Chapter 21

As Long as I Have To…

The phone calls home and interviews with the police were grueling. Dealing with the press was… maddening. General Bowers had ordered Don and Judy to provide the standard "No comment" response, but the media was relentless. If Don saw one more flashbulb in his face he swore he would shove the camera down the photographer's throat.

The only recognizable piece of wreckage salvaged from the explosion was Don's saber, which was found a block away, twisted like a gnarled tree branch. Each piece of debris found had to be tagged and its location marked on a map. The fireman who found it sought out Don. "Major West?" the fireman said, "I wanted to give you an opportunity to see this. If you like, I can 'misplace' it so that you can keep it."

Don took it and turned it in his hands. Flashbacks of twisted bodies outside the Wiltshire Hotel went through his mind. He hoped it wasn't an omen of the future. He handed it back to the fireman. "I don't want it. There's no room for mementos where we're going. Thanks for letting me see it, though."

After he left, Judy wrapped her arms around him and put her head against his chest. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes to erase the images of the destruction. "Judy? Can you give me some tips from what Dr. Shapiro taught you to do?"

"It hasn't worked for me today, but maybe, if we do it together, it'll help."

They did what they could to work through the effects of the bombing and were finally given clearance to head back to the base.

Debbie drove as the two couples headed towards Houston in silence. Don and Judy were in the back seat. She was in the center seatbelt leaning against him with her eyes closed and her hand placed over his heart. Don had his arm around her holding her close as he stared out the window. Both were shell shocked and exhausted. They were nearing home and Tony turned his head around to warn them. "Our ETA is twenty-two hundred. We'll be at the base in about fifteen minutes."

They traveled in silence for a few more minutes. Judy looked up at him and whispered, "Don?"

"Hm?"

"We would have been married by now."

He nodded. "But we're both alive and that's all that matters."

He took her chin and tenderly brought her lips up to meet his.

Debbie announced that the lights of the base were ahead. Tony stated, "We'll probably be debriefed as soon as we report in. Major, do you want us to leave the elopement plans out of our reports?"

"I don't know… Judy?" Don asked.

"Leave it out," she stated. "We'll have more than enough to discuss with my parents without bringing that into it."

He could see her withdraw before his eyes. The passionate girlfriend was disappearing to be replaced by the 'dutiful daughter.'

"We're here," Debbie proclaimed as they pulled up to the gate house. They drove directly to the security building where the Robinsons were waiting for them. They all exited the car and Judy was immediately surrounded by her family.

Debbie and Tony saluted Don and he returned the gesture. "It was a privilege and an honor to be assigned to you and Judy this weekend, sir," Debbie stated.

Tony added, "I'm sorry we couldn't end the assignment as we had hoped."

"Me too," Don said and he shook both their hands.

Judy untangled herself from her family and gave both Tony and Debbie a hug. "Thank you both for everything."

Will approached Don, "Sorry about your car."

Don ruffled his hair and gave him half a smile. "Ah, I was going to have to get rid of it in a few months anyway," he replied.

"But you loved that car!" Penny said.

He shrugged. "Yeah, I did. I'm just glad nobody got hurt."

John nodded to Don. "Major. Now you know why we wanted you to forego the trip to Galveston."

The last thing Don needed was a lecture on why they should have stayed on the base. "Professor…"

"You both could have lost your lives!"

"Don't you think I know that!" Don had to turn away before he said anything he would regret. He didn't look to Judy for support. Now that she was back with her parents she was in full daughter mode. He stomped into the building in search of General Bowers and Tony followed him.

As Judy watched him walk away, she ached to go after him, but something held her in place. She started crying. "Dad, please don't…

"Judy, I know you have strong feelings for him, but you and he were foolish to have left the base. Aeolis Umbra will stop at nothing to terminate this mission."

"There is nothing you can say that will make me regret going with him. It was a magical weekend…"

She wanted to say more, but Debbie interrupted. "Judy, I'm sorry, but it really is time to go in and debrief. You can talk more with your family later."

Judy nodded, and two of them entered the building. Maureen turned to her husband and said, "John, you don't think…"

"I hope not, Maureen because if they did and she is…" he looked at his younger children and stopped. "We'll talk with her tonight after she comes home."

"You take the children back, John, I'll wait for her. It might be easier for her if I just talk with her myself.

"I'd like to be there."

"Mother-daughter privilege, John."

He grudgingly nodded and left with Penny and Will.

The foursome were individually debriefed by the security chief, but Don wanted to speak with General Bowers himself. He was angry, confused and depressed and needed to talk with someone who had Professor Robinson's ear, but would still support him. While Judy was finishing up her interview, he went in search of General Bowers and found him working in his office.

"At ease, Major," the general said after Don saluted him. "What's on your mind?"

"Permission to confide in you, sir, without the information being passed onto Professor Robinson." Don asked.

"I can't promise that, Major. He is as much in charge of this mission as I am."

"But as an air force officer, I report to you, not the professor."

"Point taken. Well, if it's not information that could jeopardize the mission, then permission is granted."

"Thank you, sir. I know that security didn't have any direct information regarding a possible hit on Judy and me this weekend."

"Other than the usual rumors, no. If there had been, I would have ordered you to remain on the base."

"Then I don't understand why the professor is so angry with me. Judy wanted to go as much as I did. We needed that time away, sir. We're still trying to figure out where our relationship is going."

"And have you figured anything out?"

"Yes, sir, we have… and this is what Judy doesn't want her father to know, but… we were planning on eloping tonight."

"Elope?" The general chuckled. "I can't say that I'm surprised. The only people having trouble with your relationship are her parents."

"And I don't understand that! I mean… I know fathers are protective of their daughters, but I'm not such a terrible person."

"As the father of three grown daughters, I can tell you that the first one is always the hardest, Major. Which leads me to a question that, if Judy wasn't on this mission, I would have no business asking, but… did you and Judy… consummate your relationship this weekend?"

"Despite what you might see in the tabloids, no, Sir, we didn't."

"I'm relieved to hear that. I can't tell you how complicated matters could get if you had."

"We are responsible, General. Trust me, she wouldn't have gotten pregnant."

"Accidents happen, Major West. The flight is less than three months away. I don't need to tell you that, if that particular 'accident' happens, she is off the flight."

"I know that, Sir, and if she's off, I'm off."

Maureen paced as she waited for Judy to emerge from the security offices. She was finally released. "How did it go, Judy?" Maureen asked.

"I'm just glad it's done," Judy responded.

"How is your… 'mental outlook'?"

"Dr. Shapiro's therapy helped me get through things this time."

"Good. Let's go home."

"I wanted to wait for Don."

"I've been told that he's going to be delayed. You can talk with him tomorrow."

"But…" she said and stopped. 'We should have been married by now.' The thought ran through Judy's mind, but she wasn't ready to speak to her mother about that yet. "All right, but let me get a message to him."

'Don,

I wanted to wait and talk with you, but my mother insisted that I go home. To be honest, I am exhausted and dying for a shower. Call me when you get home. I don't care how late it is.

Judy'

She handed the note to the security guard. "Please be sure Major West gets this note," she said and left the building. She and Maureen walked in silence for a few minutes.

"I'm sorry you're father was angry with Don, but he didn't want either of you to go on that trip. He had a feeling something would happen," Maureen said.

"Mother, please, it's over."

"It may be over, Judy, but there is one thing that, as a mother, I need to discuss with you." Maureen took a deep breath and then continued. "Who was in your room when I called you the other night?"

"Mother, why don't you come right out and say it. You're afraid that I spent the night with Don."

"Did you?"

"If you're asking if we had sex, the answer is 'no.'"

Maureen sighed in relief. "Judy, I know this is uncomfortable for you, but, as your mother, I need to be sure you're ready to take such a step if and when you do."

"If? Mother, please, I'm nineteen years old. Most girls my age are onto their second or third partner by now."

"But that doesn't make it right. And that is also my point. You are not like most girls."

