***
"Lieutenant Jacobson is second only to you, Collins," Logan said, "as I'm sure you know. And you've worked together before, I'm aware of that."
Alex stepped forward and extended his hand to Lt. Sienna Jacobson, she gripped it firmly and smirked ever-so-slightly, her eyes flashing with recognition. "Lieutenant," she said, simply.
"You want me to leave Ensign Scotts?" Alex questioned.
"Yes," Logan said, "she'll do fine without you now."
"It hasn't been that long, Captain," Alex pointed out, "why separate a good thing? We work well together, I think it would be a mistake breaking up the partnership."
They talked for another half hour, finally reaching a decision, then Alex and Sienna were left alone in his office when Logan left, standing only a foot apart and staring into each other's eyes breathlessly. Even though he had known for months that she was alive, it still shocked Alex to see her standing in front him.
"It's good to see you again," he said, numbly.
"You, too," she replied.
He reached up and touched her arm gently, nervously, as he did so, Jen walked in with a bright smile on her face: "Hi, I'm back. I saw Logan going by---" She cut off abruptly when she saw Alex and Sienna gazing at one another. "Alex???" she stammered.
"Jen!" Alex said, quickly, "this is Lieutenant Sienna Jacobson . . . "
"I know who she is," Jen replied, staring at them with a growing expression of horror in her eyes. "I see . . . "
She turned quickly and walked outside, but Alex wasn't about to let her escape so easily, he rushed out after her and grabbed her arm just as she reached the door. "No, Jen, wait," he said, "that wasn't what it looked like."
"Then what was it???" Jen demanded.
"Nothing was happening," Alex insisted, "keep your voice down . . . we don't want to make a scene."
"'Make a scene'?" Jen gasped, "that's what you're worried about?"
"Jennifer, stop it!" Alex snapped, abruptly, "I didn't do anything with her, she just arrived. Captain Logan wants her to be my new partner so we can concentrate on capturing Ransik."
Jen's eyes widened, the horror fading into despair as she realized her mistake . . . and that she was losing Alex to Time Force. "Oh . . . " she sighed, "I-I'm sorry, Alex, I shouldn't have even thought that. So . . . she's your partner now?"
"Yes . . . and no," Alex said, "don't worry, I've found a way for it to work . . . for both of us."
"How?"
"I told Captain Logan I could do both," Alex said, "part-time. When an actual mission comes up and it's time for Jacobson and I to go after Ransik, I'll leave you for a short time. There's no need for her and I to be partnered at all times."
"Alex," Jen said, "that's too much. You'll kill yourself trying to work that hard!"
"No, I won't," Alex said, "I'm young right now, I can handle it. And it will be worth it."
Jen smiled slowly, their eyes locking as Sienna stepped up to the see- through doorway and folded her arms, watching them; Alex leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek, the made his way to her mouth. He felt her arms around his neck and smiled as they kissed, his hands ran up and cupped her face, holding her still as he parted her lips slightly and felt her tense with anticipation.
Sienna watched for another moment, then turned and walked to her own office without a word to anyone; Alex and Jen's lips finally parted, but they remained in one another's arms afterward.
"I love you," he whispered, "don't ever doubt that."
"I never will."
***
Alex found Sienna working out in the gym early the next morning, wearing loose pants and a sports bra, revealing chiseled abs and taut arm muscles. He stepped into the doorway and watched her silently for a few minutes, then spoke quietly: "We should be a good match, don't you think?"
Sienna paused with her leg in the air, about to strike the holographic image of Ransik, she turned quickly and faced him with a cold expression in her dark eyes. "I suppose," she said.
"Need a partner?" Alex asked, taking off his shirt.
"You're better than this---" she gestured to the hologram.
"A lot better," Alex assured her.
He took off his shoes and took a stance, his legs spaced out evenly and knees bent; Sienna did the same, then launched her first attack. She did a fast scissor kick, her left foot striking him in the upper chest and forcing him to stagger backward, but Alex retaliated quickly and swiped her legs out from under her; Sienna landed on her back, then braced her hands on the mat and jumped up.
