By Dorothy Burton
John laid his pen atop his logbook, still haunted by the recent events of Arkadia. He never dealt well with losing people under any circumstances. He still found it hard to believe that Luke Ferro turned against them.
Checking out of Main Mission, he headed toward his quarters but he stopped at the hallway that would take him to Helena’s quarters. He decided to check on her. They had not had an opportunity to discuss the events since she returned. Pulling his comlock from his belt, he chimed her door. “Helena? It’s me. I know it’s late.”
“Come in, John.”
The door slid open and he walked in. “I hoped you might come by.” She said from where she sat the sofa attired in her blue pajamas and robe.
“I wasn’t sure you’d still be up.”
“I just made some tea. Would you like a cup?” She offered.
“No thanks.” He shook his head as he joined her on the sofa. “What’d I’d really like is a stiff drink.”
She smiled. “It has been a long few days.”
He stretched his arm across the back of the sofa. “Yeah. How are you?” He asked.
“Fine.” She replied. “What have you been up too all evening? Journaling?”
He nodded. “I’ll run out of pages, soon.”
“You look tired, John.” She said, concerned, touching his arm.
He smiled. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep while we were down on the planet.”
“Me either.” She agreed. “Although it was nice to have a change of scenery.”
“Wasn’t much to look at, was it?”
“No, just different.”
“I wonder if Luke and Anna will make it all alone down there?” John wondered aloud.
“Luke seemed convinced that they would.” She answered.
“I couldn’t let him take you.” John said seriously.
Helena set her cup aside. “I know.” She said softly. “But what he was asking, John.”
“It didn’t matter, Helena.”
“John, my life isn’t worth risking everyone on Alpha.”
“I didn’t risk everyone on Alpha, but I was not going to let him hurt you.”
“Fast thinking on your part.”
He moved closer to her. “Fast thinking had nothing to do with it. I would have agreed to whatever he said. When I realized all he wanted to do was get away and we could get the supplies back, I knew we’d be okay. What really frightened me was when we started moving again. I didn’t want you getting left behind.”
“Neither did I. I told Alan I would get out and push.”
John smiled as he caressed her neck. “I know I don’t tell you this enough but without you, I wouldn’t make it through another day.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
“Believe what you want but I know it’s the truth. Besides how many reasons have I invented to come to medical center just to see you?”
“And I thought it was because my coffee was better than Victor’s.”
“It is.” He said with a grin.
She laid her hand against his cheek. “You don’t have to invent reasons to come see me. You should just come by.”
He pulled her close and kissed her. “That sounds like the perfect prescription.”
“It certainly is.” She agreed, moving into his arms.
John’s hands slid beneath Helena’s robe and pulled her tight against him. “Helena…”
“Stay with me tonight, John.” She said. “I want you to hold me.”
“I’ll hold you forever.” He kissed her softly.
He stood and reached for her hand. She smiled up at him as she took his hand.
Together they walked to her bed. She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Is there any reason we always end up here?” She asked him, watching as he pulled off his boots.
He smiled. “I hope you mean your quarters.”
She laughed. “Yes, I suppose that didn’t come out just right.”
“I like your place better than mine.” He said as he removed his shirt. “Didn’t I leave some pajamas here?”
Helena pointed toward her dresser. “Third drawer, right side.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a wink.
She watched him cross the room. He did have a nice ass.
He went into the bathroom to change, so she wasn’t going to be treated to any more of a show. She removed her robe and lay back on the bed.
She thought back to just how they had gotten to where they were in their relationship. She’d been attracted to him from the beginning, even though he seemed arrogant and stubborn at first. He was handsome, strong and when she met his blue eyes, she found it hard to tear herself away from them. She had known better than to get involved but…it happened.
In the beginning, they were both lonely and workaholics. Victor didn’t help things at all. He was constantly putting them together in any situation he could. Of course, their jobs kept them together all the time too. Then there were the encounters with the Black Sun, the other Earth and the cave people. What had that told them about their destiny? How did you argue with that? It was after their encounter with the Black Sun that they confessed their feelings for one another.
Then there where his hands. Strong, yet gentle and warm. Then his lips…
Helena was smiling when John returned.
“I hope that smile is for me.” He whispered as his brushed his lips next to her ear.
She opened her eyes to meet his brilliant blue irises. “Only you.” She said, wrapping her arms about his neck as she pulled him down for a deep kiss.
DB
January 2006