A/N: Last chapter, thanks for reading, folks. This cruise was brought to you by the good ship McWeir. Anti-sickness tablets are always available free of charge on my sailings, from the information desk on Deck Six. The onboard dentist is not making any comment on risk of caries at this time.
Chapter Four
Elizabeth felt the ache in her knees as she uncurled herself. She was lying on the floor of the puddlejumper, in the rear section. The blankets pooled around her as she sat up, the bench cushions under her. Blinking, she took in her surroundings and recalled the previous evening. She wondered how long she had to go, stuck in here. Alone.
As she stretched, smoothing out her crumpled top, she smiled. It was almost as if she hadn't been alone at all. Of course, if it hadn't been for Rodney she wouldn't have been trapped, but…
The tapping on the window of the jumper caught her attention. It was Rodney, gesticulating wildly. Frowning, she stood up and moved to the forward section, leaning across the instruments to see him better.
"What's going on, Rodney? What time is it?"
"I think I've done it! I can override the lock, just give me a few minutes more!" His eyes sparkled. "I couldn't sleep, I've been working on it for a while," he announced proudly, then bobbed down and was gone from view.
She was elated at the thought of an early release, and incredulous that he had never given up trying to figure out a way to override the time lock. But surely he could have come up with the same solution last night?
With a hiss, and a hum, she turned to see the rear hatch of the jumper lowering down serenely. She made her way back, and could hear Rodney shouting.
"Elizabeth? Are you okay?" His face appeared as the door lowered enough, and he jittered impatiently as he waited for the angle of the door to allow him to scramble over and into the jumper.
"I'm so sorry!" he cried, and his hands touched her shoulders, as he looked at her like she might have an injury somewhere, or blood on her.
"Rodney, I am fine." She put her arms around him and hugged him close. "I'm just glad to be free, especially a few hours early."
Shocked a little by her embrace, Rodney slowly wrapped his arms around her and returned the embrace. "I didn't check… damn, I'm such an idiot."
She pulled back a little, and studied his face. "Rodney. You've been working too hard. You need to slow down. It hasn't been easy, these past few weeks." He had turned his face away, but she continued, "You need a break. Agreed?"
He sighed. She touched the palm of her hand to his cheek, and turned his face towards her.
"I'm worried about you," she whispered.
He dropped his head down onto her shoulder, and held her tight. "Sorry," he murmured, "I think maybe you're right."
She hugged him close, then they stepped back from each other. "I just want to know one thing," she said, smiling.
He lifted his head, looking a little worried. "What?"
"You wouldn't pretend you couldn't override the hatch just to eat dinner with me, and watch me sleep, would you?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
His shocked face was a picture. "Elizabeth! How could you even think such a thing? You had to… you were stuck… and I…" he was waving one arm wildly.
She stepped forward, and pressed a finger to his lips. "Sorry, I was kidding, really."
He nodded, dumbly, and she took her finger away.
He frowned. "Of course, now you mention it, it's not such a bad idea. And in fact, if I'd spent a little more time thinking last night, I could have figured out the override…" he paused. "Sorry."
"I had fun," she shrugged.
"Really?"
"Well, not fun, exactly… but it was nice. You know, talking…" she waved her hand, trying to find the right word. "Being… near."
Rodney lifted his hand, and looked at it, the one he'd pressed to the window, and he looked at her hand. As he reached out, she lifted her hand, and moved to him. Their fingers touched, this time with no window in between.
"Near," he echoed, and she nodded.
"Yes," she agreed, "It was nice." She could feel the desire as clearly as if she was seeing it in a mirror.
Their fingers slipped together as they held hands, and he pulled her in for a kiss. "Thank you," he breathed.
"Hmm?" she murmured against his lips, "What for?"
"For being okay, I guess," he said cautiously.
After a moment, thinking, she chuckled, "Yes, all right, Rodney, you can be a brave, handsome warrior, and I'll be the bird who doesn't die from captivity. Then you can carry on being a brave, handsome warrior, instead of becoming a farmer."
"Ah. Yes. Something like that. You do make a very beautiful, um, bird." He winced at her light swat on his arm, and grinned. "You know, I like it when you can change the ending of a story." He kissed her again, enjoying the taste.
Elizabeth remembered the story she'd heard about Kate and Rodney. "Yes," she smiled, holding him tight. "So do I."
FIN
