A/N: Due to the reaction from the last chapter, Saturday's update is being uploaded today. The following has some religious tones in it. What happens here will be briefly mentioned again in a later chapter, but if you don't want to read it, you can skip to the paragraph after the one that ends in "…much of My work."

Lucas felt as if he was floating. No, floating wasn't the right word, but it was a close as he could describe what he was feeling at the moment. It was like he was at a single point, but everywhere all at once. For some reason, he felt that if he had experienced this at any other time or place, he would be scared. But now, he felt at ease… comfortable. All the pain that he felt a few moments (or what he thought was a few moments ago) had vanished. He no longer felt cold, nor was he over heated. In fact, he felt better than he had in years. The slight ache that he had in his shin every once in a while thanks to a bar fight a few years ago – gone. If he were under normal circumstances, he would have been worried. But he knew once he arrived here – where ever here was – he wasn't in any normal circumstances.

He found himself facing, or was surrounded (he couldn't tell which no matter how hard he tried), by a bright light, almost making this whole experience very dream like. Somehow, this Light what brighter than what was surrounding him. Out of instinct, he looked down, no matter how much he yearned to look at Him, he forced himself to keep his focus downward. For some reason, he felt that he shouldn't be worthy enough to look at Him. Suddenly, he felt very dirty and ashamed.

"Look at me, Son of Adam," the Light's deep voice boomed, but despite its strength, the Voice was also gentle.

Reluctantly, Lucas looked up at where the Voice was coming from. Somehow, he was able to handle the brightness of what he was looking at and not become blinded. How is this even possible? he thought.

"That is not a question I can answer for you at this time," the Light responded.

Shock filled Lucas' being. "You can hear my thoughts?" he managed to say, feeling unworthy to be speaking to Him.

He saw the Light move as if He were nodding. "Not just yours, Son of Adam."

Confusion spread throughout Lucas. "I'm not sure I understand."

A soft chuckle came from the Light, sending a pleasant warm feeling throughout Lucas' being. "You will in time, dear one. But now is not your time to understand all of My mysteries. It is not time for you to enter My country, the eternal resting spot. You still have much to do in your world, much of My work."

Lucas was still confused by the Light's words, but he felt a breeze come over him before he could ask anything else. The scenery before him changed. He was no longer surrounded by light, but was looking over an office. Several people filled it, and they were all surrounding a small table in the center of the room. It took him a moment for him to realize what he was looking at.

All of them wore looks of worry, as if they were waiting with baited breath for any sort of news. He recognized them, but he couldn't recall any of their names at all! Everything that he had experienced before his encounter was still rather hazy. All he wished he could do was comfort them, especially the young brunette who appeared to be the most on edge, but he couldn't understand why. He knew them all! But from where…? He wracked his memories to try and recall them, but nothing came to him.

The room faded away, and another room came before Lucas' eyes. And then Lucas saw it… or rather, himself lying on the examination table, not moving. Several people stood in the room, most of them were near him, and a few others were standing off to the side.

The medical personnel were removing certain medical equipment from the area, despite the protests of another young man Lucas recognized. He appeared to be shouting at an officer, probably the CMO, as he tried to comfort the young man, but that young man didn't want anything to do with what that officer was suggesting. It was as if that young man was in shock, and Lucas was curious as to why.

One of the nurses clutched to a clipboard nervously as she watched the conversation unfold between the two officers.

It was then that Lucas looked over at himself, and then he realized the heart monitor standing beside his body.

A single unwavering line cut across the screen.

But before he could put everything that had happened since this encounter started together in his mind, he gasped…

…and his eyes snapped open to reveal the sickbay ceiling hanging above him as his lungs filled with much needed air. His body ached all over, and his teeth chattered violently as his body tried to warm itself up. All his mind could muster was how much he wanted the pain to go away, but he couldn't find his voice to let anyone know.

"Commander!" a core man shouted somewhere nearby Lucas. "You better take a look at this!"

The chief medical officer rushed back over to Lucas' side and a look of relief came over his features as he made contact with him. "Lieutenant?" he asked.

Lucas slowly blinked as he looked up at the medic. "Sir?" he whispered, just barely audible to anyone's ears.

The CMO smiled as he looked up at one of the nurses. "Oxygen," he ordered.

Once the oxygen mask was fitted over his nose, Lucas let out a sigh. His mind was muddled, but he now knew that he was going to be okay.

The young man Lucas saw earlier now stood beside him as well. He couldn't quite make out what he was trying to say to him, but he was wearing a smile on his face, which to Lucas, was what was important.

As he closed his eyes, sleep gently encompassed him, and his body welcomed it gratefully especially after all that had happened.

A/N: What did you think? I foreshadowed a bit of what is to come, so let's see if you guys catch it :) Until next time!