By ISIS
Disclaimers: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson company et al. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Archiving: Yes, if you wish. Please let me know where it's at: (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)
Rating: PG13
Summary: Cupid wreaks havoc aboard Moya. Sometime after the events of "A Bug's Life" but before "Nerve".
Spoilers: "A Bug's Life", subtle hints from Season One to "ABL"
Note: I don't know what translator microbes are supposed to do about written words. So please willingly suspend your disbelief and believe that they translate writing as well and speaking. The whole story depends on it
*****
Greetings, D.K. from the Uncharted Territories. By my reckoning, it's now Valentine's Day, back home. I hope you?ve got a night of wining and dining and ...other romantic activities planned. You always were a ladies' man. Red roses, champagne and chocolates.
John paused his recording. "Unnh, chocolate. What I wouldn't give for a big heart-shaped box of chocolates right now." He resumed recording.
Well, you'll be happy to know I am not spending this Valentine's Day alone, at least I hope I'm not. I have a big date planned for tonight. No chocolates or candlelight, but I'm going to try poetry. I hope the lady in question is receptive. Boy, D.K., I'll tell you, like everything else out here, even dating is a life-threatening situation. Especially with a crab-like, four-armed Cupid ...
****
"So you send hearts to the women you like on this Valley Time Day. Ugh, Crichton, that's barbaric." Aeryn's voice came out from under Pilot's control panel, filled with revulsion, as she and John worked to correct a problem too heavy for Moya's DRD's. "How's that, Pilot?"
"It's getting better, but it still needs to be adjusted."
"John, pass me that priming wrench."
*Correction,* John thought, ruefully. *Aeryn is working to correct the problem. Dr. John Crichton, Ph.D has been reduced to gofer.* "No, Aeryn," he said, exasperated, "We don't send REAL hearts. We send cards in the shape of red hearts. And flowers. And candy in heart-shaped boxes."
Aeryn's head popped up from beneath the console. "Why all this dren about hearts?" She reached out to take the tool from him.
"Well, humans believe that the heart is the source of all emotion." He passed her the wrench. "And it's not always hearts. Some of the cards have pictures of Cupid on them."
"Cupid, who's that?"
John sighed, realizing that this was going to sound crazy to a Peacekeeper. "Er, he's a little naked guy with ...with wings and a bow and arrow."
Aeryn raised her head to stare at him again. "A what and what?"
"A bow and arrow. It's a weapon to shoot projectiles with." John put his head down and groaned. "I mean..."
"So another symbol of this Valley Time Day is a naked man with a weapon. How does this symbolize love? What does he do, shoot rivals?"
"Valentine's Day, Aeryn. And no he doesn't shoot people. I mean...he does but...not to kill them. His arrows make people fall in love."
Aeryn shook her head and bent to continue her work. She popped right back up again. "Crichton, this is the wrong wrench." Her expression clearly indicated what she thought of his usefulness.As he took the wrench from her, she said, uncomprehendingly, "So Valentine's Day consists of cards shaped like body parts, armed, naked, flying men, dead plants and gifts of food that is largely fattening. Sounds wonderful." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "And what is the point of all these things?"
John looked at her directly. "It's supposed to be a day when people can share openly how they feel about each other." He handed her the smaller wrench and deliberately let his fingers touch hers. She returned his direct look with a confused look of her own, and then bent out of sight. John sighed.
"Commander Crichton, you said that many things are heart-shaped. What is the shape of the human heart?"
"Well, Pilot, it looks a bit like this." He bent to the toolkit and took out an engraving tool. On the top of the kit he etched a crude heart. "Sort of like that. Only, that's not what hearts are really shaped like. This is just a symbol for the heart."
Pilot looked at the drawing."Very interesting custom, Commander."
From under the console, Aeryn's voice rang out in disbelief. "Interesting! It sounds plain crazy to me. Just like most of the things Crichton talks about."
Pilot watched John's expression of pain and annoyance. "What is on these cards you send?"
"Oh, poetry, expressions of affection. Sometimes they're funny."
"Poetry? What's that?" Aeryn demanded.
"Words arranged into lines that rhyme and have a certain rhythm. Don't you have anything like that in Sebacean culture."
"Oh certainly. We have many "poems" as you call them about past battles and heroes."
"Now why does that not surprise me," John commented, sarcastically.
