The Second Date

by Penny


Rating:  PG-13 (for language)

Feedback:  Definitely.  If you like it, please let me know.  If you don't (and are silly enough to read all of it anyway) please let me know specifically how I could improve my writing.  It might save you pain in later fics.

Archive:  I would be delighted if you would ask.

Special note:  There are no specific episode spoilers in this fic.  It is a sequel, of sorts, to a previous story, The Date.  A very special "thank you" to my Beta reader who helped catch my errors and provided some guidance.  If you like the story, it is in part due to the efforts of  Joanna.

Disclaimer:  The characters and concept of Farscape is owned by The Jim Henson Company (and bless them for it) and probably the Sci-Fi Channel as well.  This is a work of fan fiction and done out of love for the show.  There will be no monetary gain.  Although based on the show the idea for this story remains my own.

*****

"You hit me!" Crichton gasped in shock from his place on the floor.

"You were suppose to duck," Aeryn explained calmly.

"I did!  You came in too low." 

Aeryn studied the human were he lay.  He was on his back on the mat and breathing heavily.  There was a thin sheen of water that covered his body.  He called it sweat and had explained that it was a human's way of cooling an over exerted or too hot body.  There was an odor associated with this sweat.  It was not pleasant or unpleasant but it was different and just one more thing that set him apart from a Sebacean, despite his appearance.

"Are you hurt?" she asked when he made no move to get up.

"Only my pride, Sunshine, only my pride."  His breath was slowly becoming even. It occurred to him that the exercise mat was actually very comfortable.

"Then get up and finish your workout."

"No, I think I'll stay down here, that way I won't have as far to fall the next time you knock me on my ass."

"If you don't get up and finish then how do you expect to ever improve your hand-to-hand combat skills?" 

John pillowed his hands behind his head.  "You know, before I got sling-shot through that wormhole, I never needed any hand-to-hand combat skills."   He sighed deeply as he began thinking of some of the other things that he never experienced before he fell down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, things like never having killed anyone-accidentally or otherwise, never having been chased by a megalomaniacal, tin plated dictator with delusions of godhood, never had been tortured....never been inclined toward self-pity.  At least not much.  Sometimes it was hard to be the son of a famous astronaut, a genuine American hero.

"...them now," Aeryn said.

"What did you say?  I was a little distracted there."

"I said that you need them now."

"Need them now?" John echoed.

"Combat skills."

John frowned.  "No, Aeryn, that is not what I need right now."  He looked up at her and his mood changed with mercurial swiftness.  "What I need right now is a little distraction."

Aeryn crossed her arms.  "You seemed very distracted a few microts ago."

John laughed grimly.  "That distraction is what I need distracting from."  He propped himself up on his elbows.  "Go out with me."

"What?"

"Go out with me, you know, on a second date."

Aeryn looked at the human in disbelief.  "Oh, yes, of course, after all the first one went so well."

John gave her his best impish grin.  "It wasn't that bad, as first dates go."

"No, it wasn't bad at all," she paused, "we were only CAPTURED by Peacekeepers and almost killed."

John sat the rest of the way up, and held his index finger up to emphasis his point.  "The operative word there is almost, besides, everyone knows that second dates always go more smoothly than first ones."

Aeryn shook her head in disbelief, causing a few strands of dark hair to escape her ponytail.  She lowered herself into a sitting position so that she faced Crichton.  "Even if it were wise to tempt fate again, I thought that  dates involved food establishments and entertainment.  We are not close to a commerce planet and even if we were, we could not take the chance of going down.  The Peacekeepers are still in the quadrant and are still looking for Moya."

Crichton's mind worked quickly.  "Yes, but there are some dating rules that you don't know about, only first dates are required to involve food establishments and entertainment, any subsequent date can be less formalized and more open to taking advantage of whatever situation presents itself."

"Human courtship rituals sound complicated.  I am surprised your species it able to procreate," Aeryn said with a small smile.

John returned her smile.  "If it's one thing my species has no trouble doing, it's procreating."  He sat a little straighter.  "But we are not talking about procreation here Aeryn, just a little distraction.  After all, we wouldn't want to compromise Sebacean racial purity."  Aeryn's sudden frown made John realize that he had probably pushed that envelope just at little too far.  "Aeryn, all joking aside, it is just a date, a second date, just a little fun, a little one-on-one with Aeryn Sun."

Aeryn remained silent and non-committal.  She didn't mind a little amusement but John's remark was translated with definite sexual overtones.  That, combined with his remark on Sebacean purity, was causing her to rethink the possible outcome of such an encounter, no matter how innocently it started.

"We'll have a picnic," John declared.

The strange word caught Aeryn's attention.  "A peek neek," she repeated the alien word slowly.  "What is that?"

