Linda thinks about it as another visitor stops by.

My head was still lost in a daze of possibilities when there was a chirp at the door. My heart skipped thinking it was Isa coming over for a more intimate visit. "Come in." I called out a little nervously. Kari's head poked in and I exhaled softly. She smiled when she saw me and I smiled back at her.

"How're you doing?" Kari asked with light-hearted playfulness.

I slumped in my chair and sighed, "Not exactly at my best right now, Kari," I admitted.

She dropped her smile and sat at the table in front of me. "Well, if it's worth anything to you... what you did back then... well, you saved my life..." she replied, curling her lips for a small grin.

I grinned back, feeling a little proud of being able to help her like I did. I shrugged. "Anyone would have done it..." I said.

"No they wouldn't have!" Kari responded right away, leaning forward to extenuate her point, "I was standing in front of everyone with a disrupter to my head and you were the only one to step up and try to do something about it!" I looked down, thinking back at the moment. My friend was in danger and I did what I could to save her. I was just the first one to do it... Jenny would have done something if I wasn't there... she's the more daring one. I just acted first. I didn't want to seem appear indifferent to her gratitude though.

"Well... maybe they would have figured out something a little less embarrassing to distract the guards..." I admitted.

Kari smirked and let out a giggle, "That was kind of wild what you did, huh?"

I planted my face on the table, "Everybody saw! I made a slut of myself in front of the whole crew!"

"Well, not the WHOLE crew..."

"Still as bad!"

"Listen..." Kari lifted up my head so she could look into my eyes. "You saved my life and put your self esteem on the line to do it. I'll never forget that." She leaned in and kissed me. We stayed like that for a long moment before she released my lips. I gasped softly and gazed over to her as if noticing she was there for the first time, "I owe you big for what you did... I don't know how I'll ever pay you back, but I will..."

"Kari, we're friends, we look out for one another. You don't have to pay me back for anything." I replied.

"Oh, but I want to..." Kari said, as she crawled up on my desk and leaned in for another kiss.