Disclaimer: see part 1.

Touch'

Part 8

Trust Issues

By Random1377

"The more you squirm around," Shinji said softly, "the longer this is going to take."

Rei frowned slightly, squirming a bit in spite of the young man's admonition. "I am sorry…" she whispered. "I am… unused to the feeling."

"Just hold still," Shinji whispered, "you'll make me lose my concentration."

Rei shivered, her breath coming in shallow gasps. "It… feels very nice…" she murmured, pressing back against him, "do not stop, please."

Shinji smiled. "I wasn't planning to," he whispered gently. The First Child sighed contentedly as Shinji's fingers continued to work their magic. "You like that?"

"Yes," the blue-haired girl breathed, "but please… do it harder… mmmm…"

Instead of complying, Shinji deliberately lightened his touch. "I don't want to spoil you."

"Please…?" Rei asked quietly, smiling softly and closing her eyes.

"Only because you said please," Shinji whispered against her ear.

"Mmmmm…"

For several long minutes, the only sound that could be heard was the First Child's soft moans.

"I like the way this feels," she said seriously.

"I'm glad," Shinji replied softly. "Now close your eyes… it's time to rinse."

Rei did as she was told, holding her breath as Shinji gently washed the shampoo out of her hair. "That was very… pleasant," she commented, wiping the excess water from her face.

Shinji smiled, wrapping his arms around the girl sharing the tub with him. "I thought it was pretty good myself."

Rei kept her eyes closed, reveling in the feeling of so much of his skin against hers. "Is it… common for lovers to do this?"

"It should be."

Rei lips curved up a bit as she turned her head, claiming an awkward, sideways kiss. "I still cannot believe that you are back," she whispered, closing her eyes once more and leaning against him. "I was so certain that you were lost to me."

Slowly, Shinji's hands slipped under the water.

"Does this prove that I'm here?"

The blue-haired girl felt her pulse quicken. In the week since Shinji's return to normal they had spent as much time together as possible. This had proven to be actually very little, as the Commander had insisted on having Shinji tested in every conceivable way to make sure he was fit to pilot.

"Are there any tests today?" Rei asked softly, feeling her body beginning to respond to his gentle touch.

"Of course," Shinji replied dryly, "there's tests every day… but we've got until six."

"So… we are alone until then…?" Rei breathed as Shinji's hands continued to carefully caress her sensitive skin.

"If we were," he whispered into her ear, "what would you want to do?"

Rei shivered slightly as his right hand trailed down to her stomach. "You… enjoy hearing me say it that much…?"

Shinji grinned. "Yeah… I really do."

"It is… embarrassing."

Planting a gentle kiss behind her ear, Shinji replied, "Do you mind being embarrassed a little bit… for me?"

Rei's cheeks tinged a faint pink. "You have changed," she said, not accusing, but thoughtful. "You are more… vocal, now."

"Yeah, well," Shinji mumbled, his smile fading a bit at the vaguely clinical conversation, "I just, you know, kind of like… being able to feel again. Sorry if that makes you uncomfortable."

Slowly, Rei shook her head. "It doesn't," she said simply. "It is simply something I need to get used to."

Closing her eyes, she leaned further into his embrace.

"I would like you to make love to me."

Immediately, she felt him stir against her.

"Right here…?"

Rei wet her lips. They had never made love in the tub… what would that be like? After several moments of consideration, however, she shook her head.

"No, I would prefer being in the bedroom, please."

"Oh, ok," Shinji's voice was slightly disappointed. "How come, though? I mean, I don't mind or… or anything, I just… why not here?"

Lifting his hand (reluctantly) away from her body, she brought it out of the water, carrying it to her face and laying it gently against her cheek. "I… enjoy the feel of your skin against mine," she explained simply. "In here it is very pleasant… but the water… blurs the feeling, somewhat."

"Blurs it?"

Rei tilted her head to the side, searching for a better way to put it.

"Yes," she said finally, "it makes it less distinct… more anonymous. I do not like that feeling."

Shinji was about to say that he did not really get it, but held his tongue. "Then we'll go to the bedroom," he said lightly. "But let's stay here for a few more minutes, ok? It's kind of relaxing."

