this week's word is
Different

Remember, Ripples isn't too far away. Get a story started and find yourself a beta!

Kim

"So, did all those different pieces out of time make you wish you'd done anything differently?" Kathryn leaned back on the couch next to Chakotay sipping her cider.

"One or two things crossed my mind."

"Don't tell me. You'd have stopped me sooner when Ransom was killing those aliens. Right?"

"Maybe, but that isn't what I was thinking."

"Oh? Tell me." Kathryn's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Remember when we got the messages through that array the Hirogens were using?"

"How could I forget? A 'dear John' letter was the last thing I expected."

"You asked me what you should do, whether you should hold fast to protocol. I'd change my response."

"Really? What would you do?"

"I'd pull you into my arms, kiss you, then tell you to hold fast to me."

Kathryn wasn't sure how to respond. "That's different all right. Anything else you'd do differently?"

"You remember that life form that thought Voyager was a rival and your comment about mating behavior?"

"Vaguely."

"Well, I'd like to go back and do something to respond to your comment."

"Like what?"

"Volunteer to give you a demonstration – not on the bridge, of course."

"I detect a pattern to the things you'd do differently."

"What about you? Would you do anything differently if you could?"

Kathryn turned to eye Chakotay then nodded slowly. "I'd change one thing."

"Go on. I told you what I would do differently."

"Back on New Earth – I'd forget about parameters and try to teach the angry warrior about love."

Chakotay carefully placed his glass on the table, then took Kathryn's and put it next to his. "That warrior is still willing to learn, Kathryn."

Kathryn tilted her head up as he lowered his head. "I'll glad that's one thing that isn't any different."

I can sure see this happening as I read it.

Good job D.

Jadie

"Hey B'Elanna," Tom called down the corridor.

B'Elanna stopped and turned around, "Hey you,"

Tom grinned, "So, have you seen the Captain today?"

B'Elanna blinked a few times, "Um, what? The Captain?"

"Yeah, you know, the Captain. She tends to give all the orders around here,"

"Ha ha, funny helmboy. No I have not seen the Captain today. Why?"

Tom suddenly clamed up, "Oh, I just thought that you might have run into her at some point today,"

"What's going on Paris?"

Tom shrugged his shoulders and started to walk away, "There's something a little different about her today, that's all,"

Tom walked around B'Elanna and carried on down the corridor, "Like what?" she called after him.

"Just something different," he said without looking back.

B'Elanna watched him saunter away. She shook her head and walked away, thinking that whatever it was must be part of Tom's overactive imagination.

It wasn't until early in the afternoon when Kathryn walked into engineering. At first B'Elanna didn't see what was supposed to be different about Kathryn and it wasn't until Kathryn was stood talking to her and pointed to the console that B'Elanna noticed it.

Her mouth hung open as she quickly grabbed Kathryn's hand, "Oh my God," she whispered.

Kathryn blushed slightly but couldn't stop the grin that was fighting onto her face. B'Elanna was still holding her hand. She looked at Kathryn with a demanding look in her eyes.

"Is there something that matter Lieutenant?" Kathryn asked innocently.

"Where did you get that ring?" B'Elanna breathed.

Kathryn let out a very un-Captain like giggle, "Let's just say that there are going to be a few differences around here," she said.

Okay, I don't know how it happened, but it did. It's a Stargate fic so if you don't want to read one of those then stop reading this now.
It also has major spoilers for Heroes Part II in it, so if you don't want to read about that read no further.
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THE HERO

Everything was different without her. That small but spirited woman would never again draw a breath. She was gone for good, yet it seemed so unreal.

Daniel had barely registered Sam's speech at the funeral. He was too busy replaying those awful moments after Janet had been hit. He had been kneeling right beside her, mere inches away. It could have been him had he seen it coming.

He'd killed the offending Jaffa immediately, but it didn't change the fact that his best friend was gone. No, not a friend, he amended, more than that. She was someone he owed so much to. She was someone he had begun feeling more than those of a friend.

What had he said to Bregman? "I owed so much more to her than I ever gave back." Yeah, that was it, and it was true. He could almost hear the "I wish...I regret..." just beneath the surface of those words. He had just now realized how much he felt for her.

All of a sudden, Daniel felt this warm sensation, an inexplicable feeling, well up inside him. In that instant, he knew she was watching over him and that she knew how he felt. If there was such a thing as heaven, she was up there...somewhere...smiling down upon him. Her light would still shine even though her body now lay cold.

A smile found its way to his lips. Something told him that everything would be all right. Even with this loss, they would all survive and get through this.

It was then that Daniel thought of all the men and women who had died serving their country. Doctor Janet Fraiser was one of those many and that was what he would remember her for. Heroes weren't something only little kids who read comic books dreamed about. They were a reality.

Heroes had saved many lives in their sacrifices. Heroes had left behind family and friends. Heroes had given their all so others might live a brighter tomorrow. They were courageous in the face of mortal danger. They stood and fought for what they believed in.

Janet had died saving a man's life. She had given her life for another in a way, and he had been there to see it all. It was truly an act of honor even though it was a tragedy, a loss that no one would ever be able to forget.

Yes, it would be different. Living his live would be different. Everything would be different. Now that Daniel thought about it, different would be so bad after all. Sure different would mean without Janet. Different would mean so many things.

One thing Daniel would do differently in the future would be to live each day to the fullest. Different would mean that he would honor his dear doctor every year at her grave. Different. No, it wouldn't be so bad after all.

~FIN~

That was very good Mlle Lambert I enjoyed it very much. :D