Disclaimer: Yeah … still don't own SGU. Neither do I own "Fall" by Clay Walker, but it really fit well into the scene about midway through the chapter. Hope you like it. If you're not familiar with the song, check it out on the music channel of your choice.

V: Light

The gate room was cold and dark, illuminated only by emergency lighting and the artificial glow of a few flashlights. Everyone had been gathered - both civilian and military personnel alike - to hear the colonel's news. The man's face was grim as he stepped out onto the balcony opposite the stargate and began to slowly descend the stairs, halting halfway down so that he could hold a position where everyone could see and hear him.

Rush crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his shoulder against the cold stargate at the rear of the room. Belle stood at his side, pale and trembling slightly as she toyed with the wrapper of a Jolly Rancher she'd yet to discard. He didn't care to be there for the colonel's announcement. He knew what Everett was going to say, he had helped to prepare his speech. His presence there was unnecessary. He and Belle could be in the shuttle, running the numbers again to make sure they weren't mistaken.

His arms tightened about his torso as he watched Belle surreptitiously from the corner of his eye. His skin itched as he took in the slight tremor of her hands, and he longed to pull her into his arms and offer her comfort. However, he wasn't quite brave enough to openly display his affection for her in a room full of his peers who would scorn him for taking advantage of the situation to prey on his little assistant's fragile emotions. Rush knew they all thought him a bastard, blamed him for stranding them all there, but he couldn't have cared less. Belle was his primary concern.

It used to be enough that he had her by his side, working and striving forever forward to attain their goals, enough to have her friendship, her companionship. She challenged him at every turn, bringing a new perspective to his life. Now he found himself wanting her for more than just her brilliant mind … now he wanted her body, her heart and yes, even a little piece of her soul. He'd thought he loved her before they had started the Icarus project, but it was nothing compared to what he felt for her now. It was as if once leaving Earth, she'd gained confidence, a new sense of self. It intrigued him, drove him to find out more of what made her tick.

His eyes skimmed appreciatively over the soft curls cascading over her shoulders and the itch returned to his clammy skin as he yearned to twine his fingers in the long strands. He'd never thought she'd care for him as more than a friend. She hadn't kissed him as if she regarded him as such, no matter how desperately she'd been holding back. He'd practically been able to feel the desire humming beneath her pale skin. Imminent death, however, was not conducive to romance. The dynamic of their relationship had changed before they'd discovered Destiny's new path, though, so he knew the shift had nothing to do with their impending doom. On some level - it might only be physical - she cared for him. He wanted to rail at the heavens for making him realize it too late, his chance to court her affections snatched cruelly away because of the ship's changed trajectory. Fucking hell!

Rush focused on Young as he called for attention, the crowd falling silent. "You've all heard about our situation. I'm going to repeat the facts so that we are all clear," he began, leaning back wearily against the railing of the staircase. "In just a day, this ship will fly into a star. Now, we have no power to change its course. We have no idea how to steer the ship. Even if we did, we are having another bad day."

"We can always depend on Young to state the obvious," Belle mumbled under her breath, sidling closer to Rush. Her comment was drowned out by the crowd as they murmured their agreement with the colonel's words, but she knew Rush had heard her by the wry twist of his lips.

Young waited for the crowd to fall silent once more before he continued. "So, here's what we're gonna do. We have a working shuttle. We think there are three planets out there which might be habitable. Now, we think - we believe - it's no coincidence Destiny dropped out of FTL in this solar system, to give us a chance. Once we know for sure that there is a planet out there for us, we are going to have a lottery."

The murmuring and gasps of surprise rose in urgency and the colonel had to raise his voice to be heard over the din. "We will draw the names of fifteen people."

Brody stared up belligerently at the colonel, crossing his arms stubbornly over his chest. "The shuttle can hold twice that many."

Scott shifted his rifle and looked down at the assembled crew, his eyes searching out the engineer on Rush's science team. "Not once it's been loaded up with supplies. Besides there's only life support for seventeen, max." The people below cast him a skeptical look, and he had to grit his teeth in irritation. He'd spent the better part of the last twenty-four hours inspecting and familiarizing himself with the shuttle. He knew what he was talking about.

Belle continued to twist the thin piece of cellophane nervously in her hands. There was still so much work to be done and her time would be better served elsewhere instead of standing there listening to the nervous chatter of her fellow crew members. "Rush, this is so unnecessary. I -"

"Belle," he said in a low whisper of warning. He knew she was anxious to leave the gate room so they could continue their argument, but at the moment their place was there.

She clenched her teeth and tossed him a bright smile which didn't come close to touching the heat in her eyes. Rush stifled a snort at her theatrics and turned back to their commanding officer.

"I will be choosing two of the people myself … two people with the necessary skills to fly the shuttle and survive on the planet," Everett said, leaning heavily on his crutch as his dark eyes scanned the crowd.

"Yeah, I bet I can guess who they are," Spencer sneered cynically at his superior. Belle glowered at the marine sergeant from her place in the shadows, never having liked the man's tendency to buck the system. He'd chosen to be a marine, the least he could do was obey his superior officer and keep his mouth shut.

Belle pressed into Rush's side so she could whisper in his ear. He shivered as her warm breath fanned against the damp flesh of his neck. "Things are about to get ugly. Can we go now?"

"No!" he hissed, exasperated with her defiance to his orders, and the colonel's orders. Face it. Belle doesn't take orders from anyone and to think that she will, is living in the land of delusion.

Belle pursed her lips into a moue of displeasure, but held her tongue and turned back to hear the rest of the colonel's speech. Young walked down the remaining stairs and limped to the front of the crowd, his mouth drawn in a tight line of pain. He stared Spencer down with a hard expression for several tense seconds. "I'll be taking my name out of the lottery. Anyone who wants to join me, keep talking." His bold statement brought an end to the nervous chatter going on about the room. "We're still several hours away from knowing if the first two are even habitable, so I suggest you all go back to your quarters and wait it out. That's all I have for now."

Rush remained where he was, silently surveying the crowd as they began to disperse. He was happy to remain unnoticed from his position next to the gate, but Belle was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. "Now, we can go," he said with a tired sigh, rubbing his hand over his nape to ease away some of the tension as he led her around the back of the gate and through a door little used by the crew.

She fell into step beside him as they gained the corridor, sneaking glances at the tight set of his jaw from the corner of her eye. "Rush, this is an unnecessary endeavor, and you know it."

He glanced down at her, but never broke his stride as they made their way to the shuttle bay. "What are you talking about?"

"We don't know if any of the three planets are even going to be habitable. What if we're sending these people off to an uncertain future on a world in which they won't be able to survive? They should remain here on Destiny," she insisted, digging a Jolly Rancher from her pocket and popping it into her mouth.

