"Activate!" Joanna went down to assist in the teleportation of their guest and greet him. When Pierre Lafayette materialized, she saw a tall, elderly man. Physically, he didn't look all that much like his clone. He had the same muscular yet slender built but the age was starting to show in his facial features. Silver beard with sideburns and a moustache gave him sort of a mountain man look.
"Welcome aboard the Atlantis, Professor," Joanna said with a smile. "I am Doctor Kruk and I will be taking care of you..."
"Yvonne!" he whispered, looking at her with wild eyes, and paled terribly.
"Sir, are you alright? Sir!" She jumped up to help him, afraid that he was about to faint.
"Uhm... yes... yes, forgive me," he regained control as she led him down from the teleporter platform. "I just... you reminded me so much of someone I once knew but... oh, it was decades ago! I felt like I saw a ghost!" He managed a weak smile.
"And you looked like you saw one," Joanna agreed, relieved. "You got me worried there for a moment."
"I'm all right, thank you. And... oh, you don't need to support me so much," he chuckled, trying to free himself from her grip. "I'm not that crippled yet..."
"I'm sorry..." Joanna withdrew but he held her arm and wrapped it around his own instead.
"Now, there's nothing wrong with walking me," he scolded her gently. "Good. So, what did you say your name was?" he asked as they walked out of the teleporter cabin.
"Joanna Kruk, Sir."
"Joanna... and you'll be taking care of me?"
"Yes..."
"Well, how about we start with a dinner tonight?" he looked into her eyes.
"Actually, Sir, I was going to invite you to the captain's table. My husband is dying to meet you."
"Your... husband?" She felt him tense a little.
"Yes. Captain Pierre," she replied, patiently. "The android with your genome."
"You are his wife..."
* * *
When Lafayette was left alone in his quarters, he sat heavily on the chair. The sweeping sound of the door closing behind Joanna washed away the playful smile from his face.
*So, she is his wife...* he thought to himself. *How ironic is that?*
He had expected to meet Pierre, when Admiral Tarr told him she had a surprise for him. Indeed, it was very kind of her to send one of the Fleet diplomatic ships for him but it was a favor she insisted on doing. He didn't however, expect to meet almost the exact replica of his wife…
He reached out and took his bag. He had to turn it inside out before he found what he was looking for. With a sigh, he finally took out an outdated virtual image. He held it inactive in front of his eyes for a long while, hesitating. It must have been... what? Over a hundred years since he last looked at it. He didn't want to do it to himself but... hesitantly, he pressed a little switch. The image that appeared on the screen was of a young woman, a girl almost. Lafayette gasped.
"Yvonne..." he whispered to the portrait, resembling Doctor Joanna Kruk so much.
Lafayette sat, staring at the image for a long while, before he put it away. As a doctor, he knew perfectly well that in his condition, any amount of alcohol could be lethal. But he had to stop the tears running down from his eyes somehow and this seemed like the only way. He took his bag again and fumbled for the bottle of his best red dry one he was carrying with him. He had planned to open it only to celebrate his recovery but... he removed the cork and poured himself a glass.
*To old farts,* he raised a contemptuous toast to himself and gulped it all at once. The wine warmed him slowly from the inside but he was still shaking. He poured another glass, with an evil grin on his face, and swallowed again, without tasting.
He leaned heavily on the desk and just sat there, staring at the empty computer monitor in front of him. That woman... Joanna, she seemed so... kind and caring. And she was so lovely. So much like Yvonne... oh, why on Earth did it have to happen to him?! He didn't notice at first, when his breathing became erratic and forced. Only after a while, he felt a surge of pain in his chest.
*Great,* he thought. *Now I should just die on her. Would that be pathetic or what?*
With growing effort, he reached out for the medical scanner that was laying in front of him, among all the other stuff he had thrown out there from his bag. He opened it and scanned himself. The readings didn't look well.
*Well, what did I expect?* he scolded himself. *Two glasses of wine were... Oooh!* he suddenly felt very tired. So tired, that taking a pressure injector with cardiodamine ready to use from the desk seemed like a an enormous task. Lafayette was so tempted to just close his eyes and let it all go. His eyelids felt so heavy... It would be so great just to relax and let things happen... No, he couldn't.  He remembered Yvonne's eyes. Dark, lovely and so caring... or was it Joanna's eyes? He fought the growing weakness and slowly moved his hand towards the injector. He needed to rest. He desperately needed to rest, but he knew it was treacherous. He moaned with pain but managed to draw the syringe closer. One more effort and he was holding it in his shaky hand. It seemed too heavy for him to lift so he bent over and almost fell on the desk. Somehow, he managed to put it to his neck and press the trigger. The sound of decompression was the last thing he heard before he lost consciousness. 

Lafayette woke up to an unfamiliar sound. It took him a moment to realize this was the ship's internal comm system. He raised his head from the desk, still feeling a little dizzy, and tapped on the icon. Doctor Kruk's sweet eyes smiled at him from the monitor, and he felt his heart race.
"Good evening, Professor," she said. "Are you all right?" she added with a worried look.
Lafayette cursed himself for turning the vision on but returned her smile.
"Just a little tired, my dear Doctor," he told her. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you could join us for dinner," she explained. "But we can put it off, if you're not feeling well..."
"Oh, no, not at all! I'll be happy to meet you and your husband. Just give me a few minutes to refresh..."
"We'll be glad to wait, Sir," Joanna nodded. "Please, take your time. When you're ready, just ask the computer for directions."
"Thank you..."
* * *
"Hmm... I must admit I didn't expect to be pampered so much," Pierre Lafayette put on a smile, seeing the assorted Italian and Irradi dishes on the table.
