Title: Rescue Run

Author: Lady Rheena

Genres: Alternate Universe, Action/Adventure, Romance

Rating: R

Disclaimer: If you recognise it from a fandom, I probably don't own it. That includes the world of The Matrix, all its characters and the concepts it entails. The idea of the Fleet and the Planetary Coalition are technically my own, but you'll probably recognise bits and pieces from various sci-fi media.

Chapter notes: Very short. I just feel the whole aftermath thing deserved a little chapter of its own.

Part 13- Culture Shock

When Dena felt herself drifting towards consciousness again she became aware of a subtle difference from her usual waking surroundings. She was warmer then she ought to be, and the surface she was lying on a little more yielding than the bed in her quarters. More importantly she was unclothed, and could feel both the roughness of the thick-woven blanket over her as well as the feeling of another body lying against her back. Opening her eyes, she also noted that the door was in the wrong place, and the table piled with schematics and circuit diagrams had disappeared completely. She was not, therefore, in her own quarters just beneath the dock level. Furthermore, there was indeed someone lying against her, in fact with one arm around her, and the soft rush of warm breath on the back of her neck. Stirring slightly to try and free one of her hands, she suddenly froze.

Shit.

That cider might not have been an intoxicant as such but it was definitely a relaxant and very good at removing inhibitions. She found herself wondering if Ghost had got lucky too and then sighed, forcing herself to relax muscle by muscle, joint by joint. What was done was done, had been far from unpleasant and most certainly fell into the category of R and R. In fact she felt utterly rested and strangely invigorated, and that was before she realised that the dull ache which had become a permanent fixture in her shoulders over recent weeks had vanished altogether.

Feeling Sparks stir, she reached a decision and rolled over only to find that he was already awake. As she turned onto her back he re-angled himself so he was laying half on top of her and gave her a surprisingly playful grin. He did have a lovely smile, she had to admit, and returned it lazily, stretching her arms up and then leaving them trailing above her head.

'So do all tourists get that kind of treatment or am I a special case?'

He gave a short, low laugh.

'I knew it.'

'Knew what?'

'I knew there was a woman under there somewhere.'

'And what the hell is that supposed to mean?'

'You know exactly what it's supposed to mean…Captain.' He dodged and laughed again when she swatted at him. 'Nice to know you really are human after all.'

'I bet you say that to every girl who drops out of the sky around here.'

'Nah. You're definitely one of a kind.' This time she gave a low chuckle at the same time he did. 'So is this going native or is it just practical research into the customs of a more primitive society?'

'I thought it was called culture shock,' she couldn't resist saying.

'That shocking, huh?'

Her only response was a small affirmative noise as he kissed her again. She slid her hands down his back and then brought them up to tangle in his hair.

'So what now?' he mumbled when their lips parted. She pulled one hand free and groped for her chrono which was laying on the side table.

'Just past oh-five-hundred. I should-'

'Shut up since that gives us almost another whole hour?' he finished puckishly.

'I've got a flight program to finish,' she said firmly.

'Dena, we're already over a whole month ahead of schedule for your goddamned launch date. What the hell are we going to do with ourselves once the Logos is prepped?'

'Once the ship's spaceworthy we start on the crew. You need at least some training or we're just going to get ourselves killed up there.'

'There'll be time.' He dropped his face down to hers and planted a trail of kisses down her neck before speaking again, so close she could feel his mouth moving against her skin. 'I guess I got to make the most of you down here since once you get back up there you'll be off into the black beyond again, huh?'

'What makes you think that?'

'Isn't this just a chance for a spacesider to roll around in the planetary dirt for a while?' There was no bitterness in his tone, just a blunt matter-of-fact statement.

'Recreation without the follow-through?' she said mockingly.

'Well I get the impression I'm not exactly your type,' he shot back.

'Didn't anyone ever tell you that opposites attract?' She took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. 'You stupid shit.'

'Oh that's it, talk dirty and get me going again. Bitch.'

'Shut your damned mouth, dirtsider.' She flipped over and pushed him down to the bed beneath her, fully intending to put that spare time until 0600 to some further recreational use.