Jess and I talked for hours the next morning. She told me all about how she'd felt overwhelmed and alone and I apologized for not being around since the birth of our son. She apologized, profusely, for taking the No Pain. I forgave her.

Dawn forgave her too, but for possibly the first time ever she agreed with Sarge about something: installing cameras in the infirmary anyway. Her eyes were sad and I knew that she was disappointed it had come to this. She'd had a Soul in her head for ten years and knew how we thought and sometimes she was more like a Soul than like a human. I was grateful for her.

Sarge was gruff, never outright saying he forgave Jess but he took Rayne most afternoons afterward and did many things to lighten my load. I was thankful for him, too.

Nate was grim, balancing his friendship with Jess with his need to be fair to the rest of the group. Since no permanent harm was done and Jess had returned all 6 doses before she'd taken any, he was willing to keep the matter quiet, but he did insist that Jess spend some time in counseling with Dawn. She agreed to that without complaint. I was grateful for him, too.

Gail's eyes narrowed and her lips thinned when we told her what happened, but she said "your family, your business," and didn't bring it up again. I was thankful she dropped it at that.

All in all it'd been a resounding shock to my system. I had been happy with my life and never noticed how unhappy Jess was. I was disgusted with myself and made myself a promise, there and then, to never be absent like I had been again. My job as the Soul in this family forced me to leave at times, but even if I was physically gone, I'd make sure I was always emotionally present in Jess's life and the lives of our children. I'd learned my lesson, just as she had learned hers.


A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is so short but I'm making up for it by posting two at once and the next chapter is longer (and happier)!