Family Matters 5
By ISISDisclaimers and Notes: see part 1
When DK and Alex returned from Atlantic City, Alex had seen the storm of speculation over the new woman in John Crichton's life. She had had to barricade herself in her parent's home, away from the inquisitive reporters. John called to apologise to his former girlfriend. Alex had accepted his apology graciously, but she had turned away from the phone with a heavy heart, hugging her son to her until he squirmed away from her impatiently. She saw her hopes of a reconciliation with John being dashed as day by day, he spent more and more time with the mysterious Aeryn.
After yet another day of intrusive phone calls, the phone jangled again. Alex picked it up automatically, then regretted the action, bracing herself for the emotional trespass of yet another reporter. Instead, her friend Marion's voice came through the line. Alex almost sobbed with relief. "Alex, are you all right?" she asked, immediately concerned.
"Yeah, Marion. I'm fine. I was just worried that it would be another reporter."
Marion cursed vehemently, "Damned busybodies! I wish they would just leave us all alone. They finally caught up with me and Sue. Sean told one of them off in no uncertain terms." She cursed again, "But it's all John's fault. Now he's taken up with this Aeryn Sun, they smell a scandal. I finally lost my temper and told one of them what I thought of her."
Alex sighed, knowing what her friend was like when she got riled up. "Oh, no, Marion. You didn't!"
"Yes, I did. The woman's an opportunist. Belgian, my foot! She's probably some woman John met on the rebound after you and he broke up and now she's got her claws into him again. And that pathetic mute routine! Please! Another ploy! My brother's such an idiot!" Marion raged, giving vent to her anger. "Here you are, back and ready to get back with him and he's wasting his time with that tramp!" She paused. "Maybe's he's just doing it to make you jealous, to get back at you for leaving him for the Stanford job," she mused.
Alex sighed, "Well if that's the case, it's working."
"Ahh, honey, I'm sorry. Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I really shouldn't have expected John to welcome me back with open arms. I really hurt him," Alex replied.
"Well, he'll just have to get over it. You and he belong together." Marion paused, "Are you free this weekend?"
Alex laughed, "Yes, if I can get out of the house."
"Well, Dad's having the whole family over for a barbecue. I want you to come too. Bring your parents and Jonny. There'll be lots of kids for him to play with, with my three and Sue's twins. How about it?"
Alex hesitated, desperately wanting to say yes, "I don't know. I wouldn't want to intrude on a family get-together."
"It's not just family. Dad's invited DK and Patricia. And of course, SHE will be there."
Alex had to laugh at Marion's outrage. "Okay, I'll check with Mom and Dad. But I'll be there with Jonny."
"Good. Time to begin 'Operation Reconciliation'," Marion declared laughing. Alex joined her, feeling more optimistic than she had in days.
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The morning of the barbecue, Aeryn awoke feeling slightly feverish. John lay behind her, his arm around her waist, his warm body pressed up against hers, snoring softly against her neck. She extricated herself carefully and scooted over to the far side of the bed, throwing off the covers. When she did not cool off, she sat up, overcome suddenly by waves of dizziness. She groaned and pressed her hand to her head. John moaned and rolled over, reaching for her automatically. When he found her gone his eyes flew open, then he smiled up at her lazily. "Good morning. What are you doing up so early?" His smile turned to a frown as he noted how pale she was and the way she held herself. He sat up and shifted over to sit behind her, his hand going to her forehead. He didn't like the feverish gleam in her eye or the beads of moisture on her upper lip. "Aeryn? Are you all right?"
Aeryn leaned back against him weakly. "I'm all right, John. Just a bit warm, that's all. Your Florida is not a very good place for heat sensitive Sebaceans." She turned to face him, her eyes searching his face hungrily. She suddenly pushed him down on his back and climbed on top of him. She grinned down at him wickedly, "I don't think I've wished you good morning yet." Her hands were already moving urgently over him.
"No, my love, you have not," John grinned back, loving her aggressiveness. "You know how much I love it when you do."
Aeryn gazed down at him with desire, before bending to kiss him, surrendering herself to a different, more intense heat.
The rest of the day was spent in preparation for the barbecue. Aeryn and John worked with his father to prepare the food for the eleven hungry people who were set to descend on them that afternoon. John kept a close eye on his Sebacean lover. The day had dawned bright and clear, a beautiful Memorial Day. Even though she was dressed for the heat in light cotton shorts and a brief midriff-baring top, John gave Aeryn strict instructions to stay in the air-conditioned house as much as possible, allowing her to go outside only if she promised to stay in the shade and go in at the first sign of heat delirium. Aeryn smiled at his concern, agreeing to his demands with an indulgent grin. John also drew his father aside, explaining about Aeryn's Sebacean weakness. Jack looked at his son in horror as John detailed the stages of heat delirium and the Living Death. He promised his son to keep a close eye on the alien woman he had come to love like a daughter.
Sue and her husband Mark were the first to arrive, their twin boys attacking their uncle as soon as they saw him. Aeryn smiled at the sight of John wrestling on the grass with the rambunctious six-year-olds. He had laughingly groaned that they had gotten too big for him to defeat the way he had before flying off in Farscape. DK and his fiancée were the next to arrive, DK giving Aeryn a great big hug and a smacking kiss, much to her embarrassment. Jack ushered the group around the back where several lawn chairs had been set up in the cool shade of the tall magnolia trees. John settled Aeryn in a chair beside his sister and pressed a tall iced glass of lemonade into her hand, ordering her to stay put imperiously. Sue grinned at the flash of outrage in the woman's intensely blue eyes. Unlike her sister, Sue had come to like the silent Aeryn, though she still felt somewhat awkward trying to converse with her. Instead of indulging in idle small talk, Sue settled back and laughed at her brother's renewed antics with her sons. The wrestling got crazier as another boy leaped into the fray, screaming like a banshee. Marion and her husband appeared around the corner of the house, their two daughters acting a bit more sedately, even though Aeryn could clearly see from the look in her eye that the older girl wanted to join the rough-housing. The youngest child was a shy toddler of barely three. Suddenly, Aeryn tensed. Sue looked at her and then at the blonde woman behind Marion, trailing a young boy of her own. *Shit,* she cursed inwardly, *Marion, what game are you playing?*
John crawled out from under the seething mass of wriggling children and stopped abruptly when he saw Alex with Marion. His brother-in-law cast him an apologetic glance. John paused then smiled. He got up and walked over to Alex giving her a friendly hug. Then he crouched down to face the little boy, "Hey there buddy, you must be Jonathan. It's good to meet you. Your mother has told me a lot about you." He grinned as the boy hid his face in his mother's leg shyly. John saw the toy figure clasped in the child's hand. "And who's this, Buck Rogers?"
Seeing the man's interest in his idol, Jonny grew bolder. "This is Buzz Lightyear. He's an astronaut. He flies in space." John grinned at the boy and ruffled his hair.
"Jonny, honey, this the man I was telling you about. He's like Buzz. He flies in space too." Alex said. "If you're good, maybe he'll show you his spaceship."
Jonny's eyes widened to saucers. "You have a spaceship?" He looked around. "Where is it? Is it here?"
John stood up, laughing. "Actually, there's one parked not too far from here," he said, winking wickedly at Aeryn. "But mine is not here. It's at IASA. They're taking it apart right now, but when it's back together, I'll show you around and let you sit in it, okay?"
"Okay."
John laughed again and led them over to join the others.
Jack walked over to his daughter and kissed her cheek. Then he looked at her sternly, "Marion, what are you up to?"
Marion met her father's gaze blandly "Dad, it's the long weekend. Poor Alex has been trapped in her house by the lousy reporters. And it's all John's fault. It was the least I could do."
Jack searched her face carefully then sighed. "You're right. But I'm warning you, I will not have you upsetting Aeryn. She hasn't been well lately. I know you and she did not hit it off too well. So be good, will you?"
Marion smiled, "When am I not good, Dad?" she asked.
Jack smirked, "Do you want me to list the times chronologically or by occasion?" he kissed his daughter's cheek again. "It'll all make sense to you soon, Marion. John has a very important announcement to make after dinner." He turned away to get her something to drink, missing the way Marion's jaw clenched.
Everyone had a great time at the party, everyone except Aeryn. Despite the smile on her face, she was growing more and more upset as the afternoon progressed. The sight of John with his family, especially the children, living the life he had always described to her made her realise that she could not be a part of such a life without destroying it. Sue tried many times to engage her in conversation and Aeryn's inability to answer her frustrated her more. Jack watched her anxiously, noting the sad hurt in her eyes, which she quickly covered with a smile whenever John came over to hover over her anxiously. John asked her repeatedly if she was all right and she nodded, ignoring the dull ache in her abdomen. When the meal was cooked, John sat beside her, his eyes worried as he watched her merely pick at the food. His eyes flicked to his father's who matched his concern. John had agreed with his father to wait until they were finished eating to drop his bombshell on his family. He looked nervously at Alex, but decided that she had been drawn into this as well and deserved an explanation as much as the rest of his family.
He was just thinking it was time to speak when Aeryn stood up suddenly. "Aeryn, honey, are you okay?" She smiled down at him radiantly, then passed her hand lightly over her brow. "Are you getting too warm? Should we maybe move indoors where it's air-conditioned?" Aeryn shook her head. She pointed to the house and indicated she only needed a short respite from the heat. John watched her walk into the house concerned.
Marion came over to join him. "What's the matter with her?"
John looked at his sister, "It's the heat. She's not used to it. It's making her ill." He gazed at the house and started to rise.
Marion placed a restraining hand on his arm, "No, you stay here. I'll go see if she's all right." John looked at his sister in astonishment. "Besides, I want to apologise for my behaviour at the mall." John looked at his sister so gratefully that she felt guilty for what she was about to do. *It's for your own good, John,* she thought.
Marion went into the house, finding Aeryn leaning against the sink in the kitchen. The woman straightened immediately, but not before Marion thought she saw her clutch her stomach in pain. Aeryn turned to face her, a defiant look in her sapphire eyes, increasing Marion's resolve.
"Are you okay? John told me the heat's getting to you." Aeryn closed her eyes and swayed slightly, then nodded. Marion came over beside her and looked out the window to where the children, their bellies full, had begin a game of 'Buzz Lightyear' chasing after Jonny with their arms outstretched. They soon persuaded John to join in their antics. Marion laughed and Aeryn smiled sadly, watching him. "He's really good with children, isn't he?" Marion commented. Aeryn nodded. "I hope he gets married someday and has a whole houseful of his own. He'll be a good father." Aeryn closed her eyes against the pain Marion's words were causing her. "Though it will have to be after all this mess dies down. John's been through so much, he deserves peace and quiet and a chance to settle down, have a family." Marion snorted. "Though some of those awful tabloids are suggesting he's already got a family. I hope he doesn't see that story about Alex's Jonny. They're saying he's John's son." Aeryn looked at Marion sharply. "Yes, it's in all the tabloids. Some rotten photographer got pictures of Jonny and plastered them all over the front pages of those rags." Marion stared out the window at John, who was giving Jonny a piggyback ride. "Though, you know, when you see them together like that, Jonny does look a lot like John. He could be John at the same age." Marion smiled to herself as Aeryn's eyes flew to the picture John made with Alex's son. The colour drained from her face. Marion pressed on relentlessly. "And Alex did name him after John." Marion paused. "Well, it's really nobody's business but theirs. If Jonny is John's son, he'll do the right thing. He's an honourable man. We may not agree all the time, but I'm very proud of my brother." Marion turned to Aeryn, challenging. "I wouldn't let anything or anyone hurt him." She stared at the other woman, checking to make sure she got the message. Then she took a deep breath, "Well, Aeryn stumbled down the hallway to John's room, overcome by pain and anguish. She hung onto the wall for support, then gasped for air, feeling as if a giant hand had clutched her heart and was squeezing the life out of her. Her vision narrowed to a long tunnel and there was a roaring in her ears. She saw John approaching the house and suddenly she had to run, get away. She knew that if she faced him, she would lose her resolve. He would be better off without her, but she knew she could never convince him of that. Aeryn raced out of the house and fled through the woods at the back of the property, stumbling occasionally as she fought to get to her Prowler, to get away.
