Part: 39/40

Note: Hello all. Well, here we are at Day 40 and the last two chapters of this fic. Upon looking back at chapter 1, I was amazed to see that I started posting this fic back in November 2019. So much has happened since then that it feels so strange that this fic has taken so long to post, but I think it's also been really helpful for me to do this throughout the lockdowns, the daily news of deaths and infection rates, and over a year now of working from home. I just hope that once I get the next fic complete in this saga and start posting it, that the world will have become a far safer and happier place. I do hope everyone is well and thank you so much for sticking with this fic through these crazy last 17 months! Thank you to all those who posted reviews, including those as guests who I can't reply to personally; I read each review and they all help me keep going.

So, here we go: the last two chapters...

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DAY 40 – The New View

Chapter 39 - Leave-taking

Father had looked as sad as he always did when she left for a mission, though he tried to hide it behind his noble strength. He had whispered his prayer to the Ancestors for her and squeezed her shoulders before she had had to step away. The others - Zabetha, Rhakshar, Elkaska and Charin – were all at his side, saying their farewells as they always did...yet...it felt different today. Just as it had with John yesterday.

A weight hung in the air, unspoken and nervous.

Teyla had not missed Zabetha's red eyes and Rhakshar's comforting arm around her back, nor Elkaska's worried frown as he tried to smile at her.

It was perhaps partly due to the fact that she had stayed on Athos so long this time, the Sythus repairs extensive and time consuming. Perhaps they had thought her long stay had become permanent, that John and his people's frequent visits and her additional time sat on the Military Council would keep her home.

But she was an Elite, and her status as a Seeker was even more important than ever for the mission ahead.

Which was likely the true reason for her family's repressed sorrow.

The Skerti.

Being Leader of the Athosian worlds, Father had been briefed by the Athosian military leaders on the Skerti. He had seen the images, the full reports, as had Zabetha no doubt as well. Elkaska knew already, perhaps from Father or through his own trader contacts. Word of the fate of the Salvager processing ship had certainly made its way around the Salvager community and she wondered if Elkaska had contacts there. And Charin, well, being an ex-High Councillor she had her own contacts and, Teyla suspected, Father would have sought her counsel on the matter.

So they all knew of the new dangers she faced, just as John did.

Every time she left on mission, her family knew it could be her last goodbye, but today she could see the weight of that knowledge in their eyes and in Zabetha's tear-filled crooked smile as Teyla had turned and headed away across the Governing Complex's lobby. Si had met her here, taking the opportunity to see her family, and she was immensely grateful for his strong calm presence as she left her family.

At the doors out of the Complex, she had paused and looked back at them. They all lifted a hand, which she returned, and she smiled at them before forcing herself to turn away and head out into the cold air of the morning.

Tjaru's streets were quiet at this early hour, a new crisp layer of snow lying over everything. It was cold, very cold, the sky bare of almost any clouds today, and the scent of newly scattered grip salt drifted up into her nose as her boots crunched it into the snow. It was a beautiful morning over Tjaru, and she focused her attention on noticing that fact, on absorbing as much of her home as she could as she, Si, and Ketra made their way silently down through the city.

The melancholy still lingered in her stomach this morning, not let up since she had left John's embrace yesterday, to the point that she had barely had any First Meal this morning. Instead her mind had repeatedly turned over her last view of him before she'd stepped away through Atlantis' Portal. He had smiled at her, but his worry had been so clear.

