fanfic_name = Separate Lives

chapter = 3

Rating = AP15

traductor = LisaVang

fanfic = CHAPTER THREE

"I wanted to tell you, Rick that I'm leaving the SDF-1 tomorrow. I couldn’t tell you at the café because I couldn’t risk anyone hearing it. It’s a top secret mission.”

“What? Why wasn’t I told of this?” he interrupted feeling panic and a sense of emptiness. “I mean, when did this happen?”

“I just got permission before meeting you in the elevator this evening,” Lisa answered.

Now he knew why she was so preoccupied when they had met earlier in the elevator and looking so lost. Knowing that now, he wondered why she even bothered to go out with him tonight.

Thinking about the date they just had he realized that it was a pretty lame one. He had been the one to ask her out yet it was she who had made the date fun, interesting and special while all he did was brood and wallowed in self-pity. That one fact gnawed at him more than he wanted to admit.

Why can’t I ever do anything right with her?

“Rick, the fears and anxieties you expressed earlier, I have them too and I’ve been thinking, racking my brain for weeks now, and trying to find a solution...”

“And you leaving the SDF-1 was the only one you came up with,” Rick said in disgust and got up from her sofa and walked to stare at a painting she had on one of her wall.

Why does her leaving tomorrow leave me so angry and helpless? Why do I feel like I’m loosing a part of me?

“It’s not what you thinking Rick,” Lisa said. “I’m not abandoning the SDF-1 and everyone on board because I wanted to get away. The fighting has got to stop...”

“That’s not the point, Lisa!” he said sharply and returned to the sofa.

She looked a little confused and he amended, “Lisa, you got it all wrong. I’m not accusing you of anything. I know and I understand what you’re trying to do.”

“You do?” She asked and looked skeptically up at him.

“Yes,”Rick said and sat down next to her again. He couldn't hide his grin. "Just because I have a thick head does not mean that I’m stupid, Lisa."

Guilt winged through her. “Rick, you don’t know how much that means to me...”

“Why does it have to be you, Lisa?” he asked without letting her finish. There was something aching in his voice that made her sad. “Tell me the truth. Why did you agree to have dinner with me tonight with such an important mission on your mind?”

Lisa blinked. She could feel her pulse beating in her throat in a way that threatened to make her stomach flip over.

“I... don’t... because you asked me and because I wanted to,” she answered quietly unable to look at him.

“Rick, once I leave, my father may never allow me to come back again. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take if it means the Council might listen to me and consider my proposal for peace. I know that you and I, we got off on the wrong foot at the beginning and have not always gotten along but I’ve come to admire you, Rick. I just couldn’t leave without letting you know that.”

“Is that all, Lisa?” he asked in a sober tone.

“I… I don’t know what you mean, Rick?” Lisa fibbed.

“You’re telling me, Lisa,” he struggled, “that you went out with me just so you can tell me that you admire me? Come on, what do you take me for?”

Lisa’s face turned red and she felt the anger building. “Why are you doing this, Rick? What do you want from me?” She snapped, her green eyes flashing with rage now. “Can’t you take a compliment and leave it at that?”

“Because I just realized that I care about you!” he yelled at her and ran a hand through his dark hair. “And you’re leaving tomorrow… and God knows when or if you’ll ever be back!”

He worried that he’d gone too far. Right now their friendship was thin glass over a turbulent sea. Rick knew he needed to be honest with himself. He was attracted to her. Heck he was more than attracted to her! He liked her, admired her and… and loved her.

He didn’t know when it had begun but at this very moment, he couldn’t imagine not having her in his life. Even thought they’d fought like cats and dogs since the day they met, it’s as if they belonged.

Damned her! Why does everything have to be so complicated between them?

Lisa turned and found him staring at her in a way he’d never looked at Minmei before. He looked like he really saw her. All the anger she had quickly left her and in its place was a burning desire to kiss him and she did, lightly on the lips before she could stop herself.

“Lisa…” he breathed in her name and leaned in to return her kiss.

“No.” She straightened. “I’m still leaving tomorrow.”

“Then why kiss me?” Rick asked soberly.

“Because… because I care, Rick. I don’t know why but I do. I care when you’re sad, when you’re hurt and when you’re lonely.” Tell him! came a voice from deep inside. No! He must never know! There is no point. He’s in love with Minmei...

With all her strength she tried to stop herself from letting him know but she couldn’t for she loved him-- it was that simple. That irrefutable. That unchangeable. “I care because I… I love you.” Lisa finished and looked him straight in the eyes. He knew she was telling him the truth.

Rick didn’t smile. He didn’t laugh or turn away from her. He merely whispered her name and opened his arms to her.

Blinking away the tears she hadn’t realized she had, Lisa moved into his embrace. He held her close to him, enjoying the feel and smell of her until she completely relaxed and leaned her head against his chest. They stayed like that for a long time.

----------------------

“When are you leaving tomorrow? I want to be part of the mission, Lisa.”

“No. Everything's been set already. Since you're off tomorrow, Max is the point man in this mission and I'm scheduled to launch at 1030 hours.” Then Lisa’s head rose up from his chest and he could see the panic in her face.

“What is it?”

“My report, I have to have it done by 0800 hours tomorrow for Captain Gloval’s approval. I can’t believe I totally forgot about it,” she said and got up from the sofa.

As Lisa walked into her sleeping quarters and sat down on her desk, her report was already taking shape in her mind. Quickly she turned on her personal computer and began typing the words and phrases she knew would work best with her father. She knew she had to win her father to her side or her mission would be a complete failure.

She was so engrossed in the report that she’d forgotten about Rick. It wasn’t until she felt his strong, capable and warm hands rubbing at the tension in her neck and shoulders that she realized he was still with her. She turned around and smiled at him.

“What time is it?” she asked and on an impulse she reached out her hand and combed it through his lock of hair that keeps covering his sexy blue eyes.

Rick closed his eyes and relaxed, imaging what it would be like to have a woman, to have Lisa, so near, so comfortable around him that she’d touch his hair while she talk about her day or her work.

“I can’t believe it’s almost midnight,” she sighed and the emptiness in her tone stabbed at him.

“You all right?” he asked.

“I’m just afraid that I won’t be able to convince my father. I’m afraid of what that would mean for the entire human race and… and for us,” she said her voice, sad and low.

He pressed a kiss near her ear. “I would never blame you. None of this is your fault, Lisa.” He hugged her to him.

Damned but she smelled good.

“Thank you, Rick,” she whispered. She thought of giving Captain Gloval an excuse tomorrow and not leave the SDF-1 at all. The idea surprised her, for following protocol and doing her duty had always been top priority with her.

“For what?” he asked, not understanding.

“For tonight. No matter what happens, I’ll always have this one night that I went out with you and had a wonderful time. I hadn’t laughed in a long time and you made me laughed tonight, Rick. I’ve almost forgotten what that was like.”

That made him cringed and reluctantly he let her go. “Are you almost finished with the report?”

Turning back to her computer she replied. “Yes but I need to proofread it again and there’s a paragraph in there that I want to take out…”

“Lisa, about tonight, I want to apologize for my selfishness.” He shook his head at her to stop her from interrupting him.

“I asked you out because I wanted to erase that look of lost and loneliness from your eyes when I first came upon you in the elevator. But it was you, Lisa, you who erased my loneliness and doubts away tonight with your laughter and confidence in me. I do care, Lisa. I do care a great deal about you and I can not image my life with out you. Be careful when you leave tomorrow and come back to… to me.”

He covered her fingers with his and waited. Rick’s voice was almost a whispered when he finished but she’d heard everything he said and seen the fire in his eyes when he looked at her. His eyes held hers. She couldn’t move, couldn’t pull her gaze away from his.

Finally, she whispered. “I don’t want to think or worry about anything-- not the Zentraedi, or me leaving tomorrow, or even what’s happened before between us. I want you, Rick to make everything go away except the two of us.”

She brushed her fingers over his chest as if searching for his heart. “I want to know you. I want to know the Rick Hunter who had seen my loneliness tonight and reached out to me, the Rick Hunter who cares for me and… and needs me.”

Before he could think of the right words, she leaned over him and her lips touched his. Her kiss was not light or playful but filled with longing, desire and promises. When she finished, she didn’t pull away but whispered against his cheek. “Hold me, Rick while we sleep as if we were the only two people alive in the Universe.”

With those words burning into his heart he knew he could not deny her anything and he kissed her then, deeper than he ever had. His heart pounded so hard he thought it might explode. After the heart stopping kiss, he picked her up and carried her to her bed.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = lisa_vangATmsn.com