SPACE: 1999 YEAR 2

JOURNEY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

SECTION TWENTY: Quiet Understanding

The soft glow of light in John Koenig's quarters bathed the room in a warm, intimate ambiance. It was a peaceful night on Moonbase Alpha, and for once, the Commander and Doctor Helena Russell had carved out a quiet evening for themselves. They sat close on his couch, legs touching beneath the blanket draped loosely over them, each cradling a cup of coffee, the steam swirling gently into the air.

Helena set her cup down and leaned into Koenig, resting her head lightly on his shoulder as she curled her legs beneath the blanket. Moments like these were rare, but tonight, they were making the most of it.

John took a slow sip of his coffee, his thoughts seemingly far away. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but filled with a weight that told Helena this had been on his mind for some time.

"Helena, I know I said no shop talk," he began, his tone carrying that unmistakable note of hesitation.

Russell smiled, a soft, knowing smile that reflected the many conversations they'd shared.

"Go ahead," she encouraged, glancing up at him. "I know you're always thinking about shop talk anyway."

Koenig chuckled, his arm slipping around her shoulders, pulling her closer. "Guilty as charged."

He exhaled, his brow furrowing slightly. "I've been wondering, how do you think Maya's settling in?"

Helena shifted, sitting up a little straighter as she considered his question. Then she reached for her cup and took another small sip, her fingers tracing the edge of the rim as she reflected on the young Psychon woman's progress over the past few weeks.

"Honestly," she paused, a small smile playing on her lips. "In many ways, she's doing better than I expected."

She leaned over to set her cup back down beside his cup, then turned to look at him. "You know, she finished the last of those assessment tests today."

John's surprise was evident, his lips parting slightly. "Already?"

He leaned back, running a hand through his dark hair. "That was fast. When do we get the results?"

Bob's finishing them up tomorrow," Helena said, relaxing into the cushions. "He's been fascinated by the process. Says that Maya's an intriguing subject. He's really enjoyed working with her."

Koenig chuckled. "She's a quick learner. She blended in well in Command Center yesterday, even with Fraser and Carter goofing off in the afternoon. Honestly," he added, giving Helena a pointed look, "I think she was enjoying their antics just as much as the rest of us."

Helena smirked, arching an eyebrow. "Should I be worried about the discipline in Command Center?"

Koenig held up a hand in mock defense. "Hey, just don't tell them I said that."

Helena laughed as she brushed her fingers lightly on his arm.

"Doctor-Commander confidentiality," she teased. "Ben's going to continue walking her through Life Support systems in a couple of days. He thinks, and I quote - she's super intelligent and has a very cool personality."

John let out a low chuckle. "Vincent gets along with just about everyone. Is there anyone that doesn't like him?"

Helena shook her head. "I can't think of anyone."

John's smile lingered before his expression shifted to something more serious. "How about her therapy sessions with Spencer?"

Helena's smile faded, and she sighed, shaking her head. "That's one area that didn't go quite as well as I'd hoped."

John's brow furrowed. "No?"

"Ed has all the expertise, and he's very good at what he does," Helena began. "But Maya... she just couldn't seem to engage with him. She was polite, respectful, but her answers were vague, short. He said she's very adept at bottling up her emotions."

Koenig frowned. "Shouldn't she be talking to someone?"

"She should be," Helena agreed before sighing. "It's not that she refuses to talk. She just knows how to say a lot without saying anything at all."

She left out a small laugh. "Ed's not the person she's talking to."

John's eyes narrowed slightly. "Tony?"

"Tony," she confirmed as she nodded. "Oh, she'll talk to me, when no one else is around. But she trusts Tony. They've formed a bond, a friendship."

John leaned back, considering that.

Of course. It made sense. Tony had been watching over Maya since the moment she arrived. He hadn't been just teaching her about Alpha, he'd been helping her find her place among them.

"You know," Helena said. "They share the same trait. They both keep things private. She's carrying more than she lets on, I can feel it. It's like she's holding her breath, afraid that if she lets go, she won't stop falling. At least with Tony, he has a background in psychology. It was his minor at university. If she won't talk to Ed…"

She let the sentence trail off for a moment as she took a sip of her coffee.

John took a sip of coffee, letting that thought roll around in his mind.

"You think something's developing between them, don't you?" he asked, watching her closely for her answer.

Helena smiled gently, placing a hand on his arm. "Time will tell," she said. She already knew that something was developing. What it would lead to, she wasn't sure. Yet. But she knew.

John sat in silent reflection for a moment before speaking again. "I think I already know where I'd like to post her."

Helena's brow lifted. "Even without reviewing the assessments?"

He nodded. "From what I've seen and heard so far, I think she'd make an excellent addition to Command Center."

Helena tilted her head, considering. "That makes sense."

Then, with a slight smirk, she added, "I wonder how that will go over with Tony."

John chuckled. "Well, he'll just have to adjust. It's the logical choice, but that doesn't mean it'll be an easy one. Tony already sees her as his responsibility. Placing them together in a professional setting… well, it'll either be the best decision I've made or the worst."

Helena gave him a knowing smile. "I'm sure he'll manage."

She leaned in, lightly running her fingers along the side of his face. "Enough shop talk for the night," she whispered suggestively.

Koenig grinned. "More than enough."

And with that, he leaned in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss against her lips.

Any portions of shop talk that might have been discussed were forgotten in the warmth of the moment. In their moment.