The pit of his stomach seemed to fall as he watched her slump back in her seat and her head loll to the side. He called her name for what seemed like forever, and she wouldn't rouse. He did however catch the attention of Z and Syd whom he had failed to notice sitting in a booth across the room, but he paid them no mind. In an instant, although it seemed like forever, he was at Kat's side checking her vitals.

"What happened!" A frantic voice said from behind him. He took a split second to glance back, it was Sydney who asked the question. As if he wasn't already shook up enough, he'd be damned if Syd was going to add to it.

"She passed out." He said as simply as he could although on the inside he was itching to break down. He couldn't understand why she hadn't woken up yet.

"...I don't know, Sir. She just passed out." Z's voice seemed to cut into the air. Greg shook his head. He hadn't even noticed her contact anyone.

"Take her to Dr. Felix immediately." He heard the Commander's exigent voice slip through the communicator.

An almost sick feeling of dread seemed to flow through Greg's veins. "Why the urgency," He asked once Z was done talking to the commander. He started to pull Kat away from the booth and then cradled her in his arms. When he didn't receive an answer, he asked, "what's wrong with Kat?" Z frowned and Syd looked like she was ready to cry. "Sydney," He asked. "Are you able to drive?" He watched her for a moment, finally she caught his eye and gave him a distinct nod. "Good we need you to take whatever it was you came here in back to the academy. We'll meet you in the sickbay. Z, I need your help. Your with me."

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Once the three of them were situated in the car, Greg started to interrogate Z. "You didn't answer me back there. Why is that?" He asked.

Z turned in her seat as much as the seat belt would allow. "Kat's business is not mine to tell."

Frowning, Greg glanced in his rear view mirror at Kat who looked to be sleeping peacefully in the back seat. "What about your past with Kat?"

"I don't know what you mean." She stated. He could tell by the tone in her voice that she meant what she said.

"Well," Greg started. "Something has you and Sydney on edge. Syd could barely keep her cool back there," he said indicating the place they had just drove away from with his thumb. "The two of you are rangers, aren't you supposed to keep your wits about you? What has you so scared? Don't tell me Kat's story, I want your side of it."

Z seemed to take a deep breath. "The last time I saw her pass out like that, I was scared for her life for weeks. We were all told that we should probably get emotionally ready for a funeral." Her voice broke towards the end of the sentence causing Greg to wonder just how bad it had been.

"What were her odds of survival?" He asked, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"A million to one. All we could do was watch her waste away."

Greg was stunned. He hadn't been expecting such unbeatable odds. Gazing back into the mirror at the peaceful form behind them, he silently hoped that Kat's recent spell wasn't a fatal one. He didn't know what he'd do if something were to happen to her.

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Z stared out the passenger side window at the buildings that they were passing, wondering about the man sitting in the driver's seat. Maybe she had been quick to judge him. After all, he was genuinely concerned for Dr. Manx, just like she and Syd were. She had seen the look in his eyes when Kat had first lost consciousness. To say that he was a little freaked out, would have been an understatement. He was scared, just like they were. She bit her lip as her train of thoughts refused to leave the subject at hand. Shaking her head, she realized that he wasn't emotionless as they had all first though. He was a passionate man.

Taking a deep breath she watched the side view mirror and everything it showed being left behind and then she focused her eyes to the lettering at the bottom of the mirror. 'Objects in mirror may appear closer than they are.' The double meaning hit her like a ton of bricks. As did everything else she had been told over the past year. 'Her chances are a million to one.' 'You might want to prepare yourselves, she's more than likely not going to survive.'

The unmistakable burning crept up behind her nose and eyes and it took all she had to hold it at bay. Why did it feel to her like something life changing was about to happen. Why did it seem like everything they thought was behind them, what going to come back and haunt them. Z couldn't shake the feelings that were coursing through her. She hated them, just as much as she hated not knowing if something good or bad lay ahead. She snuck a look at Professor Sanders and analyzed him again, silently. He was extremely good looking, with a mysterious flare about him. Tears pricked at her eyes and she just let them fall. He was perfect for Kat.


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