By the time Columbia touched down at Kennedy her worst nightmare had already arrived. Well, second worst. But it was the worst the US had to offer. It came in the form of Lieutenant General India Thatch. She was talking urgently with Discovery but quickly dismissed the shuttle as Columbia came up. "Major General, how nice of you to join us." Her sarcastic tone told Columbia she was in for it. "Shall we discuss matters in your hanger?" Columbia nodded. "This way ma'am." She said, forcing a smile. She led Thatch away from the gathering crowd which Collins was dealing with quite professionally. Columbia gave her former yeoman a nod.
Thatch followed her into the hanger and as soon as Columbia closed the soundproof door, her attitude made a vicious one-eighty. She rounded on Columbia, ramming her hard in the shoulder. Columbia pushed back, snarling. They had done this dance before. Thatch had no outlet for her emotions. She had to keep everything concealed. And so Columbia, in the same proverbial boat as Thatch, often clashed with her. It was a means of release as well as confrontation and getting one's point across at the same time. Thatch hissed, slamming Columbia into the wall before Columbia's superior strength kicked in. She was bigger than Thatch, stronger. And she wasn't weighed down by her old pains anymore. She resisted, and Thatch's brakes squealed as her wheels were pushed across the hanger floor. Columbia pulled back for a second, gathering herself, then slammed into Thatch with all her might. Thatch was flung into the far wall, crying out in pain. Columbia instantly changed her tune. Their sparing matches, as intense as they were, were never meant to induce pain or injury. "Thatch, I'm sorry." She said but Thatch was laughing. A quiet sound at first that quickly grew louder. Her whole body shook with it.
When she calmed down some, she said "So you really are free then. Your sisters have made you stronger than I, Columbia." "They are your sisters too, Thatch." Columbia replied. Thatch shook her head. "Say it Columbia. I speak your name, speak mine." She asked. "Thatch..." Thatch glared at her but there was no malice behind it. "Columbia please..." She begged. Her three stars meant nothing to her in that moment. There was no generals, no military. Just two sisters, and one was beyond desperate. Columbia relented. "Challenger, I'm sorry." She whispered. "Sorry for what? That you have a family now and I don't? That you don't have to hide anymore and I do? Columbia, never apologize for that. Never!" Thatch rose to her wheels. "I sent you out here because I knew you wouldn't last much longer in California. I was losing you, the only family I have left. The only one, who knows." "But I'm not the only one. Discovery..." "Cannot know." Thatch growled. "None of them, can ever know!" "They forgave me, they can forgive you." Columbia said. Thatch shook her head. "My loss almost killed Discovery. She might have it in her to forgive you but she can't forgive me." "You won't know unless you try." "And it's not just Discovery either." Thatch continued as if she hadn't heard Columbia. "Your reappearance is killing Atlantis. And even if you can save her she'll be too fragile to take another blow like that." Columbia looked down, knowing that Thatch was right. But her heart longed to help her sister. "I wish I could help you..." She whispered. Thatch pressed her cheek against hers. "I know, Collie." She yawned. "You want to stay here tonight?" Columbia asked. Thatch's answer was to snuggle her. "Predictable as ever." Columbia chuckled and Thatch nudged her playfully in reply.
There was a knock on the door and Columbia sighed, turning to answer it. She found Discovery and Endeavour standing there looking a little nervous. "We uh, we heard a fight. Well, something that sounded like a fight anyways." Endeavour muttered. "I'm alright." "We both are." called Thatch from the backroom. Still, the two younger sisters stayed where they were, seemingly waiting for something. Columbia sighed, recognizing the looks on their faces. "I'm letting you in tonight aren't I?" She asked. She sighed again and stepped aside. Discovery and Endeavour stumbled over each other in an effort to beat one another to the bed. But both stopped when they saw Thatch. "General." Discovery's tone was full of respect and Endeavour stood rimrod straight. Thatch chuckled. "At ease you two. The tiresome general has retired to her quarters for the night. You two may call me India." "We uh, we could leave..." Endeavour stammered. Thatch looked at Columbia but the bigger shuttle shrugged and said "It's your decision." What was left unsaid was that this might be Thatch's only chance. Thatch held her gaze a moment longer and nodded. "You're welcome to stay." She said warmly, giving both Endeavour and Discovery a nuzzle.
When she retreated, Discovery turned to Columbia. "Is there something you're not telling me?" She asked. It was a rhetorical question because they all knew the answer to that. Columbia sighed. "All in good time, Discovery." She replied. That night all four snuggled together on Columbia's bed. Columbia was sandwiched between Discovery on one side, and Thatch on the other. Thatch had Endeavour to her outside. She curled around the youngest shuttle, her successor to the fleet. She could never tell her the truth, but she wanted Endeavour to know that she was loved by her. And judging by the way Endeavour snuggled into her side, Thatch could see her message was received. For once no dreams haunted her sleep that night. Thatch, the former shuttle Challenger, slept soundly with her family for the first and last time. A family who could never know how complete it was.