Chester let out a sight moan as her starboard side flared up in pain. She lightly placed her hand on her side and hissed. She tried to hide her pain, "Sis?" But wasn't very successful.

She turned and met the concerned gaze of her big sister, Northampton. She smiled, "Would you believe me if I said I was okay?"

"No."

"Thought so. I'm, not doing too hot sis."

"I can tell. Most of the fleet can."

"Heh. I'm I that obvious?"

"Yes. Even if you weren't, I would still be able to tell."

Despite her pain, she smiled. "Of course you'd be able to tell. Nothing gets past you."

She smiled, "I do my best. That's all I can do."

Chester frowned and looked away. "And what if your best isn't good enough?"

Northampton frowned. Much as she hated to admit, she didn't know a lot about her younger sister. In the month she had known her sister, she had quickly figured out she had a very lively personality. So, for her to doubt herself was very unlike her.

"Sis? What brought this on?"

Chester looked at her and her smiled was back, although, it looked a little strained. Whether that was due to pain or something else, Northampton didn't know.

"Don't worry about it big sis."

Northampton squinted at her, "Alright."

Towards the rear of the formation, Reid was sailing next to her sister. She tried to stay strong for her sister, but she was in extreme pain. Her entire body hurt. Her legs were screaming in protest and her starboard side burned. She knows her sister knows from the distressed looks she keeps giving her. Her eyes are filled with pain and sadness but also anger. She felt deep, burning anger toward the Abyssals who had caused her younger sister so much pain.

Smith gasped as a spike of pain hit her. Reid rested her hand on her shoulder offering her silent support. Her pain spiked again and her crew reported another compartment had been flooded. Despite their best efforts, she was slowly sinking.

"S-Sister," she gasped.

Reid lightly squeezed her shoulder, "Yes?"

"Can you... lend me your DC teams?" She was gritting her teeth and her eyes started to water as her pain continued to grow worse.

"Of course. Boys, you know what to do."

Smith felt her sister's DC teams enter and they were quickly given orders. She slowly started to feel the effects as with her sister's DC teams helping hers they started to stem the flooding. "Thank you," she whispered.

Reid squeezed her shoulder, "I'd do anything for my sisters Smith. Anything."

In the center of the formation was Wasp with Indiana and North Carolina flanking her. She was in the process of landing her CAP and launching another one. As the last Wildcat flew off her deck she, unknowingly, relaxed a little.

Off her port side, North Carolina was humming to herself. "Carolina, are you... humming?"

She opened her eyes and looked ahead of her. Atlanta was looking at her, interested.

"Yes."

"Huh. I didn't know you hummed. When did you start?"

She thought for a second. "I'm not sure."

"Slipped your mind did it?"

"No. I didn't forget I truly don't know when I started humming. I just noticed I was humming one day."

Atlanta had a curious/disbelieving look. "Okay. If you say so."

Around fifteen minutes later, the California coast appeared on the horizon.

"Hang on sis. We're almost there."

"Almost doesn't do me any good does it!"

Reid shook her head. "No, I guess it doesn't."

They entered the docks, and de-summoned their rigging. The wounded members of the squadrons headed for the repair baths while North Carolina headed to Rear Admiral Smith's office. She quickly made her way to his office and knocked.

"Come in."

Carolina stepped inside. "Admiral."

"North Carolina. I was just finished reading your report. Damn fine work."

"Thank you sir."

Smith looked at a few other reports scattered across his desk. "This attack has the Pentagon and Washington in a tizzy. Get yourself repaired and rest up. The next few days are going to be busy."

She saluted, "Sir."

He saluted, "Dismissed."

Inside the repair baths, Reid helped her sister into the baths. Smith nodded to Reid and she stepped back. She slowly walked into the baths and sat down. She hissed and groaned as the repairs commenced. "Fuuuuuck."

"Do you need my help?"

Smith opened her eyes and shook her head. "No."

"Alright." Reid started walking toward the exit.

"Sis."

She stopped and turned. "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry. For snapping at you."

"Don't worry about it. I know you didn't mean it."

Smith yawned and her eyes started to close. "Still... Sorry."

Reid smiled as her sister started to quietly snore. "Get well soon sis."

She exited the baths and her stomach growled. With that cue, she headed toward the mess.

"Hey, Reid!"

"Aylwin? I thought you had another two days in the baths."

She adopted a sheepish look. "I ran my crew ragged when I heard the fleet was returning. They're not happy with me at the moment."

"I can imagine. Are you looking for Dale and Dewey?"

"Yes. Do you know where they are?" Her expression turned worried.

"I'm not sure. They weren't wounded in the battle so don't worry."