"Alright."

They fell silent for a few moments, each lost in thought as Shinji's hands slowly resumed their blurry exploration of Rei's body.

"Hey," he said finally, "I've been thinking."

"Hmm?"

"After the angels are all gone… do you want to find a place where we can live together?"

Rei's shoulders tensed a bit, but Shinji did not seem to notice.

"Live together?" she echoed. "I… do not think the Commander would allow it. The only reason you are here now is your mental state, and I am certain that the Commander will order you to leave soon."

"Why should he care?" Shinji asked indignantly. "After the angels are gone, neither one of us will have to pilot anymore so he'll have no reason to say no – we'll be free, right?"

There was another silence as Rei contemplated this idea.

Wouldn't it be nice… to let herself believe that such a thing was possible?

"We can move somewhere near a city, but not in it, you know?" Shinji pressed on after a few moments, "and not this city, another city – somewhere far from here. Maybe… maybe in a few years we could even, you know, get married and… and have…"

'plip'

Shinji heard a drop of water fall from the tap. Aw man, he thought with a mental groan, scratching his head as Rei said nothing. I've said too much! We haven't been going out THAT long, and I'm talking about stupid, far off stuff.

'plip'

"Hey, I-"

"That sounds… very nice…"

The growing tightness in Shinji's chest loosened. "Really?"

Rei nodded. "It is definitely a worthwhile goal for us to share."

"Er, yeah," Shinji said uncertainly, confused by the neutrality of Rei's tone. "It's… yeah…"

'plip'

What did I say…?

Shinji knew that he had said something wrong – very, very wrong… but he did not know what, exactly, it was. Maybe it was the near-mention of children, he thought. She had told him that she did not have a period… maybe he had inadvertently touched on a sensitive subject…?

As he was about to apologize for upsetting her, Rei splashed some water on her face and reached for one of the towels they had set on the sink. Wiping her face, she rose to her feet.

"May we go to the bedroom now…?"

"Yeah," Shinji said softly. "Yeah, sure."

Climbing out of the tub, Shinji let the water run down the drain and grabbed the other towel, following Rei into the bedroom and promising himself that he would have to find a time and a place to ask her what he had said wrong – if not to get a better understanding, then at least to keep from saying it again.

( 0 0 0 )

Touji entered the EVA cages at a quick walk, pressurizing his plugsuit and scowling slightly.

"Something wrong, Touji?" Misato asked, frowning as Asuka entered a moment later, wearing a darker expression than the Fourth's and walking straight towards Unit 02.

"No, ma'am," the boy answered quietly, folding his arms and following the redhead with his eyes, "not a thing."

"Are we going to fight," the Second Child asked, waiting with obvious impatience as the red mecha's entry plug was ejected, "or stand around babbling like idiots?"

"You know Unit 02 is still on lockdown," Misato said tiredly, "you-"

"Yeah, yeah," Asuka cut her off. "'You'll be on backup in the hanger in case the other Units fail,'" she quoted. "I get the concept, Misato."

"Yeah…"

"Have Shinji and Rei arrived yet?" Maya's voice came over the speakers in the cage, sounding uncertain. "We, ummm… need to launch a Unit."

Misato rolled her eyes. "Not yet," she answered, slightly irritated. "They should be here in less than five min-"

"Launch Unit 00 with the Fourth Child as pilot," Gendou Ikari's voice cut in smoothly, "we don't have time to wait."

"But Unit 00 and Touji haven't been tested together," Misato protested, "we don't know-"

"Unit 00 has been tested for cross-synchronization," the Commander cut her off again. "Launch immediately."

Touji shrugged as Misato cast him an uncertain look. "No big deal," he said nonchalantly. "I can do it."

"…overconfident prick."

"What was that Asuka?"

"Nothing."

Touji glanced at the redhead from the corner of his eye. "You got something you want to say to me, Souryu?"

Folding her arms, Asuka looked around the cages. "Nope," she said coolly, "not a thing."

