A/N: There is smut in this chapter. Reader discretion is advised.

Chapter Eleven: Space

"I've never seen symbols like these before," Rush muttered, barely able to make himself understood over the chattering of his teeth. The temperature had dropped exponentially. He just wanted to get inside the ship and perhaps find some way to activate its life support systems enough to offer him and Belle some much needed warmth.

Belle plastered herself to his back and snuck her hands beneath his jacket, seeking out what little heat his body had to offer. "T - Try to turn the middle symbol and the top right."

"Belle, love, it's not going to work," he grumbled, but it didn't stop him from taking her suggestion to heart. He frowned down at the puzzle lock before looking at her over his shoulder. "You had time to work on it for a while today, but surely —" She was wearing that smug I-told-you-so smirk which rattled him to no end, he mused. "Fine. Any other ideas?"

She felt him shiver as she pressed her cold nose just behind his ear. "I - I don't know, but the center plate's design seems as if it might c - connect to the others." She reached around him to run her fingers along the deep grooves in the metal. "Once they're aligned, perhaps the plate will depress completely and open the hatch?"

Her lithe form trembled violently as she turned her face into his neck, and he set to work twisting and turning the remaining seven plates until they formed what resembled a constellation … though perhaps not one he had ever seen. The metal seemed to liquefy and reform into one solid plate as it lit with a faint blue glow. She rested her hand over his, holding her breath as he depressed the plate and the hatch slid open.

"Oh, my brilliant girl, what would I do without you, yeah?" he asked, pulling her along behind him to the opening. He laid down on his stomach and peered inside at the faint light, his curiosity piqued.

"What do you see?" she asked, pulling the trailing ends of her flak jacket around her more securely.

"It looks alright. I can see the cockpit and the controls are alive."

"But it was dead earlier when we used the scanner on it," she murmured absently. "Do you think by using this hatch instead of the one below, it somehow activated the core system? That it could have just been dormant until the panel was used properly?"

"How about we don't chew it to death and just be thankful?" he chuckled, anxious to get inside. "Here, let me lower you down." He took her hands and lowered her through the hatch before dropping down beside her.

"We could have just used the ladder," she said dryly, walking over to the panel beside the metal ladder and activating the door release to close the hatch.

Rush pulled her close and ran his hands briskly over her upper arms, trying to restore warmth to her shaking limbs. "I find your sense of adventure rather lacking today, love."

"Yeah, well, it happens," she shrugged. "I think we should check this place out and then sit down to have a chat, Nicholas."

He grimaced at her pointed look, knowing he wasn't going to be able to avoid that conversation for very long. He nodded and let her go, moving to sit in the pilot's seat to peruse the computer. Thankfully, whatever race of aliens had crashed their ship on this planet, their written language wasn't too altogether different than the Ancient language they used on Destiny. It didn't take long to access the life support systems and the fresh rush of air through the vents was a welcome relief as was the warmth which came to chase away the deep chill. He sat back in the oddly shaped seat and pulled up the ship's log, reading through it as best as he could.

"Nicholas, did you find anything? It seems to be warmer in here," Belle mused, coming back into the cockpit to join him. She dropped a blanket she'd found onto his lap. "There's quite a bit here which should sustain us until we can find something better. There are four crew quarters, a lavatory and galley and on the deck below this one are crates of provisions - mostly what looks like freeze dried rations - and some water tanks."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling his age as well as each and every ache and pain riddling his body. "Well, that's good, I suppose. It should give us a few days at least. This ship isn't going anywhere, however. The propulsion is shot and without Brody, I don't have any hope of fixing it. The three man crew which crashed here sent out a distress beacon and were picked up just a few days after they were stranded."

Belle leaned forward and stared at the screen where the log was still on display. "So, they didn't even bother to scout farther afield. There may be more to this wasteland than we'd originally thought."

He leaned forward, his forearms braced on his knees, peering closely at her relaxed features. "You think this is a camping trip, Belle? I assure you, it's not. We were left for dead! We are in a barren wasteland where not even the most basic of organisms could hope to survive!"

"It's not like we have much of a choice!" she shouted back at him. "I'll not just lay down and give up, and I won't let you do it either."

He slumped back in his seat, realizing there was no point in arguing with her when she'd simply find a way to assert her opinions and make him feel like a green youth in his freshman year of college.

She arched a brow at him. "Now, about how we ended up here …" she began, her voice calm so as not to aggravate his temper further. If it was one thing she'd learned from years as his colleague, it was how to manage his temperament. "Would you like to tell me why Everett beat the crap out of you and left you for dead?"

He looked away guiltily, pressing several buttons on the console before him.

Belle sighed. "I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark and guess you were the one who framed him." It wasn't a question, and she didn't expect an answer.

He nodded anyway. "I needed to cast enough doubt on him to get him to step down. I knew there wouldn't be enough evidence against him to convict."

"Damnit, Nicholas!" she spat, rising to her feet to pace the confines of the cockpit. "How can you say you love me when you can't bring yourself to trust me, to let me in? We could have gotten him to step down some other way. Instead, you go about with your devious little schemes and end up left for dead. You're lucky he didn't kill you outright!"

"I do trust you, Belle —"

"Not enough, obviously," she snarked, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at him.

"I didn't think you'd approve," he said sulkily, the mask she'd seldom seen of late slipping into place. "I bloody well know you wouldn't have approved, and yet I did what I thought was best."

"Oh, don't you fucking dare!" she shouted, her voice reverberating off the metal walls as her eyes flashed blue fire at him in the dim light. "You are not going to close yourself off from me now."

"You should have gone back to the ship …" he grumbled, and she frowned, those low tones sounding foreign to her ears. He turned away from her and let his brow drop into his hands. "You'd be safe and warm instead of stuck here with me. It's all my fault."

Belle cast off the blanket and went to her pack to retrieve one of her canteens. She sat down opposite him again and pressed it into the hand hanging limp over the armrest as he sat there wallowing in self-pity. "Drink, Nicholas, it will make you feel better."

He drank greedily, rivulets of the life sustaining fluid running over his stubbled chin. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen."

"Then you should have been more careful. You should have talked to me, Nicholas. Between the two of us, we could have come up with an alternate solution to our problem instead of this harebrained scheme to frame the colonel for Spencer's death." She rose from her seat and stretched her arms up over her head before offering her hand. "Come on. I want to see how badly injured you are and get some rest before trekking out of here to see what's available farther afield … especially if we're going to be stuck here."

Rush clasped her hand tightly and let her pull him down the short hall to the crew quarters. She settled on the third she ducked her head into, a light gold duvet covering the modest sized bed. It wasn't quite as large as their bed on Destiny, but it would be adequate for their purposes. She pushed his filthy jacket off his shoulders as he unlaced and toed his boots off before he dropped to sit on the side of the bed.

She left for a moment to retrieve her canteen and a cloth she kept in her pack, setting them beside him as she reached for his shirt. He hissed in pain as she pulled it over his head. "I'm probably not going to be able to move in the morning," he lamented.

"You'll be fine. From what you've told me of your upbringing in Glasgow, this isn't your first fight." She winced as she took in the bruises already purpling on his lower back and sides. "However, I'd have to say Young did a number on you. It makes me feel better about his broken nose."

"I beg your pardon?" he asked, grinning up at her and splitting his lip open again.

Belle dabbed at the cut with the wet cloth and smiled smugly. "He tried to make me go with him through the gate and my elbow might have somehow connected with his nose." Her eyes finally rose to meet his, mischief sparkling in their depths. "I could feel the bones crunch."

"Why, Miss French," he whispered hotly, brushing his lips to hers in a feather light kiss. "I do believe you have a mean streak buried beneath that lovely exterior." He let her push him back against the duvet, his hands falling at his sides wearily. "But you should have gone with him regardless."

Belle shook her head, her chestnut locks falling about her shoulders. "I couldn't leave you, Nicholas. He lied to me … told me you'd both been caught in a rockslide, and you hadn't made it."

"How'd you know he lied?" he asked curiously, lying still for her as she cleaned his face and neck with the cloth. It was somewhat painful as she tended to the cuts on his face, but he accepted her ministrations without complaint. As much as he regretted her decision to remain there on the planet with him, he couldn't find it in himself to be sorry she was with him now.

"There were no tremors and no rising dust cloud which would signal such an event," she explained, adding more water to the cloth and dragging it over his chest. "He was trying to cover his ass. He was certain I would be returning to Destiny with him, and he would have surely wanted me to corroborate his story to the others."

He sat up and pulled her to straddle his lap. "Why'd you come back, Belle?" he asked, delving his hands into her soft hair, his thumbs tracing circles beneath her ears as he pressed his brow to hers.

She whimpered softly, chewing fiercely at her lower lip as she tried to hold the words back. If she said them, they'd be real, and she'd be unable to take them back … he'd never let her take them back. "I - I realized I … I would rather die with you than live with Young and the rest of the crew."

