After nine hours of trying to improve the shuttle Brody and Chloe had been forced to give up, the shields just couldn't take the boost; Rush would have figured it out of that they had no doubt. Chloe hadn't said a single word in all those hours, too lost in her worries for Cressida and Rush... and Matt of course. Instead she'd been sat cross-legged a few feet in front of the ancient gate praying it would roar to life; God, Allah, Zeus, Odin, Amun Ra, she'd prayed to just about every deity she could think off. I just want my little girl safe. The beautiful brunette sat there so long that her legs went numb, she didn't care though, hardly even noticed in all honesty.
Then, suddenly, finally, the gate whirred to life, Chloe darted out of the way on shaky legs just as the blue pool raced forwards and Chloe could have sworn that in less than a second TJ, Young, and Brody appeared behind her. It couldn't have been more than a heartbeat that passed but to Chloe it felt like an eternity before she saw her little girl fall through the gate alongside Rush, then Varro, Volker and a plethora of military personnel.
"Oh thank God you're safe!"
Scott opened his arms for Chloe to fill but she raced right past him and grabbed Cressida from Rush, she held her sweet little angel close and tight; Cress was colder than usual but her tiny body fitted against Chloe's own perfectly. The child was unwilling to leave her Father though so the three ended up in a sort of group hug that to everyone around them looked rather intimate.
"I was so worried about you." She mumbled into Rush's chest as he continued to hold his daughter tight.
Colonel Young wasn't stupid, he could see how hurt Scott looked at the scene before him and so he decided it best to distract the younger man.
"Lieutenant, report." He commanded in that deep tone of his.
Scott's head snapped back to the world around him as he turned towards Young.
"Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir. Everything looked abandoned at first just like when we searched with the kino, but we misjudged sunset – Volker said it was something to do with the atmosphere thickness. When it went dark these, things appeared."
"Things?" Young questioned suspiciously. Brody and TJ moved in closer curious for explanations.
"It's a damn zombie apocalypse down there, Sir." James blurted dropping her backpack to the ground.
When Young shot Rush a look that said what the hell are they talking about he decided to explain and help the other man. He still held Cress and Chloe close, body unwilling to release them both.
"Some kind of chemical attack that lead to vicious mutations. Don't worry we're not carrying anything, Greer needs an examination though, he raced all over the city."
"Right, no one move!" Seemed TJ had put on her medic hat and was taking no arguments. "Brody, Colonel, I need you to back up. I want to be cautious about this." Suddenly Camile walked into the room mouth open prepared to speak but Tamara cut her off almost instantly. "Stay there Camile!"
The dark haired woman ground to a halt at Tamara's quick words, her eyebrows raised questioningly. She wobbled on the spot for a second or two having stopped so quickly but she managed to straighten up before moving over to stand by Young and Mister Brody.
"All of you are going into quarantine for twenty-four hours, after that I'll evaluate you and if I decide there's nothing to be concerned about you can go back into general population."
"Doc, you don't have to make it sound like prison." Greer grumbled.
"You're going into quarantine as well Chloe." The brunette nodded. "Varro and Volker in one room, Scott and Greer in another, Corporal Barnes and Vanessa together I think. Rush, Chloe and Cress in the last."
Scott wanted to voice his complaints about Rush and Chloe sharing but it soon dawned on him that it was all for Cressida's benefit. It was quarantine not a slumber party after all. That and it wasn't like he had anything to worry about, no one would go for Rush especially not his beautiful Chloe. The only reason she went anywhere near him was because of Cressida.
TJ wasted no time locking them all into their rooms, Scott was told he'd be fully debriefed via radio later before the door closed locking Greer and the Lieutenant inside. Volker spent the entire walk complaining that he'd have to share with Varro and none of them were certain that the blonde scientist wouldn't get his lights punched out just for some quiet.
Brody tossed Rush a small piece of white chalk which he was grateful for even if he didn't show it, he'd begun writing almost the second the door had shut behind them not to open again for twenty-four hours. Chloe and Cressida sat on the bed for a time and just watched as he filled the wall in with his scribbling until eventually Chloe pulled her daughter close and started to tell a story. Time went on.
"... but when the space merchant woke he still couldn't find anyone on the ship. He called out but the only thing to meet his ears was the echo of his own voice."
Rush paused at that, he'd been hard at work trying to figure out how to wake Eli for a few hours but the sound of Chloe's voice kept drawing his attention.
"What are you telling her?" He asked looking over to his beautiful daughter curled up in Chloe's arms happily listening to the story.
"Hmm? Oh, Beauty And The Beast but the space version." Chloe smiled softly, pushing a loose strand of brown hair from Cress' face.
"The space version?" He repeated.
"Yeah, Belle's father is a space merchant and the Beast was infected by a virus on another planet, true love's kiss is the only cure." Chloe told him happily, motherhood suited her.
"Right."
"Daddy, shhh. You're ruining the story."
