===== CMO office, USS Chimera ===== Rangi had just pressed the replicator button when a light tapping on her office door caused her to look up enquiringly. "Come in" she said leaning sideways to see who it might be. "Steve!....come in I'll be with you in a second." The AMO turned his head at the sound of her voice, smiled and hesitated a few paces inside the room. "Can I get you anything to drink?" Rangi asked watching a steaming mug materialise. She glanced at Steve and gave him a quick smile. "Errrrr...yes...a coffee would be good ... thanks." "Black... one sugar?" Rangi asked lifting her mug free of the replicator. "Thats fine." he agreed. "Take a seat." she said, giving another momentary glance in his direction. He moved to the deskside chair and sat down, turning to watch her programme instructions into the replicator and after a few seconds, lift out a matching blue mug to the one she held. Carefully carrying them across the room, she handed the one containing coffee to Steve when he reached out to take it and took a sip from her own mug as she circled the desk. She set the mug down, twizzled her chair to face her, sat down on it and scooted it forward a little. "So...how may I help you?" she asked, her lips curving into a smile. He looked at her for a second, apparantly uncertain of how to proceed, then fished into his pocket and produced a padd. "I'd like you to read that." he said simply looking at her. Rangi accepted the slim device, wondering what it held, switched it on and began to read. A quick questioning glance told him of her surprise. "I had no idea you were thinking of this." she said. "I've been thinking about it for some time." he said hesitantly. It wasnt easy to say. "I see." Rangi replied quietly, re-reading the brief outline. Steve lifted his mug and swallowed some of the coffee, frowning at the unexpected heat of it. "Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked, raising her head and meeting his eyes with a steady gaze. He gave a nod. "Yes." he answered simply. Rangi looked back at the padd and Steve was torn. He had spent some weeks thinking over what was best to do and knew, deep down, that Scott Fisher had been right. His future could never involve Rangi as anything other than a CMO and his ongoing antipathy towards Commander Guzman would, in the end, eventually lead to trouble. He couldnt be sure, but sometimes it seemed that Guzman was overlooking that antipathy ... maybe cause Rangi's request. But well, the chances for later trouble were quite high. But now that his request lay in Rangis hands, Steve wished that she might try to persuade him to stay. Its never easy to leave and for Steve it was now even harder. For her part, Rangi was surprised but relieved. She knew it was best that Steve transfer from Chimera and was glad he had made the request himself. Although she could have requested a posting for him, she knew it could have reflected badly on the young AMOs record and that was something she wouldnt risk.She had sometimes felt she walked on eggshells, being constantly aware of his feelings for her but wanting to have a smooth running sickbay.She felt a kind word encouraged his hope, yet she could not ignore him either.There was also the times when Shane came to see her in her office. If Steve was on duty, the air fairly 'crackled' around him. Though Shane said nothing, Rangi thought it only a matter of time before something would occur to cause major problems. Now she sat looking at the transfer application in front of her. An AMO position on the Hospital Ship Vesalius plus a place to study neurosciences under one of the foremost research scientists in that field. It was a splendid opportunity and a wise career move. "I shall be sorry to see you go." she said truthfully, meeting his gaze again in time to see a momentary flicker of hope touch his expression. "You're a valued member of the team here ... you've contributed so much to the department." She paused. " But I think its a great opportunity for you ... and one I expect you to do well in." she added. She handed the padd back to him. "I'll recommend the transfer...there wont be a problem." Steve took a deep breath. "Thankyou." he said and stood up, suddenly wanting to be anywhere else other than where he was. {What was I expecting?} he asked himself. {Why should she?} he went on. A strange feeling appeared in his chest ... {that's it finally}. Rangi pushed back her chair, edged around her desk and followed him to the door. "We'll miss you" she told him and gave a small smile. "I'll miss you." he replied, though in such as way as to confuse whether 'you' meant her alone or the sickbay team as a whole. The smile he returned was saddened as he stood for a second longer at her side. He turned and with quick strides, walked away. Rangi watched him go,nibblimg her lower lip. She sighed and went back to her desk where she took her seat and opened a channel on the desktop terminal. "Computer...make a transfer application...forward it to Commander Guzman...for immediate action." The computer bleeped in responce. [Record when ready} the familiar voice instructed. Rangi leaned back in her chair and began..."Lieutenant JG Desoto.... AMO.... USS Chimera ... requests transfer to USS Vesalius......CMO Summers approves the request." *** End Log *** LtCmdr. Rangi Summers CMO USS Chimera & Lt.jg Steve Desoto AMO USS Chimera (npc) Muma