On top of her heavy heart and empty stomach, she had barely slept last night, despite having been tired from her long day yesterday. After returning to the Facility from Atlantis, she had attended the evening Military Council meeting to officially present and set out the terms the Elite had made with Atlantis in their trading contract. The debate afterwards had been more speculation and strategy discussions than anything to do with the contract, so she had left far later than predicted. Still, she had had enough time to visit Massa, as Aki had been still awake, and then Oneakka. Seeal had still been sat with Oneakka in his quarters when Teyla had arrived, so she had had a chance to say farewell to the woman as well. Then Teyla had sat with Oneakka for over an hour, telling him the details of contract signing, and then promising to follow various instructions he gave her to be careful on the mission, to watch over Halling and also to keep an eye on Madesh for him. She had readily agreed to each request, understanding what it was like for him to be left behind while they went off on this significant battle. Oneakka was never one to sit on the sidelines of such things, and she knew he would worry about everyone on the Sythus. Still, his improvement in just the last few days had been obvious to her. He had been sat up away from his pillows, holding his own weight upright now, and he appeared to have put on a little more muscle mass. Surely in no time he would be back to his former self and able to join them in the fight against the Skerti, which she had reminded him several times before she left.

After that, she had gone to her Facility quarters to check there was nothing there she wished to take with her, and then she had finally left for Athos. Arriving very late by that point, Father had still been awake and clearly waiting for her return. She had sat with him in his office despite the very late hour, enjoying the time for as long as possible, but finally Father's tiredness had become obvious. She'd ordered him to bed and then returned to her quarters. Once in her home, she had set about packing, which had taken longer than normal. Having been stationed off the Sythus for quite some time, she had brought more clothing back with her than usual, so that she had two full bags with her this time. As she'd packed, Ketra had followed her around, her large dragon eyes oddly forlorn. She clearly understood that they were leaving, or perhaps she was worried that Teyla would leave without her. Ketra's new anxiety of late had been continuing, though Father and Zabetha said they saw no sign of it when they were watching her. Teyla had spoken with an expert on the species here a few days ago and the woman had suggested that perhaps Ketra's anxiety was due to the change in routine of late. That made some sense, since it had been so long since they had returned to the Sythus. So, as she packed, Teyla had told Ketra about their returning to the Sythus, the dragon clearly recognising the name, and hopefully once there Ketra would settle into their usual routine.

The packing complete, Ketra had fallen asleep on the floor right by Teyla's beside, which had been her choice of late, but Teyla had lain awake for quite some time. Thoughts of John and how much she missed him already had plagued her until, at some early hour of the morning, she had finally succumbed to sleep. Tired this morning, but determined to head to the mission with all her focus, she set a fast pace through Tjaru's streets until they passed under the Ancestral built Gateway and out along the slightly busier road down to the Portal. Striding along the road, her boots kicking through the slick mix of mud and snow, she pushed away the sad lingering thoughts as best she could.

The area around the Portal was busy, the early morning traders arriving through the Portal in time to set up their wares in Tjaru. She and Si were granted instant access to the front of the line to the Portal though, and Teyla made sure to return each polite nod and smile from those around her. As the last cart that had come through the Portal rolled towards her and Si, she noticed two young children pop up from between boxes and sacks piled up on the cart, both staring with wide open mouths at seeing Elite warriors. As Si headed towards the Portal Guards station to organise the dialling out to Station One, she held her place and waited until the trader's cart rolled past her and then she looked round and up at the children. They both shrieked with barely contained glee and quickly hid down behind a box, but as the cart rolled away, she saw them peeking out again.

Amused and her mood lifted by such sweet innocence, she shifted her attention down to Ketra at her side. Ketra's large eyes stared up at her, like the creature was trying to say something, and Ketra bumped her snout against Teyla's hip.

"I know things have been unusual lately," she assured Ketra as she stroked her pet's warm velvety head, "but we will be on the Sythus soon." Ketra tilted her head at the name. "And you can spend the day in the Hydroponics Bay," Teyla added, putting extra excitement into her tone. "You can enjoy your usual trees and run around the lawns."

Ketra bumped her snout against Teyla's hip again, definitely seeming a little worried about something.

"We will be back to our usual routine in no time," Teyla told her, wishing she believed that was a good thing.

The Portal started turning and Teyla watched the Ancestral tech lighting up, dialling into Station One.

