Author's Note: Thank you to everyone for the amazing reviews! By the way, I'm starting to run out of ideas for chapter titles :S Any suggestions? Enjoy this chapter :)

The cheery atmosphere of the next morning could probably have made inventory seem invigorating. Skye rolled out of bed and marched into the bathroom, driven by the hope to finally get to speak to Wash that day. After a quick shower, Skye headed for the kitchen, her stomach grumbling.

"Mom?"

To Skye's surprise, Deborah was sitting at the counter despite the fact that she had work. Skye followed her mother's gaze to see Mark sitting across from Deborah. Mark turned around to wave at Skye, and Skye let out a gasp.

"Mark, what happened?" Skye ran over to the counter to inspect the dark, purpling bruise under Mark's right eye. Deborah had given Mark an ice pack, which he was holding over his eye.

"Sixers," muttered Mark, not meeting Skye's gaze. Skye narrowed her eyes suspiciously, turning to her mother.

"He was missing yesterday and when they were doing a sweep of the colony they found him knocked out in Boylan's bar," said Deborah, shrugging slightly. "He says that he doesn't remember what happened."

Skye folded her arms across her chest and turned to Mark. "You got a bruise that bad and you don't remember what happened?"

"I-I'm not sure," said Mark, pressing his lips together. "I think I got on one of the Sixers' nerves."

Skye exhaled heavily, leaning against the counter. "Did you go to the medic center?"

"Yeah, I spent about an hour there," replied Mark, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Mostly because Maddy wouldn't let me go."

Skye smiled slightly, imagining how flustered Maddy must have been. Mark coughed, breaking the tension. "Anyways, I came to, uh, see what you were planning on doing today."

Skye looked from Mark to Deborah before answering. "I'm back on interning today, so I should be at the medic center all day."

"Oh, great," replied Mark, looking oddly relieved. "Hey, I'll walk you there."

"You're kidding, right?" asked Skye, raising her eyebrows. "Mark, you won't even be able to see through that black eye. Take your rest. I'll be fine walking a minute across the colony."

"Skye's right," agreed Deborah, checking Mark's ice pack. "That's no small bruise you've got there. You'd better stay put for now."

"But…" Mark's voice faltered at the look on Skye's face, and he sighed. "Fine."

Skye leaned over the counter and grabbed a fruit, rotating it in her hands. "I'll see you later, Mom. And I hope that black eye gets better, Mark."

"Bye, hon," called Deborah as Skye pushed the door open. Before Skye left, she jiggled the lock to make sure that it didn't fall loose. When she was satisfied with the results, Skye closed the door and headed down the road to the medic center.

Skye had finished her fruit before she reached the main road, and she threw it in a compost bin before crossing the colony. Skye involuntarily looked up at the fort as she passed, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Lucas leaning out of the balcony. Lucas had already been watching her with a mischievous expression on his face and he winked as she passed by. Suddenly, Mira appeared beside Lucas, shooting suspicious looks from Lucas to Skye. Blushing furiously, Skye looked down and began walking faster.

To Skye's surprise, Wash was sitting outside the medic center, talking to her colleagues. Wash looked up as Skye passed and nodded slightly, signaling that she would be just a moment. Something about the look in Wash's eyes uneased Skye and she had to force herself to smile back as she entered the medic center.

"Skye!" Dr. Shannon made her way over to Skye, a bright smile on her face. "It's great to see you. How have you been?"

Dr. Shannon's worried eyes asked so many questions, questions Skye knew she couldn't answer right there. Skye smiled back, letting Dr. Shannon know that she was okay. "Great. So, what do we have for today?"

"Well, I thought you could help Lieutenant Washington for the day," said Dr. Shannon, her eyebrows slightly raised. "Change her bandages, watch her blood sugar levels… and it'll give you two some time to talk."

Skye let herself smile for real at how proactive Dr. Shannon was. "Thanks, Dr. Shannon."