Belle wanted to close her eyes, to hide from the hope which sprang to life within his sable orbs, but his penetrating gaze held her captive. "Why?" he asked, pressing soft sipping kisses along her bottom lip. "Tell me, mo chroí."

Her soft hands, which had just moments ago been administering comfort to his bruised and battered body, glided over his chest as she drew back to lock her gaze with his and he could see it in her eyes, bright and shining, before the words fell from her lips. "I love you, Nicholas."

His hands tightened in her hair as warmth flooded his cold limbs. "You mean it?" he asked in barely more than a whisper. "What was it you said before … 'we all say things we don't mean when we're about to die'?"

Belle smacked him in the center of his chest and pushed him back against the duvet. "I'll have you know, I don't want to love you! Love is pain and loss and heartbreak. Do you really think I want to subject myself to that agony again?!" she cried. "I assure you, I don't, but I can't seem to help it. I chose to be with you." Tears streamed down her face as if a dam had broken within her. "When I thought he'd … that you'd … damnit now I can't fucking speak."

He gathered her close and stroked his hand over her hair, her sobs shaking them both. "I'm here though, Belle, and I'm fine. I'm here, love," he crooned. "I love you, mo chroí … my heart. For so long, I've loved you. Love is more than pain, Belle. It can be joy and happiness and warmth … if you let it." He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, content to hold her as she cried out all her despair, everything she'd bottled up for so long. Even when she'd hidden behind her glasses and severe hair styles he'd never seen her so vulnerable. "I'll not leave you, my love … shh …"

She sat up, still straddling him and pushed her heavy flak jacket off her arms to fall to the floor as she swiped at her tears. She made a small sound of disgust. "Look at me blubbering. I'm a mess," she tsked. "How attractive is that?!"

"You're beautiful, Belle," he whispered, reverence coloring his tone as his hands kneaded the soft curves of her hips. "My beautiful, brave girl."

She planted her palms on either side of his head, her lips mere inches from his own, her hair falling about their faces, cocooning them behind a chestnut curtain of silk. "I don't feel so brave right now," she admitted ruefully. "I'm afraid, Nicholas. I don't want to be afraid. I've always had to be strong for everyone … my papa, my friends, my -" She brushed her lips over his, mindful of the cut on his lower lip, stopping herself short before she could reveal any more of her past. "I just don't know if I can do it anymore."

Rush gathered her close, and rolled her beneath him, cradling her tear stained face in his warm palms. "You don't have to do it alone anymore, Belle," he whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth. "You have me. We can be strong for one another." His lips glided in a whisper of a caress to the other side where he dropped another tender kiss. "I love you."

She believed him. With everything she was or had ever been, she believed him. They were stranded on a planet where they may very well be the only two humans. With no Kino remote - she was still cursing herself for having given it to Volker when she climbed atop the ship - it wasn't as if they could gate hop until they somehow caught up with Destiny. She had him all to herself without the common distractions which had kept him from her over the past few weeks and she was more than willing to take advantage of that fact.

Belle wrapped her arms about him, her nails scratching lightly against the small of his back as he surrendered with a groan and claimed her lips with his own. His hot tongue invaded her mouth with renewed fervor, all pretense of their worries melting away. She shed her troubles as easily as she had her jacket and gave herself up to him, letting his warm hands cradle and tease as they slipped over her arms and down her sides to settle on the curve of her hips.

He slipped his hands beneath the hem of her grey shirt - one of the many she'd found exploring the Ancient crates - and slowly pushed it up, his lips leaving hers to press soft open mouthed kisses over her flat stomach. Her now swollen lips parted on a gasp as his tongue dipped into her navel before biting gently along its edge. Her muscles contracted as she arched into his touch, savoring the feel of his hands and lips on her bare skin. The stubble on his chin scratched pleasantly along her ribs as he trailed them higher, following the hem of her shirt as he pushed it up over her breasts.

He stilled her hands as she reached for it to pull it over her head. "No, mo chroí, you're my treasure to uncover," he murmured with a devilish grin. "Slowly." He captured her hands in his, kissing each of her palms before setting them beside her on the duvet. She nodded, ardently holding his gaze as he returned his lips to her heated flesh. She writhed beneath him as his tongue traced along the lacy edge of her bra, heat unfurling and expanding in her blood as it raced to her core and the tips of her breasts.

"For fuck's sake, Nicholas! Would you just take my clothes off already!?" she hissed as his lips closed over her nipple through the nude silk and black lace covering her breasts. He chuckled, the sound vibrating against her over-sensitized skin.

"Impatient, are we?" he rasped huskily, his voice deep and heavily laden with desire. He caught the taut bud between his teeth and tugged, earning a keening cry which echoed through his body and went straight to his cock. Her eyes flashed fire at him, the blown pupils showing just a tiny ring of blue around them. He took pity on her and pulled the shirt over her head, tossing it carelessly over his shoulder to join the rest of their clothing. His lips ghosted over the shell of her ear as he pushed her back against the duvet once more. "Relax, love," he crooned, his voice just as breathless as her own.

Belle nodded, gulping in heaping lungfuls of air as she tried to do as he'd bid. She wanted him so much, it was torture trying to calm her raging desire. And, of course, he wasn't going to make it easy for her as his hands trailed over her quivering flesh, his lips always following the same path. He pressed soft kisses to her wrists, the crook of her elbow and the curve of her shoulder as his clever fingers found the clasp at the front of her bra. She growled in frustration as his tongue dipped into the hollow of her throat and along the valley between her breasts, over her belly and to the inside curve of her hip, but never where she wanted him most. He purposefully avoided the places he knew would have her keening with need as he stripped off her fatigues and boots and then he started again.

She sucked in a sharp breath as he ran his tongue over the arch of her left foot. "You realize I'm going to get you back for this, don't you?" she warned as his calloused palm kneaded her calf gently, his fingertips teasing the sensitive flesh at the back of her knee. She jerked her leg out of his grasp, and he shrugged, capturing her right and giving it the same attention.

Rush smirked, a smug twisting of his lips as he moved to kneel between her parted thighs. He ran his hands along her smooth legs, his fingers toying with her skin as he drew closer to the glistening nest of curls at the juncture of her thighs. "Do you want me to stop?" he teased, his brogue thick, the low tones nearly a physical caress.

Belle gaped at him incredulously. "No!" she cried. "Don't you dare." She sat up, her arms wrapping about his waist as she pressed her face into his chest, rubbing kitten-like over his bare skin. "Need you," she murmured pleadingly. Her lips closed over one flat nipple and he jerked convulsively, a slow hiss of pleasure escaping between his teeth. His hands twined in her hair, holding her to him. One hand trailed over his ribs to scratch lightly at the other and his skin prickled with goosebumps.

Breathing became difficult as he panted, his engorged cock painful as it pressed against the coarse fabric of his fatigues. It was a small relief when her hands dropped to the waistband and popped the buttons free. She pushed them over his hips and freed them from his legs before pulling him off balance to fall clumsily atop her.

Belle giggled and reached for him again, her hands delving into his tousled hair to hold him still for her kiss, her tongue gliding sinuously against his as she explored his mouth with relish. She bucked her hips against his, seeking friction against her throbbing core as he gathered her close and cupped her breast in his palm, his fingers plucking at the taut peak.

"Nicholas …" she keened his name, breaking the contact of their lips, the sound causing fire to lick mercilessly at his lower belly. "Please, Nicholas."

His lips trailed along her jaw to nuzzle beneath at the succulent patch of skin where her pulse beat a frantic tattoo, laving it with his tongue before sucking it deeply into his mouth. His long fingers reached down, parting her slick folds and he smiled against her skin, a surge of male satisfaction coursing through him at the wetness which greeted him. Her nails scored his back as he slipped two fingers into her. He knew he'd feel each and every groove she carved into his flesh come morning, and he'd wear her mark with pride. He moaned into her neck as his fingers thrust into her, his thumb circling her clit with just the right amount of pressure. He wanted to drive every coherent thought from her mind, leaving only him to consume her.

Belle's usually nonexistent accent thickened in a litany of please, more, yes, and don't stop, each utterance fueling the fever in his blood. His scalp stung as she fisted her hand in his long locks, the stripes covering his back from her nails burned and he howled as she shattered around his fingers and bit into the tendon in the crook of his neck.

He pulled away from her just enough to glimpse her face. She was glorious in her ecstasy. "Open your eyes, mo stór. Let me see you," he whispered, mesmerized by her flushed cheeks and parted, kiss-swollen lips, but nothing compared to the sweet sight of her cerulean eyes and the love gleaming in their depths. He withdrew his fingers from her, smiling darkly as he brought them to his mouth and licked them clean, savoring the sight of her widening eyes.

Her hand in his hair tightened as she pulled his head down to capture his lips with hers, moaning as she tasted herself on his lips, his tongue, reaching between them to cup him in her hand. He jerked fitfully against her, and he caught her wrist, pulling her hand up to kiss her palm. "Not a good idea, love."

