In a few days Sara's mind would be completely gone. Each day she would hold his hand and pray, "please, give me a sign he's ok. Tell me he didn't die in vain. HE WAS ALL I HAD!" she screamed at the sky. She didn't eat drink or even sleep (that she knew of.)

"I love you. It's ok" she said out loud rocking back and forth "mama will take care of us. She'll protect us" Sara was shivering; she had not left his side, for hours. She felt nothing; not hunger, not pain, she was dead her own body.

"Can you see her?"She asked her brother's body. They had lost their mother to suicide. 1 week after their father died under 'mysterious circumstances' (the month before Sara and Sean enlisted Sara cut his wrists and throat, and various other places, leaving him to die in the bed he used to rape her.) No one ever suspected her, or perhaps the war effort needed two new soldiers more than it needed a murder conviction.

After 2 days of unanswered prayers her mind was broken. Agent Washington arrived after blowing up Agent York's body. Despite the fact they had been only a few miles from where York died (8 hours away by foot, less by car.)

But in Washington's defense Sara, in her broken mental state had been messing around with the homing beacon. She figured out what Washington was doing to the bodies; he would detonate them, in their armor; it was why there was never anything left to return to command. She needed more time. She needed to see her brother's face, remember every feature he needed to be able to see him, so when she closed her eyes to feel him watching over her.

The day still came, just as command said it would. "Agent South Do you remember what happened?" Washington asked her.

South went catatonic, "no..." even if she did, she could never put it in to words.

"Are you sure?" he asked again, as he was required to.

"I was inside, I heard a scream, I came out..." she said in a flat, robotic tone.

"Where's theta? Did you take him?" He asked, directly but not really accusing likely the Meta came killed North for Theta, and left South alive because she was of no value. (and If she did take him it would be pretty obvious in a moment.)

"I don't have an AI port; I was in the group behind you." Sara said, through gritted teeth, the very notion of him accusing her of desecrating her brother's body infuriated her.

"All armors have an AI port." Washington pointed out; a fact that would become relevant in a short while.

No response. He would assume it was due to grief.

"Bastard..." she muttered under her breath she would enjoy killing Washington..

"I know he was your brother but we can't leave anything behind, I'm going to start the detonator, you have 60 seconds to say your last goodbye- and get at least 50 feet away." Washington said, already taking a few steps back.

(ooc- the next part makes use of South's monologue from 'Recovery One pt 2')"

South was in full armor, so he could not see her dead lifeless eyes. "I always thought being a twin was a hard thing. Everyone always finds a way to put you together. It's like you're not considered two people. "While that was true, it was not a negative, she loved being his other half.

"Even when we were kids, our parents dressed us alike, and when we joined up and got sent to the program, they stuck us together. People thought we were special somehow I suppose. I used to hate that. "She did hate that aspect, but only because she knew they were not seen as equals; everyone loved Sean, they trusted Sean, they adored Sean- but he deserved it. He deserved all of it. He was strong, courageous, but always kind. He always saw the best in people. Even their father; he would always try to do better, work harder, learn from his mistakes- as if they made any difference.

North and South, Sean and Sara they had been born on the same day, but he was always better than her. She felt all the comparisons were simply pointless.

"All I ever wanted was to have my own life. And here I am now, just wondering how I'm going to live without him. "She concluded, in voice that seemed disconnected with her conciseness. It was a lie; South knew exactly how she was going to live; she would live only for herself. She already lost her only source of humanity.

Washington then did exactly what command knew he would do. He fired a round next to South's ear. She waited until hearing his exchange with command before shouting "WHAT THE FUCK!" Yes, she understood he needed to fake her death so she could 'help him defeat the Meta' but god damn, he could have given a little warning.

"I need your help

"To defeat Maine."

"What do you know about the current mental state of agent Maine?"

"I know he took Carolina's AIs" she shrugged. "I assume Sigma made him insane, like how your AI implant attempt left you a little insane."

That sounded reasonable. "That brings me to me next issue," he pulled up Delta.

Now came the part where South could prove for certain she didn't have Theta."As you said my AI implant attempt fucked my brain big time. I physically cannot have an AI. And I need a partner. Maine has defeated agents who were higher ranking them both of us.."

"I was higher ranking then my brother." She felt the need to say, she felt herself letting go of Sara and returning to her Agent South mindset.

"Then why were you never allowed to lead a team?" Washington countered.

South scoffed. "Are you giving me Delta?"

"Yes, if you promise to not be such a bitch." He replied.

"sure." She said. Sure is what you say to people to get them to shut up. It's not a yes, it's not a no, it's a 'let's move past this'.

He would go on to give her the Delta AI, she would go on to shoot him in the back in the moment when he needed her help. But instead of returning to project freelancer she simply left. To where? God only knows.

What was certain eventually South would die and Sara would come home to the tree house.

end