On Moya D'Argo opened the grate on Ashan's cell.

"Talyn assured Moya that the young woman you seek is aboard and well."

Despite the hateful things Ashan had hurled at D'Argo, D'Argo held no animosity for him. Ashan sagged against the wall at the relief he felt. It took him a moment to trust himself to speak.

"Thank you, Luxan. She is my life. I fear I was not myself."

"I do understand."

Ashan looked at D'Argo. "I believe you do Luxan. You bear the scars."

D'Argo knew that he did not mean the various battle injuries, viewable through parts of his uniform.

Ashan seemed unconvinced of Moya's assurances.

"Why do still seem concerned? She is safe." D'Argo asked.

"I can't sense her. Perhaps it was the teleportation. This is a very new skill for her and it does take a great deal out of her. But I should still be able to sense her."

"What else could sever that link?"

"Very little. Her death, an emotional burn like the teleport. and if she no longer wanted me to be able to feel her." Ashan responded, the conviction in his voice obviously rejecting the last option. D' Argo's thoughts drifted back to Chiana's dream. Crais had been recreating with someone other than Rainne. Was it this woman? That would explain the loss of the link. But even Crais wouldn't set aside Rainne in the space of a few solar days? D'Argo wisely chose to hold his thoughts to himself.



In command, Pilot has opened a view channel to Talyn. Talyn trained his internal camera on K'Tahli.

"Ashan!" she nearly fell so great was her relief.

"I feared the worst, I could not feel you! Ranjaa has been killed, so I did not have the link to the twins." Tears of relief and joy streamed down her face. Crais stepped forward to support her. The camera showed only his arms, as it was trained on K'Tahli.

"C'thha." Husky with emotion, Ashan's voice was nearly identical to Crais'. Rainne stared at the view screen in disbelief.

"I thought you were dead. What happened to the link?" He asked her.

"When the pulse weapon released toward Ranjaa, the pilot and I were linked. Pilot was able to push my abilities beyond their usual realm and I teleported to Talyn." The memory caused her to sway a bit, and Crais tightened his hold. K'Tahli unconsciously reached up to hold onto Crais' hand atop her shoulder. The movement was not lost on Ashan.

"I will heal our fractured bond. I await your arrival here on Moya." Ashan's eyes were bright with unshed tears as well.

K'Tahli looked around at the faces beyond her dear Ashan. She would rather not have this conversation so publicly, but Rainne had explained how Ashan reacted, vowing to kill Talyn. She understood their distrust. But if she went to Moya now, Ashan would prevent her from returning to Talyn.

"Come to Talyn, come to me. I wish for you to meet my new found friends."

"That girl's got to get a little choosy about who she makes friends with." Crichton said.

"I am grateful for their care of you, but I want you off that gunship."

"Careful buddy, you are standing in that gunship's mamma." Crichton reminded him.

"I apologize. Perhaps it is his captain I do not like."

"Join the club." D'Argo and John muttered at almost the exact same time.

"You do not even know him!" K'Tahli countered. "Please, Ashan, please come to Talyn."

She was hiding something. Ashan had loved her from the cradle and knew her well. She was never adept at concealment and was trying to hide something now. His concern escalated to the beginnings of real fear. What hold did this man have on her? Most of Moya's crew had an uneasy relationship at best with this former Peacekeeper.

"Return her to me at once." Ashan demanded to the unseen captain.

Crais stepped into view and Talyn widened the camera angle.

"You are not in a position to demand anything. She has requested not to leave."

"You have brainwashed her!"

"I will not stand for your baseless accusations." Crais growled. "You are a madman!"

John snorted. "Well isn't that the Peacekeeper calling the kettle black!" He could not help himself, he had to laugh.

Crais had instructed Talyn to sever the connection. K'Tahli whimpered when the image blinked out. She turned and held on to Crais. She buried her face and cried into his shoulder. He stood, stiffly, hands down at his sides. Rainne stepped up to the pair and shushed K'Tahli like a child.

Through her link to Talyn, Rainne spoke softly, directly to Crais.

"She needs you, hold onto her."

Crais scowled, confused. "You take her." He countered, but he brought his arms up to comfort the shaking girl.

To the disconcertment of them both, K'Tahli answered.

"I can hear you, both of you. I can feel the ship too, but not hear him. I am sorry I listened, but I did not know not to." She looked up at Crais. "She is right. I need you." K'Tahli indicated to Rainne, "You too. But I need Ashan to come here. He may seem mad to you" she nodded to Crais, "But he is angry, hurt, confused. He knows I am hiding something from him."

"Hiding?" Crais asked.

Rainne and K'Tahli both looked down. Rainne touched his arm, her expression promised him to explain it more fully later.

"If I go now, he may never let me return. That is not something I could bear."

Crais set her back from him.

"If this is of such importance to you, we will find a way. I am hesitant to release you to his care until I know more." The simple admission told K'Tahli all she needed to know. It was as close to acceptance of the bond of kinship that he would voice aloud. Rainne saw it too, and smiled.

"If you would please go back to your quarters and rest for an arn. I need to speak with Rainne." Crais paused, "ALONE." He emphasized. K'Tahli blushed a bit at her breach of telepathic etiquette earlier and agreed.



When she had left, Rainne turned and held Crais.

"You will tell me." It was not a question.

"Yes, Bialar, soon." She tucked a stray wisp of his hair neatly back into place. " It has been a long day for everyone, and will get longer."

Crais raised his brows to question what she meant by her last comment. Rainne was not volunteering any more information at that time.

"I will go to Moya."

Rainne's suggestion took Crais back.

"I can find out more talking to the crew and to Moya, without the view screen. Perhaps I can convince this Ashan that it would be best for him to come here."

He still did not look convinced. "What of D'Argo?"

Crais held his anger in check when he saw her flinch just at his name.

"I can handle it. I need to do this." She replied, speaking to herself as much as to Crais.

"Why? What is it about her that affects you so?" he asked, perhaps hoping her answer would tell him why he trusted the dark haired woman as well.

"I don't think I can explain it. She would do it for me. She pulled you from the cluster when I couldn't get to you."

"I will arrange it." He pulled her by the hand toward their quarters.

"This is not the way to command!" Rainne protested

"I know." He growled, and captured her lips in a possessive kiss. "But we have an arn to kill." The emerald in her eyes deepened as she returned his kiss.

"Yes." Was all she had the time to respond.