*** Mess hall * USS Chimera *** "I wonder what's happened" Lucy spoke slowly as though considering possibilities. Scott chewed his mouthful of chicken and looked at his companion, following the line of her sight to where the CMO sat alone, also eating a meal. Transferring his attention back to his plate he asked, "How do you mean 'happened'" Lucy continued to watch Rangi. "Well look at her." she said "Isnt it obvious?" Scott raised his head and glanced across the tables. "Not really no." he replied watching the unsuspecting doctor eat a forkful of something or other. Lucy turned her head, her expression as she looked at him, plainly said that she thought him a lost cause. "What!" he exclaimed, all innocence. "She's glowing." Scott looked again in Rangis direction."She is?" he asked doubtfully, watching Rangi push her empty plate to one side. "Ofcourse she is....somethings happened....and I'm going to find out what!" Scott was too slow to catch Lucys arm as the nurse stood up and moved away. He watched her leave, sighed in defeat and returned to his dinner. ** "Considering R&R's pretty much ended,you're looking happy" Lucy said as she neared Rangis table. Rangi smiled at the nurse. "That's because I am" she said."Oh Lucy!....I 'have' to tell someone or I'll burst!" Lucy's face lit up. She grabbed the nearest chair, hauled it to the table, sat down and leaned forward eagerly. "What's happened?" she asked expectantly. Rangi sat back in her chair, savouring the last moments of her secret. "He hasn't....asked you has he?" Lucy said, clearly expecting Rangi to say 'yes' Rangi, about to reply, paused then shook her head. "No" she said slowly. "Oh" Lucy, clearly disappointed straightened up. "He hasn't asked me....yet." Rangi told her and smiled happily. "Yet?" Lucys enthusiasm bounded back. "What did he say?" She seemed to have forgotten all formality but Rangi didnt appear to mind. "He's been thinking about about marriage..to me" Rangi said, still sounding astonished at the thought."He's considered our future and even mentioned a family." Lucy bit her lower lip, smiling as she did so at the other womans happiness. " I dont know why it surprised me. Its what I wanted him to say...but when he did,well...it just floored me! I couldnt believe he's thought through things so much" She smiled selfconciously. "Thats wonderful" Lucy said kindly. She met Rangis look."It's so plain to see that he loves you.The way he looks at you..I'm just surprised its taken him this long!" she added. Rangi gave a nod and looked down at her plate absently. "My father said something to me that made me think. Actually I'd been thinking for sometime and then dad sort of...pushed it along." She gave a weak smile and raised her eyes to Lucy. "He'd overheard some gossip you see,something not very nice...and it just made me wonder what Shane had been thinking." "Dont worry about that." Lucy said, seriously."Anyone who knows you two, who's seen you together, can easily tell there's no truth to it....none at all." "You've heard it too?" Rangi queried. Lucy shifted in her chair."Yes...but its ridiculous." she replied. Rangi shrugged."I can't help what people say." she told Lucy."...and at this moment I dont care!" They exchanged a warm smile. Lucy stood up. "Well..better get going.Scott bought me lunch." She bent her head to the left, indicating the AMOs direction. Rangi leaned to one side and saw the dark haired figure waiting patiently at a distant table. He saw the two women look in his direction and raised a weary hand in greeting. "I have to get back too." Rangi said, getting to her feet and collecting her shoulder bag."Things to do...." Lucy asked "How was your dinner?" "Dry." Rangi replied. Lucy looked sympathetic. "Ours too." she said stepping away. "It's time we had a decent chef!" "Too true" Rangi agreed. "See you later." ** Lucy returned to the table where Scott was seated. "And?" he asked, knowing by the expression on her face that she would tell him she had guessed correctly...again. "Things are moving along nicely!" she said and grinned at him. *** End Log *** LtCmdr Rangi Summers CMO/2XO USS Chimera & Lucy Fleming & Scott Fisher (npcs) Rangi