Chapter 3: Melting down again.

Jess sat waiting in the docking bay excited but nervous. Talyn was nearing a commerce planet and they were heading down to stock up with supplies. Although she was in the company of aliens, the fact she knew them from the show didn't make it feel like they were aliens, but this, the chance to go onto another planet was an opportunity not to be missed. Plus, she needed to recharge her solar panel phone charger, who'd have thought such a random Christmas present last year would have ended up being so important for her sanity. It was surprising, she thought, how long the battery lasted without data roaming draining it but still she tried to limit her use each day to ensure it lasted. She also thought it was lucky she had downloaded lots of playlists for the long flight to Australia, meaning she had a vast variety of music to keep her entertained. Although not vast enough to cover Crichton's taste, much to his dismay.

Crais and Aeryn rounded the corner. Aeryn smiling at Jess's eager face "you ready?"

"Uh-huh."

As they climbed up into the transport pod Rygel came floating round the corner "wait for me you dingbots." Crais rolled his eyes, of course Rygel wouldn't ever miss an opportunity to visit a commerce planet.

No one spoke on the short travel down to the planet. Jess had felt a bit awkward around Crais after the maintenance bay incident, however she carried on as normal around him. Hell, he was being the same with her, so yes maybe she was just reading into things. She glanced over to him, his face guarded, as always. Once they landed, they left the transport pod, Jess tucked her charger down by the door, out of the way but still in position to recharge. She turned to follow the others but she stopped in awe, she was on another planet. An actual alien planet.

Realising Jess had stopped Aeryn and Crais stopped and turned to see what the problem was. Not wanting to waste a microt of bartering Rygel carried on.

Aeryn laughed "come on."

Aeryns words breaking Jess's daze as she shook her head and looked at Crais. He was softly smiling at her, a glint in his eyes at the wonder on her face in response to something so familiar to them. She smiled back. As she caught up with them, he teased "there are much more appealing planets out there to visit."

"Yeah but this one's my first!"

He chuckled.

They split up, not wanting to spend too much time on the planet. Aeryn and Jess went in search for some more clothes for Jess, Crais maintenance supplies and Rygel had been tasked with the groceries, although he'd no doubt find time for some personal trading as he always did. They met back up at the transport pod. Jess collected her charger. "What even is that?" Rygel questioned.

"A charger, it's charged by the sunlight and then I charge my phone with it."

"Your communicator? Why do you need to charge that? You don't have anyone to communicate with here, the comms work fine."

"Yes Rygel, but my phone also has my music and pictures of my home, family and friends on."

Rygel carried on into the pod, bored of the conversation.

Aeryn turned "pictures of Earth?" Jess nodded. "May I see some, if you don't mind?"

"Of course not." As she sat down next to Aeryn. Scrolling through her favourite pictures, her home, her travels. She explained holidays to her. How she tried to visit different places each year. Crichton had described some places to Aeryn before but seeing the pictures Aeryn was impressed, maybe Earth wouldn't be a bad place to be.

"It looks very beautiful. Maybe one day I'll get to see for myself" Aeryn questioned, searching Jess's face for any clues.

With her best poker face Jess shrugged in response "maybe."

Once back on board Talyn, Jess offered to cook for everyone. It was the least she could do for them as a thank you for purchasing her clothes. Telling them she'd comm when it was ready. She set about getting to work, pressing shuffle on one of her playlists. She'd commed them all saying it would be ready in a quarter of an arn.

Ever the punctual Captain, Crais arrived early. The door was open. Jess had he back to the door, singing along to another Earth song while she finished preparing the food. The music stopped and another started.

"Ah, yes!" As Jess reached over to turn the volume up. "Now I've had the time of my life. No, I never felt like this before." As she continued to sing, she started dancing her best Dirty Dancing moves.

Aeryn walking up the corridor frowning when she saw Crais stood just by the doorway with a perplexed look on his face. She could hear the music coming from inside. As she got closer "what are…" Crais raised his hand without looking at Aeryn. As Aeryn turned to view Jess swaying and singing along to the music. She stood next to Crais wearing the same perplexed look. Jess was placing the plates down whilst dancing along.

"This could be love, because…." As she stopped signing and slid along the room 'risky business' style "and lift" just in time with the music simulating the iconic moment.

Crichton, Stark and Rygel joined the two former Peacekeepers in the corridor, looking at each other wondering why they'd just be stood there.

Crichton reached the door "Yo, what are we waiting for?" just as Jess spun on one foot, nearly falling over when she realised, she was being watched. "Dirty Dancing?"

"Jeez, guys! How long have you been stood there?"

Crais glared "long enough."

"You humans are odd." Aeryn added as they all walked in.

"Hey, it's a classic! Patrick Swayze, god rest his soul, is amazing in it."

"He's dead?" Crichton responded.

"Yeah, a few years back, although no, technically that hasn't happened yet." Turning to Aeryn, "anyway you call us humans odd, we could be related!"

Crais scoffed "humans and sebaceans?"

"Yeah, they hinted towards that theory, so if we're odd" motioning between herself and Crichton "you two are too" pointing at Crais and Aeryn playfully.

"Mmm" Crais and Aeryn in unison, completely unimpressed by the comparison as they all sat down at the table.

There was a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere without the immediate pressure of the retrieval squad. Jess was trying to explain Dirty Dancing to Crais and Stark. Stark listened intently. Crais wore an unimpressed face.

"And that's what you call entertainment?" with a questionable tone raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah, good music, hot guy, hot dancing. What more did you want?"

"And that's what you humans look for in entertainment?" Directing his question towards Crichton.

"Nah, that's more a chick flick. Guys only suffer through those to get brownie points with the girls. Westerns and action films are more my thing." As he proceeded to explain Westerns to the table.

As they were finishing, they all thanked Jess for her efforts and tidied away. The mood shifted as Crichton questioned how soon another retrieval squad would be assigned, Crais was already heading for the door as Crichton hurried after him. Jess and Aeryn looked at each other and rolled their eyes as they could hear them arguing down the corridor.

Aeryn slowly followed after them "best go intervene, stop them killing each other!"

Jess, Stark and Rygel leisurely strolled out down the corridor. Stark questioning Jess on human entertainment. They suddenly felt Talyn surge forwards, accelerating. They joined the rest on command.

"What the gletch is happening?"

"Happening at full speed, I can feel it"

"Talyn is fighting with himself."

"Crais pull him back."

"I can't control him."

"Hey guys, we are flying into a sun!"

The others looking through the view point.

Jess interrupted "Right guys, take care, good luck. Give me a shout when this is all over!" As she ran out of command. She was not going to frell everything up like last time. Wanting to avoid being affected by the drexim she headed for a transport pod. She had thought about Aeryn's spacesuit, but remembered the drexim dissolves the seals.

Jess wasn't sure how much time had passed, she kept busy playing Sudoku on her phone. She kept feeling Talyn shudder under the pressure of resisting the lure of the sun. She suddenly felt Talyn rumble and turn sharply then heard Stark over the comms.

"Everyone! We're saved! We've done it!"

"Who has done what?"

"Talyn and I, we've escaped from the Sun! And we've saved Sierjna from Mu-Quilis! Sierjna? Sie..Sierjna? Oh no! We must have gone too far! She, she couldn't stay with us!"

"Stark, what in the living hell are you talking about?"

"We must go back. Must find her."

As Talyn turned again.

"Stark? Are you controlling Talyn?"

"Yes, yes. I must, I must, I must, I must."

"Yo, Astro. Calm down and tell me what the hell is going on?"

"It's very, very simple. I am now Talyn's pilot and we're flying back into the sun."

"What do you mean you're Talyn's pilot? Talyn doesn't have a pilot."

"He does now. I've bonded with him. Formed a neural link. Joined with him in the den. Can't speak now, searching for Sierjna. Must find Sierjna."

"Stark. Stark you release control of Talyn at once!"

Jess smiled, everything was happening as it was supposed to be and she was safe from the drexim. She wouldn't want to be affected by it and let slip any secrets. Her eyes started to close so she put her feet up and made herself more comfortable. She was drifting off when she heard the door opening making her jump awake. Surely, she hadn't been asleep for that long?

Crais marched in, a stern look on his face, pulse pistol in his hand.

"Hey, that was quick. All good?" the smile disappeared from her face when she noticed a small amount of fresh blood on his ear from Rygel's attack.

"Tell me how I get into the pilot's den."

"What?"

"How do I get in?" he barked waving the pulse pistol towards her.

"I don't know!"

"I order you to tell me!"

"Dam Crais, I don't know, it doesn't show that bit."

He marched towards her and she stepped back trying to keep the distance between them but stumbling in the process. Crais grabbed her and slammed her face first into the wall, grabbing her left wrist and twisting it up and behind her back, knowing exactly how to hurt her; putting pressure on the shoulder.

Jess cried out in pain, she tried to push off but he pressed himself against her pinning her to the wall. "You tell me!"

Through gritted teeth "dammit Crais, you bastard, I don't know!"

He leaned in close to her "listen here human. I do not trust you. If anything happens to Talyn because of you…" He suddenly released her causing her to drop to her knees. She grasped her shoulder, breathing heavily she looked up at him in shock. As he glared at her for a microt before marching out again.

Jess sat there for a while in complete disbelief. She could barely move her arm, presuming the force had strained the muscles. Crais had left the door open and Jess noticed the drexim seeping in, as there was no point hiding from it now, she got up slowly and headed for her quarters. Then Stark came over the comms again.

"Everyone…I'm sorry. Talyn is once more being drawn into the sun. The lure is stronger than ever and Talyn can't fight it and I can't stop him. So, I suggest you prepare yourselves for peace, because I have failed you, and we're all going to die."

Soon Jess could feel Talyn settle, they must have defeated Mu-Quilis. Knowing what John and Aeryn were getting up to and wanting to avoid Crais she just went to bed. Hoping the pain in her shoulder would ease so she could sleep.

The next day Crichton noticed Jess holding her arm awkwardly, keeping it close to her. "Hey you ok?"

"I'm fine." Not looking at him.

Crais walked in, pausing briefly as he saw Jess, looking slightly embarrassed. Jess glanced towards him and walked out without saying a word. Crichton noticed the tension.

"What did you do to piss her off?"

"Why do you presume I did anything." Knowing full well Crichton was right.

"Cause it's you! You should probably apologize at some point."

Crais sighed, he was right, but he didn't want Crichton to know that so he waited a while before going to look for Jess.

Jess sat in the galley. Pushing the food around on her plate.

Crais paced the corridor outside. Talyn questioned him as to if he thought the apology would work. "She's the same as Crichton, he says it all the time." Sighing, hoping it would work, it's not as though she was unattractive. He paused outside the door, nervous, as he paced again. Talyn tried to hurry him up, "Talyn privacy mode!" as he reached to the neural link to be with his own thoughts. He paused outside the door again as his hand hesitated above the controls before dropping it back down to his side. He went to pace again but Talyn forced his hand and opened the door for him. He closed his eyes and sighed, whispering "thank you Talyn!" through gritted teeth. He turned and Jess was staring blankly at him. He swallowed and walked in looking sheepish.

Jess stood and started to leave. Just as she was putting her plate down Crais walked straight up to her "leave me alo…" Tilting her chin up towards him with a finger and kissing her firmly.

Jess groaned against his lips; her eyes open wide; she was frozen in shock for a microt before pushing him away with her uninjured arm. Her heart racing and head spinning. "What the hell are you doing?" Both were breathing heavily. Crais stared blankly back at her, it hadn't worked. Before he could respond, Jess leant in and kissed him. It was hungry and passionate. He reached up to hold her cheek before threading his fingers through her hair to the back of her head pulling her closer to him. She wrapped her arm around his waist, her left hand resting on his chest as she pressed into him.

Jess abruptly broke the kiss off, hearing Crichton and Aeryn in the corridor closing in fast. She sprung to the other side of the galley, turning her back to Crais and leaning on the table trying to catch her breath. Crais breathing heavy and staring at his feet, turned to look at Crichton and Aeryn as they entered, looking a bit dazed.

"Hey, Captain." Looking between him and Jess "You two kissed and made up yet?"

Aeryn smiled.

Crais vacantly looking at Crichton then over to Jess as she turned. She looked wounded; her mouth open in disbelief. "Um… I believe so…" before he could finish Jess fled the room. Crais licked his lips pursing them together.

"Dam boy. You need to get better at apologising, what did you say to her?" Not realizing no words had actually been exchanged between them.

Looking towards the door "I, um." Clearing his throat and shaking his head and marching out without another word.

"What the frell is going on with them?" Aeryn questioned.

"I dunno, I think Crais did something to her arm. I told him to apologise. He's obviously not very good at apologies."

"I can't imagine he's done many of them." Both laughed as they grabbed some food.

Jess paced her quarters scolding herself out loud, "you bloody idiot, what the hell were you thinking? What the hell was he thinking?" She paused and placed her hands over her face yelling into her hands "ahhh. How could you be so stupid!?"

Crais cleared his throat. "Jess?"

Jess turned, sighing "what do you want?"

"I, um, I came to…" Looking down at his feet and shifting uncomfortably, stroking his chin. "Apologise."

"What? Kiss and make up!?" Shaking her head snorting "that's a frelling saying Crais!" Sighing loudly as she hit her palms down on a table, leaning over it, wincing at the pain in her shoulder.

"Then why did you kiss back?" In a very matter of fact tone.

Turning to look at him "what?"

"You kissed back."

"I, I…"

Crais stepped towards her looking her right in the eyes. He reached up to gently stroke her cheek with the back of his fingertips. As she leaned her head into his touch, he cupped her cheek stroking it with his thumb. Closing the distance between them, his forehead touching hers as Jess closed her eyes. Tracing his finger along her jawline to her chin, coaxing her lips towards his. Jess inhaled sharply as their lips brushed together. She kissed him lightly. As Crais attempted to deepen the kiss Jess turned her head fractionally away, he mirrored her movement and she turned again. Whispering "Jess?" As he stroked her cheek again, she raised her hand to his, holding it still.

"Crais" her voice cracked, "we…can't." Turning and walking away from him rubbing her sore shoulder. Stopping by the bed. Sighing.

Crais turned to retrieve something from one of the medical draws in the corner. Walking towards her "here."

Jess turned and looked at the metallic looking patch he was holding, "what's that?"

"It's for your shoulder, may I?"

Jess nodded. Crais approached, gently stroking her hair off her shoulder, pausing before lowering the strap of her tank top down her arm. She watched his hand as it continued to trail softly down her arm before removing a backing from the patch, placing it over her shoulder. "I'm sorry." She looked up at him but he couldn't look at her, his eyes fixing on the wall behind her.

Jess shrugged and rotated her shoulder back. It didn't hurt. She chuckled to herself, she definitely wouldn't need her physiotherapy skills out here. She pulled her strap back into place. "Thank you."

He looked at her and swallowed. His dark eyes filled with remorse.

It pained her to see him like that. As she cupped his cheek, "the drexim affected everyone."

He nodded, "Jess, I trust you." She smiled softly back at him. "It's just, an unusual situation. You knowing our futures." His eyes searching her face for any clue as to what she was thinking. Knowing it probably wasn't good as he wiped a single tear from her cheek.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest, as he pulled her closer, stroking the back of her head leaning down to kiss the top of it tenderly. He closed his eyes as he breathed in her scent. Wondering how he let his guard down to let feelings for this human develop. She was attractive, of course he had known that the first day when he rolled her over. She had a quiet confidence about her and obviously not afraid to challenge him. Hell, she had even made him laugh on a number of occasions which was no mean feat.

She looked up as he sighed. Grey eyes locking with his dark ones. She could get completely lost staring into them. She moved her arms up to wrap them round his neck pulling him down into a passionate kiss which he eagerly accepted. A sudden memory of his fate flashed in her mind "Talyn, Starburst!" And she broke away from him once again.

Breathing heavily, "Crais, I'm sorry. I like…I really…I really like you, I do, but" shaking her head "we can't do this. We can't change things. I'm not supposed to be here."

"Maybe you're here to change things for the better?"

"I don't know how to change things for the better and achieve the same outcomes. I'm sorry." Turning, she left, leaving Crais standing helpless in her quarters.