XXXV.
Cora lightly lets her fingers move over the keypad, fixing her eyes on the screen each time she tries a different code word that former Pathfinder Alec Ryder might have named his secret projects. It had only been yesterday that Scott had managed to unlock Alec's system for her and now she was trying anything that she could think of to find the information that she knew Alec had about SAM-E and advanced AI technology. Cora knew she'd seen it, hundreds of times before, but now it was gone and she couldn't help but feel that Alec had hidden it from prying eyes and all she had to do was enter the right words to find it. Scott had been right, Alec hadn't been keeping this information from her; he'd expected her to be his successor so maybe she was the one that had the key to find it. As much as Alec had hurt her, she knew he'd loved her and she had to believe he wouldn't be purposefully keeping it from her when he'd known how much SAM-E had meant to her.
Cora sighs lightly and rests her chin on the palm of her hand as she lets her eyes settle on the screens, showing that she has access to all of Alec's files, all of his emails, personal documents, and media. Everything that she knew her former mentor and former sort-of-boyfriend had been working on and even old projects that he'd managed to somehow keep from his time with the Alliance. She reaches for her cup of coffee on the desk beside her, lifting it to her lips and taking a sip of the warm brown liquid.
"I won't be long.." Cora hears Scott's words behind her and glances over her shoulder from her seat in front of her desk, her eyes fixing on her handsome Ryder who is sitting on the edge of the bed and slipping his feet into his gym shoes. "Do you want anything?" He smiles as she watches him stand and move behind her chair.
"I don't think so." Cora returns his smile and it only widens when he bends to press a soft kiss against her cheek. "Have fun at the gym." She adds and hears him make a positive noise in response with another kiss. "I love you." Cora smiles at him.
"I'm sure I will." Scott grins as he steps away from her and she watches him picking up his bottle of water and his towel. "I love you, too." He smiles as she watches him walk towards the door and press his palm against the panel so he can leave, the door closing behind him as he does.
Cora knew they had a small gym on the Tempest that he'd often use, but she also knew that he preferred the gym on the Nexus because although it was often busy, the equipment suited him better and he enjoyed meeting his friends there too. She couldn't think of anything worse than all of those people, and the idea of running on a treadmill did nothing for her. Cora would sometimes go to the gym with Scott, but it was mainly because she enjoyed distracting him rather than enjoying the actual work out. Cora returns her eyes to the screen, lifting the mug to take another sip of her coffee. She knew the real reason that Scott had made himself scarce was so she could concentrate on this and give her some time alone with her thoughts about Alec. It was how they'd decided they would deal with their former Pathfinder, give each other space to grieve but always allow each other to talk about him if they needed to and provide a comforting shoulder.
"Where are you hiding this information, Alec?" Cora whispers to herself as she lowers her mug to the desk and continues trying some words and code names that she might have not tried yet. "I've tried everything.." She sighs and rests her chin into her hand again as she watches the screens.
Cora lowers her eyes for a moment, she'd tried the names he'd given augmentations, armour, projects, ideas, nicknames, missions, code names, things that related to Alec and to herself; but nothing was working and nothing was revealing the data. She knew that Alec's funeral tomorrow was weighing heavy on her mind, but why did she really want this data? Was it because she wanted SAM-E again or was she just clinging to the last piece of Alec Ryder that she had? Was it her want to have him back in any way she could driving her on? Cora huffs, she knew she was being selfish and her want for SAM-E was her want for Alec's memories.
"Scott is right, it has to be something to do with us, Alec." She mumbles as she lets her mind think back to all the time that she'd spent with Alec over the last eighteen months on Theia, the life they'd built together that had ended up being so toxic and damaging. "Something that only we would know about." Cora whispers as she feels the lump forming in her throat, knowing exactly what only they knew about. Something that had just been their secret and had been an ache in her heart ever since.
Cora places her hands on the keyboard, letting the tips of her fingers move over the keys again and noticing how difficult she is finding it to type. She lifts her hand to brush away the tears from her eyes when she types in the name that they'd chosen for their baby that was never supposed to have been but that she'd become pregnant with despite the Initiative trying to stop it from happening. Alec had been so angry at first, but as soon as he'd come to terms with the idea she'd seen real happiness in him and hoped it would make things better for them.