"Had to wait for a scheduled dial in point," Si' voice arrived from the right and Teyla nodded as he crossed to her. Like her, he was dressed in a thick warm coat to protect them against the depth of Athos' winter cold. She suspected that, by the time she and Si would be able to return here, that spring would have arrived, perhaps even summer. She rather looked forward to the promise of the full warmth of summer that was so particularly enjoyable on Athos. She just hoped the mission would not go on too long.

She looked off to the left, up towards Tjaru' glorious rooftops and the elegant curves of the Gateway. The cold winter sun glimmered off the towers, tiles, glass, and bricks. She drank in the moment as she heard the Portal engage its wormhole, heard the rush of its power flooding out and back.

But she kept her eyes on Tjaru, perhaps for the last time, for one moment longer before finally making herself look away.

She had work to do.

She headed forward, Si and Ketra at her side, and they strode through the watery surface of the Portal...and into the instantly warmer and drier air of Station One. Gone was the bright sky and fresh air, and in its place were flat constructed walls and the loud echo of multiple voices filling the large enclosed spaces beyond the Portal room.

However, the sudden transformation around her felt helpful, instantly snapping her away from the world of family and love to the active busy nature of the military station. She followed Si as he led the way down off the Portal's platform, the Guards here nodding politely to them, and then they headed out into the tall central lobbies of the station.

"Your family all looked very well," Si said, their first piece of conversation since they had left the Governing Complex.

"They are, thank you," she replied, falling into step at his side. "Did you enjoy your last few days with your ladies?"

Si' handsome profile lifted into a smile. "I did."

She chuckled, grateful yet again for his quiet strength and clear understanding that she had needed time and silence as they had left Tjaru. She would have felt self-conscious about that fact before, but her life was different now, and Si knew the depth of her feelings for John and for her family. She refused to feel embarrassed about that anymore. They were not a weakness as many Elite believed, but a source of great strength for her. For as much as she had dedicated her life's work to saving lives throughout the galaxy, she now also had a very personal motivation to her work. For with each threat she helped eliminate, she protected those she loved.

On both Athos and in Atlantis.

She would miss the happy meals shared with her family and John's tight, loving embrace, but she knew that every action she took on this mission going forward would bring her home that much faster. She drew that knowledge into her being, repeating it in her mind as they followed along the tunnels that would lead them out to the right terminal where the Sythus was docked.

As they reached a hub point where the transport lanes branched off to different terminals, she glanced towards the tall porthole that looked out at terminal one. The Sythus hung there in the starscape, her sleek powerful lines a wondrous familiar sight. Teyla paused to take in the view, aware of Si doing the same next to her.

"It is good to see her again," Si intoned with a happy sigh.

Teyla nodded.

"And stronger than she's ever been," Si added more softly.

"Good," Teyla nodded as she took in the view of the Sythus one last time from the outside. She knew the basics of the improvements to their ship – the reinforced internal structure, improved hull plating, and new gravity-loss protection systems – but she had always had great faith in the amazing engineering that had gone into the Sythus. Named after one of the first two Elite warriors, the Sythus was the perfect vessel to take them to meet their new enemy.

She drew in a deep breath, drinking in the determination that washed away her former worries and niggling doubts.

"Let's get aboard," she stated with confidence as she led the way forward.

Yet, despite the good medication and her sense of resolve and fortitude for the mission ahead, she felt her stomach churn a little.

But that was probably just because she had barely eaten anything this morning.

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Madesh's hug was super tight, but Seeal didn't mind. Actually, she rather liked it.

"You make sure you never go up against a Skerti by yourself, you promise me," she told Madesh firmly from within his large hug.

"I am more than happy to promise you that," Madesh assured her, his hug growing even tighter for a moment, and just when she started to worry about being able to breathe, he started releasing her.

"And keep an eye out for the other Strays," Seeal added as she slid her hands from Madesh's arms, stepping back from him a small fraction. Oneakka's quarters felt pretty full this morning with her, Madesh, the three Elite and baby Aki in Massa's arms, but it also made it all feel very personal and intimate.

