CHAPTER 41 – THE HOLOGRAMS

A space-walk was not going to happen. That had been made clear to Elizabeth. Very clear.

When Elizabeth had energetically informed Jack that she wanted to do a space-walk, he had looked around the room as if he was in some sort of practical joke and people would jump out from behind the berth curtains and laugh at his response. When that didn't happen, he had stared at her as if her body had been taken over by aliens. Finally, he asked her if she was having a mental break down.

Jack had been adamant. His pregnant wife was not going on a space-walk just because she thought it would be exciting. Not only was there no reason for a space-walk, but they were dangerous, scary, and stressful. His own space-walk on the flight to Coal Valley had been tense and nerve-wracking but necessary. It was a situation he didn't want to repeat.

As a chastised Elizabeth remembered how worried she had been when Jack had been tethered to the transporter to replace a broken part, she was grateful that he was now so adamantly opposed to the idea of a space-walk.

It wasn't until the next day after class that Elizabeth discovered that while she had been worried about Jack finding her boring, Jack had been worried about her hormones.

"He's really worried about you," Abigail told Elizabeth. The two were alone in the Thornton's living quarters after Elizabeth's work-out in the gym.

'Why? I'm fine", Elizabeth replied as she towel-dried her hair which was wet from a quick shower. "I'm sure he's not that worried. He's just got a lot on his mind with his classes."

"He's considering ordering a psych eval", Abigail informed her with a grimace.

Elizabeth dropped the towel and stared wide-eyed at her friend. "A psych eval?!"

Abigail shrugged guiltily. "He has the power. As a security officer he can order any passenger to have a psych evaluation."

"I'M NOT ANY PASSENGER. I'M HIS WIFE!"

"You're the one that he's worried about. He thinks you may be having a death wish or be trying to frame him for your attempted murder."

"WHAT?!"

Abigail cringed at Elizabeth's reaction. "I don't know everything, but he says you've been acting odd. He thinks it's your hormones. He did some research on pregnancies and read something about hormones affecting personalities and that they can give women strange and sometimes dangerous ideas."

Elizabeth flopped onto a bottom berth. "But why would he think I have a death wish or want to frame him for murder?" she asked in confusion.

"You told the crew on the Pegasus that he was emotionally abusive to you, you asked him to throw an ax at your head, you wanted him to toss one-hundred and seventy-five pound pipes near you, you chose "Danny Boy" to sing for the talent show and it's about a man going away for a long long time, and you wanted him to take you on a space-walk even though on your last flight someone came untethered and floated away to his death."

"Oh, for Pete's sake. I never told them he was emotionally abusive! They misunderstood!"

"You have to admit that it's been a bit much."

"You think I went overboard?"

"Just a bit."

"I'm just trying to be interesting!"

"I think he just wants you to be you", Abigail said with a knowing look.

"What did you tell him?"

"Nothing. He was going on and on about how you've been acting overly happy and coming up with strange ideas and how worried he was, and then before I could explain how you thought you were boring, he got called away."

Elizabeth shook her head in bewilderment. "Who knew trying to be interesting could be so difficult."

"You should probably talk to him. In fact, you should have probably talked to him a few days ago."

"It's all because of that stupid hologram he got," Elizabeth said irritably.

"I thought you weren't jealous of that girl."

"I'm not", Elizabeth said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "She actually seemed really nice. I watched the hologram again and she's not interested in Jack that way. She said she's really happy for him and she heard wonderful things about me from what he's told his friends back home."

"So, if you're not jealous, why is it all her fault?"

"I'm not jealous of her being with Jack. I was envious as to how exciting her life is," Elizabeth said with a sigh. "I just didn't want Jack to think he was missing out on something."

"Did he ever say he felt that way?" Abigail questioned skeptically.

"No. He never did," Elizabeth admitted. "I guess I just let my mind get carried away. It's being stuck on this transporter for months and worrying about meeting his family back home. It just got me over-thinking things."

"Jack, can we talk?" Elizabeth asked an hour later. She had been all over the transporter looking for him only to find that in the meantime, he had gone back to their living quarters.

"I – I think that's a good idea," Jack replied somewhat awkwardly. He had been waiting in the room for the last fifteen minutes wondering how to approach his wife. "I-. I'm wondering how . . um . . . you're feeling with your pregnancy and . . .and . . . pregnancy."

Jack motioned for her to sit down as he paced the floor in front of her.

Elizabeth obediently sat down and looked at Jack's worried expression. She felt guilty that he was so concerned but had to admit that she found the situation a bit comical.

"I'm fine. I do not have a death wish and I am not framing you for my murder," she announced calmly as she tried not to smile.

"You heard about that?" he asked hesitantly.

"I did."

"Well then what the bloody hell is going on?"

Five minutes later, Jack would have laughed at Elizabeth's worry about her boring personality if she hadn't been so serious.

"I love you! Why would I find you boring?" he asked in bewilderment.

"Be honest. Don't you think I'm boring?"

"Only when you talk about poetry," Jack replied.

"Are you serious?" Elizabeth had asked for honesty but she was still taken aback by his quick response.

Jack shrugged. "You told me to be honest."

Jack sat down on the berth next to Elizabeth and ran his hand along her back. "Are you sure you're not having some kind of hormonal problem?" he asked worriedly.

"There is nothing wrong with my hormones", Elizabeth said with a smile. "So, you don't like poetry?"

"Not really," he replied with a grin. "But I like everything else you do. And I don't think you're boring."

"Really? Even though I don't ride a motorcycle or play baseball or sky dive?"

"You gave up your cushy life to live on a far-away frontier colony, you captured a criminal on our last flight, you have mean high kick in martial arts, you sing like an angel. I think you're pretty interesting", he answered as if he was stating an obvious fact.

"You just saying that because you're married to me and I'm pregnant and we're stuck on a transporter together," she grumbled half-heartedly although she actually was starting to believe him.

She was also thinking that if Jack suddenly pulled her into a long romantic kiss it might help her mood. Considerably.

Beeeeep.

The sound emanating from Jack's messenger bracelet caused him to remove his hand from her back.

"I've got to go. Two guys from air purification have been fighting over Becca. Apparently, it just got physical," he announced after reading the message.

Jack was almost out the door when he stopped and turned back into the room. "Watch these holograms while I'm gone", he said as he put his laptop in front of her and pulled up some files.

"I don't want to watch any more holograms from your friends or family," she grumbled. "They make me feel inferior."

"These aren't from my friends or my family. They're from me," he replied. He pushed a button, and then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "Just watch."

He was almost out the door when he stopped again and turned back. She looked up expectantly at him and wondered what he had forgotten, but instead of looking for something, he approached her again.

Without a word, he gently held her face in his hands and gave her another kiss. This time on the lips. "I'll be back. Watch them," he ordered.

Jack was right. There must be something wrong with my hormones, Elizabeth thought as she felt her eyes watering up. They had been getting more and more moist as she watched the recordings Jack had made almost two years earlier and sent back to Earth. Actually, the hologram messages had started the first week aboard the transporter on the way to Coal Valley and continued for more than a year.

. .. Mom, I have met this woman that is so annoyingly interesting. Her name's Elizabeth.

. . . We're just roommates. That's all. That's why I mention her a lot. I don't know what you're getting at. I don't think I mention her more than I mention my other roommates.

. . . I told you that I changed my mind, Mom. I've decided I may want to stay at Coal Valley. It's my assignment and I think I should stick to it . That's all. Why do you think that Elizabeth Thatcher has something to do with my decision? I never said that. Just because I've told you about her a few times in some of my messages doesn't mean she has anything to do with my decision.

. . . . yes, I have lots of friends aboard the ship. Of course I don't just spend all my time with her. . . .

. . . Elizabeth is a really good teacher. Even though she only has a few students on board, she . . . .

Elizabeth said the funniest thing . . . . .

We've become really good friends. It's so nice to have someone on the flight that I can talk to and really enjoy each other's company. . . .

. . .She is the most fascinating woman I have ever met. She's this rich society girl but she's nothing like you'd expect. She's independent and sweet.

. . . I could talk to her for hours. I want to talk to her for hours.

And Elizabeth said . . .

. . . Elizabeth and I . . . .

You're going to think I'm crazy, Tom, but I can't stop thinking about her.

…. and then Elizabeth chased the woman through the transporter

. . . I can't imagine my life without her. . . .

. . . her father doesn't think I'm right for her but I know in my heart we're meant to be together . . .

Elizabeth was so cute when she started to . . . . . and she lit up the whole room . . . everyone is impressed with her. . .

Don't be stupid, Tom, I'm not going to regret getting married. I don't want to sow any wild oats. Elizabeth's the most incredible woman I've ever met. She's exciting and smart and nice and perfect.

. . . I can't wait for all you guys to meet her. She's great. Yes, I know I say that in every hologram but it's true.. .

"Here", Jack said as he handed Elizabeth a tissue.

She hadn't even heard him walk in as she had been intently watching hologram after hologram message even as her eyes had become blurry with sentimental tears. Her finger had hovered over the re-play button as she had played back her favorites.

Elizabeth took the tissue from Jack's outstretched hand and blew her nose into it.

"You think I'm wonderful. And interesting," she said with a hiccup as he sat down next to her on the berth.

"And perfect for me."

"Really?"

"Really. You are the only person who makes me feel grounded and keeps me on my toes at the same time," he replied. "I feel totally secure in our relationship and yet every day I wonder what interesting thing you're going to come up with to add some excitement. And yes, you worry me sometime. But I am never bored."

"Except when I read poetry," she reminded him. She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Except when you read poetry," he repeated with a chuckle.

"Kiss me?" she said.

"Nope," Jack responded. "Because it's seventeen-hundred hours. Which means that Becca and Candy are going to be coming back to the room soon. And if I kiss you, I won't want to stop. You have a habit of doing that to me."

Elizabeth smiled as he gently ran his hand along her neck. "What do you suggest?"

"I suggest that we go up to the security office and I kiss you there," he replied which made her smile and tingle in all the right places.

Up next: Chapter 42