Dr. Shannon flashed Skye one last knowing smile before turning to a patient. Skye looked towards the front door to see Wash walking inside, holding onto the doorframe. Skye rushed over to help Wash back to her bed. "How've you been doing, Lieutenant?"

"Been better," grunted Wash as she sat back down on the bed, swinging her legs under the covers. Skye sat down on the stool beside Wash's bed, pulling a pile of clean bandages from the shelf beside it. "But I'm alive, aren't I?"

"Yeah, thankfully," replied Skye, unwrapping Wash's current bandages. "But the way Lucas treated you was horrible. I'm really sorry that you had to go through that."

"Lucas?" Wash shook her head slightly, a bitter smile on her face. "It's because of Lucas that I didn't starve to death. Mira was the one who did all this."

Skye frowned, confused. "But Mark said…"

"Mark," said Wash, wincing as Skye wrapped the new bandages around her wounds. "Sees what he wants to see and hears what he wants to hear. He's programmed himself to hate Lucas, so that's what he'll do."

Skye bit at her lower lip, thinking. So Lucas had been truthful when he said that he never hurt Wash. It was probably because of Lucas that Wash was still alive, and he was probably suffering Mira's wrath for letting Wash go. Skye looked up to see Wash watching her intently.

"So I was right," muttered Wash, a small smile spreading over her face. Skye raised her eyebrows questioningly, and Wash laughed softly in response. "You're in love with him."

Skye's heart felt as though it jumped up and stopped in her throat. "W-what?"

"Lucas. I saw the way you looked at him out in front of the center today," said Wash, tilting her head to a side. "And he just couldn't keep his eyes off you, even when Mira was snapping in front of his face."

Skye swallowed, looking down at her lap. "I… I don't…"

"Skye," Wash reached out and put her hand on Skye's, squeezing it slightly. "I can see it in your eyes, even now. You can't even bring yourself to say that you don't love him, so why hide it?"

"But Commander Taylor," said Skye indignantly, shaking her head. "I can't do that to him. Not again."

"There's nothing wrong with what you're doing," Wash brushed her hair out of her eyes as she continued. "I'm sure that when Taylor and his son get over their issues, he'll be thrilled."

"It doesn't look like that'll be happening any time soon," muttered Skye, looking out the window. Lucas wasn't out on the balcony anymore, but Mira was still there, watching the colony like a hawk. Wash sighed.

"Listen, Skye, love isn't something that waits," said Wash, pressing her lips together. Skye looked back at Wash, frowning at her tone as it implied that she had experience with the matter. Wash looked down at her blankets, lost in her thoughts. "You have to take that leap of faith as soon as you can, or it'll be too late."

"But Commander – "

"I'll deal with Taylor," Wash cut Skye off, suddenly looking up to meet her eyes. "Okay? You don't worry about Taylor. But maybe try and get Lucas to warm up to the idea of making nice with his father again?"

"I've already – " Skye stopped herself when she met Wash's eyes. Here she was, this woman that was willing to risk her friendship with the Commander to let Lucas and Skye be together. Skye couldn't give up after one try. "I'll do my best."

"Atta girl," Wash smiled, clapping Skye's knee. "Now get me my medication, the pain's coming back."

"Oh, yeah, one second," Skye hopped off the stool and bustled into the back room to search for the painkiller. Skye's spirits had been lifted about 200% by her conversation with Wash. She felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and it gave her hope for both Lucas and Taylor. With a smile, Skye grabbed the painkiller off the shelf and returned to Wash's bed.

Miles away, outside the gates, Taylor entered a small clearing in the forest to join Shannon and Josh, who were waiting anxiously. Taylor nodded at the both of them, his icy eyes glinting with anticipation. "Everything's ready. Reynolds' is a little roughed up from what I hear but everything else is right on schedule."

"And Lucas? How're you planning on distracting him?" asked Shannon, toying with the communicator in his hands. Taylor waved the miniscule microphone in his hand, and Shannon nodded knowingly. Josh looked from Taylor to Shannon, confused.

