Title: Return

Author: Isis

Email: Isis

Archive: Yes, if you wish. Please let me know where it's at: (louiseboyden@earthlink.net)

Rating: PG

Category: Serial: Part One of four

Summary: John Crichton returns to Earth in an unexpected fashion.

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Quilt Lady for her helpful suggestions and careful editing.

Disclaimer: Farscape is the property of Rockne S O'Bannon, Jim Henson Company et al. I borrow only. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Author’s Note: Enjoy

RETURN

He couldn't believe his eyes. There it was, the big blue marble in space he had been seeking for over two cycles. Earth.

It had appeared in front of them suddenly after Moya's latest starburst. They had been hoping to find another commerce planet at which to conduct trade for food and supplies, but a last minute appearance by a Peacekeeper Marauder had set them off before Moya was completely ready and, violà. Earth.

When John identified the Solar System as his own lost home system, there had been a stunned silence in the command, then everyone began talking at once. Zhaan congratulated him with tears in her eyes, D'Argo shook his hand. Chiana grabbed him and gave him a great big smacking kiss. Even Rygel had been too emotional to ask for John's things when he departed. Everyone had had something to say.

Everyone except Aeryn.

When the commotion died down, John looked around to find that his Sebacean shipmate had left the command without a word. Instructing Pilot on the best orbit to enter to avoid detection, John quickly excused himself, to look for her. The others had remained behind with sad knowing looks on their faces.

John checked the quarters that he had been sharing with Aeryn for the last monen, then the cargo bay and finally the terrace. He found her there, gazing out at the solar system. For a moment he said nothing, enjoying the view of his beautiful Aeryn silhouetted against his beautiful Earth.

"Hey," he said, coming over to stand beside her.

This time she wasn't going to play. She turned her face away from him and said nothing.

He walked around to face her and put his hands on her shoulders. When she still kept her face turned away, he took her chin gently in his hand and lifted her face to his. His heart ached to see the misery on her face and the tears in her eyes. Pulling her into his embrace, he said to her, "I'm home, Aeryn. I'm finally home." He lowered his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss, tightening his arms around her. Aeryn willingly gave herself up to him, parting her lips to allow him access to her sweet mouth. He could taste the salt of her tears as they fell unchecked down her face. John deepened the kiss, and for a time the terrace was silent. Lifting his lips reluctantly from hers, John looked down into her glistening blue eyes. "I'm home, Aeryn," he repeated. "We're home."

Aeryn's face brightened at his words. "You still want me to come with you?" she asked, her voice catching.

"Certainly," he answered with determination. "I won't leave you behind." He tightened his arms around her once more. "I couldn't ever leave you." Seeing her hesitation, he looked directly into her eyes. "I love you, Aeryn. I couldn't leave you. I said I'd take you with me, and I will." He kissed her again, fiercely, desperately.

She pulled her lips from his, and pushed him away slightly, leaning back in his embrace. "But what about the last time, Cobb and Wilson, and the false Earth? I won't fit in. It's too dangerous for you...." .

"That was a simulation, conjured up from my memory." John ground out, angrily. "That won't happen. I won't let it happen." He pulled her back against him. "We'll be smart this time, and cautious." He held onto her like he would never ever let her go again. "Please, Aeryn, say you'll come with me this time."

She pulled herself out of his embrace with some difficulty and walked away from him, to stand uncertainly apart, her arms wrapped around herself, as if cold. Knowing that she was not convinced, he walked up to her and wrapped her once more in his embrace. Looking down into her eyes, he pleaded, "Aeryn, oh God, Aeryn! Please say you'll come with me. I need you with me on Earth. I want you to meet my father, and DK, see my home and eat chocolate with me. I want you in my life on Earth. Please, everything will be okay. We'll learn from the false Earth experience and be safe." He laid his cheek against her hair. "Oh God, Aeryn, please say yes. I couldn't live anywhere without you. I love you."

Aeryn gently placed her hand along the side of his jaw and lifted his head so that their eyes met. After searching his beloved face for a few microts, she gave him her answer. "Yes, John. I love you, too. I will come with you to Earth." she said. His happiness calmed her still questioning heart. She reached up and kissed him quickly.

Suddenly, John whooped with joy, his eyes glowing. "Yes, it is Earth, Aeryn. Finally, after all these cycles of searching. I'm home." He grabbed her about the waist and picked her up, spinning her around and around. "I'm home! I'm home!" He set the bewildered ex-Peacekeeper down and started to point out familiar planets, stars and constellations. "Look, Aeryn! there's Mars, and Saturn, with the rings. There's Jupiter, and Venus over there. There's the Big Dipper, and Cassiopeia. And there's the Sun, the big, beautiful, blazing Sun." His voice dissolved into incoherent giggles. He turned to catch the indulgent smile Aeryn gave him, amused by his enthusiasm. He grabbed her again, this time a more serious expression on his face. He kissed her again, passionately, then let her go.

They returned to the others in the command, hand in hand. He turned towards Pilot's clamshell viewscreen. "Pilot, can you monitor any signals from that planet?" Pilot's image appeared on the screen. "Right away, Commander Crichton," and disappeared once more. John turned to his crewmates of over two cycles and announced, "I will be leaving Moya, and Aeryn has agreed to accompany me. We're going home to Earth." .

Sometime later, Moya entered orbit on the dark side of the moon. John was waiting to review some of the signals that Moya had recorded from Earth. Aeryn had gone to collect their things together for the return to Earth. D'Argo came onto the command and stood looking at John. John met his gaze steadily.

"So you are going home. Congratulations, John." he said, sincerely.

"Yes, I am. Thanks, D'Argo."

"And you are taking Aeryn with you." he said, less sincerely.

"Yes, Aeryn has agreed to come with me to Earth." John looked at D'Argo, a challenge in his eyes.

"Is that wise?" the Luxan asked quietly.

Breaking his eye contact with D'Argo, he said, "I can't leave her behind, D'Argo. I...I love her, and she loves me. We need to be together. Surely you of all people can understand that."

"I do," he said. "But I also know how dangerous this will be for her, and for you. I was on the false Earth too. I remember the reactions of your people, your government, to aliens." D'Argo grabbed his arm and made the Human look at him. "Even if they were simulated, they came from your own thoughts, your own fears. How can you be sure that you can keep her safe?"

John pulled his arm angrily out of D'Argo's grasp. "I will!" he exclaimed. "I have to! The only alternative is to never return. How can I not go home after searching for it for so long?!" He began to pace around the command. "Mere arns away are my father, DK, everything familiar to me, everything I've dreamed of seeing again ever since I came through the wormhole." He stepped in front of D'Argo. "And safety. Crais and Scorpius will never find us here. Hell, they won't even find Earth. We only stumbled on it by accident." He looked the Luxan in the eye challengingly. "Could you not go home again if you found it? Or could you leave Jothee behind?"

D'Argo looked at John sadly. "I can't take Jothee to my world, John. If I find him, we will still have to hide from the Peacekeepers. But I understand. I couldn't leave Lo'Laan, so she left everything behind to be with me." D'Argo placed his hand once more on John's arm. "I just don¹t want you to lose Aeryn the same way I lost Lo'Laan. Please consider your decision carefully." With one more look at his Human friend, D'Argo turned and walked out of the command. .

John remained behind, his thoughts in turmoil. He knew that what D'Argo was saying was right. How could he choose between being with Aeryn and returning home? There was no choice. He wanted to be with the Sebacean woman to the end of his days. But his mind denied what he knew in his heart. He could take her safely to Earth, he convinced himself. No one would need to know they were there. He would contact his father secretly, and DK. Then he and Aeryn would find a safe place to live, where no government agency or covert group would find them. *We will be happy there,* he thought to himself. *We will be safe and happy there.*

Suddenly, Pilot's voice broke into his thoughts. "Commander, I have those transmissions you asked Moya to record. I will send them down to the command for you to monitor."

"Thank you, Pilot." John answered, and turned to one of the monitoring tables.

The screen came alive with images from around the world. John marveled at his ability to understand transmissions from China, France, Germany, Russia, Nigeria, and Sweden. Finally, he managed to isolate CNN from the United States.

"Tonight, race riots continue in many US cities following the announcement of increased immigration quotas. Many immigrant Americans and visible minorities are being targeted by hate groups in an atmosphere of fear and violence. More on this story in our series 'Aliens in America-Hatred and Fear'. In other news, IASA reports that the wormhole opened by astronaut John Crichton and closed in a nuclear blast, has remained closed. Officials are declaring the operation a success."

The picture shifted to a reporter outside the IASA Space Center. "I am Jason Thurber, reporting from the IASA Space Center. Assistant Director Dr. Martin Fisher is here with me now. Dr. Fisher, why did IASA decide to try to close the wormhole opened by Commander Crichton? Wouldn't the wormhole be an important space travel discovery?"

The camera moved to a close-up of Martin Fisher. John swore when he recognized the close-minded scientist with whom he had had many run-ins. "Fisher, you idiot!"

"Well, Jason, we at IASA felt that an open wormhole, leading to God-knows where, and opening into Earth space, posed a danger to Earth security."

Jason smiled deprecatingly. "What threat, Doctor? Do you think that some intelligent alien lifeform might suddenly appear on Earth?" The reporter smirked.

"No, I don't believe that there is intelligent life beyond our planet." Fisher met the reporter's smirk with one of his own. "But it never hurts to be cautious. Besides, the threat to Earth doesn't have to be intelligent. What about a stray virus from space?" The reporter looked uncomfortable. Fisher pressed on. "Earth is vulnerable to any alien lifeform. It would have to be hunted down and destroyed, before it could do any damage. That is why IASA agreed with me to close the wormhole. Any threat of alien contamination has been removed."

"And what about Colonel Jack Crichton's protest? He felt that IASA had effectively killed his son, by cutting off any chance he may have had to return to Earth." In a corner of the screen, John's father's picture flashed; Jack Crichton in his military uniform.

John's heart turned over in his chest. "Dad," he whispered.

"I understand how a father would be so unwilling to give up on his son. But Commander Crichton's experiment was ill-advised and doomed to failure." Fisher looked superior and supremely confident. "No matter how many top Washington officials Jack Crichton could get on his side, it still wasn't going to bring back his son." Fisher looked directly at the camera. "The well-being of all the citizens of Earth has to take precedence over the life of one misguided scientist." Martin smirked again and looked as if he were ready to launch into a longer explanation but the reporter cut him off.

"Thank you, Dr. Fisher." The reporter smiled at his subject insincerely, "Back to you, Sid." .

"Pilot, thank you, I've seen enough for now." John sat down dejectedly in a seat at the mapping table. He let his head fall into his hands in despair.

Seeing Martin Fisher again had conjured up all his negative memories of his time at IASA. All through their careers at the Space Center, the two had clashed. John had found Fisher's narrow-mindedness about the benefits of space travel frustrating and impossible to understand. Fisher had undermined his work with the powers that be more times than enough, forcing John to have to justify every aspect of his projects. On his side, John felt that Fisher was more than intellectually opposed to his colleague. Fisher seemed to resent John on a different level. John had started to notice that Fisher made many references to his father, and the fact that John hadn't earned his right to work at IASA, but had inherited it. John had wisely not argued with him about that, unwilling to go into a personal diatribe about how hard he had worked to gain recognition outside his father's impressive shadow. But still, Fisher's resentment had grown to almost obsessive proportions. Eventually, their superiors had noticed his irrationality where John was concerned and separated them, sending Fisher into work on satellite systems. The final blow to Fisher's career had been when John's Farscape project was chosen over one of his proposals.

He obviously recovered from that one, John thought. He's now Assistant Director. He considered that further. If anyone ever discovers me and Aeryn, Fisher's going to be the one in charge. He groaned at the scary thought. Definitely worse than Wilson and Cobb combined. He bit his lip, lost in thought. D'Argo is right, he concluded. It's clear that the atmosphere on Earth is truly as dangerous as it was on the false Earth. I can't take Aeryn there. No matter what we did, eventually she would be identified as an alien. And then they would take her away from me, to study, and question and possibly kill and dissect. People like Martin Fisher would have control of her, and I could do nothing to stop them. Hell, my own father, a decorated and famous astronaut, couldn't stop Fisher and his cronies from destroying what Scorpius would kill me for. He raked his fingers through his hair. You know what you have to do, John, he told himself. It's her or home. He sighed, then smiled sadly. There was never any choice. You made your choice many moments ago when you admitted to yourself that you love Aeryn. Once he faced the truth, the loss of Earth became easier. He looked again at the monitor and the picture of his father, greyer and thinner. "Sorry, Dad. I would really have liked you to meet her." He sighed once more, but realised that his pain wasn't so great.I guess I've always believed that I could never really go home, he thought.*I better go tell Aeryn to stop packing.

***

In the quarters that he shared with Aeryn, John found her standing in the middle of the room, a flowered piece of fabric in her hand. *That damned dress from the false Earth,* he thought. *I had no idea that she kept it.* Opening the door he entered silently. Surprisingly, the highly trained soldier did not seem to hear him enter. He came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist. Pressing a kiss to her throat, he said jokingly, "You're losing your edge."

Aeryn leaned back into him and smiled. "I knew you were there." She turned in his embrace and entwined her arms around his neck. Smiling, she looked up at him. "I always know where you are." She kissed him tenderly.

"Trying to decide what to wear to Earth?" he asked her, teasing. She looked back at him and smiled. "I've never been one to worry about what I wear. This is a strange new feeling to me. But I want to blend in. We can't afford to have me attract attention."

For a moment, John let himself imagine Aeryn walking around his hometown in that dress. "Honey, if you don't want to attract attention, especially male attention, don't wear that dress. I'll have to fight them off you."

Aeryn looked at him, worry sparking in her blue eyes. "Do you really think we will have to fight? John, I don't want to risk you getting hurt."

John groaned and smiled ruefully. Even after all this time, his shipmates still didn't understand half of what he said. "Aeryn, that's not what I meant." He kissed her tenderly. "Look I've made a decision. I..." His next words were cut off when Aeryn reached up to return his tender kiss.

Passion sparked between them immediately. He slid his tongue into her welcoming mouth. Her hands slid up into his hair, pulling his mouth more completely against hers. His hands ranged down her back and up her sides, caressing her, pressing her more completely against his body. His hands found her hips and he pushed himself into her, his need evident. She gasped and tore her mouth from his. His lips traveled down her sensitive throat and he groaned against the crook of her neck. "Oh God, Aeryn, what are you doing to me?" In answer, Aeryn molded herself more completely against his body. One of her hands slid under the edge of his shirt to caress the skin of his back. Her other hand slid suggestively down just below the waistband of his pants. He lifted his head to look into her laughing eyes. Grinning, he lowered his mouth once more to hers, and backed her towards their bed.

Some time later, they lay in each other's arms, deliciously spent from their lovemaking. John went back over his decision in his mind and realized how right it was. This woman in his arms was now his home. And since she could not be with him safely on Earth, he would stay here on Moya with her. The rattlers in his stomach fluttered slightly in apprehension at telling her of his choice. He knew she would protest. He reached down to press a kiss on her lovely dark hair.

She lifted her head to look at him questioningly, and he caught his breath at the look of love and trust she gave him.

He took a deep breath. "Aeryn, I'm not going home. I'm staying here with you on Moya." There, he'd said it.

Her eyes immediately darkened with infinite sadness. "John, no. It's your home. It's what you've been looking for all this time. It's what we've all been looking for. You have to take this opportunity."

"I won't leave you," he declared.

Aeryn looked at him in confusion. "But, I said I would come with you."

John sighed, "You and I both know you can't. I was naive to think that you could be safe on Earth. What happened on the false Earth was a simulation," he said hurriedly, to stop her interruption, "But it would happen. It will happen that way, or worse."

She lay quietly for a moment, then took a deep breath and said quietly, "Then you have to go alone." The words nearly tore her heart out to say.

John tightened his grip around her. "There is no way I will leave you, Aeryn. You know that. You are my home now. I will be happy where you are. And if you're not on Earth, I won't be there either." He looked down at her. When she wouldn't meet his gaze, he reached down and lifted her face to his. Her eyes were filled with tears. He quickly began to kiss them away. Soon they were both swept away by a wave of desperate passion once more. Afterwards, as they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, Aeryn heard John say again, "I love you, Aeryn."

Aeryn's dreams that night were troubled. She was searching desperately for John, but she couldn't find him. Racing down darkened corridors on some Peacekeeper base, she called out for him. She could hear him calling for her, his voice hoarse with pain, and fear. But every corridor led to another and another. She stirred restlessly in her sleep.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash, as if of gunfire. She felt a white hot pain in her side. But still she ran on, stumbling as she went. John's calls were getting weaker. There was an open door, and she went through it. The sight ahead of her made her cry out in fear.

John was back in the Aurora Chair, on the Gammak base. He was screaming in torment as the chair ripped the memories from him once more. Ranged around him were Scorpius, and Crais. Beside them were Maldis, Rorf and Rorg, NamTar, and Tahleen, and every other creature who had menaced him since his arrival in her universe. They were all watching John grow weaker, with satisfied expressions on their faces. John saw her standing there and called out to her desperately.

"Aeryn, help me! Please help me!" But she was paralysed, unable to move.

"Aeryn?" he called, seeing her hesitation. "Aeryn, you have to help me. I'm here because of you. I came down here to rescue you. Help me!"

Aeryn cringed away from his words, but still could not move.

"Quite right , my dear." NamTar's silky voice broke in. "He is always risking himself for you, giving up everything for you. Is this the way you repay him?"

Crais stepped forward to speak to John, "You see, Human. There is no reason to protect her now. She will not stand up for you this time."

Aeryn tried to deny his words, but had no voice. All she could do was stand and watch John fade away in the chair. Finally he slumped over. *John,* her heart screamed.

Another figure stepped out from the crowd. "This is your fault, Aeryn Sun. If you had let him come to Earth, if you had let him go, he would be alive right now. But you selfishly kept him with you on Moya, and now he's dead." Jack Crichton pointed an accusing finger at her. "If you had truly loved him, you would have let him go."

Aeryn hung her head, and the tears streamed from her eyes.

"If you really love him, as he loves you, you will let him go."

Aeryn awoke with a start, her face still wet from her tears. She looked at John's beloved face in the half-light of their darkened room, and came to a painful decision. She reached up to touch his face, and pressed her lips to his. He stirred beneath her, responding to her kiss even in his sleep. His arms tightened around her, and she began to sob uncontrollably. .

Her crying awakened him. He came to consciousness, concern all over his face. "Hey, Aeryn, what's wrong? Aeryn?"

She looked at him, tears welling from her beautiful eyes. "John, please remember that I love you, more than life itself." And she hit him.

He fell back against the pillows, unconscious from the PanTak jab.

She rose and quickly dressed, then worked quickly to put clothes and a flightsuit on John. She carried him through Moya's darkened corridors to the hangar bay, and placed him carefully in the Farscape module. She worked feverishly to programme an automatic reentry trajectory into the Farscape's computers.Then she struggled to push the module onto a transport pod. Her strength seemed to come from her desperation to make her plan work. Finally, she contacted Pilot.

"Pilot, please open the bay doors."

"Certainly, Aeryn Sun. What are you doing at this time of night? Shall I awaken the others?"

"No!" she said abruptly, then more calmly. "No, Pilot. That will not be necessary. I just want to make a quick surveillance run over Earth before our departure tomorrow night. I want to make sure we have a safe place to land."

"As you wish, Aeryn Sun. Have a safe trip."

With that, the bay doors began to open. Looking back at the Earth module and its precious cargo behind her in the storage bay of the transport, Aeryn resolutely piloted the pod out into space.

She flew quickly, but carefully towards Earth. Studying its continental structures, she found John's America and the skinny peninsula he had identified to her many times as Florida. The tears started again as she remembered the numerous occasions that he had talked about his home to her, wistfully, sometimes desperately. She dashed the tears from her eyes angrily.You are doing the right thing. she told herself. He will forget you and he will be happy in his home. He deserves happiness with his own kind.

Finally, she neared his planet. She quickly took out his primitive recording device and pressed the record button. With tears streaming down her face, she recorded her final message to her beloved John. Flipping off the record switch, she sat for a moment, almost ready to abandon her plan and return to Moya with John, but her resolution returned. She knew she only had a few more microts before John would awaken from the jab. She left her seat and went back to the Farscape module. Then she checked carefully to see that John was safely strapped in. She removed the tape from the recording device and placed it carefully with the other tapes in his flightsuit, then pressed a final kiss to his lips. Sealing the hatch, she bent and released the restraining lines, then taking one final look back, closed the cargo hatch doors. Returning to the pod controls, she opened the outer doors, and let the module slip out into space.

The Farscape module fired its engines in the preprogrammed flight plan. Aeryn followed closely in the transport pod, ready to retrieve John's craft at the first sign of trouble, but everything seemed to be going according to her plan. Aeryn was almost sorry that she had been successful so far. Failure was almost to be wished for.

As the tiny ship sped towards Earth and started to enter the upper atmosphere, Aeryn opened a channel to the craft. "John!" she called. "John! Wake up! John!" She heard his groan as he came to.

John Crichton awoke with a start to find himself in the cockpit of his Farscape craft, speeding towards Earth. For a split second he thought he was still asleep then the reality of his situation hit him. He cursed and grabbed the control stick. "What the frell is going on? Pilot? Pilot!? Are you there? Somebody answer me!"

"Crichton?" Pilot's voice came through. "What are you doing out there?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that myself! How the hezmana did I get in Farscape?"

"I have no idea. Aeryn Sun said she was just flying a transport pod out to check for a suitable landing place for your departure tomorrow."

"Aeryn?" John called out desperately. "Aeryn! Answer me! What are you doing? Aeryn?"

There was no answer, even though John was fairly sure she could hear him.

"Aeryn! Come on now, sweetheart, get me out of here. I've made up my mind. Don't do this. Let's at least talk." John tried frantically to turn the module around, but Aeryn's programme was still in effect. John watched in despair as the Farscape module began it's final descent to Earth. "Pilot! Can you override the computer? Aeryn's programmed it somehow. Aeryn, please don't do this. I want to be with you. I want us to be together. Aeryn!"

At the controls of the transport pod, Aeryn Sun sat in misery, her throat aching from the effort to not answer his pleas, tears streaming down her face.

Suddenly, John felt the control revert to his stick. He started to turn the Farscape module around when he saw a flash out of the corner of his eye. To his right were two fighter planes, scrambled at the report of an unidentified craft. A flash on his other side, told him that he was hemmed in by F16's. With a heavy heart, he radioed Pilot for the last time. "Pilot, I've been seen. I'm not getting away now. Please say my good-byes to everyone. I guess I'm going home after all. Be safe, my friends. Out." The commline opened once more. John thought he heard sounds, but no reply came through. The commline closed soon after.

Over his radio, John started to receive the communications from the fighter planes. "Unidentified aircraft. You have entered American airspace without permission. Identify yourself. Maintain this heading. Do not veer off course or you will be shot down. Acknowledge."

John took a deep breath, then spoke the words he had come to believe he would never ever say to anyone on Earth in his life. "Hello, there. This is IASA space craft Farscape One. I am Commander John Crichton. I will not change course. Please direct me where you want me to land."

After a startled silence, the reply came through. "We have visual confirmation of your craft, however you are still liable to be shot down if you stray from this heading. Please land at the following coordinates." John acknowledged that he was being directed to a remote airforce base in Utah. "Our fighters will escort you. When you land remain in your vehicle. Do not attempt to flee or you will be shot. Acknowledged?."

"Acknowledged." John glanced once more up towards where he knew Moya was hidden behind the moon. Oh, Aeryn, he thought in misery. Why did you do it ? Oh, God, my love, why?

When Aeryn landed the transport pod back on Moya she found Zhaan, D'Argo and Chiana waiting for her. She would not meet their eyes. Finally, Zhaan stopped her with a restraining hand on her arm. "What have you done, Aeryn?"

"What had to be done," was her curt reply.

"Where's John?" Chiana demanded.

"Safely on Earth by now, I expect." Aeryn turned to walk away.

"On Earth? Without saying good-bye. What the yotz happened? What did you do?" Chiana would not be silenced. "I thought you were going with him!"

"Well, you thought wrong!" Aeryn shouted.

One glance at the bleak look on Aeryn's face and D'Argo finally stepped forward. "You did the right thing, Aeryn. It was for the best."

Aeryn's control broke at his kind words. "Was it, D'Argo? How will I ever know? How will I ever know that he is happy and that he has forgiven me?"

The rest of Moya's crew was surprised to see the ex-Peacekeeper swept into D'Argo's comforting embrace where she suddenly cried her heart out. D'Argo caught Zhaan's eye over her head and they exchanged a look of sad understanding. Then D¹Argo led Aeryn out of the hangar.

RETURN Part 2

As soon as John landed the Farscape One, he was surrounded by heavily armed commandos. He stayed in his capsule for a moment, then cautiously opened the canopy. Giving the commandos time to react to his movements, he slowly raised the hatch and stood up, his hands in the air. He was immediately approached by several commandos in hazmat suits. He let himself be removed from the spacecraft and bundled into a waiting containment truck. No words were spoken, and he did not initiate conversation, deciding that it was better for them to come to their own conclusions about his identity, rather than trying to convince them of who he really was.

It took IASA several weeks before they were satisfied that he was in fact the John Crichton who had flown from Earth and disappeared two years previously. During those weeks he was transferred to the IASA Space Centre and subjected to every manner of testing and prodding that he could imagine. He was extremely troubled that it resembled the false Earth nightmare so completely. *I guess I nailed that scenario,* he thought to himself, during a break in the incessant questioning that followed the medical tests. Aeryn was never far from his thoughts. *At least you're not here with me now.* he thought, though it still caused him pain. But he remembered that for a time, he had believed that both of them could live on Earth in peace, undetected. He had almost convinced her. *Aeryn, I still don't understand why you did what you did, but at least I'm spared the pain of seeing you destroyed by my own people.* He let his head fall forward into his hands in despair.

