*Author's notes* This is a quick follow-up to "The River of Stars", which I wrote in a few hours on the day after I first saw the ep. Thanks to Rachel for beta-reading it for me, even though she didn't get to see the ep. :) Also, this is my first attempt at S:AAB fanfic to please tell me what you think.

*Rating* PG, post-episode vignette

*Disclaimer* Nathan West, Shane Vansen, the rest of the Wildcards and just "Space: Above and Beyond" in general belong to <worship mode on> two of the world's biggest legends, Glen Morgan and James Wong, </worship mode off> plus Fox Broadcasting and Hard Eight Productions. Since I am not included in the above, I obviously used them without permission. No infringement is intended. :)

FRIENDS

by

Vanessa Beanland

The room was silent and still as Lieutenant Nathan West sat on his bunk, staring blankly at the photo he held in his hands. He had been looking at it for so long that it had become nothing more than a rectangular mess of colored dots, although he wasn't quite sure why. He was just looking at it.

After some time, the door burst open and Shane Vansen entered. Upon seeing him, Vansen traced a few steps back, shut the door quietly and then went to her bunk to retrieve something from underneath her pillow. West didn't move or look up, even when she climbed up and sat next to him on the bunk.

"Nathan..." she said gently. "What I said when I gave you your present, about you, about Kylen... I was wrong." Nathan remained silent, still looking at the photo, but she knew he was listening, so Vansen continued. "I don't know how I could have been so insensitive as to say you're all about Kylen... I know that's not true. After what you went through when you were wounded, and everyone thought we were dead. We would have been - we were - but it was your persistent faith in us that brought us back."

When she paused, Shane glanced sideways and saw a tear slide down Nathan's cheek. "I think I forgot what you did for us when I said what I did, because Kylen isn't your only interest. It's people - everyone around you. Your family, your friends... I thought because you weren't like Paul with his Shakespeare and football, that I couldn't get you anything which would mean something for Christmas. I was wrong, so I'm going to try again."

Finally, Nathan looked up from the photo and regarded her thoughtfully. Shane fished a tiny, clear plastic bag out of her pocket and handed it to him. "Merry Christmas, Nathan."

Inside the bag, West found an old locket, which was broken in two at the hinge and clasp which would have opened it had it been whole. Someone had soldered a ring onto the top of the front part, so both halves could be put on a chain or necklace. It was engraved with little swirls and designs, but no words. Nathan thought this sort of ironic since it looked like it had decades worth of tales to tell.

"It was my mother's, and her mother's before that. I'm not sure how far back the tradition goes, because it hasn't always been passed from mother to daughter. Sometimes it's given to a sister, or an aunt, but I want you to have it."

"Why?"

"Because it's a family thing. You are, the 58th is, the closest thing I've got to a real family. And to show you that I appreciate that."

"Thanks," Nathan replied simply, feeling a little foolish because he didn't quite know what to say. Carefully, he sealed both parts of the locket in the bag and put it in his pocket.

After they had sat a while longer in silence, Shane's eyes fell on the photo he had been holding, of a happy, smiling Nathan West and Kylen Celina. Both were wearing blue Tellus colonist suits.

"West... what's she like?"

"Who?"

"Kylen." Shane motioned towards the picture.

"You'd like her. I guess you'd say she was a lot like me, because her family means so much to her. Her parents, her brother, my brothers even. Coop would like her too, 'cause she believed in equal rights for InVitros... well, she did until.." he trailed off, not really knowing what to say.

Reaching over, Shane took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. A wordless act, reassuring him that it would be okay. Exactly what he needed, and Nathan gave her a grateful half-smile.

"In the dark, I think of what it would have been like if the Chigs hadn't attacked. The Tellus colony would be working out their new lives, and I would be stuck in the Corps. But sometimes, I think it would be better than having gone, because I met you guys. Knowing you all now, I wouldn't trade the 58th for anything. I only wish Kylen was here with me to know you all."

"You know what, West? I really was wrong when I said all those things about you, more than I realized. You've got what it takes to be a Marine, more than any of us." Shane pushed herself off the bunk and was about to leave when Nathan called her back.

"Wait. Give me your dog tags for a minute," he said. Vansen looked at him strangely, but she obediently took off her tags and handed them to him since he had already taken off his own. As she watched, he pulled the bag containing the locket out of his pocket, opened it and put a half on each chain before slipping his tags back over his head. "My grandmother used to have a necklace, with a charm on it saying 'Best Friends'. The charm was made to look like it was broken, and when she was a kid her best friend gave her that half and kept the other. I always thought it was kinda cool, but you could tell it was one of those things that the manufacturers made a hundred of a day. This is better."

"It is. Thanks, Nathan." Shane put her tags back on and left. West watched her leave, before returning the photo to its place on his wall and following her out.

The End

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