A/N: I'm sorry you had to wait so long but RL has kept be busy and it was only the last and this weekend when I found time to write. Let's hope the next chapter won't take so long. :D

When he walks into the hanger and sees her on the other side of the room, there's a tingling sense of déjà vu swirling in the air, a memory of blazing dark eyes and warm skin under his hands, but Tom quickly forces it out of his mind, ignoring the sudden twist of his heart.

If Dr. Scott can leave the kiss behind and move on with just a small embarrassed smile, so can he.

Crew members are moving back and forth, setting up cots and machines for the upcoming trial, and she's in the middle of it all, the calm center of the stormy sea, clipboard in one hand while directing with a firm but gentle voice, and he really should stop looking at her as if she's his center in this new, chaotic world.

"Don't worry, commodore, she's not gonna disappear all of the sudden."

At the sound of the voice, Tom finally manages to tear his eyes away, just in time to see Tex shooting him a grin that's all teeth before setting down the box he's been carrying to step up next to him. "Teleportation isn't one of her superpowers."

"It's not?" Tom asks lightly, careful not to show how startled he is by Tex's sudden appearance, too caught up in his thoughts to notice anything but her.

"Nah, her powers are a different caliber altogether," Tex says quietly, his expression going from amused to something else, something full of longing, and suddenly, Tom is painfully reminded of the fact that he's not the only one gravitating around the doctor.

Something sticks in his ribs at the sight of Tex looking at her as if she's hung the moon, a bitter taste of jealousy on the back of his tongue, and his hands curl into fists at his sides as he tells himself that he's got no right to feel like that.

Dr. Scott spots them eventually and murmurs something to Rios before making her way over to them, her lips curling up in a tired but genuine smile. He can't tell if it's directed at Tex or himself, and he really shouldn't care, but as she comes closer, it's his eyes she meets, and there it is again, that little skipping sensation in his chest.

"Captain."

"Doctor," he greets her, forcing himself to keep his tone even. "How's the set-up coming?"

"It's almost finished," she says, sounding proud, nervous and hopeful all at once. "We're ready to start looking for volunteers."

"I was informed you've already found your first," he says, raising one eyebrow.

There's a beat and then two before she sighs. "Tex, would you give us a moment, please?"

Tex glances from Dr. Scott to Tom, his expression speculative, and Tom almost expects him to ask what's this is all about, but then Tex just shrugs. "Sure thing, doc," he says, touching the brim of his cap before walking away.

"I was wondering when the Master Chief was going to tell you," she says once Tex is out of earshot. "I asked him to talk to you first but he insisted, and after it was clear he qualified..." Her voice trails off, and Tom can see she's equally sorry for going behind his back but at the same time she's thankful to have her first volunteer, and when it comes down to it, that's what counts.

"You've got nothing to apologize for, Doctor," he says softly, and the stressed expression on her face slowly melts into one of relief. "You and Jeter made the right decision." There's movement behind her and his gaze is drawn to the containment area where Rios is placing kits on each of the six cots. "Someone had to make the first step after all."

There's a part of him that insists it should have been him, should have been his call, even though he knows it's ridiculous to feel as if the choice has been taken from him - this isn't a contest, it's about saving the human race, and yet that nagging feeling prowls along the edges of his mind.

"You wanted to volunteer first." Her voice is low, and he should be probably more surprised how closely her words echo his own thoughts but he's not, not anymore.

He breathes in deeply and rubs the back of his neck before meeting her eyes. "Yes."

She studies him for a moment before asking, "Do you honestly believe the crew will think you've taken the easy way out?"

Yes. No. I don't know. runs through his mind, and his conflicted thoughts must have been reflected on his face because she shakes her head like she can't quite believe he would think something like that.

"You know they would never think you're a coward," she says, reaching out and hesitating only a fraction of a second, but long enough for him to notice, before laying her hand on his arm, and even through the layer of his working uniform shirt her touch sends a jolt through him he's barely able to suppress. "If it were up to you, you would be the only one going through the trial, sparing every single man and woman on this ship the suffering, and the crew knows that."

Her grip tightens on his arm and she takes a step closer, and suddenly he's more conscious of the warmth of her body and the faint scent of the standard Navy soap she's been using. "You're not letting them down because I know, just as they do, once the trial has started you will be right here, from start to end, watching over them, and that's all they need."

He hadn't known how much he needed to hear those words until now - even more so from someone who isn't under his command, someone who isn't just paying lip service to their captain (even though he knows his crew is far too honest for such insincerity but still), and Rachel Scott would never offer an insincere expression of support to make him feel better.

For the first time since his talk with Mike and Jeter, Tom feels some of the tension release from his shoulders, one corner of his mouth turning up in a small smile, and he covers her hand with his.

It's not an intentional move, it's a pull he can't resist, just like yesterday in sick bay, when he could have simply said something to get her attention but instead had given into the urge and wrapped his fingers around her wrist. It had been the first time he'd touched her since the kiss and he'd hadn't been prepared for the tiny electric shock coursing through his body at the contact. He'd barely been able to keep the smile on his face, everything inside him so focused on her soft and warm skin under his palm, committing it to memory, mind and body alike.

Now, like back then, he has to force himself to draw his hand back before he does something stupid like drawing her towards him but in the last moment his body betrays him, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand before he can stop himself.

She tenses imperceptibly and something flickers behind her eyes, but then she shifts, takes a step back, her hand sliding from his arm, and the moment passes, and if it weren't for the slight tremble of her hand as she grips her clipboard, Tom would think he's imagined the look.

"I should get back to work, captain," she says, and somehow he knows she's using his rank as a way to keep up the boundaries.

Straightening up, he clasps his hands behind his back and nods. "Of course, doctor. I'll leave you to it."

He moves to step around her at the same time she turns away, and there's a fleeting moment when their arms brush. Even over the pounding of his own heart he can hear her breath hitch and he quickens his step, never looking back.

It's a tricky status quo, a fragile balance they have, easy to offset. The connection between them is still strong, flaring in unexpected ways when they last expect it, and he's not sure if they'll be ever able to control it.

He's not sure if he even wants to.

Thank you so much for all your comments and reviews! They really brighten my days and make me want to write all day long until this story is complete (though so far no real end is in sight). :)