He bent down to where Aeryn was working at the repair and began to recite,
"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that?s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies."
He watched her carefully for any reaction but she continued to work, seemingly to ignore him. He continued,
"One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o?er her face;
Where thoughts sweetly express
How pure, how dear, their dwelling place."
He reached out and gently brushed a piece of her hair from her eyes. Her hands stilled and finally she met his warm gaze, He smiled and finished,
"And on that cheek, and o?er that brow,
So soft , so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!"
He leaned closer to her. "That, Aeryn, is poetry. I had to memorize that in high school. I can't believe I remember it."
She held his look for a few more moments, then called out once more. "Pilot, is that any better?" John sighed and got up.
"Much better, Officer Sun, thank you," Pilot answered. "And I very much enjoyed your poetry, Commander Crichton."
"Thank you, Pilot. I'm glad someone enjoyed it," he said ruefully.
"All done then. Crichton, can you get under here and help me put the cover back on? It's too heavy."
John crawled into the confined space under the console next to Aeryn. She was lying on her back on the floor. There was an open panel above her. The casing lay on her other side. "How are we supposed to manoeuver in here?" John asked. He tried to sit up but only succeeded in hitting his head.
"Reach over me and get that panel." Aeryn said. "Then you'll have to lift it into place and hold it there while I secure the fastenings."
"Great. By the way, Twister is another one of those Valentine's Day rituals, along with Spin the Bottle."
"What?"
"Never mind. Lie back so I can get over you." John carefully crawled over Aeryn's prone body. *Let's have some fun with this,* he thought, wickedly. He deliberately let his body press against her, as he slowly slid over her. She gasped a couple of times at the contact. John caught her eye, and innocently asked, "Are you okay? Am I hurting you?"
"Just hurry it up, Crichton." came her annoyed reply. "It's getting warm in here."
"It certainly is close in here," he said, letting his weight press her down once more into the floor, before backing away with the panel cover in his hands. He turned away and grinned to himself at her reaction. "Now what?"
"Now you lie on your back and hold the panel in place while I fasten it."
John complied, taking Aeryn's place on the floor. He struggled to lift the heavy casing into place. "Okay, hurry it up. This thing weighs a ton," he said through clenched teeth.
Aeryn lay back on his chest. Her thick, black ponytail covered his face. He blew out his mouth to get her hair out of his mouth and eyes. "What's the problem now, Crichton?" she demanded.
"Your hair, Aeryn. It's choking me."
"Hang on, almost finished."
"Aeryn, I can't breathe."
Suddenly, she twisted around until she lay on her belly on top of him, her hands pressed against his shoulders. "There, that wasn't so bad. Stop complaining. I..." She stopped as she caught the look in his eye. "Crichton, what are you doing?"
John lowered his arms to encircle her waist, bared where her shirt had ridden up. He began to stroke the soft skin. His eyes darkened briefly in remembered pain as he lightly traced the scar from her most recent brush with death. She closed her eyes at his touch and held her breath. When one of his hands slid up under the edge of her shirt, her eyes flew open and locked with his heated gaze. His hand began to slide up along her spine. Aeryn let her eyes drop to his lips. She slowly lowered herself down, until her lips pressed his in a soft kiss. John's tongue began to trace her lips. He nibbled lightly on her lower lip until she opened her mouth to allow him to deepen the kiss. Her hands began to explore his shoulders and chest. His other hand encircled her shoulders to mold her body more closely to his. Holding her close to him, John suddenly rolled, so that she was beneath him. His knee pushed its way between her legs, and he groaned.
And looked up right into the light antennae of a DRD.
Aeryn's eyes followed his. Guiltily, she pushed John off her and scrambled out from under the console. He heard her slam tools into the toolkit and tear off out of Pilot's chamber. He lay back and groaned once more, this time in frustration. Rolling onto his side, he looked directly at the DRD. "Moya," he said, "You are the worst voyeur I have ever seen." He pulled himself out from under the console and came face to face with Pilot's curious gaze.
"What is wrong with Officer Sun?"
"Bad timing, Pilot. Always bad timing."
He started out of the chamber, when Pilot said, "She does care for you, you know."
Pilot's comment stopped him in his tracks."What do you know about it, Pilot?" he said, turning back to lean against Pilot's controls.