She relaxed, "That's good to hear. Are you hurt?"

"No. My sister is though. Pretty bad."

Her face fell. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. She'll be okay right?"

"Yeah. She'll be out for a time but, she'll be okay."

"That's good to hear."

Aylwin's stomach growled and she glared at it. She smacked it, "Stop complaining."

"I was heading to the mess. Want to join me?"

"I was heading that way myself so, might as well."

Northampton moved her food around with her fork. She was clearly worried and it didn't take a genius to figure out why. Savannah had been wrestling with the idea of asking for the past few minutes. She looked at her sister and she had a worried expression on her face. Atlanta and Salt Lake also had matching expressions. She silently raised the question with a quick tilt of her head.

Atlanta and Salt Lake quickly looked at each other and nodded. Her sister thought for a few seconds before nodding.

"Northampton?"

She didn't respond. Savannah reached out and lightly shook her. "Northey?"

She jolted slightly, "Huh?"

"You've barely touched your food. Is something on your mind?"

"...Yeah."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She looked back at her plate and sighed. "I'm worried about my sister. I know she'll be fine but..."

"I understand what you're going through. You know your sister is going to be okay but your stomach is still in a knot and you're constantly anxious."

"That about sums up how I feel."

Savannah squeezed her shoulder. "That feeling will never go away. As time goes on though, it will lessen."

"As bad as this feeling is, I never want it to go away." She looked at Savannah and gave a small smile. "Thank you, Savannah."

She smiled, "Anytime Northey."

She started to eat and Savannah went back to her food. Someone moved and she saw Atlanta smiling and giving a thumbs-up, she smiled back.

"Hey, you mind if we join you?"

Aylwin and Reid were standing at the edge of the table with their food. "Not at all."

They sat next to Atlanta, "Thanks."

"Aylwin, it's good to see you out of the baths."

"I'm glad to be out. I was starting to go stir crazy." She looked to Salt Lake, "Do you know where my sisters are?"

She thought for a second, "Can't say I do. They weren't wounded so don't worry about that."

"I know. Reid told me."

Salt Lake hummed, "As I said, I don't know where your sisters are. Last place I saw them was at the docks."

She sighed, "Of course. Instead of checking on their wounded sister, they runoff."

"What are you going to do about that?"

"I don't know. I can figure that out after I finish eating."

The door to the mess opened and North Carolina, Indiana, and Wasp entered. They grabbed their food and sat down with the cruisers and the two destroyers.

"Oh, so you think you can sit anywhere huh?"

"Yeah. I do. You going to do something about it?"

Indiana and Salt Lake actually glared at each other before breaking out in laughter. Beside them, North Carolina shook her head.

"Oh, Aylwin is looking for her sisters. Have you seen them?"

Indiana and Carolina shook their heads. "Hmm... I think I passed them when I was coming here. Pretty sure they were heading for the rec room."

Aylwin shot up, "Thank you!" She was out the door in seconds.

They stared at the swinging doors and looked between each other.

"Should we be worried for Dewey and Dale?"

"Naaaah. I'm sure they'll be fine."

Aylwin was speed walking through the hallway toward the rec room. The Kanmusu she passed sent her curious looks but didn't stop her. She stormed through the doors to the rec room and slammed someone with the doors!

"AH! FUCK!"

Dewey staggered backward and held her nose. "Damn that hurts!"

"That's why you don't stand in front of doors."

"Well I didn't think I would get clobbered by them!"

Dale was about to say something when she noticed Aylwin standing in the doorway. "Aylwin..."

Dewey stopped rubbing her nose. "Aylwin?"

She looked to her right, "Aylwin... SISTER!"

Before she could react, Dewey launched herself at her wrapping her in a hug. She stumbled a little before catching herself and hugging Dewey back.

Dewey pulled her head away and turned to Dale. "Come on Dale! Group hug!"

Dale smiled and walked over. Dewey grabbed her arm and pulled her in. They were back together again. After a solid minute, they pulled away.

"I thought you still two more days in the baths."

"I did. But when I heard about the battle I ran my crew ragged to get my repairs done."

Dale frowned, "Aylwin..."

"Don't worry Dale. I was cleared by Vestal herself."

"Wait, Vestal cleared you two days early? She never does that!"

Aylwin I shrugged, "I was just as surprised." She smiled, "Maybe she trusts me more than you."

Dewey sputtered, "B-but she's a doctor! She's not supposed to show favoritism!"

"You're right she isn't. That doesn't mean she does."

Dewey crossed her arms and huffed.

"So, what do you want to do?"

Dewey perked up and grabbed Aylwin's hand. "Come with me!"

"What- AH!"

Dale smiled and shook her head before following them.