Ashan was pale. He had claimed to be tired earlier, but this seemed to be more than tired. "Hey, are you ok? Crais packs a wallop if he catches you off guard, eh? Been there, done that."

Ashan coughed, wiped the back of his hand across his mouth. He looked at his hand and saw the blood. Trying to hide it from John, he quickly wiped it off on a rag.

"I am fine. Tired." He coughed again, this time the blood hit the floor.

"You are not fine. I have seen this before. Calling this fine is like calling Pamela Anderson "Cute." No way Jose. Sit down."

Crichton sat him on the sectional.

"Pilot!"

"Good to hear your charming summons, Crichton. How are you feeling?"

"Forget me; get Aeryn and K'Tahli down here ASAP."

"ASAP?" Pilot asked

"NOW DAMMIT, STAT, ASAP, ON THE DOUBLE! Whatever passes for get off your frelling eema in this side of the universe!"

"As you wish Crichton. Glad to see you are feeling like your old self again."



"You knew." Crichton went back to Ashan. "Are all of you Sebaceans this eager to buy the farm?"

"I knew a few arns ago. I am not eager to die," John's bizarre phrasing could not mask his intended meaning, "but if you recognize the symptoms, you know the only cure. We just narrowly escaped Peacekeeper occupation. We are not up to another battle or a search to find a compatible Sebacean. I tested Aeryn, she's not a match."

"Pardon me for stating the obvious but how about Crais? He's got to be a match!"

"The chances of him being a match are excellent because we are brothers. But he won't accept the relationship. You saw him in here."

"Yeah, but you were making googly eyes with his lady friend. I might have decked you too."

"He knows my relationship with Rainne is not impure. No, it is me he is angry about. Testing for graft donorship would be irrefutable proof. He's too much a scientist to maintain denial then. If I rob him of his denial, he will be forced to face our relationship. I suspect you don't want to force him into anything."

"But if you don't even ask him, in less than 2 solar days you rob him of his only living brother."



Aeryn made it into the room before K'Tahli, she had been nearby working with the DRD's on inspecting the hull shielding following the battle.

"John? What's wrong? Pilot said you were concerned."

"I am fine. Aeryn, that nerve thing? Ashan's seems damaged."

She glanced over at Ashan who was pale and wan, but looked fine otherwise.

"What makes Crichton think you have damaged your paraphoral nerve?"



It was mid-sentence that K'Tahli came in. She rushed over to Ashan who was still sitting on the sectional.

"Ashan? Is it true? The nerve was hit when you fell, wasn't it?"

"I wasn't sure," he began, smoothing a stray black strand from her face. "But a few arns ago I began coughing some blood. It is early yet."

"When were you going to tell me?" the quaver in her voice showed that her anger was born of fear. Fear of losing him.

"Right after I checked in on Crichton. I would never hide anything this important from you." He had his hand on her face still, she leaned her cheek on his hand.

"We have to get to Talyn." K'Tahli stood up.

"Why?" John and Aeryn both asked

"Crais would be a match." K'Tahli explained.

"I will not allow it." Ashan spoke with an obstinate finality.

"Why would Crais be a match? " Aeryn asked.

John looked at Ashan as if asking permission to tell her.

"Come on," John draped his arm around Aeryn shoulders, "I have a great yarn to tell you. Let's leave these two to chat."



The silence in the chamber reverberated with temper. Two strong wills faced off like fighters.

"K'Tahli, he has already made his position clear. Fighting him on this issue will only cause us both continued pain."

"Your death would cause me pain!" She shot back at him.

"We need to seek another donor."

"Why? He is right here, the procedure is painless.please ask him!"

Ashan grabbed both of her hands in his to still her angry pacing. "K'Tahli. Normally I am powerless to deny you anything. I can give you anything but that."

"Can you give me the life of my husband?" she asked quietly.

He gathered her close and held her. She was torn between wanting the comfort and holding on to her anger. He rested his face on her hair, closed his eyes. The lights had reflected an acid green off her hair, indicating the deep sadness.

"Ashan," she pulled back to look at the deep, expressive eyes she had loved forever, "I don't understand. But I don't want to fight. Please reconsider." When he began to voice another vehement denial, she put her hand to his lips. "No. I can't bear to hear you sign your own death away for foolish male pride. Don't ask me to stay here and watch you die."

Tears threatened both of them, and the stalemate lasted an eternal moment before K'Tahli fled the room in tears.