***CMOs office USS Chimera*** Rangi sat at her desk studying the padd in her hands. {{A new doctor...hmmmmm...why no name then? It must be a very last minute thing.}} She set the padd aside and took a sip of water from her glass. Ens Jones, only on board one day,had been recalled for urgent 'personal reasons' Rangi sighed, thinking it would be good to have everything settled. Steve walked along the corridor in quite a good mood. Actually he was excited ... a new position and a new ship. An explorer class ship. That means that they will travel all across the known space ... meeting new liveform almost every day. A sight that amazed him. Another reason he was so happy about the assigment was that he was at last away from Aurora. Thinking about a special woman there his mood dropped a bit. No doubt he liked her very much ... and felt very hurt when she told him that she still loved that little tactical officer. Rangi leaned back in her chair and felt a stiffness from sitting so long in one position. She stood up, walked a few steps, stretching her aching back, hands behind her head, eyes closed.She relaxed with a sigh just as a knock sounded on the open office door. "Come in?" she said opening her eyes and stifling a yawn. Hearing the affirmation to enter, Steve walked into the CMOs office. He was eager to report as soon as possible and start with his duties. It was SOOOO nice to be in a medical facility again. Seeing a female officer turned with his back to him he stand to a formal attention and reported: "Ens. Steve DeSoto reporting to duty ma'am" Rangi gasped at the sound of his voice.{{Steve?...here?}} she thought, a frown crossing her face. She swallowed and slowly turned to face him, forcing a small smile. "Steve.." her voice hardly made a sound "Steve.." she managed a little louder "What a surprise...I had no idea.." she half extended her hand. "Welcome to....Sickbay." "Rangi !!!???" gasped Steve is shock. Unable to move he just stared at her. {Rangi?? Here ?? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE} a voice in his head screamed. Still staring at her like seeing a ghost he managed to say: "You? here? how?" She looked down at her desk, disconcerted by his reaction. Meeting his eyes she stood up straight. "I'm the CMO here." she told him and regaining more self control added "..and you..it seems..are part of my team. Please Steve..sit down." It was like a cage closed behind him again. He left Aurora mainly because her ... after 3 months he got a new assigment ... only to find HER being his CMO! {What was that for a word!} he thought. Without saying a single word he almost collapsed into the offered chair. His eyes twinkled with a white light. Rangi sat in her chair not looking at him, tapping her fingers on the desk top in an uneven beat. A whole host of thoughts ran through her mind. {{What sort of 'luck' had brought him here? how shocked he obviously is to see me.}} She glanced across at him remembering how he had told her of his plans to leave Aurora..to set distance between the two of them. {{Does Shane know?}} The thought hit her with a cold touch. Taking a deep breath she said "I'm pleased to have you in the department." It sounded detatched though she meant the words. Steve replied like he was learned in the academy: "Thank you ma'am. I am glad to be a part of your team ... ma'am" he added. {One cant run away from his fate ...} Steve thought while looking at the floor. A sudden thought hit his head: "If that Guzman is on Aurora and Rangi here ... there might be hope!}. His face suddenly brightened like a sky after a storm. "I am really glad about that ... Rangi" Pleased to see the familiar smile again she thought {{He's over it then..there wont be a problem}} She returned a small smile. "Good!" her smile widened. "You might find a few things you're not expecting here...apart from me I mean.." she added as an attempt to break any remaining awkwardness "Most of the doors, replicators, lights and some turbo lifts amoung other things still dont actually work!!" Steve shook his head cheerily: "I dont mind that Rangi. Its a new ship, its almost supposed to be that way ..." He beamed a warm smile at her: "If all the surprises will be so nice as this one ... I am a lucky man then." Turning to duty business he said: "What listing do you have for me Rangi?" She didnt answer at once but looked at him with a smile in her eyes. She was relieved that things seemed so normal between them again, that he seemed to have put things behind him. She reached for the list of medical checks she was a third of the way through and stopped. Shanes words echoed in her mind .{{What was it he said that time?..Steve had told him about Drakanus...told him..what?}} "I'm compiling medical records of the entire crew." she said."Its divided into three parts..mine..Scott Fishers..and Bob Jones..thats who you replaced." She pushed the padd across the desk for him to see.The next on his list was the XO. Rangi watched his expression. Steve took happily the PADD. "Hmm .. the XO? will be a pleasure for me ... hopefully its not some grim marine officer that will avoid medical like a devil the cross" he said with a smile. Tapping the PADD he looked the XO's info. Suddenly the PADD dropped from his shaking hand to the table. Another shock made him to freeze. "GUZMAN? SHane Guzman? He is here the XO?" he asked not ready to believe that fact. {{So it isnt over..}} she thought and stood up. She bit her lower lip between her teeth for a moment then walked around her desk and stood in front of him. "Yes." she said levelly."Lt Guzman is the XO here.Will that be a problem for you?...." "I hope not." she went on before he had time to answer the question."He's a good choice for that job...just as you are for this one. Steve...we are adults..intelligent people...there's no need to continue what is now in the past. You would be an asset to this department. I would be pleased to have you work here with us..but if you cant...or wont..then you must tell me now. I will see the Captain and have you transferred from this ship......but I honestly hope it wont come to that." Steve gulped. He was so happy an hour ago and now it seemed that the shadows of the past catched up with him. Whats the chance that the woman that he loved and that rejected him would become his CMO? And that her bf, the man that caused all the pain would become his XO? One to 1 million? "No, I dont have any problems with the XO ..." he replied not using any names. "I dont want to be transfered away from this ship Rangi ... I ... I just ... I just want " he left the sentence unfinished and stood from the chair turning his back to Rangi. Rangi put her hand to her face and looked at his back over the tips of her fingers. She could see the pain he was in and was at a loss as to what to do or say. She wanted him on the Chimera. He was a good doctor, one who would enhance her team.He was or at least had been, a good friend in the past and she wanted him here because she knew that was what HE wanted for himself. She dropped her hand, closed her eyes, opened them and took a deep breath. "What do you want?" she asked quietly. Steve remained in his position for another moment. He was breathing heavily, trying to become his emotions under control and to calm down. {I wont let HIM to ruin my life again ...} he thought, {I am feeling nothing towards her anymore ...} he said to himself. From a little part it was the truth, he felt not the unstoppable passion for her ... it was more like some sort of a hidden fire, not burning much ... but always ready to burst into a new flame. "What do I want?" he turned suddenly to Rangi: "I want a place in the team and a place I could call a home ... will you grant me that Rangi?" he asked. She searched his face, at first doubtful but reassured by what she 'read' there. Her lips parted in a wide smile. "Most willingly." she answered stepping towards him "I'm glad thats your decision.....really I am." Steve nodded and smiled a bit too: "Thank you Rangi ..." he turned half away to grab a tricorder and shook his hands demonstrating the scanning of a patient. Rangi sat at her desk studying the padd in her hands. {{A new doctor...hmmmmm...why no name then? It must be a very last minute thing.}} She set the padd aside and took a sip of water from her glass.Ens Jones, only on board one day, had been recalled for urgent 'personal reasons' Rangi sighed, thinking it would be good to have everything settled. Steve walked along the corridor in quite a good mood. Actually he was excited ... a new position and a new ship. An explorer class ship. That means that they will travel all across the known space ... meeting new liveform almost every day. A sight that amazed him. Another reason he was so happy about the assigment was that he was at last away from Aurora. Thinking about a special woman there his mood dropped a bit. No doubt he liked her very much ... and felt very hurt when she told him that she still loved that little tactical officer. Rangi leaned back in her chair and felt a stiffness from sitting so long in one position. She stood up, walked a few steps, stretching her aching back, hands behind her head, eyes closed.She relaxed with a sigh just as a knock sounded on the open office door. "Come in?" she said opening her eyes and stifling a yawn. Hearing the affirmation to enter, Steve walked into the CMOs office. He was eager to report as soon as possible and start with his duties. It was SOOOO nice to be in a medical facility again. Seeing a female officer turned with his back to him he stand to a formal attention and reported: "Ens. Steve DeSoto reporting to duty ma'am" Rangi gasped at the sound of his voice.{{Steve?...here?}} she thought a frown crossing her face. She swallowed and slowly turned to face him, forcing a small smile."Steve.." her voice hardly made a sound "Steve.." she managed a little louder "What a surprise...I had no idea.." she half extended her hand. "Welcome to....Sickbay." "Rangi !!!???" gasped Steve is shock. Unable to move he just stared at her. {Rangi?? Here ?? HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE} a voice in his head screamed. Still staring at her like seeing a ghost he managed to say: "You? here? how?" She looked down at her desk, disconcerted by his reaction. Meeting his eyes she stood up straight. "I'm the CMO here." she told him and regaining more self control added "..and you..it seems..are part of my team. Please Steve..sit down." It was like a cage closed behind him again. He left Aurora mainly because her ... after 3 months he got a new assigment ... only to find HER being his CMO! {What was that for a word!} he thought. Without saying a single word he almost collapsed into the offered chair. His eyes twinkled with a white light. Rangi sat in her chair not looking at him, tapping her fingers on the desk top in an uneven beat. A whole host of thoughts ran through her mind.{{What sort of 'luck' had brought him here? how shocked he obviously is to see me.}} She glanced across at him remembering how he had told her of his plans to leave Aurora..to set distance between the two of them.{{Does Shane know?}} The thought hit her with a cold touch. Taking a deep breath she said "I'm pleased to have you in the department." It sounded detatched though she meant the words. Steve replied like he was learned in the academy: "Thank you ma'am. I am glad to be a part of your team ... ma'am" he added. {One cant run away from his fate ...} Steve thought while looking at the floor. A sudden thought hit his head: "If that Guzman is on Aurora and Rangi here ... there might be hope!}. His face suddenly brightened like a sky after a storm. "I am really glad about that ... Rangi" Pleased to see the familiar smile again she thought {{He's over it then..there wont be a problem}} She returned a small smile. "Good!" her smile widened. "You might find a few things you're not expecting here...apart from me I mean.." she added as an attempt to break any remaining awkwardness "Most of the doors, replicators, lights and some turbo lifts amoung other things still dont actually work!!" Steve shook his head cheerily: "I dont mind that Rangi. Its a new ship, its almost supposed to be that way ..." He beamed a warm smile at her: "If all the surprises will be so nice as this one ... I am a lucky man then." Turning to duty business he said: "What listing do you have form me Rangi?" She didnt answer at once but looked at him with a smile in her eyes. She was relieved that things seemed so normal between them again, that he seemed to have put things behind him.She reached for the list of medical checks she was a third of the way through and stopped.Shanes words echoed in her mind .{{What was it he said that time?..Steve had told him about Drakanus...told him..what?}} "I'm compiling medical records of the entire crew." she said."Its divided into three parts..mine..Scott Fishers..and Bob Jones..thats who you replaced." she pushed the padd across the desk for him to see.The next on his list was the XO. Rangi watched his expression. Steve took happily the PADD. "Hmm .. the XO? will be a pleasure for me ... hopefully its not some grim marine officer that will avoid medical like a devil the cross" he said with a smile. Tapping the PADD he looked the XO's info. Suddenly the PADD dropped from his shaking hand to the table. Another shock made him to freeze. "GUZMAN? SHane Guzman? He is here the XO?" he asked not ready to believe that fact. {{So it isnt over..}} she thought and stood up.She bit her lower lip between her teeth for a moment then walked around her desk and stood in front of him. "Yes." she said levelly."Lt Guzman is the XO here.Will that be a problem for you?...." "I hope not." she went on before he had time to answer the question."He's a good choice for that job...just as you are for this one. Steve...we are adults..intelligent people...there's no need to continue what is now in the past. You would be an asset to this department. I would be pleased to have you work here with us..but if you cant...or wont..then you must tell me now. I will see the Captain and have you transferred from this ship......but I honestly hope it wont come to that." Steve gulped. He was so happy an hour ago and now it seemed that the shadows of the past catched up with him. Whats the chance that the woman that he loved and that rejected him would become his CMO? And that her bf, the man that caused all the pain would become his XO? One to 1 million? "No, I dont have any problems with the XO ..." he replied not using any names. "I dont want to be transfered away from this ship Rangi ... I ... I just ... I just want " he left the sentence unfinished and stood from the chair turning his back to Rangi. Rangi put her hand to her face and looked at his back over the tips of her fingers. She could see the pain he was in and was at a loss as to what to do or say.She wanted him on the Chimera. He was a good doctor, one who would enhance her team.He was or at least had been, a good friend in the past and she wanted him here because she knew that was what HE wanted for himself. She dropped her hand, closed her eyes, opened them and took a deep breath. "What do you want?" she asked quietly. Steve remained in his position for an another moment. He was breathing heavily, trying to become his emotions under control and to calm down. {I wont let HIM to ruin my life again ...} he thought, {I am feeling nothing towards her anymore ...} he said to himself. From a little part it was the truth, he felt not the unstoppable passion for her ... it was more like some sort of a hidden fire, not burning much ... but always ready to burst into a new flame. "What do I want?" he turned suddenly to Rangi: "I want a place in the team and a place I could call a home ... will you grant me that Rangi?" he asked. She searched his face, at first doubtful but reassured by what she 'read' there. Her lips parted in a wide smile. "Most willingly." she answered stepping towards him "I'm glad thats your decision.....really I am." Steve nodded and smiled a bit too: "Thank you Rangi ..." he turned half away to grab a tricorder and shook his hands demonstrating the scanning of a patient. "Where is the XO? He is due for a check, isnt he?" Suddenly, not certain anymore that this was the a wisest thing, but at the same time thinking it too late to alter now, Rangi nodded. "He's due here anytime now..12.00 was his appointment time...I dont think he would..." she caught her words back 'be late for me' she was going to say but thought better of it. She walked to the door. "If you wait in bay 2 he'll be there soon I'm sure" she told Steve, at the same time thinking that she might stop Shane as he entered Sickbay and tell him the news. ***End Log*** Ltjg Rangi Summers CMO USS Chimera & Ensign Steve Desoto AMO USS Chimera (npc written by Muma)