"I don't think I am breaking any confidences when I say that Officer Sun often comes and talks about many things with me. And your name comes up most often in conversation."
"I know she has feelings for me. I just don't know what to do about it, how to reach her." John looked at Pilot. "And I don't know how to get her to face them."
"If you were on Earth right now, you would be participating in some of the Valentine's rituals you described?"
"Yeah, probably. Though I don't think Aeryn is exactly the flowers and candy type. Frankly, I think I would be having the same problems if Aeryn and I were on Earth. She just won't open up to me." He hung his head and sighed. "I don't know, Pilot." He turned to stroll out of the chamber.
"Will you be alright?" Pilot called after his retreating figure.
"Yeah, Pilot. Don't worry about me." John turned and saluted on his way out the door.
****
Sometime later, Aeryn made her way back to Pilot's chamber.
"Officer Sun, it's good to see you again. Are you well?"
"Yes, Pilot, I'm fine." She hesitated then said, "I wish to apologise to you and Moya for my behaviour with Crichton earlier."
"Your behaviour was perfectly understandable." Aeryn's eyes flew to his. "Considering the feelings between you."
"There are no feel..." Aeryn started to deny Pilot's statement, then sighed. "You're right, Pilot. There are feelings between us. Things have happened between us and I don't know what to do." Pilot watched her face but said nothing, just let her pour it all out. "I was attracted to John when I first met him. And that attraction has grown. But I don't know how to handle what I'm feeling. Peacekeepers don't 'feel' things. The thoughts and emotions I have been having are considered inappropriate and dangerous. And on top of that, Crichton is so odd. I never know where I stand with him. I don't know what to say." She sighed again.
"Why don't you try some of the things that he was describing? Some of those Valentine's customs?" Pilot suggested.
Aeryn snorted with laughter, then looked at Pilot incredulously. "You're serious?"
"Of course, why would I not be?"
"But, Pilot. I don't know anything about his courting customs. And even if I did, where would I get those cards or whatever they are? No, it's a crazy idea." But the look on her face became thoughtful.
"Then make a card. Or write him a letter."
"Perhaps I could write him a letter."
"Yes, Officer Sun, a letter. Get all the things you can't seem to say to him in person down and let him read them. Then see what his reaction is."
Aeryn started to leave Pilot's chamber, the new idea consuming her. Then she turned back towards Moya's symbiont. "Pilot, do you think you could call me Aeryn?" she asked with a smile.
"I would be honoured to do so, Off... Aeryn."
****
Back in her quarters, Aeryn sat at her table with a stylus and several blank sheets of sensor reader parchment. What had seemed like a good idea earlier, had become a very difficult task. Peacekeeper training did not include letter writing. Already, there were many discarded sheets lying around her quarters. Aeryn nibbled on the end of the stylus and persevered. After several, painful arns she read what she had written and seemed relatively satisfied with her efforts.
I am writing this because I need you to know what I feel about you. I am unable to speak of these things, but I need to let you know how I feel somehow. I have been attracted to you for a long time, but I have come to realise that the attraction has grown into something more, something deeper. I know you think that someone else touched my heart, but I have recovered from that now. I know that the only thing he could have offered me was friendship and a return to what was familiar. But I am ready to acknowledge that I can have a close, even intimate relationship with a non-Sebacean. I am truly attracted to what is most alien about you. I hope that you share my feelings.
Aeryn
After reading her letter over once more, she finally undressed and went to bed.
The next morning, Aeryn dressed hurriedly and went to breakfast in the centre chamber. There was a spring to her step. She felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her. As she entered the room, she realised that she was secretly hoping that Crichton would be there. But the only member of Moya?s crew present was D'Argo. To hide her disappointment, she gave him a radiant smile.
"D'Argo!" she exclaimed, "It's wonderful to see you. I hope you are well this morning."
Startled at the warmth of her greeting, D'Argo replied, "Yes, Aeryn, I am well. And you?"
"I am wonderful." She retrieved her tray of foodcubes and came to sit right beside him.
Amused at her good mood, D'Argo asked, "And what has put you in such a fine frame of mind? Has Crichton done something to lighten your mood?"
