Slowly, Lauren was beginning to wake. The throbbing in her head had eased quite bit from earlier. Her left shoulder ached and as she reached up to touch it, she noticed it had been bandaged. As she opened her eyes and was able to focus more, she realized she was no longer on a beach, but lying on a bed in a room that looked vaguely familiar. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and an oversized shirt. Setting up, she fingered the loose buttons on the shirt, trying to figure out what was going on.
She heard the door to the room open and looked up. There was a moment of fear from not knowing what had happened to her. Her boyfriend Lance stood in the doorway.
"You're awake." he said though a warm smile.
Lauren realized she was staring, but couldn't help it. What was she doing in Lance's bed? She tried to say something, but no words came from her mouth.
Lance's smile faded. "Lauren, are you alright?" he asked stepping into the room.
"..Lance.." she choked out with an effort, her eyes filling with tears.
'Yeah babe...it's me." he assured her and walked in her direction.
Lauren felt a moment of panic as he grew close, simply because of not knowing her current situation. She looked from side to side, thinking of escape, but Lance sensing her fear took her in his arms and hugged her tight, pressing her wet face against his chest.
"Shh." he said to her, stroking her back. "It's alright.."
"Tell...tell me, I'm not dreaming," she cried.
Lance stroked her hair, his own eyes filled with concern and questions of his own. "You're not dreaming babe. I'm as real as you are to me right now."
Lauren looked up at him. He wiped away her tears and she began to smile. His touch was so real that it scared her. He kissed her and asked, "..are you dreaming now?"
She shook her head. "...no, at least I hope not."
Lance took that as a challenge. He lowered Lauren back down against the bed, and kissed her with more passion. Lauren knew he was real this time and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Lance, how did I get here?"
Considering her question he told her, " I don't know babe, I've been wondering that since I found you on the beach earlier. I was so shocked I didn't know what to think. You were hurt and my first instinct was to bring you back here and take care of you. You were unconscious and have been asleep for several hours. I've been looking in on you off and on waiting for you to wake up."
Lauren sighed as she set up. "I don't know what to think right now. This is all so crazy. "
Lance nodded. "The last time I saw you was three weeks ago right after July 4th when you left for Alpha. You said you would be back in 3 months..."
"What?" Lauren interrupted. "..three weeks.." she questioned. "Then it hasn't happened yet.." she mumbled, getting to her feet and walking to the sliding glass doors.
Confused more than ever, Lance followed her. "What hasn't happened yet? What are you looking for?"
"The moon," she cried. "I have to see the moon."
It was dusk outside, but easy enough to spot the moon. Lance pointed it out to her as the clouds parted.
Lauren stared at the sky for a long, silent moment. There were two moons, not one, and now things were beginning to make sense to her.
"Babe.." Lance whispered uneasy over her long silence.
A single tear fell down her cheek as she faced him. " I see two moons Lance, not one. Eventually those moons will become one and when that happens, I'll cease to exist here."
Lance stared at her with shock in his eyes. "I don't understand what you're telling me Lauren., and I'm still not sure what you are doing on a beach fifty feet from here."
Lauren turned and went back to set on the edge of the bed, Lance followed. She took his hands in hers. "I'm part of a future Lance...a future that hasn't happened yet."
"The future?' he questioned.
Lauren nodded "Was I alone when you found me?" she asked.
"Yes," Lance stated, wondering why she wanted to know.
"Then that means that John Koenig is here also, just in a different location. We were together in Eagle One on our way back to Alpha. I have to find him Lance, and before those two moons become one."
Lance gave her a tender hug. "Look babe, I don't even know how to comprehend, much less understand what you're saying right now. I look into your eyes, I kiss your lips and I know you're real, yet at the same time you seem different, distant almost."
"I am different, but I never stopped loving you Lance and since I've been gone, not a day goes by that I don't think about you. I'm here beside you right now and all I can think about at the present moment, is that I'm afraid of losing you all over again and I don't want that to happen."
Hearing the grief in her voice, he kissed her again. "I never stopped loving you either Lauren and I'm not letting you go anywhere without me."
Lauren blinked way tears. You might not have a choice, she thought to herself.
Lance decided to change the subject. "It's been a long day, why don't you let me fix some dinner, we can relax afterward and then try to make sense of all that's going on between us."
Lauren smiled up at him. The thought of real food brought a smile to her face. "I'd like that, after the food we have on alpha, this is going to be a treat."
