Remember When

by darkin520

Summary:

The seaQuest crew is forced to solve a seventy-five year old murder in a rather unexpected way. Involves supernatural and time travel elements along with plenty of drama, angst and romance. But, as always, there will be a happy ending. First season, canon.

Notes:

Disclaimer: SeaQuest DSV and its characters are not my creation. They are the creation of Rockne S. O'Bannon as a 1990's television series. This work of fanfiction is for entertainment purposes only and is not for financial gain. I am just borrowing the characters for a bit and promise to return them unharmed and in their original condition, maybe just a bit happier.

As a starting point, this is set between 'The Good Death' and 'A Higher Power'.

Chapter 1: One Foot On The Narrow Way

It had been a week since Cynthia, Malique, and the children had left on launches, and things on the boat had gone back to normal. Unfortunately, they'd also been rather boring. There were no rescue missions of any sort, and the seaQuest was simply patrolling. There wasn't much fun in that.

But at the morning staff meeting, Nathan made an announcement. "We'll be spending a few days in Pearl for routine maintenance." He looked directly at Ben Krieg. "Although we'll have a bit of free time, it is not intended as a vacation. There will be plenty of work to do around the base, and you're all expected to report to duty as normal."

"And I would never consider otherwise, Captain," Ben answered in an over-compensating manner.

Nathan rolled his eyes slightly. "Whatever you say, Mr. Krieg. We should be arriving by 0900 hours tomorrow morning. Until then, business around here will go as scheduled. Is that understood?" Again, Nathan gave Ben a look.

"What?" Ben answered innocently. Then, he answered, "Yes, sir."

Nathan's eyes twinkled with amusement. "I just needed to be sure we were all on the same page. All dismissed."

As the senior staff began filing out of the ward room, Kristin lingered behind. She waited until everyone had left, then approached Nathan. A few days in Pearl Harbor meant something else, and she hoped to get his approval.

She waited until Nathan turned to her. He immediately noticed the smile on her face. "The news excites you, does it?"

"You know me so well. I was thinking…" she began.

"You never stop thinking, do you?" he teased.

"Nathan," she said warningly.

"Very well; I'm listening," he conceded.

She took a breath and said again, "I was thinking since you'll all be busy with military work, well, there's no reason I can't do some work of my own."

"Of course not," Nathan said with a shrug. "But why are you telling me? You've always done as you saw fit when it comes to your research, and I don't see why it should change now."

She gave him a mysterious smile. "Because I was hoping you'd help me, that is, when you're allowed free time. And, I thought it would be a learning experience for Lucas. But, how am I going to convince a hormonal teenager to be more interested in science over the bikini-clad young women walking the beaches?"

"And that's where I come in?" Nathan guessed.

"That, and I thought you'd want to come dive with us."

"Dive?"

She nodded. "The reefs around Pearl are just swimming with life, no pun intended. It would definitely be a great benefit to my research…and the others would find a dive relaxing."

"So, you want the whole crew involved?"

"As many as we can round up, yes," she confirmed. "The more helpers we have, the more specimens we can catalog. What do you say?"

She gave Nathan that look, the one he just couldn't refuse. He knew Bill was going to have him working as much as possible, but he couldn't say no to Kristin either. "Fine, I'll do what I can."

She let out a little whoop of joy and gave him a tight hug. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. I promise, you won't be disappointed." She started running out of the room, now ecstatic that she had something more exciting to look forward to. "And don't forget to talk to Lucas," she added.

"I won't," Nathan promised, a smile coming to his face over how excited Kristin was now. He only hoped he could convince the crew to show as much enthusiasm. He quickly headed to the bridge.

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Nathan headed to the mess hall once he'd gone off-duty. He was rather pleased to see the senior staff sitting together, so he took a seat at the table as well, sitting between Kristin and Lucas.

"So, are you excited about our trip?" Nathan asked Lucas, taking a bite out of his veggie burger.

"I guess," Lucas answered, "except the doc has tried to convince me that going diving will be more fun than cruising the beaches."

Nathan raised an eyebrow and looked at Kristin.

"I told you so," Kristin muttered under her breath. "Hormone-crazed."

Nathan sighed. "I did say this wasn't a vacation."

"Yeah, for all of them," Lucas said, motioning to the rest of the senior staff. "But technically, I'm a civilian."

"On a military vessel," Nathan reminded. "And you're also a member of the science staff, which means you are to follow the doctor's orders."

Lucas frowned. "So, that means I don't get any beach time?"

Kristin took one look at the young man and noticed a slight pout on his face. She reached her hand out and rested it on top of his. "Look, I'm not trying to torture you, really. I just want to show you how wonderful the exploration of the reefs can be. I'll tell you what; you promise to help me, and I'll make sure you get some beach time where I won't be hovering over you, deal?"

Lucas smiled. That was a good compromise. "Okay, deal."

She patted his hand, feeling satisfied before pulling away. "Oh, good," she replied. Then she added, "Besides, you may never know what we might find. Perhaps even buried treasure."

The others chuckled softly to which Kristin saw as her golden opportunity. Maybe she wouldn't need Nathan's help after all.

"And, if we did find anything, I'm sure we could split the profits."

A hush fell over the group as they pondered on this.

Finally, Ben spoke up, "Did…did you say profits?" That word was like music to his ears. Any way he could make a quick buck without actually having to do much work was right up his alley.

Kristin smiled. This was definitely what she'd hoped. "Of course. You know, the oceans are full of gold and jewels. It's just the little matter of finding it that can be the hard part. But if you're willing to-"

"I'm there," Ben broke in without missing a beat. "As soon as I'm done with whatever the admiral has in store for us on the base, I'm all yours." He held out his hand to shake.

Kristin took his hand. "Well, thank you very much, Mr. Krieg. I never knew you were so dedicated to my quest in exploration."

Ben waved a hand. "Well, I'm always telling everyone how we need to support our science personnel more. I figure this is the best way, to lead by example."

"Yeah, right," Katie muttered, rolling her eyes.

Kristin merely smiled. "Well, we'll be in touch then." She turned to the rest of the group. "Anyone else interested?"

A few other hands rose in the air, much to Kristin's delight.

"Thank you for volunteering," she gushed. "We'll iron out all the details as soon as I speak with Admiral Noyce."

The others nodded, and the group concentrated on their meals. Soon, various members had finished and left the table so that Nathan and Kristin were the only ones left.

"You know, that was very devious what you did," Nathan finally told her.

Kristin innocently batted her eyelashes. "I have no idea what you mean."

Nathan chuckled softly. "I think you've been spending way too much time around Mr. Krieg."

She smiled. "Well, maybe I have learned a trick or two from him, but at least I'm not attempting to sell bioluminescent fecal matter. And I didn't lie exactly. I simply said 'if'. If means there's a possibility."

"Yes," Nathan agreed, "but you failed to mention the odds of actually finding any of that treasure are slim to none."

"It's just like the lottery or betting on a horse race-and we both know the others would most likely bet on those things in a heartbeat."

"I suppose you're right. Your secret is safe with me."

"I had no doubt it wouldn't be," Kristin answered. "You're still planning on being there too, aren't you?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," he promised.

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Good…because if you weren't, I was going to drag you there myself."

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The next day, seaQuest pulled into port right as scheduled. Admiral Noyce was there to greet them.

Kristin made a bee-line for him. She wanted to be sure to speak to him about her plans so that he wouldn't have her volunteers doing some sort of military exercise at the last minute.

"Good morning, Admiral; might I speak with you privately?"

Admiral Noyce was slightly taken aback. The doctor had little or no interest in any of the military; he was surprised she wasn't leaving the base right away. "Uh, of course, Doctor. Just give me a moment, please." He shook Nathan's hand in greeting and spoke with him a few moments before seeing Kristin.

"And, what can I do for you, Doctor?"

"Well, I apologize for my rude greeting, Admiral, but I wanted to catch you before you had a chance to corrupt my plans."

Bill sighed. Now that sounded more like the doctor he knew. "Corrupt your plans?" he repeated.

Nathan, who had been standing nearby and overheard. He decided to go help Kristin, just in case her intentions became misconstrued and the admiral got angry. "Uh, well, since we're still going to be working, the doctor wanted to do so as well."

"Oh," the admiral answered, his tone indicating a bit of curiosity. "And what did you have planned?"

"Well, I wanted to collect some specimens from the coral reefs."

"That sounds like a fine idea; I wish you luck on the matter." He turned back to Nathan. "Now, I'd like to discuss-"

"Wait," Kristin interrupted, placing a hand on Bill's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but I wasn't quite finished yet."

Bill turned back to her. "You certainly don't need my approval."

"What Kristin is trying to tell you is that she'd enlisted some of the crew to help, including myself."

"When they're finished with you for the day, of course," Kristin added. "I certainly don't want to step on your toes. I just wanted to inform you so you didn't decide on a last-minute military drill of some sort," Kristin explained.

Bill nodded in understanding. "Now I understand, Doctor, and I assure you, I don't have a lot planned. We're just making some general repairs and adding some new security equipment. My only involvement will be seeing to it that every military crew member is properly versed in the ins and outs of the new system. That won't take long at all. So, you needn't worry."

"Oh, thank you so much, Admiral," Kristin said appreciatively. "Well, then, I should be going. I have work to do then." She turned to Nathan. "See you at the hotel, Captain."

Bill and Nathan both watched her go.

"She's like a kid in a candy store," Admiral Noyce observed. "I'm not sure I've ever seen her so excited."

Nathan shrugged. "Well, when you consider our last few missions, they haven't exactly been a walk in the park."

"I know; that's why I wasn't intending to work anyone too much during your time here in port. I thought she would appreciate a bit of fun," Bill countered.

"To her, this is fun," Nathan answered. "And you'll never guess who's agreed to help her."

"Not Commander Ford."

"No, but I wouldn't be surprised if she has him convinced by the end of the day," Nathan replied. Then, he paused and waited for another guess. When one didn't come, he added, "Ben Krieg."

"No," Bill replied in a shocked tone.

"Yes," Nathan confirmed. "You really should have been there. You'd have been impressed."

"I think I'm going to have to speak with her about that before you leave. I think she can give me some tips."

Nathan chuckled. "Indeed."

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The rest of the day was uneventful. Kristin let the others have their fun, deciding that tomorrow, the real work would begin. Besides, she promised Lucas some time on the beach, and he would have it.

When Nathan returned from the base, he knocked on her door.

When she answered, he gushed, "I'm all yours, like I promised."

She smiled. "I think that could be taken two ways," she teased gently.

Nathan blushed. "You knew what I meant. Are the others ready?"

She shook her head. "No, I wasn't going to make everyone work tonight. Besides, I promised a bit of free time. I thought that I'd wait until tomorrow."

"Really? But you seemed so excited…"

"Yes, but the others don't seem to share my enthusiasm; not even you," she noted.

"Didn't I say I was excited for you?"

"Actually, no," she replied.

"Well, I am," he confirmed.

"Yes, but you're not exactly jumping for joy."

Nathan placed his hands on her shoulders. "I assure you, I find it fascinating."

"Well, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, even though I'm not sure if I believe you. You're just trying to be sweet to me."

"Is it working?" Nathan inquired.

"Maybe," she replied, her eyes smiling.

"So, what are your plans instead?" Nathan asked nonchalantly.

"Well, the others went down to the beach. I thought I'd do the same."

"Have you eaten dinner yet?"

She shook her head.

"How about we go find somewhere to eat…just the two of us? We can discuss our plans for tomorrow's dive, and I'll listen with an attentive ear," Nathan promised.

"You certainly know the right thing to say to charm a lady," she quipped.

"Well, I know the right thing to say to charm you. Is it working?"

"You're getting warmer," she said with a smile.

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The next day, Kristin swung into action, expertly leading the dive. It was early afternoon, and the team consisted of Dr. Levin, Nathan, Lucas, Ben, Tim, and Katie and a few members from Kristin's science staff.

Kristin handed out equipment to her science staff.

"What about us?" Ben inquired.

Kristin smiled. "You will be our eyes. If you think you've found something, don't touch it. Simply call one of us over, and we'll decide if we're allowed to collect samples or not. Some things are protected."

Ben sighed. "Even if we find gold."

"You do know the chances of that," Lucas began, "are-"

Kristin handed Lucas his rebreather. "I think you ought to test this, Mr. Wolenczak." She then turned to Ben. "Even if you find gold," she confirmed. She then gave Lucas a look, and he simply nodded, knowing when to keep his mouth shut.

So, a short time later, the group was beneath the water, collecting samples of various organisms and taking photographs with an underwater camera. Kristin was surprised at how well things were going. And, after four hours, they'd collected enough research to keep them busy for months on seaQuest. Mostly everyone was on the boat, so she was about to call the others out of the water and pack up for the day when Ben, who was still in the water, spoke into his microphone. "Uh, Doc?"

"Yes, Mr. Krieg?"

"I think I found something."

"We have enough samples to fuel our research for quite a while. Thank you, but I think we're finished here."

"It's not a sample," Ben countered.

"Exactly what is it?" Kristin pressed.

"It's buried in the sand, but from what I can see of it…it looks like a chest," Ben replied.

Kristin hesitated for a moment. She'd already taken her wetsuit off, but the idea of a chest was intriguing. She doubted it contained any sort of treasure, but it could contain ancient artifacts. She turned to Nathan. "Care to go back down?"

Nathan had overheard the conversation. "I'm getting my wetsuit back on."

With the group working together, they were able to get the chest out of the water before it got dark. It was an old wooden trunk with metal hinges, like something they would use for travel or even storage in years past.

Once they were out of the water, Ben looked at it carefully. He tugged on the lid. "It's locked."

"What do you think's in it?" Lucas asked.

"Could be anything," Kristin answered. "But we'll have to get it back to seaQuest first."

Hours later, they were in the seaQuest labs, cataloging the samples they'd taken. But, Ben was getting impatient.

"When are we going to open this?" he said, motioning towards the chest.

"All in due time, Mr. Krieg. Sorry, but I thought our living samples required more attention," Kristin said dryly. "Patience."

A short time later, all the cataloging and classifying had been finished. Kristin called the others to gather around the chest and handed Ben a crowbar. "I thought since you'd found it, you should have the honor."

"Wait," Nathan protested. "You're just going to let him open it like that?"

Kristin shrugged. "You have a better suggestion? How else do you suggest we get inside of it? There's no key, and I don't think any of us cares to wait for a locksmith."

"Yes, but what if there's something dangerous inside?"

Kristin chuckled. "Dangerous? It's just a chest; no harm ever came from opening a chest."

"I think they said that in that movie," Lucas observed. "And then, the mummy chased them all over Egypt."

"Yes, well, that chest was cursed. I doubt this one is. It looks rather ordinary to me," Kristin noted. "Probably just some old vases."

Nathan sighed. He couldn't argue with the doctor's logic. "Fine; proceed, Mr. Krieg."

Ben carefully pried the chest open so as not to damage the trunk in any way. But, as he broke the seal and opened the lid, there was an audible, collective gasp shared amongst the group.

"It's…it's a body," Kristin stammered, unsure of what to make of it.

Chapter 2: And One Foot On The Ledge

Indeed, inside the chest was the body of a woman…well, what was left of a body anyway. It was obviously several years old, considering the amount of decay. But, the fact that it was inside a locked chest submerged in salt water for Lord only knows how long , the amount of decay was very different from that of a body exposed to the elements. Bits of bone protruded beneath the areas of whitish-grey flesh.

Kristin looked the body over carefully. "Judging from the amount of putrefaction, I'd say this corpse could have been in the water for at least fifty years, if not longer."

"Yeah, and it looks like it's decaying too," Ben added, resulting in a glare from both Kristin and Nathan.

"What'd I say?" he asked innocently.

He received no answer.

Instead, Lucas piped up. "W-what do you think happened?" he asked nervously.

"Well, she certainly didn't put herself in there," Kristin answered gravely. She turned to the group; some of them looked as though they were going to be ill. Kristin was accustomed to seeing bodies in this state; they weren't. She realized it the moment she turned around. Save for Ben and Nathan, she'd been blocking their view. She saw several faces go pale at the sight of the decaying corpse.

"I…I think I'm going to be sick," Katie muttered, her face blanched. She quickly ran out of the lab.

Tim looked just as horrified as Katie had. "I'll go see if she's all right," he offered, quickly retreating as well.

"I don't think our military personnel are used to this kind of…drama," Nathan noted.

"I'm sorry," Kristin answered. "I suppose I should have warned them."

Nathan placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, but I think I'd better go check on them, just in case. I'll be back shortly." He turned to Lucas. "Are you staying?"

Lucas thought for a second, then nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Nathan gave him an approving nod, then went to see how Katie and Tim were.

Kristin sighed, still feeling a little bad about her volunteers. At least the science personnel were fine. They were used to this kind of thing. "Well, we're going to have to report this to the authorities."

Ben, however, seemed unfazed. He examined the body closely and noticed jewelry, a string of pearls still around the throat and a gold band on the left hand. "A gold ring," he muttered as he started to remove it.

Kristin grabbed his hand. "And just what do you think you're doing?"

Ben raised his hands in front of him. "I wasn't going to take it, if that's what you were thinking."

"Yeah, right," Lucas replied, rolling his eyes.

"I…I was just trying to find out what her name might have been. Sometimes, there are engravings on wedding rings. Katie had one like that," Ben explained. "That's all. I'm not that much of a heel where I'd steal from a corpse."

Kristin softened. "I realize your intentions were good, but unfortunately, we probably shouldn't touch anything for the time being, not until we have permission at least. In fact, why don't the rest of you go back to the hotel? It's been a long day, and I know some of you need to report to the base tomorrow. I'll let you know what happens about this little matter."

The others started out of the lab, nearly running into Nathan, who had just returned. He approached Kristin once again. "Katie and Tim are just fine. They told me to tell you they're not upset." Then, he added, "You certainly wanted excitement."

"Yes, but not quite this way," Kristin admitted. "I'm glad they're fine, though. Unfortunately, I have work to do now. That's why I sent the others back to the hotel."

"You need help?"

Kristin thought for a moment. "Well, if you wouldn't mind helping make the call to the authorities, I'd appreciate it."

"I'd like that," Nathan replied, putting an arm around her shoulders. Although she wasn't saying it, he could tell that this new development had shaken her slightly. "You all right?"

She nodded. "It's just a little overwhelming, but I'm fine." She reached up and gave the arm resting on her shoulders a gentle pat. And, with that, the two headed to her office to the vid-phone.

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Less than one hour later, two detectives entered with a forensics team.

"Doctor Westphalen, Captain Bridger, it's wonderful to finally meet you in person. I'm Detective Vincent Jordan and this is my partner, Leilani Palea. "I apologize for cutting right to the chase, but may we please see the body?"

They were led to the lab where they began their assessment.

Although she was not highly versed in forensic science, Kristin knew enough to know that when it came to murder investigations and crime scenes, once all evidence is collected, the bodies are usually transported to their crime labs. But, seaQuest had everything they'd need, she knew. "Please, my lab is your lab," Kristin offered. "Any equipment you need is at your disposal."

"Thank you," Detective Jordan answered. Indeed, the lab became transformed and utilized as a crime lab.

Nathan was in awe of it all, but also felt rather out of place. He pulled Kristin aside. "I think I'm going to go get some dinner. You want to come with me?"

She shook her head. "As tempting as that sounds, I'm going to offer my services to the forensics team. If I'm good, maybe they'll let me help," she said with a small smile. "I just think I owe it to her to see this through as far as I can."

Nathan nodded in understanding. "Well, why don't you come by my room when you're finished, just to let me know how it went, even if it's late?"

"I will," Kristin promised.

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It was well after eleven PM by the time Kristin returned to the hotel. She knocked on Nathan's door, but felt guilty the moment he'd answered since it was obvious he'd been asleep.

"Sorry," Kristin apologized. "You told me to come by your room; I didn't mean to wake you."

Nathan waved a hand. "It's quite all right. Come in, please."

He sat down on the bed and patted the area next to him. "So, tell me what happened."

"Well, we found out her name was Sylvia Mayfield; she was the wife of Senator Richard Mayfield."

"That name doesn't ring a bell," Nathan commented.

"Well, he was a senator in 1941," Kristin continued. "Ironically, her disappearance occurred around the same time as the bombing on Pearl Harbor. December sixth, to be exact. The senator had reported her missing, but after the bombing, it was assumed that she'd perished since she was never found. And, it was never questioned…until now."

"So, there was no investigation at the time?"

Kristin shook her head. "And, do you want to know the worst part? The detectives and the forensics team aren't going to do anything more with it either. There are no living relatives, and there is no evidence on the case. They have no idea who murdered her or why, and it was before DNA or any such evidence was heard of. Certainly, cold cases are reopened all the time, but their own department is so swamped. They claim that this just isn't a high priority case. So, that's it," she said sadly. She took something out of her pocket and handed it to Nathan. "It seems Mr. Krieg was right, however."

Nathan saw that it was Sylvia's ring. He read the inscription, "To my darling Sylvia, love always, Richard." He turned to Kristin. "They gave this to you?"

"I asked for it; I wanted something to remember her by, and it just bothers me they're not going to do anything more with her case."

"Kristin, you helped solve a missing person's case that was over a half century old. You should be happy."

"Happy? How can I be happy when I think of the ghastly way she died. She…she was still alive when she was placed in that chest. Her lungs were full of water, indicating she'd drowned." She shuddered. "I just can't imagine…"

"This is really affecting you," Nathan noted, handing the ring back to her.

"Perhaps it's going to inspire me to do a bit of research myself," she said, staring at the ring.

"What? You're going to dabble in crime solving now?"

"You said yourself I've always done what I see fit in terms of my research. Certainly, the samples we've collected from the reefs will be the top priority. But, I don't see why I can't see if I can figure something out myself in Sylvia's case. I think I owe her that much. I don't think it's an accident we found her," Kristin replied.

Nathan gave her a quizzical look. "I thought you were a woman of science."

She smiled. "I am…but, that doesn't mean I don't believe in the soul. And, when there's a soul that isn't at rest, I think they have ways of manipulating the living, unbeknownst to us. You remember our experience on the George?"

"That, I do, but I thought you believed it was nitrogen narcosis."

She shrugged. "I'm still not sure what it was. However, I do find it rather difficult to believe we all had the same hallucination at the same time." She sighed. "Really, all I am saying is that there is a reason certain things happen. I just think this," she said, holding up the ring again, "was no accident."

Nathan thought for a moment. "Perhaps."

"You think my efforts would be futile," she decided.

"No…not at all. I'm just not sure if you'll be able to find much of anything. I don't want you to be disappointed."

"I'll only be disappointed if I don't at least try."

"Fair enough. If you need any help, let me know," Nathan offered.

"Thank you," Kristin answered gratefully. "I appreciate your support."

"Anytime."

"Well, I just wanted to come by and let you know what happened. I'll let you get back to bed."

"It's all right; if you want to talk, I'll listen."

Kristin gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Maybe once we get back in the water. But, since tomorrow's our last day, I know Bill wants you at the base early in the morning. Besides, I'm exhausted myself. I'm going to grab a sandwich myself and head off to bed. See you tomorrow?"

"Of course. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

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The next day in Pearl was rather uneventful. The military personnel were all given the afternoon off, now finished with their course on the new security system. The whole crew spent their last afternoon on land on the beach, fittingly. But, as the sun was setting, it was time to get back to seaQuest.

Nathan was pleased Kristin had seemed more like herself. But, after things on the bridge had settled and he had a free moment, he decided he ought to check. He headed to the lab.

"And how are things over here, Doctor?"

"I just saw you a short time ago, Captain. They're just fine, thank you," she replied.

"Well, perhaps I meant how you were."

She sighed. "I'm fine, thank you. We're just working on our coral reef specimens and samples."

"And Sylvia?"

Kristin pointed to her neck. There, she had a gold chain, Sylvia's ring hanging from it. "She's still with me…I thought this would motivate me. I still plan on pursuing it, if that's what you meant."

Nathan nodded. "I didn't expect anything less. Well, I need to get back to the bridge. I just wanted to check on you."

"And I appreciate it."

Nathan lingered for a few seconds more, watching her as she worked. He could see how much this case meant to her. In fact, he thought of a way to help her. He decided to pay a visit to Lucas before heading back to the bridge.

He knocked on the teen's door.

"Uh, hi," Lucas answered. "You need something?"

"Why aren't you in the lab?"

"The doc said she didn't need me; said I should take the rest of the night off. Why? Did she change her mind?"

Nathan shook his head. "No, sorry…I was just wondering. Uh, did the doctor mention anymore to you about the woman's body that we found?"

"A little, but not much."

Nathan smiled. That's what he'd hoped. "Then, I have a proposition for you."

The teen's brow furrowed in curiosity. "What's that?"

"You find out everything you can about Sylvia Mayfield and her senator husband. And, you have it ready for our morning staff meeting. You think you can handle that?"

Lucas smiled. "You know I can. It'll be cake."

"For you, I figured so," Nathan commented. "Just don't stay up too late."

"I won't," Lucas promised.

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The next morning, Nathan was eager to get to the ward room, hoping that Lucas had come through for him. He took a seat and waited for everyone to file in. Lucas took a seat to his left, an amused smile on his face.

"You find what I asked?" Nathan asked quietly.

Lucas nodded. "So, what do you have planned?"

"Just wait until everyone gets here," Nathan told him.

Nearly everyone was there, except for one person. The chair to Nathan's right was empty; Kristin was late, something that rarely happened.

About five minutes later, Kristin rushed in looking frazzled. "Sorry," she muttered apologetically, her cheeks a bright pink with embarrassment.

Nathan looked her over with a scrutinizing eye. She looked as though she hadn't slept well; there were dark circles under her eyes, and her hair looked out of place. That wasn't normal for Kristin. He pulled her aside and spoke low enough so as not to add to her embarrassment. "You feeling all right?"

She nodded. "I'm fine; I just didn't sleep very well."

Nathan looked her over one more time. He didn't quite believe the 'I'm fine' part, but he decided not to push the issue for the moment. He did, however, make a mental note to find out more about it later. "Very well; have a seat."

Kristin obliged and tried to look alert.

Nathan sat at the head of the table. "I thought we'd do something a little different this morning. I know you all are aware of our discovery in our exploration of the coral reefs. And, I also know you're aware that this is an unsolved murder. Doctor Westphalen has decided to take it upon herself to see if she can't shed any light on the matter in her spare time. But, I thought we could help with that since the seaQuest is still on patrol."

"So, we're crime investigators now?" Jonathan questioned.

"Not exactly," Nathan answered. "But I thought it wouldn't hurt to speculate on the matter, perhaps brainstorm a bit. That's why I had Mr. Wolenczak use his computer skills and find everything he could on the matter." Nathan motioned towards the screen at the front of the room. "Mr. Wolenczak, you have the floor."

Lucas stood and brought a picture up on the vid-screen. "This is Senator Richard Mayfield; he was a US senator from New York elected in 1940. After that, he and his wife, Sylvia, moved to Washington. Now, you might be wondering what exactly he had to do with Pearl Harbor and why he and his wife were in Oahu during the latter part of November and the early part of December of 1941. Well, apparently, Senator Mayfield took a great deal of interest in the US navy at the time. He was looking to offer funding in hopes of bolstering his career, hence his trip to Oahu."

"Yes," Kristin finally said, "but what about Sylvia?"

"I'll get to that," Lucas assured her. Then, he continued, "This is where Captain Jack Remington comes in." Lucas hit a button and the picture of a middle-aged, dapper-looking sea captain appeared on the screen. "He was the captain of the submarine, the USS Nautilus, at the time of the Pearl Harbor bombing. Well, when the Mayfields arrived in Oahu, the Nautilus was in port, and the senator was supposed to be doing some negotiating with Captain Remington and some of his superiors." Lucas paused and looked at the group. "Now, I know what you're thinking…seems pretty standard for the time. That was a common practice back then. But, I was wondering why in the world Mayfield would take such an interest in the Navy. So, I did some more digging. Well, apparently, he was a supporter of the war, so much so that he wanted the US involved in the war as soon as possible."

"You mean…" Nathan began.

Lucas nodded. "You've all heard the conspiracy theories…that the US was supposed to know about the Japanese attack beforehand, especially the supporters of the war. Apparently, Mayfield was involved in more than just politics."

"Was it ever proven?" Tim cut in.

Lucas shook his head. "No, because no one really knew at the time. The documents on the matter weren't found until after his death. And, even now, there's a debate on the matter. I'm not even sure if I believe it. But there are signed documents going back and forth between Mayfield and President Roosevelt and other US officials, all speaking of the knowledge of a Japanese attack. However, most of the documents that I saw claimed they thought it was going to be in the Philippines. Pearl Harbor was the last to be attacked, in their eyes. I only saw one that claimed knowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack, and it couldn't be verified as legitimate, unfortunately."

"So, what does this have to do with Sylvia?" Ben finally pressed.

Lucas smiled. "Well, I'm not really sure; I couldn't find much about how she would fit into it all. But, the fact she was married to the senator probably made her privy to information that others wouldn't have access to." He hit the button again, and a picture of a woman, also middle-aged, but not looking it. She had auburn hair and brown eyes, and there was a sudden, audible gasp shared amongst the group. "You see it, too?" Lucas asked as he turned to them.

"See what?" Kristin questioned, confused.

"Well," Katie began, "don't you think she looks…familiar?"

Kristin looked at the photo of the woman on the screen, examining it. But, she didn't notice anything.

Nathan noticed her frustration. "Uh, Kristin," he said gently, putting his hand on her shoulder, "I think what the others are trying to say is-"

"She looks like she could be your twin, Doc," Ben interrupted. He stood and pointed to the photo. "Don't you see? The auburn hair…the eyes…"

Kristin looked at the screen again. "I…suppose…maybe…" she said thoughtfully. But, then she shrugged. "But there are lots of women with auburn hair and brown eyes."

"Who also happen to be from England and work in the medical profession?" Lucas added.

"What?"

"Sylvia was British-born; she moved to the US when she was in her late twenties after attending medical school and that's where she met Richard."

"She…she was a doctor?" Kristin stammered. The similarities were uncanny, she had to admit.

"She was," Lucas confirmed. "But she stopped practicing after she got married."

"Why is that?"

Lucas shrugged. "I really couldn't find a reason why. My only guess was to start a family, maybe, but she and Richard had no children. But, it was my understanding she was helping at the base hospital while they were in Oahu, that was, until she disappeared."

"Did you find anything about her disappearance?" Nathan inquired.

"Not much," the teen admitted. He hit a button and a newspaper article appeared. "She went missing on the night of December sixth, and the next morning was the bombing. I don't think anyone even questioned it."

"What about the senator?"

"He continued his term, then retired. He passed away in 1950 from liver disease," Lucas stated. "That's all I could find on the matter." He took his seat once again.

Nathan looked at the clock. He hadn't bargained on Lucas finding so much information; the meeting was nearly finished. "It seems we're going to have to cut this short, but that doesn't mean I want any of you to forget this. Ponder it when you get a bit of free time. And, let the doctor know what you think. All dismissed."

Nathan leaned towards Kristin. "If you don't mind being a little late in the lab, I'd like to speak with you privately."

She nodded, somewhat expecting this. Once they were alone, Nathan spoke, "So, why couldn't you sleep?"

She shrugged. "I think it was just the drama with Sylvia. I can't get her off my mind."

"So you've mentioned," Nathan commented.

"I really should thank you for this. I never thought to have Lucas search the Internex for me."

"It was my pleasure. Besides, I think he enjoyed doing it."

"You…you really think she looks like me?" Kristin asked after a moment.

"A little," Nathan admitted. "But, they say everyone has a twin. Maybe Sylvia was yours."

Kristin thought for a moment. "Maybe."

"You sure you're all right," Nathan pressed. "It doesn't bother you, does it?"

She shook her head. "I'm fine. I probably should get going, unless there's something else."

Nathan shook his head. "No…see you at lunch?"

She nodded. "Of course, Captain."

Chapter 3: We're Not In Kansas Anymore

.

By noontime, Nathan headed towards med bay. He wanted to be sure he'd see Kristin; sure, she claimed she was fine, but he knew that she often just said that when it wasn't actually true. He wanted to be sure he ate lunch with her. When he entered the lab, Kristin was deep in thought, examining some sort of sea sponge in a tank on her work table.

He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump a little. "Sorry," he said quietly. "I wasn't trying to scare you. You were really engrossed in that sponge."

She waved a hand. "It wasn't the sponge that had my attention," she admitted.

"Sylvia?"

She nodded. "But, I just don't see where it adds up."

"Maybe she was involved in some sort of love affair?" Nathan suggested.

"And her husband found out about it?"

"Maybe…or she tried to cut the affair off, and the jilted lover killed her in revenge."

"Or like Lucas said, maybe she knew more than she should have," Kristin said after a moment. Then, she let out a groan. "Unfortunately, this is the problem. We can all spend ages speculating about this, but that's all it's going to be-speculation."

"Now you know what crime scene investigators and detectives go through," Nathan pointed out. He grabbed her hand. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going to help you get your mind off of this," Nathan ordered, although his tone was gentle. "Maybe Sylvia's case is a lost cause. I know you don't want to hear that, but…well, the facts just aren't there."

Kristin conceded. "Very well. I am a little hungry. As far as Sylvia, well, unfortunately, you might be right."

"Are you going to be all right?"

She gave him a small smile. "I'll get over it."

Nathan put an arm around her. "Good. I am sorry we couldn't do more."

She shrugged. "Me too. I guess there's obviously no way we can know unless we had a way to go back in time."

"Damn, I left my plans for the time machine back on my island," he quipped.

Kristin chuckled.

"That's the reaction I was hoping for," Nathan said, sounding rather pleased.

"Well, I'm sorry if I've left you worried."

"More like concerned," Nathan corrected. "And it's all right."

They headed into the mess and sat down at one of the nearest tables. Lucas and Ben were there as well.

"I was, uh, thinking about our friend," Ben piped up.

"I appreciate it, Mr. Krieg, but I just don't think-" Kristin began.

"You did say we could split the profits of whatever we found, and I have a friend that'll take that ring of yours and give us twice the value of it. What do you say?" Ben interrupted.

"No," Kristin said firmly, obviously offended.

"Ben," Lucas said warningly.

"What?"

"I think what Lucas and the doctor are trying to say is that it's wrong," Nathan stated, giving Ben a look. "And I agree."

"But..." Ben began. But, seeing as how Nathan's glare became stronger, he backed down. "Fine."

But Kristin softened a bit, giving Ben's hand a gentle pat. "I promise the next time we go out on a dive, you'll be the first person I call. I'm sure we can find something to suppress your greedy little desires."

Ben smiled. "You know just the right thing to cheer me up."

Kristin was about to reply when the lights suddenly dimmed for a moment, then returned back to normal.

"What was that?" Lucas asked.

"I'm not sure," Nathan answered, taking out his PAL unit and paging the bridge. "Anyone want to enlighten me on what just happened?"

"Sir," Lieutenant O'Neill answered. "We have a problem. The NOAA has just issued an alert about geomagnetic storms causing activity in the Pacific Ocean. The geomagnetic activity could last days."

Nathan could note some worry in the lieutenant's voice, but could not understand why. "We've seen geomagnetic activity before."

At that moment, Nathan could hear the unmistakable sound of the PAL unit shifting hands. "Yes, but apparently, these storms are causing whirlpools," Jonathan stated, taking the PAL from Tim. "Giant whirlpool vortexes to be exact, Sir, and we're-"

Jonathan's voice became warbled as static interrupted the communication.

Nathan banged on the PAL with his hand. "Hello? Commander?" There was another flicker of lights, and the PAL went dead.

"We need to get to the bridge," Nathan ordered, starting to run with Kristin, Ben, and Lucas on his heels.

Once on the bridge, Miguel brought up a WSKRS view without being asked. "Sir, this was our view just one hour ago." The waters were calm and nothing looked out of the ordinary. "And this is our view just ten minutes ago." There, just ahead of them was a large whirlpool, at least several hundred meters in diameter.

"We've tried to reset our course, but the storm is creating delays," Katie explained in frustration.

There was another flicker of lights. Then, the computers all went dark. The WSKRS view disappeared.

"We're dead in the water," Katie said gravely.

Before Nathan could give an order, the lights dimmed yet again, but this time, they didn't come back on. Low rumbles could be heard, and the submarine trembled. "Everyone, hang on to something," Nathan ordered in a desperate attempt to do something as the floor beneath them shook as though there was an earthquake. But, it was no earthquake.

"C-captain?" Lucas said worriedly. "We're still moving."

Nathan grabbed the teen's shoulder and squeezed. "It's going to be all right, kiddo. Just hang on," he ordered again.

Suddenly, the boat jerked, resulting in several gasps and cries due to the unexpected movement. A minute later, however, the boat seemed to settle. Nathan looked to his right. Although the bridge was dark, his eyes had adjusted enough that he could see the confused and frightened faces around him. But, there was one face he didn't see.

"Kristin?" Nathan said.

There was no answer. Now that everyone was more sobered, flashlights were turned on. Suddenly, Nathan heard Miguel cry, "Doc!"

Nathan turned in his direction, his flashlight casting a beam of light to reveal the unconscious doctor lying on the floor. He rushed towards her immediately, along with several others.

He knelt down at her side and noticed a gash on the side of her head. He looked to his right, where Lucas was. "Take Chief Crocker with you and get a med team in here…now." Then, he said," Commander Ford, any idea on our status?"

"No, all systems appear to be down," the commander answered, checking on the sonar and communication systems, "but we still appear to be moving."

Suddenly, the lights came back up, but as Nathan looked around, something was very different. The bridge looked nothing like it had previously. There were no computers, no advanced equipment. Even the moon pool was gone. Even their uniforms had changed to something more old-fashioned. "What the hell?" he muttered under his breath as he stood slowly.

At that moment, Lucas returned. "Uh, Captain?" he began worriedly. "Med bay is gone."

"What?"

"It's like it never existed," Chief Crocker added. "The whole sub is…different."

"Where's the doc?" Lucas asked after a moment.

"What?"

"Where's the doc?" Lucas asked again, pointing to where she'd been laying just a few minutes before.

"Katie's gone too," Ben added.

Just then, a crewman from B-deck entered. "All the women on board appear to be…gone."

Nathan looked down. Indeed, Kristin had vanished. He couldn't quite understand.

But, Lucas walked up to him and pointed to his shirt. "Your name."

Nathan looked down. It read 'Captain J. Remington.'

Lucas looked around. "Hey, I know this place. We're…this is the Nautilus. I…I saw pictures of it on the Internex. He looked down at his own name tag, since he, too, was now dressed in a naval uniform. "I also remember seeing the list of every crew men. That's why all the women are gone; women weren't allowed on submarines then; heck, they weren't even in the military." He looked down at his own name tag that said, 'H. Phillips.' "I must be Henry Phillips; I remember reading about him. He was young, only seventeen like me. Somehow, he managed a spot on the Nautilus." He ran around excitedly, pointing at everyone's name tag and declaring the name aloud. He looked at Ben's name; it read, 'Lieutenant T. Pierce'. "You're Theodore, aka Teddy, Pierce." Then, he pointed at Tim. "You're William O'Shay." He went on and on until he had told everyone their name.

When he had finished, Nathan spoke up, "What are you saying? Are you saying we…we…"

"It's the only logical explanation," Lucas answered as Nathan struggled to finish the question.

"If that's true, what about the doctor?" Nathan finally choked out.

"And Katie and the others?" Tim added.

"I don't know," Ben answered, "but something tells me we're not in Kansas anymore."

 

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

November 28, 1941

Kristin sat bolt-upright in bed. The last thing she remembered was being hurled across the bridge on seaQuest, making an unfortunate contact with a piece of equipment. She remembered feeling pain. She instinctively touched her temple, knowing she'd hit it there, but it didn't hurt anymore. No, there was no bruise, no cut; there was nothing. Strange.

As she became more awake, she became more aware of her surroundings. This was not seaQuest. It looked like something out of an old book; the décor of the room was old-fashioned. There was no vid-screen, not even a television. She looked down. This wasn't even her nightgown. And, her body ached, though she couldn't tell why. Maybe that's what had happened. She decided she must have hit the wall so hard that she bruised herself when the storm caused the submarine to jerk.

At that moment, a man she didn't know came into the room; he was dressed in a suit and tie. Kristin couldn't place a finger on it, but she knew he looked familiar somehow. He sat next to her on the bed and kissed her on the cheek.

"How are you feeling this morning, sweetheart?" he asked her.

"Sweetheart? Who-" she began. But, just then, she heard something. It wasn't a physical voice; it was more like a distant whisper, but she couldn't tell who it was coming from. There was no one else in the room, she was sure of it. Richard, she heard the voice say. "Richard?" she repeated in disbelief.

"Of course, darling," he replied. "Are you feeling all right?"

Kristin looked down at her hands, noticing a wedding band on her left ring finger-Sylvia's ring. "I…I feel…fine," she stammered. No, she didn't. She was terribly confused. She didn't even know why she said that. It was like...something told her to say that. It was so odd.

Richard smiled, looking relieved. "I'm glad of that. I just wanted to apologize."

"Apologize?"

"Yes…for last night." He pulled the capped sleeve of her satin nightgown down off her shoulder just enough to reveal a wicked-looking bruise. He gave it a light kiss, but even that small gesture caused her to wince in pain. "I am so sorry; it's just…you get me so angry when you refuse me."

It didn't take long for Kristin to figure out what he'd meant, and she felt a sudden flash of anger. She certainly had no memory of what he'd done, but hearing about it now was enough. She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when that same voice in her mind cautioned her against it. No, it ordered. "I…it's all right." No, it wasn't. Why did she say that? She suddenly felt frustrated.

Richard only smiled. "So, we're still on for tonight?"

"Tonight?"

"You haven't forgotten already, have you?" he asked, now sounding a little angry.

"I...what day is it?"

"It's Saturday, the twenty-eighth, remember? We have that party tonight at the base. And, we'll be meeting some very important people, so I want you there looking your best, is that understood?"

She nodded. "Of course, I remember now." She didn't really, but she heard that voice inside her head say something about needing to be at the base hospital. "Uh, I need to be at the hospital shortly."

"I know," Richard confirmed. "I'll drop you off on my way; I have several business meetings to attend, so I won't see you until tonight. I should be home around six."

"Six o'clock, got it," Kristin answered. "Just give me fifteen minutes, and I'll be ready, all right?"

He nodded. "Fine." With that, he headed out of the room, leaving Kristin alone to take in what she'd just learned. She stood and headed into the bathroom, which was the door to the left. She noticed a newspaper on the small end table, picked it up, and looked at the date; Saturday, November 28, 1941. Her hand trembled slightly. She'd already expected this, but to see it confirmed was frightening. Was this a dream or was this reality? She didn't know. And, if it were reality, where were the others?

She set the newspaper down and shook her head in an attempt to shake the fog from her brain. She really didn't have time to figure out exactly what was going on at the moment. She only hoped she'd figure it out as time went on. She continued her way into the bathroom to freshen up. She looked in the mirror. She certainly looked like herself, except for her hair. It was secured in pins. She ran some water and splashed it on her face. She then removed her nightgown. Her body looked like hers as well, except for several ugly bruises along her shoulders, arms, torso, and her upper and inner thighs. A few tears stung her eyes at the thought of them. No, she obviously did not experience the bruising firsthand, but she was definitely seeing the aftermath, and she was told what had happened. Is this what Sylvia had gone through?

She sighed bitterly and stepped into the shower, washing quickly. Then, she walked back into the bedroom and opened the closet door. She chose a white skirt and blouse, fitting for working at the hospital, she guessed, since they were hanging in the front. After dressing, she went back to the bathroom and took the pins out of her hair, now having perfect pin curls. She did her best to style her hair in the fashion of the time, pinning it up on both sides. She decided she looked presentable when she heard another whisper. Makeup.

"Makeup?" Kristin said quietly. She sighed. Of course, women from this time period wouldn't dream of leaving the house without a bit of lipstick, mascara, and blush. She opened a small drawer next to the vanity, for some reason knowing that Sylvia kept her makeup in a small bag there. She quickly applied it, finally deciding she looked presentable.

"Is that better?" she muttered.

Yes.

Kristin shook her head. "Ugh, great. Now you're talking to yourself," she muttered, looking into the mirror. "Well, you'd better get a grip because we can't make a habit of this, understood?"

Whatever you say.

"You didn't need to answer that," Kristin whispered, quickly heading out of the room to find Richard, still unsure of exactly who it was she was speaking to.

 

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

After Richard dropped her off at the base hospital, Kristin walked inside, but then realized she had no clue where she was going. She didn't know where to report to or what to do. She didn't know anyone here. It was so awkward because she rarely was at a loss of what to do. She stood in the lobby for a moment, trying to decide which direction to go in, when she heard someone call out, "Doctor Mayfield."

It took her a moment to realize that was her, at least, that's who she was supposed to be. She was still getting used to that fact. She turned and was glad to see a familiar face-Joshua Levin. She smiled and nearly hugged him. "Joshua."

He gave her a knowing smile and simply pointed to his nametag. "Doctor Peter Lawrence," he corrected quietly.

She nodded. "Sorry; it's just...I'm still getting used to things. How long have you-"

"A few hours," he told her. "Uh, I could use your assistance. Follow me."

Kristin did so, but she wondered, if Joshua was there, did that mean the others were as well. "The others?"

"I haven't seen everyone, but some are here with us," he confirmed.

"Do…do you know how?"

He shook his head. "I know as much as you do."

She nodded as they continued their walk down the corridor that led to a ward filled with nurses who were setting up medical equipment. Kristin breathed a small sigh of relief when she saw that many of the nurses were from her own science and medical staff. "We're expecting a group of soldiers any moment. They've been out to sea and need check-ups. He turned to the group of nurses and called, "Rose."

A woman with dark hair stepped forward. Kristin recognized her immediately. "Katie!"

"Ssh," Katie urged. Then, she lowered her voice. "Yes, it's me, Doc. How are you?"

She shrugged. "I…I'm fine, I suppose…just confused."

"Join the club," Katie answered. "The name's Rose, Rose McCallister. Apparently, I'm your head nurse."

Kristin gave her a look. "You know what to do?"

Katie shrugged. "I thought the same thing, but something told me to come here. And, when I did, somehow I just…knew."

Kristin nodded. It was the same thing with her. "Right; well, I guess we'll just have to make do, hm?"

"So, if you want to cover this half," Joshua said, breaking the area in half, "And I'll cover the other. Ka-I mean, Rose, will check our soldiers in. I'll take all names A through L, and Doctor Mayfield will take M through Z. Does that sound all right?"

"That sounds fine," Kristin answered, suddenly becoming more confident in her abilities.

A short time later, as expected, a group of soldiers started entering, all in a line. Kristin waited in her make-shift room, separated only by privacy screens, common for the time period. But, she was very curious about who she'd be seeing, both wondering and hoping she'd see some familiar faces. Just then, she heard Katie say, "You can go see Dr. Mayfield, just to your left."

She heard footsteps enter through the doorway. She put on her best smile and was ecstatic when she saw yet another familiar face.

"Doc!" Ben gushed. "Are you-"

"I'm fine," she confirmed. "Um, have a seat Mr…"

"Pierce," Ben told her. "Teddy Pierce."

She smiled. "Teddy," she said thoughtfully. "That suits you."

Ben chuckled softly. "Thanks."

Kristin began her examination while she and Ben spoke quietly. "So, the others?"

"They're here," Ben assured her. "And, boy, they're going to be happy when they see you. We all thought you…well, we didn't know what happened."

"Me either," she said. "I'm still not sure I do."

"Well, I guess we're going to find out," Ben answered as she finished her examination. "See you around."

She gave him a nod, now feeling somewhat better about the situation. She continued seeing patients, who were actually the members of the seaQuest crew. This was either one of the strangest dreams she'd ever had or something else. She just didn't know which yet.

Notes:

The NOAA stands for The National Oceanographic And Atmospheric Administration. Along with the Air Force, they are responsible for informing naval ships about geomagnetic activity.

Giant whirlpool vortexes are a real, scientific phenomena. I did not make that up. Currently, oceanographers and scientists aren't exactly sure what they are other than a result of geomagnetic storms. The time travel part is obviously fictional, but I thought that sounded more plausible than a nuclear reactor accident.

Also, this will come out later, but geomagnetic storms can cause hallucinations in the human brain. I just thought I'd mention this fact for those of you who need a more scientific explanation for this far-fetched idea, like the nitrogen narcosis in 'Knight of Shadows'. By the end of this, I want you to make your own decision about what is going on, that's all.

While our crew is in the 1940s, I will still refer to them by the names that we know, unless they are in a situation where that is not possible. And, in those cases, I'll do my best to clear it up with an A/N so as not to confuse anyone. We'll mostly be dealing with Sylvia and Jack (Kristin and Nathan) anyway, so I don't think that's too difficult to follow.

Chapter 4: Sifting Through The Devil's Lies

Nathan waited for his name to be called. He was glad to see Katie, aka Nurse Rose, at the front of the room along with some of the other women from the seaQuest. But, he still didn't see Kristin. He sighed dejectedly. He couldn't quite determine how much time had passed since he'd seen her last. Really, it may have only been a matter of hours, but it felt like years. And, the moment she'd disappeared, Nathan felt as though his heart had been torn from his chest.

He really hadn't realized how accustomed he'd become to seeing her every day, how accustomed he was to all the little things she did on board the seaQuest for everyone. But, he also noticed the small things she did for him, like getting him a cup of coffee when he hadn't even asked. Funny thing was, she always knew when he wanted one, and she'd just appear with one, as if she could read his mind. Sometimes, it almost felt like she could. He smiled softly at the thought. He sure could use a cup of coffee now. He wondered if wherever she was, she could sense that.

He looked around him, just in case she might show up. But, no, she didn't. He didn't smell her perfume. That was something else he'd grown accustomed to her-her scent. It wasn't strong or overpowering, but it was a light, fresh scent, something he finally realized that he craved. Yes, he'd finally made a realization. And, it was one of those realizations that cannot be recognized until a loss is suffered. He swore in frustration under his breath, now feeling guilty about it. He'd had the whole year with Kristin, and now she was gone. And, it was her disappearance that made him realize he loved her. Well, he'd always loved her as a friend, a confidante, a colleague. But, he realized now it was more than that, that for the first time since he'd lost his wife, he had true feelings for another woman. He vowed then and there that if he did find her again, that he wouldn't beat around the bush. No, it was time to let the woman he loved in on his secret.

Oh, he was sure Kristin knew how he felt; he could see it in her eyes. But, she also knew he was still healing. She was being patient. Having been hurt in the past herself, she was waiting for him to make the first move. He knew that's what he had to do. He'd be sure she knew exactly how he felt, and he wasn't about to lose her again.

"Captain Remington," Katie called, interrupting his train of thought at that moment. She gave him a kind smile as he approached the deck. "It's good to see you, Captain."

"Likewise," Nathan answered, returning the smile. He wanted to ask her about a million questions, but he knew it wasn't the appropriate time.

"You can go right through there," Katie said, pointing.

Nathan gave her a nod and thanked her as he approached the makeshift room. He paused in the doorway and took a deep breath. He had to push his thoughts about Kristin out of his mind for the moment. Then, he entered the room. He was surprised to see a female doctor with her back turned to him. Certainly, it wasn't out of the ordinary for him, considering Kristin was the CMO aboard seaQuest. But, this was the 1940's; that wasn't very common in this time period, was it? No matter, Nathan decided. As he watched her cleaning her equipment, he noticed her hands. They looked familiar. Suddenly, he heard a voice. He couldn't tell if it was male or female, but he knew it wasn't in the room. It was distant; like an echo of sorts. Sylvia, it whispered.

"Sylvia?" Nathan muttered aloud. Then, he remembered-the body, Lucas' research, Sylvia, the senator, and Jack. He was Jack Remington, so that would mean…

"Just have a seat on the cot, and I'll be with you in a moment," Kristin declared as she was still cleaning and sterilizing her equipment, still not turning around.

"Kristin?" Nathan asked, taking a chance. It had to be her. He could smell her perfume.

Kristin dropped the tool she was cleaning and turned, almost speechless. "Nathan…I…are you all right?" It took everything in her power not to wrap her arms around him. But, for Sylvia, it wasn't appropriate. She had to refrain for the moment.

Nathan moved closer to her and gently touched the side of her face, the side he remembered being bruised and bloody just a short time ago. "I'm fine," he confirmed. "I should be asking you that, though. Your face…"

"I'm all right," she assured him. "You remember…I did have an accident on the bridge?" She wasn't sure if that was a dream or what had happened exactly. None of the other crew members she'd seen had mentioned anything of it, and she started to doubt whether it had happened or not.

"Yeah, you did. Do you have any idea what's going on?"

She shook her head. "Not exactly, but I'm learning more every minute." She pointed to her name tag.

"Dr. Mayfield. So you're…"

"Sylvia," she said, holding out her hand in greeting. "And let me just take a wild guess; you're…"

"Captain Jack Remington," Nathan finished for her as he took her hand. "Wonderful to make your acquaintance."

She chuckled softly. "Oh, the pleasure is all mine, I'm sure." She then motioned towards the cot. "Um, well, we have an examination to conduct."

Nathan did so, but he had a lot of questions on his mind still.

Kristin began her examination, looking at his eyes, ears, and the like.

"So, this means you're married to-" Nathan began.

"The senator, Richard Mayfield," Kristin answered, taking a tongue depressor out. "Stick out your tongue, please."

Nathan's heart sank slightly. He didn't like that fact. If Kristin was really Sylvia, that could create a problem in his recent realization. "I ee ki do u?" he asked as Kristin was looking in his throat.

She laughed as she removed the tongue depressor. "Could you repeat that in English please?"

Nathan blushed slightly. "Sorry. I asked, is he kind to you?"

"Oh…" Kristin hesitated slightly. "Well, I really only saw him for a short while this morning."

"Well, how did he seem?" Every word was laced with concern, and rightly so. Nathan had only just seen her vanishing out of thin air a few hours ago, and now she was living with a strange man that may or may not have been responsible for her death. The whole idea was just a little too close for comfort for his liking, especially since they didn't exactly know what was happening. Yes, they knew they were Jack and Sylvia; that fact was established. But, there were other important facts they still had yet to discover, the main one being Sylvia's death. If Kristin was Sylvia, what would happen?

Kristin avoided the question and continued her examination. The truth was, she didn't know what to say. Obviously, Richard Mayfield had some skeletons in his closet, and so did Sylvia. And she knew Nathan was concerned about her already. She smiled softly. She found that part very sweet. But, she also knew Nathan would flip if he knew what Richard had said to her. And part of her was afraid about that fact as well. She didn't want to think about it. "Um, are you going to the party tonight?"

"The party?" Nathan asked. Then, there was that voice inside his head again saying something about meeting the senator and some other important people. "Yes, but…"

She smiled. "Then, I'm sure you'll meet him. You can be the judge."

"That's not what I asked," Nathan protested. "Kristin, I don't like this, not being able to-"

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be fine. Nothing's going to happen."

Nathan gave her a doubtful look. "You do remember what's supposed to happen to Sylvia, don't you?"

She sighed. "Y-yes…but something's telling me I'll be fine."

"A voice?"

She nodded. "You mean…"

"Yeah, I've got one too," he admitted.

"Sylvia and Jack," she said thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Sylvia and Jack," she repeated. "Think back to the George," she insisted.

"I didn't hear voices then."

"No, but I did. I…I know Lillian used my body, possessed me, if you will. And, I know I insisted it was nitrogen narcosis. The scientist in me has to because the other thought is…well, it frightens me, if you must know. But, this isn't a possession, well, at least not the way it was with Lillian. This is…well, it's different. I still feel a presence with me; I hear a voice that isn't mine, telling me certain things I need to do, reassuring me of certain things. But, I know I'm still Kristin Westphalen. It's almost as if I'm playing a role in a play. It's…strange."

"So, instead of a possession, a ghost just transported us back in time to relive their lives," Nathan said bluntly. "That's even better."

Kristin smiled. "Now isn't the time or place, but I think we're going to have to round the crew up when we can and talk about a few things, try and figure out what we're supposed to do here."

"A staff meeting," Nathan agreed. "That's a good idea."

She nodded. "But first, we've an examination to finish. Lie down, please."

A short time later, Kristin was finished.

As Nathan was buttoning up his shirt, he stated, "I think I prefer examinations on seaQuest better. They're less painful."

She smiled as she cleaned the syringe. "Well, I tried to make it as painless as I could."

Nathan finished and placed a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Oh, you certainly helped."

Kristin let out a pained gasp, however, causing Nathan to pull away.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Kristin swallowed hard, trying to compose herself. "I…it…it's nothing," she stammered. "I…"

"You're hurt?" Nathan inquired, noticing the look on her face.

"When…when I awoke here, I…I had a bruise on my shoulder," she answered quickly, hoping Nathan would just drop the subject. "It's nothing. It only hurt just then."

"Let me see," Nathan said gently.

She shook her head. "No…I…I'm fine. You don't-"

"Let me see," Nathan said again. "Please?" He moved closer to her, but she backed away. "Kristin?"

"Nathan, it's nothing."

"Then, why can't I see it?" He moved closer to her still; she backed away again until her back was against the wall.