Aeryn's laugh was musical. D'Argo looked at her in amazement. "Crichton? No. It's nothing Crichton has done. I feel good because I have finally realised something about myself that I have been fighting for a long time." She looked warmly into D'Argo's eyes, and even placed her hand on his arm, leaning in to him conspiratorially. "I am finally letting myself feel things I should have been feeling a long time ago, and the freedom is overwhelming." She smiled warmly at him again.
D'Argo moved slightly away from the beaming ex-Peacekeeper, suddenly feeling uncomfortable at her candor. "Well... er...it's good... ahem... it's good to see you so happy, Aeryn," he stammered.
Aeryn again placed her hand on his arm and looked into his eyes. "I am happy. Thank you, D'Argo," she said and squeezed his arm. Suddenly she got up, replaced her foodtray and left the room, giving the stunned Luxan a final dazzling smile.
She practically bounded down to Pilot's chamber, the letter she had sweated over the night before clutched in her hand.
"Good morning , Pilot, how are you and Moya this morning?" She leaned against Pilot's console and uncharacteristically touched one of his arms.
"We are well, thank you, Aeryn. And you? You seem in very good spirits this morning."
"I am, Pilot. I took your advice and wrote that letter to Crichton."
"And did you give it to him?" Pilot asked.
"No, and I'm not going to."
"Why not?" Pilot's expression registered his surprise.
Aeryn beamed at him. "I don't need to. Just being able to write down what I feel has given me a sense of freedom that I have never felt before. I think if I do this enough, I will be able to speak what I feel out loud to John. I don't need writing for it. I will be able to say what I feel about him to him in person."
"But, Aeryn, I think he needs to know now what you feel. Do you think it is wise to wait until you can tell him out loud?"
"I have been holding back for this long. I think he can wait a few more weegens." Aeryn met Pilot's gaze seriously. She waved the completed letter in front of him. "Pilot, writing this last night helped me to clarify what I feel. I just need a little more time. Then I think I will be able to share with John what I feel about him."
"As you wish, Aeryn." Pilot watched as she tossed the parchment to the floor.
Aeryn reached across the console to touch Pilot's arm once more. "Thank you, Pilot, for your counsel." She turned and walked out of Pilot's chamber. "Now I have to go find D'Argo. I need his advice about improving my physical conditioning. I want to see if I can incorporate Luxan techniques into my routine."
A DRD came up and grabbed the discarded parchment sheet on the floor.
"A few weegens?" Pilot said to himself. "That is too long."
The DRD scurried out the door of Pilot's chamber.
****
Ka D'Argo made his way down the corridor from the crew quarters to take over his duties in the Command. He was lost in thought about his unusual encounter with Aeryn at breakfast. Something was definitely strange about her behaviour. He let himself be lost in memories of yet another Sebacean female, whose initial response to his romantic overtures had confused and delighted him.
A DRD came down the hall towards him, carrying some sort of document. D'Argo tried to get out of the little robot's way, but it seemed to deliberately place itself in his path. Finally, impatiently, he growled at the tiny yellow device. It dropped its clear plastic cargo and spun around to flee up the corridor in the opposite direction.
D'Argo reached down to retrieve the sheet of parchment, and began reading. His expression became more disturbed as he read. His thoughts returned to Aeryn's happy mood at breakfast, her smiles and the way she had touched him. She usually went out of her way to avoid physical contact. His eyes widened as a disturbing thought crossed his mind. He crumpled the parchment up in his hand and stood, dumbfounded. The sound of approaching footsteps roused him out of his stupor. Aeryn came around the corner, at a brisk walk, her ponytail swinging. At the sight of the Luxan, she flashed him another dazzling smile.
"D'Argo!" she cried, apparently pleased to see him. "I'm so glad I found you."
D'Argo quickly hid the crumpled parchment behind his back. "Aer-...ahem... Aeryn, wha...why...er... why were you looking for me?" he stammered, uncharacteristically shaken.
Aeryn did not seem to notice his discomfort. She came up to him and surprisingly, slipped her arm through his. Smiling up at him, she led him along the corridor. "I have a proposition for you."
D'Argo started at her words, but said nothing.
"I need a partner," she explained. "My body is recovering from the knife wound Larraq gave me, and I find I need something more physical to stimulate me."
"Stimulate you?" D'Argo choked.
