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!

Ryo sighed, he had just left this bed yet here he was again. He looked over and saw Commander Spacey to his left. He closed his eyes trying to remember how he made it back into the Sick Ward. When the memories resurfaced they rocked Ryo's body and he turned to his side and allowed the tears to flow. Dee was dead. He, as well as the rest of the 'Stetson' crew had given their life to save them. Ryo moaned, the pain in his chest was tremendous. It took Ryo a while, however, to realize it wasn't from his wound, but from his grief.

Meanwhile floating in Gorren airspace was escape shuttles with the Federation insignia painted in black on their sides. The stars could now be seen again after being hidden under the lights of two massive explosions. The crew of the 'Stetson' was relieved that no other escape pods other than Federation ones we adrift. None the less, during their quick departure they had flown far away from 'Glorious' and therefore knew not of there whereabouts or condition." Holy...oh my God!" Lieutenant Mactagert was holding the back of her head while a member of her crew inspected it. While the crew of he 'Stetson' had left their ship in a timely fashion the G'nar ship was still close enough that when it exploded it rocked the escape shuttles. Sheila Mactagert's whole body was thrown the only thing stopping her momentum was the back of her head slamming into the wall.

" Ensign Powers, open a com link to Command Shuttle One," Mactagert spoke through clenched teeth.

As soon as the link was opened Commander Reynolds voice could be heard, " Lieutenant Mactagert, report."

" Sir," Sheila spoke first being Leslie's Second in Command, " I have received reports from all shuttles, there are no casualties, however, some ships were struck with debris and have to be repaired. I have instructed those ships to land in the Gorren nation and await further orders."

" Very good, in fact I want all ships to land in the Gorren nation to regroup," Commander Reynolds was already turning his shuttle and steering her toward the planet, " Once we have accounted for all of the crew I will call Headquarters with a report."

The room was darkened automatically signaling the end of the day. It was at this time everyone was supposed to be in bed, sleeping or very close to it. Ryo, however, was lying in his bed in the Sick Ward wide awake. He was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened to him. Ryo sighed, when he had first met Dee Laytner he really wasn't sure what to make of him. He was forward and brash and at times, he had absolutely no regard to ones personal space. Still, Ryo was fond of him, he was a good man with a kind heart and though his advances were forward and hasty, he couldn't find a reason not to like him. Ryo wasn't sure, even now, if what he shared with Dee was an actual relationship, but he knew he was missing it. Even though Dee was light years away on another ship, just the fact that he was waiting to return to Ryo made the blond's heart sing. Now, however, now he wouldn't be able to further pursue this odd, fascinating relationship with Dee. Ryo blinked as a tear rolled down his cheek. He thought he was all cried out.

" Why are you crying?" a voice called out to him in the darkness. Ryo sat up like a bolt of lightening had struck him, the voice may have been small and weak, but it was as though the words were screamed right into his ears.

" Commander!" Ryo didn't try to hide his happiness and smiling looked at Diana in the dim light, " Do you need anything? The doctor, some water...?"

" Water, please Ensign," Diana was looking back at her crew mate, " Now what is wrong?"

Ryo had stood, ignoring the stretching of his stitches and made his way over to the Commander's bedside table. He poured a glass of cool water, then dropping a straw into the liquid, held it to her lips, " Please, Commander, you just awoke. Let's not talk about this now..."

Diana took a slow sip wincing a bit as she swallowed. It was so parched that it seemed as though the water was ripping through her throat, fighting to push back and soothe the swollen glands.

She looked up at Ryo gratefully then her expression changed to one of concern, " Are you crying for Laytner? Is he hurt?"

Ryo was visibly shaken by those words and with his shoulders hunched he whispered, " I am going to get you a doctor..." and before she could say he left to find the attending doctor.

Since he was already out of bed and he knew he wouldn't be going to sleep anytime soon he decided to go to his room and get a book to read. After assuring the nurses on duty that he was going to return, he left with a smile and made toward his room.

Most of the crew was awake, tired from their bout with the G'nar and grateful for the time to rest. Only a few where still awake and those were the ones waving at Ryo as he walked or stopping him to ask how he was doing. As Ryo spoke with Drake, he was unaware that Captain Rose was only a few feet away, watching him.

" Man, Ryo are you sure you should be up walking around?" Drake was sipping on a juice box.

" I am going back, just have to get a book," Ryo smiled even though his wound was throbbing, " Where are you headed to?"

" Jemmy's room, we play poker together sometimes," Drake let out a laugh, " Neither one of us is really good at it though! We just like being together, I guess."

Ryo nodded, " At least you have a friend on the ship."

Drake blanched, " Oh, damn...I am so sorry. I really didn't mean, I mean...how are you holding up?"

Ryo chuckled softly, " It's okay, I have been through loss before," he looked down suddenly saddened, " I can get through this..."

" Well, if you need anything," Drake started walking again sipping on his juice. Then raising the box andnodding his head, turned his back to Ryo and made his way to J.J.'s room.

Captain Rose from his place a few feet away, sighed. When he had first laid eyes on Randy Maclean he had found his beauty captivating and when the opportunity arose for him to join the 'Glorious' crew, he was thrilled that he would be able to work along side the man. Rose admitted that he was forward with his affections, but the way Randy was playing hard to get made the man want the younger blond even more. It never crossed his mind that he was already in a relationship and that was why he pushed him away so vehmently. It also never occurred to Rose just how deeply he had fallen for Maclean until he saw the man doubled over in his grief at losing Laytner. It had torn his heart apart to see him so much pain and jealously, an emotion that he had never experienced before, washed over him in a mind numbing wave. It was this emotion that lead to the awful thing he spoke to the crying man. Rose sighed again, he needed to apologize.

Rose waited until Ryo was in his room and the door was shut before pressing the bell. When Ryo opened the door the change in his eyes from curiosity to anger was very noticeable.

" May I come in Ensign?" the question was asked with a small smile.

Ryo sighed loudly, " Yes, Sir," he stepped aside, " however, I am due back to the Sick Ward shortly."

Rose nodded then walking into the room pointed to the gray chair and a half asking silently if he could sit. Ryo whispered yes while standing in front of his library. He had already read all of these books, some more than once, and though he really didn't want to reread another one he didn't have much of a choice. He would have to go shopping for more on the next shore leave, he should be in better shape by then. Grabbing the book he wanted he turned to look at his Captain.

Rose was sitting in the chair with his legs crossed elegantly looking a Ryo with a smirk on his face, " Are you sure you want to read that considering the circumstances?"

Ryo looked down at his copy of the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe, " Yeah, this will do just fine," then he looked at his commander through his bangs, eyes narrowed, "considering the circumstances."

The Captain frowned, " I owe you an apology. I should have never said the things to you I did...please forgive me."

Ryo's eyes went wide and he paused his response, looking for signs of sarcasm or falsehood. He searched and searched, but only saw kindness. Ryo smiled shyly then nodded and Berkely smiled back in gratitude.

" I saw you speaking with Ensign Parker," Rose adjusted his spectacles, " that is how I knew you would be in here. Never the less, he called you by another name...is Randy not your true name?"

Ryo sat on his bed, shoulders slummed, he was suddenly sleepy, " I have two names. Randy and Ryo. I answer to both."

Rose didn't question why the blond would have two names, he really didn't care, "Hmmm, so would it be alright, when we are alone, if I call you Ry–"

" No," Ryo interrupted beforeRose could finish his sentence. He was aware that he was glaring and that the word was spoken with a distinct gruffness. No one had ever called him Ryo until he met Dee. It was bad enough that the man before him had stolen kisses, he wasn't about to steal the name that Dee had adopted.

Rose looked somewhat shocked at Ryo's reaction and he had to calm his features before he could talk with Ryo again, " Alright, then I shall stick with Randy..." his voice dropped to a whisper, " Listen, I do feel sorry about what happened. All these horrible things keep happening to you..." suddenly his voice was a whisper, " I hate it."

Ryo stood and walking over to the Captain knelt by his feet. He spoke is voice soft, " It's okay I have athick skin. This," he pointed to his chest, " is a minor setback. My grief...my grief will subside."

