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September 17 2064, 2210 hours
As they left the noise and crowd behind, Jenny tried to pull her hand free, but he held on tightly. “Thanks for the dance, Ty,” she pasted a smile on her face. “It’s been a long time. Sorry I...” “We need to talk,” he looked a bit grim. “And we’re almost there,” he indicated the turn off to were they both had quarters. “I don’t think this is a good idea,” Jenny pulled back on his hand. He was too close to her, smelling too good. She didn’t trust herself to be alone with him. “There’s something you need to see,” he tugged gently, pulling her along with him. “Then maybe you’ll understand.” McQueen’s Quarters: Jenny nibbled at her lower lip as she followed McQueen into his quarters. She had always believed in him in the past, why was she so afraid? “Trust me.” His eyes serious as he walked over to his desk. “This is for you,” he handed her the framed photo of his wedding. “What do you want me to do with it?” She held up her hands as if to fend off the item he was holding. “Open it up,” he smiled. “Things aren’t always what they seem.” “Ty!” “Humor me, this once,” he gave her a half smile when she finally took the cracked frame from him. “The catch is bent,” Jen struggled with the damaged latch, until it gave way, spilling the contents of the frame onto the desk. “Ohhh,” with shaking fingers, the Doctor picked up both pictures that had been in the frame. “When.....why....I don’t understand?” She looked in confusion at the picture of her, leaning back against him, his hands covering hers at the wheel of the Windswept. They had both been smiling at Patsy who had taken the picture. “I didn’t understand myself for a long time,” the Colonel reached out one hand for the woman’s cheek. “I put your picture there the night I showed you the alcove,” he smiled as he remembered his confusion that night. “All I knew was that I had to have you close to me all the time, but was too afraid to look at the reason. So I hid it beneath this,” he picked up the wedding picture and tossed it in the waste compartment. “It means nothing and has for a very long time.” “What are you saying?” Jenny’s voice cracked. McQueen took a deep breath, then took the plunge, “that I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone, not even Amy.” “You didn’t love her?” The doctor side of her personality had dealt with the after affects of McQueen's divorce, it was hard for her to believe what he was saying. “What I felt for Amy was a young man’s affection mixed with a healthy dose of lust,” the dream about Amy was finally making sense. He wondered how long he had known, but had kept it hidden. “If we had taken it as the summer affair that it was, we would have walked away with happy memories and a better idea of what we did and didn’t want out of life. Unfortunately, we took ourselves seriously, and got married.” “All this time I thought ...” “That I loved her, even still?” McQueen shook his head as he put both arms around her. “No, life was less complicated when I left the illusion in place. The divorce hurt, but I think it was more the fact I failed, then anything else. I locked the door on my feelings to keep myself from having to look too closely at that failure.” “You’re being too harsh on yourself,” Jen defended him. “It takes two to make a divorce just like it takes two to make a ... mar ... relationship.” “It does take two, doesn’t it?” He rubbed his hands up and down her back, enjoying the freedom he was allowing himself, to touch her. “Now it’s up to you, because I can’t do this alone.” “Why choose now to tell me this?” She could feel herself slipping under his spell. If she didn’t fight back now, it would be too late. “I’ve known for a long time you were essential to me,” he couldn’t believe how hard he had fought against the inevitable. “It’s been just recently that I’ve understood why. If it’s any help, I’ve been just as terrified of loving you, as you have been of your feelings for me.” “It helps,” Jenny whispered as she closed her eyes and took a leap of faith. If he didn’t catch her, as he promised, she knew she would crash and burn, “I do love you. I have for a long time.” “Good, because, I’m never letting you go,” he nibbled on her lips as he felt her melt against him. He had finally gotten the words right! Her hands moved over his neck, brushing his navel lightly as he held her close to him. McQueen shook and pulled his mouth from hers. “Jen,” he growled. “You’re playing with fire!” “So are you,” she gasped as his hands moved beneath her sweater and over her skin. Deep in the heart of the Saratoga the great ship hummed with satisfaction, almost as if she could feel the joy that two of her crew were experiencing. This time, the night song she sent out through her deck plating was, ‘the time is right, the time is right.’ The Tun Tavern: The Wildcards watched with a smile on their faces as the music ended and their commanding office walked out of the Tun holding tightly on to Jenny Kirkwood’s hand. “Okay, when did all this happen?” Shane looked around the table at her friends. “’Phousse and I are gone for a few days and ... and ...” She couldn’t finish her sentence. The feeling she got when she watched McQueen dancing with Jenny had been too much like watching a parent at a time when she shouldn’t have been. “I think it’s been going on longer then the two of them realize,” Ross smiled at Joan Brill for conformation. “He never left her side in Sickbay, the first night she was brought in,” Joan remembered letting McQueen in after hours. “And when he got back from Kazbek in such bad shape, I had to order her to bed.” “McQueen’s the Major in her stories, isn’t he?” West looked around the table. He had seen something in the Colonel’s eyes the night Voss had been so insulting, but had never thought about it again. “It was in front of us all the time and we didn’t catch on,” Shane’s jaw dropped as she remembered the picture of the Angry Angels on Jenny’s desk. So that hadn’t been just two people glass-eyed from booze, she smiled to herself. Way to go Jenny! “When I was in Sickbay, with my eyes bandaged,” ‘Phousse remembered a half heard conversation. “I heard them talking,” she smiled at the memory. “She made him laugh and he talked to her in a tone I’ve never heard him use with anyone. I thought I was dreaming.” “Mitch and I’ve heard about the stories that Jenny told on Kordis,” Maria shrugged. “In those stories the Major was always dead. Why would she say he was dead, if he wasn’t?” “Because she thought he died with the rest of the Angry Angels,” ‘Phousse remembered back to the ISSCV that had picked up the Kordis survivors. “I was taking care of the man in the bunk next to Jenny’s. At the time I didn’t think much of it, because she had been hit hard enough to knock her out. When she came too, she took one look at McQueen and insisted she was dead, because he was there.” “I’ve known since the night they brought him in after the explosion,” Voss whispered as he remembered the pain on Jenny’s face. “She told me her medical expertise was all he ever wanted her for. She really believed it. After they hauled him out of there,” he shook his head and looked at Joan Brill. “She was a mess and wouldn’t let us help her.” Then he smiled remembering a happier time, “But I think the Commodore is right about it going back further than that. He almost punched me out the first night she was aboard the Saratoga,” he smiled and shrugged. “I said some really stupid things” “Chico, you couldn’t help it. Even for a newbie, you weren’t exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer,” West grinned at the doctor who had become a good friend since then. “Coop, you’re awfully quiet about all this,” Shane looked at him and realized he knew more than he was letting on. “When Jenny first came aboard I used to wonder why she cared about me the way she did. At first, I thought it was because I was an in-vitro and she was so active in the Rights Movement. Then it hit me, she cared about all of us,” he looked around the table at the Wildcards. “Somewhere alone the line I realized it was because McQueen cared about us so much that she did.” “Coop, I think you’re selling yourself and Jenny short,” Shane reached across the table and patted his hand. “No, hear me out,” he looked at Shane as if she were the only one in the room. “Now, she cares about us on her own, but in the beginning it was because of McQueen. She cared unconditionally. He loved us, so did she, for her it was that simple,” he sighed trying to make a point. “She said as much on 2063Y. No matter what, we were coming back or she would die trying to get us back. Jenny Kirkwood is the first person to love me no matter what I did or who I am, and I know she always will.” “It sounds as if you’re describing a mother,” Joan Brill smiled at the insightful young man. “A mother?” Coop grinned and shook his head. “I never thought I’d have one of those. All the more reason that anything else I know, isn’t mine to talk about,” he smiled at Shane and could tell by the look in her eyes she understood. Coop had gotten in the habit of protecting Jenny and now he knew why. “If they want us to know anything, they’ll tell us. But, whatever happens, we’ll need to watch their six.” He sounded so much like McQueen that Shane did a double take. “Both points well taken, Lt. Hawkes,” Ross stood and stretched. “Joan, I’ll walk you back, if you’re ready to leave.” “I love wandering the corridors of the ‘Toga at this time of night,” Ross sighed as he caressed a bulkhead. The further he and Joan had gotten from the Tun, the