"Wait, you're going to use Skye as bait?" asked Josh incredulously. "Isn't it bad enough that she's – she's exploiting herself to distract Lucas?"

"Josh…" warned Shannon, shooting Josh a glare. Taylor sighed, running a hand over his face.

"I'm worried about Skye too, son," said Taylor, folding his arms across his chest. "But it'll all be over after today."

Josh muttered to himself, looking away. Taylor brought the microphone up to his mouth, clicking the communication button. "You there, kiddo?"

The speaker crackled and the three could hear Skye moving as she walked away from what she was doing. "Yep. What's up?"

"Skye, do you think you could get Lucas out to the meadow for an hour or two this evening?" Taylor looked at Shannon, his eyes unreadable. "We're going to have to get Wash out of there."

Josh's head snapped up at Taylor's lie but he held his tongue. Skye sounded hesitant as she replied. "Wash? Why? She's fine here."

"Not for long. The Sixers are planning to get rid of her by the end of the week," said Taylor, his right eyebrow twitching at his lie. Shannon nodded encouragingly, knowing that it was the only way to keep Skye from freaking out over the responsibility.

"Dammit," Skye hit something on the other line, cursing as it fell to the floor. "Okay, when do you want us out?"

"By sixteen o'clock," replied Taylor, flashing a thumb up at Shannon. "And stay in the meadow until I tell you otherwise."

"Alrighty," said Skye, her voice a little too cheery. Josh raised an eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest, but didn't say a word.

"Be careful, Skye," Taylor looked down but not before Shannon and Josh saw the worry in his eyes. "And contact me if you need anything."

"Sure thing, Commander. See ya."

As soon as the signal cut, Josh unfolded his arms. "Why'd you lie to her? Why didn't you tell her that you're going to take Terra Nova back?"

"Don't want to make her nervous, now, do we?" said Taylor, raising an eyebrow at Shannon.

"Taylor's right," agreed Shannon, clapping Josh on the back. "Telling her that she has the responsibility of the whole colony on her shoulders will only scare her."

Taylor stretched his arms out, deep in thought. Both he and Shannon knew that the real reason they weren't telling Skye was because Lucas could get the truth out of her if he even got wind of what was about to happen. It was safer for Skye if she was kept in the dark.

Skye whispered an excuse to Dr. Shannon, pulled off her lab coat and headed out the door of the medic center, waving to Wash as she left. Skye pulled her hair out of its ponytail and let her curls cascade down her shoulders as a last minute resort. As she approached the fort, Mira came down the stairs with an expression appropriate for war.

"What d'you want?" snapped Mira, halting to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and crossing her arms. Skye tried to peer past Mira but Mira moved to block Skye's view. "I asked you… what you wanted."

Skye pressed her lips together nervously. Mira scared her, possibly more than Lucas did. "I… I came to see Lucas."

Mira laughed derisively, looking down at Skye. "Do you realize that if it wasn't for Lucas, you would be in that room up in the fort right now?"

Skye swallowed, remembering the scars on Wash's body. By the fierce glint in Mira's eyes, Skye doubted that she would end up as lucky as Wash if Mira got a hold of her. Mira took a step towards Skye, and Skye stepped back involuntarily.

"Mira!"

Skye and Mira looked up toward the fort, where Lucas was descending the stairs. Skye allowed herself to exhale in relief, shooting a thankful glance at Lucas. Lucas nodded slightly in return as he came up behind Mira. "I'll handle it from here, thanks."

Mira shot Lucas and Skye a disdainful look before brushing past the two to head for the farms. Lucas turned back to Skye, hooking his thumbs around his belt loops. "Sorry about that. So to what do I owe the pleasure, Bucket?"

Skye placed her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow seductively. "What do you say we take a trip to the meadow this evening?"

Ahhh I'm so excited for the next chapter! I'll just say that there's going to be a lot of Skye-Lucas action ;)