Gabriel was going through his list that Carson sent to his terminal. His thoughts were interrupted by a chime.

GABRIEL "Come in."

The door opened and Oser stepped in with a box.

OSER "Sir, may I be the first to say welcome back."

GABRIEL "The first outside of the Admiral, Commander. 'The Admiral' I still can't get used to calling him that. Oh place that on the sofa would you?"

OSER "Certainly, sir."

He put the box on the sofa.

GABRIEL "So other than picking me up are you just relegated to delivery boy?"

Oser wasn't sure if that was an attempt to get a rise out of him or a genuine question. Seeing Gabriel first hand and hearing some rumors about him from two Captains Oser had gotten to know over the years it was probably both.

OSER "Actually I volunteered."

Gabriel stopped and looked at him.

GABRIEL "Pretty brazen, Mister Oser. Here to make your bid to be on the Arizona crew?"

OSER "Not exactly, sir."

Gabriel gets up and walks over to him. Gabriel being slightly taller made Oser a bit jumpy.

GABRIEL "Then what is it exactly, Commander?"

OSER "Well for one thing, sir, I wanted to personally tell you something."

Gabriel raised a quizzical eyebrow.

OSER "I wanted to give you my condolences about the death of your wife. I'm sorry."

Gabriel showed some pain in his eyes. He then cleared his throat. Oser hated himself just now because he brought up a source of pain for both of them.

GABRIEL "Thank you."

OSER "I was also going to see if I could help in any way. With respect, sir, you've been out of Starfleet for awhile and if you needed a helping hand I am at your disposal."

GABRIEL "Well I appreciate the offer, Commander. You know you're on the short list for First Officer."

Oser was praying that Gabriel wasn't thinking he was just trying to brown nose to get an important position on the Arizona.

OSER "Admiral Carson mentioned it."

GABRIEL "Good to know you're not completely in the dark."

OSER "I try not to be, sir."

Gabriel sat back in his chair and indicated the empty chair for Oser to sit. Oser sat down.

OSER "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

GABRIEL "Please."

OSER "I still have nightmares about it at times. Wondering if there was something I could've done."

GABRIEL "Oser...Phill, from what your report said there wasn't much more you could've done. The enemy overwhelmed the Cairo. They beamed on. You all fought them off. You took heavy casualties. You were captured for slave labor, tortured...the only thing you could've done was stay alive."

OSER "I appreciate that, sir, but truth be told it doesn't really help."

GABRIEL "No, it doesn't."

Oser could see in Gabriel's face he was knowing exactly what Oser meant.

GABRIEL "Do you mind me being equally candid?"

OSER "No objections."

GABRIEL "I didn't want to leave Lazon II."

Oser could usually follow thoughts but this time he was confused.

OSER "Sir?"

GABRIEL "I wanted to die there. Fight and kill as many enemy soldiers as I could before it was blown to hell or I'd die."

OSER "With respect, sir, I saw that look in your eyes. I knew."

GABRIEL "Well I had to make sure the prisoners were out first then I could fulfil my death wish."

OSER "Hey at least your priorities were straight."

Gabriel looked Oser in the eye. Damn...Oser was speechless for a moment. He had just screwed up his relationship with a man he genuinely respected.

Gabriel then chuckled.

GABRIEL "Maybe I did at that."

Oser inwardly sighed in relief.

OSER "Well as a former prisoner there I appreciate the consideration, sir."

GABRIEL "Yeah...so if your Captain were to do something so monumentally stupid again would you go back for him?"

Oser straightened himself in his chair.

OSER "My responsibility as First Officer is the safety of the crew including the Captain."

GABRIEL "And you stand firm on that? Even if the Captain claims it is to save the crew?"

OSER "Yes, sir."

Gabriel considered it for a moment.

GABRIEL "Mister Oser...that'll be all."

Oser stood up and went to the door as the door opened Gabriel called out.

GABRIEL "One further thing. I'd like to you meet with Admiral Carson and I tomorrow at fourteen hundred in the Conference Lounge. I want to go over crew assignments with you."

OSER "Sir?"

GABRIEL "I figured my First Officer should be in on assigning senior officers."

OSER "Really?"

GABRIEL "Unless you don't want the job..."

OSER "No, no, sir, I'd be happy to accept."

GABRIEL "Good now that's settled I'll send the list to your quarters."

OSER "I'll get to work on it right away."

GABRIEL "Thank you, Commander."

Oser steps out. Gabriel couldn't be too upset with his enthusiasm. When Carson had brought him on as First Officer of the Malinche so many years ago he was also in disbelief.

Gabriel went to the box and opened it. It was a uniform. He had sworn he would never put one of these things on again and seven years later here he was. Gabriel ran his fingers over the material.

He put the box down and went to the sink and grabbed a razor.