The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 21

Those next few hours were a blur to Taz- she remembered falling, the drop-pod taking off, then- nothing. She slept for almost two days, and by the time she woke up, Up hadn't left her side. Ruth was curled up in the corner, Alex was manning the ship with Kitt and she was in the infirmary with Up asleep beside her.

Taz sat up slowly, rubbing her head. 'Up? Qué me pasó?'

Up's eyes sprung open, and he was on his feet within seconds. He pulled her into his arms and Taz sat there with a wide-eyed stare. She was shocked at his sudden lack of toughness- Why is he hugging me?

'It was those damn pink aliens, Taz. One of 'em bit ya and you collapsed after...' He looked away sheepishly.

Taz didn't remember anything about an alien biting her- she remember the aliens, though. But for some weird reason, she couldn't remember anything after swiping them from her shoulder.

'Extranjeros estúpido.' She muttered, wiping her shoulders from the memory.

'Do you remember what happened down there, Taz?' Up asked, staring down into her eyes.

She shook her head, but a memory flashed through her brain. He had carried her to the drop-pod, but why?

Up stood and walked over to Ruth, shaking her gently. 'She's awake, Ruth.'

'OMG THANK DEAD GOD! Feb told me to watch after you.' Ruth cheered happily.

Taz had covered her ears when Ruth started screaming, reluctantly putting them down when she was enveloped into a hug. 'We thought you were dead!'

'No we didn't Ruth.' Alex called as he walked past.

Taz gently removed Ruth's arms from herself and asked her for a drink. 'Sure thing, Tazzy!'

'Don't call me dat.' She frowned, terrifying Ruth with the worst glare she had ever given. She turned to Up, who immediately sat down in the chair. 'Talk.'

Up opened his mouth, trying to refrain from mentioning the kiss. 'You tried to take a bite of that pink fruit down on the planet, but I saw it open it's eyes so I blew it and it's "friends" apart. Then you fainted, and...'

He stopped as Taz put her hand on his shoulder. 'You carried me back to de ship?'

Up nodded with a little awkward smile, but Taz's face stayed the same. Not a single expression crossed her face, until Up reached forward and grabbed her hand. He looked her straight in the eyes, and Taz looked back blankly.

'What are you doin', Up?' She frowned and flung her legs over the side of the bed, attempting to get up.

'Do you remember anythin' else from bein' planet-side, Taz? Or maybe the morning before?' Up was starting to worry.

Taz shook her head again. 'Everything is a blur, Up. I can't remember anything to do with my familia o-or you.'

His head screamed at him, demanding him to tell her that he loved her, that he had kissed her- and she had kissed him back. Has she forgotten everythin' to do with... love? No- it can't be. Unless she loves me back. Taz grabbed at her hair in frustration, racking her brain to find a single emotion or love-filled memory.

He grabbed her arms, just as she was about to throw herself to the floor. 'Taz stop! Please- you'll hurt yourself!'

'I don't care, Up! I have forgotten my familia! De only thing I remember is promising myself to never forget!' Taz gasped for breath, fighting tears and hatred.

Up put his arms around her, trying to console her. She felt lifeless in his arms, and they both knew it. Taz took a deep breath, and gently pushed Up aside. 'Is de mission over?'

Up nodded stiffly. 'I bagged a few of those aliens we destroyed, sent Alex and Kitt to set up the colonisation pods, and now we're headin' home. Had to wait a couple days though.'

Taz was pulling on her boots, ignorant of Up's current thoughts. 'Why is dat, Up?'

It's because I didn't wanna leave your side, Taz! I didn't move for two days cause I didn't want ya to be scared when ya woke up alone, and Dead God knows I couldn't leave those three idiots in charge... 'The ship needed some repairs.' He answered simply.

Taz nodded and laced up her shoe, looking ready to get back into action. She whacked her hand on his back to give him a little push forwards, but was surprised when Up didn't move. She gestured with her hand for him to go, but he was spaced out.

Taz stepped around him and headed back to her room, leaving Up alone. His mind raced with vague memories- warnings- about the strange alien creatures on other planets. One stuck in his mind the most- The Love Bug. It was like a leech that sucked you dry of any love you were feeling in that moment, possibly forever, and it's physical description slipped Up's mind. He counted the things off in his mind, and he finally realised. That little pink "fruit" was the Love Bug, and Taz was hit.

'Son of a bitch.' He turned on his heels and ran after Taz, almost knocking into Ruth in the hallway.

'Commander Up! Sorry sir, I wasn't looking.' Ruth quickly turned away and hurried into the infirmary.

Up rolled his eyes and raced to Taz's room, slipping as he tried to stop outside her door. 'Taz! I worked it out!' He knocked on the door, excitement making his voice much deeper.

The door slowly opened, and Taz frowned as she saw Up breathing heavily. 'Up, what are you doing?'

'I worked it out Taz- you got bitten by that pink alien, and it stuffed you up!'

Taz's head rushed with the thought of the pink alien, until she remembered her orientation. They had come across that same alien a few times, and figured out that it messed up memories and feelings. They were warned about it's dangerous pheromones and how it could attract other creatures to eat it, only to lure it and feed off the creature's love.

'Love.' Taz mumbled. She was looking at the floor, trying to remember everything about it- but the only things she could think of were how memories of Up were gone. Do I... love Up?

Taz slowly raised her eyes to the extremely tall and built figure in front of her. He looked tough, even with his dorky haircut.

'Do you remember how to, uh...' Taz tried to think of the word, but her mind was too busy running over a few things.

Up sighed. 'No Taz- that's why we need to get back to the Corps. They've had this "situation" a hundred times.'

Taz nodded hopefully. I need to find out if I love Up.

'You hungry?' Up interrupted her thoughts, smiling a little.

'Sí. Here I thought you knew me.' She joked lightly.

Up grinned. 'There's the Taz I know- and I do know you pretty well.' He added cheekily, raising an eyebrow.

Taz tilted her head with a half confused sneer. 'Prove it.'

'Left shoe, third lace misses the hole because you think it's lucky.' Up crossed his arms and smirked at her, waiting for her to slap him.

She looked down at her shoe, puzzled at how he could have noticed that. 'Lucky guess.'

'You work out when you're upset, you can't sleep without a knife under your pillow, you love Jane Austen novels and the Karate Kid-' He counted them off on his fingers.

Taz started to get worked up. 'Dat just proves dat you're a stalker.'

Up shook his head. This is gonna be hard. But- he remembered something in his pocket. He quickly reached down and pulled out the small piece of paper, handing it to Taz with a triumphant grin.