Timetra had already covered John's ass more times than she could count on this particular journey alone. So the idea of coming up with a feasible excuse for why their captain was taking such great care to make sure that Jim lived and recovered fully almost tipped her over the edge and had her telling everyone what was going on.

But that wasn't her place, so she just bit her tongue and grinned and told the crew exactly what John had said.

"They owe him information."

"Information for what?"

"What is the Navy after?"

"But why hasn't he tortured either of them yet?"

She knew she'd be bombarded with those questions, and she only hoped John would be able to coax the answers out of Jim. He made it sound as if they were close, but Jim was in the Navy and traitors weren't well received there. Likely anything he could tell them either wouldn't be helpful or it would be confidential and then he too would be on the run from the law.

Most of them were empty questions for the sake of asking them. The crew wasn't much for torture, though they would dish out punishment if it was absolutely necessary. Honestly, they weren't much more than a merchant crew with sordid pasts, all now looking for a semi-calm and more stable life than piracy could offer them. John could boast about his own ties within the world of piracy, but it had been far longer than Timetra had been on the Stargazer since John had attacked another ship or done anything within the realm of what would be considered piracy. For as long as she'd known him they were a crew of free-for-hire-whatever-anyone-needed-them-to-be with only the occasional personal detour - such as this one.

John didn't know just how loyal his crew was to him. He was a good man, who paid well and treated everyone fairly and with respect, and that went a long way. Even for 'pirates'. Timetra knew that they would understand why he'd had them follow the Eclipse was because he wanted to protect his son. But convincing him of that was far more difficult than she ever could have imagined.

Just as she'd covered for him and made innumerable excuses, Timetra also couldn't count how many times and ways she'd suggested he tell everyone the truth.

But old habits die hard, and John Silver wasn't one to easily let go of his habit of secrecy. It had saved his life more than she had been told about, and it continued to give him a sense of security that Timetra thought was unnecessary at this point.

He'll do what he's going to do. She finally relented with a sigh. The crew would find out one way or another that John had no intention of hurting either of their 'captives' and then he might be forced to tell them, but until then…

Timetra drew herself up to her full height to loom over the blond human. He looked back up at her with raised eyebrows and wide brown eyes. His eyes darted toward John, who stood at the bridge while he waited for her to collect the man and bring him to their cabin for 'interrogating'. He'd been shackled to the mast for four days now and practically ignored. It was John's own method of loosening lips, not that this one really seemed to need that considering he'd already promised to share the coordinates he had. And while he was ignored, he wasn't neglected, and John made sure that he was provided with food and water and if the weather required it he would be moved to a sheltered location. But here at the mast was where he was most visible, so this is where he stayed.

That and the Stargazer didn't have a brig or any spare rooms or cabins that were really available to hold him or Jim in. It had been a squeeze to get them two cabins for them to heal after being rescued from Raith.

Now that she thought about it, as she stared down at him, she was almost convinced that John would actually interrogate this man. Jim on the other hand…they'd be lucky if he asked even a single question related to what the Navy had sent him after.

She hissed as she bent down to unshackle his ankle from the mast, "If you hit me, or try anything at all, I will knock out your teeth."

It hadn't been the worst wound she'd ever received, hell it really hadn't even hurt that badly, but she was still a little more than annoyed that he'd shot her.

He didn't say anything as he was dragged to his feet roughly and they marched to meet John at the bridge and then follow him to the captain's cabin. The man was pushed to his knees, arms drawn behind his back and wrists bound, and he looked up at John.

The Ursid could be an imposing figure if he wanted to be, and the situation called for that now.

John stood tall with his hands on his hips and his chin up, and he regarded the human kneeling in front of him with an expressionless look as his mechanical eye whirred. He flicked his mechanical hand after a long moment and stepped back to lean against the lip of his desk, "Search 'im."

Timetra patted him down quickly, her hand pausing at one of his pockets, and she pulled a handheld navigation device from it. She tossed it to the captain and kept searching, but there was nothing else.

"Navigator, eh?" John asked softly as he caught the tool.

The man nodded.

"Wha's yer name?"

The blond hesitated for only a moment before he sighed and answered, "William Delaney."

"So the Navy sent two navigators fer…wha' is it ag'in they're after?" John stared casually at the little navigation tool as he rolled it between his fingers.

William didn't respond with anything other than a hard look at John, and the Ursid raised an eyebrow, "Come on, boyo. Ye promised me information, don'cha 'member?"