"Yes. I thought about asking Crichton to partner me, but we both know he is too feeble and frankly, not up to the challenge." She tightened her arm around D'Argo's, and smiled up at him once more. "I need someone larger and more experienced. Please say yes, D'Argo. It will be fun. And I know you will enjoy it as much as I will." She squeezed his arm once more. "At least think about it."
D'Argo looked at her in shock. "I...I...will."
She turned away and headed back the way she had come. With a mischievous smile, she turned and added, "You won't hurt me, you know. As I told Larraq, I can handle big."
D'Argo leaned back against the wall of the corridor and groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Oh, no."
****
D'Argo walked into the Command, lost in thought. At first he did not see John at the control table. When he noticed him, he turned and tried to slip out, but John looked up suddenly and saw him.
"Hey, there, D'Argo, how are you?" John asked cheerfully.
D'Argo, feeling trapped and uncomfortable, turned once more and walked over to join him.
"I'm ... er...fine, John. And ... uh...how are you?" he asked feebly.
John shot the Luxan a look of amusement. "I'm fine." He watched D'Argo pace back and forth for a moment, then said, "What's on your mind? You seem nervous about something."
Challenged, D'Argo said quickly,"Nervous? Me, no, I..."
Starting to get a little concerned, John asked again, "What's the matter, D'Argo?"
"It's nothing I can't handle."
"What do you have to handle? Is it something serious, something that will affect Moya, the crew? Talk to me."
"No, John, rest assured, there's nothing dangerous." D?Argo answered. *Nothing dangerous about a love-sick ex-Peacekeeper,* he thought to himself. "It's...er...personal."
John smiled in relief. "Well, then, tell Dr. Crichton all about it. We haven't had a man-to-man talk for a while."
D'Argo looked uncomfortable. "It's not something I can talk about."
"Uh, oh. I recognize that tone. It's woman troubles, isn't it?"
D'Argo shot John a surprised look. "How did you... well, I guess you...you would know."
"Yeah," John admitted ruefully. "I have been having my fair share of difficulties in that direction recently." The two males sat silently for a moment, each lost in his own thoughts.
"Have you ever had to deal with a woman's attentions that were...er...unwelcome?"
"Unwelcome?" John's eyebrows rose in surprise.
"Well, you know, unreciprocated?"
"Well, no, other than maybe Matala...but let's not go there," he added quickly. "My problems are usually the other way around."
"Well, it's someone I consider a friend and a colleague. I want to retain that relationship with her, but apparently, surprisingly, she wants more. I don't. And I want to let her know in such a way that I will not damage our friendship. I don't know how to tell her." D'Argo let the words spill out of him. "I don't think I can tell her to her face. What should I do, John?"
*Poor Zhaan,* John thought. "Well, have you tried a letter?"
"A letter."
"Yeah, write down what you feel, what you just said to me. And then send it to her. Be diplomatic and be kind. She'll probably be hurt for a while, but in the long run, she'll appreciate your honesty, and sensitivity." John suggested. *And it avoids any uncomfortable weepy scenes, as well,* John thought to himself. *Though I don't really think Zhaan is the weepy type.*
D'Argo's expression brightened as he warmed to the idea. "Thank you, John. I think a letter might just work."
"Any time, big guy. Just call me Dr. Ruth."
****
Back in his own quarters, D'Argo reread the letter he had composed to Aeryn with satisfaction.
Dearest friend,
I am truly flattered by your proposition. However, I do not think it would be wise to take our relationship to a physical level. I value you as a friend and colleague too much to jeopardize this for the sake of intimacy, no matter how pleasurable that might be for both of us. I also have my commitment to consider. Sebacean women are very possessive, as you know, and one has a hold on me still that will never be broken. I cannot break that trust, even for you. I hope that my decision will not cause you undue pain and sorrow. Perhaps if we had met under different circumstances, a deeper relationship might have been possible between us.
He folded the missive and headed off to Aeryn's quarters. When he got there, he looked carefully up and down the corridor, to ensure that no one saw him, then he bent and slipped the letter under the door into her room. Satisfied, he turned and headed to the centre chamber for lunch.
****
Inside the crew quarters, an army of DRD's was completing the half-cycle floor-cleaning assignment. A small yellow DRD scurried around Officer Sun's quarters, checking that all was completed as required. On its way out the door, it sensed a piece of parchment lying on the floor. It quickly snatched it with its tiny arm and raced down the corridor after its counterparts, who had hauled similar pieces of parchment from Aeryn's trash to the recycling system.