Belle arched a brow as she raked her nails over his hips, reveling in the low rumble deep in his chest. She rolled her hips against him, impatient to have him inside her. She'd waited long enough for them to come together, and she wasn't willing to prolong it further. "Please, Nicholas …"

Rush gave a vigorous nod, his jaw tightly clenched as he reached between them to take himself in hand and line them up. His gaze locked with hers as he sheathed his turgid cock inside her welcoming heat. He could've come simply from the raw desire spread out over her lovely features and her enveloping wetness. He held himself still within her, pressing her into the mattress as she writhed beneath him, fighting to maintain the last bit of his sanity.

"Nicholas …" she whimpered softly, "move, darling, please …"

He brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles, lowering his head to claim her lips. "I love you, Belle," he whispered, his voice so thick with emotion, he would be surprised if she could even understand him.

"I love you, too, my Nicholas," she panted, wrapping her arms around his back and pressing closer. She'd never be close enough to the wonderful gift in her arms. It was truly a gift as she'd thought never to experience love again after she'd lost Gold. She was sure he felt the same after losing Gloria and yet they'd found one another.

He groaned from the sheer pleasure of being buried deep within his girl, his hips flush with hers and could have happily remained there forever, but the pressure building urged him to move, unable to put it off any longer. He withdrew slowly, nearly leaving her completely before snapping his hips forward again, relishing the keening cry which fell from her lips. He set a torturous pace of deep slow strokes, praying his control would withstand it.

"Faster, Nicholas!" she cried, her hips rising to meet him with each forward thrust he made. He filled her completely, the sensation slowly driving her mad, the pressure building exponentially in her womb, her inner walls clasping him tightly and drawing him ever deeper. She was on the precipice, ready to fall over into the abyss as he thrust erratically within her. Harder, faster, deeper, steadily pushing her to the edge until the world melted away and blinding light stole her vision, leaving them joined in bliss. She came hard, the pleasure spreading out to singe her fingertips and curl her toes, her folds clasping and clenching him to a painful degree. His heat flooded her as he spilled himself within her, the sound he made reminiscent of the vilest agony or the greatest pleasure, she couldn't be sure.

Rush gasped, his breathing stuttered as he tried to remove his weight from her, but she held on with more strength than he'd expected from such a small woman. He braced himself shakily on his elbows, giving into her fervent desire to clasp him close to her, his brow dropping sluggishly to her shoulder. Finally, her grip loosened, and he was able to roll to his side, pulling her along with him. She curled into his side, silent but for the labored sound of her breathing.

He threaded his fingers in her hair, pushing a damp lock behind her ear as her head came to rest on his chest. "Are you alright, mo chroí?"

"Mhmm … perfect," she purred, snuffling softly as she pressed her face against his neck. "I always knew we'd be amazing together."

Rush chuckled softly as he pulled the duvet over them and wrapped his arms more securely about her. He couldn't even find it in him to be upset that she sounded so smug. "And you're always right, aren't you, love?"

Belle yawned, the stresses of the day more than her weary body could keep up with. "Indeed, I am." She fell asleep with a contented smile adorning her lips, not even their uncertain fate able to penetrate her happiness and steal it away.

X*X*X*X*X

A long slow hiss of pain escaped from between Everett's teeth as TJ treated the cut over his left eyebrow, the alcohol burning the wound caused by the rock Rush had hit him with. He just wanted to retreat to his quarters to mull over his actions instead of having to face the accusing glares Camille was sending his way. Scott and Eli seemed more stunned than anything.

"Where are Rush and Belle? Why didn't they come back with you," Camille asked, her eyes narrowed with suspicion, tone harsh.

"We just stayed too long," he said, his voice rough, his throat parched. "On the way back, Rush tripped himself up, started a rockslide. I was just ahead, but I just … I barely made it through. Belle —" he yowled as TJ repositioned the cartilage in his nose and taped it to make sure it set. "Jesus, Tamara!"

TJ winced and gave a shrug. "Sorry, had to be done."

"That doesn't explain why Belle didn't come back with you," Camille pressed, her frown deepening the lines between her brows.

Young sighed and shook his head as he lowered the cup of water from his lips. "She was waiting for us at the gate, but when I returned without Rush, she insisted on going back for him." He pointed ruefully at his swollen, disjointed nose and cringed. "How do you think I got this? I tried to pull her through the gate with me and she elbowed me in the nose. It surprised me so much, I let go of her and literally stumbled backwards through the puddle." He wasn't about to tell them Belle had forcefully kicked him into the event horizon. A broken nose was enough of an embarrassment.

Camille ignored Eli who was pacing restlessly behind her, steadily chewing his thumbnails to shreds. She squared her shoulders with determination, her pride a bitter pill to swallow. "I just wanted you to know, Colonel, that I've informed the crew of the new evidence that's come to light. Since you've been completely exonerated, obviously you should resume your duties as commander."

"Tomorrow," TJ interjected, giving them both a pointed look before her gaze settled on her former lover. "You need to rest. She can be in charge one more day."

Young sighed, drinking deeply from the cup as TJ refilled it and then packed up her kit. Eli, however, couldn't find it in himself to hold his tongue another moment. "So, what the hell are we supposed to do now? Rush and Belle know - knew - the systems more than anyone on this ship," he railed, waving a hand about and gesturing wildly.

"Eli …" Everett sighed wearily.

"And that's not even considering what all Belle does on this ship. She's our team leader when it comes to morale." Both hands raked through his hair in despair as he thought of his friend left to die on the planet. "She got me to exercise," he said as if that explained it all. "She made us tea and would mother me when I didn't get enough rest, and she was teaching me Ancient and …" his voice broke off as a choked sob escaped his lips.

"Eli, it was an accident. We'll find some way to get through this. More responsibility will fall to the other scientists on the team, and we will endure."

The boy finally turned to face him, his eyes narrowing at the cold mask of indifference on the colonel's face. There was remorse hidden deep within the dark depths of his eyes, but it was the almost cold satisfaction to be rid of Rush that caused a shiver to trip up Eli's spine. No, he wouldn't have deliberately left him there, he tried to convince himself. He nodded, backing away towards the door, feeling as if he didn't know who the colonel was anymore. He'd thought him a good man, but the shell sitting on the gurney across the infirmary in no way resembled the man he'd come to look up to. He just wished he'd have left a Kino on the planet with them, so he'd know for certain.

X*X*X*X*X

Belle's brow furrowed and she burrowed closer to Rush, her mind somewhere between slumber and waking. She was cold and a slow nagging itch slithered unpleasantly beneath her skin, but she couldn't recall hearing a noise or detecting any movement that would have penetrated her deep sleep. She pried her heavy lids open, but it was the same metal walls which had greeted her yesterday in their borrowed quarters, the same gold duvet covering them and her pack sitting on the floor beside the bed. Nothing to be concerned about, she assured herself as her eyes slid closed once more.

She had almost fallen back to sleep when the sound reached her ears, a clicking followed by a high pitched guttural trill. Nicholas snored softly behind her, his face pressed against her nape. What if some kind of animal had wandered into the ship? She scolded herself for the thought a moment later, remembering the closed hatch. Then what could it be, she worried. She had a pistol in her flak jacket, a nine millimeter Greer had convinced her to take with her for protection, but it was across the room and far out of reach. She wished she'd had the foresight to tuck it beneath her pillow after she and Rush had made use of the lavatory and redressed to fend off the chill of the ship.

A shrill scream pierced the silence of the room as the door whooshed open and she scrambled up on her knees as Rush startled awake. His back slammed into the headboard as the aliens swarmed into the room. He wrapped his arm around her waist, shoving her behind him as he gathered his wits and crouched before her, holding out his hands in a gesture of peace.

One of the aliens, his blue skin preternaturally bright in the dim room, trilled and two more of his compatriots filed into the room. She couldn't make out the primitive dialect of clicks and trills, but she was sure whatever they were saying didn't bode well for her and Rush. Her hands fisted in the back of his shirt, and she could feel the barely restrained urge to flee humming beneath his skin. She eyed the distance between her jacket, where the handgun was hidden, and the closest alien, knowing she'd never make it.

Nicholas seemed to sense what she had in mind and hissed at her to remain still. "Don't even think about it, Belle," he warned, keeping his voice low and non-threatening. "We do not want to antagonize them." She nodded even though he never took his eyes from the aliens before him and couldn't appreciate the gesture. He locked his gaze with the one who seemed to be their leader and slipped into Ancient. "We mean you no harm," he said. "We're peaceful."

"I don't think he understands you," she whispered. The leader clicked at her and gestured to his companions.

Cold, long-fingered hands wrapped around Rush's wrists, and pulled him forward, his shirt ripped from her grasp as he was hauled to his feet. Another grabbed for Belle, and she bit her lip to hold the cold terror which gripped her at bay. "Nicholas!" she cried as he was led away from her down the corridor.

"Belle, calm down. We have no choice! There's nowhere to run," he said calmly. "Perhaps once we get off this planet we'll have a better chance of surviving." He could only pray he was right as he tried to reassure her. He grunted in pain as one of the aliens prodded him in the bruised area of his back, pointing upward at the open hatch.

She twisted her arms until she managed to slip free of the alien holding her and ran to Rush, turning and hissing at the blue skinned freaks. They were taken aback by her aggression and seemed to freeze for a moment as she held out one hand, gesturing for them to stop. She lifted Nicholas's shirt with the other, the bruises, a vivid purple, clearly evident in the bright light streaming down upon them. She shook her head as she met the leader's electric blue eyes, warning him not to hurt him again.

Rush hastily turned and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her between him and the ladder. "What are you doing?" he asked incredulously.

"I'm staking a claim, darling. I thought that would've been obvious," the tremor in her voice belying the bravado for which she strove. She, in turn, wrapped her arms about his waist and pressed herself flush with his body as she glared at the leader.

The Nakai general clicked and trilled at her, the two snake-like tentacles on either side of its mouth quivering in irritation. He sent two of his fellows up through the hatch, leaving them with the two which remained, and Belle relaxed her muscles, nodding at the leader now that he wasn't trying to keep her from Rush. She'd endured thirty years as a prisoner of the Evil Queen. This would be a piece of cake as long as she wasn't separated from Rush. He was her lifeline and her strength; she couldn't be parted from him.

The leader trilled sharply at her as he gestured for them to ascend the ladder, the sound sending another cold shiver of fear down her spine, but she obeyed without complaint, having won her first battle with the aliens. She could feel the solid strength of Nicholas at her back, and he threaded his fingers with hers the moment he was free of the hatch, pulling her slightly behind him as the aliens prodded them towards the crest of the hill where a small shuttle awaited them.

They were led inside and ushered into a small circular room, not even a porthole to let in the light as the door sealed behind them. It was small, cramped, and devoid of illumination. Nicholas could feel her rising panic as her fear of tight spaces washed through her. "Shh, Belle, I'm here," he crooned, gathering her close. His legs gave out beneath him, the stress and fear which had been choking him for the past half hour more than he could bear and he collapsed to the cold metal floor, pulling her onto his lap.

"I'm afraid, Nicholas," she whimpered, pressing her face into the crook of his neck. Her fingers twisted in the fabric of his army issue t-shirt as tremor upon tremor rattled her petite frame.

Rush held her to him as he leaned on the wall at his back and threaded the fingers of one hand into her hair. "My brave girl," he whispered softly against the shell of her ear, hoping the calm tone of his voice would soothe her. "You just stood up to an alien race whose intentions towards us are unknown and you're scared of the dark? Not you, mo chroí. Deep breaths, steady breaths, that's it," he crooned, pressing a kiss to her temple as she obeyed. "Close your eyes. We're back on Destiny, alone in our bed, curled about one another to sleep. You're safe in my arms, Belle, and nothing will harm you … I'll not allow it."

Belle trembled, but took comfort in his lilting voice as she tried to relax, trying to picture the scene he painted for her. She knew they were empty words as their future was so uncertain, but she willed herself to believe them. If there was anything he could do to save them, he would. "I love you, Nicholas. Don't leave me," she pleaded. "I need you."

"I'm here, my Belle. I'll not leave you. Shh, don't cry," he murmured, his heart sinking as he felt her tears wet the front of his shirt. "It's ok, I've got you." He fought against his own fear of the unknown to be strong for her. So many times, she'd defended him, cared for him and believed in him. He wouldn't let her down now. "I've got you, my love."

X*X*X*X*X

Belle's lower lip disappeared between her teeth as she paced about the room, surveying their new surroundings. They'd been shunted from the shuttle and down one long, dimly lit corridor after another, an endless catacomb of cold gray metal. It irked her that the deeper they traversed through the ship, the more her fear mounted. She'd endured worse in her lifetime. This should be no different, yet it was.

When she'd gone away with Rumpelstiltskin to be his caretaker, she'd been frightened at first, but she'd quickly seen through his beastly façade to the man beneath. He would never have hurt her physically. Mental torture was another matter, she thought wryly. His little dance around his feelings and then throwing her out of the castle had been nothing less than agony. Regina, once she'd captured Belle, hadn't been very creative in her methods. Being locked away in a tower, chained to the wall with poor food and nothing to occupy her time aside from thoughts of what she'd lost had worn on her sanity, but it hadn't been painful. When the queen would grow bored with whatever scheme demanded her attention, she would visit Belle to taunt her about the Dark One, but again, she had been able to endure, knowing Regina couldn't keep Rumpelstiltskin from her indefinitely. However, the thought of these eerie creatures cutting into her flesh to experiment on her was more than her courage could handle.

Seeing the chamber, they'd been brought to, did little to alleviate her fears. Lighted rods along the gray walls illuminated the room, but there were no portholes to allow them to see out into the vastness of space. The stars would be a comforting sight, she groaned inwardly. It was like being in the asylum all over again. She looked around once more, surveying their surroundings. At least then she'd had a window, albeit a small one. A metal slab sat to one side of the room and a chair much like the one they'd found on Destiny dominated the other. She studied it with a troubled frown as she noticed the tuberous wires extending from it to the wall panels where a multitude of screens lay black and silent. There were clamps about the foot and arm rests and she rubbed absently at her wrists. The slab wasn't much better, and she refused to look at it longer than necessary.

Rush's arms encircled her waist from behind, providing a comforting warmth at her back meant to reassure her as he rested his chin atop her shoulder. "You're trembling, mo stór," he whispered, pressing a kiss beneath her ear. "Tell me what you need."

"Just you, Nicholas," she murmured, her voice strained with the effort to hold her tears at bay. "Don't let go." She turned in his embrace and pressed her face into his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. "What do you think they'll do to us?"

"I honestly don't know, Belle. Try not to think on it. Perhaps we can talk to them, trade something in return for our freedom."

She snorted. "I don't see that happening." He didn't either, but he wasn't about to add to her fears.

Rush held her, his hands roving over her back in soothing strokes from nape to hip until he felt her relax into him. He'd studied the room, knew what it was for and what he could expect from it, but he didn't want to alarm Belle. He'd never seen her like this before, and it disturbed him greatly to see her in such a state. There was only one man to blame … Young. There were his own actions to be taken into account, though he did his best to ignore his own culpability.

He shouldn't have tried to frame the man for murder, but Young shouldn't have left him on the planet either. He was certain they could have come to some type of accord without the need to abandon him. Yet that wasn't what fueled the rage which hummed beneath his skin. It was because he'd left Belle there as well. If they ever returned to Destiny - which didn't seem likely at this point - he would deal with the man personally. Anyone who would leave a man behind to die in a wasteland didn't deserve to be in command.

Rush was jerked from his reverie as the door whooshed open and three of their captors entered the room. He ushered Belle to a corner of the room, pressing her against the wall and taking a protective stance before her, his lips curled back from his teeth in a snarl. He didn't like the way the blue nightmare stood with his two flunkies a few paces behind, their posture clearly deferential to the leader. This wasn't the same alien commander who had taken them from the planet, but perhaps the mission commander. Fuck! He had little hope that he or Belle would be able to so easily sway this one.

The Nakai commander gestured for his fellows to advance on their captives, the clicking and trilling grating on Rush's already over-sensitized ears. He shrank back, pressing into Belle as she molded to his back, his hands curling into fists at his side. He would endure whatever they threw at him so long as they didn't harm his girl. He swung a well-aimed jab, but the alien simply sidestepped him. He didn't stand a chance. Long cold electric blue fingers curled around his forearm, jerking him away from Belle. His arms were forced behind his back as they restrained him, the second alien doing the same to her. He was dragged forward to face the commander, flinching away as a cold metal cylindrical device was pressed into his neck.

Rush's vision blurred and he slumped against the alien holding him, slipping easily into the black abyss of unconsciousness.

X*X*X*X*X

Belle blinked groggily as her head rolled against something padded. She frowned as she fought off the haze of her drugged sleep. For a moment she forgot where she was before it all came flooding back in and she glanced frantically about the room. "N-Ni-Nicholas!" she gasped, unable to find him in the room.

She tried to rise, but found her hands and legs restrained by the clamps on the chair upon which she sat. She glanced down, taking note of the strange black rubber suit the aliens had dressed her in. It chafed unpleasantly against her soft skin and the silver collar - or what she could see of it - was strange. Around it were what looked like nodes that something could be fastened to. It was just like those the aliens wore and she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to her own clothes. She frowned and flexed her jaw. Her face felt tight, like the moisturizer mask she sometimes used had hardened on her skin.

Several leads were attached to the stickiness on her face and near her temples. She turned her head and could just glimpse some of the screens on the wall behind her. One appeared to have a brain scan while another showed a thermal scan of her body and bone structure. Her heart rate increased as she realized she wasn't alone in the room, her eyes locking on the Nakai scientists hovering over the slab against the far wall.

"What have you done with Nicholas?" she asked, not really expecting an answer. "Nicholas!"

Their commander turned to advance on her, and she couldn't help but shrink back further in the chair as he clicked at her in his primitive dialect. His tone clearly told her to cease with the prattling. Her gaze returned to the slab as the other aliens moved aside and she could see Rush's prone form. Tears stung her eyes as a sob rose to choke her.

