Date: Wed, 12 Apr 1995 00:14:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: PROSE: Alexandra Visits Bernadette

Archive-Name: alex-n-berni.txt

[Original author, Bernadette.]

   It's one of those rare occasions when Bernadette is left alone with
Kevlan. Tamber has gone to his own suite to get some rest and catch up on
some work; Jerrik has also left, regretably, for hangar duty that he couldn't
get out of.

   She's still feeling rather elated from the progress Kevlan's made. He
recognizes her now! And although he still clings to her during his moments
of wakefulness, he's not clinging as tightly. Surely that means something!

   Her moment of solitude with him doesn't last very long, however, as the
door chime sounds...quietly, for the computer has been instructed to muffle
its audio. Kevlan stirs, however, the sound not escaping his sensitive
hearing, but he doesn't start awake. Bernadette answers the chime after
being informed by the computer that her friend, Alexandra Behrens, is in
the hall.

   Bernadette greets the marketer with a smile. "Hello, Alex. How was your
trip to Shankill?" She closes the door after her visitor, engaging the
Privacy lock.

   Alexandra blushes - a reaction Berni doesn't see - and answers "It
was a'raht. Discussed what Ah needed t' with Collin." Alex looks at Kevlan's
sleeping form, huddled under the quilts. "How's he doin'?"

   Bernadette runs a hand through her hair, but she's smiling as she answers.
"He recognizes me now, I think. Knows I'm real." Her grin broadens a little
more, and declares proudly, as a mother would of her child, "He spoke my
name...and I don't mean while he was whimpering or calling out for me to
come back...He spoke it with conviction, like he was labeling me when he
looked at me!" The Singer is obviously delighted to report this.

   Alexandra smiles. "Why, that's great, darlin'! Ah'm glad t' heah it!"
She takes a seat as Berni motions her to do so.

   "So what brings you down here?" Bernadette asks Alex as she resumes her
customary seat beside the bed.

   Alexandra looks away for a moment before replying. "Ah was jes' droppin'
by t' see how yer both doin'. Got a large ordah f'r white, but Ah tol' 'em
they'd hafta wait 'til our white Sangers could bring it in." She shrugs
nonchalantly.

   Bernadette frowns a bit. "I can't go out looking for white, Alex. You 
know that."

   Alexandra puts her hands up and nods her head quickly. "Ah do know it.
Ah jes' thought Ah'd mention it, 'sall." She looks again at Kevlan, and 
hesitates a moment before asking "Don' s'pose he'd be up to goin' out t'
th' ranges anytahm soon, huh?"

   Bernadette's face turns red as she stands up and advances on Alex.
"What's this about, Alex?" she says angrily through clenched teeth.

   "Now, settle down, Berni!" Alex scoots her chair back from the Singer.
"Ah don' mean no harm... Ah's jes' askin'!" She frowns apologetically at
Bernadette.

   Bernadette backs off, but replies "Well, you can forget asking questions
like that." She holds a hand out in Kevlan's direction, "Does it look like
he's in any condition to go out to the ranges?"

   Alexandra lowers her eyes to the floor and shakes her head, muttering,
"No, Ah don' guess he does..." She glances up at Bernadette now, "..but
d'ya think if'n he _were_ to go inta th' ranges an' hear th' crystal, that
it'd he'p him recovah?"

   Bernadette frowns deeply as she backs up a few steps and sits down again.
"Take him into the ranges?" She shakes her head. "No, I don't think so, Alex."

   The marketer shrugs her shoulders. "Was jes' curious. Ah'd heard that
th' symbiont works fastah neah crystal than away from it. An' if'n he's been
away from it f'r awhile, mebbe it needs t'be recharged." She shrugs again.

   Again, Bernadette shakes her head. "If it needed to be recharged, the
medics would have advised it.

   Alexandra shrugs once more, as she stands up, "Was jes' a thought." She
smiles at Berni. "Ah gotta git goin'. Jes' wanted t'stop by an' say h'lo."
She shakes her head at Berni, as the singer starts to rise, "No need...Ah'll
see mahse'f out. Take care, Berni, 'kay?"

   With that, Alexandra exits the room and leaves Bernadette alone again with
her fiance...and her thoughts. She mutters out loud, looking at Kevlan,
"Crystal..."

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