He did not raise his head when the door opened and yet another interrogator entered. Finally, he decided he had had enough. "I want to see my father. I've been more than cooperative, and patient. but I think it's time you people started cutting me some slack. The wormhole was an accident. The aliens I who abducted me are long gone. They pose no threat. Why else would they have sent me back to Earth?" He raked his hands through his hair once more and sighed. "Give me a break, guys. It's been over two years."

"Quite right, Crichton," an unwelcome voice answered. "You should have listened to me in the first place."

John raised his head and a smirk crossed his lips. "Martin Fisher. Excuse me, Assistant Director Martin Fisher," he said sarcastically. "I understand you've been promoted. I guess my unexpected departure from IASA left a hole in more than just space. They had to fill it with someone."

Fisher's nostrils flared at the insult but he chose to ignore it. "I wouldn't be so cocky, Crichton. Daddy isn't here to defend you this time."

"No, he isn't. It's just you and me. What do you want?"

"I want to know where you've been all this time. I don't believe your cock and bull story about alien abduction."

John looked at him directly. "Why not? Oh, that's right -- you don't believe that there could be life out there, you geocentric idiot. Well, guess what? That's another one of your pitiable theories blown all to hezmana. I mean hell."

"You can be as insulting as you want, but you're not going anywhere until you cooperate." Martin Fisher held up a tape in front of John's face, deliberately taunting him. John looked at the tape, trying to keep his expression neutral. But Fisher pushed him further. "I've heard these tapes. There's an interesting story here. Peacekeepers, living ships, aliens, wormholes, biomechanoid technology, Delvians, Luxans, someone called Aeryn?" At his last statement, John lunged forward and tried to grab the tape out of his hands. "Ah, I obviously hit a nerve there. Who is Aeryn, Crichton? Why are you lying to protect these creatures?"

"For the last time, there were no creatures. I was taken aboard a space ship by aliens and subjected to tests, then let go. I made no contact, and they left. End of story."

Martin leaned forward until he was right in font of John's face. "You're lying, Crichton. For one thing, your module has a great deal of alien technology on it. Not exactly factory specs. Care to change your story?" Fisher stood up and smirked. "When you're ready to tell us the truth, we'll be waiting. In the meantime, there's someone here who would like to speak to you." Fisher turned towards the door.

A petit blonde haired woman stepped in and stood uncertainly by the door. "John?" she said, hesitating. Fisher slipped out at her entrance.

"Alex?" John replied, stunned. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in California"

"When you were found, IASA contacted me. I wanted to see you. Are you all right?" Alex came closer to him.

John stood up from his bunk and took her hands in his. "Yes, Alex, I'm all right. It's good to see you again."

Alex wrapped her arms around him and clung to him in a desperate embrace. "Oh, John. I thought you were dead. I went to your funeral. Your dad was devastated. And DK blamed himself for the accident." She reached up to kiss him, but John turned his head at the last minute so that her lips merely brushed his cheek. Alex looked at him questioningly, but did not say anything.

"Alex, how much clout do you have here? I've got to get out of here. I don't think Dad or DK even know I'm alive. They're keeping me here as a precaution, I know, and I understand. But I'm afraid that the longer they keep me from my family, the more likely it is that I may just disappear. Please help me," John pleaded, looking down into the eyes of the woman he had one day thought he might marry.

"I don't have much say. IASA thought I would be a good liaison for you, considering our past. Fisher pretty much thinks I'll be his spy. Wrongly, I might add but Fisher is in charge. I'll do my best." She stroked his cheek. "Is it true what they're saying? Were you living with aliens all this time?"

John hesitated, then decided to tell her the truth, knowing full well that Fisher and his crew were outside somewhere monitoring their conversation. "Yes, I was. There's so much to tell you, but basically I was rescued by a group of escaped prisoners aboard a living ship and for the last two years or so, we've all spent our time trying to find a way home and avoid the crazies chasing us, wanting our heads." John leaned down to kiss Alex's cheek. "I guess the cat is out of the bag, if Fisher has my tapes." He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to look at him. "I need your help, Alex. Please try to get word to Dad and DK. They should be notified."

Alex covered John's hands with her own, "I will. It's criminal that they haven't been told already." She reached up and kissed John's cheek once more. "I'll see what I can do." Then she turned to leave. A single knock on the door allowed it to open, and Alex exited. A moment later, Fisher returned to the cell. "So, you finally admit that your alien abduction story is a load of bull."

"Yeah, Fisher, it's a load of bull, But you're never going to hear the whole truth until I see my father and get back to some semblance of a normal life. Capisce?"

Fisher looked annoyed that Crichton appeared to once more have the upper hand. "Capisce," he replied in an ill-humour.

**********************'

Back on Moya, several light-cycles away, the remaining crew of the Leviathan Moya was still missing the Human companion that they had all come to consider a member of the family. Relations between Chiana and Aeryn were still strained. Chiana had been particularly upset at Aeryn's actions and had not missed an opportunity to tell her as much.

Zhaan and D'Argo were becoming increasingly worried about Aeryn. The Sebacean woman was looking wan, with dark circles under her eyes. Pilot reported to Zhaan's quiet inquiries that she spent most of the night wandering the ship, or down in his chamber, not really talking, but just not sleeping. Several times, D'Argo had relieved Aeryn from her watch and seen traces of tears on her face which she tried very hard to hide. Her actions were automatic and listless. She had even started to abandon the more rigorous elements of her training, merely going through the motions. However, any attempt to draw her out was rebuffed, She was effectively cutting herself off from all but Pilot, and he felt that there was a lot she was not telling him. Even Rygel missed the vibrant ex-Peacekeeper that had been Aeryn before John's departure.

Finally, Zhaan and D'Argo decided to confront Aeryn and force her to face her sorrow and deal with it somehow. They found her in the cargo bay, going through her training exercises. As they approached they didn't hear the usual sounds of her routine. Instead, they heard soft crying. Zhaan looked at D'Argo, her eyes full of pity for her shipmate. They deliberately made a noisy entrance. Aeryn recovered quickly, jumping up and beginning her exercises once more, but with a noticeable lack of vigor.

"Good morning, Aeryn," Zhaan began. "How are your exercises progressing this morning?"

"Very well, thank you, Zhaan," Aeryn grunted out, not pausing in her routine. "Is there some problem?"

"No problem," D'Argo answered. "We just wanted to talk to you about something."

Aeryn paused and looked at him, giving a derisive snort. "Talk, D'Argo? You're not usually the talking kind." She returned to her exercises.

D'Argo and Zhaan exchanged looks. "We wanted to talk about you, dear. We're concerned about you."

"Well, there's nothing to worry about. Or talk about. I'm fine."

"You're not fine, Aeryn, and you know it. We all know it." D'Argo said, watching as Aeryn's exercises became increasingly more erratic. "We all miss Crichton, but we've come to be thankful that at least one of us has found his way home."

Aeryn continued her routine, but said nothing.

"Listen, Aeryn, regardless of what Chiana says, we believe that you did the right thing. John would have stayed with us, with you, and this is no life for anyone. He has his chance to be happy now and he has you to thank for that." Zhaan said quietly.

Aeryn was beginning to slow down, faltering in her lunges and jabs. Her two companions could clearly see the tears running silently down her cheeks.

"It's you we're worried about. I know what it's like to lose someone you care about. But you need to console yourself with the fact that John has now what we all hope to have someday, and it is because of you." D'Argo said. "You have to unburden yourself of your grief and guilt. It's killing you."

Aeryn finally stopped and stood looking at them, her eyes dark blue gems in her drawn pale face.

D'Argo walked over to her and took her hand. "And you must believe that you were right not to go to Earth with him, Aeryn," She looked up into his concerned eyes, her own full of misery. "We both know that what happened on the false Earth would have happened in reality. Or worse. And John would be suffering guilt and fear, rather than being able to return to his old life."

Zhaan joined them and put her arm around Aeryn, who did not flinch away. "Please, Aeryn, let me help you deal with your feelings. You have to let him go."

At her words, Aeryn angrily shrugged off her arm and returned to her exercises. "I wish it were that easy," she ground out.

"What do you mean?" Zhaan was growing alarmed at the desperation with which Aeryn now attacked the punching bag.

When she didn't answer, D'Argo finally went over and physically restrained her. Aeryn fought him for a microt then slumped against him. Zhaan came over to her, concerned. Aeryn lifted her head wearily and looked at her two shipmates. "I¹m pregnant, Zhaan. I'm carrying John's child."

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

John's reunion with his Father and DK was everything he could have wanted. Silently he thanked Aeryn for giving him this. His father had grown greyer in the time he had been lost, and even DK was showing some grey hair. Alex stood by quietly, giving father and son and boyhood friend time to catch up.

"Oh, Dad, there's so much I have to tell you. And DK, there's so much out there. It's unbelievable," John said. "I recorded tapes to help me remember. Letters to you two to help me stay sane at times." His face clouded over. "A lot of unpleasant things happened as well. But I found a new family, people - well sort of people - to care about, to lo..." He stopped abruptly, lost in thought. "People who cared about me."

His father pulled him into his embrace once more. "It's good to know that some things are universal, son." He clapped him on the back, then pushed him away to look once more into his son's face. "Oh God, John. It's good to have you back."

"Well, not quite back, Colonel." Fisher's voice interrupted. He entered the room with two obviously National Security types. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, scowling at Alex. "Dr. O'Connor, you know Commander Crichton was to remain isolated!" He turned to Alex, "By whose authority did you get these two in here?" he demanded.

"By mine, Fisher," Director Alan Johnston answered from the door. "Dr. O'Connor came to me to ask permission for Colonel Crichton and Dr. Kendall to visit Commander Crichton. And I gave it."

"Excuse me, sir, but do you think that was wise? " one of the NSA agents spoke up.

"Agent Lawrence, wise or not, the man deserves to see his family after so long. And Commander Crichton's return could not be kept from his father." Johnston looked meaningfully at John's father and his friend. "They understand the seriousness of the situation. They have been sworn to secrecy and will not break their oath."

Jack Crichton answered him. "Yes, Director Johnston. We will keep our word." He turned to the two NSA agents. "There is no need for you to threaten us with National Security. I'm just glad to see my son alive."

Johnston turned to Fisher. "I will not interfere with you in the handling of this case unless I perceive that there is a problem. It is a delicate and unusual situation. I believe you know what is right. So do it." He looked at John who thanked him, then he left.

John could not help a dig at Fisher. "So when do I get out of here, Fisher?"

"Out of here?" Fisher snorted. "What makes you think you're ever leaving here. Despite what the Director thinks, you are a threat to national security. You've already lied to us about where you've been for the last two years. Your body is carrying alien microbes. And I just don't think I can trust you. Or your friends here."

John finally lost his temper. "Enough! I've been more than cooperative with you, Fisher since then. I've been poked and prodded, tested and questioned, and I've had enough. You know the microbes pose no threat to anyone. You know it's me! You know I pose no threat to anyone! And you know the aliens aren't coming back! So give it up! Let me out of here to go back to whatever life I can salvage. I've been gone for two years and the only thing that kept me sane was faith in the belief that I could someday return!" He began to pace around his cell-like room. "But not to this sterile prison. I could have done that out there. I did do that out there. No! Let me return to Earth, to my life, to my family and friends! Let me out of here!" His voice broke. His father put his hand gently on his arm. "Let me out of here!" he repeated.

"Very impassioned, Crichton," Fisher sneered. DK started forward towards him menacingly. The two security agents made as if to restrain him, but a look from John stopped him.

"What more do you want from me?" John asked wearily.

"Well, for one thing, we want the technology that you brought back from space on your Farscape craft." Fisher came and stood in front of him. "You see, contrary to what you just said, we're not sure the aliens won't come back. And we want to be ready if they do. Even if they don't, that technology will make spaceflight possible. But we can't figure it out without your help. We've listened to your tapes over and over. We've pulled everything apart and analysed it to the nth degree, but we can't understand it. And you're not leaving here until we do."

John looked at him defiantly. "You need my help, but you're going to keep me a prisoner here." He laughed derisively at the absurdity. "It seems to me that you're not going to get it that way."

Colonel Crichton stepped forward. "You can't keep him here against his will and expect his cooperation. Hell, you can't keep him here at all. This is America, not some dictatorship!"

"Very patriotic, Colonel," the other security agent Sisler spoke up. "But Commander Crichton can be ruled a security risk and then we will be able to keep him for as long as we need him."

"Not if I have any say about it!" Jack Crichton ground out.

"I know, I know," Fisher derided. "You'll use your not inconsiderable influence to save your son. You may find that plan will backfire on you. National Security is National Security, Colonel. Even Director Johnston cannot override that.You don't want them coming down on you and DK here too, do you?"

"Look, Fisher, how about a compromise?" John said. "I will help you to understand the Moya technology if you let me leave here. Let me go back home, give me a lab, and ..., " he glanced at his friend and at Alex, "and DK and Alex, and I'll help you learn about the add-ons. Deal?"

"Compromise? That sounds more like demands!"

John looked back at him steadily. "That's the deal or I give you nothing. And believe me, without my help you have a snowball's chance in hell of ever understanding that technology." He stood and waited, watching the indecision flash across Fisher's face.

"I'll have to clear it, but I'll tell the powers that be what you want." He turned to walk out. "No guarantees, Crichton," he said as he and the two agents departed.

