Jade watched silently as the woman before her tossed rocks into the
river.  She stood leaning against a tree, waiting patiently to be
noticed.

"Are you just going to stand there, or are you gonna sit down?"

Jade moved to sit near her on a large rock nearby, "You have to go back,
you know," she said after a long minute of silence.

To Jade's surprise, Eve laughed, "Do I really?"

Jade nodded slowly, wondering what she found so humorous.

Eve looked up at her, suddenly serious, "And why, exactly, do I *have*
to go back?"

Jade frowned, "What, you think they just happened to be on a nature hike
in the South American forests?  They came to find you!"

"Yeah, well it sure took 'em long enough!"

"They did the best they could!  I don't have a single doubt in my mind
that Bronski would have come the minute he found out...alone...if he
could have!"

"Then why didn't he?"

Jade hesitated, hearing not only the anger in her voice, but the hurt,
"I don't know," she replied honestly.

Eve let out a short laugh, "And here I thought you had all the answers."

"Hey, gimme a break, I've only been with 'em two days."

Eve turned to face her, Jade wasn't even looking at her, though.  She
was twirling a piece of grass between her fingers, "Then what do you
know about any of this?"

Jade looked up, her temper overriding her common sense, "I know that
every one of the people back there is risking getting thrown in prison
for insubordination just by being here!  I know that they all want to
see you back safe and sound!  And I know that you have a husband that
loves you more than anything in the world who would rather die than
leave without you!  Especially if he knew you just didn't feel like
going!"

Eve waited to make sure she was done before speaking, she looked about
to cry, "And if I still don't feel like going?"

Jade fingered her blaster, "Oh, you're going if I have to drag you at
gunpoint."

"Just asking," Eve assured her.

"Good, because I don't wanna have to explain to Bronski why I have his
wife at the end of my blaster when we get there."

Eve stared out at the forest, thinking.  She turned to say something,
but Jade was gone.

"That could take some getting used to..." Eve muttered as she stood up.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Alec took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

"You okay DeLeon?" Sean asked, concerned.

"Honestly?  No."

"Mind if I ask why?"

"Typhonus is on that transport ship.  I can't stop thinking about the
moon.  To know you're going to die...that's not a good feeling."

Sean simply nodded.

After a moment, Alec spoke again, "Do you think she's alright?"

"Who?"

"Maggie."

Sean frowned, "I'm sure she's fine."

Alec was unconvinced, but nodded anyway.  They fell into relative
silence again, and he had to try to block the memories of his death once
more.  But, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the memories to
go away.

Knowing he was being stupidly heroic.  The fear when Typhonus pinned him
to the wall.  His frame being crushed around him.  The searing pain that
came with every breath he took.  Knowing he'd never get to tell Maggie
how he felt about her.  

"Alec?"

"Yeah?"

"I think we've caught up with 'em," Sean motioned toward the transport
directly beneath them.

Without even realizing it, every member of their group stopped, hovering
in mid-air.

"Sir?"

"Okay," Sean snapped back to attention, "chances are, they know we're
coming.  We're gonna have to hit 'em hard and fast.  We may have frames,
but we don't know what they have as far as weapons.  Remember, these are
some of the best generals...ever, and they're fighting for their
lives...be careful.  Picasso, stay outside and catch anyone who happens
to get out.  The rest of us are inside."

They all nodded their affirmatives, "Make every shot count," he paused,
biting his lip contemplatively, "kill if you have to.  Let's go!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jade watched as Eve stood near on the edge of the crowd.  Kaz sat next
to her on one side, Rita on the other.  J.T. and Marsala had gone with
Corth somewhere and Bronski...no one had seen him since he'd left
shortly after Jade had.

Eve was searching for something, Jade realized.  Her husband more than
likely...and he wasn't around.  Jade excused herself and joined Eve, "He
isn't here, I've looked."

"Where is he?"

Jade shrugged, "I'd check down by the river if I were you, though."

"But I just came from the..."

"Trust me."

Eve looked skeptical, but headed off the way she'd come from.

Jade shook her head, "Love bites," she muttered as she rejoined Kaz and
Torres.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Eve sat down next to her husband, sitting silently next to him.

He didn't even acknowledge her presence.

"Wolf?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, why do you care?"

She flinched, his remark stung, "Because I love you."

"Really, then why wouldn't you wanna come back with us?"

He looked at her for the first time and she could see the hurt in his
eyes.  She could have kicked herself, "I'm sorry you heard that.  I
was...upset.  I thought you didn't care enough about me to come after
me."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"I meant right away..."

"I tried...they stuck me in my quarters for two months!  I would have
done it again, but it wouldn't have done *anyone* any good for me to get
stuck in prison!  Do you know how many times people had to tell me that
to talk me out of it?"  he stared at her, watching her reaction to his
words.  "But you gotta believe me, Eve, I tried..."

"I do.  I'm sorry I ever doubted you.  But I felt deserted.  I thought I
was going to die alone in the forest of starvation or something like
that.  Until Ketzer's people found me...then I thought I was going to be
executed!  It wasn't easy for me to go through all of that...especially
not alone."

"I know, and I'm sorry you had to go through it.  But..."

"Don't be.  Just be glad we're together now...I am."

She stood up, as did he.  He pulled her close, hugging her tightly, "I
love you."

Any reply she offered was lost as he kissed her.


Thanks trillions to Erin Boughton for all of her help getting over my
writer's block and all of her ideas and suggestions!:)  Please forgive
the lack of action!  I'm no good at it, but there *will* be some in the
next part!  Comments are always good...hint, hint:)