The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 7

The nurse checked out Taz's ankle, being extremely careful. Taz had been in there before- getting her hands looked at after a few rough gym sessions- and the nurse remembered how shaky she was being surrounded by the strange equipment.

'Pretty bad sprain, but I won't advise you against walking on it because we both know you will.'

'Gracias, Julie.' Taz smiled crookedly.

The nurse left, leaving Up and Taz in the small waiting room. 'Let's get dat assignment, Up!'

'Well alright, Taz.' Up smiled, pulling Taz up.

Taz stumbled, trying to stand straight. She looked up and realised that she'd fallen into Up's arms yet again.

'Lo siento, Up.' She quickly apologised.

Up shook his head, and the two of them walked into the hallway. 'You've been a little clumsy lately Taz- you feelin' alright?'

Taz balled her hand into a fist and bit her lip. 'Sure. Just excited about my promotion!'

Up smiled encouragingly, but he was thinking something else deep down. It's because I kissed her cheek. I'm such a damn fool... I was just tryin' to congratulate her. Now look what ya did, Up. He looked up and realised they were at the Head Office.

'Let's go!' Taz beamed, hastily opening the door.

Up smiled as she tried to limp off on her own, cringing in pain. Up shook his head and quickened his pace so that she didn't fall over.

The second they reached the desk, a yellow envelope was pushed across the bench. The receptionist didn't look up from her work, but smiled when Taz rushed off with Up. Back in his room, she ripped open the envelope.

'We're going to space, Up!' Taz cried, breaking out of his grip to jump in the air.

She landed crookedly on her ankle, slipping and plummeting towards the ground. Mere centimetres away from the ground, she felt something grab her waist and pull her back up to her feet. Taz froze- she was so close to him.

'Gracias, Up.' She whispered, standing and adjusting herself.

'Don't you mean te amo?' He winked. Taz fought hard not to blush, her face growing hot.

'So when do we leave?' Up asked casually.

Taz sat down in a huff, flicking through the report. 'It says... three weeks. Until den, we gotta teach a few cadets basic fighting skills.'

'Well, ain't that gonna be fun! We get to teach together, Taz!' Up cheered.

Taz's heart crumpled on the inside. You gotta put a stop to dis madness! Tell him what te amo means! She took a deep breath and looked at Up.

'Up? I got a confession.' She looked away shyly. Up sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

'What is it, Taz?'

She started to say it, then her eyes saw a book by Up's bed. Taz stood up and limped over to it, reading the title. Leaning on the bed for support, her heart jumped. She dropped the book and ran out Up's door to her room, locking her door behind her.

She could hear him calling her name, but she didn't answer. She heard a thump outside her door, and Up's shadow passed under the crack.

'Go away Up!' Taz called, trying to stop her voice from betraying her.

'Taz please-' He tried to reason with her, but was getting nowhere.

Taz folded her knees in front of her, placed her arms on top, and dropped her head into her lap. 'Why do you have dat book, Up?' She called weakly through the door.

'I was tryin' to learn some Spanish so I could understand ya better, Taz. I didn't want to miss out on somethin'.'

Taz banged her head against the door. 'Like what, Up? I don't have dat much to offer.'

'Listen here, Taz. You have everythin' to offer! Weren't ya wonderin' how I knew what pesadilla meant?'

Taz was quiet. 'You... did it for me?'

'Course I did! Who else would I do that for? You're my best friend, Taz.' Up replied cheerfully.

Taz pushed every feeling and every thought she had about Up away. She had to ignore it- at least for now. Plus, he's 20! He could never like a girl as young as me. She pulled herself up and placed her forehead on the door, contemplating what to do. Up stood when he heard movement, thinking she probably wanted him to go. Now I went and made an even bigger mess of things. He started to walk away, when he heard Taz's soft voice.

'Up?' He turned around, and she stood crookedly in the doorway. 'I'm glad you're my best friend.'

Up smiled and walked back to Taz's room. 'Wanna watch a movie?'

She shook her head, disheartening Up. 'I'm gonna go work out. Wanna come?'

Up nodded. Of course I wanna go Taz! I love spending time with you. 'Trainin' for the mission?'

Say anything, Taz! 'Uh, yeah. You never know how tough dose aliens can be.'

Up smiled when she said tough. She grabbed her water bottle from her fridge and took a big gulp, walking out her door. Up shut it behind her and the two of them made their way to the simulation room. The door slid open, and Taz entered first. She threw her drink bottle into her locker chute and stepped into the first seat in the Drop-Pod simulator. Up jumped in the seat next to her, strapping them both in. His hand brushed hers when he clicked the seatbelt, Taz trying to ignore it. They heard a whirring sound, and suddenly they dropped through the air.