* Saturday Evening, 8ish, After the Storm *

Chloe repeats herself, more forcefully. 'Mom.' Joyce wakes, taking a moment to focus before zeroing in on them. One eye locks on to Chloe, while the other seems off. She just stares for a long moment...

Oh no. Is she..?

...before a large smile graces her face and a whisper pushes past it.

'chlo.'

The older girl strides to her mother's side, dragging Max along, only letting go to return the open embrace being offered. After a minute, Joyce looks past her daughter to tsk at Max.

'you too, honey.'

Like breakfast, Joyce is an expert at her hugs. Even bent over, trying and failing to find a way to Joyce's back and instead gripping her shoulders, the embrace both soothing and empowering. But Max detects a hesitation, of course Joyce isn't one hundred percent, but it seems like something more. Backing up, Max is worried about what comes next.

'so, how are you girls doing?'

'Really, Joyce?' David woke sometime in the last few minutes. 'I love your priorities but you confuse me sometimes.'

Another round of hugs, surprisingly initiated by David. Chloe looks unusually comfortable. 'It's good to see you too, David.'

'Don't go soft on me, kid.'

It takes Max to get everyone back on track. 'So, Joyce. You know we're aching. How- how bad?'

'Leg has a compound fracture, and knee has a bruise of some sort. My head, on the other hand...'

'It's a good thing you Price women have such thick heads.' David chimes in, a pained smile on his face. 'The telephone pole that collapsed on the Two Whales missed your mother. But the debris. It gave her a concussion... And. And there's swelling. Around her eye's nerve. She- she can't see.'

Joyce. You lost... Oh no. You lost it for Chloe. I know you'd gladly do that for her. But, I didn't give you the choice. I took it. Joyce gains a little vigor, now fully awake. 'I'll get it back. Papilledema, the doctors said. It's pinching the nerve. As it goes down, it'll come back. they've been giving me drugs to help it along.' She grabs her daughter's hand, who, if anything, is closer than when they were hugging. 'Don't worry honey. I'll be fine.'

Max steps up to Chloe, lightly rubs her back. 'We'll be here to help you. Both of you.' Chloe takes a glance at the younger girl, tears weighing against the smile on her face.

Joyce suddenly starts. 'Oh, Max! Call your mother!'

'Don't worry. We already talked to her. That's how we knew you were here.'

She sighs, and closes her eyes. 'Good, that's good.' Her voice begins dropping in volume. 'Now, you two only gave me... an hour... of sleep.'

'Okay Mom. I'll be right here.'

Joyce falls into slumber quickly. David though, even looking more tired than his wife, beckons the girls over to the far side of the room. His voice is low. 'Chloe, it's so good... We thought we lost you. I... I don't know what we would have done.' He looks over to the brunette. 'You too Max. I'm not leaving you out of this family.' David looks down, a bit sheepish. Oh, busted. Now we have proof you're a big softie.

Chloe bullies onward, glossing over David's PDA. 'So, David. How is she? Really?' She's staring at the hospital bed as she asks this, tensing.

Her step-father runs a hand through his hair. 'Well, just what we told you. The doctors just finished a bunch of scans, 'bout two hours ago. It's been busy around here. They checked out her leg last night, it was the obvious injury. But last night her vision started blurring. With the other injuries... They couldn't fit her in right away. Now, well, we wait.'

'Hella right we do.' Chlo plops down in the chair previously vacated by David. She waves sagely to him. 'Sir David, step-father of the Iron Bitch. Your watch through the long night is done. Go get some shut eye.'

He chuckles. 'As the Lord commands.'

Max stands there, confused both by the interaction and the obvious quote. Where did that come from? And... they're joking? 'Um, Highlander?'

The bluenette has a look of mock horror. 'Seriously, Maxaroni? How have you not seen Game of Thrones? Sex, murder, and dragons.' She hmms thoughtfully. 'Sounds like a retro death metal band.'

Max kisses the top of her head. 'You are such a dork.' She sees David eyeing them. 'W-what?'

He breaks into a small grin. 'About time the two of you figured it out.'

A blush overwhelms Max's face. Chloe's in full devil-grin mode. 'How'd you figure it out?'

