The enormity of what Tom had done suddenly overwhelmed her, he'd givenup his life for the man he loved, maybe a little bit for her as well;was she bra...e enough to give up her life for Hiromi, to become the Chuckshe needed at the cost of her own womanhood?'I already told Becky and the committee I'd be willing to become Chuck,it is too late to turn back. Becky needs me to be there for her.'Gabrielle told herself. She also remembered Tonichi Ogawa as ReinaShimizu. Apparently he hadn't lost his. He’d picked the name, actually he stole it from a book he read one winter when he worked the midnight shift. The Cruel Sea was it’s title and the heroine was an English World War II destroyer by the same name. But like all tragic heroines she died, sunk by a German submarine. Gene bought her years ago when she was already a well-used craft. He spent one winter fixing up the engine and painting her hull by hand. Even after the expense of the new equipment she was still a good buy. She always. And I'm sure it will help you toget in touch with your less aggressive side." She gave his fingers asqueeze. "Don't you agree?"Trying not to choke on the lies he was telling, and remembering to keephis voice high and soft, he told her, "I'm sure it will be good for bothof us. I'm sorry for what I did to you and how I mistakenly thought itwas what you wanted. I... I'll try to make it right." I know you will," she agreed, giving him a tug toward the bedroom andthen leading him down the hall. . We had a beautiful evening enjoying some great food and drinks but I couldn’t get her body out of mind, we decided to leave after having desert, just as we were leaving a waiter dropped some drinks that went all over my dates shirt, she was really calm though but when we got into the car she was worried about going home to her strict parents covered in a cocktail of drinks, I offered to take her back to my place to clean it up, initially she was a bit hesitant but had no other choice.So we made.