"I guess it's only natural, Sir," Pierre nodded in reply. We probably have more in common than just culinary tastes... I love all things Italian, provided that they are with tomatoes, not spinach and I can eat anything except for a..."
"Pizza!" they said in unison and laughed out loud.
"It's a little more complicated than that," Lafayette remarked, helping himself to a decent portion of lasagna bolonese. "Even when it comes to cuisine. It is my field of expertise so don't let me bore you to death with long lectures," he warned, winking at them. "But, in great oversimplification, we're bound to share some basic instincts and preferences, unless modified by our different experiences. For example," he added pointing to the glass of water next to Pierre's cover. "I'd hate to wash the taste down with water. I prefer good wine... unfortunately, my health gets in the way..."
"Ah, I see," Pierre nodded. "I rarely had a chance to drink good wine." He raised his glass to him. Lafayette chuckled and poured himself a glass of juice to meet the toast.
"Do you also dislike Centaurian cuisine, like Pierre?" asked Joanna curiously.
"Oh, I do," Lafayette turned to her. "It's too bland for me... but," he put his glass away. "Had your husband been brought up by the Centaurians as a baby, he could have acquired the taste. Of course, I know he's never been a baby..."
Joanna laughed, looking tenderly at Pierre. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about it, Sir. He's still one, in many respects... and I can't help but think sometimes that he's actually only seven years old..."
"Very funny!" Pierre huffed with fake irritation to which Joanna blew him a kiss in the air and they both laughed happily.
Lafayette felt... no, he didn't even want to think about how he felt just now, seeing the two of them. They looked so much like... he focused on his lasagna instead, trying to brush aside the thoughts he didn't need.
"So," Pierre asked. "Does this mean I'm identical to you at the core and can only differ based on my personal experience?"
"And mine," nodded Lafayette, grateful to him for keeping the conversation going. "A lot can happen to a person in the span of over a hundred years," he smiled. "Although, in my case, it was all pretty boring. I'm sure you've experienced a lot in your short lifetime that must have influenced your development."
"I guess the one most important experience of my life was meeting this amazing woman," Pierre smiled at Joanna.
"This, as a matter of fact, is not all that unique..." Lafayette said quietly, putting his fork away.
"How come?"
"Take a look at this," he said, taking a virtual  image out of his pocket and handing it to Pierre, without activating it. "I brought it here to show you, I thought you might be interested. And," he nodded at Joanna. "I wanted to apologize for my reaction when I saw you."
Pierre activated the image and they both looked at the woman smiling at them from the portrait. She looked like a younger version of Joanna.
"This is Yvonne?" she asked softly.
"Yes, my late wife," nodded Lafayette.
"What happened to her? That is, if you want to talk about it...?"
"Oh, that's okay," Lafayette waved his hand. "It was such a long time ago... she died a few months after we got married.
"I'm sorry," Joanna looked at him with sympathy that melted his heart.
"As I said," he dismissed it with a sad smile. "It happened a long time ago. A climbing accident. She loved mountains... oh, she wasn't a risk-taker. Had I known...  she fell off a wall and... She only fell a few meters before her anti-gravity boots kicked in, but she cracked her skull open on an outcropping...A friend took care of her, transported her to my clinic as soon as possible... but it was too late, I couldn't save her... She died on my table," he finished softly.
"It must have been hard..."
"It was... for a long time... I never practiced medicine afterwards... devoted all my efforts to research only. But," he added in a different tone. "It's been almost 130 years now, I got over it. I just wanted to explain why I felt so shaken when I saw you for the first time, Doctor..."
Pierre kept on staring at the image. "I think it may not be just a coincidence, Professor," he said thoughtfully.
"Oh?"
"I would have to do some research but, given the level of resemblance, it seems possible that Mrs. Lafayette might have been Joanna's great, great grand daughter..."
"You mean, grandmother?" Lafayette corrected him instinctively but Pierre shook his head.
"No Sir, I was correct. You see, Joanna is really out of this world... and in a literal sense, too," he rolled his eyes when Joanna giggled. "She came aboard the Explorer, the previous ship I served on, as a result of an accident. We have confirmed that she comes not only from the past but also alternative reality. That's why the connection may not be direct, but she can be related to Yvonne's counterpart in her time line..."
"If you don't mind," Lafayette said quietly. "Do all the research you want to, if you're interested... but don't bother on my account... I'd rather not revoke the past, if that's all right with you... it already kicked me more than I was hoping for.."
"Oh, certainly," Pierre deactivated the image and gave it back to Lafayette. "Forgive me for even bringing this up..."
"That's all right," Lafayette smiled. "I just don't feel like dwelling on this..."
"Of course."
They ate in silence for a while. Lafayette couldn't help but notice how the two of them cared for each other, even in small details. How Joanna brushed on Pierre's hand when he passed her the noodles, how he materialized a new fork for her when she dropped one, even before she managed to bend down and how she smiled at him in return... Lafayette felt pain, only this time it wasn't physical. And he hated himself for it.
He went straight to bed, after the dinner was over and the happy couple walked him back to his quarters. He couldn't sleep for a long time, torturing himself, remembering every single detail. *An old idiot,* he told himself but it didn't help much. The images of Joanna haunted him through the whole night.
* * *
"Good Morning, my dear Doctor," he beamed at her the next morning, upon entering sickbay. "I was supposed to report in for a check-up?"
"Oh yes, please, come in, Professor" Joanna smiled in reply. "Did you sleep well?" she asked conversationally, taking out the scanner to check him.
"Just great, thank you," he lied smoothly, watching how she moved around.
"Hmm... this doesn't look too bad," she muttered. "I'm a little worried about your blood pressure, though..."
"How about raising it a little with some coffee in a nice company, then?" he tilted his head. "Would you do me an honor and accept the invitation, if you're not too busy?"
