fanfic_name = Time of Our Lives

chapter = Chapter 2

author = lisav

Rating = AP15

Type = Adventure

fanfic = Remember: This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only. No infringement is intended. I do not own any of the characters-- real or imaginary!

Birthday Gift

INTRO...

Rick Hunter stared at the invitation to Minmei’s sweet sixteen birthday party. He didn’t have to open it for he already knew by heart what it said.

Her party was all anyone especially the male pilots in his division could talk about in the last two days. Seems they were all invited as well and here he thought he was the lucky one!

Try as he might, he couldn’t understand her need to be surrounded by male attention all the time. As much as he loved her, she can be so spoiled at times that he felt like screaming.

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

He was beyond tired. The battle he just came from had taken more out of him than he had thought. He had just enough energy to make it to his quarters, dimmed down the lights a bit and crawled into bed.

He was so exhausted that he hadn't even bother to take off his uniform or look at the desk next to his bunk for if he had he would have remembered.

Closing his eyes images of Minmei came to him-- beautiful, sexy, and charming; flirtatious, conceited, spoiled and he smiled. Suddenly the tear-stained face of Lisa Hayes replaced Minmei's and his smiled turned into a frown.

This wasn't something new, but it continued to take him by surprise. The truth was, it had been happening a lot since the Sara Base incident on Mars and that was two months ago.

Commander Hayes and him had never seen eye to eye on anything and had fought verbally with each other since the day they met. But she had never invaded his thoughts or dreams before then.

He can still remember watching her run to the edge of the Prometheus's deck to watch Mars as fast as her feet could carry her when they had landed, and he had freed her from the hand of his Guardian. He had wanted to stop her, yell at her for being stupid and almost getting him killed by refusing to leave that dam base.

But something about her stance and the way she had wrapped her arms around herself as Mars slowly disappeared into the distance stopped him. She had looked so alone and lost staring at that dam red planet as if she had left her best friend in the Universe there that he had wanted to go to her and comfort her.

He had felt an urge to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay but he didn't. Instead he just watched her silently from a far and wondered why he even cared when all she ever did was mock him, lecture him and yelled at him whenever they happen to met either in person or over the tac net.

If only he had left instead of lingering around then he would have never seen her taking off her space helmet, shaking her head and her hair-- the whole honey brown mass, tumbled gracefully-in-slow-motion over her shoulders, down her back and curled about her waist.

If only he had left he would have never seen her tear-stained face and those big green eyes full of sadness and pain as she walked purposely passed him without even realizing he was still there. Or for that matter, the ten other guys who had also witness her little show and were staring at and after her with awe.

You really are an idiot, Hunter! Stop thinking about her, she’s your commanding officer!

Nevertheless her tear-stained face, those big emerald green eyes of hers and that image of having her hair spread all over a pillow as she stared up at him with passion instead of sadness had hunted him since and confused the heck out of him.

Funny how he had never noticed the color of her eyes before until that day. In fact he had never thought of her as a woman, a very desirable woman at that before that day.

Granted he didn't know her or anything personal about her except that her father's an Admiral.

What he knew of her was either through rumors, gossips or Roy and his own perception of her through their limited contacts in the past-- before that day.

He knew she was obsessed with duty, was a close friend of Claudia Grant, Roy's girlfriend. He knew she was a woman who moved quickly, purposely and gracefully yet there was a thin underlying nervousness about her that was unaccountably appealing to him even thought he had called her an old sourpuss from the start.

He also knew she didn't come by her job because her father was an Admiral. It was a well know fact among all the VT fighter pilots that Commander Lisa Hayes had graduated as the "top cadet" of her class and was decorated not once but twice for courage under fire.

He knew a lot of the service men and women respected her for that. Especially the VT pilots whose lives depended on her to direct them to the correct coordinates and grids every time they go out to fight the enemy.

As much as Lisa annoyed him he, like all the other fighter pilots looked forward to hearing her steady command voice welcoming them back to the SDF-1 after every fight for it reminded them of their duty and why they do what they do.

She had always been dull and plain to him but he knew now that Lisa was actually very lovely if only she would smile more and get rid of that ugly hairstyle of confined locks that hid her delicate features especially her eyes.

Eyes that he had come to enjoy watching now when he pissed her off because he could tell the instant they changed from ordinary green to a fire-crystal green that he knew no one else could see but him.

Lisa. Commander Hayes. Commander Lisa Hayes.

And now he was a lieutenant and had been given two subordinates, Max Sterling and Ben Dixon because of her.

Reaching up and under his pillow he pulled out the small, flat leather case and opened it. Even in the dimly lit room he could make out the form and shine of the Lieutenant's bars rested on green velvet beds. He knew he would have to wear them tomorrow.

He wondered what her reaction was when she had found out about his promotion and absent mindedly he pulled the medal of valor out from his trousers pocket, brought it up to his line of sight and stared at it also.

Suddenly he sat up in bed wide awake.

"Minmei's birthday present!"

Getting out of bed he groaned in panic and frustration. He began pacing the room. He checked his watch and realized that it was 2245 hours already.

What store could be open at this time? And what should I get her?

------------ Flash Back ----------------

By the time he, Max and Ben had arrived at the White Dragon; Minmei’s party was in full swing. The restaurant was packed to the seamed with pilots, her aunt and uncle’s friends, the mayor and his political cronies.

Minmei had ran to him and kissed him on the cheek excitedly when she had seen him. But when she realized that he had not brought her a gift, she quickly turned to Max and flirted with him. When she found out that Max could play the guitar, she had dragged him to the center of the room and insisted on him playing so she could sing.

He had been pissed and wanted to leave but decided to stay anyway because he missed her and wanted to see her even if it was from a distance. She had shined like the stars at night. Everyone in the restaurant was captivated by her until the attack siren had come on.

She had been so sad and devastated that it had torn at his heart. Like a fool he promised her he’ll bring her a special gift later. Her eyes had brightened then and she had eagerly embraced him before Max and Ben pulled him out of the restaurant.

------------ End of Flash Back --------------

Lisa walked up to his door, her heart pounding, as if she were going to see something new, start something new, and she wondered what it was.

What are you doing Lisa? Why did you let Claudia bully you into this?

Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself she knocked and waited for Rick to answer her.

He was so deep in thought he hadn't even heard the knock on his door and jumped when it came again. Hurriedly to the door he yanked it opened thinking it was Roy coming to tease him about forgetting Minmei's present.

"Look Roy I don't have time for..." and he stopped cold when he realized who was standing there.

The weeks of boot camp conditioning kicked in and he responded expertly. His head came up, he squared his shoulders, brought his back straight, hand at his forehead. The woman standing across from him and outside his door had no choice but to return his salute.

After the salute they stared at each other and each waiting or the other to say something when he finally remembered his manners.

"Would you like to come in, Command?"

"No...I know it's late but I just came to..."

At that point, they both noticed a couple of pilots passing by but stopped and saluted her when they realized who she was. Instead of leaving after the return salute from her; they stayed rooted to the spot and stared at them openly with curiosity.

"Lieutenant I came by to make sure tomorrow's shift for the Black Team..." as she stepped into his quarter and the door closed behind her.

Leaning against the door, she took a deep breath and he saw that she was blushing with embarrassment. He hid an amused smile at her discomfort and was about to tease her but he changed his mind. Instead he asked if she'd like some coffee.

She nodded and managed to say "black, two sugars" before he disappeared into his little kitchen.

When he returned, she was sitting down on his sofa and her face shown none of the earlier emotions. Handing her the coffee, his hand brushed against hers by accident and he felt fire coursed through him; withdrawing quickly, he hoped she hadn't noticed.

Sitting down next to her but making sure there was enough space between them, he sipped his coffee and watched from the corner of his eyes that she did the same.

After what seemed like an eternity and the suspense was killing him, making him sweat and panic he finally saw her mouth open and words spilled out. But he couldn't understand or hear what she was saying to him except the 'thank you'.

Did I hear her right? Is she here to thank me for rescuing her months ago?

"Lieutenant, please accept my apology for not thanking you earlier but I was not myself at the time," she said as she laid down her cup of coffee on the table in front of them and stared at her hands.

"And...for not telling the truth in your report. I was wrong and I had no right to put your life in danger."

Everything about her, the way she looked, sat and held herself at this moment spoke of sadness and acceptance to him. Yet he could see the endless strength and compassion in her too. He tried asking his brain on what to do. How to talk to her? How to offer her comfort and friendship without having her take it as pity?

Lisa stood up and walked hesitantly toward the door with a heavy heart mixed with relief and embarrassment. When he realized that she was leaving, he quickly sat his cup of coffee down and shot up after her.

"Commander, I accept your apology on one condition."

He saw her stiffened but she turned to face him with a questioning look on her face. He suddenly noticed that her coiled locks had loosened now but they were probably pretty tight when she had started her shift some ten hours ago.

The loosed locks gave her a soft-pretty-look and he could tell also that she was tired-- like someone who had had a long and tiring day, just like him.

"Will you tell me what really happened on Mars?"

He saw her go pale and the color of her eyes changed from a brilliant green to a cloudy dark green. Dull, lifeless and sorrow were the words that screamed into his head when he caught her eyes but she quickly looked away as if looking at him hurt her.

He'd wished he kept his big mouth shut.

What had prompted him to bait her like that and then to pry into her business? Curiosity? A death wish?

No he needed to know if he was ever going to get rid of her tear-stained image hunting him. He stared at her and waited while she stared at the floor and waited.

"I.... my fiancé was stationed there when the base was destroyed eight years ago. He died. The room I was in when you came to rescued me was his," she said softly and he had to really listen to catch every word.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Lisa..."

But she cut him off. "Of course not! Why should it matter to anyone and especially to you of all people? I'm the old sourpuss who is married to duty. I have no life, remember?"

Her sudden outburst stunned him speechless. But it seemed she was the one who was more stunned for she quickly covered her mouth with her right hand to stop any more words from tumbling out and ran out of his quarters with tears streaming down her face.

Dammed!

He raced after her with concern but she was nowhere in sight. Then he remembered.

Minmei's present!

Looking at his watch he saw that it was 2410 hours already.

It's too late. She's never going to talk or see me now. Tomorrow, yes I'll go tomorrow.

Walking back into his quarters he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of regret and an empty void in his heart that he can't seem to make sense of.

His eyes grew heavy and his body felt drained of life, energy and hope. He realized he was going to drop dead on his feet if he didn't make it to his bunk in time.

Lisa... was the last thought he had before exhaustion claimed him.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes