DISCLAIMER: I am not the owner of nor wish to appear to be the owner of FAKE and all related merchandise thereof.

WARNINGS: Formal Diana. Calmer J.J. With sprinklings of Lime here and there. The chapter(s) with Lemon will be labeled. This warning applies to the entire story not just this chapter!

AN: I really hate making Rose the bad guy, I really like him! None the less, he is about to become more bastardly...sorry Berky.

I hope you guys stick with me, I have big plans for this story. It's just a little slow in coming...

Ryo sat at the Communications station, still trembling, still upset. He didn't know why, but the fact that Dee was leaving the ship sent chills down his spine. He didn't want him to go, he looked up helplessly at is Commander.

Diana noticed him and dropping to her knees whispered, " I am so sorry..."

" How?" was Ryo's whispered reply.

" Apparently, the Earth has known for some time of what the G'nar was planing. They had his orders written up and ready to go for weeks," She put her hand on Ryo's knee and using it as leverage, pushed up, " Ensign Parker, I need you to leave the ship and find us some fuel. Take your time, we are going to be here a while anyway. Young Mr. Goldman, I need for you to do a walk through for me, understand that once maintenance shows up they will do one of their own, however, I will accept an early report from you," She then turned ready to leave the Bridge, " I will be in my office. Ensign Maclean, clean up in here and fix any minimal damage that you can."

Drake left first, making his way to his room to change into his uniform. Bikky stood beside Ryo and waited until the man noticed his presence.

" Yes Bikky?" Ryo's voice sounded weary.

" Dude, I'm sorry,"Bikky shrugged as if he wanted to say more, but couldn't think of anything. So he turned, running out of the room.

Ryo slumped back in his chair and sighed. It hadn't been a week yet and already Dee was affecting him. Ryo ran his fingers through his hair, this really sucked.

Dee had already began to pack his duffle and personal bags, when the buzzer to his door had sounded, he had hoped it was Ryo. He was mortified it was a frantic J.J. with eyes red and puffy from crying. J.J. had let himself in so Dee had no choice to listen to the man's whaling.

" You can't go!" J.J. sounded shrill and nasal.

" I don't have a choice," Dee lifted the folder with his orders, " You see this. It says where to and how long and many years ago I signed a paper giving them the right to do it."

J.J. had went to the Lieutenant's quarters after pacing for a while in his own room. He was determined to find a way to make the man stay. There had to be a loop hole, a clause in the contract overlooked, someone he could bribe, anything so Dee Laytner wouldn't have to go.

" You haven't been on the 'Stetson' in years! How do they even know you retained half of that knowledge?" J.J. slumped to the bed burying his face in his hands, " This is awful."

" Look Adams, you and I go way back, went to training together and everything. While we're not exactly friends you still know I wouldn't lie to you," Dee walked over and standing above the man on his bed looked down, " I will come back."

J.J.'s head snapped up abruptly and there was a smile so wide and eerie that Dee took a step away, " You would do that for me!" there was hope and longing in his voice and the man had clasped his hands together tightly, expectant.

" Umm..." Dee bit his lower lip, " well, not just for you, per say, it's that I like this ship and the entire crew in general."

It was as if Dee hadn't spoken at all, " I will be waiting for you!" J.J. shot up and wrapping his arms around Dee's neck, kissed him.

Dee had seen the gesture coming so he had pressed his lips together, hiding them. So all J.J. was really kissing was the flesh above and below where Dee's lips should have been. Dee had hooked his thumbs below J.J.'s shoulders and was now pushing into the sensitive flesh of the man's underarms. J.J. yelped in discomfort and Dee used the break to step back.

" Damn Adams, what the hell are you thinking!" Dee resisted th urge to wipe is mouth, that would've been a low blow, " I am your Superior!"

J.J. tilted his head back, eyes going dark all of a sudden, " You are Maclean's as well," his voice was accusing and no longer shrill.

Dee narrowed his eyes, " I suggest you don't imply. If you have something to say then say it."

J.J. walked past his Lieutenant, toward the door, " I have nothing else to say," he stopped abruptly turning to face Dee, " Just know that with one call, I could have you backed into a corner."

" You have some balls threatening me."

J.J. sighed his shoulders slumping forward, " I'm not...I can't...Just, what the hell do you see in him?"

Dee scowled, " Get out of my room," if he didn't admit to it then J.J. really couldn't blackmail him, " and that's an order."

Diana was in her office pouring a glass of Brandy. She tipped her head back and swallowed it in one swig. She then plopped down in her chair rubbing in between her eyes trying to alleviate the building tension headache. Suddenly she was startled when her Vidphone signaled that she had a call. She reached forward and pushing a button on her desk watched as a section of the dark wood slid aside and a video screen rose from underneath. Diana smiled at the man on the screen.

" Commander Spacey," a distinguished looking gentleman, not old in age but still sporting white cropped hair appeared on screen, " I heard that your proposal was finally accepted," a warm smile, " Thank God!"

