Chapter Five 

The two men exchanged glances.  

"I see what you mean," Ivanov said. "Come back to my quarters, I might have the answer." As soon as they were inside, he set the privacy seal so they would not be disturbed. He turned to Pattisson. "It wasn't him. He's protecting someone else, that's why he can't give you any details, he doesn't know them." 

The Major stared at him in surprise, then nodded consideringly, "That would certainly explain it. Who would he go to those lengths to protect, do you know?" 

Ivanov grimaced, "This is awkward Major. Remember this is only speculation on my part, but I think it would have to be Duran, my First Officer." He looked very unhappy. "And I think I have an idea as to why. Duran has an interview for Captaincy on Monday, they must both know that something like this would make that out of the question, if not permanently, at least for some time to come."  

Pattisson raised his eyebrows, "Duran's prepared to let his friend take the blame? A junior officer? That's not good. In fact, in my eyes that's worse than talking out of turn." 

The Captain agreed, looking worried. "I can't believe he hasn't already come clean, he can't be thinking clearly." 

"Is Duran an om as well?" Normally that information was restricted to the Captain and the Chief Medical Officer, but Pattisson had the authority to request it if he needed to. 

"Yes, he is." Ivanov saw no point in making the Major wait for a formal request. "And before you ask, he's not in a sexual relationship with Alexander to the best of my knowledge, but they are close friends." 

Pattisson had been thinking. "You know, if Ryan was the instigator, that makes sense now. Assume for a moment that Ryan was primed by someone to find out how the case was progressing. Duran is easily identifiable with those scars of his, easy to follow, and it would have been reasonable to assume that he was being kept informed, given that he was personally involved in the original operation." 

"They got lucky," agreed the Captain. 

"I don't suppose we'll get Alexander to admit it, but I think you're right Captain, I think that's what happened. I'll send someone back to the Purple Heart to ask more questions. And I need to see Duran as soon as possible, he has a lot of explaining to do." 

Ivanov intervened, looking earnestly at Major Pattisson. "I know he hasn't presented himself in a good light over this sir, but until now he has been one of the best officers I've worked with. I can't believe he'll let Alexander take the heat for this much longer. I'd really appreciate it if you could hold off confronting him, he has to tell us himself or not only will he never be a Captain, but he'll be lucky to stay an officer."  

Pattisson bit the inside of his lip. He knew exactly where the Captain was coming from but by the same token he had a criminal to catch. "I'll see what I can do. Let me just check with Captain Tazi down on Beledi, see what they have so far." 

Captain Ivanov took the comet by the tail and went in search of his First Lieutenant. He found him on duty on the bridge, still looking rather pale and very tense. His eyes met the Captain's for only a second before sliding away. Ivanov felt a flash of relief, Duran was feeling guilty, guilt was good if you knew you had done something wrong. Now all he needed was to get him to confess, preferably before Pattisson arrested him! 

"I've just been to see Lieutenant Alexander," he told him, only noticing the slight flinch at the name because he was looking for it.  

"He's refusing to talk, for some reason." He turned away casually to make a small adjustment on the screen before him. "Pattisson wants him flogged for obstructing the enquiry." He noted the shocked intake of breath from the man next to him.  

"He can't! Captain, you can't let him do that!" 

Ivanov sighed, "Well, I'm reluctant to authorise it, but I may not have much choice."  

Duran stood there, what the fuck was he doing? Arguing with the Captain about whether he should or shouldn't have Jack flogged? 

Ivanov turned back to him, an expression of innocent concern on his face, "Do you think it would help if you were to talk to him first?"  

For a startled minute he thought Duran was going to faint in front of him, he went so pale.  

"I can't! I can't face him!" Duran stretched out a hand to steady himself on the console unit. He went on, oblivious of the other men on the bridge openly listening. "Captain it's all my fault, it wasn't Jack, it was me. I was the one who slept with Ryan and shot my mouth off, Jack was just trying to protect me." He looked around. "Where's the Major? I have to tell him." 

The Captain kept his smile of relief hidden. "He's in my quarters, talking to Captain Tazi on the com unit. Go and see him right now, I'll get someone to relieve you here." 

Duran left the bridge as fast as he could, ignoring the Second Lieutenant's stunned expression as he came to take over. 

Major Pattisson kept a polite look of enquiry on his face when Duran flashed his ID at the door and bid him enter. "What can I do for you Lieutenant?" he asked. 

"It's my fault sir!" Duran repeated, breathlessly. "You have to let Jack go, he was just trying to protect me." 

"Have a seat Lieutenant and calm down," Pattisson gestured to the chair in front of him. "Now, let's have that again, slowly this time." YES! Inwardly Pattisson was jubilant.