In the early hours of the morning – or at least what Destiny called early morning – only a few souls were up and moving about the gargantuan ship; a couple of scientists working the second shift, some of the civilians that couldn't sleep and Airman Dunning who'd been assigned to guard the quarantine hall as TJ had dubbed it. Other than them everyone slept.

Rush and Chloe had redressed after their little tryst before continuing to sleep soundly in the darkened room completely unaware of the way their daughter's eyes had suddenly flew open. There was no life behind them, almost as though she had slipped into a trance just like the last time up on that ruined roof. She stood from the couch slowly and silently just as she had the night before, for a long time she stood there in the darkness blankly just staring at her sleeping parents; if she'd been aware of her surroundings she would have noticed just how happy and peaceful they appeared. They'd wrapped themselves up in each others arms, Rush holding Chloe so her back was to his chest, but Cressida registered none of this and instead calmly stepped over to the large door and slammed the door release. Nothing happened. She hit the door release once more but still the door didn't open leaving her stood there. Seconds passed by with Cress doing nothing but wobble on the spot then, like nothing had happened, the eight year old just turned and clambered back onto the couch letting herself fall to sleep once more. Almost as though everything that she'd just done had been a dream.

XXXX

At a more reasonable hour – a full day later – TJ and Colonel Young walked down the long quarantine hall to release everyone, they'd been checking in regularly and as far as they could tell there had been no zombie like reactions. Young carried a cup of what they'd been calling tea, though it tasted far more sweet – he actually rather liked it - he sipped between sentences.

"Are you sure they can be released?"

"I've already been in radio contact with all of them and no one has shown any signs of infection or increased rage, I asked Chloe about Rush specifically and she said he's just been working and sleeping. I'll give them all exams of course but yes, I think we're okay. Like Rush said, after that long the chemical wouldn't have been in the air, it would have settled into water and the soil."

"So they're okay but we're still being cautious. Good. And let's face it, if an alien rage virus would affect anyone it would be Rush."

They got to the room Greer and Scott had been locked up in first and released the door letting it slide open. There was a single split second where TJ and the Colonel took in the sight before them – Greer laying on the bed staring upwards while Scott did as many push ups as he physically could – then the Sargent shot up and over to the two newcomers.

"Oh thank God!" He exclaimed with glee. "I was gonna go crazy... Sir."

Young could appreciate that.

"How are you feeling?" Tamara asked in her medic voice.

"Perfectly normal, Doc."

"There's nothing wrong with us, Sir." Said Matt as he stood up to face his commanding officer and the doctor.

"How about headaches or sweating?" She asked.

The two shook their heads, Lieutenant Scott was sweating rather perfusly but that could be put down to the set of push ups he'd just been doing.

"Come on, let's get your exams over with."

The same answers came from everyone else and Young had been surprised to find Varro hadn't punched Volker during the night. Corporal Barnes, James and Varro vanished off the mess hall as soon as their medical exams ended. Greer had wasted no time heading off in the direction of Lisa Park's room, no doubt he'd missed her, and Doctor Volker – who somehow was still complaining – went to get some real sleep as he put it. Scott, however, remained in the hall only a few steps behind his commanding officer and TJ waiting for Chloe. The blonde slammed the door release letting it slide open to reveal the chamber within, Young took another sip of his third cup of tea.

Inside Rush stood by the far wall covered in chalk scribblings with Chloe at his side while Cress stood between them writing on the wall as her parents watched on happily; their clever little girl. Only the three of them knew what any of it said what with half of it being equations while the rest had been written in Ancient.

"Morning, how are we all?" Tamara asked in her best bedside manner voice as the three entered the room.

"Fine thanks." Came Chloe's smiling response as they turned to face the newcomers. "Hungry though,"

"Any headaches or odd behaviour?"

Cress and Chloe shook their heads as Rush grumbled out a no, Young took the last gulp of his tea and leaned against the door frame. Tamara noticed the way Chloe seemed to glow and the extra sparkle in her eyes, what had put it there she didn't know but she couldn't deny she was happy to see Chloe smiling again; the idea of loosing Cress had almost killed her.

"Come on Chloe, we'll get you something to eat."

Lieutenant Scott stepped forwards and held out a hand for the brunette to take but she made no attempt to move. Her blue eyes hesitantly glanced over Rush who'd tensed ever so slightly, but that was how he normally looked to the untrained eye.

"Em, sure." She took a single step forwards before halting and turning back to Nicholas. "Is it alright if I take Cress for the day? We can keep practising Ancient in the afternoon."

"Chloe stop asking me, she is your daughter too."

Cressida lit up and hugged her Father tightly, arms around his hips, before latching onto her Mother's hand, Matt deflated a little and Young couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for him.