"You know Toj is just going to want to go rush at a Skerti and get himself killed," she added to Madesh. "So you're going to need to keep control of him."

Madesh gave her a grim smile. "I cannot promise miracles, my friend."

She had to smile at that. "Do the best you can," she compromised. "Stick close to them," she added, "and to Elite. Always stay close to an Elite."

"I will try," Madesh replied, his head tilted forward slightly, making his eyes seem bigger than normal.

"And stay alive too," she added, realising that really didn't need to be said, but she couldn't help herself. She knew Madesh was good backup in a fight, that he'd been trained by Oneakka himself, but still...

Fortunately before she said anything else mushy, Oneakka stood up from his seat on the end of his bed. Madesh turned towards his mentor, his head lifting now, his chin jutting forward. "Honoured Elite," Madesh bowed his head.

"Stay alert at all times," Oneakka instructed him firmly, "never underestimate any enemy and always check the ceiling because the Skerti can climb anything."

"Yes, Honoured Elite," Madesh promised quickly.

"Keep up with the training programme I gave you." Oneakka continued, his face set in grim lines. He'd not been in the best mood so far this morning and the reason was obvious of course. She'd not missed the way he had kept glancing worriedly towards Halling, who stood in his full battle gear, his two bags sat by the door ready to be carried off to the Sythus.

"Yes, Honoured Elite," Madesh continued his blind obedience routine.

"And make sure you get enough sleep and plenty to eat," Oneakka finished with a somewhat unexpected conclusion to his speech.

Seeal smiled round at Oneakka. "Not everyone has your returned appetite," she pointed out.

"It's important," Oneakka frowned. Yep, he was definitely unhappy today.

"I will, Honoured Elite," Madesh promised though.

"Good," Oneakka nodded as he reached his arm out to Madesh. Madesh grasped Oneakka's forearm as Oneakka gasped his, and the two men leaned in to bump their inner shoulders together. It was the closest thing to a hug that Madesh would ever get from Oneakka and it was pretty brief, but it had clearly been very well received by Madesh.

"I hope your recovery continues as speedily as it has been, Honoured Elite," Madesh stated as he stepped back, still grinning from the shoulder bump.

Oneakka nodded firmly, clearly finished with his speeches.

"Good victory, Madesh," Massa said from Seeal's right. He'd turned up last, Aki grizzling still from what had apparently been a rushed First Meal. Still, little Aki looked okay now. He was watching the busy room with wide eyes, clearly finding everyone fascinating this morning.

"Thank you, Honoured Elite," Madesh nodded to Massa politely before stepping away, heading towards the door where he stood by Halling's waiting bags.

Seeal's mood dropped instantly at the sure sign that departure had come, and she looked towards Halling, who was heading towards her.

She'd not seen him fully armed and decked out in his body armour since the Rogue Hive, and that hardly provoked the best memories. She had no idea where the last weeks had gone, seeming to have passed all too fast, but it also weirdly felt like she'd spent years with Halling since the Rogue Hive. She was seriously going to miss him.

"Take care of yourself, Seeal," Halling said as he lifted his arms. They hadn't shared a hug since the darker days in the Healing Bay, but she was more than happy to have another. Halling's tall frame seemed to tower over her as he wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her almost as tightly as Madesh had done. "And take care of him for me," he added more quietly.

"You know I will," she reminded him of the many times she'd already promised this, but she got that he was still feeling conflicted about leaving Oneakka behind.

"Stay in contact," Halling added as he released her, stepping back a pace from her as she let go of him. "The Sythus will be in links contact for another week before we go to silence ship running." She was touched by that, that he wanted to stay in touch with her.

"I promise," she told him. She'd keep him fully updated on Oneakka's progress too. "You just be careful," she reminded him. "Because I'm not going to be there to help save you at the last minute like last time."