"Belle, you don't know that. We have to give these people their best chance at survival. We'll know more once we can run diagnostics. We should be close enough now to be able to get a clear reading," he argued, stepping onto the shuttle and moving to sit in the pilot's seat to access the computer.

"I just don't think Destiny came this far to perish in the corona of a star, Rush," she pouted sulkily as she plopped down heavily in the copilot's seat and focused on the console before her. She hated it when he dismissed her ideas out of hand.

Rush closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, the pressure behind his lids nearly unbearable. "We won't be able to convince the colonel to change his mind based on a hunch."

Belle grumbled something about stubborn Scots under her breath and cleared the screen before her. Instead of trying to take readings on the planets they were nearing, she pulled up the data on Destiny's failed systems in an effort to learn if her theory held water. Only when she had factual scientific proof before her would Rush give her his undivided attention.

X*X*X*X*X

Belle tsked as she leaned back in the chair and stretched her arms languorously over her head, unable to suppress the yawn which built with the release of the tension in her limbs. Rush glanced up at her with a blank look, his broken glasses hovering over his notepad as he double checked his calculations.

"I told you all those hard candies were eventually going to stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth," he deadpanned, trying once more to focus on the slightly blurred numbers written on the lined pages.

Belle huffed a small chuckle and smiled. "No, Rush. That's not why I clucked at you. If you had bothered to look in your toiletries kit, you would have found your spare pair of glasses instead of continuing to use the broken pair."

"I don't own a spare pair," he said, arching a brow at her.

She lowered her jewel bright eyes sheepishly. "Yeah, you do. I might have ordered a second pair from the optometrist before we left for Icarus … just in case," she smiled smugly, peeking at him from beneath her lashes. "Would you like me to fetch them for you?" Her skin itched with the need to escape the shuttle before his penetrating gaze dug down too deep and discovered all her secrets.

"Ah ... no, no, that won't be necessary. There's no need for you to run off to the other side of the ship and another level down just to get my glasses … especially since you seemed to have settled in so well," he drawled, a teasing smirk playing at his lips. He set his glasses and notepad aside on the console and leaned back in his chair, absently stroking the stubble on his chin as he met her gaze. "Belle, why do you always have that bag with you? What were you running from?" he asked softly, cursing inwardly as he watched her visibly tense.

Her hands tightened on the armrests of her chair, her fingertips white and bloodless from the pressure she was exerting. The thump thump of the colonel's crutch sounded as he entered the shuttle and Belle was able to breathe a sigh of relief over the interruption.

"Sorry to interrupt, but you radioed me?" Everett stuck his head in from the corridor, and glanced between Belle and Rush with a quizzical frown.

Rush tore his dark eyes away from Belle, the last look he'd given her promising he'd demand an answer later, and gave the colonel his full attention. "Ah, yes. The first planet is too cold, frozen methane. The second is too hot. The third … well, that happens to be behind the star at the moment, too far away to determine habitability."

Young nodded, frowning. "When will we know?"

"It doesn't matter. We don't have any choice. We're going to have to launch the shuttle before we can get close enough. The odds are good, though. Its orbit is in between the other two … the Goldilocks Zone, they call it."

Belle grinned ruefully. "Not too hot and not too cold."

Rush smiled warmly at her. "Yeah. Just right."

Young leaned back against the support bar at his back and sighed. "What if we use the engines from the shuttle to push the Destiny off course?"

Rush huffed a mirthless laugh. "That's a good thought, but I'm afraid we've already run the numbers and without getting into delta-V and thrust-to-weight ratios, then ..."

"Not a chance then." He paused a moment, letting the hopelessness of the situation seep into his being. "Well, when do we launch the shuttle?"

"We could wait a few more hours, but the extra time - I don't think it's gonna give us any more information than we already have." His gaze met Belle's, feeling her eyes watching him closely. "Belle, could you give me a moment with the colonel?"

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "But -"

"Please, Miss French," he replied, his tone brooking no objection despite the softness of it. He wouldn't start a heated argument with her in the presence of the colonel. If his decision was going to spark a fight between them, it would be better to be held in private. Even with mere hours left to live, he couldn't bring himself to incite gossip about them which would spread all over the ship.

Belle was seething with resentment as she rose from her chair and stormed past Young. She didn't go far, Rush was sure, and he kept his voice low and even to prevent it from carrying to the corridor beyond the shuttle bay. "Colonel Young, if by chance, you were thinking of choosing me as one of the two … please don't."

Young stared at him in disbelief. "Why?"

Rush sighed, taking a moment to search for the right words. "This ship - coming here - was my destiny. My life's work was to be here, not trying to survive on some rock with a bunch of strangers. In fact, you can take my name off the lottery altogether. It will also give Miss French a better chance of being chosen."

Young studied the scientist for several tense seconds before nodding, the look on his face showing clearly that he had a newfound respect for the man.

X*X*X*X*X

Belle was waiting for Young when he stepped out of the shuttle bay. "Colonel -"

"I'm sorry, Belle, but I won't divulge Dr. Rush's confidence any more than you would," he headed her off, starting to make his way down the corridor to prepare for the lottery.

She fell into step beside him with a roll of her eyes. "No, of course not," she scoffed. "Besides, I probably already know what he had to say to you. I wanted to talk to you about another matter."

"And what would that be?" he asked wearily, the motion of his every step sending a shooting pain through his back and right leg.

"I did some research into Destiny's database while Dr. Rush was doing diagnostics on the planets we're approaching. I am of the firm belief that those chosen to take the shuttle will have a better chance if they remain on Destiny," she explained. "The last of our power reserves were diverted into the ship's life support system. Our oxygen output due to the scrubbers and ventilation system only accounts for a small part. Ninety percent went into our shields. I believe they will hold."

Everett stopped and bestowed an indulgent smile upon her, making her want to gnash her teeth. "Belle, we're talking about thousands of degrees ..."

"Fifteen point seven million degrees Celsius - give or take - if it's anything like the sun from the Milky Way Galaxy," she said, her inner nerd coming to the fore. "But that's beside the point, Colonel. Destiny was launched millions of years ago and has traveled through more galaxies than we can count. How can we think this hasn't happened before?"

Young sighed and raked a hand through his short-cropped, dark hair. "What is Rush's theory on the subject?"

Belle winced, chewing thoughtfully on her lower lip. She'd been expecting him to ask, but it didn't make it any easier to answer. "We're at odds on the subject. He believes the trajectory was skewed due to our encounter with the gas giant and the aerobraking maneuver around the planet. The odds of the shields holding being below seventy five percent makes him twitchy," she admitted, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. "And he never listens to me."

Everett had to bite the inside of his cheek to retain his stoic expression when he wanted to chuckle. "I'm sorry, Belle, but I can't take the chance if even Rush is hesitant. We will proceed with the lottery."

