Chapter 4

Something stirred in his bed and Don cracked his eyes open to see a mass of blond hair in front of his face. He felt a trim waist under his arm and pulled it closer against his body.

"Am I," he croaked, "… in heaven?"

A delicate hand covered his own and Judy's weak voice answered, "I think..." She coughed, "I think we both are."

A third voice ventured an opinion. "Not heaven, Major, but surely the closest you will ever come." The plastic tent was lifted and Dr. Smith examined both of them, the Robot observing intently behind him.

"Your fevers are much reduced," the Robot announced.

"I am so happy to hear that!" Maureen stated as she entered the room. "Any productive coughing yet?"

"Minimal, Mrs. Robinson," the Robot replied.

She placed two Petri dishes nearby and pulled the tent down again. "Now you two keep breathing the vapor as deeply as you can. I want to hear lots of coughing before we take you both out of that tent."

"I will maintain a watch over them, Mrs. Robinson," Dr. Smith offered. "You must get some rest. It won't be long before everyone will be fully recovered and back to the usual routines."

"As in preparing meals, Dr. Smith?"

"Well, I must say that my appetite has heartily returned, and I look forward to those marvelous meals that we will all need to regain our strength."

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Several days passed before all of the patients were out of their beds and the ship disinfected. The only remnants of the illnesse were occasional coughs from Don and Judy as they continued to clear their lungs.

John and Maureen ventured out of the ship to marvel at the stars overhead, thankful that everyone in their family was alive and well.

"You are an incredible woman, Maureen," John murmured as he placed his arms around her and drew her close.

"Well, thank you, John. I am so glad that you appreciate my medical expertise," she replied.

"Medical expertise, courage, determination, ability to fire a weapon among other, shall we say, 'special' talents?"

She turned her face towards his and he leaned down to kiss her soundly on the lips. As they parted, a duet of coughs could be heard from behind a pile of rocks near the ship.

Maureen chuckled and observed, "Well, I'd say that everything is finally back to normal."

"As normal as they can be for a family lost in space."

The End