Halling gave her a smile and nodded, his eyes holding hers. Her having helped him in his fight against that Skerti Queen was far from something to joke about, but it felt like the only part of what they'd gone through together back then that she could use to tease him a little. To make saying goodbye feel a little easier.

"Halling," Massa shifted forward, but paused and suddenly Aki was being held in her face. "Seeal, can you hold him for a minute?"

She took the baby, setting him on her hip. "You are growing fast, Aki," she muttered as she had to shift him a little higher, wrapping her arm further around his nappy-covered butt. She'd last held him maybe a few days ago, but he felt like he'd seriously grown since. Still, she was happy to hold him as she watched Massa wrap Halling up in a big forceful hug.

"Watch your back," Massa's voice was tight as he and Halling patted each other's backs through their long hug. "Good victory," Massa added.

With his face towards her, Seeal saw Halling close his eyes for a moment as he hugged his friend.

"You take good care of the Recruits," Halling said as the two men finally released each other. "Tutor."

"I've not decided for certain yet," Massa shook off what they all knew he was going to do. Halling and Oneakka had clearly launched a campaign yesterday evening to persuade him, having listed various reasons why Massa would be a great tutor.

She had been impressed with how much reaching the two males had used in their list, including things like 'so you can shape the future' and 'have something to do when Aki is older'. But, she believed she'd won the campaign though, having used her new understanding of Massa to simply tell him that he'd love the work. He'd given her a look saying he had known what she'd done, but she was pretty sure he was going to accept the tutor job.

"Message me when you decide you'll wake up and do it," Halling smiled as he patted one of Massa's shoulders, his hand lingering on his friend's shoulder.

Massa nodded. "I've actually got a meeting soon to go over what the job could involve."

Halling grinned and patted his shoulder again.

Seeal realised that Aki was chewing on something and she looked round to find that he had part of her jacket in his mouth and was gumming away on it. As he grinned at her attention, she saw the lines of what looked like brand new front teeth coming through.

"A meeting I actually need to get to," Massa added, his dark hands sliding into Seeal's view of Aki and she handed the baby back to him. "I need to get this little warrior to infant day care."

She watched Massa set Aki against his shoulder like the heavy baby weighed nothing.

Halling reached out and caught one of Aki' hands in his fingers. "I shall see you soon, little warrior," he said softly to the boy. "Though I suspect you will be twice the size by then."

"Please no," Massa performed an exaggerated wince. "You'll link later?" Massa added to Halling.

"I will," Halling agreed.

"We're all going to be in here this evening to watch Earth sports, so you could link us then," Massa suggested.

She and Massa had decided that the two of them should fill Oneakka's first evening without Halling by organising Late Meal to be delivered here while they watched the last finals of a form of hand-to-hand wrestling they had reached on the Earth Olympics.

"I shall endeavour to do so," Halling agreed.

"You take care of yourself," Massa told Halling one more time, his voice noticeably breaking with emotion.

"I will," Halling promised, his smile slipping slightly now.

"Okay," Massa started moving away, glancing at Oneakka and then round to her. "I'll see you this evening."

"See you then," she agreed and then gave little Aki a wave. Aki lifted a hand, his latest trick, and attempted to wave back.

Massa headed out the door, looking back with a pursed-lipped smile from the doorway and then disappeared out into the corridor.

Halling turned back round, his eyes moving to Oneakka. Seeal headed towards Madesh, giving the two Elite males a little more space for their goodbye. Madesh smiled at her as she reached his side, but his eyes slid immediately away to where Halling and Oneakka had wrapped their arms around each other.

"Stay in daily contact as long as you can," Oneakka told Halling. Seeal could see that he had a tight grip of the back of Halling's body armour, gripping onto his friend.

"I will, my brother," Halling told Oneakka. "Promise me you will take care of yourself; do not push yourself into battle too soon."

"I'll try," Oneakka agreed as much as he was clearly able to about that particular subject. "Promise me you won't go up against a Skerti alone again."

"I will do my best," Halling agreed from within their ongoing hug.

Oneakka nodded against Halling's shoulder, his eyes directed away across the room. Seeal looked away, feeling like she was intruding on the moment. Or maybe it was because it reminded her all too closely of those painful emotional days around Oneakka's bed in the Healing Bay.

Madesh's hand landed on her shoulder and she looked round at him. They hadn't known each other as long as Oneakka and Halling, or gone through the same life changing events, but she really cared for him. Was really going to miss him.

"Don't go retrieving any more of your stored old things without backup," Madesh told her. "When I'm back, I'll go with you to the next place."

She smiled at the kind thought. "Alright," she agreed, "but you'll need to wear a wig too for the next place."

Madesh chuckled, but she wasn't joking.

"We should go, Madesh," Halling appeared at her side, having finally finished his goodbye with Oneakka. Halling's large hand settled on her upper arm, his warm palm squeezing gently as she looked up the couple of inches height difference between them.

She really hoped this wasn't going to be the last time she saw him.

"Good victory, Honoured Elite," she told him, looking up into his eyes.

His hand squeezed her arm again before letting her go, and she heard Oneakka arrive behind her left shoulder.

"Take care of each other," Halling told them, his eyes shifting to Oneakka over her shoulder and back, and then he turned away.

Halling picked up one of his bulging bags, but Madesh quickly picked up the other one for him before Halling could lift it. The door to Oneakka's quarters had already slid open, sensing Halling's beacon close by, so Halling led the way out into the corridor outside, Madesh following him.

Seeal followed without thinking about it.

The corridor was empty apart from the four of them, which felt a relief actually, and she held still outside Oneakka's door and watched Halling and Madesh as they gave her and Oneakka a smile and started down the corridor.

She watched them walking away, hoping as hard as she could that this wasn't going to be her last sight of them; that she wouldn't have to sit by their deathbeds.

"They'll be okay," Oneakka said from her left.

She nodded, pretending she could be so certain.

At the distant turn of the corridor, after which they'd disappear from view, Halling and Madesh both paused, looking back at her and Oneakka and they lifted a hand in farewell. She waved back at them, just like she'd done to Aki, and tried to smile as best she could as they turned away and disappeared around the corner.

She struggled against the compulsion to cry.

She was getting way too emotional lately. This had never been a problem on Dream.

"They'll be fine," Oneakka stated, making out that he wasn't worried. "They're both highly trained."

She frowned at that as turned towards him. "You're super intensely trained, but you almost died," she pointed out the obvious flaw in his theory.

They were actually standing closer than she'd realised, so she shifted onto her back foot as she faced him, creating a bit of space between them.

"I fell," Oneakka replied with a shrug.

"That's all it can take," she pointed out. Falling, after all, had become one of her worst nightmares.

He angled his head, silently agreeing with her point. His eyes strayed away to the empty corridor and back to her. Yeah, he could pretend he wasn't worried too, but it was written all over his face. And even in the way he stood, braced like he was expecting a fight.

She realised that he seemed taller today, which was weird. Though, she guessed, it had been a long time since she'd just stood talking with him, not since before his injury. When he had been stood or walking since, he had to slightly hunch to brace his weak stomach and back, one hand often drifting towards a supportive wall. But today he was stood at his full height, his neck straight and his shoulders relaxed.

He was getting better, noticeably so.

It meant that soon enough then he'd be heading off on another crazy mission, and she'd have to go through all this again. She glanced back to the right, down at the empty corridor where Halling and Madesh had disappeared. "At least I'll still have Ru around," she considered.

"Ru?" Oneakka asked, sounding confused.

She looked back round at him. "He's been reassigned off the Sythus to the Skerti Drive project," she explained, surprised he hadn't known. Maybe he hadn't been reading the reassignment reports, or perhaps he'd never been interested in that kind of thing. "He'll be spending half his time working here in the Facility."

"I see," Oneakka said flatly.

