Part 8: Lost .
Out of the mouth of babes'.my own son just three cycles asked me so clearly that he wants me to save his mommy.frell I can't even save myself from her.from the flame of love that simply wouldn't die.the truth is I fear that it could've.
John found all of this more then he had expected. Yet his eyes would drift over to Aeryn. She was different; gentler, calmer, softer in ways that enhanced her beauty and gave her a newer inter-strength. Shaking his head.by the goddess he was falling in love with her all over again.He shook his head again. With all that had gone on, and all that had happened. She told Jack about him.
J'ra'na spokesman for the Escaions' Techno community ran a non-stop commentary. John started to get a little bored, and wanted to move on to something else like taking Aeryn to a place for a mid-day.No that will not happen again. He picked the conversation up to keep his mind away from her.
Aeryn knew John was having a hard time keeping his indifference from her. She would catch him stealing glances her way. A smile played around her lips at the look on his face before he turned away from her to demand that J'ra'na explain in more detail about their medical discovery. Aeryn knew that John was just as bored as she was, that he was fighting the attraction he was feeling toward her.
Aeryn became restless, she moved through the displays glancing at one to another wanting to learn more about the species John showed such a fascination for.
One display drew her attention. A rather abnormal stone flashed at her with a strange luminosity. Inquisitively she reached out touching the stone, a flashpoint sparked at her fingertip causing a razor-sharp pain to radiate up her arm. She snatched her fingers back. Glancing down she saw a burnt patch on the tip of her index finger. Unconsciously putting the injured finger in her month, she looked over the lettering on the display box. She was unable to make out the symbols. ???????????? Creevykeel-acid stone). Realizing that the room had grown quiet, she took a fleeting look around to find that John and his hosts had left her behind. Muttering under her breath, she hurried out to find them.
John becomes aware that Aeryn was following at a slower than normal pace. She seemed different, more sluggish. Taking pity on her, he told J'ra'na that he and his companion needed to take a break for refreshments. Apologizing J'ra'na lead them to a place for them to be served. Sitting down at the refreshment table, Aeryn contacted Moya.
John laughed, but kept his eye on Aeryn. She had grown quieter, and he believed she looked paler. "Aeryn, how is Jack doing?"
A smile broke out. "He's fine. Chiana said he keep asking if he was going to get to come down."
"It's pretty safe here. Why not bring him down tomorrow? I'd like to show him some things J'ra'na was talking to me about. What 'a say?"
"All right. I'll tell him when we get back home." She looked down at her food and pushed in away. She wasn't feeling to good, she asked. "Are you hot?"
John watched as she pushed her untouched food away. Concern started to grow within him. On her last question he took a closer look at her. She was pasty white and sweating. The fact was, the temperature had dropped. Reaching out he brushed his fingers along her cheek. She glanced over at him in puzzlement.
"Aeryn, do you feel ok?"
"No, I feel hot and." She broke off, her eyes growing larger. "John.I think I need to go back to Moya to get some rest."
"Are you sure that is all you need. The Escaions has an advanced med.."
Aeryn stood suddenly cutting John off. "No, I just need to get back to Moya now."
His mask of indifference slipped into place. "If you want. I'll get a ride back up later."
He turned away from her asking their guide if Aeryn could get a lift back to the shuttle, as she needed to go back to their ship. Without another word, Aeryn was lead away. A sorrowful look on her face, she glanced back at John, but he kept his back turned to her.
Moya.
Pilot alerted Chiana that Aeryn was coming back aboard without Crichton. Growing angry she hurried through the corridors ready to go planet side and kick Crichton's eema back to Moya without a shuttle.
The door opened but Aeryn hadn't come down the steps. Growing concerned Chiana rushed in, coming to a complete halt. "Aeryn, what in the frell."
Aeryn stood shakily holding onto the console, "I don't feel so well. Help me to my quarters. I'll be fine after some rest."
" What happen down there? Is John all right? Does he know that you are." Chiana rapidly fired one question after another.
"Yes. Please help me, or I'll make it myself." Aeryn snapped.
Tight-lipped Chiana helped Aeryn out of the shuttle toward her quarters. "Where is Jack?"
"In his room asleep. Don't worry Pilot has a dozen DRD's stationed around to make sure he stays put."
Aeryn fell into her bed curling up into a ball. She murmured, "Watch after Jack until John comes back for him, please Chi?"