"Well..." Joanna hesitated.
"I promise I won't be seducing you... too fast," he winked at her and Joanna laughed. "Well?" he said, offering her his arm gallantly.
"It'll be a pleasure," she nodded and accepted it, sliding the scanner into her pocket. "Actually, a little coffee could do both of us good."
The mess hall wasn't very crowded at this time of the day. Most of the crew had already had their morning coffee and a group of officers gathered in the corner, were also about to leave. When they came in, Lafayette pulled up a chair for Joanna and made sure she sat comfortably before asking for her order. When she told him, he went over to the converter and brought them too coffees.
"So, this is your first assignment?" he asked, after she took a sip.
"Yes, it is," she nodded. "Quite frankly, I'm not sure I'm ready yet. It's just that I didn't want to be posted away from Pierre and the Atlantis is too small a ship for more than one doctor. I mean, I'm fully qualified, of course, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but I realize I lack the experience..."
"I wouldn't worry about that," he smiled warmly, looking into her eyes. "It comes with time. The important thing is not to lose your head when you needed it most..." Lafayette winced, suddenly, and drew a heavy breath.
"Are you in pain?" Joanna asked immediately, reaching for her scanner but he stopped her.
"Oh, my dear Doctor," he shook it off. "You know what they say... at my age? If I'm not in any pain, I'm probably dead already..."
Joanna couldn't help but laugh at that. "From the medical point of view..." she started more seriously but Lafayette cut her off.
"From the medical point of view, my condition is very serious. I know. That's why I'm here."
"Yes, but what I can't understand is... why did you have to wait until the last possible moment? You should have had this operation a long time ago...?"
"Well, I was too busy, I guess," he waved his hand. "I only found out about this damned thing a few months ago... Can we talk about something more interesting than my life, please? I know I must have already bored you to death with my... uhm... confessions last night..."
"Oh, not at all, Professor!"
"You're very polite, my dear Doctor," he bowed his head, laughing softly. "Still, why don't you tell me a little more about yourself? How you met Pierre for example? You two love each other very much, don't you?" he said, unsure why he wanted to torture himself like that.
"Oh yes, we do..." Joanna smiled. And then, for some reason, she felt compelled to tell this stranger the story of her life. How she found herself in the future, how she met Pierre and fell in love with him only to get scared with his strength, how he fought and saved her life, how he rejected her and turned to Yoko...
Lafayette was listening intently and with such warm attention that she just went on and on, forgetting about everything. Finally, she noticed that, for some time, he apparently hadn't been feeling good. He was hiding it very well but, she was a doctor... or was she? Joanna cursed herself for being so egoistic. He definitely needed to rest already and here she was, droning on about her own issues, instead of taking care of her patient...
"Oh," she said. "I'm sorry, Sir, it's so nice chatting with you but I need to get back to my duties..."
Lafayette gave her a knowing look. "You... worry too much, my dear Doctor," he told her, shaking his head, sadly. "But, I appreciate it."
"I didn't mean to..."
"I know what you meant and thank you for it," he smiled, getting up. "Let me walk you back to your... duties, then," he winked, offering her his arm again. "The pleasure was all mine."
* * *
They were walking through the corridor when suddenly Joanna felt his steps become unsteady. She looked up at him and saw his face was pale and sweaty.
"Sir..." she began but he tottered and, if it wasn't for her, he would have collapsed.
"Oh..." he panted." I'm sorry, it's just..." he staggered at the wall, despite her grip, and leaned on it, wheezing painfully, with his hand clasped to his heart.
"You need to sit down," Joanna told him, pointing to the armchair across the hall. "Come on, I'll help you."
"Just a moment... ugh... dizzy..." Lafayette complained.
Joanna wrapped her arm around his waist and supported him. He rested for a moment and let her lead him to the chair.
"Forgive me," he breathed when he fell on it. "It's... just a moment of weakness. It'll pass.
"Professor, this is serious..." Joanna said, drawing her scanner to take the read-outs, as soon as her hands were free. " Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at this stage…"
"Nonsense, my dear. It's just that my stupid heart... is developing a mind of its own... these days. It doesn't want to listen to me anymore..." he smiled at her, despite the pain.
"You've got to be careful," she told him. "Actually," she shook her head. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have tired you so much. You could have died..."
"Oh, I wouldn't dare... my dear Doctor. And let you be haunted... for the rest of your life... with an impression that... you talked your patient to death?" he joked in fitful voice.
Lafayette watched Joanna, while slowly regaining his strength. Looking at her, it suddenly  dawned on him that he wasn't seeing Yvonne anymore. Heck, he didn't even remember what she had looked like. He was seeing Joanna Kruk, here and now, flesh and blood. A strangely captivating mixture of a young, innocent girl and a tender, caring woman. He realized he would give everything to hold her in his arms, just once... She had apparently contacted Pierre and instructed him what to replicate, because she was now holding a pressure injector in her hand. Or, did he black out there for a minute? He scolded himself for displaying such a spectacle of senile weakness in front of her.
* * *
"Enter," Lafayette said upon hearing the door chime. He was actually hoping to see Joanna there but the woman who shot him a gorgeous smile when the door opened was certainly not Doctor Kruk.
"I'm so excited to meet you, Professor Lafayette!" the woman said, barging in. He stood up to greet her. "My name is Lieutenant Tanya Bailey, and I'm a real fan of your work!"
"Are you?" he smiled, bowing at her. "I'm pleased to know that, Lieutenant. Please, make yourself... at home," he added, seeing her sit on the sofa already.
"Oh, you must tell me all about genetic inheritance!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "This is totally fascinating! I'm a TCS engineer myself so, if you're interested in the inner workings of the androids, I'll be happy to tell you all I know!"
Lafayette bit his lip as she purred and stretched to get his attention.
