Title: Return To Tev'Meck (Sequel to 'The Sigournate Virus')
Author: Rose (buffybot76@hotmail.com)
Rating: R
Pairing: Dr. Lazarus/Tawney Madison
Summary: The crew of the NSEA Protector are summoned back to Lazarus'
homeworld of Tev'Meck. But it is a bittersweet homecoming.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Galaxy Quest characters. They belong to
Dreamworks and the writers of the wonderful screenplay.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Distribution: If you want it, just ask.
Chapter 14
*What the devil is going on here?!*
Lethe could tell through the link that Tawney was upset. Taking Tawney's hand into her own, Lethe gave it a reassuring squeeze while simultaneously responding through the link.
*Later.*
Lethe knew that it did very little to settle Tawney's worries, but it was the best she could do during the Silent Vigil. Both women watched as Lazarus eventually untangled himself from the other woman's embrace and proceeded to lead the group away to their huts.
Glancing around, Tawney noticed that Taggart and Laredo were also still reeling from the obvious display of affection. She couldn't help but be amused at Laredo's reaction: He looked like he'd wanted to jump in, and pull them apart. She didn't know that Laredo had practically already jumped the Commander, for his open jealousy. Lt. Madison's spirits fell, however, when she saw Luchien and Lareth: Laz's father, especially, looked more than pleased at this turn of events.
Finally, it was time for the vigil to come to a close. Not able to stand it, Tawney dragged Lethe back to their hut, Katelyn following quietly behind. Once inside, Tawney began pacing. She didn't want to show how much the sight of Lazarus embracing the other woman had bothered her, but she just couldn't seem to help it. If this had happened on board The Protector, with another human, Ensign Wingate would have immediately offered some sort of assistance. However, on a different planet, and amidst different customs and situations, she was helpless. She waited for the outburst she was certain would come.
Tawney paced for a moment, then abruptly stopped, turning back to face Lethe. "Please tell me who that woman was?"
"That was L'Tisha, T'Noseen's niece." Lethe's reply surprised Tawney.
"T'Noseen? Wasn't he one of the Elders we saw earlier?" Katelyn now asked. At Lethe's nod, she continued, "But, if she's his neice, why doesn't she live in your village?"
"L'Tisha left with her family and a group of others two seasons ago to begin their own village. It was during a time when resources were scarce, and her father thought it would be best." Lethe explained.
"Is she...as old as you are?" Tawney asked, delicately.
"Nay sister, she is near the same age as Lazarus."
Tawney's shoulders slumped a bit dejectedly. "What is she to Laz?" She whispered.
"Not as much as she'd like to be", Lethe confided. "L'Tisha was a playmate of ours, when we were all younger. Of course, since she's older, she bossed me--and Lareth--around a lot."
Katelyn actually chuckled at this, and Tawney couldn't completely suppress a smile.
"My father and T'Noseen had hoped--when she and Laz reached the Age of Awareness--that Ipthar would see fit to bless them with the Mak'Tar Mating Urge for each other...I'm glad *that* didn't happen: You're not bossy at all!" Lethe teased Tawney.
Tawney's smile broke out completely then and she laughed lightly. "Thank you, Lethe. I like you too."
"Well, now that *that's* settled", Katelyn said, getting laughs from both women, "what comes...." She suddenly yawned. "...next?"
Lethe smiled at the other human. "Well, it is awhile before the Revel continues. If you would like, you may rest and I will come for you when it is time."
"That would be nice, Lethe. We could really use the rest." Tawney replied, trying to stifle her own yawn.
Lethe helped the women to lay out their bedding and then, once they were settled, turned to leave the hut. She needed to have a little talk with her big brother.
Lazarus stood beside the hut that held the body of his mother. Luchien and Lareth remained, as was tradition. Taggart and Laredo had remained as well, although for quite different reasons.
"Who do you suppose the broad was?" Laredo whispered to the Commander.
"Whoever she is, she sure seems to know our Dr. Lazarus pretty well", Taggart replied.
"Uh huh, and he seemed to know her pretty well, too." The helmsman stated. "I wonder what Tawney thinks about it."
"Judging from the way she left here, and the quiet way she was talking...Well, let's just say that if we weren't here for such a sad reason, the fur would already be flying!" Taggart spoke quietly, keeping an eye on the Tev'Meckians.
Laredo noticed the direction the Commander was looking and turned to see Lareth and his father seemingly deep in discussion, their heads drawn close together. "Wonder what they're up to?"
"Probably trying to decide how long Tawney can last against What's-Her-Name", Taggart speculated. "Boy, are they gonna be surprised!" Little did The Protector's Commander know what surprise was in store for *him*.