"Picnic is from the Latin, an ancient earth language, it means, loosely translated:  Honey, it's a week until payday and I can't afford theater tickets but if you bring the blanket, I'll show you want to do with it."

Aeryn stared at the human blankly.

"All right, it was very loosely translated."  John stood and reached down his hand to help Aeryn up.  "For a picnic we would pack some food, take a blanket, go out onto the terrace, spread out the blanket, sit down, admire the beauty of space, eat and talk."

Aeryn allowed John to help her stand.  "That sounds harmless enough."

"Totally harmless," John said as innocently as he was able.

*****

"Zhaan," Aeryn called as she walked into the room that the Delvian has set up as an apothecary.  "Do you have a basket, bag or box that I could borrow?"

The former Pau looked up from the powders which she was carefully measuring. "I'm sure that I can find something suitable," she said as she returned one of the powders to its container.  She carefully sealed the vial and set it to the side.  "What size do you require?"

"Not too large, I should think," Aeryn replied thoughtfully. "Large enough to carry enough food cubes and beverage containers for two."  Seeing Zhaan's questioning look, she went on to explain, "Crichton and I are going on a peek-neek.  That is a human dating ritual.  He wants us to take our food to the terrace and eat it.  Apparently we must sit on a blanket and stare into space while doing so."

"What an odd thing to do," Zhaan said with a touch of wonder in her voice as she rummaged beneath her console for the suitable receptacle.  Finding what she sought, she straightened and set it on the work table.

"He is Crichton," Aeryn replied, eyeing the basket provided by Zhaan with approval.

"Yes, of course he is," she answered almost distractedly.  She studied the ex-Peacekeeper.  "Tell me, Aeryn, do you find it significant that John has initiated a courtship ritual with you?"

Aware that she was being studied but strangely embarrassed by the question, Aeryn picked up the basket and pointedly studied it.  "No, why should I?  As John explained it, even though dates are a part of human courtship ritual, they don't necessarily have to mean any serious commitment. It is a distraction, nothing more."

"You are certain that it is nothing more?" Zhaan asked knowingly.

Aeryn lifted her head and met Zhaan's steady gaze.  "Whatever more could it be?"

*****

John arrived on the terrace early to find the perfect spot for their picnic. Looking around, he quickly determined that no one spot was any better or any different from any other.  He had brought the blanket and a certain amount of enthusiasm.  He had considered asking Pilot to supply a few  DRDs to play the role of ants, all in the name of realism, but had quickly dropped the idea.  No sense in making things crowded.  He walked to the center of the terrace and spread the blanket.  He felt strangely light-headed and excited.  Not to mention just slightly anxious.  It wasn't as if he didn't see Aeryn every day but this was different.  This was social.  This outing would have to be better than their first official date.  Not that their first date had been that bad.  After all, they had survived.  He had even, all most, gotten a good night kiss.  So what if his first time at bat he hadn't made it to first base; he had at least gotten a foul tip off the bat.  Just maybe, this time he would improve his batting average.

John was reluctant to examine his feelings for Aeryn too closely.  He felt a certain responsibility for her and all that had happened to her.  He was also willing to admit to himself that he was attracted to her and admired her strength.  Lust was also a factor, but hell, he had always been attracted to members of his own species and he didn't think he should have to apologize for that.  Of course, technically, Aeryn wasn't human.  Actually, even non-technically she wasn't human but she looked human. She looked, well, she looked like home.

"I've brought the food," Aeryn said as she entered the terrace.  "Where would you like me to put it?"

They ate mostly in silence but were acutely aware of the company. 

"How was the meal?" Aeryn asked, mostly just to have something to say.  The quiet between them beginning to unnerve her.

"The basket you brought it in would probably have been tastier," John said with a smile.  "But that just made me appreciate the company all the more."

Aeryn lay back on the golden blanket that John had spread on the deck of the terrace.  She looked at the brilliant flares of heat and light that formed her canopy and allowed herself a brief indulgence of fancy as she imagined the exotic worlds and peoples that they would be shining on. Growing up on a ship, she was intimately aware of space and what it contained but had never thought about the wonder of it, the sheer diversity of life.  In fact, it wasn't really like her to think such thoughts. Still, she was doing many things that she would never have thought was like her since meeting Crichton.  Thinking of John made her acutely aware of the heat of his body where he lay next to her.

John's thigh brushed against Aeryn's hip as he lay on his side.  His elbow supported him so he could look down on the ex-Peacekeeper's face.  Her hair looked as dark as the void of space where it contrasted against the golden shimmer of the blanket.  Her face was luminous in the star light, her eyes bright mysteries.  John felt a catch in his chest as he looked at her.  Desire and longing filled him as he began to slowly lower his head toward hers.  Oh, he thought, this is right, this is very, very right.  What...could...possibly...go...wrong?

