Kristen Whestphalen sat in front of her microscope, peering intently at the blood sample. She'd given Krieg his physical exam again, to declare him fit for duty after his little . Writing the report, lying on the report about Krieg's blood alcohol level and the extent of his had almost made her nauseous. She was a professional, and she never lied on her reports. Until now.

She reflected remorsefully that she'd been so wrapped up with her own difficulties in writing that report that she didn't even talk to the Lieutenant. She still had difficulty in accepting his explanation about his immorality, but nothing else would work.

She was, she thought, taking the news pretty well. The knowledge that Ben was however many hundreds of years old that he was and that he couldn't die. That just didn't happen, people didn't live forever. But he did. There was just no denying what she'd seen, no matter how much her scientific mind demanded that it couldn't be real.

So she worked on his blood sample, trying to find something, anything, to scientifically explain why Ben could live through that many gunshots or come back from the dead.

I'd give up, if I were you, the voice came from beside her, making her jump off of her chair in shock. She whipped her head around and glared at a smiling Katie, who was seated beside her.

What was that? Kristen asked when she could finally talk without glaring.

Give up on trying to explain what's different about Ben, Kristen. There's nothing for you to find.

You're so sure of that, Kristen shot back. Science can have the answer, if you look for it long enough.

Sure, but people have been looking for at least a hundred years now and haven't found anything. What makes you think that you will? Look, I'm not trying to hurt you, I'm just trying to save you some time, a little pride, and maybe help you to understand.

Kristen sighed deeply. It's just that my whole life has been about finding scientific answers to the world around me, and now Ben is asking me to go without it. That's not easy for me to do.

That's not easy for anyone to do. I had the hardest time trying to accept what Ben is and what that means.

Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you. How exactly did you find out about Ben's immortality? Before or after you were married? Kristen asked, though she normally gave the Lieutenant Commander her privacy regarding her marriage to Krieg.

Katie answered promptly. Actually, that's how we met, she snickered.

What's so funny?

Ben fell out of a fifth-floor window and landed right in front of me. Flat on his back on the concrete sidewalk, staring up at me with sightless eyes that suddenly had sight in them... I tell you, it's weird seeing someone come back from the dead right before your eyes.

I understand, now, Kristen answered back in a low voice.

True. Anyway, there was really no way to avoid telling me or fudging the truth a bit. Not after that. So he took me to an all-night cafe, waited for the shock to fade away, and tried to explain it to me.

Yeah, I wasn't too receptive at first. Much like you were, I might add. Anyway, when that didn't work, he took me back to to his place. Kristen's eyes grew wide at that. Oh, get your mind out of the gutter! Katie exclaimed at the other woman, who at least had the good graces to blush.

He showed me some of the souvenirs he's picked up over the last few hundred years. Given what I'd seen and was being shown, it was pretty hard to ignore the truth of the matter. After that... Katie trailed off, and Kristen left it at that, not wanting to ask questions about the marriage that weren't really any of her business.

While Kristen was really interested in finding out the specifics of Ben and Katie's break-up, like every other member of the crew, she instead forced herself to ask a different question.

What kind of stuff does Ben have? You said he has a lot souvenirs.

That he does. Paintings, old pictures, momentos from the various times, old newspaper clippings, Katie answered, but then hesitated. Swords. He's got a lot of swords.

was all Kristen could say. To think that Ben's the collecting type is hard to believe.

Actually, he's more of the pack-rat type, Katie answered.

Kristen asked incredously. I never would've imagined that.

Believe it. He's got junk going back for I don't know how many decades or centuries.

Kristen said softly, still unable to truly grasp the enormity of the fact that Ben was several times her own age. I wonder how many times he's rolled his eyes whenever I called him young man'? she asked.

Oh, he's probably used to it by now. Besides, being treated like that serves him right for dying when he was still young enough to be hot.

Kristen asked with an arched brow, having to bite the inside of her cheek to avoid blurting her shock out loud. Did Katie say what Kristen just heard?

Katie asked, apparently seeing the look on Kristen's face.

Just trying to wrap my brain around what I just heard, Kristen fibbed, hoping Katie wouldn't call her bluff.

Anyway, his living room was a sight to see. Sometimes I think it'd be fun just to see his other houses, to see what they're decorated like.

Other houses?
Yeah, he's a dozen properties around the world, all picked up in one decade or another, Katie said, then grinned. We took a trip to Rome when we were married. Nice city, great views, and his place there... Katie trailed off, lost in the past. We spent a month there, seeing all the sights and hearing him tell how the city has changed over time.

Wow, that is so romantic, Kristen awed.

That's one thing Ben is never lacking in, Katie agreed cheerfully.

Maybe I should take lessons, then, a third voice piped up from behind the ladies. The two women whirled around to see Lucas standing there, grinning ear-to-ear.

Absolutely not! Kristen commanded, easily reverting to old form. In no way, shape, or form will you ever take any advice from Ben Krieg. Capice?

I capice, Lucas said duitifully, though his eyes told otherwise.

Excuse me, Katie said, rising to her feet and leaving. We'll be arriving in New York in two days and I've got a lot of work to do before then.

Oh, speaking of that, what are your plans? Kristen asked.

Malls. Many, many malls. Shops for as far as the eye can see. My credit card may end up hating me, but it'll be worth it.

Oooh, count me in, the other woman said. What about you, Lucas?

The boy shrugged self-consiously. I dunno. Wander around with Ben, I guess.

Good luck with that, Lucas. He's got other plans, Katie said, an odd look on her face.

Other plans?

Yeah, he's going to be meeting up with some old friends, or so he says.

Old friends? Lucas and Kristen echoed together, their studiously indifferent voices betraying their thoughts.

That's what he said. Whether or not they're... Katie trailed off, unable to complete the thought herself. Anyway, I've got to be going, she said, leaving the two behind to deal with their own problems in their own way.