She looked down, trying to think of what to do next. "Nathan, please, I-"

Nathan put a hand under her chin. "Kristin, please? I won't hurt you. I just want to look at it."

She sighed. She finally relented, giving him a nod, knowing Nathan wasn't going to stop asking. She turned her eyes away as she felt him unbutton her blouse just enough where he could slip it off her shoulder.

"Oh, my God," he uttered as he examined her shoulder. It looked painful; he couldn't understand why she'd want to hide it from him, though. But, then, he noticed another bruise on her upper back, just as dark and painful-looking. He touched just above it. "Kris?" he questioned.

"Nathan…I..." she began. Really, she wasn't sure what she was going to tell him. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to tell him the truth either.

"How many of them are there?"

She shrugged. "Enough." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I told you, I woke up this way."

"You have no idea how it happened?"

She averted her gaze.

"Kristin?"

"If I tell you, you can't get angry," she finally said, turning back to look at him, her eyes pleading.

"How could I be angry with you? You couldn't-"

"I wasn't talking about me. Please, promise me," she said again.

Nathan looked into her dark eyes and couldn't resist. He nodded. "all right."

"Richard."

"That bastard," Nathan replied after it had sunk in. "I…I'll kill him."

"You promised," Kristin reminded. "I…I didn't actually experience it. Like I said, I woke up this way. But a few things he said led me to believe it. But, Sylvia told me not to do anything at the moment."

"Kristin, I-" Nathan began. He was angry, not at Kristin, but at the situation. And, if the senator was responsible for this, how could he let Kristin be alone with him? The thought was just too much. "I don't want anything to happen to you. I couldn't handle that." He paused for a moment, debating if he wanted to say what he'd been longing to say. Then, he'd made up his mind. "There's…there's something I need to tell you."

But, Kristin placed a finger to his lips. "And, I want to hear it from you, more than anything. But, you and I both know this isn't exactly the best situation."

"But the senator…"

"When the time is right," she said again.

"So, now what?" Nathan asked.

"I'll see you at the party."

"What about Richard?" Nathan pressed.

"I guess we'll find out. Please, don't worry about me."

"It's hard not to," Nathan answered. "You scared me, and now that I've found you again, I don't want to let you go."

"It's just for a little while," Kristin said after a moment.

"And how do you know that?"

"I just know. You trust me?"

Nathan caressed her cheek. "I've always trusted you. I'm just not sure I trust the other forces at play here."

"Everything's is going to be all right," Kristin assured him. "Sylvia promises that."

"But-" Nathan protested. But, then, he heard his voice say the same thing. Everything's going to be all right. "Then, why are we here?" Nathan asked after a moment.

"We'll find out," Kristin assured him at the same time his far off voice said the same thing.

He sighed, having no choice but to give in. "Very well."

"I know you don't like it, but I don't think we have much of a choice," Kristin stated.

Nathan then placed a gentle kiss to her lips. He knew it wasn't the right time or place, but he didn't care. The only thing he could think of was not seeing her again, of her vanishing into thin air again, and he wasn't leaving without kissing her at least once, just in case. "I'll see you tonight," he confirmed. And, with that, he left.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

By afternoon, Kristin had to finish things up at the hospital. She had to hail a taxi and get back to the house, which she found out was actually the vacation home that Richard and Sylvia owned. Richard wouldn't be seeing her until just before the party, so she'd be alone for a couple of hours. That, she didn't mind because she wanted to do a bit of looking around as she prepared for the party. She wanted to see if there was some sort of clue that could perhaps shed some light on the situation. It was nearly four when she returned home. That meant she'd have to work quickly; she expected Richard home around 5:30.

She wasn't even sure how many rooms the home had since she'd only seen the bedroom, the bathroom, and the living room that morning. She stood in the living room for a moment and looked around. Then, she heard that voice again. The bedroom; nightstand drawer.

She entered the bedroom and rifled through the drawer. There were several things of Sylvia's in there; a bottle of lotion, a few books, some old letters, but nothing of significance, nothing that would give any clue as to why she was murdered. But, then, in the bottom of the drawer, she found a manila envelope. On the front of the envelope was written the word, 'records'. Kristin took it out, undid the fastener, and opened it. Inside were medical records that belonged to Sylvia.

Kristin read them over carefully. Apparently, Sylvia had a history of miscarrying. In the time that she and Richard had been married, she'd had eight. These records documented every miscarriage. Kristin wondered why they'd be here and not in a hospital somewhere. But, this wasn't in any of Lucas' research either. Perhaps it was kept under wraps. Certainly, information like this would likely get to the media, and the senator likely did not want any of this tainting his image. It made sense. Kristin quickly stuffed the records back in the envelope and placed it back where she found it. Still, she didn't know if miscarriages would cause anyone to murder Sylvia.

Down the hall; Richard's study, she heard the voice say again. Top right-hand desk drawer.

Kristin sighed. "I don't have time for this; I'm supposed to be getting ready for this party."

It'll only take a moment.

She nodded; she wasn't exactly sure who she was nodding to, but she obediently went down the hall and opened the last door on the left. She just knew that was the study. She stepped inside and opened the desk drawer. There was a stack of documents. How in the world was she going to find the right one? "I thought you said it would only take a moment?"

Look for the letter from Frank Knox.

Kristin recognized the name from the start. Frank Knox had been an integral force in the naval history. And, he was appointed secretary of the navy by President Roosevelt. She leafed through the documents until she found the letter. It was dated just a week prior.

Mr. Senator,

We appreciate your generous donation. You have been a trusted benefactor for years, and we hope you continue, especially in this uncertain time. Although we are not engaged in the war, we fear it is inevitable. The President has expressed his opinion, along with that of Mr. Churchill, and I agree with them; our Allies cannot win the war without us. So, we ask that you consider your next donation very carefully. Our navy needs you.

Regards,

Frank Knox

Kristin leafed through a few of the other documents. There were a few newspaper clippings, some of them explaining how the US had given the Japanese an ultimatum-to leave China. "So, what does this have to do with Richard?" she said out loud. "Did he know something more?"

There was no answer this time. Kristin glanced at the clock on the desk. It was nearly 4:30. She didn't have any more time to look for clues at the moment. She neatly arranged the papers in a stack and replaced them back in the drawer. Then, she closed the door and headed back to the bedroom to get ready.

She found a forest green gown in the front of the closet; it looked just fancy enough for the occasion, she decided that's what Sylvia was planning to wear. It had short sleeves and a modest neckline. The skirt came to rest just below the knee. None of the bruises would show; Kristin was relieved to that fact. She'd had a hard enough time explaining it all to Nathan. She didn't want to have to explain it to anyone else. She put on stockings and a pair of heels as well; then she went to the bathroom to fix her hair into an up-do and applied makeup. She was just finishing when she heard the front door open.

"Sylvia?" she heard Richard's voice say.

"I'm in here, dear," she called. "I'm nearly finished."

"Come here and let me look at you," Richard said as he entered the bedroom.

Kristin did a spin for him. "Do I look all right?"

"You look wonderful," Richard confirmed. He held out his arm for her to take. "You always do."

She blushed slightly. "Thank you."

"So, how was your day?" he asked, changing into something more suitable for a party.

"Busy; we had a lot of patients today."

"Well, just remember this is only temporary. You know I don't like the thought of you working," Richard reminded her. "You don't need to."

"But I do enjoy it, helping people. Besides, what else do you expect me to do?"

"We've already talked about this, several times over. You were going to raise a family."

"Yes, well, it's kind of hard to do when we don't have one," Kristin said dryly. But, the bitterness in her voice surprised her.

Richard slammed his fist on the wall. "Damn it, Sylvia! Do you have to bring that up now? I…I've been trying to be intimate with you. You keep pushing me away. And other times, well…if it weren't for the other night…I told you, I didn't want to force you. I was drunk, and…things got out of hand."

Suddenly, Kristin felt a rush of emotions, and tears welled up in her eyes. Again, she was surprised. Where was this coming from? "Do you think I like being this way? Do you think I like feeling like a failure? Do you know I've delivered a countless number of babies? But, ironically, I can't have one myself. Don't you know how much that kills me? I know you just think it's easy to want to try again, but all I can think of is that it'll be a failed attempt. I…I don't think I can handle another loss like that." By this time, black tears were streaming down her face, her makeup smudged. She took a tissue from the box on the small bedroom table and wiped her eyes with it.

Richard came closer to her. She expected him to wrap his arms around her, attempt to console her in some way, but he didn't. Instead, he said, "We're going to be late. You'd better hurry." And with that, he left the room, leaving Kristin to try to calm herself down.

She still didn't know why she was suddenly so upset. These weren't her feelings, but it finally dawned on her they had to be Sylvia's. She quickly headed to the bathroom to wash her face and calm down. A few more tears, and she felt better. She then reapplied her makeup and headed out to meet Richard.

"All set?" he asked her.

She nodded.

"Good." He offered his arm again. "Please, try to control yourself. We have a lot of people to impress. You think you can handle that?"

"You know I'm no stranger to putting on an act, Richard," she said in a voice she didn't recognize. "I certainly wouldn't want to taint your perfect image."

Chapter 5: And What The Good Book Says

The ride back to the base was quiet; neither of them spoke to one another. And, as they neared the base, Kristin felt her anger subside. Really, she wasn't sure why she was so angry. She had surmised that Sylvia had to have been angry, and rightly so. It seemed Richard wasn't a very sensitive husband. Kristin had also guessed that not only was she reliving certain events in Sylvia's life, but she would also be feeling whatever Sylvia had felt at the time. That made sense. But obviously, there was one small, niggling thought in the back of her mind: Sylvia's death.

How long would they be in this time period? And if she was essentially Sylvia Mayfield, would that mean… Well, she didn't want to think that her days might be numbered. And even if they were, she couldn't guess who might be responsible. Certainly, it could have been Richard; perhaps he'd been so angry about Sylvia's lack of intimacy with him that he just snapped. But there was one thing that surprised her thus far: that even though Richard seemed to be angry with Sylvia for certain things, he also genuinely appeared to love her, even if the way he expressed that love was rather unconventional. Perhaps Sylvia and Richard were no longer in love with one another, however. Kristin decided she was going to have to try to figure out what had happened between them. And although it was odd, she hoped she'd keep hearing Sylvia's voice. Perhaps she would shed light on all of these questions.

But as Richard parked the car, all these thoughts had to be kept at bay. Richard got out of the car, walked around to the other side, and opened her door. He offered his arm to her. "Now, please, make a good impression for me."

"Of course, dear," she answered. She put on her best smile, but mostly because she knew she'd be seeing her friends.

They entered the hall, arm in arm, which was filled with scores of people. Kristin scanned the crowd, but it was difficult to pick out faces. All she saw was uniform after uniform. Richard then whisked her away, introducing her to admiral after admiral, captain after captain, and so on. She did her best to try to keep names straight, especially since some of them, she'd recognized from the UEO museum in Pearl, but it was difficult. By the time they finally reached Nathan's group, she was dizzy. But, she gave her best smile when Richard introduced them.

"And this is Captain Jack Remington, captain of the USS Nautilus. Admiral Kimmel has told me a lot about you," Richard gushed. He gave Kristin a little push forward. "And this is my wife, Sylvia."

Nathan shook the senator's hand and gave it a strong shake. "I've heard a lot about you as well, Senator. It's such an honor to finally meet one of the men responsible for doing so much for our cause." Then he eyed Kristin and took her hand, placing a light kiss over it. "And seeing your lovely wife once again. We actually met earlier today at the clinic."

Kristin let out a nervous laugh since she was unsure of how Richard would react to another man flirting with his wife.

But Richard didn't seem to notice. He grabbed two glasses of champagne from a tray being carried by a waiter walking past them, handed one of them to Kristin, and started talking about improvements that needed to be made to the Nautilus, which Kristin found to be a rather boring conversation. She looked around and saw Katie and some of the other science personnel from the seaQuest. She attempted to excuse herself.

"I'm just going to let you two talk," she began.

But the senator placed a hand on her arm, giving it a squeeze…and not a gentle one either. He made it so any onlookers wouldn't notice, however. It was a gesture that indicated power. Kristin bit her lip so as not to cry out. "Don't go yet, darling; we have a lot more people to meet."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

One hour later, Richard and Sylvia had met every admiral, secretary, commander, lieutenant, and ensign in the room. And, by this time, Richard was well on his way to intoxication. He finally released his hold on her, and she was allowed to leave his side and mingle. By this time, however, she needed some time alone. She walked through the open doors and onto the beach; the night air was warm, and the sound of the waves lapping up on the shore was relaxing.

She took a deep breath and sat down in the sand. She was lost in her thoughts when she suddenly heard a voice behind her.

"There you are; I'd wondered where you'd gone off to," Nathan told her.

She stood and turned to him. "I just needed a little air; it's awfully stuffy in there. Did Richard send you to find me?"

Nathan shook his head. "No; frankly, I'm not sure if the senator's noticed your absence. He seems a little preoccupied," he answered hesitantly.

"Flirting with all the young women, is he?"

Nathan gave her a surprised look. "Well, yes. How did you-"

"Sylvia," she answered simply. "So, now that you've met the senator, what do you think of him?"

"Honestly, I don't care for him. And, I don't like the way he treated you back there. Are you all right? Your arm…"

Kristin's face reddened. "You saw that?"

Nathan gently took her arm and brought her into a patch of moonlight so he could see her arm better. Sure enough, although they were light, the imprint of fingers could be seen, the marks a reddish color. "Does it hurt?" The concern was evident in his voice.

"No," she whispered. "We…we really shouldn't be doing this," she added nervously.

"Doing what? Talking?"

She gently pulled her arm away. "You know what I mean. I'm supposed to be a married woman. If we act too friendly with one another, that might alter the events of the past. And, I'm not sure we're supposed to do that."

"I just came out to talk to you, to see how you were, that's all," Nathan defended. "But, if that bothers you, I'll leave you be." He turned to go back inside.

"Wait," Kristin called after him. "I'm sorry. I…I'm just…I'm just trying to figure out what I should do and I'm just trying not to make any mistakes."

Nathan turned back to her. "I don't think you can make a mistake. You said you heard Sylvia's voice, correct?"

She nodded. "But…but I can't really hear her now. I only hear her at certain times. I don't even know if she's around at the moment. So I'm not sure what I should do or what I should say."

"I think you should do and say what you want. I'm sure Sylvia will direct you just like Jack is directing me," Nathan said thoughtfully. "Something told me to come find you," he added.

"Jack?" she guessed.

"I remember someone told me there's a reason certain things happen and that finding Sylvia was no accident." He put a gentle arm around her shoulders. "Do you know who that might have been?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, but…"

"So just keep telling yourself there are no accidents here. I think we're just supposed to go with it. Didn't you tell me once you did a little acting when you were in college?"

"My first year, yes, but that was ages ago," Kristin stated.

"Well, you're doing an improvisational act. Occasionally, your director will give you cues, but for the most part, you're on your own. You'll be fine," Nathan encouraged. "I don't think there's a right or wrong here."

She gave him a smile. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you'd done this before. When did you become so wise?"

"It's a gift," he quipped. "Now," he said, taking her arm in his hand again, "is your arm all right?"

"It's fine," she assured him. "It's a little tender, that's all."

Nathan placed a gentle kiss where the red marks were. "I still don't like the thought of you being alone with him. It's only been a day, and you've already been hurt."

"Don't worry; it seems to me the senator is more concerned with me being a decoration for his arm more than anything else," Kristin said dryly. "And it seems to me he has enough entertainment for the moment." She pointed towards the door of the hall, which could be seen from the beach. Just near the door was the senator with a woman on each arm. The three of them were giggling and drinking champagne, and Richard turned and kissed one of them. "And, apparently, he's busy with his whores," she added. "I'm learning more and more about their marriage, and it's full of discord."

"I'm sorry," Nathan said sincerely. "Do you want to go back inside? A lot of the members of the crew have been asking about you, especially Lucas."

She nodded, deciding that would cheer her up. That's what she wanted to do in the first place-see her friends. "Lead the way."

Nathan offered his arm and the two walked back into the hall, right past Richard and his new 'friends'. Again, however, Richard did not seem to notice since he was obviously too busy.

Once Nathan led her over to faces she recognized, Kristin forgot all about Richard. She was so happy to see all of them. Of course, some she had seen earlier, but she hadn't gotten to have much of a conversation with them, and some she hadn't seen at all. She almost felt as though they were all back on seaQuest in the mess hall. The others crowded around her, all their voices laced with concern.

However, after she assured them she was fine, they seemed to calm down a bit.

Ben approached her right away and made a bow in front of her. "May I have this dance?"

Kristin chuckled and accepted. She turned to Nathan and said, "See you in a bit."

Ben led her out onto the dance floor. "So, are you doing all right...with your new identity and all?"

Kristin smiled. "It's taking some getting used to, but it's an experience."

They heard some giggling and turned their heads in the direction; the noise had come from the senator and the women he was with.

"Uh, the senator…he…seems like an…interesting man," Ben stammered.

Kristin waved a hand. "You don't need to struggle for something kind to say about him. It's obvious he isn't the ideal husband."

"I just feel like all of this is my fault."

"Your fault? How could you possibly think that?"

"I'm the one who found that old chest. And…and you remember what the captain had said…and Lucas. Maybe there was a curse," Ben muttered.

Kristin laughed. "I assure you, Mr. Pierce, this is not your fault. It was just…an odd coincidence."

Ben sighed. "I've been worrying about it since this morning, with what's supposed to happen to you. What if…I don't…I don't want anything to happen to you."

Those words touched her so. On seaQuest, she and Ben were never particularly close. There was a love/hate relationship between them, and most of the time, it was hate. She felt tears threaten to fall. She cleared her throat and tried to keep her voice steady. "I…I never knew you cared."

"I know I give you a hard time," Ben replied, "but of course I care about you. You didn't know that?"

She shrugged. "I wasn't sure."

"Well, to let you know, I do care about you, Doc. And, I certainly don't want anything to happen to you." He nodded his head towards the rest of the crew. "Now I know they're all looking out for you, especially the captain, but I want you to know I'm doing the same. And if anything does happen to you, I'm not sure I'll be able to forgive myself."

She wrapped her arms around him tighter as they danced and brought her lips closer to his ear. "Thank you. That means a lot to me, but Sylvia promised everything would be all right."

"Well, I certainly hope so."

The dance ended, and Ben ushered her back to the others.

"Well, don't you two look cheery?" Nathan observed.

"Don't worry, Cap, she's all yours now," Ben stated, leaving Kristin's side and going to engage in conversation with some of the others.

Nathan took her arm. "As long as you've saved a dance for me."

She nodded. "Of course."

Nathan led her back out onto the dance floor. "So what was that all about?"

"Mr. Pierce was just sharing his concerns about what's going on here. Apparently, he's worried this is all his fault, since he was the one who found the chest," she explained. "And the talk of curses didn't help matters much either."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I told him that this was just an odd coincidence and that it's no one's fault."

"And you really believe that?" Nathan pressed.

"I really don't know what I think," she admitted, "but I don't want anyone thinking they're responsible for this. I do still think certain things happen for a reason. It seems Sylvia and I are connected…somehow…"

"Yes, but I hope there is one thing you don't have in common."

"Everything's going to be fine."

"You know, you keep saying that," Nathan observed, "but you don't sound very convincing."

"It's because I'm trying to convince myself, but Sylvia promised me-"

Again, the senator's laughter could be heard from the other side of the room.

"I'm doing my best to trust her as well," Nathan replied, "but I don't trust him."

"I understand that, but can we just have a few moments where we don't talk about the senator or my death? Please?"

"I'm sorry; of course. What would you like to talk about?"

She shook her head and laid her head on his shoulder, meaning she didn't want to talk. They danced that way for a long time.

But after several dances, there was a tap on Nathan's shoulder. It was the senator.

"We were just dancing," Nathan started, assuming the senator was going to lecture.

But the senator waved a hand. In slurred speech, he said something that sounded like, "I have business to take care of; you'll find a ride home." And with that, he turned and left the hall, the two women following behind him.

Kristin sighed. "Well, I guess we don't need to worry about him for the night."

"This happens often?" Nathan asked.

She shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it might. I haven't heard Sylvia's voice for a while," she admitted.

"I'll drive you home when you're ready."

"I could just take a cab, you know." She already knew that wasn't happening, however. And, honestly, she was glad Nathan and Ben and the others were almost overly concerned about her. She wasn't used to that kind of attention, but this time, it seemed it was warranted.

Nathan simply gave her a look that said, 'I don't think so.' "It's late; we can stay as long as you'd like, or we can leave right now."

She glanced towards the group; the whole crew was still there, even Lucas. "Well, there is one more thing I'd like to do first." She headed towards Lucas, Henry. "May I have this dance, sailor?"

Lucas smiled and led her to the dance floor. "I thought you'd never ask, Doc." He put his arms around her and they swayed back and forth to the music.

"Well, I just thought I'd congratulate you on your enlistment," she teased gently. "And, I'm not sure how much time we'll have to spend together. I didn't want you to think I was ignoring you."

Lucas shook his head. "I wouldn't think that at all. I…I know you have a lot going on here."

"Do you have somewhere to stay?"

He nodded. "I'm staying with Carlos Sanchez."

"Who?"

Lucas leaned closer and whispered, "Miguel Ortiz. Apparently, Henry doesn't have any living family, and neither does Carlos."

She nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, perhaps I should be sure to tell Carlos that he take good care of you for me."

"I'm not a baby, Doc," Lucas reminded her.

"I know; I know. I just worry."

"Well, we're the ones who need to worry about you. You-"

She held up a hand in warning. "Please, not you, too. I've heard quite enough for the evening."

"Sorry. We're just concerned."

"Believe me, I know. But we just need to trust it, like on the George," Kristin reminded.

Lucas gave her a look. "You…you said that was nitrogen narcosis."

"I'm starting to change my mind," she replied.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Meanwhile, back in Pearl Harbor, UEO Headquarters was full of activity. The fact that seaQuest happened to be in the direct path of the storms was cause for concern, so everyone was ordered to be on alerts. But, even thought the storm had subsided slightly, seaQuest could still not be located. This was worrying, especially to Admiral Noyce, who paced around the technicians sitting in front of their computers, all looking for any sign of seaQuest on their radar.

"Any luck, Atkins?" the admiral asked one of the techs, looking over his shoulder at the radar screen.

"I'm sorry, sir," Atkins answered. "None at all. It's almost as if...she's disappeared."

"This isn't the Bermuda Triangle; submarines cannot just disappear," the admiral insisted. But part of him knew that Atkins was right; no matter how one wanted to slice it, it seemed seaQuest had literally vanished into thin air. He only hoped they'd find her again.

Chapter 6: If I'm Going Anywhere

Finally, Nathan and Kristin said their goodbyes and left the base hall. When the car pulled up in front of Sylvia and Richard's vacation home, Kristin turned to him.

"Thank you for taking me home; I'd ask you to come in, but I know you were going to anyway," she said, a slight smile on her face.

Nathan chuckled. "Am I that obvious? Of course, if you're tired, I could-"

"No…I mean, I don't really feel like being alone just yet."

Nathan nodded, got out of the car, and opened her door; they walked inside together.

Once inside, Kristin said, "Make yourself at home. I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to change into something more comfortable; I at least want to take off these heels. My feet are not used to this kind of punishment."

"I'll wait right here," Nathan told her, having a seat on the sofa while Kristin headed into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

Once alone, she heard Sylvia's voice in her head again. Knock, knock.

Kristin nearly jumped. "Oh, now you decide to show up," she muttered quietly. "Where were you before? I felt lost at the party."

Well, you told me not to make a habit of it. I just thought I'd show you that I was respecting your wishes.

"Oh, bloody hell." Apparently, Sylvia had a sense of humor. "I was worried I was going to make a mistake. I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do here."

You'll find out in due time. And you won't make a mistake. You did just fine. Jack told you that.

She sighed. Nathan, aka Jack, did assure her to just go with the flow. "Very well."

She began to change out of her frock and slipped into a nightgown. She then put a robe over it and went into the bathroom to remove her makeup and to brush her hair out.

"So," Kristin continued, as she brushed her hair, "What about you and Jack?" It had been odd at first to carry on a conversation with someone she couldn't see, but she found it easier as time went on.

What about us?

"Well, were you a couple? Nathan and I…well, you know about us, I assume?"

She heard a soft chuckle. Yes, I'm aware of your blossoming romance. And you want to know if Jack and I were the same way?

"Exactly," Kristin replied. "Some of the feelings I have when I'm with him…well, I'm not sure if those are my feelings as Kristin or mine as Sylvia. You understand?"

I think if I told you now, you'd resist the inevitable. Just go with your instincts.

"But what if I-"

I have to go now; just go to him. You'll be fine.

Kristin sighed. She didn't quite like the fact that if Sylvia could communicate with her, why couldn't she just tell her everything right then and there? And she didn't quite like the fact that Sylvia had said, "You'd resist the inevitable." Kristin hoped those words weren't a bad omen of some sort. Unfortunately, there wasn't much she could do to prevent it either. She had to just 'go with the flow.'

A knock at the door caused her to forget her worries for the moment. "Is everything all right in there?" Nathan called.

"Y-yes, everything's fine; I'll be right out," Kristin replied, checking her appearance in the mirror one last time before leaving the bathroom. She then opened the door. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Nathan waved a hand. "It's fine; I just thought I heard talking. Is everything all right?"

Normally, Kristin was open and honest with Nathan. He already knew she heard Sylvia's voice as he heard Jack's. However, this time, she didn't feel like sharing all the details. She knew all of them were trying to figure out what exactly was going on here and what it was they were supposed to be doing in this time period. But she felt she had to do this on her own, to try to figure out what was inevitable. She already knew Nathan and the others were worried about her, so she didn't want to add to the worry. She gave him a smile. "Everything's fine; I was just talking to myself."

Nathan chuckled. "And did you give yourself the right answers?"

She shrugged and tried to force a smile of her own. "I'm not sure." She then changed the subject, "Um, would you like anything? A drink perhaps?"

"No, thank you. I…I just thought we could talk…about anything you want to talk about." He sat down and patted the spot on the sofa next to him. "Have a seat," he urged. "What do you want to talk about?"

She nodded and sat next to him, but she suddenly felt nervous and wasn't sure why. She suddenly felt…different. And there was one thing she wanted to know about Jack. "Are you married, Mr. Remington?"

Nathan gave her an odd look at first, but suddenly followed suit. "Please, call me Jack," he insisted. Then he continued, "I was at one time, but my wife and son were killed in a train accident five years ago." He was surprised by how sad he suddenly felt. Certainly, he could sympathize, considering his loss of Carol and Robert. But it didn't take him long to finally realize he was feeling Jack's feelings. He was no longer Nathan anymore. And at that same time, he realized Kristin was no longer herself, but rather, Sylvia.

"I…I'm so sorry," she said sincerely. "It must be so hard for you."

Nathan nodded. "Thank you for your sympathies; I manage, though. What about you? You never wanted children?"

"We'd tried, but it…it never worked out." She suddenly stood and walked to a cabinet with double doors; she opened one of the doors and took out a photo album. She handed it to him.

He gave her a questioning look, but she gave him a nod, urging him to open it.

He did so. Inside, he saw pictures of Sylvia and Richard in their younger days, looking happy and joyful. He saw pictures of them on their wedding day. Then he turned the page and saw pictures of Sylvia holding a baby. He gave her a questioning look.

"We…we were happy once. And when Penelope came along, everything was perfect…or at least it seemed so," she told him, her voice thick with emotion. "But our happiness was short-lived."

"What happened?"

"Penelope was sick. She was born a few weeks early, which meant her lungs weren't as developed. After staying in the hospital for a week after she was born, however, the doctors felt she was well enough to come home."

"But she wasn't?"

She shook her head sadly. "Her immune system was weakened because of her prematurity. As a doctor myself, I should have known that, but it's always a different story when it's your own child. I didn't want to believe it, even after she'd gotten her first cold at just three weeks old. After that, it was just one illness after another. When she was just six-months old, she…she developed a respiratory infection that eventually led to pneumonia." She took a deep breath as she felt tears threaten to fall. She tried to keep them at bay, but to no avail. "I…I…I had never felt so helpless as a doctor. When it's your own child, it's even more heartbreaking." She finally broke down, no longer able to hold her tears off. She slowly sank to the floor, hugging herself, sobbing uncontrollably.

Nathan quickly deduced that little Penelope never recovered from her pneumonia and was at her side in a moment, wrapping his arms around her. "Ssh," Nathan soothed. "It's all right." All he could do was hold her and try to provide some sort of support. Several minutes later, he heard her sobs subside.

"Better?" he asked.

"A little," she mumbled into his shoulder. Suddenly, she pushed him away gently and stood. "I…I'm sorry…I didn't mean-"

"You have nothing to apologize for," Nathan said sincerely, pushing himself to his feet. "I never knew you and the senator had any children."

She shrugged. "Most people don't; we don't talk about it. She was born just one year after Richard and I married. But after she died, everything changed, including me. Richard doesn't quite understand that."

"Is that why he treats you the way he does?"

She sighed. "Richard tried for a long time to get me to come around. Part of me feels like it's my fault. After we lost Penelope, it…it was like a nightmare. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep. And I felt like such a failure, as a mother, as a doctor, even as a person. Finally, after months of begging me to try again for another child, I relented, against my better judgment. And it wasn't long before I was pregnant again."

"But you weren't happy?"

"Richard was, and I wanted to be. I really did. Every woman wants a child, doesn't she? But then there was a part of me that didn't want one. What if this child was ill too? What if I was a failure as a parent? What if…well, there were too many 'what ifs' for me. I miscarried a few weeks later. And do you know that was the happiest I'd been in a while? Isn't that horrible? I…I just don't know what happened to me…" A few tears began to fall once again. "I mean, what kind of woman is happy about a miscarriage?"

Nathan wrapped his arms around her again. "One that is going through a whirlpool of emotions; you're not a horrible person. Have you ever spoken to anyone about this? Like a doctor?"

She scoffed. "Oh, just what a politician wants; his wife going to visit a shrink." She shook her head. "No, it would never work. Richard is adamant that we maintain the image of the perfect couple for publicity reasons. If the public only knew the irony in that; our marriage is far from perfect. Shortly after Penelope's passing, Richard was elected mayor. And, his political career began. He worked his way up the ladder, as most politicians do. About the time he became governor, that's when our marriage really began to crumble."

"But, why didn't you-" Nathan began.

"I know what you're going to say; you want to know why I didn't leave? I did leave once, but it didn't last long. I…I'd found out I was pregnant again, and…and I just couldn't handle it alone. I needed him. Richard and I have been married for fifteen years; even through our ups and downs, he…he was there for me. I really don't have anyone else; my own parents are long gone, and I have no siblings, no other family. I've had eight miscarriages since Penelope's death; the last one was just this past summer" She paused for a moment and shook her head. "I…it's only been in the last few years that…that Richard's been…the way he is. I think he's finally given up. I…I know he loves the woman I used to be, but…but I'm not that woman anymore. I'm just…broken," she responded sadly.

"Wait a minute; you think you deserve what he does to you?"

"Well, of course not, but I don't blame him either. I haven't exactly been the easiest person to put up with all these years," she explained.

"But that doesn't give him the right to do what he does. And you're not broken; certainly, you have so many wonderful things to offer," Nathan assured her. "You're a wonderful doctor."

"Oh, please, Jack, you don't even know me. You sat through one exam with me, that's all. How could you possibly know how wonderful I am? I assure you, I'm not," she said, moving away from him again, turning her back to him. "I'm hopelessly flawed," she added quietly, "possibly more than you'll ever know."

He stood and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Maybe I just see more in you than he does. You're charming and smart, kind, gentle."

She slowly turned to look at him, "But-"

"Ssh," he urged kindly. "And you're beautiful…and so easy to love." He slowly brought his lips closer to hers.

"Jack, I-" she began to protest, but before she could say anything more, he closed the gap between them. The kiss was gentle at first, but it quickly deepened into something more. But she suddenly came to her senses and gave him a gentle push, breaking the kiss. "Jack, I'm a married woman." But her tone wasn't very chastising.

"An unhappily married woman," he corrected. "I…I'm not going to pressure you into something you don't want, but I think you and I both know there's something happening here between us."

"I…" she began. "M-maybe you should leave." She quickly turned away from him.

"So, that's it?" he questioned.

She turned back to him, standing in the doorway of the bedroom. "Well, what did you expect? I'm a married woman. Whether I'm unhappy or not, I'm still married."

He chuckled softly. "And you don't think this is a bit of ironic? Your husband isn't here, and you know full well he's being unfaithful."

"What is it you want from me, Jack? If you think for one second that I'm going to justify every detail of my life to you, you have another thing coming!" The anger in her voice suddenly surprised her. She suddenly changed her tone. "I…I'm sorry; I didn't mean to yell."

"No, it's perfectly all right. You're absolutely correct; you don't need to justify things to me."

"Look, Mr. Remington, we've only just met today, and you already know more about me than most people do. I performed your examination at the clinic, and my husband pawned me off on you at the party. You've given me a ride home, but really, what else is there for you here? You have no obligations to me whatsoever. I suggest you wash your hands of me," she stated. "Thank you for everything." She held out her hand to shake.

"No…I mean, you just want to cut ties like that?"

"Well, certainly, I'm sure my husband will contact you for the purpose of funding, but you and I shouldn't need to see one another again. It's…it's better this way."

"For whom? I know damned well you don't believe that."

"Please…we really should part ways." She held out her hand again.

He took it, reluctantly. "Are you sure this is what you want?" He looked deep into her eyes, searching for an answer.

"Jack, I-" she began. "I…I learned a long time ago that it doesn't always matter what I want."

"You want to be alone?" he pressed.

She shook her head. "Not really."

"I could stay with you…just as a friend." He helped up his hands. "Promise; we'll just talk, if that's what you want."

She thought for a moment. "A-all right; I guess there's no harm in that."

"And, I'm sorry…about the kiss," he added.

"I'm not," she admitted. "I mean, it was…nice."

"But it was forward of me; I shouldn't have," he replied.

She shrugged. "If things were different, I…I probably would say yes."

"It doesn't mean we can't change things in the near future," he suggested.

"How about we just go one day at a time? I don't think I can handle more than that."

He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders. "It's a deal. Thank you."

"No, thank you." She headed toward the kitchen. "So, how about some tea? I'm having a cup myself."

"If you're having one, then so will I," he answered. "Thank you."

"Of course." She filled the teapot with water and put it on the stove top. Then, she reentered the living room and sat next to him.

"Well, how about we start over then?" he suggested.

She smiled. "I'd like that. I…hope I didn't make you too uncomfortable before. I…I probably said too much."

He shook his head. "Don't apologize. I think you needed a shoulder to cry on and a confidante. And I'm glad I could help."

"Thank you. It was nice to be able to tell someone," she admitted.

"You don't have any girlfriends in Washington?"

She shook her head. "The only women I'm allowed to socialize with are the other political wives." She sighed. "All they talk about is shopping and social events. That isn't me. I'm a doctor, and I'm more interested in intellectual endeavors. But none of them are interested in such things. After Penelope, I took a hiatus from work. And, after that, Richard suggested I don't go back at all."

"And you didn't argue?"

"By that point, it seemed futile. Penelope was getting sicker. And, after she passed, I lost my desire. By the time I'd found it, I was pregnant again. Since Richard became senator, he likes it when I can offer my services to bolster his career. So, yes, I'm allowed to volunteer, like I'm doing here. But to have a full time position at the hospital back home, no, that's out of the question," she said sadly. She did her best impression of Richard, "Darling, you don't need to work. You're a senator's wife. Act like it." Then he always adds, "And I want you home to take care of the babies." That always makes me feel guilty, so I give in."

"So you should feel guilty, but he shouldn't?"

She sighed. "I admit, I don't always know what the senator thinks anymore."

The teapot whistled, and she got up to make the tea. "Milk or sugar?" she asked after a moment.

"Please," he answered.

When she returned with the tea, the two sipped quietly and continued talking. "You know, we've spoken lot about me. What about you? Do you have any family? Parents? Brothers or sisters?"

He shook his head. "My parents are gone, and my brother died young. My crew is my family now. You met them at the party. What did you think?"

She smiled. "They seem very kind," she admitted. "Even at the hospital on the base, everyone is so…welcoming. I almost feel like I'm at home here. It almost makes me sad to go back to Washington. I'm glad we're here in Pearl for a few weeks though. Maybe I'll make some friends here."

He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You already have."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Three cups of tea and two hours later, the two were still deep in conversation, although they were both getting tired.

Kristin tried to stifle a yawn. "Sorry," she muttered.

"I should probably let you get some sleep," Nathan finally said.

"But, you're tired, too," she countered. "You could…stay here…on the couch, I mean."

He thought for a moment. The drive home would be trying, and he didn't want to risk an accident. "I need to be on the base in the morning."

"And I need to be at the clinic. There's no telling if Richard will even come home, but I'm an early riser. I'll wake you," she assured him. "I'll be right back with a pillow and some blankets." With that, she left the room; she returned a few minutes later, arms laden with a pillow and a few blankets. "I hope these are all right."

"Oh, they're fine," he assured her. "Thank you."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, Jack. Thank you for everything."

"It was my pleasure, Sylvia; sleep well."

Chapter 7: I'll Probably Go Too far

Sometime in the middle of the night, Kristin awoke with little memory of what had happened just a few hours earlier. She remembered glimpses, small snippets. She remembered speaking with Nathan, and she remembered being upset, though she couldn't tell why. And, she couldn't really remember much more than that. That was odd. She usually didn't have short term memory issues, and she'd only had one glass of champagne at the party. That certainly wasn't enough to put her into an altered state of consciousness, let alone make her forget actions or even words. She looked to her right; she was in bed alone. Richard wasn't home, not that she expected him to be.

However, a thought suddenly came to her. "Sylvia?" she whispered. "Have you had a hand in this?"

There was no answer. Kristin sighed, for some reason knowing it would be useless to try again. She lay back down and tried to get back to sleep. And, it wasn't long before she felt herself succumb to sleep once more, thoughts of Sylvia on her mind.

She didn't know how long she was asleep when she felt strong hands shaking her shoulders, causing her to wake. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust in the dim light. When they did, she saw that it was Richard. Her heart sank slightly.

Before she knew it, she and Richard were engaged in a heated argument. He was making accusations, and she did her best to defend herself. She honestly didn't even know what he was angry for. At first, she suspected it was the fact Nathan was sleeping on the couch, but now, he was gone, the blankets neatly folded.

Suddenly, Richard lunged at her, knocking her to the ground. She begged him to stop, pleaded with him. But, he ignored her and continued his rage. He was now on top of her, overpowering her.

Kristin screamed, struggling to free herself, but to no avail. Richard then removed his tie from his neck and used it to tie her wrists together. The ties were so tight, she could barely feel her hands. She tried to get loose, but she couldn't. Richard finally stood, leaving her alone for a few moments. Kristin called for help, but no one came. She felt tears sting her eyes. Richard returned a few moments later, a handkerchief in his hands. He wasted no time in tying it around her head, using it as a gag for her mouth.

Kristin did her best to continue making noise through the gag, hoping that someone might hear her. But, the vacation home was on the outskirts of the city; the neighbor's home was a good half mile away. No one heard her, and Nathan was nowhere to be found. Richard picked her up and dragged her out the back door and out onto the dock.

Kristin struggled against him, but he was too strong. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the trunk sitting on the edge of the dock. Richard proceeded to push her down on her back, some bailing twine in his hands. She continued to cry, beg, and plead, but he ignored her. He tied her ankles together and placed her inside the trunk. She let out one last cry as the lid was closed.

Kristin woke with a blood-curdling scream. It took her a moment to realize it was all just a horrible dream, and when she did, painful sobs escaped her throat. She was completely unaware that she wasn't alone. And when she felt hands go around her shoulders, she screamed once again and began struggling.

"Sylvia, ssh, it's me," Nathan said, turning on the light. "Please, it's…it's me," he said again.

It took her a few moments to realize she was actually safe, and when she did, she clung to him and sobbed into his shoulder. The reality of Sylvia's demise was finally catching up with her. And, if she indeed was Sylvia Mayfield, it was hard to put her trust into an entity she couldn't even see. She was frightened, and she couldn't pretend she wasn't anymore.

Nathan did his best to soothe and comfort her. He'd never seen Kristin in such a vulnerable state before. "Ssh," he soothed again. "It's all right. You're safe, Sylvia."

Kristin finally pulled away from him and wiped her eyes with her hands. "Why…why do you keep calling me Sylvia?"

Nathan gave her a look. "I thought…you mean you're not her?"

She sighed. "Not at the moment. I mean, my mind knows I'm Kristin Westphalen. But, last night, well, I seem to have…forgotten what happened. It's almost as if I'd lost a few hours."

Nathan nodded. "I…I noticed the slight change," he admitted. "It honestly wasn't much of one, except you kept referring to me as Jack. And, your demeanor changed slightly, but only someone who knew you well would notice that."

"Well, I assure you I'm Kristin now," she told him. Then, she added, "And, I'm sorry I woke you. I…just had a nightmare."

Nathan still had his arm around her shoulders, and he could still feel her trembling. "You don't need to apologize. That must have been some dream," he noted. "Do you want to talk about it?"

She thought for a moment. Voicing her worries to him did certainly seem appealing. However, she also knew how concerned he was for her. If she told him about the dream, that might only exacerbate his concern for her, and that wasn't her intention. She shook her head. "Maybe later, thank you."

Nathan really looked at her, trying to determine what was going on in that head of hers. He knew she was scared, and he only wanted to help her. But, he also knew he couldn't push her. "all right; well, if you're better, I guess I'll let you get back to sleep." He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead before standing. "Sweet dreams." He turned to go back to the sofa, but Kristin interrupted him.

"Wait," she cried.

He turned back to her.

"I mean," she said. "C-could you stay with me? Just until I fall asleep? Please?"

Nathan had never heard her voice sound so small. The effect was heartbreaking. "You don't need to ask," he said, taking the place next to her on the bed once again. "I'll stay with you as long as you need."

She gave him a grateful smile and readjusted the blankets so he would have some. After they were comfortable and cozy, Nathan shut off the light. Once he did so, he felt Kristin move closer to him, her head on his shoulder once again. He moved his arm so that it was around her; when he did so, he could still feel she was trembling. "You want to talk?" he asked.

"That might help," she replied. "Something to ease my mind."

"Something to ease your mind," Nathan repeated thoughtfully. "How about we talk about the reef classifications?"

"What?"

"The reef classifications," Nathan said again. "You haven't forgotten already, have you?"

"No, of course not…but it seems like it was ages ago."

"You and I both know how science excites you. In fact, I have a little trivia game we could play," Nathan suggested. "What do you say?"

"A trivia game? Like what?" Kristin asked, her interest now sparked.

"Well, do you remember playing Alphabets as a child?" Nathan inquired. "You know the game where one person calls out a name of a state and the next person has to think of a state that starts with the last letter? Well, this will be a variation," Nathan explained.

She chuckled softly. "I do recall that game," she replied, "but we Brits call it Connections."

"Well, fine, we'll play Connections then, except instead of states, we use the Latin names for your specimens. I thought it might be challenging. So, are you game?" Nathan asked hopefully. He had a feeling such a game would help take her mind off of whatever she dreamt.

"all right," Kristin agreed. "I suppose that could be interesting."

"Then, you start," Nathan urged.

"Do you know all your Latin names?" she teased gently.

"I remember more than you think," he promised. "You start, and I'll follow."

"Very well; something easy to begin. Codium arabicum."

Nathan chuckled. "That's easy?"

"You said you remembered your Latin names," Kristin stated. "And I thought it was easy."

"You're right, I did." He thought for a few minutes. "Martensia fragilis."

"That's very impressive," Kristin commented.

"I told you I remember more than you think," Nathan assured her. "You didn't think I'd have suggested the game if I didn't?"

"I admit, I had my doubts."

Nathan smiled softly to himself. This was the effect he'd hoped this little game would have. He felt Kristin relax against him, and she wasn't trembling anymore. She was having fun, and as long as she was having fun, so was he. "It's your turn," he reminded.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking," she assured him.

And so, the two continued their game back and forth for quite a while. And it seemed to do what it was intended to do because eventually, Kristin started stifling yawns as she continued to spout off Latin names for the reef life. "Paracirrhites," she said quietly.

Nathan sighed. They'd been going back and forth, neither one of them backing down. "You want to stop? You're getting tired again," he noted.

"No, we need to finish," she insisted, yawning again.

"Yes, but we both need to get up in a few hours. We can continue this later."

"I'm fine," she assured him. "It's your turn."

"I know," Nathan stated. And, after a few moments, he added, "I'm thinking, but…I really can't think of anything else. I guess this means you've won." Now, Nathan expected a bit of a protest from her, but he was surprised to hear nothing. "Kristin?" he whispered after a moment when she didn't answer.

The only answer he received was her quiet steady breathing. Nathan was happy she'd finally fallen asleep, but he suddenly realized he was in a predicament of his own. She was still nuzzled into his shoulder; if he moved, he'd surely wake her. So, he simply hugged her a little tighter and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Sleep well, Kristin." And, a few moments later, he succumbed to sleep as well.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

November 29, 1941

The sunlight streaming in through the curtains caused Kristin to wake. She found that Nathan was still sleeping next to her, his arms still around her. She couldn't say she was upset about this fact. She nuzzled against him. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she drawled softly.

Nathan gave her a smile. "I trust you slept well?"

She nodded. "No more nightmares," she confirmed. "Thank you."

"I'm just glad I was here to help," he replied. "What time is it?"

"Just a little after five. I thought-"

But at that moment, they heard a key in the front door; a moment later, it opened. The cough that followed told them that it was Richard.

"Oh, no," Kristin muttered. "In the bathroom," she whispered to Nathan.

Nathan didn't waste any time. He wasn't sure how angry the senator would be if he saw his wife in bed with another man, even if nothing happened. But, he didn't want to risk it either. He headed into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Richard walked into the bedroom a moment later, this time more sober than when Kristin had last seen him. "Good morning," she said calmly.

Richard gave her a nod and motioned towards the window. "Is that the captain's car outside?"

"Um, yes; Captain Remington offered me a ride home after the party, and it was so late, I offered him the sofa for the night," she explained.

"Oh, I see," he answered. He happened to look towards the bed and noticed it had looked as though two people slept in the bed. However, he didn't press the issue. Really, he couldn't say much since his hands were dirty in the matter as well.

Having been listening, Nathan came out of the bathroom, feeling it was a good time. "Good morning, Senator."

"Good morning, Captain," Richard greeted him stiffly. "I suppose I should offer my gratitude for taking care of my wife. Thank you."

"Well, you're very welcome." He gave Kristin a small smile. "It was my pleasure."

She returned the smile, but it quickly faded when she noticed the disapproving look she was getting from Richard.

"Well, I actually need to get to the office right away, so as long as you're here, Captain, any chance you're going back to the base?" Richard continued, still glaring at his wife.

"Yes, actually, I am. I could give Sylvia a lift, if that's what you're getting at," Nathan offered, not particularly enjoying the way he was eyeing Kristin.

"Of course; and I'll be there later. I actually have a meeting with Admiral Beatty later. You'll be there, I trust?" he questioned.

Nathan nodded. "Yes, Sir."

Richard gave him a nod. "Then, I'll see you both later." He walked to the closet, took a hanger with a fresh suit hanging on it from inside, and left once again.

Kristin stood and watched his car pull out of the driveway. When she was sure he was gone, she muttered, "That went well."

"Do I detect a bit of sarcasm?" Nathan commented. Then he added, "I don't think he was particularly pleased."

"I noticed," she said quietly. But, she didn't want to dwell on the fact any longer. "Um, you're welcome to shower first if you'd like. Are you hungry? I can go whip us up something for breakfast." She tried to become more chipper.

Nathan gave her a look.

"I just think it's futile to dwell on it at the moment," she explained before he could question her. "And, we're running out of time."

He nodded. "Very well. I'll be quick."

"Towels are in the cabinet," she called to him. Then, she stepped into the closet and found a nice pair of dress pants and a shirt that belonged to Richard. She knocked on the door. "There's a change of clothing for you on the bed," she told him. Then, with that, she headed to the kitchen to see what she could find. She started a pot of coffee and decided to scramble some eggs and toast. It wasn't very fancy, but it was quick.

When Nathan emerged from the bedroom, he said, "Something certainly smells delicious."

She chuckled. "Well, thank you." She made him a plate and set it down at the table, along with a cup of coffee. "Go ahead," she urged. "Eat up; I'm going to get ready."

Fifteen minutes later, Kristin was dressed and ready. She reentered the kitchen to find Nathan eating his last bite. "That was wonderful; thank you."

"You're very welcome. Are you all set?" she asked.

"What about you? Aren't you going to eat?"

"I had a piece of toast and some coffee. I'm fine," she told him.

Nathan shrugged. "Very well." He opened the front door. "After you, milady."

On the way to the base, Nathan said, "So, what are your plans for the day? I mean for later? You do get breaks, don't you?"

She chuckled. "Yes, I get breaks. Why…are you asking me to lunch?"

"Something like that, but I was thinking something before. You remember that suggestion you made? About rounding up the whole crew?" Nathan asked.

She nodded. "Yes, I recall. So, that's your plan?"

"As long as you're Kristin, I think it's a good idea," Nathan agreed.

"Unfortunately, I have little control over that matter. It's not quite the same as it was with Lillian. Sylvia apparently comes and goes. For the most part, I'm me, but apparently, she found it necessary to completely take over like Lillian last night. I'm not sure she won't do the same again," Kristin answered.

"Well, you'll just have to ask her to hold off on it for now. I think I can manage to get everyone together by noon. Does that work for you?"

"Meet me at my office," she confirmed. "You know where it is."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Nathan was right on schedule, waiting for Kristin when she'd seen her last patient. "How was your morning?" he asked.

"Busy," she admitted. "But it was fine. Yours?"

"The same," he confirmed. "I have a surprise for you."

She gave him a look. "A surprise? I thought you were getting the crew together?"

"I did," he promised. "In fact, they're all waiting for us on the docks."

"all right…" she answered, still unsure of what Nathan had planned.

"Don't worry; I have a lunch ready for us," Nathan continued. He held up a basket. "I hope you like chicken salad."

She smiled. "Of course, but how did you-"

"It's a secret. So, shall we?" He offered his arm.

She accepted and they walked across the base and down to the docks together. Sure enough, the others were waiting there. Some were sitting down on the docks and eating. But, they were all there. She smiled. "Is this the surprise?"

"Not exactly," Nathan replied. "You'll have to look a little closer."

As the two got closer to the dock, the others greeted her. Lucas, aka Henry, waved to her. He was leaning over the edge of the dock looking at something.

"That's the surprise," Nathan told her, a huge grin on his face.

Kristin knelt beside Lucas and finally saw. It was Darwin. She gave his head a pat. "It's remarkable. I can't believe…where did you find him?"

"Actually, it was Lu-I mean, Henry," Nathan replied.

She gave Lucas an expectant look and he began his story. "Well, I was walking along the docks this morning, and there he was. I guess he was transported, just like the rest of us."

Darwin nodded his head up and down and gave a few whistles and squeaks, as if he was confirming Lucas' story.

They all laughed.

"Well, I'm certainly glad he made it here safely," Kristin said.

"And I'm glad he found us," Lucas added.

"So, was this a good surprise?" Nathan asked after Kristin had stood again.

"Indeed," she assured him. "Thank you."

"Well, why don't we eat so we can start our meeting?"

She nodded and followed him to a vacant spot on the grass nearby.

Chapter 8: Probably Away From You

Nathan laid a blanket on the grass and held out his hand to help Kristin sit.

"This is lovely," she gushed, "thank you."

"Well, it was the least I could do after last night…to thank you for offering me your sofa," he said with a shrug.

She smiled. "You and I both know neither of us wanted to be alone anyway."

"Well, that might be so, but I still wanted to do something nice for you." Then, he added, "Do you have any plans later?"

She gave him a look. "Nathan, I thought we agreed we weren't going to do this."

"Do what?" he asked innocently.

She sighed. "Nathan, Sylvia is still a married woman. Even if nothing happens, I don't think you and I should be so…friendly while we're here."

"I think it's apparent Sylvia and Jack were friends; we can't deny that," Nathan countered.

"You know you're not making this very easy," Kristin said after taking a few bites of her sandwich.

Just then, Kristin heard a familiar voice. Don't resist the inevitable, Sylvia's voice whispered.

"And neither are you," Kristin added.

"What?" Nathan asked.

"Nothing. I was just, um…thinking out loud. Sorry," she muttered. "Look, you saw the look on Richard's face this morning. I just don't want to ruffle any feathers, if you get my meaning."

"I've already told you, I don't plan on letting you go while we're here. If anything happened to you…well, I'd never forgive myself." He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "And remember, we go with the flow here," he reminded.

Another sigh escaped her. "Well, I suppose I can't argue with you there. I don't particularly like not being around you and the others. But, I also think it's in Jack's best interest not to make the senator too angry, especially if he's trying to get funding for the Nautilus. So, perhaps we ought to just play things by ear?"

"I can handle that," Nathan agreed.

After they'd finished their lunches, Nathan called everyone over so they could start their 'staff meeting'.

"First of all, since it's just us, I think we can use our given names; that should help clear up any confusion for the time being," Nathan began.

There was a general chorus of agreement amongst the group.

"So, we're here to establish the facts we've discovered so far," Nathan began. "Maybe that'll give us a clue as to what we're doing here."

"And help us get back home," Manilow Crocker added. He hadn't particularly enjoyed their experience on the George, and he wasn't too happy about their current situation. Therefore, he was eager to get back to their own time.

"Well, that's a given," Nathan replied. "So, why don't we start with you, Doctor?"

Kristin stood before them and told her everything she'd discovered so far; she told them about Sylvia's miscarriages, her marital discord, and about the letter to the senator. "…and, it also seems that Sylvia and Jack Remington were close," she finished.

"Like romantically close?" Katie questioned.

"We're still deciding that," Nathan cut in. "But, we need to remember, we're here to solve Sylvia's murder."

"Or possibly prevent it," Jonathan suggested.

At that moment, Joshua raised his hand. "If I may, I'd just like to remind everyone that we're still dealing with the supernatural, spirits that aren't at rest. Since Sylvia's death is still unsolved, I think she's what brought us here."

"Wait a minute," Ben interrupted. "You mean a ghost caused the geomagnetic storm and the whirlpool vortex?"

"The realms of the supernatural are still a mystery to us. Paranormal researchers find new discoveries every day," Joshua continued. "I know some of you are skeptics; you can call this all a coincidence. Maybe it's a collective dream we're all having, and we'll wake up shortly. But I personally believe Sylvia is reaching out to us from beyond the grave, even if her methods are different than what we've seen before." He turned to Kristin. "You took an interest in her case from the beginning, so I think she's chosen you."

"Yes, but do you think she's in any danger?" Nathan asked worriedly. "Being chosen from beyond the grave doesn't exactly sound appealing."

"Sylvia doesn't sound like a malicious spirit," Joshua replied thoughtfully. "What do you think?" he asked Kristin.

"Well, she keeps reassuring me that everything will be fine," Kristin answered quietly. "I…I don't think she'd mislead me, but the fact that I'm essentially her while we're here…."

Lucas spoke up. "What about her death?" Lucas questioned finally. "Are we supposed to prevent it?"

"Spirits usually want closure when there are things that are unresolved. An unsolved murder is definitely unresolved," Joshua said. "In my opinion, we're not here to alter anything."

"But, the doc-" Katie began.

"This is exactly what I didn't want," Kristin finally blurted out. "I…I don't want you all worrying about me!"

Everyone was silent for a moment, stunned by the doctor's outburst.

"I'm worried enough as it is," she continued, speaking a little quieter now. "I…I just don't want to be a burden."

Joshua placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Sylvia's made you the focus; that can't be changed now."

Before Kristin could reply, she heard the distant voice of Sylvia once again. Everything happens for a reason. There are no accidents here. She simply nodded, feeling defeated.

"Uh, does anyone have anything else to add? Any other information?" Nathan asked after a moment.

The others shook their heads.

"Perhaps we should meet in a few days?" Joshua suggested. "Regular meetings might help us keep our details straight."

"That's a good idea," Nathan agreed. He turned to the others. "Then you're all dismissed. We'll see about meeting again soon."

As the others departed, Nathan approached Kristin, who was still speaking with Joshua.

Upon seeing the captain, Joshua said, "I'll let you two to talk. Just stop by my office and find me when you're through, all right?"

She nodded. "Thank you, Joshua."

Nathan watched him go, and then turned back to her. "Well, that was enlightening."

"What? No lecture?" she said after a moment.

"Why would I lecture you?"

She sighed. "Because I keep saying, "I'm fine," when it's obvious I'm not. I've been trying very hard not to let it show, but…" her voice trailed off.

Nathan put his arm around her. "Kristin, don't you think I know that? I've known you long enough that I know how you work by now. And you shouldn't be upset with the others; they're just-"

"I'm not upset with the others. I'm upset with myself. Mr. Krieg was blaming himself for this. I don't blame him; I blame me."

"It's not like you're the one who killed Sylvia; and you didn't know what was in that chest. How is any of this your fault?" Nathan pressed.

