Part 7
Day 5 through Day 13
Over a week passed and although Lisa had not yet
regained consciousness, her condition had steadily improved.
Repairs on the bridge were completed, thanks in
part to the 24/7 repair work schedule carried out so dilegently and efficiently
by the work crews.
Vanessa was released from the hospital and Claudia
would soon be released and Kim was at the hospital during the day hours
in order to go through her physical therapy.
Admiral Hayes and Rick had taken turns staying with
Lisa throughout the days and both men grew to know each other better and
respect each other.
Not only that, but Rick had learned a lot about
Lisa from Admiral Hayes and day by day Rick found himself intrigued and
eager to get to know Lisa better. He went to see her everyday and
unknown to him, Lisa could hear and understand every word he said to her.
Admiral Hayes also had many heart-to-heart talks
with the unconscious, but all-hearing Lisa, and would re-tell stories of
when Lisa was younger and when they would get along well. Admiral
Hayes made it a point to apologize to Lisa everday and beg her to give
him a chance to be part of her life. Also unknown to Admiral Hayes,
Lisa heard every conversation of his as well.
Day 14
Rick sipped at his coffee absently. He had
woken up early and was unable to go back to sleep so he got dressed for
duty and made himself a pot of coffee and parked himself in front of his
computer and stared at the photos of Lisa that adorned his desktop wallpaper/background.
He sighed and wondered if Lisa would ever wake up.
The last two weeks had been a roller-coaster ride, and if there was one
single good thing to come out of it, it was that he had learned so much
and realized how much more maturing he needed to do.
He learned that he was a very selfish and blind
person and that he should learn to not think about himself so much and
stay wrapped up in his own problems, because that was the root cause of
his blindness.
After many truth-telling talks with Roy, and even
one or two with Claudia, Rick was finally able to realize and admit that
he had deep feelings for Lisa that were not born out of guilt for nearly
causing her death, but rather from the feelings that had started growing
ever since he first met her.
What he also learned over the past week and a half,
since Admiral Hayes arrived, was he had actually found himself falling
for the side of Lisa that he didn't know and was only brought to light
by the stories Admiral Hayes told him. Coupled with the feelings
he already had for the side of Lisa he had already gotten to know, he had
a hard time trying to deny that he was falling in love with her and that
his thoughts, once consumed by mostly Minmei, were now thoroughly and solely
of Lisa.
You don't remember me, but I remember you.
I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you.
But who can decide what they dream?
And dream I do...
Chorus:
I believe in you.
I'll give up everything just to find you.
I have to be with you, to live, to breathe...
You're taking over me.
Have you forgotten all I know and all we have.
You saw me mourning my love for you and touched my hand.
I knew you loved me then.
Repeat chorus
I look in the mirror and see your face, if I look deep enough.
So many things inside that are just like
You are taking over...
(1)
Rick put his head down on his desk, his thoughts
consumed by images of Lisa, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't
get them to leave his mind. 'Is this what it's like to be in love?
Real love?' he wondered to himself, as he lifted his head and stared
at her pictures.
* * * * * * *
"It's good to see you up and about again Claudia,"
said Admiral Hayes warmly as he helped Claudia sit down in the chair next
to Lisa's bed.
"You know me Admiral, they can't keep a good woman
down," replied Claudia.
Hayes chuckled and left the room so Claudia could
spend some time alone with Lisa. After about half an hour, Hayes
returned to the room and asked Claudia, "Can I ask you about...Lieutenant
Hunter?"
Claudia expected the question and was surprised
it hadn't come sooner. "I'll do my best to be helpful, what did you
want to ask about?"
"Well...I didn't want to ask him directly, I mean,
not to scare him or make him think I was putting any type of pressure on
him...I was just curious, considering the way he talks about Lisa and the
situations he's described between him and Lisa, I was just wondering...is
there something between them? Something maybe that either one or
the other doesn't realize or is willing to admit?" asked Hayes.
Claudia and Roy had been observing and discussing
Rick these past couple weeks as well and the things he said and did more
than likely confirmed Hayes' hypothesis.
Claudia wanted to word things correctly, just incase
Lisa was able to hear everything going on, "Well Nick, I don't know if
you know but Rick has been involved with the star Minmei."
"Yes, I know, he's told me about her, several times,"
replied Hayes.
Claudia frowned, "He tells everyone about
his problems with Minmei."
"So I've noticed," remarked Hayes, "but I'm thinking
that maybe he's starting to have his doubts about her now. He's mentioned
it to me at least twice."
Claudia arched her eyebrows in surprise, "Oh really?
He's mentioned the same thing to Roy too."
"Well, I'll come right out and say it, I think Rick
and Lisa would make a good couple. Now, you know me, I didn't push
too many men Lisa's way because I knew she'd reject them and get mad at
me for trying to set her up with someone, especially after Riber died,
but I really really like this Rick Hunter. He has some more maturing
to do, and he is a bit younger than Lisa, but I think he has a good heart
and is capable of taking good care of her and making her happy," ended
Hayes as he looked at Lisa.
Claudia smiled, "I'll tell you a little secret Nick,
you're not the only one who thinks exactly the same thing. There
are many people who feel the way you do, that Rick and Lisa are a perfect
couple. I think the only thing standing in their way is Rick's fascination
with Minmei. But don't worry, Roy's been working on that, just give
him some time."
Hayes nodded then looked at Lisa again and said
quietly, "I just want her to be happy Claudia."
Claudia gave Hayes an understanding look and replied,
"I know you do."
* * * * * * *
"Lord Dolza, what are your orders," said Breetai
as Dolza's image appeared on screen.
"I take it Exedore is still visiting those micronians?"
said Dolza as his eyes scanned Breetai's bridge.
"He is, and he managed to speak to the Minister
of Defense as well," remarked Breetai as he folded his arms to his chest.
"Minister of Defense? On the SDF-1?" asked
Dolza.
"Yes, sir," replied Breetai.
