[Please forgive me as I'm re-reading and revising these first two chapters before posting the third and final chapter. Please re-read them if you wish. Thanks for your understanding!]

She awoke with a start, her silver eyes scanning the room as she begun to toss off the white sheet and blanket that covered her. The sterile environment inside the medical facility was so familiar at this point, but still she couldn't find it comfortable. "Doctor..." She began, but he was already pulling back the section of curtains and approaching her bed. He was tall and tan with short cropped black hair, dark brown eyes and wire-rimmed glasses. "Don't move yet," he quietly commanded, turning on his handheld light and waving it in front of her eyes; testing her reflexes, she knew.

"We had to put in a pacemaker," he stated as he continued to confirm that her current state was satisfactory. "It shouldn't interfere with the other supportive instruments in your body, but if you think something is wrong then come back here immediately." He removed the IV and other wires constricting her movement before sliding his glasses off and rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Meyneth... We have to send you back. The pacemaker is a temporary fix but you need major surgery and we can't do it here. You cannot put this off anymore."

Upset didn't even begin to cover it; she was devastated. She knew she shouldn't have delayed her treatments but they were so low on time... Her eyes stung with the tears she couldn't cry, her tear ducts had been damaged ever since she received the ocular implants. "I understand, I'd hoped my... condition wouldn't cause too much of a problem... with all the work that's been done to my body... Soon I'll be more machine than human." She smiled sadly then shifted her legs over the side of the bed and gathered up her belongings that had been brought to the room after the surgery.

"You've done well." He'd returned the glasses to his face and was filling out forms on a clipboard for her dismissal as she stared forward listlessly. "Now it's time to take care of yourself. The shuttle back will leave tomorrow." She nodded and, after thanking him, returned to her quarters. Her mind was racing; the doctor had told her to take it easy but she couldn't help be overwhelmed by the utter frustration and disappointment of having to leave... her team... their project...

Klaus.

She frowned and shook her head rapidly, as if trying to remove the errant thoughts. Klaus will be just fine, and he'll make sure the project gets done. She finished boxing up her clothes and what few belongings she'd been allowed to bring. Suddenly her friend and teammate burst through the door, her short auburn hair tousled and her olive green colored eyes wide behind her thin rectangular glasses. "YOU'RE LEAVING!?" She exclaimed more than asked; she'd never been one for tact.
Meyneth took a deep breath and nodded. "The doctor says I have to go back..."

"Gee, you really can't even wait? Oh man, what are we gonna do?" She slumped to the floor, panting. She obviously ran here as fast as she could. "There's no way... we might as well go back too!"
Meyneth sat up and dropped her box, clenching her fists in front of her. "DON'T YOU DARE!" she shouted, startling her friend. Meyneth was too worn down to even entertain such capriciousness, not today. "I'd give anything to be able to stay and finish this with everyone, so don't you dare give up!"

"Meyneth it's impossible, fate's just stacked against us..."

"Get out, I have to pack."

"There's no point in staying if-"

"Leave!"

She shut the door behind her friend and rested her forehead on the cool metal. She felt a little guilt, reacting like that, but it was best she kicked her out now than let slip something she really regretted. How could she say such things... She wiped her eyes, mostly out of comforting habit, and repacked her things that had fallen onto the floor then sealed the box before leaving her room and heading off to work... for the last time.

She rounded a corner and stopped on her toes, barely avoiding the taller blond man in front of her. "Meyneth! I heard you were released, I... it took you long enough." His speech was haughty as always but he looked relieved... and tired! "We've gotta get to work, let's go." Without thinking, he grabbed her hand and started to drag her along while explaining everything he'd done while she'd been gone.
"-The containment ring has even been stabilized," he continued, "We'll begin testing today!" He stopped to look back at her; she could feel the heat on her cheeks and she was squeezing his hand tightly.

"Klaus..." She raised her eyes to meet his, almost choking on her words.

He quickly released her hand and stepped away, now blushing himself. "S-sorry, you really should walk faster. Let's-"

"I'm leaving tomorrow." She stared into his eyes and watched the confusion play on his face. "My health is... I can't..." She tried to explain, but her anguish was overwhelming.

"Why?" His forehead was scrunched and he was shaking his head back and forth, trying to make sense of it. "You seem fine, you were released from the clinic. I know you've had some problems before but everyone has a bionic enhancement or two these days. You... You can't just leave."

"I don't have a choice..."She tried to smile and hoped she succeeded well enough. "Fate's got it out for me. But I'm here for today, so..."

He averted his gaze then turned away and continued walking, but at a quicker pace. "It doesn't matter, you might as well leave now." His voice was flat, indifferent, dismissive... It rolled off his tongue like an offhand comment.

Her breathing increased nervously and she tried to catch up and reached for his hand, "Klaus, I don't want to but-"

"If you didn't want to, you'd stay!" He turned and glared down at her with his icy blue eyes.

"Just leave, we don't need you."

His words pierced her heart. She knew it was true, they really didn't need her. They could definitely do this, without her, but it still stung. She watched him disappear into the programming room, the door closing behind him. She bit her lip and considered returning to her room for the remainder of her time there. It was very tempting, just run away and soon she wouldn't have to worry about it anymore; but she knew she'd regret that. He's just upset... she tried to rationalize, walking to the break area to pour a cup of coffee. This project is everything to him and... Shit! She dumped out the coffee she'd poured, remembering one of those forms the doctor gave her that prohibited caffeine and other substances that may affect her heart rate. It's everything to me too. She rinsed off the cup and returned it to the cabinet. It's my project too and I have every right to help as long as I can. His tantrum should be over soon... I'd hate to leave without...

She steeled herself and reached into her lab coat pocket, nervously clicking her pen as her footsteps echoed down the long hallway on the way to join her team.

[Author's note: I'm sorry it took so long, thank you for your patience! I'm afraid I might still have some edits, but I really wanted to post this chapter so please enjoy.]