Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

Meet the Captain

For delphigirl689

Well he hoped that she was finally having second thoughts with how she had been dealing with the family situation for these past few years. George cast a dark look in his sisters direction after the porter had brought the last of the luggage on board. She knew now that she had this coming. She must have felt all those regrets which she chose to ignore for all these years all together within this moment. She knew this was because she had failed to tell him that he had rested his hopes in a person which was already promised to another. She knew that now. She knew he partly did this because he wanted her to feel how he felt. He wanted to know what it was like to have someone so close to you but know that they were as out of your grasp as someone on the other end of the universe. However there was a smirk on his face as if to say I-know-something-you-don't-know. She narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head as if to say back at him that he was being immature. She cast her eyes to the Heavens asking what on earth had she done to deserve this. After everything she had done, she was so close now and then this had to happen. Selina noticing the coldness between the two siblings decided to step in and take her revenge further by engaging in pleasant conversation with her brother which was something George Richardson would take pleasure in doing.

Cassandra rolled her eyes and turned away, deciding to look over the view to distract herself from all of this. It would be petty and ridiculous to allow herself to be bothered by such a thing since that was what they wanted. They both exchanged a secret glance and then temporarily glanced in Cassandra's direction for a moment. Selina drew Diana into the conversation knowing that her friend would be comforted by speaking with such a handsome, polite young man. She also noticed from the exchange that they two shared an attraction to one another, something which gave Selina an idea. One which she knew Cassandra would not approve of but may be able to help Diana with the problem she was facing. Cassandra looked away most of the time trying not to seem too vexed by the whole situation however was unable to resist a glance every now and then. At one moment she heard Selina give out a dramatic gasp and cast a shocked look in Cassandra's direction. She knew this was a ply to get her to notice her since she giggled afterwards with the look of conspirator hiding behind her hand. Cassandra rolled her eyes and decided to ignore it. She didn't feel the need to care for such things any more. She wished already for this voyage to be over and leaned over the side taking in deep breaths of air.

"Cassandra?"

Cassandra took in a sharp, deep breath when she heard his voice. She thought she would never hear his voice again and so close to her as well. She never thought that she was going to see him again but that was part of the plan. She knew it would be easier if she separated herself from him. Her heartbeat began to beat faster than a solar surfer soaring across the sky. All those old feelings she had towards him, good and bad came rushing back so quickly she didn't know how she was going to stop it. She paled over at the sight of him, much to George and Selina's pleasure. She almost felt like her hair was going grey she was getting so stressed out by the situation. She knew before even turning round to see who it was that it was him. Her hands which were resting on the side shook with fear and nervousness. She stared out onto the view as if trying to pretend that she hadn't heard his voice or wasn't there. That was why Selina gasped so suddenly, knowing that it would bring Cassandra much displeasure in him being there. It also explained the smirk on George's face considering that he knew how she parted ways with him. This was honestly going to be the worst day of her entire life.

"Cassandra." Jim repeated. He rested his hand close to hers and leaned in slightly however not that close so her face so he wouldn't startle her.

Cassandra still jumped back as if she had touched hot water. "Mr Hawkins!"

Jim blinked at the young woman's behaviour as well as how much she had changed over the past couple years since he had seen her. He had to admit to himself that she wasn't the only one who was a little bit unsettled by the sight of her. She had grown even more slimmer but her figure and chest seemed more womanly, for lack of a better word, than before. The low cut on the neck he supposed exaggerated this more though. Her dark, shining hair seemed curlier than before and the strands of hair which escaped her loose bun hung by the sides of her face like gentle, twisty vines. Her bright green eyes seemed more darker and more piercing than before and almost drew Jim into them. She was a pleasant girl to look at but he found now that like wine a woman grew more delicious with age. He remembered about a year ago on a voyage he had to visit a Queen of a planet he was passing through. She wasn't exactly beautiful but there was something about her gaze. She had gotten rather old but she was still attractive. It was something just about the aura she sent about the room...He then raised his eyebrows wondering that if this was the case goodness knows what would happen once she hit forty. He took a step forward but then she took a step back. He tilted his head to the side and gave her a look and took another step forward however this time also took her wrist gently to stop her from running away.

"Miss Cassandra. I would appreciate you didn't ignore me." He said in a stern voice.

Cassandra continued to look in a different direction until she braved a look in Mr Hawkins direction and curtsied.

"Good afternoon, Mr Hawkins."

"Actually that's Captain Hawkins."

Cassandra felt like her legs were wobbling and almost sank down into the ground. Captain...

Hawkins?

"Congratulations." She wavered.

Captain Hawkins? She was shaking all over when she heard this being said to her. She knew that last time they had spoken he mentioned that there may have been the possibility that he may be promoted to this title but saying that meant that you could only hope for that promotion to come in the next five years at the very least. Did this mean she had to abide by the rules of the space code or by Captain Hawkins? If that was the case she knew this was only going to be more difficult than the last voyage that she took with him. This meant that she would be trapped in his web. That he would finally be able to do what he wanted of her, which was to be submissive to his demands and to allow her to think that he was allowed to help her when she didn't need any. Not any longer. He knew that much and he knew that now she was eighteen and could finally make her way in the world. She shook her head dreading the thought of what he might do while she was under his care. She had put Helen under his care but that was only because she trusted him to be good to Helen and Helen would benefit more from his kindness and generosity than she would. She wasn't thinking along the lines of something a drunken, promiscuous man but one, and something he had proven to be, an overbearing, insistent man who believed it was his duty to care and pet over. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Thank you." He replied with a slight grin on his face. "Is it so difficult to be in my presence?"

She glanced in the direction of her brother and Selina whose shoulders seemed to be shaking which made Cassandra shake with anger.

"Yes, considering how we parted last time we met." She replied curtly.

"What part are you angry at?" He demanded in an angry which was so sudden it surprised

Cassandra in the midst of her own anger. Cassandra was quiet after he asked this question not only was it because she was speechless but also because she actually had to think why she was actually angry about their last meeting. She was angry because he was trying to control her, as it seemed. However she didn't want to tell him this because she was sure it would give him a reason to carry on pressing his petition to her on the instance that he was doing otherwise. She wasn't sure though what other reason there could be for being so insistent on trying to help her. She had told him that she had a plan and that she would be fine however this didn't seem to satisfy. He had to have a part to play in helping her. His pride annoyed her. It seemed to be a trait shared amongst Space Captains. She could at least admit to her own pride. She knew she had some flaws but she knew it was a redeeming virtue to acknowledge them. However there was a small part of her which was angry at herself. When she looked back on the night and as she lying in bed she thought about the emotions which were running through her and it was something she recognised as regret. She thought back to the day when Helen last left her and even though she gave off that she had regrets she she was sure she had more than anyone in the galaxy.

She looked up at him and considered the answer to give him. She didn't want to lie to him because she knew being caught in the web of deceit was soon a hard maze to escape from.

"At myself." She answered in a quiet voice.

Jim's hard expression softened slightly and looked down at her with confusion clouding his eyes.

"At yourself?" He almost laughed.

Jim Hawkins didn't know Cassandra as intimately as her friends nor her brother but he knew her well enough that she was a proud creature under that beautiful face. He was sure that she had been able to charm many others into thinking that she had no faults of her own but he saw both the darker side of this girl as well as her qualities as well. She could be quite a vicious harpy behind those alluring dark eyes but one thing she was not was someone who could confess her own wronging. He wasn't sure whether she should have been sent to a girl's boarding school. That environment would probably make it worse or would allow some other girl to fall into her dangerous clutches. Then again she wouldn't do something like that. That was something so aristocratic, social-climbing witch would do. And yes that was said in a sarcastic voice, in his head. She was too proud for that. She could be able to admit her faults to herself but not to others. If there was someone who became close enough then yes maybe she could but as far as he knew there was no one who could be close enough to her as yet for her to have the confidence in admitting them. Maybe she was now tired of having to put up with it and now she was going to throw in the towel. She was going to admit that everyone else was right, maybe she was being too proud, too selfish towards others for being a martyr towards everyone else.

She glared at him and nodded. "Yes, Captain Hawkins. I am angry at myself. There you have my answer now may I join my companions?"

"Not quite yet." He answered in a slow, unsure voice. "First I want to clear some things up before you go. First I want to know why you're angry at yourself. Why?"

Cassandra looked around to find Selina, Diana and George were gone. There were a few crew members looking in their direction where Captain Hawkins took her up the steps to his office. He slammed the door behind him and turned his determined gaze back onto her.

"So, you were just about to tell me why you are angry at yourself, Miss Richardson."

She stared back at him and replied through gritted teeth. "Because I...I can't help but be angry at myself for being hateful towards you."

She was being honest in telling him this. She didn't even know why she was giving him the satisfaction of knowing the truth. Maybe because the truth might shut him up for once. Because he knew there was always something that she was hiding from him? Why did he have to be such a smart-ass? For once she was actually being honest with him. That was what she hated herself for. She didn't want him to think that she hated him but hated the way he was behaving about the situation and his actions. She never hated him. She had always thought that she hated him but deep down she was just annoyed at this whole situation and threw all those frustrations onto him. It just made it all the more easier for her to deal with it. It would keep him at a distance and she would be able to vent her anger into something. How could she hate him? She just hated how he was handling the situation and didn't want him to control her. No one was allowed to control her. Sometimes there were hours which would pass by where he was always in her thoughts. She hated herself for making him feel so wretched, if she did or made him have any feelings that hurt him deeply. He had a look in his eyes which told her that he could almost read her mind and knew there was more to say than the simple answer she gave him.

She took a deep breath. "I would also hate myself if I made you feel...bad about yourself."

Jim laughed. "Don't worry you didn't?"

His amusement angered Cassandra slightly but she maintained her posture and dignity. "In that matter. That is the only reason. I don't hate you. I just hate..."

"So there is another reason. Well?"

She glared at him and was quiet for a few moments before answering him. "I look back at it in hate because you were trying to control my destiny when I was able to handle it very well by myself." She snapped.

Jim rubbed his eyes and growled in his hands. "I wasn't trying to control you I was trying to help you but being the stubborn, proud woman that you are you refused it because you don't want other people to help you. Now that's the second thing I want to clear up."

"Shouldn't you be attending to the ships launch, Captain?" She replied curtly.

He surveyed her with a cool eye. "Don't presume you know about such things, Miss Richardson."

His words made her eyes sting, her body shiver and hit her like a hurricane. She might as well have been told that there was no way in any galaxy that she was going to be able to be what she always dreamt of being since she was a little girl. And from the person who told her years ago that she could be anything she wanted. He was really the first person who she told. Her father just always knew what his daughter wanted. She shook with fury, despair and heartbreak. She stepped back slightly and stared at him, gripping the desk behind her until her knuckles were white. He saw that he broke through that thick, strong wall and now was seeing her at when she was most sensitive and relished as well as regretted it at the same time. If she was ten years younger she would be crying her eyes out. However now as a young woman it was her duty to make such public displays of such emotions. A change which he also came to despise in her, once there was a time when she didn't care for such things. When she was free, this was a quality he liked her for the most.

"I..."

"Don't apologise." She interrupted. She shook her head and made her way to the door. "Please don't apologise."

He caught her by the arm and whispered in her ear. "I didn't dismiss you."

Her eyes blazed when they met his and replied in a furious voice, "So you are my master as well as my jailer now?"

"Since when did I give you the impression that you were imprisoned here? We haven't launched yet there is more than enough time for you to leave."

"I am here to act as a comfort to my friend. Despite the fact that the other is at odds with me at the moment since I have...she thinks I've wronged Diana. Not that this is any of your concern."

"Yes. So instead of wasting my time as well as yours. Tell me why you refuse my help."

"What help could you give me?" She burst out. "I would be a burden on you and I would regret that more than you ever could and I add that only because I don't want to make any presumptions on your part. I would not want you to bring you down with my ruin, Captain Hawkins because I would never be able to forgive myself. After you doing so well despite your position in society and yet again I mean no offence by making this comment but I would hate to see your efforts go to waste. So there, sir. That is my answer and I hope that is the last of your questions because I really need to go and reunite with my companions. Thank you."

~ (***) ~

She couldn't believe she was doing this again. She had told herself countless times that she wasn't going to see Kathy again. She knew it would only get her into trouble. She knew eventually she was going to get caught. Usually she would make house calls such as this during the night time but that was when Kathy was most busy with her most recent 'benefactor' so she had to make do with visiting her during the day, even when it put her life on the line but she knew she would never hear the end of it.

She knocked on the door and found herself face to face with the familiar character who simply grunted at her and nodded towards the stairs. Marianne nodded grimly and decided to follow her even though she would rather not be here and she knew the maid would rather she wasn't here either.

She went through the door without giving the old woman a second glance and went straight through the small rooms of Kathy's living quarters and found her with her face buried in her arms.

She frowned and picked up her skirts so that she could get to her quickly. "Kathy? Kathy are you alright?"

The other woman looked up and smiled weakly. "Oh my Marie. You're here. I'm alright it's just...Oh its nothing. He was really nothing..."

Marianne pressed her lips together tightly. So another man had chucked her. She had Selina's father for a number of years. Before him she recalled her friend having a couple of men having her as their mistress but after Selina's father decided to dispose of her she had at least three different men from what she could remember Kathy telling her. She rubbed her back.

"You'll be fine, Kathy. You know that don't you?"

She nodded. "I suppose. I just wish...I wish Selina was here..."

"Well I thought school had broken up by now?"

"It has but she's gone with a friend to her wedding in Orion. It was Diana Firestone."

"Oh right...Who is she getting married to?" She questioned with fear rising in her stomach.

"To the Duke of course."

Oh shit...