Rick couldn't sleep. He lay on his back in the dark bedroom, illuminated only by the pale greenish light from his alarm clock. Minmei was sleeping peacefully beside him. He took a glance at the clock. It was 5:15 a.m. Too early to get up, he thought to himself, but he was too agitated to go back to sleep.

It was the morning on Friday, January 16th 2015. Rick and Minmei had been together, as a couple, living together, for just about three weeks.

Rick stayed in bed for a few more minutes trying to push the increasingly troubling thoughts out of his mind so he could get a bit more rest. When he realized that he couldn't, he got up, gently closing the bedroom door behind him as not to disturb Minmei. Rick was relieved that he could enjoy some time alone. Since she arrived at his house, they had been together constantly. Much to his surprise, Rick was finding that things were not working out the way he had always hoped they would. He finally had Minmei in his life, and in his bed, but he felt empty, and strangely alone.

Rick turned on the coffeemaker and sat down on the couch and began to reflect on where his life was going and what he needed to do.

The situation with the Zentraedi had been calm for the past several weeks, so Rick felt free to take some well-deserved vacation time to spend with Minmei. He hoped they could spend time getting to know each other more deeply, and to make up for lost time. He was eager to share so much with her, his experiences over the past several years, his hopes and dreams for the future, and to hear the same from her. But it didn't take long for Rick to discover what Minmei likes to talk about the most was Minmei, and that she didn't think about the future. That her experiences over the past several years were primarily about being a star, about adoring fans, and costumes and limousines and TV appearances…and Kyle. He wondered how someone could live such an insulated, self-centered life in a world decimated by war and death, but he also recognized that it wasn't her fault completely. She had a role to play in this world, too. It was a role different than most of the survivors, but an important role nonetheless. She was a powerful weapon against the Zentraedi, after all. She also gave people joy and hope, and helped them forget, if even for a moment, the reality that humanity was facing.

Rick realized that they were not living in the same world. He couldn't talk to her about so many things, like he could with…Rick stopped that train of thought. This was happening a lot lately and he didn't know what to make of it. He missed talking to Lisa. He found himself thinking, "She was just a friend, right? How could thinking about her be damaging to his new relationship? Lisa didn't love him. She would have said so that night when he brought her, an little drunk, and a little wet back to his place a few weeks ago to talk. Vanessa was wrong."

Rick walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee before returning to the couch to watch the sunrise. He allowed his mind to return to a subject that was beginning to feel dangerous.

He could talk to her about anything, and she would listen. He could, and did cry in front of her. She understood everything he had gone through over the past few years. He trusted her judgment and opinion more than anyone's, even Max's. He loved to make her smile….and he missed her. Rick let that last thought sink in for minute. Why did she seem so hurt on Christmas night, the last conversation he had with her on the shore of Lake Gloval?

Rick had heard stories, rumors, whatever, about Lisa's behavior lately. She was behaving like a recluse. Reporting for duty and then going home, not even talking to Claudia much. Miriya said she looked like she lost a lot of weight. Not that she needed to, she was thin already, but Rick knew Lisa tended not to eat when she was upset. He thought about trying to call her again, to come up with some kind of work question, just so he could hear her voice and make sure she was okay. He even toyed with the idea of going over to her place to check on her, but realized that could be a bad idea for several reasons.

Rick heard the bedroom door open behind him and turned around to see Minmei walking toward him "Good morning handsome," she said as walked past him from behind and messing up his hair as she passed, going into the kitchen to pour herself some orange juice. "Can I get you something, Rick?" she asked. Rick shook his head no and gave her a little smile. "Okay, I'm going to hop in the shower, then." She said as she closed the door behind her.

Rick realized that it was already 7:30 and that he had been sitting there thinking for almost two hours. What would they do today? Go shopping, again? Cook, eat, make love, and go to bed, again? Even the physical part of their relationship was not what he thought it would be.

Rick was a bit surprised to discover that he was not the first man Minmei had been with. She had been with Kyle, and even thought they were not blood relatives, Rick thought it a bit creepy since the two had grown up together. Not to mention the fact that he hated Kyle and just about everything he stood for.

Rick began thinking of another way to spend the day and, of course, flying was the first thing that came to mind. He was dying to get back in the cockpit of his mockingbird. He couldn't stand to go so long without flying. He decided to leave Minmei a note telling her that she was on her own for the day; that he was going to the airfield, by himself, to fly. He hoped she'd take the opportunity to talk to her manager, and maybe consider dropping by the studio to work on some new material. Singing was as synonymous to Minmei Lyn as Flying was to Rick Hunter. When that essential piece was missing, neither one was complete.

Rick scribbled a quick note and left it on the counter where Minmei would see it. He said he'd be home late, thinking maybe he'd give Max a call to see if he wanted to meet for a beer later that evening. He grabbed his always-ready flight bag out of his closet and headed for the airfield……………………………

What will Max and Rick talk about?

What has Lisa been up to the past few weeks?

Stay tuned.