A.N. Hey, this is my first fic, so I'd really appreciate reviews. Go easy on me though, I'm a newbie. If I get enough positive feedback, I might write more. I noticed there weren't to many Dr Rush/Mandy Perry fics so I thought I'd try something out. If I do end up writing more, I'll be trying for some smut, so fingers crossed for good reviews! Enjoy!


Dr. Nicholas Rush sat in the command chair of Destiny's empty bridge rubbing his temple tiredly. He gazed around the dim, quiet room. Three years. It had been three whole years. The rest of the crew had staggered off to their quarters for some much needed sleep after three years of waiting in stasis. He was too restless to sleep. That at least was the same. He knew he needed it, but he couldn't bring himself to leave the bridge. He ran his fingers gently over the controls closest to him, bringing displays and diagnostics to life. Everything appeared to be in order. He sighed and rubbed his eyes as he began writing a program to run a check on all the main systems.

I'll go to bed when I've finished this program and sleep for a few hours. Just have to finish this first… His thoughts trailed off as he felt a brush of cool air across the back of his neck. He stopped, looked over his shoulder, and narrowed his eyes. If Eli is back at his kinos… but it wasn't a kino. There was nothing there.

Alright, time for bed. I'm imagining things. I can continue this in a few hours. He left the program he was working on and headed out of the bridge and into the silent, empty halls of Destiny's interior. His shoes made a sharp clacking noise against the metal floor, echoing eerily around the quiet corridor.

Nicholas. A breath of cool air across his back carrying his name made him stiffen. He stopped and looked around, eyes narrowed. It was entirely possible the life support systems were acting up. Three years with no one tending to it was bound to take a toll. Once he was sure no one was in the corridor with him he continued on to his room cautiously.

The door to his room opened and he breathed a small sigh of relief. Everything was just as he'd left it. He quickly removed his clothing and crawled onto the bed, remembering how uncomfortable they actually were. He lay on his back for a while, staring up at the ceiling, picking up where he'd left off on problems before going into stasis. Eventually, he rolled to his side and fell asleep.

He stood outside a door in an empty hallway on Destiny, the cold metal of the corridor making him shiver. A sense of dread was slowly coiling in his stomach as he stared at the closed door. He knew what he'd find, but he also knew he had to do it. He reached and pushed the button to open the door. He stepped through and looked down at the floor and felt his throat tighten at the sight. Amanda Perry, broken and bleeding, sprawled out on the floor of her quarters. He trembled and knelt slowly by her side, picking her up and cradling her cold, limp body. He rocked back and forth for a moment, holding her to him.

He froze as cold laughter echoed to him from somewhere in Destiny's interior. He looked up and saw Simeon standing in the corridor outside the room. He was smiling as he took off running into the labyrinth of passageways. Rush laid Mandy's body down as gently as he could and got to his feet, giving her one last look as he took off after the killer. He ran for what seemed like miles, always just out of reach. He'd run around a corner and see his target disappear around another, and always the laughter echoed around, taunting him. Finally, he ran down a hall that seemed to lead to somewhere brighter. He rounded the corner and found himself outside.

The sun, glaringly bright, shone down on the desolate landscape. Rush looked around him, frantically searching the desert now surrounding him. He glanced down and found he held a gun, low on ammo. Shots fired around him and he dove for cover. Rush's breath was harsh in his ears as he leaned against the rocky outcrop he was using for cover. He took a breath, quickly spinning around, letting a shot loose before ducking to safety again, narrowly avoiding getting shot himself. He was trembling; rage and grief sweeping through him. Another shot rang out, hitting the rocks just above his head. An explosion off to his right and approaching thunder gave him a momentary triumph. The screams of the murderer caused a grim smile to spread across his haggard face. Once the thunder had passed he stood over the murderer, now beaten into the dust. Rage filled him as he saw the man was still smiling, still mocking him. He raised his gun coldly and shot him, but the smile remained. The smile wouldn't die, and it was soon joined by laughter. The laughter got louder and louder until it filled his head, and he knew that that no matter what he did, he'd never get her back…

Rush started awake with a gasp, trembling and sitting bolt upright, the laughter still echoing in his mind. He forced himself to calm down, lying back on the pillows, taking deep, harsh breaths through his nose. His efforts were in vain, as his breaths turned to sobs and he shook, arms wrapped around his torso clutching himself. He curled up on his side and tried to muffle his sobs in the pillow. He was so tired, so lost.

A cool hand touched his forehead and soothed him, allowing him to relax. He opened his eyes, but couldn't see anything in the darkness of his room through the haze of tears. He made as if to say something, but a cool finger brushed his lips and a breathy shhhh quieted him. He leaned back, letting his mind relax, the horror of his dream leaving him. Just before he nodded off, his mind grasped at what made the voice and the presence so familiar, but failed as he finally slipped into a deep and dreamless sleep.