Note: Hello all, I thought I would release a second chapter for this week. After a long weekend of autumnal stormy rain and winds, I have taken advantage of the cosy wintery feel and been wrapped up inside editing this fic. So let's start on Day 22 of the story...

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DAY 22 – Challenge

Chapter 25 – Broken Promises

Halling wasn't too sure what had happened between yesterday and today, but Oneakka's mood had shifted quite dramatically, though, unfortunately, predictably. Gone was the more compliant and sleepy version of Oneakka that had been keeping to his limits, and instead he had returned to more usual difficult form.

From the moment Halling had arrived to take over the shift from Massa it had been clear that Oneakka was feeling very driven today. He'd already been working on his stretches and upper arm workout on the bed, well before the Physical Therapist had been due to arrive. Massa had reported that Oneakka had slept really well, having slept almost entirely through the night, which, unfortunately, had not been the case for Aki. Massa had looked exhausted, which had been in sharp comparison to Oneakka's repeated and focused exercises.

Halling had slept well himself last night, though more from mental exhaustion than anything else. Yesterday's links conference with the Fleet Commanders had run on long, but had resulted in a set plan which was being actioned today. Five small groups of Fleet ships were being deployed to scout out the top five pieces of intel that Halling and his team had identified as the best chances of locating the Skerti. However, reaching that point had required long discussions of the intel, detailed examinations of the Fleet ship manifests, studying of the latest scan data, and then debating the deployment size and the ships to be used. However, it had been worth the effort and a plan was finally being enacted.

After that long afternoon, Halling had finally been able to turn his attention to the report that Atlantis had sent through concerning their mythical vampires. His team had already begun reading through the Atlantis report while he had still been in the links conference, and when he had walked into the analysis room, the place had been filled with hopeful excitement. After weeks of intense study and no action, now his team had the Fleet scouting for them and some fascinating possible new intel from Atlantis. Despite his tiredness, Halling had sat down to join in the research. It had taken a further two dials back to Atlantis to ensure that the translation of the report was correctly understood, and Atlantis had sent through samples of a plant bulb that was, at least in Earth tradition, supposedly dangerous to vampires. Pieces of bulb had been forwarded on to the Mad Moon for testing, and Halling had ensured that Imseti had been provided a copy of the Atlantis Vampire report. After hours of more study, Halling had finally dismissed his team for the night and had all but passed out in his own bed.

Despite a good night's sleep, Halling was feeling the effects of yesterday's high workload. Perhaps it was also that today presented the culmination of so many weeks of work on researching the Skerti that it was understandable that he felt so tired. Sitting next to Oneakka's rapid exercises with long resistant ropes and his excessively long list of questions about the Atlantis report, had not helped a great deal.

Fortunately, the Physical Therapist had arrived and had set about helping Oneakka out of his bed for his rehabilitation exercises. That had given Halling the opportunity to strip the bedding off Oneakka's bed and replace it with a fresh clean set. Oneakka had complained that it wasn't necessary as he slowly and carefully walked around the edge of the room with the Therapist's help, but Halling had ignored the complaints. He and Massa had set out a schedule between them to ensure that Oneakka's bedding was replaced and washed regularly, that the washroom was cleaned, and, following a text link message from Seeal yesterday, that the shelves and tables were also dusted and clean.

The physical task of cleaning the washroom had actually been helpful for Halling, since most of yesterday had been intellectual discussions and reading. However, it was very clear from the Physical Therapist's repeated comments across the room that Oneakka had returned to form in pushing himself well beyond his current limits. Halling had attempted to help by backing up the Therapist's requests that Oneakka stop the multitude of extra reps for each exercise, but he had been greeted by a Cuddly Bear of Moor stern comment that Oneakka knew his own limits. Halling had held back from saying anything further despite the fact that he had a lifetime of evidence that Oneakka did in fact not always know his limits. Though, admittedly, Oneakka did appear to be that little bit stronger today, still the fact that he needed help to stand up and walk should remind Oneakka that he was far from his normal stamina and strength. Watching Oneakka today, it was as if the man had forgotten the damage to his body and the effort it was taking him just to remain standing with help.

