AN: I'm not terribly good at writing action scenes I've come to realise. I've beaten it into something that is hopefully passable.

Chapter 29

It lost control. Object Rho lost control of the justicar. Kenson, resting in her room, could feel it even before the alarms started blaring. She could feel their connection to the asari break. The old woman pushed herself up and reached for the crutch she needed after her torture in Aratoth. She wasn't afraid exactly but she felt… apprehension. It was difficult to explain because she wasn't sure whether it was her own or the force that bound all of them together.

They cannot stop us, Kenson thought. Can they?

She reached her door and, moving outside, she ran into her assistant who was clearly coming to fetch her.

"It's the asari, ma'am," he said urgently. "She's out."

Kenson was already hurrying down the corridor. "Get security to lock that whole segment down," she said. "I want every available hand on standby. She's going to try and go for Shepard."

She had felt it, sensed it building inside the commander's crew member. No, lover. That need, that pressing, almost crippling need that Samara had to be near Jane. It was why Object Rho had told her to keep the justicar close, to keep her safe. There was an undeniable bond between the two captives and – if Shepard had proven to be difficult to convert, they were going to use it. Kenson didn't quite understand what Rho had used to try and convert the justicar, but it seemed to have been working.

Until now.

Can you pacify her? Kenson asked silently as she reached to Object Rho, to the glorifying presence that had occupied her mind ever since she came to reside here. She had denied it at first of course, because she had been blind. Like Shepard, like her justicar, she had denied the light.

But those days had passed and Kenson knew as she felt Rho's silent denial, his inability to cease whatever the asari was doing, that she was going to have to do whatever it took to take the justicar down.

Even Shepard, Amanda thought as she reached the security system. I will even destroy Shepard. This mission cannot fail. I cannot fail the reapers.


A simple blast with her biotics did not shatter the glass, but Samara felt its weakness none the less. This facility was never meant to be a prison, so she took a moment to simply assess what she had at her disposal. There was the bed, the chair and the monitors that had been connected to her up until a few minutes ago. Samara looked at the machinery and the IV bags that hung suspected from above them. Upon consideration, she looked down to her arm and realised that there was still a needle attached there, directing a slow but steady flow of blood down her arm. She pulled it out, then flicked away the blood, focusing on the bed. She pulled it away, planning to try and use it as a projectile, but abandoned the idea at her body's protest. Even with the use of biotics, she doubted that she would be able to get any lift. She was about to turn her attention to the chair when the door opened again and Samara, driven by years of experience, moved away from it.

She grabbed the bed and pushed it towards the door in a rush of biotics, forcing the soldiers that had stormed in to try and neutralise her away from her and the door they had entered. She used the time they recovered to wedge the bed into the door before it slid shut, feeling it shake under her touch as the panels pressed against its sides.

Open, she thought and turned her attention back to the guards who were already back on their feet. The door might be open, but so am I. One was a biotic. She could tell by the distance he had put between them even before he moved to attack her. Samara wanted to deal with him first, but had to dodge when one of the soldiers closest to her fired and missed. The movement made her aware of exactly how much pain she was still in.

It made her aware of herself, her body.

Samara exhaled, wrapped up her thoughts.

No more, she thought. I will be tormented no more.

She moved, grabbed the one who fired and turned, presenting him to his third companion who was taking his lead. The man's shield buffered them and, in that same moment, Samara relieved him of his gun. She looked around, nothing the positions of her enemies. The biotic was preparing himself, readying his attack…

Samara took a deep breath, put her gun against her human shield's temple and fired. Even as his body dropped, she fired on the other shooter, forcing him to run for cover.

Not soldiers, she thought. Scientists perhaps. Hired mercenaries maybe, but not soldiers. Soldiers don't run, not like this.

A flash of blue alerted her to the biotic's attack and she exhaled again, counteracting it with a force of her own. It wasn't an attack, merely a buffer of power she hurled out. It met the oncoming attack and caused it to implode. Her own biotics rushed on, transforming into a shockwave through rippled through the room. The biotic human had a strange, acute reaction she guessed might be because of their auditory anatomy. He flinched, turned his head slightly and grabbed for his ears as their power settled around them like dust.

