All for One and One for All
	It was supposed to have been his night off but they really needed Mark at the hangar, so he'd said he would go in for an hour.  That turned into seven hours and he got back to his room at 3am.  Having only gotten 2-1/2 hours of sleep the previous night, he was dead tired.  After putting his toolbox on his desk, Mark simply flopped down in bed, fully clothed.

	Mark opened his eyes and immediately wished he hadn't woken up.  The lights were on.  He blinked and got up, feeling very sore.  He rubbed his eyes and stretched and in mid-stretch, noticed Lauren sitting against his door.
	Mark froze for a second, then relaxed.  She was asleep.
	A hundred questions leapt to mind, fought for his attention, then gave up and went away.  Mark decided to change his shirt.
	<Lauren>, he thought and turned to look at her.  She was still sleeping.
	He walked to her and squatting in front of her, looked at her.
	Lauren's fine blonde hair was neatly combed and fell straight down to her shoulders.  Her face was soft and defined, set in the blank peace of dreamless sleep.  Her skin was very pale.  She didn't go out much because she was always afraid she'd burn.
	Mark let his eyes wander lower.  Lauren was wearing a powder-blue T-shirt with the word 'VOLUNTEER' printed in white letters on the front.  Blue--that meant kitchen work.  Her hands rested in her lap and her faded blue jeans just missed the tops of her white shoes.  Her breathing was steady and even.  Mark watched the word VOLUNTEER as it moved slightly up and down.  He blushed.  He shouldn't be doing that.
	Then, suddenly, it stopped.  Startled, Mark raised his grey eyes and met Lauren's green.
	Her cheeks were very red.  She exhaled and for a fraction of a second, they sat there silently.
	Standing and backing away, Mark sputtered, "Wha-what are you doing here?" just as Lauren blurted out, "What are you doing!"
	They were silent for an instant longer and each averted their eyes.
	"I...I was just watching your..er...you...were sleeping!  How did you get in here?"
	"You gave me a key."
	"Oh.  Yeah," Mark said.  He stole a glance at Lauren.
	She was looking at the floor, still embarrassed.  Mark smiled faintly.  She was so cute.
	Lauren quietly said, "I stopped over at 3:30.  I thought you might want something to eat, so I made some sandwiches for you.  You left your light on, so I thought you were just napping.  I was waiting for you to wake up but I guess I fell asleep."
	Mark hadn't noticed the paper sack sitting next to her.  She picked it up and standing, handed it to him, briefly looking him in the eyes.
	"Well, I'd better go," she said and turned around.
	"Wait," Mark said.  "I can't eat all this by myself."  He opened the sack and in a glance, took in the three sandwiches carefully wrapped in cellophane, small bag of potato chips, carrot sticks, bottle of iced tea, and plastic cup.  "Don't go.  Please.  Don't."
	A pause.
	"Okay," Lauren said.
	Mark smiled and looked around.  There really wasn't a good place to eat.  He thought for a moment, then unlocked the wheels of his desk and pushed it over to his bed. Next, he rolled his chair over.
	"Have a seat," he said, nudging his shoes under the bed.
	Lauren seated herself at the desk.  Mark took his toolbox off the desk and put it on the floor.  Then he sat cross-legged on the bed and put the food on the desk.
	"So, uh...what kind of sandwiches are they?"
	Lauren pointed at the one closest to Mark and said, "That's a bacon, lettuce, and tomato one."
	"Are they all different?" Mark asked.
	Lauren nodded and said, "It would be boring if they were all the same, don't you think?"
	"Yeah..." Mark said.
	Mark watched as Lauren looked down at the other two and a puzzled expression crossed her face.  Mark smiled.  She was being so serious about sandwiches!
	"I can't tell which is which..." she said sadly.  "But one is peanut butter and jelly and the other is banana and marshmallow fluff."
	"Oh," Mark said.
	Another pause.
	"Shall we..?" Mark asked.
	"Oh, yes, please go ahead."
	Not feeling particularly adventurous, Mark took the BLT.  He unwrapped it and took a bite, quickly followed by another.
	"Say, what kind of bread is this?" Mark asked.
	"Oat."
	"Huh...I didn't know they had that in the kitchen."
