"Captain- Requesting permission for immediate leave sir," Taylor said as she stood in front of the Captain of the base. He looked up from his desk.

"Lieutenant Earhardt, you were already pardoned for your mysterious leave of absence a few years back, and we explained what the consequences would be if you should leave again," he said sternly.

Taylor lowered her head- if she left again she would be discharged. She thought for a moment and raised her head. "With all due respect sir, this is a family matter and if you wish to dismiss me for that, then I'll take it," she said. The captain looked at her proud face.

He had seen certain spunk in the young Lieutenant from the first day she stepped in his base. Her heart was never fully committed to the Air Force, but she never gave up on anything she set her mind to.

"I'll give you a deal- you can have leave as long as you need it. But when you return, you will show the new recruits the ropes, and then you are free to do as you wish," he said.

"Sir?" Taylor asked in shock.

"In plain terms Earhardt, when you return, you have the option of staying or leaving. Whatever your choose, I know you will serve well in the field of choice," he said. "Dismissed." Taylor stood proud and saluted. As soon as the door was shut, she literally ran to her house and packed up her few belongings.

"How the hell am I going to get to Blue Bay harbor?" she said out loud. All the transports were gone for the evening, and she couldn't afford the cab fair. As much as she didn't want to, she called Alyssa. She hated asking for things, but she had to get to her sister.

Turtle Cove was a good hour north from where she was, and Blue bay Harbor was another 3 from the base. Sighing, she dialed.

"Hello- you've reached the Evans'!" she heard Alyssa's perky voice say. "Please leave a message!" Taylor didn't know what to say, so she hung up the phone. She then called Danny and Max, but neither one of them were home either. "Shit!" she cursed as she began to get angry. She flipped through her phonebook and came to a name she had called only a few times- Eric Meyers.

Silver hills was closer to the base than Turtle Cove- maybe he could help her. After they met, they had kept up contact somewhat, but with her returning to the Air Force, and he to the Silver Guardians, they didn't have much time to develop a relationship. . . but secretly they both knew they wanted to be together.

"Please pick up," she said tapping her foot against the metal posts of the table. She heard someone pick up.

"Meyers," was the answer she got.

Eric waited for a reply, but it didn't come. "I know someone's there- I can hear you breathing, " he said.

"Eric?" He heard a voice he had longed to hear for so long.

"Taylor? Is that you?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," she said softly. Eric could sense something in her voice.

"Alright Earhardt, what's going on? Usually by now we've had a few insults thrown in," he said grinning. Taylor smiled then.

"I need a favor," she said outright. She heard Eric laugh a little on the other end.

"Really. . . and what do I get in return?" he asked cockily. Taylor sighed and had a small grin on her face.

"Look this is serious- my little sister is really sick and I need a ride."

Eric's face got serious at the mention of her sister. Taylor had told him about her childhood, and he knew that she was all Taylor had left in the world. He didn't know about the cancer, but he knew that if Taylor's sister was sick, he'd do anything to help. "I'll be there in 45," he said without question.

Taylor snapped her head straight when she heard him say that. "You mean it? No questions or anything?" she asked.

"We'll have time to talk in the car. Were are we going anyway?" he asked. Taylor paused for a second.

"Uh. Blue Bay Harbor," she got out.

"Then I guess we'll have a lot of time to talk. Be ready at the gate." Taylor felt tears in her eyes. He was going to help her.

"Thank you Eric. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Anytime," he said. They hung up and Eric went to prepare to leave.

(((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))

Blake heard the now familiar sound of Tori's watch alarm. He opened his eyes and found her missing. He sat up and saw her watch sitting on the dresser next to her medications- she should have taken them by now, but the ones laid out for that morning were still sitting on the counter. Glancing around the room, he saw that her surfboard was missing as well.

A small smile crept across his lips. He crawled out of bed, threw on a t-shirt and some swim trunks and went outside. The sun was still low in the sky, and the winds blew gently threw the trees. He walked down the steps and out to the warm sand. A smile crossed his lips again as he looked out at the water and saw the familiar sight of a blonde surfer in a blue and black wetsuit.

She looked so graceful out there- like she owned the wave she was riding. Tori felt a rush go through her body as she weaved in and out of the curl. Her new board felt like it was a part of her and could predict her every move. Everything in that moment was perfect.

As soon as she had woken up, she grabbed her board and headed out. The sun had just risen, and she was one of the few surfers that caught the first waves of the day. She had been out there for almost an hour straight, and was beginning to feel a little tired. It was probably time to take her meds, so she decided to head in.

She jogged up the beach and saw Blake standing, waiting for her. She stuck her board in the sand and went to kiss him. Blake didn't resist and leaned into her slightly.

"How's the board?" he asked. Tori's face broke out into a huge smile.

"It's perfect," she said kissing him again. "This is the most amazing thing I've ever done- well with the exception of last night. . ." she said playfully. He placed his arms loosely around her waist. She slipped hers around his neck. "have I told you how much I love you?" she asked,

"Not yet today," he said kissing her neck. Tori closed her eyes and smiled.

"Well then- I love you," she said leaning her head on his shoulder. Blake kissed her forehead.

"I love you too." They stayed there for another few minutes. "You forgot to take you Meds," he said. Tori pulled away and swatted his arm.

"What are you? My nurse?" she asked playfully.

"Yes- now go so you can enjoy the rest of the day," he said as he hit her backside. Tori gave him a shocked look.

"You so did not just slap my ass," she said. Blake placed his hand firmly on her butt and squeezed it slightly. Tori gave him a shocked, excited expression and chased him into the house.

((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))

"Drive to the yellow zone, sign in at the booth, and the Lieutenant should be right out," the soldier at the gate told Eric. He did as he was told and waited. He felt his heartbeat increase as he saw the tall blonde salute another officer inside the building and exit. She had on a yellow windbreaker, with a white and yellow shirt and her signature black pants. A small duffel bag was slung over her shoulder.

Taylor saw the black SUV and took a deep breath. She hadn't seen him in almost six months. She opened the back passenger door, threw her bag in and then took her seat in the front next to Eric. She felt her mouth go dry when she looked at him. He was easily the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen- like heart stoppingly gorgeous.

Eric just stared at her. Her ice blue eyes shined through the darkness of the incoming night. He cleared his throat. "You look great," as the first thing that came to mind. Taylor blushed slightly.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," she responded with a smile across her face. Eric let out a small laugh.

"Fine- you look like hell." He reversed the car and drove out onto the highway. Taylor smirked at the remark.

"Well, you don't look half bad yourself Meyers," she said after a few moments of awkward silence.

"I try," he said- he loved when she called him Meyers. "So what's going on with your sister? You sounded really worried on the phone," he said. Taylor lowered her head and let out a huge sigh.

"She has leukemia," she said softly. Eric kept a hard grip on the wheel but turned his head a little to look at her. He saw her face lowered and suddenly felt the need to comfort her. Taylor felt a hand rest softly on hers. She looked up to see Eric giving her a sympathetic smile. Taylor felt him squeeze her hand slightly.

"You want to talk about it?" he asked. Taylor still held his hand and let out a small laugh.

"There's really not much to talk about. She had it when she was little- right after our mother died. My father and I were in Spain at the time and I couldn't help her," she said. Eric felt her hand shake slightly. Then he heard something he never thought he would hear from her- she was sobbing softly.

"Taylor, if you don't want to talk-"

"No," she said wiping away a tear. "You need to know- I want you to," she said. Eric smiled a little and held her hand a little tighter. "I talked to her everyday. She went through all kinds of experimental treatments, and Kanoi told me that the doctors said she was in remission."

"Who's Kanoi?" he asked.

"Remember that academy I told you Tori and I went when we were little?" she asked. Eric nodded his head. "Well, he's the Sensei of the school, and he took Tori in." She felt Eric's thumb beginning to rub her hand.

"It must have been really hard being away from her,"' he said.

"Yeah- it has been. I haven't talked to her in a year," she said. "We had a fight, and the worst part is, I don't even remember what it was about," she said. Suddenly she began to openly cry. She had never meant to break down, but she had never really talked to anyone about her family before. Eric pulled the car over and parked it.

He leaned over and pulled Taylor into a hug. "Hey- It's okay," he said soothingly. She felt so good in his arms, and he couldn't stand to see her like this. "Taylor, it's going to be alright," he said. Taylor felt his arms around her and sank into his embrace.

"I'm sorry," she said pulling away, wiping her eyes. "I didn't want to rope you into this. . ."

"If you didn't, I'd feel very offended," he said. Taylor watched as he took her hand in his again. "I'd do anything for you Earhardt." Taylor wasn't very good with sentiment, but did her best.

"Eric, I'm glad you're here with me for this. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather be with right now," she said. After a few more minutes, Taylor got herself together, and they set out again. . . their hands still clasped tightly.