Once the therapy session had concluded, Halling had set about helping Oneakka into the washroom and showered. The excessive workout had already started showing though, as Oneakka's arms and legs had been shaking with noticeable muscle fatigue as he worked to hold himself up in the shower, but Halling had said nothing except maintain his running commentary on the information in the Atlantis Vampire report. Any comment he made about Oneakka pushing himself today would clearly only be greeted with a snapping angry reply and, given how he was feeling, Halling suspected he would likely snap back today. So he just focused on helping Oneakka wash, get dressed in fresh clean clothes, and back to the bed. Fortunately, within minutes of being back in his newly made and comfortable bed, Oneakka had fallen asleep. And so, with the comfortable background sounds of his friend's sleeping breathing, Halling had been afforded some quiet relaxing time in peace.

Occasionally his pad updated with the latest report on the deployment, detailing slight changes of crew and timings of departure for each group. The Sythus remained a few weeks shy of being ready for battle, but the Hastos Son was among the scouting groups and had been one of the first groups to deploy this morning.

Teyla had dropped by briefly, but had not stayed long, not wanting to disturb Oneakka's nap. She had been on her way to the Military Council meeting and would be relaying the very latest on the scouting deployment, and she had appeared bright and cheerful. Next Meiyo had arrived, but, again, had not stayed long beyond leaving a new jug of nutritional tonic for Oneakka and delivering the day's latest batch of medications. The Healer had checked the report that the Physical Therapist had left following the morning session and Halling had seen the Healer's faint frown and raised eyebrow. Halling had simply nodded to her over Oneakka's sleeping form: the Cuddly Bear of Moor was in full force. Meiyo had whispered good luck to him and left, but she remained pleased with Oneakka's progress. As difficult and stubborn as Oneakka could be in his recovery, it still remained remarkable.

The next hour had passed in comfortable silence as Oneakka had continued in his deep sleep. Halling had noticed the dusting cloth on the side table, so he had set about dusting the top of the headboard and Oneakka's Ugun statue that looked down upon him and his quarters. Halling then checked through Oneakka's chest of drawers, ensuring that Oneakka's clothes that he had sent for washing yesterday had been returned. Everything was in place, Massa no doubt having been the one to return all the clean folded clothes into the drawers. Everything was tidy and clean, and Halling had sat back down with a deep sense of satisfaction. The tiredness had drifted away and, as the last confirmation of scouting deployment had arrived, a sense of relieved success settled over him. He also had the afternoon off rotation and considered that he might do something different today. Perhaps visit Athos. Teyla had reported that the snows were particularly crisp and deep this winter, and Halling had always enjoyed the freshness of the Athosian air on such days. He checked into the database and called up the marketing information on Athos. The winter festival wasn't for another month, but Tjaru's trading hours would fit with his afternoon off.

Oneakka stirred awake with a sudden grunt, and Halling looked up from his pad to see his friend blink rapidly around the room.

"Tea?" Halling offered as he reached for the sealed heated jug he had brought with him. He'd gotten good at judging how much to fill it to cover his shifts and, since this particular tea was calming, it was always a good drink for Oneakka.

"Hmm," Oneakka grunted a confirmation as he worked to shift himself back up against his pillows. Halling set about pouring some tea for Oneakka and topped up his own. "News on the deployment?" Oneakka asked as he worked awkwardly to try and plump up the pillows behind him by punching his fists into them behind his back.

"All scouting parties have been deployed," Halling reported with a smile as he held out the tea for Oneakka.

"Thank you," Oneakka replied good-naturedly as he took the cup, though he was still looking a little bleary from his long sleep. "Seifer on the Hastos Son?"

"No, he assigned himself to accompany the Satedan led scouting party," Halling replied as he sipped his tea and glanced across at Oneakka's timekeeping display. Seeal was due soon for her shift, so he had plenty of time for his midday meal with Massa and then could head to Athos this afternoon.

"Good," Oneakka muttered.

"You had a good sleep," Halling smiled at him. "Teyla and Meiyo both dropped by, but didn't want to disturb you."

Oneakka nodded, his eyes shifting to the nutrition tonic and away. "Emmagan on the Military Council today?"

"Yes," Halling confirmed as he set down his tea and reached for Oneakka's medication pot which contained all the measured out tablets for his next dose. "I suggest you take your medication now with the tea and then use the washroom before Seeal gets here for her shift."

"She's not coming," Oneakka responded.

Halling looked up from opening the medication pot. "What?" She hadn't said anything to him about moving her shift. She was always very communicative about any changes she needed to make.

"She's not coming," Oneakka repeated slowly and more loudly as if Halling had simply not heard him.

