By Maureen J. Long & Betsy Nicholas
She stormed onto the travel tube and sat down, seeing red. It had been funny at first and she'd simply meant to tease John about the naked green women that Alan had mentioned to her. His reaction had been to become all innocent and wide-eyed. He said he hadn't noticed them. She had never doubted John's fidelity in the two years they'd been together on Alpha, but now, he was acting like a man who had something to hide. She closed her eyes and sighed.
She was certain it had started as a joke, but she'd taken it wrong and lost her temper. Then John had gotten mad and things had escalated and they had spent the last week snapping at one another every chance they'd gotten. Not that they'd had much opportunity to be together. The defenses of the chlorine planet had come closer to destroying Alpha than anything since Breakaway. She had been certain they would not survive. Whatever John had said or done on that planet had saved the base, all their lives, and brought him back to her. But Alpha's systems were battered and on the brink of failure. She had spent most of the week trying to bandage their ailing life support system using paperclips and scotch tape. They'd long since run out of Elmer's glue, and more sophisticated repair supplies.
The travel tube slowed and stopped at the landing pad. Alan had spoken to her briefly before the meeting, asking her to join him at the landing pad about something to do with the Eagle's life support system. She knew he was also likely to scold her about her recent behavior toward John. She had seen the embarrassed look he'd exchanged with Tony during the command conference today. She stepped out of the travel tube. It closed and headed away. Alan had still been talking to Tony when she left the conference room. She could have waited for him, but John's biting, impatient remarks had left her angry enough that she only wanted to be away from there.
The Eagle was at the end of the hallway, hatch open. She entered and sat down at the desk, not even remembering now why Alan wanted her out here. She closed her eyes again. She was tired and distraught and had not yet emotionally recovered from the most recent of disasters. She desperately wanted to go home.
She started from a doze as she heard Alan's voice. He was approaching the Eagle. "I just want you to hear what it's doing."
"Look, Alan, I don't really have the time for--" John's voice stopped abruptly as he saw Helena aboard the Eagle. "Helena." He said cautiously in greeting.
"John," she replied, standing. It was the most civil they had been to each other in a week.
"Ah, good. "I thought you had gone on ahead." Alan rubbed his hands together enthusiastically. "I know you're both busy. This won't take long." He pushed past John and headed for the command section. He kept up a steady chatter to combat the silence between the other two. 'It only happens on start-up, so I want you to listen close while I run up the engines."
They exchanged a dubious glance as Alan started up the engines. Airlock doors slid shut automatically as the engines started. The door to the command module shut as well. Neither John nor Helena thought anything of it until they began lifting off. John reached out to steady Helena as the Eagle shook slightly. Then he leaned forward and touched the intercom button.
"Alan, what the hell--" He realized the intercom wasn't responding. He pulled his commlock from his belt. "Command Center, come in."
No response.
John punched in Alan's commlock code. "Carter, what kind of game--"
No response.
Helena pulled her own commlock from her belt. Medical. Command Center. Mathias. Maya. No response from any of them. She exchanged a wordless glance and shook her head.
John sighed and paced in the tiny space. "Do you know what he's up to?" he asked accusingly.
"No. Why would I?" she returned quickly, sensing his hostility and responding to it.
Before he could reply Alan's face appeared on the screen above the desk. John charged the screen angrily "Carter, what the hell is going on?"
"Officially? You and Helena have volunteered to do a few days work repairing the isolation lab. You announced it at the staff meeting this morning, and everyone in there will swear they heard you say it. Unofficially, we've decided the two of you have been fighting long enough. Sahn has taken care of communications coming from the lab. It now connects only with my commlock. And the travel tube is disabled. The Eagle is the only way back. When you two have made up, give me a call and I'll come back and get you."
"Alan, you can't just--" Helena started.
"We packed you plenty of food, and some personal things," Alan winked and grinned. "You'll be fine."
