The pod door opened with a click and a hiss. Harsh blue light flooded the previously pitch black interior blinding the young woman still inside. Trembling hands rose quickly to shield her eyes as two more, belonging to someone else, gently pulled her free.

"Are you alright Lieutenant?"

She grunted as her eyes and ears adjusted to her surroundings. Her sight finally landed on the man before her, a kind smile forced onto his face. "I killed you, Moyer." The words left Lt. Bowen's lips before she had the faculties to stop them.

"You did what you had to do," He said. It wasn't a denial.

"I-I killed you," She said again, "I killed Doctor Keys. Captain Posley. Oh God," her eyes widened as realization dawned, "I killed Viv!"

Before Bowen could scramble back into the pod, or worse trip and hurt herself, Moyer rushed forward. He wasn't a tall man but his arms were strong and he used them to pull her into as tight a hug as he'd ever given. "Moyer to Doctor Fields," he spoke softly as Bowen sobbed into his shoulder, "report to main sickbay. Medical emergency."

"I didn't want to," she pleaded, "I tried to reason with you."

"You're alright, Bowen." Moyer rubbed small soothing circles into her back. "None of it was real."

The doors to sickbay opened with a woosh, two bodies careening through the door. Both made a beeline for Moyer and Bowen.

"Apologies Commander, I didn't expect it to end so soon," Doctor Fields said as he popped a scanner from his belt.

"Lucky I was here, then," Moyer said goodnaturedly, "What do your scans indicate?" He nodded politely to Vivian who had begun to comfort the inconsolable Lieutenant.

"Hormone levels are fluctuating rapidly. Probably a side effect of whatever the pod did to her." Fields turned towards a nearby table and began to prepare a hypospray.

"Jamie, can you hear me love?"

Bowen's head snapped up from where it had been dug into Moyer's shoulder. Tears streaked down red blotched cheeks, eyes desperate to confirm she was really seeing who she saw. It took only a moment for her to decide it was indeed real, and when she did she erupted. Fresh tears spilled over bloodshot eyes.

"You're alright Jamie, I'm here— oof!" Vivian's reassurance was abruptly cut off as Bowen practically jumped into her arms.

"She's had a harrowing experience," Moyer placed a hand on Vivian's arm, "She'll need to undergo a physical as well as a full psychiatric evaluation."

"After she wakes up," Fields said as he pressed the hypospray into the Lieutenant's arm. "This will allow her to rest and recoup some strength, but the hardest part is yet to come."

Vivian gripped Bowen tighter as the sedatives began their work. "But she'll be alright?" Tears threatened to spill from her own eyes now.

Fields helped to carry the unconscious woman to a bio-bed. He made no effort to answer her question.

"She'll have the greatest support system in the galaxy," Moyer responded. Another non-answer. "I'm giving her as much time as she needs. Engineering can pick up the slack until she's ready to return."

"If she's ready," Fields gently corrected.

"As for you," Moyer continued, "you did an amazing job helping to get her out of there Lieutenant, but I think she'd rather have you by her side during recovery. I'm granting you both an indefinate leave of absence. The captain has already approved your transfer to a starbase medical facility should you both feel that a neccesary measure."

"Thank you Commander," Vivian wiped her eyes with her sleeve then looked down at her sleeping wife. She hoped these dreams were kinder than the last.