'Sienna never fought this well before,' Alex thought to himself as they matched each other blow-for-blow. She had always seemed preoccupied with worrying about her fingernails, or sweating while wearing make-up, not at all like the person who inhabited her body now.
"I saw you," Sienna said, "kissing Ensign Scotts."
"And . . . ?" Alex said, daring her to disapprove.
"You're an officer," Sienna pointed out, "and her partner. Do you honestly think that you're personal relationship is wise?"
"I would never let anything I do off-duty hurt my job," Alex told her, confidently.
"How can you say that?" Sienna demanded, "you're already obsessed with capturing Ransik in order to avenge your mother's death---"
"How dare you say that!" Alex fired up, "what goes on in my private life is just that, Lieutenant---private!"
"Not when it effects our mission," Sienna replied, calmly.
"It hasn't," Alex snapped, "and it never will. And as for my mother, that was a long time ago and you don't know the first thing about what happened-- -or how I feel about it. Now, I'll thank you not to mention my relationship with Ensign Scotts again, Lieutenant. It's none of your business."
He grabbed his shirt and put it back on over his sweaty chest, then zipped up his boots, inwardly simmering as he tried to calm himself; nothing made him angrier than when someone talked about Jen or his parents. What did anyone know about him? Or them? Nothing. He cast one last glare at Sienna before leaving and walking down the long hallway just as Jen got to his office, she smirked at the sweat on his brow and his wrinkled PT uniform.
"Some work-out, huh?" she said.
"Yeah," Alex muttered, brushing by her and entering his office. "I'm going to take a quick shower," he told her, "be out in a few minutes."
"I'll grab some breakfast then," Jen said.
"All right."
Alex stripped down and stepped into the shower, flipping the switch that turned it on he happened to catch a glimpse of his back in the mirror and saw the jagged scar from Ransik's sword. He could reach back and touch it gently, wincing at the sensation it produced as he remembered the agony of when the sword had been plunged into his back. The day he lost Bobby, Dana . . . and Sienna in one horrific fight, a battle gone horribly wrong for the young soldiers. The scar was a lifelong reminder of what he had lost that day, but also a reminder of how he came to know Jen.
A few minutes later, he came back out and headed to the cafeteria to find Jen and Sienna standing together and speaking heatedly; he could tell Jen was upset, but couldn't speak out to an officer. He quickly walked forward and demanded:
"What is going on?"
"Nothing of importance, Lieutenant," Sienna replied, "we were just talking."
Alex frowned, looking at Jen for confirmation, the ensign merely nodded and Sienna walked away briskly, Alex shot her a glare. "Jennifer," he whispered, "you don't have to lie for her. What did she say to you?"
"Nothing," Jen insisted, "it's not a big thing."
"It was about us, wasn't it?" Alex said, "she spoke to me after our work- out. Did she tell you that you were jeopardizing our mission or something like that?"
"Yes," Jen finally admitted, "she told me I should break up with you, for the good of the mission. That I was too distracting, and you would wear yourself down trying to concentrate on me and capturing Ransik. Alex, I don't want you to get yourself hurt over me."
"I won't," Alex said, "you know me, I'm not that irresponsible."
"You're not irresponsible at all."
"Exactly." Alex sighed, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Not to scare you, but if I thought my relationship with you would harm my chances of bringing Ransik to justice---I would end it right here. But I'm not going to."
"I don't want to lose you," Jen said, quietly.
"You're not going to," Alex replied, "let's get to work. It'll take your mind off of things for a while."
*****
"We have a situation," Logan said, looking at each tired officer in turn. He had woken them up early in the morning and they had rushed to HQ half- asleep.
"What's going on, Captain?" Alex asked.
"We just uncovered a plot to attack the planet Xybria," Logan said, "it needs to be evacuated immediately. If we don't, millions will be killed."
"Evacuate an entire planet???" one officer spoke, "that's impossible, sir."
"No, it's not," Logan replied, "we need to hurry though."
"I'll organize a fleet, sir," one volunteered, "get the ships ready."
"Go now," Logan ordered.
Alex and Sienna exchanged worried glances as the reality of what was happening sunk in, Logan looked at him coldly: "Get as many people as you can, Collins, and get them to the bay immediately. We need to get to Xybria . . . and fast."
TBC
"Lieutenant Jacobson is second only to you, Collins," Logan said, "as I'm sure you know. And you've worked together before, I'm aware of that."
Alex stepped forward and extended his hand to Lt. Sienna Jacobson, she gripped it firmly and smirked ever-so-slightly, her eyes flashing with recognition. "Lieutenant," she said, simply.
"You want me to leave Ensign Scotts?" Alex questioned.
"Yes," Logan said, "she'll do fine without you now."
"It hasn't been that long, Captain," Alex pointed out, "why separate a good thing? We work well together, I think it would be a mistake breaking up the partnership."
They talked for another half hour, finally reaching a decision, then Alex and Sienna were left alone in his office when Logan left, standing only a foot apart and staring into each other's eyes breathlessly. Even though he had known for months that she was alive, it still shocked Alex to see her standing in front him.
"It's good to see you again," he said, numbly.
"You, too," she replied.
He reached up and touched her arm gently, nervously, as he did so, Jen walked in with a bright smile on her face: "Hi, I'm back. I saw Logan going by---" She cut off abruptly when she saw Alex and Sienna gazing at one another. "Alex???" she stammered.
"Jen!" Alex said, quickly, "this is Lieutenant Sienna Jacobson . . . "
"I know who she is," Jen replied, staring at them with a growing expression of horror in her eyes. "I see . . . "
She turned quickly and walked outside, but Alex wasn't about to let her escape so easily, he rushed out after her and grabbed her arm just as she reached the door. "No, Jen, wait," he said, "that wasn't what it looked like."
"Then what was it???" Jen demanded.
"Nothing was happening," Alex insisted, "keep your voice down . . . we don't want to make a scene."
"'Make a scene'?" Jen gasped, "that's what you're worried about?"
"Jennifer, stop it!" Alex snapped, abruptly, "I didn't do anything with her, she just arrived. Captain Logan wants her to be my new partner so we can concentrate on capturing Ransik."
Jen's eyes widened, the horror fading into despair as she realized her mistake . . . and that she was losing Alex to Time Force. "Oh . . . " she sighed, "I-I'm sorry, Alex, I shouldn't have even thought that. So . . . she's your partner now?"
"Yes . . . and no," Alex said, "don't worry, I've found a way for it to work . . . for both of us."
"How?"
"I told Captain Logan I could do both," Alex said, "part-time. When an actual mission comes up and it's time for Jacobson and I to go after Ransik, I'll leave you for a short time. There's no need for her and I to be partnered at all times."
"Alex," Jen said, "that's too much. You'll kill yourself trying to work that hard!"
"No, I won't," Alex said, "I'm young right now, I can handle it. And it will be worth it."
Jen smiled slowly, their eyes locking as Sienna stepped up to the see- through doorway and folded her arms, watching them; Alex leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek, the made his way to her mouth. He felt her arms around his neck and smiled as they kissed, his hands ran up and cupped her face, holding her still as he parted her lips slightly and felt her tense with anticipation.
Sienna watched for another moment, then turned and walked to her own office without a word to anyone; Alex and Jen's lips finally parted, but they remained in one another's arms afterward.
"I love you," he whispered, "don't ever doubt that."
"I never will."
***
Alex found Sienna working out in the gym early the next morning, wearing loose pants and a sports bra, revealing chiseled abs and taut arm muscles. He stepped into the doorway and watched her silently for a few minutes, then spoke quietly: "We should be a good match, don't you think?"
Sienna paused with her leg in the air, about to strike the holographic image of Ransik, she turned quickly and faced him with a cold expression in her dark eyes. "I suppose," she said.
"Need a partner?" Alex asked, taking off his shirt.
"You're better than this---" she gestured to the hologram.
"A lot better," Alex assured her.
He took off his shoes and took a stance, his legs spaced out evenly and knees bent; Sienna did the same, then launched her first attack. She did a fast scissor kick, her left foot striking him in the upper chest and forcing him to stagger backward, but Alex retaliated quickly and swiped her legs out from under her; Sienna landed on her back, then braced her hands on the mat and jumped up.
'Sienna never fought this well before,' Alex thought to himself as they matched each other blow-for-blow. She had always seemed preoccupied with worrying about her fingernails, or sweating while wearing make-up, not at all like the person who inhabited her body now.
"I saw you," Sienna said, "kissing Ensign Scotts."
"And . . . ?" Alex said, daring her to disapprove.
"You're an officer," Sienna pointed out, "and her partner. Do you honestly think that you're personal relationship is wise?"
"I would never let anything I do off-duty hurt my job," Alex told her, confidently.
"How can you say that?" Sienna demanded, "you're already obsessed with capturing Ransik in order to avenge your mother's death---"
"How dare you say that!" Alex fired up, "what goes on in my private life is just that, Lieutenant---private!"
"Not when it effects our mission," Sienna replied, calmly.
"It hasn't," Alex snapped, "and it never will. And as for my mother, that was a long time ago and you don't know the first thing about what happened-- -or how I feel about it. Now, I'll thank you not to mention my relationship with Ensign Scotts again, Lieutenant. It's none of your business."
He grabbed his shirt and put it back on over his sweaty chest, then zipped up his boots, inwardly simmering as he tried to calm himself; nothing made him angrier than when someone talked about Jen or his parents. What did anyone know about him? Or them? Nothing. He cast one last glare at Sienna before leaving and walking down the long hallway just as Jen got to his office, she smirked at the sweat on his brow and his wrinkled PT uniform.
"Some work-out, huh?" she said.
"Yeah," Alex muttered, brushing by her and entering his office. "I'm going to take a quick shower," he told her, "be out in a few minutes."
"I'll grab some breakfast then," Jen said.
"All right."
Alex stripped down and stepped into the shower, flipping the switch that turned it on he happened to catch a glimpse of his back in the mirror and saw the jagged scar from Ransik's sword. He could reach back and touch it gently, wincing at the sensation it produced as he remembered the agony of when the sword had been plunged into his back. The day he lost Bobby, Dana . . . and Sienna in one horrific fight, a battle gone horribly wrong for the young soldiers. The scar was a lifelong reminder of what he had lost that day, but also a reminder of how he came to know Jen.
A few minutes later, he came back out and headed to the cafeteria to find Jen and Sienna standing together and speaking heatedly; he could tell Jen was upset, but couldn't speak out to an officer. He quickly walked forward and demanded:
"What is going on?"
"Nothing of importance, Lieutenant," Sienna replied, "we were just talking."
Alex frowned, looking at Jen for confirmation, the ensign merely nodded and Sienna walked away briskly, Alex shot her a glare. "Jennifer," he whispered, "you don't have to lie for her. What did she say to you?"
"Nothing," Jen insisted, "it's not a big thing."
"It was about us, wasn't it?" Alex said, "she spoke to me after our work- out. Did she tell you that you were jeopardizing our mission or something like that?"
"Yes," Jen finally admitted, "she told me I should break up with you, for the good of the mission. That I was too distracting, and you would wear yourself down trying to concentrate on me and capturing Ransik. Alex, I don't want you to get yourself hurt over me."
"I won't," Alex said, "you know me, I'm not that irresponsible."
"You're not irresponsible at all."
"Exactly." Alex sighed, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Not to scare you, but if I thought my relationship with you would harm my chances of bringing Ransik to justice---I would end it right here. But I'm not going to."
"I don't want to lose you," Jen said, quietly.
"You're not going to," Alex replied, "let's get to work. It'll take your mind off of things for a while."
*****
"We have a situation," Logan said, looking at each tired officer in turn. He had woken them up early in the morning and they had rushed to HQ half- asleep.
"What's going on, Captain?" Alex asked.
"We just uncovered a plot to attack the planet Xybria," Logan said, "it needs to be evacuated immediately. If we don't, millions will be killed."
"Evacuate an entire planet???" one officer spoke, "that's impossible, sir."
"No, it's not," Logan replied, "we need to hurry though."
"I'll organize a fleet, sir," one volunteered, "get the ships ready."
"Go now," Logan ordered.
Alex and Sienna exchanged worried glances as the reality of what was happening sunk in, Logan looked at him coldly: "Get as many people as you can, Collins, and get them to the bay immediately. We need to get to Xybria . . . and fast."
TBC