Disclaimer: see part 1

Chain of Command

Part 7

Rearrange

By Random1377

"She's coming around."

Rei opened her eyes, wincing slightly as the bright, unwavering light of a hospital room filled her vision. She looked around to find Hines, Touji, Asuka, Shinji, and Misato clustered around her bed.

"Angel…?" she whispered, struggling to sit up.

"Easy, Commander…" Hines said soothingly, "the angel's been beaten, thanks to your quick thinking."

"Stupid thinking is more like it," Asuka said from the other side of the room, "why didn't you just tell us what to do, dummy?"

"Don't get mad because she was faster than you, Devilgirl," Touji spoke up, "it's not her fault you're so slow."

"Both of you shut up," Misato said angrily, "this is a hospital, not a daycare!"

"Was anyone… harmed…?" Rei asked, leaning back in the bed to collect her strength.

"Just you," Misato replied, "you took the brunt of the attack. Unit 00 will be out of commission for a while," she added, "but it's recoverable."

Rei nodded.

There was no love lost between her and the huge blue mecha. When she first tried to pilot it, it had rejected her, ejecting the plug in an enclosed space and causing her a great deal of pain. But over the years, the beast within had grown less aggressive – as if it now accepted that she was the pilot and there was nothing it could do about it.

-Or else it is waiting for an opportune time to strike at me…- she thought.

"You're going to be here a while," Misato said after a moment of quiet, "your body is in no condition to allow you to pilot… or run NERV. So…"

She let the thought trail off.

Rei nodded. As Commander of NERV, she had certain duties and responsibilities. If she was unable to fulfill them – and she wasn't dead – she was required to name a stand-in.

"As Acting Commander…" the blue-haired girl said softly, "I name Pilot Souryu…"

Pandemonium filled the room as everyone began talking at once.

"Me? I can't-"

"Why her? She's not qualif-"

"I think Hines would be better suited to-"

Rei waited patiently until the room quieted, as everyone slowly realized she wasn't talking. "I am the Commander," she said firmly, meeting everyone's gaze one by one, stopping on Asuka's, "my decision is final." She held up a hand as the others drew breath to begin their arguments anew. "Final," she said flatly, "Now I need to speak to the Acting Commander in private. Excuse us please."

As the other's filed out one at a time, Asuka tapped her foot, waiting until they were alone before bursting out, "What the hell's the big idea, Wondergirl? You're trying to make me look like an idiot, aren't you?!"

"Who would you have me choose?" Rei replied calmly.

"What about Hines?" Asuka asked after a brief pause, "Isn't that his job?"

Rei met the other girl's eyes steadily, "Tell me… do you trust Hines?"

Asuka blinked. "I don't know," she said, shrugging, "he is second in command, right? I mean, he must have been chosen for a reason."

"I did not choose him," Rei said softly, "he was selected when I was appointed Commander… and I have not been able to interact with him outside of NERV due to my responsibilities and his family obligations."

"But you must know something about him," Asuka pressed, feeling like she was swimming upstream, "you've worked with him for three years."

"He is a good man," the First Child admitted, "but he is, for lack of a better term, an office man. He is not disciplined enough to handle the pressures of a command environment."

"Why me?" the redhead asked finally, dropping her eyes, "You know I don't like you…"

Rei smiled faintly and sat up with some effort. "That is one reason I chose you," she said, "no one will think that it was because we are friends… but there are other reasons that it could not be anyone else."

"Like?" Asuka asked, folding her arms.

The injured girl considered this for a minute before replying. "Alright," she said slowly, "you are Commander… you should be aware of these things." She took a deep breath, "Suzuhara is much smarter and more cunning than he lets on… but he is a follower. He is content to let others make the decisions and just go along with it." She eyed the Second briefly before continuing.

"Major Kaji is an excellent tactician… but her first obligation is to her child. As for Hines," the blue-haired girl said reluctantly, "though he is very learned, I fear he lacks the command instinct required for the position."

"And Shinji?" Asuka said quietly, "Or one of the other pilots?"

Rei looked away. "I only know the other pilots peripherally… and none of them is qualified or has the combat experience you have."

Asuka waited a full minute, but the First said nothing more. "Shinji…" she said softly, "why not him? I know you wouldn't let something like what others thought stop you from choosing him, so don't even give me that."

"You are his lover," Rei replied gently, leaning back in her bed, "you are as aware of his shortcomings as I am… more so, I would think."

"What shortcomings?" Asuka asked, raising herself to her full height, "Shinji is an excellent pilot, he's good at tactics, everyone likes him, he… what?"

Rei was shaking her head sadly. "Shinji has all of the qualifications to be an excellent commander…"

"Then why-"

"Do not allow your love for him to blind you," the blue-haired girl interjected, "you know what I am talking about when I say shortcomings."