"Does she have a hangover from last night at Myrtle's?" Halling joked.

Oneakka's brow lowered a fraction. "How should I know?" The comment had been delivered with a definite grumpy tone, the Cuddly Bear mood having suddenly returned with a vengeance.

Halling frowned at the confusing comment though. "Is she getting here later than planned then?"

"She's not coming at all," Oneakka stated as he looked away, drawing his deep blue blanket further up over his legs and middle.

Halling considered Oneakka's profile closely, sensing that there was something Oneakka didn't want to talk about and, if it meant that Seeal wasn't going to be covering her shift, then it had to have been something significant. "What did you do?" Halling asked.

Oneakka snapped his head round with a frowning glare. "Why do you assume I did anything?" He demanded. "It was her fault."

"Right," Halling considered doubtfully. Considering Oneakka's mood, Halling had little doubt as to who had started the latest argument.

Oneakka glared, his blue eyes piercing. "Why are you suddenly always on her side? When did you two become best of friends all of a sudden?" The question sounded quite bitter to Halling's ears.

"She saved my life," Halling replied honestly.

"I've saved your life plenty," Oneakka muttered as he looked away.

"And she helped me save you," Halling continued. "She might have made mistakes in her past, but she and I have grown close since you were hurt."

Oneakka's blue gaze shifted back sharply.

"Not that close," Halling added quickly. "I have no romantic interest in Seeal," he clarified.

"Why should I care if you did?" Oneakka responded instantly, his gaze hard and level.

"I'm just making it clear," Halling explained, using a slow and calm tone as he returned his attention to drawing out the medication from the pot. He loved Oneakka dearly, but on days like this, he was grateful that his shift was going to end soon. Though, if Seeal wasn't going to show up then-

"I'm only having half today," Oneakka stated, cutting through Halling's thoughts.

"Half?" Halling frowned.

"Half of the meds."

Halling willed patience. "Did Meiyo agree to this?" He asked, knowing full well that she had done no such thing.

"No," Oneakka hit back, his tone uncompromising.

He did this every time!

"You agreed to keep to your medication plan," Halling tried to reason with him. "Meiyo only agreed to let you discharge yourself back here to your quarters as long as you agreed to stick with the medication plan this time."

"I have stuck with it, until now. Now, I'm changing it. It's my medication plan, I wrote it."

Halling struggled not to show the annoyance raging up in his middle. "You told us you would keep to the original plan."

"Now I'm changing it," Oneakka argued, his glare angry.

"Why?" Halling asked.

"It's too sedating," Oneakka explained all too simply.

"You need this level of pain relief and inflammation reduction for a reason, especially now that you are advancing in your physical therapy and pushing yourself too hard. Now is not the time to start lowering your medication so abruptly."

"I've done it before."

"The last time was just a broken collarbone, this is very different. And you know in the past you've reduced your medication too quickly and really paid for it," Halling tried to use logic, even though such arguments had never worked before.

"If Seeal's not sitting with me, is someone else covering her shift?" Oneakka bluntly changed the subject.

Halling sighed heavily, silently praying to the Ancestors. It was always something involving Oneakka that led him to resort to prayers.

"Maybe if you apologise to her-" Halling suggested.

"She should apologise to me," Oneakka argued hotly.

"Look, Oneakka, I know you don't want to talk about this subject, but if you want to remain close to Seeal then you're going to have to learn to-"

"I have arguments with friends all the time," Oneakka cut in, "I'm having one right now."

"Sometimes suppressed feelings can make people act out-" Halling decided to push.

"There's nothing about me that's suppressed," Oneakka interrupted yet again. "This isn't some youthful crush that I'm hiding like Nalla and you. Seeal is a friend and nothing more."

Halling froze, replaying the sentence. "Nalla and me?" He asked, confused.

Oneakka's eyes abruptly went wide. "What?"

What was Oneakka talking about? Nalla and him?

"What do you mean Nalla and me?" Halling asked.

"Why, what did I say?" Oneakka asked, but he looked shocked and it sounded like a delaying tactic. "I'm on a lot of medication," he added, "which is one of the reasons why I'm going to reduce the meds." He looked down at Halling's hands holding the medication pot. "Just half today."

Halling frowned at him. "What did you mean, Oneakka?"

Oneakka clenched his jaw, the movement obvious as he sat back against his pillows and he eventually met Halling's eyes. "Nothing," he concluded. "Just a...you were getting annoying about Seeal."