"What have you done to him!?" she cried, struggling against the clamps. The commander trilled a warning - maybe an order … who could tell, really - and one of his subordinates came forward with that cylindrical device, pressing it to her neck. She fought to stay awake, focusing all her energy on Rush and her desire to get to him, to no avail.

X*X*X*X*X

Camille was waiting for Colonel Young outside the infirmary after his check up with TJ and he couldn't help but groan at the sight of her. She was becoming nearly as big a thorn in his side as Rush had been.

"Colonel, off to file your latest report back to Earth?" she asked, a forced smile on her thin lips.

"That's right," he said, staring down at her.

She shifted, holding a clipboard to her chest. "I'm curious about the details you intend to provide regarding the incident with Dr. Rush and Miss French."

All hint of civility disappeared from his face to be replaced with a blank mask. "I plan to debrief the general on exactly what happened."

"I'm scheduled to file my report with Earth later today, and it may cast some doubt on your version of events," she informed him, offering a tight smile.

"There were only three people on that planet — me, Rush and French. She'd already been sent back to the gate when the rockslide occurred and were she here, she couldn't dispute my report."

"I'm talking about the obvious issues between the two of you," she replied, choosing her words carefully.

"That doesn't change anything. Listen … if you wanna accuse me, you should have the guts to come right out and accuse me to my face."

Camille clasped the clipboard more firmly, only the whitening of her knuckles betraying her apprehension. "I don't have proof of anything."

"I think you just wanna be in charge again," he retorted.

"I'm saying you had plenty of motive."

Young folded his arms across his chest as his brows rose. "Really? Do you think that I want people on this ship suspecting me of murder?"

"Maybe that burden is easier to bear than actually dealing with Rush."

"Well, I'll admit it … I don't miss the man." He turned on his heel and stalked off towards the communications lab, not giving her a chance to further her questioning. He might regret having abandoned a member of his team on that planet, but he had been honest with Camille. He didn't miss the daily struggle he'd had with the man.

He nodded to Kane, Scott and Greer as he strode into the lab, effectively ending their discussion. "Gentlemen."

"Have a seat, Colonel," Kane said, gesturing to a chair. "I think we're ready."

Young lifted one of the stones from the box and held it for a moment before setting it down on the panel, closing his eyes as he anticipated waking in a strange body on Earth. As the light levels changed around him, he slowly opened his eyes, frowning at his unfamiliar surroundings. Instead of the communications room at Homeworld Command at the Pentagon, he found himself in a dimly lit corridor much like those on Destiny.

For a moment he thought he might somehow have switched with someone on board, but the markings etched into the walls were unlike any he'd ever seen on the Ancient ship. He took a cautious step forward, glancing behind him as he searched for signs of life. He glanced down at the unfamiliar clothing seemingly sticking to his clammy skin. He'd definitely never seen anything like the black wetsuit with its wide silver collar worn by anyone in the Stargate program.

The colonel proceeded hesitantly down the long corridor and turned to the left as it branched off in several directions. He stared curiously at a gaping hole in the floor and forced himself not to jump back as a platform rose before him. He gaped incredulously at the alien with its large oval head, a raised ridge protruding from the center of its brow to the back of its hairless head. It was about the same height as Young, but its spindly arms and legs complemented its equally thin frame encased in the same strange uniform he wore. He was taken aback by the fluorescent pale blue color of its skin and the startling electric blue eyes which turned to stare curiously at him.

The alien paused momentarily, looking at him with undisguised disinterest before stepping off the platform and moving away down the corridor. He moved to follow the strange being, but before he could take a step, he found himself back aboard Destiny, lying on the floor of the communications lab, Greer's strong grip pressing him into the cool metal.

"Sergeant, what happened?" he asked, trying to slow the thudding beat of his heart to something bearable.

"I have absolutely no idea, sir," the master sergeant said, breathing a sigh of relief as he loosened his grip on the colonel's throat. He helped him to his feet and backed away as Scott suggested a trip to the infirmary was in order.

It didn't take long for TJ to take his vitals and assure everyone that he was fit for duty. Scott stood nearby and rounded on Kane. "Well, what do you think?"

"I … I'm an I.T. tech, y'know. I fix Earth computers, not Ancient communications devices," the man sputtered in his own defense.

Eli was the next to earn the Lieutenant's accusing stare. The boy shrugged. "Malfunction in the connection?"

TJ wrapped her stethoscope around her neck and sat beside Everett on the gurney. "Well, we don't exactly know what these stones do, right?"

"No, not personally," Kane replied. "I just got put on stone duty because Riley's not back on his feet yet."

"Look … all I know is that I did not hallucinate that ship or that alien. My imagination isn't that creative." He rose from the gurney and rolled his left sleeve down before putting his jacket back on. "Now, I wanna know exactly what happened, what went wrong and why. Until then, the communications lab and that device are off limits. Understood?"

He waited for a nod from all those gathered in the infirmary with him and then stalked out of the room. Camille wouldn't be happy she couldn't make her report to her IOA supervisors, but there was nothing he could do at the moment.

X*X*X*X*X

These aliens could give Regina lessons on the art of torture, Belle thought irritably as she relaxed against the cushion of water which buffeted her body. She couldn't find it in herself to be frightened anymore; she was too angry. How long had she been here? How long since the blue aliens had taken her and Rush from the barren wasteland where they'd been abandoned? Three days? Four? Time seemed to be suspended for her and she couldn't find it in herself to care. There was no hope, no escape. Her lids dragged open to stare out of the observation window which dominated the tank filled with water they'd thrust her into, the room beyond silent and still. Even if she hadn't been submerged in cool water, she would still feel weightless due to the drugs the Nakai continued to pump into her system. She took a deep breath, the apparatus secure about her face resembling an advanced scuba mask. At least they hadn't decided to kill her yet.

She might not be able to understand her captors with their primitive forms of communication, but she was adept at reading body language. They were frustrated beyond compare. Their science team had taken blood and tissue samples - why, she had no clue - no doubt to study her physiology. She'd been poked and prodded and mind raped with the neural device attached firmly to the skin over her left eyebrow. A shudder tripped through her at the thought of those beings digging around in her mind, searching for answers she didn't want to give. They were more than curious about Destiny, and with more than a little difficulty in her drugged state, she was able to erect a mental wall to keep her secrets tightly locked away. She supposed that was why she'd been placed in the tank. She was of no further use to them now, so she'd been tucked away for further study until they decided to kill her.

Her tears washed away as soon as they appeared in her eyes. Where was Nicholas? Were they doing the same despicable things to him? Was he even still alive? She pressed her hands to the glass as she felt more of their sedative drugs infuse her body through the tube, her muscles relaxing as she drifted off, her last thought of the man she loved as she succumbed.

X*X*X*X*X

Young paced anxiously outside the shuttle bay as he waited for the craft to dock, wondering how everything had fallen apart so quickly. The enemy ship had arrived shortly after Destiny had come out of FTL with one command … Surrender. Eli and Brody had done the best they could with bolstering the shields and re-routing power to the guns, but he felt as though they were nothing more than sitting ducks in a shooting gallery. And to make matters worse, the ship had launched smaller shuttles to act as a diversion while one of them landed on Destiny and cut a hole in the hull to enable them to snatch one of his crew. God only knew what they were doing to Chloe now. A better question would be … how the hell were they going to get her back?

He'd recalled the shuttle when the enemy craft had retreated, not wanting Scott and Greer to possibly hit the small ship which had taken the girl. Perhaps with the lull in the fighting, they would be able to put their heads together and come up with a plan.

The shuttle bay doors whooshed open, and Scott's face was awash with fear for his girlfriend. "What the hell happened, Colonel Young?"

"Easy, Lieutenant, it was nobody's fault. We were not ready for this," Young said, gesturing for the two men to follow.

"They gave up pretty quick," Greer commented, falling into step behind his CO.

"Well, the attack may have been a distraction to try to come in close and take prisoners to try to gain intel."

"Why are we the enemy?" Scott wondered aloud. "Sir, that ship is still within shuttle range. Request permission to take …"

"Permission denied," Young barked, hurrying his step. "You wouldn't stand a chance."

Greer arched a brow as he looked between his friend and the colonel. "What are we going to do? We can't just let them take one of our own and not try to get her back."

"I'm going after her," Everett stated. "I'm going to use the communication stones."

"Sir, you are only assuming that's the same ship you were on," Scott protested. He still wasn't convinced the colonel hadn't hallucinated the entire scenario.

"Yes, well, I'll find out when I'm onboard," he stated, his face set in a mask of determination as he entered the communications lab and took a seat at the table.

Young had Scott strap him down to the chair as Greer went in search of Kane to activate the communication device. Already Scott was badgering him to take his place, to let him be the one to go after Chloe. Young once again denied the man. He had to do this himself.

Kane came in and took his seat at the table, powering up the device as he gave Young an aggrieved look. "For the record, I think this is a very bad idea."

"Duly noted," the colonel acknowledged, his tone more than a bit condescending. "This is the best of the bad ideas we've been able to come up with. Now, go."

Scott looked over at the technician. "Twenty minutes, then we pull him out." Kane nodded in agreement.

Young held up the stone, Greer at his back, ready to strap his arm down as soon as Everett made the switch.

"Colonel, you can always go back in if you don't find her," Kane offered. Scott nodded encouragingly.

Young reached over and dropped the stone onto the panel. He breathed a sigh of relief when he opened his eyes to find himself back on the alien ship. Cautiously, he set off down the corridor.

He felt like he'd been walking forever through the labyrinth of corridors when he turned a corner and came to an abrupt halt. Immediately ahead, there was what appeared to be a small control room or laboratory … he wasn't quite sure. There were five of the strange luminescent beings working at the controls. His breath caught in his chest as one of them raised his head and stared directly at him, chittering rapidly in the strange dialect. Young remained silent, unsure of what to do. The alien trilled disparagingly at him and then turned back to his work. Everett didn't hesitate another moment before he moved off down another corridor, leaving the beings behind as he continued his search for Chloe.

He frowned, narrowing his eyes on the dimly lit room at the end of yet another corridor. The doors to the room were open and it was with some careful deliberation that he chose to proceed. The room was sparse aside from the control panel and an airtight water tank which seemed to be imbedded in the wall. The only other decoration was the lighted rods along the stone gray walls.

The tank drew his attention. The glass was frosted and murky, but he could just make out a figure behind it. He strode forward hesitantly, just able to discern the outline of the form in the tank. It was more recognizable as humanoid rather than the odd shape of the alien beings and he wondered if it might be another prisoner they'd taken. Young swiped his hand across the glass, removing the frost and drew back in horror as he stared at Rush, his eyes widening. The doctor's eyes were closed, and the lower half of his face was obscured by the breathing mask he wore, but it was undeniably him.

Young shook off his stunned disbelief and turned away from the tank, searching along the wall for the door release. As the metal doors swooshed closed, obscuring his actions from anyone who might be wandering the corridors, he moved to the control panel, hoping to find a release mechanism to drain the tank and free its captive, but the controls were too strange, nothing like he'd ever had to use before. He gave up on it quickly and went to one of several sturdy metal pipes, but was unable to free it from the wall.

There was only one option left. He hurried to the lighted rods and thankfully was able to remove one, the object heavy in his hand. The fixture sparked from where he'd pulled it from the wall, but he sidestepped them easily. He tightened his grip on the rod and swung it at the glass. The rod thudding against the surface of the glass sent pain reverberating through his arm all the way to his shoulder, but he shook it off. He swung again, this time small spider webs of cracks appearing on the surface. Rush's eyes opened and he flinched away from the rod swinging at the glass mere inches from his face as he wondered why one of his captors would try to get him out this way. Twice more the rod fell, and the glass shattered under the weight of the water pushing it forward. Young ducked off to the side as the tank spewed Rush out and sent him rolling across the floor amidst the flood of water and broken glass.

Rush yanked the breathing apparatus from his face, tugging at the tubes attached to his body as he stared up in terror at the alien standing nearby watching him silently. His eyes widened in panic, and he scrambled backwards as the Nakai advanced on him. The alien stopped and held out its hands in a placating gesture, trying to convey to the startled human that he meant no harm.

Rush frowned and looked back at the tank. "Why did you do that?" He pointed to himself when he realized the alien wasn't going to be able to make himself understood. "You want to help me?" he asked warily, more than a little surprised at this turn of events.

Rush climbed slowly to his feet, his legs trembling after being in the tank for so long, and reached his hand towards the console. He picked up a device similar to the one secured over his left brow. It was almost identical, yet this one had three red lights on it as opposed to the yellow lights on the one he wore. He peeled the device from his brow and held it out to the alien. "This is how you read my mind. Do you understand?" he asked, holding out the one he'd dislodged from his skin. "This one transmits," he explained. He held out the one with the red lights. "This one receives."

Rush offered the neural device to the alien and Young took it, hoping it would allow them to communicate. The scientist backed away nervously, still wary of the blue monstrosity. He knew he couldn't trust him despite his attempts to provide aid. Nicholas slowly pressed the red device to his brow, demonstrating how the alien should attach his own. "Like this. Here, like this," he said, keeping his voice low and even.

Young lifted the device towards his temple and Rush nodded approvingly, but as it made contact with the cool blue skin of his host, he shrieked with pain. Rush also cringed, his eyes squinching tightly against the pain. Young collapsed to the floor, crying out in anguish and clutching his head. Rush held his own head as he watched the alien gurgling in agony. Finally, the two devices connected, and Rush closed his eyes as the alien's memories flooded into his mind. He gasped as he saw Young place the communications stone onto the panel and switch with the alien, Young in the control room radioing Scott as he ordered him not to fire on the alien shuttles after Chloe's capture, and Young switching with the alien a second time in an attempt to come to the girl's rescue and finding Rush instead.

"Colonel Young!" Nicholas cried, reaching out to the colonel. Young groaned and rolled over onto his side, still clutching at his head as the pain intensified and then …

"What happened?" Everett asked, breathing hard as he stared around at the familiar faces of his crew.

"He's back," Kane confirmed.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious," Scott mumbled as he rushed to his commander's side to remove the straps securing him to the chair.

"What just happened?" Young panted, staring up at Scott in confusion.

"The alien ship is closing in on us. We —" The lights flickered in the room and the floor shook with the impact of the blasts from enemy fire. "We must have lost the connection."

Young, freed from the chair, bounded to his feet and yanked the radio from his belt, calling all military personnel to their stations as he strode from the lab.

X*X*X*X*X

The alien ceased its shrieking and took its hands away from its head. Rush grimaced again as - inside his mind - he saw various images of the alien going about its daily routine, working in a lab, walking about the ship … and looking into another water-filled tank at the unmistakable form of Chloe Armstrong. He held on just a moment longer, probing the creature's mind in search of Belle. He didn't have time to enjoy the relief he felt as his eyes flew open to regard the alien as it slowly climbed to its feet.

Rush took a nervous step back, realizing the alien was in command of its body, Young having vacated it. The alien approached him and reached out for its captive, but Rush wasn't going back in the tank. With a short jab, his fist connected with the alien's maw, distracting him enough to enable Rush to get his hands about its spindly neck. Growling, the alien tried to push him off, but the water and broken glass under its feet caused it to slip and it tumbled to the floor, landing hard on its back with Rush still clinging to its throat.

Rush straddled the Nakai and squeezed with all his strength, his teeth bared as hatred roiled in his gut. The pain they'd put him through, the terror and fear they'd caused his beloved, fueled his desire for vengeance and he wouldn't let go until he had it. The alien gurgled and struggled weakly as Rush tightened his grip and snapped its neck. He sat back on his haunches and tried to calm his thudding heart as it beat frantically in his chest. The adrenaline pumping through his veins was as heady as any drug as he rose to his feet and took up the rod Young had used to free him from the tank. He peeled the neural transmitter from his brow and dropped it to the floor with distaste as he headed for the door, leaving the alien behind. He needed to find Belle and Chloe as well. He had to get them back to Destiny before it was too late. If the Ancient ship jumped back into FTL before they could board her, they'd be in no better shape than they were now. In fact, they'd probably be worse. He'd killed one of their own and he was sure they wouldn't forgive that offense.

Rush kept the rod close to his side, his grip firm as he set off down the corridor, his bare feet silent against the cool metal floor. His memories of the alien's mind led him straight to the tank holding Chloe, and he only stumbled once as a blast from Destiny rocked the alien craft. He set to work immediately, freeing her easily. He ripped the breathing apparatus from her face and peeled the neural device from her brow as she laid prone against the wet floor. She gasped in terror as her eyes opened and then stared up at him with wide eyed astonishment, finally recognizing him.

He cupped her face gently in his hands as he tried to reassure her. "It's ok, Chloe, it's alright."

"Dr Rush!" she breathed, startled as he helped her to her feet. "We thought you were dead!"

"I'm sure. Come," he commanded, gesturing for her to follow. "We have to go. I have to find Belle and get us out of here." He snatched up the rod once more and crept towards the door. The ship shook violently under the weight of heavy fire, and she grabbed his arm for support as he ducked against the bulkhead and peered into the corridor.

"Oh, God!" she whispered shakily. "Where are we going? How are we supposed to get back to Destiny?"

Rush led her out into the corridor as he fought to maintain his balance. "This way," was all he said as he concentrated on the alien's memories to lead him to Belle.

His gut churned with outrage as he entered the room where Belle was being held, her chestnut hair floating about her head like a cloud within the tank. Her eyes were closed, and he could imagine the despair which permeated her dreams. He knew. He'd experienced the lack of hope which had encompassed his every thought. His heart fluttered, never having thought he'd see his beloved again.

"Dr Rush, you need to hurry!" Chloe hissed from the doorway where she was keeping watch.

