The room was peaceful and still when John woke up, and a quick glance at the ship's chronometer told him it was nearly two in the morning. During the night he'd rolled on to his back, Calara and Jade rolling with him, and they now lay asleep in his arms. He glanced down at them with an affectionate smile on his face, and looked to both sides to check that Alyssa and Dana were asleep too. The blonde was sleeping contentedly behind Calara, but his mischievous redhead was currently missing, the rest of the bed looking cold and empty.
He listened carefully to see if he could hear Dana in the bathroom, but he just heard the rhythmic sound of the other girls breathing. The last time Dana hadn't come to bed was during their time on Ashana, when she'd got caught up in the ship's refit. It seemed unlikely that she would have stayed up tonight though, as she wasn't really preoccupied with any major projects at the moment.
Carefully extricating himself from Calara and Jade's loving embrace, he moved stealthily off the bed, being careful not to wake anybody. He padded down the corridor to check on Dana's room, to see if she'd gone in there to sleep for some unknown reason. Finding her unused room to be as empty, just as he'd expected, he walked further along to the grav-tube, thinking he should head down to deck seven, and see if she was in her workshop.
He smiled to himself for a moment, thinking it would be much easier if he had simply woken up Alyssa, and asked her where the redhead was hiding, but where would the fun be in that?
All thoughts of fun and games disappeared instantly when he heard the faint sound of crying coming from the officer's lounge. He strode over to the double doors and pushed the button, the portal opening with a quiet swish. The lounge was cast in shadows, starlight from the passing systems providing the only illumination in the room. Now that the door was opened, the heartbreaking sound of a girl weeping reached his ears, and he followed the desolate lament over to the sofas. Dana was sitting on one of the seats with her feet up on the cushion, her head tilted forward, as she cried into her arms that were resting on her knees.
John strode over to her purposefully and sat beside her, wrapping her up in his arms.
"Dana, what's wrong?" he asked her, his voice echoing his concern.
"It's nothing," she mumbled between sobs.
"Come on now, you know you can tell me anything," he said soothingly.
She paused, her breathing ragged from the crying, and then leaned into his chest, her tear streaked face brushing against him. "You'll think I'm a terrible person," she whispered hopelessly.
"You know I'd never think anything of the kind," he laughed, attempting to buoy her spirits. "Tell me what's troubling you, and maybe I can help make you feel better."
Dana took a deep shuddering breath, and then chuckled helplessly. "Okay, whatever you want," she said wryly. "I'm feeling so jealous... of Calara," she whispered haltingly, looking chagrined.
"I'm sorry Dana, I spent so much time trying to impress her family, I pretty much ignored you while we were on Jericho." he apologised, feeling awful for making her so upset.
The redhead sniffled and laughed. "No, it's not that, I was proud of the way you won them over," she said fondly.
"Then what is it?" he asked her, feeling confused.
"She had such a perfect life growing up with a wonderful family, and I was abandoned; discarded like a piece of rubbish," she said, her face crumpling again at the overwhelming feelings of loss the visit had dredged up.
"What makes it worse, is her family were so caring; only wanting to keep her safe and happy, and it was like a hundred times better than I'd thought a loving family would be like. All those times I sat scared and alone, just wishing for someone to love me..." she sobbed, and broke into a fresh round of tears.
"Shush now, everything's going to be okay, we all love you," he said comfortingly as he held her in his arms, and rocked her gently. She hugged him tightly, as though clinging to him for reassurance.
"I know it's not her fault, and it's stupid for me to feel this way, but I can't help it... I guess I'm just a horrible person," she whimpered, looking up at him dejectedly.
"It's only natural to want to belong to a loving family," he told her reassuringly. "You and Alyssa had a terrible start, but everything's going to be so much better now, I promise!"
"He's right," Alyssa said to them, as she walked gracefully across the darkened room to join them.
"About what?" Dana sniffled, looking at her friend who came to sit beside her, and stroke her back gently.
"That we all love you, and that it's only natural to want to be a part of a family," she murmured comfortingly.
"But I feel so jealous of Calara, it's awful!" Dana moaned, looking forlorn.
"I know how to make all that go away, and to give you what you've always craved," Alyssa said softly. "You're part of a wonderful new family now."
"Sisters?" Dana said with a hopeful smile.
"That's right. Sisters, who all love the same amazing man," Alyssa said with a smile, as she glanced at John.
Dana looked up at John lovingly, and nodded enthusiastically, but then her face shadowed in confusion. "I already know all that, but I still feel this sense of loss," she sighed dejectedly.
"That's because you know it, but you haven't been able to truly feel it," Alyssa said soothingly. She opened her arms invitingly. "Let me make everything feel so much better, Sparks."
Dana nodded willingly, and John released her from his embrace as she turned to face her oldest friend. Dana sat in Alyssa's lap, with her legs wrapped around her friend as they hugged each other tightly, while John stroked her back soothingly. Alyssa pulled back slightly so that they were staring into each other's eyes, only inches apart.
"Let me feel how much you want to be a part of our family, little sister," the blonde girl said, staring into the redhead's sky blue eyes.
"Oh, I want that so much," Dana sighed wistfully.
*So do I,* Alyssa's thoughts carried through to her friend.
*I can feel it!* Dana gasped, the golden coronas around her pupils flaring with excitement.