Samara held her breath and fired on him repeatedly. His shield had not come up again and he fell. The justicar looked around her for only a second more, then rushed out of the door, climbing over the bed and escaping from the room that had tortured her so. Morinth was waiting for her on the other end, but now that Samara knew she wasn't real, she simply moved through her, looking down the corridor for more assailants.

"You won't save her," her dead daughter whispered. "You won't."

Samara focused her attention on the group of guards storming her way.

"I think you've lied to me enough," she said and gathered her strength again, hurling a shockwave at them. There was a biotic amongst them who must've tried to thwart her attack. The effort went unmarked however and Samara's power slammed into the group and scattered them. The asari did not watch them fall, but closed her eyes and reached out to that golden thread that connected her and Jane. That echo that always been there since they had melded. The one that pulled at her whenever the woman was near. That pulse that had told her that Jane could not have died when she fell off of the edge of the building on Omega when they attacked Lenelle.

She reached out to it now, because she knew that Jane was close.

The door behind me.

Samara opened her eyes and stared at the door towards the end of the corridor.

Breathe, something inside her whispered. Just breathe. She realised abruptly that she had been holding her breath. How many seconds has passed? She turned back to the group to see that they were recuperating. She thought to attack them, to neutralise all of them, but that golden threat pulled her onward. So, she threw up a biotic barrier, sealing the corridor. She knew that it wouldn't hold, but it would give her time.

I'm coming Jane, she thought as she ran for the door. I am coming.


"All of the data that he had on him is here," Asura said finally, feeling immensely tired after explaining to Aria what had happened with Cerberus. "What they were doing, a log of their subjects. It's all here." She held out the data, expecting Aria to reach out to take it, but the older asari simply sat there. It made Asura feel a little angry. The queen of Omega had not asked her to sit down and be comfortable. She had had to give her report standing up like a child in front of a teacher. One that hardly seemed to be listening to a word she said.

Realising that Aria wasn't going to take the data from her hands, Asura bend down and put it on the table. "I'll leave you to it," she said coldly. "My work here is done."

She turned to leave, without waiting to be dismissed. Anto however moved in front of her immediately, his multiple eyes hostile as ever.

"Have you shared this information with the justicar?" Aria spoke to her back. Her tone was dismissive, almost irritated as if she judged Asura for leaving. Closing her eyes to control her temper, the asari turned around and nodded stiffly.

"I saw her before coming here," she said, her stomach turning at the memory. "She knows what transpired."

There was something that Asura didn't like about the way Aria was looking at her suddenly. It was a searching look, probing, her eyes trying to determine if there was more. Would she know? Does she have spies on me? Almost certainly.

Asura set her features, unwilling to say anything else. Aria saw her expression and smiled. It was that wretched smile of hers that always made Asura feel as if one of the asari's goons had a gun to her back and was ready to pull the trigger. It was that look that always reminded one exactly who had the upper hand.

Not anymore, Asura thought. Not quite. I know your secret.

"I also wanted to thank you, Aria," Asura said, trying to keep her tone light. "For the help that you sent. Liselle and her team saved our lives."

Aria didn't react to the name, her features still fixed to that state of smiling. It must've taken years, Asura thought. To learn how not to react to your daughter's name. How many other people know? She remembered the look Liselle had given her when she mentioned Aria.

"They are well trained," Aria said simply. "But most of the teams who work under my command are. It's good to know they are worth the credits I invest in them." Her gaze shifted to the dancers by the bar. "They're certainly not as profitable as some of my other investments."

Asura nodded, pretending to understand – but she allowed herself to become calmer, to reach out to Aria with that something she had that was different from other asari. She sent over an emotion of appreciation, of understanding. She made eye contact in the right way; she dropped her gaze in the right way. It wasn't something she was taught, it was something she just always knew how to do.

"Liselle reminded me that you protect your investments," she said. "Considering who she is, I can now completely comprehend the weight of those words."

Aria's gaze met hers and, although it was with no more haste than usual and no outward sign of surprise, Asura could feel them cut into her. It made her want to beam with pleasure. Now you understand. I know what she means to you and I can go after her as surely as you can go after Abby.