Belle had to quell the urge to stamp her foot. "But, Colonel -"

"I'm sorry, Belle. Was there anything else?" he asked, turning to continue down the corridor.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I would like to withdraw my name from the lottery," she said clearly, her chin rising defiantly, daring him to argue with her.

Young gaped at her incredulously. "Belle, you don't know what you're saying."

"I know exactly what I'm saying, Everett," she replied gently, using his given name. They weren't civilian and military any longer, but rather just two human beings. "He asked you to take his name out, too, didn't he?"

Young nodded, shifting uncomfortably under her knowing gaze.

"This ship is important to me … to both of us. I have faith in her to bring us through," she declared confidently, laying a hand over his on the handle of his crutch. As much as she might dislike the man, she was hoping he would empathize with her.

"Rush wants you on that shuttle. He'll be furious to hear you asked me to remove your name from the drawing," he argued, clearing his throat.

"It's my decision. No one decides my fate but me, Colonel … not even Rush," she stated vehemently.

"What's going on here?" Rush asked, rounding the corner and coming upon them as they faced off. "Belle?"

Young sighed and smiled tightly. "I'll do as you asked, Belle, but I'll leave you to explain to Dr. Rush."

"Gee thanks, Colonel," she drawled in a dry tone as he limped off in the direction of the gate room, chuckling in amusement as he went.

She'd made it maybe three steps when Rush's warm, calloused hand lightly gripped her elbow, pulling her to a halt. "What were you speaking with the colonel about?" he asked, searching her face. It was never a good sign when she wouldn't meet his eyes. "Was it about your theory that the shields will hold?"

Belle pulled out of his hold and continued down the corridor, making her way to the observation deck and leaving him to follow. She was still irritated that he had blown off her idea just because there wasn't enough scientific evidence to support her claim. Or rather the odds she'd presented to him weren't enough to have him side with her. "I just thought he should be informed."

"That's a first," he snarked, coming to stand at her side at the railing, taking in the vast length of Destiny as it neared the star. "Belle, don't be angry. You know I couldn't -"

"Yeah, I know, Rush," she sighed, wearily leaning her palms against the railing and hanging her head to gather her composure, letting the anger drain out of her. "He's proceeding with the lottery."

Rush lowered his eyes, tearing his gaze away from the vista before him. "You should go pack your bag and get to the gate room. You … ah … you don't want to be late for the drawing," he murmured, his voice raspy with emotion at the thought of being separated from her.

"No, I don't think I will," she said softly, waiting patiently for the explosion of his temper which was sure to follow. "I'm not leaving Destiny and I've made my intentions clear to the colonel. He wasn't pleased with my decision, but there's nothing he can do about it."

"What?!"

And there it was, she thought with a small huff of mirthless laughter. "Rush -"

He didn't give her a chance to explain, protest, or in any way voice her opinion. He simply wrapped his hand about her wrist and pulled her along behind him towards the open door to the observation deck. "Rush … Rush stop!" she objected heatedly, digging in her heels and jerking her arm out of his grasp. "Nicholas!"

The use of his given name brought him up short, and he whirled on her, reaching for her once again in his determination to save her. "What are you thinking?" he hissed angrily. "You have just as much chance to secure a seat on that shuttle as anyone else. I'll not have you toss it away on some misguided sense of duty."

Belle planted her hands firmly on her hips and glared at him defiantly. "It's not your choice! Why should you get to withdraw your name and then refuse to allow me to do the same?" she asked, firm in her belief that she was right.

His lips curled over his teeth in a sneer. "Young told you?"

"No, he didn't. He didn't have to. I know you, Rush. I know how you feel about this ship because I feel the same. Since we've come aboard, we've faced one crisis after another, yet for the first time in more years than I care to count … I feel as if I've come home," she said, feeling the sting of tears prickle behind her lids. "I won't leave Destiny and … and I won't leave you," she finished, unable to meet his eyes, feeling as though she'd already revealed too much. If they were indeed destined to die, she figured why the hell not. She turned away, returning to her place at the railing.

His heart fluttered and warmth spread through his chest at her words, but just as quickly he shoved his personal feelings aside. The need to save her, to give her the best chance of survival, drove him onward. "If your name is drawn, you're getting on that shuttle, Miss French," he reiterated, stepping to her side and gripping her shoulder to turn her to face him. "That's not a request."

Belle's lips curled into a smirk as she lifted one perfectly arched auburn brow. "Really? What are you going to do if I don't obey your oh most imperious command? Fire me?" she asked. "Fine … I quit! But I'm not leaving."

"Why do you have to be so bloody stubborn?" he growled, pacing away from her and raking a frustrated hand through his shaggy hair.

"Why can't you simply respect my choice? Nicholas, please," she begged, turning the full blast of her pleading gaze on him. She watched with inner satisfaction as his resolve crumbled before her. She held out a hand to him, silently asking him to trust that she knew what was best for her.

Rush stared down at her hand, wondering what the odds were on tossing her over his shoulder and forcefully carting her off to the gate room. Sighing in defeat, he reached out and linked his fingers through hers, allowing her to pull him to her side. He stared straight ahead, squinting his eyes against the brightness of the star filling the window, warmth spreading through his chest as she tentatively squeezed his hand and rested her head against his shoulder. He forced himself to banish his regrets and just be thankful she'd chosen to stay. As she'd said so many times … they were in this together.

X*X*X*X*X

Rush observed his little assistant, her face the picture of serenity as she watched the ship draw ever nearer to the star looming before them, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth with all the things he wanted to say to her before it was too late. Twice now, he'd opened his mouth to speak and both times he'd failed. Would it even matter now? Belle squeezed his fingers and pointed as the shuttle rose from its bay.

"Well, it's too late now, isn't it? You should be on that shuttle, Belle," he repeated himself for the umpteenth time since he'd learned she'd withdrawn her name from the lottery.

Her eyes held a tender look as she turned her gaze to lock with his. "I'm right where I want to be."

Eli rushed onto the observation deck, a Kino remote clutched in his hand. He was followed closely by Chloe, Young and Greer, all of them wanting to bid a silent farewell to those fortunate enough to be chosen to survive on the planet. "I sent a Kino with Riley, hoping to get a view of the ship," he explained, smiling at Belle. He pressed several buttons on the remote and the video feed displayed clearly on the screen. He held it up so everyone could see the images.

Young's radio crackled, Lt Scott's voice coming in clearly as he piloted the shuttle away from the Destiny. "This is Scott. We're away."

"You're looking good, Lieutenant," the colonel said, his voice raspy with emotion he tried to hide.

"I expect we'll be out of radio range by the time we fire up the main drive so … we'll be thinking of you guys," Scott responded.

Greer clicked the com button on the radio strapped to his shoulder. "You, too, brother. You, too," he murmured softly.

The colonel swallowed audibly before finding his voice again. "Matthew, TJ, take good care of those people."