"I'm sure you would, my dear, I'm sure," he nodded his head. He pulled up a chair and sat in some distance to her, to allow himself a full view of her. For some reason, he felt amused.
Tanya crossed her legs, smiling at him suggestively. "Tell me," she whispered. "Are you really all like Pierre?"
"Is there something wrong with your eye sight, Lieutenant?" Lafayette chuckled. "I'm about 120 years older, in case you didn't notice..."
Tanya burst out with a throaty laughter. "Oh, you know what I mean, Sir. Age has nothing to do with anything..." she lowered her voice, leaning closer to him. "It's the personality that really counts, you know..."
One didn't even need an old hand like Lafayette to see through her act. There was nothing even remotely subtle about it. He still felt flattered that a lovely, young woman like her would care to make a pass at him even now but... he sighed, suddenly remembering Joanna. Then again, if she'd ever acted like this...
"You are just teasing an old man, my dear..." he tried to turn it into a joke but Tanya could not be that easily brushed off.
"I was thinking..." she said, licking her lips almost casually. "Perhaps you'd like to come by my quarters later tonight? I hear you're interested in what we did with your research... I'd be happy to stage a performance for you..."
Lafayette raised his eyebrows at that. Flirting was one thing but this girl was running for the base much too fast for his taste. Back in his day, he may have even taken her up on that, like many others. Now, he only felt...  bored. For some reason, Tanya just didn't arouse the kind of emotions in him that Joanna did without even noticing it.
"Uhm... Lieutenant," he said slowly. "While I'm sure your... performance would be... captivating, I'm afraid you're late by at least twenty years. Plus," he added, getting up. "My health isn't what it used to be these days. I'm afraid my heart may not endure a lengthy... lecture," he winked at her, taking her hand and making her stand up. "Rest assured I'm flattered by your offer, though," he added, placing a kiss on her palm and leading her to the door. "It was nice to meet you," he bowed politely as she found herself out in the corridor.
* * *
The next day, Lafayette bumped into her again, in the mess hall. At dinner time, the small room was pretty crowded. Like it or not, the only free seat he spotted was next to Tanya.
"Hello, Lieutenant," he smiled, walking up to her table with the tray in his hands. "Since your companion seems to be getting late, I hope you won't mind if I joined you? I'll know when to disappear," he added quieter.
Tanya smiled widely. "Oh, please, I'll be delighted. I wasn't really waiting for anybody..."
"You weren't?" Lafayette raised his eyebrows, sitting down. "Such a lovely girl, eating alone?"
She giggled frivolously. "Actually," she leaned closer to him. "I think I was waiting for you..."
"Oh, were you?" Lafayette replied distractedly, staring at something over her shoulder. Tanya turned around to see Joanna, who had just come into the room and was looking around. Lafayette followed her with his glance as she came over to the converter and then maneuvered around the place, looking for a seat.
"What is it with you?! Can't you just take your eyes off of her?!" Tanya yelled at him, suddenly. "For crying out loud, you old fool, she's married! You've no chance with her, can't you see that?!" She jostled her tray on the table and stormed out of the mess hall, leaving Lafayette absolutely confused. Everyone's eyes turned to him and Joanna, who was standing in the middle of the room, with a cup of coffee in her hand.
"All right everyone," she said finally. "The show is over."
She came up to Lafayette's table. "May I?" she smiled at him.
"Of course, my dear Doctor!" He jumped up eagerly and pulled up a chair for her. Joanna caught a young ensign's glance with the corner of her eye and shot him a cold look. He quickly busied himself with his own plate.
"I'm sorry about that scene," Joanna said sitting down. "I guess Tanya hasn't been herself lately."
"She hasn't? Oh, that's too bad," Lafayette pulled a funny face.
With all the silver hair, hiding half of his face, he may not have looked like Pierre but his expressions, his voice, the way he moved... and his eyes. Joanna felt her heart race every time she looked into his intense, blue eyes. Pierre, being an android, had white eyes with shiny pupils. And yet, something about the two of them was so similar…
"Bad?" she didn't understand.
"You know," he leaned towards her, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Last night, she made it pretty clear she wouldn't throw me off her bed...  I guess I shouldn't have turned her down..."
Joanna looked at him, surprised, but he was sporting a very good poker face.
"I see," she sighed, sipping her coffee. "She used to be crazy about Pierre. I suppose that she must have found you..."
"Second best?" he winked.
"Attractive..."
"Why, thank you!"
Joanna couldn't help but laugh, which seemed to please him.
"You know," he said a moment later. "I guess she was more right than you think she was..."
"Oh?"
"I really couldn't take my eyes off you, Joanna. You're a very beautiful woman."
Joanna blushed. It may have been just a casual compliment but in his mouth it sounded genuine.
"Thank you," she nodded.
"In fact," he sighed.  "If you were single and I were younger... a lot younger, mind you..."
Joanna smiled uncomfortably. This time she couldn't find a trace of amusement in his mellow face. Actually, for a moment, he looked quite sad.
"Oh, don't worry," he dismissed it with a chuckle, noticing her glance. "You're perfectly safe with me. Tell Pierre he's a very lucky man."
"He must be like a son to you..." Joanna remarked.
"A son?" Lafayette's eyes grew wide. He sat stunned for a moment and then he laughed out so hard that tears started running from his eyes down on the beard. "Oh, boy!" he couldn't stop.
Joanna shifted uneasily. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
But he just waved his hand, unable to speak and kept on shaking with laughter. Finally, he panted. "My! That's how you must see me, right? Pierre's father, huh? Now that's what I call a real eye-opener!"
"Look," Joanna said, embarrassed, "I really didn't..."