They'd decided she was a girl, even though it was too early to tell and Alec had been an excited father-to-be for the few short weeks that he could. She'd been so desperate to be a mother and thought that it would bring them closer together, it would be their chance to be a real family. When she'd lost the baby, they'd both been heart-broken and Alec's anger at her and everything and everyone around him returned and he'd blamed her. Cora lifts her eyes to the screen when she sees it suddenly open, uncovering pages and pages of additional information. Alec knew she would be accessing this, and they were the only ones that ever knew about their baby.
"I think of her often, too." Cora sighs quietly as she lets her eyes move over the files, the documents, the blueprints and the designs. She now had access to it all, and she didn't even know where to start. "What's this?" Cora adds as she narrows her eyes and begins reading the names of video files that are now in the centre of the screen. "For Cora? For Scott?" She whispers as she hovers over it and flicks her fingers to open it.
"Cora.." She hears Alec's voice as he appears on the screen, not an image of him but a video, the sound of his voice startling her at first as she focuses her eyes on him. "I knew you would find a way in." Alec continues as she lets her eyes take in the sight of him, seeing that he must have recorded this the days before they were put into stasis and that it looks like he is in his lab on Theia. His grey-blue eyes reaching her.
"Alec." Cora whispers and she notices that he pauses, his eyes directly on the camera that is filming him and that it feels like he is looking into her eyes.
"I hope that you never have to watch this." Alec sighs as she watches him lower his eyes and fidget in his seat. "But, I have to accept that one day you might." He adds and lifts his hands to run through his hair. "One day you will be Pathfinder and although I hope that I'm still with you, I might not be. I also hope by that time I've told you how sorry I am. Sorry for everything that happened, for how I treated you.." He continues and she sees his eyes reach hers again.
"I'm sorry, too." Cora sighs as she sniffs quietly.
"I know I'm a difficult man.." Alec continues and she watches him sigh again. "I know I didn't deserve your love or your loyalty. As I'm recording this we aren't really speaking." He nods and she notices he glances at his hands that he places on the desk. "Which is probably the best thing for you but very hard for me. I'm trying to let you be happy with Scott.." The Pathfinder adds as his eyes move back to her. "I just wish I could take back every harsh word I've ever said to you. Every time that I hurt you or made you feel worthless." He sighs and lowers his eyes again.
"You can't." Cora whispers as she lifts her hand to wipe the tears from her eyes again, feeling them on her cheeks. "It's too late." She adds as Alec continues on the screen.
"I should have never let it get this far." Alec continues. "I should never have let myself hurt you as I did. I know I don't deserve you." The Pathfinder sighs and she notices his eyes are fixed on hers. "I should never have blamed you for.." She hears him clearing his throat, noticing that he is looking uncomfortable and knowing what he is talking about their child. "It wasn't your fault, Cora." Alec nods. "None of this was your fault and I should never have made you think it was." He sighs lightly.
Cora sighs lightly, wiping her eyes again when she hears his words and that he is finally being sincere and apologising to her, knowing it was all too late but that maybe she can finally let go of the guilt that she'd been carrying about and thinking everything was her fault. He'd blamed her for everything and he was finally telling the truth, something he could so easily have done before but had decided not to.
"You made me very happy, and I should have told you that more often." Alec begins and she sighs at his words, she didn't think he'd told her at all until he knew he was going to die. "I should have told you that I loved you. I should have fixed the implant and worked on our relationship.." He adds with a positive nod and then he pauses. "Cora, you have access to my SAM-E data now." She hears him continue and then sigh lightly.
She notices that at his words the files begin moving onto her main screen and that he's linked them to her watching the video of him. Cora watches Alec on the screen look like he is tapping his keyboard to give her access.
"I want you to delete it." Alec begins drawing her attention back to him. "I know why you want this data, and you need to let go." He adds and she feels his eyes on her. "I know SAM-E was ours.." The Pathfinder nods. "But, I'm assuming I'm gone and you think bringing SAM-E back will bring me back." Alec sighs and she notices how long he pauses and that he lowers his eyes.
"SAM.." Cora begins. "Can you please begin transferring the data for SAM-E from Alec's systems onto my Omni?" She adds and watches Alec lift his eyes on the screen.
"It won't bring me back." Alec smiles lightly as she watches him glance over his shoulder when he's heard a noise behind him. "That's you at the door, Cora." He adds as he looks back into the screen. "You are too forgiving to me and I don't deserve your forgiveness." The Pathfinder sighs and his eyes fix on the camera. "Please, delete it. Let go of me, and move on." He nods. "I love you and I'm so proud of you." Alec smiles until she watches him lean forward and turn off the camera.
Cora sits still for a moment, her eyes on the screen as she watches it fade and Alec's image disappear, feeling numb when he's gone and she can no longer see him. She moves her eyes to the folder on the screen that she knows now contains all of the information that she'd been trying to find. But, Alec had been right, she had wanted to keep this last piece of him with her and maybe she did need to delete it if she was ever going to let go of the hope of having part of him around again.
Cora stands from the chair, pushing it beneath the desk and deciding that she had to get away from the screens and compose herself. She knew the SAM-E data would potentially be another black mark against Alec Ryder's name, and even if she contacted SAM-E who had some of Alec's memories, it wouldn't be him. If she deleted it, it wouldn't drag up any bad feelings about their former Pathfinder, and it would take away the choice from her to communicate with SAME-E again and let Alec and his research go.
Cora lowers herself to sit on the edge of the bed as she slowly rubs her hands over her face, trying not to completely break down and sob. She feels a wave of sadness wash over her when she thinks about everything Alec has said to her, and the hurt of thinking about the child that she hadn't let herself think about in a long time. Cora takes a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment trying to push away those thoughts and focus on the SAM-E issue.
She knew she wanted to ask Scott what he thought she should do and she couldn't help but wonder if he'd agree that she should let go too and delete everything, put it all behind her and move on. But right now all she could think about was how much she needed him with her, the hurt and the feeling of loss when she thinks of her child too much for her to face alone. Cora sighs, knowing she needed her wonderful Scott to tell her everything would be okay. She lifts her arm to activate her Omni and calls him.
"Hey, beautiful.." She hears Scott answer almost immediately.
"Hey.." Cora begins, trying to swallow down the lump in her throat. "Are you at the gym yet?" She asks and she can hear in the background that he sounds like he is and that he is breathing as if he's running.
"Yeah, I am." Scott begins and she hears the sound of him getting off of the treadmill and focusing on her. "What's wrong, Cora?" He adds and she can hear the concern in his voice.
"Can you come home?" She whispers, noticing her voice shakes slightly and that he will have heard it.
"Of course. I'm on my way." She hears his quiet reply and knows he won't ask any more questions and will rush back to her like he always did when she needed him most. "I'll be as quick as I can." He adds as he disconnects the line.
Cora lowers her eyes to her feet, closing her eyes tightly when she tries to stop herself from crying and knowing how much it will upset Scott to see her crying over Alec. But, was she crying over him or were her tears for her little girl? She takes another deep breath, part of her wishing she'd never tried and never found the video which has dragged up all of these feelings, the other part glad that she's finally had her apology from him and that maybe that was what she needed for closure.
"SAM.." Cora begins, trying to keep her voice even as she contemplates keeping and saving the data, never telling Scott she found it and forcing the secret deep inside her until she can use it.
"Awaiting instruction." SAM replies making her sigh lightly, she knew she couldn't lie to him, not after everything she had done and the promises they'd made to each other. She had to let go of Alec and his memories and she had to be honest with her Ryder, the one she intended on spending the rest of her life with.
"Return SAM-E data to Alec's computer, SAM." Cora mumbles as she lifts her Omni and flicks the data back onto the screens so that she can show it to Scott, and then they could decide if they should delete it together.
Cora hears the sound of the door being opened and looks up from her spot on the bed and sees that Scott has made it back to her as he always did, she watches him quickly move away from the door and lower himself to the bed beside her and wrap his arms around her. She feels him drawing her into his embrace, letting her rest her chin against his shoulder as she feels his hands on her back which he strokes softly. Cora can't help but sniff when she buries her head into his neck, noticing that he doesn't immediately say anything but just holds her tight trying to comfort her.
"It's alright." She hears him whisper and presses a kiss against the side of her head. "I've got you." He adds as she feels him lift his hand to stroke through her hair. "What's happened?" Scott whispers as he leans back and fixes his eyes on hers, noticing he wipes the tears from her cheeks which his thumbs and that there is only love in his eyes.
"I found the SAM-E data." Cora begins noticing that his eyes on hers don't waver and that he nods. "There was a video from Alec, too." She adds and watches him glance towards the screens. "He apologised for the way he treated me, but he knew that I only wanted SAM-E back so I still had part of him." Cora sighs and hears Scott do the same.
"What do you mean?" Scott asks as she feels him taking hold of her hand in his. "SAM-E has part of Alec in him?" He adds and she nods lightly, not exactly as simple as that but he'd transferred some of his memories and experiences into the AI.
"Just some memories mostly.." Cora nods. "I thought if I could connect with SAM-E again it would be like he was here. But, Alec asked me to delete it, wipe it all away and let go. I just don't know if I can do that." She adds and feels Scott's eyes on her and him tuck her hair behind her ear. "This is all I have left." She whispers with a sniff.
"You still have your memories." Scott smiles at her, giving her the best positive nod he can manage. "No one can take those from you." He adds as she looks into his eyes. "If you want to keep the data and recreate SAM-E, you know I'll support you no matter what you decide." She hears him continue as he wraps his arms around her and she leans against his chest.
"If I use this data it will drag his name even more through the mud. SAM-E might not even work anymore, and I might get nothing from it." She begins and notices him a nod. "If I delete it, Alec will be gone forever." Cora adds as she tightens her hold on him.
"What would make you happy? You could have SAM-E back or you delete it and maybe you get some closure. Alec is gone, Cora, and will having his AI help you deal with that? " He adds making her shake her head, he was right he was gone and he wasn't coming back. Losing SAM-E altogether was probably worth it if she had closure.
"I don't think it would help having SAM-E. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my motivations." Cora sighs quietly but sees him shaking his head at her, feeling him lean closer and pressing a kiss against her forehead. "It was for my own selfish reasons." She adds as he lifts his hands to her cheeks.
"If I knew that I could have the comfort of still having contact with someone I loved.." Scott begins and she sees him give her a reassuring smile. "Even if I knew it wasn't real. I would probably do the same." He nods as she feels him stroking his palms lightly against her. "I know you miss him, Cora." Scott whispers as he rests his head against hers. "Only you know what is best, but it has to be what is best for you." He adds.
"I'm going to delete it." She nods and feels him loosen his hold on her so he can look into her face. "I'm going to let go and do as he's asked of me." Cora adds and sees Scott smile lightly at her and cup her face in his palm. "Let his research be wiped and his name is kept away from this." She whispers.
"Are you sure?" Scott asks and she sees his eyes searching hers.
"Yes." Cora smiles lightly at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he draws her into another hug. "There is a video for you, too." She adds and watches him looking towards the screen again and knowing he'd have to watch it before they wiped it all. "Baby, there's something else I need to tell you.." Cora sighs and feels his eyes meet hers.
"What is it?" Scott says as she sees him smile lightly when she lifts her hands to his face, suddenly feeling her stomach knot when she wonders how he is going to react to what she is going to tell him.
"Well.." Cora huffs quietly when she notices he is looking intently at her. "Scott, I was.." She sighs, trying to keep her voice even as she looks away from him. "I was pregnant." Cora whispers as she lifts her eyes to his and tries to blink back the tears.
"Pregnant?" Scott asks and she can see the confusion and all of the questions behind his eyes so she nods lightly. "I was not expecting that." He adds when she feels him place his hands over hers. "This was on Theia?" Scott asks her making her nod, and she knew he was asking if it was with Alec.
"I wasn't expecting it, either." Cora sighs lightly at him and notices his eyes meet hers. "Not when I was supposed to have been sterilised by the Initiative." She whispers. "I was excited. I hoped it would fix things with Alec." She adds with a light smile. "I thought he'd stay with me and commit to me." Cora sighs again and sees him nod but that he doesn't look convinced that anything would.