Belle could hear the raw grief in Scott's voice as it echoed over the open channel, and it made her even more thankful to have the comforting reassurance of Rush's warm palm pressed so tightly against her own, lending his strength. "I will, sir."

The retros above the shuttle fired briefly, the small ship hovering over Destiny. Finally, the rear engines engaged, and the shuttle streaked away from them. Eli held up the remote, smiling. "There it is," he breathed reverently as they got their first glimpse of Destiny's hull.

Chloe pressed closer into Eli's side, her eyes alight with wonder. "That's the Destiny," she said, her thoughts going to her father. He'd been such a staunch supporter in the Icarus project, had given his life so they could have more time to solve the life support issues. It was a shame he couldn't have witnessed firsthand the magnitude of the Ancient ship.

Rush gazed at the image in amazement until the Kino drifted further away and the light of the star moved into the frame, obliterating everything on the screen. Eli lowered the remote and tucked it into the pocket of his jacket, watching in silence as the shuttle raced farther and farther away from them.

Rush nodded appreciatively, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Thank you, Eli. I never thought I'd get the chance to see the ship from the outside."

Young smiled, his gaze swinging fondly to each member of his crew. "You know what? I think I'm gonna go for a walk." He turned to Greer. "How's that sound, Sergeant?" he asked, hoping for some company.

"Sounds like a plan, sir," he nodded.

"Ronald ..." Belle whispered softly, reaching out her free hand to the master sergeant she considered a dear friend.

"Always a pleasure, Miss Belle," he said, clasping her hand tightly in his and gracing her with a saucy wink.

Rush's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and his own hand tightened reflexively against her fingers. "Well, I shall be -"

"Right here with me," Belle insisted firmly, cocking a brow and challenging him to argue. She pulled her iPhone from the pocket of her yoga pants, the ear buds wrapped around it. "I've got a playlist I want to listen to while we watch the show."

He smiled down at her, realizing he'd happily don a spacesuit and stand on the prow of the ship if she asked it of him. Young held his hand out to him. Touched - and more than a little surprised - Rush clasped it in his own, shaking hands with the man. Young nodded to the others and then he and Greer made their way to the door.

Rush schooled his weathered features into a mask of apology as he turned to the young man who had been thrust into the program against his will and taken away from everything comforting and familiar in his life. "Eli, I, uh … I'm sorry I got you involved in this."

"Actually ..." Eli said, narrowing his eyes as if surprised at what he was about to say, "... I'm not. Yet!" he clarified. "I'll probably be sorry at the end of the day but …"

Belle and Chloe chuckled softly, amused with their friend. Rush nodded and looked down, unable to respond.

Eli noticed the sadness gleaming in those dark sable eyes before the scientist's gaze slithered away. "We don't have that long, do we?"

Rush shook his head. "No."

Chloe looked out the window at the looming star, a tremor of fear in her voice. "How will it happen?"

Rush gave her a searching look, measuring her character from what little he knew of her, unsure whether to tell the full truth. She'd already been through so much, what with her arrival on the Ancient ship against her will, and then losing her father, yet he knew Belle would want him to be honest with the girl. "Well, there will be turbulence from the solar wind, far worse than what we've previously experienced. Heat, obviously, and intense G-forces. I suspect the ship will be torn apart long before we reach the star."

Belle sighed. "Nothing like brutal truth, eh, Rush?" she mumbled dryly.

He shrugged, offering her an apologetic look. "Aren't you always preaching at me to be honest?" He turned his gaze back to the tall brunette. "Hopefully, it will be quick."

Chloe smiled weakly and twined her fingers with Eli's, drawing him away from the scientist and his assistant to sit on one of the plush sofas set before the observation window, pulling him down to sit next to her and resting her head on his shoulder. He glanced down at her dark head, smiling ruefully. He knew she'd rather be with Scott aboard the shuttle heading into an uncertain future than there with him. He felt it was rather selfish of him to be thankful she was there by his side, but couldn't muster up the will to be sorry.

Belle retained her grip on Rush's hand, pulling him to the sofa on the opposite side of the room. She didn't know where the rest of the crew was, but she was grateful she wouldn't have to share the observation deck with more than just Chloe and Eli. She was quite confident that her theory was right, and the knowledge afforded her a calm which was completely out of place among the others. She could fairly feel the anxiety radiating from Rush as he took a seat on the sofa and pulled her down to sit beside him. He was trying to be brave for her, hiding himself away behind a mask of cool reserve when it was absolutely unnecessary.

She finally released his hand and unwound her ear buds from around her phone, handing one to him while she turned the device on and waited for it to load. "What would you like to listen to?" she asked, smiling sweetly as she showed him what she had to offer.

"Does it matter?" he asked. He couldn't have cared less about what she chose. It was enough that she wanted him close, had chosen to spend her last moments with him when there were any number of people on the ship worthier.

She pulled her legs up, folding them beneath her as she nestled into his side. He didn't resist as she took his hand and looped it over her shoulders. She smiled as his pupils grew larger and his eyes became hooded, happy he wasn't trying to put a respectable distance between them. She held his gaze for a moment longer before she slipped the earpiece into her ear and scrolled through her music selections, choosing a playlist with several slow country songs. She had everything in her music library from classical to country and rock to pop, but the playlist she chose had been made months ago when she'd first begun having dreams about him and she felt it appropriate.

Belle waited until he'd slipped the bud into his ear and then pressed play, resting the phone on her thigh as the first strains of Clay Walker's Fall began to play. His brow furrowed into a puzzled frown as he listened to the unfamiliar music, having been certain she would have chosen one of the classical pieces they both favored. "What -"

She pressed a finger to his lips, reveling in the softness, remembering how they'd felt joined with hers and her voice was a breathy whisper as she shushed him. "Just listen to the words. Relax. Let everything fall away until there's nothing but us, Nicholas," she breathed, his name a soft caress against her tongue.

Rush couldn't have looked away if he'd tried, so mesmerized as he was by her … the woman he loved, whispering his name in a seductive purr, her hand resting against his chest over his heart, her head on his shoulder and desire shining in her heavily lidded gaze. Why couldn't he have acted on his feelings before it was too late? Why had he waited for the threat of impending doom to finally hold her in his arms? Somehow, he forced the passion-induced haze which fogged his brain aside long enough to focus on the lyrics of the song she'd chosen, and the breath caught in his chest.

Oh, look there, you go again, puttin' on that smile again.

Even though I know you've had a bad day.

Doin' this and doin' that, always puttin' yourself last

A whole lotta give and not enough take,

But you can only be strong so long before you break ...

He had to smile. How many times had she coaxed him out of a bad mood with one of her teasing smiles and witty banter, always giving of herself to the point of exhaustion and never expecting anything in return? His gaze dropped to her mouth, the words falling silently from her lips and his hands clenched into fists to control the insatiable urge to kiss her, to claim her, to possess her and draw her into his heart and his body until the entire world knew without a doubt that she belonged to him.

