Part 1

Kristin stumbled down the dark dreary streets. Exhausted and hungry she pressed on. Her arms aching as she pulled her precious bundle close to her chest.  In the distant she heard the soft echo of footfalls. Quickly she ducked into the nearest alley.

Shaking with fear she pressed herself closer to the damp wall. Hopefully she was far enough into the shadows to avoid detection.  She couldn't be sure who was coming and with the little life she held tenderly in her arms she wasn't taking any chances.  Slowly she began to rock back and forth to soothe the child and hopefully quell the trembling inside herself.

The footsteps grew louder and seemed to echo in the empty street.  She held her breath as they stopped seemingly at the mouth of the alley.  Voices hushed in whispers came to her on the night breeze.  Which proved they were close, to close for her liking.  A tear rolled down her cheek. She bit her lip to keep back the gasp as the salt from it mixed with the open cut on her cheek.

She closed her eyes mentally willing the men to go away. When a third voice drifted down to her hiding place, she knew they would be there for a while.  His footsteps had been masked by the other men's voices.  His words came to her clearly, almost as if he were standing next to her. Her eyes flew open as soon as the thought appeared in her mind.

Wide frightened eyes searched the darkness. Nothing. She leaned back to listen. The third man's voice was harsh and deep as he scolded the other two.

"I can't believe you two. I assigned you what was suppose to be a simple job and what do you do? You blew it."

A weak frightened voice answered him. "You said she wouldn't put up a fight."

The sound of skin striking skin reverberated through the alley, causing her to pull back further into the safety of the dark.

"All you had to do was grab the baby.  The woman is nothing." a pause. "What went wrong?" An ominous silence followed his question.  The shuffling of feet was the only sound to be heard.  "You couldn't keep your hands off her, could you Tiny?"  The words were spoken softly but carried a deadly undertone that she could detect even from her spot.

"I didn't get you off that rape charge just to have you get yourself back in.  You were the only one who knew that place inside and out.  You let me down Tiny, but even more important you let the boss down. Now what am I suppose to tell her?"

The last man's voice shaky but still strong answered. "You don't have to tell her anything yet. Come on give us another chance." A pause, "we'll find her. I mean she couldn't have gotten far after all she's hurt and carrying the baby."

There was a long moment of silence. "All right, I'll have a few men watch her house and office, though I doubt she'll return there. Also  I'll send men out to her friends houses. You have forty eight hours, Charlie. No more."

Kristin listened along with her two assailants to the mans retreating steps. When they had faded into the blackness of the night, the men began to talk as they walked the other way. "Lets check on some of her friends."

"Yeah but she knows a lot of people, Charlie. Where should we start?"

"With whoever lives near here.  She couldn't..." The voices faded into the distance.  Kristin stayed where she was her heart thudding against her chest as she tired to figure out what to do next. First thing she had to do was get out of the city but where.

The baby in her arms stirred than began to cry quietly. Quickly Kristin pulled open her shirt and brought the baby to her breast. There was a slight tug as the child began to suckle, and in that moment Kristin knew where she had to go. The new Seaquest.

Leaning back against the wall her mind searching for the answers.  How would she get there. She didn't have a car and there was no way she could go back and get hers. They had made sure of that.  Then there was the other problem, the Seaquest 2 had set out on her first tour of duty three months ago. How was she going to find where it was.

She thought of all her friends some still aboard and the others who had... That's it. Katie would know, but... her shoulders slumped, she didn't know how to get a hold of her now that she was Captain of the supertanker.

They had kept in touch the last year in fact Katie had been there for the delivery of the baby. Yet in the last two months they had lost track. Hopelessness filled her as she realized the enormity of what she faced. How was she ever going to make it.

The smacking sound from the baby brought her gaze to its small angelic face. A sad smile crossed her face. The little girl stretched and yawned then nuzzled the breast for more. Kristin pulled down her shirt and placed her daughter on her shoulder.

Gently she patted her back as she softly whispered to her. "That's going to have to hold you over for a while darlin. We need to get out of here while we can."

The only reply to her words was a small burp. Kristin smiled, then bundled the child up tight. There was a chill in the air as she moved toward the street. Glancing both ways she saw no signs of life. Quickly before she lost her nerve she stepped out of the alley and headed off in the direction of the country side.  If luck was with her she could make it to the city limits before dawn. Then she would worry about what to do next.

Nathan nervously paced his new quarters.  He loved this new ship, had been with it from the drawing boards all the way through to it's commissioning three months ago. Now fitted with her crew it felt more like home to him. Yet something was missing.

Carefully he removed a photograph from the album on his desk. He walked over and placed the picture in the imager enhancer slot.  Mist flowed from the top of the holograph as Carol's smiling face came into view.  He shook his head and hit the off button.  Sadly he replaced the picture and closed the album.