The man, Leslie Reynolds, was the Commander of the 'Stetson'. Kind and fair, he was highly respected throughout the United Earth Federation and he had fought tooth and nail to keep Dee on board when Senator Rose had him removed. He was handsome with cool gray eyes and dark lashes and brows. He and Diana were great friends.

Diana laughed a bit, " Well, yes, but it was really a crew member of mine who changed the Senate's mind."

The man raised a brow and he looked even more attractive, " You mean who changed Senator Rose's mind."

" Well, yes," Diana was nodding and smiling, " Anyway, if you called to let me know that Lieutenant Laytner received orders to return to your ship, don't bother, I already know because I already gave them to him today and you shall have him back on your ship in a few days."

The man nodded, " I still believe that the Senate overstepped their bounds with that one. Removing a member of my crew was highly uncalled for."

Diana sighed, " I'm still trying to figure out how they got away with it. The Senate is there for the people of Earth and the colonies and have no business with space matters. The only time they are needed for space issues is when the Federation needs a neutral judge on things they can't decide on. There was no conflict between you and Lieutenant Laytner so I don't know why Rose's suggestion to move him was even listened too."

" I agree," Commander Reynolds was frowning, " no matter, I will have him back for a while at least and I intend on catching up and making the most of the time he has with us. Laytner really is a good man...I think it is a shame that Rose has tarnished his reputation."

Diana nodded, " Yeah, that does suck. Rose has everyone thinking he is a sorry ass troop, that doesn't know his place or know his job. The Lieutenant takes it all in stride though, I don't know how he doesn't lose it every time he sees the Senator."

Leslie nodded, " He is a much bigger man than me, I would have said a few choice words to the Senator."

Diana smirked, " Yeah, well...I would have punched his lights out."

A rich laugh came from Leslie, " Yes, yes I suppose you would! None the less the reason for my call is simple, I just wanted to pick a place where the exchange would take place."

" Well, my ship is in pretty bad shape right now," Diana ignored the look of concern on her friend's face, " So just meet us at the Senate's landing pad. We will be stuck here for a while anyway."

Leslie nodded," Very well then. I will see you in three days."

Ryo wasn't a mechanic. He really didn't know what the Commander thought he could fix on the Bridge. So he, after changing into his uniform, took it upon himself to make notes and write down all the damage he could find, he would give it to the Senate's ship mechanics once they came on board.

He was under the Navigations station on his back when someone tapped his knee. He shut off his small flashlight and wiggled out from under the helm. He sat up and was pleased to see Dee sitting crossed legged in front of him head cocked to the right.

" Sup," Dee grinned.

Ryo shrugged, " Not much, I can't fix anything in here so I am doing the best I can to find all the hazards at least."

Dee nodded, " You did a wonderful job landing the ship. She's a big bird."

Ryo shrugged again, " It had to be done."

" True, but it was done quite gracefully," Dee looked up at the helm Ryo was just under, "A lot of the younger men freak out when they lose power. Feel like they can't do anything without the computer," he looked down toying with the sole of Ryo's boots.

Ryo smiled, " Good thing I have experience then."

Dee looked up thorough dark bangs with a slight smile. In the darkened room his emerald eyes still twinkled and Ryo slowly took in a breath. Dee could be painfully beautiful at times.

Dee whispered, " Yeah, I guess it is," his hand had stopped playing with Ryo's footwear and he was now slowing trailing his fingers up and down Ryo's calf and inner knee, " Then again if you didn't have experience I would be more than happy to teach you."

Ryo raised an eyebrow, he knew Dee wasn't talking about the ship now, " I bet you would love that."

Dee chuckled, " I think it would be fun, yes."

Ryo shook his head then slapped Dee's hand away, " So are you happy about going back to a war ship?"

Dee's brows rose, " Who told you I used to be on one?"

" Senator Rose."

Dee narrowed his eyes, " What else did he say?"

" Not too much, gave me his opinion about you," Ryo smiled, " He doesn't seem to like you all that much."

Dee sighed leaning back to rest his weight on his hands that he had stretched out behind him, " No he doesn't, but the odd thing is I really don't know why. I never had any trouble on my old ship. I just don't get it..." his voice trailed off and Ryo knew he was replaying all the times he had spoken with the Senator.

Ryo tried to change the conversation into something more upbeat, " Apparently the United Earth must still think highly of you though. You must be a great crew member if they would ask you back for battle."

" Yeah, either that or they are low on men," Dee chuckled and Ryo could tell that he didn't believe they were low on man power. Dee knew he was shit hot.

Ryo spoke, " What did you do on the ship?"

Dee beamed, proud, " I maned one of the twelve guns. The 'Stetson' is an old girl so all her weapons are manual."

Ryo smiled, " That must of took years of training."

" Nah, it wasn't that long and it was actually kinda fun," Dee was suddenly frowning, " Hated all the damn paperwork though..."

" Paperwork?" Ryo raised his brow.

Dee rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, leaning forward to hang his hands in his lap, " Yeah...well, I thought the rifle was on safety..." he let out a nervous chuckle at the sight of Ryo's horrified expression, " Thank God Adams did the work I would have gone crazy if I had to write up all those reports and apologies."

Ryo's face darkened a bit at that statement, " You mean J.J. Adams? So you and him are close?"

Dee looked at Ryo confused, " I already said no."

" You just said..."

Dee sighed heavily, " He did my paperwork. We went to the same training facility and we were both on the 'Stetson'," Dee made and annoyed expression, but it wasn't directed at Ryo, " He followed me around like a young puppy and even requested to be transferred when I made the move here."

Ryo nodded, " Yeah, Rose told me that too."

Dee smirked, " You two sure did have a long conversation..." his tone was just as must questioning as it was accusing.

" We talked a while, yes," Ryo tilted his head back in a silent dare, wanting to see just how much more Dee would accuse him of. Once he noticed Dee wasn't going to say anything farther he continued, " Rose told me that everyone except for Adams was hand pick by him."

Dee nodded, " Yep, he stuck his head were it didn't belong," Dee gritted his teeth and whispered angrily under his breath, " and he's trying to do it again."

Ryo heard Dee's words and he knew what he was referring to. Ryo smiled and touched Dee's hand gently, Dee looked up eyebrows raised, " He's not a nice man."

Dee smiled, " No he's not," he turned his hand and squeezed Ryo's before releasing it, " Anyway, the only people he shuffled around was Parker, Spacey, and yours truly."

" Why?" Ryo had all, but forgotten what he should be doing and was listening intently to Dee.

" I don't know why he had Parker moved although there is much speculation that he found out something he shouldn't. He moved Spacey just to hurt her and I already told you that I don't know why he moved me."

Ryo was shaking his head, " How would a move hurt the Commander?"

Dee sighed then leaned back resting his weight on his palms, " She and him were...close," he put emphasis on the last word and Ryo understood the meaning, " She wanted to change jobs to be near him, confessed her love, yada yada yada and he shot her down. From what she told me it wasn't a gracious polite let down either. He was rather harsh. Anyway, she was on a war ship also, she prided herself on the fact that she was one of the best pilots out there. Her ship, the 'Reinhold', was very influential in keeping the peace between the rebel moon colonies and the Earth during that spat 13 years ago. So much so that the leader of the rebels often used the crew to carry messages back and forth between the Senate and themselves. That being said, Spacey and Rose saw a lot of each other and the Commander thought that the chemistry was returning and I guess made a move to show him how she felt," Dee shrugged, it was slow and sad, " He made a fuss in the middle of the Senate offices, humiliated her really, then told her that he will prove to her once and for all that she meant nothing to him. Spacey was given her transport papers two days later."

Ryo was staring, mouth agape, with a pained expression on his face. His words came out a whisper, " That is awful..."

Just then Diana stepped onto the Bridge, " Yes, so sad, however, I fail to see why my humiliation has any bearing on carrying out your orders Ensign Maclean," her voice was light and she didn't look mad, none the less, Ryo stood with a blush and began to apologize, but his words were cut short by a wave of Diana's hand, " Sit, sit, I'm not mad," she took a seat in the Captain's chair and smiled at Ryo as he returned to his place on the floor.

Dee flung his head back looking at Diana in a very unprofessional manner, " Can we help you?"

Diana smirked, " Oh no, please don't let me interrupt your conversation. Go ahead and tell Maclean how Rose called me a 'simple woman' and how he used me just for 'sexual release' and his 'amusement'. Please by all means, apparently this is much more important than my broken ship!" her voice stayed at a level volume, but Ryo now knew that she embarrassed. Though he didn't know if it was from the event with Rose or the fact that they were talking about it behind her back. He offered an apology anyway.

Dee rolled his eyes, " Bitter much? Sheesh."

Diana thumped Dee in the forehead with her index finger then turned so that she was facing the two men then leaning forward, her elbows on her knees. She spoke, " Report."

Ryo handed over his notes and spoke, grateful that the Navagations area was last on his list so there wouldn't be any missing areas in his report, " I am not able to repair anything Ma'am, but I have mapped out the possible hazards and made a note of all that could cause considerably more damage if not treated right away."

Diana nodded, " Very good Ensign," she smiled then clasping her hands together, "So, if my story made you have the look I saw on your face when I walked in Maclean I can imagine just how mortified you must have looked when the Lieutenant told you his reason for being sent here!" she let out a little laugh.

Dee turned around completely then, " You know?"

Diana looked down smiling, " Of course I know," upon seeing Dee's widened eyes she frowned, " you mean you don't?"

Dee shook his head.

" Oh my..." Diana bit her bottom lip, " well, you have the right to know, I guess. I will tell you after my ship has been inspected by the mechanics."

Dee knew she was giving him a way to escape getting the news in front of Ryo, but Dee was going to tell the man anyway so why should it matter now? Dee shook his head, " We have time," he looked up at her, his eyes hard and demanding, " Now tell me, what did I do to piss off the Senator?"

AN: Oh Snap! A cliffhanger! I hate doing that, but it's past midnight and I am tired of typing. Hope you still like. It was a little longer than usual. Thanks for all the reviews and let me know if any of the characters are majorly OOC! Thanks guys you are the best!