Rush smiled at that, she sounded just as bossy as he did; that's my girl. Still he did as his baby girl wanted and quieted down instead going back to his notes and what he did best.
The story and work went on and then another story began, then another until finally night descended – or at least their version of it – and Cressida fell asleep on what had been serving as a couch. Rush continued to work though, long fingers pressing the nub of chalk to the almost full wall, he was starting to get close to fixing the reanimation of his stasis chamber. The sound of chalk grating on the metal wall reverberated quietly but to Chloe it had been all she'd heard for the hour since she and Cress had settled down for bed.
"Rush, please stop. I want to sleep but I can practically hear you thinking, it's louder than the chalk."
"I'd be doing this in the blackboard corridor but -"
"I know but you need to sleep as well." There was a sense of pleading in her voice.
"Fine."
Nicholas relented, Chloe could always get him to do what she wanted. He fopped down onto the floor beside the young brunette after setting the chalk down, his body thanked him for that, his lower back ached from having been stood so long.
"What are you doing?" She asked suddenly.
"Going to sleep like you told me to." Came his quick answer as though her question was stupid.
"On the floor?"
"Well unless you've discovered a way I can hang from the ceiling like a bat, yes."
"No, no, no. You're sleeping on the bed, there's plenty of room." She patted the bed invitingly and Nicholas raised an eyebrow.
"Really? You sure?"
"It's not like we haven't shared a bed before and Cress told me about that roof, it couldn't have been comfortable. I don't want you to hurt your back."
"Okay." Came his unsure answer as he rose from the floor to sit on the bed. "If you're sure."
Chloe watched as Nicholas pulled off his waistcoat and greet t-shirt, casting them aside for another day, he settled down with his back to Chloe, he tried to shut his brain off but since coming to Destiny and gaining Cressida it had only grown harder.
"Night." He said gruffly.
"Good night and thank you."
There was a pause that stretched on just a few seconds too long before Rush finally had to ask, yet he didn't turn to face her.
"For what?"
"For protecting Cressida." Her voice was soft as she looked over to their sleeping daughter.
"I am her Father."
"Yes you are, and a very good one."
Rush finally turned to face the brunette at that, her tone was so truthful, he found her laying on her side watching him and for a moment he had to fight the urge to shuffle backwards.
"You mean that?"
Everyone on board Destiny had doubted his ability to be Cressida's father – so had he at first – and he wouldn't have been surprised to hear they still doubted him, Chloe had never doubted him though and it wasn't until that moment that he realised just how much hearing those words meant. The dark-haired beauty nodded with a sweet smile that made her dazzling blue eyes sparkle; he was a good father and she wouldn't let anyone take that away from him.
"Gloria and I always wanted children." He rarely ever spoke about Gloria but with Chloe he felt like he could open up. "I wanted a daughter more than she did though."
"You wanted a Daddy's girl, Cressida is certainly that." Chloe told him softly but she could see the self-doubt in his honey chocolate eye's. "You really are a good parent, I mean that."
"I used to think I would be but then I buried myself in my head, in my work."
"You've started sleeping and smiling more since she came along. You're happier, that's plain to see. This isn't how I intended to ever have a child but I wouldn't change her for the world."
"I'm sure you wish she was Lieutenant Scott's though." He said almost absent-mindedly.
"No." That surprised him. "If she was Matt's daughter she wouldn't be Cressida, she wouldn't be helping with the ship she'd be assembling assault rifles and planning tactics. I love her just the way she is."
"Me too."
Before he knew what was happening Chloe leaned in the few inches between them and pressed a kiss to his lips, seconds later their eyes locked and they shared that look again, just like in the control interface room. She was so beautiful and Nicholas just couldn't resist her; those eyes, that pale skin, the angelic smile and best of all a heart full of kindness. There foreheads touched as he stared at those gorgeous blue orbs, she smelt sweet and intoxicating. Then without warning passion grew, they kissed deeply, not innocently, like a tease but hot, fiery, passionate and demanding. She didn't want this, couldn't want this.
"We shouldn't." He managed to say though his hands refused to release her.
"I want to. And Cress can sleep through almost anything." She said in a husky tone as she pulled him closer so his chest pressed to her own, his weight pinning her to the bed.
His arousal only grew, it was only then that he noticed Chloe's talented fingers pushing his white top up over his head, maybe he should have stopped her but he just couldn't bring himself to. God he wanted her.
He wasn't overly tall or massively muscular but Nicholas was by no means ugly, his body was slender and lean covered in smooth skin that had a gentle tan. Chloe slid a hand into his hair to find it softer – and far more magnificent – than she'd imagined. They kissed again and the world fell away, the press of his needy lips were slow and soft, comforting in ways that words could never be. Rush could feel her heartbeat vibrate through her chest and into his own. Her body was like a drug. Rush slipped his hands under her pink yoga top casting it away as though the fabric somehow offended them, Chloe moaned.
Rush couldn't help but cup her breasts in his hands, thumbs ghosting over her pink nipples. God you're perfect, his mind told him. Chloe's lips continued to caress Nicholas' only when their lungs could take the oxygen deprivation no longer did they separate and free themselves of the rest of their clothing, garments found themselves cast to the floor as though they offended their owners. Everything stopped when he saw her naked for the first time, body so perfect and magical; almost like a fairytale.
"You really are one hell of a woman Chloe Armstrong. Beauty, brains, and aye, a perfect pure heart."
She grinned at that just pulling him closer and digging her nails into his shoulders, Rush's hand move down to her sex, she was wet and Rush growled.
"Are you sure?" Rush found himself asking, she'd said she wanted him but in his mind Chloe could do so much better. Nicholas didn't think he was worthy of her in all honesty. "Absolutely sure?"
"Yes." Came her breathless answer and Rush wouldn't let himself need more encouragement.
Her thighs were torn apart giving Nicholas the perfect view of her naked and glistening sex, a shiver of want shot up her spine that almost sent her vision white. His eyes sparkled once more in the darkness before he started to trail open-mouthed kisses down her smooth porcelain skin.
A whimper of lust escaped her lips as Chloe's heavenly blue eyes slipped shut in bliss and a single moment later she clamped her hand over her mouth; they couldn't wake Cress. Maybe it was wrong to have their daughter asleep in the same room, but they'd not planned this and Chloe feared that if they stopped now Rush would run away to the bridge and she'd never see him again.
She could feel Rush grinning even though he was nowhere in sight, it was like a warmth that told her the noises amused him. Nails grated over the pale skin of her thighs and Chloe thought she could cum just from that small touch alone; Rush seemed to realise that as well.
Chloe could feel soft kisses up the sensitive part of her inner thigh that sent electricity vibrating up her whole body, when his mouth finally touched her she all but purred in delight, arms wrapped around her legs and a talented tongue set to work. His mouth was perfect and she felt her orgasm building, no man had ever made her feel like that so quickly, his tongue circled her sex before dipping into her. Chloe couldn't speak, couldn't think. Her hips bucked without her consent.
"Behave." He said dominantly with a smile, the word symbolised a change to his whole demeanour and the ebony haired beauty revelled in it. Bliss was so close, so near, tormenting her, teasing her.
"Please!" It was a plea muffled by her hand still clamped over her mouth. She needed the release!
Chloe clenched her eyes shut even tighter while the hand that didn't cover her mouth desperately tried to claw onto something, eventually the sheets yielded letting her cling to them with an unrelenting vice like grip. She was desperate, so desperate. Her body started to tense and Rush knew her release was only seconds away, Chloe could see the cliff edge and the euphoric finish line.
The chestnut haired beauty came with a loud moan that ended up being almost inaudible.
It took a while but soon enough Chloe started to come down from her high, rapid breaths fading to shallow pants but Rush had other plans he clambered back up the bed to kiss her, Chloe could taste herself on him. When the kiss broke Nicholas smiled a true smile at the sight of Chloe's lips glistening with her own juices, his hard member pulsing and twitching at the way her tongue licked her bottom lip. If he got his way she would look like that all the time.
"Please, I need you."
Chloe's hips rose to meet his again Rush felt as though he were dreaming, surly this was all in his head – some wonderful dream gifted to him by a merciful angel, or a demon in want of his soul – it just had to be. Didn't it? Yet she was so warm, so real, her perfect skin couldn't be a figment of his imagination, her eyes, her body, her taste!
She seemed to sense his confusion though and managed to answer him simply, Chloe wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him closer. With a grin and one sharp but far from painful thrust he filled her to the hilt before stilling for a moment letting her adjust to his size. Matt would be depressed to find out he pales in comparison.
"Move." She begged and demanded all at once. She was so perfect.
Rush quickly obliged pulling almost all the way out only to slam back in. Chloe dragged him down for a kiss but moaned into it when his hand returned to her wet sex. It didn't take long to have the ebony haired princess moaning and meeting his thrusts. A perfect rhythm; delicate but overflowing with heated passion. Chloe's tongue made its way into Rush's mouth readily as they became one, mapping his mouth, taking her tongue across his teeth causing his thrusts to become erratic for a second or two. Chloe was dangling on the very edge with her grumpy Chief Scientist not far behind her, she wiggled her hips in just the right way, teasingly, and send him into some kind of rut, thrusting like his life depended on it. It was then that Chloe grew needier and dared to do something she'd never expected of herself, she chose to flip them. Rush's fingers gripped her hips leaving tiny little bruises over her porcelain skin, pushing herself down onto him, impaling herself. Chloe leaned down to kiss him again, gasping at the new angle and the way her kissed nipples grazed against his chest.
Chloe could take it no longer and came... hard. Seconds later Nicholas silently moaned out her name and tumbled over the edge too.