CB: Cat and Mouse, -XIV-

"So, you think he meant it?" I ask her as we walk across back down to the lounge.

"About what?"

"Getting lost on Ganymede."

She glances at me sideways. "I'm fairly sure he did."

"So are you up to it?"

"You're the one that just got beaten to a pulp."

"I'll take that as a yes. Do you need anything from your room?"

"Everything I have is on my back," she says, eyes sharp as she looks at me. "You?"

"There's nothing here on the Bebop that I can't live without, indefinitely."

"So as soon as he lands, let's get off the ship. It's probably best if we don't even tell him we've left."

I just nod, and she pauses as the ship rocks slightly. We've put down in water. I palm open the hatch to the hangar. "Come on." She blinks and stares at the hand I extend towards her, but takes it and allows me to help her down into the hangar.

There's a noise as I open the hangar doors onto the deck. The Bebop is pulling up to the dock, and I lean over the edge to glance down at it as the ship slows. She comes to stand behind me and I hop off the edge.

"Can't you even wait for a ladder?"

"Then Jette would see us leaving," I say, reaching up my hands to her. "I'll catch you. It's only a couple of feet."

She frowns, looking disdainfully at me. Her eyes speak volumes of how much she'd rather just wait a minute or two, but she sits down on the edge of the deck, and walks herself forward, slipping down over the edge.

I step up quickly, lifting my arms to her hips, letting her body slide down against mine until I can catch her under the arms and set her on her feet. She's really rather light, when it comes down to it.

"Under different circumstances," I mutter under my breath. She laughs, once, and brushes her fingers across the back of my hand.

"Come on," she says, stepping past me.

Helpless, I follow.