David regards his step-daughter. 'Chlo, I watch people for a living. The two of you have been in here less than twenty minutes and have spent that time in constant contact. You're orienting yourselves to always have the other in direct line of sight. Besides, there's not many people in someone's life that can change you as much as you have, Chloe.' His smile hits full capacity. 'Plus your mother figured it out years ago, she says. Been waiting for you two to do the same.'

Both the girls are blushing now, staring at each other. 'Took you long enough to get back here Max.'

'I said I was sorry!'

'And you've been forgiven. But.' Just to tease the younger girl. 'But you're paying for our first date.'

David interrupts. 'See, knew you ladies would get it.' He goes to the door. 'Gonna go looking for a spare blanket.'

After his departure, they are left in silence. One sleeping, the others afraid to break the moment. Max takes the plunge.

'Chlo, I-I know you're going to stay here but.' Inhale. 'But I need to go check on, uhm.' Her voice shrinks. 'On everyone else.'

The taller girl looks up, a rarity from Max's perspective. 'Can you wait? I know you need to do it, just I need to stay here but... I can come?'

'N-no, stay with your mom. I'll be back.' She leans in, greedily stealing a kiss. 'And thank you. For understanding.'

'A week ago I wouldn't. See, Caulfield, you're breaking my persona. Took me years to master the art of disenfranchisement. That's a word, right.'

'Dork.'

'You love it.'

Max wanders for a while, looking for someone who doesn't look busy. Some master of space-time. Still won't interrupt someone for help. She gets lost in the hallways, and with no one stopping or being stopped by her, she decides to head back down to the main desk. The first step of the landing down instead greets her with inspiration. I know where to go...

It takes another 15 minutes for Max to get her bearings. Why is this place so big! The plaque above the ward she's about to enter bears the inscription "Prescott Family Psychological Health and Services". Answering my own question. Sean Prescott must have been planning waaay long term if he funded this.

Walking through the open doors, the floor is quieter than much of the rest of the hospital. The nurse at the check-in station is on the phone, holding up one finger. Hanging up, she eyes Max, causing her to shrink a little.

'May I help you?'

'Yes. I'm here for... Kate Marsh?'

The nurse brightens up with a smile. 'Oh, you were here a few days ago! Sorry, she's gone for the evening. Go down two floors, directly below us. Children's section.' She nods at the stairs Max just left.

'Thanks.' Children's ward? Were her sisters...

As Max enters, looking around, it's her ears that locate her friend. Approaching a darker room that seems converted from play area to military barracks, abet with colorful figures on the smaller blankets, Max understands what's happening. Sitting in front of half a dozen children, ages eight to ten, with a small book, Kate has their rapt attention.' ...So shut your eyes while mother sings, of wonderful sights that be. And you shall see the beautiful things, as you rock in the misty sea, where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three: Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.'

She looks up from where she's reading, and immediately locks on Max. Her smile could power this hospital by itself Talking to the children, she braces for an argument. 'Alright, time for bed.' The groans aren't as dramatic as what one would expect. 'Now, you know your parents are working hard to help people. It's time for you all to finish your job and make it easier for them. And, if you behave, I'll come by tomorrow and read some more.' That, more than anything else, gets them to their respective cots.

Closing the door behind their exit, the two friends immediately embrace. 'Thank God, Max. I prayed for you when you didn't answer your phone.'

Well, if He's going to listen to someone, it would be you. 'I figured. I was so worried too. It's been torture not being able to get in touch with everyone.'

With that, the blonde's face falls. 'You won't be able to talk to... everyone.'

'Oh... oh no.' Taking a moment to prepare, Max asks for what she truly doesn't want to know. 'who?'

'I've seen Victoria, Taylor, Juliet and Dana.' Kate is crying but seems oblivious of her tears. 'Courtney is missing, but they found her car. So is Alyssia.' A sob escapes. 'They found Daniel. By the beach. S-stella was in the... the diner when it collapsed. She was with a boy, but they don't know who.' Kate breaks. Max leads her away from the closed door to the children. Not that she's doing much better. They find a few chairs to rest in.

'and warren?' Her voice is barely a whisper.