There had been something odd to his tone, but she wasn't sure what it was. She considered his expression, which showed clear signs that the Cuddly Bear of Moor mood was making a comeback. She knew him a lot better now though, so she knew any grumpiness actually came from frustration. Maybe he was annoyed he hadn't known about the reassignment. She'd bet currency he'd check through his reports once he was back in his quarters, find what he had missed.

"It'll be nice to have one Stray around still at least," she smiled. "Guess he and I could go out on a social outing without the others," she considered out loud, wondering if Ru would want to do that. She'd enjoyed going to marketing stations with Madesh or Nevaeh, though she wasn't sure if Ru would be interested in going on shopping trips just with her.

"And with Smee," Oneakka added.

She shifted her eyes back to Oneakka. "Sure," she nodded.

She'd been thinking about Smee a lot last night after she'd had to leave Oneakka when Emmagan had turned up. She'd been pleased with how she'd been able to still enjoy Oneakka's company through the evening, proving to herself that the revelation about Pampata hadn't changed anything. But, on going back to her own quarters, she'd started thinking about Massa's impassioned speech about love. She'd never considered love to be something to find in her life, but she was pretty sure that, if that was a target, that she should feel something a little more about Smee.

And it had occurred to her that perhaps having a big, heroic, handsome Elite male friend in her life set a standard that very few males could live up to, which had been slightly depressing.

Even now, stood together in the corridor still for some reason, Oneakka was dominating the space. Actually, it had been awhile since he'd done that. He was clearly feeling better today.

In fact, had he gotten broader overnight? His shoulders and chest seemed wider this morning.

His gaze felt different today as well as he watched her.

She realised that neither of them were talking.

What had he last said? Something about Smee?

She took a breath to say something, but her electronic pad bleeped loudly from her back pocket, reminding her of the meeting she'd forgotten about with all the goodbyes. "I've got to get to a Project meeting," she told him as she pulled out her pad and turned off the reminder. "They've already replaced two of the four of the project members who were reassigned, so we've got a 'nice to meet you' meeting," she rolled her eyes at the perfunctory ceremony of it all.

Oneakka nodded, his gaze shifting away with a frown.

She instantly felt bad for him; Halling was gone, Massa had left for a meeting and now she was going too.

"Halling will be okay," she assured him. "He's already been up against a Skerti, so he knows what he's doing." She wasn't entirely convinced that was all that reassuring, but the point was still true.

Oneakka nodded, his gaze meeting hers again.

Why was this feeling weird this morning?

It wasn't that things felt uncomfortable, but something felt different.

"I was thinking of walking to the Canteen again today," Oneakka said, breaking the weird silence.

She smiled, grateful for the new subject of conversation and also that he felt he could do the long walk again. Though admittedly, confidence wasn't something Oneakka lacked. "Second time in two days?"

He smiled. It wasn't one of his more usual wide smiles of late, but it was the first smile she'd seen this morning. "I thought I'd have Midday Meal there," he said, "if you're going to be around?"

"Definitely," she agreed, really pleased at the invitation; it would be nice to get back to their daily shared meals in the Canteen from before his injury, or at least as often as was possible through his recovery. "I can meet you here, walk to the Canteen with you."

"So you can make sure I don't collapse on the way there?" He correctly interpreted, but there was some humour behind the question now. That was better, more like he usually was lately.

"Exactly," she told him honestly. "Don't want you not turning up and leaving me to eat all alone."

He did a sort of chuckling out breath, his left eyebrow bumping up his pale forehead a bit. The motion drew her eyes up to his new scalp scar that cut into the line of his freshly clipped sides of his hair. He must have had his hair done early this morning, which seemed a strange time, unless he'd done it himself she realised. Maybe it was a psychological thing to help him prepare to see Halling leave: instead of arming up and wearing his body armour for battle, he had his hair nice and tidy. She knew that many military trained personnel did that; she'd often been able to identify undercover Military just by their well-kept short hair. Though the newly clipped sides of his head made the central part of his Mohawk style stand out taller now, which wasn't exactly military standard. But then Oneakka was hardly military standard.

