*** Sickbay , USS Chimera *** Things were running well in sickbay. A steady stream of recalled crew were undergoing checks and answering the questions posed to them by the three doctors on duty. Rangi glanced up from filling in a report on her current patient and saw Shanes tall figure standing inside the main entrance. He was looking around the busy department with interest. Rangi waited until he turned his head in her direction and when he made eye contact with her, signalled to him that he go to her office and that she would be there in a short time. Shane watched the sickbay with interest like always. The sickbay looked most of the time like a busy bee hive. Teal clad officers and NCO staff cared always about a quite high number of sick crew. Aye, it was a bit surprising, one could think that on a small ship like the Chimera was, there would be almost no work for the medial crew ... but there you go. A broken arm from an ODA training, a burn engineer doing maintanance on some plasma circuits, a paraniod cadet send over by the ship's counselor. Always what to do! Finally spotting Rangi he beamed a smile at her. She seemed to be busy like her AMOs, but when she motioned him to go to her office, he knew she will find the time for him. Aye, Shane was ACO now, but there were only few 'good' reasons why bother a busy CMO. Walking to the little office, he nodded in greeting to several of the crew in the sickbay. As the door closed behind him Shane went over to Rangi's desk and looked at the picture he knew was there. His own picture. When Rangi entered her office it was with relief. She paused for a moment, stood with eyes closed and sighed, glad to be free of the busy pace outside for a few minutes.She reopend her eyes and smiled widely at Shane, their last meeting, tinged with angry words, Forgotten. Crossing the room towards him she said: "Thats a good likeness...you remember that day?" and came to stand beside him, looking fondly at the picture he held. Shane smiled at his beloved back. He had Rangi's attitude towards Athena still in mind, but that thought was pushed in a far corner. Rangi was there and that was the only thing that counts. "No I dont" he replied truthfully, "but there are many things I dont remember instantly" He took her hand and squeezed it, "How good that there are not many forgotten things concerning you" Looking in his beloved face he asked with care: "I do see you have here quite a hasty place, are you all right Rangi? Dont you need some rest?" Rangi hid a smile as one might humour a child. {Not many things forgotten concerning me?} she thought {...and this from the man who has yet to remember my birthday?...} Squeezing his hand in return she shook her head. "No I dont need rest..but I DO need to talk to you. Take a seat?" Unaware that she spoke to him as though he was a patient, she moved around her desk and sat in her own chair.She opened her mouth to speak, stopped and closed it, looking down at her desk momentarily.Raising her head she made a new effort. "We have to check on everyone exposed to the pollen.." she began. "I've discovered that in some cases the effects can be long term...and thats what we're searching for...out there." she indicated the door. Lt Idrani came to see me....he's been suffering hallucinations. He thought he was losing his mind." She leaned back in her chair and explained to Shane what Gaalen had told her and how she had remembered reading about research done into pollen. She told him how she had contacted Professor Griffin and related all he had said. "So thats why I recalled everyone.At the moment there are only four cases come to light.Two of them I've suspended from duty.Corporal Burrows..because she thinks she's being followed by nineteen rabbits....and Ensign Rensborg...he's repeatedly hearing part f Tv'alOghtoch...you know?...that Klingon opera?...but only bars seven to twentytwo apparantly...poor man." She shook her head sadly, paused, then forced a weak smile and said. " Lt Idrani is coping well.He's to report back here in two days time but I'm confident he can continue his duties without problem...and the fourth case I mentioned......It's me." Before Shane could utter a word, Rangi leaned forward, hands on the edge of her desk and said: "Thats what I wanted to explain to you this morning. I'm sorry I made such a bad job of it..I shouldnt have got upset ofcourse." Her expression showed worry as her eyes searched his face for a clue to his thoughts."I know I'm being unreasonable..I 'do' know that..but I cant seem to stop it.When we saw Athena at the Winter Ball...I imagined she was making up to you...its beacuse of the..the feelings you had for her on Aurora.....and then the rumours on this ship...that you two spent time in her quarters alone.You explained that...and I believe you ofcourse...but..well...it just seems to me that as soon as I mentioned her name you got all defensive somehow......" she sank back from the desk, looking down at her fingers Shane frowned at the mentioning of the ongoing effects of the pollen infection. He could very well remember his own halucinations. An ongoing effect of the pollen on the crew could be a serious threat to the ship's operations and to their ability to fullfill missions entrusted from SF or SSF Command. That wasnt a good news! When Rangi mentioned that she was suffering from the pollen effects as well, Shane's frow deeped even more. "You ... you are under the pollen effect as well Rangi?" he asked quietly and with traces of care in his voice, "how serious the effects are?" She took a deep breath and released it, considering his question. "Well" she said after a few seconds while raising her head to look at him again."They're worsening.Its just this...'feeling' I have.In a way I wish the Luggage had stayed with me rather than this." Her expression plainly said she wasn't joking and she continued: "At first it was a vague sort of...annoyance..and then a dislkie to be near her. Shane..its horrible. Athena and I were frinds..I mean...we ARE friends..but I dont feel friendly. When I see her...or talk about her...its...its like a knife twisting inside." She shook her head and stood up, walked slowly to the front of her desk and perched on the edge lookingdown at Shane."Its not interferring with my work. I'm sure of that." she said quietly Shane nodded not fully satisfied, but if he could not trust the CMO about a medical issue, whom he might? He looked in her eyes and said: "I have to apologize about yesterday evening as well Rangi. I dont know why I get so ... upset ... when you mention Athena." He squeezed her hand and continued: "I really dont know why, you know ... there is nothing between Athena and me, I love you Rangi. Sure, she is a good friend to me, but nothing more. Maybe ... maybe the thing that upsets me is that many of the crew think that Athena is well ... how to say it ... a bit ... erm ... easy?" He looked in Rangi's eyes and continued: "But I know Athena, she is far from that. Aye, she wears appealing clothes sometimes and its her nature to be almost all the time flirting, but I dont think she means it in real. And I am sick to hear from all sides just bad things about her. And now you see .. the bad things are even about her and me." Rangi nodded still held in Shanes gaze. After a moment or two she forced a small smile and reached out to give his face a fleeting touch. "I know." she said and added "...but its not true." ===== End of log, part I ===== LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO/AXO USS Chimera & Cmdr. Shane Guzman XO/ACO USS Chimera