They felt the Eagle settle onto the landing pad. A loud noise above their heads indicated the passenger compartment had just disconnected. Another rumble indicated the docking tube had connected with them.
"Think of it as a vacation," Alan said cheerily. Then the connection went dead.
John and Helena stared at one another, both at a loss for words.
Finally, John turned and slammed his fist against the wall. "Damn it!" He turned back to Helena as glared at her, "You know this is all your fault."
"My fault?!" She retorted.
"If you hadn't been so uncooperative and rude at the Command Conference, they wouldn't have found it necessary to do this." He snorted and brushed past her.
She followed behind him, grabbing his arm and spinning him around, "Uncooperative? You have some nerve!"
"Me? I'm not the one that's accusing you of infidelity."
"Well there must be something there or you wouldn't be acting like there was!" She shouted back.
John threw his hands up in the air and paced to the other side of the room. "Look, I don't want to be here and neither do you so let's just get this thing repaired as soon as possible then we can go back to Alpha."
"Fine!" She retorted and sat down at a nearby desk. "You do your part and I'll do mine!"
"Great." He snorted and turned his attention to a nearby panel.
They worked in silence for several hours until both were exhausted. Helena leaned back in her chair and rubbed her eyes. Behind her John exhaled deeply and then yawned. He turned around in time to see her lean back and close her eyes.
"Look, it's late. Let's get some sleep." He suggested in a tone void of emotion.
Helena mumbled her affirmative and rose from her chair. John opened the door to the airlock that would take them to the adjoining eagle. As the lights came up they were able to see that true to his word, Alan had fully stocked the Eagle.
"Looks like they think we are going to be here awhile." John gestured to the crates stacked around the module.
Helena nodded wearily in agreement. In one of the chairs sat her bag and she moved over to inspect the contents. Laying the bag on the desk, she opened it hoping that someone had packed her a night gown. She was tired and just wanted to go to sleep and wake up back on Earth. There was an extra uniform sitting on top of her clothes and she removed it first. Underneath it she found, some personal items bras, panties and a pair of black pumps. Why would they pack those? She wondered as she sorted through the various personal items. "Oh my God!" She exclaimed. "Why would they pack these?" She held up the gold bra, panties, stockings and garter belt that John had given her two years earlier.
John looked up from the food cart he was searching to see what was the matter. When Helena turned and held out the collection, a quick smile crossed his face then disappeared. He knew why they had been packed. His staff was hell bent on them making amends before they returned to Alpha. He looked away and resumed his task of searching for food.
Across the room, Helena shook her head in disgust. The only night attire that she found in her bag was that of the sexy variety. She selected the least sexist thing she could find and stormed toward the barracks section of the Eagle.
John wanted to give her plenty of time to get settled in so he sat down and opened a food pack. He's just taken the first bite when Helena reappeared in the cabin. "John!" She shouted. She was wearing a long green silk gown with a split running up the left leg. His attention was immediately drawn to the generous amount of leg peeking from the split.
Helena watched his eyes and exhaled deeply. "Don't even think it. It's the least sexiest thing they
packed for me."
John snorted and looked away, "What is it?"
Helena moved further into the room and gestured to the back of the eagle, "See for yourself, they only left us one mattress."
"What?!" John looked at the three bunks that made up the barracks area. Only one had a mattress the other two were empty. On the top bunk, he found a note from Alan. He read it in the direction of Helena, "Oops looks like we ran out of mattresses for this bird. Guess you two will have to share."
"Well I guess this is funny to them."
"Look, let's just make the best of it, okay?" John tossed the note back into the top bunk. "It's not like we haven't slept together in one of these bunks before." He reached back and rubbed his stiff neck.
Helena eyed him wearily, "Okay, but make no mistake, don't touch me."
"Trust me Sweetheart, there's no chance of that." He said sarcastically.