Halling considered his friend. Oneakka looked...guilty and was sort of wincing like he'd made a mistake. What was going on? "Oneakka?" He asked seriously.

Oneakka glanced away and swore quietly to himself before he looked back. "We all kind of assumed you'd known, but I promised Nalla never to say anything."

"Say anything?" Halling asked, still confused. Oneakka had been referencing a youthful crush... "Nalla doesn't have feelings for me," he pointed out. "Does she?"

"Well, probably not now," Oneakka replied.

"Now?"

"It was a long time ago," Oneakka shrugged.

"When?" Halling pushed.

"Years, since when you were both Recruits together."

"What?" Halling asked. "Are you saying Nalla was attracted to me when we were teenagers?"

"Yes and for years afterwards," Oneakka finally confirmed. "And everyone knew it and we all just assumed you knew."

Halling blinked away from Oneakka, straining back through memories. He and Nalla had been in the same training year and been friends, but never anything more. As a Pelydrian her lifespan ran differently to most, so though she had technically been about the same biological development age as him when she had joined as a Recruit, she had actually been at least ten years senior to everyone else. She had always been more mature and considerate than the rest of their fellow training year, and they had become easy friends, but she had always seemed so much wiser and ethereal than everyone else. In the years since, they had been on numerous missions together and had both been assigned to the Sythus together, but he'd seen no hint at all that she felt more than friendship towards him.

"She's never said anything," he was certain of it.

"Well, no," Oneakka replied like it was obvious. "She's an empath; she knows you don't feel the same."

Halling frowned at Oneakka. That was true so...which meant that...had he inadvertently been causing his friend harm all these years by his ignorance of her romantic care for him? But then surely he would have known...

Nalla?

He had never even considered Nalla in such a way.

"Now you see why I need half the medication," Oneakka cut into Halling's distracted thoughts.

Halling drew his focus together to deal with one problem at a time. "Because you start telling people the truth all of a sudden?"

"Don't go blaming me because you didn't see what was obvious to everybody else back then," Oneakka snapped.

"Like everyone can see the obvious about you and Seeal?" He retaliated without thinking.

"There's no Seeal and me," Oneakka agued back. "Just because two people argue all the time doesn't mean they're a couple. Otherwise Seifer would have married the goat!"

Halling snorted out a laugh at that comparison and shook his head at the bizarre conversation.

Nalla?

How had he not seen the truth? He felt like he had been hit on the head or something, his world view strangely altered by Oneakka's inadvertent truth telling.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Nalla," Oneakka suddenly apologised, surprising Halling yet again. "I honestly thought you had an inkling."

"Inkling?" Halling smiled at the word.

Oneakka looked at him apologetically, the faint Mohawk hairstyle shunted Halling's perceptions back to all those years ago when they had all been so much younger, when sex and romance had been such an important part of Recruit life. Back when life had been about training, exams, parties and flirting. All before graduation and the realities of Elite life had hit. Yet, looking at his friend now, Halling was reminded that he and Oneakka were actually years apart, in fact the same distance in years as there was between him and Nalla. Some days he forgot the extra decade he had lived compared to Oneakka, Massa and Teyla, though with each injury and recovery he was always reminded. Today though, Oneakka looked oddly younger than usual, or perhaps it was simply the return of the Mohawk that created that nostalgic feeling of youth. Still, the regret of a broken secret was obvious on Oneakka's face.

"You promised Nalla you wouldn't tell me," Halling forgave him. "I know you keep your word when you give it."

"She'll know now that I told you," Oneakka reasoned. "Make sure you tell her it was the medication that made me tell you. Medication that I need to halve."

"No, Oneakka," Halling stressed, "you need to keep to the medication plan."

The door to Oneakka's quarters abruptly slid open and Halling looked round as Seeal walked in, right on time for her shift.

A brief glance at Oneakka confirmed that he was equally shocked at her arrival.

However, it was immediately obvious that things were not normal, as Seeal fixed her gaze directly on Halling, not even glancing towards Oneakka. "Hello, Halling," she greeted him and him alone.

Halling decided it was going to be very important that he handle this situation carefully.

"Good day, Seeal," Halling greeted her as she headed towards him, still steadfastly not looking at Oneakka. "We weren't sure if you would be here."

"I'm here," she replied with a rather strained, almost sarcastic smile. "But I'm not talking to him."