Rose smiled sweetly down at Ryo and reaching forward he ran his fingers through the dusty blond bangs, stopping to rest his palm on his cheek, " You are remarkable...I suppose I have been unfair to you..."

" How so?" Ryo ignore the hand on his face for now.

" I have been much to..." Rose looked off in thought, " aggressive. I apologize for that as well," Rose wasn't stupid, the apology was fake, he just wanted to get on Ryo's good side. He had to woo Ryo slowly and with care now that Dee was gone. Withno obstacles in his way he could win over Ryo slowly now. The fact that Ryo was allowing him to touch him was already a good sign.

Ryo reached up and batted Rose's hand away, " I accept your apology, however," Ryo stood towering over his Captain, " I still don't want you to touch me."

The muscles in Rose's jaw contracted, maybe winning Ryo over would take longer than he thought.

Drake let out a loud yawn and leaning back on his palms smiled at J.J., " I think I am done, dude, I am too tired to play another hand."

" Yeah, I guess you are right," J.J. scooped the cards up from the floor and returning them to the pack he scooted over to sit next to Drake. He yawned himself then laid his head on his friend's shoulder and closed his eyes, " Umm, Drake, what did you do to piss off Rose?"

Drake leaned his head back on J.J.'s wing back, " Well, many years ago I worked at Headquarters. It was around the same time the Senator was sticking his nose into Federation business. Well, every time someone got orders to move to a new ship or be reprimanded or whatever, the papers came from HQ. Thing was, we weren't sending out papers like that," Drake paused as J.J. shifted, trying to get comfortable, " so I started to do some digging on my own. I used my computer savvy to find out that all the papers were coming from the desk of Berkely Rose. To make a long story short, he must of had security on his end 'cause he found out. Next thing I knew I had orders to here."

" So basically, you're a hacker?" J.J. asked sleepily.

" Yeah, one of my many talents," Parker's voice was sarcastic.

J.J. lifted his head and looking at his friend whispered, " I am sure you have many fun talents," his tired state made his voice slightly husky and Drake looked away, afraid his friend would see the blush on his cheeks.

" Soooo," J.J. held out the word as his head plopped back down on top of Drake's shoulder, " can you still do that?"

" Yeah, once you learn it you never really forget it you know."

J.J.'s eyes opened, but he wasn't looking at anything, he was to busy hatching a plan, "We are going to be back at Headquarters in a few days. You still have friends there?"

" Yep, why?"

J.J. sat up completely then and looked at Drake sternly, " You think you could track who sent out our ship blueprints and schedule?"

" Yeah, but it would be pointless. I am sure someone else has already done it. Just as before, I am sure everyone knew the Senator was sending out those papers, but no one wants to go up against him. Not even the Federation," Drake ran his fingers through his hair when he noticed J.J. wasn't changing his mind, " It's a good idea, really, I just don't think anyone would listen to us even if we had hard evidence. Besides we are not really sure it is Rose, we are accusing him with no proof."

J.J. looked at Drake with that you-don't-even-believe-what-you're-saying look, " You were trying all those years ago, you thought you could do something then! Why not now?" J.J. wasn't yelling, but he might as well have been with the force of his words.

Drake sighed, " Years ago Rose didn't have the power he does now. Years ago it might of made a difference. Now though..." his voice trailed off.

" So you are just going to give up?" J.J. pouted, " I never imagined you would let another man get the best of you. I thought you were stronger than that..."

" Jemmy," his name came out breathy with disbelief. Drake wasn't stupid, he knew J.J. was betting on his pride to work against him. Hoping Drake would do this despite the fact that they would probably fail miserably. Drake pursed his lips at his friend, then, " Fine, if I can get to a computer long enough then I will do it. I'm not doing it alone though, if I find something you gotta promise to have my back."

J.J. smiled smoothly then and he leaned in whispering into Drake's ear, " I will follow you anywhere," J.J. was aware that the sharp breath Drake took was in reaction to his soft words, however, he was confused as to why it thrilled him. He sighed against his friend's cheek then laid his head back on the strong shoulder. Suddenly the three day trip back to Headquarters seemed too long.