Helena crawled into the bunk and moved as close to the wall as she could. She turned on her side and putting her back to John. "Turn the light out, before you go back into the other room."
"Fine." He hit the switch and headed back to finish his dinner.
She was sleeping soundly when he finally crawled into the bunk. He assumed the same position as Helena and closed his eyes. They slept soundly. At some point in the night, John turned over on his back and Helena moved into his arms. When he awoke the next morning he was surprised to find her head pillowed on his chest. Underneath the covers their legs were intertwined. His arm was around her holding her close to him and her arm was draped lazily over his stomach. She didn't seem upset. The features of her face were so relaxed that she looked ten years younger.
He couldn't help but smile. He had to admit, holding her like this was one of the greatest pleasures of his life. It dawned on him that this last week of fighting was caused by the realization that they nearly lost their lives. Neither wanted to admit their fear so instead of acknowledgements there had been accusations.
She stirred next to him and he pulled her closer. His fingers found a lock of her hair and he fingered it gently. Bending down he kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry honey," He said softly. "I don't know why I acted that way." Helena opened her eyes but remained silent. "Yes, I do." John continued. "I couldn't face the fact that we almost lost each other."
Helena lifted her head and searched his eyes. "Me either." She said quietly.
He gave her a weak smile. "I didn't know you were awake."
She moved her leg against his underneath the covers. "John, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. It was wrong..."
"Shhh...let's not go through it again. Okay?" He whispered. "Let's just call a truce." He leaned down and kissed her forehead again.
She smiled and snuggled against him.
They relaxed and drifted back to sleep.
About what would have been dawn on Earth, John woke from an erotic dream. He had dreamt that he and Helena were alone on Melissa's boat in the Atlantic. He found himself still entwined with Helena in the small bunk and fully aroused. He moved his hands to her breasts and whispered in her ear.
"Helena."
She was asleep but shifted towards him "Hmmmm?" she mumbled.
"I want to make love to you...." he whispered in her ear. He was now fully awake and reached to hold a breast in each of his hands and nudged his erection against her. She awoke slowly and shifted so that she was spooned with her back against his chest. His arms were wrapped around her and he was hard against her backside. He began kissing her neck and continued to talk to her.
"I'm sorry we fought, I could never be unfaithful to you...I hope you know that...I'm not Lee Russell..."
His words were touching but Helena didn't want to talk or fight anymore, she just wanted to feel John close to her. She turned her head back over her shoulder and kissed him deeply. In the cramped space of the bunk meant for only one, she could not easily turn to face him so remained as she was and encouraged him to proceed by arching her back and giving him access to her.
John knew she had forgiven him and was now welcoming him inside her but wanted to ensure she was as ready as he. While one hand continued to caress her breast, gently teasing her nipple, he moved the other from her breast down her flat stomach, all the while nibbling at and whispering in her ear how much he loved her and wanted to please her. Helena closed her eyes and he could tell by the change in her breathing that she was becoming aroused. He continued to move his hand down her body and found her very much ready for him.
"Oh, Helena..." he moaned and knew he could not wait any longer to enter her.
Again she arched her back and reached for him. She pushed her nightgown aside, guiding him into her from behind. John was not a small man and she always longed for his initial penetration of her, he felt so good, filling her up completely.
Once together, they began a slow but intense rhythm. John continued to whisper to her, telling her how beautiful she was, how good they felt together, how much he wanted to come inside her. He knew his talking to her drove her crazy, although it amused him that she would probably not admit it in the light of day.
Their rhythm continued to intensify as they released the emotions of the last week. Helena's nails dug into John's arms as he held the two of them tightly together, increasing the friction between them. He bit down on her shoulder as he continued to thrust faster and faster into her. When she began calling his name, pleading with him not to stop, it became almost unbearable for him.
"Helena," he gasped, "come with me, baby, I can't hold on."
At that moment she clenched down on him tightly and he released himself forcefully inside her. The intensity of his orgasm and the strong emotion she felt for John at that moment brought her climax a split second after his.