"That'll be a relief then," Oneakka muttered.

Seeal kept her eyes on Halling. "Anything I need to know about the stubborn oaf today?"

It was actually a very relevant insult and Halling realised that she might be able to help. She had, up until today at least, been able to persuade Oneakka to agree to things that he and Massa had struggled.

"Your timing is perfect actually," he told her. "He is refusing to keep to his medication plan."

"What?!" Seeal asked Oneakka, immediately abandoning her stance not to look or talk to him.

"He wants to halve the medication," Halling explained further.

"But you wrote the medication plan," she stated to Oneakka.

"Talking to me now?" Oneakka asked her just to be difficult.

"Why would you want to change your meds?" Seeal asked him, quite aggressively too. Clearly whatever argument the two had had yesterday had been no small matter.

"Because it's my medication plan and I can change it however I like," Oneakka stubbornly answered up at her, his arms crossed and his chin high as she towered over him.

"But you came up with the plan. Surely there's a good reason why you need that dosage of meds now," Seeal logically argued with him.

"I've changed my mind," he stated.

"Disagreeing with your own plan, means you're disagreeing with yourself," Seeal pointed out.

Halling watched Oneakka frown faintly as he worked that through his head, perhaps made faintly harder by the aforementioned medication's sedating edge.

"I'm overriding my past decision, because right now, I know it's the right thing to do," Oneakka decided, with surprising clarity considering the possible medication fog.

"No, it's not the right thing to do," Seeal stated at him with far more force than anyone else would use against Oneakka. "I've read up on this whole 'Elite write their own medication plan' rubbish, and the whole point of coming up with your medication plans ahead of time is so that you make the decisions with a clear head, with scientific reasoning in front of you and discussing it with the Healers, so that the plan is in place for when you are too sick and vulnerable to be able to tell what's right for you."

Halling was rather impressed with her argument, despite the insult in the middle of it, and he dropped his gaze quickly to Oneakka to see how he would respond.

"I'm not too weak and vulnerable to know what's right for me," Oneakka argued, clearly unhappy with her description.

"I said 'sick' and 'vulnerable', you're the one who used 'weak'," Seeal pointed out, far less maturely than her former argument. "And of course you're vulnerable. Look at you."

Oneakka's chest immediately expanded almost a whole foot and he stretched his spine up taller than he'd done in weeks, his whole body looking bigger now despite still sat in bed and against a pile of pillows. "I am not vulnerable. I don't need to be able to walk unaided to still kill a Wraith."

"Really?" Seeal challenged as she crossed her arms. "So, if a load of Wraith came storming in here now, and Halling and I weren't here, you'd be able to fight them off would you?"

"Yes," Oneakka argued, but there was the faintest pause that was all too telling.

Seeal rolled her eyes dramatically. "You were impaled by a Hive ship, it's okay to be vulnerable after that," she stated firmly down at him.

"It wasn't a whole hive ship," Oneakka snapped angrily up at her.

"No one thinks it was a whole Hive ship, so stop saying that!" She countered.

Halling suddenly remembered the horrible headaches he'd used to get around their bickering.

"And of course you're vulnerable," she continued. "The fact that you can't think straight enough to see that you need this medication proves that you're mentally vulnerable."

Halling winced at that insult. This was clearly getting out of control.

"You don't get to decide anything about me or my medication," Oneakka argued up at her.

"Don't you dare even think of using that word at me again," Seeal threatened randomly, pointing one long finger angrily down at him.

"I think we all need to take a breath and calm down," Halling interjected loudly, literally putting one arm in front of Seeal and her finger pointing to help break up the argument. Clearly there was some battle of wills going on here that he had inadvertently retriggered and it wasn't going to help resolve the current problem with the medication. Calling Oneakka names and challenging his strength was the absolute last tactic that was going to achieve anything, and clearly Seeal was not the type of female who would back down from a fight.

The room dropped into silence, the two having surprisingly listened to him. He looked from one to the other, both silent but glaring at each other threateningly. The moment held in silence and Halling struggled to think of a way to get Oneakka to agree to anything now.

"Oneakka," Halling considered, "how about you agree to keep to the medication plan for another week?"

"No, Halling," Seeal suddenly responded, turning her glare on him now. "Don't cave into him. He wrote the plan for himself, so he needs to stick with it all the way through to the very end."