John dropped down into a chair, and wearily ran his hands through his hair. "Whew, that was like talking to Crais, for God's sake." He looked up at his father and friends. "Do you think they'll go for it?"

Alex answered him, "I think they will come around, John. They want that technology. Badly." She came over and slid her hand along his shoulders, comfortingly. "It'll be all right, John. We'll get you out of here."

"You're damn right we will!" DK agreed vehemently.

It was a tense and frustrating week later, but John Crichton finally got to go home. He rode up to his front door in his father's old pick-up truck, with Alex beside him. DK followed in his own car. That evening, they indulged in all the junk food that John had been craving for so long. He regaled them with stories from his two years away, describing Rygel, Zhaan, Chiana, D'Argo, Moya, Talyn and Pilot, Crais and Scorpius, and all the creatures he had encountered, the bad times spent fighting for their lives, and the good times spent celebrating their friendships. They came to know his fear, his joy, his despair and triumphs. The only person he did not share with them was Aeryn. He wasn't ready to talk about her yet, even to his father.

Fisher had relented, or had been ordered, to give him full access to Farscape. He was given an isolated lab at IASA and DK and Alex as lab assistants. He was still followed everywhere he went, and he knew that they didn't trust him, but he had some semblance of his old life back and after a few weeks, things settled down into a regular routine.

One warm June night, as John sat out in the backyard, enjoying a beer and looking up at the stars, his father came out to join him.

"Pull up a chair, Dad. Join me."

He heard the sound of a beer can being opened and for a moment closed his eyes and smiled. "Now there is a sound I thought I might never hear again."

His father laughed, and sat down. After a moment, Jack Crichton said quietly, "All right, who is she, son?"

John looked at his father in surprise, "Who is who, Dad?"

"Who is the woman you're mooning over?" At his son's laugh, he went on. "I know you, son. Even with all you've been through, you haven't changed that much. You haven't been like this since Alex turned you down to take the Stanford job. So who is she?"

John sighed, "There was someone else out there, Dad," he began. "Someone I never told you about."

"Aeryn."

John looked at his father again in shock. "How did you know about her?"

"Alex finally managed to wrest those tapes of yours away from Fisher. I heard what you said about her. You love her, don't you?"

"Yeah, Dad, I do. And she's the reason why I'm here." He went on to tell his father the full circumstances of his return to Earth. His father listened carefully, hearing the love in his son's voice when he spoke of this alien woman.

"But she sent me away, Dad. And I don't understand why. We could have been together on Moya, and happy. But she sent me back here alone." He looked back up at the stars. "She's out there somewhere, and I'll never see her again. I'll never know what happened to her." He groaned and dropped his head into his hands. "Oh God, Aeryn, why did you send me away?"

"Because she loved you," Jack Crichton answered simply. John turned his head to look at his father in astonishment. "Look, John, when your mother first got sick, she hid it from me for a long time. She hid it from you, too. She did it because she loved us and couldn't bear to see us in pain. It sounds like Aeryn was afraid that if you stayed with her, eventually one of the crazies you were running from would catch up with you. She probably couldn't bear the thought of you in pain or dying."

"But we had been in danger so many times before and things always worked out. And even if we died, it would have been together."

"You can't get caught here on Earth. It seems to me that Aeryn was protecting you the only way she knew how."

"Then why didn't she come with me?"

Jack Crichton looked at his son sadly, wanting to erase the pain. "I think you know the answer to that, John. Look what they've put you through, and you're Human. Imagine if they got their hands on Aeryn, a real live alien. If she survived in their custody, you and she would be prisoners for the rest of your lives. And that's only if they allowed you to stay together. Chances are you would be separated and you'd never see her again, or know what happened to her."

"You're right, Dad. We already experienced that on the false Earth I told you about. It was hell." John straightened up and sighed. "At least this way, I know she's with others who care about her and who she cares about."

"You said that Zhaan and D'Argo, Chiana and Rygel, Pilot, Moya and Talyn had become like family to you. Just tell yourself that she's with your other family." Jack reached over to take his son's hand in his own.

"God, Dad," John said, squeezing his father's hand. "It's times like this that I missed the most on Moya. This what I wanted to come home for."

Jack Crichton returned his son's sentiment. "I missed our talks as well. I'm glad Aeryn sent you back to me. She sounds like a wonderful person, John. I wish I could have met her."

"Me, too," John said, looking once more up at the star-filled sky. "You really would have liked her."

****************'

"The tests confirm it, Aeryn," Zhaan said quietly. "You are about eight weekens pregnant. The fetus is very healthy and bears both Human and Sebacean DNA. It is a male child." She looked at her patient in concern.

Aeryn absorbed the news without any outward reaction. She sat on the examining table, lost in thought. Then giving herself a mental shake, she looked at Zhaan, an unspoken question in her eyes.

"Yes, Aeryn. I have the means to end the pregnancy. Some of my herbs will induce a spontaneous abortion. Is this what you want?" Zhaan watched her carefully.

Aeryn did not answer, and she unconsciously placed her hand almost protectively over her womb where John's child lay.

*She will bear this child,* Zhaan thought with some certainty. *Oh, John, I wish you were here for her. She's going to need you more than ever.*

"I will have to think about it. It seems the most logical thing to do under the circumstances." Aeryn said, breaking into Zhaan's thoughts. "What kind of a life can I offer to a child? We are fugitives. And if any Peacekeepers ever catch us, they will destroy my child as an evil half-breed. I sent John away so that I would not have to see him suffer, and now I face the same decision for our son." Aeryn lowered her head.

Zhaan went over and folded her in her arms. "Whatever you decide, Aeryn, know that is your decision alone. Seek advise, but do not let the opinions of others influence you. In the end it is what is right for you that counts."

Aeryn returned Zhaan's embrace. "Thank you, Zhaan," she said. Then she turned and left the infirmary.

Aeryn made her way down to Pilot's chamber. Of all of Moya's crew, she felt closest to Pilot, a relationship that had begun when she was injected with some of his DNA and which had continued since. She found him busily monitoring Moya's functions as she glided gracefully through empty space. He looked up at her entrance, but said nothing. Aeryn came over to lean against his console.

"As I'm sure you are aware, Pilot, I'm pregnant," she said without any preamble.

"Yes," Pilot replied. "Moya and I are aware of the results of Zhaan's tests. Are congratulations in order?"

"I don't know," Aeryn answered honestly. "Pilot, please tell me what Moya felt when she first knew she was pregnant.?"

"Well, she was scared, but elated. Concerned about the child's future, but confident that she could be a good parent."

Aeryn smiled at his words. "Pilot, that's exactly how I feel. I'm afraid, very afraid. There is a living presence within me, depending on me as no one has ever depended on me before, and the feeling is frightening yet oddly enlightening. I'm afraid for the future, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to it; to meet this new life that John and I created, to protect him, and teach him and share so many things with him. Pilot, I've never felt these things before."

Pilot watched her face, delighted at the many emotions that softened her expression. Then he saw her eyes darken in sorrow. "Aeryn, what is it?"

Aeryn lifted eyes filled with tears to Pilot's concerned gaze. "It's John. This life within me is a part of him as well. John will never know him. And our son will never know his father. Can I condemn a child to that uncertainty?"

Pilot reached out his claw and gently stoked Aeryn's arm. "I miss him too, Aeryn. Be thankful that you have this part of him at all."

Aeryn gave him a watery smile. "Pilot, can you tell me where D'Argo is right now?"

"He's in command at the moment. Alone."

Aeryn smiled at Pilot's accurate reading of her intentions. "Thank you, Pilot," she said as she left to find her Luxan shipmate.

Aeryn found D'Argo on his duty watch in the command. He did not seem to hear her enter, but she forgot about his very sensitive nose.

"Your scent is just like Lo'Laan's scent when she first told me that we were going to have a child," he said. He turned to look at her. "You are pregnant, aren't you?"

Aeryn smiled at him, "Yes, I am, D'Argo." She came over and stood beside him.

"So, will you keep the child?" he asked bluntly.

"I don't know," she answered truthfully. "What was it like to be a parent, D'Argo?"

"It was the scariest thing I have ever done." He said and looked down at her shocked expression. "No, really. I would rather have faced a whole regiment of Sheyangs with Chakan oil strapped to my back than face some of the days that I did as a parent."

Aeryn laughed at his comparison.

"It was frightening, and all new. It was tiring and exhilarating. I would not have missed it for the world." D'Argo's expression darkened in pain. "I'm missing it now."

Aeryn placed her hand on D'Argo's arm in comfort. He looked down at her hand and smiled his gratitude at her concern.

"It was truly a wonderful experience. When Jothee was a baby, we would fuss over him and treat him with kid gloves. Then every night, Lo'Laan and I would relive the day, going over every action and decision, looking for ways to improve. Military training was a breeze in comparison to the rigorous self-examination we put ourselves through." D'Argo paused again, lost in his memories.

"Do you think you could have done it alone?" Aeryn asked quietly.

D'Argo answered quickly, still lost in his memories. "No, I needed Lo'Laan every step of the way." He suddenly realised what Aeryn was asking and stopped. "I mean, yes, I could have done it alone, but it was much more fun with Lo'Laan." He stopped again, worried that he had again said the wrong thing. "I mean..."

Aeryn stopped his sputtering with a smile. "I understand what you mean, D'Argo, Don't worry." She turned to leave the command. "I'll see you at the evening meal."

D'Argo watched her slender figure with some concern as she left the command.

Later at the evening meal with Zhaan, D'Argo, Chiana and Rygel, Aeryn stood up to make an announcement. "As some of you know, I am pregnant with John Crichton's child." She looked around. Chiana's face registered surprise and pleasure. Rygel just looked bored. "I want you all to know that I have decided to keep the child. I want to bear John's child. I know that this will place a strain on our resources and our ability to defend ourselves. But I have made my decision. I hope you will support me in this." She sat down again abruptly.

Zhaan was the first to speak. "My dear, please do not worry. We will do everything in our power to make this time as easy and enjoyable for you as we can." She looked around at the rest of Moya's ragtag crew.

Chiana piped up. "Certainly. I'm looking forward to finding out what traits of John's we will see in the baby."

"I hope the child doesn't learn to talk too soon. If he's anything like John, he'll never shut up." D'Argo joked.

"Oh, frell. Another pregnant female to deal with," Rygel said in disgust. "Well, at least we won't have to put up with unexpected starbursts." The rest of the crew laughed at his expression.

Suddenly, D'Argo snorted at a private thought of his own. "Care to share the joke, Luxan?" Rygel demanded.

"If Aeryn's anything like Lo'Laan was, you might wish for starbursts instead."

*****************'

"That's the last of the propulsion system analyses." Alex said wearily. She looked at John who was still pouring over the read-outs from their latest series of tests. "I think it's time to call it a night, John."

John merely huffed in distracted acknowledgement of her comment. He continued to study the read-outs. Finally, exasperated, Alex went over to him and forcibly removed the papers from his hands. John looked at her, uncomprehending.

"Look, Starman, it's time to pack it in. DK went home over four hours ago." Alex looked at John speculatively. "He said something about a hot date," she said casually.

John snorted in disbelief. "DK on a hot date? Now that's something I'd like to see." He laughed again at the images that statement conjured in his mind.

Alex walked over to John. "It's Friday night," she ventured. "How about joining me for a late-night pizza and a beer?"

John looked at her in astonishment. "Are you asking me out on a date?" he teased.

Suddenly serious, Alex said, "I know things can never be the same as they were between us before I went to Stanford and you went to...to..."

"To the other end of the universe." John said, smiling gently.

"Yes, but could we perhaps try again?" Alex asked him uncertainly. "Maybe start over?"

John sighed. Here was the woman he had once wanted to share his life with, pleading with him for a second chance. But the only image he could see was one of him with a beautiful, alien woman. He looked up at Alex and sighed again.

"Sure, Alex. I think I'd like a pizza. My treat." He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and together they left the darkened hall of the IASA lab. *****************'

Unable to sleep, Aeryn found herself on Moya's terrace, watching the stars as Moya slid through the dark velvet space of the Uncharted Territories. For a time after John's *departure*, Aeryn had been unable to come to the terrace. It had been John's favourite place on Moya, and eventually hers as well. But now she found herself needing to feel closer to John, to help her with the next decision she felt she had to make.

Aeryn's mind went back to her childhood, and her encounter with her mother. She remembered telling John about it when their future had seemed most bleak. Her mother had comforted her with the news that she had been born from a caring relationship. Just as her child was. Her son with John. She rubbed her hand across her slightly rounded belly.

Then her thoughts flew back to other times in her life when she had wanted so desperately to know her father, to know more than his name. She had grown up wanting to meet him, to talk to him, to ask him questions that no one else could answer. But he had not been there. And no matter how much comfort she got from the knowledge that he had wanted her and loved her mother, his absence from her life had affected her profoundly.

She looked down at her womb, where John's child was cradled. "Will you want to know your father as desperately as I did? Will you resent me because I sent him away? Will you leave me to search for him? Is this what our future relationship will be destroyed by? Will you hate me because I raised you without a father?" Her mind shied away from the answers to her questions.