quieter it had gotten. “Are you all right about what happened, Glen,” Joan looked up at Ross. “I know you cared more about Jenny than you ever let on.” “You read me too well,” Ross sighed. “I hope McQueen didn’t see what you’ve seen.” “Jenny’s had his emotions tied in so many knots the last year I doubt he’s seen anything much,” they reached Joan’s door at the end of a quiet hall. “It’s better this way Joan,” Ross smiled, always being a practical man. “Ty loves her and she loves him, they’ll work out their problems between them. Both of them have had pretty lonely lives, so they’ll appreciate what they have all the more.” “What about you?” “I’ll be fine. I have the love of my life right here under my feet,” Ross looked around at his ship. “If you listen carefully you can hear her night song. She sounds happy tonight. I cared about Jenny a lot, I still do, but she would have always been second to the Saratoga. I realized that months ago.” McQueen’s Quarters: Clothes lay in pools around McQueen’s usually neat cabin. His soft black shirt was missing some buttons and lay tangled with Jen’s white lacy bra, with a torn strap. His black slacks hid the scrap of ripped silk that had been her panties. The surge of energy that had inflamed the cabin for the last hour was calmed, as two damp bodies lay together trying to catch their breaths. “Are you all right?” McQueen drew the sheet over them as he pulled Jen closer on his left side. “I’ll let you know when my brain cells reconnect,” Jen murmured as her lips found the ridges of a scar she knew was on his shoulder. “What are you doing,” he gasp as he felt the small kisses she used to trace the damage from a previous war. “Fulfilling a fantasy,” she grinned as she moved on top of him. Her lips tracing first one scar then another. “Fantasy?” he held her tightly as he turned them, placing her below him. “I never knew you had a kinky side to you, doctor. This could get very interesting.” “From my prospective it’s already interesting,” she kept on giving him nibbling kisses as she worked her way over the scars on his chest. “I’ve always wanted to do this.” “I have scars other places, too,” he offered as he returned the favor by kissing the bruises on her neck. “Yes,” she murmured. “There’s a map of all your scars in your medical record. I know where each and every one is.” “Do you now?” McQueen whispered, his eyes danced blue fire, as he watched her flush. He wondered exactly which of his scars had made her blush and the fun they would have finding out. “Hhhhuummm,” Jen gasp unable to take her eyes off Ty’s as he leaned toward her, his mouth doing its own recon mission, starting with her throat and moving where he willed, until both people moved only on instinct. “Love you,” Jenny murmured. “Let me stay here tonight? I want to sleep beside you.” “You just try and leave.” He held her closer, “I’ve already told you once this evening that I didn’t plan on letting you go.” “You really meant it?” “Of course,” later when she wasn’t so skeptical he would tell her all that he planned for them both. “Though, once it’s safe for you on Earth, I’d much rather you were assigned there, than out here.” “No, don’t ask me to do that,” Jenny felt her stomach clench at the thought of leaving. “I love you and would like to know you were safe,” he kissed her, afraid for her if she stayed, afraid for himself if she left. “Answer me honestly,” Jen supported herself on her elbow to look down at him. “If given the choice of a ‘safe’ assignment on Earth, would you leave me here on the Saratoga?” “Hell, no!” He ground out as he mirrored her position. “But that’s different.” “You’re darn right it is!” Jenny’s eyes were fierce as she poked him in the chest for emphasis. “I work in Sickbay, a place that is one of the safest areas on the ship. You’re on the exposed bridge. Any Chig with a death wish could crash through there, taking it out and you along with it. I almost never leave the Saratoga. You’ll be back to active combat status in a few months. So, McQueen, which one of us do you think is the safest out here?” “You’ve made your point,” he could hardly argue with her. “But no more going searching for lost Marines, even if they are my Marines. And that trick you pulled in the Launch Bay?” He shivered thinking about it, “Jen, I had to order Trosper not to open those Bay doors. Please, don’t ever put me in that position again!” “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would be so hard on you,” she leaned toward him to kiss him gently. “We shouldn’t waste time like this,” Jenny shook her head at the futility of the argument. “Tomorrow either one of us, or both of us could be transfered off the Saratoga.” “Ross has an idea about that,” McQueen whispered. “It seems Stan Turek felt that with my ‘special needs’,” he hated the sound