"Look," he said hotly, "you've been a real bitch for like, two days – is it that time of the month, or wh-"

"Can we save this for later?" Misato cut in sharply. "Really – this is not the time, or the place."

"Yes ma'am," came the stereophonic reply.

"Good, now saddle up!"

"Preparing Unit 00 for new pilot," Maya announced. "Touji, when the plug ejects, just climb in… you know how it works, right?"

"Yeah," the boy replied, "I know."

Though he had no Unit of his own, the Fourth Child had been trained and tested on all the operations of one since the incident with the thirteenth angel. He knew how to pilot, held a decent sync ratio in the test plug, and was confident that he could handle the machine.

Of course, he was still scared. The last time he had been in an entry plug it had almost cost him his life.

Well, he thought, sparing Asuka one last glance, here goes nothing.

( 0 0 0 )

"What?"

Maya looked up from entering Unit 00's launch route as Misato growled into the phone.

"Why are you bothering me with this now?" the purple-haired woman snapped. "I'm not even in your division!"

"Something wrong, Major?" Maya asked as the phone was slammed down.

"Section Two idiots," Misato grumbled, folding her arms across her chest. "It seems that Doctor Akagi, for some reason no one can fathom… is not in her cell."

Maya's eyes widened with concern. "What happened to her?"

"They don't know."

"But is she-"

"Kindly focus your attention on your job, Lieutenant," Gendou's voice boomed from the dais. "Doctor Akagi's fate is not your concern."

"Yes sir."

The Commander narrowed his eyes slightly, fixing them on Misato's back. What are you playing at, Major? he thought darkly, slowly returning the phone he had been holding to its cradle. You weren't surprised by this news in the slightest bit.

His brow drew down. He did not like looking at a puzzle and seeing missing pieces, and Misato's obviously rehearsed reaction to the escape of the troublesome Doctor Akagi had several clearly visible holes.

"Unit 00 is prepared."

Gendou's ruminations on the meaning of Misato's act were cut short as the immediacy of the battle pressed in. "Launch," he said tersely. "Destroy the angel as quickly as possible, Fourth Child, I want no hesitation."

"Yes sir!" Touji's voice came back. "I'm on it."

"Commander?"

Gendou turned his head as the door leading to the bridge slid closed, and found Rei looking up at him with obvious confusion. Obvious to him, at any rate – he doubted that anyone else on the bridge could detect the emotion on the girl's face.

"Unit 00… was not in the cages," she said softly. "Shinji is boarding Unit 01, but I… do not have a Unit."

"No, Rei," Gendou said quietly, "you don't. Pilot Suzuhara will be using Unit 00 for this mission."

"Then, what will I do? I am not-"

"Nothing," the Commander cut her off coldly. "Next time, do not delay in coming to headquarters when the alarm sounds. You are supposed to be on call at all times, not wasting time in foolish attempts at playing grown-up with your so-called boyfriend."

Rei averted her eyes as she was dressed down before the entire bridge crew. "I will… do better," she whispered, flushing slightly as she became fully aware of just how many eyes were on her.

"Make sure that you do."

"Unit 00 launching," Maya said awkwardly, trying not to see the crushed look on the First Child's face. "Unit 01's plug is going in, and Unit 02 is on standby. Everything is as you ordered."

"Excellent."

Abruptly, the bridge fell into silence as each person contemplated the upcoming fight… and the cold, almost brutal admonishment they had just witnessed. Most of them, Misato and Maya included, were always secretly thankful that they weren't in the Children's shoes, forced to fight in behemoths they could barely control against monsters the human mind could barely comprehend.

But at that moment, they were most thankful not to be in Rei's.

( 0 0 0 )

"Target in sight," Touji said quietly. "What should I do, Major Katsuragi?"

"Call me Misato," the purple-haired woman said tiredly, "really, it's ok. Has the angel made any moves yet?"

"Not yet," the boy replied, "just kinda floating up there… twisting around and stuff."

"Unit 01 online," Shinji's voice announced, much to the Operations Director's relief. "I'm ready, Misato."

"Wait for your backup," Misato told the Fourth Child, "but be prepared for any-"

"Ummm… it stopped," Touji cut in nervously, looking up as the double-helix form in the sky abruptly resolved itself into a ring. "What should I do now?"