Lance got to his feet, took Lauren's hand in his, happy to see her smile, and they left the room.
Victor had followed Helena to her office, then left momentarily and returned with two hot cups of coffee. "Here you are Helena, hope I got it right." Out of sight of other personnel, he always referred to her on a first name basis.
"Thank you," she said with a warm smile. "You always get it right and you know it Victor."
He laughed. "So, what do you think about John's outburst?"
Helena took a sip of her coffee and set it down. "Could be a number of things, delayed shock from the crash, confusion from the concussion, some distant memory from a dream...I really can't be sure until I can talk to him again and hope he is a bit more rational."
Victor nodded. "He did seem very adamant about his story though. There was concern in his eyes when he mentioned this girl Lauren. He did recognize me, but he was confused over your appearance, yet it did seem like he knew you in a different manner."
Helena shrugged. She seemed deep in thought. All Victor just said was true. She looked down at John's file and flipped through a couple of pages.
"Looking for answers?"Victor questioned.
"Insight." Helena stated. "I think John Koenig is very demanding, stubborn man. If I can learn more about him, maybe I'll understand him better."
Victor sipped his coffee, leaning back in his chair. 'Well, I've known John Koenig a long time, maybe I can help you out in that department."
Helena looked at her friend with curiosity. "Seriously...you never told me that before."
Victor raised his eyes to her over the rim of his cup. "You never asked me my dear" he told her with a chuckle.
"Okay." she stated through a wide grin. She opened John's chart and grabbed a pen. "So where do we start."
Victor laughed. He could tell Helena wanted to know everything and once she did, John Koenig would be even more interest to her.
John Koenig woke several hours later, not feeling much better, but he felt rested and somewhat relaxed. His head didn't seem to hurt so much, but his chest ached. That was his own fault, he knew that getting out of bed earlier like he did, wasn't the smartest thing to do. He heard Helena's voice in the distance and that did little to comfort him at the moment. The only person he felt he could talk to was his friend Victor. John didn't understand why he was back on earth and he was also worried about Lauren's whereabouts, though he had a general idea of where she might be. Until he talked to Victor and could get out of bed, there was little he could do about the situation.
Glancing towards the doorway, he saw Helena step inside his room. Whoever she was talking with had left, but John was sure he heard his name mentioned.
Helena had a stern, professional look on her face as she approached his bedside. "Don't worry Helena.." he told her. "I'm not going to try and attempt to get out of bed again. My chest still hurts from the first attempt."
Her eyes softened a bit. "I can give you something for the pain." she told him.
John shook his head. "Not right now, I'd like to talk with Victor if that's okay. It's important."
Helena nodded. "He's been wanting to talk to you as well. I said I would let him know when you woke. I will agree to it as long as you feel strong enough and don't get upset or attempt to get out of bed like you did earlier."
John smiled at her. "Cross my heart babe." he said instinctively.
Helena gazed at him in surprise. "Babe?" she questioned, sounded agitated. "Commander Koenig, until a few hours ago I have never met you. I'm somewhat curious as to how you knew my name and I certainly do not appreciate being called "babe" she stated.
John laughed, ignoring the pain it caused. "I saw your name badge earlier when I woke." he told her. I'm sorry if I offended you in any way just now. That wasn't my intention."
Helena sighed. "It's alright Commander," she replied.
"John" he stated. "If I'm going to be in here for awhile, cant we dismiss with the formalities and be on a first name basis?"
Helena thought for a silent moment. "Only if we're alone. If any of my staff is present, it's back to formalities."
"Agreed." John replied with a smile.
Helena smiled in return. "I'll let Victor know you're awake." she stated as she turned to leave the room.
"Helena," John called after her.
She turned back to face him. "Yes John?"
"When I woke, I heard you talking to someone. I think my name was mentioned."
She nodded. "Yes. Commissioner Simmonds was insistent on seeing you, but I told him you were still too weak for visitors. That man can be so annoying at times."
John agreed. "Thank you for that. Maybe I can take you out to eat after you let me out of here."
Helena looked at him with surprise in her eyes. "I'll think on it John. Just try to rest until Victor gets here."
John did as she asked and closed his eyes. Although dinner would never happen, it was certainly a nice thought, but wondering what Lauren's situation was and where she was worried him. He could feel himself drifting into a light sleep and gave in. Hopefully after talking with Victor, he could make some sense out of all that had taken place.