'I don't know.' It comes out muffled, between the finger's covering Kates face. 'I don't know about anyone else. It's why I was down here. I had to do something but, but I'm not strong. Or smart. Or a survivalist or whatever you need for something like this.'

'Shh, you know that's not true.'

'That's not what I mean. I don't have the skills to help with something like this.' She looks up at Max, red rims surrounding her hazel eyes. 'i wandered down here and saw the kids running around. grabbed the book of poems from my room and sat them down. it's the least i could do.' She seems almost... apologetic. Like she's the one supposed to be out there, fight fires and, and finding- 'with everything going on, my problems just seem so little. i just don't matter right now. not with everyone lost.'

Max keeps rubbing her back. 'Don't you dare think that's all you're doing. Just entertained a bunch of kids while their parents saved lives? I think that saved more than just a few headaches for the parents in question.' She pushes the other girl upright, looks her square in the eyes. 'And don't you dare talk about my Katie like you just did. She is smart. Smart enough to see me when I tried to help. Strong enough to step down when she needed to.' Neither girl can see the other anymore. 'She's a survivor. Not just of storms and bullies. She survived the worst people this world could throw at her. She's still surviving. And if you talk about her like that again, I'll tell her and she'll give you a tongue lashing you won't forget.' Kate tries her best to hug Max, but pulls them both standing so she properly convey her feelings.

'We've never really talked about it.'

'i know'

'I'm here when you're ready.'

'...i know'

'Sorry for, uh, mentioning it.'

'you're forgiven'

'But don't you ever think like that again and not talk to me. Or someone. People love you Katie. I love you. You're... you're my sister. Just wait 'till you meet Chloe. She's going to adore you.'

'...thanks max. love you too.'

Max grips her tightly. she thinks of the people already dead, and those who will die. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But I'll do my best to earn your thanks and your love.

* Saturday Evening, 8ish, After the Funeral *

'I think Vicky's asleep.'

'I don't get it. Is this guy saying Harrison Ford's a robot?'

'Yup, definitely asleep.'

'Is everyone a robot?'

'Shh, they're called "replicants". And Victoria's asleep. Watch, Batty is going to deliver "Tears in the Rain" in a few minutes.'

'Who's Batty?'

'Roy, the replicant.'

'I thought Ford was Deckard, not Roy.' A mischievous grin.

She's got me. 'Now you're just being difficult.'

Less than ten minutes later, the credits are rolling.

'Sorry Max. I've seen this one before. I just didn't want to disappoint Victoria when she saw it on Warren's hard drive.'

Deja Vu, does everyone in Arcadia Bay love this movie? 'It's okay, it's one of my favorites. So, big question... Is Deckard replicant or not?'

Kate contemplates it for a minute. 'I don't think that matters. The real lesson is that being human is not the same as having humanity. Batty has as much humanity as anyone, because he can experience wonder.'

'Wow, Kate. That's... exactly what I'd expect you to say.'

'I know, right?'

'But why pretend you never saw Blade Runner?'

'Well, Victoria wanted to watch it.'

Max lowers her voice and glances at the prone figure snoring softly. Even her snores sound "proper". 'Are you okay with her? Really?'

Kate follows Max's eyes and nods. 'Yeah. I am. I know she's changing, or at least trying. Which, to me, is the same thing.'

'Fake it till you make it?'

'If you keep acting nice, doing good, to try to be good, what's the difference from just being good?'

'Point taken.'

'Besides, when she's not being so mean, Victoria can be quite pleasant.'

A scoff and a snort. A scort or a snoff? Decisions, decisions. 'I'm just worried she's got some sort of alternative motive. Like, she's got terminal ugliness or something.'

'Max, that's unfair. Victoria's been through just as much as the rest of us.'

'...no, she hasn't.'

Another silence enters the room. Like many of the others over the last few days, the unsaid overflows the space. No, gotta stop this "awkward moments of reflection" I keep doing. And it looks like I'm giving up my bed again. 'We are going for a walk. Now.' Max grabs her keys, bag, and friend, heading straight for the dorm exit.

Kate takes lead, directing them to the toboggan. She stare at it, wrapping herself tightly. 'I can't talk about it. Not yet, Max.'

'Then I'll talk.' Max becomes silent. 'I don't know what to say.'