Picking it up he moved to put it away, realizing it wasn't Carol he wanted to see. As he did a picture floated to the ground face down.  Bending to retrieve it he carefully turned it over in his hand. There smiling up at him eyes alive mischief was Kristin.

A smile came to his face as he moved to the hologram machine.  Within seconds her smiling face looked out at him.  The white sundress wet and clinging to her body seemed to enhance her beauty.  He remembered the day he had taken it. His thoughts moved back to that day one year ago.

They had both gone their separate ways, her to a job in upper New York state and he had stayed in Hawaii to help build his new ship. They had kept in touch thanks to the vid link.  He had been elated when three months later she had informed him of her visit to Hawaii, and as soon as she was done with her research she would have two weeks off.

He turned to the small cd player in his room and hit the button strands of one his favorite songs played back at him. An oldie from the late seventies by REO Speedwagon entitled Can't fight this feeling. His mind drifted back to that day that now seemed so far away.

They had been on his island for a week, talking about their feelings neither wanting to admit that it went deeper than friendship. They had become close on the Seaquest but due to interruptions and the ultimate destruction of the Seaquest, it had never gone anywhere. Which didn't seem to matter to them, or at least not at the time.

He was still trying to get over Carol, which had taken some time. He still loved her but knew he needed to go on with his life. He took the first step by taking his friend to his island. Neither expected it to go any farther, it was a given that their friendship was more important to them.

He leaned back on the bed and allowed himself to revisit the past.  That day had started out like all the rest. They played with Darwin, then walked around the island discussing different ideas of what to improve and what to add to the new ship. She had jokingly teased him about a room with no vid-link or hologram.  Together their laughter filled the air as both remembered that night and Lucas' untimely entrance.

"Though in our case it seemed to have been for the best."

"Maybe," was all he could think to say.

"Oh come on Nathan be honest. If we had slept together do you think we would be as close as we are now?"

When put that way he had to agree.  They returned to the hut where he broke out the camera.

"What are you going to do with that contraption?"

"I'm going to take your picture. What do you think I'm going to do?"

"I don't think so."  Turning she disappeared into the water.  He sat the camera down. The shot could wait.

Part 2

Three hours later found him sitting on the porch waiting for her to return from her afternoon walk. The sun was beginning to set as she appeared on the beach.  Her white sundress clinging wetly to her body.  A noise from the beach caught her attention and she raised her fist in that direction yelling at Darwin.

She paused slightly facing the sea.  He grabbed the camera and began to focus. Darwin had done his part and from the looks of Her a little more. Now it was up to him.

He hesitated as he glanced through the lens. The wet dress clung seductively to her body, as the wind gently swept her hair off to the side. The full impact of her beauty hit him as she turned toward him.

Through the lens he saw her roll her eyes at him. Then he snapped the camera but not before noticing the look in her brown eyes. As he lowered the camera he knew she was up to something. He knew how she felt about having her picture taken, jumping up he ran into the hut looking for a place to hide the camera.

The cd player was still playing oldies songs as he raced for the bed. He laid across the bed and shoved the camera as far back as he could.  He felt something brush his leg. Turning he found her standing at the edge between his feet with a bucket of water in her hands.

"Oh you wouldn't dare."

"I want the camera, Nathan."

"Kristin its just a picture." She raised the bucket a gleam in her eyes. She cocked her head to one side and listened to the words that were playing, a slow smile spread across her lips as the words played. `I can't fight this feeling any longer, and yet I'm still afraid to let it flow. What started out as friendship has grown stronger. I only wish I had the strength to let it show.'

"At least you have good taste in music."

He briefly wondered if the picture was worth a soaking. Seeing her in front of him with the front of her dress soaked and decided. Yes, it definitely was.  The song played on.
 

`I told myself that I can't hold out forever.
I say there is no reason for my fear.
Cause I feel so secure when were together.
You give my life direction,
you make everything so clear.'
 

However he resolved he wouldn't be the only one getting drenched. He bent his right knee, his calve connected with her knees.  With a quick flip of his arm he sent the bucket flying over her shoulder.  In a instant he knew he had put too much force behind it as she began to fall backwards. He grabbed her flaying hand and pulled.

All ready off balance the force of his tug brought her falling in his direction. The impact of her body forced him flat on the bed. For a jarring second they both gasped for air.

She raised her head and their eyes met and locked.  The heat from her body felt like liquid fire against his.  He raised his head and gently pressed his lips to hers.  When she didn't pull away he let the kiss deepen. The words from the song played on.
 

`And I can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what I started fighting for.
and if I have to crawl upon the floor.
come crashing through the door.
Baby I can't fight this feeling anymore.'
 

A soft moan escaped her lips as he gently pulled away. His eyes opened and met brown eyes full of passion and desire, and something else that quickly disappeared as she brought her head down toward him.

Without another thought of what he had seen in her eyes, he captured her mouth with his. He could feel the fire burning inside him as his hands roamed over her body. He rolled over his hands holding her close to him and looked down at her parted lips. Gently he traced them with his fingers then trailed them down her neck. He followed the trail his hands made with his lips.

They had spent the rest of the night and most of the next day exploring these new feelings.  The week seemed to have flown by and before they new it it was time to leave. They had promised to keep in touch.

He opened his eyes and sat up in the bed. She had kept her promise and had called him three or four times during the next twelve months, but he had been so busy with the ship that he never had time to talk with her. Then she had stopped calling altogether.

He had looked for her at the commissioning ceremony, but she wasn't there. Now he wished he had taken the time to talk with her. He had tried to get in touch with her two weeks ago but no one knew where she was. It was like she had disappeared into nothing.  He looked over at the calendar noticing the date for the first time.

He stood and reached out for the button on the hologram. "One year ago we were just discovering each other. Where are you now?" With a heavy heart he turned it off. The music filling the room only made him regret the time he had wasted on the ship. For now he knew what was missing but not what to do about it.

He had a feeling something was wrong and it was only intensified by the fact that her machine should have at least picked up. Unless she had moved. A long sigh filled the room as he turned in for the night. "Where are you Kristin?"
 

`My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you.
I've been running round in circles in my mind.
And it always seems that i'm following you girl.
Cause you take me to the places that I thought I'd never find.
And even as I wonder, I'm keeping you in sight.
Your a candle in the window on a cold dark winter's night.
And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might.
And I can't fight this feeling anymore.'
 

Nathan reached over and stopped the tape. Sleep was the last thing on his mind but he knew he couldn't keep worrying about her. For all he knew she may just not want to talk to him.  Still his mind wouldn't let him rest until the wee hours of the morning.

Torments of rain pummeled the ground as Kristin fought with Charlie and Tim. Kicking and biting she managed to pull free. Grabbing her precious bundle she fled. The rain aiding in her escape. Wet, cold and bleeding she disappeared into the woods.

She couldn't believe the way her luck was going. Three days ago she had managed to leave the city unnoticed. Then the rain had come slowing her progress. Hugging the baby closer she ran on, knowing that the men were somewhere close behind her.  She tripped over a root, cutting her hand in the fall. Biting her lip she pushed herself to her feet and ran on.

She felt the cough building up inside her and tried to muffle the sound with her hand. "Damn the rain," she knew she had pneumonia. Her only hope was that the baby wouldn't get it to. That and the rain would stop. She had sought shelter in a barn last night and then the men had come. Now she was back out in the rain, trying to get far enough ahead of them to get some help. The only problem was finding someone who would help her without asking questions.

Stumbling along she continued to move toward the west coast and Nathan. Tears ran unnoticed down her cheeks as the rain lashed out violently.  Lightening flashed across the sky and she gazed out across empty farm land. It was tornado season in the midwest. The thoughts ran through her mind as she exited the woods.  However, if luck was on her side, she might be able to make it without running into one.

Luck was against her this night for two hours later, golfball sized hail forced her to seek shelter. Tucking the baby close she bent forward and ran toward the road. A loud roar in the distant brought her head up. In horror she stared at the black funnel cloud twisting its way in her direction.  Lightening lit the sky and the surrounding area enough for her to make out a shallow ditch five feet in front of her.

With all her strength she ran, sliding into the ditch as the twister moved closer. She laid the baby on the ground and covered her with her body. Knowing that it would be a futile move if the tornado came to close.

The ground shook under her and the roar became a mighty thundering. She felt the winds grab at her, causing her to tighten her grip on the baby and on the grass she was clinging so desperately to.

Slowly the winds died down along with the noise. Within an hour the rains stopped. Leaving a cool breeze and miles of destruction. With trembling hands she scooped up her daughter and moved on.

An hour later she slipped quietly through the trees till she found a small creek. Exhausted she fell to her knees. A shiver ran through her as she fed the baby. Unable to continue Kristin laid back and fell into a fitful sleep. Her daughter tucked safely beside her.

Bright sunshine shone through the half drawn curtains as Steven climbed out of bed. The smell of fresh coffee and bacon drifted up to greet him. He smiled as he thought of his wife of sixty-five years. Every morning she had awoken first and would wait until it breakfast was almost done cooking before she came for him. He stretched and moved toward the window. Gazing out he shook his head in sorrow.