Chapter 5 - Going Out With a Bang ... Requires a Certain Flair

It had been four hours since Silver and his band of miscreants had stormed the tower. Four hours since Doppler and Amelia had been thrown side by side and tied up. Gags in place, there was nothing else for the two to do but sit and wait.

Doppler had hoped Jim would sense something wrong and not return to the cave. But alas, that wasn't the case. His young friend had walked right into the ambush and now the lad was off with Silver and his pirates, searching for Flint's trove.

He and Amelia were still tied up, although thankfully no longer gagged, and under the not-so-watchful eye of a disgustingly foul pirate who seemed more intent on finishing a chicken leg than watching his prisoners.

Back to back, the spacer and astrophysicist could only wait and hope.

Doppler sighed in frustration. All the great plans he had made, the dreams he had taken from Montressor to the spaceport... they were all crumbling before his eyes. And the dream that was slowly starting to become a reality... well, there seemed little hope of that ever seeing fruition now.

In the midst of his thoughts, he felt a hand creep in to his.

"Doctor." A soft whisper.

"Captain." He tilted his head back. "Your side. How are you feeling? I know the ride over here was terribly jolting. Are you in pain?"

Amelia let out a sharp breath. Even facing certain death, the man's first concern was for her. It was utter foolishness. "I am fine,

Doctor. And while I appreciate your concern, I must say I believe it's misplaced."

Doppler was surprised at the irritated reply. "Well, I ... I apologize for caring, Captain," he faltered and then more strongly, "I assure you, it won't happen again."

Amelia closed her eyes in defeat. The man had been nothing but attentive to her, and here she was insulting and berating him for his concern. That was sure to impress him and win his heart. She gave a slight jump when her mind finally processed that thought. When had winning his heart become a priority?

"No time for that now," she muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," she informed him. "Doctor, I apologize. I appreciate your concern. And my side is fine. I simply believe it's more important that we try to figure out a way to escape and get young Mr. Hawkins and ourselves off of this planet."

Silence.

"Doctor?"

"All my life I dreamed of an adventure like this," he finally said softly. He let out a sigh. "I'm just sorry I couldn't have been more helpful to you.

"Don't be daft." Her voice softened. "You've been very helpful. Truly."

"I feel like such a useless weakling!" He cried in frustration and brought his hands forward to his face. "With abnormally thin wrists," he finished, looking at his hands incredulously. A grin spread across his face as an idea formed.

"Excuse me, brutish pirate ..."

XXX

The abnormally thin wrists had paid off. Amelia made a mental note to remember to shelve her pre-conceived notions of people alongside her long-held belief that love and spacers were not a good mix. Try as she might, she could not ward off her worst fear as it was slowly being realized.

The final nail in the coffin had been watching Doppler amidst the chaos of the destructing planet. Having no choice, she had been forced to allow the doctor to pilot her ship and put her life, as well as her crew's lives, into his hands.

Aside from a few initial navigational mishaps, he had done remarkably well. And Amelia had realized that the unusual feeling she was experiencing was not fear or even jealously over someone else at the helm of her vessel, but rather a soft, possessive pride in his accomplishment. It was unnerving to say the least.

She didn't need this. There was no room in her life for this. Her mind was screaming to walk away, but her heart... well that was another matter entirely. The bumbling, soft-spoken and yes, she admitted with a laugh, slightly neurotic canine had pawed his way into her heart.

Their emotional embrace of joy after Jim had saved them from certain death had been brief, but it spoke volumes. She felt comfortable in Doppler's arms and had even allowed the doctor's embrace to linger a moment before pulling away, lest she give the appearance of being soft in front of the crew.

Now sitting in her stateroom - the hospital had released her on the strict condition that she remain in port for at least two weeks to allow her body to fully heal - she replayed the events of the last month over in head. It had been a wild and adventurous journey. A part of her, admittedly a small one, was glad to see it end.

But, whatever was she going to do for two weeks? No sailing. No crew to command. And her ship was very much in need of extensive repairs. She didn't have to be present for the work crew, but there really was no other place she felt at home. Her ship was her home. Plain and simple.

A soft knock at her door brought her mind back from its wanderings.

"Come."

The steel lock shifted with a groan as the door creaked open and Doppler peeked through the opening.

"Captain? One of the workmen said you were here. Are you busy? Do I need to come back later?"

Amelia gave him a dazzling smile that surprised even Doppler. He couldn't remember seeing her this pleased over anything. Not even when the constabulary had escorted the mutinous pirates off her ship two days ago.

"Not at all, Doctor. Please come in." She gestured to the chair across from her. "Sit. Would you care for a spot of Earl Grey?"

"Ah, no. Thank you, though." He settled in and brought a finger to his nose to push his glasses back in to place. "I'm more of a coffee man myself."

"I see," she smiled. "Never could bring myself to touch the stuff. But I shall have to see about getting some onboard for your next visit."

Doppler seemed pleased. "That would be wonderful. I'll make a point to be here for afternoon tea sometime this week and then we can both share a quiet moment over a hot cup."

Amelia looked away and fervently hoped he wouldn't see the blush that was making its way up her neck. When had a cup of tea with an astrophysicist become blush worthy?

When the one in question happened to be a certain canine doctor, the voice inside her head called back mockingly.

"Yes, well," she cleared her throat softly. "We shall have to make it so." She reached for her cup. "What brings you to the Legacy, Doctor?" She took a sip and tried to settle her racing thoughts. "Checking up on me?"

"Actually, yes." He rearranged his glasses again. "I wanted to know if there was anything you needed."

"I think not. The items you brought me have done nicely."

"Wonderful," Doppler smiled. "I was afraid I might have gotten the wrong ones."

Amelia gave a short laugh. "Rather hard to go wrong when dealing with basic toiletries, Doctor. Although, your choice in bath soaps varies a great deal from my usual." She took another sip. "I don't often use herbal products."

"Oh, I... uh... wasn't certain."

"But," she went on, "it was a refreshing change." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "Just between you and me," she confided, "I sometimes forget that simply because I'm a spacer doesn't mean that I'm not a woman, as well."

Doppler had no idea how to respond to that, so he settled for a blank stare.

"Actually," Amelia went on, oblivious to his dilemma, "I believe I'm looking forward to this doctor-imposed reprieve from my duties. I haven't had a vacation in quite some time, and it will be nice to be out of uniform, so to speak. Don't you agree?"

"Oh yes," he nodded his head. "I think seeing you out of uniform will be a refreshing change." He paused. "That is... I mean not that I want to actually see you out of uniform, you understand. Clothes are wonderful things! I merely meant..." He closed his eyes and held his napkin up as a sign of surrender.

When he opened them again, Amelia was standing next to his side, her own eyes teeming with barely-restrained laughter. "Doctor, I do believe we're going to have to work on those slip-ups. There's becoming rather embarrassing for you and far too amusing for me."

Delbert sighed. "I can't win."

"Apparently not," she agreed with a sly smile. "But I have a work crew to check upon, so if you will be so kind as to excuse me."

"Gladly," he muttered.

"Don't be too hard on yourself." She leaned forward and dropped a chaste kiss on the tip of his nose. "I find it rather charming." And with that she was gone, leaving behind a very confused doctor, albeit who now sported a somewhat bemused smile.

To be continued...

Next week finds our heroes trading the wooden decks of the Legacy for the marble floor of the famed Montressorian restaurant, the Topus Garden. Ah! Flowers, suits, first dates ... and poor Delbert thought the whole pirate fiasco was bad! Tune in next week for Chapter 6. It's already been written. It's just being fine tuned! Guaranteed by Thursday or your money back!