"Oh, that's okay," he still chuckled. "In fact, I feel honored. The old man in the family is still more than just a stranger... I'd be delighted if you would accept me as your... father-in-law!" He didn't manage to keep control and burst out with a hearty laughter again with the last word. This time, Joanna laughed with him.
"I'd be happy to," she said warmly when they both calmed down eventually. "Neither Pierre nor I have any other family. I'm sure he'll love the idea!"
Lafayette stared at her for a moment, suddenly sobered. "Are you being serious?" he asked softly, as if it was the most unbelievable thing he'd ever heard. "I... I thought it was just a joke...?"
Joanna put her hand on his and looked him in the eyes. "I'm very serious," she said deliberately. "If that's what you'd like," she smiled.
He took her hand and bowed his head, planting a kiss on her palm, very much like Pierre could have done, with his eyes locked on hers. "You have just made me a very happy man, my dear," he said and his voice trembled with emotion.

* * *
Joanna was busy sorting out the personnel files when she heard the sickbay door open. She looked up and saw Pierre Lafayette, leaning heavily on the door frame.
"I... I'm so sorry... Doctor," he managed before he slid to the floor.
"Professor!" Joanna jumped to his side. He was breathing with effort and his face looked like there was not a drop of blood left in it, his skin almost as white as his beard. "You should have just called me!" she said, checking his pulse.
"It looks like... I'm not gonna... make it..." he looked at her apologetically.
Joanna put his arm around her shoulders and tried to help him up. He leaned helplessly on her but he was just too weak to stand on his feet anymore. She activated a holographic technician and they both led him slowly to the bed. Lafayette moaned with pain when she gently helped him to lie down.
"We're only four days away from Med Base 12," she comforted him, connecting the instruments for a check-up and having the technician scan him. "I'll take care of you."
"I can still read a medical scanner," he forced a smile. "I'm dying, my dear... Doctor."
Joanna looked at the monitors, terrified. He was right. His condition was rapidly becoming critical.
"I'm not going to let you die, Sir!" she told him, reaching for the syringe the technician held out for her.
"Please... call me Pierre..." Lafayette asked softly.
"You'll be all right, I promise... Pierre," she smiled warmly, applying the medicine.
He seized her hand. "There's so much I want to... tell you," he whispered with effort. "Not enough time..."
"You'll have plenty of time..."
"No. You know as well as I... this is the end... I'd like you to... do something for me, please...?"
"Whatever you wish," she leaned over to hear his feeble whisper, hoping with all her might that the medicine stabilizes him enough to reach the end of their journey.
"Could you... possibly... kiss me?"
Joanna looked at him, surprised.
"Just this once... please," he begged. "Your husband will understand... I know..."
"Professor... I mean, Pierre," she corrected herself. "You shouldn't..."
"Oh," he sighed. "That's okay... if you find me... repulsive... I understand..."
"Oh no, not at all! It's not what I had in mind..." Joanna was touched. She leaned closer, aiming for his cheek but she realized this was not what he meant. She tilted her head and brushed his dry lips with hers. He gasped but didn't move. She kissed him slowly and he kissed her back, gently and delicately. He didn't push it, only responding to what she did. Joanna could feel him shiver. She prolonged the kiss as much as she could, fearing for his life.
When she raised her head again, Lafayette looked at her gratefully, with tears running down his face. She touched his cheek gently, wiping them away. He closed his eyes, embarrassed.
"Pierre?" she asked, afraid that he may have passed out, but he opened his eyes again and smiled.
"Thank you..." he whispered. "It will be... easier to... die... with this memory..."
"I told you I'm not going to let you die," she said with reproach, scanning him again.
"I... I fell in love with you..." he panted. "You have no idea... how much... I can tell you now... safely," he smirked bitterly. "Oh, what I wouldn't give... but it's too late..."
"Shh..." she hushed him. "Don't exert yourself. You need to rest."
"No..." he reached for her hand again. "I'll rest soon enough... I want you to know... after Yvonne... I never thought... but you... oh, I would do anything," he was whispering frantically. "You love him... I wouldn't dare to... but, I want you to know..."
"I know," Joanna caressed his hand, feeling her own eyes get moist. She realized that he must have been everything she loved in her husband. It wasn't Pierre's eternal youth, his looks or his power as an android. It was the kind of person he was, deep inside. His generosity, his kindness, his devotion... this crippled old man, laying in front of her, had all of these qualities and more. Joanna realized that he still had so much to offer. "I love you, too," she whispered through a tight throat but he couldn't hear her anymore. His body went limp and he lost consciousness. Immediately, the alarms went off. He was going into cardiac arrest. Joanna cursed herself for wasting so much time already. He needed it, true, but his time was almost up and unless she did something now...
"Pierre, I need your help!" Joanna shouted to her husband, terrified, already switching the holographic assistant on.
*I'm here,* he replied instantly in her mind.
*Connect me to the medical database!* she thought, rushing to prepare the table for the operation. Under normal circumstances, she'd never dare to try it. Removing the dead tissue from his heart would be a huge challenge even to far more experience surgeons on Med Base 12. She had no choice now, Lafayette was dying and she could not let that happen.
* * *
*Pierre, take me home, please...* Joanna asked seven hours later, swaying on her feet. Pierre immediately teleported her straight to their quarters and helped her to the sofa as soon as she materialized in the room. He knew perfectly well how exhausted she was, after assisting her telepathically throughout the entire operation.
"Sunshine, I'm so proud of you," he told her when she fell down on the sofa with a moan. "You did an outstanding job there!"
"It's too early to celebrate just yet," she sighed, accepting the cup of her favorite coffee he materialized for her.
As a TCS, telepathic computer system, Pierre, even though not working as a computer interface anymore, still had instant access to all the ship's systems, including the converters.
"We will know for sure if he survives the night..." Joanna said, sipping at her coffee.
