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!
Dee was frowning sitting on the examining table in the Gorren hospital. His left elbow was on his knee and his chin was resting in the palm. He sighed, he was still in pain, true it had subsided to a dull throbbing pain, but it was still pain none the less.
Finally the door was thrown open and the physician walked in. He was tall and some what geeky looking wearing a yellow t-shirt and dark blue jeans. Dee still thought it was funny when a Gorren wore clothing mostly associated with Humans. The aqua colored lizard-like Gorrens just looked odd, like a cartoon for toddlers in people clothes.
The doctor spoke, his English was thick with his alien accent, but still understandable, "Let us see, Lieutenant Laytner, looks like your right arm is broken."
" No shit Sherlock," Dee scowled and the Gorren raised the flesh above his left eye, "With all the technology you guys have, you can wave something over it and fix it right?"
The doctor chuckled, " This is not some movie this is real life. What, you think you are on Star Trek or something?"
Dee laughed at that, " You get that show all the way out here!"
" Amazing isn't it?" then the doctor smiled which looks a bit scary with all the sharp teeth Gorren's have, " More amazing though is that they still show reruns of it!"
The two men shared a laugh and Dee didn't mind so much at having to wait so long anymore. The doctor directed him to his next destination and assured him that his cast and sling would be given to him that day.
" You can even pick the color you want!" The doctor smiled with a wave and Dee gave him an odd look before stepping through the door.
Commander Reynolds was in the hall and he took a place beside Dee to walk with him. He waited awhile just walking in companionable silence before finally speaking, " I may not have any casualties, but I have so many injured I am not sure we will be able to make it back to Headquarters before 'Glorious'."
Dee stopped and looking at his Commander with wide eyes whispered, " So they are okay? Are you sure?"
Leslie smiled, " Yes, I am sure. They are all safe and secure and on their way to Earth, back to HQ."
Dee sighed then smiling realized that the pain in his arm was overshadowed by his happiness.
Diana was awake watching Ryo as he ate his lunch. She was happy that she wasn't all alone in the Sick Ward, it made her remember worst times in her life. Ryo looked over at her then and his eyes widened slightly, he thought she was still sleeping.
" Do you wish for me to call you up some lunch too Commander?" Ryo asked politely as he placed his fork next to the mashed potatoes. If you could really call them that. They were closer to potato soup. The grilled chicken, on the other hand, was delicious.
Diana made a face then sighed, " Sure, I suppose I should put something in my system other than I.V. fluid."
" Do you need help sitting up?" Ryo made a move to go to Diana, but she waved her hand.
" Obviously you were awake when they talked with me yesterday," Diana was referring to the time the doctors spent speaking to her about the possibility that she may be paralyzed, " I am sore, but I can still move my legs and wiggle my toes."
Ryo gave her a wide smile, " That is wonderful Commander!"
Diana grunted her way to a seated position, then looking over at Ryo added, " They still want to run test, make sure everything is working perfectly, but I think I will be fine..." she smiled a beautiful smile of pure joy that quickly dropped once the Captain walked in.
" Good afternoon you two," Rose held a pleasant smile, " Commander I will retrieve your lunch," he turned to leave then stopping at the door looked back, " By the way your things are still in the office. Given your condition I didn't throw them away. However, in our haste to leave the Gorren nation, that sculpture of the demon woman with the baby fell and shattered," he opened the door and left the room.
Diana cursed, " My Oc'tull...I needed that..."
Ryo looked over confused, " The Goddess of Death!"
" Yes," Diana smiled gently, " so you know of her?"
Ryo nodded with a questioning look on his face, then Diana sighed, " Yeah, so I didn't used to be this strong of a women. After the whole debacle with Rose my thoughts went to dark places...Obviously, I'm okay now, but not before a trip to the hospital and some long talks with doctors," Diana ran her hand through her hair, " Oc'tull reminds be of were I've been and were I never want to go again. It also reminds me of just how awful that man Rose can be..." she looked down in an almost defeated fashion.
Ryo nodded his understanding, " Think of her breaking this way; you are now completely passed that stage in your life and you know without a shadow of a doubt that you will never try things again with the Captain or anyone else who would treat you less than perfect. Her destruction is in a sense wiping the slate clean," he smiled at her in support.
Diana laughed, " Yeah, that sounds great. I like the way you think Maclean!"
Just then Rose came back through the doors with a tray and moving the side table so it was across Diana's lap he sat the tray on it.
Diana looked down at it and scowled, " You spit in it?"
Rose looked at Diana slightly surprised, " No!" then tilting his head back he looked down his nose at her, " I don't hate you Diana, I just don't love you."
The words would have normally stung Spacey to the core, but they rolled off her back without hesitation. Maybe Maclean was right about the whole starting over thing. Diana looked over at Ryo and smiled genuinely, her bright eyes crinkling at the corners and her lips pulled up high with her internal joy. She couldn't remember feeling so alive!
The day 'Glorious' landed on the United Earth Federation Headquarters' inclosed docks, the crew was granted shore leave by the same Admiral that had assigned Rose to the ship. Everyone took their break gratefully and while everyone else was making plans to meet with family and friends, Drake and J.J. were putting their plan into action.
" Where are we going?" J.J. walked alongside his friend.
" To Communications. I have a friend their that can help me," Drake bit his bottom lip, "I think..."
Once at Communications door, Drake knocked waiting for an answer. A thick Australian accent called out telling them they could enter. Once the two were inside J.J. took a look around the room. This room was in the oldest section of the Headquarters building, so it still had manual windows and doors. It held two large oak desk facing each other, although there was only one person in the room. The space was clean, save the second desk which held stacks of books and paper work that still needed to be gone through. The man at the desk turned and crossing his legs looked up at the two smiling. The man was muscular and of African descent, his dark chocolate skin was evidence of that. His curly raven hair was cut low, but he still left enough length at the top to tip them with a vibrate red. His blue eyes seemed to be focused on J.J.
" Sup Darius!" Drake smiled as he spoke.
" Hell no!" the man stood, " Drake Parker! I thought I would never see you again!"
" I told you when I left it wasn't goodbye man!"
The two laughed before Drake went over and hugged the man. Darius picked Drake up off the ground and J.J. felt jealously rise swiftly within him before he pushed it away. J.J. was frowning slightly, confused that he would feel an emotion like that. He stood there, hands clasped behind his back, feeling like the fifth wheel.
Wanting to say something, but not sure what, J.J. fumbled for words in his mind and blurted out the first thing to surface, " You have nice eyes," J.J. shook his head and mentally kicked himself.
Darius dropped Drake then leaning over his computer logged off, " Well, thank you!" he moved some papers over to the next desk, placing his hand on one stack then the other, before finally dropping the papers onto the third pile, " You guys wanna go to the Cafeteria for lunch?"
" Sure that sounds great!" Drake walked over to stand next to J.J.
" Great!" Darius turned toward the door, " Chance!"
From a place under the second desk a black German Shepard ran out trotting up to his "Daddy" unaffected by the seeing eye bar across his back. Darius petted the dog and gripping the bar walked toward the door.
J.J.'s embarrassment rose, the statement about the man's eyes seemed even more out of place now and just down right wrong. He felt as if he should say something, " I am so sorry...I mean...about what I said earlier..." he sighed loudly, defeated.
Darius chuckled while opening the door, " No sweat mate! You didn't know!"
The three men walked toward the Cafeteria, J.J. introducing himself properly to Darius as they went. The three men talked and soon J.J. didn't feel like a tag along anymore. Once in the Cafeteria the three ordered lunch and sitting at a booth far from the others. They talked a bit longer, Drake catching up with Darius and Darius getting to know a little more about J.J. Each man was halfway through their respective meals when Drake finally spoke about the plan.
Darius sighed, " Wow...you still going after that man, huh?" he bit into his pear, " And here I thought you came all this way to see me..."
Drake chuckled, " Well, I will admit seeing you was a plus!" his smile dropped, " Look, I know how much pull Rose has. I'm not dumb. So if you don't want to help then...I get it."
Darius shook his head and wiping his mouth with his napkin spoke, " What do you need me to do?"
Drake smiled.
Ryo wasn't supposed to be up and about, but he was bored and since Diana was taking a nap he decided to leave the Sick Ward. He was on the Bridge speaking with Cassidy when the Captain stepped on board.
" Ensign Maclean, what are you doing out of the Sick Ward?" the man adjusted his glasses while looking down at Ryo who was seated at the Navagations helm.
Ryo made a move to stand, but the Captain shook his head letting him know it was alright to stay seated, " I was getting bored down there, Sir. The doctors said it would be alright, however, I will return if you would like."
" No, no," Rose sighed, " If you tear your stitches again that is your problem," then he smiled to let him know that he was mearly teasing. Ryo returned the smile.
Suddenly Bikky was running onto the Bridge. Rose made a motion for him, but Bikky made an agitated face and waving his hands frantically looked as though he needed to say something important, " Ryo! Oh my God, you're not going to believe this!"
Before the teen could finish Dee Laytner sidestepped him and crossing the Deck in long strides stopped just inches in front of Rose. With narrowed eyes he radiated a fury that far surpassed any that anyone had seen before.
Though his voice was level and calm the challenge and hate could be heard within his words, " If you laid one finger on Ryo," his emerald eyes had darkened in his anger, " I will kill you," then a smirk, " Berkley."
Rose's eyes were wide and his body was shaking in response to Dee's words. He knew what Dee was implying by calling him by his true name as apposed to his rank. Dee wanted to make sure that no matter if Berkley tried to pull rank that it didn't matter. This was personal.
Ryo, meanwhile, was sitting with his lips parted and eyes wide, he felt lightheaded and a little nauseous. Swaying a bit in his disbelief he whispered, " I thought you were dead..."
Dee turned his head then his anger instantly gone. The twinkle was back in his eyes and he smiled sweetly at Ryo, " Sorry to disappoint."
" No...no..." Ryo was shaking his head dumbly, " I just can't believe..."
" Really?" Dee placed his good hand on his hips and chuckled softly, ignoring everyone else in the room, " You need proof? Do I need to pinch you?"
Ryo stood slowly still in shock, " No...I just..."
" Ah," Dee smiled mischievously, " I know what you need."
Slowly Dee walked over to Ryo and sliding his arm around Ryo's waist pulled him gently against himself, catching and holding Ryo's gaze. Soon warm lips touched one another and though Ryo was blushing in embarrassment he couldn't pull away. Hewouldn't pull away. He had missed Dee, had grieved for him and thoughts of never being able to feel this again had surfaced to him many a time. Ryo wasn't about to end this moment, he would hold him until it was over. He would hold on until the end of time. Ryo opened his eyes slightly not too surprised when he saw Dee's brilliant verdant staring back at him. Dee broke the kiss then, leaning back to view Ryo's face, panting slightly.
Ryo smiled then leaning forward touched his lips to Dee's then whispered gently, " I love you."
Dee sighed against Ryo's lips his heart tightening in response to Ryo's confession and before kissing the warm mouth again said, " I love you too."
AN: Thanks so much you guys for all the support and reviews! I am so glad that you guys like it so far and I hope I can continue to please you all! By the way, if you aren't reading RubyChan05's One Mistake Can Change Everything, then you are missing out! This author has a real knack for storytelling! Anyway, see you next time!