The BLTS Archive- Salvation
by monkee (wiecek@earthlink.net)

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Disclaimers: Sigh. Paramount owns Star Trek Voyager and all of its
characters.

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I remember being a complete smart-ass when she found me at Auckland.
Of course, how could I have known that was to be a pivotal moment in
my life? When I look back on it, though, the memory is infused with
significance -- the way she stood over me, with the sun behind her,
like some kind of angel of redemption.  It sounds corny as hell, but
it's true.

I began to think that she really needed to know.  If there's one thing
I've learned over the years, it's that it's important to acknowledge
things -- important not to leave things unspoken.  So last night I
went to see her.

She was alone, of course. Reading reports, of course.  And everything
about her mutely suggested loneliness and burden -- the soft music she
had playing, the candle lit for one, the pile of PADDs, the hollow
look in her eyes.  I felt like I was intruding, but she welcomed me
in.  Got me some coffee.

And I just told her.  It wasn't smooth, or poetic -- I just blurted
out what she'd done for me, what I owed her, how grateful I was, and
would always be.

She cried, just a little bit.  She hugged me.  She thanked me.  And
that was it.

But I've been thinking about it all day.  I'm not exaggerating when I
say she saved my life.

Who's going to save hers?

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The End