"He will," Pierre comforted her. "He's a strong man."
"Oh no," Joanna shook her head. "Don't judge him by his looks. In fact, he's very weak, he was just... too proud to show it, I guess. And he had waited far too long," she added. "He should have had this operation a long time ago."
"I guess he probably didn't care," replied Pierre, taking off her shoes and kneeling down to massage her feet.
"Mhm... that feels good, thank you," Joanna smiled lazily. "You must be right about him," she added, thoughtfully. "It seems like he doesn't have a family... but now he will have us, right?" she said. "He's such a sweet, lovely man..."
Pierre felt a sting of... jealousy? He bit his lip and scolded himself. Now was certainly not a good time, he told himself. "Of course, my little one," he said instead but Joanna had rested her head on the sofa and only snored quietly in response.
Pierre got up and took the empty cup out of her hands. Then, he lowered her delicately on the pillow. She was so tired, she didn't wake up as he wrapped a blanket over her, dimmed the lights and went to the other room to finish his work.

"Joanna..." he tapped her shoulder gently the next morning. "Professor Lafayette just woke up," he told her.
"Great!" she exclaimed, regaining her senses instantly. "I gotta go!" she shot, throwing the blanket away. Before Pierre managed to say anything else, she slipped her feet into her shoes and stormed out of the quarters. He looked after her and sighed.
"Good Morning, Pierre!" Joanna beamed at her patient when she entered sickbay.
Lafayette turned his head slowly to look at her. He seemed so... fragile now. It took him a moment to focus his eyes on her but he smiled when he did.
"Good Morning, my dear Doctor," he whispered. "It seems that... either your virtual assistant is out of its holographic mind... or you performed a miracle there?"
Joanna laughed happily, checking the readouts. "The important thing is that you'll be all right," she told him. "How do you feel?"
"Awful," he admitted. "But that's to be expected immediately after an operation."
"You'll be as good as new," Joanna brushed his hand. "You just need to rest."
"Thank you, Doctor. I must say I'm very impressed with your performance. I wouldn't have dared to operate on myself..."
"I told you I won't let you die," said Joanna warmly. "Now get some sleep, please..."
"Just one more thing, Doctor..."
"Yes?"
"About what I told you... before," he said quietly, looking away. "I want you to forget all about it, please. It was just an old man's silly talk... I thought... what the hell, I'm dying anyway and..."
"Oh no, Pierre, I will never forget it," Joanna smiled at him, taking his hand. "It meant so much to me..."
Lafayette looked up at her, embarrassed. "But... I shouldn't have..." he started with such an earnest expression that Joanna couldn't help but laugh. He looked so much like her husband now.
"That's okay," she told him. "I understand. And..." she paused, hesitating. Too much emotion may have been risky for him right now but she knew he would torture himself anyway. "I love you, too," she said, getting up. "Now go to sleep or I'll have to sedate you. I'll be here if you need anything, we can talk later..."
During the day, Lafayette drifted in and out of sleep, slowly regaining his strength. He was a good patient, never once complained about anything. Joanna made sure he had everything he needed. When awake, he would have his eyes glued to her, watching her every move, but he didn't say anything. Finally, long after her shift was over, and Joanna came to say goodnight, he asked her to sit with him for a moment. She pulled up a stool and sat beside his bed. He was now strong enough to turn to the side to face her.
"Joanna," he started hesitantly. "I know I acted inappropriately and for that I apologize..."
She wanted to interrupt him but he didn't let her.
"Listen to me, please," he asked. "We've only known each other for a very short time," he continued when she nodded. "But I did fall in love with you. Pierre was right that you're an amazing woman. My feelings for you..." he hesitated again, looking for the right words. "It's no use pretending now. I... desire you as a woman, certainly not as a daughter... I guess I already made it more obvious than I ever should have. But... you're married. I would never act on my... whims. If you're still willing to accept me into your life... as a father... as an old friend... as anything, in fact... I'll take whatever you'd care to offer and be happy with that. But, if you decide otherwise... after what I said... I will understand."
The long speech exhausted him because he closed his eyes and fell back on the pillows, panting. Joanna took a glass of water from the table and helped him drink. He accepted it gratefully.
When he had enough, she put the glass away and sat back, watching him for a moment before she started quietly.
"Let me be equally honest, then."
Lafayette nodded.
"Had I known you before I met Pierre... I guess... things may have been different... I didn't lie when I told you that I love you. How could I not? Whatever there is in him that I cherish, he gets it after you."
Lafayette swallowed but he didn't say anything so she continued.
"I know I don't have a lot to offer you as it is now, but least off all I'd want to hurt you. I would love to have you as a father or a friend but it's your decision to make."
Joanna got up and put her hand on his forehead. "Get some rest now. You'll have time to think about it later," she finished softly, leaning down to plant a kiss on his cheek. When she raised her head, Lafayette looked at her intensely.
"Thank you," he whispered only.
* * *
"Joanna..." Pierre said when she slipped into the bed and put her head on his chest.
"Mhm...?" she muttered sleepily.
"I know you're tired," he said quietly, running his fingers through her hair. "But I wanted to tell you something..."
"What is it, honey?" she raised her head and propped it on her elbow.
"Professor Lafayette..." he paused. "You care about him, don't you?"
"I do..." Joanna replied, thoughtfully. "Perhaps even too much?"
"What do you mean?"
And then she told him about their conversation in the mess hall the other day and how she kissed him when he thought he was dying. "I should have been more careful," she finished sadly. "I neglected my duties as a doctor by becoming too... involved..."
"Don't blame yourself, darling," Pierre told her gently. "Everything ended well."
"Yes," she shook her head. "But I endangered his life before I managed to save it in the end. I guess... I became... attached to him," she hesitated. "Because he's so much like you..."