"Maybe if I'd have just let it go when the forensics team had said they couldn't do more, we wouldn't be here now," she reasoned.

"Do you really believe that?"

"I don't know," she answered quietly.

"Well, I don't. First of all, you're a scientist. You don't take 'no' for an answer. Second, I think Sylvia would have had her way no matter what."

Kristin was about to reply when a familiar voice interrupted them.

"There you are," Richard said, approaching them. "I've been looking all over for you, darling." Richard's tone, however, was less than pleasant. "And here you are, with Captain Remington of all people."

"Richard, we were just talking," Kristin defended, making a point to take a few steps away from Nathan.

"It certainly looks to me as though it's a little more than talking," Richard stated. Then, he eyed Nathan suspiciously. "It just seems every time I turn around lately, you've got your hands all over her. You realize she's a married woman, don't you, Captain?"

"I do, Senator; and you realize you're a married man, don't you?" Nathan challenged.

"Jack," Kristin said warningly.

Richard turned to her. "I think you have patients to attend to, don't you, dear?"

Kristin hesitated, casting a desperate glance towards Nathan.

"I'll deal with you later. This is between the captain and me," Richard continued. And when Kristin made no attempt to move, he sternly ordered, "Go."

Kristin waited for one more moment until Nathan gave her a nod before finally heading back toward the doors of the hospital. When she got there, she turned back towards them and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry," to Nathan.

"Captain, you realize this is a very uncertain time for the United States right now, don't you?" the senator asked.

"Yes, I do, Senator."

"Our allies are engaged in a war; if we suddenly became involved in that war, the naval forces would be a great asset to the cause, wouldn't they?"

"Yes, but-"

"And there's one thing that the navy needs that I have, isn't there?"

Nathan nodded.

"And do you want to tell me what that one thing is?" Richard continued in a condescending tone.

"Money," Nathan answered through gritted teeth.

Richard patted him on the shoulder. "Very good, Captain. Then, let me ask you this. Do you really think it's wise to lust after the wife of the one man who has unlimited funds to give?"

"And, in that same respect, do you think it's wise for you to lust after other women?"

"What I do is none of your business," Richard replied. "You have no idea why I do what I do."

"I think I do," Nathan countered. "Sylvia's told me quite a bit."

"Oh, has she? And just what has she told you?"

"That your marriage is an unhappy one, for one. And I already see the way you ignore her, unless of course, you're in front of the cameras or your public. She's more than just a trophy for your arm, you know," Nathan informed.

Richard's eyes narrowed. "It would be in your best interest to stay the hell away from my wife, Captain, and you keep your nose out of our marriage as well. Or I take my funds elsewhere. You wouldn't want to inform the admiral that you were the one to cause the demise of the US Navy, would you?"

When Nathan didn't answer, Richard said, "That's exactly what I thought you'd say. See you at the meeting." With that, he left, leaving an angry Nathan behind.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

By late afternoon, Nathan headed to the main conference room. After his confrontation with the senator, Nathan desperately wanted to go see how Kristin was, to assure her that everything was going to be all right. Unfortunately, his hands were tied in the matter. The senator had given him an ultimatum. Certainly, Nathan didn't plan on adhering to it, but he needed the dust to settle. He'd be damned if he was going to stay away from her the whole time they were there. Not only that, but Jack's voice practically screamed in his head, Don't let her go.

He didn't plan on doing that at all. But he had a meeting to attend. And apparently, he had to play nice with the senator, much to his dislike. The navy needed funding, and the senator had it.

At the meeting, Nathan discovered that there were war warnings issued. That wasn't surprising. But there was still nothing mentioned about a possible attack. When all was said and done, the senator agreed to give the funds. Nathan was relieved; he hoped he didn't have to deal with the senator much after that. But, when the meeting was adjourned, the senator asked him so stay behind.

Once they were alone, the senator began, "So are you pleased by what you've heard, Captain?"

It was becoming increasingly difficult to be keep his cool with the senator. He simply nodded. "Thank you, Sir."

"You're very welcome." He eyed Nathan for a moment. "Tell me, Captain, do you support the war?"

"Contrary to what you might think, I don't support war at all. It might be inevitable, but I simply oppose the threats to the world's peace," Nathan informed.

The senator chuckled. "You're a man of ideals, aren't you? Well, to each his own, but I assure you, we are going to war."

Nathan didn't say anything.

"Well, I guess I'll let you go since I have matters of my own to attend. I trust you remember the other thing we spoke about?"

"Yes."

"Good, I was just checking. See you around, Captain," the senator called as he left the room.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin had just finished up with her last patient for the day, but ever since she'd seen Richard, she couldn't help but feel on edge. She kept looking over her shoulder, hoping that one of those times, she'd look up to see Nathan's smiling face. But, she never did. She'd wondered what happened between him and Richard. And then, she worried about what Richard would do when he saw her. "I'll deal with you later." His words echoed in her mind. And knowing enough about the senator's nature, this also made her heart sink.

She headed to her small office put away her patient files when she heard a knock on her door frame. She looked up, hoping it was Nathan. It was Dr. Levin.

"You never came by my office like I'd asked," he stated.

"Oh, I'd completely forgotten," she said apologetically. "I got…distracted. Was it anything important?"

"I just wanted to see about giving you an examination," he explained, "to check your vitals. With Lillian, your vital signs were altered significantly."

She nodded and glanced toward the clock. "Would tomorrow work?"

But Joshua didn't answer at first. His attention was turned to the doorway. Kristin followed his gaze. The senator was standing there.

"Tomorrow will be fine. See you then, Doctor."

"Goodbye," she said as Joshua left.

"My, you certainly are busy," Richard said once they were alone.

"Richard, please," she began. "Let's not play games. You and I both know you don't care about my work."

Richard smiled and stroked her cheek. "Very well; I won't play games." He then grabbed her arm tightly, causing her to cry out, and whispered, "I assure you this is no game, and I still need to teach you a little lesson."

"P-please, Richard," she begged. "We…we can talk about this."

He loosened his grip on her arm, but didn't let go. "That we will," he vowed, leading her out to the car.

Kristin did her best not to break down sobbing because part of her knew what was going to happen. She knew from the moment she saw Richard in the doorway of her office. The ride back home was in silence. Richard shoved her roughly through the front door and the argument began.

"Are you in love with him?" Richard screamed.

"I could ask you the same thing when it comes to your whores!" she shouted back.

He slapped her in response. "You know I don't love them. I've told you that." He lowered his voice. "Are you in love with him?" he asked again.

"I…I don't know," she admitted. "We've only just met."

"But it's apparent you two have spent some intimate moments together. He slept in our bed for Christ's sake!"

"Nothing happened."

Richard was about to say something more when he turned from her and simply walked away. She heard him in the kitchen, and it didn't take her long to realize he was pouring himself a drink. She also heard Sylvia's voice.

I'm sorry, Kristin. I'm sorry you're frightened. I'm sorry I've put you in this situation.

"Sylvia?" Kristin said in a hushed voice so Richard wouldn't hear. "It…it's all right. I-"

And I'm sorry I'm going to have to do this, Sylvia continued.

"Do what? I don't understand."

I promised you that everything would be fine. Unfortunately, I can't promise nothing bad will happen. Something bad is about to happen now, and I'm so sorry. Therefore, I'm going to have to take over, Sylvia explained. I assure you, this is for your own good. When you wake, you won't remember any of this. You'll simply experience the aftermath.

"But-" Kristin protested.

But it was too late. She heard footsteps. Richard made his way back into the bedroom, anger in his eyes. He began yelling again, pushing Kristin to the floor.

"No, please," Kristin begged before everything went blank.

Chapter 9: Chances Are, Chances Are

November 30, 1941

The sound of the front door closing caused Kristin to stir, but she didn't open her eyes. She felt pain. The memory of the night before came floating back to her. Well, it wasn't much of a memory, exactly. She realized her head was pounding, but she vaguely recalled her conversation with Sylvia. And, she remembered Richard's anger; she remembered how Sylvia had apologized to her. Then, everything had gone dark.

Kristin didn't know exactly what had happened, but the pain she felt coursing through her body gave her a clue. She gingerly sat up and forced herself to open her eyes. The bedroom was in complete disarray. It looked as though it must have been quite a scene; she shuddered at the thought.

She turned to look at the clock and noticed a folded note sitting on the bedside table next to it. She reached over and opened it.

Dear Sylvia,

I thought you'd want to take the day to rest, so I called the clinic to let them know you're taking the day off.

And…I want to tell you how sorry I am. I'm so sorry. I…I don't want to hurt you. I hope you can believe that. I do love you, and I always will. We'll talk more when I come home.

Love,

Richard

Kristin sighed heavily. She doubted Richard's sincerity, and she certainly wasn't going to stand for this anymore. Even though it was painful, she forced herself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. She could feel her face was swollen, she could see bruises on her arms and legs. She needed to see it all for herself. She pushed her nightgown off of her shoulders and stood before the mirror naked.

She felt a gasp escape her throat because she barely recognized herself. Ugly purple bruises covered her entire body; it looked similar to what she'd woken up to just the other day. However, this time, her right cheek was swollen and bruised as well. She had a bruise on her chin, and her lip was swollen. And her left eye was blackened. She looked horrible.

Not only that, she surmised that Richard had had his way with her and she was sure it was against her will…well, rather Sylvia's will. No matter; seeing her image in the mirror helped her make a decision.

"Sylvia, I know you're listening, so I'm just going to say it. I can't do this anymore. I…I do want to help you. I know you've chosen me…or I've chosen you. Or maybe fate has chosen us? Whatever it is, I'm sorry…but I can't stay here any longer."

She waited for a moment, expecting an answer. But, she heard nothing, not even a protest. "Very well; have it your way."

She started the shower and got in, letting the warm water soothe her aching body. While she washed, she devised a plan. It really wasn't a very good plan, but she decided she had to leave. She'd pack a few belongings and just go. She knew she had to get away from Richard. The only problem was she wasn't sure exactly where she was going. They'd only brought one vehicle to Hawaii, and it was in Richard's possession at the moment. She'd have to…

Something pulled her from her thoughts. She heard the front door close again. Despite the warm water, a sudden chill ran down her spine. She felt her breath catch in her throat. Please, don't be Richard, she prayed. But then, who else would it be?

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice call her name, "Kristin? Sylvia?" Nathan's voice.

"In the shower. Um, I'll be out in a moment," she called back. "And it's Kristin," she confirmed.

She heard footsteps approach the doorway. "I'm just so happy to hear you're all right. A lot of us were worried when you didn't come in to the clinic today; and then Joshua said that Richard had called…well, I just had to check."

He heard her turn the water off and turned his back as she stepped out of the shower. A few moments later, she said, "You can turn around now; I'm decent."

He slowly turned to her. "Oh, Kris," he muttered when he saw her. He brought a gentle hand to her unbruised cheek. "So this is why you didn't come to work today?" Although he couldn't see any more marks on her because of her floor length bathrobe, he was certain her body was covered in bruises. "I am so sorry. I-"

She waved a hand. "It's not your fault. I wasn't even conscious."

Nathan gave her a bewildered look.

"Sylvia took over for me. She wanted to spare me the actual abuse, I suppose. I woke up this way, just like the last time." She paused for a moment. Then she added quietly, "Only this time, I'm a little more injured than the last."

"Kristin, you-"

She held up a hand. "I'm leaving."

"What?"

"I'm leaving," she repeated. "I've already told Sylvia I won't stay here anymore." She then felt the need to justify it. "Nathan, I can't keep waking up like this. I know Sylvia has assured me that everything will be fine, but how can everything be fine if I keep going through this?"

"You don't need to explain it to me," Nathan assured her. "I understand. But what did Sylvia say?"

"She wouldn't answer me," she said with a shrug. "I think she understands. Or maybe that's what Sylvia did herself when she was alive."

"Where will you go?"

"I…I don't know. I haven't exactly gotten that far yet," she admitted.

"You'll stay with me," he insisted.

"No," she replied. "I mean, I'd like that, but do you really think that's wise? You know what kind of problems that would cause. We need a better solution."

Nathan sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. Richard had too much pull with the Navy, and it might just create more problems for her; and he wanted to avoid that at all costs. "Fine, but you're coming with me until we find something more suitable, all right?"

She couldn't argue with that. She nodded. "Um, just let me get dressed and pack a few things," she began, turning to the mirror to brush her hair out.

Nathan stood behind her, staring at her reflection.

"What?" she questioned.

"Are you all right?"

She gave him a small smile. "I'll be fine…after a little healing."

He simply nodded. "I'll wait for you in the living room. Let me know if you need help."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

About an hour later, Kristin was finished.

"All set?" Nathan asked her.

"I…think so," she answered, looking around the house to see if she'd forgotten anything she wanted to bring. She held up the small suitcase she'd packed. "Really, I'm just taking the essentials," she informed him. Then she added, "I…I'm not keeping you from anything?"

He shook his head. "No, in fact, I have all day if you need. Everyone…the rest of the crew…well, we were all worried about you."

She simply nodded. He wasn't telling her anything she didn't know; she just didn't know what else to say. As if being put into a different time period and having to live someone else's life wasn't overwhelming enough, she had to deal with the abuse as well. Not only that, she was beginning to feel as though she was losing herself in the thrall of this illusion. Or was it reality? Either way, she simply didn't feel like herself.

Nathan took her bag from her hand and opened the door for her. He helped her inside the car; then he went around to the other side and slid behind the driver's seat. He started the car and eased it onto the road.

Although he was trying to keep his eyes on the road, he stole a few glances at the woman next to him. She was quiet and lost in her thoughts. He'd known her long enough to know what she looked like when she was deep in thought. Part of him wished he knew exactly what was going through her head. He knew she was scared, frightened; he wanted nothing more than to take those feelings away. He didn't like any of his crew feeling that way, especially her.

He wanted to say something to her, but everything he thought of felt awkward. He could only think of one thing to do. He reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.

She looked over and gave him a smile. "Thank you."

He smiled back. "Of course. I just wanted you to know I'm here…if you need to talk."

She chuckled softly. "Is that a hint? Am I worrying you?"

"Maybe a little," he admitted. "A penny for your thoughts?"

"Really, they're the same thoughts I've been having since we arrived her…or woke up here…however we got here exactly." She sighed. "Now, I just hope I'm doing the right thing. And I don't mean the just thing; I mean the right thing. Am I doing what Sylvia would do? Am I doing what she did do? And how is this going to affect everything else?"

"Oh, is that all?" Nathan quipped, trying to get cheer her up. Then, he became serious, "Sylvia told you there were no accidents here. I think if you were doing something wrong, she'd say."

"Maybe that's the problem," she replied. "I haven't 'heard' her voice since last night, and I guess I would just like some sort of confirmation that I'm doing the right thing."

"If we were in our own time and you were in a situation like this, what would you do?" Nathan asked.

"Exactly what I'm doing now; I'd leave and then I'd press charges. But then, I would have left the first time it happened," she confirmed. "I never would have done what Sylvia did. She might be my twin in looks, but we're not exactly twins in our personalities."

Nathan thought for a moment. "I think I disagree."

She gave him a look. "How can you say that?"

"Let me explain before you raise a fuss," he began, easing the car into a parked position in front of an apartment building on the other side of town.

Kristin hadn't realized they were anywhere near to his home. She looked around and realized it was an apartment building on the base.

"We've known each other for a while."

"Nearly a year," she confirmed.

"Then you'll agree we know one another fairly well. And I've also seen you become Sylvia before my eyes. You think Sylvia was a weak woman?" Nathan questioned.

She shrugged. "I think any woman who stays in an abusive relationship like that must be weak."

"But what about before?"

"What?"

Nathan sighed. "Do you remember what Lucas said the day we had that staff meeting about all this? After we discovered the chest?"

"Of course; how could I forget? It might seem like ages ago, but it really wasn't."

"Then you should remember what Lucas said about Sylvia. Remember before she got married? Didn't she sound a lot like you?" he pressed.

She shrugged. "Maybe…"

"No, there's no maybe about it. Sylvia…well, she is strong. Maybe she's lost some of it, but she's just as strong as Kristin Westphalen…maybe stronger," Nathan replied.

She sighed. "So maybe I'm supposed to help her find her strength again?"

"Or maybe you're just supposed to help her realize she still has it," Nathan guessed. Then he added, "Why don't we go inside?"

She laughed softly, almost forgetting they were still sitting in the car. "Of course."

Nathan took her bag out of the backseat of the car, then came around to the other side, opened her door, and offered his hand to her.

She hesitated for a split second but took his hand.

But Nathan noticed her hesitance. "What's wrong?"

She looked around. "It's just that…is Richard around? At the base? If he saw us…" her voice trailed off.

Nathan could see she was still afraid. "The senator is nowhere near the base, I promise you. You're safe. It's all right," he assured her. He waited for her to think for a moment. She finally nodded and allowed him to help her from the vehicle. They continued up the walkway hand in hand.

"My apartment's on the first floor," he assured her. "We won't have to tackle flights of stairs."

Kristin gave a grateful smile. Flights of stairs weren't particularly inviting to her at the moment; her whole body still ached, although she did her best not to complain.

He led her through an entryway and into a corridor; it was narrow but clean. "Last door on the left," he said as they walked to the end of the hall. He unlocked the door and pushed it open. "After you," he said with a wave of his hand.

"Thank you," she said with a small smile, stepping inside. It was modest but clean. There was a small living room with a comfortable looking sofa and chair that made Kristin feel sleepy just looking at them. Then, there was a small kitchen with two doorways, which Kristin assumed one was a bedroom, the other a bathroom. "Not exactly like your quarters on seaQuest, is it?" she asked after he'd closed the door behind him.

"I don't exactly mind that. I don't really miss it; well, I miss being where I belong, but I don't have a PAL unit going off every few minutes paging me to the bridge." He paused for a moment. Then he said, "But I do miss late night talks with friends, knocking on their doors and being able to see them." He caught her gaze and held it for a few moments.

She blushed slightly, even under the bruising. "Um, well, I'm sure we'll get to do all that soon," she muttered, turning away and looking out the window.

"Yes, I'm sure," Nathan agreed. "Um, let me just set your bag in the bedroom for the moment. And, why don't you have a seat? Are you hungry? Have you even eaten yet?"

"Actually, no," she admitted, taking a seat on the sofa. It was as comfortable as it looked. "But I'm not very hungry. Just a little tired."

Nathan walked over and sat down next to her. He instinctively placed a hand on her forehead. "You feel a little warm. Maybe Dr. Levin could-"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I don't want to be seen like this, not by the whole crew."

Nathan sighed. "But you could have broken ribs or something. I could have him come here?"

"Maybe," she conceded. "As…as long as it's private."

"I promise," he assured her. He placed a gentle arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. She nuzzled into him, closing her eyes.

They sat that way for several moments, neither of them speaking. But Nathan finally broke the silence. He didn't want to, but he had to. "Uh, I was thinking, as far as where you're going to go…" he began.

"Yes?" she muttered, sounding sleepy.

"What about Rose? Uh, Katie? Would you feel comfortable?" he asked.

"Certainly," she answered. "But would she be willing to get involved in this mess? I don't want to put anyone out."

"You know she cares about you; she'd do anything for you."

She sighed. "I know…I just feel-"

"Don't say it," Nathan interrupted. "This is not your fault."

Kristin sighed, not bothering to protest anymore.

"Tell you what," Nathan continued. "Would you feel comfortable staying here while I go talk to Katie and Joshua? You can sleep on the couch if you'd like; or you could go into the bedroom, whatever you'd like. I won't be gone long. Nothing's going to happen," he assured her.

Kristin thought for a moment. "I suppose that would be all right. I'm suddenly so tired," she admitted, stifling a yawn.

Nathan shifted gently and eased off the sofa. "I'll go find you a blanket," he told her. "And if you wake before I get back, help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I have plenty of ingredients to make a sandwich," he called as he was grabbing an afghan from the bedroom.

Kristin didn't answer. When he got back into the living room, he was about to ask if she'd heard him when he saw that she'd fallen asleep. He unfolded the afghan and lovingly tucked it around her. He then placed a kiss to her forehead. "Sleep well; I'll be back soon." And, with that, he left the apartment, being sure to lock the door behind him, just in case.

Chapter 10: Hold You Like I Mean It

The sound of a key in the lock caused Kristin to stir. For a split second, fear coursed through her veins at the thought it might be Richard. But the thought quickly left her when she heard Nathan's hushed voice along with that of Katie and Joshua.

"She might still be asleep," Nathan warned.

"No, I'm awake," Kristin muttered sleepily. She moved gingerly to sit up and winced slightly when the movement was too much.

"Easy, easy," Nathan soothed, appearing at her side to help her. "I'm sorry if we woke you."

She waved a hand. "You didn't." And after Nathan had helped her find a comfortable position, she added, "Thank you." She then looked in the direction of Katie and Joshua, who both looked slightly uncomfortable. She guessed they weren't sure what to say, considering her appearance. "It's all right, you two. I'm not broken."

"I just…" Katie began hesitantly, sitting down next to her. She put a gentle arm around her shoulders and whispered, "I'm just so sorry you're going through this, Doc."

Kristin felt tears well up in her eyes at these words. Oh, Katie was a lovely person. Seeing as she and Kristin were the only two women on the seaQuest senior staff, she and Katie always had a special bond that started early on. However, in terms of comforting, it was rarely Kristin who needed it. Since Kristin was the older of the two, she felt it her duty to be strong and never ask, even when she was feeling down. Katie had asked for her advice and comfort many times during their tour, and Kristin always gave it willingly. One might even go so far as to say they had a mother/daughter bond since Katie reminded her so much of Cynthia.

But how often is it that a child should comfort her mother? Although it's rare, that moment is completely heart-wrenching. And that was what Kristin was feeling at that very moment. "Katie…" she began, trying to swallow tears. "It's all right," she finished lamely.

Katie simply reached over and tucked a stray curl behind Kristin's ear. "You don't need to be the strong one all the time." She then took hold of one of her hands and squeezed gently. "We'll talk more later," she promised as Dr. Levin stepped forward.

"Uh, the captain mentioned you might not be feeling well. And under the circumstances, it's probably best we perform an examination, just to be sure you don't have any broken bones or anything," Joshua explained. He turned to Nathan. "Do you mind if we use your bedroom for privacy?"

"Of course not," Nathan replied, offering a helping hand to Kristin. "Take all the time you need."

So, Joshua and Kristin headed into the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

"That was a shock," Katie said quietly once she and Nathan were alone.

"I tried to warn you," Nathan answered. "I still don't quite know how she's dealing with all this."

"The doc's a strong woman," Katie stated after a moment. "I think it's hard for her to admit weakness to anyone, even her friends. She knows we're trying to help, but I think she's trying to deal with it on her own. She's always been that way."

Nathan nodded knowingly. "Well, I really do appreciate you letting her stay with you."

"I'm sure she'll open up to one of us when she's ready," Katie assured him. "I can see she's scared and certainly, it's warranted. We all know what's to happen to Sylvia. I think if I had to assume the life of Sylvia Mayfield, I'd be a basket case," Katie noted.

Before Nathan could reply, Joshua came out of the bedroom, a worried look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Nathan questioned, worry washing over him as well.

"You said she had a fever?" he questioned.

"She felt warm," Nathan confirmed.

"Well, that doesn't seem to be the case now. In fact, it's just the opposite," Joshua answered. "And her pulse is erratic and faint."

"What does that mean?"

Joshua hesitated. He was interrupted by the sound of muffled crying. It was Kristin.

Nathan pushed past him and rushed into his bedroom. Kristin was sitting on the bed, sobbing uncontrollably. "I…I…I…tried…to…stop…him," she said between sobs.

Nathan sat next to her and his arms around her. "Stop who? Richard?" he asked as he allowed her to cry on his shoulder.

She nodded and cried for a few more minutes. Then, she said, "I…I remember…he asked me if…I was in love with you."

"And what did you say?"

"Oh, Jack…I didn't know what to say," she admitted. "You know as well as I do we both have…feelings," she replied.

"Yes…but…" Nathan began until he had a realization. "Did you just call me, Jack?"

"Yes..." she answered, turning away from him. "I should have never done this."

"Done what?"

"I should never have involved you…in any of this. Maybe I shouldn't stay with Rose. Perhaps I should go back to Washington?" Then, she added, "Or maybe I should go back to England?"

"You don't have to leave," Nathan insisted. "Please, we'll help you."

"I don't want you to help me! You're all making sacrifices for me; you barely know me. Why are you all being so kind to me?" She began sobbing once more.

At the sound of this outburst, Katie and Joshua appeared in the doorway. They saw the doctor sobbing on the captain's shoulder again.

"Maybe I should talk with her?" Katie suggested. "Woman to woman?"

Nathan sighed, gently pushing the woman in his arms away for a moment. "Would that help?"

She shrugged. "Maybe," she answered quietly.

Nathan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then, we'll leave you two. If you need anything, though, I'll be right outside the door."

She nodded.

Nathan reluctantly started toward the door, since he didn't want to leave her. He'd been the only one, until now, to interact with her as Sylvia, and he wasn't sure how Katie would react. When he reached where Katie was standing he asked quietly, "You realize she's not herself?"

Katie gave him a smile. "I think I can handle it," she assured him. Then upon seeing the worried look on his face, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Don't worry."

Nathan gave her a nod and left the room.

Katie shook her head and gave Sylvia a gentle smile. "I know we haven't gotten a chance to talk much, and I know you're confused and hurt." She sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to her. "I'd like to help you, Doctor. Or can I call you Sylvia?"

"Sylvia's fine," the older woman answered. She still had tears in her eyes and her voice was shaking. But she felt a bit more at ease. She sat next to Katie and continued, "I…I'm normally not like this."

"Like what?"

"What I mean is I don't usually share my problems with others." She sighed. "I really don't have many friends. And they don't seem to notice or care what Richard does." A few tears slipped down her cheeks. "I'm so embarrassed."

Katie placed an arm around her trembling shoulders. "Oh, honey," Katie soothed, "you have no reason to be embarrassed. This isn't your fault. None of this is. We just want to help you. I wish you'd let us."

"I just feel like I'd be putting you all out. I've already put Jack in an awkward position. I don't want to do the same with you or with anyone else. I…I appreciate it. I really do. I just feel like…I'm not worth it," Sylvia answered.

"Oh, sweetheart," Katie said, enveloping her in a hug, "You are worth it. You need to see that. And none of us feels put out, I promise you." Katie broke the hug and pulled away to look at her. "Now you listen to me, Sylvia; you're going to come and stay with me for as long as you need. You can rest, and we'll make sure you're safe. And when you're well enough, you can decide what it is you want to do. If you want to leave and go back to Washington or England…or even if you want to try somewhere new, you can do that. No one is going to stop you or force you into anything you don't want to do. But it needs to be your decision without the influence of your husband." Then, she added, "Or you could always stay right here…in Oahu. We'd all love to have you."

She gave her a small smile. "Well, I do know I am not going back to Richard," she said adamantly. "I…I know it's unorthodox, but I think divorce is the only answer."

"Well, you're not the first woman to make this decision, and I have a feeling you won't be the last. We just want to make sure you get all the help and support you need with it."

She nodded. "I…I just don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you."

"Just keep that promise to yourself, and that'll be thanks enough," Katie assured her.

"Miss McCallister," Kristin began.

Katie waved a hand. "Please, call me Rose."

"all right, Rose," she said with a smile, "thank you…for being my friend."

"Of course," Katie answered. "Feeling better?"

"A little," she admitted.

"Good," Katie replied, giving her hand another squeeze.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

A while later, Katie entered the living room once again. Nathan turned to her expectantly. He'd been pacing back and forth absentmindedly. "Well?"

"It's all handled," Katie assured him.

"Then why is she still in there?" Nathan asked worriedly, motioning toward the bedroom.

"She's freshening up," Katie told him. "And she mentioned that she wasn't sure if Dr. Lawrence was finished with his examination." She looked at Joshua expectantly.

"She doesn't have any permanent physical injuries. She knows she needs to rest, but she's otherwise fine," he stated. "The other oddities appear to be a result of the paranormal…just like on the George."

Nathan and Katie nodded, recalling the incident.

A moment later, the bedroom door opened. "Uh, Jack?"

Nathan approached her. "Yes?"

"C-could I speak to you for a moment?"

He nodded and turned back to the others. "If you need to get back, Josh-er-Peter, you can go."

He nodded. "I probably should. I'll talk to you soon." He gave a nod and left.

"I'll just wait here," Katie said, walking over to the table and picking up a magazine that was lying there.

Nathan nodded and walked in the bedroom behind Sylvia. He sat on the bed and waited for her to speak.

"I…I want to apologize for yelling," she began, still standing. "I know you're just trying to help and-"

"You don't need to keep apologizing," Nathan interrupted. "Sylvia, I just want you to be happy. And I want to make sure you're well and safe."

"I…I know; Rose mentioned that. She mentioned that's what you all want that. And I do appreciate it…so much." She crossed the room to look out the window.

Nathan stood and placed a hand on her shoulder; she jumped slightly. "Sorry," he muttered.

"Jack, I…I'm not sure what's supposed to happen between us," she said quietly.

He turned her around to him. He wanted to look in her eyes. Nathan had looked at her eyes many times before; he'd also looked into them. He'd seen so many emotions reflected in them. He'd seen anger, mischievousness, happiness, sadness, even love. He could see so much love in them at that moment, despite the bruising. And, he couldn't help but think he couldn't possibly love her more than at that moment.

Yes, he knew he had feelings for her. He cared for her very much. But he wasn't sure she was ready to hear him say, "I love you." He didn't even know if these were his feelings at the moment. Or were they Jack's? Every time Sylvia came around, he seemed to lose himself, lose track of what he was truly feeling as Nathan.

"Sylvia, life doesn't come with an instruction manual. There's no right or wrong," he said gently.

"I just don't want you to feel forced into anything."

"I don't," he assured her. "We'll just take things one day at a time."

In response, she placed her arms around him. "I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

He returned the embrace. "No, I think I'm the lucky one." He then placed a gentle kiss to her unbruised cheek. The two stayed in one another's arms for several minutes.

Finally, Kristin broke the hug. "Well, I suppose I should see about getting settled at Rose's apartment." And without another word, she walked back into the living room. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Rose."

Katie waved a hand. "Oh, it's no trouble. Um, are you all set? My apartment's only a few blocks from here."

"Here's your bag," Nathan said, handing it to her. "I'll be in touch," he assured her.

She gave him a gentle smile. "See you soon, Captain."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Later that evening, Senator Mayfield walked up the path to his vacation home, a bouquet of roses in his hand. He had intentions of apologizing to his wife and trying to make amends for what he'd done. He wanted to atone for his sins. He'd known he'd made some terrible mistakes as a husband, but he wanted to show Sylvia he was ready to turn over a new leaf.

But, when he walked through the door, he instantly knew something was amiss. He noticed the home looked much like it had this morning, remnants of the heated argument still strewn all over the floor. He knew it was futile, but he called, "Sylvia." Of course, he received no answer. He walked into the bedroom and noticed the note he'd left her this morning sitting on the bedside table. She'd written a response underneath of it. He picked it up and read it.

Dear Richard,

I think you and I both know this is for the best. I wish nothing but happiness for you, but you're not going to find that happiness with me.

Love,

Sylvia

Richard crumpled the note and threw the roses down on the table angrily. No, Sylvia was wrong. He needed her to be happy. She was everything to him. Why couldn't she see that?

Because you didn't treat her that way, he thought bitterly.

He knew what he had to do. He thought for a moment. Where would she go? He headed to the base because he had a clue.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Just a few more days is all I'm asking," Admiral Noyce pleaded with the UEO brass.

With seaQuest suddenly missing, the UEO had an emergency meeting. But, the fact she'd been missing for over seventy-two hours now was cause for concern.

"Admiral, I realize this is your project," Secretary Eileen Salvador retorted, "but it's the general consensus that we cannot keep wasting time and energy looking for a submarine that doesn't appear to be around anymore."

"Project?" Bill scoffed. "You and I both know that seaQuest is more than just a project. We-"

General Andrew Warren held up a hand. "Admiral, I assure you, every ship in the fleet is looking for the seaQuest at this very moment. But, the secretary makes a valid point. We can't keep wasting time and energy looking for her. There are still other issues at hand. Once word gets out that seaQuest is missing, we're going to have more than our share of situations to rectify, if you catch my drift. We do hope that the storms simply caused a change in course. If that happened, we'll find her in the next few days. But, by the end of the week, I'm sorry, but we're going to have to call off the search. You do understand?"

Bill sighed. He didn't want to hear it. He didn't like it. But, he knew that the general was right. He nodded.

"I…I know Nathan Bridger is your dear friend. I know all the crew members hold a special place in your heart. And I say this with utmost sincerity that I hope they're all found well and safe." He paused for a moment. Then, he said, "If not, may God have mercy on their souls."

Chapter 11: Say It 'Til You Believe It

After seeing to it that Kristin, who was still Sylvia when he'd seen her last, was properly settled, Nathan headed back to the base. He wanted to speak with Joshua about a few things. Even though it was early evening, he hoped the doctor hadn't left for the day. And much to his delight, he found him in his office. He knocked gently on the door frame.

"Ah, Captain," Joshua greeted him, "did you get the doctor settled?"

Nathan nodded. "That, we did. I was wondering if you had a few moments?"

"If you don't mind waiting for a minute, I just need to finish this medical chart," he replied, motioning for Nathan to sit in a chair in front of the desk.

"Of course." Nathan took a seat and waited patiently.

Five minutes later, Joshua had entered the last bit of necessary information. He then filed the chart into a cabinet nearby. "So," Joshua stated as he walked back to sit across from Nathan, "is she still…" He was trying to search for the proper words, just in case someone might overhear.

"Not feeling like herself?" Nathan finished for him. "She's still under the weather," he confirmed.

Joshua nodded. "That's certainly not uncommon." He lowered his voice. "This isn't the first time we've seen her like this. I don't think there's anything to be concerned about."

"So, she's physically all right during these…episodes?" Nathan asked worriedly.

"The same thing happened when we were dealing with Lillian Strathairn, if you recall. She was perfectly all right then. Lillian made sure of that. Why would you think Sylvia would be anything different?" Joshua questioned.

"That situation was different," Nathan said after a beat. "Lillian…well, she…"

"Borrowed the doctor's body, used it as a host?" Joshua suggested.

"I suppose, but…"

"Sylvia's only doing the same thing. She feels safer communicating through Kristin; certainly, there's nothing uncommon about that in the spirit world."

"Not uncommon, yes," Nathan replied. "But why Kristin? She doesn't even believe in such spirits. Well, she didn't until the George, that is. Now, she doesn't know what to believe. At least, that's what she says." And in his best Kristin impression, he added, "I'm a woman of science."

Joshua chuckled softly. "That sounds like something she'd say. But, really, you're asking the same questions paranormal researchers have been asking for years. And do you know the answers they come up with?"

Nathan shook his head.

"There are no concrete answers. There's no black and white in the spirit world, unfortunately. But there's a lot of grey. However, the main school of thought is that certain people are more receptive to it. One does not need to believe to be used as a host for a spirit. Even though Kristin's conscious mind might be closed to it, her subconscious mind is very open. Certainly, this is nothing one can control; no one can possibly have conscious knowledge of such a thing. Call it a spiritual loophole. But the spirits can sense when one has an open subconscious mind, and they tend to favor those individuals for obvious reasons. And the fact the doctor was so fascinated with Sylvia's case in the first place…well, that made her a perfect host, it seems," Joshua explained. "Then, there's the question of whether or not Sylvia is a malicious one. Well, it's not often a spirit pretends to be good. That only happens in fiction. But, in reality, if a spirit truly has malicious intentions, it will never try to mask that fact."

Nathan sighed. "I still don't like the fact that a spirit is calling the shots here. I just want a confirmation that Kristin is perfectly safe. We all know Sylvia's fate."

"Captain, we're all worried about the doctor. I know how difficult it is to put your complete trust in someone you can't see, but…there's no way around it."

"I…I know," Nathan admitted. "Funny thing, I've been telling Kristin not to worry, that she needs to trust Sylvia and that everything will be all right. But, deep inside, I'm so scared for her. I…care for her so much. I…" his voice trailed off as he tried to search for the right words.

Joshua knew how Nathan felt about Kristin. The whole crew did. Considering the losses in the captain's past, it was the general consensus that they were generally happy for the two of them. It was no secret that the captain cared for every member of the crew. Really, they were like one big family. The captain was like their surrogate father. But seeing him so distressed was painful. He reached across the desk and placed a hand over his.

"I know how you feel about her," Joshua said gently. "We all care about her. You don't need to explain anything." He knew it was a lame attempt at comfort, but then, he and the captain never had many intimate moments. Actually, this was the first by his recollection. He hoped it would suffice.

Nathan simply nodded. He was both surprised and touched by Joshua's gesture. No, they'd never had many heart-to-heart talks. He actually hadn't attempted to be so candid with him so as not to make him feel uncomfortable. But it just happened. Besides, Joshua was a doctor. By nature, they were used to listening to other people's problems. Still, he felt the need to apologize. "I didn't mean to…sorry."

Joshua waved a hand. "You don't need to apologize. It's obviously…affecting you."

"So, you think my worry is warranted?"

"Somewhat," Joshua agreed. "But if I suggest you not worry so much, will it make a difference?"

Nathan chuckled softly. "Not a damn bit."

Joshua smiled. "Well, try not to worry so much. Sylvia has a plan. It's up to us to find out what it is."

"I'll try," Nathan promised. "As far as Sylvia, it's the anticipation that's killing me."

"I have a feeling we'll look back on this one day soon and laugh."

"I hope you're right about that," Nathan replied. "Uh, well, I suppose I should get back to your work?"

"Ah, it's fine. I was actually just finishing up for the day."

"Well, I hope you have a good evening," Nathan said.

"Thank you; you too, Captain."

Nathan headed towards the door, and then turned back to him. "And, Joshua?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks…for everything."

Joshua gave him a smile. "Anytime, Captain."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Nathan headed towards his own office. It was tiny, but he had his own work to do, which he'd been avoiding. Well, Jack had work to do, that is. He was supposed to be writing letters to various officials about funding for the Nautilus. But lobbying pompous politicians for funding had never been up his alley, even in his own time. But if he didn't have something on Admiral Beatty's desk within the next few days, he was going to be getting a stern lecture.

So, he told himself he was going to write at least one letter tonight. That would hopefully keep the admiral appeased. And that also meant he'd have more time to devote to Kristin.

He sat down and began composing the letter. But after a while, the paper before him was filled with crossed-out words and rewrites. In short, it looked like a jumbled mess. He sighed and stepped away from his desk for a moment. He debated just taking a drive over to Rose's apartment and leaving the work until tomorrow when he heard footsteps in the hallway, footsteps that sounded like they were on a mission towards his office. He looked at his doorway expectantly.

A moment later, Senator Mayfield appeared. He stood in the doorway, glaring.

Nathan tried to act natural, however. "Uh, good evening, Senator. Anything I can do for you?" Nathan motioned towards one of the chairs in front of his desk.

The senator stiffened, but finally sat. "Captain, indeed there is, and you're quite aware of it, I'm sure. I told you to stay away from my wife, did I not?"

"That, you did, sir," Nathan agreed. "And I have, so I fail to comprehend what reason you have to-"

Richard slammed his fist on the desk. "Don't lie to me, Captain! Do you really think it's best to toy with the man who has the power to either fuel your career…or ruin it?"

"I'm not lying, sir," Nathan replied, keeping his cool. "And forgive me, I don't even know exactly what you're referring to."

"Sylvia is gone. She left me. I'm assuming this is your doing?"

"Quite the opposite, sir."

"You're lying!" Richard accused again. "I swear to you, Captain, I will have you court martialed in a second if-"

"On what grounds?" Nathan interrupted.

"Consorting with another man's wife, obstruction of justice, adultery…really, all I need to do is report to Admiral Beatty about your actions, and he'll agree in a moment that they're questionable. And the admiral will do whatever I say. He knows he can't afford to lose me at the moment. The United States Navy can't afford to lose me," Richard threatened.

"Now you listen to me. I haven't done anything indecent with your wife at all," Nathan countered.

Richard shrugged. "It's your word against mine, Captain. Who do you think the admiral will believe?"

Nathan sighed since he knew the answer. At least, he was fairly sure he knew.

"So, I'm going to ask you again, and this time, I want the truth. Where the hell is my wife?" the senator asked slowly and deliberately as though he was very close to losing his anger completely.

"Why do you want to know?" Nathan challenged.

"Because she's my wife," Richard answered. "Why do I need to explain it to you?

"Senator, you know exactly why. Don't think I didn't see what you've done to her."

Richard's anger seemed to melt somewhat. "I know, and I'm sorry. I really am. I just want to make things right with her."

"I'd like to believe that, but what if she doesn't want to see you?" Nathan asked.

"I have to try. Please, Captain?" The senator almost sounded desperate.

If it were anyone else, Nathan would have felt sorry for him. But he didn't trust the senator, and he'd made a promise to Kristin. And he wasn't going to put her in harm's way if he could prevent it. "I assure you, she's safe. But she's resting, obviously. Let her mend, let her heal. When she feels she's up to it, she'll be back here working. I'm sure she'll talk to you if you stopped by her office."

"How dare you dictate to me how and when I'll see her!" He stood. "I can see coming here was a complete waste of time. I'll be seeing the admiral in the morning. You can explain it all to him."

Suddenly, Nathan felt his own flash of anger. Really, he didn't know what came over him. It was almost as though he was in a dream, like he had no control. He raised his fist and before he knew it, the senator was on the floor, holding his nose, blood spewing out from beneath his fingers.

It took the senator a moment before he finally got to his feet. "Oh, the admiral will hear about this," was all he said before leaving.

Nathan shook his head as if he was suddenly coming back to reality. His hand was throbbing. "Damn," he muttered. "What mess have you gotten me into now, Jack?"

Of course, he received no answer.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin awoke feeling like she hadn't slept in ages. It took great effort to actually open her eyes. When she did, she realized things looked rather unfamiliar. She forced herself to sit up, but when she did, she felt the familiar pain course through her body. She'd actually forgotten it until then. She let out an audible gasp and swallowed hard, willing the pain to subside. When it finally did, she took a moment to look around.

She was in a bedroom, but it wasn't in Nathan's apartment, she was sure. She struggled to remember earlier conversations. She remembered Nathan telling her he was going to find Joshua and Katie. She remembered Katie talking to her for a moment, remembered Joshua's medical examination. But, she'd also remembered how exhausted she'd felt. She remembered closing her eyes…and everything had gone dark. But that had to have been hours ago. She looked out the window. The sun had already gone down. How had she lost so many hours? Then, it dawned on her…Sylvia.

She toyed with the thought of trying to speak with her when there was a gentle knock on the door. Then, it opened. Kristin was relieved to see Katie; she surmised that this was obviously her apartment…well, rather Rose's apartment. She had a blanket in her hands.

"Oh, glad to see you're awake," Katie said with a smile. She set the blanket on the edge of the bed. "I brought you an extra blanket if you needed. Are you hungry, by chance, Sylvia? I just made dinner."

In fact, Kristin was starved. She remembered she'd told Nathan she wasn't hungry earlier when he'd asked her. And she didn't know if she'd eaten anything since; her stomach growled at the mention of food. "I'm famished. Um, but it's Kristin actually."

"Oh, Doc…I'm sorry. I didn't realize…"

"It's fine. Neither did I, actually. I don't even remember half the day. What happened?"

Katie shrugged her shoulders and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Nothing much. The captain just wanted to be sure you were safe. He just left not too long ago, actually. Maybe an hour."

"Is he all right?"

Katie smiled softly to herself. The captain and the doctor were so similar. If anyone mentioned the other, the first words uttered were an inquiry to their well-being. It was very sweet. Everyone knew how much they cared for one another. "He's fine," Katie assured her. "He was worried about you, but he was fine."

Kristin nodded. "Well, I'd just like to apologize to your personally for all this. I certainly don't want to put you out, and it can't be easy when I seem to have…multiple personalities, as it were."

Katie took Kristin's hand in her own and squeezed it gently. "Doc, you don't need to apologize. It's not exactly your fault. Besides, I'm glad you're here. I was feeling kind of lonely, and I miss our talks." Then, she flashed her a grin. "We women need to stick together, right?"

Kristin smiled back at her. "Indeed."

Katie stood and held out her hand to help the doctor out of bed. She knew she was still hurting. "Come on, I know you're hungry."

Kristin accepted her help without question. "Thank you."

"Of course, Doc."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

In light of what had just happened, Nathan knew he wasn't going to get any more work done, so he simply closed up his office for the night. On his way out into the parking lot, he looked for any sign of the senator, but he found that he'd left. He did feel bad…somewhat. Certainly, the senator deserved it. But, maybe he was being sincere. Maybe he really did want to apologize and make amends with his wife. But, what if Sylvia refused? What would the senator do then? Nathan shuddered at the thought. He still didn't know who was supposed to be responsible for Sylvia's death, but if he had to bet, he'd lay odds that the senator killed her. Of course, only time would tell.

He'd already seen Kristin go through enough pain as Sylvia. No way was he going to contribute to it, he vowed. Although he had intentions of leaving her to rest, he thought he ought to tell her what had just happened, just in case. He got into his car and drove to Rose's apartment. As he walked up the stairs, he favored his left hand, which was still throbbing. And it was now swollen. He knew for sure the others would notice, so he did his best to hide it while he knocked on the door.

A moment later, Katie opened the door. "Captain!" she greeted with a smile. "What a surprise."

"I know you're probably sick of seeing me, and I really was planning on leaving you alone for the evening…but something's come up," he explained.

Katie waved a hand. "Oh, don't worry about it. You're not a bother at all. Come in." She stepped away from the door and allowed him to enter.

Nathan looked around expectantly, but Kristin wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Uh, is the doctor…awake?"

Katie smiled and nodded. "She's just freshening up; she should be out in the moment. I suppose you want to see her?"

"Well, I came to see both of you, but yes. Is she feeling better?"

Katie chuckled. "You don't need to explain. But, she's Kristin at the moment, if that's what you're getting at."

"Is that Nathan I hear?" Kristin said as she entered the room. "Hello."

"Hi, there. How are you feeling?" Nathan asked, moving alongside her.

"A little better," she assured him. "At least I'm feeling like myself," she said with a slight chuckle in her voice.

"Um, you know, I think I'm going to go do up the dinner dishes," Katie said, knowing the two of them needed privacy. "Let me know if you need anything," she called as she headed into the kitchen.

Nathan pointed his thumb in her direction. "She's very tactful, isn't she?"

Kristin laughed softly. "She is." She motioned towards the sofa. "Uh, why don't we have a seat?"

Nathan obliged and Kristin sat in the spot next to him.

"So, you came here just to see how I was feeling?" she asked.

"Well, the thought had crossed my mind, but actually, that's not the only reason. There's been a new…development," he began gently.

"Development?" she questioned. "Is…is everything all right?" Concern laced every word.

Nathan sheepishly held up his hand.

Kristin gasped. "My God, Nathan; what happened?"

"Richard came to see me…well, Jack, that is. I was working in my office on the base. He was looking for you," he explained.

Her heart sank. "So, you thought you'd hit him to make up for what he did to me?" she said quietly.

"Not exactly. He…he wanted to know where you were. He says he just wants to talk to you. He says he wants to try to make amends, wants to atone for his past actions. But, I just couldn't trust he was being sincere. And I promised to protect you. I told him you needed time. I told him to give you a few days and that if he still wanted to talk, he could find you at the clinic. But, he didn't quite like that answer."

"Oh, dear," Kristin muttered. "Things got heated?"

"Somewhat," Nathan confirmed. "He threatened me, threatened to speak to the admiral about a court martial."

"A court martial? On what grounds?"

"Exactly what I said." He shrugged. "And, well, one thing led to another…and before I knew it, he was lying on the floor with his nose bleeding. I swear, I don't even remember hitting him. It was almost like…"

"You weren't yourself?" Kristin finished. "Welcome to the club."

"Well, I'm guessing Jack had a hand in it, yes," Nathan confirmed. "But, well…I thought you should know. The senator has a lot of influence over the Navy and the brass, considering his financial state. I'm afraid they're going to do whatever he wants, so I can't say how tomorrow is going to go."

Kristin simply nodded, but didn't speak.

"Are you…okay…with the news?"

"I'm fine," she assured him. "Like you said, you might have been influenced by outside forces. I certainly know what that's like. We obviously can't prevent it now. You know, someone wise once told me there are no accidents here. Just go with the flow."

Nathan smiled and put his arm around her shoulders. "Yeah, I wonder who that was."

She laid her head on his shoulder and snuggled into him. "Really, it's futile to worry about it. I'm sure Jack and Sylvia will take care of us."

"Now you sound like Joshua," Nathan noted.

She sat up and looked at him.

"Well, I needed to talk to someone," he finally admitted. "I had some worries of my own."

"Oh, I see," she replied, returning to her previous position. "And did he help you feel better?"

"A little," he confirmed.

She took her hand and wrapped it around one of his. "You know, this won't last forever. We're going to be back on seaQuest before you know it," she assured him.

Nathan marveled at how Kristin did that; how she could comfort everyone around her even though she was facing her own dark shadow of the unknown. He squeezed her hand gently. "I know. On the bright side, our next mission should be a walk in the park."

"Indeed," Kristin agreed. "As long as there are no ghosts involved. I think I've had my fair share, considering they seem to like me so well."

Nathan chuckled and hugged her a little tighter. "I'll be sure to write them a memo."

Chapter 12: We'll See If We Can Fill An Empty Heart

December 1, 1941

Nathan headed to the base earlier than he normally would have. Although Kristin had helped ease his mind about what was to happen, he was still apprehensive. Therefore, he thought it best to attempt to compose at least one letter for Admiral Beatty. It was one last attempt to get in his good graces in case he did side with the senator.

And just as Nathan wrote his last word, he heard a knock at the door. He looked up to see Mildred, the admiral's secretary. "Captain Remington, the admiral would like to see you."

Nathan nodded solemnly, expecting as much. He brought the letter he'd written and went on his way to the admiral's office, feeling like a condemned man on his way to the electric chair. But, surprisingly, when he reached his office, the admiral greeted him with a smile.

"Good morning, Jack. Nice to see you working so early." He patted him on the back. "That shows real dedication, and the brass notices those things."

Nathan nodded. "Yes, well, I am a man of my word, Sir. You asked me to compose these letters for funding and I've been working on them diligently. In fact, I have the first one here for your approval."

The admiral took the letter, but didn't look at it at all; he placed it on his desk. "Well, I trust you've done a fine job. But actually, there's another matter I'd like to discuss with you."

This is it, Nathan thought.

"Senator Mayfield called me at home last night, and-"

"Sir, I am so sorry," Nathan began, feeling his only option was to beg for forgiveness.

"Captain, what do you mean?" Admiral Beatty questioned. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Uh…I…I thought…" Nathan stammered.

The admiral sighed. "Captain, I'm not sure what's going on, but I called you in here to congratulate you."

"Congratulate me?"

"Yes…the senator has agreed to fund everything we need, the Nautilus included."

"He did?" Nathan said in surprise, obviously confused.

The admiral nodded. "And it seems I have you to thank for it. The senator said you certainly influenced his decision. Unfortunately, he's at home with a stomach bug, but I trust we'll see him in a day or two." He motioned towards the letter on the desk. "So, really, it seems these letters lobbying for funding are rather unnecessary at the moment. "But, we have other matters to attend. You need to start going through your submarine and deciding what type of improvements you'll need when you ship out in two weeks. So, get that written up, hm?"

Nathan gave a salute. "Aye, sir."

"And, Captain?"

"Yes?"

"Whatever you said to the senator, keep it up," the admiral said with a smile.

"I'll try, sir."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin awoke feeling refreshed. And it was a relief to know she was still herself for the moment. She heard a familiar voice.

How are you feeling?

"Sylvia?"

Kristin heard a soft laugh. Yes. I'm sorry about yesterday. I know I was rather absent, but I thought you needed your space. And I needed to rest as well. Are you all right?

"I'm…as well as can be expected, thank you," Kristin replied. She had so many questions to ask, but she wasn't sure where to start exactly. "Sylvia, can I-"

You've done everything you're supposed to do so far, Sylvia interrupted. Now, I need you to do something else for me. Now, I know you're thinking, why don't you just take over again? Well, I can't at the moment. It's very exhausting…for both of us. And I promised to keep you safe. I want you to know I am doing my best.

"Well, I do appreciate that," Kristin replied. "What do you need done?"

You don't remember yesterday, do you?

"Small glimpses," Kristin admitted. "Why?"

Kristin, sweetheart, do you remember what you told Nathan when he asked you what you'd have done had you been in my situation?

Kristin thought for a moment. "Divorce?"

Bingo. Richard and I were married in the territory of Hawaii, so all you need to do is find a lawyer.

"Alone? Sylvia, I'm not sure-"

Just trust me. Everything will be fine. You already know what to do. Remember, I'm still with you. I'm just…behind the scenes. I'll guide you if I think you need it, I promise you.

"But what happens if I-"

You'll be fine. Don't worry.

Kristin sighed. Sylvia certainly had a way of getting what she wanted. And it seemed Kristin had little choice in the matter. She knew the conversation was over and that it would be pointless to ask any of the thousand questions weighing on her mind. Instead, she got out of bed. She heard quiet movement coming from the kitchen. She knew Katie was already up and about, considering she had to go to work.

Kristin put on a smile and walked into the kitchen. "Good morning." She was greeted with the aroma of pancakes. "Oh, something smells delicious."

Katie returned the smile as she worked over the griddle. "Well, hello yourself. I hope you're hungry."

"I am, but I didn't expect you to cook for me. I am a capable person, you know."

"Doc, I know…but with your current state, well, I thought you deserved a little pampering," Katie replied. "And, please, don't argue," she added, knowing Kristin was about to protest.

"Oh, very well," she muttered. "Thank you."

"Anytime." She set a plate down for her at the table. "Please, have a seat. "

Kristin did so, feeling a little awkward about all the attention she was getting.

Katie, however, was pleased. "Coffee?"

Kristin nodded as she took a bite. "Oh, these are delicious. But aren't you going to eat?"

"I already did," Katie assured her. "I have to leave shortly. Um, actually, I wanted to talk to you about that."

"Oh?"

Katie sat across from her. "I hope you don't mind, but I didn't think you'd want to be alone while I'm gone."

"Actually, I was a little concerned about that," she admitted quietly, "considering we don't exactly know the senator's intentions."

Katie nodded. "Good because I've found someone to stay with you. And if anything goes wrong, well, at least you'll have someone. He should be here any moment."

"He who?" she wondered aloud.

But there was a knock at the door before Katie should answer. She reached across the table and patted her hand. "You'll see." Then, she went to answer the door.

A few moments later, Katie reentered the kitchen with Ben in tow. "Now, Ben has promised me he'll take care of you," Katie assured her. "If you need anything, you know where to find me. But, otherwise, you two should be fine, right?"

Ben flashed her a grin. "Of course."

"Great," Katie replied. She leaned down and gave Kristin a gentle peck on the cheek. "He promised he wouldn't give you any trouble. I'll see you later?"

"Of course," Kristin replied, feeling somewhat apprehensive about spending the day with Ben. Oh, he was sweet enough, but he had that mischievous side as well. And she wasn't exactly in the mood for mischief.

As Katie walked out the door, Ben said, "Uh, so…how are you feeling?"

Kristin blushed slightly. She wasn't particularly pleased about her appearance; in short, she was slightly embarrassed. "I'm all right," she assured him. "Um, did Katie tell you about-"

"Sylvia?" Ben finished for her. He nodded. "She explained how sometimes you…"

"Turn in to Sybil?" Kristin guessed.

Ben chuckled softly. "I was thinking more like The Three Faces of Eve," Ben teased gently.

Kristin smiled. "Well, either way, I don't have much control over it unfortunately."

Ben waved a hand. "You don't need to explain. We'll deal with it." He paused for a moment. "Uh, Doc…I am really sorry about what happened."

She nodded. "I'm fine," she assured him. "Thank you. Um, are you hungry?" She motioned towards the plate of pancakes on the kitchen counter. "Katie made plenty."

"Sure, I could eat," he said, helping himself. He sat across from Kristin and the two ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Uh, so, did you have any plans for today?"

"Well, actually…" Kristin began. "I need to find a lawyer."

Ben gave her a look.

"For Sylvia," she explained. "It was her idea, and frankly, I'd rather not go alone. I'm glad you're here today."

Ben reached across the table and squeezed her hand gently. "I am too," he assured her. "I…I know we haven't had much time together, not one on one at least. And I know I don't make it very easy for you. I know I'm kind of…difficult. But, I do care about you, Doc…really and truly."

Kristin looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. She wasn't sure what to say. Really, she and Ben had never had any intimate moments that she could recall. There was always chaos involved. Their most intimate moment was their near-death experience during Hurricane Sheila, if one could call joking about lobsters very intimate. Of course, in that frightening time, Ben's humor was greatly appreciated. Ben had a gift that was often under-appreciated. Sure, he was a smart aleck. But, when push came to shove, he was dedicated; and he was very sweet. That was a side he didn't show very often, but he was showing Kristin that now. And it truly touched her.