John Crichton came suddenly around the corner and tripped over the little device, knocking the parchment from its arm. "Whoa, whoa! Hey, watch where you're going there, Robbie," he called after the DRD's retreating form. He spotted the parchment on the floor under his foot. "Hey, Mellow Yellow, you forgot something." But the DRD did not return. John picked up the parchment and shoved it into his pants pocket, intending to drop it into the nearest recycling receptacle. He sauntered off down the hall, whistling.
Suddenly a grey-clad form dropped on him from above, knocking him to the ground. He heard a squeaky laugh as the two bodies went down in a tangle of arms and legs.
"Hey, what's the big idea, Chiana?" he cried, annoyed. "If you want to play cat and mouse, go find someone else to pounce on."
Chiana quickly rolled him over on his back and straddled him, immobilizing his arms with her knees. She sat grinning down at him. "I was getting out of practise at ambushing unsuspecting victims." She laughed again. "And you're about as unsuspecting as they come."
John had the grace to grin. "Okay, playtime's over." He tried to get up, but the Nebari had him pinned. "Okay, Chiana, enough's enough. Let me up."
Chiana bent down, bringing her face closer to John's and purred. "What's your hurry? This could be fun." She licked her lips suggestively.
Suddenly, Aeryn rounded the corner, dressed for her training workout, and came to a dead stop, transfixed by the sight in front of her. Chiana looked up at her and grinned again. Aeryn's eyes filled with anger and pain. Without a word, she turned on her heel and stalked away. John closed his eyes and groaned. With a sudden push, he dumped Chiana off him onto the floor and tore away after the angry Sebacean. Chiana lay sprawled on the floor, a speculative look on her face.
****
"Hey, Aeryn, wait up!" John was out of breath from trying to catch the dark haired figure, who marched down the corridor, ignoring him. "Aeryn!" He caught up with her and grabbed her arm. She turned, her eyes ablaze, and nearly swung at him, then stopped herself, merely yanking her arm out of his grasp.
"Leave me alone, Crichton." She pointedly turned away from him and started back the way she had come.
"No, Aeryn. You have to talk to me." John followed her.
"I don't have to do anything," she ground out.
He grabbed her arm once more, stopping her this time. "I need to explain to you what just happened there."
"Don't explain anything. I have eyes." She pulled away from him and marched off again, towards the centre chamber.
John stood for a moment, letting his head drop in exasperation. "Frell!" Then he took off after her again. Marching along beside her, he said, "What do you think you saw back there?"
She stopped suddenly and turned eyes blazing with anger and pain on him. "I saw you and Chiana...on the floor...about to...to..." She looked down. "You didn?t get anywhere with me yesterday, so you thought you'd try Chiana," she said hurtfully.
John lifted her chin with his hand, but she angrily shook off his grasp. "You don't really believe that, do you Aeryn?" he asked gently. "Do you?"
She tried to walk away from him again, but he trapped her by placing his arms on either side of her on the wall. Still not looking at him, she said, "I don't know what to believe, John. I thought...this morning...that I was sorting things out, but now...now..." She looked up at him suddenly, defiant as ever. John's heart ached to see her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
The sound of approaching footsteps distracted him. Aeryn swiftly ducked under his arm and walked away from him, towards the centre chamber. He tried once more to stop her, grabbing her hand. She turned and looked at him once more, disappointment and confusion filling her gaze. When D'Argo and Chiana rounded the corner, she once more pulled from his grip.
"Aeryn..."
"No, Crichton. Leave me alone." She stalked away.
John looked up to catch D'Argo?s sympathetic eye and Chiana's speculative one. He entered the centre chamber and flung himself down beside Chiana. The parchment in his pocket dug into his leg. He angrily pulled it out and placed the crumpled letter on the table beside him. He ate in frustrated silence, then got up and replaced his tray, turning to leave.
D'Argo said hesitatingly, "John..."
"No, D'Argo, I don't want to talk about it. I?ll be in my quarters."
At the table, Chiana noticed the letter John had left beside her tray. Looking to see that D?Argo wasn't watching, she quickly grabbed John's letter and tucked it out of sight. Clearing her space, she slipped out of the room to read John's letter.
****
Onto part two
Back to ISIS's page