Disclaimed: I don't own it (big surprise)!

                        AN: Okay, here's some Alyson/Jim action thrown in for ya, but it isn't as much as I originally planned… after musing about it, I decided to drag the love/hate thing out a little more. Sorry addy/angie, but from the way I'm writing Jim and Alyson are going to be mean to each other for quite a while still. But they will eventually start liking each other promise!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Four- On Board 'Fate'

                        The first week everything went fine for Alyson and Jim. If you didn't count their constant arguments.

            Alyson couldn't remember fighting with any one as much as she did with Jim. The man was a menace! He was constantly pointing out her faults and getting her flustered and embarrassed. She still hadn't forgiven him for making BEN a baby-sitter for her. But something good did come out of that.

            BEN had become a good friend to Alyson after only a few days of being around him. And it was hard not to. BEN was just so kind and clumsy. He was funny and extreme. That and he knew a lot about Ancient Ruins and Cultures. Alyson and BEN could spend hours and hours talking about a dead race or planet.

            But what really bugged her was that Jim was so annoying that she found herself observing over him. She wanted to make his life as miserable as he was making hers. Honestly, the man seemed to live for the sake of annoying her. Even worse, was that Alyson hated Jim so much that she found herself staring at him when nobody was looking. How obsessive was that? She hated the captain so much she stared at him for no reason, without blinking.

            And it had to be that. What other reason could there be for Alyson staring at Jim. There was only one other reason and Alyson wouldn't even think about that. It was impossible for Alyson to like Jim. She loathed him.

            Exactly one week after Alyson had boarded the Fate; Alyson found herself climbing the ladder to where Jim sat.

            She walked up to him, hands on hips and glaring. Jim growled, but did not look up from his work.

            Alyson had come to understand that everything Jim did bothered her. She couldn't be around him more for a few minutes before she got angry and had to start yelling at him.

            Jim forced his eyes to remain on the paper. He knew the minute he looked up at Alyson, he would be taken over by rage. He didn't know why, but every time he was around her he was uncomfortable. He told himself it was because Alyson was so damn annoying. All she had done this week was nag. Nag, nag, nag. She nagged about the ship, her bedroom, his crew, and even him. It was grating on his last nerves and he hated it. He was but three seconds away from throwing her overboard the ship.

            He refused to believe that it was because Alyson's eyes were so burning. He refused to believe he was attracted to her. He didn't even like her.

            But if he didn't like her, nagged a little voice in Jim's head that sounded suspiciously like Alyson, then why did his whole body get hot and flustered when he was around her?

            Because, Jim tried to reason with himself, she's so damn annoying and nagging, just like the voice in his head.

            He heard Alyson sigh with impatience and then say, "Are you just going to keep your back turned from me and not look up at me?"

            Jim replied curtly, "Of course. I've certainly seen enough of you already, must we make it more?"

            But even as he said it, Jim wanted to turn around and look up at Alyson. Because he knew her enough to know that now her full lips would be in a pout of anger. And no matter how much he wanted to, he had to say that that was sexy. It was just too bad that pretty face, body and pout didn't have a personality to go with it or he could've been falling head-over-heels.

            However, Alyson Christopher, even with her pretty features, was the last person Jim would fall in love with.

            Alyson gave another sighed and said, "I wouldn't bother you half as much if you would just include me." She pointed out, "And you know, I think with my help this ship could actually be presentable, and as for your crew…"

            Jim tuned Alyson out and pressed two fingers against his temples. From beneath his table, Morph appeared in front of him. Morph had figured out that Jim hated Alyson and seemed to try to do everything in his power to keep Jim from attacking Alyson.

            This time, Morph became a 10 then a 9, signaling to Jim to take deep breaths and count backwards.

            Jim did as Morph told him to, because he feared he was really going to throw Alyson overboard and the Academy would have his head.

            Deep breath, 10

            But Alyson keep on chatting about how bad a captain Jim was

            Deep breath, 9

            Didn't Alyson realize how annoyed she was making him?

            Deep breath, 8

            Jim realized Alyson had a very husky, sexy voice. It was nice to listen to.

            Deep breath, 7

            But Alyson was just going on and on. Now her voice was just plain annoying.

            Deep breath, 6

            "And you know, you could just give me something to do. I would think you would've thought of something for me to do, but apparently your brain-capacity doesn't allow you to think ahead." Alyson was saying because Jim was no longer able to tune her out.

            Deep breath, 5...

            Doesn't she ever shut up, Jim thought. Just keep counting… counting… dear God, that woman is going to be the death of me.

            Deep breath, SCREW IT!

            No longer able to keep his anger under control, Jim lunged to his feet, sending Morph flying backwards. He whirled around to face Alyson, who for the first time looked afraid. But then anger came back into her eyes as she stood inches away from him, hands clenched into fists at her sides.

            Jim had the urge to place his arms on Alyson's shoulders and shake her hard, but instead he said, "You want something to do?" His voice was low, dangerously so.

            Alyson looked uncertain for a moment, but then her shoulders stiffened, "So glad you noticed." She said sarcastically.

            You don't hit women, you don't hit women, Jim told himself. Even though Alyson and her holier-then-thou attitude needed a good throttle, he was not the one meant to do it. He didn't hit women.

            To bad, though… Jim was pleased with the thought of throwing Alyson over his knee and giving her a good, well-deserved throttle. But the twisting of his gut told him he wasn't pleased with the throttling idea. It was something else.

            Ignoring that nagging voice, Jim hissed, "Can you sew?"

            Alyson blinked in surprise, "Excuse me?"

            Jim almost rolled his eyes. So he only got manners when this damn woman was confused? Wonderful.

            Instead of rolling his eyes again, Jim said, "I said can you sew. You know, sew? S-E-W. Its when you-"

            Alyson glared and interrupted, "I know what sew means, damnit! What has sewing got to do with anything?"

            Jim motioned to the main mast of the Fate, "We have a rip in on of our solar-sails. Some of the energy-thread we've stored will need to be weaved into the sails so that it stays intact. Someone needs to sew it."

            Alyson looked at the very tall mast and her heart started pounding, "Why can't you just bring it down and fix it on the deck?"

            "I was planning to." Jim said with a smirk, "But since you want something to do, I figured you might be welling to climb up the mast and sew it." Jim knew with his next sentence he had her, "Unless you're too afraid."

            Alyson's eyes blazed with anger, "I am not afraid! I'll sew your damn sail! Where's the energy-thread?"

            "Right besides the mast, professor. Have fun." Alyson gave him another heated glare before she turned and strode to the sail, her legs looking wobbly. Jim smiled, "She's afraid."

                        I'm afraid, I'm afraid. Alyson thought as she wrapped the energy-thread around her arm. The thread was gold like and glowing. It was warm against her cold skin. Her whole body felt cold.

            She was aware that the crewmembers of the Fate were circling around her. She could hear there whispers from behind her. They were betting on if she would make it the mast. From their whispers the odds were against her.

            I'll show them, Alyson thought, especially that pig of a captain. At the thought of Jim, Alyson went even colder. I must not fail, she thought, not in front of Captain Hawkins!

            BEN was running up to her side and took her arms. When Alyson turned to look into BEN's robotic blue eyes, they were blank, but Alyson knew that was so because they could not hold emotion. She knew that if they could, they would hold concern.

            "Alyson," BEN said franticly, "don't do this!"

            Alyson wanted to stay and sobbed against BEN. She wanted to forget this whole thing and almost did, but then Jim was walking in front of his crewmembers and looked at her with his dark blue eyes.

            "Have Captain Hawkins ever climbed up the mast before?" Alyson asked, ignoring the arrival of the brooding captain.

            BEN blinked a few times before say, "Who? Oh, yeah, Jim's done that hundreds of times."

            "Then it should be no problem for me to do this." Alyson said calmly, when in fact her whole body was drenched in a cold sweat, "Anything Captain Hawkins can do I can to better."

            With that Alyson turned to the mast and placed her hand on the first step in the mast. The steps were just metal hooks sticking out of the wooden mast. They were all in a row and went all the way to crow's nest. From there, Alyson would have to shimmy out on one of the wooden poles extending from the crow's nest to reach the solar-sail that had the rip in it.

            Cursing her stupidity, Alyson began to climb. Below her she heard BEN say angrily, "Look what you did now, Jim!" Then he called up to Alyson, "Alyson, please come down! You're afraid of heights!"

            Thanks for reminding me, Alyson though with a growl. She told herself not to look down and concentrated on grabbing one step after another. The outer space wind rustled the strands that were loose from her bun. Her body was pushed against the mast as she forced her hands and feet to move.

            Then when the crow's nest was about two feet above her, Alyson couldn't control herself anymore and she looked down. A scream escaped her lips as she did so. It was so far down! All the crewmembers, BEN, and Jim looked like little specks. If she fell now she would surely die!

            Panic over took Alyson and she pressed herself against the mast and squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't get herself to move, her arms and legs would no longer obey her. All she wanted to do was stay perfectly still and cling to the mast.

            Just keep on moving, Alyson told herself, and you'll be at the crow's nest. Jim's watching you, don't fail.

            But even the thought of Jim watching her couldn't get her to move. In fact, she wanted desperately for Jim to be here with her. She wanted to feel safe and for some reason she thought having Jim around would make her feel safe.

            That's stupid, Alyson thought, Jim will just laugh at you. He should too! You've made it this far, you can make it the rest.

            Gulping, Alyson forced herself to grip the next notch and pushed herself up. Her body was shaking to bad to move properly and as she went to place her foot on the next notch, she slipped.

            A scream escaped Alyson as her feet slipped from their notches. Suddenly, she was dangling from the mast with only her hands keeping her to falling to her doom. She forced herself to regain her footing and cling to the mast, but she would not move. She wanted down now!

            I'm going to die! Alyson thought franticly, her fingers numb was clutching the mast, I'm going to die all because of my stupid pride!

            "Alyson!" Called a voice bellow that sounded like BEN, "Alyson you've got to keep moving! You've only a got a little ways to go!"

            Alyson shook her head, though she knew that the people bellow couldn't see her, and said with a shaky voice, "I… I can't! I'll fa… fall!"

            She didn't know if BEN had heard her, but she didn't hear his voice again. Tears streamed down her face and she pushed herself more tightly against the mast. She didn't know how she was going to get down, but she knew she wasn't moving from her spot.

            She didn't know how long she clung to the mast, though she suspected it was close to an half an hour. All she was aware of was the rocking of the Fate and that if it rocked anymore forcefully, she would be sent tumbling downwards. Her fingers were so numb from clutching the notch so tightly that Alyson saw they had turned blue. She wouldn't be able to cling forever.

            Suddenly, she felt a body on top of her and Alyson let out a scream, but still keep her death-grip on the notch.

            She weakly turned her neck and looked into Jim's blue eyes. Instead of feeling embarrassment, relief filled her. She wanted cling to him instead of the wooden mast and the only thing that kept her from doing so was the fact that her fingers seemed to be frozen to the notch.

            Jim's feet were planted on the notch besides her feet and his hands were on the notch above her hands. For the first time, Alyson noticed that Jim had big hands, strong hands. And that he was very tall and his lean body, which was pressed against her own body, was very strong.

            "Let's get to the crow's nest." Jim said, his voice soft and soothing. But even his thick voice couldn't make Alyson forget her bone-chilling fear, but it almost did.

            "I ca… can't. I'll… I'll fa… fall." Alyson cried weakly, choking on her own tears.

            "Yes, you can." Jim said forcefully, "You've got only a few more feet to go. You can make and I'll be with you all the way."

            Alyson nodded silently and removed her hand from the notch. Her skin made a pealing sound as she did so for it must have stuck against the metal. Very slowly, Alyson made her way up the mast with Jim right on top of her.

            Finally, they reached the crow's nest and Alyson panicked again because she'd have to removed both of her hands from the notches, grasp the wood of the nest, and then boost herself up into the wooden, circular crow's nest.

            But just as she was about to start sobbing again, Jim gripped the cloths around her thigh with one hand and gave her a push. With strength Alyson didn't know Jim had, he pushed her into the crow's nest.

            Alyson's stomach slide against the wood crow's nest. She managed to move slightly so as to give Jim room to come in as well. But automatically, she found herself wrapping her arms around the mast that went through the crow's nest. She squeezed her eyes shut tight and forced herself not to cry with joy at being off of the mast.

            She then felt Jim's strong hands remove hers from the mast and Jim forced Alyson's back against the wall but Alyson did not open her eyes. It was not because she was embarrassment, but it was because she was afraid that when she opened her eyes she would see the deck of the Fate so far below her.

            But then Jim's hands were cupping her face and he was saying, "Alyson, you were wonderful. You were great."
            Alyson did open her eyes and then looked into Jim's dark blue eyes. She let out a sob and threw herself against him. Jim caught her and held her, rocking her. Alyson sobbed against his chest.

            "I thought I was going to die, Jim!" Since when did she call Captain Hawkins 'Jim'? Maybe it had to do with the whole life saving thing, "I was so afraid and I was so high up! I thought I would fall and I thought I would die!"

            Jim held Alyson as she cried, finally allowing all of her terror to come out. Jim was surprised to find that he was not uncomfortable with holding Alyson. In fact, it felt good to hold her soft body against his, but he did feel guilty. Alyson wouldn't be so scared right now if he hadn't pushed her to climb this mast. He remembered the terror that overtook him when Alyson had stopped moving, he had known in that instant that something was wrong. And then her body had dangled from the mast and he felt like he was the one dangling from the mast. Without a second thought he had gone to climb to her rescue.

            Alyson pulled away from Jim very slightly, far enough to look into his eyes, but close enough so that she was still in the circle of his arms.

            "I'm afraid of heights." She told him.

            Jim laughed at that, "I would've never known. You were very good for your first time. If you hadn't looked down…"

            Alyson shivered, "Don't remind me."

            Jim nodded and said, "I'm going to fix the sail since I'm up here. You stay here and I'll help you get down."

            He took the energy-thread from Alyson and set down a thick, black rope besides her. Alyson watched as Jim hopped over the side of the crow's nest and onto the poles sticking out from it.