"What's that?" Aeryn asked sharply.

"I'm just happy to see you," John murmured quietly as he continued to lower his mouth toward her moist lips.

Aeryn abruptly sat up, pushing Crichton over onto his back where he landed with an audible humph.  She pointed at a bright speck that was rapidly becoming brighter.  "Pilot," she said into her comlink, "check vector 16."  She jumped up and ran inside the Leviathan.  "And call the others, have them meet me in Command."

John lay on his back a second and muttered to himself, "Somewhere a guy named Murphy is rolling on the floor and laughing his ass off."  He climbed to his feet and hurried after the Sebacean.  "Yo, Aeryn, wait up!"

*****

"The object is of no direct threat to Moya or her offspring," Pilot's image informed the others.  "Sensors indicate that the outer layer is mostly composed of ice crystals of methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.  That is why it appears so bright.  The crystals are reflecting the available light."

"So it's just a big, old, dirty snowball."  John looked at the others.  "Well, that's no biggy.  Why don't we all go back to what we were doing before comet interruptus."

"It is not a comet, John," Zhaan quietly corrected him.  "The object appears to be hollow."

"Zhaan is correct, Commander," Pilot said.  "The object is apparently a small ship.  The ice crystals were....formed when the interior atmosphere was voided."

"There are no readings that suggest any life forms aboard," Aeryn added, staring at the sensor readings.

"With no interior atmosphere, there wouldn't be, would there," D'argo commented dryly.

"The ship appears slightly larger than a transport pod," Aeryn continued.

"I claim the salvage rights to that obviously abandoned ship in the name of Dominar Rygel the sixteenth," Rygel formally proclaimed.  "Now, go out an get my property," he commanded. Seeing five sets of eyes turn in his direction, he slyly added, "And I just might be willing to let you share in the profit." He then turned his throne-sled and left the room.

"We probably should check it out," John said, the scientist in him having armwrestled the man in him and won.  "There could be maps or other information that we could use."

Aeryn nodded sharply.  "Pilot, prepare the Prowler for immediate launch." 

"Already being done," Pilot returned.

"I'm coming too," John said quickly.  "Wait while I go suit up."

"I am more than capable of reconnaissance of a ship as small as a transport pod. It is so small that we would likely just end up in each other's way," Aeryn disagreed.

"There are three reasons that you're wrong about that: one, even if the ship is small, you don't know what you might find and it just makes sense to have someone along to watch your back; two, I may be from a backwater world but I'm still the closest thing we have to a scientist and if you're going exploring, I might have a different take on things than, if it moves shoot it; and three," he moved closer so that he could whisper the remainder, "our date isn't officially over until I walk you to your door.  Where you go, I go."

Aeryn looked at him briefly before smiling slightly.  "You're quite right.  I could use someone to guard my back.  I'll meet you in the hanger." 

Aeryn and John walked out together.  Zhaan and D'argo looked at each other knowingly.  Chiana just rolled her eyes. "Someone should throw some water on those two."

******

"I don't see any hull breach.  How did the atmosphere escape?" John asked as the Prowler slowly circled the small ship.

"The outer airlock isn't totally closed," Aeryn explained.  "You can just make out the demarcation."

"So someone left and forgot to close the door after themselves?"

"Or it was done deliberately.  On most ships the outer airlock will not open until the inner one is sealed.  In order for the ship's atmosphere to have escaped, both would have to be opened.  That could only have been done by a command over-ride."

"Well, one thing is certain."

"What would that be, Crichton?"

"If that was the way the air got out then that's the way that we can get in."

Aeryn and John entered the inner lock and shone their lights around the small control room.  Aeryn walked to what appeared to be a control panel and scanned it.  She tentatively reached out and pressed a button.  Lights flickered and then came on but with a definite greenish tint.

"Pilot, I appear to have restored power to the ship."

"Yes, Moya is reading the power surge.  She estimates it will be at least a quarter arn before ship power levels are optimal."

John activated a button by the air lock door.  At first nothing happened but then the door slid slowly but silently shut.  "This is working now.  Aeryn, why don't you see if you can get an atmosphere back."

"I'm working on it but the board is of an unfamiliar configuration.  If I activate the wrong system, I don't know what the outcome might be.  It might be better just to wait until we bring it onto Moya before we begin exploration of ship systems.  Our suits have a more than sufficient supply of --" Aeryn turned around and noticed that John wasn't by the air lock any longer.  She began slowly walking toward the back of the small cabin.  There was a hatch way to the rest of the ship.  It was open.  She couldn't recall if it had been open when they had entered the ship.  "John?"