"The feeling's mutual," she managed to choke out, swallowing back her tears. She covered his hand with her other hand and gave it a pat after a pause. "Well, um, I'm going to get ready. I won't be long," she promised.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

While Kristin was in the shower, Ben took it upon himself to go through the phone book and find some information on divorce lawyers. He found three that were located downtown, so they were easily accessible. He wrote all the information down on a piece of paper and stuffed it in his jacket pocket.

By the time he was finished, he looked at the clock. Kristin had been in the bathroom for at least a half an hour, maybe a bit longer. That didn't seem like her; she was normally very prompt. No, he didn't really know for sure how much time she spent in the bathroom, but he guessed it couldn't be long. Besides, the seaQuest had a ten minute water limit for showers. Even if the doctor was enjoying not having a time limit, he seriously doubted her taking advantage of it. He thought for a moment and after mulling things over in his mind, he decided he'd make sure she was all right.

He knocked gently on the door. "Doc? Is everything all right in there?"

Ben thought he heard her blowing her nose. Then, he swore he heard some sniffling and the clearing of her throat. "I…I'm fine. Sorry to keep you waiting. I…I'm just having a little trouble with my hair. It's so hard to get it presentable. I'll be out shortly. Sorry."

"I was just checking. Take all the time you need." He slowly walked back to the kitchen, but somehow, he doubted it was the doctor's hair that was bothering her. Sure, the styles of the 1940's were slightly different and possibly more complicated than in their own time. However, Kristin never seemed like the type to fret over her appearance. He knew there was something more to it, but he wasn't going to push it for the moment. He didn't want to push her and cause her to withdraw. He picked up a magazine Katie had on the coffee table. No, he wasn't really interested in it since it was a women's magazine, but he needed something to occupy himself for the moment.

He leafed through it absentmindedly, but after ten minutes, he was sure he heard soft sobbing coming from the direction of the bathroom again. He simply couldn't ignore it anymore. He set the magazine down and headed toward the bathroom again. He knocked gently. "Kristin?"

"I…I'm fine," she called softly.

"No, you're not," Ben countered. "You're crying."

"It's nothing." She sniffled again.

Ben sighed. "Are you decent?"

There was a pause. Then, he heard her say, "Yes, I'm dressed."

She half-expected him to just barge in, but instead, he asked permission. "Can I please come in?"

"Very well," she replied, knowing she hadn't much of a choice.

A second later, Ben opened the door and took one look at her. "Well, your hair looks fine. Is that why you're upset?"

"Of course not," she answered, sounding frustrated. "This is the problem." She pointed towards her face. "I…I thought I could cover it up with make-up, but it's not working. I…I'm quite embarrassed about it. I didn't even want you to see it, and I don't feel comfortable going out in public like this." A soft sob escaped her throat. She covered her face with her hands. "I'm so ashamed."

Ben wrapped her in his arms. "Oh, Doc…you have no reason to feel ashamed."

She buried her face in his chest. "I don't want anyone to see me like this."

"We can fix that," Ben promised. "But first, you have to dry those eyes. We don't want your make-up to run." He pushed her away gently so he could see her face. He grabbed a tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes carefully. "Don't cry, all right?"

"A-all right," she replied, somewhat confused by what he had planned.

A few moments later, he asked, "Better?"

She shrugged. "I suppose…"

"Good," he said with a satisfied smile. "Now, come over here into the light." He moved her over a few feet and gently tilted her head back. "Stay just like that." He then took the small compact of make-up and began dabbing it onto Kristin's face until it was covered. When he was satisfied, he said, "Now have a look."

Kristin looked at him, quite unsure. "I appreciate you trying to help me, but-"

"Just have a look," he urged again. "It looks one hundred percent better. I promise."

She sighed, knowing it was pointless to argue. She turned to the mirror, shutting her eyes tightly since she was too afraid to look. Then, she cautiously opened one eye and stole a glance. She was amazed by what she saw. She opened both eyes and gasped. "I can't believe it."

Ben grinned from ear to ear. "I told you."

"You can barely see the bruises." She turned to him. "Where did you learn how to do that?"

He shrugged. "I have four older sisters. I was their guinea pig for make-up, hair, and fashion experiments more times than I can count." He paused for a moment. "And if that ever leaves this room, I'll have to hurt you."

She chuckled softly. "Your secret is safe with me." She turned back to the mirror to look one last time. "Well, I suppose I need to thank you."

"No, I think we're even."

She turned to him, somewhat confused by what he meant.

"It makes up for those lobsters I ate," he replied with a smile.

She laughed. "I'd completely forgotten about that."

"Well, I haven't. And you've done more for me than you know."

"You know, I'm beginning to see why Katie married you. You're quite charming and sensitive when you want to be," Kristin told him.

"Just don't spread it around. I don't want to ruin my reputation. Um, are you ready then?"

She nodded. "Yes, I guess we ought to get a move on."

Ben offered his arm. "Then, let's go."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

The two drove downtown. Ben found a parking place and helped Kristin out. "Well, who do you think we should try first; Reggie Carrington, Mark Tate, or Anthony Morrison?"

"I'm not sure. Do you think any of them will be sympathetic to Sylvia's cause?"

"Well, why don't we start at the beginning?" He pointed across the street. "Mr. Carrington's office is right there."

Kristin glanced in the direction he was pointing. Sure enough, there was a large sign over the door: 'Reggie Carrington, Attorney at Law'. She thought for a moment, part of her hoping for a sign from Sylvia as to which direction she should go. But none came, so she nodded. "Very well; Reggie Carrington it is then."

Ben noticed her hesitance and put a reassuring arm around her shoulder. "I'll be with you the whole time. It'll be all right."

She took his hand in her own and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you."

"Anytime. Come on." He ushered her across the street and up to Mr. Carrington's door.

Kristin took a deep breath before opening the door. "Well, here goes nothing."

The two walked inside and were greeted by a smiling, older woman; seemingly, Mr. Carrington's secretary. "Hello there, can I help you?"

"Uh, hello," Kristin answered, still feeling unsure about things. "Um, yes." She lowered her voice. "Uh…I…"

Ben could see Kristin was having some trouble. He thought he'd jump in to try to help. "Yes, we'd like to see Mr. Carrington. My friend here needs to see about getting a divorce."

"Oh, I see," the woman answered. She looked Kristin up and down. Then, she reached out and patted her hand gently. "I understand you're feeling very unsure about things, but I promise we can help you."

Kristin offered the woman a smile. "Is Mr. Carrington sympathetic towards women? I realize that divorce isn't the common opinion…"

"My dear, you needn't worry about that." She held out her hand. "Why don't I introduce myself? I'm Reggie Carrington."

Kristin took her hand and blushed. "I…I'm sorry. I didn't realize. We thought…"

Reggie waved a hand. "It's perfectly all right. Reggie is short for Regina, but the only one who calls me that is my mother. And your name is…?"

"Oh, sorry. Um, I'm Sylvia Mayfield. And this young man is a friend of mine, Teddy Pierce," Kristin explained.

Reggie took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "How wonderful to meet the both of you." She turned back to Kristin. "You wouldn't happen to be married to Richard Mayfield, the senator, would you?"

"Unfortunately, yes. You've heard of him?"

"I've heard a thing or two about him, yes," Reggie replied. "His name shows up in the papers quite often. If the senator gets divorced, the press will be all over that like white on rice."

"I…I know," Kristin answered quietly. "Is…is that a problem?"

"Oh, no, honey," Reggie replied, trying to reassure her. "Believe me, you're not the first woman to get divorced from someone who lives in the limelight and you won't be the last." She took a file out of her desk. "First thing's first, we need to fill out some information."

Chapter 13: I Won't Tell You What The Chances Are

Reggie put the file onto a clipboard and handed it over. Kristin reached her hand across the desk to take it from her. When she did so, the sleeve of her blouse moved up just enough to where Reggie could see an ugly bruise peeking out. She gasped audibly. "My word, what happened to your arm?"

Kristin immediately became self-conscious and pulled the sleeve of her blouse back down. "I, uh…well, I…" she stammered. "It…it's nothing."

As Kristin began writing the necessary information down onto the file sheet, Reggie looked her up and down with a scrutinizing eye. After several minutes, she finally knelt down in front of her. "How long has it been going on?" she asked gently.

"W-what?" Kristin asked in shock, still trying to pretend nothing was out of the ordinary. She wasn't intending to lie; she just didn't want everyone to know about it.

Reggie gently took her hand in her own and rolled the sleeve of Kristin's blouse up just enough to where the bruise could be seen. "How long has it been going on?" Reggie asked again, her voice now becoming more insistent yet remaining gentle.

Kristin exchanged glances with Ben before answering. "Miss Carrington, I…I'm not sure what you think is going on, but I bumped my arm. It's nothing; it should be just fine in the next few days. That's it."

Reggie dropped Kristin's hand and stood. "Miss Mayfield, if I'm going to agree to represent you in this divorce proceeding, I need your honesty. You do understand that, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Then why do you feel the need to lie?" Reggie asked.

"I'm not lying. I told you, I just had a little accident. I'm terribly clumsy and-"

"Was clumsiness the reason for that black eye as well?" Reggie said, bringing a hand to Kristin's cheek.

"I…"

Reggie took Kristin's hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze of support. She looked at Ben. "Mr. Pierce, would you mind if Sylvia and I spoke privately?"

Ben gave Kristin a questioning glance.

"It's all right," Kristin said quietly. "I'll be fine."

"Perhaps you could go over to the hardware store?" Reggie suggested. "Give us twenty minutes or so."

Ben nodded, casting a final look at Kristin as if he were asking her permission.

She gave him a nod, and he stood, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "I'll be back shortly then." With that, he left, leaving the two women alone.

Reggie sat next to Kristin and took her hand in her own once again. "I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable," she said gently. "I want to help you, honestly. But I can't do that if you won't help yourself. In order to do that, you need to be honest."

Kristin said nothing at first. She was hoping to keep this part a secret. Obviously, she wasn't really Sylvia Mayfield, but she'd already experienced enough of her life to know the hell that woman went through. And she also felt the shame, embarrassment, and frustration that abused women can have. Kristin herself had never truly understood why women would stay in such a relationship, but now, part of her did. It ruins one's confidence in herself. Maybe she was experiencing a little of that herself, considering she felt ashamed about it even though she hadn't experienced it firsthand. She wanted to hide the bruises.

Reggie gave Kristin's hand another encouraging squeeze. "I know it's hard to say it." She paused for a few moments. "Maybe it would help you if I told you that I know exactly how you feel?" She was sure to stress the word 'exactly' so Kristin would get the hint.

Kristin didn't miss the hint at all. She caught Reggie's gaze. "You…you do?"

Reggie nodded. "And I've been divorced from him for three years. I know the shame and embarrassment. I know the long-sleeved blouses and the make-up. I've been there."

"I was ashamed…" Kristin answered quietly, averting her gaze.

"I know," Reggie replied knowingly, "but you don't need to be. This will actually help us in the long run with the proceedings."

"But…" Kristin began. Back in her own time, she was no stranger to divorce lawyers, but this was different. Number one, in this time, women were still second-class citizens in many respects. Plus, her ex-husbands had never been attached to any sort of scandal. If word got out of Senator Mayfield's divorce and the reason for it, well, she wasn't quite ready for that kind of publicity. Thankfully, however, she heard a familiar voice.

I told you I'd help you if you needed it, Kristin heard Sylvia's voice say inside her head. Just listen to Reggie. She knows what she's doing. Don't worry. It'll be fine.

"I really wanted this to be clean and simple," Kristin finally said.

"I understand," Reggie replied. "And it will be as clean and simple as I can possibly make it, I promise you. That doesn't mean there won't be a few obstacles, however. But you just let me worry about that. Once we fill this paperwork out, it can be forgotten. Hopefully, your husband signs the papers and it should be fairly easy after that."

"What if he doesn't sign the papers?"

"Then that's going to be a bit more difficult," Reggie answered. "But there are ways around that. You're…you're not in the same house with him, are you?"

She shook her head.

"And you have a safe place to stay?"

"I'm staying with a friend at the moment," she replied.

"Mr. Pierce?"

"Oh, no," Kristin assured her. "I'm staying with a female friend. Teddy's just staying with me while she's at work. Considering Richard wasn't too happy with the fact I left, well, my friends thought I shouldn't be alone."

Reggie gave her a satisfied smile. "Oh, thank goodness. Otherwise, I was going to give you a phone number of a friend of mine. She helps women in your situation. But it sounds like you have things under control. Not being alone is very smart. I suggest you keep doing that. However, just in case, I'm going to write her name, address, and phone number down. If you need anything, day or night, you give her a call. Trust me, she won't mind. Now, her name is Elizabeth Baker, but everyone calls her Betty." She passed the paper over to Kristin.

"Thank you," Kristin answered. "I…I didn't realize women like me could get help." Certainly, this wasn't like it was back in 2019. There weren't laws against it or shelters for women. Kristin didn't realize women in the 1940's had much of a choice in the matter.

"Well, there aren't official services for it, no," Reggie replied. "But maybe someday." She gave Kristin's hand a squeeze. "We women need to stick together and help other women, right? We can't just sit idly by and allow it to happen. That's why I do what I do."

"You mean you only accept cases from women?"

"Oh, no…I'll take any case that walks through that door. Only problem is, there aren't a whole lot of men who want a female representing them in the matters of law. So, most days, I have no cases whatsoever. But the ones who do stay with me stay for a reason. And I help them to the best of my abilities."

"Everything happens for a reason," Kristin muttered softly.

"Exactly," Reggie agreed. "Nothing happens by accident."

Although Kristin had said these words herself not too long ago, she hadn't thought about their meaning for a while. But now that she'd been taken out of her own life and placed in someone else's, she started pondering on them again. Still, she did her best to push the thoughts out of her mind, at least for the time being, while she and Reggie continued to work on the necessary paperwork.

Like clockwork, Ben returned twenty minutes after he'd left. He opened the door and poked his head in. "Did I come back at a good time?"

Reggie looked up and smiled. "Oh, yes, Mr. Pierce. Thank you for asking. Sylvia and I were nearly finished. Come in, please."

Ben made his way back inside and took the chair next to Kristin. "Everything all right?" he asked her.

She gave him a small smile and a nod. "Everything's fine."

Ben reached over and gave her hand a squeeze.

"All right," Reggie said, pointing to an x on the paper next to a blank line. "All I need is your signature, and that's it."

"That's it?" Kristin repeated, signing Sylvia's name.

"For now, yes. Give me a few days. By then, it should have been sent to your husband, and I'll be in touch with you. You've already given me the numbers where you can be reached, so there's not much more we can do but wait. Please, don't worry though. Remember…let me worry about it, understand."

Kristin nodded. "I'll do my best."

Reggie then handed her a business card. "I know you already have a great support system around you, but if you need anything, feel free to call me as well…day or night, okay?"

Kristin accepted the card. "Thank you…I will."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

It was after noon by the time Ben and Kristin returned back to the apartment. And both Ben and Kristin were surprised to find Katie, Nathan, and Lucas waiting for them inside.

"There you two are," Katie greeted them.

"I didn't realize there'd be a party," Kristin quipped.

"Well, we all wanted to see you on our lunch," Lucas broke in. "To check up."

"Where were you?" Nathan asked. The look of concern still hadn't left his face. Kristin knew he was worried. In fact the others all wore a similar expression.

"We weren't trying to make you worry," Kristin began apologetically.

"We went downtown," Ben added. "We…" He cast a glance at Kristin; it wasn't really his place to say. Instead, he placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.

Kristin took a deep breath. "On Sylvia's suggestion," she said, speaking loudly enough so they all could hear, "we went to find a divorce lawyer."

"And we found a great one," Ben assured the others. "Don't worry…I was with her the whole time."

The others exchanged a glance. "Well, no one expected any less of you, Mr. Krieg," Nathan finally said. "In fact, you're relieved for the day. Perhaps you could walk Lucas back to the base?"

Lucas' face fell. "But I wanted to see the doc."

"Oh, Lucas…I am so sorry, but it just isn't a good time at the moment. I'll tell you what. How about you and I have lunch tomorrow, just you and me, hm?" Kristin asked. She knew Lucas was missing her, and she felt the same way. But, she also needed to speak with Nathan, and it was just an inauspicious time for much else. "There's just so much going on."

Lucas nodded, but he flashed her a grin to show he wasn't angry. "That sounds good." He gave her a tight hug. "I do understand, Doc. It's okay."

Kristin returned the hug. "Stay out of trouble now."

Lucas chuckled softly as he and Ben started out the door. "You too."

Once they'd gone, Nathan turned back to her. "So, a divorce lawyer?"

"Her name is Reggie Carrington."

"Her?" Katie repeated, sounding surprised.

Kristin nodded. "Sylvia didn't say, but I think she led me to her…inadvertently. She just told me to trust her." She gave a slight shrug. "She seems to know what she's doing."

"Well, that's good to hear," Katie replied after a moment. "Maybe we're wrong about our task here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you had said you didn't think we could change anything," Katie continued. "But with the captain's news…and now yours…well, I think we definitely are changing things."

"The captain's news?" Kristin questioned, looking at Nathan.

Nathan started to speak when Katie interrupted, "Actually, I need to get back to work, and that's probably a good thing since you two need to talk." She gave Kristin a quick hug. "See you later."

"Bye," Kristin and Nathan said in unison.

"Sorry," Nathan replied once they were alone. "I know this was kind of a shock."

"A little," Kristin admitted. "I didn't mean to cause you any worry."

"I know," Nathan replied. "Um, why don't we have a seat?" He motioned towards the sofa.

"So, what's this news?" Kristin asked.

Once they were seated, Nathan continued, "Well, what Katie meant was that apparently, the senator approved the funding after all."

"He did? So, that means…"

"He never mentioned our little altercation," Nathan finished. "No, not at all. I realize that might not be cause to celebrate yet since we can't be sure what exactly the senator is planning, but I hope it means that he might be changing his mind about things. Perhaps we are altering the past just enough."

Kristin wasn't quite sure, but she didn't want to say it out loud yet. "Perhaps."

"So tell me about this lawyer of yours," Nathan said after a moment.

"There's nothing to tell, really. Her name is Reggie Carrington, and she's quite a person. She's strong and gentle, though. We had a long talk, and she'll do what she can. We filled out a stack of paperwork, and she'll have to be in touch with me. That's about it," Kristin said.

"Well, she sounds wonderful, and if Sylvia says we should trust her, we should."

Kristin chuckled softly. "Listen to you. I thought you didn't like putting your trust into a spirit?"

Nathan sighed. "Initially, I didn't, but in light of recent events, I think we need to. Besides, if we all trust her, it will help you, won't it?"

"I suppose," Kristin agreed.

"Well, I'm off-duty for the rest of the day. Are you hungry?"

"A little," Kristin admitted. "But I can fix a sandwich for myself, if that's what you're getting at."

"No, actually, I was wondering if you wanted to go out? Just the two of us?" Nathan asked.

"Oh…" Kristin said hesitantly.

Nathan couldn't mask his disappointment. "But of course, if you don't want to…"

"No, it's not that," she replied. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "That's a lovely idea, but how about I take a rain check? Just for a little while…maybe we can do dinner instead? I'm just a little tired."

Nathan brightened. "Dinner, it is," he said with a smile.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

After Kristin had rested and Katie returned home, Nathan took Kristin to a little waterfront café for dinner. Although the evening was relaxing, Nathan couldn't help but notice Kristin was a little quiet.

"Is everything all right?" he asked.

"Of course," she replied. "This is lovely," she gushed.

Nathan nodded. He did want a quiet dinner, but he hoped they could talk a bit more. Once their meal was finished, he took her hand. "How about a walk?"

She smiled softly and nodded. The two walked down the beach hand in hand.

After a while, Nathan said, "I couldn't help but notice you seem…distracted."

Kristin gave him a weak smile. "Maybe a little," she admitted.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Kristin hesitated.

"What is it?" Nathan asked, sounding desperate. "You're…you're kind of scaring me."

Kristin sighed. "That's not my intention." She turned her back to him, facing the rolling waves gently lapping onto the shore. "I…I don't want to scare anyone."

"But something's bothering you?"

"I…I'm not sure if it's bothering me exactly. It's just I've had a bit of a revelation, I suppose," Kristin began quietly.

"Are you going to share it with me?" Nathan pressed.

Kristin was silent for a few moments. "Nathan, I don't want you to be upset…about anything."

"I won't be," Nathan insisted. "Please?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently urged her to turn back to him. When she did, he realized she had tears running down her cheeks. "Kristin?"

"Have you ever thought why me?" she finally asked.

"What?"

"Have you ever thought why Sylvia chose me? Why we happen to look alike?" She paused for a moment for Nathan to answer, but she could see he was mulling the thought around himself. "It's not an accident."

"Okay…" Nathan began, unsure of what she was getting at. "But…"

"I don't think we're supposed to change anything here. In fact, I think it's quite the opposite," Kristin replied, a soft sob escaping her throat. "I…I think there are obviously more similarities between Sylvia and I than meets the eye."

Nathan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps there are, but I don't understand. Why are you upset?"

Kristin gently pushed him away. "Nathan, don't you see? Sylvia chose me, and…and I'm so sorry."

"For what? Kristin, what are you saying?"

Another sob. "Nathan, I…I think I've known for a while. I was just too afraid to admit it. But if everything truly happens for a reason…perhaps this is meant to be." She turned her back to him once again, crying softly.

It took a few moments for Nathan to realize what she was getting at. He placed a gentle hand on her trembling shoulders. "You think you're supposed to die here," he confirmed.

"What else could this all mean?" she asked through her tears. "Why else would there be such parallels between our lives?" Then, after a pause, she said, "I'm not afraid," she admitted. "Like I said, I think I've known for a while." She turned to him, her eyes filled with tears. She placed a hand on his cheek. "But I'm sad…for all of you. I…I know how much it will hurt you…all of you. I am so sorry."

Nathan instinctively wrapped his arms around her. "That…that's not going to happen," he said after a moment, his own voice trembling at the thought. "I won't let that happen."

Kristin cried softly into his shoulder. After a few moments, she said, "I…I know you're going to try, but this might be something you can't protect me from."

Nathan didn't answer. Instead, he hugged her tighter. He knew Kristin's words held some meaning. The fact that she and Sylvia had some sort of connection had always been a worrying topic since this all started. Admittedly, no one really pressed the issue in trying to figure out what it all meant. But, he did know one thing. He wasn't going to let anything happen to Kristin. He cared about her too much to say goodbye. "Why…why don't we go home?" he said after a moment.

Kristin nodded, and the two walked down the beach towards Nathan's car.

Chapter 14: There Was Joy And There Was Hurt

Once in the car, Kristin moved close to Nathan. He placed an arm around her shoulder while he drove. He knew she had said she wasn't frightened, but he didn't believe her. He knew she was scared; he was as well.

"Everything's going to be fine," Nathan whispered softly. "Isn't that what Sylvia said?"

"Yes…" Kristin replied, her voice still trembling. "But there's so much she won't tell me. She says that if she does, I'll only resist the inevitable."

"And you think that means something awful will happen to you?"

"I…I don't know what to think," Kristin admitted.

They drove in silence for a few moments. Then, Kristin spoke, "Nathan?"

"Yes?"

"C-could I stay with you tonight? I mean on your sofa? I…it's just that I don't feel ready enough to explain this to anyone else. I'd rather keep it between us for the time being…" Kristin's voice sounded so small, it nearly broke Nathan's heart.

"Anything you need, I'll do," Nathan assured her. "Should we stop by Katie's to tell her?"

Kristin shook her head. "As soon as she sees me, she'll know something's not right. She'll ask questions I'm not ready to answer. After we get to your place, you can just call her, tell her I'm not feeling well and that I'm going to stay with you for the night."

Nathan was in awe over the fact that Kristin was still able to think logically considering her emotionally fragile state. Still, being a doctor, she had that natural ability. He nodded. "Whatever you want."

The rest of the drive back to Nathan's apartment was quiet, both Nathan and Kristin lost in their own thoughts while clinging to one another in an attempt to get a small bit of comfort; both of them needed it. A short time later, Nathan parked the car in front of his apartment building.

Nathan slid out of the car and held out his hand to help Kristin out. She accepted his hand, and the two walked inside, Nathan's arm around her shoulders. Once inside, Nathan ushered her over to the sofa. "Um, just let me call Katie; I'll be right back."

She nodded, trying to offer him a weak smile.

A moment later, Nathan returned, taking the place next to Kristin. "Katie says she hopes you feel better."

"I hope I do too," Kristin said quietly, laying her head against his shoulder.

Nathan instinctively wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to tell her that everything was going to be fine, that he wasn't going to allow anyone or anything to harm her. But he couldn't promise that. Kristin wouldn't believe him anyway, he knew. Still, he felt he should say something. "We'll get through this. We've seen bad before."

"But not quite like this," she whispered softly. Nathan could tell she was about to cry again.

Nathan couldn't argue with her. Instead, he did his best to try to comfort her. "Please…don't cry."

"I'm just worried about how this might affect everyone…if I am right. I…I don't want to see anyone get hurt." Her voice trembled with emotion.

"Kristin, I really love that you're always thinking of others, but this one time, you need to stop worrying about that for the moment. We're going to be fine," he assured her. "And the rest of us don't want to see you get hurt either."

She nodded, but didn't speak. Nathan could hear stifled sobs escape her. Her small frame trembled as she cried against his shoulder.

"Oh, sweetheart," Nathan said. He'd never referred to her with any term of endearment before, but he couldn't help himself. This one time, he felt it was warranted. He hugged her tightly and did his best to whisper soothing and comforting words to her. "Everything's going to work out. The only way we're going to get through this is if we stop trying to analyze it, stop trying to think about the 'what ifs' and the 'maybes'.

Kristin didn't answer. She just clung to him as tightly as she could and cried quietly. After a while, her sobs subsided. They stayed that way for a long time, just clinging to one another as if there was nothing else left in the world to cling to. After a while, Nathan finally spoke. "As much as I love holding you, we might want to get some sleep," he said gently.

She nodded. "Sorry." She pulled away from him and wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks.

"You don't need to apologize. Um, I was thinking about the sleeping arrangements. Why don't you take the bed? I'll stay on the sofa," Nathan insisted.

"No," Kristin began to protest. "I…I couldn't possibly. I don't want to put you out."

"You won't," Nathan assured her. "Don't argue, please. Just give me a minute to change into some pajamas; then it's all yours." He started toward the bedroom, but turned back to her before entering the doorway. "Uh, I suppose you need something to sleep in as well. Don't worry; I have just the thing. Be back in a minute."

A short time later, Nathan returned, now dressed in a pair of blue pajamas. He pointed towards the bedroom with his thumb. "I put one of my pajama shirts out on the bed for you. It should be long enough to cover you."

She moved towards him and gave him a small hug. "Thank you so much…for everything." She then placed a kiss on his cheek.

"You're quite welcome," Nathan said, returning the hug. "I also got out some extra blankets, in case you get chilly. And if you need anything else, you know where to find me."

She nodded, heading towards the bedroom. "Goodnight, Nathan."

Nathan dimmed the lights. "Goodnight, Kristin."

Kristin closed the door behind her so she could change. She undressed, neatly laying her clothes out on a chair in the corner of the room. She then slipped Nathan's shirt on. As he had said, it was long enough, hanging to her knees. She could also smell the light scent of his aftershave as she buttoned the shirt. She always loved that smell, and in this difficult time, it gave her a slight comfort. Once she was dressed, she reopened the bedroom door, just in case. She could see Nathan's form lying on the sofa, but he didn't look up when she opened the door. She guessed he was probably already asleep.

She quietly padded back to the bed and climbed in beneath the covers. But, naturally, she found it difficult to sleep. She tossed and turned for a bit in an effort to find a comfortable position. It really wasn't comfort that was the problem, however. She desperately wanted to sleep, wanted the world to melt away if even for a short time; but to no avail. Her mind began to wander; she began thinking of what may happen within the next few days. And naturally, she began to feel hopeless; no matter how much she wanted to believe everything would be all right, she feared it wouldn't. She began to cry softly.

"Sylvia?" she called softly after a moment through her tears. "Please…I know you said that everything would be all right…but I'm frightened. I'm not sure if that's true. I'm asking for your honesty. I need to know everything." She waited for several moments. There was no answer. She tried to hold back the sob that was about to escape her throat. "Please?" she asked again, her voice thick with emotion.

She sighed deeply, realizing she wasn't going to get any sort of answer. Feeling at a loss, she completely succumbed to her tears. She rolled over, burying her face in a pillow in order to muffle the sounds since she didn't want to wake Nathan.

It wasn't long, however, before she felt a gentle hand on her back that nearly made her jump. She didn't expect anyone. She pushed herself up and saw Nathan.

"I…I'm sorry," she whispered through her tears.

Nathan just pulled her into his arms. "Ssshh," he said softly. "No need to apologize. I wasn't asleep yet. I've been listening to you tossing and turning, and I had a feeling you'd have a bit of trouble relaxing."

She snuggled into him and tried to hold back her tears. "I just can't stop worrying," she admitted. "I…I know I said I wasn't scared…but I am."

"I know," Nathan told her. "I…I am too, but if we keep worrying about this, it's going to ruin us. We have four days before we'll know anything."

Kristin nodded. "I've been trying to forget. I just…" her voice trailed off.

"We need to get your mind off of this," he decided.

"How?"

"Do you remember the first time we met?" Nathan asked after a moment of thought.

Kristin smiled softly. "Of course I do. It wasn't that long ago."

"Nearly a year," Nathan reminded her. He chuckled at the memory of Kristin arguing with Commander Ford. "From the first moment we met, I knew we would get along swimmingly."

Kristin sat up and gave him a look. "You did? But we met while I was giving Commander Ford a tongue lashing."

"I know," Nathan said with a smile. "And you also thought nothing of challenging me when I laughed. I knew then you weren't one to be pushed around. You're stubborn as hell, but very passionate about your work and your beliefs."

Kristin blushed slightly. "I suppose… If it weren't for you, Commander Ford and I would still be at each other's throats."

"Well, you both were very confident in your beliefs, but you took the time to see the other side," Nathan pointed out.

"And I suppose I learned not everyone in the military is a mindless drone…especially you," Kristin said. She was starting to relax more as they reminisced; that was Nathan's plan.

"I'm glad of that."

"But I still have my reservations," Kristin reminded him.

"I wouldn't expect anything less. You're very…committed," Nathan pointed out. Then, he started laughing.

"What's so funny?" Kristin asked, somewhat annoyed that she didn't get the joke.

"I was just remembering something else from that day," Nathan said, still chuckling.

"Are you going to tell me what it is?" she finally asked after a few moments.

Nathan shrugged. "I…probably shouldn't."

"Why not? You brought it up, so now I would really like to know," Kristin insisted.

"Well, mind you, I'm sure Commander Ford wouldn't say this about you now," Nathan began. "But do you recall that conversation?"

"Somewhat…" Kristin replied. "Not word for word, but…why?"

"Because after you went off to your staff meeting, I pointed out that you were very committed," Nathan explained.

Kristin smiled softly. "Well, that was sweet, but I'm not sure I get the-"

"And Jonathan had said you ought to be committed," Nathan said, laughing once again.

Kristin's face became red. "I can't believe he said that. I don't see what was so funny. And he was the one who was at fault; he was ordering my people around. I had every right to-"

"Kristin, it was nearly a year ago. And you obviously know that Jonathan doesn't feel that way now. And when you think about it, it is kind of funny, isn't it?" Nathan asked.

Kristin crossed her arms across her chest. "No, I don't," she muttered. Then, after a moment, a smile formed on her face. "Yes, I suppose it is," she said, changing her mind. "But if I find out he ever says anything like that again without my knowledge, there will be repercussions." Then, after a moment, she said, "I see what you were doing there."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Nathan said innocently. "I did nothing."

Kristin gave his arm a gentle shove. "Yes, you do. You thought we'd speak about happier times to get my mind off things."

"And it's working," Nathan pointed out.

"Yes," she agreed. She laid her head on his shoulder. "A little."

"We've certainly had a lot of adventures," Nathan continued. "Many comical times."

"Mostly involving Ben Krieg," Kristin added.

"Yes, it's always an adventure with him around…although I never asked you, how did it go with him today?"

"Oh…wonderfully actually. You know, Ben, he gets a lot of guff from the rest of us about being a smart aleck. But there's a lot more to him than that. He just doesn't show it very often," Kristin said thoughtfully.

"Care to elaborate?"

"I promised I wouldn't," she said with a soft smile. "All I can say was that he was very sweet to me."

"Well, I'm glad of that," Nathan answered, "or I'd wring his neck."

Kristin smiled softly. "Sometimes, I wonder what I did before you came into my life. I've never been used to anyone being so…protective of me. I mean, yes, in the past; my father and brother were that way. But since they've been gone, I've always had to rely on myself. Even my ex-husbands were never very…supportive."

Nathan couldn't help but pull her into his arms once again. "I'm the one who wonders what I did to deserve you." He looked into her eyes; even in the dim light, he could see her beautiful, dark eyes. "And I will always, always protect you. I always protect the ones who mean the most to me, especially since I don't want to lose them. I don't want to lose you."

Kristin felt tears sting her eyes once again. She simply hugged him tighter.

Nathan placed a kiss to her cheek. "I promise you, I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens to you."

"Good," Kristin whispered, "because if I do meet my demise here, you're the first person I'm haunting."

Nathan laughed softly. "I think I could live with that."

The two stayed that way for a few moments. Nathan then heard a few soft sniffles coming from Kristin. "What's wrong?"

"I just…never knew how much you cared," she finally said.

"I tried to tell you before…"

"I know," she replied, gently pulling away. "It just took something bad to happen for you to realize it."

"No…I've known it for a while," he admitted. "It's just taken me a while to admit it. I…have fears, which you can understand. And you have them too."

She nodded, realizing he was right. "I'm not angry. I only wish it was under happier circumstances."

Nathan brought a hand to her cheek. He was going to say something, but he suddenly forgot it. "Oh, Kristin…" he breathed softly. He brought his face closer to hers, placing a kiss to her forehead. "After this is all over," he said, placing a kiss to her cheek, "we will have a long chat," he promised, placing a kiss to her other cheek, "about how we both feel." He looked into her eyes, his lips just mere centimeters away from hers.

"I would…like that, very much," Kristin whispered, moving just slightly closer to him.

There was a brief second of hesitation, both contemplating whether they should or shouldn't. Finally, however, Nathan closed the gap. The kiss deepened and lingered for several moments.

Kristin broke the kiss first, however. Nathan looked into her eyes, seeking an answer. "I think that perhaps we should try to sleep," she said softly.

"Do…do you want me to leave?"

"No, of course not. Nathan, I don't want you to think I regret what just happened. We just can't allow ourselves to give into temptation just because of the situation at hand." She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. "We just need to wait for when our vision isn't so…clouded. Please, stay with me?"

Nathan pulled her close. "Anything you want." He kissed her on the forehead. "Do you want to keep talking?"

She snuggled into him. "No, you've helped ease my mind for the moment," she assured him. "But that doesn't mean I won't have a relapse."

"I'll be here if you do," Nathan promised. "Sweet dreams."

"You too," Kristin whispered.

Nathan just held her and rubbed her back gently. It wasn't long before he heard her breathing pattern change, becoming slower and deeper. He knew she was finally asleep. He placed one last kiss to her forehead before closing his own eyes. His last thought before he fell asleep was that he hoped he could protect her. He really hoped he could.

Chapter 15: Life Was Changed

December 2, 1941

Senator Mayfield woke early. He decided he had spent enough time recuperating. Certainly, his nose was still bruised, but his ego was not. And he had work to do. He couldn't let a little bruise stop him from that. He was heading to the base, and he also hoped he might run into Sylvia there. He was hoping to speak to her, convince her to come home.

He quickly dressed and ate a bite to eat. But then, there was a knock at the door. He wondered who could be there so early in the morning. He looked out the peep hole in the door to see the mail carrier and opened the door.

"Good morning," the young man greeted. He waited for a response, but was simply met with the grim look on the senator's face. The mail carrier cut right to the chase. He handed over the large envelope. "Uh, a registered letter for you, sir." He handed over a form to sign and pointed to an x at the bottom. "Sign here, please."

Richard did so and the mail carrier was on his way. But once the senator read the contents of the envelope, he quickly made a change of plans. He called his lawyer in Washington, Jackson Weston. He was on hold for several minutes before Jackson's voice came through the receiver.

"Richard, I didn't expect to hear from you. How is the business in Pearl going?" Jackson asked good-naturedly.

Richard, however, was not as cordial. He didn't have time for casual conversation. "Well, actually, it's just hit a bit of a roadblock. My wife just served me with divorce papers. I need your help."

"Divorce? I didn't even know you two were having problems," Jackson replied.

"Every couple argues, Jackson," Richard defended. "Just tell me how to get out of this. I don't want a divorce."

Jackson sighed. "I'll do what I can. Read me the letter."

Richard cleared his throat and began reading aloud, "Mr. Mayfield, on the grounds of cruelty-"

"Stop right there," Jackson interrupted. "If Sylvia wants the divorce, she'll get it."

"What? Why? I'm not going to sign this."

"It doesn't matter if you sign it, Richard. It's the law. On the grounds of cruelty, a woman can request a divorce, and any judge will be sympathetic to her," Jackson explained.

"She'll have to prove it first," Richard said smugly.

"Richard," Jackson said quietly, "you're not fooling anyone. I've seen Sylvia with injuries she couldn't explain. Now I never questioned it before because it's not my place to say. But if she's no longer happy, she has the right-"

"What about my rights?" Richard argued. "Don't I get a say?"

"Richard, let me make a suggestion, not just as your lawyer, but as your friend as well. You have to let this go. It's too late. What's done is done. The media is going to have a field day when this gets out; you know it and I know it. But signing the papers will make it less messy."

Richard said nothing in response.

"Look, I know you don't like it, but my hands are tied. I have an associate who has an office in Pearl. He's young, but he knows what he's doing. His name is Marcus Harris. He's located at 5142 Kalaloa Street. I'll give him a call to tell him you're coming," Jackson stated. Then he added, "You'll do that?"

"Very well," Richard said after a moment through gritted teeth. "I'll see him, but that doesn't mean I'm not signing anything yet."

"It's up to you. Good luck, Richard."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

When Nathan woke, he found that Kristin was still snuggled up against him, sleeping soundly. He was relieved that she apparently had slept through the night. She was so upset the night before, he expected to be woken up at least once. But that wasn't the case. He wrapped his arms around her as she slept; he heard her sigh contentedly.

Nathan loved these moments; these sweet, intimate moments that were just between the two of them. He couldn't imagine not having Kristin in his life now. She was one of the constants that helped keep him grounded. And in turn, he did the same for her.

At that moment, Kristin stirred. She opened her eyes and looked at him sleepily.

"Hi," Nathan greeted softly.

"Hi," she answered back, stretching her muscles back to life. "What time is it?"

Nathan glanced at the clock. "It's nearly seven. Did you sleep well?"

She rolled over and laid her head on his shoulder. "I did, actually; I'm sure it was because of you that I did. Thank you."

Nathan gave her a tight squeeze. "It was my pleasure."

"I suppose we're going to have to get out of bed soon," Kristin said after a moment.

"I could call in sick, play hooky?" Nathan suggested.

A small smile formed on Kristin's face. "That's very sweet of you to offer, but actually, I was thinking of going with you."

Nathan gave her a look. "You mean you're going to work? Are…are you sure about that? After last night..."

"You've already shown me that if I focus on other things, I can take my mind off of it. And you said yourself, we have four days before we'll know anything. Plus, Sylvia appears to be MIA at the moment. Apparently, she's not going to tell me one way or the other, and frankly, I don't feel like sitting around and waiting. If you knew you were going to die, you wouldn't either. You'd want to do as much as you could before that." She paused for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. When she spoke once again, her voice was softer, gentler. And Nathan could hear the sheer emotion in her voice since she was close to tears. "If these are my last days, I want to spend it with the people who mean the most to me. My only regret is that Cynthia isn't here…"

Kristin tried to stifle a small sob, but it came out anyway. Nathan was ready to offer support when she quickly swallowed her tears. She waved a hand. "I'm fine," she assured him. "Um, if it does appear that these are my last days, I've already decided to compose a message for her. You'll deliver it for me if need be?"

Nathan placed his hands on her shoulders; it was a gesture of support. But it was also because he needed the support for himself. The thought of Kristin dying and him having to deliver a message to her daughter about it was frightening for him. He felt his own tears creep up, but he did his best to keep them at bay; that would upset Kristin more, he knew. "Of course I will. I'll do whatever you need."

She leaned against him and whispered, "Thank you."

He wrapped his arms around her then, knowing she needed it.

She placed a kiss to his cheek, and the two stayed that way for a few moments. Then Kristin finally spoke, "Besides, I promised Lucas we'd have lunch."

"That's right," Nathan replied. "Well, as long as you're up to it…"

She nodded. "I'm fine, I promise you. And I know you're all with me."

"Of course we are," Nathan said, giving her another tight squeeze.

"Please, don't say anything to the others, though? Can we keep it between us?"

Nathan hesitated. "Kristin, we all love you, and we want to help you in any way we can."

"Nathan, please?" she asked again. "I…I never wanted everyone worrying about me, and it might just be speculation…"

Nathan sighed. "Fine," he agreed, "on one condition. We bring this up to Joshua."

Kristin opened her mouth to protest, but Nathan continued, "Joshua's your friend and your doctor. You trust him, don't you?"

"Y-yes…"

"And he is well-versed in the matters of the paranormal, correct?"

"Yes," Kristin agreed. "But-"

"What I mean is that Joshua can probably give us insight on this. He's already explained to me what he thinks about Sylvia's intentions and-"

"He did?" Kristin asked, surprised.

Nathan's face reddened slightly. "I…I needed to speak to someone, and it was nice to have someone else's opinion."

Kristin nodded in understanding. "Very well," she agreed. "But only Joshua."

Nathan hugged her gratefully. "I can live with that. Well, I guess we need to get a move on then."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Richard Mayfield had had a plan. He was going to ruin Captain Remington's career in every way he could after he'd punched him. But he'd changed his mind. He knew Jack expected him to tell the admiral what he'd done, but that was too obvious. No, instead, he approved the funding since he had ulterior motives. He was appointed to his position for a reason. He was in support of a war, just as many US officials were. It was inevitable.

And Richard Mayfield had a lot of friends…all over the world. All he would need to do is make a few phone calls and pull a few strings. When he was finished, he was sure that President Roosevelt would thank him personally. As for the little matter of his divorce, well, he needed to ponder on that. But he was sure he'd come up with some sort of revenge just for Sylvia.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

After eating a quick bite to eat and stopping by Katie's apartment so Kristin could change into some clean clothes, they headed to the base. Nathan walked Kristin to her office.

"If you need anything…" Nathan began.

"I know," she said before he had a chance to finish. "Um, you'll tell Henry where to find me? You will see him, won't you?"

Nathan nodded. "I'm sure I will. We have a meeting with the admiral to discuss our funding distributions. All of the military staff has been asked to attend. Um, I'll come meet you at the end of the day?"

She nodded. "And I'll speak to Peter about seeing us after our shifts have ended. Will that ease your mind?"

"Yes…and I hope it will ease yours too," Nathan explained.

She gave him a small smile. "I'm sure it will. Um, well, I suppose I should go inform them they'll have my help again. I'll see you later then." She turned to leave when Nathan grabbed her arm gently. She turned back to him.

"Just…just take care of yourself." He wanted to wrap her in his arms, just in case. But he suddenly remembered where they were and the time. Instead, he took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I'll see you as soon as I can."

She stood on her toes and moved close to his ear. "Everything's going to be fine," she whispered softly. She then turned and went to find Peter, casting one last glance at him before turning down the hallway, disappearing out of Nathan's sight.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"No!" Admiral Bill Noyce argued. He was on the vid-link with General Warren. "You promised we'd have until the end of the week. And now you're going back on your word."

"Bill, we did say that, but that was being ideal. But look at it from our point of view. The UEO's most powerful submarine is gone. We've lost precious time and money looking for her and its crew. It's like she disappeared, Bill; she's just gone. But in the time she's been missing, word has gotten out. You and I both know the same scumbags that seaQuest has worked to protect our world from are out there plotting against us at this very moment. We need to be prepared. We can't keep waiting for seaQuest to return before we do anything. You know that," General Warren explained.

"But no one has explored the possibility that she could be stuck in a fresh water sink hole. Or she could merely be dead in the water. There are so many things that-" Bill began to argue.

"Admiral, don't you think we've already explored that possibility? Even if seaQuest is found, it's likely her crew could have perished. You need to start informing families."

Bill sighed. He didn't want it to come to that. That was the one part of his job that he hated, informing loved ones of a disappearance or a death. And oftentimes, a disappearance meant death. All that meant was that there was no body for the family to bury. "There's no convincing the brass otherwise?" he asked hopefully.

The general shook his head. "I'm sorry. You know this is for the best?"

Bill nodded. Part of him knew; the military part. The trained UEO naval admiral knew. But the human in him couldn't comprehend. He was torn, but his hands were tied. He had to back down.

"On a more personal note, Bill, I am still remaining hopeful. I hope we find them well and safe. The UEO has agreed to allow two submarines to continue the search."

"Two submarines? You and I both know that could take ages…"

"At least it's something. I lobbied for it."

"Well, I appreciate that. I really do," Bill stated sincerely.

"Anytime," the general answered. "Until then, you know what needs to be done."

Bill nodded solemnly. He had to inform families. "I do."

"Good luck." With that, the general cut the link. Bill said a silent prayer, hoping that he'd get a call telling him they'd found seaQuest. Then, he set to work.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Getting back to work was just the thing Kristin needed. Joshua and Katie…well, rather Peter and Rose…were relieved to see her. And soon, it was like she'd never been away. The morning flew by, and before she knew it, it was lunchtime. She was just finishing up with a patient when she turned to see Lucas standing in the doorway with his wonderful grin.

"Hey, Doc. Are you all ready for lunch?" he greeted.

She returned his smile. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just one moment." She turned to the nurse assisting her and gave her some instructions. Then, she turned back to Lucas. "All set," she confirmed. She placed an arm around his shoulders and led him down the corridor. "So, where would you like to go?"

Lucas shrugged. "Well, there's this great little place just down the street. Mig…er, I mean Carlos and I have eaten there a few times already. What do you say?"

"Lead the way."

On the way to the restaurant, the two chatted quietly. Kristin had almost forgotten how much she loved talking to Lucas. She felt very guilty about not being able to chat with him like she'd done on seaQuest. Unfortunately, the situation didn't allow for that. Oh, she knew that Lucas was understanding of it all; he'd never complain. He knew she didn't particularly want to push him aside, but she felt guilty all the same.

"…well, enough about me," Lucas finally said. He'd been telling her about what he'd been up to, which really just consisted of military meetings and get-togethers with the other crew members. "What about you?"

"Oh, I haven't done anything very exciting," Kristin replied, waving a hand. She didn't want to lie to Lucas…not at all. In fact, they often told one another things they wouldn't tell another soul. But there were so many things she didn't want him to know only because she didn't want him to worry. No matter how adult Lucas seemed, he was only seventeen. He needed to be having fun, not worrying about her.

"Well, how've you been? Is everything…okay?"

"Everything's fine," she assured him.

They finally arrived at the restaurant. They ordered and it wasn't long before their meals arrived. They ate, quietly making small talk as they did so. After their meal, they made their way back to the base, this time taking a longer route walking along the beach.

"It's so beautiful out here, isn't it?" Kristin breathed.

"Yeah..." Lucas agreed. "It kind of makes you…forget your troubles."

"You can say that again," Kristin agreed, gazing out onto the gently rolling waves. A moment later, she felt Lucas' hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him.

"Why do you do that?" he asked her quietly.

"Do what?"

"Pretend like everything's fine. I know it isn't. I might be young, but-"

"You know I don't think of you as a child...well, not like that. I…I only want to protect you."

"I know, Doc, I know," Lucas said gently. "And I appreciate that…so much. You…you care about me more than my own mother, which is the very reason I don't want to lose you. I need to protect you too, but I can't do that if I'm kept in the dark."

Kristin stared into his sparkling blue eyes. There was so much love there, so much understanding that she couldn't help but feel tears come to her eyes. She tried to keep them back, but a sob escaped her throat. She covered her mouth with her hand.

Lucas simply wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "It's okay," he soothed. "I'm here for you." He continued whispering soothing words while they stood on the beach, surrogate mother and son.

After a while, Kristin's tears subsided. She wiped her eyes with her hands. "Lucas, please know I'm not really confiding in anyone. It's nothing personal against you. But you're right. Everything is not fine."

"I already knew that," Lucas replied. "But if you do need to talk?"

"I've been speaking to the captain," she told him. "I have a feeling that, eventually, I'll be able to tell the rest of you. But-"

"I understand; you don't need to explain."

Kristin nodded. "Thank you." She gave him a grateful hug. "You know, I really am sorry we haven't had a chance to see one another lately."

"I understand, Doc…you've been a little preoccupied. I know it's not your fault," Lucas said.

"As soon as we get back to seaQuest, we're going to have a long chat, just you and me," Kristin promised. Of course, she couldn't possibly tell him about what she thought was going to happen. She was doing her best to remain positive despite her fears. And although she'd been reluctant about it at first, she hoped that Joshua would be able to shed some light on this situation by the end of the day.

"That sounds great, Doc. I can't wait."

Kristin placed a hand to his cheek. "And whatever happens, just remember I'll always love you."

Lucas nodded. He wasn't quite sure what the doc was getting at, but he hoped she'd open up to him soon enough. "I will. I love you too, Doc…and I always will."

Chapter 16: Disassembled, Rearranged

By late afternoon, Kristin, Nathan, and Joshua were off-duty. Nathan met the two of them in the corridor outside their offices. Nathan suggested they go to his apartment, deciding the setting would be a bit more private. He also hoped a somewhat familiar place would help put Kristin's mind at ease, seeing as how she felt comfortable there. The three of them walked out into the parking lot and got into Nathan's car. It was a fairly quiet ride, everyone uttering bits of small talk along the way, but no one saying anything in particular.

Five minutes later, Nathan pulled the car up in front of his apartment building, and the three of them walked inside.

Joshua didn't beat around the bush. He knew there was cause for concern since both Nathan and Kristin had told him there was a problem. He just didn't know what it was. Nathan and Kristin sat on the sofa; Nathan had taken Kristin's hand in his as a gesture of support. Joshua could see the worried looks on their faces. He sat across from them in the armchair and finally asked, "So what's going on?"

Kristin looked at Nathan, afraid to speak. Nathan gave her an encouraging nod. She took a deep breath, as though she was trying to muster up the courage she needed to say it. Then she said, "I think that perhaps I know the reason this is all happening. I believe Sylvia chose me, and that wasn't an accident…."

She paused for a moment to take a sip of water. Joshua noticed how her hands trembled when she did so. This wasn't like the Kristin he knew. He'd always known her to be so calm, so collected. Even when she'd found out she had been unknowingly playing chess with Rubin Zellar, he'd never seen her so nervous. He watched her take another deep breath. "It only seems logical to me that if I'm living Sylvia's life, reliving her experiences…that I will experience her death as well," Kristin whispered quietly. She was wringing her hands together, her eyes downcast.

Joshua hadn't noticed before, but Kristin had dark circles under her eyes as though she hadn't been sleeping well. She also looked a little pale and peaked…perhaps even a little thinner. The stress of the situation was obviously affecting her the most out of everyone. But there had to be a different explanation. Certainly, Kristin wasn't meant to die here. That couldn't be Sylvia's intention. He asked Nathan for a pad of paper and a pen.

Joshua then wrote at the top of the page: The Facts. He stood and sat on the sofa next to Kristin. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I don't think you're meant to die here," he assured her.

Kristin opened her mouth to protest, but Joshua continued, "Let's go through and establish what we know. Then we can talk about what we don't know and go from there." As a scientist, he knew Kristin would appreciate such a method. Establish the facts, and then test the hypothesis. No, they couldn't exactly test the concept of Kristin's death. However, there were other methods, Joshua knew. But he would bring that up a little later; one thing at a time.

"Okay," Joshua said, looking at the others. "We know that Sylvia brought us here to help solve her murder." He wrote the first fact down. "That's what she told you, correct?" he asked Kristin.

Kristin nodded. "And we know that Sylvia and Richard have a history of marital discord."

Joshua wrote that down.

"And we know that Sylvia and Jack had a very close relationship…possibly a romantic one," Nathan added, exchanging a glance with Kristin.

"Right," Joshua said, scribbling away.

The three of them continued establishing facts. When they thought they had established every last one, Joshua flipped the notepad to a clean piece of paper. At the top, he wrote: Questions. "Now we write down what we don't know but need to find out," he stated.

"Well…" Kristin said, "we still don't know exactly what our purpose is here. Are we solving a murder or merely witnessing it? And are we supposed to prevent anything? The way I see it…" Her voice trailed off. Since Joshua suggested this little experiment, Kristin had become somewhat more relaxed. She was no longer Kristin Westphalen, the woman who may die in the next few days. Instead, she was Dr. Kristin Westphalen, the scientist. Her mind was busy, and that was putting her at ease.

"Go on," Joshua encouraged.

Nathan put a reassuring arm around her shoulders.

"Well…the way I see it, I think we're seeing the events that led up to the murder itself. Sylvia's beatings, the ball, meeting the Nautilus crew, meeting Jack, filing for divorce; although we don't have concrete evidence, I am assuming that these are events that Sylvia actually lived. But even though we're the key players, we're really only witnesses. So when and if we're here for the actual murder…it isn't as though we'll be solving anything. We'll only be witnessing it," Kristin surmised.

Joshua copied what she said down on the notepad. When he was finished, he said, "I think you're right. I don't think we're really solving anything. In the end, we'll know what happened, but I don't think we'll know anything until the day of the murder. I don't think we'll know who killed her beforehand. And even if we did, I don't think it's something we can prevent either."

"So you do think I'm supposed to die here?" Kristin asked after a slight pause.

"No, that's not what I'm saying at all. Have you spoken with Sylvia lately?"

Kristin shook her head. "Only when she suggested I go find a lawyer. But since then, she's been MIA, if you will. I've tried, but I don't get any answer."

"But when you asked about such things before, what did she say?" Joshua pressed.

Kristin sighed. "That everything would be fine."

"And you think she's lying?"

"Well, no…" Kristin replied. "But sometimes, she speaks in riddles. She did say I might delay the inevitable. I…I'm not sure what she means by that. And if I'm not supposed to die here, you tell me how in the world there are so many parallels between Sylvia and me. Why am I always the lucky one? Why is it that these ghosts…or spirits…or souls tend to find me so appealing?" Kristin's voice rose slightly with each word she uttered. She was scared, frightened. And now that she was thinking about it all again, she couldn't help but hide her feelings any longer. Her voice trembled. "If I'm living Sylvia's life, it would only be logical to think…" She turned around towards Nathan and buried her face in his chest.

Nathan wrapped his arms around her as soft cries could be heard. Nathan gave Joshua a desperate look as he did his best to comfort Kristin.

Joshua waited patiently for Kristin to calm down. But as he did so, he started to ponder on Kristin's questions. Why did she seem so appealing to the spirit world? Well, he had already given one answer to the captain when he asked the same question: that Kristin's subconscious mind was open to it. However, perhaps there was something more to it than that. And when the thought came to him, he couldn't believe he hadn't thought about it before. "I've got it!" he shouted after a moment.

Kristin gently pulled away from Nathan and wiped her eyes. Both she and Nathan looked at Joshua expectantly.

"Uh, sorry," Joshua said a little sheepishly. "What I meant was that I have a couple of ideas." He flipped the notepad to a new page and began to write. While he wrote, he spoke, "When we were on the George, Lillian used you as a vessel. We knew Lillian was a ghost, a spirit that hadn't crossed over. And so was Captain Wideman. Now on the mission to the George, there were two human women, you and Katie. Why you and not Katie? Well, that's a question I can't really answer. Perhaps it was the fact that you and Lillian are both British. Perhaps it was the fact that Katie and her team went to explore the other levels, so you were just readily available. Perhaps it is because your subconscious mind is more inviting for such an experience. I really don't know."

"But what does the experience with Lillian have to do with Sylvia?" Nathan asked. "Do you think we need to help Sylvia cross over?"

"I'm not sure it's that cut and dry," Joshua finally replied once he'd finished writing. "In fact, I think it might be something entirely different."

Kristin sat forward, now intrigued. Her worry had suddenly faded again…at least for the time being. "How so?"

"Well, do you remember anything that happened with Lillian?"

Kristin furrowed her brow slightly as if she was trying to draw out some latent memories from that day. She shook her head. "Not really. I only know what you've told me."

"You don't remember speaking to her like you do with Sylvia, do you?" Joshua continued.

"No…but I don't know if I'll remember this experience either. I might have." She looked at Nathan. "Although none of you have ever mentioned that fact before. You've told me I was very confused…as though I wasn't always sure what was going on. I did hear Lillian's voice, but it was...different."

"We don't think you spoke with Lillian this way," Joshua confirmed. "In fact, I've never heard of a possession like this."

"So you don't think this is one?" Nathan asked.

"It might not be."

"Then what is it?"

Joshua hesitated. He knew Kristin didn't quite believe in the paranormal to begin with, and he knew the idea he had was going to throw everyone for a loop, especially her. He wasn't even sure if he believed it, but it was something that might help them discover the who, what, where, when, why, and how. He had to throw it out there. "You remember my research at Cologne?"

Kristin thought for a moment. "Hypnotic regression…I remember. But how-"

Joshua nodded. "I know you want to know how hypnotic regression would play into this. But there are other aspects of it. Have you heard of past life regression?"

"What's that?"

"Well, it's similar to hypnotic regression. In hypnotic regression, the hypnotist uses hypnotic suggestions to delve into the individual's memories…perhaps find reasons that he or she has a certain fear or other problem. Past life regression works under the same principles. The hypnotist would make certain suggestions, but instead of going into the individuals current memories, the hypnotist would go into the memories of one's past life…or lives," Joshua explained.

"You…you believe in past lives?" Kristin stammered, somewhat surprised.

Joshua sighed. "I was raised an agnostic, so any thoughts on the soul or its continuance were rather a foreign concept to me…that is until I began becoming interested in paranormal research. I'm still not sure how much of it I do believe. And there's still a question if the study of past lives is true science. And I'm the first to admit, there have been a lot of hoaxes…a lot of errors. But the studies I have participated in that I know are true and legitimate, the evidence is remarkable. I have a feeling that eventually, I'll be a believer."

"What evidence have you found?" Nathan finally asked. He'd been listening, taking everything in. But it all seemed rather…far-fetched. And how did this fit in with Sylvia and Kristin?

"Well, let me tell you the facts and explain my idea. Then, we'll go from there," Joshua replied. "First, let me explain to you the general beliefs on past lives. Now these are not necessarily religious beliefs. Obviously, certain ideologies embrace the thought of reincarnation. But the facts that I'm explaining to you are what have been established by the proponents of past life regression." Joshua set his notepad down and stood. He walked over to the window and looked outside for a minute, trying to think of how he wanted to begin.

After a moment of thought, he finally spoke, "Some believe past lives are infinite while others believe there is only a limited amount. But one thought is clear among all scientists who believe in the existence of past lives: that one relives experiences, certain events. The reason is that there are certain lessons one must learn. The types of lessons vary from individual to individual, but one doesn't always get it right the first time. Therefore, the soul is reborn over and over again. There may be years between lives…perhaps even centuries. But the soul will be reborn again."

He paused for a moment in case either of them had questions. When neither of them spoke, he said, "There may even be souls you knew in the past that you know now."

"So…you're saying that it's possible we're all in…our past lives?" Nathan finally said, unsure if he believed it. "That Kristin was once Sylvia Mayfield…that I was once Captain Jack Remington…that you…"

"That's part of my hypothesis, yes," Joshua confirmed. He sat across from them once again. "I know it's difficult to take in, that it's hard to believe we all may have lived before, that we've all known one another before." He looked at Kristin. "But the only reason I think this could be the case is because of you. How is it that you and Sylvia look so much alike? How is it that you two are both doctors? That you're both British-born? That you've both had failed marriages? And the fact that you can speak to her like you do. It just seems that's all more than just a coincidence."

Nathan and Kristin were both silent as they listened to Joshua's words. Once he was finished, Nathan was the first to break the silence. "If this concept is true, what does that mean?"

"Well, if Kristin will allow it, I was hoping to be able to put her under hypnosis. In doing so, we might be able to find some of the answers to our questions. Mind you, it wouldn't be Kristin's memories I'd be accessing, it would be Sylvia's, that is if she is the doctor's past life." Joshua and Nathan both looked at Kristin expectantly.

Kristin, however, was still trying to take in what Joshua had said. And she didn't like the thought of hypnosis. Yes, she was a scientist; yes, she was always the advocate for any sort of experiment that would help them get an answer. However, she didn't quite like being the guinea pig. "I…I'd like some time to think about it," she said quietly.

"Kristin, we only have four days," Nathan reminded gently. He wasn't trying to push her, but he was just as worried as she was. He wanted answers as well, and Joshua's idea seemed more and more appealing.

Kristin was about to reply, but changed her mind. She stood and started towards the door. "I think I just need a little air. Excuse me."

Nathan was about to go after her when Joshua stopped him. "Just give her a few minutes."

"But-" Nathan protested.

"She'll be fine," Joshua promised. "She just needs a few moments to think." Joshua knew Nathan was very protective of Kristin, especially now. But this was also a lot for her to take in, especially for one who didn't quite believe in such a concept. Instead, Joshua did his best to keep him occupied. He began to explain what he would do if Kristin agreed to the hypnosis.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Fifteen minutes later, Nathan was getting impatient. He knew Kristin needed a few moments alone, time to mull things over, but his worry wouldn't go away. And he couldn't concentrate on what Joshua was saying anymore. He finally interrupted him. "As fascinating as this all is, I think I need to check on her. She's been gone an awfully long time."

Joshua sighed and glanced at the clock. He did see that a significant amount of time had passed; he decided to give in. He gave Nathan a nod. "Very well."

Nathan opened the door and looked down the corridor. He didn't see Kristin there, so he went out onto the front porch. The apartment building had a large porch area for all the residents to use. Nathan looked around and finally saw her standing in the corner, looking out onto the street. One hand was on her hip, the other on her neck, a stance Nathan had seen many times. She often did that when she was deep in thought or very worried. Nathan approached her quietly.

He stood beside her for several moments before she finally realized he was there. She looked at him.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay," he told her.

"Would you be?" she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I know it's a lot to take in. I know it's hard to believe, but is it such a terrible thought? Even if you don't believe it, it's not so bad."

Kristin gave him a confused look. "How in the world can you say that?"

"What I mean is that it's a rather lovely thought that we might have known one another in the past…that we're all…connected somehow."

Kristin shrugged. "I suppose it would be lovely if I wasn't in the shadow of a terrible fate."

"So you don't like the idea of the hypnosis?"

"Not particularly," she admitted. "Even if I do believe that I might have been Sylvia Mayfield in a past life, I don't see how we can prove I won't meet the same demise."

"Joshua just wants to see if he can't get some answers from Sylvia. Wouldn't you rather know for sure than worry for the next four days?" Nathan pressed.

"I don't know…" she admitted. "All of this…it scares me. It scared me on the George. That's why I was so insistent that my experience with Lillian had to be nitrogen narcosis. I never wanted to face the truth. But it's highly unlikely we all would have had a collective hallucination. Logically, I know it was something else. It's admitting it that's the hard part. And if the experience with Lillian wasn't disturbing enough, then there's this." She turned to him. "I…I…I'm just scared."

Nathan put his arms around her. "I know. I wish I could do it for you, but there's really no way to know unless we speak with Sylvia directly. Unless you know a way to conjure her up, this seems like the next best thing."

"I wish I did. I've tried, but to no avail."

"Look, no one's going to force you into anything. We can just forget the whole idea if that's what you want. Joshua just wanted to help," Nathan whispered to her.

At that moment, Joshua appeared on the porch. "Uh…sorry to interrupt, but I couldn't help overhearing. Maybe…maybe I should just go and leave you two to-"

"No," Kristin replied, pulling away from Nathan. "I…I've thought about it. And as unconventional as it seems, I…I'd like to try it. Well, rather Sylvia would like to try it."

"You're absolutely positive?" Nathan asked.

"Not really, but I don't want to go the next four days without knowing. This seems like the next best thing…you promise nothing horrible will happen?"

"I've conducted other sessions just like this one. It'll be fine. You trust me?" Joshua said.

Kristin took a deep breath. She wasn't feeling terribly confident about it all, but she nodded anyway. "I trust you."

Chapter 17: We Came Together

"Great, then we have work to do," Joshua replied, offering Kristin a reassuring smile. "Tomorrow then?"

"Sooner rather than later. I don't think I can handle waiting much longer," Kristin admitted quietly.

Joshua nodded in understanding. "Immediately after work tomorrow then. Before I go, I do have one more thing to talk to you about."

"What's that?"

"I'm going to need some help…more than just the captain. I…I know you'd rather keep this secret, but-"

"You want to ask some of the science staff?" Kristin finished for him.

"Well, I'll really only need one person, and I had one in mind: Lucas. Would you mind?"

Kristin hesitated.

"It's just that Lucas already has experience with the paranormal because of our experience on the George. And I think that having a child with us will make Sylvia more comfortable since Lucas was able to speak with Captain Wideman without being harmed," Joshua explained. "Not that Sylvia means us any harm; I just think she'd respond better to a child."

"Lucas is not a child," Nathan reminded.

"I know, but he's the closest thing we've got." He looked at Kristin. "Is it okay?"

"I…I…" Kristin began. Of all the people on the crew, she'd wanted to keep Lucas sheltered, protected. She didn't want him to know what could happen.

Nathan laid his hands on her shoulders and whispered, "I know you want to protect him, but I think Joshua's right. He would be beneficial."

Kristin let out a sigh. She nodded reluctantly. "Very well."

"Thank you," Joshua said. "Do either of you have any questions by chance?"

Nathan and Kristin both shook their heads.

"Well, then I hope you two have a lovely evening then. And, Doctor?"

"Yes?"

"Don't worry about a thing."

Kristin gave him a weak smile. "I'll try."

"Goodnight." Joshua gave each of them a nod and then turned to walk down the stairs.

"Goodnight, Joshua," Nathan called. "And thank you."

"Anytime."

After Joshua left, Kristin turned to Nathan. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

Nathan placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "No need to apologize. You're feeling better?"

Kristin shrugged. "Not exactly…but I do have faith in Joshua. Although I'm not sure I believe in past lives…at least not yet, I'm hoping he can at least speak to Sylvia…somehow. And I'm hoping we can get some concrete answers."

"We all want that," Nathan said, putting his arm around her shoulders. "Are you ready to go back inside?"

She nodded and allowed him to gently lead her through the door.

Once inside, Nathan instructed her to sit on the sofa. "How about I make us some dinner?" Nathan suggested good-naturedly. He knew Kristin still wasn't herself. He knew she was still worried that something horrible was about to happen to her. Admittedly, he had been worried, too. But with Joshua's revelation, he felt somewhat relieved. Naturally, it was a long-shot. But he had hope. He knew Kristin needed to find hope as well. He also knew what he needed to do. He had to get her mind off of things, yet again.

But the woman on the sofa didn't answer him. She just stared out the window absentmindedly. After a moment, she asked, "Do you really believe Joshua's theory?" She continued starting out the window, however.

Nathan walked out of the kitchen and sat next to her, forgoing the idea of dinner for the moment. "I don't know yet, but I find it comforting."

She turned and looked at him. "Comforting?"

"Well…yes. Assuming past lives are real, wouldn't you rather communicate with a past life, who is essentially you, someone who once shared your soul, rather than a complete and utter stranger?"

Kristin sighed. "Well, if Sylvia is my past life, I think I much rather preferred Lillian. At least with her, I didn't know what was going on. I think I enjoyed being in the dark."

Nathan smiled softly. "You promised Joshua you wouldn't worry."

"No, I said I'd try," Kristin corrected. "And I am. I just…can't seem to stop my mind from wandering. I'm trying to believe his theory. I really am. But even if it is true, I still don't see how that makes it any better. That doesn't ensure I won't meet my demise…"

"If Sylvia is your past life, do you really think she'd do that to you?"

"Maybe it wasn't her intention, but just how many people do you think she's transported from another time? It's obvious that we're her first guinea pigs. I'm not even sure she knows what's supposed to happen. Yes, she told me everything would be fine. But it's kind of hard to trust that when she allowed Richard to…well, you know what happened with him," Kristin answered.

Nathan sighed. He couldn't argue with her logic. No one exactly knew what Sylvia's plan was, and she didn't volunteer any extra details, which made this situation even more frustrating. But he couldn't sit idly by and watch Kristin deteriorate in front of him. He wanted the old Kristin back. "This is ridiculous," he finally said. "We're going to Katie's."

"No…I don't want to see anyone else, I told you," Kristin protested quietly.

"We're going to collect your things," Nathan continued. "I'll speak to Katie if you'd prefer, but you'll need your clothes if you're going to continue staying here. Then, we're going out."

"Out? Nathan, no, I-"

"There will be no arguments," Nathan told her firmly. He took her hand and helped her up. "This is what you need."

Kristin didn't argue. She simply sighed and followed him to the car.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

A short time later, they arrived at Katie's apartment. When Katie opened the door and saw them standing there, she immediately noticed Kristin didn't look like herself. But after giving her a quick embrace, Kristin headed to the room she was using, leaving her alone with the captain. She gave him a questioning look.

He spoke in a hushed tone. "She's not feeling terribly confident…about anything here. I'm the only one she's been confiding in," Nathan explained, "and even I need to pry her open sometimes."

"I noticed," Katie replied, her tone matching Nathan's. "At the clinic, she wouldn't say much, unless it had to do with the patients. That's not quite like her. But the others have been asking about her. What should I tell them?"

Nathan sighed. "We'll need to have another staff meeting very soon. Until then, just tell them I'm keeping an eye on her. She just doesn't want anyone worrying."

"Doesn't she know that we're going to do that anyway?"

At that moment, they heard the sound of Kristin clearing her throat. They both turned to her.

"You know, you don't need to talk about me like I'm not here," she said gently.

Nathan took her back out of her hand. "I…I'm sorry," he said sheepishly. "Why don't I take this to the car and give you two a few moments?"

After Nathan had gone outside, Katie went to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Oh, Doc…we weren't trying to embarrass you. I'm sorry if you felt that way. I'm your friend, and I care about you. And I just wanted to know what's going on. You won't really talk to any of us, so you have to understand. We all can see you're not yourself. We just…want to help."

"I'm not trying to alienate you…or anyone else. I just…" Kristin's voice trailed off. She had so much to say but wasn't quite sure how to say it. They'd been in this time period for only a short time, but she already couldn't remember exactly how long it had been. And seaQuest seemed like such a long time ago. Dr. Kristin Westphalen seemed like such a long time ago. No, she wasn't herself at all. The problem was, she didn't know how to feel like herself again, especially when she didn't feel like she had much control or say in what happened here.

Katie didn't press her to continue. The doctor looked as though she was on the verge of tears, and Katie didn't like seeing her cry. She simply wrapped both her arms around her and hugged her. "You don't need to explain," Katie whispered into her ear. "Just take care of yourself. And I'll be here if you need me." Katie felt her own voice begin to quiver, although it wasn't her intention. She felt Kristin's grip tighten around her and heard her utter, "I will," and "Thank you." And she heard the doctor's own voice tremble with emotion.

After Kristin finally broke the hug, Katie could see that her eyes glistened with unshed tears. Katie turned and grabbed a tissue from the table nearby and passed one to Kristin as well. Both women dabbed at their eyes. "Everything's going to be okay," Katie told her when she felt more sober. "I just know it."

Kristin gave her a small smile. "I hope you're right."

At that moment, Nathan felt it might be safe to go back in. He gently knocked on the door before entering. "Is it safe?"

Katie and Kristin both laughed softly.

"Yes, it's safe," Kristin assured him. "And don't worry…I'm not angry with you."

Nathan gave her a sheepish smile. "Well, I'm glad of that. Um, as much as we'd love to stay, we kind of did have plans."

"Right," Kristin said with a nod. "Um, well…" she muttered, looking at Katie.

"Just go," Katie urged. "It's fine." She gave her one last hug.

"Thanks for being so understanding," Kristin replied before heading towards the door and waited for Nathan to say his goodbye.

Nathan turned to Katie. He held out his hand to shake, but instead, Katie wrapped her arms around him as well. On seaQuest, she never would have done that. However, under the circumstances, she felt it was warranted. "Take care of her for me," she whispered.

"I will," Nathan promised as he returned the hug. "We'll speak soon."

Katie gave him a nod as he turned to go out the door with Kristin.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Once in the car again, Nathan began to drive downtown. "So what are you hungry for?" Nathan asked her, trying to make conversation.

She shrugged. "Whatever you like." She hadn't been very talkative since they left Katie's.

"Well, would you like to eat indoors or out?" Nathan pressed.

"I'm sorry," Kristin replied. "I know you're trying to make an effort to have a quiet evening, and I'm ruining it."

"No, you're not ruining it. You just need to let go. Try and…forget things for the moment."

"I'm trying, but I suppose it doesn't look like it. I just feel so…lost," she admitted quietly.

Nathan pulled the car over and found a parking place. He took her hand and helped her out of the car. "Come on," he urged.

Kristin looked around. They were on a street along the water. There were several restaurants and little cafés tucked neatly along the way. "Where are we going?" she asked, having to run to keep up with him.

"You'll see."

They kept going until they'd nearly reached the end of the street. There was a traditional Polynesian restaurant. The two walked inside.

"How did you know about this place?" Kristin whispered to him.

Nathan shrugged. "Jack."

Kristin nodded knowingly. A moment later, a hostess greeted them and offered them a table.

However, Nathan had other plans. "Might we be able to order something to go?"

The hostess nodded and promptly handed them menus. "I'll be back shortly," she told them.

"To go?" Kristin questioned.

"Just trust me," Nathan assured her. "Order whatever you like."

A short time later, the hostess returned, and the two ordered. While they were waiting for their meals, Nathan took her hand and led her to a building they had passed just up the street. Loud music, laughing, and clapping could be heard, even though the doors were closed. Nathan opened the door and pulled her inside. It was a dance hall, and it was filled with people.

Kristin gave him a look. "What are we doing here?" she said. She had to speak louder than she would have so he could hear her over the music.

Nathan chuckled. "What is it people normally do in a dance hall?" he quipped.

Kristin shook her head. "We don't know these dances." Sure enough, the couples on the dance floor were doing the jive and other popular dance moves of the time period.

Nathan shrugged. "It doesn't look that hard. Besides, I'm sure Jack and Sylvia will help us. And you need to blow off a little steam and have fun. What do you say?"

Kristin thought for a moment as she watched the couples on the dance floor. They did look like they were having fun, but this wasn't like the dancing at the party on their first night. That was ballroom dancing; the waltz never changed. This was a bit more complicated. Still, it did look like fun, and she desperately needed that. And she knew Nathan was right. Even though Sylvia had been absent, as far as she knew, she could still feel her presence. She turned to him and nodded.

Nathan gave her a huge grin. He'd hoped she'd say yes. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor. Once on the dance floor, it was as if the two of them had been doing these types of dances their whole lives. And it wasn't long before everything else seemed to melt away. There was no worry, no despair. It was just the two of them. Nathan could hear Kristin's joyful laughter, and he found himself laughing as well. They danced through several songs until they were both breathless.

Nathan led her outside so they could catch their breath and cool off.

"I…think…our…food…is…probably…ready," Nathan said through pants of air.

Kristin nodded as she tried to catch her breath as well. "That…was…terribly…fun."

Nathan grinned. He'd finally caught his breath. "I thought you'd enjoy it."

"It certainly helped me forget about things," she admitted, "at least for a little while."

"I'm not finished yet," Nathan told her. "Tired?"

"Not yet."

"Good…race you." And Nathan took off like a shot back up the street to the restaurant.

"Hey!" Kristin shouted, running after him. It wasn't long, however, before she caught up to him and passed him.

"You'll have to run faster," she called as she passed.

A few moments later, they reached the front of the restaurant; Kristin was first, but Nathan wasn't too far behind.

"I…won," she teased, trying to catch her breath once again. She wore a huge smile on her face, though.

Nathan nodded as he was trying to catch his breath as well.

A few moments later, the two of them were able to breathe normally again. They both went inside, paid for their food, and left again.

"So, now what do you have planned?" Kristin asked.

"You'll see," Nathan replied. Carrying the bag of food in one hand, he put his other hand in hers and led her behind the restaurant towards the beach. "I thought it would be lovely to have a little moonlight picnic."

The moon was bright and full, and the water reflected it so that it looked like a picture out of a book. The night was warm and comfortable. Nathan led her toward the docks. He sat first and then helped Kristin sit as well. They began eating; they had both worked up an appetite, so they ate in silence until they were both nearly full.

Finally, Kristin said, "I have to hand it to you; this was an excellent idea you had."

"So you're feeling better…about everything?" Nathan asked hopefully.

Kristin sighed. "I'm feeling better for the time being. I'm trying not to think about things. Logically, I know everything could turn out just fine. And I hope it does. But I just don't know, and that scares me."

Nathan put an arm around her. "I guess I can live with that. At least you're feeling better, so I succeeded."

"And I appreciate it…very much. It looks like you planned this all day…the dinner…the dancing…the race…eating out here under the stars. But I know full well this was all spur of the moment."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Was it?"

"Wasn't it?" Kristin asked in surprise.

"Well, I might have had a little help from Jack," he admitted.

She smiled. "Well, remind me to thank him then." She moved the now empty takeout container to the other side of her and scooted closer to him. She laid her head against his chest.

"He says you're welcome," Nathan whispered, placing a kiss to her temple.

Kristin looked up at him, and the two of them shared a short but sweet kiss. Then, Kristin snuggled in closer to him and sighed happily. The two of them stayed that way for a long time, watching the moon, the stars, and the gently lapping waves.

But after a while, Nathan finally said, "I think we need to get home before I fall asleep."

"Okay," Kristin whispered softly. She allowed Nathan to help her up, and the two walked hand in hand back toward the car.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

The ride back to Nathan's apartment was much more relaxing and quiet. Kristin had snuggled up next to him while he drove. Neither of them spoke, but it was an intimate moment that the two of them needed.

Once they reached the apartment, the two walked inside.

"Uh, sleeping arrangements," Nathan began awkwardly.

"Nathan, we've slept in the same bed nearly every night since we've been here. I don't see why anything should change now. Besides, I don't want to be alone." She picked up her bag and headed into the bathroom. "I'm going to change."

Nathan couldn't argue with her. Had they been on seaQuest, neither of them would have been so bold about their relationship. Besides, this wasn't about sex. This was about intimacy. And it was a fact that somehow, their relationship had reached a more intimate level. Nathan headed into the bedroom to change into his pajamas as well.

Not long after, Kristin emerged from the bathroom in her white nightgown; she and Nathan climbed into bed. Kristin snuggled up against him and Nathan put his arm around her. Nathan placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "Sleep well, Kristin."

"You too, Nathan. Thank you for a lovely evening," Kristin whispered.

And it wasn't long before the two of them fell into a blissful sleep. And for that moment, it seemed as though everything was perfect.

Chapter 18: Fell Apart

December 3, 1941

Senator Richard Mayfield awoke feeling refreshed. He'd had a long night to think things through. And after much deliberation, he decided upon his first plan of action. He needed to meet with the admiral, and after explaining his concerns to him, he was sure the admiral would see it his way. He washed and dressed, and just as he was eating a quick breakfast, his phone rang.

He was surprised to hear Mildred's voice on the other end, Admiral Beatty's secretary. "Good morning, Senator," she greeted cheerfully. "I know it's early; I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, not at all," Richard replied, putting on the charm. "Actually, I was going to come by and see you. I wanted to know if I might be able to meet with the admiral today."

She chuckled softly. "Well, the admiral had asked me to contact you for the very same reason. He wanted to know if you could come to the base as soon as possible actually."

"Of course…why the urgency?"

"I honestly don't know," she answered. "I'll tell him you can be expected. See you soon."

"Thank you, Mildred. Bye."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Good morning," Nathan whispered softly into Kristin's ear. He hated to wake her, since she looked so peaceful, but they had to get up and get to work. They had a long day ahead of them.

Kristin stirred and looked at him sleepily. "Hi," she muttered, trying to sound chipper.

"How did you sleep?"

Kristin stretched and let out a yawn. "Wonderfully, thank you; I almost hate to get out of bed."

"I know," Nathan agreed. "I slept very well myself, but we have a long day ahead of us. Tell you what? You take the bathroom first, and I'll make us some breakfast."

Kristin opened her mouth to protest, but Nathan noticed. He placed a quick kiss to her lips. "Don't argue, okay?"

Kristin smiled softly at the gesture. "I won't be long," she promised.

Twenty minutes later, Kristin entered the kitchen, dressed in a light blue skirt, white blouse, and heels, her hair and makeup done to perfection. And she smelled heavenly, Nathan thought. The familiar scent of her perfume entered his nostrils.

She noticed him watching her and smiled at him. "Something smells delicious," she commented, looking over his shoulder at whatever he was cooking.

"That it does," he replied, his eyes lingering on her.

She blushed and quickly changed the subject, "Um, French toast and sausage." She motioned to the pans on the stove. "Why don't you let me finish up here so you can get ready as well?"

Nathan started to shake his head, but Kristin continued, "Please, I don't want to eat alone."

He couldn't say no to her, and she knew that. "Very well. Thank you."

"You're very welcome; hurry up now," she said.

He gave her a mock salute before leaving the room, causing her to laugh softly.

Another fifteen minutes later, and they were both seated across from one another, enjoying breakfast together.

Nathan, however, noticed that the woman across from him had suddenly become more quiet and reserved. And he couldn't help but notice how she picked at her food, not really making much of an attempt to eat. He knew it was likely the upcoming events of the day causing her to worry, but she wouldn't say. In an attempt to get her to open up to him, he finally asked, "What's the matter? Don't you like the food?"

"Oh, yes," she answered a bit too quickly, taking a bite for effect. "It's delicious," she assured him after swallowing.

Nathan eyed her suspiciously. She averted her gaze and pushed a piece of sausage around her plate. "It's just that I can't help but notice that you seem…distracted."

She suddenly stopped toying with the piece of sausage and dropped her fork and knife onto the plate. She looked dismayed that she'd been so transparent, but still refused to meet his gaze.

"You don't need to keep doing that," Nathan continued gently. "You don't need to handle this all on your own. You can talk to me, you know." His tone became progressively desperate. "Kristin, please…"

"Nathan, I…" She finally met his gaze, and instantly regretted it. She stood and turned away from him, finding it easier to collect her thoughts. "I am so…grateful for you…for your help. But do you already know the problem. And I don't want to burden you…or anyone else." She turned back to him, but made to attempt to move. "And tell me, do you honestly want to hear me talking about it every two seconds?"

Nathan stood and moved to her side. "I think you already know the answer to that," he answered quietly. "And in case you're not sure, of course I do. From the moment we've met, I've cared about you. I care about what happens to you, just like everyone else on my crew. I don't like you shutting me out." He brought a hand just under her chin and lifted up slightly so she'd look at him. "I'm not going to force you, but you needn't wonder if I want to hear about your thoughts, your concerns. We've all told you that you could confide in us, and I don't think anyone was lying, do you?"

She shrugged. "Well, no…I just…"

Nathan simply wrapped her in his arms. He knew she was worried. He actually couldn't imagine how she could even attempt to function not knowing what could happen. He almost couldn't function. He had to force himself to believe Joshua would find something…anything that would prove that Kristin was not to meet her demise in this time period. But he never told her his fears aloud. He knew she needed his comfort. "You just need to trust Joshua right now."

She nodded against his chest and let out a small sob. "I'm sorry," she muttered quietly. "I just-it's hard to be confident…"

"Sshh," Nathan said. "You don't need to explain."

The two of them cleared their plates and headed to Nathan's car. Nathan was right, Kristin knew. She did her best to forget about Sylvia's death for the time being and forced a smile. She scooted over next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Nathan put his free arm around her shoulders as he drove, and he was glad she at least allowed him to offer her some physical comfort, even if she wouldn't talk.

A short time later, they arrived on the base. Nathan walked with Kristin to her office. Once inside, Nathan took her in his arms once again. "Just try not to worry for the moment. I'll see you at lunch, okay?"

She nodded and gave him a kiss on the cheek. With that, Nathan left, disappearing around the corner. She took a few deep breaths and did her best to relax.

A moment later, Katie knocked on her door frame. "Morning, Doc," she greeted with a smile. She handed her a file folder. "Got a patient in room one for you…and more after that. Looks like it'll be a busy day."

Kristin returned her smile. That was just what she needed; a busy day to keep her mind occupied.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Hello, Mildred," Richard greeted once he arrived at the admiral's office.

She offered him a smile. "Ah, Senator; just let me inform them that you're here."

"Them?" Richard questioned in surprise. He couldn't possibly fathom who 'them' was referring to, and Mildred have no clarification. However, he guessed it may have something to do with more funding, which he could use to his advantage.

A minute later, Mildred returned. "You may go back to the conference room. You know where it is."

Richard gave her a nod. "Thank you."

He walked to the conference room and knocked on the door. He heard the Admiral's voice say, "Come in."

Richard did so, but was surprised when he opened the door. Not only was Admiral Beatty inside, but also Secretary Frank Knox. "Oh, hello…" Richard greeted, somewhat unsure of what was going on.

"Have a seat, Senator." Admiral Beatty motioned towards one of the chairs.

As Richard sat, the secretary spoke, "We just have some things we'd like to discuss with you."

"That's good," Richard replied, "I've a few things I'd like to discuss with you as well." He relaxed a bit more, deciding this was indeed something war related.

"Well, then, why don't you go first?" the secretary suggested, his tone forcefully pleasant, something Richard didn't pick up on.

"Well, I was wondering if I might make a suggestion then. Since I have basically funded the Nautilus in every way possible, I'd like a say in the plans as well. We all know an attack is imminent; we've talked it about it many times before. So I think we ought to send the Nautilus and its crew off to the Philippines. Don't you?"

The admiral and the secretary exchanged glances, grim looks upon their faces. The secretary gave the admiral a nod, and the admiral turned and walked to a table in the corner of the room to retrieve something Richard couldn't quite make out. As he neared him, however, he could see it was a newspaper. The admiral threw it on the table in front of him.

Richard looked down at the front page. There was a picture of him and Sylvia, one that was taken upon their arrival in Oahu just a few days earlier. The headline read: Senator Mayfield Headed For Divorce. He looked to the admiral, then to the secretary.

"I think we have bigger problems on our hands, Senator. You want to explain yourself?" Secretary Knox did not sound very happy.

"How did…I didn't realize it would hit the papers so fast," Richard muttered sheepishly. But he quickly composed himself, clearing his throat. "Um, well…I'm not proud of it, but I assure you, this will be over before we know it."

"Senator, you seem to think I give a damn about your failed marriage," the secretary replied. "In short, I don't. What I do care about is how much she knows."

"Knows, sir?"

The secretary rolled his eyes. "Senator Mayfield, you're a smart man. Don't play dumb with me now. We both know you're not exactly squeaky clean. Certainly, your wife must have seen things, heard things. She must know about our dealings. Now that your marriage has crumbled, I need to be assured she's not going to blab anything to anyone. You understand?"

"Sir, I assure you, she knows nothing. I keep all my business dealings separate. And I've never told her anything about them."

The secretary raised an eyebrow, again exchanging a glance with the admiral. The admiral spoke up, his tone a bit gentler than the secretary's, "Richard, I warned you about this. I know I often looked the other way, but we all saw how you treated her. You know you're at fault."

Richard said nothing.

"But the fact of the matter is, she may have seen and heard things; she just never said so."

The secretary broke in again, quite angered over the situation, "You need to fix this. If you can't fix your marriage, you make sure she keeps her mouth shut."

"And how am I supposed to do that if she won't talk to me?" Richard yelled. He hadn't meant to be so rude to the secretary, but he wasn't making it very easy.

"She's your wife, Senator. Let me just say this. If you can't fix this, I'll do it for you," he said with an ominous tone. "It wouldn't be the first time," he added.

Richard wasn't exactly positive what he meant, but he had a few guesses. "I'll fix it, I promise."

"You'd better." The secretary stood. "We'll meet again tomorrow. I expect more promising news." With that, he left the room.

Once he was gone, Richard turned to the admiral. "Just what does he mean by that?"

The admiral spoke in a hushed voice. "What do you think it means, Richard?"

"So I need to reconcile with Sylvia?"

"You need to do whatever it takes. If she happens to say the wrong thing to the wrong person, all of our careers will be ruined, and you know that."

"I'm not even sure I can get close to her. She's practically attached at the hip to that Captain Remington now, and he watches her like a hawk," Richard replied angrily.

"And you blame him?" the admiral asked. "Richard, I told you a year ago to watch what you do with her. Now, I never intervened more than that, and I blame myself. But I have to admit that even I think you made a huge mistake. Now, you fix this or all our heads will be served on a platter, got it?"

"Yes, sir," Richard muttered through gritted teeth.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin had a busy morning seeing patients. She looked at the clock; it was nearly 11:30. Kristin couldn't believe how fast the morning had gone. But it had kept her mind off of Sylvia for the time being, and she was glad of that. She looked at the patient she'd been examining, a sprained ankle. She finished bandaging it and said, "Okay, Mr. Harrison, you stay off your leg as much as possible and we'll want to see you again in about ten days."

The young soldier gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Doc. Wait'll I tell the guys a lady doctor fixed me up." With that, he limped out of the examining room.

Kristin chuckled softly at his comment but was no longer surprised by it. She was used to it by now. She wrote something down on the chart in her hand and was about to go hand it off to one of the nurses when Katie entered the room.

"Dr. Mayfield, do you have time for one more patient before lunch?"

Kristin thought for a moment. "What is it?"

"Just a routine exam; shouldn't take long."

Kristin gave her a nod. "Very well; should be a piece of cake."

Katie smiled at her comment. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better by the way."

Kristin sighed. She wasn't really feeling better; it was more like she was pretending to feel better, going through the motions so to speak. But she returned her smile nonetheless. "Well, working keeps my mind occupied. And the captain has been a godsend."

Katie reached over and put an arm around her shoulders. "Well, I'm glad you're confiding in someone."

"Sorry," Kristin muttered, suddenly feeling guilty.

"Oh, I didn't mean it that way. I meant…well, I'm glad you have someone period. It's just you know we all care about you…and the general consensus is that if someone were to take care of you, help you…well, we're all glad it's him."

Kristin raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize I was the topic of conversation."

Katie shrugged. "Well, lately, you kind of are." She gave her a small peck on the cheek. "It's only because we care about you. Um, well, I should get back to work. Exam room three, Doctor." She handed her a file, then quickly exited the room.

Kristin sighed; she knew Katie meant well, but she longed for the days when she didn't seem so interesting to talk about. She wondered if she'd ever see them again, but she quickly shook the thought from her mind. She opened the file folder and glanced at the name, Lieutenant Charles Grace. She closed the file and tucked it under her arm and headed to the third exam room.

She knocked on the door, then opened it. The privacy curtain was drawn, but Kristin thought nothing of it. She tried to sound cheery. "Good morning, Lieutenant." She drew the curtain back and stepped inside. However, she barely glanced at the man sitting on the examination table. Instead she began to take out some tools she'd need, her back to turned to him. "I'm Dr. Mayfield, and I'll be performing your exam today."

"Hello, Sylvia."

Kristin suddenly stopped what she was doing, instantly recognizing the voice. She instantly froze as fear shot through her. She accidentally dropped the otoscope in her hand, and it fell to the floor with a clatter. She felt her heartbeat quicken. In fact, it started beating so loudly, she was sure he could hear it too. She heard him get up, come towards her. He touched her shoulder, and she jumped, instinctively backed away.

He held his hands up. "Sshh, don't be scared," Richard told her. "I just want to talk, that's all."

Kristin started for the door, but Richard sensed this. He moved quickly and blocked her way. "Please, just hear me out," he begged.

"Why should I?" She did her best to sound confident, sound angry, but she could hear her voice trembling. She knew he heard it too.

"Look, you have every right to be angry at me. I'm angry at me. I know I made a lot of mistakes…but, Sylvia…divorce? Is that really necessary?" He held the newspaper in front of her. "Have you seen this? Is this the kind of publicity you want?"

She took the paper from him and scanned the story over very quickly. Reggie had warned her about this; she knew it was a possibility. Still, she realized she didn't care, not as much as Richard did anyway. "I suspect this has more to do with you than it does with me," she replied after reading.

"Listen, Sylvia," Richard began.

"No, you listen, Richard," Kristin replied with a new-found confidence. She surprised herself since she wasn't sure where it had come from. "I don't want to stay married to you; I don't want to reconcile. You've mistreated me long enough, and I can't take it anymore. I am in love with the man you used to be, but that man is long gone. And you know it as much as I do. I'm not sure how you got in here, but I suggest you leave before-"

"Before what? Before your captain comes and finds me?" Richard spat, now very angered. "It was his idea, wasn't it?"

"You leave him out of this; he has nothing do with this at all. This marriage is crumbling because of your actions, not because of him," Kristin shouted back.

Richard felt so much anger, he nearly snapped. He raised his hand, ready to strike when he suddenly realized his mission, the reason he needed to speak with her in the first place. It took everything in his power to maintain composure. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But then we need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about."

He suddenly grabbed her wrists and pushed her up against the wall. He hadn't meant to be so forceful. He hadn't intended to lose his anger at all. He told himself he wasn't, but he was always so angry when he was with her. He honestly wasn't sure why. She let out a soft cry as he spoke to her. "You need to listen to me," he told her in a firm but lowered voice. "Just keep your mouth shut for one minute. I need to know what you know."

"A…about what?" Kristin asked as she struggled against him, her voice strained with the pain he was inflicting.

Richard lowered his voice even more. "About my business dealings."

"N-nothing…I swear, I don't know anything," she answered, desperate for him to let her free. "Richard, please…you're hurting me."

Richard wouldn't loosen his grip, however. "You think I can't tell when you're lying?" His attempt to control his anger was futile. He squeezed her even tighter, causing her to let out another cry of pain. "You tell me what you know, or I arrange for your captain to go away. And I can do it too. Don't tempt me."

Kristin was near tears. "I…I…saw…a letter," she stammered through gasps of pain. "Th-that's all. Why?"

"A letter from Knox?" he questioned, loosening his grip slightly.

She nodded, giving him a questioning look.

"Did you tell anyone else?"

Kristin didn't answer.

He tightened his grip and pushed her against the wall. "Did you tell anyone else?" he yelled.

Kristin cried out in pain as her tears finally broke free. She nodded, too afraid to speak.

"Damn it," Richard screamed, no longer being careful about keeping his voice lowered. "How could you be so stupid? Huh? How could you be so stupid?"

Kristin couldn't do anything but sob uncontrollably, no longer attempting to break free. She felt it was futile, and she felt at a loss of what to do next.

Suddenly, the door burst open; someone had heard the commotion, thank goodness. Kristin felt it was like a blur as Joshua, Katie, Nathan, and two burly-looking soldiers rushed in.

Richard was pulled off of her, and she felt strong arms encircle her. She honestly didn't even know who she clung to at first. She simply sobbed into his or her shoulder. It didn't take her long to realize it was Nathan, however.

Nathan whispered soft words of comfort to her in an attempt to get her to stop crying. "You're safe now; you're safe."

Kristin then felt a soft hand on her shoulder. "We don't even know how he got in here." It was Katie's sympathetic voice. "I'm sorry, Doc."

As the soldiers helped apprehend the senator, Joshua said, "Take him to security. I'm sure the admiral will be hearing about this."

"Wait," Richard objected. "Sylvia, please…you can't tell anyone else anything. Do you understand?"

Joshua waved a hand, and the senator was dragged away.

But he could still be heard yelling, "Sylvia, you need to be careful. Just please, keep your mouth shut!"

Chapter 19: And Broke Each Other's Hearts

Nathan waited until the senator's yelling could no longer be heard. He couldn't possibly fathom exactly what he'd meant by, "Keep your mouth shut." He felt Kristin trembling against him, but her tears had quieted. "Are you all right?" he finally asked her.

Kristin pulled away from him and wiped her eyes. "I…I'm fine," she said shakily.

"What in the world did he mean?" Katie said, unable to hold back her curiosity.

Kristin had almost forgotten she and Joshua were still in the room. The last several moments had been a bit of a blur. She hesitated, but then noticed the expectant looks her friends gave her. "Um…"

Nathan could see she has having difficulty. Was it that she was afraid to say or that she really didn't know? He wasn't sure, but he didn't want to push her into anything. "Maybe we could talk about that later?" he suggested.

But Kristin shook her head. "No…it's fine." She took a deep breath. "He had asked me if I had seen anything about his…business dealing," she said quietly, looking down at her hands. "And…I…I told him about the letter from the secretary. He demanded to know if I'd told anyone about it." She looked at Nathan. "I…I had to tell him the truth. It seemed futile to lie."

Nathan put an arm of support around her shoulders. "It's okay," he whispered to her.

"But it's almost as though he was trying to warn me of something. That's what he meant…not to tell anyone anything else." She then turned to Nathan. "You didn't tell anyone else, did you? About the letter?"

"I haven't gotten a chance to," Nathan replied.

"Well, don't," Kristin said gently. "Not until we find out more."

"What letter?" Katie finally asked.

"Oh…I'm sorry. I'd forgotten you didn't know," Kristin answered, instantly regretting the fact she'd said anything at all. "Um…well…"

But Nathan interrupted her, knowing she wasn't quite ready to divulge all the details of Sylvia's life. "We'll be having another staff meeting very soon. I think the doctor would like to wait until then to explain?" He looked at Kristin.

"If that's all right?" she asked Katie.

Katie nodded, giving Kristin an encouraging smile. "Of course." She gave Kristin a quick hug. "Well, I need to get back to work. Um, see you later?"

"Actually," Joshua broke in, "under the circumstances, I think that it's best she take the rest of the day off."

Kristin nodded. "I don't think I'm going to argue."

"Well, I'll see you then," Katie told her. She placed a hand on her shoulder. "I really am sorry." With that, she left the room.

"Why don't you let me look at those wrists?" Joshua said once Katie had gone.

Kristin allowed him to check them over, even though she was sure they were just bruised. They were tender, but not broken. She winced slightly as Joshua touched one of the marks Richard's hand had made.

"Sorry," Joshua muttered. "I'd say they're probably sprained. Do you want me to bandage them?"

She shook her head. "I'll be fine," she insisted for about the millionth time since they'd arrived in this time period.

"Very well. As far as this evening, if you'd like to postpone-" Joshua began.

"No," Kristin protested. "I can't keep putting off not knowing. Perhaps Sylvia can explain about this letter business as well?"

Joshua nodded. "Then I'll see you after work at the captain's apartment." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "And I say this as both your doctor and your friend; get some rest before then, okay?"

"I'll make sure of that," Nathan promised.

Joshua gave them both a nod, then left the room as well.

"Are you really all right?" Nathan asked.

"If I said yes, would you believe me?" Kristin replied. "You know as well as I do that if I keep pondering on all the bad things, I'll go mad. Just take me home, please?"

Nathan put his arms around her, giving her a gentle squeeze. "But I might not be able to stay with you. Would you mind a substitute?"

Kristin sighed. She hadn't thought of that. Of course, he couldn't keep making excuses to stay with her, she knew. "I'm not particularly thrilled, but it will have to do."

Nathan pulled away to look at her. "I could pull some strings. I-"

"No…I can't keep asking you to stay with me."

He nodded and glanced at the clock. It was nearly noon. "Everyone should be breaking for lunch now. We'd better go see who we can find."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin didn't quite like having to ask someone to stay with her. She certainly wasn't a child who needed looking after. But she didn't want to stay alone either. As they went outside, they saw several familiar faces eating lunch together.

Nathan started to approach them, but Kristin lagged behind. She didn't want them to see her; she knew they'd ask questions, and she simply wasn't in the mood.

Nathan turned back to her. "Aren't you coming?"

"You go on ahead…please?"

Nathan didn't push her. He knew she wanted to keep some things to herself for the time being. After this evening's session, he had planned that the whole crew would be informed of whatever was going on. "I'll go see if anyone has the rest of the day off." He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

She gave him a nod and waited patiently, taking a seat on a nearby bench. She watched as Nathan approached the others. She then felt other eyes on her; she turned away, not enjoying being the center of attention.

But a few minutes later, she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up to see Nathan and Ben.

"Good news," Nathan announced. "Mr. Pierce here has the afternoon off."

Kristin looked up to see Ben's sympathetic face. She offered him a weak smile. If anyone but Nathan could stay with her, well, she had to admit Ben was her next choice. Considering he'd been so sweet to her the other day and the fact that they'd become closer in the time they'd been here, she was pleased it was him.

Ben gave her a wink. "We'll have a fun afternoon," he said.

"Um, well, I'll let you get back to your lunch. You'll meet us at my apartment?"

"Sure thing, Cap," Ben said with a salute. "See you soon, Doc."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Once at the apartment, Nathan ushered Kristin to sit on the sofa. "Now how about a sandwich?" Nathan said, heading to the kitchen.

"You don't need to wait on me," she protested. "And I'm not really very hungry."

Nathan just gave her a look. "I want to eat lunch with you... please? Share a sandwich with me?"

She relented. "All right. Can I help you?" She stood and entered the kitchen. "Do you have any tomatoes?"

"In the refrigerator," Nathan answered. "You can slice them."

Kristin took retrieved the tomato and began to wash them in the sink while Nathan sliced some lettuce. "I suppose I should say thank you for being there when I needed you," she said quietly.

"You don't need to say it. I'm just glad I was there. I only wish…" he trailed off. "I don't like having to worry about you."

Kristin began slicing the tomato on a cutting board. "And I don't like you having to worry about me. You have enough things to deal with. I never intended on being an inconvenience."

"I never said you were," Nathan replied, putting down the knife and placing his hands on her shoulders. "I just want to know you're safe when I'm away from you. What happened back there…that wasn't safe. I shudder to think what might have happened if we hadn't been there."

"And you don't think I've thought the same thing?" she said, stifling a sob. "You know I don't like this situation any more than you. I just never imagined any of this. And now…I'm started to feel like a broken woman. I'm not as strong as I used to be." Her voice shook with emotion, but she wouldn't allow her tears to fall…not yet. She felt she'd done enough of that, and crying wasn't helping anything.

"How can you say that?" Nathan was shocked. Kristin was one of the strongest women he knew.

"Have you noticed I can't seem to stop sobbing? Hell, Nathan…I don't even know who I am anymore. I'm not the same person I was a few days ago."

Nathan wrapped his arms around her. "Oh, honey…you're not broken. Lost, perhaps…I'll give you that. I think we're all lost here. I think that we're supposed to be. Think about it. This was a very unsure time for everyone because of the possibility of war. I don't think anyone had the answers, so there's no reason we should either. Sylvia didn't; Jack didn't. No one did." He paused for a moment; he felt her shoulders shaking slightly and he heard soft, sniffling sounds. He knew she was crying. He simply rubbed her back. "Sshh," he soothed. "You're not losing your strength. If anything, I think you're gaining it. I honestly don't know anyone who could deal with what you've been dealing with and continue on the way you have."

"What? Crying every two seconds and being scared all the time?" she muttered through her tears.

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean the fact that you can even function…I think that's a feat in itself. And I think when all is said and done, there will be a reason for this. You told me you believed that…that everything happens for a reason," Nathan pointed out.

She nodded. "I still do…" Her tears had quieted again. "But I can't imagine what the reason for all this might be."

"Well, you pointed out one thing. You're not the same person you were a few days ago. Neither am I. I'm not sure any of us is, but that might be the point. I think we're supposed to evolve…for the better," Nathan told her.

"Perhaps…" Kristin said thoughtfully. She wasn't sure if she could believe it, but it was a lovely thought. "I guess we'll find out soon enough."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Nathan and Kristin had a quick, but quiet lunch. They were both thinking about the upcoming evening, both having hopes and fears of what was to come. And it wasn't long before Ben knocked on the door.

When Nathan let him in, Ben gave a dramatic bow. "Your servant is here, milady." He gave Kristin a grin.

A small smile pulled at the corners of Kristin's mouth. "I'm not royalty, Ben."

He stood. "Well, I was just trying to get you to smile, and it looks like I've succeeded."

"Well, if I could have a few moments to say goodbye to the doctor," Nathan hinted.

Ben went into the other room, getting the hint.

Nathan turned to Kristin. "I think you're in good hands."

"I didn't think I wasn't. You needn't worry about me."

"I'll try not to. I'll see you in a few hours." He kissed her gently on the forehead. "Remember what Joshua said."

She nodded. "I'll be good."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"So how about a game of cards?" Ben asked once Nathan had left.

She gave him a grateful smile. "I know you're trying to distract me, keep me occupied. But I'm afraid I won't be much fun."

Ben shrugged. "That's all right. You want to talk?"

Kristin sighed. "Well, I'm supposed to get some rest; doctor's orders."

Ben motioned towards the sofa. "Lie down then."

"But-"

"Lie down," he said again.

Kristin did so. "But if I fall asleep-"

"Don't worry about it." Ben sat in the armchair. "We'll just talk until you feel sleepy."

Kristin sighed. She didn't feel like talking about any of the events of the morning. Doing so would only make her feel less relaxed. "You want to know what happened?" she guessed, looking over to him from the position she was in.

"I wasn't going to pry." He gave her a soft smile. "I'm guessing you had a run-in with the senator though?" He motioned to her arm.

She glanced at her wrist. "Unfortunately, yes…but I'm all right."

"Sure you are," Ben said with a hint of sarcasm. Then he became serious. "If you don't want to-"

"There doesn't seem much point in talking about anything else," Kristin said dryly.

Ben was quiet for several minutes. Then, he asked, "What about the ring?"

"What?"

"Sylvia's ring. Are you still wearing it?"

Kristin looked at her left hand as if she needed to check. "Of course; why wouldn't I?"

"Doc…you've been married and divorced before, right?"

"Yes…" Kristin answered, not quite getting the hint.

"Did you keep wearing your wedding ring once you knew your marriage had crumbled?" Ben asked gently.

Kristin's brows knitted. "No, I didn't. But then why…"

"Was Sylvia still wearing her ring when we found her?" Ben finished. "That's what I was thinking. Maybe she and Richard reconciled before…well, you know."

Kristin sat up, no longer in the mood to lie down. "I don't think so. But it is strange…" She looked down at her hand again.

"Have you ever thought about taking it off?"

Kristin shook her head. "I…I know it's strange, but since we've found it, it's made me feel like Sylvia is with me somehow. I know it's not as if her soul can be trapped inside an object. But it's the only piece of her I have. Unless she tells me to remove it, I don't plan on it. I suppose that sounds silly…"

"No, it doesn't sound silly," Ben replied. "I understand. But it still doesn't answer why Sylvia herself was wearing the ring when she died."

"I guess that's something we'll find out in due time," Kristin replied.

Chapter 20: Remember When?

Since she didn't feel like lying down anymore, Ben finally talked her into a game of cards; more like several games of cards.

Yet one hour and a half later, Ben called out triumphantly, "Gin!" for about the fifth time. "I think you're slipping, Doc. I've won the last few hands."

Kristin nodded, trying to stifle a yawn. "Yes, well, I'm starting to get a little sleepy," she admitted. "It's hard to stay focused on the game."

Ben started collecting the cards to shuffle them. "Then you should lie down; take a nap. You did say that Dr. Levin ordered you to rest."

She shook her head. "But then you'll be all alone, and it's only two thirty." She yawned again. "You've been so sweet to keep me company; I don't want to be rude."

Ben waved a hand. "Nonsense. Besides, I've been meaning to brush up on my Solitaire skills." He flashed her a grin. "Go take a nap. I'll be here when you wake up."

Kristin opened her mouth to protest, but changed her mind. She stood and placed a kiss to his cheek. "Just a short one, I promise."

"No worries; sweet dreams," he called as he began laying out the cards to play Solitaire.

Kristin went into the bedroom and to lie down, and it wasn't long before she was fast asleep.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin didn't know how long she'd slept when she heard voices. It took her a moment to realize they were the voices of Nathan, Joshua, and Lucas.

"Just tell her I said I'll see her tomorrow," she heard Ben say. "I don't want to wake her."

Kristin forced herself out of bed; she stood in the doorway of the bedroom. "I'm awake," she muttered, trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes. She looked at Ben. "You're not getting out of here so easily." She wrapped her arms around him. "Thanks…for everything," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek.

"It was no trouble at all, Doc. Glad you got some rest. See you tomorrow?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow," she said as she broke the hug.

Ben then said goodbye to the others and left.

Kristin turned to the others. "Sorry for sleeping so late. I must look a fright." She brought her hand to her hair, knowing it was mussed. She tried to smooth it.

"It's no worry," Joshua told her. "Um, if you want a few moments to relax, however, feel free. Lucas and I need to set up anyway."

"Set up?" Kristin asked.

Lucas, who had been standing behind Joshua, held up a very primitive-looking recorder. "The technology of the 1940's," he said jokingly. "It's not the vocoder, but it's pretty high-tech…at least for this time period. Steel wire magnetic; very cool." He was trying to be enthusiastic, but Kristin could tell he was over-exaggerating.

"Let's go over here," Joshua and instructed, and he and Lucas moved by the sofa, talking about the upcoming hypnosis.

"Well, I'm glad you got some rest," Nathan said once they had some privacy. "Ben said you had a relaxing afternoon?"

She nodded. "Much better than the morning," she assured him. "I wasn't even planning on sleeping this late." She looked at the clock. It was after five now.

Nathan waved a hand. "You obviously needed the rest. And don't worry; when we're finished, we can go out for dinner. Or I'll cook for you…whatever you want."

Kristin gave him a gentle smile. She honestly wasn't even thinking of eating, but it was sweet that Nathan was already offering to cook for her. "We'll just play it by ear."

"So, are you ready for this?"

She shrugged. "I honestly haven't had much time to think about it."

Finally, Joshua looked up. "We're ready when you are."

Kristin looked at Nathan, who placed a gentle hand on her arm. "Just remember, we're all here with you."

Kristin gave him a nod and then turned to Joshua. "What if I'm one of those people who can't be hypnotized?" she asked worriedly.

Joshua gave her a reassuring smile. "Would it make you feel better if I told you I've never met one of those people?" Then, he became serious. "Really, it's more of an old wives' tale that certain people cannot be hypnotized. Everyone can. It's just that some people can go into deeper hypnosis than others. But this is nothing you need to worry about. That's my worry. All you need to do is relax. And worrying won't help you there." He motioned her over to him. "Have a seat."

Kristin hesitated for a moment, but did as she was told.

Joshua then knelt before her and held his hands out. "This is going to help you relax. Put your hands in mine."

Again, Kristin did as she was told, but she was feeling rather apprehensive about the whole mess now.

"I can feel how tense you are," Joshua noted.

"I'm sorry; I-"

"Sshh," he said gently. "Close your eyes."

She looked to Nathan, then to Joshua.

"Close your eyes," he said again.

Kristin took a deep breath and did so.

"Now, I want you to think about all your troubles right now. Don't tell me what they are; simply think about them. Try to list them off in your head."

Kristin did so. She started listing them off in her mind as Joshua had said. Number one, this time period. Number two, Richard Mayfield. Number three, the death of Sylvia and not knowing if I will die here. Number four, how the rest of the crew is being affected with all this Sylvia drama. Number five, getting back home.

"Now, I want you to visualize a box. It can be any type you wish," Joshua instructed. "Can you see it?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Good. Now visually take all your worries and pour them all into that box. Let me know when you've done that."

"Okay," Kristin answered a few moments later.

"Excellent," Joshua encouraged. "Now, take that box and seal it up."

"All right."

"Now, visualize that you're passing me that box."

"Okay," Kristin said.

"Now, how do you feel?" Joshua asked.

"Better." And she wasn't lying. She suddenly felt as though a weight had been lifted off of her.

"From now on, you give me all your troubles. I'll take care of them for you. You just relax, got it?"

"Got it," she answered.

"Good…now, I want you to concentrate on your breathing," Joshua continued.

Kristin did all the visualization exercises Joshua suggested. He had her envision that she was walking along the beach in blissful solitude. She had no worries, no cause for concern. And then, she was to lie down on the warm sand, listening to the gently lapping waves. And it wasn't long before everything went dark as she relaxed completely and succumbed to hypnosis.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Is she all right?" Nathan asked with sincere concern. He'd just seen Kristin go completely limp, and he hadn't anticipated how frightening it would look.

"She's perfectly fine," Joshua assured him. "Just very relaxed. I had a hunch, and I was right."

Nathan gave him a questioning look.

"You know how we talked about how she might be more receptive to the spirits? Well, I was also hoping that same quality would carry over to hypnosis, and it did."

Nathan nodded. "Well, that's good." He was trying to be enthusiastic, but he suddenly realized he didn't like this…not one bit. All he could do was sit back and be a witness while Joshua continued; but Nathan was worried, and he wasn't sure why just yet.

Kristin was lying on the sofa, her head back, one arm hanging at her side nearly touching the floor; her other arm lay over her stomach. Nathan could see the gentle rise and fall of her chest, indicating she was breathing. That was a good sign; he still couldn't help but worry. He carefully approached her and moved the arm that was hanging and placed it in what he thought was a more comfortable position, placing it on her side. When he'd touch her wrist, he felt her faint pulse, another good sign. He stayed there for a moment, her hand in his. But he then felt Joshua's hand on his shoulder. He motioned for him to sit in the armchair a few feet away.

When Nathan hesitated, Joshua said, "She's fine; I promise you."

Nathan nodded and cast a sheepish look towards Lucas, who was watching intently. He went and sat back down, doing his best to put all his trust in Joshua. But it was difficult.

Joshua turned back to Kristin. "Can you still hear me?"

"Yes…" Kristin replied, sounding as though she was very sleepy.

"Good…you keep lying on that beach, okay?"

"Hmmm…" Kristin muttered. "The sun is so warm."

"I want you to be quiet now, if you can," Joshua continued. "I want to see if I can talk to your friend, Sylvia, okay?"

"Okay…" Kristin replied.

Joshua waited a few moments. He turned to Lucas to be sure he had the recorder set and had enough wire going through it. Lucas gave him a nod. Then, Joshua turned to Nathan and gave him a wink. Then, he took a deep breath and turned back to Kristin's limp body. "Sylvia, are you there? I was wondering if we could talk to you. Please, this is very important, so-"

"I'm here." Kristin was speaking, as per the usual when they encountered Sylvia. However, for the first time, there was a distinct difference for it was not the throaty, husky voice of Kristin Westphalen. Her voice was altered; it was higher, and it sounded completely different.

"Sylvia?" Joshua said, just to be sure.

"Yes."

"Would you be willing to answer some questions for us?"

"It depends on the questions. I'll do my best."

"Who are you exactly? Yes, we know your name is Sylvia Mayfield, but do you have any sort of…connection to Kristin?"

Sylvia laughed softly. "You could say that. You see, I was her…in a past life."

"So my theory was correct?" Joshua said, knowing it needed no answer. "Um, do you know how you died?"

Nathan scoffed. "You're going into that already?" He wasn't sure what he expected, but he just thought there would be a few more formalities before going into the gritty details of her murder.

Joshua approached him and whispered, "I notice you're suddenly resisting this session."

"No, not at all. I just-"

"Look, I know you're worried about Kristin. And you don't think I am?"

Nathan didn't answer.

"If this is going to work, I need your complete cooperation…and your silence. Please, just trust me," Joshua pleaded gently.

Nathan gave him a nod. "Sorry; I'll be quiet."

"Thanks," Joshua replied, approaching the sofa once again. "Now, Sylvia, do you remember how you died?"

Silence. The woman on the sofa hesitated. "I know I am dead…" she said slowly.

"Okay…good," Joshua commented. "But do you remember how?"

"I…I was murdered."

"Sylvia, can you go back to that day?" Joshua pressed. "In your mind, go back…tell me what you see."

"It's morning. I'm with Jack in his apartment," she began.

"Later in the day," Joshua prompted. "An hour before. What were you doing then? Who were you with? What happened?"

More hesitation. "I…well…"

"Sylvia, please…you know why I am asking you, don't you?"

"Because of Kristin, I know."

"Then you know how important it is that you tell us," Joshua urged. "Now go back to that day…one hour before your death. Tell me everything."

There was a long pause. But finally, Sylvia spoke. "It's late…maybe about eight o'clock. Jack had to go back to the base; the admiral called him for an emergency meeting. It's classified, so Jack can't tell me what it's about. I had to stay behind, of course. Jack gave me a kiss, told me he loved me. He told me he'd be back soon and to get some rest. I did lie down, but then I got a phone call."

"Who called you?"

"Richard…he asked me; no, he begged me to meet him at the vacation home. He promised he'd sign the papers if he could just talk to me. He promised he would be good, that he wouldn't hurt me."

"And you believed him?"

"I know Richard is a very…intense person. But he has his good points, although he hasn't shown me those points for a very long time…" She paused for a moment. "I very much wanted to believe him." She sighed. "I needed those papers signed, and it seemed like a good idea at the time…I've since changed my mind about that, however."

"What happened?"

"I left Jack a note, and I called a cab. I didn't think I'd be gone very long."

"Go on," Joshua urged.

"Richard signed the papers like he had promised. He gave them to me. We had a small chat. He apologized…for everything…and we hugged. We said goodbye. And that was it."

"That was it?"

"Between Richard and I, yes," she confirmed. "Richard offered me a ride back, but I declined. I used his phone and called a cab. Richard actually had to attend a meeting on the base as well…the same one as Jack, I assumed. I told him it was perfectly all right, that I would just wait outside for the cab to arrive."

"And he left?"

"I saw that he hesitated for a moment, almost as if he wasn't sure he should leave me alone. But he couldn't really wait, so, yes, he left."

"So Richard isn't responsible for your death?"

There was another long pause of hesitation. "I…I can't remember."

"But yet, you said Richard left. You saw him leave?"

"I saw him leave in his car, yes," she confirmed. "But after that, things get…hazy."

"Sylvia, you have to try," Joshua urged. "We need to know if Kristin will be safe."

"I am trying," Sylvia promised. "Just give me a moment."

Everyone else in the room waited with baited breath for Sylvia to finally reveal the identity of the murderer. The few moments it took for her to speak once again seemed like an eternity.

"I honestly don't remember," she finally said. "After Richard left…everything went dark. I feel…pain. Just pain." She let out a sob. "I'm sorry; I can't remember."

Nathan finally stood. They'd waited so long for this moment, and he couldn't go on not knowing. "You don't remember?" He couldn't help himself from shouting. "How can you say that? Kristin's life is at stake, and you can't remember?"

Joshua placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "I thought I asked you to please sit over there and be-"

"No," Sylvia interrupted, her voice still full of emotion. "He's right. I'm the one who brought you all here. And I know you all care about Kristin. I care about her too; we share a soul. And when she found me, found my body…well, I decided that it was her destiny to help me. So I created the vortex." She let out another soft sob. "Please, understand…all I wanted was for someone to know how I died…for someone to solve my murder so I could be laid to rest. All I want is to go home. And Kristin...well, I finally found someone who actually seemed to care about me."

"So you haven't crossed over yet?" Joshua cut in.

"No…not properly. I can't go until I'm at peace. And I can't be at peace until I know. I'm stuck in limbo, as they say."

Nathan was getting impatient, however. "But what does this mean for Kristin?"

"I…I honestly don't know. Look, had I done this before, I wouldn't have had a need to bring you all here. There's not exactly an instruction manual on the matter."

"So, you're saying she could still die?" Nathan was frantic. He had assured Kristin this wasn't the case, that she couldn't possibly die here, but Sylvia wasn't contradicting that fact at all. And he didn't like what he was hearing.

"I honestly don't know, and I am so sorry." She started to cry softly.

But Nathan didn't feel much sympathy for her at the moment. "But you promised her she'd be all right…that everything would be fine. Was it a lie?"

"No," she answered through her tears, her voice trembling, "I've done everything I could to protect her so far. And I intend to do so up until the end. I just…can't guarantee what will happen in the end. Like I said, I've never done this before."

Nathan didn't know what came over him, but he moved to the woman on the sofa, pulled her up into a sitting position. "You call letting her be hurt by that monster protecting her? You call what happened this morning protection? You haven't even been around for days. Kristin's been walking blind. We all have. And now this? You can't just let us go into this blindly! What about Kristin? I can't lose her. I just can't!" He didn't realize he was shaking her as he yelled.

Joshua immediately started to intervene. "Don't listen to him. Don't engage. Sylvia, listen to my voice only, please."

But Sylvia said, "It's all right. He has every right to be angry."

Nathan released her, suddenly realizing how forceful he'd been. He didn't quite expect Sylvia to speak to him.

But Sylvia continued, "If you'll give me a chance, I can explain. All of our past lives… In the year 1620, I was Rebecca Goode; burned for being a witch; age twenty-four. In the year 1718, I was Mary Kensington; prostitute. I died of tuberculosis; age thirty. In 1833, I was Lillian Hellman. I drowned at age eight. And in 1896, I was Amelia Markham. I died in childbirth at age 36. In short, every one of us has died early. The choices we made led to our demise. But Kristin has the chance to change that."

"So, we are supposed to prevent your murder?" Nathan said, now a bit calmer.

"No…nothing can be changed. I am supposed to die. The choices I made are already set in stone, and they can't be altered. But for Kristin, there is a loophole-the fact this isn't her current life. I cannot guarantee anything, but I'm hoping I can intervene at the right moment. If I can create a new geomagnetic storm, I can send you back just before my death. And everything would be fine as promised."

Nathan was silent for a moment. It seemed like a long-shot. "And if you can't do that?"

A long moment of silence. "I am sorry," was all Sylvia could say before bursting into sobs once again.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Joshua continued the session, but it Sylvia couldn't really shed much light on her murder. She seemed to know as much as they did. He was about to end the session and bring Kristin back to reality when Nathan stopped him.

"Could I have a quick word, please? Off the record?"

Joshua gave him a nod. He turned back to Sylvia. "You just rest for now, okay?"

"Okay."

Then, Joshua followed Nathan into the bedroom.

"I wanted to apologize for what happened back there. I shouldn't have intervened like that, and I feel guilty," Nathan said.

"Don't worry about it. I know it was just because you wanted answers, and Sylvia didn't seem to mind. I'm not angry," Joshua assured him.

"Yes…well, I still feel bad."

"How are we going to tell her?" Joshua asked after a moment.

"I don't know…but I think for now, what happened here stays here. I'll speak with Lucas as well…" He paused for a moment. "I think perhaps I should be the one to break it to her…"

Joshua nodded. "I think you're right. She responds better to you."

After they'd explained to Lucas that he needed to stay tight-lipped on the matter, Joshua then told Sylvia to rest. Then, he said, "Kristin, are you still there?"

"Yes…" she replied quietly. "Still on the beach."

"Good. I want you to listen to the sound of my voice and I want you to follow it. You're waking up now. You feel refreshed and renewed. Get up off that beach and come back to us now. You're in Nathan's apartment. You're with your friends. You can open your eyes in three…two…one…now," Joshua told her.

Kristin's eyes fluttered open. For some reason, she felt very much awake and alive…refreshed even. She sat up and turned to the others, who were all staring at her intently. "How did it go?" she asked.

"Oh, it went very well," Joshua assured her. "You did wonderfully."

Kristin smiled. "So it worked? You spoke with Sylvia?"

"Yeah, we did."

"Well…don't keep me waiting. What did she say?" Kristin asked excitedly. But she couldn't help but notice the others' hesitation.

Nathan sat next to her and put his arm around her. "The news isn't as good as we'd hoped."

Chapter 21: I Can Understand

Kristin literally felt like her world was falling apart. She had put so much hope into the hypnosis session that she believed it was the key to all of their problems. For some reason, she had believed it would be like a miracle. She realized now how naïve that was of her. She was listening to Nathan tell her that Sylvia couldn't tell them much, his voice a distant echo since she was having trouble focusing. She suddenly felt dizzy.

Finally, she heard Nathan ask, "Kristin…are you all right?"

She turned to him. He was giving her an expectant look, as were the others. They also looked very sympathetic.

"Kristin?" Nathan said again.

She finally opened her mouth to speak. Indeed, she was certainly not all right, and she wasn't going to pretend as if she was. She spoke quietly and deliberately, "It's a bit of a shock…"

She felt Nathan hug her a little tighter. "I know, but we'll get through this."

Joshua reached over and took her hand. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

Even Lucas tried to comfort her. He sat on the opposite side of her. "Doc, it's going to be okay, I'm sure of it."

Kristin could tell when she was being patronized. She knew they were only trying to help, but she felt a sudden flash of anger. She stood, freeing herself of their comforting hands. "I think I need some space. Excuse me." She headed into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, not being careful about it. The door shut hard, but she didn't care. She then locked it. She didn't feel like seeing anyone.

She then heard questions coming from Lucas, Nathan's apologetic and worried response, and Joshua trying to offer reassurance.

"She's just in shock. She'll come around," Joshua said.

"I know, I know," Nathan replied, sounding frustrated and worried at the same time.

"Well, I guess we'd better be going."

"Remember, not word of this to anyone," Nathan reminded.

She heard affirmative responses.

"Goodnight, kiddo."

"'Night. Tell the doc I love her."

"I will," Nathan promised.

Then, she heard Nathan bid them adieu and close the apartment door. And then, she knew what was going to come next. She heard him approach the bathroom. He knocked gently. "Kristin?"

"I'm fine…just go away! I want to be alone!" She hadn't meant to be so rude, but she was hurt, confused, and angry. Really, she was feeling about a thousand different emotions at once. She felt fresh tears threaten to fall, but she held them back.

She heard him try the doorknob, noticed it jiggle slightly.

"Kristin, please…open the door!" Nathan's voice was desperate. He wasn't angry, just concerned.

"Just go…go away…please." She tried to stifle her sobs, but couldn't hold them back. She leaned against the wall and finally allowed the tears to fall. She heard Nathan mutter something she couldn't understand and heard his footfalls walking away from the door. She slid to the floor and sobbed uncontrollably, feeling absolutely hopeless.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin didn't know how long she'd been sobbing when she heard a familiar voice.

Kristin?

"Sylvia?" Kristin asked through her tears.

Yes…please…please, don't cry.

"I…I'm not sure what else to do. I feel so…lost." Another small sob escaped her throat.

I know, honey, I know; that's my fault, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for ignoring you as well. I was trying to decide how to rectify this. I honestly haven't figured that out. I wish I could do something more, but right now, you have to trust me.

"Trust?" Kristin said bitterly. "I did trust you, and look where it's gotten me."

Kristin heard a frustrated sigh.

You're absolutely correct. I've gotten you into a lot of trouble. You have every right to be angry.

"I'm glad you approve."

But don't take it out on Nathan.

"What?"

If you're going to be angry at someone, be angry at me. But none of this is Nathan's fault. He didn't do anything to deserve the way you treated him.

"I just…" Kristin started. "I didn't mean…"

I know. Believe me, I know exactly how you're feeling. But there is still hope. Did Nathan explain to you about my plan to create another storm?

She shook her head. "If he did, I wasn't really listening."

On the night of the sixth, you and Nathan will be separated. But you won't be alone. I promise you, I won't leave you. At the right moment, I'll create another storm, which should, hopefully, create another vortex. If I do everything correctly, we should be able to separate. And you'll be able to go back home, safe and sound.

Kristin was silent for a moment as she thought about what Sylvia had said. Her tears had finally quieted. She took some toilet paper and dabbed at her eyes. "But what happens if-"

No buts. I  will  do it. I'm  not  going to let you die.

"And Nathan? Lucas? The others?"

Will be fine, Sylvia finished. Dry those eyes, okay? You have no reason to cry. You're going to have a long life, I know it.

"Really?"

Yes,  really . Now, chin up. Open that door and go to Nathan. Tell him you're sorry. You can't afford to do this alone. You need his support. You don't want to push him away now.

Kristin nodded and blew her nose. "Okay."

Just try not to worry, okay? I'll take care of everything.

"I'll try," Kristin promised. But she then had an afterthought. "What if I-"

Try not to worry, Sylvia repeated. Now go.

Kristin stood and smoothed out her skirt. She then walked to the sink and splashed some cool water on her face. After dabbing it dry with a towel, she looked in the mirror. Deciding she looked presentable, she walked to the door, her hand hovering above the knob. She hesitated for a moment and took a deep breath. Then, she opened it.

Part of her expected to see Nathan standing there, waiting for her. But he wasn't there. She stepped out into the hallway, looking in the direction of the living room. She couldn't see him from her vantage point, so she took a few more steps. She saw him, sitting by the window, looking rather pensive. He didn't turn to her, so she guessed he hadn't known she came out. She walked closer to him.

"Hi…" she said quietly, feeling rather awkward.

He turned to her; the look on his face was one of surprise. He just stared at her for a few minutes as if trying to determine what was going through her mind. "Hi," he finally answered. He walked to where she was standing.

Kristin took a deep breath. Apologies had never been very easy for her. "Nathan, I…I'm sorry. I was never angry with you. I just-"

Nathan then wrapped his arms around her. "I know; you don't need to apologize. I'm just glad you finally came out of the bathroom. And I'm glad you're not crying anymore; it wasn't easy to listen to you and not be able to comfort you."

She snuggled into him. "Sorry…I'm feeling a little better now."

"That's good," Nathan said, pulling away to look at her. He put his hands on her shoulders. "You're not just saying that?"

She shook her head. "Sylvia came by to talk to me. She explained a few things. I can't say I'm completely confident on the matter, but I'm not feeling as hopeless as I was."

Nathan placed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm glad to hear that." He ushered her to the sofa to sit. "Are you hungry? I made some chicken and sauce over rice," he told her.

She nodded. "A little."

"Then let me get you some," he offered.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"That was delicious," Kristin said after finishing her last bite. "Thank you."

"Well, it was just something I whipped up," Nathan said with a shrug. "It wasn't anything fancy."

"It certainly tasted much better than the food in the mess hall. I never knew you were such a good cook."

Nathan smiled. "Carol was always upset with the fact I was a better cook than she was."

"Well, that makes two of us."

Nathan gave her a look.

"I'm a terrible cook," she admitted finally. "Oh, I can make simple things, but give me a recipe, and I always mess it up."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You don't see it as a chemistry experiment?" he teased gently.

"No, that would be easy," she said with a laugh.

"Tell you what; sometime soon, I'll give you a personal cooking lesson. That is, if you want one."

"Sounds wonderful," Kristin gushed.

Nathan stood and took her dirty dishes to the kitchen. "I'm just going to do up the dishes here," he called. "Keep talking."

Kristin followed his lead. "How about you wash, and I'll dry?"

"Deal," Nathan agreed.

So the two washed the dishes and chatted quietly as they worked. They were nearly finished when there was a knock at the door. Nathan and Kristin both exchanged a questioning glance.

"Perhaps I should excuse myself for the moment," Kristin said, quietly heading into the bedroom. If it were one of the seaQuest crew, she wouldn't stay there. But she didn't know if it was someone from the brass…or even Richard.

Nathan waited until she had closed the door behind her, then dried his hands on a towel. He then answered the door.

"Good evening, Captain," greeted Admiral Beatty. Standing beside him was a short but burly-looking man.

Nathan recognized him from photos he'd seen. "Admiral, Secretary Knox, come in."

Once they'd entered, Nathan held out a hand in greeting to both of them. Then he motioned to the sofa and chairs in the living room. Nathan took a seat and the two men sat across from him. "Secretary, sir, what an honor it is to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Captain," the secretary replied. "I suppose you're wondering what this impromptu visit is all about."

"A little, yes." Nathan looked from one man to the other, trying to read the expressions on their faces.

"Well, Jack, word is you were present when the senator had his...unfortunate outburst earlier today," the admiral explained.

Nathan nodded. "Um, yes…"

"And please know we'd like to apologize for that personally," the secretary added. "We know you and Mrs. Mayfield are rather close."

"Oh…" Nathan replied, suddenly worried if he was going to be involved in this divorce scandal.

"How is she?"

Nathan hesitated. "She was a little shaken up, but she's fine now."

"Is she here?" the admiral asked.

Nathan looked to the bedroom door. He was sure Kristin was listening, but he hoped she would decide not to come out. He still wasn't sure what this little meeting was all about, and he didn't want her under any more stress than she already was. After a few moments, he realized she was staying where she was. "She's sleeping."

"Oh, please don't think we're concerned about whatever is going on between you two," the secretary continued. "Really, it's the senator's fault for what happened."

"Okay…" Nathan replied, still quite unsure about the intentions of the two men before him.

"We would like to know, however, if Mrs. Mayfield may have ever…mentioned anything to you."

"Sir, I'm not quite sure what you're getting at…"

"Jack, you know the senator is highly involved with the navy," the admiral began.

"Yes…"

"Which is why he's been so generous to fund the Nautilus…and so many other naval ships. But you do realize how he gets that funding, don't you?"

"I'm not…I suppose I haven't thought about it…" Nathan said after a moment.

"In short, Captain, the senator might be involved in some not-so-kosher business dealings. Now, for us, we'd rather look the other way because, let's face it, we need his money right now. This is a dire time our country is in, and we can't afford not to have funding like this," the secretary stated. "But surely, he must have told his wife something."

Nathan suddenly understood. "I really wouldn't know…"

"Oh, come now, Captain," the secretary countered. "We want to know what she knows."

"I really don't know," Nathan said again.

"We know you two are as thick as thieves."

Nathan didn't like the sinister turn this meeting was taking. "Why don't you talk to the senator about this?"

"We did, and I'm afraid we were the cause of his outburst. We wanted him to be sure she just kept mum on anything that she might know," the admiral said.

"I really don't think-"

"You need to understand, Jack…the fact that she might know something could be very crucial to our cause. Even her mentioning something in passing might mean the destruction of everything we've worked to build."

"And that in turn could potentially leave us defenseless for any sort of attack," the secretary finished.

Nathan thought for a moment, trying to think of how to respond to all this. "I really don't think Mrs. Mayfield knows anything, and even if she does, I think her intention is to simply get a divorce and start a new life. She wants nothing to do with the senator or his money. And I highly doubt she cares about his business dealings and whether they're kosher or not. I assure you, she doesn't know anything."

"How can you be so sure?" The secretary raised a challenging brow.

"I just know, sir. I simply ask that you trust me."

The secretary and the admiral both contemplated on the matter for a few minutes.

Finally, the secretary spoke once again, "Very well, Captain. I suppose I have no choice in the matter but to do so. Let me just say this; you'd better not prove me wrong."

Both men then stood. "Goodnight, Jack," the admiral said with a nod.

"Goodnight, Captain," the secretary echoed. With that, they both left, closing the door behind them.

Nathan stood to look out the window, wanting to be sure they were leaving since there was something unsettling about the conversation. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump. He turned to see Kristin.

"Sorry," she muttered, her voice a low whisper as if someone might be eavesdropping. "I heard everything." She looked out the window as well. The two men were standing in front of the apartment building talking, their backs turned to them.

"I'm glad you stayed put. I didn't quite like that."

"I think that's what Richard was trying to tell me," Kristin finally said. "I told you I thought he was trying to warn me."

"Well, he had a funny way of showing it," Nathan commented dryly.

"I…I know…but I think I'd rather be in a room alone with him rather than those two," Kristin replied. "You don't think they're the ones who…"

"I really don't know, but maybe we shouldn't dwell on that." Nathan stepped away from the window. "Remember, positive thoughts?" He headed towards the kitchen to finish the dishes.

Kristin stood at the window. She saw the admiral start walking away, but the secretary lingered. He suddenly turned and looked directly at Kristin.

She stood frozen for a moment, unsure of what to do. Could he see her?

After a moment, the secretary gave her a wink, then turned to catch up with the admiral.

Kristin took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her pounding heart. She then turned away from the window and took her place beside Nathan. "Yes, positive thoughts indeed."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

After the dishes, Nathan asked, "What would you like to do now?"

She shrugged. She felt it was best to keep her little encounter with the secretary to herself for the moment. "Maybe a game of cards?" she said weakly.

Nathan gave her a look. He could tell that's not what she really wanted to do. "Listen, if you're tired, don't feel like you need to stay up to appease me. I'll be fine."

"Well…" she said thoughtfully. "There is one thing I'd like…"

"What's that?"

"It's silly," Kristin said with a wave of her hand.

"Oh, come on," Nathan pressed. "Go ahead."

She sighed. "Well, I'd really like to take a bubble bath. Do you know how long it's been? Well, actually, you do. We don't have that luxury on seaQuest."

Nathan smiled. "Then you go right ahead. Enjoy yourself."

"You're sure?"

"Positive. I'll just read a book or something."

She gave him a quick hug and headed into the bathroom.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

One hour later, Kristin emerged from the bathroom, feeling more relaxed. She'd forgotten about the drama of the day, and she was suddenly feeling very sleepy. She yawned.

Nathan appeared in the hallway, a cup and saucer in his hand. "Feeling better?"

"Much, thank you," she replied.

"I made you a cup of tea," he told her. "I see someone's feeling tired."

"A little," she admitted.

"Come on, we'll drink it in the bedroom."

Kristin followed him and the two sat on the bed, sipping the tea.

"This is lovely," Kristin said after a moment. "I really am happy you're here with me."

"Me, too," Nathan agreed. He put an arm around her and placed a kiss to her cheek. "Everything's going to be fine, you know. You don't need to worry."

She nodded and snuggled into him. For once, she was starting to believe that, even despite the meeting with the admiral and secretary. She felt her eyes start to close, and it wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 22: How When The Edges Are Rough

December 4, 1941

Kristin awoke with a scream. Nathan immediately responded, wrapping his arms around her and trying to calm her down.

"It was just a dream," he soothed softly.

She nodded and clung to him. She hadn't planned on this: the dreams. She'd been fine before she'd fallen asleep. Even with everything going on, she was feeling okay with it all…or so she thought. Apparently, her subconscious thought differently, but she wasn't going to let it ruin her, not at the moment. It was still very early morning; it wasn't even light out. "S-sorry," she muttered softly, her voice trembling. "I-I'm fine."

Nathan could feel her shaking in his arms. He adjusted his position; he was lying on his back while Kristin lay across his chest. He rubbed her back in an effort to calm her. "You don't need to apologize," he told her. "But if you want to talk…"

She shook her head. "I'm fine," she said again. As if her previous nightmares weren't bad enough, this time she'd dreamt about Frank Knox. In the dream, he'd done unspeakable things to her before forcing her into that chest. It was just a dream, she thought to herself, just a dream. She took a few deep breaths in an effort to try to forget.

Nathan nodded. He figured as much. He yawned and said, "Just try to go back to sleep then. I'll be right here. I won't let anything happen to you." He held her closer to emphasize his point.

Kristin whispered a, "Thank you," and tried to think about anything else but Frank Knox, Sylvia Mayfield, and her murder. She tried to think of other things. First, she thought of her reef classifications. That had helped calm her once before. She tried doing the little game that she and Nathan had done a few nights before in her head. The only problem was that thinking about the reef classifications reminded her of the chest. And the chest reminded her of…

Bad idea, she thought. Think of something else. She sighed in frustration. What about…Darwin? She hadn't thought about him for a while. When Lucas had found him after they ended up in this time period, she remembered how happy she was. Darwin was sort of the unofficial mascot of the seaQuest, and a friend to each and every member of the crew. Kristin had always been a dog person, but that wasn't exactly an option, living on a submarine. She was delighted when Darwin was brought aboard. Of course, it was simply a tactic from Admiral Noyce in order to get Nathan to captain the seaQuest, seeing as how Darwin was his...well, more like they had adopted one another.

But Kristin quickly fell in love with the dolphin as well. Not only was he a phenomenal source of her research, he was also a friend. Hmmm…perhaps I should go for a walk later today and try to find him? Of course, Nathan would probably accompany her. Frankly, she didn't want to be alone, especially now. She snuggled into Nathan, listening to the gentle thump of his heartbeat. He had long since gone back to sleep, and she did her best not to wake him. At least she wasn't shaking anymore, but she still didn't feel tired. She pushed herself up on her elbows and glanced at the bedside clock. It was just a little after four in the morning. She lay back down and tried to think of something else to occupy her mind until it was time to get up.

But everything she thought of brought her back to everything she didn't want to think about. She tossed and turned a bit, but nothing seemed to help. She glanced at the clock once again and saw that only fifteen minutes had passed. She groaned softly in frustration. She simply couldn't stand it any longer. She had to get up and do something else; anything to get her mind off of things. Perhaps a cup of tea would help? She nodded to herself. It certainly couldn't hurt. She looked to her left; Nathan was sound asleep. She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek and quietly got out of bed. She carefully shut the door so as not to disturb him and padded out to the kitchen.

She turned on the small light located above the stove. It was dim enough so it shouldn't wake Nathan, but it was just enough light in the early hours of the morning. She had to search through the cabinets to find where Nathan kept the tea, but it wasn't long before she found it. She took out a pot and heated some water on the stove. A short time later, her tea was steeping. She took that time to clean up the stove and wipe down the counters. No, she hadn't really made much of a mess. However, the small tasks of making tea and cleaning helped keep her mind occupied, which is what she needed.

After she decided that everything looked clean enough, she put a bit of milk and sugar in her tea and turned off the light. The sun wasn't rising just yet, but it was starting to get light out. She picked up the cup and moved to the sofa, but she saw something out of the corner of her eye when she walked by the window. It was a flickering; she thought perhaps it was just a passing car, but the light wasn't great enough for headlights.

She took a sip of her tea and moved closer to the window. The street lamp outside still shone brightly, placing a large path of light in its wake. Then she noticed the flickering. It was in the dark, just out of the reach of the street lamp. A small orange light. Light, dark; light, dark. It took her a few minutes to realize it was someone opening and closing a lighter. The light was the flame from the lighter. But who in the world would be out so early? she wondered.

She noticed that whoever was holding the lighter was coming closer; whoever it was was out for a stroll. She could hear the metallic click of the lighter opening and closing, even through the closed window. Click, flick, light. Click, flick, light. She took another sip of her tea and watched with intrigue at the dark figure. As he came closer to the street lamp, she could see the person was definitely male, judging from the way he was dressed; dark pants, a white shirt, and a jacket flung over his shoulder. He was also wearing a fedora. She could also see a cigar sticking out of his mouth, the end turning orange as he smoked it. His face, however, was hidden in the shadows by the brim of his hat.

She was about to turn away and go sit on the sofa when he suddenly looked at her. He seemed to know she was standing there, seemed to know she'd been watching. She instantly froze, and her mouth opened in shock. It was Frank Knox.

He looked at her and gave her a smile, only his smile was cold, evil. There was nothing happy about that smile.

She felt her heart start to race. She shook her head as if trying to shake the image from her mind. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them again, hoping he'd go away.

No, he was still standing there under the street lamp, flicking that lighter. Click, flick, light. Click, flick, light. It was almost as though he knew it was taunting her, and he was enjoying every minute of it.

Kristin couldn't believe it. How in the world could he have known she'd be awake at this hour, that she'd be looking out the window? She shook her head again. It couldn't be Knox, she told herself. It had to be some look alike, just someone out at this odd hour whom happened to look like Frank Knox. Everyone has a twin. Sylvia was hers, so Frank Knox could easily have one himself. Yes, it seemed plausible. She tried desperately to convince herself of this logic.

However, the figure outside seemed to know she was mulling such things over in her mind. And as if to confirm her suspicions, he gave her a wink, just as he'd done the night before.

"Oh!" Kristin cried, certainly not expecting that. Her hand went weak, no longer able to hold her cup, and it fell to the floor, breaking on impact and splashing tea all over the carpet. At that moment, she felt hands go around her shoulders. She struggled for a moment.

"Kristin, it's me," Nathan said, trying to calm her down.

She clung to him, crying softly, no longer able to pretend that everything was fine anymore. "The window," she said through her tears, pointing.

Nathan looked, but didn't see anyone. "There's no one there," he told her.

This resulted in a few soft sobs from her.

"Hey, shh," Nathan soothed as he held her. "It's okay. I'm here."

It only took her a few minutes to quiet.

"Why did you shout? What happened?" Nathan finally asked, pulling away to look at her, his eyes searching hers for the answers. He led her to the sofa, and they sat.

She wiped the stray tears off her cheeks with her hand. "I couldn't sleep," she replied. "I tried, but I couldn't keep my mind off certain things. And I didn't want to wake you, so I came out here to make some tea. I thought I'd drink it by the window, and then I saw someone…"

"And that someone scared you?" Nathan inferred.

She nodded, averting her gaze. "I…I'm sorry about the cup. I'll clean it up."

Nathan waved a hand. "I don't give a damn about that." He put a hand on her chin and gave it a slight push so she'd look at him again. "I have a feeling there's something else, though."

She simply nodded, knowing she couldn't continue to keep him in the dark. "It's just that…last night, when we were talking, I saw Frank Knox look at me through the window. He was standing under the street lamp, and he looked right at me. I thought at first that he was looking past me, perhaps not directly at me. But then, he gave me a wink as if he knew it. I…I tried to just brush it off. It's probably nothing."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nathan asked after he'd let what she'd said sink in.

"I didn't want to worry you…and I didn't want to scare myself. You know how eager they were to speak with me. I just…" Her voice trailed off. She paused for a moment and let out a sigh. "It didn't really help me…not trying to scare myself, that is because that's what I dreamt about. And just now, I swear I saw Frank Knox staring at me through the window. I…I know it sounds crazy, but-"

Nathan put his arms around her. "No, it's not crazy, not at all. I believe you. I just wish you'd have told me sooner."

"It wouldn't have changed anything, though," she pointed out. "Like Sylvia said, nothing can be changed. If Frank Knox is the one who-"

But Nathan interrupted, "Please, don't. Let's not think about that, okay?"

She nodded and felt him hug her tighter. She didn't need to be asked twice. She wished she wasn't thinking about Frank Knox at all.

"Maybe you should stay here today?" Nathan suggested. "I'm sure Joshua could handle it."

She shook her head. "I can't keep hiding from it. We still don't know for sure who the murderer is. And even so, it doesn't matter. Hiding me here isn't going to change anything, and you know that. Besides, I can't handle being alone."

"You wouldn't be alone."

She gave him a small smile. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you can't afford to keep jeopardizing your career; well, rather Jack's career. It doesn't matter what we do; we're simply delaying the inevitable."

Nathan sighed. He knew she was right, despite his reservations. "Fine, but I don't like it."

"And you think I do? All we can do is hope that Sylvia knows what she's doing. As for Frank Knox, I suppose it is possible I might have imagined what I saw…but it seemed so real…"

Nathan gave her hand a tight squeeze. "Well, there's no one there now. And how is it he'd have known you'd be awake at this hour?"

She shrugged. "That's the same thing I asked myself." She waved a hand. "I probably did imagine it. I'm just letting my imagination run away with me is all."

"Possibly," Nathan agreed, "but we'll take the same precautions as usual. I'll walk you to the clinic, pick you up for lunch and after work. I don't want to take any chances."

She nodded. "Agreed. Um…what about that staff meeting we promised?" she asked after a pause.

"That all depends on you. Are you up for it?"

She thought for a moment. "I don't think we can really afford not to let the others in on what's going on. I'd rather not give them the news myself, however. I was hoping you'd be able to do that."

"I'll do what I can," he told her. He placed a kiss to her cheek. "I'm sure they'll all appreciate knowing."

She nodded in agreement.

"Why don't you let me make you breakfast, and we can forget this whole mess?" Nathan finally asked her.

"What about the carpet?"

"We'll take care of it later."

 

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

After breakfast had been eaten, and the mess had been cleaned, they both got ready for the day. They then got into Nathan's car and headed to the base.

As per the usual, Nathan walked her to the clinic. On the way in, they'd been greeted by several crew members. Nathan took that as an opportunity to explain about the staff meeting and told them to spread the word.

Once they'd reached her office, Kristin was grateful since that meant she'd hopefully have a busy day to keep her mind occupied.

"Just remember what I said," Nathan told her.

She nodded. "I'll be good, I promise."

"It's not you I'm worried about exactly."

She gave him a smile. "I know." She gave his hand a squeeze. "The others watch me like a hawk. Everything's going to be fine."

He nodded. "See you at lunch."

"Definitely."

Nathan held her hand for a few moments longer than was necessary, then parted ways. He watched her as she entered her office and headed towards his own, silently counting the minutes until he'd see her again.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

She was in her office for less than five minutes when she received a knock on her door. It was Joshua.

"I just wanted to be sure you were feeling all right," he said, "after last night…"

She gave him a small smile. The hypnosis was the least of her worries at the moment, but she wasn't going to tell him that. "I'm fine. Sylvia and I had a chat."

"Good to know." He held a stack of files in his hand. "We have a busy day ahead of us, so I wanted to be sure you were up for it."

"Definitely." That was just what she needed; anything to get her mind off of Frank Knox.

 

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

By mid-morning, however, there was a lull. Kristin had one hour before lunch. Part of her debated taking that little walk down to the beach…just for a little while; she knew Joshua wouldn't mind. That was the only advantage to this situation, although she didn't have the heart to enjoy it-the fact no one would refuse her anything. However, she decided against the walk, knowing that her going off by herself would upset Nathan if he knew, even if nothing happened.

She sighed and opened up the files on her desk. She cracked her knuckles as started to enter certain vital information that was necessary. She worked for a few minutes when there was a knock at her door.

"Come in," she called pleasantly.

"Doctor Mayfield?" a young woman asked upon opening the door.

"Yes?" Kristin knew she knew this woman from somewhere. She tried to think where she'd seen her, but couldn't place her.

"I'm Mildred; Admiral Beatty's secretary. Um, the admiral was wondering if you had a few moments."

Kristin's heart sank. "I do, actually. But why would a military admiral want to see me?"

Mildred shrugged. "I'm sorry, but he didn't say. It won't take long, he told me to tell you."

"Very well. Uh, just let me tell Doctor Lawrence."

Ten minutes later, Kristin was in the office of the admiral. Mildred had told her to take a seat and told her the admiral would be in shortly.

Kristin wrung her hands together in worry, however. If it was just the admiral, well, he seemed harmless enough. But she had the sinking feeling he wouldn't be alone.

A minute later, the admiral entered along with Secretary Knox. Kristin held her breath.

The admiral must have sensed her worry. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hello, Doctor. We're so glad you could make it on such short notice."

She gave them both a cordial nod and tried to force a smile.

"There's no need to be nervous," the admiral continued. "We just wanted to speak with you about yesterday."

"Yesterday?" Her voice was hoarse and weak. She cleared her throat and asked again, "Yesterday?"

"We do hope you know how sorry we are about Richard's behavior," the secretary cut in. "Please know we don't condone that."

She nodded slightly. "Well, um…no harm done. Richard is the way he is, and I don't see him changing, unfortunately."

"Perhaps you're right. We just want you to know we think you're doing the right thing," the admiral told her. "About the divorce."

"Oh, if you're worried about me trying to get money from him, there's no need. I want nothing from him," Kristin replied, assuming that this meeting might concern Richard's assets, which the US Navy desperately needed at this time. "Whatever money he's offered you is yours. I don't plan on taking that away."

"We appreciate that, Doctor, but that's not our concern," the secretary said. "We are, however, concerned about what Richard may have told you."

"Told me? I'm sorry, but you'll need to be more specific than that."

Secretary Knox exchanged an annoyed glance with the admiral. "Surely, you know secrets about Richard's investments, don't you?"

"Oh…" she breathed, suddenly realizing the point of this meeting. "Actually, Richard and I never spoke about our finances in depth. You realize that's not exactly a subject that women are privy to in this day and age."

Knox raised an eyebrow. "Sylvia…may I call you Sylvia?"

She gave him a nod.

"Sylvia, I happen to know you're a smart woman. This may be the 1940's, but you know more than you let on. You're a doctor, and for good reason. Therefore, even if your husband didn't speak to you directly, surely you must have observed…possibly even overheard something, but kept it to yourself, hm?"

She swallowed hard, but tried not to let Knox see her sweat, so to speak. In her most confident voice, she replied, "I really have no idea what you're getting at. I don't know anything."

Knox eyed her suspiciously for a moment. Then he looked at her left hand, noticing her ring. He reached over and took her hand in his. "That's a lovely ring you have there. Tell me, why are you still wearing it?"

"I…I just haven't taken it off yet," she stammered, pulling her hand away. She didn't like him touching her. "It…just takes some getting used to," she quickly recovered.

"Of course," Knox said sympathetically. "You should pawn it. At least you'd get something out of it then."

She nodded. She finally pulled the ring off and stuffed it in her pocket.

"Good girl," Knox said.

There was an awkward pause. Kristin noticed Knox giving her a strange smile, the same smile she'd seen the night before and this morning. She averted her gaze.

"Well, Admiral, I have nothing else to discuss. Do you?" Knox said.

"Not at all." The admiral gave her shoulder another squeeze. "We do wish you luck with everything."

She gave them each a nod.

"Thank you for your time, Doctor," Knox said as she left.

After she was gone, the secretary looked at the admiral. "She's lying."

Chapter 23: And They Cut You

Kristin lingered in the corridor just outside the admiral's office for a moment, trying to calm her pounding heart. She leaned up against the wall and took a few deep breaths. She then glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that it was nearly noon. She quickly forced her nerves into submission, knowing she had to meet with Nathan. With the upcoming meeting with the rest of the crew, she felt it best to maintain her composure for the time being. She would have to deal with this situation with Knox later.

She walked across the base, in search of Nathan. As she neared the clinic, she saw him in the parking lot. She ran to catch up with him, calling his name.

He turned to her. "What are you doing out here?" he asked, sounding cheerful.

"It's a long story," she replied, wrapping her arms around him. She just needed some comfort since she was still feeling frightened about her recent meeting.

Nathan returned the embrace, but suddenly became concerned. "You're trembling," he noted. "What's wrong?"

"I just-"

"Good afternoon, Captain."

Kristin and Nathan both turned.

Kristin felt her knees go weak and held tightly onto Nathan's arm to steady herself. She wasn't sure if Frank Knox was following her, but she didn't like the fact he suddenly showed up…seemingly out of nowhere.

Nathan noticed Kristin's apprehension but simply chalked it up to the fact that Knox had been looking for her last night, and that fact had made her slightly uncomfortable. Hell, he wasn't comfortable with it either. He placed a reassuring hand at the small of her back and gave the secretary a nod. "Hello, sir."

"I trust everything is going well?" Knox asked.

"Of course," Nathan replied, stealing a glance at Kristin, who wore a look of fear on her face. Nathan put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer in an effort to comfort her.

Knox walked a bit closer to them, causing Kristin to move closer still to Nathan. "You keep a tight hold on her, Jack."

"Excuse me?"

"Doctor Mayfield, here," Knox replied, motioning towards Kristin. "You'd better keep a tight hold on her. She's had it rough lately, and the senator isn't too happy with her. I wouldn't trust him. Just be sure nothing happens to her. That would be a shame, now wouldn't it?"

Nathan nodded. "I definitely don't intend to let it, sir."

"Good," Knox replied, flashing Kristin a sinister grin. "Well, I'll leave you two be. Have a lovely day." With that, he walked away.

Kristin finally released the breath she didn't realize she was holding in. She turned to Nathan and noticed the look he was giving her.

"You want to tell me what's going on?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. He noticed she was still trembling. "What was Knox insinuating?"

She hesitated for a moment, looking around her. She noticed the base suddenly getting busier as everyone was coming out for lunch. "Um, perhaps we could go for a walk?" she suggested.

"Aren't you hungry?"

She shook her head. She certainly wasn't thinking of food at a time like this.

Nathan sighed and took her hand in his. They walked down toward the beach where there was a woman running a lunch cart. Nathan stopped and bought a couple of sandwiches and two cups of coffee. He offered a sandwich and a cup to Kristin.

She accepted, but made no attempt to eat or drink.

Nathan sat down on the dock and helped Kristin sit next to him. "So what in the world is going on?" he asked once they were comfortable.

"I…I don't know if now's the best time," she began softly. "Why don't we deal with speaking with the crew before-"

"No," Nathan interrupted. "I'm sorry, but I can obviously tell that there is something terribly wrong." He put his arm around her. "You're still trembling for goodness sake. What is going on?" he pressed, desperate to find out. "Please?"

Kristin took a deep breath, thinking for a moment. She then spoke softly, "Frank Knox is what's going on."

"You mean you're still upset about this morning? I really don't think Knox is-"

"Nathan, Admiral Beatty called me into his office," Kristin interrupted. "He and Knox wanted to question me. They wanted to know what I knew. It…it was horrifying. Knox…he…he…there's something odd about how he acts…towards me."

"They did what? Why in the world would they question a civilian doctor?" Nathan muttered, now becoming visibly upset. "And how do you mean odd?"

"Did you see what just happened back there? Didn't that seem strange to you?" Kristin lowered her voice as if someone might be listening. "I don't know about you, but I am becoming increasingly sure that Frank Knox is the one responsible for…well, you know. He…he just makes my skin crawl…"

Nathan wrapped her in a tight hug. "I've already promised you that I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You know I'd rather take your place than to let…" his voice trailed off. He paused for a bit, trying to think of something comforting to say. "You don't need to worry about Frank Knox or Admiral Beatty. Everything's going to be fine."

Kristin pulled away to look at him. "We keep saying that, but it's becoming harder and harder to believe it."

"Sylvia promised," Nathan reminded her, his hands on her shoulders.

Kristin sighed. "She said she would try. That still means there's a chance..."

"We agreed we wouldn't think like that."

"I…I know," Kristin said, "and I'm really trying not to. But with Frank Knox looming over me like some dark shadow, it makes it awfully difficult."

There was a long pause. Nathan simply hugged her again in an effort to comfort her, but he knew he was falling short of that. After several minutes, he finally asked, "What did you say to them?"

"I told them I didn't know anything. That really isn't a lie…"

Nathan nodded. "Did they believe you?"

She shrugged. "They didn't press the issue."

"Then you're probably worrying over nothing," Nathan assured her.

"But just now…" Kristin began.

Nathan waved a hand. "It's nothing," he tried to convince her.

Kristin gave him a doubtful look. "You don't really believe that?"

Nathan sighed. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"

She shook her head.

"No one knows who is really responsible for…you know. Up until yesterday, we thought it was the senator. Tomorrow, it could be someone else. My point is, we can't keep worrying over who it is. All we should think about is Sylvia's promise. You said it yourself; this will ruin us if we keep worrying."

Kristin sighed. "All right," she relented. "I'll try."

Nathan smiled and put an arm around her. "Everything's going to be fine. Now why don't you eat, please? It's turkey."

She finally unwrapped her sandwich and took a small bite. "Thank you."

"Anytime," Nathan told her. He made a mental note that he was going to speak with Secretary Knox and the admiral himself later. He didn't quite like the fact they were taking a civilian behind closed doors, and especially not Kristin. He felt it best not to mention his plan to her because he knew she wouldn't like it. "Are you sure you're still up for a meeting with the others? Maybe we should postpone it?"

She shook her head. "No…I think it's best that they know. We can't continue to keep them in the dark any longer…not when the sixth is getting closer."

"As long as you're sure."

"I am," she insisted.

Nathan doubted her confidence, but didn't press the issue. With the uncertainty of the sixth looming nearer, he knew she was right. They couldn't keep the crew in the dark any longer.

The two sat in silence as they continued to eat.

Kristin looked out over the blue water and sighed after she'd finished her sandwich. "This…this is what I miss," she commented softly.

Nathan put an arm around her. "We'll be out there again soon," he assured her, "just like we never left."

She simply nodded, but she had a feeling it wouldn't happen…or at least that it wouldn't involve her. She quickly brushed the thought aside, however. Now was not the time to think that way.

The two of them sat quietly for quite a while watching the waves. Then Kristin heard something…familiar. It sounded like… She turned her head towards the sound and saw a creature in the water; it was Darwin.

"Hey, look who's joined us," Nathan commented, bending down to rub the mammal's melon.

Kristin smiled softly. She wondered if he could sense that she'd been thinking about him earlier that morning. She leaned over to pet him. "I've missed you," she said quietly.

Darwin responded with excited chirps and whistles.

"He says he misses you too," Nathan translated.

Kristin laughed softly. She didn't need Nathan to translate, although she wished she had the vocoder at that moment. Darwin was quite a perceptive creature, and he always seemed to know when one was feeling sad or upset. But looking into his eyes, she knew that he knew.

He nuzzled her hand and squeaked softly.

Kristin just pet him for a few minutes and whispered, "We'll all be together soon."

Darwin bobbed his head up and down in the water and flapped his fins.

"Looks like he agrees," Nathan pointed out. Then he said, "We should probably go find the others, hm?"

Kristin nodded, but made no attempt to move. If she had her way, she'd be swimming with Darwin. It would definitely keep her mind off of everything happening. She felt Nathan's arm go around her.

"Everything's going to be fine."

She nodded and gave Darwin one last pat. "We'll see you soon."

Darwin chirped in response, and Nathan gave him a hand signal. Then the two turned back and walked back towards the base.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Commander Ford had taken it upon himself to round up the crew, so that when Kristin and Nathan walked back, they were all waiting, all seated around the picnic tables that were out on the grass.

Kristin took a seat between Katie and Ben.

Katie immediately took Kristin's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze of support while Ben put an arm around her shoulders.

Kristin was grateful for them and felt a small pang for keeping them at arm's length in light of recent events. She gave them both a small smile and vowed to herself that she would speak with them after the meeting.

Nathan stood in front of everyone and called their attention. "I realize we haven't been very open and honest with all of you…and that's my fault," Nathan began.

Kristin felt another pang of guilt. It wasn't Nathan's fault at all. As Nathan continued to speak, she realized she couldn't let him do that for her. Everyone had done so much for her while she was there, and she was forever grateful for it. And if she got out of this situation alive, she vowed she would return the favor a million times over.

She stood up. "Wait."

Nathan and everyone else gave her a questioning look.

Kristin took Nathan's arm and whispered softly, "I think they need to hear it from me."

"Are you sure?" Nathan asked. "I thought…"

"I'm sure. Just go sit down…please?"

Nathan gave her hand a squeeze and did as she requested.

Kristin stood there for a moment, staring at all the questioning looks. She then took a breath and spoke. "First of all, I'd like to thank the captain for everything he's done to help, but I have a correction to make. It wasn't his idea not to tell you what was going on. It was mine. If…if you're going to blame anyone, blame me." She paused for a brief moment and cleared her throat nervously. "I…I thought I could handle this on my own. I didn't want you to worry about me. I know you all see me as tough-as-nails, and I thought I was…I didn't want that image to change. But truth be told, I'm not as tough as I thought. Sylvia Mayfield had a hellish life. It wasn't all rainbows and sunshine, and I can't pretend anymore."

"Doc, you don't-" Ben began.

But Kristin waved him off. "Please, let me finish," she said gently. "Long story short, Sylvia has had some revelations. There is no way we can prevent her, um, my death here. She…she made me a promise though. Well, at least she'll try. If all goes according to plan, she'll create a new storm. She claims we should all be able to go home then…and she and I should be able to separate."

Everyone was quiet for several minutes, taking this information in.

Finally, however, Katie spoke up, "What happens if it doesn't work?" she asked worriedly.

Kristin and Nathan shared a look. Nathan was about to get up from his seat when she shook her head, telling him she wanted him to stay. She turned back to Katie. "Sylvia didn't express any worry in creating another storm. She seemed confident about that."

"That's not what I meant," Katie replied. "What about you?"

Kristin hesitated. She took a deep breath and was about to speak when she felt an arm go around her shoulders. She looked and saw Nathan. Although she had wanted to do this on her own, she hadn't realized how difficult it would really be to mention her possible death to the others, so she couldn't say she was upset by this fact.

"Do you want to say it or should I?" he asked quietly enough so only she could hear.

"I…I think I can say it…as long as you stay up here with me."

He gave her a squeeze of encouragement.

She took a deep breath. "There is a possibility I'll meet the same fate as Sylvia…" Kristin said.

The crew began to voice protests and concerns for the doctor.

But Nathan spoke over the group. "I realize it is worrying, but we need to put our faith into Sylvia and believe everything will turn out all right."

"And I would feel much better if we try to do so," Kristin added.

"I'm sure everything's going to turn out fine," Ben finally piped up, sounding sincere.

Kristin smiled. Ben always was so optimistic, the very reason he was morale officer.

The others chimed in, saying the same thing.

As the lunch hour was nearing its close, Nathan closed the meeting. "Well, we just wanted to touch base with you. I do thank you all for coming."

"Wait a minute," Ben interrupted. "That's it?"

"Well, we do need to get back to work, Mr. Pierce."

"No, I mean…what about tomorrow? Will we see each other? And just in case things don't go well…maybe we should do something…to celebrate our last night together?" he suggested.

"What? Like a party?" Lucas said.

"Exactly," Ben said. "Maybe we should. It would boost morale, wouldn't it?"

Nathan looked at Kristin. "I can't believe I'm actually agreeing, but he has a point. What do you say?"

Kristin thought for a moment. In all honesty, she certainly didn't want to entertain the thought of her death, but in light of everything, perhaps it was a good idea. "O…okay," she said with a nod.

"I'll start planning it right away," Ben confirmed as the others began to go back to work.

"Nothing too fancy," Kristin told him. "Just an intimate get together."

"Sure thing, Doc," Ben replied. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Well, I guess I-hey."

"What?" Kristin asked in alarm.

"You took your ring off," Ben noted. "Is that a good thing?"

She shrugged. "It's a long story, um, but I still have it. It's in my pocket."

"Oh, good. Well, see you later, then."

She gave him a quick hug. "Thank you."

"Anytime."

Once he left, Nathan turned to her. "I'm very proud of you."

She blushed. "I couldn't have you lie to them. And I actually feel better now that I've said it…even though it wasn't very easy. Thank you for knowing I needed you."

Nathan waved a hand. "It was nothing." He offered his arm. "Well, should I walk you back to work, milady?"

She accepted his arm. "Thank you, kind sir."

Once they'd gotten back to her office, Nathan asked, "So, what's this business with Sylvia's ring? Why did you take it off?"

"Oh…well, it was Knox actually. If Sylvia really is getting a divorce, wouldn't she have removed it?"

Nathan thought for a moment. "I guess I never thought of it. That does raise a question. Why was she wearing it when we found her body?"

"That's exactly what Ben thought of," she said. "I'd forgotten to mention it with all the chaos lately. Well, Knox pointed out that I was wearing it and said I should pawn it. I just didn't want to deal with it, so I took it off and put it in my pocket," Kristin explained. "I do, however, feel a little lost without it."

"If you feel better wearing it, don't let anyone stop you."

She nodded. "You're right." She reached into her pocket, but suddenly gasped.

"What's wrong?" Nathan asked with concern.

"The ring…it…it's gone!" Kristin became frantic. "That's all I have of her. I shouldn't have taken it off."

Nathan knew she was attached to that ring. She had been from the moment they'd found it, and he wasn't surprised by her reaction. He did his best to calm her. "Just think rationally. We know it didn't get up and walk away. Maybe you dropped it?"

"Maybe…but that means it could be anywhere." She gasped again. "What if it fell into the water?"

"Let's not jump to conclusions. I'll tell you what; I'll look for it on my way back to my office. That'll at least cover some of your tracks. Maybe you even dropped it in Beatty's office."

"Maybe," she agreed. "You're right. Hopefully it'll turn up."

"I'll see you after work," Nathan told her, giving her a quick hug. "Don't worry."

She nodded. "I'll try not to," she promised.

Chapter 24: Like The Tiniest Slivers Of Glass

Nathan walked across the base. Although he was in a hurry, he had promised Kristin he'd look for the ring. While a lost ring wasn't a tragedy, it meant a lot to Kristin. Nathan deduced she felt a stronger connection with Sylvia than the rest of them, so it only stood to reason the ring would be of great sentimental value. But he was a man on a mission. He also wanted to speak with the admiral, and hopefully, Secretary Knox as well.

He kept a brisk pace but kept his eye to the ground. He did hope he would found it just so he could see the look on her face when he showed it to her later. He smiled softly at the thought of it. But as he finally approached the door of his office building, he had no such luck, although that didn't mean anything yet. He had a feeling that perhaps she had dropped it in or around Admiral Beatty's office. He made his way there, hoping to run into the admiral for an impromptu meeting.

He climbed the stairs, making his way up to the admiral's office. As he approached it, there was still no sign of Sylvia's ring.

"Did you lose something, Captain?"

Nathan looked up to see the smiling face of Mildred. "Uh, hello, Mildred. And, sort of, yes. It's my understanding that Doctor Mayfield was here earlier today?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Well, it seems she's lost a ring. It's very dear to her, and she fears she might have lost it between here and the hospital. I told her I'd see if it happened to be in this area. You haven't seen it, have you?"

Mildred sighed. "Oh, that is terrible for her. No, I haven't, but I'll be on the lookout."

"Thank you; I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Uh, is the admiral in, by chance? I was thinking she may have dropped it in his office," Nathan told her.

"No, he's still out to lunch, but I don't see why you can't have a looksee if I accompany you. I'm sure he won't mind."

Nathan smiled. "That would be wonderful; thank you."

He followed Mildred down the corridor, through the reception area, and into the admiral's office. They both started searching the floor.

"What does it look like?" Mildred asked.

"Oh, it's just a gold band, no stone," Nathan replied.

"Okay."

The two of them continued to search the area around the desk, but they found nothing. Nathan was just about to thank her and be on his way, deciding he'd have to speak with the admiral later when familiar voices were heard from the corridor. It was no surprise when the admiral and the secretary appeared in the doorway a moment later.

"What is the meaning of this?" The admiral's tone sounded disapproving. He cast Mildred a look.

Nathan immediately saluted in an attempt to show respect. "Sir, please, don't reprimand Mildred. I asked her if I could search for Doctor Mayfield's ring."

"Her ring?" Knox said.

Nathan nodded. "It seems it's gone missing, and she fears she might have dropped it. I've been searching for her. Neither of you saw it, have you?"

"Not since we spoke with her earlier," Knox replied. "I had suggested she remove it; you know, a pretty girl like that shouldn't keep wearing her wedding ring. She needs to let all the young men know she's available again. Such a tragedy with the way her husband treated her." He clicked his tongue. "Well, I told her she should pawn it, get something out of it. It's the least she deserves. After a bit of thought, she must have agreed with me because she put it in her pocket."

"Mildred, why don't you go back to the front desk, hm?" the admiral suggested.

Mildred gave a nod. "Yes, sir; right away, sir." She gave Nathan an apologetic look before leaving.

The admiral turned back to Nathan. "If we do happen to see it, we'll be sure to-"

"Wait just a minute," Nathan interrupted. "As long as you both are here, I was wondering if I could speak to you about something."

The admiral and the secretary exchanged glances and gave one another a nod.

"I don't see why not, Captain," the admiral replied, closing the office door. "Please, have a seat and tell us what's on your mind."

Nathan watched as Knox and Beatty both sat, but he made no attempt to sit. "I think I'd rather stand, thank you. I was just wondering why you both felt the need to question a civilian doctor. Really, what business is it of yours what she does?" His tone was accusatory.

Knox scoffed. "Captain, I assure you it was completely innocent. We didn't mean any harm to the doctor at all. We were simply-"

"If I may be frank, you scared her half to death. She's rather confused as to what your intentions were."

"We weren't trying to scare her," the admiral insisted.

"Not at all," Knox assured him.

Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Then why in the world did you call her in here asking her what she knows about Senator Mayfield and his financial assets? I had already told you she didn't know anything, yet you completely ignored what I said."

The admiral put his hands up. "Now, Jack…ignored isn't quite the word exactly."

"Not at all," Knox agreed. "In fact, it was only out of concern for her."

Nathan snorted. "Concern?"

"Senator Mayfield is not a force to be reckoned with, and poor Sylvia has had to be on the brunt end of his wrath for far too long. Although the senator has been generous enough to provide us with funding for the time being, questions have been raised about his financial practices. I can't tell you anything in great detail, but we're learning they're not exactly kosher." He paused and made eye contact with Nathan. "Now, certainly, this has sparked a debate among the rest of the brass, other United States officials, and even with President Roosevelt himself. Now, the admiral and myself, while we do agree that the senator's funds should be turned down because his hands aren't exactly clean, we feel that this is just an inauspicious time. You know as well as I that an attack is likely. Therefore, our Navy can't afford not to have the proper resources if an attack occurs. We certainly don't want any word of the senator's business practices to be leaked. You understand, don't you, Jack?"

Nathan felt his anger rise even more. "So because you don't want to lose any of that precious money, you felt it necessary to threaten an innocent woman?"

"Jack, you're making assumptions. That isn't what happened at all," Admiral Beatty said. "All we wanted to do was make sure that the doctor didn't-"

"Just put yourselves in our position, Jack. You'd have done the same thing. With the press being so enamored by the Mayfield's divorce, we just needed to be sure that Sylvia didn't say anything…that could be misconstrued. You do know how the media can twist things around," Knox stated. "No threats were made whatsoever. All we wanted to do was speak to her, that's all."

"And what did you find out?"

"That she didn't know anything," the admiral stated in a matter-of-fact manner.

"If only you'd have listened to me in the first place," Nathan said angrily.

"We are very sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused," the admiral replied, ironically sounding sincere.

"Yes," Knox chimed in, "very sorry."

"Perhaps you should tell that to Sylvia?" Nathan muttered in frustration.

"You tell us for her," Knox said without missing a beat. "It was just for safety reasons."

"Yours or hers?" Nathan challenged.

"Is that how you speak to your superior, Captain?"

"When my superior is doing something I don't agree with, yes."

Knox stood and moved to where he was just mere centimeters away from Nathan, staring him in the eye. "You'd better change your tone, Captain."

"Uh, Frank…" the admiral interrupted gently. "You do realize Captain Remington is an asset to us at this time…"

Knox said nothing, but continued to glare at Nathan.

Nathan finally heard something, something he hadn't heard for quite a while. That voice; Jack's voice. Apologize. Nathan sighed. He didn't quite like this, but he figured Jack must have a reason. "I…I do apologize for my outburst," Nathan finally said through clenched teeth. "It was out of line."

Knox took a step backward. "We really are just trying to do what's best for everyone involved." He seemed to accept the apology.

Nathan didn't agree, but he simply nodded.

"Well, I think we've cleared the air then," the admiral said, sounding relieved. "If you're finished, Jack, we really should get back to work."

Nathan gave both him and Knox a salute. "Yes, sir."

He turned to leave, but Knox stopped him.

"Jack, you remember what I said now. You keep a tight hold on her. And if she happens to mention anything to you…about the senator's finances, you be sure to keep her mouth shut, hm? If that information fell into the wrong hands, well, there's no telling what might happen."

Nathan wanted to say something in anger, but Jack was practically screaming a warning to him. Instead, he turned back to the secretary. "Of course, sir."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

By the end of the day, Kristin had a reprieve from seeing patients. She glanced at the clock. Nathan wouldn't be there for another hour, so she sat at her desk and tried to fill out patient files. The day had been fairly busy, so she hadn't really noticed her missing ring. But now that she was alone, she found herself distracted and unable to concentrate. She forced herself to write a few lines of a diagnosis she'd given earlier. But she kept making errors. She swore in frustration. "Oh, why did I take that ring off?" she muttered.

She stood and looked out the large window in her office that overlooked the ocean. The sun was shining, making the ocean look so blue and inviting. She sighed, thinking of how lovely it would be to be swimming in it. Really, she'd have liked to be anywhere but there at that moment. She took a few deep breaths and did her best to calm down. Then she turned back to her desk. She began writing again. "Don't be silly, Kristin," she chastised herself. "Certainly, a ring isn't the reason you can't think straight." Or is it? she wondered, too afraid to say it out loud.

She shook her head. No, it couldn't be. It was probably more likely she was still bothered by the Frank Knox situation, but she felt naked without Sylvia's ring now. Strange that something she'd only had for a short time could make her feel so complete. She'd never been so attached to any inanimate object before, not even her own wedding rings. But after a few more minutes, she decided she shouldn't keep pondering on it. She had to get some work done, at least to keep her mind occupied until Nathan arrived. She forced herself to try to work on the files once again.

After fighting to concentrate for ten more minutes and failing at doing so several times, Kristin was relieved when there was a gentle knock on the door. She looked up and noticed a very feminine-looking shadow cast in the frosted window. Deciding it was obviously not Knox or anyone who meant her harm, she said, "Come in."

The doorknob turned, and Katie entered. "Hi," she greeted pleasantly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything." She motioned towards the files on her desk.

Kristin pushed them aside. "Not at all. I was just killing time until the captain comes. If I had my way, I wouldn't be here right now."

Katie nodded knowingly. "I was hoping we could chat for a bit then. I've missed you."

Kristin stood and walked around the desk. "I know, and I wanted you to know how badly I feel about that. I never intended it to be quite like this…"

Katie wrapped her arms around her. "Oh, Doc, none of us did. Please, don't apologize." Katie broke the embrace and pulled away to look at her. "You're feeling all right then?"

Kristin gave her a soft smile. "All things considered, yes, I suppose." That wasn't exactly the case, but she was trying to remain positive.

"Good. I also wanted to tell you that your lawyer called last night. She'd like you to give her a call as soon as you can."

"Oh, dear…" Kristin muttered. "I'd completely forgotten. Although she didn't say it directly, she implied she wanted me to call her to let her know I was okay. Did she seem upset?"

Katie shook her head. "She just sounded concerned."

"Um, I suppose I should call her then." She picked up the receiver and started to dial.

"I'll give you some privacy," Katie said quietly as the started to leave.

But Kristin stopped her. "It won't take long," she promised. She could tell Katie wanted some more time with her, and the feeling was mutual.

Katie gave her a smile and sat back down again.

A moment later, Kristin heard Reggie's voice saying, "Hello, Reggie Carrington, attorney at law."

"Reggie? This is Sylvia Mayfield."

"Oh, Sylvia! I've been so worried about you. Are you all right? Your friend had said you weren't feeling well."

"I am sorry I haven't contacted you since we spoke the other day. I've just had a lot going on. I've been fine."

"Well, that's good to hear. I'm so relieved. There's another reason I'm calling, actually. I was hoping you'd be able to come to my office tomorrow…do you have time tomorrow morning by chance?"

Kristin hesitated. "Um…"

Katie had overheard the conversation, however. She reached across the desk and pulled gently on Kristin's hand. "I can go with you," she offered.

"So, what do you say?" Reggie pressed. "It seems that the senator has agreed to sign the papers. To my knowledge, he's signing them tonight, and his lawyer is supposed to be sending them to my office. I expect them early in the morning, and I figured you'd want to get the show on the road, hm?"

"Um….well…" Kristin looked at Katie who was nodding her head up and down and moving her hands, indicating she wanted Kristin to accept.

"I'm waiting…."

"Okay," Kristin finally answered, since neither Katie nor Reggie seemed to want to take no for an answer. "We'll be there…nine o'clock sharp."

"Sounds good. See you then, darling."

When Kristin hung up the phone, she looked at Katie.

"Oh, it'll be fine," Katie said, waving a hand. "You know Doctor Levin can handle things. Besides, Ben's pretty excited about this party. He's already made quite a bit of headway on the planning, and he asked me if I'd help him. I agreed, and he's given me a list of things to pick up. So I thought might as well kill two birds with one stone. Besides, I want to meet this Reggie…and spend some girl time with you. We haven't had any of that lately."

Kristin sighed. "Well, I just don't want to be gone the whole day, but I suppose we could leave for an hour or two, but I did tell Ben not to make a huge fuss."

"Oh, he's not. I promise you. It'll be exactly what you wanted," Katie said with a mysterious smile on her face. She gave Kristin's arm a gentle push. "So tell me more about this Reggie. She sounds lovely."

"Oh, she is," Kristin confirmed. "Really, there isn't a lot to tell, but she seems genuinely concerned about my…uh, Sylvia's…situation."

"Well, I can't wait to meet her then." She looked at the clock. "Well, I do have a few things to do before I leave for the day, and the captain will be here soon. I'll see you in the morning?"

"Of course. I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too, Doc. Have a good night." With that, Katie opened the door and nearly bumped into Nathan. She looked back at Kristin. "Speak of the devil." She patted Nathan's arm. "Have a good night, Captain."

"You, too," Nathan replied, somewhat confused. When Katie was gone, he turned to Kristin and pointed a thumb towards the door. "She seems awfully cheery."

"Yes, well, she's happy that she and I will be spending some time together. We have a little shopping trip scheduled for the morning. And we're stopping to see Reggie as well. There's good news, apparently. Richard's agreed to sign the papers."

Nathan walked over to her and hugged her in greeting. "Oh, that is good news," he gushed. "And I'm glad you and Katie will have some bonding time as well. I've been rather selfish, keeping you away from all of them."

"Oh, it wasn't you. It was my fault for wanting to keep everything from them for so long," Kristin said. "I'm only grateful they're all so forgiving. I really don't deserve that."

Nathan scoffed. "What in the world makes you say that?"

She shrugged. "I'm just feeling a little guilty, I suppose. "

"Well, you have no reason to be."

"You sound like Katie," Kristin noted.

"You know, our lieutenant commander is a very smart woman; you should listen to her," Nathan told her.

Kristin sighed. "Point taken. Um, did you have any luck?"

Nathan shook his head. "I'm sorry. I even checked the admiral's office. It wasn't there. But I'm sure it'll turn up."

Kristin nodded sadly. "I'm still angry at myself for even taking it off. I do hope you're right."

"I'm sure I am." He lifted her chin up gently. "Put a smile on, okay? I was thinking we could go out for dinner. I know this great little seaside café…"

She smiled softly. "Well, that does sound lovely."

"And maybe a moonlit walk on the beach after that?"

"Hmmm…" Kristin said. "That would definitely keep my mind off of other things."

"Exactly." He offered his arm. "So, let's go home and change." Nathan decided it was best not to mention his little meeting with the admiral and the secretary general. It would only get her more upset, and he wanted to avoid that.

"Lead the way, Captain."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Bill Noyce swore in frustration. He had been calling families of the crew for the past forty-eight hours…slowly. He started with the families of the junior staff first, hoping that he'd be interrupted by a news bulletin saying that seaQuest was indeed found and that its crew was alive and perfectly well. No such luck, however.

"…please know I am so very sorry for your loss," Bill said as he cut the vid-link call. He'd just finished informing the last family that their only son was possibly dead. He shook his head as he crossed off the last junior staff member name on his list that sat in front of him on his desk.

He then turned it over where the names of the senior staff members were listed. He was just about to dial when there was a knock on the doorframe.

"Sweetheart, you've been at this for hours. Aren't you going to eat dinner? It's getting cold." It was his wife, Janet.

"I will soon. I just want to make one last phone call."

Janet sighed and gave her husband a small hug and rubbed his shoulder. "Well, after that, will you come and eat, please? I don't like eating alone. Maybe there'll be good news tomorrow?" She had said that every day since this all started; Nathan was a long-time friend, and she hated the thought of him being gone forever. She didn't know the rest of the crew very well, but she certainly prayed for their safe return.

"Maybe," Bill replied, but he didn't sound very hopeful. He'd just about given up on hope, much as it pained him. "Just as soon as I make this call."

Janet gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck." With that, she left the room.

Bill turned back to the vid-screen and began to dial the number of Lawrence Wolenczak.

Chapter 25: And You Feel Too Much

December 5, 1941

Nathan was in the kitchen making breakfast. He had wanted to surprise Kristin with breakfast in bed. She was still sleeping, and considering the night she'd had, Nathan wanted to let her sleep as long as he could.

They'd gone to the café, but Nathan knew she was still upset about the ring and about Knox. He still kept his conversation with Knox and Beatty a secret because he knew it would only get her more worked up than she already was. And because of all the worry, she didn't eat much. He noticed that she had probably lost about five pounds since they'd been on Oahu. Normally, that wouldn't be much, but Nathan couldn't help but notice her clothing fitting looser than it had been on their first day in Pearl.

That's why he'd made waffles and sausage. He knew she loved waffles, and he hoped she'd at least eat a full meal, something he hadn't seen her do much of lately. He piled everything on a tray and cups of coffee besides; then he carried it into the bedroom. When he entered bedroom, he saw she was still sleeping soundly. He set the tray down and sat down next to her, just watching her for a few minutes.

He lovingly brushed the hair off her face ever so gently so he didn't wake her. He noticed she looked a little pale, and she had dark circles under her eyes. He sighed knowingly. They'd passed a sad night. After dinner, they had gone for that walk along the beach; Nathan had hoped it would calm her…and it did for the most part. But naturally, the conversation went from speaking about the water and the moonlight to more ominous things. And poor Kristin expressed even more worries about Knox to Nathan.

Nathan felt he couldn't confirm or deny anything and simply listened and did his best to comfort her. After a while, they decided they ought to go back to the apartment and try to rest. Nathan held her until she fell asleep, and when she did, he joined her. But then the nightmares began.

She would only tell him that they involved Knox, but she wouldn't tell them what they were about. Although he wanted to, he didn't want to press the issue. He just allowed her to cry on his shoulder and he tried to comfort her. He'd finally got her back to sleep around four in the morning. He sighed again because he couldn't let her sleep any longer because it was now after six, and Katie was supposed to be showing up shortly.

He gently shook her shoulder. "Good morning."

Her eyes fluttered open. She looked a little startled, but she offered him a small smile. "Hi."

"I'm sorry I had to wake you."

"Oh, don't worry about it." She stretched and let out a yawn. "I feel fine," she assured him.

Nathan doubted her sincerity, but he didn't push it. "I made you breakfast. I wanted to eat with you before I left."

She pushed herself out of bed and started towards the bathroom. "I'll just be a minute, then."

When she came out, Nathan had set the tray in the middle of the bed. He patted the open spot next to him so that she'd sit.

"This looks lovely," she said quietly. "Thank you." She picked up a cup of coffee and took a sip.

Nathan watched her for a moment. At least the coffee was something, but he handed her a piece of sausage. "Go on, eat," he urged.

She hesitated. Food wasn't the first thing on her mind.

"Please?" Nathan pressed.

She took it from him and took a bite.

"Thank you," Nathan said, looking relieved.

"I'm just not very hungry lately," she replied, but she ate the whole piece of sausage and even started on a waffle, so Nathan stopped complaining.

"Uh, so, you and Katie will be back before lunch, right?"

She smiled softly. "Yes…are you worrying already?"

"No…yes…" He sighed. "I'm always worrying about you lately," he admitted. "I just don't like not being able to be with you."

Kristin placed a hand to his cheek. "And I appreciate that, more than you know. I promise everything will be fine."

Nathan nodded, and the two finished their meal. He then brought the tray into the kitchen. "Don't worry about these dishes now."

She laughed softly. "I won't have the time, admittedly."

"Good," Nathan replied upon entering the bedroom once again. He wrapped her in his arms and held her for several minutes. "Just be careful."

She nodded. "Of course. Don't worry."

He kissed her cheek. "See you at lunch."

"At lunch," she promised.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin quickly showered and dressed, and by the time she was finished, Katie was knocking on the door.

Kristin grabbed her purse and opened the door since she noticed Katie had the cab driver waiting.

Once in the cab, Katie turned to her. "So how are you?"

"Fine."

"That's it?" Katie pressed. She looked her up and down, trying to wage if she was being honest. "Are you sure?"

Kristin sighed. "Well, physically, I'm fine. Mentally? Well, perhaps not so well," she admitted. "It's Sylvia's ring. I lost it…and I'm just feeling…strange without it. And of course, with tomorrow just hours away now…"

Katie put an arm around her shoulders. "It's going to be okay. I know everyone's worried, but I have a good feeling. I'm certain you'll be fine."

"I do hope so," Kristin replied. But she quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on tomorrow's possible events. "So what does Ben want you to get?"

Katie took out her list. "Just a list of party decorations and things. It shouldn't take long to get. Then I was thinking we could pick up some new outfits. What do you say?"

"I'm not sure…"

Katie gave her arm a push. "Oh, come on, Doc. I definitely think you should have a new dress."

Before Kristin could answer, the cab came to a halt. Kristin looked out the window and realized they were on Main Street. Katie paid the driver and the two ladies got out of the cab.

"There's a party shop down this way," Katie told her, and the two started walking.

On the way, they passed a clothing store with a large display window. In the window were several dresses on display.

Katie stopped in her tracks. "Oh, those look darling, don't they?"

Kristin turned and looked in the window as well. Some of the dresses were every day dresses, much like the ones she and Katie were wearing, only in different shades. But then there were cocktail dresses and fancier dresses that captured the Polynesian style, having themes of flowers.

Katie grabbed her arm. "Let's go inside."

But Kristin hesitated. "I don't need-"

"Oh, come on, Doc. Don't you want something new? Something that will capture the captain's attention?" She pointed to the one with the flower pattern. "I'll bet he won't be able to take his eyes off of you in that one."

Kristin felt her face go warm with embarrassment. She lowered her voice as if someone might hear. "I have no idea what you are insinuating, Katie dear, but Nathan and I are just friends. I…I am not trying to turn his head."

Katie smiled. "Okay…sorry, I wasn't trying to make you flustered. Well, I'm going inside because I want something new myself. I'm on a shopping trip, and I want to do some shopping. And you know how long it's been since we've gotten to do that."

Kristin had little choice but to follow her inside. Once inside, however, Kristin did see there was more of a selection. And she did see something out of the corner of her eye that she liked. Maybe this dress idea wasn't such a bad one after all.

They were approached by a dark-haired sales woman immediately. "Can I help you, ladies?"

"Yes, my friend and I are looking for party dresses," Katie quickly answered.

Kristin gave her a look, but Katie ignored her.

"Oh, well, we have a wonderful selection. Um, why don't you browse and tell me if you see anything you like?"

Katie nodded as the saleswoman turned to approach another new customer.

"I told you I wasn't interested," Kristin whispered.

"That's what you said, but that's not what your eyes said when you spotted that blue one over there," Katie countered, an amused smile on her face.

Kristin blushed. "I didn't think you'd notice."

"Well, I did," Katie confirmed. She pulled on Kristin's arm. "Come on, let's get a closer look."

Kristin obediently followed Katie over to the other side of the store where different clothing racks stood. Katie selected one of the blue dresses that had caught Kristin's eye and held it up in front of her. It was nothing terribly fancy: short capped sleeves, a slight V-neck collar, and a straight skirt that was gathered together by a matching belt.

"Oh," Katie breathed. "It really brings out your eyes…and your hair. It's perfect."

"You really think so?"

"I certainly do," an unfamiliar voice said.

Kristin and Katie turned to see a woman who was around Kristin's age or perhaps even a bit older. She had blonde hair gathered in a bun on her head and was wearing a green skirt with a white blouse.

The woman held out her hand in greeting. "I'm sorry if you thought I was rude." She held out her hand in greeting. "My name's Margot. Pleased to meet you. Anyway, I agree with your friend here. That dress is perfect. You should buy it," she stated, a friendly smile on her face.

"Thank you," Kristin said, blushing again. "Perhaps I'll take that advice. By the way, this is Rose, and I'm Sylvia."

"Sylvia? Sylvia Mayfield, by chance?"

"Yes…" Kristin replied.

"I thought you looked familiar. I've seen your picture in the papers. I always thought you seemed like a nice person…and so pretty, too."

Kristin blushed and smiled softly. "Well, thank you. I appreciate you saying so. I-"

"Such a shame about you and your husband though."

"Yes, I-"

"Too bad I was wrong about you."

"E-excuse me?" Kristin asked, slightly taken aback.

Margot gave her a disdainful look. "I am a good Christian woman, and I thought you were, too. But divorce is an abomination. Marriage is forever." She handed over a daily newspaper. On the front page was more about the divorce, which wasn't anything new. But it then showed a picture of Kristin and Nathan, claiming that to be the reason for the divorce. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

Katie opened her mouth to speak, but Kristin placed a halting hand on her arm.

"I…I'm sorry I've let you down, ma'am," she said quietly. Then she put the dress back on the rack and gave Katie's arm a tug. "I think we'd better go."

Katie reluctantly followed her, but once they were outside, she protested, "Doc, you know none of that is true. Why did you let that woman walk all over you like that?"

"Katie, it's the time period. Divorce isn't accepted, as you can see." Then she handed her the newspaper. "And look at the things they've written about me."

"But you know none of this is true," Katie said again. "You haven't done anything to be ashamed about."

"Maybe I have," Kristin said with a shrug.

"How can you say that?"

"Why don't we just go down to the party shop, hm?" Kristin said, ignoring Katie's question. She turned to start walking down the street again.

She heard Katie run to catch up to her. "You're wrong," Katie insisted once she'd matched her pace.

"Fine," Kristin answered, too frustrated to argue.

"Why don't we go back to the dress shop? You said it yourself you liked it."

Kristin stopped in her tracks, knowing Katie wasn't going to stop harping on her. "Katie, please…"

Katie put her hands on Kristin's shoulders. "The Kristin I knew would never back down like this."

"I'm not the Kristin you knew," she answered sadly, "not anymore at least. It doesn't even have to do with that woman. I just didn't know the press would bring the captain's name into this mess." She then looked down. "And perhaps you're correct about him…and me…and…and I just…I feel so…helpless with everything. I'm just not in the mood. Honestly, I just want to go to the party shop, get what we need, go see Reggie, and leave. I'm not trying to be rude. I just want to go back to where I feel comfortable."

Katie sighed. "I understand that, and I didn't mean to-"

Kristin waved a hand. "Don't worry about it." She didn't want Katie feeling guilty, but she suspected she already did.

The two then walked to the party shop in silence. Thank goodness the party shop was empty. Katie tried to be as quick as possible since she noticed how much the little incident at the dress shop had affected Kristin. But she had a plan, and she hoped Kristin wouldn't mind when everything was said and done. Katie quickly paid for the decorations and lanterns Ben wanted and the two walked back down the street to Reggie's office.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Oh, come on in," Reggie greeted them with a smile. She then noticed the look on Kristin's face. "Is something wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"I…" Kristin began, unsure if she wanted to dump her problems on Reggie.

Katie handed over the newspaper article. "She just got a lecture in the dress shop from someone who disagreed with her decision."

Reggie looked over the article and frowned. "Well, I did warn you that the press would say things."

Kristin nodded. "I know. I'm fine…really."

Reggie gave her arm a tight squeeze. "Well, that's good to hear." She turned to Katie and held out her hand. "I'm Reggie, by the way."

"I'm-"

"No, let me guess," Reggie interrupted. "You must be the friend taking care of Sylvia. She mentioned you."

Katie smiled. "Yes, I'm Rose."

"Well, it's lovely to meet you, darling," Reggie gushed. She motioned to the chairs. "Why don't you two have a seat? Unfortunately, I haven't received the papers just yet, but I expect them any minute. Do you mind waiting?"

Kristin and Katie exchanged a glance.

"I guess we haven't a choice," Kristin said, taking a seat.

"Oh, no," Katie said, sounding dismayed. "I just remembered I forgot one thing on Teddy's list." She placed a hand on Kristin's shoulder. "I'll be right back, okay?"

Kristin gave her a look. She had a sinking suspicion about what Katie really forgot and that it wasn't at the party shop. "Don't be long then."

Katie smiled. "I won't be; I promise."

"And, Rose?" Kristin called, having an afterthought.

"Yes?"

"I wear a size six."

Katie chuckled softly. "You know me too well." And with that she left.

Reggie turned to Kristin. "What was that all about?"

Kristin waved a hand. "Oh, nothing…Rose is just being…a good friend, I suppose. Um, how long do you think it will be?"

"Let me make a quick phone call and double check," Reggie replied. She then dialed the phone and waited a few moments.

Kristin could only hear Reggie's end of the conversation, however.

"Hello, Randall. This is Reggie; I was wondering if you've sent over those papers for the Mayfield divorce yet? We're waiting on them. In fact, Sylvia…" Reggie paused while Kristin surmised the other person was speaking. "What?" Reggie said in shock. "No, that isn't going to…I see. Well, if that's the way he feels about it then. Uh-huh. I see. Yes, I know. I just… Okay. We'll be in touch then. Goodbye." Reggie then hung up the phone and gave Kristin a sympathetic look. "Well, I'm afraid there's bad news."

Kristin nodded. "Well, I kind of guessed. What is it?"

"Richard's changed his mind."

"But that's not necessarily a bad thing, right? You already told me that a judge might be sympathetic to my case… "

Reggie held up the daily newspaper. "But stories like this could prevent that. It's going to be better for you if we can get him to agree."

"I really thought he would…"

At that moment, Katie returned, another shopping bag in her hand. She sat next to Kristin with a satisfied smile upon her face. But then she noticed the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

"It seems that the senator has changed his mind about signing the papers," Kristin told her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Katie replied, placing a comforting hand on Kristin's shoulder.

"I am too," Reggie stated. "I feel bad for dragging you down here, but I am glad I got to see you."

Kristin smiled. "Well, I appreciate everything you've done." She and Katie stood to leave.

"You don't worry about this now; you let me worry about it, okay? And I promise I'll be in touch," Reggie told her, placing her hand on Kristin's shoulder. "Do you still have my phone number?"

Kristin nodded.

"Well, my offer still stands. If you need anything, please don't hesitate."

"I won't," Kristin promised as she and Katie went on their way.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Reggie watched them leave and was about to take care of some paperwork when she felt a hand on her shoulder that made her jump. She turned around to see who it was. "Are you crazy?" she chided, trying to keep her voice down. "Someone could have seen you."

"Relax, I came in the back way. No one saw," Richard told her. "Besides, I missed you." He placed a hungry kiss to her lips.

Reggie broke the kiss after a few moments. "Likewise, darling, but we'd already discussed why we need to be discreet. Besides, once you take care of that little thing we discussed, there'll be plenty of time for that."

Richard looked sheepish. "Yeah…about that…"

"What?" Reggie asked angrily. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"N-no…not exactly…I…"

Reggie grabbed him by the tie and pulled hard. "No, you listen to me, you spineless twerp, we'd already promised one another we wouldn't deviate from the plan. I've held up my end of the bargain, and you'd better hold up yours or so help me, I'll ruin you. And you know I can do it."

Richard gasped for air. "Y-yes, dear. Whatever you say, dear."

Reggie released him and smiled, looking rather amused. "I love it when I can make you squirm." She patted his cheek. "As long as we have an understanding. Now, you'd better leave before someone sees you."

Chapter 26: And You Don't Know How You're Gonna Last

The rest of the morning was quiet. Kristin and Katie made it back to the base without incident. Joshua had been a dear; he'd taken all the patients so Kristin would have the rest of the morning off. She couldn't say she was upset about that. Although she usually liked keeping busy, she didn't mind having the time to herself. She opted to do paper work for the rest of the morning. It was tedious, but it was something. She didn't even realize when the clock struck noon.

A short time later, Nathan appeared in her doorway. He knocked twice before entering. He gave her a smile, relieved to see her. "Glad to see you made it back in one piece."

"Did you have any doubt?" she asked him. She stood and walked around her desk to give him a quick hug. "I told you there was nothing to worry about."

"I'm just glad you're back," Nathan replied, not saying anything further on the matter. "So how did it go?"

She shrugged. "The shopping went well."

"And everything went as planned at Reggie's?" Nathan pressed.

"Not exactly," she said with a sigh. "The senator changed his mind. Now, normally, that isn't a bad thing because I could still get a divorce on the grounds of cruelty whether he signs the papers or not."

"Normally?" Nathan asked. "So there's a but coming up?"

She hesitated for a moment. "Have you seen a newspaper today?"

He shook his head. "I'm thinking I won't be happy when I do."

She took the one Katie had given her and handed it to him. "Reggie says that a judge might not be so sympathetic if he thinks there's something immoral going on between you and me," she said quietly.

Nathan read the story to himself and couldn't believe it.

"I…I never guessed they'd drag your name into it, too," Kristin continued apologetically. "I do hope you don't get in any trouble with the admiral or the secretary general."

Nathan put the paper down on the desk and put a hand under her chin. He lifted gently so she'd look at him. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"But it's my fault that-"

"No, it isn't," Nathan assured her. "We both know none of this is true."

She nodded. "I know, but a judge isn't going to care. Honestly, I'm not even worried about that since I don't think we're going to be here long enough where that will be a concern." She paused for a moment, holding his gaze. "My concern is you. We already know that Secretary Knox seems to be…interested in us for whatever reason. I-"

"Don't worry," Nathan interrupted. "I can handle Knox…but I doubt he'll say anything."

"You're sure?"

Nathan wrapped her in a tight hug. "Yes, I'm sure. Please, don't worry, okay?"

She nodded. "I'll try."

"Good…now how about some lunch? I thought we could go down to the docks like yesterday. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful," she confirmed.

The two walked out to the docks together. They passed some of the other crew members along the way and offered some quick greetings as they passed.

It wasn't long before they saw Katie. She offered them a smile. "It looks like you're feeling a little better now," she said to Kristin.

"I suppose," Kristin answered. "I really haven't much of a reason to worry about the senator."

"That's not what I meant," Katie said with a slight frown.

Kristin didn't exactly want Nathan to know what had happened back at the dress shop. "Oh…yes, I'm fine. Everything's fine," she replied in an over-compensating manner. She looked at Nathan. "Could...could you excuse us for just a moment, please?"

Nathan gave her a strange look, but stepped back. "I won't go far." He went over to talk with Lucas, keeping a watchful eye on the two women.

"I don't want Nathan to know about the dress shop incident," Kristin said quietly.

"I'm sorry if I've said too much, but, Doc, I don't think-"

Kristin shook her head. "I'd just like to keep it between us for now…please? I'm embarrassed enough, and I just want to forget it."

Katie nodded. "Okay." She put an arm around Kristin's shoulders. "But it really is nothing to be embarrassed about."

Kristin simply nodded.

The two remained quiet for a moment. Katie wanted to try to cheer Kristin up. She elbowed her gently and said, "Did you try on the dress at least?"

Kristin blushed slightly. "No…I'd forgotten."

"Well, try it after lunch, okay? I want to know how it fits in case we need to make a quick stop before the party." She gave Kristin's hand a squeeze. "I'd better let you go so you can spend time with him."

"Thanks, Katie…for everything."

"Anytime, Doc." Katie turned to leave when she had an afterthought. She turned back to her. "Doc?"

"Yes?"

"Just remember he'll love it," Katie said with a smile before turning again.

Kristin felt her face go warm and jumped slightly when she felt the unexpected hand of Nathan on her shoulder.

"Sorry," he muttered. "Is…is everything all right?" he asked worriedly upon seeing her face.

"Y-yes, everything's fine," Kristin assured him. And without missing a beat, she took his hand and pulled gently before they happened to meet up with anyone else.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"So what was Katie talking about?" Nathan asked after they'd found a comfortable spot on the dock. Just like the day before, they got sandwiches from a nearby cart. Nathan was pleased to see that Kristin was at least eating this time. She'd only taken a bite, but it was something.

"What?" Kristin asked, somewhat dismayed.

"She had said, 'Just remember he'll love it'. What did she mean?" Nathan asked.

"Oh…well…" she hesitated. "We did a little shopping."

"Yes, I know," Nathan said. "You told me you were going for party supplies."

"We got a few other things as well." She took another bite of her sandwich.

"Care to elaborate?" Nathan pressed.

She smiled softly. "What's with the twenty questions all of a sudden?" She sighed. "Look, it wasn't my idea; it was Katie's. I'd like it to be a surprise, though, okay?"

Nathan nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'm just-"

"Worried, I know," Kristin finished for him.

"More like concerned," Nathan corrected. "So are you looking forward to the evening's festivities?"

She shrugged. "Partly." She looked out over the water for a moment before continuing. "The other part doesn't want it to happen because that means…" She turned to him. "It's the last night here, as far as we know. The last night we'll all be together…"

Nathan shook his head. "We don't know that last part for sure."

"I know...I'm still a little worried."

Nathan put his arms around her, trying to comfort her. "I already told you I don't plan on letting you go."

She smiled softly. "And I appreciate that…more than you know. But…"

"This party wasn't planned to make you feel sad, you know."

She nodded. "I know. It's supposed to be a happy time."

"Then let's make it so. Sylvia will handle the rest."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Meanwhile, downtown, Reggie closed her office early for the day. She put on her sunglasses and drove to the Mayfield residence, being sure that no one was following her. Richard was there waiting for her with lunch on the table, a bouquet of roses in his hand.

She sauntered up to him seductively and kissed him passionately. "Now that's how you make an entrance," she purred into his ear when she broke the kiss.

"You can say that again," Richard replied dreamily.

She smacked his cheek gently. "Don't think that means you're off the hook for your little slip-up earlier, however."

"It wasn't a slip-up," he countered. "No one saw me."

She raised an eyebrow. "Well, you still broke our rule."

"Your rule," Richard corrected. "I never agreed to anything."

Reggie sat down at the table and leaned back in her chair, crossing her long, shapely legs over the corner of the table. She then reached into her purse and took out a cigarette.

As if on cue, Richard lit it for her.

She smiled. "You do seem to be very eager to atone," she noted.

"I've already told you how I feel about you," Richard told her. "I thought you believed me."

"I do…but there is one little thing making me have doubts." She gave him a look.

Richard sighed. "I don't understand why I couldn't just sign the papers and be done with the whole thing. That's what Sylvia wants, isn't it?"

"She says that's what she wants, and I believe her on that account. What I don't believe is that she has no desire for anything you own." She glared at him. "Please, no one is that angelic." She took a puff on her cigarette.

"But Sylvia isn't that kind of person," Richard said. "She never was very interested in money or expensive things."

Reggie exhaled, blowing smoke into the air. She then scoffed. "Now you're defending her? I thought you said you no longer loved her?" Then she added, "And you seem to forget this is not my first rodeo. I've seen it before. The wife wants a divorce from her cruel husband. The wife claims she doesn't want any money whatsoever, that she only wants to be free of his evil clutches. Then once we're in court, it's a-whole-nother story. It never fails."

"I don't love her," Richard insisted. "That ship sailed a long time ago, I promise you, but Sylvia isn't like other women. She's educated. She has the means to make her own money if she needs. She doesn't need my money or anyone else's."

Reggie raised an eyebrow and eyed him suspiciously. "Necessity is not the same thing as desire, you know. And I'm not quite sure I believe you." She brought her cigarette to her lips and inhaled again.

"I've already told you I love you. I'll do anything to prove it," Richard promised. "I…I'll do whatever you ask…including following through with the plan…"

Reggie smiled, looking quite pleased. "I admit, I was beginning to have my doubts, especially about what you said earlier. But I'm quite happy you've reconsidered."

"I…I have," Richard said nervously. "So what is it I do again?"

Reggie rolled her eyes. "We've been over this a thousand times."

"I just need to make sure I get it right."

She sighed. "Very well. Tomorrow night, you give her a call. First, you're going to apologize, tell her how sorry you are about everything. You tell her that you'll sign the papers as long as she agrees to see you one last time."

"What if she says no?" Richard asked worriedly.

"Please, I know this woman already. Sylvia might be book smart, but she is not street smart. She'll do anything you say because she so desperately wants her fairy tale happiness with her prince charming. Of course she'll agree."

Richard sighed. "Okay…then what?"

Reggie shrugged. "I think that part should be up to you. Really, I don't care how you do it, just make sure you get it done. And make sure you hide the body."

Richard nodded sadly. "And what about once people realize she's missing?"

"We tell them she ran off, eager to start her new life. Her poor captain will be heartbroken, but he won't have anything to go on because you'll be careful not to leave any clues," she said, patting his cheek, "won't you?"

Richard nodded. "Of course, darling."

Reggie smiled. "Let's eat then. And if you're a good boy, you might get some dessert."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Do you have a busy afternoon ahead of you?" Nathan continued to make small talk, hoping to keep her mind off of other things.

She shrugged. "Since I returned, all I've had to do is paperwork. Joshua was kind enough to give me the morning off, so he took on all the patients. He's really too kind to me sometimes."

Nathan laughed softly. "We'll see if that carries over to twelve hour shifts once we get back home," he mused.

She smiled. "Well, maybe not, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts."

"You know he'd let you have the whole day off if you wanted."

"Perhaps…" She looked at him. "What are you saying?"

"I have the afternoon off…and so do you," Nathan said with a satisfied smile.

"What?"

"I spoke with Joshua this morning. He told me it didn't look to be a very busy day anyway, so I asked him if he could go easy on you."

"Go easy on me?" she repeated.

"Well, yes…we all thought you'd appreciate the break…considering. I was thinking we could do something, just you and me." He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze.

But Kristin pulled away. She stood and walked a few feet away, her back turned. "I never asked for a break, Nathan," she said flatly.

"I…I know," Nathan said, standing up and walking towards her. "We all know that, but-"

She looked at him, her arms crossed. "You were just doing what was best for me?" she finished.

"Exactly," Nathan replied, taking a step towards her. "Under the circumstances, we-" The fact Kristin backed away made him stop mid-sentence. "What's wrong?"

"I don't need all of you deciding what's best for me," she said quietly, avoiding his gaze. "I think I am quite capable of doing that on my own."

"Kristin, we know we didn't mean it like that," Nathan countered. "It's just that we thought-"

She looked at him. "I know what you thought, and I suppose I can't blame you or Joshua or anyone else…but no, I don't need time off. I actually enjoy seeing the patients. That's the only time I feel like I have things under control. That's the only small bit of normalcy I have in all the chaos; I mean, besides all of you, that is. Quite honestly, if I didn't have the clinic, I'd probably have gone mad by now."

"We never meant to cross a boundary, you know. We just thought you would appreciate a break," Nathan said apologetically.

"I know; I understand."

"Look, how about I start over? I have the afternoon off, and I would love it if you would accompany me on some sort of outing. Perhaps a movie? A stroll along the Boardwalk? I honestly don't care as long as I'm with you. But of course, only if you truly want to. If you would rather work at the clinic, I'm certainly not going to argue. I'll find a way to occupy myself in the meantime," Nathan told her.

Kristin couldn't help but laugh softly. "You really are the charmer, aren't you?"

Nathan gave her an innocent look. "Who, me?"

She sighed. "When you put it that way, I guess spending the afternoon with you rather than doing paperwork does sound more appealing. But perhaps we should just stay in for the afternoon?"

"Are you sure?" Nathan asked. He tried to hide his disappointment, but he didn't do a very good job of it. "I just thought you'd want to do something more…adventurous. Like when we went dancing?"

Kristin smiled softly. "Nathan, I'm not saying I don't want to have fun with you. In fact, it isn't you at all."

"Then what is it exactly?"

"Aren't you the least bit concerned about the article? Nathan, they're watching us, and I'm not sure we want to advertise…well, whatever it is we're advertising. If we were back on seaQuest, the situation would be entirely different. But I'm supposed to be a married woman, at least until those papers are signed. And this little situation is quite a scandal."

Nathan sighed. "But everyone knows-"

Kristin shook her head. "No, Nathan, everyone doesn't know or it wouldn't be in the papers. Perhaps you can't understand because it isn't the same for you." She turned to start walking back up the beach.

Nathan ran to catch up with her. "Did Sylvia say something?"

"No."

"Then I don't think we should worry," Nathan replied. "I thought there was no right or wrong here."

Kristin stopped. "I know, but…I just think we need to be more careful. I just don't want to do anything that would attract unnecessary attention."

"Something happened," Nathan said after a brief moment of silence.

"What?"

"Something happened…in town, didn't it?" Nathan pressed.

Kristin turned away from him. "And what would it matter if it did? My point is, Nathan, that we need to be careful. I told you that from the moment we got here. But neither of us really listened. I admit, I take part of the blame…but for the rest of our time here, perhaps-"

"So what are you saying? You want to go back to Katie's?"

"No…I just think we need to be more discreet. And I'm not just saying that for my own protection."

"I've already told you, I'm not w-"

"You seem to be forgetting one very important thing," Kristin interrupted.

"What's that?"

Kristin sighed and brought a hand to his cheek. "Nathan, you've been so sweet to me, so kind, so protective…and I need you to know how very grateful I am for that. But in all this time, you've never asked the question you should have. In fact, I didn't even think of it until just this morning…when I saw the paper. We don't know what happens to you."

"What?"

"Well, Jack, rather," Kristin continued. "Lucas' Internex article," she explained. "We already know what happens to Sylvia. We know Richard dies eventually. But we don't know what happens to Jack. Maybe you're not worried about it, but I certainly am." She was sure she caught his gaze on her last few words.

"Kristin, you…I'm sure a little outing isn't going to affect my…rather, Jack's fate."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I…I guess I can't, but-"

"Look, Nathan, truth told, I did have a little encounter downtown with a disgruntled fan of Sylvia's. Well, I should say ex-fan. She was apparently not too happy about the divorce, being the good Christian woman she is. And frankly, I don't want that kind of attention, whether it's warranted or not. I think Sylvia is in enough trouble as it is, and I don't want to increase it. I have enough to handle as it is," Kristin told him. "If this were 2019, I'd love nothing more than to go to a movie with you. But right now…"

Nathan sighed and put his arms around her. "You don't need to explain. I understand, and I'm sorry I didn't quite get it before. I just thought…"

"I know," Kristin said, snuggling into him. "I just want us to be more careful…just in case. You don't want to lose me…but I don't want to lose you either."

He nodded. "I promise to be more careful then. Why don't we go back to the base? I think the lunch hour is already over."

"I think so, too," Kristin said sadly. "I suppose I need to go tell Joshua I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off."

Nathan gave her a look. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "I'm sure we can think of something to do indoors, hm?"

Nathan smiled. "Of course."

Chapter 27: But Everyone You Know

The two made their way back to the base, walking arm in arm. Since the lunch hour was over, there wasn't the risk of running into anyone who might frown upon a public display of affection like that. And Nathan could sense Kristin needed the small bit of physical comfort, judging by the look on her face. As they neared the parking lot, she laid her head on his shoulder, telling him it was what she needed indeed.

He put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. "Thank you."

"For what?" she asked, looking up at him.

"For this…for still letting me hold you, show you affection. After what you said back there…"

Kristin brought a hand to his cheek. "Oh, Nathan…I never said you needed to stop. I just said we needed to be careful."

Nathan placed a kiss to her cheek. "I am so glad of that because I don't think I could stop." He brought his face closer to hers, almost close enough to capture her lips.

Kristin felt her breath catch in her throat in anticipation.

But Nathan moved past her mouth and spoke softly into her ear, "And I hope you never ask me to."

Kristin felt her face grow warm. She was quite unsure of what to say. She simply nodded and whispered, "I won't." She was about to place a gentle kiss on his cheek when she heard a familiar sound, the clearing of one's throat.

She and Nathan both turned to see Secretary Knox.

"Ah, there're the two lovebirds," he said, a strange looking smile on his face.

Kristin and Nathan instinctively pulled away from one another, turning their attention toward the secretary.

"Uh, hello, sir," Nathan replied, sounding somewhat nervous. "We were just-"

The secretary waved a hand. "Oh, you don't need to explain anything to me. I don't judge."

Nathan relaxed a bit, but he felt Kristin's hand grip his arm as the secretary took a step closer to her. He placed a reassuring arm around her waist.

"Was there something you needed, sir?" Nathan asked.

"Not particularly," the secretary answered. "I was just on my way to a meeting when I saw the two of you. I thought I'd come over and say hello." He eyed Kristin and reached for her hand.

She hesitated but allowed him to take it. She cringed slightly when he placed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand.

"Hello, Doctor."

"H-hello," she said quietly, grateful that the secretary had released her hand.

"You seem much happier with the captain here," he noted. "He's a good man."

Kristin nodded and exchanged a glance with Nathan. "Yes, he is."

The secretary moved to stand between them, placing one arm around Nathan's shoulder and the other around Kristin's. "I'm just so happy for you two."

"Thank you, sir," Nathan replied, somewhat unsure of why the secretary was suddenly so interested in them.

Knox then turned to Kristin. "And if he doesn't measure up, you come to me, Sylvia."

"W-what?"

"I'll give him a stern talking to if he doesn't treat you right," the senator explained.

"Oh…I…well…" Kristin replied nervously, giving Nathan a desperate look.

"You don't need to worry about that, sir," Nathan recovered quickly. "Now we really hate to run, but we had plans and-"

"Oh, it's no problem; as I said, I was on my way to a meeting myself. I just wanted to be sure you two were all right. I did see that unfortunate article in the paper this morning. I hope you don't let it get to you."

"Not at all, sir."

"Good," the secretary replied, removing his arms and stepping away from them. He turned to walk away, but had an afterthought. He turned back to Nathan. "You remember what I said before; you keep a tight hold on her, Jack." And with that, the secretary turned, whistling 'Blue Champagne' as he walked.

Nathan instinctively wrapped Kristin in a quick hug. "Easy; easy," he whispered. "It's okay."

She nodded against his chest. "I didn't like him touching me."

"I know," he replied. "But it's over." He lifted her chin gently. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Let's go speak with Joshua so we can go home."

Nathan smiled softly. "Yes, ma'am."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Nathan waited patiently in her office while Kristin went to speak with Joshua.

Of course, Joshua had no problem whatsoever with her taking the afternoon off since Nathan had already asked him to arrange it. "I'll see you tonight then."

She smiled and gave him a grateful hug. "Tonight," she promised. "Um, where's Rose?" Kristin wanted to explain things to her as well.

"Last I saw her she was in exam room one, preparing it for the next patient," he told her.

She thanked him and headed in that direction. She knocked gently and was pleased when she heard her voice.

"Doc, what a surprise," Katie said when Kristin had opened the door. "I didn't see you come back after lunch, and-"

"That's why I wanted to speak with you," Kristin answered. "Do you have a minute?"

"For you, I have two," Katie said with a wink. "What's up?"

"I'm taking the afternoon off; don't worry, though…I'll be with Nathan. I just wanted to tell you because…well, after this morning, I figured you'd-"

"Oh, Doc…you don't need to explain anything to me. I mean, I appreciate you telling me, but it…it was wrong of me to question you. You were right. We're in a different time here, and we should act accordingly. I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier," Katie said sincerely.

"Oh, Katie…I wasn't angry. You don't need-"

"Yes, I do," Katie insisted. "I wasn't very understanding. It's just that I had never seen you let anyone talk to you that way."

Kristin shrugged. "Well, don't worry; I don't plan to make a habit of it. In fact, when we get out of this mess, I'll probably be looking for someone to tell off. Better steer clear of me," she teased.

Katie laughed softly and gave Kristin a hug. "I don't think there'll be any chance of me wanting to avoid you. I'll see you tonight then."

Kristin returned the hug. "I'll be there with bells on."

"And a new dress," Katie added. "Don't forget to try it on."

Kristin nodded. "I won't. I'm sure it'll fit, though. I'm actually glad you decided to get it for me after all."

"I figured you needed something. Well, I better let you go then. Have fun."

"See you soon, Katie."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

The drive back to Nathan's apartment was quiet and uneventful. Nathan noticed how quiet Kristin was; he reached over and took her hand in his. "You feeling all right?" he asked.

She gave him a weak smile. "I was just thinking about our little encounter with Secretary Knox," she admitted. "There's just something so…odd about his demeanor."

Nathan sighed. He had to admit, Knox did seem overly interested in them, and it did seem somewhat unnatural. But he wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt; he also wanted to chase away any bad thoughts Kristin might have in her mind. "I think he was just being nice."

She raised an eyebrow. "Nathan, please…are you really that oblivious?"

His eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Oblivious to what?"

"He was obviously making a pass at me. No, it wasn't direct, but what else do you think he meant when he said I could see him if you weren't, as he put it, 'measuring up'?" She shook her head. "I don't care what anyone says, there is something very ominous about the way he behaves towards me."

"Possibly," Nathan reluctantly agreed. "But that doesn't mean he's…the one, you know. And we promised we wouldn't sit here and worry about it."

Kristin looked down and nodded. "I…I know, and I'm sorry. I just…" her voice trailed off.

Nathan sighed and put his arm around her shoulders. He placed a delicate kiss to her temple. "I understand; don't worry. We just need to get your mind on something else." He thought for a moment. "So what is it you'd like to do this afternoon?"

She shrugged. "I honestly haven't thought about it."

Nathan gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. "We'll figure out something; don't worry."

A short time later, they arrived at the apartment. Kristin seemed to relax once within the shelter of the apartment walls. She sat down on the sofa and hugged a pillow to her chest.

Nathan sat next to her. "Feeling sleepy?"

She shook her head and leaned against his chest. "Not really…just glad to be here."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because I feel safe," she replied matter-of-factly. "Part of me wishes I didn't have to leave." She wrapped her arms around him. "I'm just glad you're here with me."

Nathan returned the embrace. "Oh, Kristin…" he said softly, "I'm glad I'm here with you, too." Nathan held her close for a long time. When he finally broke the hug, deciding he ought to try to think of something to get her mind off of everything, he could see she was crying. He brought a hand to her face and gently wiped the tears off her cheek. "Please, don't cry." He placed a kiss to her forehead. "Everything is going to be fine."

"I want so badly to believe that," she said through her tears, "but it's so hard when…"

"Sshh," Nathan urged. "I know, sweetheart, I know." He pulled her into his arms once again and sighed. "We can't do this all day. What would you like to do?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I suppose anything would be better than this," she said sadly.

"Indeed," Nathan agreed. He released her and handed her a tissue. "Dry those tears then."

"Where are you going?" she asked, dabbing at her eyes.

"You'll see," Nathan called from the other room.

Kristin could hear him rummaging around and making quite a bit of noise. "Do you need any help?" she called.

"No, I'm fine," Nathan called as he continued on his mission.

After several more noises that sounded like a small tornado, Nathan reappeared, his arms laden with several books and notecards.

"What is all this?" Kristin asked, taking some of the books out of his arms and placing them on the table.

"I thought we'd play a little game," Nathan told her.

"What? Poker was too pedestrian for you?" she quipped.

Nathan chuckled. "At least you're not too upset to make jokes," he noted. "Well, you know as well as I do that poker isn't much fun with just the two of us. Really, no card games are outside of 'Go Fish'."

"I happen to like 'Go Fish'," Kristin replied.

Nathan smiled. "Yes, but I think you'll find this more interesting. And this also goes with our little Connections game from a few days ago," he explained. "I thought we'd create our own trivia game and see which of us can stump the other. What do you think?"

Kristin glanced at the books he'd brought out. Most of them were of a scientific or geographic nature, and that did spark her interest. She thought for a brief moment. Anything that didn't have to do with Richard Mayfield, Frank Knox, or have to do with Sylvia's demise was really what she needed. She sat down and took a note card from the pile. "That does sound like fun."

Nathan smiled, sounding rather pleased. "Oh, I forgot the pens." He walked across the room and retrieved them out of a drawer; he handed one to Kristin. "Now, we should set up the questions as if we were playing 'Trivial Pursuit' back in our time." He then left the room again, but continued talking. "And when we have a good group of questions written down, I thought we could use this." He reappeared holding a cribbage board, complete with pegs. "We can take turns asking one another questions."

"And whoever gets to the finish line first is the winner," Kristin finished.

"Exactly," Nathan replied. "I…I suppose it's a little silly. I-"

Kristin stood and took the wooden board from him and set it down on the table. Then she placed her hands on his shoulders. "No, Nathan, it isn't silly. I really don't know how to thank you. Never in my life has any man gone to such lengths to help me through a difficult time."

"Well, I'm sure you've never gone through anything like this," he noted.

She smiled softly. "Well, no…but that doesn't mean I'm a stranger to hard times." She placed a kiss to his cheek. "You're very creative. Thank you."

"I just hope it helps to ease your mind."

"It already is," she told him.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

An hour and a half later, the game was in full swing.

"Okay," Nathan said, picking up a card from the pile in front of him. "What is the only capital letter in the Roman alphabet with exactly one end point?"

"That's easy," Kristin stated. So far Nathan hadn't been able to stump her. But she really didn't know the answer.

"Time's ticking," Nathan said after a moment.

"I'm thinking," she replied. "Could I write something down?"

Nathan laughed. "You're three questions ahead of me, and you expect me to go easy on you?"

She chuckled. "Fine. I don't know."

"At least venture a guess," Nathan told her.

She sighed. "Fine. Um…C?"

Nathan made a buzzing sound. "Nope, that's the wrong answer. It's P."

Kristin sighed. "I think that was a trick question."

Nathan shrugged. "Maybe, but you still got it wrong."

"This game isn't over yet, you know." She closed her eyes and selected a card, hoping it was a difficult question. She smiled when she read the question to herself, hoping Nathan wouldn't know the answer. "What is the only domesticated animal not mentioned in the Bible?"

Nathan gave her a look. "How did you find a question like that?"

She chuckled softly. "I found it in these books you brought out. Now do you know the answer?"

"I don't think that's a very fair question."

"We never said this game had to be fair," she teased gently. Then she said, "Your time is ticking away, sir."

"Let me think," he replied. He started listing animals off in his head.

"Tick tock," Kristin said in a sing song voice after a few more seconds.

"My Bible skills are a little rusty, you know," Nathan said in defense.

She shrugged. "Well, be that as it may, I still need answer. And if you get this wrong, just remember what that means," she replied, motioning towards the board.

"Yes, I know full well what it means. Fine, you win."

"No, that isn't fair," Kristin protested. "You need to at least give an answer so we know it's fair. You could guess the answer by pure luck."

Nathan sighed. "Very well." He thought for a few more minutes. Then he finally said, "Dog?"

Kristin made a buzzing sound, mimicking the one Nathan had made. "Nope, it's a cat." She moved her peg to the finish line. "And that means I am the champion."

Nathan chuckled. "Yes, you are. Congratulations." He put his hands on her shoulders. "But tell me, did you really know that answer yourself…before you read it?"

She shook her head. "No…the nuns didn't teach us that in school," she admitted.

"Well, I'm just glad this helped ease your mind. You do seem happier." Nathan motioned to the clock. "Can you believe we've been at this for over three hours?"

Kristin gasped. "That long?"

"Care for another game?" Nathan asked. "We could play a round or two of 'Go Fish' if you wanted?"

She smiled. "Why? So you actually have a chance at beating me at something?"

"I should have known better than to challenge you to a trivia game," Nathan stated.

"Well, I am full of useless knowledge," she said flatly. She paused for a moment. "Get the cards and we'll play a hand or two."

"You sure it isn't too juvenile for you?" Nathan asked worriedly.

She smiled. "Right now, I'd be happy playing 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey'."

"Well, maybe I can call Ben up and see if he'll volunteer to be our donkey?" Nathan joked.

This sent Kristin into peals of laughter, so Nathan joined in.

"You…you liked that, did you?" Nathan said after a moment.

"It was rather funny. And the thing is, I'd bet he'd be happy to do it if you'd asked him," she replied. "Everyone's being so sweet to me," she added quietly, a hint of sadness in her voice.

Nathan put his arms around her. "It's only because you deserve it. Don't feel bad, okay?"

She nodded. "I'll try. Get the cards, okay?"

Nathan did so and dealt the cards.

"Do you have any threes?" Kristin asked once the game had begun.

"Go fish," Nathan replied.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin won that hand and the hand after that. By the third hand, however, she suddenly became tired. She tried to stifle a yawn as she asked Nathan if he happened to have any sevens.

Nathan put his cards down. "We don't need to keep playing." He looked at the clock. "The party doesn't start until seven. You want to lie down for a bit?"

"I probably shouldn't," she said hesitantly.

Nathan gently took the cards from her hand and set them on the table. "Yes, you should," he insisted. He took her hand and led her to the bedroom. "Now, you just lie down here and-"

"What about you?"

"Oh, I'm not tired. I'll just clean up here and-"

But Kristin placed a hand on his arm. "Could you lie down with me, at least until I fall asleep?"

Nathan smiled. "Anything you want."

The two climbed into bed; Kristin laid her head on Nathan's chest while he held her.

"Nathan?"

"Yes?" he said.

"Thank you so much…for everything," she said sleepily.

He placed a light kiss to her temple. "It was my pleasure. Just remember, I'll be right here, okay? There's nothing to be frightened of."

She nodded. "Just don't let me sleep too long so I can dress for the party."

"I promise," Nathan said. He hugged her close and rubbed her back gently. And it wasn't long before he felt her relax and heard her breathing pattern change. As much as it pained him, he had to move her ever so gently so he could clean up. He knew if he stayed with her, he'd fall asleep himself. He placed a kiss to her cheek and tucked the covers in around her. "Sleep well, kiddo."

Chapter 28: Is Trying To Smooth It Over

One hour and a half later, Nathan walked back into the bedroom. Kristin looked so peaceful that he really hated to wake her. But it was going on six, and he wanted to give her enough time to get ready. He lay down next to her and watched her for a few moments. He moved to brush the hair out of her face.

The gentle touch caused her to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Nathan's smiling face.

"Hey, sleepyhead. Feeling better?"

She stretched and nodded. "A little nap is just what I needed."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it…because it's almost party time," he told her.

She nodded and sat up. "What time is it?"

"Almost six."

"Do you need to get in the bathroom at all?" she asked as she got out of bed and crossed the room to start getting the things out she'd need to dress.

Nathan bit back the laugh that was about to burst from him. He'd never seen Kristin so worried about her appearance…but then again, dress on the boat was fairly casual. "No, it's all yours."

She walked up to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I won't be too long; I promise."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin undressed, took out the dress Katie had given her, and slipped it on. Then she admired herself in the mirror. It hugged her body in just the right places, accentuating her curves. At that moment, she was grateful for the fact she'd lost a few pounds or the dress might be a little too tight.

She then slipped into a pair of heels and began brushing out her hair when she heard Sylvia's voice.

My, don't you look lovely.

Kristin put down the hairbrush and looked at herself again. "You really think so?"

Oh, yes, darling. You'll certainly make Nathan notice you.

Kristin blushed. "I…that isn't the reason…Katie bought this for me because…" she stammered in an effort to explain.

Sylvia laughed. You don't need to explain anything to me. I had a dress like that myself. Rose got it for me, and I wore it on the night of a party, too…the same night as this, actually. It was a get together, much like the one you're going to.

"You…you did?"

I know I haven't been very clear about what exactly it is you're doing here…and I admit I never said anything because I wasn't sure myself. But I think it's obvious you are reliving certain events of my life. I suppose I was so…enamored by the whole process that I never said anything because for me, it's like I'm seeing it for the first time. I've forgotten a lot of things from this time, but I do remember that dress.

"It's quite all right," she replied quietly.

No, it isn't, but you're too nice to say anything. Really, I think anyone else would hate me for putting her in this situation.

Kristin sighed. "Well, I'm not exactly thrilled, but we can't exactly change what's been done either. I just really hope you know what you're doing because I am obviously terribly frightened. But I don't think I could hate you. Besides, wouldn't that be like hating myself?"

Sylvia gave a light chuckle. Yes, I suppose it would. I really am going to do everything I can to protect you, you know?

Kristin nodded. "I know…"

And you have Nathan and all your other friends looking out for you; you're a very lucky woman.

Kristin gave another slight nod.

Everything is going to be fine; I'm sure of it.

"I…I hope you're right," Kristin replied, her voice trembling slightly.

Oh, I didn't mean to upset you, honey. I just wanted to explain.

Kristin waved a hand. "It's fine," she replied, but her eyes glistened with fresh tears.

Sylvia sighed. No, it isn't. You need to stop worrying, for now at least. You go out and have fun. I don't want you thinking about me or tomorrow, okay?

Kristin nodded.

No, I want you to promise me. I want you to say it.

Kristin tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "I promise."

Good…now dry those tears, okay? Just remember, Nathan's waiting for you.

Kristin couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Ah, there's the smile I was hoping for.

Kristin laughed softly. "You sound like him sometimes."

I think that's a good thing, Sylvia noted. Now I'm going to leave you be now, but just remember, I'll still be with you, even if I don't say anything. If you really need me for something, I'll answer you.

Kristin nodded. "Thank you…you must have known I needed to hear your voice."

Something like that, Sylvia told her. Now have fun.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Not too long after, Kristin emerged from the bathroom, her hair and makeup done to perfection.

Nathan felt his breath catch in his throat as he stared at her.

But Kristin was oblivious. "Is something wrong?" she asked when she noticed the look he was giving her. She looked down at herself. "Do I…do I look all right?"

Nathan put his hands on her shoulders. "You look fine…more than fine, actually. You look lovely."

She blushed hotly. "Thank you…you like the surprise then?"

Nathan gave her a confused look.

"The dress," Kristin replied. "It was Katie's idea."

Nathan smiled. "Remind me to thank her then."

She smiled softly and gave him a pat on the arm. "You don't look too bad yourself," she told him.

He stood back and did a little turn so she could get a better look.

She chuckled. "Very dashing, Captain."

"Thank you," Nathan said, sounding quite pleased. "Well, dear Doctor, are you ready to go?"

She nodded. "I…think so."

He took her arm. "Then let's not keep our public waiting."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

It wasn't long before they arrived at the base. For convenience purposes, the party was being held at the beach there. Nathan parked the car and held out his hand to help Kristin out of the car. Then the two slowly walked up the beach. The sun was just setting, and it gave the water an orangey-red appearance. Kristin stopped for a moment to admire it.

"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" she gushed.

Nathan put an arm around her shoulders. "It sure is." Then he added, "You're a little nervous about tonight?"

She looked at him. "Am I that transparent?"

Nathan shook his head. "No, I just know you too well. You're actually doing a very good job at hiding it."

"This is just a bittersweet moment, that's all. I have a feeling it's going to be the kind of night I don't want to end."

Nathan gave her a gentle hug. "Just try not to think of that."

She nodded. "I suppose we should go find the others then...so the party can get under way."

Nathan took her hand, and the two continued walking. As they neared the docks, they could see torches lit along with a large bonfire burning on the sand. They could also see the lanterns Ben had wanted from the party shop hung in the surrounding trees.

"Ah, there's the guest of honor," Katie gushed as she approached them. "Oh, and you look beautiful, Doc."

Kristin smiled. "Thank you. So do you." She motioned to Katie's dress, a lovely green number that looked very similar to Kristin's except that it was sleeveless.

"Thanks," Katie replied. "And you look very handsome, Captain."

Nathan smiled, leaned in closer to her, and whispered, "Thank you…and thanks for talking her into that dress."

Katie laughed softly. "I knew you'd like it."

He gave her a look.

"Just a hunch," she answered and turned back to the doctor.

"I thought this was going to just be a simple party," Kristin said as she motioned to the surroundings. "It looks like Ben really went to a lot of trouble."

Katie laughed. "Don't blame me; it was all Ben's idea. He thought you deserved something special."

"I sure did," Ben called, coming up behind them. "Don't you like it?"

"Oh, yes, Mr. Krieg. I just didn't want all this fuss for me. It really isn't necessary," Kristin said.

"It wasn't just for you," Ben replied, but he didn't sound very sincere. "We've had a long tour, and I thought we all deserved this. And just wait until you see what's for dinner."

"I shudder to think," Nathan whispered to Kristin, who laughed softly in response.

"Ben's quite excited about this," Katie said.

"Well, don't just stand there; come on, everyone's waiting," Ben urged.

They followed him up the rest of the beach to see that several tables had been brought in with the rest of the crew socializing with one another.

Kristin and Nathan said quick hellos as they followed Ben to the table that was filled with food.

"We can eat whenever you're ready," Ben told them. "We have many of the traditional island foods such as roast pork, fish, chicken long rice, sweet potatoes and taro rolls." He motioned to each dish as he said its name. Then he looked at them with a huge grin on his face. "And as long as we were here without any beef restrictions, there is one special dish I couldn't pass up." He opened the lid to reveal it.

"Hamburgers?" Nathan said.

Ben smiled. "And you can't stop me."

Nathan patted his shoulder gently. "You just enjoy it while you can."

Ben nodded. "Oh, and of course, we have plenty of soft drinks…and a little liquor as well." He turned to the crowd and cupped his hands over his mouth. "Everyone, dig in!"

Katie rolled her eyes. "That was classy, Ben."

"Hey, I never claimed to be classy. Besides, this is a party, isn't it?"

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

The group enjoyed a quiet dinner, chatting softly. And Ben even graced them with a round of Cheeseburger in Paradise, which sent the crew into peals of laughter.

After this, Katie stood. "Thank you for that lovely rendition."

"You're very welcome," Ben said with a smile.

"Yes, well, now, when you're finished eating, we have blankets and chair set up around the fire. We hope you'll join us."

Nathan and Kristin were sitting together; he turned to her when Katie was finished with her announcement. "Would you like to go down by the fire?"

She looked around and saw some of the others heading that way. "It does appear to be the thing to do."

Nathan stood and offered his hand. "Come on so we can find a good spot then."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Nathan and Kristin were the first to arrive at the bonfire. Nathan led her to a blanket laid out on the sand. He sat first and then held his hand out to help her sit. Then he pulled her into his arms and whispered, "So, are you having a good time tonight?"

She smiled softly and nodded. "So far, yes. I'm still shocked at how fast Ben pulled this all together. I even liked his song." Then she lowered her voice, "Don't tell him that, though."

Nathan laughed. "Your secret is safe with me."

"Oh, don't you two look cute together?" Katie commented as she sat on a chair next to them.

"We were just…" Nathan began, removing his arms from Kristin's waist. Even in the dim light of the fire, the rush of pink to his cheeks could not be mistaken.

Katie waved a hand. "Oh, I didn't mean to make you self-conscious," she said apologetically. "What I mean is that it's sweet. We all think so; we just want to see you happy."

"Thank you," Nathan muttered in disbelief. When did his lieutenant commander become so perceptive? Or was it he who had been oblivious to the fact she…and apparently the rest of the crew…had known something all along that he hadn't?

Katie simply smiled in response as Ben, Lucas, Miguel, and Tim joined the group, all taking places around the fire. Shortly thereafter, the rest of the senior staff arrived and they began chatting idly as they watched the fire.

Ben broke out a bottle of champagne and passed around glasses. "We've had one hell of a year," he said once everyone had a glass. He raised the glass in his hand. "And here's to many more."

"Here, here," the others chimed in as they drank to the toast.

"We've had a lot of good times," Nathan said, looking around at the others.

"And a lot of difficult times," Tim added.

"But we always get through them together," Katie chimed in.

There was a general chorus of agreement. Kristin quietly listened as she looked around at the faces, essentially her family…the one she'd known for the last year anyway. No, there was no blood between them, but that didn't seem to matter. She wanted to remember this moment, this very moment. And she was doing her best to remember every last detail of their faces…in case.

"I remember when Ben tried selling bioluminescent fish poop," Lucas piped up.

There was a chorus of laughter from the others.

"Hey, it wasn't my fault," Ben defended himself. "I thought they were glowing rocks."

"Yeah; Krieglite," Lucas teased. "As if."

"You can't blame a guy for trying," Ben replied.

Katie, who was sitting next to him, patted his arm. "Yes, Ben, you do always try…the only problem is, the thing you try hardest at is usually making a fool out of yourself."

"At least I'm a happy fool."

"I'll give you that," Katie agreed. She paused for a moment. Then she said, "My favorite mission was the when we helped the Walker children."

There were several nods from the others.

"Those children were so adorable," Kristin stated.

"Yeah…" Lucas said.

Ben gave his arm a push. "More like you thought Cleo was adorable," he teased.

Lucas' face reddened slightly. "So what if I did?" he asked defensively.

"Hey, you can dish it out, but you can't take it?" Ben countered.

"That's enough, you two," Nathan told them. He didn't want this night ruined by bickering.

"I think my favorite time was when the doctor turned off the admiral and fired the torpedoes…all to save Commander Ford and the Fagins," Miguel said after a moment.

"I think that was one of my favorite moments, too," Jonathan agreed. He looked at Kristin. "Although I am disappointed I didn't get to see you in action."

"She was quite amazing," Nathan said, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"How would you know? You weren't even there," Kristin said with a small grin on her face.

"I saw enough," Nathan told her.

"Yes, well, the admiral's still whining about those four extra torpedoes," she said flatly.

Everyone chuckled.

"He'll get over it," Ben stated. Then he thought for a moment. "Well, my favorite was going through Hurricane Sheila."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"What?"

"That's your favorite moment?" Lucas asked in disbelief. "We nearly died."

"Yeah…but we didn't. We went through something really traumatic, but we survived," Ben said matter-of-factly. "In fact, when you think about it, we have been through a lot of horrible missions." Then he looked directly at Kristin. "Including this one…but I'll bet we'll survive this, too."

Kristin felt happy tears creep up, but she did her best to keep them at bay. Nathan gave her a gentle, encouraging squeeze, telling her he felt the same way as Ben. She leaned back against his chest.

"Mine was when we found Darwin's mother," Tim stated to which the others agreed once again.

"What about you, Doc?" Katie finally asked. "What was your favorite mission?"

Kristin thought for a few minutes. "I'm not sure I could choose just one."

"Awww, come on, Doc," Lucas urged. "You have to have a favorite."

"I…I'm not sure I could pick just one," she said again. "There were a lot of wonderful ones."

"Yes, you can," Ben replied. "We all did."

After a pause, Kristin finally said, "This…this moment right now. This is my favorite. All of us…together." She took Nathan's hand in her own and reached over to Lucas, who was sitting next to her. She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze with her other free hand. "I…I wish this moment could last forever." She felt the tears creep up again, but this time, she couldn't keep them at bay.

"Oh, Doc," Katie breathed when she noticed. She stood to go to her, but Kristin held up a halting hand.

"I…I'm sorry," she said, her voice trembling. She stood and gave them an apologetic look. "I think I need some time alone. E-excuse me." She quickly retreated from the group, walking towards the water into the darkness, soft sobs escaping her as she walked away.

Katie turned to Nathan. "Should I go after her?"

"I think we should leave her…for now." He stood and walked a few feet away from the fire so that his eyes could adjust. He saw the Kristin's silhouette under the moonlight just up the beach. "Don't worry; I'll keep an eye on her," he told the others.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

One hour later, however, Kristin hadn't returned, and the others found this worrying. Katie carefully approached Nathan, who was sitting in the sand just to the right of them, his eyes fixed on Kristin.

"She's been out there a long time," she said quietly, sitting next to him.

"I know," Nathan replied. "I…I just didn't want to bombard her."

"Do you want me to try?" Katie offered.

He shook his head and stood. "No…I mean, I appreciate it, but I think I should be the one to go."

"I agree, actually."

Nathan gave her a look.

"I think she responds better to you than anyone else at the moment." She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "Just tell her we're worried. Good luck."

He gave her a nod. "Thanks, Katie." He then took a deep breath and walked towards the woman in question.

As he approached, he could see that she was now sitting in the sand with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her face was buried in her hands as she wept softly.

Nathan placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I…I know you said you needed time, but…the others are a little worried. I'm a little worried…"

Kristin nodded, but didn't speak. She snuggled into him and buried her head into his chest. "I…I didn't mean…to worry them…or you."

He wrapped his arms around her and tried to comfort her. "Oh, sweetheart, we all know that."

"I just…I didn't want…"

"Shh," Nathan soothed. "You don't need to explain." He held her tightly for several moments. Then he asked, "You know, it's getting late. We could say our goodbyes and go home, if that's what you want?" He carefully pushed her up and dried her tears with his shirt sleeve.

"I…I'm a little embarrassed," she said quietly. "I'm not sure I could face them all now…"

"You don't need to worry about that; they just want to make sure you're all right. The reminiscing wasn't done to upset you."

She gave a small nod. "I know…I just didn't realize how much I care for everyone…and how much they care about me. And I suddenly realized I don't want to lose that." Her voice began to tremble again.

Nathan wrapped his arms around her. "That's not going to happen," he told her. It was getting more difficult to believe that, but he had to try to think positively. "Everything's going to be fine."

Kristin said nothing. She simply clung to him and cried quietly in his arms.

Several minutes later, Nathan heard her sobs subside. He pulled away to look at her. "It's getting late. Maybe we should call it a night? Besides, you're shivering," he noted.

Nathan partly expected a protest, but he was pleased when she nodded, allowing him to help her up. The two walked back towards the fire hand in hand. It was apparent several members had already left for the evening. Just the senior staff remained.

As soon as Katie saw them, she approached cautiously. "Doc?" She put her arms around her and placed a kiss to her cheek.

Kristin returned the embrace and whispered something Nathan couldn't make out; he guessed it was, "I love you," because Katie said, "I love you, too." And when Katie pulled away, her eyes were glistening with tears.

And so the others followed the pattern while Nathan stood aside watching. Kristin had spoken with everyone except Lucas, and Nathan knew she'd want to spend a little extra time with him. He knew Kristin needed this time to say goodbyes, if that's what this was.

"You doing okay?"

Katie's words brought Nathan back to reality. He turned to her and nodded.

"You're awfully quiet." She looked in the direction of Lucas and the doctor. "This has to be hard…for both of them. And it can't be easy for you either."

"I'm not worried about me." He gave a nod towards Kristin. "It's her."

Katie put her hand on his arm. "We're all worried about her, but we can only hope for the best." She then gave him a quick hug.

When she pulled away, he asked, "What was that for?"

She shrugged. "You looked like you needed it. Goodnight, Captain."

"Goodnight, Commander."

Nathan watched as Kristin whispered her last goodbyes to Lucas and then gave him a long hug. When Lucas broke the embrace, they were both crying. Nathan approached carefully to offer some comfort. Lucas wrapped his arms around him, too.

"I love you, kiddo," Nathan whispered.

"Love you, too," the teen replied, trying to choke back tears.

"Try not to worry, okay?"

Lucas nodded and turned towards Miguel, and the two departed.

Nathan put his arm around Kristin. "Ready to go now?"

She nodded quietly, and the two walked back to the car arm in arm.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

The drive back was quiet; Kristin was tucked under Nathan's arm as he drove, her head on his chest. Neither of them spoke. When they had reached their destination, they walked hand in hand up the walkway.

Once inside, Nathan asked if she wanted some tea, but she shook her head in response. She simply walked to the bedroom.

Nathan waited a few moments in case she was changing. When he thought she might have had enough time to change, he knocked on the door frame. "Is it safe to come in?" But he heard quiet sniffling, so he stepped inside.

He saw the dress on the floor in a crumpled heap. Kristin lay on the bed in her slip, weeping quietly. Nathan went to her immediately. "Shh, honey; don't cry." He pulled her into his arms.

"I just…I never thought…" she stammered quietly.

Nathan grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. "I know…but at least you don't have to go through it alone. I'm right here with you, and it's going to stay that way." He then placed a gentle kiss to her cheek. "Just try not to cry, okay?"

She nodded and snuggled into him. "I…I'll try."

Nathan placed a kiss to her forehead. "We need to distract you again," he noted. He then gave the tip of her nose a light kiss.

And then their eyes met; and somewhere in that moment of despair, they both felt a spark of desire. They both moved closer together, both hesitating slightly.

Nathan was the first to close the gap. A gentle kiss first to test the waters.

Kristin responded and kissed him again, hungrily, needing to feel something more than sorrow.

Then the kiss deepened and lingered. And that led to another. And another still.

Several minutes later, Kristin was sprawled out on her back, Nathan on top of her, the two of them necking.

Finally Kristin placed a halting hand on his chest.

"What?" Nathan asked suddenly, somewhat disappointed by her interruption in the heat of passion.

She brought her lips to his ear and whispered, "I won't refuse you."

It was like a slap. Nathan knew this was something they both wanted for a long time, and he wanted her more than anything. But not quite like this. He kissed her deeply, passionately, but then he pulled back to look at her. "Kristin, I would love nothing more…but we both know that it wouldn't be right."

She shook her head. "If this is my last night on Earth, I don't want to die without…I want to show you…" her voice trailed off.

Nathan kissed her softly again. "You're not going to die."

"But you can't-"

Nathan gave her another gentle kiss. "You are not going to die. You need to believe that. All I want to do tonight is kiss you, comfort you, and hold you while you sleep. And when we get back…" He proceeded to whisper in her ear. He then gave her a kiss on the cheek. "There will be plenty of time for us to tell one another how we feel, okay?"

She nodded, feeling tears spring to her eyes again…only this time, they were of the happy kind. She gave him a soft kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Nathan replied.

"I…I know we were going to wait to say that, but I feel it's warranted," she explained.

"No need to explain, darling," Nathan replied, shifting onto his back and pulling her into his arms.

"Just don't let me go, please."

"I don't plan on it. Now try to get some sleep, okay?"

She nodded and snuggled into him, hoping that Sylvia would find a way to make sure nothing bad happened to her.

Chapter 29: Find A Way To Make The Hurt Go Away

December 6, 1941

"No! Please…"

The anguished protests uttered from Kristin's mouth caused Nathan to stir. Sometime in the night, she'd wriggled from the protection of his arms; she now lay on the other side of the bed, obviously in the midst of a very vivid nightmare.

Another soft moan escaped her lips. Her arms appeared to be pinned on either side of her head. She struggled against an invisible enemy.

Nathan tried to wake her. "Kristin, honey, wake up," he urged. He thought about touching her, but quickly decided against it, knowing that touching her might cause more of a problem. He hoped his voice would at least help her realize it was only a dream.

"No…I…I didn't!" she cried. "Please, I won't tell anyone!" Kristin looked as though she was trying to break free from whoever was holding her down. She struggled and moaned. "Get off me!" she cried, nearly in tears.

"Kristin!" Nathan called louder. "Wake up, please. It's only a dream. You're safe."

But Kristin didn't seem to hear him. She let out a cry and writhed, yet she wouldn't awaken.

"Kristin!" Nathan cried in one last futile attempt to get her attention. "Damn it, Kristin! Wake up!" Nathan wanted to shake her awake, but he knew that would only make things worse. He just wanted so badly to end whatever she was feeling; all he could do, however, was watch helplessly as she continued her nightmare.

"Oh, no, please!" she cried. "No!" Kristin's back arched as she tried to free herself from the invisible enemy. Another pained cry escaped her as she started to sob softly. "I didn't…"

"Kristin, wake up…please," Nathan pleaded, a bit gentler this time. He didn't want to take his eyes off Kristin to look at the clock, but he surmised it that it was in the early hours of the morning. He feared that if she didn't awaken soon, he'd have some neighbors knocking on his door wondering what the problem was.

Kristin moaned, cried, and struggled for a few more minutes before finally letting out a blood-curdling scream. She finally awoke, sitting bolt-upright in bed, hugging herself and sobbing quietly.

Nathan was at her side in a moment, but he waited until she seemed to acknowledge him. He simply opened his arms and waited for her to respond. It didn't take her long to cling to him; Nathan wrapped his arms around her and tried to whisper soothing and comforting words to her. Kristin sobbed quietly, her face buried in his chest.

After several minutes, her sobs quieted. Nathan continued to hold her and rub her back gently since he noted she was still trembling. Another minute or two passed when he finally asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

She gently pulled away enough to wipe the stray tears from her cheeks. "I…I couldn't…" she began, her features twisting as she struggled to find the words to explain what she wanted to say.

"Just take your time," Nathan soothed. "Relax. Take a deep breath," he instructed.

Kristin did as she was told. "It…it was dark. I couldn't find you. I…I was…there was someone…I couldn't see his face. I…" Her voice trailed off as tears crept up again.

"Ssh," Nathan soothed. "It was just a dream; everything's fine now. Don't cry, sweetheart." He hugged her tighter to emphasize his point.

Kristin said nothing, but simply snuggled into him. The dream was so vivid, but she didn't feel like sharing all the sordid details either. It was too frightening. She hoped it was just a dream, but part of her worried it might be more of an omen…and that scared her.

"Why don't we go back to sleep?" Nathan suggested. He finally glanced at the clock. "It's only a little after four."

Kristin nodded and allowed Nathan to help her lie back down.

Nathan wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "Just rest now; everything's going to be fine." He placed a gentle kiss to her temple. "Don't worry, okay?"

Kristin let out a sigh. "I'll try," she replied weakly.

Nathan reached over and turned off the light. "That's my girl," he whispered. "I'll be right here with you; remember that."

She gave another nod and snuggled into him. She knew Nathan wouldn't let anyone hurt her…but what was going to stop her from her mind? She let out yet another sigh and tried to forget, hoping that she would be able to go back to sleep again without any worries.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Twenty minutes later, Nathan was still awake. He had every intention of going back to sleep, especially since he thought Kristin had fallen back to sleep herself; at least, she hadn't made a sound, save for her steady breathing. He shifted slightly so he could look at her face. The early twilight gave off just enough light where he could see her face; her eyes were wide open. He smiled softly. "I thought you'd gone to sleep?"

She shook her head. "I tried, but…I just couldn't."

Nathan thought for a moment. He knew this was going to be a day where Kristin was going to need him distracting her…a lot. "What do you say we get out of here?"

She sat up and gave him a look. "Where are we going to go? The sun isn't even up yet."

Nathan flashed her a grin. "It's a surprise. Come on, you'll enjoy it."

Kristin gave him a suspicious look. Frankly, she hadn't intended on leaving the apartment today…at least until she was told she had to. "Nathan, I'm not sure I feel comfortable-"

Nathan sighed and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I know; believe me, I know. But this is something I think you need to do. Just trust me, okay?" He gave her a pleading look.

"Oh, all right," she told him, unable to resist the look he was giving her. "Just let me get ready…for wherever it is we're going."

"You don't need to do anything fancy," he replied.

She selected a dress from her bag and headed into the bathroom. "I won't be long," she promised.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"So, where are we going?" Kristin pressed. They'd been driving for about twenty minutes, and she couldn't help but notice they were driving out of town. She also noticed the sun still had not risen, so she couldn't help but voice her curiosity aloud.

Nathan put an arm around her shoulders. "Well, I suppose I can give you a hint. We're going to one of my favorite places in all of Oahu."

Kristin turned to look at him.

Nathan chuckled lightly. "Yes, I know what you're thinking…and yes, it does exist in our time, so I would hope it exists now. It's probably even more beautiful now…at least, I'm hoping so. And I am hoping you'll be able to appreciate it." He paused for a moment and gave her a tight squeeze. "I know this is going to be a difficult day for you, so I thought that this would help."

"Nathan, I…I appreciate what you're trying to do, but-" She stopped mid-sentence when she realized the car stopped. She looked out the window to see where they were and noticed the road had ended; all she saw was the edge of a tropical jungle and a steep, dirt-covered hill. "Where…" she began, unsure what to make of it.

"Looks like we're going to have a bit of a hike," he said apologetically. "This," he said, motioning to the vegetation, "doesn't exist in our time." He looked down at her shoes. "At least you wore flats."

She nodded. "Yes, thank goodness."

Nathan exited the car and held out his hand. "I promise this will be worth it."

She accepted his hand. Even if it wasn't, this was getting her mind off of Sylvia and her nightmares. The two started their way up the steep hill. After they'd walked nearly to the top of the hill and saw yet another hill, however, she certainly hoped Nathan knew what he was doing.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Another twenty minutes later, Kristin felt like they'd been walking for days. "If your plan is for me to collapse from exhaustion, I'm getting there," she said dryly, stopping to catch her breath.

Nathan gave her a sheepish look. "I know you're tired, but we're almost there," he promised. He looked at the sky. "In fact, we really need to hurry. I wanted to be there before the sunrise."

"No," Kristin stated, finally putting her foot down. "Nathan, I'm exhausted. Please, can I just rest for a minute? I-" She suddenly heard a sound that she couldn't place.

"You hear that, too?" Nathan guessed.

"Yes…what is that?"

"That is where we're headed," Nathan told her, pointing. He held out his hand again. "I promise when we get there, you can rest all you want. It's just a few hundred yards more. Please?"

Kristin hesitated for a moment, but she knew Nathan obviously had some sort of plan. "Oh, all right," she said, putting her hand in his. She held up a finger. "But this better be worth it; my feet are killing me."

Nathan smiled. "I promise it will be worth it. Now, let's go." He started at a steady pace, pulling Kristin along with him.

Kristin had to run to keep up with him. She was just about to give out a protest when Nathan stopped dead in his tracks. "You…you could have told me…you were going to run," Kristin said between pants, trying to catch her breath.

"Sorry," Nathan muttered, "but it seems my calculations were a bit off."

"Off?" Kristin cried. "Do you mean to tell me you've gotten us lost? Nathan, I know you were trying to do something nice…well, at least I think that's what you were doing, but I am just not in the mood for-"

Nathan simply brought a hand to her cheek and gave it a gentle push to the right. "Look," he urged.

Kristin turned her head obediently and finally realized then what the sound was that she was hearing: rushing water. It was still wasn't very light out, so it was hard to make out; but gradually, the sun began to appear on the eastern horizon. As it filtered over to them, Kristin realized they were standing on a rocky ledge bordering a clearing of the jungle. Just in front of them was the edge of a dramatic drop-off into the ocean. A small, but lovely waterfall ran down the volcanic rock beside them.

"As I was saying, I was a bit off in my calculations," Nathan said again, this time a bit quieter. "It was a little closer than I thought." He put an arm around her shoulders and led her to a small grouping of rocks that were large enough to sit upon. He sat first and then helped her sit next to him. He motioned to the horizon. "I thought you'd enjoy seeing the sunrise this way."

"Oh, Nathan," she breathed. "It's beautiful." They both watched the sky change from gray to red, then from orange to yellow. And for that short moment in time, everything seemed at peace.

"Yeah…it is," he agreed a few minutes later.

"I…I'm sorry if I was a little cranky. I didn't realize…"

"No, I certainly think you have a reason," he told her. I should have told you where we were going in the first place. I'd have been a bit cranky about it if I were you, too."

She turned to him and placed a gentle hand to his cheek. "No, Nathan, you don't need… You've been absolutely wonderful. I don't think I could ever thank you for how kind you've been. In fact, I don't know any man who would go to such great lengths to try to comfort and reassure me the way you've done. You've been…such a blessing to me." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, suddenly becoming choked up. She then leaned towards him and brushed her lips against his. "Thank you so very much," she whispered with deep emotion.

Nathan returned the kiss, allowing it to linger and deepen. When the need for oxygen caused them to separate, he continued to hold her in his arms. "I've told you before you don't need to thank me. You're always welcome. Please…I didn't mean for this moment to be sad, though. Don't cry. I wanted this to make you happy."

She nodded against him. "I know…and I am, I promise." She kissed his cheek gently. "I am very happy…so much so that I wish this moment could last forever."

"Me, too," he agreed. He hugged her tighter. "We're going to get through this together. I promise. I-"

At that moment, Kristin placed a finger to his lips. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah…what is that?"

Kristin gave him a mysterious smile. She stood and walked towards the edge of the ledge they were on. She knelt down and motioned for him to join her. "Really, Nathan, it hasn't been that long, has it?"

Nathan knelt beside her and tried to follow her gaze. "Long for what? Kristin, I'm just a little-"

This time, it was Kristin's turn to place a hand to his chin and point him in the right direction. "Look," she told him gently. "It's Darwin."

Nathan smiled softly. "So it is. I wonder how he knew."

She shrugged. "I'm not sure, but something tells me he knew we were going to be here. He seems to know that something is going on. We should go down and see him."

Nathan nodded. "You know how perceptive he is." He stood and offered his hand to help her. "It should be much easier walking down."

She smiled and accepted his hand. "I wasn't saying we should walk down exactly." She started unbuttoning her dress.

Nathan quickly caught the hint. "Kristin, you've got to be kidding."

She shook her head. "I assure you, I am not. If I've learned one thing from this experience, I've learned you need to live every moment as though it's your last…because it very well could be. You don't need to come with me, although I'd really like it if you did. But, well, I have always wanted to know what it was like to jump off a cliff into a waterfall…and this one isn't terribly high up. What do you say?" She removed her dress and laid it on the rocks they had been sitting in. She then slipped off her shoes and stockings; she faced him, wearing nothing but her slip and gave him an expectant look.

"Kristin, are…are you sure about this? I thought you weren't a great fan of heights…and we are about forty feet up."

She walked back the edge of the cliff. "I am positive," she replied. "Are you coming or not?"

Nathan stole a peek over the edge. He couldn't believe she wanted to jump from that high up, but he'd also made a promise to protect her. That meant he wasn't going to let her do this alone. He started unbuttoning his shirt. "Just give me a few minutes to undress."

Kristin let out a small whoop of joy. "I promise it will be fun."

Nathan placed his shirt next to her dress on the rocks. "I think this experience may have warped your idea of fun," he teased gently.

But Kristin ignored his comment. Instead, she cupped her hands around her mouth and called, "We'll be down there shortly, Darwin! Don't go away!"

Nathan heard the dolphin's chattering in response as he removed his pants, shoes, and socks. He then stood dressed in an undershirt and boxer shorts; he walked to stand beside her. "You realize we'll have to walk back up here to retrieve our clothes when we're through?"

She waved a hand. "A minor detail. The walk will do us good."

"That's not what you said before," Nathan pointed out.

"This is different." She looked down and took a deep breath. "Give me your hand."

Nathan did so, but he suddenly noted her nervousness. "Are you sure about this?" he asked again. "You don't need to prove anything to me or anyone else."

Kristin was quiet for a moment as she looked down to the ocean below. "I'm sure." She then turned to look at him. "Just don't let go, okay?"

Nathan gave her hand a squeeze. "I don't intend to."

She gave him a small smile and took another deep breath. "On the count of three, okay?"

"Okay."

"One." Kristin's tightened her grip on Nathan's hand as they moved into position. "Two." She shut her eyes tight. "Three."

And with that, the two of them jumped off the cliff, Kristin's breath catching in her throat on the way down.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin felt suddenly the rush of water around her; she quickly reacted and swam to the surface. Then she looked around her for Nathan. Naturally, when they'd hit the water, they'd been separated. She saw him surface a few yards away from her, and she breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, wow!"

Nathan swam over to her. "Well, was it everything you'd hoped?" he asked.

She gave him a smile and nodded. "It was better. It was…amazing!"

Nathan let out a chuckle. "It was definitely invigorating. The water could have been a little warmer, but it was invigorating."

"The water is a little chilly," Kristin agreed, "but the sun will warm us up."

Before Nathan could reply, they heard a familiar chattering, which reminded him why they had just jumped off the cliff in the first place. He turned and saw Darwin just a short distance away.

Kristin took his hand in hers and pulled gently. "Come on; he's waiting to see us."

Nathan gave her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

Kristin moved over to the dolphin and pet his melon gently.

Darwin clicked and whistled in response, causing Kristin to laugh softly.

"I think he missed you," Nathan replied after a moment.

Kristin nodded and nuzzled the dolphin. "I missed him, too."

Nathan moved closer to pet Darwin as well. There was a lull of silence that surrounded them, a moment where they felt at peace.

But Darwin was the one to break the silence. He splashed Nathan first.

"Hey," Nathan cried.

Kristin chuckled. "I think he's trying to say he wants to play."

Darwin bobbed his head up and down and clicked in response.

"Good…because I plan on getting revenge," Nathan said playfully. He swam towards Darwin, who quickly darted out of his grasp. And so the game of tag began, which had Darwin chattering and Kristin and Nathan laughing as they played. It was a bit of fun they all needed.

After twenty minutes or so, however, Darwin disappeared below the depths.

"What do you suppose that is about?" Nathan asked.

Kristin shrugged. "I'm not sure. Do you suppose he wants us to follow him?"

But before Nathan could answer, Darwin quickly reappeared with a large fish in his mouth.

"Oh, you were hungry," Nathan stated.

Darwin nodded his head up and down, but made no attempt to eat. Instead he tossed the fish towards Nathan. It landed with a slap on the surface of the water next to him, causing a splash of water in his face yet again.

Kristin covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her laugh.

"It isn't funny," Nathan said, a smile on his own face as well.

"I'm sorry," Kristin said, "but it is."

Nathan turned to Darwin. "What was that for?"

Darwin moved closer to Nathan and nosed at the fish.

Kristin laughed again. "I think he's trying to give us breakfast." Then she added, "I am getting rather hungry."

Nathan nodded, but pushed the fish towards Darwin. "Ah, you go right ahead. I think we need to be going anyway." He motioned towards Kristin. "The doctor's shivering."

Darwin nodded and clicked something in response again. He then swam over to Kristin and pushed his melon beneath her hand.

"I think he's saying goodbye," Nathan told her.

She nodded and nuzzled against him. She then whispered something Nathan couldn't make out. After a moment, she gave Darwin a pat and moved away from him so that Nathan could say his goodbyes.

Nathan leaned in close to him. "See you soon, pal."

Darwin clicked in response.

Then Nathan lowered his voice a bit more. "Don't worry; I'll bring her back to you, safe and sound."

Darwin bobbed his head up and down in response; then he grabbed his fish and swam away.

Nathan then swam over to Kristin and took her hand. "Let's get you out of this water so you can warm up."

She nodded, and the two of them swam to shore.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

The sun was quite warm, so it didn't take them long to warm up again. They started on their journey back up the hill to the ledge where they had laid their clothes.

Kristin began to redress. "At least the sun dried us off."

Nathan nodded as he buttoned his shirt. "Did you have fun?"

"Oh, definitely. Thank you so much for bringing me here. I'm almost sorry we have to leave."

"I can bring you back here again…when we get back."

Kristin didn't answer. She simply turned back to look over the ledge.

Nathan knew what she was thinking. He moved to stand at her side. "Please, don't think like that."

"I'm sorry; it's difficult not to," she muttered, averting his gaze.

"I know." He then had a thought. "We could stay a little longer; just give me a minute. I'll be right back." He turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" she called.

He turned back to her. "I'll be right back. I promise."

Kristin did as she was told, but followed him with her eyes. He disappeared into the jungle, and for several minutes, she couldn't possibly fathom what it was he was doing. But when he returned a short time later, his arms laden with fruit from the jungle, she knew.

"I thought we could have breakfast here. We have mangoes, guava, and some bananas."

"Oh, that's lovely," she said with a smile.

Nathan motioned for her to sit. Then he took out his pocket knife and cut a mango in half; then he handed part of it to Kristin.

The two ate in blissful silence.

As they were finishing the last pieces of banana, Kristin leaned over and kissed him.

"Hmm…I'm not complaining, but what was that for?" Nathan asked.

"For a wonderful morning," she replied. "Thank you."

Nathan smiled. "You've already thanked me…but thank you for doing it again."

Kristin let out a sigh. "But I do suppose we ought to be getting back."

"Don't sound so disappointed," Nathan told her. "The rest of the day can be lovely, too."

Kristin gave him a doubtful look.

Nathan wrapped her in his arms and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. "We'll get through it."

She nodded and allowed him to lead her back to the car.

Chapter 30: And Everyone You Know

The drive back to the apartment was quiet and uneventful. Kristin sat snuggled up to Nathan as per the usual, her head resting on his shoulder as he drove.

He took his eyes off the road for a brief second to steal a glance at her; he noticed the pensive look on her face and sighed softly. He knew she had so many worries going through her head that she hadn't voiced to him or anyone else. He also noticed the uncharacteristic pallor of her skin, the dark circles under her eyes. No, this was not his Kristin. It may have sounded like her, occasionally acted like her…but for the most part, this was not the woman he had known before they were transported into this time period.

He didn't blame Kristin for it at all, however. Considering the situation at hand, he found it quite remarkable that she hadn't disintegrated completely. Yes, she had broken down on many occasions, and he'd been there to see her through it. But for the most part, she was holding up fairly well; she was quite strong. He knew Kristin was a strong woman before all this, but he really did not realize how much so until this particular situation arose. He was sure that even she didn't know it until then, although he was sure she certainly didn't feel that way.

When he came to a traffic light, he stole a glance at her again. He squeezed her gently with his free arm. "You're awfully quiet," he noted.

"I'm sorry; I didn't realize," she replied quietly. "I was just…thinking."

Nathan wanted to prod her a bit, but he held back, knowing it might upset her more. "Well, if you want to talk…" he said, stepping on the accelerator once light had turned green again.

She nodded. "I know," she told him, "but I'm fine, thank you."

Nathan placed a light kiss to her temple and dropped the subject.

A few minutes later, Nathan pulled the car to a stop in front of the apartment building, and the two walked inside.

"So," Nathan began once the door was shut, "what would you like to do?"

She sat on the sofa and shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it."

Nathan thought for a second. "Well, how about some music at least?" He turned on the radio; Angel in Disguise was playing. "I always liked this song," he commented.

Kristin said nothing, but she listened intently. She sighed and tried to relax.

A few minutes later, the tune changed. The song was Because of You. Nathan walked towards her and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?"

She hesitated. "Nathan, I-"

"Please? It's just us."

She thought for another second, then put her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the middle of the living room floor. It was a bit awkward at first as they tried to keep in time with the music, but by the end of the song, they found their rhythm.

"See? This isn't so bad," Nathan insisted. "In fact, you look like you're having fun." There was a bit of a lull while the announcer was speaking.

She smiled. Nathan always seemed to know what she needed even when she didn't know it. "You think you're so smart."

"Maybe," he told her. "Or maybe I just know you. Now get ready; another song is about to start."

A moment later, I Remember You sounded through the room.

"Oh, I love this song," she gushed.

Nathan held her close, and the two moved with the music.

Kristin laid her head on his shoulder and felt at ease. Nothing else existed. There was no Frank Knox, no Richard, and no Sylvia. It was just them, and it was lovely. As the song ended, their eyes met. They smiled softly at one another, and Kristin brought her face a bit closer to his.

Nathan leaned in closer as well to the point where they were just barely touching. He hesitated at first, looking into her eyes for approval. She gave a slight nod, and that was all he needed.

He leaned in closer to close the gap when suddenly there was a knock at the door, ruining the moment.

Kristin jumped and let out a soft cry, obviously startled. "Who…who could that be?"

Nathan noticed that she became increasingly worried once again. He gave her should a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," he told her. Then he walked over to shut the radio off.

Despite Nathan's attempt at reassurance, Kristin couldn't stop her heart from racing. What if it was the secretary general? She wasn't sure she wanted to find out. She excused herself and headed into the bathroom.

Nathan sighed. Just when he was getting her to relax… He shook his head and opened the door, but was relieved to see Ben, Katie, and Lucas.

"Surprise," Katie greeted him with a smile.

"I thought you were working today?" Nathan replied, stepping aside to allow them to pass.

"Well, Saturdays on the base are rather…boring," Lucas blurted out. "We got permission to leave."

"And we thought we'd come see the doc," Ben added.

"I hope it's okay that we're dropping by." Katie looked around. "Where is she?"

"Uh, wait here; I'll go get her," Nathan replied. "Make yourselves at home." He headed in the direction of the bathroom and knocked gently on the door. "Kristin? You have company; just some of our friends."

When no answer came, he knocked again. "Kristin?" He tried the knob and was relieved to find it unlocked, but what he found was heartbreaking. He found her sitting on the floor, her knees pulled up to her chest. She was crying softly.

He sat next to her and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, sweetheart," he whispered softly. "What's wrong?"

Kristin took a few deep breaths before speaking. "I…I thought it might be…I came in here…I…" she began.

Nathan understood completely; he hugged her tighter. "No, it's just Lucas, Katie, and Ben; they wanted to come by and see you." He kissed her cheek. "I know what you thought. Please, don't cry."

She nodded and did her best to stop. "I was suddenly so scared. I…"

"Ssh; you don't need to explain," Nathan told her. "I understand, but you're safe. You don't need to worry."

She nodded and clung to him. "Please…just hold me," she whispered as she did her best to calm down. She felt Nathan tighten his hold on her, and the two stayed that way for several minutes.

When Nathan heard her breathing pattern return to normal and that her crying ceased, he said, "Feeling better now?"

She nodded. "Thank you."

He pulled away and stood, holding out his hand to help her up. "I'll give you a few moments to freshen up; I'll tell them you'll be out soon."

Nathan then headed back out into the living room.

"Is everything all right?" Katie asked worriedly, walking up to him. "The doctor…is she-"

"She's fine," Nathan promised. "It's just been an emotional day so far…but she is eager to see you."

Katie nodded and lowered her voice. "That's why we wanted to see her; after last night… Of course, we don't want to upset her, either."

Nathan shook his head. "No, I think this will be good for her. She needs to get her mind off of what might or might not happen later."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin sighed as she stared at herself in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself. She looked as though she hadn't slept in weeks. Had she been one of her patients, she'd have ordered her to take time off and rest. If only it were that easy; not that she could rest as it is. She couldn't even hear a knock at the door without going into hysterics. She suddenly felt ashamed, embarrassed.

She could hear Nathan speaking to the others. She wondered what he was telling them exactly, but all she heard were murmurs. And when she did go out there, what would she say? She sighed and wiped away the streaks of mascara that had run onto her cheeks with a washcloth. She wondered how in the world she was going to get through the rest of this day.

You'll survive, Sylvia said.

"Even you can't be sure of that," Kristin replied quietly.

I promised I wouldn't leave you, and I haven't. I've been with you the whole time. That has to count for something. I've already promised you I'll do everything in my power to make sure you will be all right.

Kristin nodded. "And I've already told you I know. I completely understand, but I can't possibly change the way I feel. We both know things could go wrong…"

You need to try to forget for the time being…or at least try.

Kristin nodded, but didn't speak.

And don't worry about what your friends think; they just want to see you, that's all. You needn't worry about them.

"I want to see them, too."

Then go see them, Sylvia urged. Try not to worry about later, please?

"I'll do my best," Kristin promised. She took a deep breath and started toward the living room.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Sorry I kept you all waiting," Kristin said when she entered the living room. She gave them a small smile. "This is a lovely surprise."

"Oh, you didn't think we could stay away, did you?" Katie said, standing up to give her a tight hug. She then lowered her voice and spoke into Kristin's ear, "And after last night, we wanted to be sure you were all right."

"I'm feeling much better now that you're here," Kristin returned. "Thank you so much for coming to see me."

When Katie broke the hug, her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and Kristin almost broke down right there. Even though this was a happy time, it was still quite emotional. But when Katie noticed Kristin's look, she offered her a smile to show that she was fine.

After greeting hugs from Ben and Lucas, Kristin said, "I thought you three were supposed to be working all day?"

"We were released early," Ben replied.

"Oh, dear," Kristin replied. "You didn't do anything to provoke the brass, did you?"

Ben chuckled and held up his hands. "I swear I'm innocent."

"Actually, there wasn't much to do; they asked for volunteers to go home. Ben and I took on the hardship," Lucas said melodramatically.

"Oh, how very gallant," Nathan quipped.

"And Doctor Levin told me I could leave; the hospital was slow," Katie added.

"So did you two have a nice morning?" Katie asked, looking at both Nathan and Kristin expectantly.

"Oh, it was very nice indeed," Kristin replied.

"I took her on a morning hike," Nathan explained.

"Yes, and we watched the sunrise, and we got to spend some time with Darwin," Kristin added. "It was a lovely morning."

"Darwin…how is he?" Lucas asked. "I hadn't gotten to spend as much time with him as I wanted. He's probably mad at me."

Nathan placed a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think he's mad at you, and he seemed just fine."

"He misses us," Kristin added, "but I'm sure he understands."

"So what are you plans for the rest of the day?" Katie finally asked, taking Kristin's hand and ushering her over to the sofa.

Kristin looked expectantly at Nathan. "We honestly didn't have plans."

"We were just playing things by year," Nathan added.

"Well, in that case," Ben said, taking out a deck of cards from his pocket and shuffling them, "how about some poker?" He looked at Kristin. "It would just be for fun, of course."

Nathan exchanged a glance with Kristin. "I have no objections, but it's the doctor's decision."

"Oh, why not?" she said.

Nathan ushered everyone to the table, but he pulled Kristin aside. "You sure you're up to this?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm fine; it'll be relaxing."

"Not that I'm complaining to see your mood has improved."

She gave him a soft smile. "I think it's the company." Then she gave him a wink. "Now come on so I can beat the pants off of you."

"That sounds like a threat," he teased.

She shook her head. "No, it's a promise," she stated, a wry smile on her face. With that, she headed to the table with Nathan following close behind.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"Now tell me again what it is you're going to do." Reggie turned to Richard expectantly, cigarette in hand. She was sitting at the dining room table, her long legs swung across it.

Richard, who was sitting across from her, sighed. They'd been over this about ten times that week. "Do I really have to tell you again, darling? I already know."

She leaned over and pinched his cheek. "You say you do, but I want to be sure. It's game day…and I want to make sure you don't intend on breaking the rules."

"I'm going to call Sylvia up later tonight," he replied obediently.

"And why tonight?" she challenged, an eyebrow raised.

"Why do I need to tell you when you know perfectly well why?"

"Oh, Ritchie." She moved to stand behind him and ran a finger just around the outer edge of his left ear. Then she over close to speak into his ear. "I'm starting to suspect your affections for me are waning. You don't want that, do you?"

"N-no, my dear. I love you with all my heart," he assured her.

She smiled and stepped around to face him. She sat on his lap. "Then you'll do anything for me, won't you?"

He nodded. "Of course."

She then took his necktie in hand and gave it a rough tug. "Then when I ask you a question, you'll be sure to answer without any lip," she said through gritted teeth.

"S-sorry, my darling," Richard spat.

She released him, pleased that he was willing to comply. She then placed a kiss to his cheek. "As long as we have an understanding."

He nodded.

"So tell me again; why are you waiting until tonight?"

"Because it's harder for witnesses to see."

"Ah, but you'll be sure there aren't any witnesses, won't you?"

He nodded.

She patted his cheek again. "That's a good boy. And what will you tell her?"

"I'll tell her that I'll sign the papers…if she agrees to meet me here."

"And?"

"I'll tell her how sorry I am, put on the charm…so that she'll agree," Richard replied.

Reggie smiled. She captured his lips in a passionate kiss. When she broke it, she said, "There's more where that came from if you tell me what's next."

"Next?"

"Well, yes," she answered. "I know I told you I didn't care how you did it, but part of me is curious now. How are you going to do it?"

Richard was taken aback. To be perfectly honest, he hadn't had much of a plan at all. "Well, I'm going to kill her."

She snickered. "Well, of course…but how?"

Richard hesitated.

"Oh, no," she replied after a moment once she realized he had no plan whatsoever. She pushed herself off his lap. "I don't believe it. You mean to tell me after all this time, you haven't once thought about how?"

"I…I…" Richard stammered. "It isn't something I've thought about, to be honest. I was going to improvise."

"You imbecile!" Reggie shouted. "I told you needed to be as discreet as possible, did I not?"

"You did, dear," Richard replied quietly, averting her gaze.

"And do you really think that improvisation allows for discretion?"

"I…well…"

"Fine…let's say we're doing it your way. What are you going to do when she starts screaming? Don't you think the neighbors might wonder what's going on?" Reggie challenged.

"I don't…the neighbors never seemed very concerned before…"

She groaned in frustration. "That's not the point. If we want this to go exactly perfectly right, you need to have some sort of plan. Yes, in the spur of the moment, you can diverge from it slightly…but you need to know what it is you're going to do in the first place."

"Okay…I'll take a knife and stab her."

She shook her head. "No…we didn't want a mess, remember?"

"So no gun either?"

"No." She rolled her eyes. "Oh, do I have to think of everything?" She thought for a few moments. "You'll have to knock her out somehow. That should keep her from crying out."

"Fine."

"After that, the possibilities are endless. There's suffocation, strangulation…just make sure you do it fast. Even you should be able to handle that."

"Of course."

"And after that?" she asked hopefully.

"I get rid of the body?"

She clapped her hands. "Finally, you got one right. Now you better not screw this up, Ritchie, you got it?"

"Yes, dear, I understand completely."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

"I fold," Nathan announced, looking across the table at Kristin.

"Oh, come now, Nathan, I thought this was just for fun?" she teased.

"He must consider losing fun," Lucas joined in.

"Hey, you lost the last hand as well, so I wouldn't get too cocky," Nathan replied.

"Okay, show your cards," Ben called out.

By sheer luck, Kristin had won the fourth hand; she'd won every hand actually. "Okay, what's going on?" she asked.

"We have no idea what you mean," Katie said innocently.

"I am never quite this lucky in poker." She looked across the table at Nathan. "And I've never seen you quite so unlucky."

Nathan held up his hands. "I honestly didn't do anything."

"Me either," the others chimed in.

Kristin didn't quite believe them, but it didn't matter. They were trying to be kind to her, get her mind off things, and she appreciated it more than anything. "Another hand?"

"Actually, we do have lunch plans," Katie replied. "You two could come along if you'd like?"

Kristin looked at Nathan. "Oh, no…I think we'd rather stay in, but thank you so much for coming by."

"It was a lot of fun," Lucas told her as he leaned in for a hug.

Katie and Ben followed suit.

At least this time, Kristin didn't break down in tears. She was worried she might not see them again, but she pushed that aside for the time being.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Once they were alone again, Nathan turned to her. "Are you hungry? I was going to make a sandwich."

"Let me help you," Kristin offered.

The two of them worked together, making small talk as they did so. Then they ate quietly.

After lunch, Kristin went to sit on the sofa. After washing off the table, Nathan went to sit next to her. "Anything else you'd like to do?"

She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Just be here next to you," she answered quietly.

Nathan put his arm around her. "That's all I want, too."

They talked quietly about anything and everything for hours, and before they knew it, the afternoon had turned into evening.

"You just sit here," Nathan told her. "I have something special planned for dinner."

"Are you sure you don't want help?"

He shook his head. "No, I want you to just relax…or do whatever you like."

She smiled softly. "I think I'll take you up on that. I did have one thing I wanted to do." She placed a kiss on his cheek and headed into the bedroom.

"I'll let you know when dinner's ready," Nathan said.

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Kristin had dreaded this moment, but it was something that had to be done. In case this was her last night on Earth, she had wanted to write some letters to all the special people in her life, mainly her daughter, Cynthia. But she also wanted to write one for Nathan and one for Lucas.

As she started writing to Cynthia, she felt tears sting her eyes. She had kept them at bay for as long as she could, but composing these letters was not going to be an easy task. By the end of the letter, the tears were flowing freely. She wiped at her cheeks and began writing one for Lucas.

Really, it was really more of a repeat of what she'd told Cynthia, telling him how much she loved him and that she always will, how he'd always have a special place in her heart, and how she'll always be with him.

And then it was time to write Nathan's. Part of her was sure he already knew what she wanted to tell him, but this was a, "Read this if I don't make it," type of letter. She wanted to remind him of how much she loved him and that he deserved to be happy. No, they hadn't really come out and said those words to one another, but that wasn't from lack of trying. She had told Nathan not to tell her yet, and there was a reason for that. But she would be damned if she was going to die without letting him know everything she had in her heart.

Just as she was finishing the last line, Nathan appeared in the doorway, unbeknownst to her. He saw her sitting at the small desk in the corner, weeping quietly. "Kristin?"

She wiped her tears away and turned to him. "It's nothing," she told him. "I was just…" She sealed Nathan's letter and handed him the bundle. "You promised me you'd deliver these…in case."

Nathan glanced at the names written in her delicate handwriting. When he saw his own name, he gave her a questioning look.

"This is only to be opened if I can no longer be with you," she told him.

He nodded and put the letters in his pocket. He then took her hand in his and gave it a gentle kiss. "Come on, dinner's getting cold."

-sQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQsQ-

Nathan had the lights dimmed low, lit candles on the table. He'd made crab legs and shrimp with vegetables on the side.

"This is just lovely," she said. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Nathan then poured them both some wine. "I thought that we should do something a little special tonight."

The two ate while talking quietly, neither of them in any rush to get the meal over. It was relaxing.

After the meal, she and Nathan washed dishes together. Then after that, he ushered her to the sofa and without a word, he enveloped her in his arms.

Kristin did the same. They both had the sinking feeling their time was drawing to a close, and neither of them wanted to think of that.

After a moment, Nathan kissed her temple and then he tilted her chin so that he could kiss her lips.

Kristin eagerly returned his kiss. "I wish this didn't have to end," she whispered softly.

Nathan placed a tiny kiss on her nose. "It won't; we'll only be separated for a little while. You have to believe that."

She nodded, but didn't speak. She offered him a weak smile.

"That's my girl," he replied. He then pulled her into his arms again, and the two stayed that way for quite a long time…that was until the phone rang, causing both of them to jump.

Nathan made no attempt to move at first until Kristin said, "You'd better go answer that."

He nodded and reluctantly pulled himself away. He picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

Kristin could only hear Nathan's end of the conversation, but she could already tell who it was. Sylvia had already told them this. It was the admiral; she felt her heart sink at the realization.

"Can't it wait until Monday, sir?" Nathan asked, hoping to try to change something…anything. "I see…yes. All right…but only for a short while. Yes, sir…I'll be right there, sir. See you soon." He then hung up the phone and turned to Kristin.

"You don't need to explain," she replied. "We already knew it was coming."

"Yes, but I was hoping…it'll only be for a little while." He then headed to the bedroom and quickly changed into his uniform. He found Kristin crying softly. He wrapped her in his arms again.

"I promise I'll be as fast as I can. I'll come for you." His voice trembled as he spoke. "I am not going to let you go."

Kristin only cried a little harder, unable to speak. She buried her face in his chest.

Nathan gently pushed her back to look at her. "I will always love you, no matter what happens." He then kissed her passionately.

Kristin returned the kiss. "I love you, too," she replied quietly.

Nathan nodded and reluctantly tore himself away from her. He gave her one last look before heading out the door. Then he quickly left, hearing soft sobs from Kristin as he walked down the corridor. As he walked to the car, he pleaded softly, "Jack, if you're listening, please, help me protect her."

And Jack promised that he'd try.