His nail clicked against the button to open the little device and he stared at it for a moment. A wide smile broke across his face and he pulled a tiny slip of paper out of the lid, "Well, well, well. Lookit wha' we got here. Tha' were the easiest interrogation I've ever had the pleasure o' leadin."

Embarrassment flashed over William's face as John took the paper and tucked it into his pocket, "Now, I thought this were 'sposed te be a big ol' secret mission, but 'parently the Navy put the dumbest spacers they could on tha' ship. Wha' with one o' their navigators keepin' his half o' the coordinates right in his navigation tool-"

"-And the man bragging up a storm at the bar. And the fact that no one thought to fight back when they were attacked until it was too late to save the ship or escape," Timetra added. William flinched as each mistake was laid out for him in plain words.

"Now," John smirked and leaned down to bring his face right up to William's, "What'd the good Navy send ye fer?"

"I told you I'd give you the coordinates, never said I'd tell you what we've been sent after," the human's eyes flashed and he snapped before he turned his head away.

"Seems we haven't let ye sit out in the sun long 'nough," John hummed pleasantly in his throat and gave William another wide smile. He patted the man's cheek with his mechanical hand, "'S'a'right boyo, we'll take good care o' ye 'till yer ready te talk."

Timetra knew that was her cue, and she heaved William back to his feet and released his wrists from their bindings. They weren't necessary, but one could never be too careful when it came to the Navy. The three of them went back out to the deck with John at the head of the group. He stopped suddenly, eyes locked on the figures standing by the mast. Timetra nearly slammed straight into him at how suddenly he'd stopped moving and she looked first at him and then where he was staring.

Oh, looks like Demitria cleared Jim to leave medical supervision.

He leaned against the mast, casual as could be, arms crossed over his chest and his head tipped back to face Sidon. The Zora leaned on the mast too, one arm braced over Jim's head while the other rested at his side, an easy smile on his face. Jim reached out with one hand and traced a finger along Sidon's jaw before motioning at the shackle on his own ankle suggestively.

The expression on Jim's face was enough indication that he knew what he was doing, and that he was fully aware of the effect he seemed to have on Sidon, who stood frozen under the touch on his face.

Jim moved a little closer, teased his hand a little more, and if Timetra didn't know better, she would have said he was flirting with just as much interest as Sidon seemed to be showing.

"JIM!" William's excited shout startled her and John both and the man wrenched his arm free of her grasp. He was ran across the deck and swept Jim up into his arms in a fully-bodied hug.

"HOLY-" was all Jim got out before he was squeezed tight and lifted right off the deck.

Sidon reacted instantly; grabbing William by the shoulder and thrusting him away as his other arm went around Jim's waist and caught him before he could fall.

"Ye'd better put 'im down righ' now, 'less ye want me to make ye put 'im down."

John advanced slowly and Timetra rushed to get around him and get William back to his own shackle at the mast. The human stared slack-jawed at Sidon, and then at Jim. Sidon didn't immediately do as he was ordered and John took another threatening step forward, but Jim gently patted the Zora's arm and motioned for him to be put down and Sidon did as he bid.

"Te yer station," John hissed. He and Sidon postured at each other a little, both seeming to puff up defiantly before Sidon finally turned away and did as the captain had ordered.

Timetra gaped after him. Sidon had never, NEVER acted like this before in all the time she had known him. More often he was willing to bend over backward for any request given to him and to see him acting like a rebellious teenager was jarring.

"G't 'im te me cabin," John whipped around now too and stormed to their cabin again and Timetra hurried to follow with Jim in tow.

John stood at his desk with his back facing the door when they caught up.

"Jimbo…wha's yer relationship with Sidon?"

Jim looked over at Timetra quickly as if he were gauging her reaction to the nickname. She released his arm and stepped back, "I know of your friendship with John."

"That's a relief, I was going to have to tease you for slipping up, old man," Jim grinned a little, but the smile quickly faded when John shot a dark look over his shoulder, "Silver, come on, I was just flirting. You can't be mad at me for trying to get those damn chains off. Why'd you shackle me anyway? If everyone knows we're friends-"

"Timetra's the only one tha' knows," John's expression looked strained as he turned around to lean on the edge of the desk, "An' it's stayin' tha' way."

"Mm, got another 'they'd gut us both alive' situation going on here?" Jim mused softly. John visibly flinched and Timetra stared at him with wide eyes. What haven't you told me?

"I thought I told you to stay out of trouble. In fact, I know I told you that. More than once," Jim grinned again. "Seems I have to remind you every time we see each other."

John grinned right back now, his expression softening, "What c'n I say? Trouble's got a way o' findin' me. An' after wha' ye got yerself inte, ye should be talkin' te a mirror when ye say tha'."

Jim laughed a little, "Yeah, I guess trouble seems to find me too."

Like father, like son…you're sure you're not blood related?

"So…what's so special about this lovely lady to make her privy to your secret soft side for a little shit like me?" Jim smirked. It was clear he had an idea what the answer was.

John stuttered, which was unlike him and absolutely adorable, and Timetra answered before he could find the words, "First mate, confidant, and I may as well be his wife."

"Awe!" Jim's eyes lit up but his elation was quickly replaced with accusation, "Wait…'may as well be'? You mean you've dragged this poor woman into who knows how much trouble and you haven't married her?"

Timetra fought a smile off her face. Oh, I like this kid.

"Don't e'en start," John pointed a stern finger in the human's face and poked his forehead. "G't 'nough o' tha' from the crew."

"Speaking of which, I'm guessing they think this bullshitting we're doing is an interrogation, right? So, what? Do I need to scream or something? Beg a little? Is Will in on the act too?" Jim hooked his thumbs into his pants pockets. He grinned knowingly, "You gonna at least search me?"

John pinched the bridge of his nose, "Belay yer teasin', Jimbo. Ye don' gotta do any o' tha'. I ain't gonna interrogate ye."

Called it.

"An' no, yer friend ain't in on this," John sighed.

"Oh, yeah? Why not?" Jim probed a little and glanced again in Timetra's direction. She caught his gaze and held it, certain her expression betrayed her exasperation at the whole ordeal. It would be so much easier if John would just give in and tell everyone who Jim was to him. But no. He just had to do everything the hard way.

"Jimbo," John growled a little in warning and the human put up his hands.

"Ok, ok. I'll stop asking questions," Those blue eyes glinted with mischief, "Well…one more. What do we do now?"

"Ain't tha' the million drabloon question o' the day…" John groaned. Timetra was so close to just slapping him and forcing him to tell the crew.

No. Don't do it, Timetra. He's a stubborn bastard and that'll only make him double down on NOT telling anyone. Patience…have patience…

"I'll figure somethin' out. Ye jest keep yer head down an' don' start nothin' a'right?"

Jim raised his hand to his chest in mock-offense, "How dare you suggest I would purposefully cause trouble just because I'm bored!"

"Ye'd better not or I'm gonna 'ave te muzzle ye," John dragged Jim into a hug and ruffled his hair. "A'right, tha's 'nough lolly-gaggin'. Best te g't ye back te the mast so's I c'n g't te thinkin' up some sort o' plan."

"Don't think too hard, your gears might start smoking," Jim quipped pleasantly back and John jabbed him good-naturedly in the ribs one final time before nodding to Timetra. She caught Jim's arm in her hand and pulled him toward the door.

He didn't fight her even the smallest amount as she took him back to the mast and closed the shackle around his ankle. He didn't say anything at all, and when she glanced at his face he'd put on a sullen expression. It was so good she wasn't sure if it was genuine or all an act.

Timetra nearly groaned again when she saw the wounded expression on John's face as he gazed down at the chain on Jim's leg.

You could change this, John. You're the CAPTAIN. Just make the order and the crew will follow you.

But he didn't make any orders. He just went back to their cabin.

"You're a big baby," She spoke as soon as she closed the door behind herself.

"Wha'?"

Timetra crossed her arms, "Oh, don't you 'what' me! You need to give your crew more credit than you do; they're not going to mutiny, no matter how often I like to joke about it. Trust me, they'd probably be relieved that they wouldn't have to perform any torture."

"Don' say tha' word, not when Jimbo's involved…" He looked stricken as he fell into his chair. "I'll think o' somethin'..."

"Yeah. It's called 'telling the crew that Jim's my adopted son'," She raised an eyebrow as she perched on the edge of the desk.

"It ain't tha' easy…"

An annoyed sigh snuck out and Timetra rolled her eyes, "It could be-"

"Timetra, please, not now…"

John looked so defeated, so backed into a corner that she stopped. She could let it go this time. He'd figure something out like he always did, and maybe - just maybe - it would even be what she'd suggested. Timetra came around the side of the desk and cupped his cheeks in her hands, and tilted his head up so so they could look into each other's eyes, "Ok. Just…think about it, please? Like, actually seriously think about it."

"A'right, Safflina," his worry lines softened a little as he smiled at her and she touched the tip of her nose to his.

"Promise?"

"Aye, lass, I promise."

She leaned in the rest of the way and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. I suppose that'll work for now.