of that. “I should have consistent medical care. It was suggested that my duty sheet be stapled with a doctor’s duty sheet. Voss brought this to the Commodore’s attention and it seems Chico thinks you are the best qualified at ‘keeping me in line in Sickbay’, I believe that was how it was stated. Ross seems to think it’s a good idea, but I wouldn’t do it unless you were alright with it.” “Oh Ty,” Jenny giggled at the pained expression on his face. Then sobered as she thought further, “I gather my change of assignment will take me out of your chain of command?” She had wondered why McQueen had let things go so far between them when she was technically part of his squad. “We won’t need the ruse of you being a Wildcard to keep you safe and on the Saratoga, is that alright with you?” “I’ll miss the 58th,” she shrugged. “But if you and I want to continue ...” “We do!” He spoke emphatically. “A doctor shouldn’t take care of someone she’s emotionally involved with,” Jenny whispered. “Can you tell me we weren’t emotionally involved the night you saved my life after the explosion?” He watched the pain cross her face and got his answer before she spoke. “You know I can’t” she kissed him deeply to try and take away the horror of that night. “Then I guess it’s live or die together,” McQueen whispered as he kissed her again. “You wanted that when I took the ‘Cards to Kazbek, I didn’t understand then, but I do now.” “I’ll do my best to be more careful,” Jen murmured, realizing how important it was for him that she try. “Promise me one thing? If the Saratoga is hit badly, you won’t stay behind with Ross. He may want to go down with his ship, but three’s a crowd.” “You know Glen pretty well,” McQueen felt a moment of jealousy. “I can recognize when a person loves their ship,” she caressed Ty’s cheek. “So do we have deal? We’re in this together, no matter what happens?” Holding out her hand she offered their old agreement, “pax?” “Pax,” he took her hand but instead of just shaking it as usual, he locked their hands together with their fingers intertwined. “You know I love you very much?” “Yes,” Jenny realized it was his way of telling her how difficult it would be for him if she were to die. “When the war is over, if you still want me, I’ll go to what ever base you’re assigned to. When you’re on ship duty, I’ll wait for you on Catalina. If I thought this charade of being your doctor would keep us together in peace time, I’d stay in the Navy.” “You’d do that for me?” McQueen hadn’t told her that he planned to leave the Corps when the war ended. He knew what she thought of the life she had just offered him: the long separations and worry; the stress of moving from base to base; the politics of life on base, made worse because they would be a mixed couple. He knew she wanted out of the Navy and medicine, but she would give all that up to be with him. It made his fears for her safety appear small and insignificant. “Of course, Ty, I love you,” she smiled, knowing that even if the times together would be marked by lonely stretches while he was away, they would be worth having. “It’s not anything you’ll ever have to do,” he watched as confusion filled her eyes. “I gave Ross my resignation the evening you brought back the ‘Cards.” “What?” Jenny grabbed onto him. “You didn’t do this for me, did you?” The fear was clear in her voice, “I’d never ask you to change for me!” “Part of me wants to tell you that I’m giving you the gift of a normal life because I love you,” he shook his head at his foolishness. “But I’ve learned my lesson. I have to be who I am, not someone else's idea of who I am. You fell in love with a Marine, will it make a difference that I’ll be a civilian?” “I didn’t fall in love with a Marine, I fell in love with a man,” Jen reached up and kissed him. McQueen picked up his dog tags and removed her bracelet from them. “As much as I’d like to keep this, I want you to wear it.” He put it back on her wrist, where she had always worn it. “This time if anyone asks, tell them the truth. I gave it to you.” “Are you sure about that?” Jenny knew he was still afraid for her, though he was hiding it well. “I deliberately burned my bridges this evening,” he nodded. “As long as we’re on the Saratoga, we need to be circumspect about our relationship. I don’t want to do anything that would get Ross into trouble.” “I can live with that,” she smiled and moved the bracelet around her wrist. “I missed it, I’ve worn it for so long,” Jen yawned. “But giving it to you was the only way I could be sure you’d come back.” “Sleep now, you’re not making any sense,” McQueen pulled her closer. “I’d always come back for you. I always have. I didn’t need a bracelet to remind me.” “Love you,” Jen whispered as she drifted off to sleep.
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