They were both quiet for a few moments, trying to catch their breath.
Helena reached for John's large hands and laced their fingers together tightly. "Guess we're friends again now, so we can go back to Alpha..." he heard the teasing in her voice.
"Oh, we're friends again, but we're not going anywhere for a while!" Their position had grown awkward and he shifted away from her, kissing her neck. As he slipped out of her, she burst into tears.
He shifted his weight and held her, letting her cry. He stroked her back and kissed her tears. "What is it Helena?"
"I want to go home," she sobbed.
"Me too," he said softly. Helena was usually so strong, so determined. They seldom spoke of home, of Earth, of the things they left behind. It only made them feel worse. She seldom mentioned her family. They both knew there was no going back and it only made things worse to talk about it.
"I want us to have a house and kids and visit my parents on holidays. I want to talk to Mel on the phone and go shopping with her. I want a chocolate ice cream sundae, and another one of those chocolate orgasm cakes like you brought me for my birthday."
It was then that John realized that the day they had evacuated Alpha, and he had left Helena in charge while he had gone to the chlorine planet with Alan and Maya had been her birthday. Hers and Mel's. In all the chaos he had completely forgotten about it. "I missed your birthday," he blurted out.
"It doesn't matter."
"Yes, it does. I had planned for us to have a romantic dinner together."
"Hard to do when you have to evacuate the base."
"Yes, it is."
She shook her head. "It's not your fault. I know it's not. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
He held her close. "Shhh, don't. We were both on edge. We let things get out of hand. I thought we were friends again."
She sat up and gave him a weak smile, wiping tears from her eyes. "We are. We also need to get the lab repaired."
"Tell you what. There's not much left to do. Let's get it finished quickly this morning and spend the afternoon having that romantic dinner I'd planned."
She glanced forward. A romantic dinner of reconstituted food wouldn't be what she had in mind, but it would be the best they could do. At least they would be alone. And no one was anxious to interrupt them. She nodded and climbed over him. "Sounds good. Let's get dressed. I'll make some coffee."
They ate a quick breakfast in a much more companionable silence than the night before and headed back to work. During the day, her thoughts kept going back to her outburst of this morning. She thought about the chocolate cake, and her sister, and their birthday, and the unexpected outcome of that last birthday before Breakaway. She had never told anyone about that. Not even John.
"You know..." John said. His voice echoing from the crawl space in the ceiling where he was repairing the light fixtures. "About children. I didn't know you wanted children."
It was as if he'd read her mind. He did that sometimes. It was always an odd feeling.
"I've thought about it. Haven't you?" she asked. She was caulking the window frame around a new pane of glass into the observation chamber.
"Off and on," John replied. "In my spare time."
Helena smiled. They certainly didn't have much of that.
"Obviously, right now wouldn't be a good time. Our resources are stretched pretty thin as it is. It wouldn't really be fair to try to have kids here. But maybe, someday..."
"Yes," she responded. "Maybe someday."
"Helena?"
"Yes, John?"
"What if we can't have kids?"
She turned around to see his head emerge from a ceiling tile. She looked into his upside down eyes.
"What?"
"I mean, what if there were some problem. Jean and I, well, we didn't want kids and we never even tried to... and well... you and I have been together a long time..."
She wasn't sure what to say. She simply continued to stare.
"I mean, I know you take precautions and everything... at least I guess you do." John swung down from the ceiling and faced her, right side up now. "We've never, ever really talked about it."
"No, we haven't," she said faintly.
"Are you all right?" He noticed she had suddenly gone pale.
She nodded, her mouth dry. She sat down the caulk gun and sank into a nearby chair. John crossed the room quickly and knelt in front of her, taking her hands. "What's wrong?"
She grasped his hands in hers, then moved one hand to caress his cheek. "I take precautions. Shots, every month." She placed her forehead against his. "I need to tell you though... once we..."