Without another moment's hesitation, he set to work, pounding sharply on the glass with the rod until it fractured and broke. He tossed the rod at his feet at the last second, his arm open wide to catch her as the tank spit her out. The force of the deluge sent her crashing into him, and they rolled together across the floor. She sprawled across his chest and heaved in a deep breath hauling in a lungful of fresh air, the breathing apparatus having come off as they'd rolled.

Rush sat up and settled her on his lap as he removed the neural device from her brow. "Belle, love, open your eyes," he commanded softly as he cradled her in his embrace. "Please, Belle."

"N-Nicholas?" she murmured groggily, her voice raspy from disuse. "What -"

"Later, mo stór. We have to go," he replied, helping her to her feet before taking up the rod again. He wrapped his arm about her waist, tucking her into his side as he joined Chloe at the door.

"It's all clear," she whispered, answering his silent question.

Belle shook her head, fighting against the sedative still running rampant through her system. "Chloe! What're you doing here?" she asked, her voice slurred. She'd kill for a drink of water, her mouth incredibly parched.

"How about I tell you when we get the hell out of here?" Chloe snapped as she followed along behind them.

Rush shushed her and delved into the memories he had gained from the alien, leading them off down another corridor that would take them to the fighter bay. If they could somehow get to a shuttle, it should be fairly easy to fly them back to Destiny, dock and re-board. But, of course, as Nicholas had learned, things were never quite simple when he was involved. It was as if the gods sat around a poker table every Friday night plotting and scheming as to how they could toy with him.

The bay was teeming with Nakai, and the odds were not favorable. He pulled Belle over to hunker down behind a stack of crates, making sure they couldn't be seen as he studied the activity in the large fighter bay. How was he supposed to get to a shuttle with a young woman who had no experience with fighting and another who was barely lucid enough to walk on her own and armed with only a simple metal rod? No, things were not looking up for them at all.

X*X*X*X*X

Colonel Young hurried into the control interface room and growled, "Report!"

Eli didn't even look up from his console. "Bad and more bad!" he snarked, irritated at the interruption. He was already stressed to the breaking point at the pressure he was under to control just the right amount of power to the weapons system while trying to bolster the shields.

Brody was a little more forthcoming with the inevitable bad news, however. "Too much power is going to the weapons. Our shields are going to fail."

"Bolster the shields," Young commanded. "Devote all remaining weapons power to the main weapon and keep firing on the big ship."

"Wait!" Brody cried in amazement. "They're retreating!"

"Keep firing!" Young snarled, torn between ridding the universe of their enemy and remorse over the loss of Chloe Armstrong. He couldn't allow Rush an attempt to escape from the aliens. His guilt would be a small price to pay to be able to hold onto his command.

"We fire again, and we risk blowing ourselves up," Eli warned in a quiet tone, trying to get through to the man.

"I don't have a choice. Do it."

X*X*X*X*X

Scott stared out of the cockpit window in stunned disbelief as the alien ship recalled its shuttles and prepared to slip back into hyperspace. He and Greer had been preparing the shuttle - against the colonel's wishes - to attempt a rescue mission. One which seemed impossible now.

"Oh, they're … they're retreating," he stammered, his gut twisting violently at the thought of losing Chloe.

"All of them except that one," Greer said, pointing at the small shuttle approaching Destiny.

Greer unfastened his seatbelt and stood up, pausing just a moment before he withdrew the nine millimeter from his holster and clicking the safety off. Scott did the same and led the way out of the shuttle bay. They hurried, at a brisk pace, towards the area they thought the shuttle may have landed hoping to capture anyone stupid enough to try to board. They stopped short as a grinding noise sounded in the corridor ahead and took up defensive positions behind a protrusion in the bulkhead as a red hot circle appeared above in the hull. The laser burned through the metal as if it were butter and a section of the hull dropped with a loud thud to the floor below.

Scott and Greer took aim, easing out from their defensive cover, prepared to fire. Chloe dropped through the hole without any warning, coming to a crouch atop the section of the hull, turning quickly to scan the area. "Matt!" she cried, running forward to throw her arms about the lieutenant.

Greer kept his weapon trained on the gaping hole as Scott ushered Chloe farther away to protect her. Belle was lowered through the hole to land nimbly on her bare feet, the last of the sedative having worn off to give her a better sense of balance. Rush quickly followed, stumbling into the bulkhead and sliding to the floor.

Greer gaped at his friend for a moment before he was confronted with an armful of Belle as she hugged him happily. "Miss Belle, you are certainly a sight for sore eyes."

"Is that your way of saying you missed me, Ronald?" she asked, grinning cheekily up at him as he put his pistol away.

"Hasn't been the same without you," he agreed, returning her smile before he turned to Rush and confronted him. He hadn't been sorry to see the last of the arrogant scientist. "Colonel Young said you were dead."

Belle slipped away from the master sergeant and helped Nicholas to his feet, curling into his side as she slipped her arm about his waist. "Oh, did he?" Rush asked casually, his disdain for the colonel slipping behind a cool mask of indifference. "Did he say how it happened?"

"Rockslide," Greer answered, one brow lifting as if daring the doctor to dispute the colonel's word.

Nicholas felt Belle stiffen at his side, but a gentle squeeze to her hip forestalled her protests. "Ah, well, obviously he was wrong again."

X*X*X*X*X

Belle slid into her seat at her usual table in the mess, rubbing her hands in anticipation as Becker set a plate piled high with roasted vegetables and a large portion of the prawns - or what resembled prawns, at least - in front of her. They'd found them on the last planet they'd visited before everything seemed to fall apart with Spencer's suicide and she had to admit she was thankful as she bit into one and her palate was overwhelmed with its delicate flavor. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this hungry.

Nicholas slid onto the bench next to her and offered up a warm smile to see that her appetite hadn't suffered any ill effects from their captivity. He dug into his own dinner, even eating the small green salad … something he usually avoided at all costs.

Destiny had jumped back into FTL shortly after they'd boarded, for which he was grateful. He wanted to put as much distance between the Nakai and Destiny as possible. It felt good to be back in his own clothes. Belle had dragged him off to the showers immediately and he had to admit he was feeling better. He just wondered how long it would last. Belle jumped at the slightest noise and her petite frame still trembled as she fought to put on a brave face for him. She was feeling more secure now that she was 'home', but how long would that last when she was able to slip off to their quarters and the memories would assail her? He'd just have to be strong for her as he knew she'd be for him.

And then, of course, there was the colonel to deal with. That wasn't a confrontation he was looking forward to. Eli, Brody, Chloe and Volker entered the mess and quickly moved to sit with them. Rush was sure they were dying for an account of what had really happened after they'd failed to return to the ship with Young.

Eli squeezed onto the bench on the other side of Belle and wrapped an arm about her shoulders, pulling her into a warm hug. "I missed you," he whispered, holding onto her. "I'm sorry … I know you're still mad at me and … I was wrong and … when you didn't come back I didn't think I'd get the chance to tell you."

Belle gave him a peck on the cheek as he released her. "I missed you, too," she admitted. She looked at the others. "All of you." She squeezed her friend's hand and nodded, accepting his apology. "I know you were following orders. It's a moral decision you have to live with," she said, giving him a stern look. She'd forgiven him, but that didn't mean she'd let her guard down around him any time soon.

"So what happened to you guys on the planet? How did you end up with the aliens who attacked us?" Volker asked, sipping at the tepid tea in his cup which Becker had brought to the table.

Rush took a sip of his own drink before he answered. "My clever girl here figured out the puzzle lock on the hatch," he said with no small amount of pride. "I managed to … um … activate the systems on the crashed ship. Found the database. I guess I must have accidentally triggered some kind of distress beacon."

Belle pushed her empty plate aside and nodded. "I found water and rations as well. We were going to set off the next morning to see if we could find a more habitable area, but the aliens showed up before we could."

Rush stabbed a forkful of potato and nibbled at it thoughtfully. "I'm kinda glad they found us. We would probably have died otherwise."

"Well, there were a few people who thought Colonel Young left you to die on purpose," Brody put in, folding his hands atop the table.

Rush smirked, reaching beneath the table to squeeze Belle's hand before she could answer. "I imagine there were. No, no. He would have rightly assumed that I was … I was gone … in the rockslide."

It took every ounce of willpower she possessed to stop Belle from snorting at the blatant lies issuing forth from her love's mouth.

Eli frowned suspiciously at Chloe, but she couldn't seem to take her eyes off of her savior. "So, what happened when the aliens brought you on their ship?"

Belle shuddered and linked her fingers with Rush's under the table. "It was … terrifying, horrible, and about twenty other adjectives I could use," she murmured.

"To be honest, I don't remember that much," Rush said evasively as he brushed his thumb over her knuckles. "The few times I was conscious, they were probing my mind." He looked down, his face haunted. "It's something I'd rather not think about, really. I know they were frustrated. I seemed to be able to resist giving them the information they wanted."

Chloe stared at Rush, admiration clearly evident on her pale features. Apparently, they'd turned a corner in their relationship. She no longer viewed him as a self-serving bastard, but more as someone she could put her trust in now that he'd saved her. If he was really as unfeeling as she'd believed, he wouldn't have risked the time and effort to free her from their captors. "He used their own neural interface against them, getting what he needed so we could escape."

"The location of the fighter bay, basic operating systems …" Rush added.

Belle scooted closer to him now that he'd finished eating and rested her cheek against his shoulder. "He's our hero," she breathed, not a hint of teasing in her tone. Nevertheless, he snorted.

"Did you find out anything else … like why they wanted to destroy us?" Eli asked, still bristling at the way Chloe was casting doe eyes at the scientist.

Rush shrugged. "I don't think they did want to destroy us. What they really want is Destiny. Probably only care about us because we recently came aboard. No, what they want is a way past her defenses, to try and find out what secrets she might hold." He cleared his throat and took another sip of his tea. "Unfortunately, I didn't have time to find out any more. My first priority was getting the three of us off the ship."

Chloe smiled gratefully at him, and he shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't used to sweet smiles from pretty girls aside from his Belle. That would take some getting used to.

"Well, it's good to have you back," Volker said, voicing the sentiments of all those gathered at the table.

"All of you," Eli added, smiling down at Belle.

X*X*X*X*X

Rush paused in the hallway outside of Young's quarters and brushed a stray curl away from Belle's brow. "Why don't you wait for me here, love? You don't need to be a part of this."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Nicholas. I forgot you went through this entire ordeal by yourself while I remained behind on Destiny to grieve your loss," she snarked in a dry tone as she untwined her fingers from his and crossed her arms stubbornly over her chest. "If you think for one minute that I'll stand idly by while you face him, you've got another think coming."

He tilted his head back and released a long suffering sigh. "Well, I had to try, didn't I?" He stepped away from her and knocked on the colonel's door.

It didn't take Young long to answer, the door whooshing open. Everett looked resigned.

"So …" Rush said, spreading his hands at his sides as he waited for the man to invite him inside.

Belle didn't wait, however, glaring at Young as she pushed past him into the room. She perched on the edge of his desk, her feet dangling inches off the floor and her hands fisted in her lap to keep her from slapping his arrogant face. She'd love to see the bastard hanging from his fingertips in the dungeon of the Dark Castle. She wouldn't have even complained about scrubbing the blood from Rumpelstiltskin's aprons, she thought derisively as her eyes narrowed on the man.

"So …" the colonel returned, at a loss for what to say. He stood aside and ushered Rush into the room.

Rush sauntered into the room and strolled over to the mirror Young had mounted on the wall, surveying his reflection. "I suppose you're wondering why I didn't tell everyone the truth."

"It's your word against mine. I didn't tell anyone you tried to frame me for Spencer's death," Young countered, shoving his hands into his pockets and rocking back on his heels.

"I beg to differ," Belle hissed, her eyes cold shards of ice as she regarded him. "I'll happily give General O'Neill an accurate accounting of your deplorable actions, Everett." She didn't even give him the respect of using his title.

Rush smirked at her threat, but gave a slight shake of his head as he rested a hip against the low cabinet against the wall. "Well, that's true. You could have told the crew what I'd done."

"I'm rather surprised he didn't," Belle murmured. "I wonder why that is … not that it would explain why you left a valuable member of your crew off world to die a slow death," she spat, focusing the last of her statement on the colonel.

Young gnashed his teeth. "I did try to get you to return to the ship, Miss French."

"Seriously?" she asked, glaring at him contemptuously. "As if I would leave Nicholas there alone. You might have such little regard for human life, but I assure you, I do not."

Rush sighed when Young's gaze slid back to his. "So, the question is now whether I can assume that you are going to try to kill me again next chance you get."

Young sat down on the sofa and rested his forearms on his knees, trying to remain calm. "I saved you from those aliens."

"You fired on that alien ship when you knew I was still aboard," Nicholas argued, his eyes cold, his voice sinisterly low.

"Well, so was Chloe. It was a command decision, protecting the greater good."

Belle slipped off the desk and made her way to stand beside Rush. "Was it also a command decision to put the ship at risk by overloading the weapons system?" she asked, her lips curling in one corner into a smug smile. Surprise lit his face at her uncanny ability to learn intel from anyone and everyone she came in contact with. "Did you really risk it in the hopes Nicholas wouldn't make it back? To jeopardize some eighty odd members of this crew to save your own ass?"

"Belle …" Rush sighed, fighting the smile that wished to bloom on his face at her cheek.

She shrugged noncommittally. "It's true, Nicholas. I'm just the only one in the room not afraid to get to the heart of the matter and call him on it."

Nicholas turned back to Young. "Look, I realize that I did provoke you."

"Well, if it means anything, I regret leaving you on that planet. Don't get me wrong … I think you deserved it, but I regret that I lost control, that I became a man I couldn't respect anymore."

Rush shrugged. "Well, you're here, I'm here. We just have to live with it, don't we?"

"So does everyone else on board. They don't need the distraction. They don't need to doubt their leadership, and this ship needs to be ready for the next encounter."

Belle's eyes narrowed. "If we'd been left to do our work without your bloody interference, the ship would have probably been ready for this one."

Rush's brows rose to disappear beneath his fringe of hair. He was really going to have to speak with Belle about her tendency to shred her adversaries with her acerbic tongue. Although entertaining, sometimes it was unnecessary. She was outspoken where he was sneaky, but he was sure she'd learn in time. Rush nodded and strolled towards the door, linking his fingers with Belle's once again and pulling her along behind him. Young rose to his feet and followed, pressing the door release.

Young cast him a pointed look. "If we haven't found a way home by then."

"Of course," Rush agreed.

Young glanced warily at the pair. "So, what? We just pretend nothing ever happened?"

Rush snorted. "Well, it's not like we were ever friends."

Belle rolled her eyes and left the room, deciding it would be better to leave before she did something she'd regret, but she didn't go so far as to not be able to keep her discerning eye on the colonel where he stood next to the open door.

"For the sake of the crew," Young murmured, feeling as though they'd come to an accord.

"For the sake of the crew," Nicholas agreed as he turned to leave. He paused momentarily, turning back to face Young. "By the way," he said, pointing an index finger and moving it in a circular motion to indicate his face. "The raccoon eyes … it's a good look for you."

Young's hand rose to touch the tape which still covered his nose from the lucky shot Belle had gotten in on the planet. Her laughter echoed down the corridor as she and Rush made their way back to the control room. Well, maybe not such a lucky shot, Young regretfully admitted to himself. The bruising was so extensive, there was no way she hadn't known exactly what she was doing. He sighed and closed the door, wondering how long it would be before she was ready to hit him again. And he was sure it would be with a heavy blunt object rather than her elbow.

X*X*X*X*X

Belle sighed happily as she sampled a few of the grape tomatoes the hydroponics team had finally harvested in the lab. She'd convinced Nicholas to come with her to the lab, wanting to surround herself with the fresh greenery which abounded there. It soothed the raw edges of her nerves.

He wrapped his arms about her waist as he pressed in against her back, his nose nuzzling against the soft curve of her neck. "We need to get back to work soon, mo chroí," he murmured, relishing the feeling of her in his arms. "Unless you'd rather retire. There's no telling what state the ship has fallen into in our absence."

She sighed, popping another of the tomatoes into her mouth. The texture was a bit odd, but not at all unpleasant. Now if she only had a loaf of bread and a pound of bacon she'd be able to make a BLT. The thought made her smile wistfully. "No, I don't want to retire. I don't think I could rest without thinking …"

His expression darkened as he felt the tremor trip through her. "I'm here, love. You're safe."

"I know," she whispered softly, her hand rising to pet his shaggy hair as it brushed her cheek. "I love you," she added, feeling the need to say it. Every moment she spent with him was precious, especially after what they'd gone through. She would never withhold her feelings from him again.

"I love you, too, mo stór." He pressed a feather light kiss to her neck as the door to the lab whooshed open to admit Camille.

Belle slipped out of his arms as the woman approached. "Camille," she said, acknowledging the woman.

"Belle, Nicholas," she returned the greeting with a nod. "It's good to have you back."

"Get to the point, Camille," Rush encouraged, toying with the leaves of one of the plants.

Camille sighed. "The colonel's dangerous."

"Oh, you think?" Belle scoffed.

"We need to do something about that," Camille said, keeping her voice low as if she were afraid to be overheard.

"I tried," Rush snapped, glowering at the woman. "He damn near killed me for it."

Camille inched closer to him and gave him a pointed look, her face set with steely determination. "Next time will be different."

Belle's lips curled into a smirk of satisfaction as she felt a surge of newfound respect for the woman. "What did you have in mind?"

A/N: Yay? Nay? What did you think? Did you like the twist I put on it? I really wanted it to be different from Desolation (my o/s in case you haven't read it), so I thought why the hell not? Would really love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. This is the one that really made me want to start writing this fic. I can't believe we're already halfway through the first season. Anyway, thank you all so much for reading and kudoing and commenting and … well you get my drift (o: