Two weeks had passed since Rick had rescued Lisa from the destruction on Alaska Base. After their return there had not been much opportunity to see Lisa as she was whisked away as soon as they had landed back on the SDF-1. She barely had a chance to thank Rick for saving her life before she was ushered away to see the council and Admiral Gloval. He thought he would get a chance to catch up with her afterward but Lisa's time was wholly taken up by the rescue efforts on Earth to find and aid survivors and to deal with the Zentraedi who's ships had crash landed on Earth. He didn't begrudge the work that she did knowing how important it was, but wished that she could find a little time for him. He sighed knowing that there was nothing that he could do and prepared himself for patrol. Max and Ben caught up with him as they left the pilot's locker room for the hangar. "Hey Boss, how things going?" asked Max.

"Just fine Max, just fine," said Rick a bit glumly.

Hearing the dejected tone in Rick's voice, Max and Ben looked at one another. They couldn't quite figure out what was wrong with their leader. He had been ecstatic after his return to the ship and his rescue of their commanding officer but since then he'd been a little morose. They weren't sure if it was because Commander Hayes hadn't returned to her position as the Air Tactical Controller since her return or because patrols had kept him from going into Macross City to see his long time crush Minmei Lynn. They tried to cheer him up suggesting that they head into Macross City after their patrol and wind down a bit. Rick told them he would think about and they climbed into the Veritech fighters and the Skull Squadron took off through the grey skies to start their patrols for the day.

The mass destruction and desolation of the planet following Dolza's attack did not better Rick's mood and after the patrol, he cried off from heading off with his friends into the city. Miriya also tried to ask Rick to change his mind but he just wasn't in the mood and decided to just head back to his quarters for the night.

Rick reached his quarters and opened the door to the tiny space, room enough for a loft bed with a desk under it, small couch and chair and a galley kitchen with mini fridge. Throwing his stuff onto the chair he noticed a blinking light by his telephone indicating he had a message. Wondering if the base had called and left him a message, he walked over to the phone, picked up the receiver and dialed the voicemail code.

"You have one message, " said the automated voice over the phone, "Listen now?"

Rick responded yes and waited for the message to play. "Rick, this is Commander Hayes, um ah.. Lisa. I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to call you since we've gotten back but well I think you would understand if I said, I've been really really busy. Anyway, I'd like to meet with you sometime if you have time and just talk or have coffee...and umm, I'd like to get the chance to thank you again for saving me... Just let me know if you'd be interested and we can setup a time. Uh, thanks and talk to you soon." Rick smiled as he heard her message, as calm, collected and in command Lisa was at work, she sounded so awkward and unsure of herself on the phone just then and it made him feel better to know that she hadn't forgotten him.

Feeling a bit better about things and not really knowing why Rick returned Lisa's call and getting her voicemail, suggested a time and date for them to meet. He hoped that she would be able to make it and that work and duty wouldn't steal her away.

A couple of days later, Rick ran into Claudia in the hallway of the base as she as she was leaving Colonel Maistroff's office. She suggested to Rick that they have a drink together and Rick followed her to officer's lounge where Claudia took deep breath and tried to relax.

"You look tired Claudia, you need to get more rest. Roy wouldn't like you working so hard."

"Thanks Rick, I appreciate your concern, unfortunately with everything in disarray, there is really no choice but to do everything that one can."

"Hmm, I guess your're right."

Noting the slight dejected tone in Rick's voice, she decided to probe about Rick's feelings for Lisa. "So have you seen our resident supergirl lately?"

"No, not yet, we've been playing phone tag lately trying to setup some time to just get together and talk but there never seems to be a good time. I know it's selfish of me, but I want a get a chance to talk to her and talk about what happened in Alaska... I.. I just want to see that she's alright."

Claudia, happy to hear that Rick wasn't as indifferent to Lisa as everyone believed including Lisa herself, decided that Rick needed to hear how Lisa was doing, not out of pity but because Lisa needed someone else in her life besides the bridge crew to care for her. She also remembered all Lisa had done for her when Roy had died and how she stayed and helped Claudia through those first few weeks without him.