"Rush, Brody is working on the bridge and Volker has gone back to bed-" The Chief Scientist cut the Colonel off.

"Oh has he now?"

Rush made to take his radio out and head down the hall but TJ verbally pulled him back.

"I need you three to go to the infirmary so I can check you over, after that you can do as you please. Rush don't even think about vanishing because I'll find you and make your life a living hell until I get that medical exam done."

"Consider me warned."

"You've been alright?" TJ asked in that same doctorly tone.

"Like I said we're fine, TJ." Chloe told her again. "Rush worked, I told Cress a story then we went to sleep until Cressida woke us up." Okay, maybe that was a rather selective time line but it was the one Chloe was going to go with.

Young crouched down to Cressida's eye level, he'd started to grow fond of the eight year old in the last few months.

"Hey Cress, I know you don't like me much but-" She cut him off.

"I like you. You treated me with suspicion because you wanted to keep everyone safe, I know that." Why does she have to sound so grown up? Young questioned himself.

"That's exactly it, and it's very grown up of you to think that way." Is it patronising to talk to a girl with her intellect like she's a kid? She is a kid so no, but she's Rush's daughter so... I have no idea. "I like you too. Can you do something for me?" She nodded. "Good girl. I need you to keep an eye on your Daddy. If he starts getting angrier than normal could you tell me or TJ. That way we can keep him safe."

"And under watch." Rush growled out.

"Okay, but you don't have to talk to me like I'm two." Rush burst out laughing, she had his sarcasm. Seems it was patronising, Young couldn't help but chuckle a little himself.

"You really are his daughter." He stood up to his full height. "Right, I think we're done here. Like TJ said once your exams are done you can go back to work."

After the medical exams Scott took Chloe to the mess hall with Cress trailing along side while Rush vanished off to the bridge, he'd wanted it to be just them but he knew he had to put up with Cressida. Matt didn't hate her, he loved kids, and Cress was sweet and but she was just a constant reminder of Rush, of Chloe's kidnapping and the panic he'd gone through when she was gone. She reminded him of when he'd felt scared and as though he'd never be able to save Chloe. Then what had happened? Rush had brought her back, saved her when he couldn't. Cressida's presence just made him feel like a failure, deep down he knew that wasn't her fault. Cress also reminded him that she wasn't his.

XXXX

It took Rush less than three minutes to drag Volker from his bed and set him to work – two of those minutes had been him walking to Volker's room – the blonde doctor had all night to sleep, there and then they'd got work to do. Brody and a seriously pissed off and sleepy Volker worked silently save for the odd occasions they'd bounced ideas of Doctor Park after Greer had brought her up to the bridge. She'd sat in the command chair since arriving and Rush found himself glancing at her every now and then with concern, her eyes showed improvement but it was nowhere near giving her eyesight back. Nicholas hoped she get better soon she was one of his best scientists but more than that she deserved something good for a change; the memory of Simeon flooded back to him. Greer had been a little annoyed when Park had told him she wanted to go to work on the bridge right after breakfast but he couldn't fault her loyalty to her job.

Doctor Rush stood on the far right of the room working away on a terminal trying to increase the shield capacity but his mind kept betraying him and wandering to the night before, the feel of Chloe's soft skin, her kisses, her taste! He wouldn't have been surprised to find that angels would fight over her. He'd expected it to be awkward when they woke but it hadn't, he'd opened his eyes to see Cressida writing on the walls – the sound had actuality woken him – as she sat cross-legged on the floor and found Chloe curled up in his arms. Carefully he's disentangled himself from the dazzling brunette and gone to sit with Cress. Rush had challenged his daughter to writing pi to one hundred digits and she'd done it, even he would have struggled to do that off the top of his head. He just continued to grow more and more proud of his little girl. However, she had asked him what Pi was afterwards; I need to fill in the blanks she's got. Like Chloe she seemed to have all the knowledge but no idea how she knew any of it. When Chloe had woken she'd found him teaching Cress Ancient and had just joined in, no awkwardness, no nothing. Was that it? Complete dismissal of everything that had happened? Nicholas couldn't help but think it was for the best, he was a lot older than her, grumpy, everyone hated him, far from the best looking man on Destiny and then of course there was that strong strapping Lieutenant of hers. Why would she ever want him? His mind kept throwing her words at him. I want to. Please I need you! But Rush found himself throwing them back, maybe she'd meant them at the time but surly she regretted it now. Last night was nothing but a lack of judgement on her part, of course she regretted it, Chloe was just too polite to say so. All Nicholas Rush could do was carve the memory of her beauty and perfectness into his mind forever.