<<Part Two>> ===== Rangi's Office, Sickbay, USS Chimera ===== "Please be careful" she told him quietly, forcing a glimmer of a smile in response to his grin."The aliens are all over that place..they've actually killed researchers there...one touch is enough." Shane beamed a smile at Rangi and replied to her quietly: "I know that Rangi. Pease trust me that I will be carefull for myself and for the team as well. I've seen just too many casualities counted towards those aliens. I dont want to see one more ..." He reached for both of her hands and took hold of them in his own. "Rangi, please have someone have a look at you." He paused for a second half knowing that she wont like what she was telling her: "Please understand me, you were long missing, under stress and in danger ... there might be some after effect of that " he looked in her eyes, "even if you feel fine now" Her lips lifted at the corners, widening into a warm smile. She was touched by his concern and knew that even though she had no need of attention herself, it would please him if she agreed. "If it makes you happy, I will." she said. "I'll ask Scott as soon as he has a free moment." Shane beamed a broad smile at her: "Thank you Rangi. You know, once this all is over I have a surprise for you on holodeck ... and I dont want you to be ill and miss such fun ..." "What fun?" she asked at once."What surprise?" She laughed at the knowing expression on his face. "Tell me!" she demanded, clasping his hands as though to shake the truth out of him. Shane shook his head and with a light grin and a bright light in his eyes he said: "No way Rangi ... its a secret and a surprise" He laughed shortly: "No pairs of Orion firescorpions could drag the words from me" "Ooooh!" she responded with make believe annoyance, but not wanting to spoil his pleasure in keeping secret the surprise he planned, she shook her head at him and laughed. Shane squeezed her hands and looked at his feet first. Now came the hard part of their first meeting. He had to tell her about Rob's death. Shane was quite sure that Rangi was unaware about that ... there was little time to skim through all the casualities reports by her and he asked Scott and DeSoto not to tell her. He wanted be the one who will tell Rangi about the death of a man she loved ... once ... "Rangi" he whispered, "there is something I need to tell you" he said. With one hand he pointed towards her seat and asked: "Please take place first". With wonder in her eyes, Rangi went over to her table and sat down still looking at Shane. Shane nodded and said: "Thank you Milacik. I have a sad news for you ... and I wanted to be the first to tell you ..." He sighed again: "1LT. Richards was killed by an alien several hours ago ..." Rangi stared at him blankly, as though he had suddenly spoken in a language she didnt understand.For a long moment she sat silent and motionless. {Robs dead...dead...an alien...several hours ago...Rob is dead..killed...by an alien} It didnt make sense , yet she knew it was true. Shane had told her and that meant it was a fact.There was a rush of hot scolding tears to her eyes and in that moment Shane reached across the desk and grasped her hand. The movement brought her to focus on him and blinking back the tears she took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. Aware that his hand covered hers, she twisted it to hold his fingers. With a slow half shake of her head she whispered : "No" and lowered her head, her eyes falling on the pile of reports awaiting her attention.Amongst them she knew, would be one telling her of Robs death...coldly and clinically...stating the bare facts...ending his life. She raised brimming eyes to Shane. "Poor Athena..." she said, her voice hardly audible. "Does she know?" Shane saw in her face how shaken she was about the news. He knew that once ... long ago ... she was deep in love with that man and being such a sensible woman ... the news of his death would mean a lot for her. But still ... she cared for others first and asked about Athena. Shane nodded: "Yes, she does. In fact" he paused ..."she was there" he looked again in her eyes, "just as it happened" "Thats terrible" Rangi whispered."I had no idea." She dropped her gaze to the desk top and for a moment was lost in muddled thought.When she looked up at him again, she clasped his hand in both of hers."What happened?" she asked " ....did he suffer?" Shane sighed and thought a second about what to tell her. {Full truth?} he asked himself. {Will be the best I guess ... cause she will read the report anyway} he thought. He looked again in her beautifull eyes and carried on: "No, luckily he was almost instantly dead. He was touched by an alien ... trying to defend Athena ..." "Defend..... Athena?......I see." She looked into his eyes and saw compassion there."I cant believe it.." she softly "..it doesnt seem possible." Letting go of his hand, she stood up and walked a few steps away from her desk.She shook her head in disbelief and stood silently for some seconds then turned to face him. "Thankyou for telling me....I'm glad it came from you and noone else." Shane watched her carefully and with a little fear how she might take the bad news. His worries only rised as she 'seemingly' calmed down. Shane knew that she was sure deep shaken ... and now was burying it into herself. "yes, its a tragedy for Richards, Athena and ... you" he said slowly: "How do you feel my love?" he asked carefully. "Me?...I dont know!" The silliness of the reply caused a flicker of a smile.She paced back to stand in front of Shane."I just cant believe it.He was so...." Suddenly reaching out her hand she said simply "Shane?" Shane catched her hand reaching for his and squeezed it: "I know Rangi. I know that it catche dyou unpreapared ..." he gave her a weak smile: "You know what I mean ... you see death almost every day ... but somehow expects that you and your close ... are an exception, and ... when it comes at last ... you just cant believe it" He pulled her gently to him and whispered: "I am here for you Rangi, now and always ..." Rangi buried her face against his shoulder trying to hold back the stinging tears."I know you are." she said brokenly holding him tightly."Shane.....I...." but her words were lost in a juddering sob. Shane hugged his beloved tightly and tried to give her a bit of comfort. He knew that he could do only little and it was only up to her to make 'peace' with Rob ... but from experience he knew that just the fact that one's beloved was there ... was a great help. "It will be all good Rangi ... " he whispered. Rangi knew a matchless comfort, wrapped as she was in his arms.After a short time she raised her right hand and brushed away her tears. She kept her head against his shoulder, staring at the door but 'seeing' other things. Eventually she raised her head and looked at Shane. Shane was glad that hse gave free way to her feelings ... it was a good sign. As she looked up at him he smiled at her a bit and with his fingers wiped the last remaints of her tears from her cheeks. "He died as a marine, with honor ... defending the crew ... I think he would be glad about that ...: She nodded once, forcing an answering smile. "Yes...yes he would." She took a deep breath and reaching up, touched his face. {What is he thinking?} she wondered. "I love you" she whispered. Shane stroked her hair softly and answered her back: "I love you too Milacik". Looking in her eyes, Shane thought that he saw there some question ... and that made him a bit puzzled ... "Rangi, what is it?" he asked hoping that she would tell him if he was right. "It was a shock.." she answered quietly."...and I'm sad that he died..very sad.Its a waste of a life." Rangi hesitated. "Shane..... you know what he meant to me once...but thats in the past. You do know that dont you?" "Ah" slipped from his lips. {Thats the question then} he thought as a warm smile appeared on his lips. {She feared that I might think that she loves him still?} went through his head. "Yes my love, I know that and I dont doubt on you ... I trust you over everything else ... I know what you feel for me" He stroked her again: "And I do the same for you Milacik ..." This time the smile was the one he knew. She reached for the hand that caressed her hair and pressing his fingers to her lips, she gently kissed them and held them to her cheek. Rangi was again back! ... that was a fact. Rangi was now like the woman he loved ... pretty, nice and absolutely lovely. Like a dream ... Very different from Athena for example. It was funny how opposite both women were ... and Shane knew how he choosed. "I love you Milacik" he whispered. "But its time to move along ... " he said softly, "I guess the Colonel is dancing in front of this door already ..." Rangi took a deep breath and stepped back a pace."In that case...you must go."she said smiling into his eyes She pressed her hand against his chest."...but promise me you'll take care...no heroics........promise?" Shane sighed: "I never am my love. Only my officers die ... defending me" For a moment an expression of helplessness appeared on Shane's face. "I promise my love" he whispered as the expression disapeared again. "But you must please too" he said with a little smile on his face again. "I will." she told him softly."..and I promise to be here when you return." Shane beamed a smile at her: "I take you by your word MIlacik" and leaned forward to kiss he on her lips. *** End Log *** LtCmdr Shane Guzman XO USS Chimera & LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera