Chapter 10 (Trials –Embrace the Future)

He found her back in the area where they had spoken earlier .She had been taking a drink of water from the water bottle she was holding. She was by herself.

He came toward her, saying, almost hesitantly, "Can we talk…..about what I hope…is happening in there? " He pointed back in the direction of the Containment area.

She paused and looked at him, nodding slowly, a little smile on her face.

He said, "Do we have a working vaccine?"

She turned to face him saying, "We don't just have a vaccine. We have the cure."

He said, almost unable to speak for the emotion he was feeling, as his eyes began to fill with tears.

He moved closer to her, as he saw the tears also in her eyes, saying, "You mean…"

She said, a sob escaping from her lips," I mean we can cure people who are already sick." Now she was crying, all the pent up emotion or the last few days of the trials pouring out of her.

He shook his head as he could no longer deny the feelings he had for this incredible woman. He took her into his arms, engulfing her, as he held her close to his body, in an embrace that felt as if she belonged there. He wanted, at that moment, to hold her there forever. Again he felt that oneness with her that he had experienced, in part, in the kiss they had shared on the Vyerni. This time, however, he was holding her in his strong arms, protecting her from all outside forces and keeping her safe from any hurt.

He whispered, tears in his own eyes," Rachel….. Rachel." He raised his eyes to heaven, in tribute, thanking God for this precious woman, who now would be able to save what was left of this world. He felt such gratitude that he had been chosen to be her protector and part of such a profound mission. He had been there so many times and watched her working. She never gave up, even when he himself was impatient and doubting her, in the early stages and had then in the later stages pushed her to develop a working prototype herself, on the ship, when they could not find a place for her to do it on land. He pulled her even closer as if encompassing all of what he was feeling for her and he lowered his head to her neck, as he whispered her name, once again, in resignation to the true bond they shared.

"Rachel. You really have saved us all, what is left of humanity. . I am so proud of you and so grateful to you, after all you have been through, after all we've been through, together. But in the end, you did it! … You beat it!... Without you, there would be no going home for any of us…... Rachel, because of you, I may be able to get my family back, Darien, my children, my father. That you have done this….. Do you have any idea how much you mean to me, to all of us?"

Rachel fell into his waiting arms, releasing all of her pent up emotions at last, as she cried into his shoulder, tears of happiness for what they had accomplished, for let there be no mistake, she knew she could not have accomplished this without him. He had truly been her anchor. She felt the strength of his embrace as she wrapped her arms around his body, placing her hands on the muscles of his back. She felt his body respond to her touch, as she held him, feeling all of his own emotional response to their success and what it meant to him. She wished she could just stay there, so safe in his arms, as though she belonged there. God, she could not deny how much she had grown to love this man. He did not seem to want to let her go, either. She knew he cared for her deeply, but he probably called it part of the" bond" they shared.

She knew about this "bond" that they had, when ever they needed to get something done. It was like they did it with one mind, together. Even when they had fought over one thing or another, in the end, when the chips were down, they could depend on each other for support. There were some exceptions to this, when they were in totally opposing camps, usually when he was being what she considered overprotective and when she wanted her way and her freedom to do what ever she wanted on or off his ship. They were both strong and stubborn and there were clashes, but this only made her love him more.

Yes, it was her specific scientific knowledge that had found the cure, but without him, it could never have happened. He and his crew had done so much and overcome so many obstacles in the process. First, he had made her mission, his mission and his crew followed through, even though they had all been kept in the dark from the start. He had gotten Bertrice to her. Chen had saved her Arctic virus samples, by figuring a way to keep them cold, when the ship had no power. They had gotten her the monkeys and the equipment to develop a working prototype and a vaccine. Men and a woman had died for this mission, as the Captain himself had pointed out. Even the 5 who had been saved by the new cure, today, had been willing to give up their lives for this mission. How could she even think that she had developed the cure by herself? She could not take all the credit.

As she was being held in his embrace, she was also pouring out her love for him, with all her heart, all the while knowing that he must not hear that word from her lips.

She had felt it in the kiss, when at last she had been able to express even a fraction of her love for him, though he was handcuffed, his response was unbelievably strong, Now that he was free, his embrace was strong and true. She could not believe how hearing her name on his lips, repeated over and over in a ragged whisper, as his own tears were flowing, affected her. She could feel the beat of his heart as he held her so close, as she was overcome by the release of what he was really feeling, which he had held back for so long.

He lowered his head to her neck and he whispered her name again...He told her how proud he was of her and how grateful he was for all she had accomplished. She knew it would do no good to tell him how much he was a part of what she had done. He would have wanted no credit .His mind was on getting back to find his family and with helping get the cure out to as many people as they could. He spoke of how, because of her, he could now, turn the ship toward home. She prayed he would find his family. She loved him too much to even think of the pain he would suffer if he could not save his them. They all meant so much to him and they were all part of what he is. She so wanted that for him.

When he could no longer hold her in his arms, for fear that someone might miss them and walk in on them, he slowly and gently released her. He looked deeply into her eyes. His own eyes appeared almost turquoise to her because of the moistness still there from his emotional response during their embrace. He said so softly, "Rachel, get some sleep. That is an order!"

She said, laughingly, "Roger that, Captain, You can count on it."

They looked long into each others eyes, just experiencing what they meant to one another, one last time before saying good night. .