Asuka averted her eyes. "He's… getting better," she said awkwardly.

Rei sighed quietly. "If he is or if he is not," she said gently, "the fact remains that he is currently struggling with an addiction… and not suited for command. It must be you, Asuka."

The redhead stared at the floor for a moment before saying softly, "How long do I have to do this?"

"I have not talked to the doctors yet," the blue-haired girl said quietly, "but I would imagine a week… perhaps two."

"Two weeks…" Asuka reflected, "that's a long time."

"I believe in you," Rei said firmly, "I know you can do-"

"Shut up!" Asuka snapped, surprising the other girl, "I don't need your endorsement – I know I can do it!" She turned away and started for the door, "You just worry about getting better. I don't have time to play Commander forever… I have my own life to live."

"I understand," the First said softly, "and I thank you for-"

"I don't need your gratitude either," Asuka cut her off, "what I need is time with-" she broke off, shaking her head angrily, "Hurry up and get better…"

As she left, Rei closed her eyes. –Forgive me,- she thought, -I know this is a hard time…-

"I think Ikari should be pulled off the project…"

"Hold on…" she whispered, "both of you… hold on…"

She opened her eyes as she heard the door open again.

"Kensuke..." she said, her voice pleased.

"Rei…" the brown-haired man replied, crossing to her bedside, "I'm glad you're ok…"

"Thank you," she said softly, "I am… glad you came to-"

"Forgive me for this," he whispered, cutting her off.

Before she could ask what he meant, he leaned forward and gently kissed her on the lips.

After a moment, she tilted her head to the side, returning his soft kiss as her eyes slowly slipped closed.

-This is how it feels,- she thought, bringing her arms up to encircle his neck, -this is how it feels when they care for you…-

She decided that it was something she could get used to.

**

"What's the matter, babe?" Touji asked, stifling a yawn, "Come back to bed…"

Hikari looked over her shoulder at the man in her bed. "Nothing, honey…" she said, forcing a smile, "I was just thinking I'd make us some lunch."

He smiled and held his arms out to her, "Not yet, ok?" he said.

She hesitated for a moment, then went to him, sighing as he folded his arms around her.

"You don't… regret me being the only one, do you?" Touji asked after a minute of silence.

Hikari took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "No," she said honestly, "like I told Asuka… I don't regret that anymore."

"But you used to?" he said quietly.

"Yes…" she admitted, "now I realize how stupid it was to ever regret that…"

"I don't regret anything about us," he said quietly, kissing her bare shoulder, "and I…"

-Oh God…- she thought miserably, sensing the seriousness mingled with hesitation in his voice, -please don't be doing this to me now…-

Her wish went unfulfilled, as her instincts proved to be accurate.

"We've been together for more than four years," Touji began, kissing her cheek gently, "I want to make sure that becomes forever." He put his hand on her chin and raised her eyes to meet his, "I love you Hikari… will you marry me?"

She pulled away and got off the bed, wrapping her arms around herself. –Why now?- she thought, -Why not two months ago? WHY!??-

"I know it's not the most romantic way to ask," he said apologetically, standing up and laying his hands on her shoulders, "but you know I love you… please say yes…"

"It's not that," she said, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand, "it's…" she took a deep breath, turning to face him, "Yes, Touji… of course I'll marry you. I love you."

She closed her eyes as he kissed her, her body shaking with happiness… and guilt.

-God,- she thought, letting him lead her back towards the bed, -I can never tell him now… he wouldn't understand…-

As he slowly laid her down, Hikari began to weep…

**

"Reiko… wake up, honey…" Misato shook the sleeping girl gently, "I need to talk to you…"

"Mmmm…" the little girl moaned, turning over, "tired…"

"Just for a minute, honey…" her mother whispered, pulling her to a sitting position.

"Where's aunt Nozomi?" Reiko asked, rubbing her eyes, "she said we would watch a movie…"

"She went home already, baby," Misato said, smiling gently, "you fell asleep."

"I did?" the girl asked, amazed in spite of the evidence.

"Yup," the purple-haired woman confirmed, "she went home about a half hour ago." She picked Reiko up off the couch, carrying her into her room.

"Why didn't she wake me up?" the little girl inquired tiredly, holding her hands up as her mother pulled her shirt off.

"She knew you were sleepy," Misato said gently, "now run in and potty…"

As the little girl staggered off to the bathroom, her mother sighed. –Shinji was right… she does see Nozomi a lot…- she shook her head, squelching the feelings of guilt that the thought dredged up. –It can't be helped…- she thought, -that's why Kaji and me work opposite shifts. At least she spends most of her days with one of us…-

"Don't forget to wash your hands," she said absently as she heard the toilet flush, "come on, Reiko… I need to tell you something." –Of course,- her train of thought continued, -that means we hardly get to see each other…-

"What, Mommy?" the girl asked, "I want a drink…"

Misato smiled, "In a minute." She said soothingly, pulling a pair of pajamas onto the tired child, "I want to ask you something." She picked her daughter up and sat on her bed, "Last night was pretty scary, huh?" she asked, stroking the girl's purple hair softly.