"We what?"
"That birthday, when you brought me the cake?"
He nodded.
She held his cheek in her hand and spoke so softly he almost had to strain to hear her, even close enough for their breaths to mingle. "We made a baby that night."
"What?" He pulled back slightly so he could see her green eyes. They were brimming with tears.
"I was pregnant. I-- I'm not sure how, but I was. I tested positive a few days before Breakaway. But the stress, and the g-forces--something--" she shook her head, the tears spilling over. "I lost it. Just a few days after Breakaway."
"You never said anything--"
She shook her head. "We were so busy. There was so much stress. We were all grieving over leaving Earth, learning to live here. You didn't need to be burdened with that too."
"Oh, Helena." He pulled her into his arms, and down on the floor with him. He understood her reasons, but he wished she had let him share her grief. To keep that to herself for so long, it must have been torture for her. He kissed her tears. "I would have shared the grief as well as the joy. You know that."
She nodded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept it from you. But a baby here would have been so impossible. We both know that."
"Yes, it would have," his voice heavy with the grief. She was right. They had no business having a baby here where it would constantly be in danger, and their jobs kept them in the forefront of danger. "I'm so sorry."
She nodded. He shifted to lean back against the wall under the newly repaired window and held her close. They stayed that way for a long time. She didn't cry again, simply absorbed the comfort of his arms.
"I love you, Helena. Sometimes you're the only thing that keeps me going here."
"I love you too. I didn't mean to deceive you."
"I know, you were only protecting me."
She nodded and he kissed her softly. "We'll get another chance to make a baby."
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I'll keep this one." He kissed her harder, longer, caressing her body as if trying to impress upon her how sincere he was. She cooperated fully, as wrapped up in the kiss as he was. He shifted, about to roll her over onto the floor and continue their lovemaking right here. She pulled back. He looked at her, questioningly.
"Not here. Finish caulking that window for me and meet me in the Eagle in ten minutes." She smiled. Her nose was still red from crying, but there was mischief in her eyes.
He grinned and let her go. He picked up the caulk gun and tried to concentrate.
She was waiting for him on the Eagle, dressed in the gold outfit, mesh stockings and black pumps. Her eyes were still a bit red, but he didn't notice. She moved into his arms and he lifted her quickly off the floor and carried her back to the bunk.
"You're a bit overdressed for this rendezvous," she told him as he gently laid her on the bed.
"I'll take care of that right now." Eyes meeting hers he stood back and slowly removed his jacket and belt. She smiled and watched and he made a production of removing uniform tunic.
They dragged out the repair job for two more days, repairing the lab during the day and loving each other by night. Finally on the fourth day, John contacted Alan.
"Carter?" John called into the comlock.
"John. How's the repair coming?" Carter asked for effect. He was sitting in Command Center and there were others present.
"It's almost finished." John responded. "Can you arrange transport for our return tomorrow morning?"
Alan leaned forward and cocked his head to one side, "Well that depends."
"On what?" John shook his head grinning he knew exactly what Alan was referring to.
"On whether ALL the repairs have been made." Alan was careful to emphasize the word.
John glanced at Helena, she was standing nearby listening to their conversation.
"You wanna answer that? He probably won't believe me." John handed her his comlock.
Alan watched the picture in front of him change from John to Helena.
"Alan, I'm pleased to report that all repairs have been made." Her smile lit up the screen.
"Alright then. I'll be out to get you two first thing in the morning."
"We'll see you then. And Alan?"
"Yes."
"Thanks."
Alan returned her smile, "Anytime, Helena. Anytime."
Alan turned off the communications post and grinned at Tony, Maya and Sandra. "See, I knew they'd be able to fix things up."
Helena handed John his Comlock and leaned up to kiss him on the cheek. "He really is a good friend. I'm glad he found my sister-if only for a little while."
John smiled down at her. "That's where he got this idea, I bet."
