Chapter 24

Nearly a half an hour later, they still were not even half-way toward BEN´s domicile. Kitty smiled as she walked beside Delbert, noticed how Amelia would now and again cast shy, warm glances Delbert's way---when she thought Kitty wasn't looking, of course. Kitty decided to hold her tongue for once, and moved up to walk beside Jim, so as to allow Delbert to be more comfortable carrying Amelia. Kitty, concerned that the bookish Doctor might be growing tired, asked if he needed a rest.

"No, no," he assured her, with an odd, happy smile. "The Captain is no bother, Kitty, I assure you." Kitty smiled and nodded her head, her grin growing when she caught the irate look Amelia cast her way.

Once what BEN fancied a home hove into view, Kitty and Jim led the way into the crude, yet suitable dwelling. "What a dump," Kitty mumbled under her breath at the precise moment that BEN began excusing the mess of his home.

The talkative droid went on and on, nattering away. Kitty endured, though she did have to smile when BEN called Amelia and Delbert 'a cute couple'.

"See? I´m not the only one that see it, Captain," Kitty whispered for Amelia's benefit as Delbert gently laid her down upon the mossy 'floor' of their new hideaway. Amelia's condition had steadily worsened as the journey continued, so she was only able to glare her way in response. That glare became an oddly lovely smile, when---after BEN offered the two what looked like beakers of motor oil to toast them---Delbert remarked in embarrassment, "Ooh...uh, oh, no, thank you. We don't drink..." He looked down to the wounded Captain, giving what he sincerely hoped was a comforting and encouraging smile, before he added, "...and we're, uh, we're not a couple."

Amelia's fond gaze at the Doctor was transformed into a glare again, as Kitty coughed the word "yet". Jim, becoming used to the verbal sparing of the two female felinids, just smiled and continued watching for any signs of activity outside.

That was when Delbert noticed the hieroglyphs on the wall, and began an impromptu lecture about these markings. Amelia, in a moment of lucidness, ordered Jim and Kitty to keep close watch, and fend off anyone coming toward their current location. Unfortunately, the effort to bark those commands left her groaning in pain.

Delbert, very concerned about the weakening Captain, showed his true metal, and gently forced her to lie back, softly scolding her. "Yes, Yes," he told her gently, but his expression told her he'd brook no further argument from her. "Now, listen to me: stop giving orders for a few milliseconds... and lie still." Amelia opened her mouth to protest, but one look into the Doctor's warm concerned brown eyes, stifled whatever protest she might of had, and caused her to smile gently at the man.

Kitty was touched by the display of tender emotion from Amelia, but that scene was shattered as that nitwit BEN caught sight of figures outside, and in his own form of perverse logic, decided they must be friends of theirs. The idiotic robot began hooting and hollering, "showing" the pirates just where their quarry might be. The pirates---hardly the most cerebral of folks, well, for the most part---promptly opened fire on their position.

Jim and Kitty returned their fire, causing several of the pirates to dive for shelter, before Silver yelled for them to 'quit wastin' yer fire!'. The lumbering ursinid cyborg then held up a white flag, waving it to get their attention. "Jimbo," Silver called in his booming voice. "If it's all right wit' the Captain, I´d like a short word wit' yeh..."

Amelia, fighting off the delerium she was experiencing more and more now, scowled at that, but was kindly shushed by the Doctor. Silver continued, "No tricks, just a little palaver."

Amelia growled quietly and dangerously, her green eyes flinty, before saying, "Come to bargain for the map, doubtless." She hated that she felt as weak as a kit, and vainly trying to get up into a sitting position "Pestilential..." she growled heatedly, before groaning in pain. Delbert was by her side in a moment, gently easing her back to lie down. "Captain..." Delbert warned her, very afraid that her efforts would only worsen her already tenuous condition further.

Oddly enough, at that moment, Jim grinned. Kitty was about remark on that, when Jim said, "That means that he thinks we still have the map." The youth grinned, and told them he was going to meet with Silver. Delbert looked like he wanted to protest, but Jim was gone before he could voice it. He moved away from the two girls, watching to make sure Jim would be all right.

Alone together, for the moment, Amelia grinned and told Kitty, "Well, this has been some fun, what?"

"Oh, you bet, Amelia. Way fun," Kitty replied, shaking her head.

"Now, Kitty...let me see if I've got this straight. You knew---all along, I have no doubt---that all this would happen, and still would not even give me the benefit of some sort of warning or bit of council," Amelia accused.

Kitty wilted under her gaze. "Amelia, I've told you before: I can´t change the story. Period," Kitty simply said. She then place the palm of her hand to Amelia cheek in fond affection. "Now, do be a dear, and be still. You need to rest."

"Yes, Doctor," Amelia teased. Kitty snapped her fingers, and a wet facecloth appeared, which she laid over Amelia's forehead, causing her to sigh in relief. Kitty could feel the heat of her poor friend's cheek and forehead. Amelia was developing a fever... which sort of made sense, and explained her fits of sometimes weird---at least for her---behavior.

Kitty smiled as Amelia closed her eyes to relax, and saw Jim vaulting back through the circular entrance to the cave-like dwelling they rested within. "Well?" Kitty asked, urging him to elaborate.

"Hush," Jim chided her, his brow furrowed in obvious concentration. "I´m trying to figure out how to get us all out of this alive, okay?"

Kitty bit back a curt reply, and settled on sighing once, and nodding her agreement. She knew he could use---and probably needed---every little bit of free time he coud lay his hands on right this moment.

Amelia was lying still, drowsing from her exhaustion and fever. Kitty smiled down once at her before she kissed Amelia's cheek fondly, letting her go off into what she hoped was a peaceful sleep. Kitty looked up just then to see Delbert standing there, his soulful eyes troubled, yet a kind and peaceful sort of smile on his face.

"Don't worry, Doctor," Kitty counseled, getting to her feet. "She's tough as old oak, she'll be fine." The Doctor didn't look all that much convinced, however.

"I do hope you're right, Ms. Petro," Delbert replied, as he eased down to his knees beside the resting Amelia. "It pains me to see her so," he added quietly, then blushed as he realized what he had just said.

Kitty smiled warmly, and laid a hand on his arm. "I know," she soothed. "And, it's Kitty. Ms. Petro was my mother, Doctor," she added, trying to lighten the Doctor's mood.

Delbert chuckled at that softly, and looked over at Kity with one of his shaggy brown brows arched. "Kitty then. And... thank you," Delbert said sincerely. So sincerely, that Kitty found herself blushing again.

"Could I impose upon you to stay with her, Doctor?" Kitty asked, knowing that Delbert would stay anyway. "I probably should be helping Jim..."

Delbert smiled, and sat up a bit straighter. "Yes. And it's no imposition, Ms. Pet---er, I mean, Kitty. It would be my honor to look after the Captain."

"Then, I'll be off," Kitty announced getting to her feet. She turned to the Doctor, and gave him the benefit of her smile. "It helps to know that she's in good hands, Doctor..."

Delbert smiled his thanks, and unknowningly picked up Amelia's free hand in his own, a way of letting her know she was not alone.