	"Well...actually, it's a new recipe.  You don't like it?"
	"It's great," Mark said.  "The whole thing, not just the bread.  Really, I'm not just saying that."
	Lauren looked up.
	"Oh, good!" she said.
	"Why don't you have one, too?"
	Lauren shook her head, then changed her mind and said, "Well, I guess I could have some carrots."
	She unwrapped them and nibbled on one.
	Mark checked the time.  It was nearly 11.  Also, his legs were starting to ache, so he unfolded them and put his stocking feet on the floor.
	"Lauren, don't you want a sandwich?  It's getting late."
	She looked surprised.
	"But they're for you."
	"I know.  But you don't look like you're eating enough.  I mean, I know it's none of my business but...still..."
	Lauren smiled.
	"Okay, "she said and looked at the remaining sandwiches.
	After a second, she asked, "Which one do you want?
	"It doesn't matter," Mark said and took a carrot.
	"But they're yours."
	"That's not important; just take one."
	"Hmm.  Eenee, meenee, minee, moe..."
	As Lauren unwrapped her sandwich, Mark noticed something.
	"Say, I don't remember taking my shoes off.  Did you see me take them off?  Lauren?"
	He looked up from his socks and found Lauren had put about a third of her peanut butter sandwich in her mouth.
	"Lauren?" he asked.  "What are you doing?"
	Lauren shook her head and kept chewing.
	"Ah-ha," Mark said, a grin spreading over his face.  "You did it, didn't you?"
	Lauren slowly nodded and finished chewing.
	"Really, when I came in, I thought you were just napping.  But after a couple minutes, I thought sleeping with your shoes on would be uncomfortable, so I took them off.  Is that...weird?" Lauren asked.
	Mark smiled and Lauren smiled in return.
	"No," Mark said, shaking his head.  "Not weird.  Thoughtful.  Sometimes, I forget to take my shoes off and then my feet hurt when I wake up.  That was nice of you."
	They continued eating.  Mark finished his sandwich first and took the bag of chips.  He pulled one end of the small foil bag open, then pulled the back flaps apart.  Slipping the bottom open, Mark lay the open bag on the desk.
	"Why did you do that?" Lauren asked.
	Mark shrugged and took a chip.  "If we're both eating them, it's easier this way."
	"Oh," Lauren said.  She had a chip.  "That makes sense."
	"Iced tea?" Mark asked, pouring a cup.
	"Please," Lauren said.
	"Here you go."
	Mark handed her the cup and she drank.
	"Give it back when you're done.  I want a drink, too."
	"You're drinking from the same cup?" Lauren asked.
	Mark shrugged and said, "Sure, why not?"
	"But...germs!"
	"Well, there's only one cup here.  What, should I just drink from the bottle?" Mark teased.
	"Use the cup," Lauren said, handing it over.  She finished her sandwich.  "Ah, I haven't had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in such a long time."
	"Yeah, and you make really good sandwiches."
	"Thanks," Lauren said.  "I can make more, if you want."
	"Sure, every day would be nice."
	Lauren gave Mark a flat look.
	"Just kidding!" Mark said, smiling sheepishly.  He put his hands up, defensively.
	There was an awkward pause.
	"Mark," Lauren said quietly.  "Please don't do that to me, too."
	"I...I'm sorry, I forgot.  Uh...Lauren?  I didn't mean...You know, I...ugh, here!" Mark said.  He punched himself in the face.
	"Mark!"
	"There.  That should make us even, right?"
	"Mark..." Lauren said softly, her eyes shining.
	"Hey, it's okay.  Here, have a sandwich," Mark said, offering her the last one.
	"Uh-uh," Lauren said.  "That's your favourite."
	"Nope, I'm not eating it," Mark said.  "Unless..."
	"Unless what?"
	"Unless you have half."
	Mark looked at Lauren and she looked back.  There was a brief staring competition.
	Lauren lost.
	"Ha!" Mark said.  He unwrapped the sandwich and quickly cut it in half with a letter opener.
	They sat in silence and devoured the sandwich.
	"Thirsty?" Mark asked.
	Lauren nodded and Mark poured the cup again.
	"Which side was yours?" Mark asked.
	"Doesn't matter," Lauren said.
	Mark smiled.