"Damn it," the purple-haired woman muttered, watching the screen closely. "Get Shinji to the surface… I want him watching Touji's back now."

"Unit 01 launching on route one-oh-six," Maya reported, tapping quickly into her terminal, "but I don't think-"

"It's moving!"

Misato's eyes shot to the screen just in time to see the ring in the sky break apart, becoming a glowing bar of white. "Move!" she cried, tensing involuntarily as the bar shot towards Unit 00.

She groaned as her warning came too late.

"I'm hit!" Touji shouted. "Fuck, that hurts!"

"I've got feedback," Makoto reported. "No, wait – I've got infiltration! The angel is working its way into Unit 00."

"Fire!" Misato ordered, struggling not to lose her composure as the fight went from bad to worse. "You've got a gun, Touji – use it!"

On screen, Unit 00 raised its rifle, pressing it flat against the middle of the angel and pulling the trigger six times. "It's not working!" Touji gasped, pain plainly evident in his voice. "It's just… digging deeper into the EVA!"

"Pilot heart rate entering danger levels," Maya reported, "he's losing it, Major."

"Stay calm," Misato ordered, hoping that Touji would not completely lose his cool. "Shinji's on his way."

"No," Maya cried out excitedly, "Shinji's there!"

Misato sighed with relief as Unit 01 appeared onscreen, its progressive knife already drawn as it leapt from the transport elevator. "Take it down fast," she instructed, "it's trying to capture Unit 00."

"Yes ma'am!" Shinji called, immediately charging the angel and plunging Unit 01's knife into it.

His reward was a high-pitched scream of pain… from Touji.

"Feedback at eighty percent," Shigeru called out. "The angel's merged its nerves with the EVA – MAGI predict that Suzuhara will feel anything Shinji does to the angel."

"What?" Shinji whispered, stepping back uncertainly and staring down at the bloody progressive knife. "It's hurting hi-"

"Shinji!"

Again, the purple-haired woman was too slow.

Shinji tried in vain to dodge or block as the angel's other end whipped around, but as his mind was on Touji's screams, he was not able to react in time. It felt like he had been punched in the stomach – immediate, hot pain in his midsection, coupled with a crawling, unclean feeling as the angel began to work its way into his Unit as well.

"Penetration of Unit 00 at thirty percent," Maya said tensely, "Major, what sh… ould… w…"

The tech's voice seemed to fade from Shinji's ears, along with the rest of the world, until he found himself in silence. Slowly, he opened his eyes, finding himself standing at the edge of a vast pool. He gaped as he found Touji staring back at him, half-submerged in the ripple-less water.

"You wish to be one?" the boy asked him, his voice cold and hollow.

"T-Touji…?"

"To unite with us…" the boy murmured, tilting his head to the side, "the three of us… endlessly one."

Shinji shivered. "You're not… Touji, are you?" he whispered, feeling a bit foolish for saying it out loud. He swallowed, looking around for any sign of the boy. "Is he here?"

"We are one," the being in the pool replied. "You are he, he is I, we are one." A faint, pleased smile appeared on the creature's lips, though it never touched its eyes. "Soon all shall be with us, even… them."

Shinji sucked in a breath as Touji became Rei… then Asuka. "What are you?" he gasped, knowing the answer even as the angel settled into his own form.

"I am you," the other Shinji answered placidly, holding his soft smile, "as is he. Allow yourself to unite fully… let us be one…"

Shinji closed his eyes, trying to focus on thoughts that were his alone. "N-no," he gasped, feeling the angel trying to worm its way into his mind. "I'm me… I don't want to be one with you or anyone else."

"It is too late," the angel grinned, "it is far, far too late."

"I don't believe you," the brown-haired boy retorted, searching for a memory to cling to – anything that would keep his soul from joining with the other's. Something that's mine, he thought desperately, what do I have that's mine and no one else's?

Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on Rei's face… but a soft snort made him open them once more.

He gasped as he found the pool in front of him empty… and the weight of two claw-like hands digging into his shoulders.

"Sss…" a voice hissed next to his ear. "You reek of her. Her scent is all over you, Lilim… how disgusting."

Shinji tried to look over his shoulder, but the creature (it no longer held the shape of a boy) moved sinuously away, staying behind him as its sibilant voice hissed in his ear.

"That she would deign to… copulate with you… it makes my stomach turn."

"W-who…?" Shinji stammered, unable to contain his curiosity. "Whose… scent is on me?"

The creature's breath was hot on the back of his neck.

"AeMeH."

Shinji's brow creased. "Who?"

Jagged laughter burst in his ears, but it was quickly quelled.

"Heretic," the voice hissed. "Unaware of your own status. Bah! You are tainted… unfit for union! Destruction is your kind's only destiny, Lilim."

"HUH!"

Shinji gasped, lurching forward in his seat as the pool and shore faded from sight.

"Wha…?"

"S-Shinji…?"

Glancing to his monitor, Shinji found Touji's face was looking back at him, a confusion of shock and deep understanding plainly etched on his features.

"You… and Rei…" the Fourth said haltingly, struggling to find the words. "You guys… I had no… id-"

"Touji! Shinji!" Misato's voice rang out over the net. "Thank God! You've been ignoring me for two minutes! Are you alright?" Before either of them could reply, the Major went on, "Unit 02 has been released – Asuka's on her way… just hang on, ok?"

"O…k…" Shinji managed to gasp, his body racked once more with pain as the angel pushed deeper into his Unit, clearly no longer interested in a peaceable merger.

AeMeH? he thought, trying to shake off the muzzy feeling of the angel's intrusion into his consciousness. What's an AeMeH? And what's a Lilim? I don't… understand any of it…

"I'm… gonna blow it…" Touji gritted out, bringing Shinji's thoughts to the present, "only… way."

In the command room, Maya shook her head. "He's right, Major," she muttered, "according to the MAGI, detonating Unit 00's core has an eighty-nine percent chance of killing the angel… but I don't know the effect it would have on Unit 01, since they're linked."

"What are his chances?" Misato asked, her eyes glued to the screen.

"Not good…"

The purple-haired woman closed her eyes.

"Do it."

In the blue mecha's entry plug, Touji let out a ragged sigh.

"Sorry, Ayanami."

"Reverse your AT field and hold it as long as you can before ejecting," Misato ordered as the MAGI reported Unit 00's self-destruct system activating. "I don't want it getting away."

Damn it, there has to be a way to get them apart!

"Roger that," Touji nodded, concentrating on maintaining the field as long as he could, "but what about-"

"Shinji!"

Touji looked up as Asuka's voice reached him. On his monitor, Unit 02 could be seen approaching their position, its four eyes glaring as it chewed up the distance between itself and its target.

Barely visible over its right shoulder was the haft of its seldom-seen ax.

"I'm here!"

Impossibly, the angel grew a third tip, shooting towards the fast-moving red mecha with obvious intent. Asuka, however, was prepared. As Maya began to count down the time to Unit 00's detonation, the redhead threw her Unit to the ground, rolling over and over and coming up with the machine in a low crouch, its ax held loosely in its gargantuan grasp.

"Come on," Asuka whispered under her breath, listening with increasing tension to the countdown. "Come on!"

The angel's third appendage seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if unsure that it could take the newcomer. It waved back and forth in the air like a cobra preparing to strike, and then, seeming to make up its mind, it shot towards Unit 02 once more, coming at it with a jagged, zigzag movement.

But it was never Asuka's true focus.

"Forty eight seconds," Maya announced, looking from her readout to the screen as Unit 02 dodged the angel's probe again. "Asuka, if-"

"Now!"

Unit 02 sprang forward, allowing the angel's third probe to pass under its left arm and bringing the ax down with all the strength it could muster.

Cheers arose in the command room as the blade found its target, digging into the angel at the middle and cleaving it in two. The cheers faded, however, as the two pilots connected to the white creature cried out in pain.

"Sorry," Asuka whispered, her jaw set in determination as she brought the ax up for another swing, "this is the only way."

