Saying Goodbye"
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58204.16 1530

=QulTuq promenade=

Teilani left the bar where she and Renal had been talking. As she slowly walked along the promenade she let the conversation pass her mind again. Her collegue Renal had been right, and somehow she felt relieved it was as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Could she have found peace within herself?. She lifted her head, and straigtend her back, Yes, she felt confident, no more worries, Dr Dane was back!!.

Teilani became aware of her surroundings, the stations was so lively, full of colour, smells, races from all over the universe, like a melting pot. Children playing hide and seek. The station was full to overflowing from the latest wave of ships. With the ships had come a yammer of refugees, merchants, a mummer of missionaries (al faiths), hustlers etc.

There were some new interesting shops she had not been able to explore the last time the Zion was docked. Now it might be a good time to do some shopping, her doctor's office could do with some colours and little trinkets.

She came across a little shop which displayed old pottery according to the labels they were found on Earth, during the 20th century, as she started to browse through the racks Teilani's eyes were drawn to a old disguarded painting, it was dirty and had water stains on it. But the picture was breathtaking, it showed a field full of sunflowers, as she picked up the painting she could vaguely make out the signature of the maker, it read VanGogh.

She had never heard of him but decided to purchase it anyway, already picturing in her mind where she would hang the frame.

Safely tucking the picture under her arms she looked further, only to discover that there were more things with sunflowers on it, a plate, according to the shopkeeper to hold food on it as well as an old fashioned bowl.

Teilani decided to take it all being fond of the colour yellow, like the sunshine. She patiently waited at the counter as the shopkeeper wrapped the goods for her and released her from several strips of latinum. Teilani started to smile, this was fun she should go shopping more often.

Carrying her bag with goodies, Teilani continued her shopping spree, when she heard her name being called, "He Doc, Doc Dane, wait for me," a tiny voice carried through the crowd. Teilani turned around and saw Mark running up to her.

"Hello you rascal, Teilani said to the little boy, roughing up his blond hair. Mark took the lollipop from his mouth, " hello, I'm going home but I wanna give you something".

Marks mother Juliette came walking up to them, " Hello Dr Dane she said, "hello", Teilani responded, and I hear you are going home"? "Yes, Juliette responded, we are going to live with my brother for a while, allowing us to get over the attack and maybe start a new live too". " My brother owns a farm on Delius 3 only a 2 days shuttle ride from here". It will be good for Mark too."

Upon hearing his name, Mark looked up to his mother, "But mummy, I do not want to go, I want to live on the station", Why can we stay here"?.

Both Teilani and Juliette laughed, "he surely knows what he want" , Teilani said, Juliette nodded, "you can say that again".

" Mummy, Mark whined, I can not find Doc's present", looking through a big bag. "you packed it your self Mark, his mother responded, look again".

Mark nearly disappeared in the bag, trying to reach for the present. "Got it, he cheered, in his hand he held a ball of brown wrapping paper. Teilani sank on her knees so she was on the same level as Mark, "So is this for me" she said.

Mark nodded, sucking on his lollipop, eyes looking at her full of anticipating waiting what she would say about the present. Teilani carefully opened the paper, once removed it revealed an marble, with yellow, green, purple stripes. Teilani was touched by it. Mark, she said it is beautiful. "Thank you so much, gently she kissed him on his forehead. The little boy's face became one big smile, "I told you mum, I told you she would like it".

Teilani got up and turned back at Juliette and hugged her, "Thank you", she whispered. Juliette smiled, "it's o.k., well we got to go now otherwise we miss our shuttle". Come, on Mark", taking her son by the hand. "Goodbye and God bless, Teilani said as she watched them walking away.

"Bye doc", Mark said, as he kept on waving until they turned a corner..

Teilani looked at the colourful marble in her hand, it would look good on her desk she carefully placed it in her bag and started to continue on her way back to the Zion.

Passing another bar she saw that the station security people had arrested some people involved in a fight. Sofar as she could see non of the Zion crew was involved.

With long and confident strides and her new found peace Teilani walked back to the Zion's docking port anxious to get her new belongings unpacked and start decorating her office.