"Commander," Jim greeted as he approached on the balcony.

"Shannon," Taylor warmly returned, turning his head towards his sheriff. "I thought you were taking the rest of the week off- doctor's orders."

"Yeah well," Jim started, joining Taylor in leaning his elbows against the railing, "I just- I couldn't take it anymore. Alone in that house all day. I was about to lose it."

"I saw your boy the other day," Taylor said, looking forward out over the colony beneath him. "He said you'd shaken the virus, just needed some good old-fashioned bed rest."

"That's what Elizabeth keeps telling me," Shannon admitted.

"Your wife?" Taylor acknowledge, not necessarily as a question. "You know she'd have my head on a spike if she found out I let you wander around unsupervised."

"Well then you'll just have to shoot me," Jim declared resolutely, smiling at Taylor, who smirked at the response.

"I might just have to," Taylor considered, nodding his head.

Jim paused, grinning at the commander's humor. "Actually, I was hoping you could help me out," he finally said.

"What with?" he asked, his interest piqued.

"I need something to do," Jim admitted, immediately causing Taylor to straighten, shaking his head. Jim followed him up, "Even if it's just something small- anything to get me out of that house."

"Shannon, I'm no doctor," the commander began, "but I-"

"Please," Shannon interrupted him. "I'm up for it," he reassured his superior officer. "Just, anything you can think of . . ."

"I'll find something for you to do," Taylor finally relented.

Shannon sighed in relief, and joined him back on the railing. For a few moments, they watched as the colony buzzed with activity beneath them. The market was full, people were smiling- things had almost completely gone back to normal.

"Commander Taylor," a soldier called out, ascending the opposite flight of stairs. The two men turned to address the third, who acknowledged Shannon with a neutral greeting, before continuing, "Sir might I borrow you for a moment?"

"Of course," Taylor said, turning his full attention to the young man, who merely shifted around nervously.

"Sir," Taylor's attention was once again diverted, this time by a new voice emanating from the ground below. He looked over the railing to see his lieutenant calling him. "The patrol's ready to move out. Will you be joining us?"

It was not uncommon for Taylor to be torn in these types of situations- two parties both vying for his attention at the same time. Regardless, he was still only one man, and often had to choose between his priorities. Since he had told Washington that he would be joining the patrol, he turned to the soldier that had just approached him. "Can it wait?" he inquired, hinting at his inclination to depart with the patrol.

"I would, strongly, prefer not, sir," the soldier replied, his voice shaking.

The young man's words concerned the commander, and his gaze darted thoughtfully between his lieutenant and the soldier.

"Hey," Jim spoke up from beside him, causing him to turn, "let me go on the patrol. You take care of things here."

There was a long pause between them as Taylor thought.

"Commander?" Wash asked from below.

Taylor regarded his deputy for a moment, reluctant to permit his departure, but at the same time, fearful of postponing the request made by his soldier. "Come back safe," he ordered, gesturing to Jim, "don't overexert yourself."

"I'll go get ready," Shannon remarked with a smile, hurrying away to get prepare himself to depart.

Taylor watched as he deputy went before calling back over the railing, "Change of plans Wash, you'll have to take Shannon with you."

"Understood sir," she replied, taking her leave.

"And lieutenant," he called after her, bringing her to a halt. "Go easy on him, I'm breaking enough rules as it is."