scarrens and the Peacekeepers searching for Moya, this is not the safest place for her to be. Given the difficulties she is having with her pregnancy I believe it would be best for her to be somewhere with a true medical facility."

He and Moya loved Aeryn, but they both knew Crais spoke the truth. Aeryn needed to be under the care of a doctor. Pilot would normally not have done anything to help Crais, but this would also help Aeryn. "I will speak with her, but the mention of your name seems to upset her."

"A fact I am well aware of. I do not want to leave her or our child. As I'm sure you are aware, Talyn would like her to visit. I'm hoping you can convince her to go over to him. Perhaps once she is onboard Talyn she can be convinced to see the truth and change her mind."

Worry crossed Pilot's face, "You aren't planning on leaving once she's onboard, are you?"

"No, Pilot. That would do nothing to heal the rift between us. If she leaves with me I want it to be because she has chosen to do so."

Pilot was relieved to hear this. He and Moya were also concerned about Aeryn. He found it strange that he was willingly helping his former captor. "I will do my best, Captain Crais. We do not want to see any harm come to her or the baby. Moya wishes she could stay here, but understands that it is best for her and the baby to leave with you and Talyn."

He smiled gently. "Thank you, Pilot," he said and then turned and left. Pilot was left thinking that Aeryn was not the only one acting unusual.

Crais was wandering Moya's passageways. He had little to do and needed something to occupy his time. Unfortunately he ran into Crichton. He tried to turn the other way before the human saw him. He was not fast enough, "Hey, Crais, gotta minute?"

Sadly Crais did. "What do you want Cricthon?"

"I heard that Aeryn's sick again. Is she all right?"

Crais was surprised to hear concern in Crichton's voice, "Scorpius has not yet informed me. He was treating her when I left."

"Is she going to lose the baby?"

"Why? So you can have her back once she is free of my taint?" he asked sharply.

"That was low. I don't want to see her hurt. Losing that baby would hurt her more than she already is. Believe it or not I still care about her."

"You have a strange way of showing it."

"Hey! I'm not the one who's been lied to, cheated on, or left. Don't you think I know she wouldn't have come back if she hadn't come down with the heat delirium? I'm not some sap who will just take her back because she came crawling back to me. If I'm going to be with her, we are going to have the type of relationship built on trust. I'm not some Peacekeeper who just wants someone to recreate with."

Crais chose to ignore the last comment, "Crichton, Aeryn did not 'cheat on you.' Unlike you, I can respect that she cannot discuss what happened while she was away from Moya. I do not find it at all unusual that there are some aspects of her life she will not discuss."

"Yeah, you Peacekeepers are all the same. Can't have any emotions. Hide away the parts of your life that don't suit you. I bet you have a lot of skeletons in your closet."

"Crichton, I do not have time to argue with you," Crais growled and started walking away.

"Yeah, with Aeryn temporarily out of the way you can go pay a visit to your other girl, Visha. You're a real Hugh Hefner. Girl in every port."

Crais assumed the second comment was some obscure Earth phrase and ignored it, focusing instead on the first. He turned swiftly and glowered at Crichton, "What did you say?"

Crichton moved to stand toe-to-toe, "You heard me. I know she's sweet on you."

"My personal life is none of your concern."

"The voice of a guilty conscience," Crichton chided. Crais could feel himself about to lose control. He would not let this human get under his skin again. "That's right, Crais, just walk away. Don't know how to be a real man."

Crais had to respond. He turned on Crichton, stopping mere denches from his face, pointing his finger at Crichton, "Know this Crichton, I am a far better man than you. I am trying to live up to my obligations to *my* child. You of all people should respect that."

Crichton watched Crais walk away. He knew not to push the Sebacean any further. Crais was on the edge and he had learned that pushing Crais over the edge was not a good idea. Crichton suspected that Crais' failure to deny his relationship with Visha meant that something existed between the two of them.

Crais went to his quarters to await word on Aeryn. He had gone back by med bay, but Scorpius refused to let him enter. Crais thought that if Scorpius had his way, Crais would never see Aeryn again. Fortunately, Scorpius did not rule Moya. He was rubbing the bridge of his nose when he entered his quarters. He was going to get some rest and wait for another opportunity to see Aeryn. He began taking his jacket off when he heard a voice come from his bed. "A strip show. I like that," Visha purred.

Crais spun and quickly refastened his jacket, "What are you doing in my quarters?"

She was wearing a clingy black nightgown that left nothing to the imagination. She crawled to the edge of Crais' bed. "I think it's obvious what I'm doing here. We both know why I'm here. We both want it." She stood and walked toward him seductively. "I can feel the energy, the desire." She had him backed to the wall and began trailing her finger along his chest, unfastening his jacket. "You find me attractive and you want me."

"Visha, no," he began.

She placed a finger on his lips, "You don't find me attractive? Desirable?"

"It's not that. I have obligations."

"Obligations to Aeryn?"

"Yes. She carries my child. I have vowed I will take care of the two of them." Crais was extremely uncomfortable. He found Visha very attractive and normally would not have hesitated to recreate with her, but with Aeryn in the fragile state she was in, he knew he could not.

"But you don't love her. At least not that way," Visha stated.

"My feelings are not your concern." Crais had to extract himself from this situation. He didn't know how much longer he could hold out against her. She was very seductive. Her need matched his own.

She now had her hands inside his jacket. "I could make you very happy. Help you wash away all the tension."

Aeryn regained consciousness and asked weakly, "Where am I?"

Scorpius came into view, "You passed out after an argument with Crais. He brought you here for treatment."

"Where is he?"

"I believe he is in his quarters.with Visha." Scorpius had been spying on Crais again. Actually he had Sikozu to thank for this tidbit of information. She was really quite resourceful.

"He lied to me," Aeryn said despondently.

"We both know that Crais' first loyalty is to himself. It should come as no surprise that he has put his needs ahead of yours." Scorpius continued sowing the seeds of doubt in Aeryn's mind. "I am the only one here you can trust. I am the only one who hasn't betrayed you."