"Interesting, but of no importance, they all shall
be destroyed anyways. Breetai, the fleet and I will be arriving shortly,
to take care of these vermin once and for all!"
"Sir?!" exclaimed Breetai.
"Yes, that is right, we've decided it's time to
get this over with. I have ordered Azonia to release Khyron.
The fleet will arrive shortly, do not do anything until we get there, Dolza
out."
Breetai whirled around and shouted, "Quick, get
me Exedore!"
* * * * * * *
Wells burst into Lisa's room and said, "Nick, Captain Gloval needs you right away. Something about the entire Zentraedi fleet arriving." As Wells finished his sentence, the Red Alert signals and sirens went on. Hayes got up out of his seat immediately, speaking into Lisa's ear, "I'll be back as soon as I can, don't be afraid." Then he and Wells left the room.
"Lord Breetai, are you certain?" asked Hayes, arms
folded.
"Yes Minister, I am certain. When Dolza says
he is coming, he means it," answered Breetai.
"Admiral, priority one incoming for you sir," said
Sammie.
Hayes nodded and excused himself to go to another
room to listen to the secured transmission.
"Hayes, what is going on up there?! We need
you back here this instant!" shouted Councilman Blaine.
"Where is Edwards," retorted Hayes.
"Here sir," replied the steely-eyed Edwards.
"TR, get the Grand Cannon ready, Operation Maximum
Impact," said Hayes somberly.
"Sir? Maximum Impact?" said Edwards with disbelief.
"I'm afraid so TR," replied Hayes.
"Hayes! What the hell is going on, get down
here now!" shouted Councilman Blaine again.
"I'll try to make it down there as soon as possible,'
said Hayes.
"Sirs! Large defold activity detected near
Venus!" Hayes heard someone shout in the council chamber.
Hayes left the comm room and ran back to the SDF-1,
Blaine and other council members shouting for him to come back.
"It's happening...they're coming, all of them, there's
so many of them, just like Lisa and her group reported when they escaped,"
said Gloval in a daze.
Everyone on the bridge stared out the viewport and
saw the flashes of defolding ships, everywhere, lighting up every corner
of the space before them. Doomsday had come.
"Henry, I need to get down to the surface as soon
as possible," said Hayes as he turned to face Gloval.
"I don't know if that's possible Nick, we'll be
needing everything up here," replied Gloval.
"Then give me something I can pilot myself, I have
to get down there," said Hayes.
Gloval sighed, he knew there was no way Hayes could
make it down to the surface on his own. "Alright, I'll have Hunter
fly you down, give us an hour to prepare."
"Fine. That will give me a chance to say goodbye
to Lisa before I leave," said Hayes as he hurried out the door.
Hayes rushed to his quarters to pack a small suitcase
and then changed into his flightsuit before heading over to the hospital.
He dumped the suitcase down on the floor and remained standing as he took
hold of Lisa's hand.
"Lisa, I have to go back to Earth now. It
appears you were right about the size of that Zentraedi fleet... I have
to get back to Earth as soon as possible to help supervise our defenses
and the Grand Cannon, but after this is all over with, I promise, I'll
come back as soon as I can," said Hayes as he stared at his daughter's
sleeping face.
'What? Back to Earth? Dolza is here? No! It can't be! We have no chance to defeat Dolza! No! I can't lose you now father! Dammit, move Lisa move! Speak, do something, stop him!' shouted Lisa to herself, trying with all her might to do something to give her father an indication she was aware of his presence.
Admiral Hayes bent down to kiss Lisa on the forehead
and froze when he thought he felt the tickle of eye lashes under his chin.
He looked down slowly and saw that Lisa was trying to open her eyes.
"Come on honey! You can do it! Open
them up, open them Lisa!" shouted Hayes, his heart pounding.
Hayes waited for a few seconds but they felt like
an eternity and finally Lisa managed to open her eyes. Hayes started
to smother her cheeks with kisses and she could feel his tears on her face.
"Thank God! Thank God! My little
girl has woken up!" exclaimed Hayes as he stared at Lisa through tear-filled
eyes.
Hayes tried to calm himself and said, "Lisa, now,
honey, if you can understand me, blink twice."
Lisa immediately blinked twice and Hayes was beside
himself with elation but tried to keep calm as he continued the questions.
"Ok Lisa, now, if you know who I am, blink twice."
Lisa blinked twice again.
'At least she still knows who I am...' thought
Hayes with relief.
"Lisa, if you can understand everything I'm saying
clearly, blink twice."
Lisa blinked again and Hayes could only stare at
her in amazement.
"Lisa, if you can move, blink twice for yes, and
once for 'no.'"
Lisa blinked only once and the wind was taken out
of Hayes' sails momentarily.
"Ok, if you can see, blink twice for yes, and once
for 'no.'"
Lisa blinked twice and Hayes was more than relieved.
All of a sudden, there was a bright flash of light
from the window and both Hayes and Lisa shifted their eyes away from each
other and over to the flash. They saw a huge cluster of bright lights
twinkling, indicating a very large enemy group had defolded. Hayes,
in his joy at seeing his daughter re-awaken, had momentarily forgotten
about the predicament outside and now had to force himself to tell Lisa
he had to leave.
"Lisa dear, I'm so sorry. I have to get down
there, they need me, but I promise I'll come back as soon as I can," said
Hayes confidently.
Hayes bent over to kiss Lisa's forehead again and
this time, not only did he feel the tickle of her eyelashes, but he also
heard a feeble, "No."
Hayes looked down at Lisa and asked, "What did you
say honey?"
Hayes could see the fear and pleading in his daughter's
eyes and it appeared she used every bit of her depleted reserve of strength
to say, "Don't go...stay."
Hayes swallowed the lump in his throat and said
quietly, "I can't honey. The whole world is depending on me, I have
to go down there."
"No!" said Lisa again, sounding a little bit stronger
this time. Suddenly the cardiac monitor started signalling an elevated
heartrate and in a few seconds Dr. Wells rushed into the room and nearly
fell over when he saw Lisa looking at him.
"Nick?!" was all Wells could say.
Hayes quickly walked over to Wells and said in a
hushed voice, "She just woke up a few minutes ago! She can hear and
see, but she can't move. She understands everything we say and she
knows who I am. I think she is starting to get upset because I told
her I had to leave... she made it through Jake! She made it through!"
Wells, despite being elated for himself and his
friend, looked at Lisa's cardiac monitor and replied quietly, "Isn't there
any way you can stay? If she gets too upset because of you leaving
she's liable to go into cardiac arrest."
"Jake, don't you think I would stay here if I could,
but I can't. Jake, I'm Minister of Defense for the entire planet,
I have to go down there," replied Hayes.
"I know, I know. Listen, get going and I'll
think of something to tell Lisa. Maybe I'll tell her you were needed
on the bridge. I'd rather have her hate me for lying to her than
to see her go into cardiac arrest," said Wells with resignation.
Hayes nodded and said, "Let me spare you from that,"
then he patted Wells on the shoulder an walked back to Lisa's bed.
"Lisa honey, Captain Gloval needs me up on the bridge
right now. Please try and calm down and I promise I'll be back as
soon as the battle is over," said Hayes, smiling.
Lisa looked confused as her eyes darted from her
father to Dr. Wells to the view outside the window.
Hoping to ease his daughter's distress, Hayes said,
"There will be a lot of prep work to do before the battle, and it might
be awhile before we can come and visit you again, but when we get back
we'll all have a big celebration alright? All your friends will be
there, including Rick. In fact, before I head to the bridge, I'm
going to call Rick and tell him the news. You can bet that he'll
run right over here."
At the utterances of Rick's name, Lisa's state of
confusion seemed to lessen a bit and she managed to say, "Rick?"
Hayes smiled and nodded his head, "Why don't I call
him now, and better yet, why don't we let you tell him the good news, hang
on a second."
Hayes took out his cellphone and stepped outside
Lisa's door and called Rick.
"Admiral sir, what can I do for you? Are you
ready to depart?" asked Rick.
"Not quite yet Lieutenant, now, I have someone who
wants to speak to you, but make sure you do NOT, under any circumstances,
make it known that we are going back to Earth? Do you understand
Rick? Under NO circumstances are you to mention it," reiterated Hayes.
"Yes sir, you have my word sir, who is it that wishes
to speak to me?" asked Rick, a bit confused.
"Hang on a moment Rick," said Hayes as he walked
back into Lisa's room and towards her bed.
"Hello? Admiral??" said Rick again, wondering
who was suppose to be on the other line.
"Rick?" said a weak voice.
The voice was weak but Rick knew that voice so well.
His heart started to pound and he actually felt very dizzy and his legs
felt as if they were cemented to the floor.
"Lisa?" he asked with a shaky voice, praying that
it was really her and that it wasn't some kind of joke.
Roy entered the locker room and saw the pale look
on Rick's face as he held the phone to his ear. "Rick, what is it?"
asked Roy, fearing the worst.
"Rick," said Lisa again, this time a little bit
stronger.
Rick would've fallen flat on his back were it not
for the lockers behind him. He bumped into them, causing a loud noise.
His arm seemed to go limp and the cellphone fell out of his hand and onto
the ground. He mumbled Lisa's name and then took off running.
"What the...?! Rick! Wait!" shouted
Roy as he picked up the cellphone and took off chasing after Rick, not
bothering to check who was on the other end of the phone.
Hayes, holding the phone to his daughter's ear,
wondered what was going on. Lisa was able to read the question in
his eyes and she replied, weakly still, "He's coming."
Hayes let a smile curl on his lips as he said matter-of-factly,
"Yes, I knew he would. He's a good man Lisa."
Lisa tried to smile and managed a tiny one.
She had heard the two men converse hours on end while they were visiting
her and she already knew that they got along well.
Rick had the taxi driver speed to the hospital and
once inside, Rick nearly collilded with a few patients, doctors, and nurses,
but he finally managed to make it to the ICU in one piece. As he
hurried over to Lisa's room he saw Jean and Doctor Wells standing outside
Lisa's room. When they saw him they both smiled broadly and Jean
opened the door for Rick, saying teasingly, "What took you so long?"
Rick entered the room cautiously and saw Admiral
Hayes get up from his seat. The smile on his face even bigger than
the ones on Jean's and Wells' faces.
Hayes looked at Lisa then at Rick and announced,
"Well then, I shall leave you two alone and will be waiting outside," then
he kissed Lisa on the cheek and smoothed the hair over her left ear and
turned to leave but Lisa managed to say, "Wait."
Hayes bent down so Lisa didn't have to exert too
much strength to speak at a higher volume and he heard her say, "Thank
you father...dad."
Hayes thought he would start crying his eyes out
on the spot but he manged to clear his throat and smiled as he said, "No
need to thank me dear. Everything I do, I do because I love you."
A tear rolled down Lisa's cheek and she nodded her
head, "I know, dad."
Hayes cleared his throat again and nodded, then
hurriedly left the room.
Once outside, he let the tears come and just at
that moment, Roy had walked up to Lisa's room. He froze when the
saw Hayes and expected to hear the worst news.
"Admiral? Nick?? What is it? Don't tell
me it's bad news..." said Roy, the trepidation evident in his voice.
Hayes wiped his eyes and smiled at Roy then shook
him by the shoulders, "No, it's not bad news Roy, it's good news!
The best news! Lisa woke up."
Roy looked through the window and saw Rick standing
near Lisa's bed.
"It's true Roy, you had better hurry up and go tell
Claudia," said Jean with a smile.
Roy's mouth was open but he couldn't speak for several
seconds, then he broke into a smile and turned around and headed out of
the ICU to go tell Claudia the good news.
All Rick could do was stare at Lisa. He could
not believe his eyes. He never thought he would see Lisa's emerald
gaze ever again.
Lisa waited patiently. She knew that Rick
needed some time to get over the shock. She also secretly hoped that
he would be truthful about his feelings for her. She had heard him
utter many truthful thoughts while she had been 'asleep' but she wondered
if he would suddenly get cold feet and hide his feelings now that she was
awake. The several times Rick had mentioned that he thought it was
over between him and Minmei had fueled Lisa's hope that she and Rick could
finally become closer, but she didn't want to get her hopes up just to
have them dashed, so she remained cautiously skeptical.
Rick finally realized that Lisa was waiting for
him to say something and he finally sat down in the chair and, to Lisa's
surprise, took her hand and held it gently. She used all her strength
to grasp Rick's hand. The gesture helped Rick release all his emotions
and he put his head against the bedrail and began to sob.
He had spent day after day, hour after hour, waiting,
hoping, and praying for this moment and now that it was finally upon him,
he was overwhelmed.
After Rick had calmed down, he lifted his head and
his eyes met Lisa's. She smiled at him and Rick felt himself breaking
into a smile as well.
"I've missed you," Rick said softly and sincerely.
Lisa smiled, still to weak to put together very
long sentences.
Rick smiled back and was about to continue when
they heard the overhead page for Rick to call the bridge.
"You say an emergency meeting in 10 minutes?
What? Minmei there too? What for?" queried Rick as he spoke
to Gloval's aide on the other end of the phone.
The moment Lisa heard the name Minmei, she started
to worry, and as a result, her heartrate increased slightly, causing the
cardiac monitor to beep. Rick, alarmed at the noise, quickly said
to the person on the other end of the line, "I'll be there as soon as I
can," then hung up and looked at Lisa with a worried look.
"Minmei, why?" Lisa said, with disappointment in
her eyes.
Rick's heart pounded, he knew why Lisa reacted to
Minmei that way. Though they didn't say it explicitely, Roy and Claudia
implied that Lisa had feelings for him but hid them because of his involvment
with Minmei and the notion that Lisa thought she couldn't compete against
Miss Macross for his affections. Rick knew that he was going to have
to make up his mind sooner or later about which woman he wanted to be with
and, through a long, difficult, and sometimes, very painful soul-searching,
he realized that he had been pursuing the wrong woman, Minmei, all along,
at the expense of the woman who truly cared about him, Lisa.
The notion of he and Lisa becoming a couple scared
him more often then not, but he felt that he should just try and take one
day at a time and give it a shot.
Rick looked down at the ground then back up at Lisa
and said quietly, "Don't worry about Minmei. The important thing
is that you are awake now and that we help you get back on your feet as
quick as possible. I don't know what or how much you heard while
you were unconscious, but I want to tell you that I'm sorry for everything,
for
me being such an a--hole and getting you nearly killed, for everything
I've ever done to upset you and I promise I'll make it up to you."
Lisa looked away from Rick for a moment then looked
back at him and said, "Don't..."
Rick could see she was having difficulty talking
so he moved closer to her as she finished weakly but somewhat angrily,
"Don't do it just because of your guilty conscious."
"I'm not," replied Rick.
Lisa looked at him and Rick could see the skepticism
in her eyes.
Rick ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair and
then said, "You don't believe me... I guess I can't really blame you."
Lisa turned away from him and said, "Go, they'll
be waiting for you at the meeting, especially Minmei."
Rick stood up and stared down at Lisa for a few
moments then bent down and kissed her gently. When he stood back
up he said quietly, "I did that because I wanted to, not because of a guilty
conscious."
Lisa was confused, did she really believe him?
Rick turned to go and Lisa managed to call out his
name loud enough so he could hear as he neared the door. Rick walked
back over to Lisa and waited for her to speak.
"Rick...please watch out for my father. You're
taking him down to Alaska aren't you?" said Lisa weakly.
Rick was told not to mention the trip and he stuttered
and stammered some kind of explanation but Lisa saved him from having to
explain, "He doesn't fool me, I always know when he's lying. Please,
watch out for him."
Rick nodded and remained tightlipped as he turned
to go but Lisa called out his name and he waited to see what she had to
say this time.
The last sentences had seemed to zap all of Lisa's
energy so Rick had to put his ear very close to Lisa to hear what she was
trying to say.
"Turn your head," he heard her say in a raspy voice.
Rick obliged and when he turned his head he found
himself nose to nose with Lisa. They locked eyes for a few seconds
then Lisa managed to tilt her head and kiss Rick. After they broke,
Lisa said with a stronger voice, "You better go now."
Rick nodded and walked to the door, turned back
and looked at Lisa one more time, then left.
Lisa sighed and closed her eyes. 'Was I
wrong to do that? At least, if he is going to go back to Minmei,
at least I got my chance to kiss him one more time...' mused Lisa sadly.
* * * * * * *
[ Authors note: What happens next as far as
the battle preparations go...just insert most of what happened in Robotech
episode 28, "Force of Arms" here. Exedore and Breetai agree to help
Gloval, Minmei will be used to scare the rest of the Zentraedi fleet with
her hideous singing (although I did like "We Will Win", but Yellow Dancer's
version, not Minmei's LOL!). Some adjustments made are: Rick
does NOT tell Minmei how he feels about her as he did in the original Robotech
episode. However, here in the story, he doesn't talk to her to tell
her he wants to break up with her completely either. So things are
still up in the air between him and Minmei before he flies Admiral Hayes
down to Alaska Base. On the way down to Alaska Base, Rick is caught
in many dogfights and there is a delay in even getting to the window to
re-enter earth. The Zentraedi fleet fires on earth and Hayes watches
the destruction from Rick's VT. He tries to re-establish communications
with Alaska Base but it is of no use. One of the provisions for Operation
Maximum Impact, was to get off a shot from the Grand Cannon, even if it
was badly damaged, so Hayes waits impatiently for some sign that the Cannon
is still operable and this is where the story continues... ]
* * * * * * *
"I'm sorry sir, I still can't establish communications
with Alaska Base, and now...I can't seem to pickup the bridge," said Rick
as he fiddled with the various comm channel switches.
Hayes wasn't paying attention to Rick, instead he
was staring at the spot on the globe that was suppose to be Alaska Base.