John walked into the house, passing his sister, who had a strangely smug smile on her face. "Did you have a talk with Aeryn? Is everything okay?" he asked.
Marion smiled again. "Yes, John. You don't need to worry. I told her a few home truths and I think she understood me."
John felt an ominous feeling settle over him at her words. "What did you say, Marion? Where is she?"
"I don't know. She was headed off down to your room. Maybe she's gone to pack?" Marion said breezily.
"Pack? Oh God, no! Aeryn!" John cried racing off down the hall. He checked quickly in every room, then saw the open side door. "Frell! Marion, what have you done?"
John tore around to the backyard. His father looked up in surprise. "John? What's wrong?"
"It's Aeryn, she's gone!"
"Gone! What do you mean, gone?"
John raked his hand threw his hair in agitation. The rest of his family looked at him in shock. "I mean, she's run off. We've got to find her."
DK's head snapped up at John's words. Then he rose to join his friend. "Calm down, John. We'll find her. Where did she go? Why did she leave?"
Marion came out of the house, disgusted by her brother's behaviour. "Look, John, she's a grown woman. If she wants to leave, let her. You can't keep her here against her will. She'll be all right."
John turned to his sister furiously, "Damn it, Marion, you don't have any idea! She has no where to go!" He wiped his hand across his brow, which was dripping with sweat. "And it's hot! It's so frelling hot!"
Jack grabbed his son's arm. "Don't worry, we'll find her!"
"Dad, this heat. Away from the house, out in the open, it could kill her!"
Marion's eyes widened in shock. "John, you're being melodramatic; it's not that hot ..."
Jack turned on his frustrating meddlesome daughter. "Yes, Marion, it is. It can kill her. Aeryn is not human."
His family stood stock still in astonishment at his words. But before they could react, John cried, "Her Prowler! She'll try to get back to Moya!" John spun around and raced off into the woods behind his father's house, followed closely by Jack and DK. Marion stared after them, then followed.
John crashed through the brush, desperately calling Aeryn's name. As he approached the field he heard the sounds of the Prowler's engines firing up. He raced out into the field in time to see the sleek craft lift off from the ground and swing around to head off into the sky. Behind him DK, Jack and Marion stood in awe, watching the craft speed away. John stared after the departing ship, his heart aching. "No, Aeryn, no! Please, honey, come back!"
In the cockpit of her Prowler, Aeryn fought the waves of nausea and pain that washed over her. She pilotted the fighter automatically, heading swiftly out of the atmosphere and towards the grey moon and Moya hidden on the other side. Her mind refused to consider what she would do when she got there. She wasn't sure she could say good-bye to John, even from a distance of metras. She took deep breaths in an effort to control the illness that threatened to overwhelm her completely. Hitting the comm, Aeryn signalled Pilot that she was returning to Moya.
"Understood, Aeryn. Is Commander Crichton with you?"
Aeryn took a few more breaths, fighting for control, "No, Pilot, he's not."
"Moya wants to know when he will return."
"I ... I don't know," Aeryn replied, before her voice choked.
There was a long pause, then Pilot's voice came through the comm, tinged with infinite sadness. "Understood, prepare for the docking web."
Aeryn looked up and nearly wept with relief at the sight of the massive Leviathan floating in space. She felt the tug of the docking web and then the pain intensified so much she cried out, doubling over. She fought the darkness that hovered. When the Prowler settled onto the deck of the hangar, Aeryn opened the hatch, stumbling to the floor and falling to her knees in agony. She felt the beginnings of an unaccountable heat delirium, and fear and pain overwhelmed her. "John, John," she sobbed weakly before dragging herself up and staggering towards Pilot's chamber. As the pain increased beyond bearing, she tried to hit her commbadge, realising through her confusion that she wasn't wearing one. She fell again, banging her knees painfully. Blessed unconsciousness beckoned, and Aeryn suddenly collapsed to the floor, and lay still, barely breathing. Several DRD's scuttled around her, unable to move her or help, signalling to Pilot frantically.