Claudia looked at Rick and her eyes became a bit sad. Rick seeing the look in Claudia's eyes, asked her what was wrong and Claudia leaned closer to Rick to confide in him, not wanting others to overhear what she had to say.

"Rick, Lisa's been having a hard time since she's gotten back. As usual she is a superstar when it comes to work, but she's been having nightmares and feels extremely guilty for surviving when others didn't. Lisa saw her father's death over the communications channel when the Grand Cannon exploded. What makes this all worse is that there have been some unkind comments made about Lisa about how and why she survived Alaska Base when others didn't. Somehow word of her survival also reached the people of Macross as well as they have not been kind to her when she's had to go to the city to quell some of the uprisings from the people or to explain the plans to get people off the ship and back onto land. Rick, I'm telling you this because I think you care about her too, not just as your commanding officer but as her friend. Help her open up about this, she needs to talk about it and not let it bottle up inside of her. I know she trusts you Rick."

Rick thanked Claudia for the information but didn't know how we could help Lisa when he never got a chance to see her to even talk to her. Claudia sensing Rick's frustration let him know Lisa's schedule and gave him one last tidbit. "Check the music room sometimes, she might be there. She's been going to play the piano a lot there in order to unwind."

Rick and Claudia finished their drinks and talked a bit more before heading their separate ways, they made a promise to make more time for each other as well as Rick wanted to be there for his big brother's girlfriend.

It was another day or two before Rick decided to look for Lisa on his own instead of trying to find a time that worked for them. He had just finished a patrol and was still a little keyed up even though it was about 1:30am in the morning. The 24 hour round the clock working schedule had everyone's body out of whack and Rick decided to stop by Lisa's quarters to see if she was there. He knocked on her door and wasn't surprised that there wasn't an answer and he called the base to see if whether or not she was still on duty. Hearing that she had left not ½ an hour ago, Rick decided to check the music room as Claudia suggested. Rick went down two levels from the ships quarters to the level where the troops and soldiers could hang out and relax, play pool, board games and other activities to pass the time. Usually the level was quite busy but at this time of the night there were few people on the level, talking in small groups and low whispers. Most people didn't feel like there was much to celebrate lately but did their best to keep morale up by hanging out with their friends.

Rick nodded his greeting to some of the pilots playing pool in one corner of the main room. He headed back to the other smaller rooms used for more individual activities or private groups. As he walked down the hall he could hear the sounds of a piano being played and knew that he most likely found his elusive friend. Rick approached the room quietly, knocked on the door and gently pushed the door open. Lisa looked over to see who had entered and smiled at Rick when he entered the room. "Lisa, do you mind if I come in?"

"Rick, not at all, I'm really happy to see you." Lisa came up to him and gave him a hug. He hugged her back, just holding her for a few minutes. He felt the tension from his body fade as he held Lisa in her arms and wondered why she seemed to have that affect on him.

"Claudia told me you might be here, shouldn't you be getting some rest?"

Lisa shook her head, "No, you know how it is, when you have something to do and you can't rest until you do it? Well this has been bothering me the last couple of weeks and I hope that this will help me put some of my ghosts to rest."

"Is there something I can help you with?" asked Rick. Lisa thought for a moment and replied, "Yes, maybe you can help." Lisa explained what she wanted Rick to do and then she took her place behind the piano. Lisa nodded her head to Rick and Rick pressed a button on Lisa's laptop as she started to play the opening cords to a melody he had never heard before and a slideshow of old photos started to display of Lisa and her family as Lisa started to sing.

On the laptop, old family photos of young Lisa with her mother and father appeared, showing the family's happier times. Photo of a young Lisa and her father at a gravesite bowing their heads. A single photo of Admiral Hayes sitting in a chair with this head bowed down holding his head in grief with a young Lisa trying to comfort him. Another photo displayed - a formal family photo of Lisa, her mom and dad, followed by another family photo taken a few years later of Lisa and just her father.