He saw a glow that he knew only too well and shouted, "Lieutenant take
us to the farside of the planet ASAP! They're going to fire the Grand
Cannon!"
Rick didn't think to ask Hayes any questions and
hit his afterburners and headed in the direction Hayes had told him.
In a matter of a few minutes, just as Rick and Hayes got out of the line
of fire, they saw the electromagnetic plume that was the result of the
Grand Cannon and watched as groups of enemy ships evaporated.
Hayes shook his fist, "Yes! It did work, just
like it should. Come on TR, fire that puppy up again!"
Rick and Admiral Hayes waited and waited.
Hayes, suprisingly skilled at using VT controls, had the external camera
zoom in as much as he could. He saw that the glow from Alaska Base
was gone, indicating the Grand Cannon was offline.
A group of battlepods started heading in Rick's
direction and he spent the next hour battling them, Admiral Hayes acting
as his weapons officer. After they were nearly clear of the enemy,
Rick heard a loud noise and picked up strange and strong activity on his
radar, and in another half minute they were blinded by a bright light that
belonged to the battlecruiser that was defolding right on top of them.
* * * * * * *
Lisa had asked to be patched into the bridge so she
could watch the battle but Doctor Wells felt it would be too taxing for
her so Lisa had to resign herself to looking out the window to try and
figure out what was going on. She managed to stay awake for an hour
but fell asleep soon afterwards. When she woke up again, thankful
that she could actually 'wake up' as opposed to her immobile state she
had been in for so long, she could sense someone sitting beside her and
quickly tried to focus her eyes, something she found difficult, but not
impossible to do.
"Well well well, look who finally decided to wake
up," chided Claudia.
Lisa could not help but smile as she looked at her
best friend's smiling face.
"How are you?" asked Lisa, still weak.
"I'm not too bad actually, perhaps I should get
minorly injured every once in awhile, Roy waits on me hand and foot, twenty-four
hours
a day, I think I could get used to that," said Claudia with a mischievious
grin.
Lisa smiled again, she had wanted to laugh but found
she couldn't, her chest still felt tight and sometimes it was hard labor
to breathe.
"Speaking of waiting on hand and foot," said Claudia
as she cocked her head to the side, "did you know that your father and
Rick have been practically living here in the ICU?"
"I know. I was out of it, but after my father
arrived, I was able to hear what was going on," replied Lisa.
Claudia's eyes widened, "Oh really? Do they
know you heard everything they said?"
Lisa shook her head ever so slightly, "No, I don't
think so. I haven't told them yet."
Claudia grew thoughtful then asked, "So, does that
mean you heard that little conversation that Roy and I had with Rick?"
"Yes," replied Lisa.
"Honey, I'm sorry, I hope you aren't mad at us for
telling Rick too much, but honey, can you honestly tell me that you would've
told Rick how you felt about him anytime soon?" asked Claudia with a guilty
expression on her face.
"It's alright, you didn't really tell him everything,
you hinted, and that was good enough. I just hope he got the hint,"
said Lisa as she labored to catch her breath.
"Lisa, honey listen, why don't you let me do all
the talking for now, you just rest up and save your strength," said Claudia,
shifting into her motherly mode.
Lisa nodded slightly and added, "One question though,
how are they doing out there? My father, Rick."
Claudia patted Lisa's hand, "No word yet honey,
but you know, the Grand Cannon just fired not too long ago. From
the looks of things it wiped out several battlegroups, which is good because
we need all the help we can get."
"I'd rather be up on the bridge right now," said
Lisa.
Claudia sat back and folded her arms, "Honey, you
and me both. I feel like such a lame duck unable to work. They
have Sammie working at your station right now and they wheeled Vanessa
back up there too, they really needed her at Radar. Kim begged and
cried to be let up onto the bridge and threatened to crawl up there if
no one would take her, so after listening to her whine for an hour, Gloval
finally let her go up there."
Lisa smiled, then sighed.
"I know honey, I wish I were up there too.
We'll get back into action soon enough," added Claudia.
"Rick kissed me," said Lisa with half a smile.
"He did? Well, I'm going to have to run that
one by Roy when he gets back and ask him what he makes of it," replied
Claudia, not sounding all too surprised.
"He said he wasn't doing it because of a guilty
conscious. And before he left, I kissed him back," said Lisa.
"Aha, no wonder why you're short of breath," poked
Claudia.
Lisa smirked and Claudia continued her teasing,
"So, does the doctor know about this? If he found out he might ban
Rick from the room for causing your heart rate to go up."
Lisa felt the laugh coming but ended up coughing
and Claudia quickly backed down, "Oh dear, I should calm down with the
jokes for now, until you're stronger. Honey you better get some rest.
I don't expect the boys to back for some time so why don't you rest up
and when they get back you'll have plenty of energy to spend on them."
Claudia nodded and patted Lisa's hand again and
said, "I think I'll get some rest too, so I can be plenty rested when my
flyboy comes back." Claudia winked then settled back in her reclinable
wheelchair and closed her eyes.
She didn't mention it to Lisa, but the earth was
nearly totally destroyed. The fact weighed heavy upon her heart and
her mind and she wanted to talk to someone about it, but Lisa was going
through enough turmoil as it was and so Claudia decided to just wait it
out and talk to Roy when he returned.
* * * * * * *
"Where the hell are we? What happened?" mumbled
Admiral Hayes as he slowly came to.
Rick, who had recovered quicker than Hayes, look
around and saw that they were on solid ground, in gerwalk mode, and all
around them, a barren wasteland.
Rick could hear Hayes fiddling with the navigation
screen and in a minute he heard Hayes say, "No, it can't be! This
is Alaska Base!"
Rick, shocked as if he had been struck by lightening,
quickly got the damaged VT into a hover and scoured the surface of what
used to be Alaska Base.
"I'm going to try and establish some kind of contact,"
said Hayes quickly, already trying to find a good communication signal
to snag on to.
After 20 minutes of flying and unsuccessfully trying
to reach anyone by radio, they gave up and decided to head towards the
West Coast when they saw a shadow cast over them. They looked up
and saw the SDF-1 descending from the sky, melted and twisted in various
places, but remarkably still flightworthy.
"Sammie, this is Admiral Hayes, can you hear me?"
"Admiral! Are you with Rick? Uh...I
mean, Lieutenant Hunter? Wait, I got your signal now. You two
scared us! We thought we lost you! What is your status," replied
a relieved Sammie.
"We are still flight capable, but not for very long,
we're also very low on fuel too. I think we have enough to make it
back though, so don't bother sending any rescue teams over for us," replied
Rick.
"Yes, sir," answered Sammie, then she preceded to
give them landing instructions.
After 8 more hours of mop-up operations, as well
as extinguishing other various battles that raged after Dolza's defeat,
and trying to establish some kind of make-shift centralized command structure,
Rick and Admiral Hayes ran into each other as they were making their way
through the ICU waiting room.
Rick saluted, "Admiral, sir."
Hayes returned the salute and then shook Rick's
hand, saying almost humorously, "Well Rick, it seems you have a penchant
for saving Hayes' don't you?"
Rick shrugged and offered a weak smile, "I guess
it seems that way doesn't it?"
"I want to thank you for saving my life out there
today. We were in some pretty tight jams but thanks to your flying
expertise we made it through," replied Hayes.
Rick didn't feel very much like a hero. Making
sure Lisa's father was unharmed was the least he could do for Lisa, moreover,
it was the least he could do for Admiral Hayes. Over the past week
and a half, Rick had found that although he had a disdain for high authority
in general, he really liked Admiral Hayes. Maybe it was because,
through all the stories Hayes told Rick about his younger days, Rick thought
Hayes reminded him of himself a bit... a little bit brash and fiercely
loyal to the men he commanded and not one to back down when he thought
an order was wrong. And although Hayes was more of an adminstrator
now, Rick could still see Hayes had not lost the character he had when
was younger, and though he had made some rulings that seemed suspect and
harsh, Rick learned that it was because Hayes' arm had been twisted by
the rest of the Council. Resigning had not been an option for Hayes
at that time, the Earth needed him as the Minister of Defense and he were
to step-down, Armageddon might have come sooner than it had.
Trying turn the praise away from himself, Rick said,
"You were here first, you can go ahead and see Lisa, take your time, I
think I'll go get something to eat then come back later."
Hayes raised an eyebrow at Rick and replied, "Are
you sure? I appreciate the gesture but I would think she'd want to
see you first."
Rick shrugged and Hayes continued, "Judging from
the way you two kissed, that was my assumption."
Rick's jaw dropped open and he stared at the Admiral
with wide eyes. Hayes decided to have some fun watching Rick
squirm so he continued in a monotone, "You kissed my daughter, twice.
Just after she woke up from a two-week coma. Do you have anything
to say for yourself?"
"I...I...Admiral...sir! I just...I..." stammered
Rick.
Hayes gave him a stern glare and then burst out
laughing.
"It's alright my boy," said Hayes as he patted Rick
on the shoulder.
Rick, his jaw still hanging open, stared at the
Admiral, completely confused.
Hayes folded his arms and pushed Rick towards the
door of the entrance to the ICU, "Go on, go ahead, I'm sure Lisa has been
worrying about us, you."
Rick slowly shuffled forward, mouth still open,
unable to utter any sort of reply.
Hayes laughed to himself as he watched Rick shuffle
away, "Not the smartest I suppose, but that's not important I guess.
Just as long as he makes Lisa happy and can take care of her then that's
all that matters," he mused.
It was near midnight, but the nurses had received
the O-K to let Lisa have a couple of visitors, and Rick managed to slip
into her room without objection.
Rick quietly walked over to the bed and looked down
to see a sleeping Lisa.
Lisa was starting to doze off, she had been trying
to watch the news reports throughout the evening and was extremely tired,
but she sensed someone next to her and managed to open her eyes.
The light was very dim and because her senses were not at their maximum
capability yet, she couldn't focus her eyes enough to make out it was that
was standing next to her.
Rick saw Lisa's eyes open and said quietly, "Hello
there Sleeping Beauty."
'Am I hallucinating?' wondered Lisa.
"Rick?" asked Lisa aloud, her voice sounding tired,
but much clearer than when Rick had last spoken to her.
"Hi," said Rick gently as he sat down on the chair
next to Lisa's bed. "I didn't wake you did I?"
"No, I was just dozing off. I've been trying
to stay awake because I was hoping someone would come and see me and let
me know how things were going," replied Lisa.
Secretly, Lisa was overjoyed to see Rick and know
that he made it through the battle but she still was wary about the whole
situation and didn't want to let her guard down.
Rick exhaled a long sigh and said somberly, "It's
pretty bad out there. We, and your father especially, will have a
very difficult job ahead of us."
"My father's alright?" asked Lisa, her heart starting
to beat a little bit faster. She had heard a rumor that Alaska Base
had been destroyed and didn't know if her father had been there at the
time of it's destruction.
"There's no way I'd allow anything to happen to
him, Lisa. And, I guess our guardian angels were watching over us
out there. We were delayed several times and didn't make it to Alaska
Base until after it was destroyed. If that isn't Divine Intervention,
then I don't know what is," said Rick with a hint of wonderment.
Lisa mulled it over for a moment then smiled at
Rick, "Thank you, Rick. I don't know what I would've done if I lost
my father, especially now, when it seems that he and I can come to some
sort of reconcilliation."
Rick shook his head, "Don't need to thank me.
I'm glad to see that you and your father are getting along, you know, I
really like your father. I guess, in some ways, he reminds me of
my own father."
Lisa was a bit surprised and tried to compare the
two men, her knowledge of Pops Hunter coming from the numerous stories
Rick had told her about him.
"I guess so...a little bit anyways. I was
really angry at my father, but after all the talks he had at my bedside
this past week, now I understand why he's made some of the decisions he
has," replied Lisa, still thinking things over in her head.
Rick furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "What?
Wait a minute, you were comatose weren't you? How did you hear what
your father was saying?"
'Ooops,' thought Lisa. 'Well, I'd
have to tell them sooner or later...'
"Well," began Lisa, "I don't know exactly when it was,
but I assume it was just shortly after my father arrived, I could hear
everything that everyone was saying."
Lisa saw a trace of fear in Rick's baby blue eyes
and her heart sank. 'Now he's probably going to try and rescind
everything he told me while he thought I was unconscious. He'll go
back to Minmei and I'll be alone again...'
"So...then...did you hear all the things I've said
to you over the past week?" asked Rick, his expression, surprisingly unreadable.
"Yes, I did," said Lisa quietly.
Rick got up and walked to the window and Lisa desperately
tried to keep her tears from falling but she failed. In a shaky voice
she said, "You don't have to explain, Rick. I know that you just
said all that to try and keep me alive and get me to wake up, and I thank
you for that. So if you're struggling over whether you should go
back to Minmei or not, go. Don't hesitate because of me, because
of a guilty conscious...especially because of a guilty conscious.
Neither one of us will be happy if our relationship is based on obligation
or guilt."
Rick walked back over to Lisa's bedside and bent
down a bit so that he was eye-level with her and she saw a kind of determination
in his eyes and waited to hear what he had say.
"Lisa, everything I've said to you, over the past
two weeks...everything...I meant every word of everything I said.
Nothing was a lie. When I told you how I really felt about you, it
wasn't a lie. It wasn't said out of guilt..." Rick drew an uneven
breath saw a tear roll down Lisa's cheek. He closed his eyes and
took another uneven breath then continued. "I know, given our history,
you probably don't believe me, and I don't blame you. If...if your
feelings for me are the same as mines are for you, then please, let me
know. But if you don't want me, then let me know that too, and I'll
leave you alone."
'Do it now Lisa, you have to tell him...'
"Come closer, Rick," said Lisa quietly. Rick
complied and bent closer to Lisa, then Lisa strained her neck a bit and
kissed Rick until the cardiac monitor started beeping. Lisa rested
back on her pillow and smiled at Rick.
Rick, dazed momentarily, let a smirk form across
his face as he finally managed to say, "I take that to mean your feelings
are similar..."
Lisa answered with a smirk of her own and said,
"Quite possibly."
Rick returned to the chair and then held Lisa's
hand, "You know, your dad saw us kissing just before I left for battle.
At first I thought he was going to chew me out, because when he confronted
me about it he was so serious, but then he started laughing. He really
had me going for awhile there."
Lisa's eyes registered some surprise and she said,
"He didn't get mad? Hmm...and he played a little trick on you...
from what I have heard over the past week or so, between you two, I can
honestly say that he likes you. And that's not an easy thing to do,
to impress my father like that. He's very protective of me and I
don't know how many dates of mine he scared away."
Confused, Rick asked, "But why does he like me,
of all people. I'm sure he hangs around with many important, powerful,
and rich people, and I'm sure there's been a number of suitors for you.
I'm nobody, no money, no power, I'm just a military pilot."
"Rick, it doesn't matter if you're rich or powerful.
Those things never impressed me nor my father. The most important
thing is that you're a good person, brave, and full of integrity.
And...it doesn't hurt to have a strange knack for always coming to my rescue,"
Lisa finished with a grin.
Rick laughed and then shrugged his shoulders, "I
can't promise you a mansion or diamonds, but what I can promise is that
I'll lay down my life to protect you, and...I love you."
Lisa was smiling through her tears and took a few
seconds to compose herself before she said, "I love you too, Rick."
Rick squeezed Lisa's hand and there was nothing
more that needed to be said. The two, newly found in their love for
each other, knew that it was a new journey they were undertaking, and though
there might be trials and tribulations ahead, both of them felt they were
up to the challenge.
Rick departed, giving her another kiss and informing
her that he would be back first thing in the morning. The door barely
closed only to open again and this time the visitor was Admiral Hayes.
Lisa smiled at him as he approached her and it delighted her father immensely.
Lisa smiled at her father as he sat down next to
her, causing him to reply quietly, "I can't remember the last time you
ever smiled at me so much...it must be years..."
Lisa knew what he meant; their constant arguments
with each other seemed as if they would never cease and the rift between
them was painful for them both. Now, there was a second chance at
reconcilliation, and Lisa was going to make sure she didn't let it pass
her by.
"I can't remember either...father, I'm so
glad you're alright," said Lisa as she looked at her father with an unreadable
look.
Hayes gave her a strong, but careful hug and he
whispered in her ear, "Lisa, do you believe in second chances?"
"I do, I believe," replied Lisa earnestly.
"I do too dear, and I think we've been given one
today," said Hayes as he tiredly sat down.
"Dad...I'm sorry, for everything...I let my stubborness
and anger come between us for so long and I know now that whatever decisions
you've made in the past were not to try and control me, but to look out
for me and protect me. I do appreciate that father, I really do,
but please, try and remember, I'm not a little girl anymore, and I can
take care of myself...most of the time," ended Lisa, half crying and half
smiling.
Hayes patted Lisa's hand, "I know honey, I know.
It's just, sometimes it's just so hard to stand back and let you learn
life's lessons on your own."
Lisa nodded, "I know dad, but that's the only way
I'll learn, on my own."
"I know, I know. But remember, if you ever
need any help, I'm always here," replied Hayes earnestly.
Lisa smiled and said, "So...starting from today
on...could we start all over again, get to know each other again, be close
like we were, so many years ago..."
"I...I would like that...very much Lisa, very much..."
said Hayes, his voice saturated with emotion.
Lisa waited for herself and her father to regain
their respective composures and then asked with a tiny hint of uncertainty,
"About Rick...do you...do you like him?"
Hayes smiled broadly, expecting that question sooner
or later and he already had formulated his answer a long time ago, "Lisa...if
you and Rick ever happen to end up getting married, someday....it would
make me the happiest man on earth. I think he's a good man Lisa.
He may have some more maturing to do and he might not be too bright when
it comes to certain things, but the most important qualities I would hope
for any husband of yours to possess are already there. He's honest,
sensitive, caring, brave, full of integrity, and he'll defend your life
till his dying breath. And, I think you two make such a handsome
couple. Ah yes, I can see it now...my grandchildren will be absolutely
perfect!"
Lisa chuckled and replied with a fake annoyed, "Daaaad!"
the way she used to do when she was younger.
"I mean it Lisa, I think he is an excellent man,"
said Hayes seriously.
Lisa didn't reply but was very thrilled with her
father's approval of Rick. She then turned her thoughts to the descimated
earth and wondered what kind of future she and the rest of mankind would
have.
"Dad, what about the global situation. What
is going to happen?" asked Lisa.
Hayes exhaled loudly and answered, "I don't know
Lisa. We will just have to take each day one at a time. I don't
know how much I will be involved with the government reconstruction, because
I am already taking flack for not being on Earth when Dolza attacked."
Lisa became instantly worried and asked, "They aren't
going to court-martial you are they? You didn't know Dolza was coming,
it was a surprise attack."
"I don't know dear, we'll have to see how things
play out, but the UEG is completely wiped out, and I am the only one left
with the experience and knowledge that can help put it back together, or,
whatever united government the survivors decide on. But...if they
don't want me and at least don't court-martial me, I think I will just
go home to New York, if our home is still there, and retire. Or stay
here and act as an advisor to Gloval or something."
Lisa looked out the window, watching as damaged
mecha rolled by on flatbed trucks, and mused, "I can't wait to get back
on my feet so I can get back to work. There's going to be so much
to do."
"Now Lisa, you should-" Hayes realized his paternal
tone and stopped himself mid-sentence. He smiled at Lisa and said,
"Yes dear, we'll help you get back on your feet as soon as we can, because
I'm sure Henry will really need your expertise."
Lisa smiled at her father then grew teary-eyed as
she said, "Dad...I'm so glad you're here with me now. No matter how
I acted in the past or what I said, I love you, I really do."
Hayes nodded, too emotional to speak. He leaned
over and kissed his daughter on the cheek then waited for a while before
replying, "We all have a long road ahead of us, but as long as you're still
in my life, I know I can make it through anything. And I want to
make up for all the time together that we lost and I'll do anything to
make sure that happens because you are the most important thing in my life,
Lisa. I love you so much, and even though I might not say it that
often, please know that I do love you more than my own life."
"I know...daddy."
"Lisa, whatever you do, wherever you decide to go,
know that you have my support completely," replied Hayes.
Lisa smiled and uttered, "Never be caught waiting
on the wind..." remembering an old favorite line of advice her father always
used to give her, "the same goes for you dad, where you go, whatever you
decide to do, I'm behind you."
Hayes chuckled, remembering the times he would tell
Lisa that saying when she was younger. He shook his head then held
onto Lisa's hand and thought about all his fears for the upcoming task
of rebuilding ahead of them, but then Lisa squeezed his hand and his fears
dissipated. He smiled at his daughter again and said confidently,
"That's right dear, Hayes' are never caught waiting on the wind."
(2)
(daughter)
In the middle of the meadow I sit staring at my kite
A ball of string and a paper dream that I could not make fly
Then daddy pulled it to the sky, behind him as he ran
And said, 'Girl, don't be caught waiting on the wind.'
(father)
The time comes when a young girl wants to leave the nest and fly
I stood there sad and proud and smiled through tears and said good
bye
I gave you roots, I gave you wings, and girl, I understand
An eagle can't sit waiting on the wind
(together)
If you rise for every challenge, if you run to catch this dream
That star that you keep reaching for, is closer than it seems
Heaven and earth reward all those who try and try again
And will not be caught waiting on the wind...
(daughter)
Whatever strength you find in me I thank my father for
His wisdom, faith, and courage, set me on a steady course
And when my sails are empty, their words lift me up again
And I will not be caught waiting on the wind...
(together)
If you rise for every challenge if you run to catch this dream
That star that you keep reaching for, is closer than it seems
Storms of life my force you to change courses now and then
(father)
But never be caught waiting on the wind
(daughter)
Never be caught waiting
(father)
Never be caught
(together)
waiting on the wind.....
THE END!!
------------
song credits:
1) Evanescence - "Taking Over Me"
2) Pam Tillis and Mel Tillis - "Waiting on the Wind"
Yes yes, I know, this probably fizzled out at the end and you were probably expecting a huge chapter, but I needed to hurry and finish this story up NOW, because like I said in the note in my other chapter, I am going to be very busy and will not have time to make this an extremely long story, it was way longer than I expected in the first place :)
Oh my, how unoriginal of me, I did a modification of the ending of DYRL, but hey, it's really hard to avoid a scene like that anyways.
I decided to let Admiral Hayes be the one present when Lisa awoke because I felt he deserved it more than Rick. The way I figured it, the damaged relationship between Lisa and her father was more serious than her problems with Rick and I felt more sympathy for Admiral Hayes than I do Rick (as I'm sure several others feel the same way :) ). I really like Admiral Hayes, why? I don't know, I just do, and wish I could've spent more time writing about him, perhaps in another story sometime, when I get some free time, next year maybe... :)
If anyone would like to add or re-write this story then by all means do so. Please post them under your own ff.net accounts. I originally was thinking of starting a user-submission thread which I would moderate/edit but that was rendered completely impossible by the new project I was given at work (the details being made more clear over the weekend now makes me wonder if I'll even have time to READ stories, let alone write them :( ) Again, and to Gemstone in particular, my sincerest apologies for not being able to carry out my plan for a user-submission thread.
I'm still not giving up my cheerleading call, which is: PEOPLE
PLEASE WRITE MORE RICK-LISA AND HIKARU-MISA (there really is a huge lacking
of THOSE) STORIES!!! :)