Relationship Stages

[Erich Jaenke 0]

With the Manticore safely docked at the soon-to-be-destroyed DS4, Keb found her off-duty time difficult to deal with; she was in her quarters, trying to figure out what shade of balloons was appropriate for a “Sorry We Blew Up Your Station” party. That’s where Erich found her, with an important question on his mind: Had she really offered to move in with him?

 

Ding.

 

"Keb? You in there?"

 

Finally, she heard the door, and looked up from her plans. “Enter,” she said quickly, giving Erich a distracted and half-hearted smile as the door opened. “Did you need me for something?”

 

He entered having just gone from a contained elation to a bit more concerned. "I'm here to room with you during the evacuation. A group of six will be taking my quarters." He smiled through his concern for her doubts. He placed the pack next to the bed. His few clothes were light for this short duration, but the pack contained some of his remote engineering tools as well. He sat opposite her.

 

“Oh...I thought we would take your quarters...I…” She suddenly blushed brightly. “I just realized I forgot to ask you if it was okay before I volunteered. Is...is it?”

 

"Would I have brought my overnight pack if not? In many ways I'm with you a little more than anyone could hope to be. Who knows, perhaps we will grow to despise each other as we share the same space for a while. I've heard it happens to people. I think I've felt it among the crew myself when I pass down the halls." He frowned a bit. "Depressing really. It's not like we are sharing the same bed." His face lit up. "Oh wait, are we?" He both hoped so and expected not.

 

Keb took his hand, her face still redder than the captain’s shirt.

 

"Oh no no I'm not pushing you to this. I imagine we will be so busy with this operation that there will be little time to argue about who's sleeping where and when." He looked directly in her eyes. "I'd certainly not try anything, even if it's down to the same blanket. I mean hey, I'll take the floor if it makes you uncomfortable."

 

It...it doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all, just...a little nervous to say it out loud, Keb replied in her mind.I love you, and I want to be with you. I was...I was thinking if things went well...we could keep the arrangements afterward. She turned her face away in embarrassment at having been so forward, but the sentiments were genuine.

 

"Wh-what? Really? I did not think that was something you wished to do. I can understand wanting to have a place of your own and its silence." He thought for a moment.

 

“You’re with me wherever I am. You’re part of me now. And I...I need you to find me sometimes. Like now...I think I was obsessing again. Balloons are a stupid idea, aren’t they?”

 

He rubbed her hands in his. "Look, I know you get obsessive about certain things and that's perfectly fine. I don't mind and have those tendencies myself when it comes to the ship. If it does not work out we can separate out, but do you think this place is big enough, or do you like mine better?" He looked about the room, but it seemed the same size as his.

 

“If McFly assigned you here already, here is fine. We’re ready for this. I...I feel like things will be fine, Erich…” She kissed him gently. “At least for us, if not for...everyone on the station.”

 

He tensed as the warmth of her kiss left him. "This has been stressful."

 

Erich began to cry, The stress he had not told her about just ebbed forth. "Keb..." Those collars on himself, Tess, and Kansas over at the alien vessel had shocked him hard. "I held their fear back as long as I could and took it as my own. We were seconds away from having our heads separated from our bodies."

 

Keb took a deep, ragged breath as he accidentally projected to her the memory of the fear and pain he’d been holding in, and she could feel the collar tightening around her own neck, her heart beat speeding up. She clenched his hand inside her own as the terror’s echo washed over her. “Erich--you never told me it was like that--” She hugged him close, trying to make the shadows leave both of them.

 

"Ahhh!" Erich yelled. He winced as he calmed his own thoughts. "My apologies." He held onto her tightly. "I did not tell anyone as I thought I could handle it. Perhaps I was wrong."

 

No...you can tell me these things. I want to know. I want your trust, too, she thought to him, eyes shut tightly. Then we can be a team. Be one.