Photos of a teenage Lisa and a young man Karl Riber. A Photo of Lisa holding up her left hand showing off an engagement ring next to her smiling face. A photo of a newspaper article with the title – Tragedy Strikes Mars Base Sara – No Survivors. More photos of Lisa in her formal cadet uniform at the Memorial service for Mars Base being supported on one side by her father and another couple (Karl's parents), a final photo of Lisa kneeling in front of a casket with her head bowed down on the casket crying.

Photo of Lisa at her Academy graduation saluting her father as he hands her her diploma, photo of Lisa shaking hands with Captain Gloval at her acceptance to join the SDF-1. Lisa in front of a VF-1, saluting.

Happier photos of Lisa, Claudia and the bridge crew on various vacations , generals snapshots of them shopping, eating out together

More photos of Lisa and the Admiral Hayes at various functions. Lisa appears in some wearing evening dress while in others in dress uniform. A single photo where Lisa and the Admiral are both smiling into the camera

A final photo of Lisa and her father displayed, both in dress uniform, with Lisa in salute to her father]

As the last chord died and Lisa ended her last note, there was silence in the room. Rick leaned over and clicked "stop recording" on the laptop. He couldn't help but hear Lisa's pain in her heartbroken song and found himself wiping tears from his eyes. All the pain and anguish Lisa felt could be heard in that one song and he realized how little he knew about Lisa and how much more he felt connected to her after seeing her montage of photos.

He looked over at Lisa, who sat on the piano bench in silence. He didn't know what to say to her but it felt awkward just sitting in silence.

It was Lisa who finally broke the silence, "Thank you Rick, I'm glad you were here with me, I really need to get that off my chest."

Rick couldn't hold back and had to ask, "Lisa, your song, was beautiful but so sad, what is the video for?"

Lisa got up from the piano bench and took a seat next to Rick on the couch in the room. She took a deep breath before answering and said, "It's my way of saying goodbye. I didn't really ever get a chance to say goodbye to my mother, my father or to Karl and I never realized how much if affected me. I'd been toying with this song and lyrics for a while but it wasn't until I realized I was alone in this world that I felt the urge to finish it, to sing it, to say goodbye to those I loved and put my past behind me. As you may have been able to tell from the song and the photos my father and I had a difficult relationship, but even so I know he loved me despite our disagreements. As for the video, it will go in with my official military files. With no one left, there will be no one to remember me by when I am gone and I don't want to leave this world without leaving something of me behind. One day some historian may come across this file, see my photos and hear my song and hopefully wonder a bit about who I was and not be just another name and rank." Lisa took another deep breath, "I've been alone too long Rick, and I hope to change that after all this is over. " Lisa wasn't ready to admit her feelings for the young pilot and she was still emotionally numb over the loss of her father and the destruction and death she saw at Alaska Base.

Rick understood how lost and alone Lisa felt as he felt the same way after Roy had died. It had been Lisa who had been there to stand next to him and hold his hand during Roy's funeral service and it had been Lisa who had made sure he moved forward to take his place as Skull Squadron Leader as well. Rick wrapped his arm around her and said soothingly, "You're not alone Lisa, you have me, Claudia, Sammie, Vanessa and Kim and even Captain Gloval as your family now. I hope you know that we are all there for you and anytime you need to talk, I'll be there for you."

"Thanks Rick, I really appreciate that.. " Lisa said sincerely. The two packed up Lisa's things and Rick walked her back to the quarters. Lisa apologized for the emotionally heavy evening and promised to make it up to Rick the next time. He smiled and made her promise that he got to choose their next activity. He was happy to see that get a laugh of out Lisa and the two made plans to have coffee or dinner together as soon as possible.

Things became a little less hectic on the SDF-1 after that first month. Satellite communications around the globe were reestablished thanks to Breetai and the Zentraedi ships still located in their atmosphere. With radiation levels on the planet still fairly high, the citizens of Macross settled back into their routine on the SDF-1 as they waited for the day they could return to the surface and start rebuilding their lives. The search and processing of survivors were put in place and the government aboard the SDF-1 did everything they could to ensure that each region was equipped to handle the pockets of survivors that were out there that needed their help. With some sense of normalcy and routine in place, it became easier for Rick and Lisa to become closer over the next few months.

Song - "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson.