For the next few days Lisa threw herself into her work. She tried to imagine herself like a machine. "I've become the Ice Queen once before; I can become her again," Lisa resolved, shoring up her tattered defenses around her broken heart.

Claudia despaired at seeing how mechanical her friend was becoming but was at a loss at how to help her. The Bridge Bunnies also noted the change and correctly guessed the source, badmouthing Rick under their breaths any chance they can get. Although they never went directly to Lisa to voice it, Lisa sensed their support and felt grateful.

Gloval wasn't ignorant of the drama on the Bridge. As long as his officers' personal lives didn't interfere with their work, he stayed well away. Lisa's increased focus and dedication to her job solidified his decision for the needed changes in command. The task at hand is bigger than any personal concerns and Gloval was confident that Lisa can not only rise to the challenge but succeed.

Lisa worked herself to the bone, taking on additional shifts and responsibilities. She worked until she would fall into bed exhausted every night, then wake early to start all over again. Rinse and repeat. Her intense focus left no room for any other thought. And working to the point of exhaustion guaranteed a dreamless sleep. However, Lisa knew her mind and body would demand a breather. Her current schedule isn't sustainable. "Maybe I should take up a hobby," Lisa mused during one of her rare breaks. She would need to find more distraction soon. Lisa knew she couldn't avoid Rick forever. He took three weeks' personal leave since Christmas, which guaranteed Lisa wouldn't see him for the time being, however they were going to have to interact once he came back from leave. Lisa could delegate flight coordinating duties to Sammie, but given their ranks and roles, Lisa and Rick would still need to work closely together. Lisa dreaded when Rick would return. They haven't spoken to each other since Christmas night. Would she be able to face him when she saw him again?

Lisa denied Rick from her thoughts during her day to day, but as the days flew by, Rick's return to work loomed ahead of her. Her heart quailed at the thought of seeing him again, and she fled to the lower observation deck to cry and rail against her lingering weakness.

Lisa gulped in the bracingly cold air, willing the cold that was chilling her skin to freeze her heart as well. She had to confront the fact that her relationship with Rick has irrevocably changed. The question is what to do about it now. Bit by bit Lisa felt the fragile defense around her shattered heart break away, laying bare her still raw wounds. All this time and effort at self preservation gone the instant she gave Rick more than a passing thought. This was so much worse than when she lost Riber. At least there was a finality to Riber's death. Lisa can't see how she could carry on working with Rick, and then watch him get on with his life.

Lisa took a deep breath and shuddered, unwilling to face the hard truth. She would not only give up on love, but something else that is dear to her. Duty would also need to be sacrificed upon the altar of heartbreak. Duty was the steadfast balm that helped Lisa though her grief over Riber, her father and all the friends and comrades in between. She couldn't think of a way to preserve her sanity if she continued to serve in the military side by side with Rick.

"But where does that leave me?" Lisa wondered. "The military is such a huge part of who I am. Can I lose such a vital part of my identity because of this? I took a gamble and opened my heart only to lose everything." Lisa squared her shoulders and stared resolutely at the snow covered mountains in the distance. "I'll do what I must," Lisa thought. "I need to start afresh. I can't carry on like this." Lisa mourned the loss of everything she had known. She knew she'd have to say goodbye to everyone and everything that was part of her old life in order to move on.

Claudia was incredulous when Lisa let her know what she planned to do. "But you're too much of a scrapper to give up without a fight!" Claudia protested, however behind her spoken resistance to Lisa's decision, she knew this was her best option. She knew Lisa's chance of healing were slim if she faced a constant reminder of what she couldn't have with Rick. Lisa made up her mind and all Claudia could do as her best friend was to hug her and provide moral support.

Hours later Lisa walked as if in a daze. Earlier this morning she was set on resigning her commission only to have her world turned upside down when Gloval notified her of her promotion and new assignment. "Admiral Hayes," Lisa murmured her new rank in wonder. Her father would have been so proud. "So would someone else," Lisa thought as her feet lead her down a familiar street on their own volition. Her heart felt heavy. The issuance of new orders meant there was no turning back. This would be a final goodbye. As much as her heart ached at the thought of never seeing Rick again, Lisa welcomed it. This assignment is her way to maintain her identity as well as move on. Lisa stopped in front of Rick's door and tried the handle out of habit. She could remember not long ago when their homes used to be open to each other. "Door's locked this time," Lisa thought ruefully. "It's now or never." Lisa raised her hand to ring the doorbell.