A big thank you goes out to those of you who have read and reviewed my first chapter. It was really hard pressing that submit button and letting my baby be exposed out there. But it's nice to know that people are reading and taking the time to review my fic.

I am a little worried about this chapter. I haven't yet delved into the realm of written dialog. So, I hope the dialog is clear.

AussieMacca1981: thank you again for your review. The information you provided in regards to the Prometheus was really helpful. I now have clarification. "Prometheus was used to house the Veritech's, while Daedalus was used as a loading bay, and ramming arm," and to paraphrase you, not part of the main gun.

And to Knights Templar, aikiweezie, and dwparnsip: thank you for your kind reviews. I hope I won't let you down.

It Was Always You

Chapter 2

Monument City Memorial Hospital, Monument City:

Lisa Hayes awoke to an unfamiliar place. She felt cold. Everything, from the walls of the room to the light blanket covering her, was white.

Then she heard it. There was a faint and steady beeping coming from her bedside. She quickly became disoriented, afraid of her foreign surroundings. It didn't help much that she was unable to focus on any one thing due to her pounding headache and blurry vision.

Trying to sit up, she noticed that she wasn't wearing her normal sleeping attire, soft cotton tank and flannel pajama bottoms, but a light blue hospital gown. Putting her left hand to move a flock of hair that fell into her face, her arm was held back slightly. Soon, she realized that she had an IV drip set into the top of her left hand.

What happened to me? Why am I here? Lisa said to herself as she tried to relax back down in her hospital bed.

The last thing she vaguely remembered, she was being closely held by none other than Rick Hunter. He was telling her that together, they would continue what had been charged to her by Admiral Gloval. She remembered the soft caress of his hand over hers. The look he gave her with his sapphire blue eyes; they never appeared clearer than they were during those moments. Was it all a dream?

Her throat was extremely dry and her mouth felt like foam. It felt as though she had not had a drink in years. Boy was she dying for a glass of cold water. As if someone could read her mind, a nurse with a blonde bob walked in carrying a tray holding a pitcher of water and two styrofoam cups.

Upon seeing Lisa awake, the nurse placed the tray down on the side table and pressed the call button for a doctor. Shortly thereafter, a pretty doctor, who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, entered the room.

"Captain Hayes, it's great to see you're finally awake", the dark-haired, honey skinned beauty said. She then quietly sat down on Lisa's bedside, all the while carefully observing her. Lisa noticed this and thought it was slightly odd to have the doctor be this personal. Not exactly what you would call normal bedside manners for a doctor you have never met.

The doctor continued, "I bet your dying for a drink. I'm sorry Captain, but I can only give you ice chips for now. We have to ease your way back into drinking and eating." She handed Lisa one of the cups with a smile.

Now Lisa couldn't help shake the feeling that she'd seen the doctor before, she just couldn't quite place where. She looked for the doctor's nametag, but oddly enough, the doctor wasn't wearing one. Lisa started to ask for the doctor's name, however a slight touch to her left arm interrupted her from doing so. The nurse had politely excused herself as she proceeded to adjust Lisa's pillow and bed as the doctor went to aid Lisa in sitting upright.

Introductions now forgotten, Lisa was eager to have the scratchiness in her throat subside and gladly placed a chip of ice into her mouth. However, instead of feeling refreshed by the ice, she was left with a bitter taste. With a slight look of disgust on her face, Lisa asked the doctor, "why does this taste funny?"

While the nurse continued to press at some buttons on the monitor that was the cause of the earlier beeping Lisa heard, the petite doctor, checking Lisa' vitals, answered, "you were exposed to quite a bit of radiation. The funny taste is not coming from the ice, but from the medications you were given."

The doctor finished with her check-up and now addressed Lisa directly. "You were pretty banged up when you were brought in. The headache you must be feeling is from being dehydrated, not to mention that you had a pretty good bump on the back of your head."

Lisa instinctively moved her hand to touch the back of her head, and sure enough, the spot was pretty sensitive, but much of the bump had dissipated. Lisa slowly recalled how she sustained the injury:

With her hands pressed against the cold surface of the module window, Lisa stared wide and teary-eyed at her closest confidant and sister in arms, Claudia Grant.

Moments before, Claudia had shoved Lisa into the only working ejection module, all the while stating with a voice as warm and calm as a grandmother's hug that Lisa would be alright, knowing that Lisa had someone anxiously waiting to love her upon her safe return.

It had taken a few seconds for Lisa to realize what Claudia had done, but by the time she reached for the module's door handle, it was too late; she was locked in. She could only look in wonder at the state of peace that Claudia, Admiral Gloval and the girls were in before the escape module was forcefully thrusted out of the SDF-1's bridge, causing her whole body and head to jolt back into the ill-cushioned seat.

A gentle hand was placed on Lisa's shoulder, successfully waking her out of the painful memory. The doctor first carefully looked at Lisa and then slowly continued, "You've been here quite a while, about a week I believe. Captain Hunter brought you here after you collapsed. I'm sure he could explain how you ended up here better than I can. From what we were told, you were exposed to radiation from the SDF-1 collision site for 10 minutes or so."

Lisa must have looked perplexed, so the doctor continued to explain, "the radiation level readings taken from the site were off the scale within 30 minutes of the collision. The site has since been cordoned off. You and Captain Hunter were pretty lucky that your internal organs were not permanently damaged."

Oh my God, Rick!

A look of concern immediately passed through Lisa's tired eyes, which the doctor noticed. So the doctor added, "Captain Hunter is doing quite well. He was released a little time after being admitted. I believe him to be helping with the recovery efforts at this time."

"When he's not doing that, he usually is sitting in that chair over there, patiently waiting for any sign of you getting better." The doctor nodded to a, what did not look like a very comfortable, brown hospital lounge chair that was moved to a corner of the room.

Poor Rick, he must have been worried sick. Thought Lisa.

The doctor paused briefly to carefully assess Lisa's reaction. With a slight turn of her head and a hint of mischief in her eyes, she looked away before stating, "that Captain Hunter is real stubborn. Sweet…but stubborn." Now she looked directly at Lisa, "I almost had to resort to drastic measures to get him to go home and get some rest after the first few days of you being here."

Finally, the nurse excused herself as she interrupted, "Commander, the Captain's stats look normal. I've decreased her dosages and pushed the new meds, just as you ordered," the nurse stated to the doctor. "I am going to go continue my rounds now." The nurse addressed Lisa now, "Captain, we are all happy you're back. I'll come to check up on you again before I finish my shift," with that, the nurse left the room.

The doctor watched the nurse leave before commenting, "well, that's my cue to let you get some rest. Those meds will be kicking in soon enough. Sleep well." She rose from Lisa's bedside after patting Lisa's arm. The doctor then extended her hand out, offering to take away the cup full of ice from Lisa.

"Thank you doctor", Lisa lazily responded, the effects of the medication starting to work its magic.

The doctor started for the hospital room's door, but flashed Lisa a quick smile, "no problem honey. All you need to do is press that red call button on the right side of your bed if you need me. I'll be in to assist you as soon as I can." After a slight pause, she added, "I'm sure my husband will be ecstatic to know you're awake. I've got to go call him now."

She reached the door, but stopped with a short, "Oh! I've also got to call Captain Hunter. I am sure he's going to kill me for not calling right away," she shook her head and sighed.

"It's pretty funny how things work out sometimes. I hounded him until he went home to get some rest. The one time he listens to me, is the one time you wake up". She smiled more to herself than to anyone in particular then laughed. "He's probably going to kick himself for not being here when you woke. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that the Captain was in l---"

"Thank you doctor," Lisa blushed a little as she cut in, completely aware as to the direction of the doctor's comments were leading. She didn't want any more rumors spreading in regards to her personal life, especially in this most peculiar of circumstances.

The doctor gave Lisa a quick wink as she made her way out the door.

What is with that doctor?! It's as if she's trying to tease me with her sly remarks and strange gestures.

That's when Lisa realized what the doctor had said and groggily called out to her before she was out of earshot. "Wait…you said your husband would be ecstatic to know I'm awake?" Lisa questioned through heavy eyes.

The doctor reversed a little as she came back to the doorway and beamed, "Oh yes honey. In all of the excitement, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Commander Jean Grant, lead medical doctor of the New York division. I asked to be reassigned to where I was most needed," she said while at the same time looking and pointing around, suggesting she meant this hospital.

Dr. Grant paused for a beat and leaned against the doorframe. She now looked pensive, not at all in the confident, playful manner she had displayed for the past ten minutes or so.

She regarded Lisa first before continuing, "I'm sure you know of my husband Vince, Claudia's brother? He will be glad to know that you're okay now." Jean now giving Lisa a soft, but sad smile before walking away stating, "I know you've got a lot on your mind now, but please do get some rest Lisa".

Suddenly, everything registered in Lisa's mind. She had seen the doctor in a photo that Claudia had shown her not a year earlier. It was a photo of Claudia's younger brother and his new wife.

With her eyebrows furrowing, Lisa fought to keep awake. Her heart suddenly aching, she painfully whispered, "Vince". Try as she might, she couldn't help it any longer and let sleep befall her as a lone tear escaped from her eye.

To be continued…

AN: I tried and tried, but I could not find out for the life of me where Vince and Jean were all of those years that the SDF-1 and its inhabitants arrived back on Earth. I knew they had to be somewhere that wasn't completely destroyed or was at least rebuilt, and I seem to recall that in New Generation, New York was still around. Not sure though, but oh well.

Jean in the comics and in the "Shadow Chronicles" movie is sharp, direct, and is a no non-sense type of woman. So, New York naturally came to mind. I loved her in "The Shadow Chronicles". I thought she and Vince were the best part of the movie.

By the way, I'm not from New York, but I love the city's and the people's character.

I am hoping to spend some time writing an outline for this story. I have ideas running around in my head, but I really should put them to paper. I will probably spend a week doing some research into character birthdays, ages, etc. I probably won't be completely faithful to Robotech's character ages. I think the Japanese Macross's ages are more fitting. Something about Lisa being 5 years older than Rick bugs me. When they first met, Rick was 19 and Lisa, 24. It shouldn't really bother me though, especially since it works for the show. And I don't believe in double standards. If a man can date a woman who's younger than him, then why can't the same be true for the reverse? End of digression.