It was the noise that got Jenny's attention. She looked up from her work in the maintenance level of the ship. Setting down the tools she'd been using, she scrambled through the understory and up the hatch into the consol room, glancing around.
There was a muffled sound, and Jenny turned. Her father had dozed off in the console chair, his fawn coat spread over him like a blanket. Jenny relaxed a stance she'd barely recognized she'd been holding. She smiled slightly, watching him sleep. They'd been busy, and she was pretty sure he hadn't slept in four or five days. It was good that he was getting a little rest.
Then the older man's forehead wrinkled. He twitched, and his face took on a pained look. A small, strangled cry rasped out of his throat. Jenny stepped over, putting a hand on her father's shoulder.
"Father?"
He twitched under her hand, his breathing harsh. She shook him slightly. "Hey, Father."
The Doctor moaned, then cried out something indecipherable. Jenny shook him harder. "Father. Hey, wake up."
She almost stepped back when he snapped back to consciousness, his eyes wide and glazed. He stared at her, breathing hard. There was something frightened, almost desperate in his expression.
"She'ara?" he asked, studying her face. His voice was dazed, distant.
"It's Jenny, Father." she said, "You fell asleep. You had a nightmare."
For a moment he stared at her. Then he shook his head, his dark hair ruffling out. "Whew. Not fun, not fun at all. Remind me not to read Anne Rice before I nod off!" He stretched, then ran his hands through his hair. "You finish those repairs?"
"No. You've only been asleep twenty minutes."
"Oh, all right. Well, I'll check the levels from up here, give you a hand."
Jenny nodded, watching him walk to the console and begin to type. "Father?"
"Hmm?"
"Who's She'ara? You said that name when you were waking up."
He glanced at her, his hands stilling on the console. "I did?" Jenny nodded. He looked at her for a moment, his dark eyes far away. Then he turned back to the console. "Just someone I knew. A girl. Bout your age." He pulled a few levers. "A long time ago." He drew a breath. "Okay, ready for your end of the work. I'll holler down when it's right."
Jenny nodded, and lowered herself into the understory. She picked up her tools.
She'ara.
A girl about her age.
Maybe she'd ask again. Some other day.