So, fall, go on and fall apart,

And fall into these arms of mine, I'll catch you,

Every time you fall, go on and lose it all,

Every doubt, every fear, every worry, every tear,

I'm right here, baby, fall …

Forget about the world tonight, all that's wrong and all that's right.

Lay your head on my shoulder and let it fade away,

And if you wanna let go, baby, it's okay …

Belle's gaze never wavered from his as her hand crept slowly up his chest, along the warm flesh of his neck and over his nape, her fingers curling through the soft strands of his hair. "Nicholas ..." she murmured softly, urging him to close the distance between them. "Nicholas … would you catch me?" she whispered, her lips brushing tenderly against his with each word.

Fall, go on and fall apart,

And fall into these arms of mine and I'll catch you,

Every time you fall, go on and lose it all,

Every doubt, every fear, every worry, every tear,

I'm right here, baby fall …

Hold on, hold on,

Hold on to me …

A needy moan escaped his throat as his tongue darted past his teeth to wet his dry lips. His desire grew with every note as the music crested, yet still he held back. His gaze turned to the observation window, the star growing larger on the horizon, and he knew they were running out of time. He'd never be able to have her, yet at the same time, how could he deny her?

Belle's fingertips slid along the curve of his jaw, gently bringing his gaze back to meet hers. "I'm right here, Nicholas," she breathed. "Will you catch me?" Will you have me? she thought, her eyes darkening with desire as she waited for him to cease fighting with his inner demons and take what they both wanted. "Please, Nicholas … don't think, just feel."

Fall, go on and fall apart,

And fall into these arms of mine and I'll catch you,

Every time you fall, go on and lose it all,

Every doubt, every fear, every worry, every tear,

I'm right here, baby, fall …

His lips closed over hers and he felt every one of his muscles melt into the soft curves of her body, one hand delving into her dark hair, holding her still, the other wrapping about her waist to press her firmly to him as he reveled in her taste, his tongue gliding tentatively over her lower lip. This was their first real kiss without some obstacle between them. There was no panic caused by her claustrophobia needing to be banished, no sleep-induced fog to prevent him from fully claiming her.

Her lips parted beneath his, her fingers tightening in his hair, tugging gently, the pleasant sting increasing his ardor as his tongue slipped into her mouth to duel with hers, each fighting for dominance over the kiss. He sought out every crevice of her delectable mouth, anything, everything which would bring her pleasure and make her continue to emit the soft moans which echoed over and through his own mouth as he swallowed them down, capturing them greedily and holding them reverently within him.

Rush cradled her face in his warm palms and pressed his brow to hers as he broke the kiss in an effort to allow them both to catch their breath. "Shealbhú tú mo chroí, mo Belle. Is breá liom tú," he murmured, his brogue thick as his heartfelt promise fell from his lips.

Belle smiled shyly as she recognized the Gaelic words, if not their meaning. It wasn't often he was so overcome with emotion that he'd slip into the language of his childhood, but she couldn't deny it aroused her. "What does it mean?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. She nuzzled her nose with his, reveling in the soft brush of her skin against his.

His only answer was a darkly seductive twist of his lips as he stretched out his wiry frame on the length of the sofa and hauled her against his chest, affording them a bit more comfort as he claimed her lips once more. But that quirk of his lips hadn't been able to disguise the sadness, the longing, nor the pain which lingered in his sable eyes.

She braced her hands against his chest and broke the kiss as she pushed away, searching his face. The mask had indeed slipped, the cool reserve replaced with remorse, regret … goodbye.

Angry tears gathered in her eyes and spilled over her lashes. "Don't you dare!" she hissed, the sound no louder than that as she forced the words out around the knot which had formed in her throat. "Don't you say goodbye to me, Nicholas. We are not going to die. The shields will hold."

"Oh, Belle, I'm so sorry for dragging you into this mess," he said, catching her wrist in his firm grip when she attempted to smack his chest.

"Oh, Gods! That's why you kissed me. You were saying goodbye," she cried, her face a mask of horror. "You don't really want -" Her voice trailed away, and she tried to lift herself away from him, to run and seek the solace of her room, but his arms held her tightly, giving her no quarter and effectively trapping her within his embrace.

His fingers rubbed gently across her nape, urging her to meet him halfway as he lifted his head to brush his lips to hers. "How could you ever think I wouldn't want you, mo ghrá? I've always wanted you," he vowed, again speaking from his heart without revealing all. Doubt filled her jewel-bright cerulean eyes and he cursed, wondering how everything had gone so badly. He shifted so he could lie on his side, facing her, caged within his embrace between his body and the back of the sofa. He fitted his hips flush with hers, the evidence of his erection pressing into her, and he fairly growled his pleasure against the corner of her mouth. "Can't you feel me, Belle? My body won't lie to you."

X*X*X*X*X

Chloe dragged her gaze away from the object of their imminent death filling the window and searched out her new friend across the room. The noise which had drawn her attention had been Belle's iPhone as it had smacked against the cool metal floor, the white ear buds coiling, snakelike. Her eyes widened incredulously, and she smacked Eli in the center of his chest, drawing him abruptly from his reverie as he thought of all the things he'd never get to do with his life. "Eli! Eli!" she cried in a loud whisper, pointing across the room at what had to be the most unconventional couple she'd ever seen.

"What?!" he wailed, rubbing his chest where she'd hit him.

She slapped a hand over his mouth, at the same time turning his head towards the other sofa a good fifteen feet away. "You said they weren't together," she said accusingly.

Eli pried her hand away from his mouth, which now gaped open. "She said he didn't … he wasn't … interested in her like that."

Chloe's lips twitched as she met his gaze, and she was forced to press her face to his shoulder to muffle her startled laughter. "Well, apparently, she was wrong."

"Are we there yet?" the boy genius whined. "I so want this image burned from my retinas."

X*X*X*X*X

Belle moaned low in her throat and yielded to the desire curling through her, melting once more into his embrace. Her lips parted beneath his, opening again as his questing tongue delved into the hot inner recesses of her mouth. She felt consumed by him, her head spinning deliriously as he alternated between soft nibbling kisses and a fiery assault. Her nails scored his shoulders through the thin material of his t-shirt, giving herself over to the onslaught of his lips, teeth and tongue. Only the first rumblings of turbulence shaking the ship could jar her from her euphoric state.

Rush sat up and turned his worried gaze to the observation window, pulling her up beside him and pressing her head to his shoulder. A litany of They'll hold! They'll hold! They'll hold! echoed through her mind as she stared, awestruck at the star filling every inch of the window.

Rush climbed to his feet unsteadily, moving towards the railing as the bow of Destiny dipped into the star, the shields shining bright blue against the hull … holding firmly, never wavering. Belle joined him at the railing, her face lit up in triumph. "YES!" she cried exuberantly.

He laughed joyfully, catching her as she threw her arms about him and twirling her in a circle before setting her on her feet and kissing her soundly. "You were right," he cried ebulliently, laughing again. She ducked her head sheepishly, pleased with his praise. He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her face to meet his gaze. "There will be no living with you now."

Belle snorted and buried her face against his chest, simply happy to be alive.

Eli rose from the sofa, staring at the pair of scientists as if they'd taken leave of their senses. "Uh, what are we so happy about?"

"We're going to live, Eli," Rush replied, smiling at him over the top of Belle's head.

Eli gaped at him. "What about the turbulence and the heat and the death?" he asked, his voice rising in his excitement.

Belle shook her head, easing herself out of Rush's embrace and retrieving her phone from the floor, wrapping the ear buds around it and sliding it back into her pocket. "No, all of that would have happened by now. The shield is protecting us."

Chloe joined them at the railing. "But you said we were out of power."

"I was absolutely certain of that," Rush said, nodding happily. Belle chuckled, unable to remember the last time she'd seen him so light-hearted. She was sure it wouldn't last long. Another crisis would arise to turn him into a surly bear. "And I've never been more pleased to be wrong in all my life." Quickly, he twined his fingers with Belle's and pulled her along behind him, heading for the control interface room.

Belle protested, but followed. "Rush, we're missing it! How often can you say you were inside a bloody star? Would you slow down?"

Eli followed after them, anxious to keep abreast of what was happening. The consoles flickered to life moments before they entered the control room, data streaming across the screens and Eli hurried to his. "You're right! The systems are coming back online all over the ship!"

Young came in, grinning like a fool as Belle began running diagnostics on her console. She arched a brow, never having seen the strict military man lose his reserve. He looked almost human, she thought wryly. "There's a rumor spreading that we're still here."

A crooked grin curled his lips as Rush gazed down at his fully functioning console with delight. "We are," he unnecessarily confirmed. The lights came on in the room, further adding to the jovial mood which had overtaken its occupants. "Destiny needed all its power reserves to protect itself … and us."

Belle gasped, her gaze swinging urgently to lock with Rush's. "Nicholas, are you seeing this?" she asked excitedly.

Young's ebony brows disappeared somewhere in his hairline as he looked at Rush and smirked, mouthing, "Nicholas?"

Heat crept up Rush's neck to stain his cheeks, which only made him more disagreeable towards the man. He didn't answer, instead paging through the data until he found what had Belle so in awe.

"Uh, guys?" Eli asked, activating the holographic screen in the center of the room which showed Destiny's position in relation to the star. "We're in the star."

Young limped forward, his eyes scanning the screen. "That can't be right. You're talking thousands of degrees."

Belle rolled her eyes. "Fifteen point seven million Celsius, Colonel. I thought we'd covered that earlier," she retorted dryly.

Rush exchanged a warm glance with Belle, his sable eyes glowing with approval for her wit before turning his attention back to the colonel. "Well, we've just flown through the corona, which is even hotter, to say nothing of magnetic fields, gravitational stresses … This is what Destiny intended from the moment it entered the star system."

"You're telling me it flew into the star on purpose?" Everett asked, clearly surprised.

"That's exactly what he's saying," Belle agreed, beaming from ear to ear with satisfaction.

"Why?"

"To replenish its reserves," Rush said simply. "The ship is powered by the stars themselves. Solar powered … quite literally. There is no other explanation."

They all stared at the screen, their eyes mapping Destiny's course through the star until it began to pull out of it. The ship jolted momentarily, followed by the hum of the engines roaring to life. Eli let out a small whoop of excitement, laughing. "The engines just came back on! We're pulling out of it!"

A shrill tone pierced the air and Belle groaned as she looked up to see the countdown clock begin. "Oh, no. The shuttle!"

Young's face strained with determination. "We've gotta call them back."

"Uh, we haven't accessed communications yet," Eli groaned worriedly.

Rush rapidly entered commands into the console. "I'm working on it," he confirmed, the muscle in his jaw ticking furiously as he felt the tension build in his wiry frame.

"Well, you know if you don't figure it out before we go into FTL ..." Young snapped irritably, the stress weighing upon him as well.

Belle read the numbers on the clock written in Ancient. "Plenty of time, Nicholas."

Young swung around to regard her coolly. "We can't strand those people here."

Rush cast him a pointed look. "Then this would be an excellent time for you to trust me to solve this problem."

X*X*X*X*X

Lt Scott piloted the shuttle closer to the planet, their safe haven … which, apparently, wasn't so safe after all. When they'd finally gotten close enough to take a reading, it had shown the planet to basically be a frozen tundra. They'd be able to survive, but the question was for how long. Everyone had drifted into silence long ago, their thoughts troubled as they thought of those who had been left behind to face their fate. The comm came to life, a voice filtering through the static, one they'd never thought to hear again.

"This is Young, come in," came the colonel's voice.

Scott shared a look of stunned shock with TJ, soft murmurs emitting from the passengers strapped in behind them. He reached up, and with Brody pointing him in the right direction, pressed the comm link. "Uh, this is -" He had to clear his throat of the raw emotion choking him. "This is Scott, sir, how the hell?"

"We're just as surprised as you are, Lieutenant. I'll explain later. You need to get your ass back aboard this ship," he commanded firmly despite the smile Scott and TJ could hear clearly evident in his voice.

Laughter and applause met that announcement along with a profound sense of relief and Scott took a moment to sit back in his seat to shake off his amazement in order to follow Young's orders. TJ pointed out the cockpit window. "Look, there it is!"

Scott followed her line of vision to see Destiny in the distance, still trailing debris she'd collected in the star. "Will do! Scott out." He turned to the controls and immediately began plotting an intercept course which would see them back on board.

He typed tentatively into the console, still not confident with his limited knowledge of the systems. He'd had no other choice, forced to learn quickly due to necessity. The console beeped negatively, so he patiently retyped the information. Once again, the computer denied his request. He clicked the comm link. "Uh, Colonel, stand by," he said, turning to seek help from Brody with the computer. "I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Am I reading that right?" he asked the engineer.

Brody looked down at the failed scenario on the screen and bit back a curse. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me. We're so close!" he cried, looking at the Destiny out the cockpit window. "You can almost touch it! It's right there!"

"The Destiny's accelerating away from us and we can't match it," he muttered dejectedly, raising his head so his voice would carry through the comm link. He pressed the button a little harder than necessary in his distress. "Colonel, we have a problem here. We can see you, but the shuttle's computer cannot come up with an intercept solution. Destiny is accelerating too fast. I'm trying to put something in manually here, but there's no way to cross the 't'. Sir, we're gonna fall short."

