Chapter 7

The days seemed to pass faster as their departure date loomed before them. Judy and Don were disappointed to discover that his sperm count was still quite low, so the possibility of his fathering a child was small. This did not deter them from continuing to try, however, and they decided on taking time for one more celebration before Don was to leave Carmellia with the others.

July 30, 2000

Don and I won't be together on our first anniversary, which is August 24th according to our calendar. We've decided to celebrate quietly with each other on our last night together. I can't believe he'll be gone in two days. What am I going to do here without him?

The med lab was busy that morning. Marcus was giving Scotty a final check-up and Judy was speaking with her mother about her plans to get away. Don came down for an answer on the latest sperm count and ran into Scotty on his way out.

"You okay?" Don asked.

"Fit as a fiddle and ready to fly. How about you?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

"Any better results on your tests?"

"That's what I'm here to find out."

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

Don puttered his way into the lab and approached Marcus. "Well, numbers any better?"

"I'm afraid not, Don. Your body needs time to readjust."

Don hung his head. "Readjust… well, I'm out of time. We're going away to give it one last shot before I leave. God, I hope it works. I think it's the only way to solve our problem with Appolus."

Marcus sighed. "Look, Don, I've been in your position. Don't put all your hopes into one solution. Judy might not get pregnant, and, even if she does, it might not be enough." He wondered if he should offer his next piece of advice. "Are you willing to do more?"

"What do you mean?"

Marcus crossed his arms and asked, "Are you prepared to kill Appolus?"

Don paused. He was surprised at the turn in the conversation. "If our lives depended on it, yeah."

"What about as a first strike against him?"

"Look, Marcus, I'm not out to kill him in cold blood. I just want him to release his claim on Judy and leave us alone."

"And I know he won't. He will stalk you both until he gets what he wants. I know what I went through, and I don't want to see the same thing happen to you."

Realization hit Don. "You said that the woman you loved died in childbirth. There's more to it than that, isn't there."

Marcus unfolded his arms and walked towards his desk. "Yes."

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

"No…" He turned back towards to Don and replied, "But I will. We were in the same predicament that you and Judy are in now. We knew that the only legal way to escape was for me to impregnate her so that the other man would renounce his claim. We were successful."

Don waited as Marcus sifted through his memories and continued. "The other man, however, never recovered from the embarrassment of losing his claim. She never went to the Ministry of Protection, because I thought I could protect her myself and deliver the child. So, we went into hiding. When she was in labor, I heard a commotion outside and ran out to investigate. As soon as I left the building, an explosive device was launched into the doorway. The building was destroyed… and so was…" He didn't need to continue.

"Marcus, I'm sorry. I had no idea."

"Well… it's not something that I can speak of easily. Then I killed the man with my bare hands. My only regret is that I didn't kill him sooner."

Don thought on that statement for a long time. "Thank you, Marcus. Thanks for everything."

Their last night at the swimming hole was to be one of blissful, boundless love in celebration of their first wedding anniversary. As day evolved into night, their leisurely love making increased in desperation. Neither one wanted to lapse into sleep for every moment became more precious as the hour of his departure approached.

Tears welled in Judy's eyes as she voiced the fears she had been harboring for several weeks. "The worst part… for me… will be not knowing if you're… taking too many risks… or are captured, or worse."

He held her in silence, finding no words of comfort, for his fears were as strong as her own. He wiped a tear away from her cheek. "I can't give you any guarantees, but I promise that I will do everything in my power to come back to you in one piece."

"And when will that be?"

He looked away in frustration. "You know I don't know the answer to that."

She stifled a sob and begged, "I know. I'm sorry… I don't want to fight… Please?"

He caressed her cheek and whispered, "I don't want to either."

His eyes searched her face and he brought her lips to his in a soft, soul reaching kiss. She clung to him and wrapped her legs around his hips, locking him against her. He buried himself into her body and she wanted to hold him inside forever. Their passion could not hold off the dawn, however, and they returned to the Jupiter and the uncertainties that lay ahead.

End of Part 2