Hey everyone! :)

Chapter 4 is up, and it's the longest yet! Hurray! Lauren and Bo stop being at odds with one another (for now), and stuff happens! Hurray again!

This chapter is told mostly from Lauren's POV. For those of you who read it tonight. I apologize for the mistakes that are undoubtedly going to be in here. I haven't really proofread this text yet. I'll do that later :)

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Enjoy!


A Christmas Date

Chapter 4

USS Enterprise, Lauren's cabin

Lauren's POV

The toxic gasses fill my lungs making it hard to breathe. Next to me, I see my father struggle. He wants to get out, but like me he is trapped. I can feel beads of sweat running over my body, over my forehead from the flames that are coming ever closer. I wonder briefly if I would let them come closer, would they burn through my restraints before a blast would kill us, before the gasses would poison us? It's not an option. Adrenaline is racing through my body, and my muscles keep putting up a fight, they keep fighting even when I know this is no use. I pull the rope, try to tear it, but it's no use. The material is far too strong and the accident made the seatbelt mechanism lock itself in place. It snapped the seatbelt back so tightly that I hardly have any wiggle room. I try to reach for something sharp, anything that can cut my seatbelt. I spot a small piece of metal to the left of me and lunge at it without thinking. It's scorching hot, it sears my skin and I drop it not being able to control my hand muscles.

"Goddamn!"

I won't be able to get out. I won't be able to save my dad!

"Lauren," My father's voice sounds gurgled, and I snap my head to the side.

"Dad," I say horrified. There is a metal bar sticking out of his chest. It goes straight through him and exits at the back.

"Pull it out," he says."Use it to cut your seatbelt with."

"No!" I shout back. I don't know how I know, but I know with absolute certainty that that metal bar is the only thing that is keeping my father alive at the moment. It's making sure he doesn't bleed out on the spot.

"I'm already dead," he says.

"No! No!" I protest vehemently shaking my head. "We'll get out of here!"

"I'm already dead," he says again. "I love you, Lauren." he adds and grabs the metal bar with both hands, and yanks it out. I shout at the top of my lungs, I rage against my restraints.

"NO, NO, NO, NO!"

My heart is racing in my chest, sweat trickles down my spine, my breathing is labored, but I'm not inside a burning helicopter. It takes a few moments. I'm in my cabin, my bed, I'm on the Enterprise. I look to my left, to the comforting green digits of my alarm clock. 3.15am. I pull the covers off of me and step out of bed. I'm wide awake and my pj's are clinging to me, damp from sweating. I pull the wet fabric off, and open the faucet of my sink. I splash my face with water, and decide to get dressed.

The corridors of the ship are pretty much deserted at this time of night. The only sound I register is the soft humming the ship's engines always make, and the swishing sound my labcoat makes as I walk. I briefly ponder if I should go topdeck, look at the stars there. They are beautiful when you are this far out from the populated world. I instantly decide against it. Being there would only remind me of the accident, and I'd much rather do something useful instead of doing something as silly as stargazing. I only ever did that when I was a child.

I'm contemplating if I can catch up with some paperwork when I find myself heading to sickbay a couple of minutes later. When I get there I see Stacy Altmann just popping out of it. I frown slightly wondering what she's doing here this time of night.

"Stacy?" I ask. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh hey, Lauren," she says. "Just popped in to get some painkillers from the nurses here." she says holding up a bottle of Ibuprofen. "Think I'm heading to bed now."

"You sure you're okay?" I ask, the doctor in me taking over.

"Just a headache," she says, and I can see how pale she is. "Are you on shift?"

"Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd catch up with some work."

Stacy nods. "Don't work too hard," she says in parting, and I push myself through the door into sickbay. Once inside I nod at the guards that I pass and make brief smalltalk with some of the nurses on the nightshift.

Not long after that I am at her bed again. I always check up on her. I feel responsible for every burn she has, for every wound, laceration, bump and bruise she needs to recover from. Lieutenant Dubois will be okay, but I feel the need to make sure.

Whenever I am down here, I can't help checking on one of my other patients either; my guardian angel, my savior in the non biblical sense. I know nothing about her, except that she is beautiful, that she has the capacity to frustrate me to no end, and that I can trust her with my life, but perhaps not with my belongings.

Major McCorrigan was treated for smoke inhalation, and is being treated for burns, a couple of minor bruises and scrapes, and that laceration on her arm. It's the burns and the gash in her arm that have kept her here in sickbay longer than she likes. The burns are second degree, and at this point need constant attention and changing of bandages. It would be irresponsible of me to let her roam about a ship that makes unpredictable movements. She is expected to make a full physical recovery, although the gash in her arm is more than likely going to remain a scar. It is her mental toughness I am slightly uneased about. After the way I found her in the Tech Room, I wanted her to undergo a psych evaluation. She declined, and I couldn't argue further with her. I had found her in a dissociative state, but she had snapped out of it quickly. It later also became clear that Major McCorrigan had helped pull a couple of the men from under a scorching hot boiler that had gotten loose. She then proceeded to douse their burns with water and wrap cellophane around them to keep the wounds clean. She acted admirably, acted with a presence of mind and a cool that I could only ask from the best of us.

I still haven't thanked her yet, haven't talked to her yet, but I do stare at her. The fact that she is still here calms me. I'm about to head to my office, when my savior speaks.

"Commander Lewis."

"Major," I say turning back around and putting my hands in my pockets. All of a sudden I'm a little nervous, not sure what to say at being caught staring at her.

"Can't sleep?"

I offer her a small smile before looking up. "I suppose not."

"Neither can I," she says.

"I need to thank you, Major." I say after a pause. "You and Lieutenant Davies. For saving me."

"You don't."

"You came back for me when that helicopter was burning. A few seconds later and we would have..." I pause for a moment as the memories rush back to me: I feel the black smoke suffucate me, I feel my muscles straining against the seatbelt, feel the seatbelt cutting into my shoulders, feel...

"Can you sit with me?" she says noticing my hesitancy. "Please? I have these nightmares..." Her voice trails off.

"Yes," I say, and I move to sit down in the chair next to her bed. The silence isn't awkward, it's comfortable. Without preamble I start telling her about this thriller I've been reading. She laughs slightly when I confess I can't read it at night because it gives me nightmares. Her laugh is melodious; it's the best thing I've heard in days. She tells me about her cousin and her best friend who love scary movies. Before I know it we are sharing, talking about simple, everyday stuff. We're laughing too. I like her sense of humor, it's flippant, teasing and it reminds me in some ways of Ben's, but hers isn't as edgy.

Here, in the dark, she is a voice that responds to me, that stays off my darker thoughts, she's a travel companion who understands as I do that we need this. We need to talk to someone who was there, who went through what we did.

We don't talk about what happened. Perhaps we will later on, perhaps we never will. She's easy to talk to, she's funny, smart, insightful. Before I know it, it's 06.00h and I need to start my working day. I'm reluctant to do so. Maybe this night is the only night we'll ever be like this. Maybe this night will be the only night we'll truly act like people, before the doubt over what she did with the congressman begins to play up again, before my sense of duty, and my awareness of rank manifest again.

"Thank you, Commander," she says. "For staying."

I want to tell her to call me 'Doc' or 'Lauren' or something less formal than 'Commander' atleast, but my day has started, reality comes back into focus, and instead I just nod and say.

"You are welcome, Major."

USS Enterprise Sickbay, Lauren's office

Lauren's POV

Three weeks later

It's been a couple of weeks since the helicopter accident and I am happy to see that Lieutenant Dubois, and the rest of the men that had been injured during the crash are all out of my sickbay and taking up their duties on board again, including Major McCorrigan. The day after our nightly conversation she returned back to the squadron where she was allowed to gradually build up her duties again. I sometimes see her in passing. We give each other a respectful nod, a small smile or make very brief smalltalk, but nothing has come close to the conversation we had that night.

It's not a surprise to be honest. Aircraft carriers are like busy cities with its worker bees pulling 14hour working days. Unless your duty schedule overlaps, you are not bound to run into people. Also, with the amount of injured men from the day the helicopter crashed, those that were uninjured had to pull double shifts covering for those less fortunate.

I have always been a bit of a loner. I'm a little geeky, a little asocial. Nothing major or disturbing, but I have always been perfectly able to stay content without much deep human connection. The only person I am really close to, and that I miss now that my father has died, is Ben.

Yet, I find my thoughts drifting to Major McCorrigan.

Major McCorrigan knew exactly what I needed that night, she knew exactly how I felt. She was a friend, someone I instantly felt close to, felt like I could tell anything to. I honestly don't know if our connection would exist if she hadn't done what she did. I don't know if we would even be -what I consider her to be now- friends on the outside world, but here I feel closer to her than anyone else.

I have gone from wanting to bring her up on charges and being frustrated by her so much I've wanted to pull my hair out, to feeling I have a strong connection to her. It is hard to stay mad at someone who has saved your life. It's hard to stay mad at them for their arrogance when you've seen a much more vulnerable side, a side with no pretenses. In psychology it is called 'Crisis bonding', the unique human bonding phenomenon that occurs in the moment of unexpected disaster.'

Whatever the term, whatever the feeling behind it; if I ever questioned whether or not she could be trusted with other people's lives, I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt. She was more concerned with others than she was with herself. Somehow that woman, despite the obvious shock she was in, managed to put the wellbeing of others above her own fears. I am in awe of that. I hope that under similar circumstances I would do the same.

I think I would, but I cannot say with a 100% certainty.

After a busy morning in the operating room, and an afternoon packed with meetings and paperwork, I am ready to call it a day. I say goodbye for the night to the doctors and nurses and head for my stateroom. I change out of my scrubs and into my Navy Service uniform with short sleeves that is a tad better suited for warm days like these. Tonight is movie night, and I'm meeting up with Stacy and some other officers for dinner first and then the movie. I'm excited. Tonight we get to watch 'Interstellar'. I've heard nothing but good things about it, and I've been eagerly waiting for it to come out. Movie night is held once a month, and we always get the latest movies that are playing in the theatres. It's a rare moment of entertainment for the men and it's highly popular. Anyone who isn't on duty mostly comes, and those that are on duty often swap shifts to correspond with the movies they'd like to see.

I'm in the mess hall looking for Stacy, instead I see Major McCorrigan walk by. She halts and smiles flashing her dimples.

"Commander."

"Major." I reply warmly. "Not eating with the rest of your squadron tonight?" I ask seeing as she is all alone and I rarely see Major McCorrigan without one or two or the entire squadron behind her.

"They're around," she says. "Getting me my dinner and waiting on me hand and foot after losing a bet." Her eyes twinkle in mischief. "I wanted to get an early start so I got a good seat to watch Interstellar. I've been waiting for it to come out."

I grin widely at her enthusiasm. "Me too, I didn't know you were so fascinated by space."

"This one?" Lieutenant Commander Malcolm 'Boomer' Washington pushes his muscular frame into the conversation and pulls the Major into headlock like a jock would horsing around. "Rip here doesn't shut up about it! Got her NASA application ready and everything!"

"NASA? Really? That's amazing," I say, genuinely impressed and excited."It's quite a challenge getting in there."

"Well, if they'll have me." The Major replies wrestling and playfully punching her way free out of the Lieutenant's headlock.

"Ouch!" Lieutenant Washington yelps. "Mind the shoulder, Rip!" Malcolm Washington was one of the men who was stuck under the boiler in the Tech Room. I'm about to ask how he's doing when the Major replies.

"Oh dude, don't be a baby in front of a senior officer. It's embarrassing," she jabs.

"You're violent, Rip. I should inform the NASA peeps about that," Washington quips.

"I'm a lean mean.." Major McCorrigan starts to say, and Malcolm joins in. "FIGHTING MACHINE!" They both scant and they continue to wrestle and horse around until the Major has the Lieutenant into a pretty solid headlock of her own.

"Sorry, Ma'am," The Major offers. "Us pilots are just your basic morons, really."

I'm about to reply that I'm used to worse when the voice of Stacy Altmann suddenly sounds out.

"Lauren, there you are! We've been looking for you."

"Hey Stacy," I say. "I was just saying hello to the major and the lieutenant here."

"Of course." Stacy turns her head towards the pair. "Lovely to see you, Lieutenant, Major." Stacy says jovially.

"Commander Altmann," the major responds. She's let go of the lieutenant, and she's standing at attention. There's no smile on her lips, and the Major's features are as stoic as I've ever seen them. The Lieutenant on the other hand is still mildly grinning as he salutes, and I can't help thinking the major's reaction is a little off. But before I can really think it through, the major and the lieutenant excuse themselves to join their table and Stacy and I head towards our table.

