The day passed quickly. Shake awake the brothers, eat breakfast, go to the dojo, start classes, have lunch, more classes, individual lessons, go home. She had been operating on autopilot ever since she returned home. Today was not much different. She came home, saw her brother already starting dinner, nibbled on a few of the veggies he had cut and grinned saying, "How is it that you're a better cook than me?"

That drew a smile to Sean's face. "You are so sexist. Should I be upset that you can kick my ass ten ways from Tuesday?"

"Of course not! Women are always supposed to be better than men," she chuckled good-naturedly with the ribbing. "Seriously though, tastes much better than mine." Another yawn hit her and she shook her head lightly to clear it.

Sean looked at her with some concern. "You're not getting enough rest." She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off, "I don't care what time you are going to bed. Go up, lay down. Or I'll tell Dad and he'll knock some sense into you."

Shana couldn't help but smile and agreed with a smile, heading upstairs to her room, laying down and closing her eyes to sleep, where her dreams overtook her, bringing the rest of the memories that she'd been trying so hard to block out

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A knock at her door as she was getting into bed, the shots from before truly catching up to her now. The room was spinning, and she called out weakly, "Who's there?"

A worried voice came through the door, "Scarlett? Shana, are you ok?" It was Duke and he was obviously checking up on her. She could never figure out if it was because he really had feelings for her or whether he viewed her as a little sister. The knocking became a little more insistant as she tried to gather her wits.

"I'm ok. Come in if you want," she sat down on the bed, resting her back against the headboard, taking a small sip of water, trying to prevent a hangover tomorrow, not a fun way to fly.

Duke walked in, pretty far from sober himself, looking at the glass of clear liquid with an arched brow, "That better not be vodka, I think you've had enough."

She laughed at that, "No, water. Hangover's worst enemy. Have a seat if you want." She watched him curiously wishing she was just a little more sober so she could better interpret it. "What's wrong?"

"Just worried about you. You had a lot to drink, and a lot on your plate. Big change coming up," he sat down on her bed, closing the door after himself. "How are you dealing with it all? I know you and Snake Eyes were.....close." His emotions were unreadable when he spoke those words.

'You will not cry, you will not lose it, you will not cry,' she silently willed herself, her words still slurred when she spoke, "I won't lie, it's been hard. I..." Her voice broke a little, "I just don't know what I'll do without the Joes." She regained control of her voice and managed to not cry at all.

"Shana, you don't have to leave you know," Duke's voice was hoarse, emotion filling it, "We may not be Joes, but you can still stay with many of us." He wanted to add 'with me', but just couldn't. "I'm going to miss you Shana. I don't know what I'll do without you around." He stammered for a moment then added hastily, "You're a very competant soldier."

"'A very competant soldier'? Boy, do you have a way with flattering a girl Conrad." She smiled, leaning forward on her knees. "But thank you, I appreciate it."

He looked at her for a moment, weighing his options, then suddenly leaned over and kissed her. She was shocked at first, but quickly responded, holding onto him tightly. They kissed fervently as her hand reached out for the light and they lay back on her bed, doing what they had secretly yearned to do for so long.

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She tossed in her sleep then woke up, hearing Brian's voice calling her down for dinner. "Come on sleepyhead! You don't get down here soon, there won't be anything left for you!"

she slowly got up, lamenting that she must be so out of shape to be so worn out all the time, either that or she had to stop the dreams from bothering her rest, heading down the stairs to join her family for dinner.