===== Main Sickbay, USS Chimera ===== Shane slowly opened his eyes. The dim light in the sickbay blinded him for a moment and then he started to recognize where he was. The ceiling looked familiar, he sure has seen it before. He could hear several people talking not far away so he turned his head to have a look in that direction. Still a bit blurred, but surely known. Lucy, the 'aunt', Ens. Maikai, the young doctor in the team, Ens. Carpenter, the pretty lady and the nicest of all ... the love of his life ... Rangi - the queen of the sickbay. Shane was home ... Lucy spread her hands, palms upwards, in a gesture of helplessness. "So I ask you.." she continued to the end of the tale she was telling. "...what was I supposed to do with it...eat it?!" The three women laughed, relaxed now that the sickbays were quiet and they were able to spend a few moments in light hearted chatter. "Mercedes..Maikai?...time you weren't here...you need some rest."Rangi said. The two AMO's nodded, said 'goodnight' and walked off together towards the main exit. "Somebody wants you" Lucy told Rangi and pointedly looked past her to where the XO lay. Rangi half turned, saw Shane was awake at last, smiled back at Lucy and moved towards Shanes bed. Shane noticed Rangi going his way and beamed a broad smile at her. His throat felt a bit sore (cause all the singing on the station's party) so he only whispered: "Rangi, I am sooooo glad to see you again." Reaching to take hold of the hand he held out to her, Rangi clasped it between her own, lifting it as she bent her head and gently kissed the strong fingers. "Hello Commander" she whispered giving him a soft smile and pressing his hand to her heart before gently releasing it and perching herself on the edge of his bed. "How are you..." An alarm sounded, set off by the sudden increase in heart rate, blood pressure and other vital signs it detected when a second person increased the bio readings of the scans it was permanetly carrying out.. "Oh!...silly thing!!" Rangi said, jumping up and stretching up to press one of the many buttons above Shanes bed. Silence reigned. She grinned at him. "So how are you feeling?" she asked looking at him fondly and unable to resist smoothing a hand on his unruly hair. Shane grinned: "I feel like a squashed bug to be honest." he replied. He looked a bit uncertain while saying: "I hope I have not brawled in some bar". Looking at Rangi from her feet up to her head he asked: "But how are you? Are you all right? How did you get on the ship?" "I'm fine" she replied and added "...now that you're here." She squeezed his hand and released it, looking around from left to right. She spotted a stool and quickly collected it, bringing it back and positioning it near to Shanes bed. She sat down and continued to answer his questions. "I came back to the ship with three other crew. We hitched a lift on a freighter." She smiled at his puzzled expression deciding not to mention evading security and the trigger happy Acheson. Shane nodded smiling at Rangi. "Great" he replied glad that his beloved was safe and sound and never been in the danger to witness the warp core breach on the station. "What about the crew?" asked the XO in him, "is everyone safe on board?" She nodded."Yes....it took a while to find them all but they're all back now and all in one piece!" She thought about the crewman with the sword and decided not to mention that either.Instead she said brightly: "It was a strange sort of illness really and fortunately the treatment was simple enough and there doesnt 'seem' to be any long lasting effects....Oriana was one of those worst effected...because she's Vulcan...but she was released before you arrived back." Rangi smiled reassuringly. Shane sighed in relief. Everyone was fine, maybe besides the few crew that still felt the after effects of the illness, like Oriana. He looked sideways at Rangi and asked: "Illness? We have been under the effects of some illness?" "Errrrr....yeeees!" she said, realizing that he didnt know. She had been aware of the problem for so long that she had forgotten he knew nothing about it. "You remember that lovely flower you gave me?" she asked, seeming to go off at a tangent. "..the beautiful red one with the exquisite perfume?..the one I put beside our bed?...well it caused us a problem." {That nice looking flower?} Shane wondered. "Its hard to imagine that a little flower could cause such troubles. How's that possible?" he asked curious. "It was taken on board the base and no one realised thats its pollen effects people. It accentuates their moods...and causes hallucinations." She looked him and tried to hide her smile. "Just about everyone's been affected. Vulcans particularly badly." She paused and decided to keep the explanation about Shanes brother until later. "I had ..err...a companion with me..your 'Luggage'..you know that picture you have..the Luggage...... it followed me around for hours" Shane smiled: "Luggage? You mean the pirate chest with 100 little legs that belongs to Ricewind the wizard?" he asked and grinned. "I thought you dont like the picture ..." "I don't!" she said grinning back "...and exactly why I should conjure 'that' up I do not know!!" "Hmmm" Shane thought, "I believe I could replicate a picture of the Luggage for you, if interested ..." Seeing Rangi's facial expression he added hastily: "All, right, all right ... it was just a joke ... dont bite me pretty lady". He grinned again and looked at the direction of the exit: "By the way ... when can I leave here? I think that a shower and fresh uniform is a must for me ..." She was ready for his request. "Dont even think about it!" she said dismissively and stood up."You've been ill...as I was..and I want you to stay here...for tonight at least." She softened her tone and looked at him with an expression that said.'please dont argue about this' Shane looked at Rangi like he wanted to protest. Maybe he could try, but knowing his beloved, he would have to win a looooong dispute and the only thing that could maybe bring him out of here at the moment were the three pips on his collar. Not wantng to pull rank this time he just nodded: "All right Rangi, one night. Tomorrow at 0700 you'll examine me and set fit for duty. Lets call it a deal?" Pleased that he gave in so easily she smiled her thanks. "Its a deal" she agreed."Now I want you to sleep..you need to you know. I'm going off duty myself...we'll both have a good sleep and I'll come down in the morning and release you!" They exchanged a smile. Rangi leaned forward and gently kissed him. "Sleep well " she whispered.".....I love you" ===== End of log ===== LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO USS Chimera