Lazarus had not made an attempt to speak with his friends since his return. In fact, he seemed lost in thought and had not noticed his father and brother deep in discussion. Nor did he notice the approaching form of L'Tisha. Slipping up behind Laz, the Tev'Meckian woman brought her hands up and around to cover his eyes, while on tiptoe she whispered in his ear, "Guess who?"
"L'Tisha, this is neither the time nor the place for games!" Lazarus snapped. "My mother...", he stopped, choking on unshed tears, then continued more softly, "My mother is dead. We have the pyre to set up for tomorrow, and then several more days of formalities...You know that as well as I do...."
"Of course, I do, dear heart; that is why I am here", L'Tisha purred, moving her hands from Laz's eyes and began massaging his shoulders. "I am here to help you."
"L'Tisha...please!!" Lazarus tried to disentangle himself, without attracting too much attention, either from his family, or his shipmates. "My Lifemate will not understand this...."
L'Tisha frowned. She had not been pleased in the least when Lazarus had informed her earlier that he had taken a Lifemate. But then he had told her the identity of the Lifemate: a human. L'Tisha had resolved herself to make Lazarus see reason. A Mak'Tar was destined to be Lifemated with a Mak'Tar, not a silly human. "And what is so difficult to understand? Is she so simple-minded that she could not see that we are friends?"
"She will see that *you*, at least, want to be *more* than 'friends'. However, I felt the Mak'Tar Mating Urge for *her*...and when I responded to it, I found out she had similar feelings for me." Lazarus paused. "I know you are disappointed--so are my father and brother--but Ipthar has decreed it to be so...and, not only has my sister blessed our Union, my mother...." Laz swallowed, hard, and blinked back tears, grateful for the cover of night. "My mother's Dying Wish was that Tawney and I not be separated."
L'Tisha removed her hands from Lazarus' shoulders, taking a step back as she crossed her arms and replied. "Why, Laz, I do not know what you mean. You're friendship is precious to me. I would not dare risk it."
Just then, Lethe came up to stand beside her brother.
"L'Tisha, I thought you would be with your family...How are they, by the way?" Lethe's words were civil enough, but she sent her older brother a near-venomous look. *What in Ipthar's name are you doing?* she "said". *You should be resting--we all should--in preparation for the rest of the Revel.*
*Yes, we were just about to do that. Would you mind informing Commander Taggart and Laredo? They could use the rest.* Lazarus said as he sent his sister an almost grateful smile.
*Of course...and I'm sorry I doubted you.* Lethe smiled sheepishly at her brother; she should have known that his dedication to the beliefs of his people would mean that he would never be disloyal to his Lifemate.
Lethe excused herself, and went to inform the visitors from The Protector; she also wanted to see whether her father and brother had retired. Lethe approached the two humans who looked as if they would collapse from exhation at any moment.
"Commander Taggart."
Lethe's voice trembled a bit due to the nervousness she felt when around her brother's male friends. She didn't quite understand why she felt that way. She had no problems when around Tawney and even Katelyn.
Taggart's head, which had been drooping just a bit, jerked up in an instant at the sound of Lethe's voice.
"Wha- Oh, Lethe, hey."
Laredo had to hide a snicker behind his hand at the sight of Commander Taggart trying to act as if he hadn't been practically asleep just a second before. Lethe, herself, had to restrain a smirked as she spoke.
"You both should retire to Lareth's hut now for rest. The Revel shall continue at the noon time."
Both men could barely hide their relief at hearing this news, and Lethe offered to walk the men back to the hut. Totally ignoring the glares from her father and twin brother, Lethe turned, to lead the way back to Lareth's hut. They had only gone a few steps when Laredo, walking between his hostess and his Commander, stumbled on a rock. As fast as Taggart reacted, Lethe reacted even faster. She caught the helmsman before his knees hit the ground...and felt her heart race.
*What is happening to me?* she wondered.
Laredo was wondering the same thing himself. The moment that Lethe had caught him, an unexplainable feeling had washed over him. He had never felt anything like it before, and was almost certain he would again.
Nearly stumbling himself, Taggart helped Laredo regain his feet. "Easy there", he said. Neck hairs prickling, he became aware of an unwelcome audience: Luchien and Lareth. Knowing they couldn't read *his* mind, Taggart let his thought run rampant:
*Do you guys know what 'deja vu' means? Well, if you don't, you're gonna find out, real soon...and so are you, Laredo!* He then grinned a little, and looked at the expression on Laredo's face...
*~*~*~*~*~*
tbc...
Author: Rose (buffybot76@hotmail.com)
Rating: R
Pairing: Dr. Lazarus/Tawney Madison
Summary: The crew of the NSEA Protector are summoned back to Lazarus'
homeworld of Tev'Meck. But it is a bittersweet homecoming.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Galaxy Quest characters. They belong to
Dreamworks and the writers of the wonderful screenplay.
Feedback: Yes, please.
Distribution: If you want it, just ask.
Chapter 14
*What the devil is going on here?!*
Lethe could tell through the link that Tawney was upset. Taking Tawney's hand into her own, Lethe gave it a reassuring squeeze while simultaneously responding through the link.
*Later.*
Lethe knew that it did very little to settle Tawney's worries, but it was the best she could do during the Silent Vigil. Both women watched as Lazarus eventually untangled himself from the other woman's embrace and proceeded to lead the group away to their huts.
Glancing around, Tawney noticed that Taggart and Laredo were also still reeling from the obvious display of affection. She couldn't help but be amused at Laredo's reaction: He looked like he'd wanted to jump in, and pull them apart. She didn't know that Laredo had practically already jumped the Commander, for his open jealousy. Lt. Madison's spirits fell, however, when she saw Luchien and Lareth: Laz's father, especially, looked more than pleased at this turn of events.
Finally, it was time for the vigil to come to a close. Not able to stand it, Tawney dragged Lethe back to their hut, Katelyn following quietly behind. Once inside, Tawney began pacing. She didn't want to show how much the sight of Lazarus embracing the other woman had bothered her, but she just couldn't seem to help it. If this had happened on board The Protector, with another human, Ensign Wingate would have immediately offered some sort of assistance. However, on a different planet, and amidst different customs and situations, she was helpless. She waited for the outburst she was certain would come.
Tawney paced for a moment, then abruptly stopped, turning back to face Lethe. "Please tell me who that woman was?"
"That was L'Tisha, T'Noseen's niece." Lethe's reply surprised Tawney.
"T'Noseen? Wasn't he one of the Elders we saw earlier?" Katelyn now asked. At Lethe's nod, she continued, "But, if she's his neice, why doesn't she live in your village?"
"L'Tisha left with her family and a group of others two seasons ago to begin their own village. It was during a time when resources were scarce, and her father thought it would be best." Lethe explained.
"Is she...as old as you are?" Tawney asked, delicately.
"Nay sister, she is near the same age as Lazarus."
Tawney's shoulders slumped a bit dejectedly. "What is she to Laz?" She whispered.
"Not as much as she'd like to be", Lethe confided. "L'Tisha was a playmate of ours, when we were all younger. Of course, since she's older, she bossed me--and Lareth--around a lot."
Katelyn actually chuckled at this, and Tawney couldn't completely suppress a smile.
"My father and T'Noseen had hoped--when she and Laz reached the Age of Awareness--that Ipthar would see fit to bless them with the Mak'Tar Mating Urge for each other...I'm glad *that* didn't happen: You're not bossy at all!" Lethe teased Tawney.
Tawney's smile broke out completely then and she laughed lightly. "Thank you, Lethe. I like you too."
"Well, now that *that's* settled", Katelyn said, getting laughs from both women, "what comes...." She suddenly yawned. "...next?"
Lethe smiled at the other human. "Well, it is awhile before the Revel continues. If you would like, you may rest and I will come for you when it is time."
"That would be nice, Lethe. We could really use the rest." Tawney replied, trying to stifle her own yawn.
Lethe helped the women to lay out their bedding and then, once they were settled, turned to leave the hut. She needed to have a little talk with her big brother.
Lazarus stood beside the hut that held the body of his mother. Luchien and Lareth remained, as was tradition. Taggart and Laredo had remained as well, although for quite different reasons.
"Who do you suppose the broad was?" Laredo whispered to the Commander.
"Whoever she is, she sure seems to know our Dr. Lazarus pretty well", Taggart replied.
"Uh huh, and he seemed to know her pretty well, too." The helmsman stated. "I wonder what Tawney thinks about it."
"Judging from the way she left here, and the quiet way she was talking...Well, let's just say that if we weren't here for such a sad reason, the fur would already be flying!" Taggart spoke quietly, keeping an eye on the Tev'Meckians.
Laredo noticed the direction the Commander was looking and turned to see Lareth and his father seemingly deep in discussion, their heads drawn close together. "Wonder what they're up to?"
"Probably trying to decide how long Tawney can last against What's-Her-Name", Taggart speculated. "Boy, are they gonna be surprised!" Little did The Protector's Commander know what surprise was in store for *him*.
Lazarus had not made an attempt to speak with his friends since his return. In fact, he seemed lost in thought and had not noticed his father and brother deep in discussion. Nor did he notice the approaching form of L'Tisha. Slipping up behind Laz, the Tev'Meckian woman brought her hands up and around to cover his eyes, while on tiptoe she whispered in his ear, "Guess who?"
"L'Tisha, this is neither the time nor the place for games!" Lazarus snapped. "My mother...", he stopped, choking on unshed tears, then continued more softly, "My mother is dead. We have the pyre to set up for tomorrow, and then several more days of formalities...You know that as well as I do...."
"Of course, I do, dear heart; that is why I am here", L'Tisha purred, moving her hands from Laz's eyes and began massaging his shoulders. "I am here to help you."
"L'Tisha...please!!" Lazarus tried to disentangle himself, without attracting too much attention, either from his family, or his shipmates. "My Lifemate will not understand this...."
L'Tisha frowned. She had not been pleased in the least when Lazarus had informed her earlier that he had taken a Lifemate. But then he had told her the identity of the Lifemate: a human. L'Tisha had resolved herself to make Lazarus see reason. A Mak'Tar was destined to be Lifemated with a Mak'Tar, not a silly human. "And what is so difficult to understand? Is she so simple-minded that she could not see that we are friends?"
"She will see that *you*, at least, want to be *more* than 'friends'. However, I felt the Mak'Tar Mating Urge for *her*...and when I responded to it, I found out she had similar feelings for me." Lazarus paused. "I know you are disappointed--so are my father and brother--but Ipthar has decreed it to be so...and, not only has my sister blessed our Union, my mother...." Laz swallowed, hard, and blinked back tears, grateful for the cover of night. "My mother's Dying Wish was that Tawney and I not be separated."
L'Tisha removed her hands from Lazarus' shoulders, taking a step back as she crossed her arms and replied. "Why, Laz, I do not know what you mean. You're friendship is precious to me. I would not dare risk it."
Just then, Lethe came up to stand beside her brother.
"L'Tisha, I thought you would be with your family...How are they, by the way?" Lethe's words were civil enough, but she sent her older brother a near-venomous look. *What in Ipthar's name are you doing?* she "said". *You should be resting--we all should--in preparation for the rest of the Revel.*
*Yes, we were just about to do that. Would you mind informing Commander Taggart and Laredo? They could use the rest.* Lazarus said as he sent his sister an almost grateful smile.
*Of course...and I'm sorry I doubted you.* Lethe smiled sheepishly at her brother; she should have known that his dedication to the beliefs of his people would mean that he would never be disloyal to his Lifemate.
Lethe excused herself, and went to inform the visitors from The Protector; she also wanted to see whether her father and brother had retired. Lethe approached the two humans who looked as if they would collapse from exhation at any moment.
"Commander Taggart."
Lethe's voice trembled a bit due to the nervousness she felt when around her brother's male friends. She didn't quite understand why she felt that way. She had no problems when around Tawney and even Katelyn.
Taggart's head, which had been drooping just a bit, jerked up in an instant at the sound of Lethe's voice.
"Wha- Oh, Lethe, hey."
Laredo had to hide a snicker behind his hand at the sight of Commander Taggart trying to act as if he hadn't been practically asleep just a second before. Lethe, herself, had to restrain a smirked as she spoke.
"You both should retire to Lareth's hut now for rest. The Revel shall continue at the noon time."
Both men could barely hide their relief at hearing this news, and Lethe offered to walk the men back to the hut. Totally ignoring the glares from her father and twin brother, Lethe turned, to lead the way back to Lareth's hut. They had only gone a few steps when Laredo, walking between his hostess and his Commander, stumbled on a rock. As fast as Taggart reacted, Lethe reacted even faster. She caught the helmsman before his knees hit the ground...and felt her heart race.
*What is happening to me?* she wondered.
Laredo was wondering the same thing himself. The moment that Lethe had caught him, an unexplainable feeling had washed over him. He had never felt anything like it before, and was almost certain he would again.
Nearly stumbling himself, Taggart helped Laredo regain his feet. "Easy there", he said. Neck hairs prickling, he became aware of an unwelcome audience: Luchien and Lareth. Knowing they couldn't read *his* mind, Taggart let his thought run rampant:
*Do you guys know what 'deja vu' means? Well, if you don't, you're gonna find out, real soon...and so are you, Laredo!* He then grinned a little, and looked at the expression on Laredo's face...
*~*~*~*~*~*
tbc...