'Then just... Can I know? About her?'

Obvious puzzlement. 'Victoria?'

'No. Chloe.'

Crap. Opened my mouth. 'We met when we were little. I was five.' Okay, no tears. Keep going. 'She showed up at the diner while I was having pancakes and sat down right next to me. Her father, William, had already lost her, they just walked in. So she just sits down, asks for the salt, which Dad passed her, and uses it to draw an "X" on the table. I was totally weirded out by her, but she just sat there, humming to herself and playing with the salt. Joyce came over and spoke with my parents about whatever, but I just couldn't take my eyes off of her. She leaned over, still not looking at me, and says she's drawing a map to her buried treasure. I asked her what her treasure was and... And you know what she does? She looks at me, smiling, and says "I don't know. Wanna help me get some?" We were inseparable after that.'

Oh, the Halloween costumes were pirates for, like, five years after that. 'Anyway, that was Chloe. She bulls her way through anything in front of her, and woe to the obstacle in her way. If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit shy.' She chuckles. 'She balances me. I feel more confident around her, and she calms down around me.'

Kate's face shows concern. 'M-max, you keep saying "is". Like she's still alive.'

Oh. 'Y-yeah. I, uh. I guess I'm not dealing well.' Crapcrapcrap. 'I just. I can't believe she's gone.'

'Yeah. I understand.' The blonde girl reaches out, holding on to give as much as take support. 'It's hard losing a loved one.'

You have no idea. 'It's more though. I am- I mean, I was in love with her.'

'What?!'

Damn! Super religious girl and admitting I'm gay. I'm gay? Guess I am. 'Yeah... surprise.'

Kate's volume is a bit to loud for the time of night. 'That's so... so awesome!'

She embraces a shell-shocked Max. Wait, what? 'What's it like, Max? Being in love, I mean.'

'Hold on a second. The whole fact I was attracted to... you know, a girl, doesn't bother you?'

'Why would it? You're my best friend. Holding something like that against you is as stupid as, as holding how mean Victoria was against who she is. Besides.' She jostles Max. 'That part of the Old Testament also said not to work weekends, mix fabrics, or gossip. How would we survive without gossip?' Her laughter breaks the night.

'Shh, you'll get us caught. Let's get inside, and we'll talk about... about Chlo.'

Several hours later the girls find themselves exhausted. Max spoke at length about her childhood friend. The pirate escapades, secret forts. The wine tasting episode. Kate shared her discussion with her father. 'He tried. He really is trying. But he is trying to make peace more. He kept trying to get me "to see Mother's side of things".'

'Harsh.'

'Yeah, I know. I told him Mom doesn't get a side, it didn't happen to her. And he raised his voice at me. I-I hadn't heard him get angry in years. He's really laid back, mostly. But, for once, instead of being scared I uh.' Kate blushes, looking down. 'I got angry. Told him to get "p"ed. Except I used the other word for it.'

'Wait, you told your dad, in a restaurant, to get pissed? Wowser Kate, you have no idea how much laughter I'm holding in right now.'

'Yeah, it's kinda funny now. But I can't believe how angry I got. It's just, he's my father. He's supposed to be there for me. And instead he's stuck because my Mom put him there.' She slams her hand in an overly dramatic, childish fashion. 'I just can't understand it. I don't get her.'

'I'm not sure there's anything to get, here.' Max yawns, unable to keep her eyes open anymore. 'I gotta call it a night.'

'...could you, uh, sleep over...'

Kate is beet-red, asking this. 'i really don't, um, want to be alone. it could. it could be a slumber party.'

Max realizes she too needs to be not alone tonight. Too much. I've kept ripping the bandage off today. I could really use... I don't know. Assurance, maybe. 'Yeah, sure. But I get the wall.'

Darkness.

'...max?'

'Yeah.'

'thanks.'

'Thank you too.'

Silence.

'...max...'

'Yeah?'

'...' A shudder takes hold of the girl. 'i'm going to cry now.'

'Yeah, me too.'

Sleep comes fitfully. It start, and stops, and the two girls lie side by side, holding hands. When the sadness overtakes one, the other is there to support. Eventually, the both find sleep.

Silence. Finally one that doesn't speak too loudly.