She lowered her gaze from his hair, aware that the fact that his Mohawk was as wide as his eyes kind of drew your gaze down to his unusual blue eyes. And he was wearing that nice blue top today that always made his eyes seem brighter.

"You found me on that Rogue Hive, so you'd easily find me in the Facility," he replied, drawing her back to her point.

"Of course I would."

He smiled at that.

A proper nice wide smile.

"So I'll meet you here after my morning shift," she told him. "You're not to start walking without me, understood?" She pointed up at him, only to remember that she was still holding her electronic pad, but she was able to free her index finger from around it to point at him.

His blue eyes shifted down to her finger.

They'd done this more than once she remembered, back before his injury.

People weren't supposed to point at Elite, but she'd never taken any interest in that 'rule'.

As his gaze lifted up to meet hers again, she could see the difference in his reaction now compared to before. Now there was humour dancing around his eyes.

"I mean it," she added to make it clear that her threats were still valid despite their closer friendship.

He shifted his eyes away and pursed his lips as if he was thinking about whether to agree or not. "O-kay," he agreed after a beat, asserting some dominance just like he'd used to do.

She lowered her pointed finger and the pad, which was a small reminder that she was supposed to be heading to the project meeting, but she kept her eyes on Oneakka.

"You're not back to full health yet, Oneakka," she reminded him, as she did pretty much every day lately.

"Won't take me long," he stated firmly.

She kept in her opinion on his clearly unrealistic targets on when he'd get back to sparring. Though, as he was noticeably improving each day, there was maybe a small chance he would hit his targets.

And he definitely seemed wider today. Piling on muscle by the day.

Or, it occurred to her, was it just because they were stood a little closer than normal?

She pushed away those distracting thoughts, and the faintest flush of heat they provoked, and lifted her pad again to check the time. "Stubborn oaf," she muttered loud enough for him to hear.

"Fish hater," he retaliated instantly.

She chuckled at his insult, which he'd used before. She just hoped he would forgotten about the promise he'd made her give to go see the stupid little fish they used in the Spa Gym. Hopefully all those sedating medications he'd been on would make him forget all about the whole thing.

Yeah, and the Wraith would become sweet and cuddly overnight!

"I need to go, I've got the meeting to get to," she told him as she tapped awake the pad, "which I'm almost certainly going to be late for," she concluded from the displayed time.

"I've got to get ready for my session in the Rehab Gym," Oneakka replied gesturing to the still open door into his quarters. "And before you ask," he added, "the Physical Therapist is walking with me to the Gym and back."

"Good," she nodded firmly as she started moving backwards away from him. "If you need anything before Midday Meal, let me know," she offered.

He nodded at that, but didn't say anything.

The humour had disappeared from his face and he looked almost sad stood alone by himself in the corridor.

She paused in her leaving. "Halling will be fine, Oneakka," she reassured him again. "He knows how to take care of himself. He's an Elite," she repeated Oneakka's usual summary that covered all ills.

Including any silly feelings.

He nodded.

"I'll see you later," she added.

He nodded again. "Here and I'm not to start walking without you," he repeated his instructions.

She smiled at that and what might have been an impression of her.

"Good," she told him simply.

She made herself turn away from him finally and she headed down the corridor, her pad vibrating in her hand. She looked at the screen to see a message from the Project Lead – apparently she was the only person not there already. Oh well, she guessed seeing an Elite warrior off to battle would be a good enough excuse.

As she reached the turn in the corridor, just as Halling and Madesh had done, she caught herself looking back over her shoulder towards Oneakka's quarters.

Except he hadn't gone inside yet and was only now heading in through his door.

She frowned at his disappearing back, his door sliding shut behind him.

He'd be okay.

He had his rehab to focus on and Halling would link in later today.

Maybe she'd bring Splodge by to see him again tomorrow; see if that cheered him up.

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On to the Final Chapter...