"Asuka!" Misato's voice burst over her tac-net, "it's enough! Unit 00 is going to blow… pull back and raise your AT field to maximum once Touji get's clear – Shinji will do the same, and the angel won't have anywhere to go!"

Asuka hesitated, then nodded, sidestepping the angel's now-frenzied, thrashing appendages. "…right."

"Not bad, Red," Touji grated, trying to reject his mind's insistence that his stomach had been cut open and pulling the eject lever next to his pilot's seat. "Not bad at all."

"Unit 00's plug is away," Maya reported. "Units 01 and 02 are containing the angel. Unit 00's core will reach critical in ten, nine, eight, seven, si- NO!"

Misato looked at the tech as she cried out. "What…" her breath left in a rush as she looked back to the screen, her eyes widening in horror as Unit 01's back panel ejected and its entry plug was launched. "Who ordered that?" she screamed. "Maya, stop the co-"

Her words were drowned out as the timer on the main screen reached zero.

The destruction of Unit 00 was a spectacular event, its loudness eclipsed only by its sheer, almost unimaginable destructive force. It started in the core – an unstoppable chain reaction spreading like wildfire until it culminated in a cataclysmic outpouring of force and sound, destroying Unit 00, the angel, and a portion of the outlying area of Toyko-3.

In the command center, everyone was silent.

"Status," Misato managed, finally finding her voice. "Give me a status report…"

Makoto nodded slowly. "Ummm… target has been destroyed," he said, his voice shaking as he read from his screen. "Unit 00 is gone. Unit 02 is active, but has no communications. Unit 01 is damaged…"

He swallowed.

"Unit 01's entry plug?"

"I… don't have a feed, Major."

Misato's lips compressed to a tight line. "Keep trying," she instructed tersely, "maybe interference from the blast-"

"Zero interference," Maya cut in softly. "All emergency channels are clear."

"Shinji?"

Everyone in the room froze.

Misato turned slowly, finding Rei standing still, her eyes fixed on the screen. "I'm… sure he's ok," she said falteringly. "Rei, I…"

The blue-haired girl said nothing for a moment, her focus intently on the screen as the fingers on her right hand unconsciously tapped against her leg. Finally, she brought her eyes to the older woman's, nodding reluctantly as she softly replied, "Of course, Major… I am sure that he is."

The Operations Director lowered her eyes, unable to meet Rei's not-quite hopeful gaze. "I want a projected flight path," she ordered firmly. "I want that plug found." She refrained from using her charge's name, just to be sure. Better to prepare for the worst, she decided, than to set herself up for disappointment.

"Calculating now," Maya said quietly, typing information into her terminal. "MAGI estimate thirty seconds for flight path and touchdown data."

Misato nodded, looking back to Rei once more. "As soon as you have it," she murmured, "send a recovery team."

"Yes, ma'am."

They waited in tense silence as the trajectory of Unit 01's entry plug was determined and a rescue team was sent out. "I'm sure they'll find him," Misato said quietly.

"Yes," Rei responded, keeping her eyes on the screen, "I'm sure they will."

She did not sound convinced.

( 0 0 0 )

"Shinji…"

Shinji moaned, struggling to hold onto unconsciousness.

"Shinji, wake up."

Dark blue eyes reluctantly opened, revealing two distinct images. "As… uka…?"

Indeed, the redhead was there, her hair damp with LCL and her face heavy with concern… but there was a second image, seemingly superimposed over the Second Child's visage.

"You ok?" Asuka asked softly, running a gloved hand over his check as she sat by his pilot's chair. "I thought you were gone." She cleared her throat. "I… I had to give you mouth to mouth."

Shinji nodded, fascinated by the illusion of a second pair of eyes… a second smile. "What… happened…?" he managed, blinking as the other face abruptly vanished.

"I don't know," the redhead answered truthfully. "Unit 00 was about to blow, and I saw your plug eject… so I came to find you."

"Is… Touji…?"

"He's fine," Asuka said. "His plug ejected first, and I heard him laughing before my communications system got knocked out… the big dork."

Shinji tried to sit up, but Asuka put her hand on his shoulder, restraining him.