The matriarch shifted.

"Don't overestimate your worth by the force I sent to protect you," she pointed out, though her tone wasn't quite as dismissive as it used to be. "They were in the area, no more. Your companion was of great interest to me however. Captain Hannah Shepard. Have you heard that the Normandy has left?"

The subject of her lineage was closed before it was even properly opened; bringing with it a surprise Asura didn't anticipate.

"No," she replied carefully. "I... wasn't aware of the development."

Aria made a murmuring sound, dismissing her with her eyes, telling her without a word that the meeting was over. "It might be worth it to enquire as to why with Dr Gable," she said. "They left in quite a hurry, shortly after you left the apartment." She paused. "I wouldn't have been surprised if Dr Gable went with them. She looked quite unwell today. You might have to look into it."

Her words travelled through Asura like ice and she failed in keeping her composure as well as Aria had. She opened her mouth to ask her about Abby, about why she had been with her and what she knew... And then she stopped, simply staring at Aria. They looked at each other for a long time, weighing.

This is her play to get me back for Liselle, reminding me that I cannot protect Abby every moment of every day.

"Thank you for your concern," Asura intoned at the end when she realised that there was nothing else that she could say. No threats, nothing. This is our game: neither of us hold completely power and Abby stands in the middle of it all. "I was on my way to the clinic after this."

Aria smiled sweetly and met Anto's gaze to show him that he could escort her out. "Don't bother," she said sweetly. "To my knowledge, she's gone home."

I know more about her whereabouts than you do.

Asura wanted to threaten her, to snap and tell her to leave Abby alone, but that had never been a part of the deal. Of the arrangement that they had. So, she turned and left. Because the truth was that Aria was more interested in Abby anyway, that they would not have been here if not for the human vet.


It had been easy to disarm the scientist because, like the others in this goddess forsaken facility, the woman was not a soldier. Samara had managed to get through the door to the labs where she suspected they held Jane. She had disrupted the lock to the section, buying herself some more time as she searched through the rooms, finally discovering what she needed. They had not moved Jane from where Samara had cornered them the first time. The justicar recognized it, though this time she herself was on the opposite side of the glass where she had seen Kenson. Jane was sedated, lying like corpse on a bed in the middle of the room. There was no security with her, simply one scientist that seemed to be in charge of monitoring her. She had been waiting for Samara, armed and determined to use the weapon but she had posed no threat.

Now they were in a standoff with Samara acutely aware that she did not have as much time as she would've wanted.

"I am not in the habit of repeating myself human," Samara whispered softly, levelling her pistol to the woman's forehead. "But as you are of a young and ignorant specie, I will do so only once more. Wake her and let me into that room."

There was only a door between her and Jane. A simple, but locked door. And Jane was sedated and Samara could hardy carry the commander out of the room. She simply didn't have the strength to do so.

It might have been the indoctrination, but Samara picked up immediately that the scientist wasn't necessarily scared. Rather... cautious. Curious even, but not afraid. The woman did not answer immediately, but stared at Samara, judging her resolve. She even broke eye contact, her brown, earth-like eyes travelling to the sleeping figure beyond the glass.

"Her injuries were severe," the human said. "She still needs to be medicated. Even awake, she will be of very little use to you. What do you intend to do? Carry her out of here? Or hold her while she succumbs to her injuries?"

The way she stated it made Samara's heart flip with ice, but she braced herself, aware of the games that the reapers could play. They knew of Morint.,They know how much I love Jane. They would use that against me.

"I have faith in Commander Shepard's strength," she said simply. "I will not repeat myself."

She prepared herself to shoot the woman if she did not comply, justifying it by saying that she was indoctrinated, a servant to the reapers. Once innocent perhaps, but no longer in control of her own mind. She tightened her hand on the pistol then stopped.

Will the Code allow for that?

Her sudden hesitation spared the woman, who seemed to have realised how important it was in that one moment to make a decision. She moved to the console and typed in a few commands.

"I'll bring her out of sedation," she said simply. "She should wake quickly, we've had to increase the dosage as her body seems to counteract the effect. Probably due to Miranda Lawson's modifications. She did a spectacular job. I could spend the rest of my life studying it."