She sat on the terrace for some time, then finally came to a conclusion. Rising, and feeling more confident, she headed towards her quarters. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

The next day, Aeryn made another shocking announcement to her crewmates.

"I've asked Pilot to return us to Earth. I'm going to join John on Earth." There was stunned silence as the impact of her words sank in, then they all tried to talk at once.

"Aeryn, do you realise what you are doing?" Zhaan asked urgently. "You are risking your life. And the life of your son."

Aeryn looked at her serenely, "Yes, Zhaan, I know. But I have to do this. I want John to know that he is a father, hopefully to know his child. And I want my son to know his father."

Rygel glided over to face Aeryn, "What about John's people, his government? They will destroy you. You saw it done from his own memories. Will you risk your life and your child for that?"

Aeryn looked at Rygel, "Yes. I grew up without knowing my father. I will not subject my child to that. Besides, I'm hoping to avoid contact with John's government. We had talked about strategies to avoid detection before. I can do this. I have to."

D'Argo had been silent during the whole exchange. Aeryn turned to him, wanting his opinion. "D'Argo, what do you think?" she asked apprehensively.

D'Argo looked at her for a few moments, then he took her hand in his. "I believe you are taking an incredible risk. You may die, and John's child with you." Aeryn looked down, but D'Argo lifted her chin in his gentle grasp. "But I agree with you. A son should know his father. And a man should know his child."

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

"Good night, you two. Don't stay too late." DK's jaunty farewell pulled John out of yet another reverie.

"'Night, DK." Alex called from the other side of the lab.

"Hey, what's your rush? Got another hot date?" John grinned at his friend, who seemed so anxious to get out of the lab where they had been spending all their waking hours.

DK returned his grin. "You betcha. Monique and I are going to the opera."

"Opera? You?" John snorted in disbelief. "Man, this Monique must be really something."

DK became serious for a moment and walked back over to where John sat at his computer. "She is, John. I really like her, and I don't want to mess things up. She's beautiful inside and out, smart, independent, and loyal."

John's thoughts went back to someone else he would have described using those same words. "Then hang on to her, DK. Whatever the cost."

DK was startled by the vehemence in John's tone. Then he looked back at where Alex sat, bent over some papers. "Oh, I get it. You two going to try to make a second go of it?"

John looked confused at his question, then followed his gaze back to Alex. "Oh, no, DK. We're just friends."

DK laughed, "Famous last words, my friend. I don't think that Alex wants to be 'just friends'" He looked at his watch. "Oops, gotta go. La Boheme and Monique await." He turned and bounded out the door. John sat, grinning at his enthusiasm. Then he turned and watched Alex working. She looked up suddenly and caught him watching her. She gave him a brilliant smile and returned to her papers.

A few hours later, they decided to pack it in. "Care to join me for a junk food fest and a stroll? It's a beautiful night." Alex asked, a little too casually as they walked towards their cars.

John looked at her, then up at the stars, then back at her. "Okay," he agreed with a smile.

After a feast of hot dogs, fries and whatever else they could find from vendors, who never seemed to sleep, John and Alex walked in companionable silence along the boardwalk. The heavy warm air was filled with smells of the ocean. It was peaceful to hear the waves rolling in under a clear sky. Alex suddenly stopped him. She turned to face him and slipped her arms up around his neck. "John," she said softly, before reaching up to place a tender kiss on his lips.

For a moment, John allowed himself to respond, to try to wipe out the years since he had asked her to marry him. He wrapped his arms around her, and returned her kiss. But when she tried to deepen the kiss, he suddenly pulled away from her. She stepped back from him and asked, "John? What's wrong?"

He looked at her sadly for a moment, then took her hand and guided her unresisting to a park bench. "There's something I need to tell you, Alex. I told my father but no one else."

"What is it, John?" Alex said, growing alarmed.

"I told you about everyone that I encountered out there on Moya and in the Uncharted Territories. But there was someone else, a woman. Her name was Aeryn. She was a Sebacean, a Peacekeeper like Crais."

"You mean those creeps who were chasing you, who put you in the Aurora Chair?"

"Yeah, them. But Aeryn wasn't a creep. She was beautiful, strong, independent, and she saved my life time and time again. She lost everything standing up for me against her Captain Crais." He sighed. "She became a fugitive like the rest of us because of me."

Alex took his hand and squeezed it, "She sounds like a wonderful person."

"She was -- is -- at least I hope she still is. Oh God, Alex, the not-knowing is killing me." He turned to face Alex. "I... I fell in love with Aeryn, Alex. And she was in love with me. When we found Earth, I asked her to come with me. I wanted to be with her more than anything else. But here I am, and she is somewhere else."

"She refused you?" Alex asked, somewhat hopefully.

"No, not exactly. She knocked me out and put me in Farscape One. Then she sent me to Earth, alone."

Alex looked at him in astonishment. "She knocked you out?"

John grinned ruefully, "Yeah, well, Aeryn was a little physical sometimes." He was lost for a time in his memories.Then he roused himself and looked back at Alex. "I don't want to hurt you, Alex. I know you want our relationship to start over. I thought you should know that I was in love with someone else. That I'm still in love with someone else." He looked up at the stars again.

Alex sat in silence for a time, then she took his hand again and pulled him up. "Thank you for your honesty, John. I wish I could have met Aeryn. She sounds like just the kind of woman I would have picked out for you."

John looked back down at her. "No hard feelings?"

Alex smiled up at him and reached up to kiss his cheek lightly. "No. Let's just be friends. For now."

He looked back down at her steadily then they turned and continued their walk.

******************'

Moya's starburst ended just outside the orbit of Neptune. Aeryn hastily packed her few belongings as Moya approached Earth once more. She had dressed herself in the flowered dress that she had kept from their encounter with the false Earth. Zhaan had been able to adjust the dress to accommodate her swelling figure, subtle as it was at this point in her pregnancy.

When they had entered orbit, once again undetected on the dark side of the moon, Aeryn went to Pilot's chamber for the last time.

"Pilot, please tell Moya how honoured I have been to be a member of her crew." Aeryn's eyes were filled with tears. "I have come to consider you my family," she said, gently caressing Pilot's brow. "I will miss you and Moya and Talyn. Perhaps someday, you can return to Crichton's Earth and be welcomed."

Pilot looked at Aeryn, his expression unfathomable. "Aeryn Sun, Moya and I wish you and Crichton every happiness. But please remember this; if you are unable to find him or if for some reason you need to return to Moya, we will be waiting. We will wait until you have contacted us. If there is a problem, we will stay here until it is resolved or until you return to Moya."

"Pilot, you cannot place yourself and the others in such peril." Aeryn said, visibly shaken at the loyalty the others were showing her.

"This is the consensus of the crew. We will remain in this hidden orbit until you are able to contact us and tell us that all is well. Take a communicator with you. You can wear it as if it were a piece of Earth jewelry."

Aeryn once more reached out and caressed Pilot's brow. "Thank you, Pilot. And thank you, Moya."

Her departure a few arns later was filled with emotion. D'Argo looked as if he would not let her go. Zhaan blessed Aeryn and her unborn child. Chiana hugged Aeryn tightly and gave her messages for John. Rygel remained aloof but involved. Pilot and Moya had already said their good-byes. With her dark flightsuit over the sundress, Aeryn climbed onto the cockpit of her Prowler. She looked at Moya's misfit crew of fugitives for one last time then closed the canopy of her Prowler.

She pilotted the craft skilfully out into the emptiness of space and headed towards John's Earth. Once she located her proposed landing site, as close to the IASA centre as she could get safely without being detected, she flew directly into the atmosphere, dropping like a meteor towards Earth's ocean. The Atlantic Ocean, she recalled John telling her, pointing out things on a crude map he had drawn once. As soon as she was below radar range she turned her ship and headed towards her landing site. The night concealed her flight from detection and she landed in a deserted field, far from lights and habitation. She lifted the canopy and hopped out of the craft as quickly as she could. Looking around, she saw a dilapidated building with a large open entrance and another ruined building, some kind of habitation, sagging on its foundations. There were no signs of Humans anywhere. Satisfied that this piece of property was uninhabited, she returned to her Prowler and guided it into the barn. Leaving the cockpit once more, she looked around and found several mouldering squares of some vegetation. She piled them around her Prowler, to conceal it as best she could. Then she removed her flightsuit and retrieved her pack.

Stepping out of the barn, she stopped momentarily. *I'm really here,* she thought. *This is really John's Earth.* She placed her hand over her belly and spoke to her son. "This is your father's home. We'll find him and be together again. I promise."

Then she turned on her communicator. "Pilot, I've landed safely and apparently undetected. I will not signal again until I find Crichton, in case they are able to trace this signal."

"I will not try to contact you," Pilot said. "Turn off your communicator, until you are ready to signal me." Aeryn did as Pilot said, then stood looking around her.

The air around her was warm, but not alarmingly so. She reached down into her pack and pulled out several pieces of writing. John had passed some of the long hours on Moya trying to teach Aeryn to read. It hadn't worked. With the translator microbes, she was unable to sound out English letters. The best he had been able to do was teach her to write and recognise his name, IASA, her name, and a few other key words. She was counting on that now to help her find John. She had the coordinates to his town and IASA and one of Moya's compasses. Reading it now, she took her bearings and began walking.

*****************'

End of Part Two

RETURN Part 3

"Hey, DK, make sure the air conditioning is working. The weather report says we're going to get a heat wave." John said as he arrived at the lab. "It's already pretty hot." He stopped cold at the sight before him. Martin Fisher was at his computer, going over John's latest read-outs from their tests on the Moya technology. Alex and DK stood off to the side. DK was seething. The two security agents who seemed to be attached at the hip to Fisher, were poking around the Farscape module gingerly.

"What the hezmana do you think you're doing, Fisher?" John exploded. "Hey, get away from there," he called to the two agents. "Do you want to get frelled?" He watched with some satisfaction as the two agents jumped away from Farscape. Then he turned back to Fisher, who had straightened up and stood looking at him. John very deliberately went over and turned off the computer then faced Fisher defiantly.

"Hezmana? Frelled?" Fisher smirked. "Speak English, Crichton, not some ridiculous alien language."

"I'll speak whatever I want, Fisher. What do you want?"

Fisher turned back to the computer. "Your results are coming too slowly. I was afraid you were deliberately stalling."

Alex spoke up, "We're working as quickly as we can. There's a lot to analyse. And we're being extremely cautious. These samples represent the only examples of alien technology that we have.We can't afford to damage any of it by going too quickly."

"Yeah, Fisher," John agreed. "You'll get your technology. I said I would do it and I am. So just leave us alone and let us do our work."

Fisher looked like he would argue then changed his mind. "Actually, I need your help on something else. There's something on one of your tapes. We can't make it out. I want you to listen to it and tell me what it is I'm hearing. It appears to be the last recording." Fisher pulled out a tape recorder and turned it on. The room was filled with strange clicking and sounds as if the tape were being played backwards.

John listened for a few seconds, then sat down stunned. Alex and DK came over to him in alarm. "What is it, John?" Alex asked in concern.

"It's Aeryn." he said and looked at her with eyes filled with pain and sorrow.

Fisher turned off the recording. "Aeryn? One of the aliens? That's her language?"

John jumped up and grabbed the recording from Fisher's hand. "Where did you get this?"

"It was in your flight suit with the others."

"But I thought you gave me all the tapes," Alex protested. "I returned the tapes to John's father weeks ago."

"I kept this one because of this." Fisher smiled. "Obviously I was right not to let you have it."

John suddenly flew at Fisher. DK managed to stop him from throttling the other scientist. "What else are you concealing from me, you bastard?" he raged.

Fisher stepped back from the enraged Crichton and straightened his suit and tie. "Watch it, Crichton. I can have this little project of yours cancelled in an instant and you right back in custody." John slumped against DK's restraining grasp. "What is she saying?"

John rewound the tape and listened once more to Aeryn's voice. His heart was aching at the pain he heard in her voice and her words.

"John," she started, "I know that you will be angry with me for what I am about to do, but I hope someday you will be able to forgive me. We both know that you have to take this opportunity to go home. You have to be safe and back with your father and friends, and all the things that you have been missing for so long. And we also know that I can't be there with you. My presence would keep you in constant danger, and fear. I couldn't live like that., to see you denied a proper life. I love you too much for that. Please remember that I'm doing this out of love. I will miss you, but I will be happy knowing that you are safe and finally home.²

He heard her voice caught as she whispered, "Good-bye, my beloved." Then the tape went dead.

John sat down heavily in a chair and dropped his head into his hands. Alex went over to him in concern and wrapped her arms around him.

"Enough of this!" Fisher demanded. "What is it? What's she saying?"

"None of your business," John said quietly. "It's a private message for me."

"There's no such thing as privacy where these aliens are concerned, Crichton." He reached over and removed the tape before John could stop him. Alex held him back when he would have attacked Fisher once more.

"Give me that!" John demanded. "That tape is mine. The message is for me. There's nothing on it that you need to know."

Fisher signalled the two agents and started towards the door. "I'll give it back to you when you're ready to translate it for us. In the meantime, remember, you are here with my consent. You step out of line again, Crichton, and I will have you removed." He turned and left the lab.