Pulling the cover over her, Chiana slowly left the room. After looking in Jack's room to see that the child still slept peacefully, she hit her comm.
"John. John, answer me you drenit." She demanded angrily.
"What do you want, Chiana? I'm busy." He replied blandly, trying to insulate himself from her aggravating manner.
"What in the frell did you do to Aeryn?"
"What do you mean -what I did? She wanted to go back to Moya and that's what the hell she did. "
"She's sick or were you so busy you didn't notice." she said with loathing.
John grew quiet on the other end. "Yeah, I noticed but she didn't want to talk about it. Did she tell you what was wrong?"
"No."
"Then it might not be anything. I'll be back in a couple of arns. If she's still not doing well, I'll have one of the Escaions check her out. Will that do for you?" His voice grew distant again. "Look I got to go."
Chiana stared at her comm, picturing in her mind what she was going to do to Crichton when he came back on board Moya. With that evil thought she went back to Aeryn's quarters.
Two Arns Later-On Moya..
. It was late into the day when John gave up the battle. He cursed himself all the way to down the corridor, up a level, telling himself he wanted only to look in on Aeryn, to make certain she was resting.
After the Escaions had delivered him back safely to Moya he asked if they could check out his companion, if she was still ill. They were more then happy to offer their services.
Chiana was standing waiting for him. By the look in her eyes, John knew he was going to catch hell for his appalling behavior and for the life of him he had to agree he deserved it. John asked Chiana if she would take Jack into the center chamber and feed him while he checked on Aeryn.
He stalked to Aeryn's door, determined to set her straight-- on not admitting when something was wrong when asked. She had a child to consider now.
"Aeryn, we need to talk." John announced -only silence greeted him. Growing angrier he snapped out. "Aeryn, damnit."
John opened the door and bushed the privacy curtain aside. Stopping short, the anger drained from him. Aeryn's prone body lay across the floor; face down with one hand stretched toward her bed. Her cover trail off the bed twisting around her ankles. John rushed forward calling her name.
"Aeryn. Oh, baby." He fell to his knees gently turning her on her back. Murmuring to her all the time. "Aeryn, open your eyes. Come on open your eyes."
In a distance she could hear his voice calling out to her. Aeryn tried to answer but it was too hard, she just didn't have the strength to respond. It felt as if her whole body was weighted down. Struggling she manage to opened her eyes to slits then gasped his name as the breath left her lungs.
He started yelling over his comm for Chiana. He untangled the golden cover from her angles, tenderly placing her back onto her bed. Her head rolled listlessly over the pillow, her body shaking violently as he put more covers over her. Aeryn could hear him barking out orders to Chiana but her mind couldn't focus to understand what he was saying. Then he was pulling the covers away from her. Gasping out. "No, pleas.." She fought him weakly. He meant to torment her, she thought. His was always tormenting her with his words and indifference. With the last bust of energy she lashed out at him, her fist connecting with his jaw. Falling back onto the bed with a satisfying grin, when she heard him cry out in pain.
"Aeryn, your clothes are damp let me help you take them off." He tried to reason with her. "You'll be more comfortable."
Understanding, she relaxed her grip letting him near. He removed her clothing, and then pulled the bedcovering back up. As her senses started to recede, she heard more voices, then a coolness on her face.
In her feverish hallucinations voices and faces came back to haunt her. Opening her eyes she saw Chiana standing over and coaxing her. "Aeryn, drink this broth. The child will be born soon, you'll see."
"I want John, Chiana," she said pitifully.
"I know but he's not here. You need to finished this, it'll give you strength."
"I need John," she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.
The vision blurred to transform into John. He was keeping his distance, his beautiful face blank of emotion. "I do love you, Aeryn, once.but now I can't trust you."
He turned away from her. "No, John. Please come back. I love you. Please."
The heat was so intense-death would be preferable to it and this pain of loss-she felt coolness on her face and it worked its way down her body. She wanted to turn into its inviting comfort. Opening her eyes she gazed at Grayza bending over her. "You breed with John Crichton to create a half- breed. Still you leave him. You know no loyalty to anyone. To your Peacekeeper heritage.to the Sebacean race.to him.you are a coward. A traitor!"
