Faith's whole body hurt. Between her lack of sleep, the torture on the treadmills and working on the 'dillos, she was exhausted and sore. The shower she just took helped but she needed sleep. Of course, there was a knock on the door.
"What?" she snapped.
"Testy, are we?" A.J. asked with a laugh. "I need to talk to you." She looked at him. No good ever comes out of a conversation that starts with that sentence.
"Come on in," Faith said, moving away from the door. He sat on the empty bed and looked at her as Faith sat on her own bed. "Well?"
"I want to propose to Grace. I've had the ring for a month but I… I want to do it sooner rather than later."
"You ask dad?"
"I prefer not to get shot at again," he said. "What do you think?"
"How long have we known each other, Frosty?"
He chuckled. "Almost all our lives."
"At least," she said. "I love you like a brother, always have. As long as she's happy, I'm happy. I don't know if it means much but you have my blessing to ask her."
He jumped up and pulled her into a hug. "You're the best, you know that, right?"
"Yes, I do know that. Now, go away, I'm sleepy."
"I love you too, Faith," A.J. said, pressing a kiss to her temple and bounding out of the room.
Harry is gonna flip the hell out. Faith didn't want to start drama but she knew he'd say no just on principle and the last thing they needed was A.J. trying to prove himself worthy on this mission.
Faith didn't think about it too much, she was too tired. She climbed into bed and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
"Neil Armstrong, 1969, bouncing on the moon. He's bouncing because there's less gravity up there than on Earth. This will be similar to the asteroid. So, watch it. Something gets launched off that asteroid with enough force, it's gonna keep on going, right into outer space."
Watts was teaching them how to use the suits that they'd be wearing on the asteroid. Faith was giddy. It's not every day you get to wear next generation spacesuits. Of course, Rockhound Junior –Oscar- wasn't paying attention.
"What is the deal? Is it just me, or is Watts really hot?" the blonde whispered to Bear.
"Yeah," their big friend agreed. Faith rolled her eyes as they continued to chat and turned her attention back to the other woman going on this trip.
"So, we have these new generation suits with directional accelerant thrusters. You won't bounce like Neil Armstrong. Bear!" Watts yelled.
His head snapped to look at her. "Yes?"
"Do we have a problem?" the female pilot asked.
Papa Bear was in trouble now. "No."
Watts stepped closer to him. "'Cause I'm trying to describe to you how these D.A.T.s keep your ass on the ground, so that if I were to kick you in the balls, and you don't know how to work them, what happens to you?"
"I'd float away," he told her. Faith was doing her damnedest not to laugh but it wasn't easy to see her mountain of a friend getting called out by this tiny woman. Watts was Faith's new hero for sure.
The pilot looked at Bear. "Yeah."
"When do we start training for that?"
"Seriously, Rock?" Faith asked, rolling her eyes. He shrugged.
Watts sent him a glare before she resumed her lesson. "Faith, gentlemen, I'll give you thirty seconds to put your helmets on before the oxygen is sucked from this room and you'll know what it's like to be in space."
Faith quickly donned her helmet before looking around. The guys didn't seem to have a problem with this task.
"Well, hello zero gravity," Max muttered. She chuckled at his statement as the feeling of weightlessness washed over her. Faith bounced around for a minute like the guys did before she got to work using her DAT to put herself upright and on the ground.
"Faith figured it out," Harry told the others.
"It's not like Watts didn't just explain it. Unlike some people, I was paying attention." She looked at Oscar when she said it.
"Not apologizing. She's hot," her friend said.
"She can hear you," came Tucker's voice over the intercom.
"I don't think you wanna mess with Watts," Faith warned. "She might hurt you."
Chick laughed as he landed next to her. "Might? That woman would break him like a toothpick. He can't handle none of that."
"What a way to go, though," Rock said to them.
Faith rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna pretend I can't hear you."
"Oh, please." Rock chuckled. "You telling us that you ain't looking?"
She felt herself blush and was grateful for the helmet that mostly hid her face. Faith took a breath. "Not at all, I just don't talk about it. And you don't want me to talk about it. So, stop talking about Watts. I'm not helping you if she decides to kick your asses. Hell, all the crap I put up with from ya'll, I'd probably help her."
"She makes a good point," Chick said. "Now, let's get to work."
One by one, they landed on the ground and used the suits to keep themselves there. They walked around and even floated a little before using the DATs to land. They'd been in there for a few hours when Watts warned them that they were opening the door. Everyone was solidly on the ground when the oxygen came back.
"You did better than we thought. No offense," Davis said as the door opened.
Harry chuckled. "None taken, Colonel Davis."
"The doctors don't like it when we skip meals," came an increasingly familiar voice from behind her.
After D.A.T. training, they were sent off to get chow. Faith decided that her time was better spent working on the armadillos. She was sitting on the catwalk above doing some last-minute calculations when Sharp joined her.
"Please tell me you didn't come up here just to tell me that," she said as he sat down next to her.
"Maybe I just needed an excuse to see you. It's not like I can ask you out. I would if they didn't have us all trapped in here."
"Really?" Faith asked. "What would that look like?"
"You think I'm gonna tell you? I'm gonna save it for when we get back."
"You're that confident that I'd say yes?" She looked at him.
"I'm a confident person in general. But yes, I'm pretty sure you'll say yes," he said. "It's the smile. Your smile gives you away."
"Guilty as charged. Can't really blame me, though. I mean, you're all," she said, motioning in his direction, "you know." Attractive, intelligent and dedicated, which was cool as hell.
He scratched the back of his head. "Not really. I mean, except for the whole NASA thing, I'm probably the most normal person you'll ever meet."
"Doubt it. I'm Galveston, born and raised. Mostly."
"Really?"
"Really. That's where Stamper HQ is. What about you?"
"NAS Pax River. Navy base in Maryland."
"Did you grow up there?"
"No. I don't even remember it, we were stationed so many places."
"Sounds familiar," Faith said. "I mean, the rig's in the South China Sea at the moment but I stopped keeping track of all the places it's been. Guess it's not important anymore."
"I don't know, I think the little things are always important. For instance, what's your favorite movie?" he asked her.
"Of all the questions you could ask, you pick that one?"
"Yep. Don't make me guess."
"You're gonna laugh at me. 2001: A Space Odyssey. I know, I know," she said.
Just like she thought he would, Sharp laughed. "I never would've guessed. 'I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that.'"
She chuckled. "'What's the problem?'"
Sharp looked at her. "'I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do.'"
"'What are you talking about, HAL?'" She looked at Sharp.
"'This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it.' I'm so glad that we have control over our computers."
"Yea, too much at stake to have a HAL on our hands. Your turn," Faith said.
"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," he told her.
"Oh, that's a good one. I was expecting Top Gun or something."
"I hate Top Gun. Don't tell anyone I said that, I got a reputation to protect," he whispered against her shoulder.
"Your secret is safe with me, Will."
"I know. I gotta go, flight sim."
Faith nodded. "So, that's what you guys do when you aren't with us."
"Practice makes perfect. See you later?"
"Only if you want to," she said with a smile.
"Then I'll see you later." Sharp smiled back before he gave her a quick kiss and left the way he came.
"Oh, I'm not telling dad about that one," another voice said from behind her.
Faith closed her eyes. "Grace."
"You guys are so adorable," the younger Stamper said with a chuckle.
"I am not adorable. I'm… I don't know what I am, right now," Faith groaned.
"You're smitten. Like you must really like him because I can see it written all over your face," Grace said before taking the spot that Sharp vacated "Looks to me like the feeling is mutual."
"What am I doing?"
"Taking care of yourself, for a change," her sister said. "Faith, I've watched you take care of everybody but yourself. For once, don't worry about what anybody thinks and do what you want."