John struggled against Alex for a time, trying to go after Fisher, then he slumped back down into his chair. DK came over to his two colleagues in concern. Alex wrapped John once more in her arms, as he began to shake with the effort of keeping control of his anger and pain.

DK waited until John seemed to calm down then he asked,"What's going on, John? Who is Aeryn?" He crouched down in front of his boyhood friend. "Talk to me, buddy. You're scaring me."

John gave Alex a thankful glance and then pulled out of her comforting embrace. "She's a Sebacean. And I love her."

DK fell back, stunned at his friend¹s words. "You had an affair with an alien?"

John had to laugh at his friend's reaction, "Yeah, I guess you could say that."

"Man, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder." DK shook his head in astonishment. Then he pulled up a chair. Looking at Alex a little uncomfortably, he asked, "You knew about this?"

"Yeah, John told me about her a little while ago."

DK sat down,"Well, since I'm apparently the last to know, I think it's time John spilled the beans on this one. Tell me everything."

John laughed again at his friend¹s eagerness. "Okay, but let's go outside. I don't trust Fisher not to have bugged this place. And I don't want him to know any more about Aeryn than he already does." He rose with DK and the two walked towards the door. When Alex didn't join them, John turned to her. "Coming?"

Alex smiled at him. "No, you two go on and have a man-to-man talk."

John returned her smile and left with DK.

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

Back in his office, Fisher looked at the two NSA agents in triumph. "I'm really getting to him now."

Lawrence looked at Sisler, doubt all over his face, then he turned to Fisher. "Do you think it's wise to taunt him so much? He might just shut down and then you'll get nothing out of him. Or he might just become too desperate to care and try something rash."

Fisher snarled angrily at Agent Lawrence, "Are you questioning the way I'm handling this case? Because if you are , I will ask NSA to replace you." He indicated the tape he had taken from the lab. "Crichton let himself get too close to these aliens, especially this Aeryn. She is one of the Peacekeepers. That makes Crichton a risk. NSA will support me in this, I think." He looked to Sisler, who nodded his agreement. "Now get out of here. I have work to do, setting up this translation project."

Outside Sisler stopped Lawrence. "What the hell are you doing? Are you getting too close to this Crichton?"

"No, certainly not. I understand what a risk he is. My concern is with Fisher. I don't trust him. There seems to be too much hostility between him and Crichton for him to be effective in charge of this project. I'd hate to let some hidden agenda of his get in the way of our success at retrieving the Farscape technology and whatever knowledge we need about any alien threat."

Sisler looked at him, then reluctantly agreed. "We'll keep a closer eye on Fisher."

Lawrence added. "Perhaps a little discreet inquiry might be in order as well."

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

Aeryn had walked several miles by the time the sun started to come up. She had reached the road and started north, encouraged when she saw signs that contained the words IASA and arrows pointing the way her compass indicated. However, she was becoming alarmed at the increasing heat. *I've got to get to IASA before the sun is up fully,* she thought desperately. * I can't afford heat delirium now.* She increased her pace.

Time was against her. Despite her speed, the sun was fully up by the time she reached a town and she could feel the beginning of heat delirium. Her dress and hair were soaked in sweat and she was having trouble focussing her eyes. In a panic, she entered the first door she came too. Thankfully, cool air washed over her. She leaned against the door of the diner, gasping for breath. As she felt her temperature drop, the waves of pain and nausea receded. She looked up to see the waitress approach her, a concerned look on her face. Several other Humans sat on stools in front of a counter, eating. They all turned to look at her curiously. The expressions of some of the male diners turned to admiration as they saw a beautiful dark-haired woman in a flowered sundress.

"Hey, honey, are you all right?" The waitress asked, coming over to her. "Come on over here and sit down. You shouldn't be out in this heat."

"Hey, Doris, get her some water," one of the diners offered helpfully. "They say you can't let yourself become dehydrated."

Doris poured Aeryn a glass of water, which she accepted gratefully. "Do you want something to eat, dear?"

Aeryn looked at her and shook her head. She remembered what John had said about currency in his country. She lifted the glass of water and smiled in thanks.

"Can't you talk, honey? Are you okay?"

Aeryn mimed what she hoped they would understand as muteness. The other diners watched with great interest.

"Mute? But you can hear?" Doris said. Aeryn nodded. "Wow, that's strange." Then she looked embarrassed, "Not strange as in, well, 'strange', I mean strange as in unusual," she added weakly.

One of the other diners laughed at her discomfort, "Better stop while you're ahead, Doris."

Doris grinned ruefully, "You keep your mouth shut, Hank," setting the whole group off in laughter.

Another diner came over and took the seat next to Aeryn. She looked at him curiously. "Where're you going, lovely lady?"

"Back off, Donny. Leave her alone."

"I'm just trying to be friendly," he protested. Aeryn smiled at him to show she had not taken offense, then pulled her notes out of her pack. She laid them on the counter and pointed to IASA.

"The Space Center?" Doris said. Aeryn nodded.

"You a tourist?" Donny asked. Aeryn paused for a moment, not completely sure of what he meant. Then she nodded again. "I can give you a lift there, if you want." he said, smiling at her in a way that was beginning to make her feel uncomfortable. She looked at Doris in inquiry.

"That's probably not such a good idea, hon," the waitress replied, glaring at Donny. "If it weren't so hot, I'd say just walk there. It's only about a mile down the road."

Aeryn smiled her appreciation at her. Then she had another thought. Indicating Doris' pen, she mimed writing. Doris passed her the pen and Aeryn wrote carefully 'John Crichton'.

Doris looked at what she had written and shook her head. "John Crichton? No sorry, I don't know him."

One of the other diners piped up. "John Crichton? Isn't that that astronaut that disappeared a couple of years ago. There was something on the news about him not too long ago."

"Yeah, that wormhole thing," another diner added. Aeryn nodded vigorously.

"You knew him?" Doris asked. Aeryn nodded again. "Geez, I'm sorry. You must miss him."

Aeryn was upset. *They don't seem to know that he's back,* she thought in concern. *This isn't good.* She took up the pen again and wrote 'Jack Crichton.'

"Jack Crichton. Who's that?"

"That's the guy's father," the helpful diner supplied. "He lives around here somewhere. He was an astronaut too."

Aeryn felt more hopeful when she heard that. She got up and nodded in thanks again to the diners and Doris. *'I'll go to IASA first, then if John's not there, I'll try to find his father,* she thought.

As she walked towards the door, she heard Donny call out, "Sure about that lift, sweet thing?" She turned and smiled at him once more but shook her head.

"Struck out again, Donny," Doris said, then she called after Aeryn. "You be careful out there, honey."

Aeryn shuddered when the intense heat struck her as she walked out the door, but she was determined to push on. She made her way carefully down the main street, going from air-conditioned building to building, trying to keep her temperature down. She figured she had made it almost halfway when she finally ran out of places to rest. Taking a deep breath, she struck out along the road to IASA. Soon she felt waves of pain and nausea strike her once more, but she plodded on resolutely. Every so often she stumbled as her motor functions started to be affected by the heat delirium. Just when she was about to turn back, she saw the entrance to a large complex with the words IASA written above it. She walked in through the open gate and headed towards the first building she saw. Inside, cool air washed over her once more, and she felt the heat delirium slowly recede.

When she felt better, she approached the military-looking guard at the desk that separated the entrance from the complex behind. Rummaging through her pack she took out her papers once more. Laying them on the desk, she met the guard's curious glance and pointed to the letters IASA. Then she raised her eyebrow in an expression of inquiry.

"IASA? Yes ma'am, this is IASA. What do you want? The tours don't begin until this afternoon."

She directed his attention back to the paper in front of her. "John Crichton? Let me see," he reached over and took up the phone. "What department would he be with?" Aeryn shook her head. "You don't know. That's okay. I'll try the central switchboard."

Back at his desk Martin Fisher received a phone call from the central switchboard. "Dr. Fisher? Sorry to disturb you, but you asked to be notified if there were any enquiries regarding John Crichton. The guard at the front desk says there's a woman here, asking to see him."

Fisher jumped up. "Tell the guard to keep her here. But tell him to be careful not to hurt her or alarm her. Contact agents Lawrence and Sisler from NSA. And get me security." Fisher threw the phone down and started towards the front entrance.

Aeryn noticed the subtle change in the guard's previously friendly demeanor as he talked into the phone and she started to get suspicious. Looking around her, she backed away from the desk slowly. The guard began to rise and head towards her. Aeryn turned and ran out the front door. The guard drew his gun and ordered her to stop. When she saw other men running towards her, Aeryn raced out the gate and down the street, back towards the town. She felt the heat surround her once more, but she couldn't stop. She ran along the road, still hearing the sounds of running feet behind her. Finally she found an intersection and raced down the new road. She felt herself weakening in the throes of the heat delirium, sped up by her exertion. She stumbled blindly down every new street, trying to elude her pursuers. Finally she slipped into a building entrance, and tried to catch her breath. She was shaking in pain and fear, nauseous and disoriented. Trying the door, she found it was locked. The heat bore down on her, weakening her even further. Finally, hoping she had lost the guards, she stepped out from the entrance onto the sidewalk. But the heat delirium finally overcame her and she collapsed onto the road. Several motorists stopped when they saw her fall. One of them had a cellphone and called 911. Within minutes, Aeryn was on her way to the local hospital.

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

Martin Fisher threw the phone down again in frustration. "She got away!" he yelled at Lawrence and Sisler.

"Who was she?" Lawrence asked.

"I have no idea," Fisher said. "That's why I want to question her. We've kept Crichton's presence here a secret. So how did she know to ask for him?"

"A reporter? Do we have a leak?" Lawrence said. "I wouldn't put it past Crichton or one of his friends. Especially after you threatened him this morning."

Fisher glared at the agent angrily. "I will deal with Crichton as I see fit. I've been given complete control here. Besides we've been monitoring him and the others. He has not been in contact with anyone other than his lab assistants and his father, and they have not talked to anyone either." Fisher sat for a moment, lost in thought. "There's something strange about this woman. The guard said she did not speak, only used writing to communicate."

Sisler looked at Fisher. "You don't think it's one of the aliens trying to contact him?"

Fisher considered that for a moment. "It could be. But how did they get to Earth without our knowing?"

"You've seen the level of technology from the Farscape module. I would think that they could land undetected."

Fisher considered his words. "Possibly. Which makes it all that much more important that we find this woman. Get me a description of her and a picture from the security cameras. Then get it out to every NSA and FBI agent and the police. Make up some crime, nothing too serious. We don't want some trigger happy cop or agent killing her. And get those copies of Crichton's tapes. I want to go over every reference to his shipmates again."

***************'

In the emergency ward, Aeryn was being treated for what they believed was heatstroke.

"Get me those blood tests right away, and check her temperature again," the attending physician demanded. "Does anyone have an ID on her? Is there someone we can call?"

The admitting nurse brought over her pack. "This was found with her, Dr. Crawford," she said.

"Well, have someone go through it. See if we can find out who she is. And get her into treatment room 12."

A short time later, the doctor was looking at the results of the bloodtests, shaking his head. "What the hell is this? Someone screwed up these tests." He looked in at his patient who was still unconscious, but looking better. "Joan, can you get another blood sample? The lab messed up on these tests."

"Right away, Dr. Crawford." As the nurse began to extract the blood, Aeryn moaned and started to speak. The nurse looked at her in astonishment as she listened to the strange sounds coming from her patient¹s lips.

"Dr. Crawford, could you come here for a moment?"

The doctor came back into the room and stopped when he heard Aeryn's alien language. "What the hell is that? What language is she speaking?"

"I have no idea," the nurse replied. "I've never heard anything like that before."

The doctor and the nurse looked at each other. "Get those blood tests to the lab right away," he said.

Just then the admitting nurse came in with Aeryn's pack. Opening it up, she showed the doctor Aeryn's pulse gun. "She was carrying this, and some maps, but no ID."

Dr. Crawford looked back at his unusual patient. "Get some restraints on her. And contact the police."

When Aeryn came to several hours later, she found herself tied down to a bed in a moving vehicle. Above her, a face appeared, studying her intently through a hazmat suit. "So you're finally awake." The voice came through a speaker. Hard eyes looked at her without compassion. "Aeryn Sun."

Aeryn's eyes flew to his in astonishment. "Yes, I know who you are. And I know that you can understand me." He watched in amusement as she tried to free herself from the restraints. "You won't get out of those, so don't try," he laughed at her angry expression. "I don't want you hurting yourself, or me for that matter. My name is Dr. Martin Fisher.You and I will have quite a relationship. I want to learn everything about you."

Aeryn closed her eyes in fear and resignation. *Oh John,* she thought. *I was foolish to ever think I could find you. And now I've put our son at risk.*

Fisher and his team quickly transferred Aeryn to a top secret lab in IASA. They kept her strapped down in a small room with an observation window. For the next several hours, Aeryn underwent the same treatment that John had received on his return. They took blood tests and samples from every part of her body. Many of the tests were painful. When one of the more compassionate technicians suggested anaesthetic, she was reprimanded and removed. Still weakened from the heat delirium, Aeryn endured the tests as valiantly as she could, but she was afraid for her child. Her occasional cries of pain were met with no pity from the remaining technicians that dealt with her. And all the while, Martin Fisher observed through the window.