"And more..." Pierre added sadly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he sure is wise... and charming. Granted, he's old, but now, thanks to you, he can still hope for another thirty, forty years of productive life..."
"Wait," Joanna interrupted him. "What is it you are trying to say?"
Pierre took her hand and kissed it. "I guess what I'm saying is... I'm an android. And a Space Fleet officer. I don't think I can offer you as much as he could... a real home, sense of stability... maybe even children..."
"Pierre, what the hell are you talking about?!"
"I'm not blind, Joanna," he sighed. "I know you care for him... and I can see he's in love with you... If you... if you'd rather be with him..." he said with an effort. "Just tell me, please. I... I will understand..."
What he couldn't understand was why Joanna burst out with laughter in reply. She hugged him and kept on laughing for a long while. Pierre waited patiently until she calmed herself down enough to say. "You know what? You are both... absolutely impossible! But... I love you, my wonderful android and Space Fleet officer. I can't help but love him, too, you're so much alike. But you are my husband and I'd rather it stayed that way. Is that clear now?"
"Yes, my precious," Pierre whispered, hugging her tight and caressing her hair. He pushed her chin up gently and kissed her until she was out of breath. Then, he pulled her closer again and breathed into her ear. "You know, I could give you a child, too..."
* * *
Tanya Bailey was late to the party. On purpose. It was the best way to make a really good entrance and she intended to be the main attraction. Why wouldn't she? The party was to celebrate Professor Lafayette's recovery, so what? She had been to a few wedding receptions where nobody paid attention to the bride, including the groom, because she was there.
This time, however, nobody seemed to notice as she floated into the room full of people in her fabulous black, satin dress, as always revealing as much as possible. Not one head turned to appreciate her. She hesitated for a moment, then pulled herself together and strode on to the bar, to see what she was up against.
Everyone's attention was stuck on Professor Lafayette who, with a glass of wine in his hand, was just in the middle of a story. Had Tanya bothered to listen, she would have realized that he was talking with zest about how Joanna, who sat there between him and Pierre, had saved his life. But Tanya wasn't interested. Instead, she sat on a stool, making sure that her dress showed enough of her legs, and she tapped ensign Morrick on the shoulder.
"What is it that you're drinking?" she purred. "It looks delicious..."
"It's a beer, Lieutenant," Morrick replied, surprised.
"Would you mind getting some for me, too?" she smiled at him dazzlingly. "I'm thirsty..."
"The converter's over there, Ma'am," he replied impatiently and burst out with laughter with everyone else. Professor Lafayette was just reaching the point when he had accused the holographic assistant of lying.
Tanya bit her lip. Somewhere, at the outskirts of the happy crowd, she spotted Jim Parker. Smiling to herself, she left the ensign and moved in his direction.
"Oh, Jim," she beamed at him. "I haven't seen you around lately." She took his arm and leaned over, making him kiss her. He did, reluctantly, and said.
"I was busy."
"Hmm..." she winked at him. "I don't recall you being so busy a few months ago," she said suggestively.
Jim put his drink away and looked at her. "I was a lot younger a few months ago," he said slowly.
The short-lived love affair between these two had been the favorite subject of gossip at the beginning of the Atlantis mission. Since then, however, it became obvious, and not only for Jim, that Tanya Bailey was not interested in any serious relationships.
"Oh, come on, dance with me!" She pulled at his sleeve as everybody laughed again at another one of Lafayette's anecdotes and the music started playing. "I love that piece!"
"I don't. Excuse me," said Jim and left her stunned, alone, at the bar.
They were playing some waltz. Tanya hated waltz. She looked at the dance floor only to see Pierre lead Joanna in a long, blue dress.
*How ridiculous,* she thought. *She always dresses in blue, like a little girl!*
But it was Joanna that everybody was looking at, as she danced and turned in Pierre's arms. Tanya's heart sank. He was so handsome; tall and gorgeously built, he moved so smoothly and gracefully, and the way he embraced her with his strong arms, twirled her... Tanya clenched her fists.
*What is it that she has and I don't?* she thought, watching them dance. No, Joanna Kruk was not an ugly woman by any means. Her big, dark eyes gave her oval face a girlish look, enhanced with long, black hair that she often wore loose. She wasn't short but next to Pierre, she looked tiny. *She can't even show she's a woman!* Tanya thought with dismay. *And a little make-up would do her good, too,* she decided. *She's beginning to look well over thirty already.*
Tanya checked her own reflection in the mirror over the bar. *Yup, twenty four and not a day older,* she smiled to herself.
The music was over and people applauded when Pierre led his lady back to the bar. Tanya winced as Lafayette rose like a gentleman until she sat down, as Pierre materialized a drink for her right there, on the bar... *Like she was something special!* Tanya thought bitterly, seeing both men serve her like a princess.
"Yes Professor! Let's hear it! You must sing for us!" she heard some voices. She looked back at the group at the bar. Lafayette was whispering something to Joanna and she giggled. Then, she nodded at him and Lafayette stood up.
"All right," he laughed. "You asked for it!"
Pierre handed him a guitar and he started singing some old, cowboy song. His voice was almost like Pierre's - low and warm, although maybe not as strong. Absentmindedly, Tanya started listening to the words:
"In a little cafe just the other side of the border
She was just sitting there giving me looks that made my mouth water..." He pointed to Joanna who winked at him playfully.
"So I started walking her way, she belonged to bad man, Jose..." Everybody laughed as Lafayette pointed to Pierre, who smiled rather sourly, apparently not let in on the game before.
"Come a little bit closer, you're my kind of man, so big and so strong
Come a little bit closer, I'm all alone and the night is so long..."