"Isn't that how your boyfriend ended up getting chased around the rig by Harry with a shotgun?"
"True but I bet if you asked A.J. he would tell you that it's worth it. At least, I hope that's what he'd say. Look, there's not much we can do here; train and hang out. So, hang out with him like you've been doing. If it's something, you'll know and if it's not, you'll know that too. Worry about dad later."
"You really think this'll be okay?" Faith asked.
"I think that love comes from all over the place. If you find it then you find it."
Faith looked at her. "Dad told you what I said?"
"Yep." Grace nodded. "He said you convinced him to have an open mind. Take some of your own advice. You're always making sure that I'm happy, you should give it a try."
"This isn't… I'm not actually sure what this is. Or how to go about it. I mean, what if I like... fall in love with him and one of us dies?"
"What if you fall in love with him and you both live? Figuring it out is the fun part. You taught me that. Come on, the guys are here and I doubt we want to talk about this in front of them." Grace was right about that. The two sisters made their way down the steps and got back to work.
"You guys have any plans for the rest of the night?" Faith, Grace, A.J., Freddy, Oscar, Rock, Bear and Max all shook their heads at Tucker's question. He smirked. "Good, come with me." He led them through the building and into a conference room; Davis met them there.
"What's going on?" Grace asked quietly.
"Impromptu movie night," Tucker told them. Sharp, Watts and Halsey walked in from behind them with drinks and junk food. The guys started naming movies but Sharp shook his head and gave her a look. Faith knew what movie it was.
"2001: A Space Odyssey?"
"It was easy to track down around here," Sharp told her. "I can't tell you how many people had a copy."
"Isn't that your favorite movie, Faith?" Freddy asked, nudging her arm. She knew what he was up to.
"Yea, Freddy. Mine and half of NASA's, it's a space movie," Faith said.
"It's my favorite too… this and Star Wars," Tucker told them.
She smiled. "Which one?"
"Return of the Jedi." The Independence's pilot smiled. "The best one."
Oscar shook his head. "Empire Strikes Back."
"Are you crazy?" Max asked. "A New Hope."
"Oh no. Here they go," Grace said as Tucker, Oscar, Freddy and Max went into a conversation about Star Wars while the others got settled to watch the movie.
"Thanks for this," she whispered as she sat next to Sharp.
"You're welcome," he said with a smile.
"So, how'd you pull that off?" she asked Sharp.
"Asked Truman," he said.
"Of course, you did," Faith said. "I think we all needed the reprieve."
"Maybe I just needed a reason to sit next to you for a few hours without your dad looking over our shoulders."
"Ah, Harry… tries."
The crazy thing about all this was that Harry was finally given time to think about where they were as a family and apparently, he didn't like what he saw. Faith was more of an adult than he was and Grace deferred to her instead of him.
"After my mom left… I guess he didn't know what to do with girls. Didn't help that me and Grace are so… different. She's a girly girl and I'm just one of the guys."
"Impossible."
Faith chuckled, "What?"
"You… You're gorgeous. I have a hard time believing that you're just one of the guys when you aren't working."
"You think I'm gorgeous?"
"You are," he said. "You're smart and you care about people, which only makes you more beautiful." Faith felt butterflies fluttering around in her stomach. It's not like she's never been in a relationship before but this was different. There was an edge to it, no doubt the ticking clock. She looked at her boots. "Don't do that. Don't hide." He put his hand on her chin forced her to look at him, "You're beautiful. It's almost unfair that you've been hiding on that rig for so long."
"Was that what I was doing?" Faith asked quietly even though there was a part of her that knew he was right. Faith had the chance to do other things but she picked the job she loved. He nodded. "I wish we met before this."
"Me too but here we are." Faith looked up and found herself staring into his eyes. Sharp stepped closer to her and pulled her into a kiss. Faith moved her hands into his hair, which was soft under her fingers.