Sharp piercing pain shot through her head. "Where is Crichton?" Over and over that hated voice repeatedly asked, microt after microt. She would never give John up to Grayza, so she responded, "I don't know.he's safe from you."
"Keep her alive until the child is born then she is to be eliminate."
"NO!! Leave my child alone!" Aeryn screamed.
Twisting away from the hands on her body. She tried to fight but she was strapped down. She wasn't going to let them take her baby. No.
Grayza appeared in her vision again. "I will use this mongrel to capture his father. Crichton will be mine.not yours.but mine."
"NOOOO!" She screamed over and over thrashing to get out of her restrains. Aeryn was going to kill Grayza. She had to protect her child.John's child.
#
John rushed back into Aeryn's quarters after Chiana shouted over the comms for him. He found Chiana trying to hold Aeryn down. "Get a hold of her other arm before she hurts herself or one of us." Chiana growled, as she ducked a swinging fist.
John all but laid his body over hers, murmuring soft words to her. Within microts he could feel the tension leave her. Picking up the cold damp cloth he rub her face and body down again. She relaxed even more. Hopefully she would fall a sleep.
#
Something cool slid over her body again and again with slow, unhurried motions. She was turned over, the cooling caresses going down her back. Frell, it felt so good. She relaxed, her mind drifting into another dream.
Scorpius marched up to Aeryn's bed, dragging a limp body and said. "See my dear, I want let the Commandant have him.if I can't then nobody can."
Lowering her eyes she saw John's lifeless body at her feet. A raging scream build up from the bottom of her very soul, but she didn't have the strength to let it out. Scorpius reached out his hand and smoothed her hair back from her neck. Lowering his black lips to brush a kiss there. She shuddered at the cool contact.
#
John held Aeryn's hand as he felt her body once more settle into a troubled sleep. A small anxious voice asked him from across the room. "Daddy, is mommy 'll right?"
Jack stood in the doorway. Their beautiful son so young and fragile never took his eyes off of his parents. Motioning for Jack to come, John sat him on his lap, hugging him close. "Yeah, the Escaions said that the fever would cleanse the poison from her body."
"But what of the living death?" Jack asked. He glanced up at his father with innocent trust. John wondered what had he done to earn such trust.
"We won't let that happen. She will come back to you .to us, Jack." John kissed him on the top of his head as Jack leaned back into his arms. A moment later Jack reached out his small hand he laid it on top of his parents entwined hands.
#
A new shivering possessed Aeryn. She was cold. Something warm was placed over her. The voices.the faces.they wouldn't leave her alone. Why was she so cold? She turned trying to find someone to tell her. Only. "John? Don't leave me.I need you to be here when our son is born. Mother, why couldn't you join us? No, Crais.Mother.no.John, I do love you.you've got to believe that.but please love Jack.he is your son.John."
Xhalax Sun laughed. "You see what love can bring you.pain.disappointment. I warned you."
"What have you done, Officer Sun? You've betrayed your blood oath.you've betrayed being a Sebacean." Crais coldly pointed at her.
Screams from so many voices, the faces of her past floated in and out of her vision. "Traitor! Traitor!" They taunted her. Their claws reaching to catch her. She whirled and ran from them straight into the human's arms.
"Save me, please! Don't let them take me! I love you."
'You're nothing to me. You left me when I needed you. I can't trust you any more." John accused her.
The heat was suffocating.she had to get to somewhere cool. The cooling motion started again. Opening her eyes she saw John above her. She griped his arm and slightly pulled up. "Keep your promise.don't let the living death.save Jack. Please love him, John. He'll need you.remember your promise."
"I won't let the living death take you, babe. You hear me, Aeryn. Jack needs you.' He stroked her face. "So do I."
Falling back onto the bed, once more her nightmare attacked her. "Traitor.Traitor." Velorek, Xhalax Sun, Crais, Scorpius, Braca, Grayza and more voices came back screaming at her.all her past came crashing down on her. She flung her hands over her ears and thrashed about wildly. "I'm not! I'm not! John."
Something cold touched her face. She turned her head into its welcoming coolness.
"Don't leave me, John," she whimpered.
Scorpius and Grayza grabbed at her.
"Don't leave me. I am so sorry.please forgive me, John.I love you so much.Please, John.please.plea." Her voice faded as she was being drawn down into darkness, peaceful darkness. She floated, she glided, she swayed and a mist rolled upward around her and consumed her.
