Chapter 4 it's not so bad
The soft swish of the waves hitting the sand was like a Baum on her weary soul. Some birthday this had turned out to be, first Ryan was on a deadly mission in a place she didn't even know and then the others had almost been lost. Some times Dana thought that being a ranger really wasn't worth it. But then there were those they helped. Those little kids that had truly happy birthdays because of what the rangers did to protect and defend them.
Glancing out into the distance she wondered if someone was out there, looking out and feeling the way she was, if someone was standing out there, looking at the same sort of a view and thinking like this. Odder things had happened. Surely she was not the first to feel a little unhappy. Heavens thee were billions of people out there on this rock they called earth, why wouldn't there be?
"Hey," Carter called softly as he neared the blonde. He'd been watching Dana for a while and had decided to talk to her; it's why he was out here, to tell her how he felt. If he didn't… Heavens they'd almost lost each other today, before EVEN TOLD HER. It was definitely not a chance he ever wanted to take again. No, this was the perfect time to tell her, he just hoped she'd feel it too.
"Carter hey, is everything ok?" She asked gazing at the young man; his eyes were just so blue, like the bay on a clear morning.
"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure your ok." He said stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah, I was just thinking," She murmured pausing to gaze out at the sapphire water. "Do you ever think birthdays are silly? You know that they're just a waist of time and money?" She asked and he tilted his head slightly, as if mauling that one over.
"No," he began slowly. "Well not if you have the ones you care about with you." He replied after another moment's thought.
"But that's just it, there all not here, I have Dad and you and…" She broke off at realizing what she'd just said.
"So Joel was right, you do like me." Carter mumbled, half to himself. He couldn't believe it but it was true…
"He said that?" Dana asked a little embarrassed, had everyone known?
"Yeah on our little mission this morning." Carter admitted then he was the one gazing off into the distance. He really didn't know what to say or do now.
"Oh." What could she say? Would he hate her now? He didn't act like it but he was a guy and sometimes guys just didn't make any sense. After realizing he must be feeling pretty ill at ease she said. "Well, don't worry I mean if you…"
There was no way she could have guessed what would happen next. How would he have guessed he'd reach out, touch her cheek and cover her mouth with his? How could she know that she'd never had a sweeter taste of fruit or a spicier sauce as that of his mouth on hers…?
As they broke apart they stared into each other's eyes, azure to cobalt, and heart to hart…
"Heavens, I've wanted to do that since you took that kid away from me at that fire back in February." He confessed as his hands holding her hips shifted to pull her closer, into a real hug. Her arms shifted as well, going about his waist.
"You have?" She asked still a little dazed by the kiss and the whole scene.
"Yeah, I just didn't know if you felt the same." He admitted and she wanted to laugh, to throw back her head and laugh at this, he hadn't' thought she'd felt the same?
"Oh, well now that you do what will happen next?" She forced herself to ask calmly, she didn't want him to think she was super immature, even if her hart was doing a jig n her chest.
"Well, what do you say we have dinner tomorrow night?" He proposed and she smiled at him now, happy for the first time all day.
"Hmm, sounds good to me." She murmured and he took her hand and they walked on for a bit before he spoke again.
"Listen, I promised to meet Joel and the others back at the base for dinner, want to come with?" He asked pulling her in for another quick kiss. Both having forgotten just where they were or the water now lapping at their bare feet.
"Yeah, you know suddenly this day doesn't seem so bad." She admitted.
"So the birthday wasn't' a total waste, that's good." He nodded smiling at his friend or more than a friend now, his girl.
"Yeah, it is." She beamed back and they kissed yet again before they left.
***
The happy couple arrived back at the base to find everything as it should be and so stopping at her room to drop off her jacket Dana walked with Carter to the galley.
"That's odd, where's every…" Dana began before the shouts began.
"Surprise!"
"You…" Dana laughed and Carter grinned over at Joel who grinned back.
"Happy birthday honey." William Mitchell grinned at his little girl.
"You guys are the best." Dana grinned and she let Carter lead her inside.
"Hey how about cutting the cake, I'm starving." Joel suggested and Kelsey rolled her eyes as she muttered something under her breath.
"Joel." Ms. Fairweather shook her head.
"Well, I am." He shrugged innocently.
"Just ignore him, why don't you open your gifts?" Chad suggested.
"Ok." Dana agreed and she let Carter lead her over to a table containing several brightly wrapped packages.
"Here, this one's from me." Kelsey thrust a yellow and pink striped box into Dana's hands.
"Oh, I so love gifts." Dana giggled excitedly.
"Yeah, well it's just good to see you happy again." Captain Mitchell told his daughter who nodded and went to work.
"Yeah, birthdays are meant to be happy occasions." Chad piped up. Opening the first gift Dana found a small brown box holding a journal.
"All great doctor's keep a log of stuff." Kelsey shrugged. The yellow clad girl explained and Dana grinned at her.
"I'm not a doctor yet." She pointed out cheerfully.
"Soon enough." The dark haired girl shrugged.
"Here's one from me." Chad said and Dana took the oddly shaped gift. Unwrapping it she found a small carved placket. It was on a small wooden stand and the framed said.
Where there is pain, there is caring,
Where there is light there is hope
Where there is sorrow there is laughter.
All of these things you bring are greater than any proscribed medication.
All of these things are with in you.
They are your truest healing powers, let them shine.
"Oh Chad…" she breathed, tears prickling in the back f her eyes.
"Hey now for mine." Joel said and he dropped a small blat package into Dana's lap. The birthday girl didn't hesitate, opening the gift to find a country CD.
"It's great Joel." She smiled at the stunt pilot.
"I know that way you'll stop playing with the radio dial in the rover." The sky cowboy smirked at her.
"Hey here is mine." Carter said and he handed Dana a small box, wrapped in metallic pink paper.
Dana opened this one more slowly, thinking of the kiss they'd shared back on the beach.
"Carter…" she gasped, seeing the sparkling opal earrings.
"'their your birthstone." He told her and she got up and hugged him tightly before pulling back to smile shyly up at him.
"There like you, amazing." He said and kissed her sweetly before she sat back down.
"Ok, here," Captain Mitchell said handing his daughter a large box.
"Dad?" Dana was surprised, he'd not left the base, and how had he had time to get her this?"
"Remember the mission you guys were on?" Captain Mitchell grinned mischievously and exchanged a look with the scientist.
"Yeah, you don't mean…" Dana couldn't believe she'd fallen for that.
"It was a dud; the others were picking up your gifts." MS. Fairweather told her grinning.
"Oh," What could she say to that?
"So open it already." Joel put in and Dana did, peeling back the paper to reveal another box.
"Dad?" Dana asked surprised.
"Open it." He urged.
"What is this, the puzzle of the day?" As she spoke she found thee more boxes. Opening the first she found a pair of pearl earrings.
"Dad, they were moms."
"Yes, and I was going to wait until your twentieth birthday but I'd say you should have them now. She'd be very proud of you." He told her and Dana felt the tears prickling her eyes once more.
"Open the other two." Captain Mitchell told her and Dana opened the second to find a gift certificate for dinner at one of the nicest restaurants in Mariner bay. Thanking him she moved on to the last and found a new watch. She laughed; the last had been destroyed in an attack with a demon the week before. She hugged her father and then was presented with MS. Fairweather's present. It was a volume of Shakespeare's sonnets.
"I thought since your not formally going to have any lit classes you could use the option to read something other than medical tomes." The scientist grinned with a shrug.
"Thanks MS. F." Dana smiled at the woman and then it was as she was discarding all of the wrapping paper in a trash can Chad had retrieved that she spotted the box still on the table.
"Dad?" She asked looking around, who else was there?
"Oh, that's right, Ryan left this for you." He said and she took the gift from him half afraid of what it would hold. After all her big brother had never actually giver her anything resembling a gift.
"So are you going to open it?" Joel asked and she only then remembered he was even there, that she was not alone.
"Right," Slowly she pealed pack the wrapping paper to find a small wooden box. She tracing her ivy and rose designs on its surface and smiled, in the little time he'd spent with her, he'd gotten to know how much she loved all things carved. Then she noticed the paper sticking out from the box and opened it. Along with a folded piece of paper she found a cassette tape.
"What is it?" Carter asked quietly.
"A message from him." She said softly and as she opened the paper she felt Carter kneeling beside her.
Dana,
I know that it might be odd for you to receive this from you big brother when you barely even know him but I wanted to give you something you'd love for your birthday. I still remember how I felt when you just threw that party for mine and you know what, you should feel that too.
We've been through a lot sis, and no matter what remember I love you.
Happy Birthday,
Ryan
Dana folded the letter once more, tucking it back into the box and then looked at the tape; it was of one of her favorite singers, Dido. A choked laugh escaped her lips at the memory of what happened to the original copy. She'd been in her room, listening to it when he'd come in with Joel and the sky cowboy had said she needed better taste in music, at that very second the tape got eaten.
"Hey you ok?" Carter asked and Dana nodded smiling at him and then closing the box and setting it atop all of the others.
"Let's go have cake."
That had been the very best birthday of her life. Dana had received the knowledge that she was loved by not only one incredible man but three. She still had the letter up in her closet in a box marked blessed things. Also in it was the first pair of earrings he'd given her and a locket her father had given her when she'd graduated from medical school.
In the last few years so many other things had been added though, her son's first outfit, her daughter's first baby tooth and her youngests first art project, a coil pot in neon green and pink. Yet there were some very precious things that couldn't fit in a box, fifteen years of marriage, three nieces and nephews and seven honorary nieces and nephews. It was funny how it all started with a simple birthday.
Dana turned from the sunrise to gaze back inside the living room, she loved this room. It was just such a comfortable area, a pair of tan couches sat in the center of the room but in a way to corner off the seating area. The fireplace faced the longer of the couches, and made the room seem perfect for comfortable chats. there wasn't' all that much color to the room, but what there was perfect, the red throw pillows were just placed so perfect. Just like the man who came through the door just then.
"Hey, thought you'd still be in bed.' He smiled at his wife.
"And miss a little peace?" Dana asked arching an amused brow.
"Guess it is kind of rare isn't it?" He asked moving in to pull her to him.
"Yeah but I wouldn't trade it for the world." She murmured honestly.
"So your not running from today?" Carter asked kissing her pretty little nose.
"No, it's just another Day." She smiled at him and he smiled back.
The end
***
Well, what do you think of that little twist? I thought it was cute. *shrugs*Anyway PLZ R/R.