Dinner is, as always, entertaining. Dr. Pete McAfee is a southern gentleman in the best sense of the word; he is genuinely funny, generous and a people's person; he is quick-witted and intelligent. He always comes to work with a smile on his face, he's a great colleague and he's quickly becoming a good friend. He's the best company to have at a table and he always has us and even the Captain in stitches.

After dinner, we head over to for the sports' hall,a huge space that stretches the entire surface of the ship. Together with the hangar, where all the aircrafts are stored, it is the biggest space on the ship. It accommodates ten courts for multiple sports: tennis, volleyball, basketball, badminton,.. and also doubles as our movie theatre.

When I take my seat, I notice the Major is only a couple of rows down from me. I cannot help but crane my neck from time to time, and see that she smiles and laughs at the same moments that I do.

The end credits are rolling when Petty Officer Layla Corcoran, a Petty Officer I know from the bridge taps my shoulder and informs me the Captain wants to see me. Stacy gets asked the same thing and together we go towards the Captain's in-port cabin, her office and living space.

USS Enterprise

The Captain's office

When we step inside, all senior officers are already in attendance. We take a seat at the board room table to join Captain Grace Roberts. Her grey eyes are patient, waiting for us all to settle. She looks between the laptop in front of her and the notepad next to her one last time before she looks up. She waits for her moment to stand up, her short, dark hair is as impeccable as her uniform and her demeanor always is. I'm used to a formal Captain, but right now she surprises me and flashes a smile.

"We've been selected to participate in the 2014 Valiant Shield exercise, " the captain says with a grin, and at her words the room bursts out into hoots and hollars. Valiant Shield is the largest military war game held in the Pacific. It brings Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard together in one gigantic drill to test our skills. It is held biannually, but which crews, which ships, squadrons, submarines, aircraft carriers, ... get to participate specifically isn't known until a couple of months before the actual exercise. The fact that we were chosen to participate when we have just completed a two-year overhaul is very exciting, and we chatter on about the prospect for another ten minutes before the Captain silences us.

"Alright, this is only the first of many meetings we will be having about Valiant Shield. For now I urge you to keep this information to yourselves, I will announce our participation to the crew at the beginning of next week."

"However, now that I have all of you here, there is another topic that hasn't been scheduled yet on any of our upcoming meetings that I would like to address." "As you all know Major McCorrigan along with Lieutenant Commander Eve Davies were responsible for saving Lieutenant Dubois and Commander Lewis." The Captain says briefly glancing at me. "Both acted with bravery and distinction. Major McCorrigan was later also responsible for rescueing six others."

"I have already taken the necessary steps to award Lieutenant Commander Davies with a Commendation Medal, and I am recommending her for an expedited promotion. I would not hesitate to do the same for the Major were it not that she is, of course, not Navy and I am unsure as to what we can do for her."

"Commander Altmann, what are the legal parameters for a case such as this?" The Captain asks Stacy. Stacy Altmann was a JAG officer before joining the Enterprise, and serves as the Senior Legal Officer on the ship.

"There is the Joint Service Commendation Medal, but that is at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense, and it is meant to be awarded only to someone who has been serving on a joint military staff. When it comes to expediting promotion, I fear that is completely out of the question, Captain. The best you can do is write a letter to her commanding officer, a recommendation of sorts," Stacy replies.

"That will most likely get lost in the Air Force's red tape," the captain replies. I nod my head. Although we are all supposed to be one big family, and cooperation between the military branches is to be promoted whenever possible, the truth is that there is an intense rivalry between them. An act of valor performed in one branch hardly ever results in a promotion or even a recognition in another.

"If I may, Captain," I say. "Although it is rare, bestowing field promotions on those not in the same military branch is not completely unheard of. Captain Holden of the USS Graham promoted a young Army doctor to Lieutenant in 1944. Corporal Lopez was given a Silver Star Medal even though he was a Marine, Captain Stevens gave.."

"Field commissions are by default only granted during a time of war, which is why I didn't mention them," Stacy interrupts.

"Yes," I concede. "But, it does mean that awarding a promotion is not unprecedented. A Joint Service Commendation Medal is also still a possibility. Historically, there have been three cases in which the medal was awarded in similar situations to that of Major McCorrigan."

"Alright, thank you commanders. Let's put this to a vote. Anyone in favor for awarding Major McCorrigan a field promotion?"

I put my hand up and see Commander Hall and commanders Giardini, Vandeweghe and Caglier do the same. There are thirteen senior officers. It's not enough. I lower my hand without showing emotion, but the reluctance to grant the Major a promotion baffles me. If Lieutenant-Commander Davies is now -rightly so- on the fast track of becoming a Commander for saving two lives, how is it possible that we aren't doing the same for someone who saved eight? What is more is that, although I also suggested to the Captain she bring the Major up for a Joint Service Commendation Medal, that medal is very unlikely to be awarded, so the promotion is very likely the only concrete way we would be able to properly acknowledge what the Major did.

"All in favor for putting the Major up for the Joint Service Commendation Medal?"

Commanders Walters now raises his hand too making our total in favor to six, a draw.

"Thank you everyone. I will recommend the Major for the Joint Service Medal as soon as possible. Let's all hope the Secretary acknowledges the extra-ordinary bravery of this young woman. You are all dismissed. Have a good night."

USS Enterprise, Sport's hall

Bo's POV

"Focus, Bo!" I tell myself. "Bend through your knees, become one with the racquet."

It's a hard, sharp service to my right and the only thing I can do is reach and put my racquet against the ball. My ball is a cross that lands deep enough to be tricky. I get a cross back that hardly bounces up from the floor, but I somehow manage to squeeze my racquet under there. It's a lob over the net person, deep again and it has my opponent running across the court. She times it just perfectly, and hits a bolter straight at my doubles' partner. All Jenny can do is block it, but she does so perfectly and it almost falls dead right behind the net. The other side rushes.

Dang, they're quick! I think and I see the ball being launched upwards again. Jenny is already moving backwards so she can intercept it and smash the hell out of it. I see another ball roll onto the court right behind Jenny. I shout at her, but it's too late. The ball rolls under her left foot, and I see her ankle twist violently under her.

It's a few minutes after that I bend through my knees and swing Jenny's arm around my shoulder. "Lean on me."

