Susan Rizzi climbed out of the soft bed, kissed its other occupant softly, and slipped into the silk night robe that lay draped across the back of the hand carved chair near the window. She pulled open the curtains, luxuriating in the warm sunlight that streamed through. The Napa Valley was beautiful this time of year, and the bed and breakfast room had such an amazing view out the window. Susan just stood there gazing at the pristine landscape and smiling to herself.

A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind as a warm body pressed against her. She leaned back into it and shivered as its owner laid a gentle kiss against the side of her neck.

"I thought we could go for a walk outside," she said, "but you're now making me think staying right here is a much better idea."

"You can't do that yet," the voice murmured. She knew that voice, but why did it seem strange? For that matter, why was it murmuring in her ear that way? "We have to win."

Susan turned around. Elijah Wu stood pressed against her, his arms wrapping her in an embrace. She frowned. What was going on? Where was his shirt? How had they gotten here?

"We have to beat the Reapers," Elijah said.

Susan twitched. The last thing she remembered was…

"We have to beat the Reapers," Elijah said again.

The shuttle floor. She blinked. Otte. The city. Elijah kept looking at her. That last run for the extraction shuttle, half-dragging Wu on her shoulder.

"We have to beat the Reapers," Elijah said. "Or none of this will exist again."

The terrible sounds of battle. The wounds, the pain. Bleeding out on the shuttle floor. Susan closed her eyes. She wrapped her own arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder.

"Can't we just stay here?" she said. "Like this? Peaceful?"

He lifted her chin with a finger, looking into her eyes.

"Time to wake up."

Pain. Cold. Susan opened her eyes slowly. She was looking at a med bay ceiling again. Why did this seem familiar? A woman's face looked down at her. Ah, that would be Doctor Chung. Susan blinked. It wasn't.

"Doctor? She's awake." It was the Grissom trainee. What was her name? Oh yes, Ackland. A second face joined Ackland in her view. There was Doctor Chung.

"Lieutenant? Good to see you awake," she said.

"Doctor?" Susan said. She realized she was wearing a face mask. "How long?"

"Were you out?" Chung said. Susan nodded. "You've been in sickbay for fifteen hours."

"Hurt bad?" Talking was an effort.

"Hurt bad indeed," said Doctor Chung. She smiled. "You'll be all right. Rest, let yourself heal. You've been through a lot."

"Wu… did he make it?"

"Yes he did." Doctor Chung nodded to Susan's left. She turned her head slowly and saw Elijah Wu lying on the next bed. "I understand that was thanks to you."

"Just… doing my… job."

The doctor patted Susan's hand. "You're a strong young lady. Don't worry; you should make a full recovery."

Susan nodded leadenly. Her vision was getting blurry. She leaned back against the pillow. The events of her dream boiled up in her mind and filled her with a mixture of embarrassment, confusion, and quiet longing. There was something else, she realized. There was also resentment that the real world was so unlike the idyllic dream. Susan closed her eyes. She just needed to rest for a moment…

She opened her eyes. There was that strange, indefinable sense that time had passed. She wasn't wearing the oxygen mask anymore. She blinked. The lights were low, which meant the ship was in its night shift. She lifted her head and was mildly alarmed by how much effort that took.

Looking around she saw Doctor Chung asleep at her desk, head on a pillow between her arms. Susan smiled at the sight and turned her head to the left. Susan would have jumped if she'd had the strength. Wu was staring at her. He didn't react when she turned to him, and got the sense he wasn't staring at her but rather through her, and she just happened to be in the way.

"How are you?" she asked? Her voice was weak, but at least speaking was easier than before. Wu blinked and focused on her. He was paler than usual, and Susan hoped he felt better than he looked.

"Why?" he said. "Why'd you drag me out?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Susan said. She narrowed her eyes. "Did you want to be left down there?"

Wu lowered his gaze. "I don't know." He looked back up at Susan. "I don't want anybody getting killed over me."

"Well, I'm still alive." Susan smiled.

"No thanks to me," Wu said. "I'm sorry."

"It's not the first time I've been wounded extracting a squad member."

"That shouldn't have happened." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "You'd be fine if I hadn't lost control."

"There's no way you can know that," Susan said as firmly as she could. "That whole situation was a mess all around. You can't blame yourself for-"

"Yes I can," Wu said. He frowned at Susan. "That's the second time you've been wounded because of me. Why do you still want to talk to me?"

"Right now, I don't know," Susan said with a sigh. "You really make it difficult sometimes."

Wu didn't say anything. He just turned away, making it clear the conversation was over. Susan sighed again and closed her eyes for lack of anything else to do. She fell asleep in moments.