Tanya watched with real dismay as Joanna sang the refrain and did a seductive dance, swaying her hips and moving towards Lafayette. Tanya looked around but everyone around her were clapping their hands, apparently delighted.
"So we started to dance, in my arms she felt so inviting
That I just couldn't resist that one little kiss so exciting..."
And they actually kissed. Tanya glanced back at Pierre who, having overcome the initial apprehension, was now laughing with everyone else. The show ended with the singer running away and Joanna ending up in Pierre-Jose's lap, singing her refrain to him. When he kissed her and the crowd cheered, Tanya decided she had had enough. She turned around and left the room, close to tears.
* * *
"Enter," Lafayette put away the bag he was packing but it was only Pierre.
"Sir, if you have a minute," he said quietly. "I'd like to talk to you."
"Of course," Lafayette smiled at him. "Please, come in. What can I do for you?"
Pierre hesitated.
"Well, spit it out, son," Lafayette winked at him but Pierre frowned. "Ah, I see," he nodded. "You're not as enthusiastic about this whole... extended family idea as your wife is, huh?"
"I'm not sure, Professor," Pierre confirmed softly. "That's why I'm here... I wanted to ask you..."
"I won't," Lafayette interrupted him.
"Excuse me?"
"I won't take her away from you. This is what you wanted to ask, isn't it?"
"Well..."
As a genetic inheritance specialist, Lafayette had been trained to work with TC systems. After all, he had been a consultant for the program long before the first androids were built. Yet, Pierre could tell he wasn't using any barriers. His mind was as open to him as it could get and Pierre only saw honesty and sadness in the old man. Yet, he couldn't read his mind in detail, there was no way for him to tell what he thought exactly.
"Listen," Lafayette went over to the chair and sat heavily. "As ironic as it may sound, I'm probably one of very few, if not the only one, who actually might have a chance with her. But that's only because she sees so much of you in me..." he sighed. "Not saying how she'd feel seeing me in the morning, 'cause that's an entirely different matter, but..." he stopped, realizing that Pierre wasn't amused . "She loves you like crazy," he finished in a different tone. "Just make sure you take good care of her."
"Oh I will, Sir, but..."
"We may have just met," Lafayette continued. "But I guess we can say that we know each other pretty well, don't we?"
Pierre only nodded.
"You seem to be as unsure of yourself as I used to be... I guess it takes a lifetime to get over yourself..." he mused. "Anyway, you're right that I'm tempted. Who wouldn't be? You have the most wonderful girl in the world, Pierre. And I can tell, I've seen a lot. Not to mention that she reminds me so much of…" He stifled a sigh. "Just be wise, don't waste it... Me? I'll just keep dreaming about her, I guess. I would never do anything to hurt her... I promise you that."
"You see, she's all I got..." Pierre looked at him, almost pleading. "All I ever cared for..."
"I know," Lafayette replied softly, suppressing  his own emotions, his memories. "So just keep it that way and don't worry about me. If you don't want me in your life after all, I won't... impose myself. But, I'd be grateful if, in the name of our shared genes if nothing else, you would allow me to see her again some time... It means so much to me..."
When Pierre left, Lafayette slammed his fist on the desk and then, for a long while, he just sat there, staring at something beyond the walls of his quarters.
* * *
"Joanna!" Lafayette jumped up enthusiastically to greet her.
"I see that you're feeling much better now," she laughed, extending both hands to him. He took them, bowing, and planted two firm kisses on her palms.
"Thanks to you my dear," he said. "Thanks to you."
"Well, I guess it's time to say goodbye," Joanna smiled rather sadly.
"Perhaps one last cup of coffee together?" he asked hopefully but she shook her head.
"I'm afraid we don't have that much time. We're already in orbit and Pierre has just received new orders... I'm sorry," she added. "I wanted to come by earlier but..."
"Oh, think nothing of it," he told her. "I hate long goodbyes myself..."
Joanna came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. Lafayette held her tenderly, putting her head on his chest and hiding his face in her hair. He closed his eyes, relishing the moment, trying to remember her scent, the feel of her body next to his... he realized that this was the first and probably the last time he ever held her in his arms...
He couldn't help but think how much he wanted to kiss her eyes, her lips, her neck... he shivered, imagining more than he should have... Would it have been possible for them to have a life together if it wasn't for Pierre? Could she be his second chance to reclaim everything he had given up so long ago? Joanna moved in his embrace, reaching out to kiss him. Lafayette  gently pushed her at arms' length.
"Don't..." he asked, almost out of breath.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she whispered, blushing. "I didn't mean to..."
"I know what you meant," he said gently.
Joanna laughed softly. "You always say that," she replied with a warm look.
"That's because I usually know what you mean... somehow," he looked into her eyes again. "Right now you meant this kiss to be a real one... as a goodbye gift."
"Yeah, I guess...? Was this wrong?"
"No, but... you know I'm all yours... it's just... better this way," he forced himself to let go of her.
"Pierre..."
"Don't say that... please."
"What can I say...?" The comm system chirped, interrupting her. "Kruk here," she answered it and her voice trembled.
"Natashi, Ma'am," they heard over the comm. "The Base reports ready."
"Acknowledged. Stand by."
She turned to Lafayette who took his bag and, for the last time, offered her his arms as they walked together.
Pierre was waiting for them in the teleporter cabin. When they entered, he extended his hand.
"Good luck, Professor Lafayette," he said. "It was a pleasure to have met you."
"The pleasure was all mine," replied Lafayette mechanically, shaking his hand. He looked into the android's shiny eyes with hope, but they told him nothing. He turned around and slowly walked up the platform.
He turned  back again to look at the younger version of himself, now holding the woman of his dreams and stifled a sigh.
"Take care of each other, kids," he managed.
"Activate."

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Part 9 Heartache

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