Samara said nothing, but wanted to say that she would never give her that chance. And if I have Jane, where will I go to then? We need to get off of this asteroid.

She watched as the woman opened up the door between the observation room and Jane's, straightening away from the console and motioning her to proceed through. That intrigue was back, that cold curiosity that made Samara think of the Morinth spectre. Completely corrupted. I wonder how much of whom she was, is left?

Samara send up a silent prayer to the goddess for the woman this person had been, could've been if the reapers had not corrupted her, then raised her gun and shot the scientist point blank in the face even before she had time to register surprise. The justicar watched the body fall, watched it shudder in death.

Do you take a little bit of the reapers with you when you die?

She doubted that they were so lucky and stepped over the body to enter the room, her gaze immediately finding Shepard. The commander was already beginning to stir, her hands tightening in their restraints.

It was foolish, but Samara felt her heart flutter with giddy relief and nerves. Jane, she thought. I'm here. I've made it. She looked behind her to make sure that they were still alone then slipped the original pistol that she had taken from the soldiers into her pants and put the other on the bed. She removed the soft straps that held Jane to the bed, taking note of every injury, every bandage. Jane was barely dressed, a flimsy hospital robe hiding what little modesty she had in sedation.

Clothes, Samara thought. I have to get her clothes…

She almost laughed.

Does it matter?

"Jane?" She whispered but didn't get a response. "Jane, to me…" She reached out and touched the commander's hair, mindful of the sutured cut her fingers found hidden amongst her ginger tresses. Jane's hair was longer than she remembered. How long has it been since I've been this close to her?

It could only have been six or seven weeks – but it felt like a lifetime.

Steadying herself, Samara looked up and saw the IV line that was still connected to Jane. When she reached out to touch it, Jane stirred again her eyes opening and closing briefly, probably without seeing.

"It's alright, Jane," Samara whispered softly and carefully disconnected the IV line. "Jane, you have to wake – you have to come back to me." She didn't want to, but when she had extracted the needle from where it had been slipped into the woman's neck, she moved her hand down to Jane's upper arm and pinched her.

That got more of response as the commander's opened her eyes again, both dull and wild at the same time. She coughed once, her eyes rolling back into her head in such a way Samara feared that she was dying.

"Jane!" she insisted and grabbed her cheeks with both hands. "Jane, to me. You have to get up! We are in danger!"

An impossibly strong hand reached up and grabbed her wrist, the commander's slender fingers digging into her pulse.

"Abby," she whispered, like a reminder of Samara's betrayal. "Abby, I…" She closed her eyes, her grip increasing and becoming pain. "No." Her grip relaxed and she started slipping back into unconsciousness. Panicking, looking over her shoulder for any sign of the facility's defence, Samara dug her fingers into Jane's temples and closed her own eyes.

She reached out to the woman's mind, barely stopping herself from completely enfolding her with her own. Rather, she pulled Jane's consciousness towards her, instilling in her a sense of urgency, showing her where they were through the memories and images of her mind. She showed her that they were in danger, but in the same breath, she pushed forth a sense of calm, a truth that could not be denied.

I won't let them harm you again.

When Samara pulled away, she brought Jane with her and the woman opened her eyes, staring up at her. It immediately apparent that she had moved beyond the veil of sedation.

"Samara," Jane whispered. "Samara, what are you doing here?" Her voice was hoarse, her lips impossibly dry. The justicar didn't answer her immediately, but looked around for some water. When she found none, she turned back to Jane, realising that the woman was bleeding from the tiny puncture wound in her neck.

She pressed her fingers against it, stemming the flow of the impossibly red blood.

"I've come to rescue you," she said though there was an edge of bitterness in her voice. "Had come to rescue you before I was taken. I am sorry, Jane."

Jane was becoming more alert with every moment, choosing not to comment while she gathered herself. Samara sensed both relief and a sudden wave of anger from her.

"I'll accept that apology when I'm convinced you know why you should be saying those words," she said, her voice becoming stronger. "Help me up. Are we…" She struggled for a moment. "Still on the asteroid?"

