Near misses happen all the time. Earlier this week a young woman in the next neighborhood over just barely escaped a shooting when the bullet grazed her cheek but left no debilitating damage. I can only imagine what she is feeling right now. I think a person who appreciates how lucky they are to have a second chance probably gets to that point by reflecting on what she could have done differently to prevent that situation from ever happening in the first place. And she's probably thinking about how she could live her life differently from now on. If only making changes happen was as easy as deciding for yourself what you're willing to work for. But in real life our stories depend on our own choices layered with those of others. The shooting happened in a good neighborhood that hasn't had much crime of any kind lately. People in that neighborhood have jobs, the streets are lit, people feel safe hanging out on their porches in the evening. But it is an illusion to think that those things protect us. The only thing we have any control over is ourselves, and even then our emotions can steer us against the currents of reason. But second chances give us the gift of appreciating our luck of having made it this far. And every once in a while, we respond in a way that not only affects our lives for the better, but ripples out into our communities as well.

********Something About You, Level 42*****

Kara headed to sick bay straight from the bridge. She needed to see that Carlton was ok for herself. Doc Rios nodded that it was ok to visit when she entered. Carlton was laying propped up on pillows on a cot. He appeared to be sleeping, so she sat beside him on Doc's examination stool. His leg was swathed in a large aircast but Kara could see how swollen his knee was. A few large bruises were beginning to bloom on his arms and face. Kara took his hand in hers and leaned over it saying a prayer of thanks. God, what if he had ended up seriously injured, paralyzed from the fall or worse? What would she have done if Danny hadn't suggested he climb to that ledge. A stab of fear gripped her again. She was so thankful...

"It's OK Kara. I'm f-i-n-e fine." Burk's slurred voice pulled her from her thoughts. "I feel great now."

"Yeah? That's 'cause Doc gave you so much Percoset you'll be high until Friday. You're gonna be hurting when all that wears off." The sound of his voice was so wonderful to her ears.

"Geez Foster don't ruin it for me. Gah, you're shaking like a leaf. Did Doc find some incurable brain disease you have to tell me about now? You and Green both...such downers. Are you...ha ha ha." She rolled her eyes. He really was high. "Are you and Green in some secret club of rotten friends or something?"

She snorted. "Yeah right, me and Green formed a club to keep your ass in one piece." Kara gently kissed the hand she still held and then placed it back on his chest. "But seriously Burk. You are one of my best friends. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you. I'm just so thankful you're OK."

He was already closing his eyes. "You were majestic. Gonna be a great commander one day chica." He said sleepily. "I figure, got 10 days, 2 weeks max before we head to port for fuel. Promise I'll take you and Green out to buy you a round in thanks before he takes off for his next assignment." Two weeks. It suddenly loomed before her. Stunned, she couldn't respond and in the silent moment Carlton's breathing deepened again.

The quiet way Kara tiptoed out of the small room hid the utter chaos in her thoughts. Two weeks, maybe three tops counting the trip home, and then everything would change again. The crew would be reassigned. The Nathan James would likely have a new destination and mission. Perhaps it was because they had been in a communication vacuum, but she didn't feel her usual anticipation of a new adventure this time.

She could tell herself it was because this crew had developed into a more close knit family than most, or her usual anxiety about whether Carlton or Alisha would be reassigned. But she fully expected to stay on the Nathan James and she expected most of the senior staff would remain too. She didn't want to go back to the Congo, but actually with some distance, she had been reminded that it was exactly the kind of thing she'd joined the Navy to do. No, what was setting her stomach churning was the thought that it was highly unlikely that Danny and his team would be back. It was highly unlikely she'd ever work with Danny again. Two weeks. It had already been two weeks since they broke things off. Two weeks since the last time he held her. In two more would she stop longing for the feel of him every time she saw him? Would she stop wishing they could lay in his narrow bunk and talk about what had happened during the day? Would she stop lying in bed at night remembering him moving inside her?

She marched back to her stateroom, trying to look as normal as possible. But her legs suddenly felt unsteady, as if she hadn't spent years at sea. Her heart was pounding in her ears. Was this how Danny had felt after his father turned the Laser back to the Connecticut shore? When she reached her room she went through her after shift routine. She ate a granola bar, gathered her shower kit, exchanged her uniform for a robe all while on autopilot. She didn't know what was going to happen. In fact, she was terrified. So she was going to take a shower and figure it out. She always did her best thinking in the shower.