"Easy," she murmured, "your leg is broken… and I think… I think some of your ribs, too."

Shinji blinked. "Why don't I feel any pain?" he asked, noting as he looked down that his plugsuit had several patches of blood on it.

Asuka grinned, flipping a bit of hair over her shoulder with a careless toss of her head. "Each entry plug," she informed him smugly, "has a first aid kit, complete with a syringe full of a painkiller, stimulant combination – which you would know if you ever read the operations manual."

Shinji smiled weakly. "I… never got around to it," he admitted guiltily, "I just-"

He was silenced as the girl put her forefinger gently over his lips. "I'm glad you're ok," she told him awkwardly, "but don't do something like that again, ok? Unit 01 could have taken the blast… why did you eject? You were almost dead when I got here."

The Third Child's eyes grew hazy. "I don't remember," he said with some confusion. "I remember the fight, and I remember… you coming to fight," he hurried on, deciding in that split second to avoid mentioning that one of the angels had made direct, albeit confusing contact with him. "The next thing I remember is Miss Ibuki counting down… and that's it."

Asuka frowned, then shrugged. "Maybe it'll come back to you," she said quietly, her voice going grave as she added, "but I heard the first thing to go is memory – maybe you're getting senile."

"Maybe…"

They looked at each other for a moment, then laughed.

"Ow!" Shinji complained, still smiling as he grabbed his side. "Ow! That hurts!"

"I told you not to move," the redhead admonished, "idiot."

"Sorry…"

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Shinji studied his fellow pilot as she looked at him, wondering if she would give him an honest answer if he asked her if she was happy. He was just opening his mouth to find out, when they heard a shout.

"Over here! The plug's over here, by Unit 02!"

Asuka smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "I'll stay with you until we get back," she said coolly, "then I'll leave you to your little dolly."

"Hey!" Shinji exclaimed. "Rei isn't-"

"Shhh… relax."

As the sounds of fast moving emergency vehicles and numerous feet drew closer, Shinji did what he was told. He sighed softly as he recalled his long, agonizingly intimate encounter with Rei earlier that afternoon, remembering in vivid detail each small caress and whisper of affection and lamenting that it had been interrupted by the angel's attack.

Guess it'll be a while before THAT happens again, huh? he thought, wincing with every breath. If I ejected on purpose, I really AM an idiot….

( 0 0 0 )

"Any idea what happened?"

Maya looked up from her papers as Misato came into the EVA cages. "Ummm… maybe," she replied reluctantly, looking back to the readout, "not really sure yet."

Misato nodded. "Well, tell me your theory," she said, folding her arms and looking up at Units 02 and 01, once more restrained in their coolant baths.

There was a long pause, and then Maya set down her clipboard, her voice barely over a whisper as she told the other woman, "There was a breach in the core."

"Huh?"

Maya bit her bottom lip pensively, glancing briefly at Unit 01 before quickly looking away. "Unit 01's core had a crack," she said carefully, "made when the angel penetrated it, I guess. Tiny – almost insignificant… but, ummm, well, maybe I should just show you."

Misato watched curiously as the brown-haired tech flipped through her readouts, going all the way to the back and extracting a group of photos, the last marked '01 ES 17:43.' "What am I looking at here?" she asked, confused as she turned the picture over, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

The picture showed a tightly enclosed area, cylindrical in shape and badly charred, as if exposed to the heat of the sun for a second or two – just long enough to flash-fry the interior but leave its shape intact.

Maya reached out and twisted the picture until it was at a slight angle.

"Look at it this way," she said softly, tracing a finger around the edge of the space. "Make sense now?"

Misato scrutinized the picture, her eyes widening as she gasped, "This is-"

Maya nodded.

"Unit 01's entry socket."

The purple-haired woman handed the photo back. "What happened here, Ibuki?"

"Well," the tech said uncomfortably, "if his plug had been inserted when Unit 00 exploded, the energy it released would have burned him to a crisp almost instantaneously. It doesn't matter how thick your armor is if there's a chink in it, Major."

"But he didn't know that," Misato said evenly.