John watched the Prowler fly out of sight, then reached into his shirt for his commbadge. Finding it not there he cursed himself for failing to put it on that morning. He had been so preoccupied with how he was going to tell his family the truth about Aeryn. He turned and raced back to the house. His father, Marion and DK managed to shake off their astonishment at the alien craft and arrived back at the house soon after him. They found him in the middle of the backyard, frantically trying to reach the Leviathan's Pilot. The gold coloured pin crackled to life and a strange voice answered. Jack heard again the rapid staccato that he now recognised as the language of Moya's Pilot.
"Pilot, is Aeryn there? Did she make it back all right?"
"Yes, Commander, she just docked."
John breathed a sigh of relief. "She made it back to Moya." he told his father who smiled thankfully. "Is she there, Pilot? I want to talk to her." He waited for the symbiont's response.
Suddenly Pilot's voice came on, distraught. "Commander! Something is wrong! The DRD's are reporting that Aeryn has collapsed in the passageway. They cannot revive her!"
"Frell!" John cursed. "Pilot, have Moya scan her temperature. Or one of the DRD's." He waited for the results impatiently. Sue moved over to wrap her arms around her sons who were growing upset to see their uncle act so strangely. Alex too, pulled her son closer, confused and frightened by John's desperation. Sean herded his children into the house as Jack put his arm around his daughter who stared at him with dawning horror.
"Pilot! Are you there? What's going on? Pilot!" Patricia and DK exchanged worried glances.
"Commander, Aeryn's temperature is dangerously high. What should I do?"
John bit his thumb in agitation. "I've got to get up there. I've got to get to her. It's the heat delirium. She'll die!" He turned to DK in desperation. "Can you get me into IASA? I'll take the Farscape."
DK looked at his friend in despair, "John, even if you could get to it, it's still in pieces. It won't fly! It'll take a good forty-eight hours to put back together."
"Shit! Pilot, can you send a transport pod down here to get me? The Farscape is no good," John asked, pacing around the backyard.
"I'm sorry, Commander. I cannot. The transport pods cannot be flown by remote control. They require a pilot."
John nearly cried at his words. He looked at his father in horror, "Dad, what am I going to do? She'll die. I can't let her die!" His mind reeled at the possiblility. Then he calmed, forcing himself to think clearly for Aeryn's sake. "Pilot, you've got to get her to Zhaan. Starburst out of here. Get to Delvia as soon as you can. Zhaan will know what to do."
"But Commander, what about you? I won't leave you behind. Aeryn needs you."
John sighed, agonized by his decision, but knowing it was the only way. "You've got to. Lower Moya*s internal temperature as much as you can and get her to Delvia right away. How long will it take?"
"Moya estimates it will take thirty-six arns, three starbursts with time to restore energy between."
"Then do it, right now, Pilot. It's her only hope." John raked his hands through his hair again. "Remember these coordinates and get her back to me as soon as she's well. Hurry, Pilot, her life is in your hands!"
Pilot's voice answered, tinged with sorrow. "Understood, Commander. We'll bring her back to you safely," the symbiont declared vehemently. Then there was silence.
"Pilot? Pilot?" John called, to be met by empty static. Overcome, John fell to his knees, weeping uncontrollably. Jack knelt beside his distraught son and pulled him into his arms. "Dad, she can't die. What will I do without her? Oh God, Aeryn, please be all right!"
Marion fell to her knees beside her brother, tears streaming down her face. "John, what happened? Who is Pilot? Will Aeryn be all right?"
Jack hugged his son to comfort him and pulled Marion to him as well. "Don't worry, John, she'll be okay. Pilot will get her to Zhaan in time. Have faith." He lifted his son up from the ground and led him into the house, indicating the others should follow. "Come on, John, we have some very frightened people to give some explanations to."
End of Part Five