"What do you mean?" She moved into his arms.
"He once told me that when Mel was on Alpha he took her flying with him. Then they stopped in orbit and had some private time."
Helena smiled against John's chest. "Knowing those two, I bet that was one wild ride."
John laughed, "Oh it was. They made love in zero gee. Must have been something, he talked about it for weeks."
There was silence between them for a short moment then they both looked at each other knowingly. "Wanna try it?" John asked.
Helena considered it for a moment. "Wait here, I'll be right back." She kissed him quickly and disappeared into the eagle.
Moments later, a flash of gold caught his attention and he looked up to find Helena standing in the doorway to the lab. She was wearing his birthday presents. Decked out in a gold bra and panties and gold garter belt and stockings, she cut her eyes down and looked up at him. "Feeling lucky, Spaceman?"
John rose from his chair and looked her over head to toe. "Where are the pumps?" He pointed to her feet.
She smiled seductively, "I forgot you like the pumps. I'll be right back." She slipped back into the eagle and when she emerged she was wearing black pumps.
John took in the site. His desire for her already at the surface. As she reached for him, she stopped him, pointing to the gravity control panel. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"No, I'm not forgetting, I just want to be holding you before I turn it off." He pulled her to him and kissed her hard. When they parted, John reached over and flip off the gravity control. They floated toward the ceiling together.
John pushed Helena slightly away so that he could take in the view. Smiling, he moved her against the wall kissing her neck as his hands roamed her body. Helena moaned softly until her back reached the wall. "Whoa!" She shivered.
John pulled back, "What is it?"
"This wall is cold." Helena responded.
"Cold?"
"Very cold." She raised her eyebrows and looked at him.
He pulled her from against the wall smiling as he continued to take in her body. John's kick sent them upward toward the ceiling. He stopped them with his hand hitting a light fixture in the process. "Ouch!" He held out his hand to exam the burn.
"Let me see." Helena offered.
"It's okay." He took her hands and placed them on the railing that ran around the top of the lab.
"Hold on to these. They're not hot."
Helena reached up and grabbed the rails. John was floating in front of her and he had already removed his duty belt. She watched it float into a corner along with his boots and tunic.
"Now for your clothes." He said as his hands rubbed her stomach. John reached up and traced the shape of her breasts with his index finger. "Hmmm... they look different in zero gee."
He reached between her breasts and pressed the clasp releasing her breasts. "Oh honey, you have the most beautiful breasts I've ever seen in zero gee."
Helena laughed, "Seen a lot of breasts in zero gee?"
John continued to stare at them, "Only yours sweetheart."
Helena glanced down at her breasts. "They are standing up aren't they?"
John leaned forward and took her nipple into his mouth. Helena watched from her suspended perch. The site of John sucking her nipples was very stimulating. She let go of the railing to run her fingers through John's hair at the same time as he shot up her body to kiss her. His movement sent them swirling to the ceiling.
"OUCH!" Helena yelled when her head met the tile.
"You okay?" John asked.
"I think so." Helena said cautiously. "John, maybe this is a bad idea."
"Come on back down, I'm sure we can figure something out." He kicked them down to where they were floating in the middle of the room, suspended half way between the floor and the ceiling.
"Now where was I?" He eyed Helena's very brief gold panties. "About here I think."
Helena smiled at him, "You want me to leave the garter belt and stockings on don't you?"
His smile told her he wanted exactly that. "And the pumps too. You know how hot I think you look in pumps."
Helena reached up and cupped her breasts. John was totally captivated. Placing her hands palms side down, she pushed them down to her panties. Slowly, she peeled them off to John's delight. "Oh baby." He said as he watched the panties float by him. He licked his lips staring at her sex. "Open your legs." He commanded. Neither realized just how close he was to her and when she complied with his request she kicked him sending him flying toward the aft doorway. He stopped spinning when his head made contact with the door frame.
"Damn it!" He moaned as a trickle of blood made it's way down his forehead.
"John!" Helena was immediately as his side accessing the small cut at his hairline.
"I'm okay." He said.
"You're bleeding. Come over here into the light and let me look at it."
"It's nothing really."
"John."
"Helena." He said flatly. "You can fix it afterwards."
"How can you still think about that after all these...accidents?"
He smiled, "Because you are still dressed like that."
She smiled ruefully at him. "Let's cut the gravity comps back on."
"Now do be so hasty Doctor, we are two highly educated and trained space travelers. We should be able to figure this out." He left go of the door frame and they floated back out into the middle of the room.
John slipped his pants off and they floated away into a corner and out of view. "Okay, here's the plan. You push up-just a little-and then come back down on me. Helena did as he suggested and positioned herself so that John was inside her. "Now what?" She asked playfully as she squeezed her sex around him.
He smiled, "We don't move."
"We don't move?"
"Not like we've been doing. Come over here." John reached over and pulled them to some railing. "Now instead of thrusting against me, just hold me."
Helena smiled her understanding and began to squeeze John slowly at first and then quicker until his breathing became rapid. He opened his eyes and saw her smiling up at him. "This isn't working for you is it?"
"Not really, but it's clearly working for you."
"I want it to be good for you too."
"Well, turn the gravity comps back on and it will be." She shifted her eyes over to the switch.
"Wrap your legs around me and I'll move us over there."
She did as she was told and John slowly moved them over to the switch.
"Ready?" He asked as he reached for the switch.
"Think you can hold both our weight?"
He laughed lightly, "I've done it before haven't I?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck and waited.
John lifted the switch that would reestablish normal gravitational pull. They were let down with a plop that sent them reeling backwards into the desk.
They both heard the crack at the same time followed by Helena's "Oh no, my ankle."
John helped her up and over to a chair where they both inspected her swollen ankle.
"Helena, I'm so sorry!"
"Ow! It looks broken."
"Let me call Alan to come get us right away."
"And let him find us like this, naked and battered. He'll have a field day, John." She said as she appraised her ankle.
"What do you suggest?"
"Help me back into the eagle. I'll put some ice on my foot and prop it up. It should be okay until morning. While we're at it, I can take at look at that cut on your scalp."
John exhaled deeply, "I'm sorry. I guess this wasn't well thought out."
She leaned over and touched his cheek. "It had it's moments."
He kissed her palm then picked her up and carried her into the Eagle. Helena wrapped John's burnt hand and patched up his cut. He iced down her ankle and propped it up on some extra pillows. They spent a restless night in the Eagle recovering from their adventure in zero gee.
They were awaken early the next morning by the sound of an Eagle overhead. A cheerful Alan entered through the forward hatch. "Knock Knock, everyone dressed?"
He stopped short and took one look at the battered pair. "What the hell happened? You two beat the crap out of one another?"
John shook his head, "We had some unexpected trouble with the gravity comps last night. I think Helena's ankle is broken."
"Problems with the gravity comps, what kind?'
John lifted Helena lightly and moved her into a passenger seat. "It let go and we couldn't adjust in time."
"I'll have to check that. Helena, you okay?"
"I'm fine." She said calmly although she looked like she'd been through hell.
"Sit tight and I'll have you back to Alpha in a jif." Alan patted her knee and moved back into the command module.
John sat down next to Helena and took her hand, "You okay?"
She squeezed his hand, "We'll have to come up with a believable story before we get back to Alpha."
"I know. Guess we'd better get busy. Thanks for trying it. I really am sorry this happened."
"Me too. Let's not try it again."
"Don't worry Sweetheart. From now on we only make love in a room where we keep our feet firmly on the ground.
Three hours after their return to Alpha, John Koenig sat in his office reviewing several online reports that had been sitting in his email since Alan whisked him and Helena away to repair the lab. There was a beep at the door and he lifted his comlock pressing the button that would disengage the lock. He tossed his comlock on the desk and waited to see the identity of his caller.
Alan Carter entered the Commander's office quickly. The door closed behind him as he moved inside. He noticed the small white bandage that peeked from underneath John's hairline. He found John's injury suspicious.
"How's Helena?" He asked as he took the only chair in John's office.
"She's in medical. Bob thinks her ankle is just badly sprained and not broken." John answered.
Alan watched his friend carefully. He was determined to get to the bottom of things. "John, what happened out there? When you two checked in yesterday you were fine. Then this morning, I get out there and you two look like hell."
John looked away then leaned back in his chair. "I've already told you. The gravity comps failed."
Alan rubbed his chin with his hand. He didn't think is friend was telling the entire truth. He was concerned that he'd made a mistake when he left the two of the out there to spend some time alone. Since John was his commanding officer he couldn't just come out and accuse him of lying. "John?" He noticed that his friend had a distant look in his eyes.
"Huh?" John turned his attention back to Alan.
"John, something happened out there didn't it?"
He waited and received no response. "John, it wasn't the gravity comps was it?"
John turn in his chair and faced the opposite wall.
"What happened? Talk to me." Alan leaned forward. "I know it wasn't the gravity comps."
John spun back around but remained silent.
"I checked them myself. They are fine."
John looked away.
"I also checked with the on-board computer. The comps were functioning properly until they were manually turned off."
"What are you saying Alan?"
Alan rose, "I'm saying that you aren't telling me everything. Something happened out there. The two of you were fine and now you're sporting stitches and Helena's in medical. I put you two out there to make up but it appears that you tried to kill each other."
"We didn't try to kill each other." Koenig responded quickly.
"Well those comps just didn't go off on their own, what were you two thinking?"
John's face turned red and he looked down at the floor. "You're right. I did turn the comps off."
Relieved, Alan sat back down. "John?" His friend remained quiet. Suddenly, an idea crossed Alan's mind but he dismissed it. "No...you wouldn't...you didn't!
John met Alan's amused stare. "Oh my God, you did!" Alan laughed.
"It's not that funny, Carter." John shook his head.
Carter tried to stop laughing but couldn't. "You and Helena tried zero gee. And now you two are all bandaged and bruised--" Alan was laughing so hard he grabbed his stomach. "Oh how I wish Mel was here to see this."
Koenig didn't find the situation as amusing as his friend. "If you don't stop laughing I'm going to kick you out of my office."
Alan stifled his amusement, he knew John was serious. "How did you get that cut and how on earth did Helena hurt her ankle?"
"We had some technical difficulties." John answered.
"I'll say." Alan remarked. "Wait, let me guess, you tried to make love the traditional way?"
Clearly annoyed, John responded, "Is there another way?"
"You can't do it the traditional way in zero gee. A lot of movement can be bad. I guess you already figured that one out of your own, huh?" Alan snickered.
"Shut up Carter!"
"Sorry. I can give you two some pointers if you want to try again when Helena recovers."
"No thanks. It'll be a warm sunny day on Alpha before I take any more of your advice."
Alan roared with laughter. "I can picture you two in docking position and flying all about the lab bumping into everything in sight."
"I'm warning you, Alan. If you mention any of this to anyone, including Helena, I'll toss you out an airlock."
Carter laugher subsided and he held up his hands. "Okay, okay. I promise."
"Just one thing, John."
"What?"
"Let me know when you two plan a rematch and I'll draw you some pictures." With that Alan doubled over in laughter.
"That's it! Get out!" John shouted and opened the door to his office. "Remember what I said, Carter. One word and you are history."
"I remember, I remember." Alan called before the door completely closed.
John sat back down in his chair closed his eyes. It would be a long time before they tried zero gee again--a very long time.
Maureen J. Long
Betsy Nicholas
June, 2000