A/N Please listen to 'I believe' from a wrinkle in time for the first chapter. Trust me, this will hit you at full force when you visualize a scene with the song fading in the background.

Today, Smith felt genuinely happy and free. It was as though the constant threat of being doomed had been yanked off his mind. He was happier than he had been in years. Smith was happily humming, loudly, much to Don's annoyance that morning and readily volunteered to go out rock hunting with Will. They had decided going into the nearest cave that was also very close to the Jupiter 2 was the best place to go. Smith didn't act afraid in the cave but instead was happily humming. It was a dramatic change from the normally terrified doctor and a welcomed one for Will. The cave they had entered was radiating soft, wavy lights that ranged in intensity and tone drew their attention. Will looked up toward the ceiling with wide eyes and a fascinated gasp. Penny was afar with Debbie searching for food that it liked along with the Robot.

"This is majestic," Will said.

"Beautiful," Smith said. "Not much as a eyesore as the sun."

"So that is what the aurora lights are like," Will said.

"Indeed, indeed, they do," Smith then looked over toward the boy as it had occurred to him. "Hmm?" Smith raised a silver eyebrow. "Didn't you see them on our previous visit to a snow planet?"

"No," Will said. "I wasn't exactly paying attention. Must have been spectacle. All the skies look alike these days. . ."

"My boy, don't dwell on the past," Smith said, placing a comforting hand on Will's shoulder. "as my aunt Maude once said: dwell on the present."

Will looked up toward Smith.

"You're very wise, Doctor Smith," Will said.

"I like to think I am," Smith said. Smith reached his hand off Will's shoulder then walked on ahead. "Hmm. . ." Smith sighed, shaking his head, then clasped his hands together. "There must a collection of rocks and crystals laying around here. . ."

"Wait up," Will called, coming after Smith.

"You know what I love about being alive?" Smith asked.

"Getting to have fun and over-eating," Will said.

"Asides to that," Smith said.

"What's that?" Will asked.

"Spending time with my family that I love deeply," Smith said, then looked both ways making sure that they were alone. "Don't tell the major I said that."

"I can do that," Will said, bemused. "And I love you too."

Smith picked up a diamond then popped it into the sack.

"Ah, it seems the fruits of our labors is not far off," Smith said, then picked up another and admired it.

"Don't get too many," Will said. "Or this time you might have to knit up the hole yourself."

"I learned from that mistake, William," Smith said.

"And that was?" Will asked.

"Do not get chains decorated in diamonds," Smith said.

"I think that's not what the lesson was," Will said.

"Then what was it?" Smith asked.

"Don't get so many," Will said, then Smith pat on his head lightly.

"Diamonds are rare and when they shine so brightly, it's best to admire them when you have the time," Smith said. "Because they are capable of losing that," he admired the colorful diamonds that were gathered up in a pile. "You're a diamond and you are never going to lose that unlike I."

"Thanks," Will said. "Look!" Will picked up a large green gem.

"Why, my boy, you've found a jade," Smith said, once by Will's side. "Very large."

"We can exchange this for new winter equipment," Will said.

"A tedious task finding the equipment," Smith said, coming to a stop in front of Will. "May I hold it?"

"Sure," Will said, then handed it to Smith.

He held the large gem above his eyes looking at it with curiosity.

"Hmmm. . . Quite a marvelity," Smith said.

Smith handed it back to Will making a long cut on his fingers.

"You should be more careful," Will said.

Smith slipped out band-aids then used one by one on his bleeding fingers until all four slits were covered up.

"One cannot expect to be cut by jade," Smith retorted.

"Only if you handle it right," Will said, then Smith baa-ed back.

Smith picked up the trash then slid them into his pocket and went over to the pile of diamonds. He could determine if they were real when crossing paths with the Robot-speaking of which, his circular disk needed a replacement. Again. Determining if diamonds in the past week were the real deal had taken their toll on the Robot. It would take some time to recreate the bubble head if they were not near a space station that had plenty of bubble head used commonly as vases. Smith rubbed the side of his head feeling a headache coming on momentarily regarding the subject. Smith regained his balance then shook his head. The two carefully put the diamonds and gems into the sacks. The cave violently trembled abruptly below them. The two dropped their sacks and Smith's left hand slipped against his right palm leaving a long, painful cut on it. Smith landed against the glowing pile.