Rush's voice came over the comm, questioning, "You're on full power, yes?"

"I put the throttle up right away. It's - it's just not gonna be enough."

Eli's frantic voice came next, echoing through the shuttle as he offered his own advice. "You must have afterburners or something."

Scott glared at the comm above his head. "It's not an F-16, Eli, it's a spaceship!" he snapped. "Is there anything you can do to slow Destiny down? Because we're out of ideas here."

Back on Destiny, Young paced around the holographic screen, pleading with Rush. "Come on, guys."

Rush swiped a hand down his face, thinking hard. Young could have sworn he heard the gears grinding in the doctor's brain. Rush dropped his hand and leaned over the console, speaking clearly into the open com link. "Lieutenant, I want you to turn and head directly towards the planet. We'll send you an exact course in a moment."

Eli, understanding what Rush intended, pulled his calculator out of his pocket and rapidly began inputting numbers.

"Belle," Rush snapped hurriedly. "Help Eli run the numbers!"

Belle darted across the room and took up the space next to Eli at his console, entering the numbers into the console as quickly as he could rattle them off.

"No, no, no. The planet is a rock. We're better off taking our chances ..." Scott answered.

Rush glared impatiently at the link. "Do what I say, Lieutenant. We don't have much time. In order to reach the star, Destiny used an aero-braking maneuver to slow down. I'm suggesting you perform a slingshot maneuver around the planet to do exactly the opposite," he explained.

Young felt hope spring to life within his chest where before he'd experienced only defeat. "A gravity boost to speed up."

Rush nodded. "It should put Destiny directly in their path."

The rapid whir of Belle's fingertips slowed to a stop as the console beeped. "Got it!" Eli exclaimed, feeling a proud sense of accomplishment.

Rush left his console, stalking purposefully towards Eli. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Eli, there's many variables here. Are you sure about this?" he asked, ignoring the icy glare Belle shot his way. He was sure he'd catch hell from her later, but time was of the essence and there was no margin for error.

Eli cast him a pointed stare before gesturing to himself. "Math boy, remember? Send it."

Belle snickered and turned away before Rush could scold her for her impertinence.

"Ok, Math Boy," he muttered, entering a few swift strokes on the console, the data transferring to his own. He returned to his own workstation and immediately sent the new course to the shuttle's computer.

"Is this gonna work?" the colonel asked skeptically.

Rush leaned his palms flat on the console and shrugged. "It's gonna be close."

X*X*X*X*X

Rush released a long hiss of air through his teeth as Young limped out of the control interface room to go meet up with the shuttle and welcome the remaining members of his crew back aboard. Eli had deserted them earlier to watch the shuttle dock from the observation deck … live, he'd said, instead of on the display in the control room. He rubbed fervently at the ache in his neck, leaning his head to the left until it popped with an audible crack. He tried to focus on the screen before him, to shake off the fatigue and stress which plagued him, to concentrate on the work which had to be done, but the soft gentle fingers which replaced his own drove away all coherent thought and left nothing but pleasure in their wake.

His head bowed, his hair falling over his brow as his eyes closed, a shiver creeping up his spine. "Belle … I've got work to do," he protested only half-heartedly. Her thumb pressed into the soft tissue of his neck, and he bit his lip to hold back the needy whimper threatening to escape his throat. It wasn't the first time she'd gone to work on him to alleviate the pain he suffered … too many long hours bent over his work would do it.

While he was distracted, she slipped between his body and the console and switched it off, the expression on her face daring him to argue. "I'm hungry," she murmured softly, using her other hand to brush a lock of hair behind his ear and trail her fingertips along his jaw. "Would you care to have dinner with me?"

His watchful gaze flitted between her heavily lidded eyes and the now cold console, torn between duty and desire. "Well, I don't know, Miss French. Can you secure us dinner for two from Bruno's?" he teased, propping a hand on the console on either side of her hips and leaning in to cage her within his arms. "A nice juicy filet, fried onions and garlic mashed potatoes?"

Her stomach growled loudly, and she flushed scarlet. "You play dirty, Rush," she groused, her lips pursing into a moue of irritation. What she wouldn't do to be able to order out from the little steakhouse near her apartment back home.

Rush sighed, realizing he'd gone too far when she reverted to his last name instead of the seductive purr of Nicholas. "I think I can hold off on the sludge a little longer, thank you," he snarked, backing up to give her space. He was surprised when her hand trailed down his left arm and slid her warm palm against his, entwining their fingers.

"Come have dinner with me," she insisted, gentling her tone, tugging on his hand to get him moving towards the door. He cocked a brow at her as she began walking backwards, raised her radio to her lips and clicked the comm button. "Dale, this is Belle in the control room."

"Yeah, Belle?" came Volker's hesitant reply.

"Could you please fill in for me for a few hours?" she asked, never taking her eyes from Rush as he dug in his heels.

"Have you taken leave of your senses? Surely you must have, to think that I would leave that muttonhead in charge of -" His voice trailed away as she caught her lower lip between her teeth and lowered her eyes to peer at him from beneath her lashes. He felt all the blood leave his head and venture south. Minx! Fuck, am I in trouble!

"I'm certain he won't steer us into a black hole while we're having dinner … Nicholas," she cajoled.

"On my way, Belle," Volker answered.

A slow smile of victory curved up one corner of her mouth as she clipped the radio back to the waistband of her yoga pants, tugging once more on his hand to get him moving. "Then afterwards, you can take a hot shower and change into something that doesn't smell like three-day old cheese," she snarked.

"My clothes do not -"

"Yes, they do," she sing-songed. "Then if you like we can take the long way from our quarters back to the control room and you can put in a shift."

"Belle, mo ghrá," he growled, taking advantage of her relaxed stance to pull her off balance and into his arms. He wrapped the arm which still held her hand around her back, pressing her to his chest. "You drive a hard bargain, but not quite."

She pressed a kiss to the hollow of his throat and a tremor shook him, too used to avoiding human contact. "What if I agree to work through the shift with you?"

"You're definitely getting warmer," he teased, releasing his hold on her to follow her to the mess.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before her curiosity got the better of her. "Nicholas, what is this … with us … between us, I mean?" she stammered nervously, gesturing between them.

That imperious brow of his rocketed skyward in surprise, but his tone was filled with a tenderness she'd never heard him use on anyone before … ever. "Something new … different and profoundly special, mo ghrá." He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss to her palm. "It's whatever you want it to be, Belle."

Her tongue darted out to wet her suddenly dry lips, watching him closely from the corner of her eye, hating the blush which stained her cheeks. "Can I ask you something?" He nodded, waiting for her to proceed. "Mo ghrá? What does it mean?"

He slowed his steps outside the mess, turning to her before they could enter the large, cavernous room and the boisterous noise pouring out into the corridor where they stood. Belle sucked in a sharp breath as his eyes darkened until they were almost black. "I promise I will tell you when the time is right. Now just happens to not be that time."

They'd barely stepped foot into the mess when Young called out to them. "Dr. Rush, Belle, come … sit with us. These two have even showered!" he chortled, getting in a jab at Eli and Scott.

Rush didn't bother to look towards the table occupied by the colonel and his elite, anxious to get his rations and be alone with Belle. "No, thanks."

He followed Belle over to where Becker was preparing rations into their meager tin bowls, beginning to get irritated with the colonel as he cajoled jovially, "Aw, come on. We should celebrate."

"Celebrate what? That we're back where we started?" he bit out acidly. He could feel Belle's disapproving stare on him, but it was too late to take back his words and he wasn't at all certain he would have if it were possible. There would always be bad blood between him and Young. He didn't see that changing in the near future.

Scott joined in, not even the animosity flying back and forth between the two men able to deter his good mood. "Aw, come on, have a seat, Rush!"

Rush still stubbornly refused to give in. "Some other time."

"You're being rude, Nicholas," Belle admonished, leaning in to whisper as she took the bowl from Becker.

Young rose to his feet, hobbling over to them. "All right. Well, Becker, give him a double ration. He deserves it."

Rush snorted. "Why's that, then?"

The smile never faltered from Young's face. "Well, I'm in a good mood."

"We're to be rewarded at your whim, then?" he asked caustically, gnashing his teeth in irritation.

"No, no, just stop. What, you - you want some reasons? I'll give you three. You were right about the power situation," he said, though it was just as difficult for him to admit when he was wrong as it was for the scientist.

Rush took the bowl of rations from Becker and poured a portion into Belle's bowl, so they'd have the same amount, despite her protests. "No, you need them more," she objected.

"No arguments," he scolded gently, the warmth radiating from his eyes when he looked at her nearly a tangible thing in the cold room. He spooned a bit of the porridge into his mouth and did his best to suppress a grimace before addressing the colonel's statement. "Not really, Colonel."

"You figured out the sub-space communications, how to call the shuttle," Everett argued.

Rush stared down into his bowl. "We needed to get those supplies back."

"You took your name out of the lottery."

Belle sighed wearily, tired of the tension and ready to quit the mess. "So did you, Colonel."

Young smiled at Belle. "I was injured. He actually made a sacrifice. And I could say the same for you, Belle. Although, I would attribute your decision to pure stubbornness," he chuckled fondly at the girl.

Rush stepped between them, his spoon clattering against the side of his bowl, the only thing to attest to his souring mood. He in no way appreciated the familiarity Young felt towards his little assistant … she was his. "And if we'd listened to her in the first place, there wouldn't have been a need to use the shuttle at all. A mistake I don't intend to repeat, and neither should you." He glared icily at the man just on principle and linked his hand with Belle's, leading her towards the door and out into the corridor.

Greer finished off his rations and watched the pair leave the mess as the colonel resumed his seat. "I don't know how that little gem tolerates him," he drawled lazily, the events of the day catching up to him.

Eli choked on a spoonful of his rations and Chloe pounded on his back, sliding a cup of water next to him. She shot him a warning look which demanded he keep his mouth shut about what they'd seen on the observation deck.

Scott, however, caught her glare and successfully interpreted it. "Wait … seriously?" he demanded of Chloe, who held her tongue. Eli's flaming cheeks gave truth to the speculation and everyone at the table fell silent, TJ grinning smugly and Young's brow furrowed in a puzzled frown.

"No, you're mistaken," Young insisted. Eli lowered his head, wishing he could drown in his rations. "You have to be. Belle would never -"

TJ interceded. "Colonel, let it go."

Scott looked aghast. "Belle and Rush?!"

Young shook his head, groaning. "That man is a lotta work. A lotta work. Hopefully, Belle knows what she's getting herself into. Frankly, there's not much I can do as they're both civilians and don't fall under the military code of conduct."

Scott just couldn't let it go, however. "How did you two even find out, Chloe?" When she wasn't forthcoming with any information, he pressed Eli. "Eli, buddy … come on, man, spill."

TJ shook her head in resignation, used to their tendency to gossip like a group of church ladies. "As much as I would love to know what happened, I wouldn't want to be around when Belle French finds out you've been gossiping about her. And heaven forbid she hears you've been bad-mouthing her boss behind her back." She shot Greer a searching look. "She still taking self-defense classes from you?"

"Not exactly," he hedged, his gaze focusing anywhere besides the medic.

Of course, that only ignited the colonel's interest. "Sergeant, would you care to enlighten us?"

"Not particularly, sir, no."

"How about you do so anyway," he suggested, and when the master sergeant still hesitated, he added. "Don't make me turn a simple request into an order."

"Let's just say, she's moved on from defense, sir," Greer mumbled evasively.

"Sergeant, I expressly forbade teaching the civilian personnel offense," Young grouched. "Why would you disobey a direct order?"

Greer's gaze moved from one of his friends and coworkers to the next, making sure he had everyone's undivided attention. "Anyone ever walk in on one of their fights? The ones that usually end in a broken white board and Jolly Ranchers scattered all over the floor from the science lab to the mess?" Chloe and Eli, being new to Icarus, were the only two who weren't trying to hide a snicker, a cough or an all-out hell yeah behind their hands. "I just couldn't resist, sir, I apologize. I'd pay good money to see him push her too far. She'd kick his skinny ass."

"Ron!" TJ admonished, her eyes tearing with mirth.

Scott pushed his bowl aside and propped his elbows on the table. "I still want to know what happened," he pouted.

Chloe, unable to take the puppy-eyed look he was casting her, finally caved. "It was just a kiss."

"Are you sure?" Eli asked, frowning at her. "I've never heard a girl make that kind of noise just from one kiss."

"Why am I not surprised," Greer mumbled good naturedly under his breath.

"Hey!" Eli returned, offended by their lack of faith in his ability to romance a female. He glanced at Chloe and slumped in his seat, seeing their point as his attempt to get to know the senator's daughter had failed abysmally. Not that he wasn't happy to have her as a friend, but he'd wanted more.

"Well, he is an older man, and he was married before," TJ added.

Everett cast her a sidelong glance, his face a mask of disgust and horror, realizing his ex-lover had actually given the matter some thought.

Greer chuckled. "One thing is certain … things are about to get interesting around here."

a/n: Shealbhú tú mo chroí, mo Belle. Is breá liom tú … You hold my heart, my Belle. I love you.

mo ghrá … my love

mo chroí … my heart

a/n: He's dying to tell her how he feels, just not courageous enough to do so, therefore, he's relying on the language he grew up with. Unfortunately, Belle isn't fluent in it. Don't worry, he'll tell her eventually lol. BTW, this was my fav chapter to write so far (o: