Part 1: Chase & Sylvia

San Diego, California

January 21, 2004

Dr. Takani,

            Due to the high success and encouragement of previous Civilian Physician Outreach Programs, we have extended the program's length from four weeks to eight weeks. The extension had been underway weeks prior to your arrival at your assigned station, finalized as of last week. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Arrangements have already been made with the appropriate parties for this transition to occur.

            We hope that you enjoy your extended stay. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

LTCDR Jean Mason

USN Region SW Medical Division

            Megumi Takani's mouth parted in shock after reading the letter.

            Eight weeks? Eight weeks? They were kidding. She looked to the sky, shaking her head. She'd been in San Diego for two weeks and already she was missing the balmy weather, the tropical nights…and wearing sandals outside.

            Although, she had to admit, she was enjoying her time in San Diego. It was so different than Honolulu. Her neighborhood bordered Balboa Park, a lush, green stretch of acres near downtown that held museums, a community center, a zoo, a performance theater, and the naval hospital. Cream-colored houses with rich, red Spanish-tile roofs surrounded the park. Several homes contained single stories, other buildings were two stories with large windows forming the higher floors. Tall, towering palm trees reached the sky, not only lining the streets, but providing excellent places of rest in the park.

            As she unlocked the front door of the multiplex she was staying in, her phone rang. Megumi tried to remove her key from the lock.

            "Shoot…"

            She turned and yanked slightly. No good.

            Then the machine picked up. Her short and simple greeting filled her living room before the blaring beep went off. The minute she was able to remove her key.

            "Hey, Megs, it's Misao," an enthusiastic teenage voice said. "I just wanted to tell you that-"

            Megumi hurried over to pick up the handset. "Misao, it's me."

            "Megs! Hey! I wasn't sure if you'd be home from work!"

            "I just got in. How's everything?"

            "Great!" Misao exclaimed. "I just got a car, it's a Corolla S…it's so cute!"

            Megumi smiled. Misao's energy seemed to be bouncing through the phone line. "That's wonderful. Are you able to drive it yet, or does your dad still have to deal with insurance?"

            "Oh, he took care of it before we even went to the dealership."

            "What color is it?"

            "It's like a bronze, gold, champagne color. Whatever that's supposed to mean. Anyway, so how are you?"

            "I'm good," Megumi admitted. "It's about twenty degrees colder out here…"

            "I'll bet."

            Megumi held her breath. For the last two weeks since she had been in San Diego, Misao called a few times a week. And every time, Megumi always had the same question to ask. She partially dreaded hearing the answer. Being away from Hawaii had helped a little. It had gotten her mind off things, at least for a little while. She had so many memories of Hawaii.

            "Aoshi's remembering more," Misao offered, sensing what she didn't want to ask. "I think he's at the point during his recovery after he got shot during his last mission with NIS."

            Megumi took a breath, closing her eyes. Her boyfriend, Misao's legal guardian, had amnesia since New Year's Day. He hadn't been able to recall events of the last three years…the most recent year including their time together. It had been hard on a lot of people. The waiting was really the most difficult part.

            "He was pretty shocked about the gunshot thing…it took him a while to get used to that…he didn't have any memories after that for almost a week…" Misao went on. Misao's voice shook slightly.

            It was an incident not many people close to the family wanted to remember. Aoshi had been on a mission and had received three bullets to the chest while protecting his junior officer. He had been in a coma for a few days before he finally woke up. That incident had given him the motivation to quit Naval Investigative Services and transfer to another division within Naval Intelligence Operations. But it had taken him well over two months to recover after receiving blows to the chest.

            "He'll remember soon, Megs," Misao encouraged. The seventeen-year-old had faith in her guardian.

            Megumi and Aoshi hadn't always gotten along. She had been Misao's physician at first…and had interfered with one of Aoshi's early cases when he first came to Pearl Harbor, where they lived. Where she had been living not too long ago. Tension had existed between them for months until Megumi and Misao had become closer friends. Aoshi and Megumi had gotten to know each other, and after seeing suitable attractive qualities in each other, they began dating. And somewhere down the line, they had fallen in love. Much to Misao's delight. She had dropped so many hints that she wanted Aoshi married before she graduated college. But after seeing how well the relationship was going, she was pushing the date much earlier. They'd had disagreements, time apart, like most couples, but they were always able to work through their problems.

            "How's he doing?"

            "Fine," Misao answered. Then she lowered her voice. "I think he misses you."

            "What makes you say that?" Megumi frowned. "He only remembers me when we weren't getting along."

            "There's a picture of you in his wallet that I've never seen in his wallet before," Misao giggled. "I found it when he told me to take some money out for the pizza delivery guy a couple days ago."

            Megumi smiled ruefully. Even if that was the case, she was a couple thousand miles away. It wasn't as if anything could be done. In a way, the trip had been good medicine. She'd needed to get away for a bit…see another place on her own…be outside Honolulu.

            "What about his work?"

            "Commander Saitou told him to come back when he's ready. Jerk," Misao growled.  

            Megumi blinked. "Isn't that a good thing?"

            "Not the way he said it," Misao argued, while Megumi tried to hold in her laughter. While Misao obviously disliked her father's commanding officer, Megumi knew that Commander Saitou's bark was much worse than his bite. "Commander Saitou also asked me where you were. His wife hadn't seen you around at work, and she didn't know that you joined that physician program."

            "Did you tell him?"

            "Yeah. He was surprised you went." Misao's tone brightened. "Anyway, I can't wait until you come back. Kaoru and-"

            "Misao," Megumi cut in, biting her lower lip.

            "Yeah?"

            "I won't be back until March."

            Dead silence greeted her on the other line.

            "What?" Misao whispered.

            "I just found out today…" Megumi replied, feeling guilty for disappointing the teen. "They're extending the program so that it lasts for eight weeks instead of four."

            "That sucks!!" Misao exclaimed. "Kaoru and I were planning your welcome home party!!"

            At the mention of their other female friend six years Misao's senior and five years Megumi's junior, Megumi smiled. "How's she doing?"

            "Great. Don't change the subject, Megs. Why are you staying until March? Did they say why?"

            "I guess they had planned that from the beginning…they just weren't able to finalize it until I already got here. It's still technically work, so I don't exactly have a choice. I wish to get paid, I have to show up."

            "All right…" Misao sighed. "I guess. I've got some homework to do, so I'll call you in a couple days."

            "I'll talk to you then."

            "Bye, Megs!"

            "Bye, Misao."

            Megumi hung up, releasing a breath. She was happy to know that Aoshi was recovering. And that life was somewhat normal back at Pearl Harbor.

            The phone rang shrilly, interrupting her thoughts.

            "Hello?"

            "Megumi Takani?" a female voice spoke up.

            "Yes?"

            "Hi, this is Sun and Star Radio. You've just won two free tickets to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, a month long voucher to see all concerts and events at Cox Arena, and dinner for two at The Prado in Balboa Park for filling out our questionnaire one week ago at your local shopping mall."

            Megumi never won contests. "Is this a joke?"

            "No, ma'am, no joke. I just need to verify your information here…and tomorrow, if you could come to our offices at any time convenient for you with a valid ID, we can give you those tickets."

            "Tickets?"

            "Yes, ma'am."

            "All…All right…"

            It took a couple minutes for Megumi to provide information needed. Then she hung up, staring at the ceiling. She won tickets. She could actually go out. She had things to do. She never won contests. Working and attending conferences at Balboa Hospital had kept her so busy. The only time she had ever gone out and done something unusual was her first Friday night in San Diego…one of the young Navy nurses had taken her to downtown to see the nightlife. They'd literally hopped from one bar, jazz club, dance club to the other. The nurse was friends with all the bouncers. Megumi needed to share the news with someone.

            Immediately, she grabbed her keys and locked her door behind her, leaving her Spanish roof-tiled multiplex and heading to a duplex two buildings down. She quickly knocked on the front door of the first unit.

            No answer.

            She quickly knocked again.

            And again.

            "Chase, are you there?"

            Then rang the doorbell this time.

            Then knocked.

            The door flew open to reveal a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing dark blue jeans and a long sleeved gray shirt. His dark brown hair was cut short and tight around his neck and ears, still damp from a recent shower.  

            His grass green eyes looked at her in mild annoyance and surprise. "Megumi? What…?"

            "Hi," she greeted with a smile. "Can I come in?"

            He cleared his throat and turned away. "Yeah. I thought some emergency was going on."

            "Sorry," she smiled again.

            "Come on in."

            His phone went off.

            "I'll get that and be right back," he told her.

            Megumi stepped inside his unit. "Take your time…"     

~

            After a brief phone conversation with his sister, Chase Tyler walked out into his living room.

            His beautiful neighbor down the street…and the woman of his latest fantasies…was looking at a flight manual he'd left on the glass coffee table, while she settled onto his black velvet couch. Megumi hadn't dressed out of her work clothes yet, but he noticed that she had taken the pins out of the twist her hair was always in for work. Her black hair fell like silk around her oval face and around her shoulders.

            He instantly recalled when they first met. Two weeks ago, she had been going for a morning walk when a moving trailer filled with rambunctious surfer boy college kids nearly ran her over. He had tackled her out of the way, breaking her fall by letting himself hit the ground. When disorientation had passed, they both found themselves in a compromising position – her nearly straddling his lower region. She'd been slightly embarrassed, but had shrugged off the incident with a flirty remark. He'd been surprised. And immediately interested.

            The next morning, she had been watching a hula troupe practice in the park. And he had been giving a fencing lesson to the son of one his fellow squadron members. The kid's last lesson before he moved to college. Upon recognizing him, Megumi had been interested in learning. So for fifty dollars until she left San Diego, they had lessons every day for two hours, except Saturday and Sunday, when lessons went to four hours, each day. She caught on fast.

            Being her instructor had given him the chance to get to know her. He found out that she was a civilian doctor employed at the nearby naval hospital, and she was new to San Diego. They became friends fast, and occasionally went out to dinner after work. It didn't hurt that her landlords and his dad were old friends. Maybe the kooky, but well-meaning old couple put in a good word for him.

            However, she hadn't responded to any of his signs, so he assumed that she wasn't interested. Come to think of it…he didn't even know if she had a boyfriend. No ring indicated she was single, but was she available? She never said anything about her personal life. Still, he enjoyed being in her company.

            "What's up?" he asked.

            She looked up. "Do you know Sun and Star Radio?"

            He frowned, settling on the other side of the couch. "Yeah. They give out tickets to parks, restaurants, and other stuff once a month to people who fill out surveys at the mall."

            Megumi's eyes widened. "Really?"

            "Why?"

            "Because they just called me. I won their contest. I never win contests. I just have to come by tomorrow and pick up tickets."

            This time Chase's eyes widened. "What did you win?"

            She pursed her lips in thought. "Zoo tickets, Sea World tickets, dinner at The Prado…" She smiled slightly. "Want to go?"

            That was her big hurry to bust his door down? Because she had won a contest? Ah well. At least she had gone off to tell him. He was probably one of the few people she actually knew since she had gotten to San Diego. "Sure. Let me know which one we're going to. So what are you doing tonight?"

            She elegantly rose to her feet. "I was going to make some dinner. I don't feel like going out."

            "Hmm. Can I come? I'm too lazy to cook." He grinned.

            Megumi sighed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "I guess."

            "Thanks." Chase retrieved his wallet and keys, flight manual tucked under his arm and they stepped outside his unit.

            "I just got a letter from the Medical Division," she announced as they began the short walk to her multiplex.

            "And?"

            "I'm going to be here for another six weeks."

            That was interesting. He thought for sure that the program only lasted four weeks. Not that he was complaining. "Why the change?"

            "It's the Navy. How many times does something always go the way they predict?" she commented wryly.

            He could agree. How many times had he been overseas for six months…which became nine? "I hear you on that."

            As they got into the small courtyard of the complex, Sylvia MacGregor, her landlady, caught their attention with a wave.

            Chase couldn't help but smile at her outfit. Sylvia had been a nurse in the Navy during her younger years, but she liked to think she'd had a wild side. Which would explain the velvet red dress and feather boa.

            "Megumi, dear!" she called out.

            "Hi, Sylvia," Megumi greeted with a smile.

            The woman turned a smile on him. "Always nice to see you, Chase…"

            "Ma'am," he responded with a smile.

            The petite woman patted her graying hair before waving a thick padded envelope in her hand. "I told the mailman that I'd hold this for you since it couldn't fit in your mailbox…"

            The envelope was a standard ten by thirteen, a photograph envelope from the looks of it. Megumi accepted it from the woman's outstretched hand.

            "From Hawaii, your home, right?" Sylvia asked.

            "Right…" Megumi tore open the flap to pull out two sheets of thin white cardboard.

            Loopy cursive was written across the front in permanent green marker…

            'Megumi, From Auntie Kyoko's latest luau. We miss you. Your family in Hawaii.'

            "Kaoru…" Megumi murmured. Was that a person? he wondered. Friend? Relative? Then she separated the cardboard, which was actually a photo frame, gasping at the sight of a glossy photograph anchored in the center.

            Chase and Sylvia leaned closer to examine the photograph of seven people all at what appeared to be around a table at a…luau.

            "What a wonderful gift," Sylvia exclaimed. "Is this your family, dear?"

            Megumi smiled. "Yes…"

            Sylvia's blue eyes assessed the photograph even more. "Now let's see…this older gentleman here must be your father…"

            Megumi laughed. "That's right."

            "He's so dignified-looking…And these two women…"

            "Are my aunts," Megumi answered proudly before giving the older woman a grateful look. "Thank you, Sylvia, I'm going to hang this in my living room…"

            "You're welcome. What a lovely family you have," Sylvia commented. "You must miss them so much…"

            Megumi's brown eyes strayed to the photograph. "Yes, I do…"

            He briefly wondered why he and Sylvia had never heard of Megumi's family. This was the first time they actually knew she had one. While Megumi seemed friendly enough to them, it was obvious that she was a very private person. Not that it mattered to him. What she wanted to share was her business, after all.

A/N: *grins* I love men freshly showered. And I'm very evil, I know…for having Megumi's stay become longer. It's a lil stretch from what could happen in real life, but don't sue me for that. =P There's a reason for her long stay. Well…several reasons.