"William!" Smith shouted.

Will managed to get up as the ground continued to tremble. Smith bolted over to Will's side then helped him up to his feet then lead the way from their sacks. Pieces of rock clashed to the floor breaking into pieces, large bodies of crystals began to fall from above crashing around them, all the while Smith was doing trying to lead the boy to safety. Coming to abrupt stops when the large bodies of crystals crashing in front of him, Smith cowering in fear with a loud shriek, and running around the falling rocks it appeared that they were going to die. Smith saw a part of the cave that didn't seem to have a disturbance.

"We're almost there!" Will said.

"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear," Smith whined.

"We're going to make it!" Will said.

"We're doomed!" Smith said.

"It's just a earthquake," Will said.

"Any earthquake can be fatal," Smith said, in a remarkably calm tone.

Will's hand slipped out of Smith's hand.

"Doctor Smith!" Will shouted, seeing Smith's figure become smaller to his vision as pieces of rock were falling around him with a thunderous applause.

"Run, William, run!" Smith replied.

Then the ground violently trembled knocking Smith to the other side of the cave that lacked disturbance where he hit his head. Smith's eyes opened to see darkness was ahead of him. Smith flipped over onto his side then reached out, gently, with his left hand feeling around for Will. Smith stood up then felt even forwards. It seemed that he was blocked off. Smith tossed rock after rock over his shoulder calling out for the child until he didn't have the energy to continue digging a hole. The imagery of Will laid underneath the rocks that acted as his final tomb was stung in his mind. A image that he could only see in his mind. Never-mind that he couldn't get through it.

"William. . ." Smith started. "William!" Smith tried again. "Can you hear me?"

There was no reply.

"Knock if you can hear me," Smith said.

There was no knock.

"Sing, talk, growl, whistle," Smith said. "Please, William, do something."

There was nothing of the sorts that could be his reassurance.

"Anything!" Smith plead.

Smith lowered his head.

"No. . .No. . . No. . ." Smith wept, his hands on his knees, and lowered his head as tears began to come down his cheeks. "No!"

From the distance, there was a blue light headed his way. It was small at first then began to grow larger and larger to reveal that within the light there were two figures coming toward him. A young man and young woman were side by side coming toward Smith's direction. Smith's left hand was covered in blood and he slowly gripped onto his hand without so much of force. It was a gentle grip that didn't squeeze on the injury. The young, and rather cute woman knelt to his side and so did her companion.

"Hello, I'm a doctor," came the doctor. "How did you get here?"

"Uh, I don't think he is supposed to be glowing," came the taller man as the camera panned back to reveal a golden glow about him.

Smith closed his eyes, unresponsively.

"He must be a native of this planet," the doctor said.

"What the hell is happening to him?" her companion said.

The yellow glow slowly slid away before their eyes. Their eyes lowered and lowered watching the light retreat from his head down to his shoes until it was gone. His colorful yellow shirt turned to dark yellow, his dark purple shirt turned to black, his pink skin turned to a depressing shade of gray blending in with the people around him. His silver hair had turned to dark gray. The doctor and her companion looked down toward Smith with puzzled looks on their faces.

"It should have been me. . ." Smith said, finally. His gaze on the now-much-clear blocked passageway. "It should have been me. . ." The voices of those around him were like background static to him. He wasn't paying attention. "It should have been me-"

"What happened here?" her companion asked, shaking Smith's shoulder. Smith looked on. "Hello?" her companion waved a hand in front of Smith's face. "Anyone there?"

Smith stared at the companion in a way that indicated he saw through him.

"It should have been me," Smith repeated.

"What should have happened?" her companion asked, raising a eyebrow.

"Stop it!" the doctor said. "He is in shock."

"I have seen people in shock like him," her companion said. "Normally, they can talk about what happened."

"What happened is that there was a collapse and he was the only survivor," the doctor said. "I can determine more if he is injured from med bay."

"I am not going to carry him," her companion replied.

The doctor seemed to be not please by her companion's reply.

"I wasn't going to suggest that," the doctor said. "Get me a blanket."

"It was supposed to be a night to ourselves," her companion said, standing up. "Why do glowing objects have to attract our attention when we least want it?"

"It will be a bad date if you keep that attitude up," the doctor replied, sharply glaring toward her companion.

Her companion stormed off.