1 HOUR LATER, AT THE CARGO BAY OF THE NORMANDY

"Commander, this will prove to be very difficult at first. After I first got my implants I never managed to use my biotics, until I get used to my implants. But you don't seem to have any kind of implants, so it may be more difficult for you." Jacob said.

"Great, Jacob." John rolled his eyes. "Except, we don't have much time."

"Yeah. Look we won't give up, until you make any progress. Are you ready, Commander?" Jacob asked.

John nodded. Jacob continued, "So, at first I want to tell you how to channel the energy through your body at will. It's a simple method but also a hard one."

"How so?" John asked curiously.

"You need to focus on your energy that is coursing through your body. You must summon it. How you can do it, I cannot tell. You have to figure it out yourself." Jacob explained.

"What do you mean?" John asked since he had no clue.

"You must feel it. Your mind is the key." Jacob answered.

Feel it? I have never felt anything at all. Well, it won't hurt to try. John thought. He closed his eyes and started to concentrate on the energy inside his body. Five, ten, twenty, even thirty minutes passed, but still nothing. John begin to feel frustrated. How much longer will it take for me just to feel my energy?

Jacob sensed his frustration. "Don't give up, Commander. You will feel it."

John tried but nothing. Then his concentration shifted to the vivid images he sees in his dream every time he slept: A girl falling down from a platform into dark void, her arms outstretched towards him. But he couldn't make out her face as it was always unclear in his dreams. He don't know why, but he felt inside his heart that he needed to save that girl from falling into the abyss, no matter what. His determination to save the girl increased and he felt something inside him. A raw, primal power, struggling to get free.

Jacob was leaning against the wall at a safe distance away from John. He was observing John from there. He had to admit that this is more difficult than he thought it would be. He never knew a human who had biotic ability without any implants. Well, except him. He closed his eyes and sighed. Suddenly he felt it. He opened his eyes and his eyes widened. The Commander was bent down on the floor with his eyes closed. Sweat were running down from his forehead from his effort to channel his biotic powers and he succeeded. His entire body was glowing with dark energy.

"Commander! You did i….." Jacob's words were left unspoken as he saw his Commander slump to the ground, unconscious. "What the….." Jacob ran to his unconscious body. John was lying on his stomach face-first to the ground. Jacob gently turned him around and noticed trail of blood at the corner of his lips and under his nose.

"Damn it!" Jacob cursed. He immediately alerted the med-bay about the Commander's condition and called few crew members to carry the Commander to the med-bay.

FEW MINUTES LATER AT THE MED-BAY

Jacob was peering through the glass of the med-bay wall watching the Doctor checking on the Commander. He had no idea what just happened. Then he heard, clicks of high heels behind him and realized she is here. He turned around to face her.

"What happened to him?" She asked without any emotion.

"Dunno. One minute we were practicing, next moment he just collapsed. I brought him here immediately." Jacob answered.

She stepped past him and entered the med-bay, locking the door from inside. With few taps on the computer in the med-bay she blackened the glass preventing anyone from outside to see what was happening. She head straight to the Doctor, who was busy reading a medical report.

"What do you think, Doctor?" Miranda asked looking towards John's face. His eyes were closed and he looked peaceful.

"Mr. Taylor explained to me what happened. He just pushed himself too far. He just needs to sleep." Dr. Chakwas suggested. Miranda nodded in relief, although she didn't show any emotion.

Dr. Chakwas watched the young woman carefully. There's something about her. When she first heard the name, Miranda Lawson, she thought that Miranda is John's lost love. But noticing her day after day she dismissed that idea because this woman has no emotion, she is always cold, never talks outside business and the crew certainly fears her. When John became alive and she saw both of them talking she noticed the look in Miranda Lawson's eyes. Where there was always coldness in her eyes, they were filled with warmth whenever Miranda looked at John. This observation brought her suspicions back. One thing she is sure about that Miranda Lawson cares for John, more than a XO should care for her Commander and it was genuine. Dr. Chakwas has met many people in her life and she has several experiences and based on her experiences she could tell that this young woman genuinely cares about John. This isn't just an attraction. Her thoughts broke by Miranda's voice, "I will stay here and watch over him for a while. You should take some rest, Doctor."

"It's okay Miss Lawson. It's no problem." Dr. Chakwas protested, she didn't want to leave John.

"I insist. I will be here until you return or he wakes up." Miranda said.

"All right Miss Lawson. I will be back soon." Dr. Chakwas stepped outside the med-bay and closed the door.

Miranda watched the Doctor leave. She sat down on a chair beside John's bed and placed her hand on his forehead. She looked towards his sleeping face and wondered when he will let her live without any worry. This stubborn man was always the cause of her worry, when he was a boy and that haven't changed till now and she knew this won't change ever. She knew that Jacob meant well. This wasn't his fault at all. This is all John's fault. He must have pushed himself beyond his limit as the Doctor said.

"You ass! What I'm going to do with you?" She said with a scowl on her face but she could never stay angry with him for long. That must be part of his charm. She thought and a smile formed on her face.

"You worried me today, John." She murmured clasping their fingers together. He had indeed made her worry today. "Don't you ever do that to me again! Do you understand?" She scolded him, even though he couldn't hear her. Then she bent forward and gently kissed his forehead.

At that moment Dr. Chakwas entered the med-bay and she saw the Cerberus Operative kissing John on his forehead. The way she held his hand, the concern on her face, the way she is looking at him: All these facts made Dr. Chakwas' suspicions grow more strong.

This must be her.

She decided to talk with the woman.

Miranda let his hand go as soon as the Doctor entered the med-bay. But she knew it was too late because the Doctor saw everything.

"Miss Lawson. Do you have a moment to talk? Privately?" Dr. Chakwas asked.

"This place is secure enough, Doctor. Please lock the door." Miranda agreed. The Doctor did as she was told and came near her. Miranda looked at her questioningly, "You have something to talk about, Doctor?"

The Doctor nodded but didn't speak. Instead of speaking she just kept on observing Miranda which made her uncomfortable. Miranda cleared her throat to get her attention. But the Doctor's question threw Miranda off-guard at the next moment.

"Are you his 'Miri'? Are you the one he grew up with?" Dr. Chakwas asked.

Miranda hesitated. She didn't expected the Doctor to know about John's childhood.

"I know what you are thinking Miss Lawson. Yes, he told me about you. Several times. And you can trust me to let me know the truth." Dr. Chakwas assured. "So, are you the one?" She added softly.

"Yes. I am." Miranda answered.

Note: This chapter is intentionally made short. I wanted this part to be separate.