"I wasn't scared…" Reiko replied, leaning against her mother.

-I was…- Misato thought. To Reiko she said, "I know… you were very brave…" she took a deep breath, "but I was wondering… do you want to go with Yurika to visit her grandma for a little while?"

She waited while the little girl considered this. –It would be best right now,- she thought, -They can watch over her… and she'd be safer in Tokyo-2… but I don't want to make her go…-

"Are you going?" Reiko asked curiously.

"No, honey," Misato said, "just you and Yurika and Yurika's mommy."

"Don't wanna…" the girl said tiredly.

"But you'd have fun," her mother replied softly, "you could stay up late and watch movies and-"

"Don't wanna…" Reiko repeated, gripping her mother tighter, "wanna stay here with Mommy… and Daddy… and Shinji… and-"

Misato sighed as her daughter rattled off the names of all of her favorite people, including her stuffed llama, Mitchell (where the girl had come up with this name was still unclear). "But you and Yurika-"

She was cut off as her cell phone rang.

"Kaji," she said, shifting her daughter to rest against her side, "I'm off for four… no, I understand, but… ok… I'll be there in the morning. No… I understand Asu- Commander…" She smiled, "Yeah, you're right… Asuka."

As she hung up the phone, she turned to Reiko, determined to convince her that leaving was best… but the little girl was fast asleep.

"So it's settled then…" she said softly, laying the girl back on her bed and kissing her cheek, "stubborn little monster…"

She smiled, covering the sleeping child with a blanket, then went to the living room to wait up for her husband.

Since she was suddenly back on duty, she knew she would once again be limited on time… and she wanted to spend as much of it with him as she could.

**

"So, enough about me," Angelica said, leaning forward in her chair, "tell me something about you, Nagisa."

"I think you can safely call me Kaworu," the gray-haired boy said, taking a sip of his water, "don't you think so, Miss Bennett?"

The Ninth Child laughed, "Fair enough, Kaworu… makes it easier…"

"Makes what easier?" the Fifth asked curiously.

"Screaming your name," she replied immediately, winking as she took a drink of her wine.

"You do not mince words, do you?" Kaworu said, shaking his head.

"I told you," Angelica answered, laying her hand over his, "I no longer have a problem with going after what I want."

"So I see," he said thoughtfully, "Why are you suddenly interested in me? We have worked together for several years."

She shrugged, "I'm impulsive…"

"Really…" he said, smiling as he studied her face more closely, "has this ever led you to do something you later regretted?"

Her smile faltered for a moment, then she shook her head. "Nah, I try not to let things like regret or second thoughts weigh me down… life's too short."

"Indeed," he replied. "Tell me, then… what are you hoping for, this evening?"

"Think you know," she whispered, bringing his hand to her lips.

"I do not think it would be wise… on our first date…" he said gently, smiling as she ran her mouth over his skin.

"Don't play hard to get," she said with a smile, sliding his forefinger over her bottom teeth, "just go with it… have a little fun, Fifth Child…"

He considered this for a moment, then asked softly, "If I consent… will it end tonight?"

Her smile widened, "Kinda depends on how good you are… doesn't it?"

"So we are clear," he said quietly, holding her eyes with his, "You would like to leave here… go to your apartment… and engage in sexual intercourse – strictly for the purpose of physical gratification… correct?"

"You make it sound so… tawdry…" she said, flushing slightly.

"Isn't it?" he inquired.

"Not to me," she retorted, "I think people should do what makes them feel good…" she leaned forward in her chair, "and right now, you make me feel good."

"And tomorrow?" he asked softly.

"Why worry about tomorrow?" she said, exasperated.

"I would be unhappy if you were to regret it," he said, caressing her palm with his finger.

"I won't," she said, shivering slightly at his soft touch, "I told you, I never-"

"I think you are lying about that," he cut her off quietly, "but that is your prerogative…"

"So… yes?" she whispered, her heart rate accelerating at the thought of finally being alone with the gorgeous boy with the hypnotic red eyes.

He smiled. "If that is what you truly wish for…" he said softly.

She pondered this for a moment, then looked away from him, seeking out their waiter and raising her hand.

"Check please."

Continued…

Author's notes: mmmm… Asuka in black… next chapter… ((drool drool)). Ahem, anyway… hope you like it so far.

Ryoma must be getting tired of me… but that's ok, he's still pre-reading!! WAHAHAHAHHAHAHA ((choke)) ((wheeze)) ((faint)) Thanks man. ^_^

Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com