Chapter 28

"Over here!"

"What is it Jack?"

He pointed to the Scorpions. It looks like Aaron escaped them. Kneeling down he felt for a pulse. Not finding one he stood again and proceeded to follow the trampled down path that led away from the clearing. Continuing down the path they came to another clearing. In the middle of the clearing lay the prone body of Aaron.

"Oh my God. No."

Running over to her, Jack started looking for a pulse. There was none.

"Aaron…Aaron.."

"Aaron!" Jack jerked up in bed. Sweat was pouring down his face, his sheets were tangled around him.

"Jesus." He fell back in bed, feeling like he had just run a marathon. This was the third time he had woken up from that dream.

He wasn't going to get any sleep. He didn't want to sleep. He got up, and walked into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, he saw a man still covered in dirt. His hair was tangled, more so than even he liked. Most of all, he saw a man afraid to look into his own eyes. He pushed away from the sink, and staggered into the shower. The hot water washed away the dirt, but did nothing to make him feel better. He felt like every muscle in his body was cramping, like he was inside a vice.

After getting showered and dressed, he got clean clothes , to replace the ones covered in her blood. He tried to sit and take his mind of her, but everything reminded him of her. He tried to read a book he picked from one of the TARDIS's many library's, but stopped when he remembered how she had stood by his bed and picked it up, a small smile on her lips. How she stood. How she walked, and ran. How she was now trapped in a bed, asleep. How when she woke up she might never walk again. He knew she seemed to take the news well, how she would seem to cope with it. He also knew that she wouldn't seem to blame him. What did that matter? He knew what she would really think.

"Stop this shit Jack, just do something, anything." He left his quarters, and started to walk to the med bay to see her. When he arrived, the bed was empty. Looking around, there was no sign of her being there.

Panicking, he ran to the control room. He found Rose sitting on her couch reading a magazine. She smiled when he ran in.

"'Morning"

"Have you seen Aaron?" Jack asked, still panicking.

"She's….."

"ROSE! CAN YOU PLEASE TELL YOUR DAMN 'HUSBAND' TO GIVE ME THE FUCKING SPATULA!"

Rose burst out laughing and Jack sighed in relief. She was alive, and by the way things sounded, she was back to her old self.

Jack shook his head and followed Rose, who was still laughing uncontrollably, down the corridors. When they both arrived, they both ended up laughing (or laughing even harder in Rose's case.)

Theta was running around the kitchen, with the spatula, and Aaron was hopping on one leg trying to catch him. After about ten minutes, both Jack and Rose calmed themselves down to stop Aaron from killing Theta.

"What are you doing here Aaron. You should be resting." Jack said and helped her into, what looked like, a modified wheelchair.

"Resting by butt. I'm fine, plus I was hungry and my lovely brother wouldn't get me food." All of them looked at Theta who smiled innocently.

"Alright, now that were all here, who wants pancakes?" Aaron asked.

"ME!" Theta and Jack yelled in a childish manner. The women rolled their eyes.