"Ouch," she says as we get up and she tries to put some weight on her foot.

"Don't try to put any weight on it. We'll just take you to the Doc, and they'll have a look at it."

"Damnit," she says. "I really wanted to make that smash."

I laugh out loud, and nod my head. "Yup, I could tell it was going to be a doozy."

"They're so satisfying," she says with a sincerity only competitive creatures such as myself and my fine Navy colleagues possess.

"You totally had it," I say as we make it out of the Sport's hall. Jenny is limping on one leg, but luckily sickbay isn't that far. It doesn't take us long before we're standing at the front desk. Sickbay is extremely busy and there aren't any chairs available. They haven't issued Jenny a wheelchair or crutches either, so I still have my arm wrapped around my doubles' partner when Commander Lewis exits one of the exam rooms. For a brief moment I wonder if this woman is ever off-duty.

I can see Commander Lewis' eyebrow shoot up in surprise as she sees us standing like the double act we must look like; one person with her foot in the air as if she's about to land the Karate Kid kick, the other person sweating profusely, both dressed in matching tennis outfits clinging to one another as if we've had too much to drink and need help staying upright.

"What's next, the circus?" I hear her whisper and I grin lightly.

"Nurse, get Ensign Anandale a wheel chair!" The Commander orders. "Or do you want her to lose her balance and make her injury worse?" Commander Lewis adds. At her words, the nurses around her spring into action and in no time at all, Jenny is lowered into a wheelchair.

"What happened?" Commander Lewis asks gently as she bends through her knees to get to Jenny's eyelevel.

"Too eager. Bo and I are competing in the doubles' tournament. We wanted to get some practice in before the tournament started. I was going for the smash, running backwards and I tripped over a ball coming from the other court. Twisted my ankle. So stupid." I hear Jenny add.

"Can you stand on it?"

"I don't think so," Jenny shakes her head." I tried to on the court, but it hurts too much."

"Alright, well, that's not uncommon right after. Malik.." she says addressing one of the nurses. "Schedule the Ensign in for an X-ray of her ankle. I want to see what's going on."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Will I still be able to play in the tournament?" I hear Jenny ask. "It's in a couple days' time."

"I'm not sure, Jenny. I'll have to wait for the Xray to see if you've torn any ligaments, or broken a bone," Lauren responds kindly, and I smile at the warmth Commander Lewis displays. She's the most senior medical officer on board and yet she seems to know almost everyone by their first name. She's kind and gentle with those that need her care, yet firm and decisive with those she works with. I had to wind up in hospital for a few days to notice that. With the gentleness I've come to associate with the Commander, she's moving Jenny's foot about, her skilled fingers pressing down on certain spots gaging Jenny's reaction. Commander Lewis presses down on a certain area and Jenny whinces almost immediately, I can tell she's biting back tears from the pain.

"Judging by your reaction, however, I would say it's not looking good," Commander Lewis says standing up again. "Take Ensign Anandale to Exam Room Six when you're done, I'll be there." The Commander tells nurse Malik, and walks away.

"Well, that sucks," Jenny says visibly deflated. "I'm sorry, Bo. I really wanted to play the tournament with you."

"Me too," I nod. "Next time you're not getting off as easily as staging an ankle injury," I joke and Jenny laughs a little.

"You should replace me. The tournament hasn't started yet," Jenny says as Malik puts his hands on her wheelchair and turns her towards the exam room.

"Nah," I shake my head.

"Yes!" Jenny says. "Find someone!" she says a little louder as Malik rolls her off to Exam Room six.

"Major?"

I turn and look behind me. It's the nurse behind the reception that's addressing me.I recognize her from the first time I was in here for my physical. Lieutenant Madeline Stone is middle-aged, a little overweight with short brown hair, and intelligent green eyes that look as if nothing gets past them. Her voice is stern, as is her look.

"Yes?"

"Are you staying? Your friend will need someone to help her get back to her quarters once they're finished with her."

"Oh. Yeah, course." I say and look around for an empty chair.

"And Major..."

I turn my head again looking at the Lieutenant.

"I couldn't help but overhear you are looking for a replacement,.."

"Yes?" I say wondering if this woman is going to offer up her tennis skills.

"Commander Lewis played tennis in college. She's supposed to be really good," Lieutenant Stone says with a wink and a smile. I sit down in the empty chair. A small smile forms on my lips, and it keeps growing.

USS Enterprise, sickbay

Thirty minutes later

"She's torn the calcaneofibular and the anterior talofibular ligament, I'm afraid." Commander Lewis says looking up from an open file she has in her hands.

"Come again?" I say blinking my eyes. "You'll have to dumb that down for me, Commander."

"Oh," Commander Lewis says, and looks down before looking up again. "She's torn the two most typical ligaments in an ankle when you twist it." "It'll heal, but I'm afraid she won't be playing tennis for some time to come."

"Oh, okay. That's not good.." I mutter like a dumb jock.

"We're issuing her a wheelchair, she'll be restricted to desk duty for the next two weeks minimum, after that she'll have to come back in."

"Sitting still, she's not going to like that," I comment softly.

"Neither would I." We say in unison. There's a short pause where we look at one another in surprise and then we both chuckle. Now is as good a time as any to ask the Commander to replace Jenny in the tournament, but I'm nervous all of a sudden. It's not like I'm asking her out on a date, but I sort of feel like I am. What makes matters worse is that im doing it under the piercing stare and the all-seeing eyes of nurse Stone. I take a chance and ask anyway. When the Commander says yes I'm happier than I should be.

Before I walk out, nurse Stone gives me a wink and a satisfied smirk I'm not sure what to make of.

USS Enterprise, Lauren's room

Lauren's POV

Later that night

I lie awake. I stare at the ceiling. This time I'm not tossing and turning in a nightmare, not scaring myself awake. It's rather the prospect of the nightmare that keeps me awake. As a doctor I know what I'm doing, what my body is doing is harmful. My sleep deprivation is beginning to be problematic, and at this point, I should start taking pills to force the issue. I sleep maybe one or two hours per night when I need a minimum of five to six. I feel the strain of it in my daily routine. Still, I am reluctant to medicate myself. I have noticed that I benefit from a short walk from time to time, and so after another twenty minutes of staring at the ceiling, I decide to get dressed and try out that walk.

My stroll takes me up to the flight deck. In a nostalgic impulse I am suddenly drawn to see the stars. When I was a child my father and I would lay on the roof of our house and look at them for hours on end. He would teach me about the stars, the planets and the constellations. My love for science grew only stronger with every passing second on that roof.

The wind blows coolly about me as I move further up the deck. I hear the waves crash against the bow of the ship, and the salty air fills my nostrils. The stars stretch out before me in a beautiful display of bright shimmering lights. It's uncharacteristically quiet here without the constant eb and flow of planes landing and taking off.

I inhale and close my eyes. It's in moments like these where I think my insomnia isn't that bad. Out here, alone with the elements and nature I feel part of a whole, part of a creation that is bigger than I am, and it calms and grounds me. Maybe this is the feeling I need to hang onto to finally get some sleep.

"Commander?" A suprised voice sounds out from behind me.

"Major McCorrigan." I say turning around. I blink momentarily. I was not expecting to see Major McCorrigan here. She looks as dashing as ever in her flight suit. I'm suddenly very aware of the fact that I'm still wearing my pj's with just a vest thrown over.

"We should stop meeting like this." The Major says. The light of the moon reflects in her eyes and I can just make out her dimples when she flashes me her smile. At her smile, I smile back.

"I couldnt sleep."

"Nightmares again?"

"'Daymares maybe?" I offer. Bo just nods.

"You?"

"It's pretty up here," Bo says in a way that tells me there is more going on, but I accept her answer. It's a silent understanding between us. We don't ask unless offered. "Away from the chaos."

"Mmm," I hum agreeing. "My dad used to take me stargazing. We lived in Germany, the base was almost off the grid, and it was just like this: a million stars exploding and twinkling in the night's sky."

"It's calming," she says, and I smile understanding completely.

"He and I would spend hours on end on our roof and he would teach me all about the constellations and the mythical stories behind them. Some of my best childhood memories are from that time."

"He sounds like a great dad."

"He was," I say, and there is a sadness that suddenly befalls me. I realise that I haven't talked about my dad to anyone in a very long time. Or rather, I haven't talked about what he was like in a long time. I've thought and talked about his death, but not his life.

"What did he tell you about the myths?" she asks looking to the stars again. As a pilot, she's more familiar with the stars and how to navigate them than I am, but there aren't many people out there than can match my geek level when it comes to mythology.

"Well, there's Virgo." I say looking up with her and pointing at one of my favorite constellations. "Virgo is said to represent the godess Persephone. She's just to the south of Leo, and under the Big Dipper." I point up, and I see the Major follow my gaze. "She's right there, a reclining figure. The brightest star in the constellation, Spica represents a sheat of wheat. Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the godess of fertility, grain and harvest. Persephone was Demeter's most cherished daughter. She was beautiful, graceful and intelligent, and as such she was coveted by many of the other gods, including Hades, the god of the underworld. Demeter sheltered her daughter from their attentions, but Hades' obsession with her grew. One night, with the help of Zeus, Hades tricked Demeter, kidnapped Persephone, and abducted her to the underworld. Demeter was devestated and she wept and mourned for so long at the loss of her daughter that the harvests failed and the lands became barren. Zeus then forced Hades to return Persephone to her mother, but not before Hades had let Persephone eat from the fruit in the underworld."

"He poisoned her?" Major McCorrigan asks bewildered.

"No," I shake my head and chuckle a little at her outrage. "When you eat fruit in the underworld, you are destined to spend the rest of your days there."

"So she had to stay with him? What an A-hole!"

"Well, I suppose the rules are a little different for the gods. Persephone was eventually returned to her mother, but she had to spend half of the year, or three months out of a year -depending on which version of the myth you read- in the underworld. It's how the ancient Greeks explained the seasons. In Spring and Summer, Persephone would live with the rest of the gods above, and her mother's joy would cause the weather to be mild and the fields to be fertile." "During the Autumn, Demeter's demeanor would grow darker at the prospect of Persephone leaving again , and nature would go into mourning with her. The bleakest and darkest months, those of Winter are those when Persephone lives in the underworld, away from her mother. "

The Major is smiling at me when I finish my story. We stay silent awhile after that just looking up at the stars.

"It's a good story," she offers up after some time.

"It is," I say agreeing. I shiver when a gust of wind hits us.

"You're cold," she observes.

"I'm fine," I say, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. I am cold, freezing actually, but I'm also around the Major, and the major sends my body into this weird form of nervous excitement that makes me forget about physical discomforts.

"Let's get you out of the wind. I can't let you freeze to death, Commander! What would the Captain say?" she says and her hand wraps around my wrist. I'm startled, and my heart flutters at her touch. There's a part of me that knows that I should decline, call it a night, I'm walking the tight rope on the Navy's policy on fraternization already, but she makes me feel like there is adventure in the air, and I can't resist.

We move over to one of the F18's and she climbs up the ladder. I watch her open the hatch to the plane and take out two thick blankets. She turns towards me at the bottom of the stairs and reaches out her hand towards me. I grab it and climb up a few steps while she's already up on one of the wings.

"Come on," she says urging me to join her on the wing.

"Are you sure it's safe? I mean, won't we damage the plane?"

"I won't tell if you don't," she says with a mischievous wink.

"I knew you were trouble when you walked in, McCorrigan," I say with a grin.

Major McCorrigan laughs. "Guilty as charged."

"The trick is distributing your weight," she says spreading out one of the blankets and taking a seat. "That way there is no chance of damanging the plane. The mechanics are up here all the time."

The Major holds her hand to me outstretched again and I grab it succesfully finding my footing on the wing. I sit down soon after, and follow her lead by laying down completely.

"This is better than our roof." I say looking up and enjoying the view. Laying down, we're out of the wind and the blanket beneath us is thick enough not to feel the cold of the metal wing underneath. Major McCorrigan takes out the second blanket and covers us with it.

We're silent for a good ten minutes just laying there, before I speak.

"They're not awarding you a medal, or a promotion, " I say. "I tried to persuade the senior officers, but..."

"That's okay." Major McCorrigan interrupts. "I wasn't expecting it. I'm Air Force..."

"It's wrong," I interrrupt in turn. "It shouldn't matter if you're Air Force, Navy,... You're military, we are one family."

"I agree," she replies. "But, I don't want a medal or a reward. I just ran without thinking." Her words hesitate in the air along with her thoughts. "I'm not sure it's heroics. The truth is I got lucky."

"It wasn't just random luck for us. It was you."

"Hmm, maybe," she says. "But, it's okay, I don't want it."

"Why not?" I ask sincerely mystified. "You saved eight people. Eight people owe you their lives, they owe you a debt they can never, ever, ever repay," I say with so much emotion that it makes me sit up straight and makes my voice quiver.

"Hey, hey," the Major says. "Don't." She grabs my hands that are balled up in tense fists. At her touch, my muscles relax as if by magic. "Don't think about it like that. You don't owe me anything."

"Of course I do!" I say turning towards her my eyes wide in disbelief. "I owe you my life!"

She shakes her head, and drops my hands, I immediately miss her touch. "I don't want you to owe me anything," she says while turning away from me. I can't see her expression, but her tone is resolute, she won't be swayed, and I realise in that moment what kind of person Isabeau McCorrigan is; she's the rarest type of breed: the selfless hero.

"Although..." she says after a few moments and I can hear the amusement in her voice. "Maybe a great tennis tournament. How's your backhand, Commander?" I can't help but laugh out loud.

"Call me Lauren," I say after we've stopped laughing. "At least up here...Under the stars. Away from the chaos."

"Lauren," she says my name for the first time, and it sounds so much better than 'Commander'.

USS Enterprise

Two days later, 5h30

I wake up at my usual 5h30, and dress quickly. Breakfast is served in the Mess hall from 5.00h, and I settle on my usual toasted bagel with just some butter, a cup of coffee and some fruit. I have about 45 minutes before our weekly morning meeting with the senior officers and the Captain, and take the opportunity to scan the newspaper. There's not much in it, so I move on to one out of a stack of medical journals I go through on a regular basis. With interest, I read an article about a new drug that is being developed. The article is in the form of an interview, and the one being interviewed is none else than Dr. Benjamin Cooper. As I look at the picture of my best friend, I can't help but smile. It reminds me that I should call him to arrange our Christmas plans. When I turn the page on the article, another doctor whose face I recognise greets me. This time, however, it's not a pleasant greeting and what I read makes me even less happy.

I have about fifteen minutes left and with a huff in my step, I gather my things and head to Comm Room 3. Comm rooms have secure telephone devices that allow us to contact our families and loved ones without the risk of our cellphone signal being triangulated.

It only takes two rings before I get Ben on the phone.

"Hey, it's me."

"You saw the article, huh?" He says, and I'm grateful once again for how well this man on the other end of the line knows me.

I want to scowl, but exhale instead. "I did. Great picture of you by the way," I segway.

"Wasn't it just?" Ben replies, and even through the phone I can hear him puff out his chest with a grin. "I had it blown up and put up in my office."

"Gawds, such an ego," I laugh. "I hope you burnt the next page."

"Put it in the shredder, " he replies.

I exhale again. "She's back to her old tricks again," I say. "I don't want her to get away with it."

"We won't let her. I contacted Mabel, and she's on it."

"The timing is just..." I let the words hang not wanting to curse. Instead I just rub my forehead in frustration. "Unbelievable."

"I'm on it, Laur... It's gonna be ok, you just concentrate on things there, okay?"

"Yeah," I nod my head, trying to pull my thoughts away from Dr. Kowalski. "I'm flying over for Christmas," I say, landing on the other topic I wanted to talk about with Ben.

"That's great!" he says and I can hear the sincerity in his voice. "I'm getting the biggest Christmas tree money can buy, and we can watch Love Actually and those Harry Potter things you like so much. We can cook together, or we can go somewhere, get catering... Anything you like!"

"That sounds wonderful," I say with a smile.

"So, how's prison?"

"Ben, it's not prison, it's just...structured," I offer lamely.

"Sounds like a hoot. Sounds like prison."

I chuckle. "Look, I've got to go." I say glancing at my watch. "I have a meeting in five minutes." "When you hear from Mabel, let me know?"

"Course."

"I just wish I could deal with this myself, you know?" I say frustrated.

"Laur, did you forget what happened before? That woman is crazy and I for one am very glad you're on a ship right now where she can't physically touch you."

"Yes, but this time she's not coming after me physically, she's going after my life's work!"

"She's doing it to get to you, Laur. That's all she wants, she is obsessed with you! The further you stay away from that psychopath, the better, and hopefully, once she realizes she isn't getting near you this way, she'll back off. Mabel will deal with Nadia so you don't have to ever have to again."

I nod my head. "Okay. Thanks, Ben."

"Anytime, love you Laur."

"Love you too, Ben," I say and hang up. I feel slightly better having talked to Ben. I know he's right and that I should just let my lawyer handle this, but anytime the name Dr. Nadia Kowalski shows up, I am torn between running away as far as I can from her, and confronting her outright.

My anger is still stewing underneath the surface when I walk into the weekly senior officers' meeting. Despite my mood I greet everyone with the same outward cool and smile everyone has come to associate with me. We all sit down, and I notice Commander Hall isn't here yet. We wait for another minute, until there's a knock at the door.

It's the Commander, and right behind him there is Major McCorrigan. My body reacts to her before my mind does; my heart skips a beat and my jaw falls open at how beautiful she looks in the somewhat more formal dress uniform.

"Commander, is there a special reason you have brought the Major to this senior officer briefing?" Captain Roberts asks snapping me out of my ogling.

"Captain, in light of the Valiant Shield exercise, I have taken it upon myself to choose a Squadron Leader. That leader is Major McCorrigan. Her experience as an Air Force pilot has already proven to be a great benefit to our pilots, and I believe her tactical insights will do the same as we progress with the exercise."

"Very well, Commander Hall. Although this is highly irregular, I trust this appointment has not caused any ruffled feathers within your squadron."

"Ma'am, the idea to promote the Major came from the pilots themselves." "In the short time the Major has been with us, the men have come to show great respect for her as a pilot, an instructor, a leader and a soldier." I stifle a grin at the Commander's words. Commander Hall and the squadron gave the Major a promotion when the Captain couldn't or wouldn't. Although I applaud the Commander's actions, I wonder if he did the Major a favor. Granting a promotion that wasn't carried by the senior officers is more than likely to set bad blood with those that voted against. Looking around the room and reading the officers' expressions, my hunch is quickly confirmed.

Major McCorrigan will have to work twice as hard to prove herself.

It takes about half an hour before the first jabs at the Major are taken. The Major is in the middle of a passionate defense of Junior Lieutenant Samantha Curry, one of the young squadron pilots who has been failing her dog fighting practice tests and has combined that with a couple of reprimands from senior officers, who have also suggested she is not Navy material. As senior officers it is then our task to decide if she should be given another chance or that she should find another post.

"We don't need a trouble maker in our midst, especially not one that is failing her practical tests, and especially not seeing as we are moving forward with Valiant Shield."

"Commander, Captain, Major McCorrigan says. Samantha has a temper, and she is aware of it. We have been working on that, and for the last two weeks there have been no complaints whatsoever from any of her superior officers on the ship." "With regard to her failing my classes, she fails only the practical ones. She is amongst the best of the class on the written tactical tests."

"What good are we with a pilot that technically knows how to fly, but loses dogfight after dogfight?" Stacy's voice interrupts. Her tone has bite, it's sharp and I can't help but feel as if this discussion with the Major is somehow personal for her.

"The only reason she's failing them is confidence. I've seen it time and time again at the Air Force base too. Young pilots that start out, excellent pilots, but they get into the competitive environment and they need more time to adjust. In the Air Force..."

"Major, you are not operating in the Air Force, you are operating in the Navy, and you are bound by the rules and regulations of the Navy." "And the Navy rule of conduct and assessment article 56, dash 22, section B clearly states that an officer who has had three remarks in his or her file, and who has consistently failed one of his or her classes can be dismissed from an appointed commission by the discretion of the senior officers." Stacy counters and I can see the satisfied smirk on her lips. I suddenly feel compelled to wipe it off of her face, come to the Major's aid, but unfortunately Stacy is not wrong about the regulations, and there is nothing I can do or say.

The Major is silent. She looks like she is about to concede the point, and the Captain speaks up.

"Alright then Major,... If you have nothing to add to the conversation, I suggest we simply put it to a .."

"Sorry Ma'am, I just needed a moment." Major McCorrigan says and I can see her shift her gaze from the Captain to the Commander again.

"Commander Altmann, I defer to your legal knowledge in the matter as it is clearly superior to mine. However, I do know something about the Lieutenant's record, and I know she has not consistently failed her class. Before I was appointed as instructor, dog fighting and landing fell under one class. Lieutenant Curry produced a passing grade under the Commander's instruction."

"She did indeed," Commander Hall confirms, and I can see the small smile on his lips. The Major survived her baptism by fire and then some! I have to do my best not to grin along with Commander Hall. For the rest of the meeting no one questions her anymore, and I find myself stealing glances at the Major whenever I can. I like how passionate she is, how committed, how she throws her body into making a point. Her hands for example, I focus on them; they are slender and elegant, and she talks with them as much as she does with her mouth. When I'm done focusing on her hands, I notice her mouth. Her dimples are burnt into my memory, but now that she's concentrating, and smiling is far from her thoughts, the fullness and delicacy of her lips strike, and alure me. Before I can stop myself I wonder what it would be like to kiss them, and to be kissed by them. The thought alone makes my heart race.

The sound of her voice appeals to me. It's passionate, yet I also catch the gentler undertones. My mind drifts off to her calling me something other than Commander, something other than 'doc', and even something other than Lauren. Suddenly that voice in my head that calls to me isn't all that innocent anymore. My name is said in a soft, low seductive whisper that has my imagination running rampant. So much so that I miss a question the Captain directs at me. The Captain poses her question again, and I'm able to reply, but inwardly I'm chastising myself.

Pushing my hands way down into my lab coat pockets gives me something to focus on other than how flustered this woman across from me can make me feel, how quickly she can spiral me into day dreaming, make me feel like an awkward teenager again. There are so many reasons why I cannot be feeling what I am feeling right now.

Alright. Fine. I can admit I'm attracted to her. She's a beautiful woman, I am a gay woman. It's only natural that I notice that she's beautiful.

Actually, she's gorgeous.

Alright. Fine. I can admit that her looks do something to me.

But 'looks' aren't everything, and I'm sure this is just a silly crush. My body pumping me full of the hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and dopamine. It's probably more like a teenage crush, and not really a crush, more like the semblance of a crush, the whiff of a crush.

It's only because she's beautiful.

Gorgeous really, but that doesn't matter.

"Get a grip, Lewis." I mumble at myself. I look up again. The Major frowns listening intently to what the Captain is saying. She bites her lip nervously, and I'm back to imagining kissing those full lips.

"Good grief, Lewis!"

As soon as the meeting is over, I push out of my chair and rush out of the room. I head for the bathroom without saying a word to anyone. I splash water on my face as soon as I'm inside, and I grab the edges of the sink. I take a couple of deep breaths. I need to stop thinking about Major McCorrigan, I need to stop thinking about her, lusting after her.

About her hands of all things! And those eyes! Good grief, those brown dark eyes of her! Those dimples! Stop it!

After a few more deep breaths, I head for the safety of sickbay. I know Nurse Stone has scheduled me in for a full day, so I'll have plenty of distractions, I'll be busy all day, and I'll be able to get the Major out of my system. Right now, I have a physical and check-up planned, but there's no file yet here. I look around for it, but I don't see it. There's a knock on the door, and I call the person in.

"Please undress. I'll be right with you." I say as I disappear to the small supply room. Perhaps the file is in there. I rummage through the cupboards, pull open a file cabinet.

No. No file.

I doublecheck.

Not there.

There's an apology brewing on my lips when I walk back into the exam room. Right at that moment Major McCorrigan, the object of my awkwardness, my lust-filled thoughts is standing before me wearing only a bra and black panties.

My jaw hits the floor, and although I am still able to formulate thoughts, they are all the wrong thoughts. My eyes roam her body. Strike what I said about her being beautiful or gorgeous, she's exquisite, perfect...she's flawless. The Major clears her throat and I close my eyes. I shake my head, and I know I'm red in the face, no doubt caught staring. I don't dare look up. I try to look elsewhere, anywhere else except straight at her.

Why, why, why does she show up half-naked in my exam room when I'm trying not to think about her? Why?

"Major.." I croak out after a deep breath. "How...how can I help you?"

"My physical. We never got round to it before. Also, I'm here for a check-up," she says and hands me her file.

"Your physical? And check-up..." I repeat dumbly. "Of course. Could you,...could you just hold on for a minute?" I ask. "I'll be right back." I see her nod and I move out of the exam room quickly and up to the nurse's station. Nurse Stone is behind her desk.

"Dr. Lewis, how can I help you?"

"Lieutenant, is there another doctor available who can do the physical on Major McCorrigan?" I ask. I seem unable to comport myself in a professional manner around this woman, so I think letting myself be replaced at this moment in time is the best course of action.

Nurse Stone looks at the duty schedule. "Sorry, Commander, Dr. McAfee is in surgery, Andrews, Quince and Dreyfuss also have full schedules. Is there a problem with the Major, Ma'am?"

"A problem?" Yes! There's a problem. The woman is too damn hot for her own good and my damn heart to deal with! "No, no problem with the Major. You're sure they aren't available?" The nurse responds negatively again. "I'll uhm... take care of that personal matter later then." I say vaguely and scurry off towards the Major again.

I inhale deeply before reentering the exam room. Just be cool, Lauren. Be professional!

Major McCorrigan is seated on the examining table with her arms clasped around her. I'm grateful for the modicum of modesty she displays. "So, Bo.." I cringe. Crap, did I just use her first name? So professional, Lauren! My body tenses up, but I don't think the Major notices. In fact, out of the corner of my eyes, I see her smile.

"Yes, Lauren." She says and I smile a little at her use of my first name.

"Sorry, I just needed to check on something." I say.

"That's quite alright. I hope everything is okay."

"Yes.." I nod. "It is," I say "Let's uh get the physical out of the way," I add, and I take a deep breath. Fortunately for me, the physical starts with just a simple eye exam, and the routine of the tests is something I can cling to, something to do instead of making a fool out of myself in front of the Major. I relax a little, and Major McCorrigan and I make smalltalk about how busy it is, how her classes are going and her new 'job' as squadron leader. While we chat I glance over at her burns, the laceration on her arm, and the other minor injuries I know she sustained from the helicopter accident.

There are moments when my heart skips several beats. Most notably when I lean into her closely enough to examine her pupillary responses, and her perfume wafts into my nostrils. All in all, however, I am able to conduct myself professionally throughout most of the examination.

It's when my examination of the lymph nodes require my fingers on her neck that my professionalism goes out of the window again, and I feel like an awkward teenager with a crush. I've done this examination so many times, I have lost track of the count, but yet with her it feels like an intimate act on its own. I remember the first time I touched this woman; when I let my fingers run through the soft locks of her hair, and to the delicate line of her jaw. It was hardly in an intimate setting then, although it was in a moment that was more human and more intimate than any I have ever felt before. Her neck feels just as soft now, just as delicate.

My fingers leave goosebumps in her neck, and she shivers.

"I'm sorry, it's not exactly warm here," I say seeing her reaction. I instantly pull back my fingers knowing I let them linger too long.

The Major bites her lip and shakes her head lightly. "That's okay." She mumbles out almost inaudibly.

I swallow, and turn around reaching for my stethoscope. With trembling hands I place the stethoscope in my ears, and move towards the Major again.

"I'm just going to listen to your heart," I say. "Breathe in, please."

She nods and inhales. I try not to look down at her cleavage, try instead for the neutral ground of eye contact, and moving the stethoscope around blindly, but that soon has me fumbling about, and the last thing I want is to grope the Major inadvertently, so I look down.

Holy Mary Mother of Jesus! I grab onto my stethoscope for dear life at the sight of what I can only describe is the Valhalla of cleavage.

Round, full, heavy, soft...perfect, perfect boobs.

Perfect boobs that make me stare, perfect boobs that make me a creeper if I stare at them too long.

Am I staring?

Damnit! I'm staring!

Breathe Lauren! Damn my obsession with boobs! Don't stare! My breath is a snort, and I drop the stethoscope, I stumble backwards, hit the desk behind me, lose my balance and land on it with a thud.

Awkward.

"Are you alright?" She asks glancing up at me with those confident eyes.

"Yes. Ahuh. I'm fine. Perfectly fine," I say keeping my head down and then turning quickly to round my desk. "Breathe, Lauren!" I tell myself.

"You uhm seem fine." I say looking back up and I see her eyebrow shoot up at my choice of words. "I mean healthwise!" I blurt going beet-red.

"Of course," she says, and I briefly look up spotting what I think is an amused grin. It doesn't help with the embarrassment on my end.

"You can eh get dressed." I say wanting to end my torment.

"And my check-up?"

"The burns seem to be healing nicely, as is the cut on your arm. There's a small wheezing coming from your lungs, but that's not uncommon given the accident. Keep monitoring that. If you start coughing or you're easily fatigued come see me again," I rattle off nervously. "Otherwise, you're good to go."

"Okay, thanks doc."

"Sure," I say clasping my hands behind my back so they have something to do.

"See ya doc," she says with a wink. "Don't forget we have our first match tomorrow!"

"I'll be there," I reply.

When Major McCorrigan has left the room I exhale loudly and sit down behind my desk.

I am in deep trouble with this woman.


Replies to reviews

JCM and all the other wonderful peeps reading and reviewing (saphire, kogaduck, Frenchi, Joan, sylvy...): As most of you know, I enjoy building in a degree of mystery into my stories, and am therefore mostly tight lipped on plot lines. For this story, however, I feel the plot line is less important than the way the characters deal with what is happening to them. Suffice to say that Bo is what they call an 'unreliable narrator'. I kept the first chapter very light on background info, and kept the narration exclusively from Bo's perspective to accommodate my story. Bo doesn't remember Lauren, but Lauren does remember Bo. So yes, somewhere down the line something will happen to Bo that will cause her to not remember about a year's worth of memories. I got the idea from the movie "The Vow". I thought it would be interesting to watch the fallout from something like that on a couple like Bo and Lauren.

JCM: I haven't abandoned Heritage, the last chapter for episode 7 is actually about 80% complete. The problem is just that because I'm writing a Christmas Date and that's going pretty well, I don't want to take myself out of that flow by working on Heritage. They're completely different stories, and what makes it even trickier is that they are written in two different perspectives. Heritage will probably have to wait until I'm done with my Christmas story.

For the continuation of this story, there will be a couple more chapters in 2014 explaining what happened to our couple before 'the event' and then we'll go back to the day at the park in 2018 and I'll do a chapter on what lead up to Lauren joining the group at Christmas and how she experiences that day. One more chapter after that will explore New Year's eve, and perhaps some sort of future for Bo and Lauren.