Out of the mouth of babes'.my own son just three cycles asked me so clearly that he wants me to save his mommy.frell I can't even save myself from her.from the flame of love that simply wouldn't die.the truth is I fear that it could've.
John found all of this more then he had expected. Yet his eyes would drift over to Aeryn. She was different; gentler, calmer, softer in ways that enhanced her beauty and gave her a newer inter-strength. Shaking his head.by the goddess he was falling in love with her all over again.He shook his head again. With all that had gone on, and all that had happened. She told Jack about him.
J'ra'na spokesman for the Escaions' Techno community ran a non-stop commentary. John started to get a little bored, and wanted to move on to something else like taking Aeryn to a place for a mid-day.No that will not happen again. He picked the conversation up to keep his mind away from her.
Aeryn knew John was having a hard time keeping his indifference from her. She would catch him stealing glances her way. A smile played around her lips at the look on his face before he turned away from her to demand that J'ra'na explain in more detail about their medical discovery. Aeryn knew that John was just as bored as she was, that he was fighting the attraction he was feeling toward her.
Aeryn became restless, she moved through the displays glancing at one to another wanting to learn more about the species John showed such a fascination for.
One display drew her attention. A rather abnormal stone flashed at her with a strange luminosity. Inquisitively she reached out touching the stone, a flashpoint sparked at her fingertip causing a razor-sharp pain to radiate up her arm. She snatched her fingers back. Glancing down she saw a burnt patch on the tip of her index finger. Unconsciously putting the injured finger in her month, she looked over the lettering on the display box. She was unable to make out the symbols. ???????????? Creevykeel-acid stone). Realizing that the room had grown quiet, she took a fleeting look around to find that John and his hosts had left her behind. Muttering under her breath, she hurried out to find them.
John becomes aware that Aeryn was following at a slower than normal pace. She seemed different, more sluggish. Taking pity on her, he told J'ra'na that he and his companion needed to take a break for refreshments. Apologizing J'ra'na lead them to a place for them to be served. Sitting down at the refreshment table, Aeryn contacted Moya.
John laughed, but kept his eye on Aeryn. She had grown quieter, and he believed she looked paler. "Aeryn, how is Jack doing?"
A smile broke out. "He's fine. Chiana said he keep asking if he was going to get to come down."
"It's pretty safe here. Why not bring him down tomorrow? I'd like to show him some things J'ra'na was talking to me about. What 'a say?"
"All right. I'll tell him when we get back home." She looked down at her food and pushed in away. She wasn't feeling to good, she asked. "Are you hot?"
John watched as she pushed her untouched food away. Concern started to grow within him. On her last question he took a closer look at her. She was pasty white and sweating. The fact was, the temperature had dropped. Reaching out he brushed his fingers along her cheek. She glanced over at him in puzzlement.
"Aeryn, do you feel ok?"
"No, I feel hot and." She broke off, her eyes growing larger. "John.I think I need to go back to Moya to get some rest."
"Are you sure that is all you need. The Escaions has an advanced med.."
Aeryn stood suddenly cutting John off. "No, I just need to get back to Moya now."
His mask of indifference slipped into place. "If you want. I'll get a ride back up later."
He turned away from her asking their guide if Aeryn could get a lift back to the shuttle, as she needed to go back to their ship. Without another word, Aeryn was lead away. A sorrowful look on her face, she glanced back at John, but he kept his back turned to her.
Moya.
Pilot alerted Chiana that Aeryn was coming back aboard without Crichton. Growing angry she hurried through the corridors ready to go planet side and kick Crichton's eema back to Moya without a shuttle.
The door opened but Aeryn hadn't come down the steps. Growing concerned Chiana rushed in, coming to a complete halt. "Aeryn, what in the frell."
Aeryn stood shakily holding onto the console, "I don't feel so well. Help me to my quarters. I'll be fine after some rest."
" What happen down there? Is John all right? Does he know that you are." Chiana rapidly fired one question after another.
"Yes. Please help me, or I'll make it myself." Aeryn snapped.
Tight-lipped Chiana helped Aeryn out of the shuttle toward her quarters. "Where is Jack?"
"In his room asleep. Don't worry Pilot has a dozen DRD's stationed around to make sure he stays put."
Aeryn fell into her bed curling up into a ball. She murmured, "Watch after Jack until John comes back for him, please Chi?"
Pulling the cover over her, Chiana slowly left the room. After looking in Jack's room to see that the child still slept peacefully, she hit her comm.
"John. John, answer me you drenit." She demanded angrily.
"What do you want, Chiana? I'm busy." He replied blandly, trying to insulate himself from her aggravating manner.
"What in the frell did you do to Aeryn?"
"What do you mean -what I did? She wanted to go back to Moya and that's what the hell she did. "
"She's sick or were you so busy you didn't notice." she said with loathing.
John grew quiet on the other end. "Yeah, I noticed but she didn't want to talk about it. Did she tell you what was wrong?"
"No."
"Then it might not be anything. I'll be back in a couple of arns. If she's still not doing well, I'll have one of the Escaions check her out. Will that do for you?" His voice grew distant again. "Look I got to go."
Chiana stared at her comm, picturing in her mind what she was going to do to Crichton when he came back on board Moya. With that evil thought she went back to Aeryn's quarters.
Two Arns Later-On Moya..
. It was late into the day when John gave up the battle. He cursed himself all the way to down the corridor, up a level, telling himself he wanted only to look in on Aeryn, to make certain she was resting.
After the Escaions had delivered him back safely to Moya he asked if they could check out his companion, if she was still ill. They were more then happy to offer their services.
Chiana was standing waiting for him. By the look in her eyes, John knew he was going to catch hell for his appalling behavior and for the life of him he had to agree he deserved it. John asked Chiana if she would take Jack into the center chamber and feed him while he checked on Aeryn.
He stalked to Aeryn's door, determined to set her straight-- on not admitting when something was wrong when asked. She had a child to consider now.
"Aeryn, we need to talk." John announced -only silence greeted him. Growing angrier he snapped out. "Aeryn, damnit."
John opened the door and bushed the privacy curtain aside. Stopping short, the anger drained from him. Aeryn's prone body lay across the floor; face down with one hand stretched toward her bed. Her cover trail off the bed twisting around her ankles. John rushed forward calling her name.
"Aeryn. Oh, baby." He fell to his knees gently turning her on her back. Murmuring to her all the time. "Aeryn, open your eyes. Come on open your eyes."
In a distance she could hear his voice calling out to her. Aeryn tried to answer but it was too hard, she just didn't have the strength to respond. It felt as if her whole body was weighted down. Struggling she manage to opened her eyes to slits then gasped his name as the breath left her lungs.
He started yelling over his comm for Chiana. He untangled the golden cover from her angles, tenderly placing her back onto her bed. Her head rolled listlessly over the pillow, her body shaking violently as he put more covers over her. Aeryn could hear him barking out orders to Chiana but her mind couldn't focus to understand what he was saying. Then he was pulling the covers away from her. Gasping out. "No, pleas.." She fought him weakly. He meant to torment her, she thought. His was always tormenting her with his words and indifference. With the last bust of energy she lashed out at him, her fist connecting with his jaw. Falling back onto the bed with a satisfying grin, when she heard him cry out in pain.
"Aeryn, your clothes are damp let me help you take them off." He tried to reason with her. "You'll be more comfortable."
Understanding, she relaxed her grip letting him near. He removed her clothing, and then pulled the bedcovering back up. As her senses started to recede, she heard more voices, then a coolness on her face.
In her feverish hallucinations voices and faces came back to haunt her. Opening her eyes she saw Chiana standing over and coaxing her. "Aeryn, drink this broth. The child will be born soon, you'll see."
"I want John, Chiana," she said pitifully.
"I know but he's not here. You need to finished this, it'll give you strength."
"I need John," she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek.
The vision blurred to transform into John. He was keeping his distance, his beautiful face blank of emotion. "I do love you, Aeryn, once.but now I can't trust you."
He turned away from her. "No, John. Please come back. I love you. Please."
The heat was so intense-death would be preferable to it and this pain of loss-she felt coolness on her face and it worked its way down her body. She wanted to turn into its inviting comfort. Opening her eyes she gazed at Grayza bending over her. "You breed with John Crichton to create a half- breed. Still you leave him. You know no loyalty to anyone. To your Peacekeeper heritage.to the Sebacean race.to him.you are a coward. A traitor!"