            Any moment now, Alyson thought, I'll feel the embarrassment. Any minute now. But the embarrassment never came. All she felt was relief that Jim had saved her. The embarrassment didn't exist.

            Alyson was not sure how much time passed before Jim jumped back into the crow's nest but when he did come back, he offered her a grin. Then he grabbed the black rope he had left with Alyson and hooked it up into a metal fastener inside the crow's nest. Then he hooked the opposite end to a belt he had around his waist and turned to Alyson, who was looking at him with a blank face.

            "Okay, here's what we're going to do. This is a bungee-cord so, I'm going get out of the crow's nest and then you're going to get on top of me. Then I'm slowly going to lower us to the ground."

            Alyson took one look at the bungee-cord and Jim, "No." She whispered, "I can't! I hate heights!"
            Jim gritted his teeth, "I'm aware of that, but you're just going to have to trust me."

            "What happens if I fall?"

            "I won't let you fall, get it? I'll be there with you the whole time." Jim explained, "Trust me."

            Numbly, Alyson stood and nodded. Jim slid himself over the crow's nest and pressed his feet against the outer wood paneling. He gripped the bungee-cord to keep himself from going down and waited.

            Alyson walked over to the edge of the crow's nest and forced herself to only look at Jim. She hooked her legs over the side of the crow's nest and gently lowered herself onto Jim so that her chest pressed against his. She pressed her head against his shoulder. Jim wrapped his legs around Alyson's thighs and gripped the bungee-cord tighter.

            "I'm going to lower us to the ground." Jim told her, "Hold on tight."

            Alyson gripped Jim's shoulder, but did not remove her head from his shoulder, "Don't worry about that." She mumbled against his cloths.

            Jim smiled and gently started to lower them, making sure Alyson was pinned tightly between his legs.

            After what seemed like forever, Jim and Alyson finally reached the ground. Alyson sighed when her feet touched the wood floor.  Jim pushed her gently away from him and unclasped the bungee-cord from his belt. Then he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

            "Are you alright?" He asked.

            Here comes the embarrassment, Alyson thought, biting her lip. Back to mortal enemies, she thought.

            "I'm fine." Alyson mumbled lowering her head, "So you can just go ahead and laugh now."

            Jim blinked, "Why would I do that?" And then he smirked lightly.

            What was he, playing with her? She could already here the smirk in his voice Alyson thought, anger now replacing her fear and gratitude.

            Alyson glared up at Jim, "Because that's who you are."

            With that, Alyson turned and walked away. Jim's anger was now boiling over. He had just saved that girl's life and this was how she thanked him?

            "That how you thank the person who saved your life?" Jim shot at her.

            Alyson looked at him over her shoulder, once again Miss-Holier-Then-Thou, "Yes, that's how I thank the person who put my life danger after he saves my life. Glad we're on the same page, Captain."

            Then Alyson walked calmly over to her room, but half-way there she BEN and found herself engrossed in a conversation and forgot how much she needed sleep.

            Jim's face turned into a scowl. Damn women, he thought, especially damn that one. I save her life and this is how she thanks me?
            Jim ignored the fact that it was his fault Alyson was up there in the first place and he ignored all the panic he had felt when Alyson had first slipped on her climb. The woman deserved it.

            Jim turned towards the galley, finding himself extremely hungry, thinking about Alyson. Looks like they were back to mortal enemies again. One would think saving someone's life would make the victim and the rescuer close friends, but not him and Alyson. They now seemed to hate each other more.

            As Jim walked into the galley, he glanced over at Alyson and BEN, who seemed to be in a very deep conversation. Jim was ashamed to feel jealousy as he watched Alyson laugh at something BEN was saying.

            Jim gave a startled yelp when something cold pressed itself against his cheek. Jim smiled and cupped his hands. Morph floated gently into them.

            With a sigh, Jim rubbed Morph, "What is about her, Morph? I mean I hate her, yet I hate to see her afraid or hurt. If I hate her, wouldn't I be glad to see her hurt or afraid? What's going on with me?"

            But Morph only smiled and looked over to where Alyson and BEN were located. He laughed and floated away.

            Jim sighed and continued his walk into the galley, "I think there may be more to my feeling for the good professor then I believe."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                        Mawahhha!... *coughs* sorry, had to do that because I can't seem to make Jim and Alyson like each other to much. I mean sure they'll like each other, but their pride will always be in the way! So maybe you're wondering how I'll get those two together? Excuse me while I laugh evilly again… mawahhha!…(okay I'm done) you'll have to read on! Don't forget to review! And stayed tuned for the next chapter (Chapter Five: The Asteroid Field) with a little more Jim/Alyson action. Maybe they'll finally realize they like each other? Nah!

                                    "I love being evil!"

                                                -Lizzy Rebel