"Did Alec know?" Scott asks making her nod her head.
"Yes, I told him. At first, he thought I'd done it on purpose." Cora begins, remembering how angry he'd been when she'd told him and how he'd called her a cheat and a liar. "Then he was happy, he seemed excited." She adds and sighs, wishing she'd known then how short his happiness would be. "But, I lost the baby soon after that." Cora mumbles and can see how sorry he looks in his eyes so she lowers them.
"I'm sorry, Cora." Scott whispers which draws her attention back to him. "I'm so sorry you went through that." He sighs when she feels him lean closer and rest his forehead against hers. "I know how much you want to have children." She hears him add and that he leans back and fixes his eyes on her.
"I do, I want to have children with you." Cora sighs and notices her words make him smile. "I just worry it will happen again." She whispers. "What if I can't have children now?" Cora adds and hears her voice wobble as she voices something that has worried her so much.
"We don't know that." Scott smiles and lifts his hand to her cheek, his thumb rubbing softly against her skin to keep her eyes on his, making her wonder what her life would have been like if she'd had a child with Alec and if she'd be still living an unhappy life with him.
"I know you want to be a dad.." She huffs but smiles when she sees him nod and his smile widen, they'd already talked about having a family together and he'd told her how much he wanted to be a dad.
"When the time comes that we want to start our family." Scott begins and she feels his eyes on her again. "We just see what happens and if we need some help, then that's what we do." He nods and she sees a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. "We'll be fine and if it never happens.." Scott smiles. "We'll still have each other." He adds and strokes her skin again.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before." She sighs and leans into his body, feeling him place his hands on her back again and draw her into his hold. "Alec mentioned it and I just.." Cora lets out a deep breath and glances at him. "I just wanted to prepare you in case we struggle." She nods.
"I can't imagine how much that must have hurt." Scott begins making her sigh and relax against him, glad that she has someone as supportive as him by her side. "But, thank you for telling me." He whispers. "We'll face whatever life throws at us to become parents, okay?" Scott adds making her nod.
"Okay." Cora smiles as she wraps her arms around his body and feels him doing the same. "You're going to be an amazing dad, Scott." She adds and hears him laugh quietly and when she looks into his face she sees him smiling. "I mean it, our children are going to be so lucky to have you." Cora sees his smile widen.
"Not as lucky as they are to have you." Scott smiles as he lifts his hand to stroke her hair again. "Everything will work out, Cora." He adds with a positive nod as his eyes fix on her. "Did you want to delete it now?" Scott asks and motions with his head towards the screens.
"Don't you want to watch the video?" She asks and notices he shakes his head.
"I don't want to watch it." She sees Scott sigh and lower his eyes. "There isn't anything he can say that I want to hear. If he recorded my video to drag up hurt like he did on yours, I don't want it." He adds as she nods and lowers her head to rest against his shoulder.
"Even if he apologises?" Cora whispers and hears him sigh.
"I've made my peace with it." Scott begins as he runs his hands slowly over her back. "You deserve his apology a lot more than I do." He smiles and leans his head against hers. "I know tomorrow has been on your mind.." Scott mumbles as she feels him tuck his finger beneath her chin and tilt it towards him. "Maybe this will help." He smiles making her nod in agreement.
"You're right." Cora says as she leans towards him and presses her lips against his in a soft kiss. "Closure for all of us." She adds with another kiss until she unwraps her arms from around him and lifts her Omni.
"I'm right here, with you." Scott smiles when she glances at him, feeling him wrap his arm around her waist and hold her at his side as she begins tapping her finger onto the display. "You can do this." He whispers as she nods, knowing she couldn't do it without him.
"SAM.." Cora begins as she feels Scott place his hand between her shoulder blades, drawing her eyes to his again when she remembers how lucky she is to always have him at her side, supporting her no matter what. "Delete all data relating to SAM-E and Project Clara Ryder." She continues, lowering her eyes for a moment when she feels the pang of hurt having to say her name out loud.
"Deletion complete." SAM announces, making Cora let out a quiet sigh until she feels Scott rest his forehead against the side of hers.
"Closure." Scott whispers with a soft kiss into her hair. "I'm so proud of you." He adds as he lifts his hand and rests it on the back of her neck as she looks into his face. "I know that must have been tough." Scott continues and she feels his eyes on her.
"I couldn't have done it without you." She says quietly and takes hold of his hand, wrapping her fingers around his. "You're always here to hold my hand or tell me everything will be okay." Cora adds and notices her words make him smile. "You said the other night that I always looked out for you, well you do it for me too." She smiles at him.
"It's because I love you." Scott smiles as she feels him leaning closer and his eyes meet hers. "I will always be here to hold your hand." He adds as he slides his fingers through hers. "I will always be by your side, you know that.." Scott smiles making her return it until she lifts her hand to the back of his head and drags him into a kiss, hearing herself sigh when he wraps her in his arms.
"Pathfinder Ryder, this is Dr T'Perro." Cora feels him reluctantly break their kiss when they hear her voice and announcement over the comms. "Please report to Hyperion Medical Bay, immediately." She adds before the line disconnects.
"Do you think it's Sara?" Scott begins as she notices he looks confused as to why he's being summoned and why so immediately. "What else could it be?" He huffs quietly and she sees a flash of worry on his face as he quickly stands.
"Scott, listen.." Cora begins as she stands too and takes hold of his hand which draws his eyes to her. "We'll go and find out, together." She adds and squeezes his hand in hers. "I'm coming with you." Cora smiles and sees him nod.
"Alright." He nods and gives her a grateful smile.
Cora feels Scott holding her hand just as tightly when they leave the room, walking together through the corridors of The Nexus and towards the tram that will take them back to The Hyperion Ark. She notices that there are a few crew from both teams around, all going about their day but he continues to hold her hand just as tightly as if she's the only thing keeping his feet on the ground. Cora wraps her arm around his bicep, noticing that his steps become less confident the closer they get to the medical centre until they finally reach the door.
"Maybe I should get hold of Liam." Scott mumbles as she watches him pause outside the door and him falter as he glances at her. "He should be here, shouldn't he?" He asks and she wonders if he wants to know or if he is stalling.
"We don't know that anything has happened." Cora replies and sees him nod lightly and lower his eyes to his feet. "I'm going in there, and you can come with me if you like?" She adds as he looks at her again and then back to the panel when he lifts his hand to use the door controls.
"Ah, Sara.." Cora hears Lexi's voice as soon as the door slides open and spots her stood at the end of the bed that Sara had been sleeping in her medically-induced coma for the last few weeks since they'd arrived here. "There they are." She adds as Cora watches a smile stretch onto Lexi's face.
"Little Brother." Sara smiles, drawing Cora's eyes to her when she suddenly realises that she is no longer in the bed and is sat on the end of it. She looks like she is having tests run, but she is awake and looking straight at them.
"Sara.." Scott mumbles as Cora watches him sprint towards her, closing the distance as quickly as he can and engulfing her in his arms. Cora can't help but feel a lump in her throat when she watches them clinging to each other and the happiness on both of their faces.
"Be gentle with me." Sara laughs quietly as Scott places his hands on her cheeks before drawing her into another hug. "I'm feeling a bit fragile." Cora hears her say as she steps towards them, smiling at Sara when she notices her behind Scott.
"Hi, Sara." Cora smiles at her and accepts the hug that is offered when Scott has finally let go of his twin. "I'm so glad to see you awake." She adds and sees Sara smile lightly and nod, knowing that was the best she could hope from Sara. She notices that Sara glances at Scott who perches on the bed beside her. "When did this happen?" Cora asks looking at Lexi.
"About an hour ago." Lexi smiles a real beam that shows she is happy that Sara is finally out of status too. Cora wondered if that was one less thing for the medical team to worry about, and wondering where Harry is.
"I have so much to tell you." Scott grins making Cora smile when she sees how happy he looks and that he looks like he doesn't want to look away from Sara. "So much has happened.." He sighs lightly.
"Yeah, you have a lot of explaining to do." Sara begins and she notices she fixes her eyes on Scott and is suddenly not looking happy with him. "And so do you, Cora." Sara adds and her attention turns to her and she is sure she feels herself shrink beneath her gaze. What did Sara know? Did she know about her infidelity? Did she know that she'd failed to save Alec?
"What's that supposed to mean?" Scott frowns and Cora watches him glancing between Sara and then back to her. "Sara, what am I supposed to have done wrong?" She hears Scott ask his twin.
Cora sees her just sigh and shake her head, lowering her eyes from him. She can see the hurt on Scott's face, the weeks that he's spent in agony without his twin to receive this frosty reception. Part of her wanted to confront Sara for how she was treating him, but the other part knew Sara already had enough issues with her without adding more. But, she really felt for Scott. He'd missed Sara and for her to blame him for anything that had happened was wrong; Cora was the one that had cheated, had failed to save Alec, had hurt Scott.
"Scott.." Cora whispers and motions for him to move away from his sister. "Sara has been through a lot, just like you have." She adds as she watches him sigh and slide off of the edge of the bed and stand next to her, feeling his fingertips finding hers for comfort.
"I know." Scott huffs and she can tell he's not only feeling hurt but annoyed too.
"You haven't done anything wrong." Cora whispers to him when his eyes meet hers and he nods slightly, seeing him glance over his shoulder when the door to the medical bay opens again and Liam has arrived. "Hey, Liam." She smiles at him when he notices they are there too and lifts his hand in a small wave.
"She's in a bad mood." Scott begins as Cora watches him bump fists with Liam as he approaches and then feels him wrapping his arm around her waist. "I've seen her and she looks fine." He sighs quietly as he fixes her eyes on hers. "Shall we go?" Scott adds but she can see he is feeling torn when he glances back to Sara and Liam who are hugging each other.
"Do you want to go?" Cora asks and finally sees him nod.
"Scott.." Lexi begins as she moves to speak to them and she sees Scott turn his attention to his doctor. "Don't take it to heart," Lexi adds with a sympathetic smile. "Stasis has a different effect on us all, and her body and mind have really been tested." She smiles in a comforting way that only Lexi can.
"It's hard not to." She sees Scott nod as she wraps her arm around his waist and squeezes his waist beneath her palm. "Just, keep me updated?" He adds which receives a positive nod from Lexi. "How long will until she's up and about?" Scott asks making Lexi hum for a moment as she thinks.
"A couple of weeks at most, I hope." Lexi smiles and glances back towards Sara. "She's going to need more help than someone who has gone through our usual wake up process. Because of what happened a few stages were skipped, she's unharmed but will need some help to adjust to her body again." Doctor T'Perro adds making her and Scott both nod.
"Thanks, Lexi." Scott smiles lightly and she feels him stroking her waist with his fingertips when he glances at her. "I'm ready to get out of here." She notices he gives a final look towards Sara before his eyes meet hers again.
"Are you going to go back to the gym?" Cora smiles at him when he unwraps his arm from around her and holds out his hand, letting her slide her fingers through his as they begin walking back through the ark.
"Na." Scott smiles and she feels his eyes on her. "I'm spending the rest of the day with you." He adds making her smile when he lifts his arm around her shoulders, not seeming to have a care at all that they might be seen wrapped around each other. "Did you want to go for a walk?" Scott asks and she knows he means a real walk, not the one that had led them to his bed.
"A walk to where?" She asks seeing him smile at her question and shrug lightly.
"We'll just keep walking and see where we end up." Scott smiles before he leans towards her and kisses her softly. "Just you and me." He adds as she wraps her arm around his waist again until she is close to his side. "I promise this isn't a ploy to get you in bed." She feels his eyes meet hers and he grins.
"You don't want to try talking to her again?" She asks and sees him shake his head. "Okay, a walk would be nice." Cora nods, seeing how pleased he looks that they are going to be in public, holding hands and spending time together just the two of them. Cora wraps both of her arms around his waist and squeezes him as they walk noticing he smiles at her.
Cora knew he'd want to talk about how much Sara had upset him and she'd want to talk about what she'd done to anger his twin, but for now, she was happy to walk with him and talk about the things that made them happy and their future together. Forget about everything else for a while.