John stepped into the door way.  "In here Aeryn.  I think I've found the pilot." 

When Aeryn joined him, John was kneeling by a corpse.  It was not of a race with which she was familiar.  Its skin had erupted outward as the water in it froze when exposed to the cold and vacuum of space.  Likely its internal organs were in a similar shape.  Still, its over all shape was preserved.  It was a bipedal anthropoid with three arms and eyes rather than the usual two.  "It must have died when the ship lost atmosphere," Aeryn said.

John shook his head.  "Not unless this honking big hole in his back was due to rapid decompression."  He turned the corpse over revealing the wound.  John stood carefully.  "But if he was the killee then where is the killer?"

"Nothing could still be alive on this ship," Aeryn said adamantly while she looked carefully around what appeared to be a cargo area. 

John wandered to the back of the area where he noticed some ruptured containers. They appeared empty. The ruptures looked to have been caused by some kind of weapon or projectile. Several of the ruptures left sharp, jagged edges on the sides of the containers.  "Maybe they're not on the ship anymore.  The airlock was open and the power was deliberately turned off.  They could have left.  The question is are they coming back?"

The ship suddenly lurched to the side.  Aeryn caught herself on the hatch but Crichton was thrown into the containers.  "Pilot, what was that?" Aeryn cried as she hurried over to the fallen human.

"The ships aft thrusters fired.  Moya believes that was the last command that was input into the navigational console before the power was shut off.  Now that the power levels are coming up, the ship was able to execute the command."  Pilot's voice paused.  "Once the power levels became sufficient, a communication beacon also began broadcasting.  I will get back with you as soon as it is translated."

"John, are you all right?" Aeryn asked with evident concern. 

"Dammit!"  John looked up at Aeryn, there was only a slight tinge of panic in his voice.  "I may be in trouble here.  One of these jagged edges cut my pressure suit and breached its integrity.  I have a slow leak!"

"Don't worry," she said calmly.  "The suit is designed to be self-sealing.  Just apply a steady pressure to the breach,"

"OK, got it."  John began pressing on a small hole on his right thigh.  "Ouch, it looks like more than suit integrity was breached.  I think the edge cut me."  He grinned up at Aeryn through his helmet.  "I hope my tetanus shots are up to date."

Aeryn reached down a hand to help up her fallen comrade.  He took it firmly and stood.

"Aeryn, John!  You must leave that ship at once!" came the Luxan's voice through the comlink.

"What is it D'argo?" Aeryn asked as she and John looked at each other in confusion.

"Moya has translated the transmission.  It is a warning beacon.  The ship was transporting biohazardeous material, some kind of infectious agent.  You must leave now!"

John glanced down at his thigh.  "Ah, D'argo, we may have a problem.  Give us a few minutes."

A growl came over the link.  "Do not tarry.  You may be putting us all at risk."

"This is just another perfect ending to another perfect day," John uttered quietly.  He forced himself to meet Aeryn's eyes. 

"Whatever was in that container has been exposed to cold, vacuum and radiation. It is unlikely that it would still be viable," Aeryn said, unsure if she were trying to convince John or herself.

John just looked into her eyes.

"You don't know that you were infected!"

John remained silent.

"Even if you were, Zhaan can..."

"Aeryn, we both know that I can't go back to Moya until we're sure that it's safe.  I can't risk..."

"You wouldn't be."

John shook his head.  "I can't risk everyone else.  I won't."

Aeryn felt her blood run cold.  She exploded in anger.  "What do you suggest? That we just stay here and wait to see if you get sick, wait to see if you die?  That I just watch you?  I can't do that.  I won't!"

"I'm not saying we should just sit and wait, only that we proceed with a little caution.  You could find the main computer and download the files.  Take them back to Moya.  Maybe there'll be some information in it about this, whatever it is, that they were trying to get rid of, symptoms and such; if there's a way to detect it, how contagious it is, anything might be helpful.  You could isolate some scrapings from the container to see if the agent is still alive and kicking."

"John..."

"You're probably right.  I'm probably being paranoid for no reason.  Let's just be safe."  John searched her face, visible through her visor, and saw the resignation there.  "OK?"

Aeryn reluctantly nodded.   She then immediately set about the tasks that John had outlined for her.  Once finished she paused at the airlock.  "I'll be back."

John nodded, "I know."

"You haven't walked me to my quarters yet."  Aeryn stepped out and the air lock door slid shut behind her.

John watched her leave.  As quiet as the door had been, it sounded very loud in his ears.  Resignedly he slid his back down the wall until he sat beside the small craft's original, now defunct, crew member.  "It looks like it's just you and me pal."

Onto part two
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