Finally, the tests stopped. Aeryn lay exhausted on her cot. She did not turn towards the sound of Martin Fisher's entrance into the room. He had shed the hazmat suit, satisfied that the alien posed no health threat.

"So, this is heat delirium." She turned her head to look at him in astonishment. "Yes, I know about it. John told us quite a bit about you." He laughed when her expression brightened. "Yes, he's here. He made it safely back." She looked around eagerly, indicating her desire to see him. "No, you can't see him. He doesn't even know you're here. And it's going to stay that way. He's already too hard to control." Aeryn lay back again, disappointment and fear washing over her. "I can certainly see why he would want you with him." Martin's eyes swept over her body, still dressed in the flowered dress. "You certainly are just as attractive as he described you on his tapes." Aeryn glared at him. "Oh, don't worry about me. I don't want you that way. I want to learn everything I can about you and your race."

He leaned closer to her, when she turned her head away from him. "Starting with why you came back. Why did you risk everything to come back to John? Hmm?"

Aeryn turned to him and answered his question, "I came back because I love John and I'm carrying his child." she said quite deliberately in her own language. Then she smirked at his consternation.

"Yes, well," he said leaning back. "I see that the language barrier is going to be a problem for a while. Well, not to worry. We have your message to John from his tape. As soon as he provides us with a translation, I have language experts standing by to try to decode Sebacean." He looked at her confidently. "And if that doesn't work we can always extract a sample of those translator microbes from your brain. It will be painful if we can't find an anaesthetic that you can tolerate. Maybe, we'll just induce the heat delirium again." Aeryn looked at him in horror. He turned and walked out of the room.

A technician approached him with papers. After studying them for several minutes, Martin looked up from the test results in astonishment. "Are you sure?" he asked the technician. He ignored the entrance of Lawrence and Sisler.

"There's no doubt. The alien woman is pregnant. About two months as closely as we can tell. And early genetic tests reveal the child is part Human."

"Unbelievable," Martin said in wonder. "Good God, Crichton, what were you thinking?" He looked in to the room where Aeryn lay. "Well, that explains why she came back." He smiled as a thought crossed his mind. "I'll bet Crichton doesn't even know." He laughed triumphantly. "This just keeps getting better and better. Now we have a hold over her other than Crichton."

The technician looked uncomfortable at Fisher's words, but wisely said nothing. Lawrence and Sisler exchanged glances.

Martin went immediately into the room where Aeryn lay. "So I finally know why you came back." he said triumphantly. Aeryn looked at him apprehensively. "Yes, I know you're pregnant, And the child is Crichton's." She shut her eyes to hide her despair. "He doesn't even know, does he?" When Aeryn refused to answer him, he grabbed her chin in his hands and cruelly forced her to look at him. "Does he?"

Aeryn stared at him defiantly. "Get your hands off me!" she cried in Sebacean.

Martin merely smirked. Then he deliberately placed his other hand on her slightly swollen stomach. "If you want your child to survive, I suggest you start cooperating," he threatened. "John Crichton does not know you are pregnant, does he?" he repeated. Aeryn looked at him. Then she shook her head. "Good, we're finally making some headway here."

Suddenly Aeryn exploded up. The one of the restraints tore as she reached up for Martin. She managed to get one hand free and punched him in the eye. Then she grabbed his throat. Lawrence and Sisler raced into the room. In a desperate rage. Aeryn tried to get her other hand free and attack the man who was threatening her child. The two agents finally managed to subdue her. She was quickly restrained once more. Martin leaned back against the wall watching, rubbing his bruised neck. He could feel his eye swelling. Once she was tied down again he came over to her, this time keeping a safe distance.

"You try that again, Aeryn, and I will hurt your child. No one here needs a hybrid alien child. It is more useful to us as a specimen than a living being." Aeryn listened to his words in horror and despair. He turned and walked out of the room.

Outside, he consulted with Lawrence and Sisler. "She's too hard to control."

"You threatened her child! What did you think she would do?" Lawrence said angrily. "She may be alien but I'll bet that maternal instincts are pretty universal."

Sisler looked at his partner. "You're out of line, Lawrence. Remember, regardless of what she looks like, she is alien. And a Peacekeeper." He turned to Fisher. "Should we drug her?"

Martin shook his head. "It's too dangerous. Until we know more about her physiology, we could kill her with the wrong drugs."

"Then use the heat delirium." Sisler said. "Keep her weakened."

Martin looked at Sisler, then nodded. Turning to the technician he ordered the heat in the room to be raised. "Monitor her carefully. Find the temperature that keeps her weak but doesn't do any permanent damage." He turned on his heel and left the room.

Lawrence went over to the window and looked in on the woman restrained on the cot. His thoughts were in turmoil. She looked so Human, so vulnerable like that. Suddenly she turned her head and gazed at him with beautiful, sapphire eyes filled with pain and fear. He held her gaze for a time, then turned away. Sisler came over to him. "Don¹t get too close, Frank. She is a risk. And so is Crichton."

"I know," he said. "But I think Fisher is a risk too."

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

"Hey, DK, what was all the ruckus about yesterday?" John asked his friend when he came into the lab from lunch. John was still isolated from the rest of the IASA staff, but Fisher was relenting about letting DK and Alex mingle with the other scientists.

"It seems some crazy tried to break into IASA."

"Did they catch the guy?" John asked.

"Apparently it was a woman. Gave them quite a chase in the heat. Then she collapsed and they got her at the hospital." DK grinned. "I wish I could have seen fat old Jenkins trying to run her to ground. He must have nearly had a heart attack."

"Yeah, that guy really needs to lose some weight. I wonder that they even let him keep his job in security," John said. Their laughter ceased when Martin Fisher came into the room. Both DK and John looked in astonishment at the black eye the scientist was sporting.

"What do you want?" John said rudely.

"Have you thought anymore about giving me a translation of that message from your alien girlfriend?" Martin smirked.

"No," John said. "I'm not going to tell you what she said. It's private."

Martin Fisher looked at him strangely, a look of triumph on his face. "Private. Right. I told you there's no such thing as privacy. I want that translation by the end of the day." He flipped the tape over to John, who caught it dexterously.

"What's the urgency, Fisher?" John called to his retreating back "What do you need it for?"

Martin stopped and looked at John. "I¹ve got language experts and code breakers standing by. I want to try to learn the Sebacean language."

"Why?"

Martin looked at John again smugly. "If I ever get a chance to talk to one, I want to be able to say where the best restaurants are." He turned and left.

John and DK watched him go, with confused expression on their faces.

"What was that all about?" John said.DK shrugged. "I don't like it. Something's up. Fisher looks like the cat who just ate the canary. Except for the black eye!"

"Are you going to give him his translation?"

"No way!" John said vehemently.

DK looked at John in some concern. "Maybe you should think about giving him what he wants." John looked at DK in astonishment. "I know the message is private. But Fisher has a lot of clout. I wouldn't dismiss his threats to have you taken back into custody. He can do it. And those two goons of his look like they're just waiting for the right opportunity." He clapped his friend on the back. "We just got you back. We don't want to lose you again."

John sighed, "Yeah, DK, I hear you."

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

End of Part Three

Return Part 4

"Say Doris, what was all the commotion over on Park Street yesterday?"

Doris looked at the diner who had asked her the question. "Commotion? What commotion?"

"The ambulance and sirens. Didn't you hear it?" the regular diner called Hank said.

"No, what happened?"

"Some woman collapsed from the heat apparently," another diner piped up. "They took her to County."

"A woman." Doris said, "It must have been that mute woman who came in here yesterday. She didn't look so good."

"I thought she looked all right," Donny piped up, grinning. "I thought she looked pretty fine, in fact."

"You are such a pervert, you know that?" Doris said. Turning back to the other diner, she asked, "Do you know if she was all right?"

"I don't know about that. All I heard is that the police are asking around to see if anyone knows her. Apparently, she didn't have any ID."

Doris poured him another cup of coffee, "She said she knew that astronaut, John Crichton, and his father. Maybe we should tell the police."

"You should have let her take a ride from me." Donny said.

"Then she'd be in worse trouble than she is now," Doris shot back at him and the regulars grinned.

"Instead of calling the police, why don't you give this Jack Crichton a call. Let him know she's in trouble." Hank suggested. "That way you won't have to put up with any hassle from police."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Doris said. "I don't have time to go down to the police station and fill in hundreds of forms. Let this astronaut do that."

Hank had already hauled the phonebook out from behind the counter. "Here's his number. Oh ho, Colonel J. Crichton. Wow, a colonel."

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

Jack was waiting impatiently for his son when John returned from IASA. When he received the phonecall from the helpful waitress, he immediately contacted Alex at IASA and told her to tell John to get home right away.

"What is it, Dad? Alex said you sounded urgent? Are you all right?"

Jack motioned to John not to say anything further and to meet him outside. Once away from any possible bugs in the house, Jack said, "I got a strange phonecall from some waitress at a diner over on Main. She said that a woman came into the diner yesterday morning, suffering from the heat. She couldn't speak, but wanted to know about IASA and John Crichton. She also wrote my name, which is how she knew to call me." John looked at him in shock. "A little while later, she apparently collapsed and was taken to the hospital suffering from heatstroke."

John sat down, stunned. "What did she look like, did she say?"

"Dark-haired and beautiful, wearing a flowered dress." John jumped up. "Is it Aeryn, John?"

"It sounds like it. Oh God, where did they take her? What hospital?" John said, grabbing his car keys and heading around the house to his car. "It sounds like heat delirium. Oh God, Aeryn, whatever were you thinking?"

The ride to the hospital seemed to take forever. John sat impatiently as his father drove. *Yesterday morning,* John thought. *She's been in the hospital since yesterday morning. They'll run tests and find out she's not Human.* He ran his hands through his hair. Then suddenly he was struck by another thought. "Yesterday morning? The crazy woman at the gate!" Jack looked at his son questioningly. "There was an incident at IASA yesterday. They chased some woman. It must have been Aeryn. She's trying to find me!"

John was out of the car and into the emergency ward before his father had even turned off the engine. He raced over to the admitting nurse. "Where is the woman who was brought in yesterday, the one with heat stroke?" he demanded. Jack Crichton came over to him and tried to calm him down.

The nurse looked at him suspiciously. "The Jane Doe? Dr. Crawford handled that case. I¹ll see if he's available."

A few minutes later, the doctor arrived. "Are you asking about the woman from yesterday, the one who collapsed on Park?"

John jumped up at his words. "Yes, where is she? Is she here? Is she all right? Let me see her!"

The doctor looked at John with a strange expression on his face. Jack again tried to urge John to be cautious. "Please excuse my son, Doctor. He's very anxious about his fiancée."

"Fiancée." The doctor looked unconvinced. "Well, I'm sorry, but she's not here any more."

John looked ready to collapse. "Where is she?" he asked desperately.

"She was carrying a weapon and speaking some strange language," the doctor said. "We had to contact the police. Shortly after, some government agents came and told us all to leave. When we returned, she was gone. I don't know where she was taken. They took everything about her with them, all our blood tests and records."

John turned away from the doctor, clearly upset. "Oh God, Dad. Where could she be?"

Jack thanked the doctor and led John out of the emergency room. As they were leaving, the doctor came up to them. "If it's any consolation to you, she was recovering well when I saw her last."

Jack thanked him again and they left.

On the way back home, John sat slumped dejectedly in the seat next to his father. "Dad, what am I going to do? They've taken her somewhere. How will we ever find her?"

"We'll find her," Jack Crichton assured his son. "They'll need to take her somewhere secure to study her."

At his words, visions of Aeryn being subjected to tests and experiments raced through his mind. He refused to even consider the other possibility.

"They won't kill her, will they, Dad?" John said out loud.

"No. She's too valuable to them alive." Jack looked at his son. "They'll try to communicate with her somehow, question her."

John suddenly slapped his forehead."Fisher! That bastard! Quick, take us to IASA, Dad."

Jack quickly reversed and headed back towards the IASA complex.

"Fisher came to my lab this morning. He demanded the translation of Aeryn's message. He said he wanted to decode Sebacean," John swore. "He had a black eye. I'll bet he had a run-in with Aeryn." He dropped his head into his hands. "He knows something. He called her my girlfriend. Oh God, Aeryn! Why did you come back? What could have made you return after all this time? After you sent me here alone?"

Jack pulled into IASA and John raced down the hall to Fisher's office. He hauled the scientist up out of his chair and threw him against the wall. "Where is she, Fisher? Where's Aeryn? I know she's here." He pushed him again. "Answer me!"

"If you want to see your precious alien girlfriend again, I suggest you take your hands off me!" Fisher said. John let him go so abruptly that he nearly fell to the floor. "Right, she's not far from here."

"Let me see her."

"Not yet," Fisher said nastily. "There's still the small matter of the translation."

"You don't need a translation and code breakers. You've got me. I can interpret for you."

Fisher smirked. "Well, I'm not sure I can trust you to translate accurately. Do we trust him, gentlemen?" Fisher asked Lawrence and Sisler as they raced into the room, followed by DK and Alex.

Sisler smirked. "I think we can trust him. We have his Aeryn. If he doesn't cooperate, she suffers." Lawrence looked at his partner in horror.

"I don't believe you people... " DK began to object, but John silenced him.

Wearily he said, "I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt her."

Fisher looked at the defeated Crichton in satisfaction, then said. "Come with me."

Fisher led them down into the deepest part of the complex. Outside a heavily guarded door, he signalled to the security to let his party enter. John looked around the sterile room and saw the observation room at the end. Racing over he looked through the window to see Aeryn strapped down to a cot. He tried the door but found it locked. Turning, he gave Fisher a furious look. Fisher smiled triumphantly and held up the keys. Lawrence looked at him, indecision written all over his face, then he reached over, took the keys from Fisher and slowly opened the door. John gasped as a wave of hot air struck him. Pushing past Lawrence, he ran over to Aeryn and took her face in his hands.

"Aeryn! Oh God, Aeryn, are you all right?"

She turned to look at him, but her eyes were unfocused with pain from the heat delirium. "John?" she said, softly.

He bent down and kissed her tenderly. "Yeah, it's me, my love. I'm here."

"John, heat... ill... baby." Aeryn tried desperately to speak.

"Shh, don't try to talk." John turned back to Fisher. "Why the hell is it so hot in here? You'll kill her. The heat delirium."

Fisher looked back at John blandly. "It was the only way we could subdue her." John cursed and turned back to Aeryn. He began to undo the restraints. Other hands helped him. He looked up in surprise and saw Lawrence working to free her legs. John lifted Aeryn into his arms and carried her out to the cooler outer room. He laid her gently on a cool metal examining table. Aeryn immediately curled up in pain from the heat delirium. John held her hand and gently stroked her hair, whispering to her.

Lawrence stepped over to join Jack, Alex and DK who watched the proceedings curiously. They looked on in astonishment as John answered Aeryn's strange alien language. Fisher was smug, Sisler looked convinced that John was prepared to cooperate.

When John was satisfied that Aeryn was recovering from the heat delirium, he turned back to Fisher. "What do you intend to do with her?"

"Study her and her kind, with your help of course." Fisher said, his voice full of self-importance. "She knows more about alien technology than you do. We want that knowledge. We want to learn Sebacean. And then there's the medical side." Fisher deliberately dropped his bomb. "And of course, her child."

John looked at him stunned. "Child? What child?" He looked back at Aeryn who had relaxed into sleep, curled on her side. "She¹s pregnant?"

"Of course. Didn't you know, Crichton? She's carrying your child. Your son."

John staggered. His father reached forward to hold him up. "Pregnant. A son." He started to grin ridiculously. "My son." He turned back to Aeryn and gathered her into his arms. She smiled at the sound of his voice but did not awaken. Raising his eyes filled with tears to his father's face, he said, "Hey, Dad. You're going to be grandfather."

Jack smiled back at him. "Congratulations, son." he said.

"Not so fast with the congratulations," Fisher said. "You haven't agreed to my terms. And you'll have to get Aeryn to agree. She's worth a lot to us alive but she could be equally as useful dead."

John looked at him with hatred. "Are you threatening her?" he hissed."Threatening our child?"

"Call it what you will. Do you agree?"

John looked back down at his sleeping lover and the mother of his son."I will do what you ask. And I will convince Aeryn to cooperate." He lifted her up into his arms and started towards the door.

Fisher stopped him, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm taking her home."

Fisher laughed derisively, "Are you out of your mind? Do you think we're going to let you take her out of here. She stays here."

John tightened his arms around Aeryn. "She goes home with me. She needs to be looked after. I'm not leaving her in your sterile prison. Send your goons along. Hell, send a whole platoon, I don't care. I'm taking her out of here." John stood his ground.

Lawrence stepped forward. "Fisher, she obviously needs care. Let Crichton care for her. Relenting now will make it easier for him to convince her to cooperate later on."

Fisher looked at Sisler. He nodded. "We'll set around the clock surveillance on the Crichton home. No one comes or goes," Sisler said.

"Fine, take her home," Fisher said dismissively. "Make sure she's fit enough to answer our questions."

John carried Aeryn out of IASA in his arms, followed closely by his father, DK and Alex. Their little procession attracted some curious looks. John didn't care. His whole attention was focussed on the woman in his arms. Alex offered her car, since it was air conditioned. John rode in the back, still not letting go of Aeryn. She stirred in her sleep but did not awaken. Every now and then, John pressed his lips to her hair. His father and DK followed in their own cars. In front and behind them, John could see more cars bearing Sisler and other NSA agents. When they reached his home, John lifted Aeryn out of the car and Alex helped him get her quickly into the house. Jack and DK came in shortly after to report that the agents were camped out in front of the house, and behind it.

John laid Aeryn on the couch in the front room, then he knelt beside her, smoothing back her hair and holding on to her hand. Finally she began to awaken. When she opened her eyes, he said softly, "Hey."

She reacted immediately, sitting up and wrapping her arms around his neck in a strangle hold. John tightened his arms around her, and rubbed her back soothingly. He felt her begin to shake and he tried to calm her.

"Shh, Aeryn. It's all right. I'm here now." He reached up to gently stroke her hair. "Shh, Aeryn. I'm here. We're together again."

Aeryn pulled back in his embrace to stare at him, as if to reassure herself it was really him. John smiled at her again. Then he lowered his lips to hers in a tender kiss. Aeryn responded immediately and for a time there were only the two of them in the universe. Then John remembered their audience, who were standing discreetly apart. He pulled his lips reluctantly from hers and looked back at her.

"Aeryn, my love, there are some people I'd like you to meet." He helped her to sit up. She looked up as John's father came forward. "Aeryn Sun, this is my father, Jack Crichton."

Aeryn started to rise, but Jack shook his head. Taking her hands in his, he said, "I'm honoured to meet you, Aeryn Sun. I only wish the circumstances could be better." He smiled down at her.

Aeryn turned to John, "He's so much like your memory's image." She looked back at Jack, studying him. "He's so much like you, John."

John smiled back at her, "I can only wish to be like him, Aeryn." He turned and translated her words for his father. Then he signalled to DK. "This is my good friend, DK. I've told you alot about him."

DK bent chivalrously over Aeryn's hand and grinned. "I am proud to meet the woman who finally tamed John Crichton." He pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. Aeryn returned his infectious grin with a warm smile of her own.

John pulled her hand out of DK's and laughed, "Hey, pal 'o mine, back off. What would Monique think?" Finally, Alex stepped forward. "This is Alex O'Connor. She has been a good friend to me and to us both."

Alex knelt down in front of Aeryn, studying her. "I'm glad that I got to meet you, Aeryn. John told me so much about you. He loves you very much. I'm glad to meet the woman who has made him so happy." Alex suddenly reached out and gave Aeryn a hug. Aeryn looked startled for a moment, then returned her embrace thankfully.

John looked at all of them and suddenly his eyes were moist. Jack looked at him in alarm. "What is it, son?" he asked.

"I can't believe that all the people I love most are in the same room. It is a dream I have had for so long." He paused, struggling for control. Aeryn rose and came over to him, still a little unsteady. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck. Aeryn looked at the others over his shaking form. Then it was her turn to comfort him.

Finally he raised his head and looked down at her. "I think we have something to discuss." he said. The others tactfully left them alone, heading off to the kitchen to try to prepare some sort of meal.

Aeryn blushed slightly and met his gaze steadily. "Yes, John. I'm pregnant. We're going to have a son."

"A son." John looked at her in wonder. "When did you ... when did you find out?"

"Just after you left." Aeryn blushed again. "I mean, after I sent you back to Earth."

"Yes, well, we need to talk about that too." John pulled her down beside him on the couch. "How could you do that to me, Aeryn? To us?"

Aeryn's eyes darkened in pain. "I had to, John. It was for your own good. You needed to be here on Earth. Without me. Safe and back with your friends and family." She caught her breath in remembered anguish. "It was the hardest thing I have ever done, John. But I would do it again in a minute."

"Well, sweetheart, you're not going to." John took her hands in his. "We're in this together, no matter what. I won't leave you or our son." He leaned over to kiss her tenderly.

Aeryn's eyes glowed when she looked at him. "I wouldn't be selfish for me. But I will be selfish for our son. I won't leave you, or send you away." She grinned at him suddenly. "No more PanTak jabs."

John laughed and pulled her once more into his arms. "Thanks alot. You don't know what that means to me, Aeryn." Suddenly, he got very serious. "A son. Aeryn, I don't know what to say."

"Please say that you are happy." Aeryn said, a little uncertainly.

"Of course, I'm happy. I've never been so happy." He reached down to gently caress her belly. Then he leaned in to kiss her once more, pulling her close to him. Aeryn responded immediately to the passion of his kiss, opening her lips to allow him to deepen the kiss, to taste her, to feel her once more in his arms. Reluctantly, John broke the kiss. He looked down at Aeryn's face, and kissed her lightly once more. "It's been a long time since I made out with anyone on my father's couch," he said, grinning. Then he stood and pulled her up into his arms. "Let's go find the others. We still have the problem of Fisher to resolve."

Aeryn suddenly stopped him. "First, I have to contact Moya." She pulled out her communicator which she had concealed in the bodice of her dress.

John was stunned. "Moya's still here?"

"Pilot told me they would wait until I was sure I could find you, or until I returned to Moya." Aeryn looked at John. "What should I say? What are we going to do?"

John took the communicator from Aeryn. Hitting it, he spoke happily, "Hey there, Pilot. How are things in space?"

Alex, Jack and DK came out of the kitchen to listen to his discussion. "Cool, just like Star Trek," DK whispered to Alex, who hit him in fun.

A few moments later, Pilot's voice came over the comm. "Crichton? Crichton, is that you?"

"Yeah, Pilot. It's me," he grinned. "How are you guys?"

Jack listened in astonishment to his son's conversation with the strange sounding voice. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that," he said in wonder. Aeryn heard him and met his gaze, grinning.

"Crichton, we are well. Does this mean Aeryn found you?"

"Yes , Pilot, she's here with me now."

Aeryn spoke, "Pilot, I am here. I found John. Or rather he found me."

Pilot's voice was full of relief. "I'm glad to hear that."

Another deeper voice broke in, "John, is Aeryn all right? Are you all right?"

"Yes, D'Argo, we're fine. For now."

"For now." D'Argo's voice was concerned. "What is happening? Are you staying on Earth?"

John looked at Aeryn, whose eyes darkened in pain. Then he looked around at his friends and father. "I don't know," he said truthfully. "Pilot, is your orbit safe?"

"Yes, Crichton. We can stay here for a short time longer," Pilot said, anticipating his unspoken question. "We can give you about three more of your solar days, then we will have to leave to restock."

John looked once more at Aeryn, whose expression was troubled. "Thank you, Pilot. I'll be in touch before then." Then he signed off.

Jack Crichton walked over to his son and very quietly said, "You're thinking of leaving, aren't you, son?"

John looked at his father, his eyes filled with pain, "Yeah, Dad. We may have to."

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

Back at IASA, Lawrence knocked on the open door of the Director's office. "Excuse me, sir, could I have a word?"

Director Johnston looked up in surprise from his late night reports and motioned to the man to enter and have a seat. "Agent Lawrence, isn't it? What can I do for you?"

Lawrence took a deep breath. "I have some severe concerns over Dr. Fisher's handling of the Crichton case."

Johnston looked at him, then said. "I know that there are issues between them that are causing friction. But Dr. Fisher is a renowned scientist, an expert in his field. His people skills may leave something to be desired, but he is the best man for the job of decoding the alien technology."

"I understand that, sir, but his behaviour is becoming increasingly erratic. He has threatened John Crichton on numerous occasions and his treatment of the alien woman is bordering on torture..."

Johnston stopped him in shock. "What alien woman?"

Lawrence looked at the Director in concern. "He didn't tell you that we captured the Sebacean woman from the alien Leviathan? She's been in our custody since yesterday morning, right here in the security level lab of IASA."

Johnston immediately called the central switchboard. "Is Dr. Fisher still in the building? Right, call him and tell him to report to my office immediately!" He slammed down the phone. Then he turned to Lawrence. "Fill me in, since my Assistant Director hasn't."

A few minutes later, Fisher walked into Johnston's office. He stopped abruptly when he saw Lawrence seated in front of the Director. "Sir?" he said tentatively.

"Get your butt in here, Fisher, and close the door!" Johnston was in no mood for diplomacy."What the hell do you think you're doing? An alien woman? Here?" He glared at his Assistant. "Why did you not report it?"

"But I did, sir. To NSA." Fisher said.

"NSA! Why did you not report it to me? Good God, man, do you not realise how important this is?"

"Certainly, sir. We now have a perfect opportunity to find out about the alien technology..."

"Technology!?" Johnston exploded. "This is a first contact! The first alien to arrive on Earth. This isn't just a scientific discovery! This is... this is ... God, I don't even know what this is." Johnston was overwhelmed with the idea. Then he turned to Fisher and glared. "Agent Lawrence here tells me you practically tortured the poor woman. What the hell is the matter with you!?"

"She w