Part VI

It was supposed to be a simple trip to the grocery store and to pick up a few things from the cleaners. When Eliza got back it became a full fledged war between the last person she wanted to argue with.

"I told GV to tell you that I had gone to run some errands while you were taking the kids out to see their friends!" Eliza snapped. "It's not like I didn't leave a message or ran off to another planet! I was only gone for an hour! You didn't have to call in every security officer on this side of the continent to look for me!"

"I told you to wait for me until I got back!" Zach snapped. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? What's wrong is that you're treating me like some sick child when I am perfectly capable of doing basic tasks by myself!" Eliza snapped. "I am not your property Zach! I can go out if I want to!"

"I never said you couldn't! I just…" Zach began.

"OH YES YOU DID!" Eliza screamed as she threw a vase in anger. "EVER SINCE I WOKE UP ALL I'VE HEARD IS NO! NO ELIZA, YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR JOB BACK! NO ELIZA, NO MORE GOING OUT FOR YOU! WELL I'M SICK OF IT!"

Eliza regained control of herself. "It's bad enough that my job which I worked so hard on for years is gone! It's bad enough that no one thinks of me as a researcher but as that poor woman who was trapped in the Cryocrypt. But for my own husband to think I'm…" Eliza couldn't say it. "I don't want pity Zachery! I want my life back! I want people to stop thinking just because I had a hard time that I'm just some fragile…Aggh!"

They stood there in silence for a moment. "I'm sorry…" Zach said softly.

"You should be."

"Things were supposed to get better when we were reunited," Zach sighed. "Not worse…"

"It's not worse it's…" Eliza sighed. "Goose isn't the only one with nightmares about the past. I have…memories of what happened while I was a slaver lord. What I did. And even though I know it wasn't my fault…I still hear them screaming Zachery. I still hear the screams of my victims and I can't stop hearing them."

"I guess it was naïve of me to think that things would just go back to the way they were before this whole thing started," Zach sighed. "We've both changed and we both have to deal with it."

"We just need some time," Eliza said. "And to heal with what's been done to us. I think spending more time with our family will do it. And by family I mean Goose, Niko and Doc too. I don't know why but being around them makes me feel…happy and safe."

"Must be the psychic link," Zach reached out to her. She fell into his arms. "Eliza I'm sorry I've been smothering you a little. I just missed you so much…When you were gone I thought I would go insane. I don't want to lose you again. It would kill me."

"I know Zach but I feel so…I feel that you don't trust me to take care of myself," Eliza said.

"It's not you I don't trust. It's the whole damn galaxy. I've missed holding you," Zach let out a breath. "Touching you. Even now part of me doesn't believe you're really here. That this is just a dream and if I wake up…"

"We're both wounded inside," Eliza said. "We're going to have to deal with the scars and the pain for a long time. Do you think we might need therapy too?"

"Maybe that's not such a bad idea," Zach admitted. "It couldn't hurt, right?"

"Agreed, but let's not tell the kids just yet," Eliza said as she pulled away. "I don't want them to worry. In the morning we can look for a good therapist but right now…Right now I just want to be held."

Zach nodded. "Eliza we…We will get through this. I promise. Whatever it takes to make you happy…"

"It's not just about what makes me happy," Eliza said. "It's what makes us happy. We have to learn to work together as a team again. And to accept the changes within ourselves. Both good and bad."

"We'll do it, Eliza," Zach said softly as he drew her near. "Together we will do it."

"OH DO-OC!" They heard Shane shout cheerfully. "GUESS WHA-AT?"

"AAAHH! GOOSEMAN! HOW DID YOU GET SOME OF YOUR STRENGTH BACK SO FAST! AAAAHHH!" Doc was heard screaming. "PUT ME DOWN!"

"It's amazing how much a little motivation can help," Shane said cheerfully. "Now here comes the airplane!"

"GOOSE! THAT'S NOT OATMEAL! WHAT IS THAT STUFF? NO! NO! AAAGGGH! HELP! THE GOOSEMAN IS TRYING TO POISON ME! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHGGGGHHHH!"

"It's only been a few days..." Zach blinked. "How...?"

"I was about to tell you," Eliza sighed. "When I was gone he snuck out and grabbed his badge and entered the charging room. Apparently he was able to activate his bio defenses enough to get at least half his strength back."

"IT WAS WORTH A FEW CRAMPS TO DO THIS!" Shane cackled wildly. "SO I PASSED OUT ON THE FLOOR FOR A FEW MINUTES! STILL WORTH IT! SMILE FOR THE CAMERA DOC!"

"AAAHHHGGGKKKKKK! GOOSEMAN YOU ARE A MANIAC!"

"You were saying?" Eliza groaned.

"Then again, maybe not..." Zach sighed.

And so begins a new chapter in the Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers! Hope you all like the insanity to come!