Sharp piercing pain shot through her head. "Where is Crichton?" Over and over that hated voice repeatedly asked, microt after microt. She would never give John up to Grayza, so she responded, "I don't know.he's safe from you."
"Keep her alive until the child is born then she is to be eliminate."
"NO!! Leave my child alone!" Aeryn screamed.
Twisting away from the hands on her body. She tried to fight but she was strapped down. She wasn't going to let them take her baby. No.
Grayza appeared in her vision again. "I will use this mongrel to capture his father. Crichton will be mine.not yours.but mine."
"NOOOO!" She screamed over and over thrashing to get out of her restrains. Aeryn was going to kill Grayza. She had to protect her child.John's child.
#
John rushed back into Aeryn's quarters after Chiana shouted over the comms for him. He found Chiana trying to hold Aeryn down. "Get a hold of her other arm before she hurts herself or one of us." Chiana growled, as she ducked a swinging fist.
John all but laid his body over hers, murmuring soft words to her. Within microts he could feel the tension leave her. Picking up the cold damp cloth he rub her face and body down again. She relaxed even more. Hopefully she would fall a sleep.
#
Something cool slid over her body again and again with slow, unhurried motions. She was turned over, the cooling caresses going down her back. Frell, it felt so good. She relaxed, her mind drifting into another dream.
Scorpius marched up to Aeryn's bed, dragging a limp body and said. "See my dear, I want let the Commandant have him.if I can't then nobody can."
Lowering her eyes she saw John's lifeless body at her feet. A raging scream build up from the bottom of her very soul, but she didn't have the strength to let it out. Scorpius reached out his hand and smoothed her hair back from her neck. Lowering his black lips to brush a kiss there. She shuddered at the cool contact.
#
John held Aeryn's hand as he felt her body once more settle into a troubled sleep. A small anxious voice asked him from across the room. "Daddy, is mommy 'll right?"
Jack stood in the doorway. Their beautiful son so young and fragile never took his eyes off of his parents. Motioning for Jack to come, John sat him on his lap, hugging him close. "Yeah, the Escaions said that the fever would cleanse the poison from her body."
"But what of the living death?" Jack asked. He glanced up at his father with innocent trust. John wondered what had he done to earn such trust.
"We won't let that happen. She will come back to you .to us, Jack." John kissed him on the top of his head as Jack leaned back into his arms. A moment later Jack reached out his small hand he laid it on top of his parents entwined hands.
#
A new shivering possessed Aeryn. She was cold. Something warm was placed over her. The voices.the faces.they wouldn't leave her alone. Why was she so cold? She turned trying to find someone to tell her. Only. "John? Don't leave me.I need you to be here when our son is born. Mother, why couldn't you join us? No, Crais.Mother.no.John, I do love you.you've got to believe that.but please love Jack.he is your son.John."
Xhalax Sun laughed. "You see what love can bring you.pain.disappointment. I warned you."
"What have you done, Officer Sun? You've betrayed your blood oath.you've betrayed being a Sebacean." Crais coldly pointed at her.
Screams from so many voices, the faces of her past floated in and out of her vision. "Traitor! Traitor!" They taunted her. Their claws reaching to catch her. She whirled and ran from them straight into the human's arms.
"Save me, please! Don't let them take me! I love you."
'You're nothing to me. You left me when I needed you. I can't trust you any more." John accused her.
The heat was suffocating.she had to get to somewhere cool. The cooling motion started again. Opening her eyes she saw John above her. She griped his arm and slightly pulled up. "Keep your promise.don't let the living death.save Jack. Please love him, John. He'll need you.remember your promise."
"I won't let the living death take you, babe. You hear me, Aeryn. Jack needs you.' He stroked her face. "So do I."
Falling back onto the bed, once more her nightmare attacked her. "Traitor.Traitor." Velorek, Xhalax Sun, Crais, Scorpius, Braca, Grayza and more voices came back screaming at her.all her past came crashing down on her. She flung her hands over her ears and thrashed about wildly. "I'm not! I'm not! John."
Something cold touched her face. She turned her head into its welcoming coolness.
"Don't leave me, John," she whimpered.
Scorpius and Grayza grabbed at her.
"Don't leave me. I am so sorry.please forgive me, John.I love you so much.Please, John.please.plea." Her voice faded as she was being drawn down into darkness, peaceful darkness. She floated, she glided, she swayed and a mist rolled upward around her and consumed her.