A/N: Okay, here it is. The continuation of what was supposed to be a one-shot but so many people asked for more. Thank you all for the support and reviews. It really means a lot to me and I hope I won't disappoint you. *flails* We will see where it goes... :)

From Rachel's video blogs posted by TNT we know she has a boyfriend but as far as I know we haven't gotten a name yet. I decided to go with Brian for now.

She's in sick bay, sorting through the ship's medical supply and picking what they might need for the upcoming trail, when she hears the door opening behind her and turns around to face the person entering.

"Doctor Rios, you're already—" She freezes, pausing mid-sentence.

"Doctor."

"Captain." Her voice doesn't quiver, and she's proud of that.

He steps across the threshold and closes the door and suddenly the room seems to shrink. She's all too aware of the man across from her, his presence almost overwhelming, and memories of what has transpired between them earlier spring unbidden into her mind as she meets his eyes accidentally. She feels herself flushing slightly and hastily takes a step back to put some distance between them but ends up bumping against the examination table.

Her only comfort is that she's not the only one affected. He may appear to the world as the unmoved and impassive captain but Rachel sees beyond the mask, sees the turmoil reflected in his eyes and the tense set of his shoulders, so subtly she's sure she's been the only one noticing.

"I came to apologize," he finally says.

"You don't—"

"Yes, I do," he interrupts, his eyes are dark as he watches her, and there's something in his expression, a look she can't place. "Because I don't want to lose your respect and trust."

"You could never lose it." The words are out before she realizes she's speaking, but they're true nonetheless, and the captain seems to understand too that she really means it, his posture relaxing slightly.

"You love your wife," she continues.

"And you love Brian."

"Yes. And neither of us would ever do something to hurt them or jeopardize the relationships we have with them. What..." She hesitates, trying to choose the right words. "What happened in the lab was the result of too much emotional stress. Even the strongest break at one point."

She meets his gaze and holds it for a moment, letting her words sink in, and after a heartbeat, the captain ducks his head, giving her a little smile, one that's rueful around the edges, and her own lips twitch lightly in response, and somehow that breaks the ice, the air between them no longer tense and weighted.

"We make quite the pair." He hakes his head, laughing a little. "We can face terrorists, the Russians and a deadly virus, but as soon as we have to deal with feelings, we lose the battle."

"We're only human after all." Rachel gives him a pointed look before returning to the supplies spread out on the table.

She hears him crossing the room and coming to a halt next to her. His arm brushes hers as he reaches for her wrist, the warmth of his skin drawing her in, and she fights the urge to shiver. There's a heavy and aching weight settling in her heart as she realizes something.

"Are we okay?" His eyes searches her face as she looks at him, and somehow, she manages to dredge up a smile from somewhere, one that feels misplaced on her face because the last thing she feels like is smiling and she's sure he's seeing straight through it, but his own small smile doesn't waver.

"Yes, captain, we are." Once again, she marvels at the steadiness of her voice.

He gives her wrist a light squeeze before letting go and walking back towards the door. "I'll see you later in the briefing room?"

"Of course."

He nods, opens the door and leaves. The moment she's alone again, she takes a deep breath and braces herself on the table.

A fool, that's what she is. Since the day she'd come clean and told him the truth about the virus, there's been that spark of connection between them, and no matter what she tries to tell herself, it's goes far deeper than simple trust and respect.

She loves Brian, trusts and respects him, but the thought of him being exposed to the virus hadn't been enough to put her own life on the line and rescue him. But all it'd taken had been the thought of the captain in Ruskov's hands and she'd offered herself in exchange for him.

She hadn't made the decision with her mind, she had made it with her heart.

With a sigh, she resumes sorting through the supplies, deliberately pushing the realization to the back of her mind. The last thing she wants, the last thing the world needs right now, is an upsetting of the status quo they've just reestablished, his trust and respect mean just as much to her, and if she has to bury her growing feelings for a man to whom honor means everything to make sure it doesn't get upturned, she will do so.

- TBC -