That would be a miracle that Halling had never seen happen. "The medication plan lasts for another thirty days," Halling pointed out.

"Then he sticks with it for another thirty days," Seeal turned her dark glare back to Oneakka.

"It's my plan and I get to change it," Oneakka replied with gritted teeth.

"You're not thinking straight, Oneakka," Seeal reasoned.

"There's nothing wrong with my mind," Oneakka countered, clearly offended.

"There's everything wrong with your body," she stated back. "You can't stand without help and that's with the full medication. What do you think is going to happen to you if you take that away?"

"I'm doing better than you think. I've faced far worse and gotten through it."

Seeal stared back at him, but something had changed suddenly. Halling considering Seeal's profile, practically seeing her mind working behind her eyes. She crossed her arms and stood up straight, considering Oneakka silently now.

Halling looked from her to Oneakka and back again, fascinated despite himself as to what would happen next.

"So you think the medication makes you more vulnerable," Seeal theorised. Halling frowned at that conclusion, which he hadn't considered before. He looked to Oneakka.

"I don't need it all," Oneakka replied, but it was obvious he too was surprised at her, seemingly accurate, conclusion.

"Where's the medication plan?" Seeal asked, looking round at Halling and then down to Oneakka's side table. Halling reached for Oneakka's medical pad and handed it across to her.

Seeal tapped on the screen, reviewing the current stage of the medication. "According to this, which you wrote, these meds provide you with pain reduction, increased blood flow to healing issues, and reduction of inflammation responses." She looked at Oneakka. "Explain to me why having less of these makes you stronger and more capable."

"They're too sedating," Oneakka told her.

"You're not doing anything more than lying down and limping around the room with help," Seeal countered. "Why is being sedated a problem for you right now?"

Though, Halling considered, the sedating effects of the meds had resulted in Oneakka blurting out a secret that he had kept for decades. He wondered if there were other lapses that Oneakka was worried about, maybe that was the problem here.

"I can change my mind whenever I want," Oneakka countered.

"And you think you're currently in any kind of state to make a logical reasoned decision about your health?" Seeal asked him.

"Yes," Oneakka glared up at her.

"Really?" Seeal asked sarcastically down at him.

"Yes," Oneakka repeated threateningly.

"Then maybe you should prove it," she smiled down at him. "You want to prove that you're capable and able to defend yourself if a load of Wraith burst in here, then fine. I'll agree that you are of sound mind and body if you can get up from your bed, walk unaided into the bathroom, climb into the shower, and walk back to your bed without using anything for support."

"No, Seeal," Haling interrupted. "That isn't going to work with him. He'll do it." Challenging Oneakka like that always resulted in Oneakka stubbornly following through, even if he collapsed and they ended up begging him to agree to some common ground on a new medication plan.

"Oh, he can try," Seeal replied. "But," she pointed down at Oneakka. "If you can't do it, you have to promise me that you'll stick to the medication plan."

Oneakka had already started pushing aside his bedding to shift to the side of his bed to start the challenge.

This was not going to end well.

"Oneakka," Halling tried to stop things. "How about you agree to-"

"No, Halling," Seeal snapped at him now. "Stop pandering to him. If he's so strong and capable and doesn't need us or the meds, let him prove it."

"He can't," Halling reasoned back to her. "He'll fall and hurt himself."

"Then let him," she stressed.

Halling frowned at her. "This never works," he explained.

"Oh it'll work this time, because Oneakka is going to give us his word as an Honoured Elite warrior, because he's a man who keeps his promises."

Halling looked down at Oneakka, who was now sat on the edge of the bed looking up at Seeal defiantly. "I keep my word."

At least for a couple of decades, Halling silently mused.

"You're not allowed to touch any furniture to help you," Seeal set out the rules of the challenge. "Not the doorframe, not the screen door. You step up over the side of the bath, stand upright in there, then climb back out and walk all the way back here and sit down without touching anything."

Oneakka glared up at her. "And when I do it, you stop ordering me around and I get sole control of my medication plan."

"Fine," Seeal agreed. "But if you fail, you give your word that you'll stick with the medication plan. All thirty days of it and no changes, no negotiations, nothing. You do the whole thing."

"I won't need to," Oneakka stated with a confidence that Halling really just couldn't understand right now.

"That's not agreeing to it," Seeal narrowed her eyes at Oneakka suspiciously.

"Yes, I'll stick to the entire med plan if I fail," Oneakka confirmed grumpily.