That was Judy's complaint. She wanted to be like 'most girls' and had always felt out of step. When she was with Don and his friends, she felt accepted. He made her feel 'special' and 'normal' at the same time.

They walked in silence a few more paces and Judy asked, "Mother, how old were you when you had your first experience?"

Maureen thought back to her own teenage years. "My one and only partner has been your father, and I am proud of that."

"So you saved yourself for your wedding night?"

Maureen cleared her throat. She was embarrassed to admit this, but maybe it was time that the secret was out. They had reached their home and walked up to the front door. John had been waiting for them in the very same chair Don had slept in a few months earlier. John stood as they came up the walk.

"Are you alright?" he asked Judy.

"Yes, Dad, I'm fine and there is no chance that I'm pregnant," she replied.

John was taken aback by her forthright statement. "Needless to say I am relieved. I don't think I need to tell you what would happen if… something like that happened before lift-off."

"Dad, we're not stupid. We would take precautions."

John shifted on his feet uncomfortably.

"John, I think it's time we tell her," Maureen suggested.

He nodded. Judy looked from one parent to the other, wondering what 'secret' they had kept from her.

"As we've told you before, it was love at first sight for your father and me, Judy, and we became engaged by the end of freshman year. What we never told you is that… we hadn't planned on getting married until after graduation," Maureen said.

"What happened?" Judy asked, and then her eyes opened wide. "You became pregnant with me!"

Maureen nodded.

Judy started laughing.

"It was not funny, young lady," John admonished.

"I'm sorry," Judy replied, "I'm not laughing because it's funny. It's just hard to believe that you and mom had to get married. You are both always so… perfect."

"Far from it, Judy. We both try our best and sometimes we make mistakes, but we take responsibility and live with the consequences," John replied.

"John, you make it seem as if marrying me was a 'consequence'!" Maureen stated.

"Now, Maureen, you know that the only thing that changed was that we were married earlier than we had planned. Marrying you was the best decision of my life!" John turned his attention back to Judy. "Which is why, young lady, we are so concerned about you and Major West. I don't need to tell you the consequences if you were to get pregnant."

"Not only that, Judy, so much has happened to you over the last year, I'm not sure you're ready for the emotional turmoil that a… physical relationship can lead to… Think about Major West's last, uh, relationship and what it did to you," her mother added.

That statement, unfortunately, hit a nerve. Judy did not want to relive the depression she had lapsed into at that time. Perhaps they were right. This was not a good time to pursue a physical relationship. She just hoped that Don agreed with her.

It was past midnight by the time Don left the building. Judy's note was handed to him by the guard. He read it and jammed it into his pocket. She had decided to leave rather than wait for him. He was desperate for a shower himself and couldn't blame her for wanting to go home. It was the 'mother insisted' part that bothered him.

As he walked, he admitted to himself that he was hurt and confused by Judy's refusal to tell her parents about their dashed elopement plans. He wondered if she would always bow to her parents wishes even after, or maybe he should say if, they married. They would be in her parents' constant presence and influence. Would there ever come a time when she would again become the passionate woman that was with him this past weekend? 'We should have been married by now,' he thought. Don reached his quarters and decided to take a long, cold shower.

When Maureen came out of her room the next morning, she found Judy asleep on the sofa with the phone near her head. Maureen shook her awake. "Judy? Have you been here all night?" she asked.

"Mom? What time is it?"

"Six a.m. Go up to your bed. You'll be more comfortable."

"He never called…"

"You didn't really expect him to, did you? You were both exhausted."

"Yes, Mother, I did."

"Go upstairs and go back to sleep, dear. General Bowers gave you today off so that you can recover."

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep. I'll go out and get the paper."

"Well, all right. I'll make coffee."

Judy opened the door and jumped back in surprise as the newspaper was handed to her. "Don!"

"We were supposed to be married by now," he said softly from the Adirondack chair.

Judy closed the door behind her and moved to kneel down beside him, but he pulled her into her lap. "Why didn't you call me last night?" she asked.

"I was mad."

"Mad? Why?"

"The woman I was with over the weekend disappeared the minute she saw her family."

"How can you say that!"

He pulled the crumpled note out of his pocket. "Mother insisted?"

Judy's face flushed. "So?"

"So, a woman who is ready to get married and pledge herself to a man for the rest of her life would not be ruled by her mother or be afraid to tell her parents about her marriage plans."

"So, what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that it's probably a good thing that we didn't get married… or do anything else."

Her tears started to flow. "So you don't want to be with me?"

"No! I do! I love you, Judy. I'll wait for you... I'll wait as long as I have to. I still want to marry you and make love to you and have babies with you… but… not in the next three months."

She buried her face in his neck. "I'm sorry," she sobbed, "You're right."

"Hey, it's okay," he whispered. "I'm still here…"

He wiped the tears from her cheek and tilted her chin so he could press his lips against hers. As their kiss deepened, the door flew open and Professor Robinson strode out to the porch.

"Major West!" he bellowed. If Don wasn't holding onto Judy, she would have fallen onto the floor. "Isn't it a bit too early to be visiting?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, it is," Don replied.

"And?"

"And, we made the front page of the newspaper, or at least my car did."

"Let me see that." Don handed him the paper. "Well, you might as well come in for some breakfast," John stated.

Don smiled, "Thank you, sir. I'd like that."

He and Judy stood up, and Don whispered in her ear, "Too bad it's not breakfast in bed."

Judy giggled. "Radar, dear. My parents have radar."

As Maureen placed the mugs on the table, Don greeted her and John held the paper up for her to see. On the front page was Don's Datsun 280Z in flames.

"Oh, my God," was all Maureen could say.

The story recounted how Don had discovered the bomb and shouted for Judy to get out of the car. Bystanders praised the heroic efforts of two air force personnel who helped Judy and cleared the area.

"Professor Robinson, I need to thank you for insisting that we have a security detail along with us. I know there would have been causalities if they hadn't been there," Don stated.

"Which brings up why you needed to go in the first place," John replied.

"Sir, I was the best man at Mike's wedding. I'm loyal to my friends. Besides, security had no knowledge of a specific threat towards us or I would have been ordered to stay on the base."

"Humph."

John opened the paper to finish reading the story. There were other pictures and a side story about Judy and Don's weekend.

"Well," he stared at Judy and Don. "You put on quite a show for the paparazzi."

Judy glanced at Don and blushed. The pictures of the two of them kissing outside the church and entering the hotel room together were with the article.

"The picture in front of the church was my idea," Judy admitted.

"Oh, Judy…" Maureen lamented.

It took effort, but Don kept his mouth closed. He would let Judy's parents take the lead in the discussion, but it was time that he let his intentions be known, regardless of whether or not Judy agreed.

John was not happy to say the least. "Do you know how this makes things look?"

Judy responded like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "Yes, Dad, we do. I'm sorry. We got carried away being away from the base."

"Wait a minute, Judy," Don stated, "I'm not ready to apologize. We did nothing 'wrong' this weekend. We kissed in public and were caught going into a hotel room – connecting rooms at security's insistence. The public already had us coupled and in bed together months ago, regardless of what the truth is. So I don't see what the problem is."

"I will tell you what the problem is, Major. It takes away from the seriousness of this mission. What you and Judy do is a reflection of the Jupiter program. I will not have this mission reduced to tabloid reports of whether or not you two have slept together!"

"But we haven't… well, technically…" Don stated. The look on Judy's face stopped him. She was mortified. "Look, Professor and Mrs. Robinson, I love your daughter. I've told her that and now you both know. I want to marry her."

"She's too young," Maureen stated.

"Will you all please stop talking about me as if I wasn't here!" Judy demanded.

All eyes turned on her.

She faced her parents and said, "I am not too young," and then turned to Don and added, "And… I know that I'm not ready. Any more talk of marriage is going to have to wait until we land on Alpha Prime." She turned back to her parents. "And that discussion will be between Don and me. Now, can the three of you accept that?"

Don smiled. He knew that it had taken a lot for her to assert herself to her parents. "As I said before, Judy, I'll wait as long as you need me to."