Susan woke up when Doctor Chung took more readings. She stood by Susan's bed, making notes on her data pad.

"Doctor?"

"Oh! Lieutenant, I'm sorry for waking you."

"It's no problem. What time is it?"

"It's oh-eight-thirty hours," Doctor Chung said. "I was just taking some readings before going off duty."

"Thank you for staying," Susan said.

Flora Chung smiled. "As you would say, I'm just doing my job. Now, is there anything I can do for you?"

"Another blanket would be nice."

"Of course." Chung plucked a blanket from the storage closet by her desk and settled it over Susan gently.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Think nothing of it," she said. She held up a remote attached to Susan's hospital bed. "I'm going off duty, but let me show you some controls. This button calls me anywhere on the ship." Susan nodded. "These controls," Chung continued, "set up a low level privacy field that obscures vision and sound." She paused. "It can cover two adjacent beds."

Susan looked at the twinkle in her eyes. "Did we wake you up?"

"Oh, I've always been a light sleeper," Chung said with a dismissive wave. She smiled. "I'll leave you to it."

Susan nodded as Doctor Chung returned to her desk. The doctor entered some more notes and then left the med bay.

"She's a kind lady," Wu said.

Susan turned to him. "We didn't wake you, did we?"

Wu shook his head. "She took my readings first. I've been awake for a few minutes." He looked at her in silence for a moment, emotions warring upon his face. "How are you feeling?" he finally said.

"Like a thresher maw swallowed me," she said. "Better than yesterday though."

"Good." He nodded once, and then lay back and closed his eyes.

Susan looked at him for several more moments, and then sighed. The conversation was over again. She adjusted her bed to more of a seat and leaned back, alone with her thoughts.

Her thoughts were interrupted about ten minutes later when the med bay doors opened. Lisa Marx strolled in, grabbing a chair on her way to Susan's side.

"The doc says you'll be fine," she said without preamble. "I have to say, that was really impressive stuff back on Otte. I think you're up for a medal." Lisa nodded at Wu's unconscious form. "A lot of people would have left him."

"I couldn't," Susan said.

Lisa smirked at her. "He must be amazing in bed, then." Susan flushed bright red as remembered her dream and Lisa's eyes widened. "Aha! Spill it! When did you have time to…?"

"Nothing happened," Susan said as vehemently as she could.

"I could guide a shuttle in from orbit using your face," Lisa said.

"It was just a dream," Susan said. "I was recovering from surgery and probably under anesthetic influence."

Lisa sat back and crossed her arms. "Well that's disappointing."

"Did you come here just to grill me on my love life? Because I can assure you; it's nonexistent."

"That's kind of sad when you say it out loud."

"I've been busy. You know the ongoing war against galactic extinction?"

"Doesn't that mean you should enjoy it while you can?" Susan went quiet and Lisa chuckled after a moment. "Oh, who am I kidding? It's been ages since I've seen any action."

"This war doesn't leave many opportunities for…" Susan trailed off. Opportunities for what, she thought. Love? Happiness? Future hopes?

Lisa nodded. "It really doesn't. Anyways, I brought you guys some reading material. I thought you might be bored cooped up here." She set a data pad by Susan's side before getting up and doing the same for Wu.

"I'll look at it later," Susan said as Lisa sat back down. "How are you holding up?"

"Me? I'm not the one in med bay." Lisa paused and frowned. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah. But Otte was crazy," Susan said. "I'm not sure any of us made it out completely whole."

"I'm okay right now," Lisa said. "I'm sure the nightmares will come later. To tell the truth, a lot of it is just one big blur. It all blends together after being in combat for so long, you know?"

Susan nodded.

"You've been through something like that before, right?" Lisa said. "During N7 training?"

"Yeah. The real thing is worse, but some of those N1 courses were crazy."

"N1? The marathon combat courses are the first things you do?"

"Yup." Susan noticed the pensive expression on Lisa's face. "Why? What's wrong?"

"I got an invitation to the program right before the Reapers hit," Lisa said. "I wasn't really sure about it then, and I've been kinda busy since. How did you decide to attend?"

"A chat with my brother," Susan said. "He was so proud of me when I got the invitation. I wasn't sure I could do it, personally. He always believed I could."

"That's where I'm at. I don't know if I have what it takes to finish the program."

Susan smiled at her. "I know you do. Just look at what you've done during this war."

"Thanks," Lisa said. "I'm pretty happy doing what I am now though."

"Really, you'd make a great N7. It's supposed to open up some nice opportunities too. You should really think about accepting that invitation after the war."

Lisa snorted. "Yeah, if there is an after the war."

"Think of it as an incentive to win."

"What? So I can do more twenty hour combat sessions? Yeah, great incentive."

"There would be other things, obviously."

"Right." Lisa smirked. "Like… handsome Vanguards with obviously hurting souls? You're such a romantic."

"If I weren't seriously wounded right now I would kick your ass."

Lisa gave her an impish smile. "Why do you think I pick these times to talk to you?"

"Come here. Bring your face to my fist, please."

"So tell me about this dream."

"No."

"You're no fun. Was it loud and angry at least?"

Susan sighed.

Lisa stayed with her for nearly half an hour. They chatted and shared, Lisa heckling her for details frequently. Susan was sorry to see her go when Banafsheh summoned her for a debriefing. She enjoyed the irreverent Infiltrator's company: it reminded her of past times with her brother. If she was being honest with herself, she even enjoyed Lisa's teasing about Wu.

Susan stared at the door for a minute after Lisa left. She was glad she'd visited; being stuck in med bay with an antisocial Wu would have been-

"You're right about her making a good N7," Wu said.

Susan jerked in surprise and then winced in pain at the movement. She turned to his bed to see Wu looking at her.

"Can't you cough or clear your throat or something so I know you're there and awake?" she said. "It's a little creepy the way you just…say stuff suddenly."

Wu looked at her for a moment, and then cleared his throat. Susan rolled her eyes at him but couldn't resist a smile. Then she froze and felt the blood drain from her face. "Wait. You were awake for that?"

"Pretty much since she walked in, yeah."

"Oh no." Susan brought a hand to her face. "Can we pretend that conversation did not happen?"

"If you insist." Wu smiled at her. Susan realized it was the first time she'd ever seen him smile. He should smile more. "She knew I was awake, by the way."

"What?"

"Oh yeah. Gave me a wink and motioned for me to keep quiet when she dropped this off." He held up the data pad Lisa had placed at his side.

Susan shook her head. "I'm going to kick her ass."

"It's probably her way of unwinding," Wu said with another smile. His face turned serious. "I'm sorry about last night. You tried to reach out and I was very rude."

"It's alright," Susan said. "You're not interested in talking: I get that. I'll respe-"

"You're wrong," he interjected. He looked at her with a mix of trepidation and hope. "Can we start over?"

Susan smiled at him. "I'd like that."

"Thank you."

They spoke, quietly and hesitatingly, for over an hour. Susan carefully steered the conversation away from topics that seemed like potential triggers for him. They spoke about preferred restaurants on the Citadel, handling characteristics of different weapons, and the "feel" of different biotic techniques in the brain and body. They exchanged stories of their experiences in the N7 program. Eventually, both exhausted, they mutually agreed to rest and sleep before resuming.

When they woke up they spoke about their experiences serving with the different species in the coalition. They shared horror stories of Alliance Procurement. They spoke about their favorite foods to binge on after heavy biotic use and lamented the quality of rations. Wu asked about her brother. She told stories of times spent together, of troubles instigated and curfews broken. She spoke about supporting each other during hard times in the service and of joys shared. Finally, she spoke about that horrible day when she received the news that she'd never see or speak to him again. Wu listened to all of it in silence. Eventually they fell asleep again.

Elijah was already awake when Susan finished her nap. He stared up at the ceiling deep in thought. She chose not to interrupt him and waited in silence. At some point he looked down and saw her watching him.

"I was on the Citadel when the Reapers hit," he said quietly. Susan tensed. This was more than he'd ever shared before, and she could sense the pain in his words. "I was talking with my family. We did this thing every year where everybody would gather together. The whole family. Grandparents, uncles, cousins, everybody. I was on duty so I couldn't make it this year. My parents set up a group chat for all of us. I was talking with… I was talking with somebody when the Reapers landed."

Susan watched a tear roll down Elijah's cheek. He took a shaky breath.

"My little cousin was asking me what I thought of her joining the Navy. She'd just turned eighteen. Wanted to study engineering. There was this roar, you know that damn horn noise they make? I thought it was some freak interference at first, something wrong with a relay somewhere. Everybody stood up, moved away towards a window. They were looking at something. People started screaming. I don't think they could hear me. Then there was this flash. This red beam that cut through everything. The transmission went out."

Elijah sobbed quietly, and then stared straight ahead.

"I went back and replayed the last moments of the transmission in slow motion," he said. "I… I thought it would be better to know for sure, one way or another. The beam… the flash-heat… it stripped them to skeletons right before vaporizing everything. Boiled the flesh right off the bones."