"No," Maya replied immediately, "he couldn't have. The only… real explanation is that Unit 01 ejected him itself."

Misato considered this for a moment. "Well," she said slowly, "it has moved on its own a couple times before…"

"Yes," Maya countered, "but it's always been instinctual and preservational – almost animalistic… this would have required conscious thought from the EVA, and I was always taught that they can't reason." She laughed nervously. "If they could," she pointed out, "we wouldn't need the Children at all, right?"

Misato looked down at the floor, her brow drawing down in concentration as she pondered this information. "Ibuki." she murmured, "how much do you really know about the EVAs?" When the other woman confessed that she knew a lot about the support aspects of them, but not much else, Misato nodded. "Find out more," she whispered, looking around surreptitiously, "but quietly… ok?"

"Why should I-"

"Maya…"

"Yes…?"

"Quietly…"

"Yes ma'am…"

Misato sighed, rubbing her eyes. "I'm asking for your trust," she said softly, feeling like scum as she added, "and… your help – for Ritsuko. You want to help Ritsuko, don't you?" When Maya made no immediate reply, she looked up.

The young woman was staring at the floor, her face a bright shade of red and her body trembling ever so slightly. "Did… she ask for my help?" she whispered, wetting her lips as her eyes looked all around the room. "Did she, Major?"

How easy would this be? the purple-haired woman thought shamefully. All I have to say is yes. Swallowing, she murmured, "No… she would never ask for that kind of help, Maya, you know that. I'm doing this on my own."

After a moment of quiet, Maya nodded, raising her eyes to the other woman's and taking a deep, shaking breath. "Not good at hiding it, am I…?" she said sadly. "Of course I'll help her, Major."

"Maya," Misato said awkwardly, "whatever's between you and Ritsuko is none of my-"

"Why do people always think that?" the brown-haired woman cut in angrily, the tension of the situation overcoming her normally calm demeanor. "Sorry," she mumbled, blushing as the other woman's eyes widened in shock. "It's just – everyone thinks we're 'together,' and it's not like that."

"But… you love her," Misato said, slightly confused. "Like you said – you can't hide that. It's all over your face."

"Yes," Maya admitted, "I do. But not… you know… like that." She sighed. "My mother died when I was very young, Major," she said quietly, looking up at Unit 01 as she spoke, "and Doctor Akagi has always been… very good to me since I started working for her."

Misato nodded. "I think I understand now," she whispered, "and I'm sorry for what I said before."

"It's ok," the brown-haired woman shrugged uncomfortably, "but you'd be amazed how many times – in a week – I get asked if we're going to get married… or if I'm going to move in with her… or…" she blushed again, "how she is in bed."

Misato smiled crookedly. "I'd believe it," she assured the tech. "A couple months ago, someone asked me if Shinji was a good lay."

Maya's jaw dropped.

"You're kidding!"

"Nope… dead serious." Misato grinned. "Of course… that particular employee no longer works here."

Maya opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Misato laid a hand on her shoulder.

"How much do you love your sempai, Maya?" she said quietly, all traces of humor leaving her voice. "Is there anything you wouldn't do for her?"

Managing a blushing smile, Maya replied, "I think we established what I wouldn't do, Major… but really, I'd do anything in my power for her, if she was in trouble."

Misato's hand tightened on her shoulder.

"Anything?"

Maya's smile melted into confusion. "Umm," she said slowly, deliberating for a long moment before concluding, "y-yes… anything."

She shifted uncomfortably as Misato stared into her eyes, slowly leaning closer until her mouth was right next to Maya's ear.

"If you mean that," Misato whispered, "there's something I need you to do."

"Major," Maya said awkwardly, "I…"

She trailed off, her eyes widening as Misato began to murmur into her ear, because whatever she had been expecting… it was not this.

Continued…

Author's notes: this marks the last of the original Touch chapters… from here on in, it's all new material. You know, for anyone who actually remembers the original.

Thanks again to my ever-faithful (or at least, ever-patient) pre-readers, MacBeth2001, Akodo Tim, and LeperMessiah. After five drafts, everyone better be happy, damn it.