CHAPTER TWELVE

Lisa was lying back against stacked pillows. Although her face was very pale, Rick thought she was more beautiful than he had ever seen her.

Then he remembered why she was in the hospital in the first place and his heart turned into a lump of ice as he considered the idea of her gone from his life. He didn't think he'd survive it.

He closed his eyes and fought a scathing anger that wanted to rip his mind to shreds.

How dare she be so careless with her life, her future? What had possessed her to take such risks?

"Hi, Lisa"

"Rick! I didn't expect to see you," Lisa said and her heart contracted at the sight of him. Staring at him she forgot why she wasn't supposed to see him—to be alone with him.

God, how she loved him!

"For me?"

Looking down, Rick realized he was still holding onto the bouquet of flowers he'd gotten for her.

Idiot! He yelled at himself.

"Yes," he said quickly and handed the bouquet to her, hoping she hadn't noticed the flush staining his cheeks or hear his heart pounding joyfully at the sight of her smile.

"Oh, Rick, they're beautiful," Lisa said as she brought the bouquet up to her face and inhaled its wonderful scent of wildflowers and roses.

They're long over due," he said quietly as he pulled up a chair and sat next to her, his eyes never leaving her face.

Smiling adoringly, she lifted her emerald eyes, full of lively facets and sparks to the man who was watching her so intently. A spark of electricity leapt across the distance between them when their eyes met and they remembered… her last night on board the SDF-1.

"Rick… I—don't"

Lisa found herself somehow pulled into his arms and his mouth was on hers—hard.

His kisses now were not the ones she'd remembered and treasured but something more—it's as if she was the air he needed in order to breath, to live; as if she was his saving grace.

She felt as if she was soaring to the sky and joy filled her heart. This was what she'd needed, wanted and missed all these years. She couldn't get enough of him. Couldn't get close enough, she'd missed him so much, his kisses, his touch, his passion…

Automatically her hands locked around his neck, her fingers tangled themselves in his hair, her body arching up next to his and she kissed him back just as hard with a longing and desperation she didn't know she had until this very moment and she forgot everything, and everyone else but him.

Rick hadn't meant to kiss her like he was dying, at least not then, but the moment their eyes met; his brain had turned to mush. He no longer wanted to talk; he didn't want to reason with her, didn't want to hear her say that she didn't love him, want him or anything else. He just wanted her, period.

"I love you," he whispered and then framing her face with his hands he looked deep into her luminous green eyes. "I'm not sure how or when it happened, but there's no room in my heart or in my head or anyplace else for anyone but you, Lisa. I love you. I'm in love with you. Don't leave me again."

She stared up at him, stunned for she believed him now. He did love her! Rick Hunter was in love with her!

Lisa's heart felt as if it would burst. Oh, God, she was so happy, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry or both. Rick loves her! Her! Not Minmei…

"I didn't know," she said brokenly, and tears tracked down her face. "I'm such a— "

Then they both heard it, the door opening and they froze.

"Captains," Admiral Gloval said as if he hadn't just walked into a lovers' tryst or would be if he were two minutes later. "I expect the both of you to act like officers when I return," and on that note, he closed the door tightly again.

Horror and embarrassment stained Lisa's cheek as she frantically buttoned her shirt and smoothed down her ruffled hair, avoiding eye contact with the man she had just moments ago kissed like there was no tomorrow.

"Lisa?" Rick said uncertainly, not caring that he was bared chest or that Admiral Gloval had just walked in on them.

"Please," she pleaded, closing her eyes, "just leave, Rick. I-- I have to come back to earth. I can't think with you around."

Rick felt a sudden stab of elation. Maybe, he thought with rising hope…

"Here, Rick," Lisa said and handed him his top. He took it, walked a couple of steps away from her and pulled it on, and just in time too for--

"Lisa!" Sammie cried from the door and within seconds she was surrounded by Vanessa, Kim and Claudia. They were hugging her and talking all at once. They hadn't even noticed that he was in the room.

"We came just as soon as we could," Kim said.

"You look terribly flushed," Claudia observed in amusement and she turned, her eyes automatically went to Rick who was trying to make his way out of the room and within seconds, all eyes were on him.

"Captain Hunter!" the Trio chimed in together.

"We didn't even see, you, Rick," Vanessa murmured. "We were just so excited to see Lisa and-- "

But Rick didn't let her finish. "I was just leaving um…. Lisa, I'll see you later." With a shaky grin he looked at her once more with longing then swept out of the door.

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Lisa sighed. She was not in the mood to fight with him.

All she wanted since she'd gotten up this morning was to clean up her desk at work as fast as she could so she could come home and pack. Then take a long bath and sit down with a cup of hot tea, and watch the sun set. This was after all, her last evening on Earth for it would probably another two or five years before she could come back again.

What she definitely did not want was to embark on an emotional, and probably embarrassing, discussion with him.

She eyed him, the trust of his chin, and the way his thumbs were shoved into the front pockets of his black jeans, making it clear that Rick Hunter wasn't about to leave until he got what he was after.

Suddenly she felt unbelievable tired. It was as though all her mental and physical energies had carried her through to this moment. Now she and Rick were about to settled it once and for all. Exhaustion washed over her as she followed him to the back of the parking lot.

"You've brushed me aside long enough, Lisa. I know about your deal with Khyron. The Admiral told me."

"Few things are what they seem on the surface," Lisa muttered.

"Damn it, Lisa! Stop," he said with hushed violence and she knew she'd pushed him far enough because his blue eyes were almost throwing off sparks.

"What choice did I have, Rick?" she sighed in defeat.

"Hey, the choices were yours," he said, his tone short on sympathy. "When Khyron set you free, you could have cut him out of your life. Better yet, you could have turned to me and ask for my help."

Incredulity drew her a few feet back. "Cut him out of my life? How could I when he kept his part of the deal? I owed it to him to keep mine. He saved the SDF-1 and everyone on board!"

"You owed him your gratitude, and that's all," he replied. "You don't owe him your happiness and certainly not our future!"

"We wouldn't even be here today, arguing about this if I hadn't agreed to his conditions. Don't you get it?" The bitterness in her smile seeped through every part of her body, and made her movement stiff when she closed the distance between them.

"Dolza's fortress was crippled, he was sitting duck but he carried enough firepower to destroy an entire galaxy. And believe me he was not going to go quietly into the night."

The muscle in Rick's jaw tightened because he realized that during this time frame in which Lisa was referring to, Skull One had been hit and he had been knocked unconscious. Somehow he'd managed to regain consciousness long enough to land instead of crashing on Earth but he'd missed the ending of the battle, for he and Skull One had been pretty banged up.

Before he could say anything, Lisa went on.

"When we came back, Dolza thought Khyron had come back to joined him since he was the only one who left in the first place. This gave Khyron the advantage to find the weakness in Dolza's ship and fire upon it before it went supernova."

Rick made a dismissive gesture with his right hand. "The SDF-1 survived two years on it's own against Breetai's entire fleet, including Khyron. We could have survived Dolza too."

"I couldn't take that chance. Don't you understand, Rick? It's staying with him by force and watch everything and everyone I love die, or staying with him by choice, and give everyone else a chance to fight—to survive."

"So, you were caught between a rock and a hard place but that doesn't' excuse the lousy choices you made later. You could have told him "no" afterward but no, you choose to tell me "no" instead! You choose him. You're still choosing him!" His voice held no understanding or sympathy only callousness and anger.

She stared at him, tears stinging her eyes. She wasn't getting through to him. Her intent didn't matter; neither did her actions. Folding her arms across her chest, she turned to leave. She paused only long enough to murmur, "you don't understand, Rick. You can't."

He caught her wrist, yanking her to a halt. "Then explain, damn it! Make me understand how you can agree to become his wife when you love me—when I love you?"

Don't you get it? It's because I love you that I'm with him! she wanted to scream at him but didn't. She tried to jerk free, but he only tightened his grip on her and she raised her gaze to his.

There was confusion in his blue eyes, and reluctance, and tenderness.

It would be so easy…. but she didn't.

"You don't know what you're asking?" she whispered.

He moved closer, until she could distinguish the heat radiating from his body from the late afternoon sun, until she could catch a hint of his cologne, until she couldn't think about anything but how very much she wanted to be with him forever.

"Look me in the eye and tell me that being around me again didn't give you serious doubts about marrying Khyron, and I'll do what you want," he told her.

"I told you, I don't have a choice. It's not about having doubts, Rick."

"No it's about duty and obligations," Rick interrupted her. "And Captain Lisa Hayes can never shrink from her duties or obligations can she? She is after all, an Admiral's daughter, born and bred to do her duty no matter the cost."

"Stop being so dramatic and sarcastic, Rick. You're not being fair." She had to make him understand. Had to. She lifted her fingers to his lips, the first time she had touched him voluntarily since the day he almost made love to her in the hospital. The light touch seared him all the way to his soul, and he trembled. He caught her hand and turned her palm against his cheek.

"Please, Rick," she said, her voice just above a whisper. "I gave him my word— my word is my honor."

Defeated, his handsome face was expressionless as he watched her go.

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"Lisa, how can you do this?" Claudia step forward and took hold of her elbow steering her to a chair.

"Forget your duties and obligations. You don't owe anyone anything but yourself. Live your life, not just for Rick but for yourself. If you get on that shuttle tomorrow, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"Everything's arranged. It's too late. It was always too late for us, Claudia," she said and covered her face with her hands as she sobbed.

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"Are you ready?" Khyron asked.

Lisa took a deep breath and looked around her once again but this time slower for she wanted to remember them—each and every one of them for they were not only her friends but her family.

Sammie, Vanessa and Kim were crying and sniffing but they smiled at her when her gaze met theirs and she knew she would miss them, even their silliness. Max gave her a salute and Miriya did the same. In response, she nodded to them and she knew she would never forget them.

God, how she envied them!

Admiral Gloval gave her a slight nod and she smiled back at him with affection and gratitude. Slowly, her gaze fell to Claudia and quietly, they stared at each other.

Oh, Claudia, I'm going to miss you so much!

Telling herself not to cry she fought for control. Her jaw clenched as she grounded her teeth together to remain dry eyes.

Tell him for me, Claudia. Tell Rick, I love him… that I have always loved him.

A single tear fell down her face and she saw Claudia nodding to her as if she could read her thoughts. Nodding back to her, Lisa turned and began walking. She was so focused on not seeing anything at all that she almost bumped into him.

"You didn't think I'll let you go with out saying good-bye, did you?"

Upon hearing his voice, Lisa became utterly still. It seemed that even her heart ceased to beat. She could not move, she could not breathe. He did come. She had not been sure that he would.

"Good bye, Captain Hunter," she finally said in a tight voice.

"Good Luck, Captain Hayes," he returned in a tight, strained voice and he stuck out his hand for a handshake.

Lisa froze for a moment; confused as to why he would want a handshake when decorum demanded a salute nevertheless she took his hand.

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Opening the note Rick had urgently folded into her hand at the gate she read…

Lisa,

Seasons have come and gone. Yet you're still here, in my heart. I can still feel your touch, smell your scent and hear your voice everywhere I turn.

All this time… my heart aches, still—for you. I miss you. I think of you every minute of the day and dream of you, every night.

How can you be so cruel to leave me behind? Why did you make me fall in love with you only to have me watch you live your life with another?

It doesn't matter how long or whose wife you'll be; you'll always be here in my heart. Whether you're near or far, I'll wait for you. I'll wait forever even if I have to.

Seasons will come and go. But I will love you forever.

Rick.

All of sudden, she burst into floods of tears and embarrassed, she turned towards the window to hide her face away from Exedore and Khyron.

Khyron gaped. He'd never seen her cry. Not even when she was his captive and he'd treated her cruelly. Guiltily he stared at her as her shoulders shook with silent sobs, feeling uneasy and confused he remained silent.

He didn't like these feelings that were bombarding him for they made him feel weak and light headed.

"Umm… Captain Hayes, I deduct from your reaction that you do not want to leave Earth. Is this true?" Exedore asked out of the blue.

"No… no, it's always hard to leave one's home but I'm committed. The sooner we get to the satellite station, the better I'll feel. It's nothing, Exedore."

Nodding, Exedore turned to speak into the mic for the pilots to take off.

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Stillness came over him as he watched from the observatory window. He watched, prayed and hoped but nothing happened and he remained where he was until he couldn't see the shuttle anymore as it disappears into the blue sky.

"Good-bye, Lisa," he said softly to no one in particular but himself, "I'll always love you."

"And I've always loved you too, Rick Hunter."

Hearing Lisa's voice coming from behind him, he turned around and ran a hand across his forehead. He felt a little hot. Maybe he was coming down with something

Summer flue? A cold? Brain fever? Yeah, his brain was all scrambled, fevered. That was it for he knew Lisa couldn't be standing in front of him she was gone. She had left with Khyron.

"Did you hear me, Rick? I said, I love you!" Lisa yelled and smiled impishly at him.

There was something different about her, but he couldn't put his finger on it. She'd never said anything like that to him since… well, forever! Feeling as if he were stepping off a cliff, he asked, "Lisa?"

He met her gaze and the tender warmth in those brilliant green eyes, the tears that swam in them, touched him as nothing else had ever since he found himself stranded on the SDF-1. It made his heart turn right over in his chest for only Lisa had ever looked at him with such longing, compassion and tenderness.

It was her!

His heart pounded so hard it intruded on his breath. He suddenly couldn't breath and had to take deep breaths just to keep from blacking out.

"Lisa! Lisa!" He finally said and crossed the few feet that separated them.

Lisa laughed and felt herself being held in his arms. He kissed her, his mouth warm and tender. They clung together, their arms holding the other close. It was a sweet moment. A moment to remember and savor. And they did.

"So," he asked, several minutes later, "what happen?"

------------ Flash back ----------

"Wait," Khyron said before Exedore could give the order and pulled on Lisa's hand, urging her to follow him toward the back of the shuttle.

"Lisa," he said as he dropped a kiss on her forehead, "You don't want to go with me this time, right?"

"I – I, no, I do want to,"

"You're not a very good liar, Captain," he said with a sad smile and with a lean finger, he turned her chin until she was looking straight at him. "I release you from your-- our bargain, Lisa."

Lisa jerked upright, her eyes going wide.

But before she could recover from her shock, he continued.

"Know that when I'm around you, you affect me strangely. It's something I don't have a name for. Before you, I didn't know that I could feel anything else besides anger and greed."

Dropping her gaze from his, she asked, "What exactly are you saying, Khyron?"

Khyron looked at her averted face, the feelings he felt but couldn't understand was flooding through him. He knew he should stop but something inside of him was pushing him to do this.

"I will miss you, Captain. I will miss talking to you, arguing with you and I will even miss that temper of yours but mostly, I will miss you playing the piano for me. However I know that I'm not going to die if you're not with me."

Lisa's heart felt as if it would burst.

"But you will… for him," he finished and cleared his throat.

Looking up at him, looking so noble and stoic, Lisa's eyes flooded with tears and a lump formed in her throat. His understanding was blinding, almost healing and she knew… she was free!

She swallowed. Then she scrubbed her eyes like a little child and sniffed back more tears but she couldn't speak. Finally with eyes shining like stars, she smiled brilliantly at him and said, "Thank you."

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Rick's eyes darkened. "The jerk!"

Lisa twisted in his arms, raining soft kisses on his face. "The jerk is history. He's gone," she said as she kissed his brow, his nose, and finally his mouth.

Lifting her mouth breathless moments later, she said, "I do love you, you know—so much it frightens me." She looked into his blue eyes, eyes that were shinning with love for her as her fingers caressing his hard cheek.

"You mean everything to me-- more than just simple words can convey. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you precisely how much I do love you, Rick Hunter."

"Are you proposing to me, Lisa?" he asked her.

Lisa chuckled. "I guess I am, Rick. One of us has to and if I wait for you, it might be forever. I plan to walk down the isle, not wheeled."

"Good. Because I accept," he said and grabbed her hand and started to run out of the terminal, pulling her with him.

"Where are we going, Rick?"

"Why, to the nearest church of course. We're getting married!"

-THE END-

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