He glanced in McReidy’sdirection. She hadn’t noticed; he thought he might have disturbed her. Heheld the papers at chest level and began to read.
McReidy suddenly pulled theearphones off and opened her eyes.
“I’ve found something,” she beganexcitedly. She was surprised to find John wasn’t opposite her at his desk andspun the chair around. Her focus was a little blurred in the darker roombeyond and she rubbed her eyes. “Commander?
She stood up and looked around forhim, figuring he was probably making coffee again. The least he could do wasanswer her.
“Comman –?”
She didn’t finish when shespotted his boots. She marched across to the lounge.
His eyes were closed. One armrested across his chest, crumpling the papers. The other hung over the edge,his fingers curled slightly a fraction from the floor, as though subconsciouslypreventing the contact. His head rested slightly to the left. His hair wastousled and fell towards his eyes. She was tempted to smooth it back intoplace, thinking that it really did need cutting. All the signs of worry haddisappeared from his face and he slept with the peaceful innocence of a child.
She didn’t have the heart to wakehim. She watched him for a few moments. Half expecting him to wake and catchher, she shivered at the thought. It was not only the thought. She rubbed herarms as she noticed a distinct chill. It was definitely warmer on the otherside of the room.
She touched his mug. It had ahint of warmth. He mustn’t have been asleep for that long. She leant downtowards him, picking up the arm from his chest and sliding the papers awaybefore lowering it again. He didn’t move. She put the papers on the table besidethe mug.
She opened a cupboard and grabbeda spare blanket. She shook it out and gently draped it over him, making surehe was fully covered and pulling it up to his chin. She picked up his loosearm to tuck it under. It fell away from her with such a force that it mighthave been deliberate. She froze for a moment. He didn’t stir, completelyunaware of his action.
She made sure his feet werecovered. Personally, she hated cold feet. It was enough to wake her duringthe night and she found it impossible to get back to sleep until they werewarmed.
Surprisingly, she wasn’t as tiredas she thought. She made herself another coffee and returned to the desk,settling into John’s comfortable chair. It was definitely warmer on his side. A gentle heat was coming from somewhere she couldn’t detect.
John stirred. His hands rose tohis face and rubbed his eyes. It would take a moment for them to adjust to thehalf dark. He reached for the papers on his chest and felt only the blanketinstead. Not fully aware of anything, he hadn’t realised he had put himself tobed.
A light from across the roomattracted his attention. It shouldn’t be on. As his focus cleared, hesuddenly remembered where he was. He looked at the blanket for a second,wondering how it got there, then shot upright.
On the far side of the room,McReidy was settled in his chair at his desk reading some papers.
“What time is it?” he askedsleepily.
She glanced at her watch. “Almost five. You’ve been asleep about two hours.”
John padded to the desk in hissocks and flopped into the chair opposite. “You should have gone home,” heyawned.
“I had something I wanted tofinish.”
His hair was a mess, his jacketwas screwed up and he was only slightly more awake than asleep. He propped anelbow on the desk and rested his forehead on the heel of his palm. The brightlight made it impossible for his eyes to meet hers and he missed the warmth ofher smile as she watched him.
“Besides, it’s warm over here,”she added.
“It is as long as you’ve got thatlight on.” He tried to force himself awake although he was tempted to closehis eyes against the bright light. “What is it?”
“What’s what?” McReidy hadmomentarily lost track of the conversation.
“Whatever it is you’ve found.” His vision cleared. So, it appeared, did his other senses as he straightenedup in the chair.
“This communication.” She leanedto the desk, quickly brushing through some papers until she found a marked oneand passed it to John.
He read it briefly.
“It is Drago, isn’t it?” sheasked.
“I believe so.”
“When I took into account thetime delays between sending and receiving and our position, that puts him aboutthree days from Velos.”
“You didn’t call him, did you?” There was a sudden concern in his voice.
“No!” she snapped. “You put theship on radio blackout. I wouldn’t break that without at least asking.”
He nodded.
“Somewhere around ten thismorning,” he continued, “we cut across Aran space.”
“You do realise that’s on ourlist,” she queried.
“There’s a few places on thatlist we’re going to have to double back on,” he conceded. “It would not beunusual for the Arans to contact the Betelians.”
“And therefore the message is notcoming from an Earth ship,” she realised. “If it gets tracked.”
“Exactly,” he smiled. “Now, I needa shower and change. You go back to your quarters and get some sleep. I don’twant to see you for at least eight hours. I know how grumpy you women get whenyou don’t get enough sleep.”
“Grumpy?” McReidy was immediatelydefensive. “What exactly do you mean by that?”
John sighed. “For once in yourlife, can’t you do what you’re told without arguing?”
* * *
It was different on the bridgethat morning. It should have been quiet without McReidy, however everyonewanted to know where she was.
“Attending to other duties,” wasthe only answer John gave.
“You had her up working allnight, didn’t you?” Gillespie accused.
John didn’t answer.
“Are you going to tell us what’sreally going on or not?”
“You’ll know everything you needto when the time’s right.”
The reply only served to confirmGillespie’s suspicions.
Giacomo complained lightheartedlyabout the change to the duty rosters. John let him choose his own navigator. He chose Hartford but it wasn’t the same. He enjoyed the trivial small talkwith McReidy. It had no meaning with anyone else. It would be a long shiftnot knowing when or if she would arrive.
They came within range of theAran system on time. John made contact and