Samara carefully steadied Jane as she pushed herself up, trying to ignore her guilt. I left because I had to.

"We are," she said and pushed the gun on the bed across to Jane's hands. "I have no idea how long we've been here. Wait a moment; we have to disconnect you from the bed."

Jane said nothing as Samara proceeded to remove the rest of the equipment from her person, having taken up the gun in her uninjured hand and training it in the direction of the door. Bent over her, concerned that she might injure Jane further, Samara didn't miss the fact that the commander had to rest her hand on her back in order to keep it steady.

"What are you doing here, Samara?" The commander asked when she was finally free. "Are there others?"

Samara had to wonder, not knowing whether another rescue attempt had been mounted. Surely the Normandy would come for us?

"I don't know," she said. "I came alone."

She expected Jane to ask her why, instead though the only reaction the commander had was lifting her weapon and firing. Samara swung around, moving out of Jane's line of sight and readying her biotics as the doors to their right opened, admitting several of the facility's soldiers.

Jane, perched on the bed, firing at the advancing soldiers, was in the open and vulnerable. There was very little Samara could do to shield her so she did the only thing she could think of. She threw up a biotic barrier despite knowing that it would only last a precious few seconds. But it was time she could use, time they needed. She pushed Jane off of the bed and threw it over to serve as cover, trying to close her ears to Jane's pained grunt as she impacted on the floor. Soon the barrier dropped and the gunfire sounded against the bed. Samara drew a deep breath and began to fire.


"The spare room's got its own bathroom," Abby was saying softly, awkward and strangely embarrassed because it was the first time she had brought someone home in this new world of hers. "And I'll give you some spare clothes, if you want to take a shower or something. I'll have something that fits, I'm sure."

Jack had not said a word since they left the Normandy's abandoned hatch, but she had come with Abby and that was a start. Now she hesitated before following the vet through the door she had opened. Instinctively, Abby knew that she could not close it on Jack, because some primal part of the biotic might just feel threatened. So she made sure to disable the automatic shut protocol without drawing too much attention to herself.

Jack watched her then looked at the bed.

It dawned on Abby that it wasn't made and it made her feel even more awkward. Will she stay the night? The week? How long will the Normandy be gone?

"I'll quickly sort out the bed, I will." Abby said quickly and took note of the way Jack studied her suddenly, a smile playing in the corner of her mouth. Hoping that it might be the beginning of a conversation, Abby smiled embarrassed.

"What?"

She could feel Jack weighing her reply and then finally give in. The smile remained on her lips, but it was tense.

"You have a funny accent, you have." She added the last teasingly. "Though more understandable than Donnelly I have to add."

Abby shrugged but made sure to continue smiling.

"He's Scottish," she pointed out. "And he'll add that if the good Lord wanted to make them understandable he'd have made the whole world Scottish. Which He should've, because they think they are fantastic."

She could tell that Jack's gaze was sceptic but amused.

"And you're what... Welsh?"

Abby smiled and nodded as she quickly went into the bathroom, judging whether or not she would have to bring Jack a towel as well.

"That I am," Abby said happily, though it also brought a pang of homesickness. "And we know we're fantastic."

Jack shook her head but her gaze was a bit sharper. "I've never been to Earth," she pointed out. "But, I always find that humans born there have this massive chip on their shoulder. They like to label themselves, have accents. They're English and Indian and Puerto Rican. I'm just a fucking human."

Worried that she had said the wrong thing, Abby moved back into the bedroom.

"I didn't mean it that way," she said quietly. "I'm just..." She wasn't sure how to explain her cultural barrier. When I was born, we only had continents, not planets. She was surprised when she felt Jack briefly touch her elbow, looking troubled.

"Just..." The biotic began. "Fucking ignore anything that I say. I'm just a bitch."

Abby smiled immediately, accepting it.

"It's alright Jack," she intoned softly. "I'm not always correct either. I have to learn, get used to things." She shrugged. "I had a very sheltered live before..."

Jack replied quickly. "You think you died."

Abby had forgotten that the biotic knew at least some parts of her history. Her words took Abby back to that fateful night that they confronted Lenelle together and Jack nearly lost her life to defend Abby's. Appreciation burned inside her and she wondered whether Jack would ever understand what she meant to her.

"I'll bring you a shirt Jack," she said quietly then smiled. "Otherwise, just use the curtain rope if it's sufficient."

The biotic barked an unexpected laugh. "You know me," she said then hesitated. "Look... Your girlfriend, will she be okay with this?"

It dawned on Abby that she had not asked Asura's permission. A part of her rebelled against the idea, telling herself that it was her home as well, but she knew it wasn't quite the case. Or, it didn't feel so – not yet.

"It'll be okay," she said. "Asura will understand. I mean... She had expected you to come with us to Omega in the beginning. She had been alright with that." Her words made Jack, her hands slipping into her pants where Abby could tell they were balled into fists.

"I'd have come if you asked me," Jack whispered and it felt like a confession. "I would've." She paused. "Once I cooled down."

The vet smiled kindly. "And that was only about an hour or two ago by my guess," she pointed out teasingly then sobered. "Jack, you are always welcome in my home. Always. You are... family. And, Asura will see it that way. She'd understand." She hesitated to add the last. "If you ever feel like running, you run to me first. I'll make a plan. You can even come to Asura. She'll help you."

The biotic gave her a long look. "Because of you?"

Abby wasn't sure why it would matter. "Because she understands what you mean to me," she said simply. "Now, you can go and take a shower. I'll make your bed for you, I will."

Jack was still studying her, weighing her words and it dawned on Abby that they meant something to the younger woman. It made her smile, knowing suddenly that things between them were going to be alright.

Now if only I can sort out my own love life.

Looking as if she wanted to approach her, Jack took a step forward then stopped. "I'll... Take that shower," she pointed out. "That's if Omega's water doesn't fucking reek." She left the room without another word, leaving Abby to stare in her wake as she closed the door between them.

Filled with hope and aching at the same time, Abby quietly left the room and went to search through the unknown and dangerous realm known as their linen cupboard and also to their bedroom to get some clothes for the biotic. She wasn't blind to how precarious her balance felt once she had her arms wrapped around the bundle of clothes but refused to think about melding with Asura. She had promised herself at least that she would address the elephant in the room before they got round to that.

But, it was sobering and Abby moved carefully, aware of every step that she took.

She had crossed the living room when their door opened, admitting a very tired, and very distressed looking Asura. Abby had no idea what had happened in her day, aware that the last time she had seen her she had left with Hannah Shepard to question a Cerberus agent. She could tell immediately that Asura had not had an easy day and put the linen down. She moved to the asari without thinking, but not drawn to her by the usual compulsion that was dictated by Asura's genetics.

She moved to Asura because she could tell that the asari need it. That somewhere in the darkness of Asura's soul, she had somehow been afraid that she would not find her home.

And, although she had not thought about it, a part of Abby had been afraid that Asura might not return to her.

Phora certainly would've made sure that she didn't if she had the opportunity.

Fear pulsed inside her but she controlled it quickly, knowing that it acted like fuel to Asura's need. The asari stiffened regardless but there was something broken in her voice when she whispered to Abby's neck.

"Don't worry, I've fed."

It wasn't her disease that made her shudder, rather the darkness that she heard in Asura's voice. Abby increased her grip on the asari as much as she could, hugging her tightly.

"What happened?" She breathed. "Are you alright?"

Asura didn't reply, but Abby felt her grow heavier in her arms as she began to sit down. Unable to remain upright by her own accord, Abby allowed Asura to bring them to the ground. Seated now, she adjusted her grip on Asura and pulled her as tightly as she could to her chest.

"What happened Asura?" She asked again, more insistent this time. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

She felt Asura shake her head then stiffen. "We're not alone," the asari breathed. "Who's here?"

Abby couldn't imagine how she could've picked up on Jack's company, not even aware of the shower running through the closed door.

"Jack," she said. "The Normandy left without her. She had nowhere to go Asura. Nowhere safe. Now, are you okay?" She said the last with more force than the first.

She felt Asura gather herself, felt her take a breath and then another. "I'm not hurt," she said finally but Abby refused to accept the answer. She pulled away from the asari and cupped her face, staring into her eyes as if she could read the answer there. And, hoping that she could.

Asura's distress was evident, clear. It pulsed against Abby and the fragile bond that they shared. Abby had noticed quietly early that she could pick up on Asura's emotions a lot more accurately than anybody else and she didn't pretent to be ignorant, knowing that it came from melding.

But, at this point in their friendship, she liked to believe that it was from something deeper than simply sharing nerves. She liked to believe that she had gotten to know Asura. She certainly cared for her, which was why her distress affected her so.

"Tell me what happened Asura," she said. "Please. Tell me." At her words, Asura blinked tears and closed her eyes. She dropped her head in shame, a deep shame so acute that it made Abby take a very quick, very painful breath.

"We were attacked," she breathed. "By Cerberus. By the man that we went to interview. They knew about me. Were studying... biotic effects on the body. I can't tell you why, I don't understand." She blinked again. "I didn't care," she breathed. "We just needed to get out of there."

Abby felt as if her heart was going to burst out of her chest. It wasn't fear that she was feeling, it was downright terror at how close she had come to loosing Asura. "And you fed on one of the agents?" She queried, worried suddenly about Phora. Was she there as well?

Asura nodded, but could not meet her gaze. "I did," she whispered. "But, not because I had to. Not because there was time. I did it because I could Abby. Because I wanted to. Because I could not control myself and... and..." She shuddered. "Goddess, Shepard was right. I should stay away from you. I'm too dangerous. I should've one with Phora and leave you..."

"Stop it," Abby breathed immediately. "Stop it Asura. Don't." She had to take a moment to collect herself but she forced the asari to look at her again, tilting her head with the hands she still had on her cheeks. "You did what you had to do. Not because of them but because of me. Because... Because I have not been upholding my end of the bargain and I've been promising you things without giving anything. Stars Asura, you were being attacked. It had nothing to do with your hunger." She was disturbed to find that the asari was still crying.

"One day it will," she said. "One day I will go out seeking a fight simply because I need to feed. Will you still embrace me then?"

Abby's answer was quick and earnest. "Yes," she said. "Even if I never meld with you again I will still do so Asura because... Because you care and you are on this floor, broken. I know that I will never lose you to that. By your goddess Asura, you're not the monster you think you are. Not here, not in this moment." She let go of her face and hugged her again. "You're just tired."

Her words seemed to relax Asura a little, but Abby could also tell that she wasn't entirely convinced as she allowed herself to be pulled closer to her again. Abby wrapped her arms around her and put a shaky hand on Asura's neck, rubbing it as well as caressing the ridges she felt there. The asari didn't say anything for a few moments, but simply rested there until her breathing eased a little. When Abby felt her settle, she shifted and rubbed the asari's back.

"Come on," she said quietly. "Lets get up. I'm going to make us something to eat. And I think you need a cup of tea."

Asura's laugh was quick and sceptical. "Tea doesn't fix everything," she pointed out but Abby could tell that she had relaxed. After a moment or two she sat up and studied Abby. The vet straightened with her and brought her hands to her lap.

"I'll have you know it does in my world," she pointed out and smiled tentatively. "Will you help me up Asura? Please?" She could tell immediately that she would be unable to get up on her own. "I have to go and make Jack's bed."

The world turned around them for a moment as Asura weighed the biotic's presence. Abby felt her consider it, worry about it and then simply accept it – as she had known she would.

"Is she staying the night?" She queried. "The week? Where did the Normandy go?"

Abby had no answers for her as she allowed Asura to pull her up. "I don't know," she said. "I'll try and find out. Will it be alright Asura? Can she stay?"

For a moment, her bond mates' eyes were amused and light. "Like the varren?" She queried. "Like Oz. And that vorcha I found in your clinic sweeping the floor? Like... Like every single stray I see in the future and in your past?"

The vet had the grace to blush. "Yes well," she started and thought of Grom. "I guess I have some explaining to do."

She loved the kindness that she saw in Asura's eyes and knew without a doubt that they would be alright.

"Yes," the asari said simply. "Yes, you do."

To Be Continued...