"Good," Seeal smiled victoriously down at him. "Go on then," she indicated the short distance to the washroom, but even walking that short length unaided was impossible for Oneakka right now.

Oneakka clearly didn't see it that way though and was already starting to stand up.

Halling was already wincing as Oneakka carefully, and slowly, stood up by himself. With no helping hand to help him balance his weight and reduce the muscular involvement of his belly and back through his wound, it was clearly hard work. Though healed up on the outside and knitting together well inside, all the tissues and muscles that helped him stand upright normally had been torn and weakened from the injury, and, having pushed himself too much this morning, the muscle fatigue was already showing in a faint tremor passing through Oneakka as he slowly unfolded himself upwards.

But Oneakka did it, and in fact appeared to be standing taller than he had in a long time as he glared triumphantly at Seeal.

Though the glare would have been slightly more convincing had Oneakka not already broken out in a faint sweat and his face was noticeably paler.

"You can call an end to this at any point," Seeal told him.

Oneakka looked away from her, fixing his gaze on the door into his washroom. It was just over two metres away, and there was nothing between there and here that Oneakka could grab if he fell. Halling shifted up to Oneakka's right side, hovering by his elbow just in case, and, on the other side of him, Seeal held close to Oneakka's left elbow.

Ignoring them though, Oneakka let out a heavy determined breath and started to shift his weight ready for his first step. Halling watched as Oneakka winced, his lips tightly pressed together, as he lifted his right foot, moving his weaker leg first. The urge to reach in and help was almost overwhelming, but Halling held back as Oneakka got his right leg forward a step and started shifting his weight onto his foot successfully.

"Passing out or throwing up is also a fail," Seeal added.

Oneakka let out a long breath that was recognisable from their training. Bracing belly muscles that surely had to be in pain, Oneakka balanced his weight on his bare right foot and stepped forward with his left. It worked and Oneakka let out another breath. So much work just for one pace forward, but already he was shifting his weight onto his left foot to start his next step.

It was painful to watch, but Oneakka was doing it. Another short step and he was faintly closer to the washroom, his gaze fixed on that open doorway, staring at it as if it was his ultimate nemesis in life. Halling knew the technique. Oneakka would be pouring all of his will into his target, picturing himself already there. It was just that his body couldn't possibly do all that he was demanding of it. Considering that less than a month ago Oneakka had had a literal hole right through him and his heart had stopped, it was amazing that he was even able to walk unaided this much. Given another week, Halling wondered how much further he would improve.

But for today, it was clear that though he had managed five small steps now, Oneakka was fast running out of strength, but he was stubbornly going to keep going.

Halling hovered at Oneakka's elbow, Seeal directly opposite him, her attention on Oneakka's profile and her expression very serious.

Oneakka managed another step, but he wobbled this time and Halling almost caught him, but Oneakka quickly pulled both his elbows in to his sides, rejecting any support. He was breathing hard, his face drained, but his eyes were still fixed on the washroom door. He was over halfway there, but clearly wasn't going to be able to reach his target, let alone be able to get into the shower and out again.

"I'm arguing this for you, Oneakka," Seeal said. "I'm fighting for the Oneakka that wrote this medication plan with his logical uninjured body and mind. You don't do anything without good reason. You studied all these medications; you know what they all do, how they do it, and why you need them. You decided on these meds and I'm fighting for that part of you."

Oneakka held still, breathing hard. He was starting to waiver slightly on his feet, but he was still standing tall.

"What if I keep to the plan for another week?" Oneakka abruptly started negotiating, but kept his eyes forward.

"No," Seeal rejected the deal instantly. "You do the whole thirty days of the plan like you planned it."

Oneakka let out a breath that was more of a snort of pain and frustration. He knew he wasn't going to make it, but Seeal didn't appear to be willing to bend. Halling held quiet. Normally he or Massa would have agreed to some terms by now, allowing compromise and Oneakka the right to feel that he hadn't failed. But Seeal looked determined and Halling had to wonder how this would play out.

"I'm doing this for you, Oneakka," Seeal repeated. "If I ever get injured like this, I expect you to look after me and tell me when I'm being an idiot." Oneakka looked faintly around at her now, still on his own feet, but his whole body was wavering, struggling to keep upright. "I'm sure you've done that for Halling and Massa," Seeal told him, her voice a little softer now. "Told them when they're being stupid and hurting themselves unnecessarily."

"Many times," Halling confirmed.

Oneakka looked forward again towards his target that he just wasn't going to be able to reach. Not today. Halling watched his friend's stubborn failing face, feeling for him.

"You have this medication plan the way it is because you knew what would be best for you right now," Seeal continued.

Oneakka wobbled again. Was he really going to push himself to the point of collapse?

"Fine," Oneakka abruptly agreed.

Halling blinked in shock, but Seeal held up one hand, ordering Halling to wait.

What was happening?

"You promise me that you won't change your mind again?" Seeal asked Oneakka.

Oneakka's jaw clenched. "I promise," he agreed through gritted teeth.

"Wonderful," Seeal grinned and reached in and held Oneakka's far elbow, finally providing him with the much needed support.

So shocked at what had just happened, Halling was slow to respond and only now clasped Oneakka's elbow. Had Oneakka just agreed to keep to his whole medication plan?

Oneakka's strength gave out in a rush, his weight abruptly heavy in Halling's hands, but with Seeal's help they got him turned around and back towards the bed quickly.

Oneakka looked both flushed and pale at the same time as he collapsed back down onto his bed, panting with exertion as he sat on the mattress, his eyes closed. Halling reached in and arranged the pillows on the bed as Oneakka sat back against them.

"You've made the right choice," Seeal said cheerfully as she drew the covers back up over Oneakka's legs. Oneakka said nothing as he shifted against his pillows and gripped the top of the covers away from her and pulled them up over his middle. He was not happy.

Halling quickly reached for the medication pot and started pulling out the tablets that Oneakka had earlier refused to take. Seeal handed across Oneakka's cup of tea as Halling held out the first batch of tablets to him. Oneakka took the tablets silently, but did take them. Halling pulled out the second set and handed them across as well, watching closely to be certain that Oneakka was actually swallowing them.

"Where's Sheppard's jigsaw thing?" Seeal asked as Halling handed Oneakka the last part of the medication.

"Over there," Halling indicated the box sat on Oneakka's desk. Halling had suggested starting it a few times, but Oneakka had always preferred to focus on the Skerti research. "That Healing Bay table over there folds out and should be big enough to hold the work," Halling explained as he watched Oneakka swallow the last tablets. Oneakka's breathing had slowed back to normal, but he still looked flushed. Though, Halling had to wonder if some of that was due to perhaps anger and/or embarrassment for having lost the challenge.

Seeal had opened up the Healing Bay table and was now wheeling it across Oneakka's bed, Sheppard's jigsaw box sat on top of it. Clearly she was intending to start the game with Oneakka for her shift.

Halling consulted the time displayed on Oneakka's far side table. It was well past time that Seeal took over, and he was feeling hungry for his midday meal.

"I'm due to meet Massa for Midday Meal," Halling said to the silent Oneakka.

Oneakka silently nodded, his gaze directed away to the window on the other side of the room. He appeared to be sulking.

Halling worried that perhaps he should stay.

"It's fine, Halling," Seeal's hand brushed against his arm, requesting space. He shifted back from the side of Oneakka's bed as Seeal pushed the Healing Bay table further up the length of Oneakka's bed, so that it and the jigsaw were now near Oneakka's crossed arms.

Seeal's hand patted Halling's arm as she moved around him and sat down in the chair beside Oneakka. Oneakka's head was still turned away from her, but Halling saw the flash of blue eyes glare down at the table set in front of him and away again. It appeared that the battle of wills was in no way resolved.

"I will drop by later with an update on the scouting deployment," Halling told Oneakka as he started moving away. Hopefully they wouldn't kill each other while he was gone.

"Don't worry, Halling," Seeal told him as she reached for the jigsaw box and set it on her lap. "I'll take care of him," she smiled overly brightly as she opened the large box.

Halling saw Oneakka glare at her out the corner of his eyes, but said nothing.

Halling struggled not to smile at the suddenly quite amusing situation, so he nodded and turned away quickly, heading out of the tense atmosphere.

Massa was going to be so upset that he missed this.

Oneakka's door slid shut behind Halling's back and he took a moment to take a deep breath in and let it out. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Oneakka had actually agreed to keep to his medication plan? Though whether he would actually keep to his word in the coming weeks was an entirely different question.

But that was an issue for another day, for now Halling had his own lingering problem to consider.

Nalla.

How had he missed the truth all these years?

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TBC