When a friend is in trouble,
don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do.
Think up something appropriate and do it.
-- Edgar Watson Howe
Leah wasn't sure whether she was more dreading the possibility or hoping it was Tom in the corridor when the door to her quarters chimed midway through her sleep shift, but disappointment more than relief swept through her when she triggered the door to find Avi Stasi standing awkwardly in the corridor.
"Avi."
"Leah, can I come in?"
She hesitated then stepped back, inviting entry. Avi, after all, was her closest friend, and it wasn't as if any of this was his fault.
He waited until the door slid shut behind him.
"You're dressed. I take it you weren't sleeping."
"No."
"I thought you might not be. Leah, I heard about you and Tom." No big surprise. The Welshman was a VERY small ship. "I—well, I—Lee, if any part of this is my fault, I'm truly, truly sorry. I hope you know that I never wished you and Tom anything but the best."
The last of Leah's resolve melted and she wrapped her arms around her best friend. Startled and feeling very much out of his depth, Stasi hugged her back.
"Thank you, Avi. I know that. It's just—I don't know how to go back, how to fix it."
"Do you want to?" he asked gently.
She stepped away and eyed him sadly.
"I don't know the answer to that question either."
He held her gaze, reached a gentle finger out to touch her cheek. "Fair enough. So," he paused, "how're you doing, Pal, really?"
She gave him a shaky smile. "I'm a little ragged, Av."
"I'll bet you are. So, what can I do to help?" His eyes widened as he was struck by an inspiration. "I know just the thing! I found it in the ship's archives." He paused, considering, wishing not for the first time that the Welshman had computer access from the crew cabins, despite his awareness that their quarters represented the lap of luxury for a salvage vessel that plied the uncharted aspects of space. But Kam's quarters, set up as a reading room, had access, and a decent-sized view screen. "I'm guessing the library is pretty empty at this time of day. Should we give it a try? I happen to know that Lach has programmed the food synthesizer to make Coke, popcorn and SnoCaps. We can swing by and pick some up on the way. What do you think?"
He grabbed the quilt off Leah's bed, the one touch of home she'd dragged with her all over the universe, and the perfect thing to bundle her into for the movie, and headed for the door, towing his friend behind him.
His enthusiasm had propelled Leah out into the corridor before she even had a chance to respond. "Avi?!? What are you talking about?"
"Star Wars. It's called Star Wars."