There was a soft knock at her door. She sighed against his lips, "It's Grace." They stepped away from the door and Faith opened it. "You okay?"
"I'm good," her sister said with a giggle. "Though I've interrupted something."
"It's okay," Sharp said. "I should go. I know better than to get between sisters." He pressed a gentle kiss against Faith's lips. "Please do me a favor and get some rest."
"I'll try. Goodnight, Will."
"'Night, ladies," he said before leaving the room.
"Don't say anything," Faith told Grace.
"But, Faith… movie night. Come on," her sister said with bright smile.
She shook her head. "You came in here just to mess with me, didn't you?"
"Yep. I didn't know he was here… not surprised though. Maybe you'll come back from the asteroid and have some cute little blue-eyed babies."
Faith rolled her eyes. "We barely know each other, stop planning the wedding."
"You know more about him than some of the guys you've gone out with. Don't tell me you don't." Faith opened her mouth to deny but she closed it again when she realized that her sister was right.
"Shut up, Gracie."
Faith glanced at the clock; she had no idea why she was awake at quarter to four in the morning. If they held to the schedule, everyone else would sleep for a few more hours before they got any work done. Faith figured that if she was up this early, she might as well do something.
Since Faith slept in her workout shorts and sports bra, she pulled the gray NASA t-shirt over her head and slid her feet into her sneakers. She grabbed her ID tag and left her room. Now, if she only knew where she was going.
Faith walked around a bit before she heard Tucker call her name. "Where are you off too?"
"No clue," she told him. "Thought I might go for a run but I have no idea where I'm allowed to go."
The tall pilot chuckled. "You can run with us if you want."
"Who is this us you speak of?"
He smiled. "Flight crew. All six of us."
"Sounds good."
The pair joked back and forth as they weaved their way through the building. Eventually, they found the others outside one of the hangers.
"We have a seventh this morning," Tucker said.
"If it's alright with all of you," Faith said. "Been up since three. Can't sleep."
"You and everyone else. I haven't sleep well since they told us," Gruber said to her.
Watts nodded. "Kinda hard to sleep when the world is counting on you not to screw up."
Faith looked at them. "Please don't tell me you guys are nervous. This is what you do for a living."
"Doesn't mean we don't worry about it. If it makes you feel better, your team is doing pretty good for a bunch of civilians that got pulled off the street and told the world was gonna end. No offense, but I had my doubts." That was the most she ever heard Halsey say.
"We'll try not to disappoint but if you're all worried, what kinda hope does my team have?" Faith asked.
"Fear is healthy, kid," the Independence's Air Force Pilot told her.
She looked at Davis. "Well, no wonder I passed the physical. I'm terrified."
They all laughed and Davis shook his head.
"Nothing against your team, Stamper," he said, "but you got those boys beat by miles. I figure as long as you and your dad can keep everyone focused, we have a chance."
"That's a lot you're resting on my shoulders, Colonel. What if I'm not up to it?"
"Have some faith, Faith," Tucker said. She felt pride swell up in her chest, these men and Watts, thought she could do this.
Faith ultimately rolled her eyes at his joke. "Sharp beat you to that one a few days ago. Now, are we talking or running?"
"Running," Tucker said, "just don't get too carried away. We're replaceable, you're not."
She looked at Sharp. "Is that true?"
"There's a list of pilots and munitions specialists to take over if something happens to one of us but you built the drill, there's nobody who could even attempt to replace you," he said. Faith doesn't know why that didn't register with her before but she shook the thought out of her head as the whole group took off.
They weren't going fast and, in a way, it seemed like they just needed to do something normal. She stayed with Watts, behind the colonels but ahead of everyone else, as the group ran around the large hanger closest to the flight line. She liked this group; they were like a more serious version of her team.
Faith doesn't know how long they were out there but Tucker cracked jokes the whole time, Sharp kept an eye on her without being too obvious about it and she almost tripped when she saw Halsey smile; she didn't know he had it in him.