He clenched his fists and closed his eyes. Susan opened her mouth to comfort him but stopped as he continued speaking.

"I lost track of how many times I watched that. I kept telling myself that maybe I missed something, or I'd misinterpreted something or the image was faulty…"

Susan didn't know what to say. What could she say to him?

"It wasn't just my family. There was… a girl I grew up with," Elijah said as he stared into the distance. "We were close for a while, but we drifted apart when I joined the military."

Susan nodded. He didn't seem to notice.

"We'd just started talking again. My family had her over for dinner and such a lot. I'd been thinking about some of the close calls during N6 training. I thought about her. We didn't have anything going, not really. I knew that. But still… she meant, I mean, she represented…"

"A future?" Susan said softly. "Maybe… happiness?"

Elijah turned to her in surprise. It was like he'd forgotten she was there. "I think so," he said. "Yes."

"I'm so sorry," she said. Tears kept streaming down his face as Elijah broke down sobbing in earnest. Susan realized her own eyes and cheeks were wet.

Eventually Elijah regained his composure. He took a deep breath and finally looked at her. She met his gaze with her own and saw the quiet gratitude in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she said again. "Thank you for sharing and trusting me."

"Thank you for listening," Elijah said. He smiled at her, and Susan saw both the effort it took and the genuine warmth behind it. She smiled back.

They shared no more words after that. A state of silence drifted over them. Unlike before, this was a comfortable silence. It didn't cry out for noise and distraction to fill it. It was a silence born between two people that had bared their souls to each other and found acceptance.

The silence lasted until the med bay doors hissed open and Lisa Marx entered again. She was reading the data pad in her hand. Behind her came Doctor Chung, similarly occupied.

"What's happening?" Susan asked.

"We just jumped to the Serpent Nebula relay," Lisa said.

"We're going to the Citadel?" Elijah set his bed further upright but stopped and winced.

"The Salvador's due for some triple-R after Otte and the Verge," Lisa explained. Triple-R was shorthand for Repairs, Retrofits, and Rearming.

"You're both being transferred to Huerta Memorial Hospital," Doctor Chung added. "They have some of the best facilities in Council space."

"That's what I'm here for," Lisa said. "If you give me your locker codes I'll pack up your stuff and make sure it gets to you in the hospital."

"Thanks," Susan said as she transferred her code to Lisa's omni-tool.

"Thank you, Marx," Elijah said. "You didn't need to do this."

Lisa shrugged. "Hey, you're part of my team. And you're pretty good with that pig sticker of yours when you're not landing my friend in the hospital."

Elijah looked down. "It won't happen again."

Susan cleared her throat. "So do you know what you and K'Thane will be doing? Are they redeploying you?"

"Surprisingly not," Lisa said. "It looks like we've got some downtime after the Kepler Verge. There are rumbles about stuff going on beyond the Perseus Veil. Something's happening with the quarians and the geth." She shrugged. "It's almost like things are a little on hold until everybody knows more."

"Well, things could be worse," Susan said. "A little R&R on the Citadel, huh?"

"We'll see how long that lasts," Lisa said. "I'd better get packing. I'll catch up with you guys on the Citadel."

Doctor Chung smiled as Lisa left the med bay. "It's always nice to see squads getting along," she said. "If only more people were like that."

"Doctor, do you need us to do anything for the transfer?" Susan said.

"Heavens, no! Don't you worry about that. I've got everything taken care of here. We'll roll your beds to the shuttle once we dock."

"Thank you Doctor."

Chung gave both of them another smile and went to her desk, busying herself with the myriad demands of a warship's doctor. Susan looked over to Elijah. He had the data pad Marx had given him in hand and a frown creased his face as he read it. As Susan watched the frown turned into amusement and what looked like… embarrassment.

"What is it?" she said.

He looked up at her, the hint of a blush on his cheeks. "Did you get a chance to look at Marx's 'reading material' yet?"

"No, and suddenly I'm not sure I want to."

He kept scrolling through his data pad. "I did not know that was possible."

Her curiosity stoked, Susan picked up her own data pad and activated it. She frowned and read the document title out loud trying to make sure she hadn't misread it.

"Lift Your Love Life: The Guide to Erotic Biotic Techniques. Marx…"

Doctor Chung looked up from her desk and cleared her throat. "As your physician," she said in a remarkably straight voice, "I do not recommend attempting any of the techniques in that book until you're both healed."

Susan felt herself flush bright red and saw Elijah do the same. She sighed. "I'm going to kick her ass…"