Jed Chandler was in the office tidying up in anticipation of his son's scheduled call when the computer beeped early. He clicked to accept the call, and was greeted by an agitated face.

"Hey Tom, running ahead of schedule today?"

"Hmm?" a quick glance at the clock confirmed his father's statement. "Guess so. How are the kids?"

"They're fine. Hanging out with Ava as we speak. How are you doing?"

Tom sighed.

"Crazy, as usual."

"Based on your expression, I'd have guessed crazier than usual."

"Sorry, I just came from a… discussion… with Dr. Scott."

Jed felt his eyebrows rise at both the tone and form of address. Dr. Scott had been 'Rachel' to his son for a while now, and he wasn't blind to the affection that crept into his son's voice and expression when he mentioned her name.

"What happened?"

"I can't get into it on an unsecured line dad, but she's done something that I have to punish her for. If I don't, it'll undermine discipline on the entire ship. Most of the ship thinks she did the right thing."

"Did she?"

"No. Not according to the law." He paused and shook his head. "I mean, in the long run, probably, it would have ended that way regardless. But she just…did it. No protocol, no trials, nothing. Didn't even run it by me." He paused. "I thought scientists were all about protocols …she violated both what I assumed were universal medical ethics and basic safety protocols."

Jed felt his eyebrows rise all the way to his receding hairline.

"Basic safety protocols?"

"She tested it on herself without telling anyone beforehand."

"Damn. This doctor of yours must be either insanely confident or insanely brave."

"I'd say both. Doesn't make it any less insane." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't know what to do here, dad."

"It might help to figure out why, exactly, you're mad at her." Tom blinked at him, and he clarified. "Are you upset that she did something debatably wrong, that she kept you out of the loop, that she risked herself as a test subject, or that you now have to punish her?"

"I…don't know."

"You might want to think about that, son. And once you figure it out, you should think about why you feel that way." Tom nodded and they sat in companionable silence for a moment. Jed noticed Tom looking over his shoulder to the doorway, where he found Mrs. Tophet proffering a cup of tea. "Thank you. Can you send Ash and Sam in?"

. . . . .

"Is this really what you want?"

"This has never been about what I want."

He moved towards the closed hatch, hand on the door, but was stopped by a question aimed at his back.

"What do you want?"

He paused, considering the question, but not turning around. Truth is, he'd already considered it at length. That's why it hurt so much.

"It doesn't matter. It was a long shot before, and it's impossible now."

"What you want still matters."

"I wish you'd thought of that before you killed Sorenson." He said, still speaking towards the hatch. "Before I was forced to turn you over to the courts. What I want…can no longer be."

"What? Why?"

He took a slow, deep breath before opening the door for her. He gazed at her with sad eyes for a long moment before turning to Smith, speaking in the most normal tone he could manage. "Please escort Dr. Scott to her lab. She has a lot of work to do."

"Ma'am, if you'll follow me."

He was aware of her puzzled gaze, of his whispered name, but refused to meet it, turning back towards his desk. Several seconds passed.

"Ma'am?"

"I know the way." She replied softly. Her footsteps retreated out of his stateroom before the door shut. He waited until those footsteps turned the corner before he put his head in his hands and groaned in pure frustration. What I want... what I want. Dammit, Rachel. If you really don't know, I certainly can't tell you now.