In Which Noah is Suspicious and Xanaria Gets Mad


Dani cringed when she saw Noah and turned to run. Xanaria locked her knees and refused to leave Justina, who was just starting to straighten up and still unsteady. So Dani retreated deep into the back of Xanaria's mind leaving her to face Noah alone.

He wasn't looking at her yet. Just at the group of young mercenaries, who came up short, confused and a little guilty.

Bloody-Nose looked panicked, knowing his story would never hold water with the Commander, but he tried anyway. "These two attacked us, Sir! They stunned Cole and knocked Aimee out cold. We were just trying to bring them to justice!"

Noah raised one eyebrow, "I find that highly unlikely." Dismissing Bloody-Nose with a look, Noah turned a cool gaze on each Ensign in turn. They all stood straighter and seemed to edge away from Bloody-Nose.

He stopped at one of them and with a soft sigh and tiny head shake, he addressed her. "Kate. I had hoped to do this under better circumstances. May I introduce you to Dani Wyn?"

Kate gasped and turned back to Xanaria awestruck, "Oh my Gods! Sergeant Wyn, the Dandelion! It's such an honor to meet you!"

Xanaria froze, she didn't respond, didn't react. She didn't know what she was supposed to do. The girl wilted in the silence.

"Now," Noah continued, "Why don't you all go and check on your friends. I hear Aimee is starting to come around." It was not a suggestion.

They left. Bloody-Nose opened his mouth, but one of his fellows dragged him away before he could argue. Kate looked back a couple times, distressed and miserable.

Noah watched them go before he turned back to Xanaria and Justina. His face was tight and expressionless, his voice firmly controlled. "Are you unhurt? You should probably go before Station Security fines you for that." He glanced at the purple puddle.

Dani was so closed off Xanaria could barely remember his name.

"We're fine, N-noah. Thank you. "

He blinked and his brow furrowed. "Hey Dani, I forgot to ask earlier, how's old Captain Frostbite?"

"Um, you know." Xanaria guesed, "Same as always?"

Before she had finished talking he had pulled his stunner. "Shifter." He spat, his aim steady.

"What? No that's not –"

"Where is Dani? What have you done with her?"

"Nothing! She's right here! She's-"

"I will not hesitate to shoot you."

Justina pushed in between them. "Just listen, please!" She begged. She looked less pale but she was still unsteady on her feet. "You shouldn't ask questions if you won't listen to the answer."

~Please Dani. I could really use you right now.~

"Fine." Noah bit out, but he didn't lower the stunner. "Where is she? You have one minute to explain."

~Dani. Your friend is going to shoot us if you don't come out.~

There were no words associated with Dani's response, just self loathing, and shame.

~You might think you deserve to be shot, but how do you think he'll feel when he finds out he shot the real you?

Dani just whimpered.

Justina babbled into the tense silence. "No, look, she- because... So, we're from another world. Well, two of them. But I came in person and she's in Dani. But it's okay, she was in my head too when we met. She's really nice and not shifty at all. It's just that Dani doesn't want to talk, I think she's upset about something. But she said it was okay and we could get drunk because we had a really not good couple of days. All three of us really. Dani won't talk about hers but I learned that I won't be able to find my husband and Xanaria had to- oh, that's Xanaria by the way. The one your threatening? Although she is in Dani, so… Does that thing hurt? It looks shinier than the other guy's one that he tried to shoot us with. It made an awful burning smell. I don't like burns, they hurt in a nasty sick way. And… and… oh, God. Please don't kill us!"

Noah blinked and shook his head but he didn't lower his weapon. "It's a stunner. It'll force a shifter out of it's stolen form."

Hurts like a bitch, though. Dani whispered. Xanaria could feel that she was trying and took a deep breath.

~I don't want to rush you, but can you please let him know you're here?~

Dani cringed, I can't. He hates me, you heard what I said to him.

~You could apologize.~

It was unforgivable.

"Um, this may be a stupid question, but what's a shifter? And why would you think Xanaria is one?" Justina asked, her earlier panic pushed aside by alcohol laced confusion.

Noah ignored her, glaring at Xanaria. "Where is she? I know she's still nearby, otherwise you wouldn't have such a perfect copy. Where did you put her?"

Justina stood as tall as she could and looked up over her shoulder to ask earnestly, "Will you crouch down, please? I'm trying to protect you."

Xanaria blinked, focusing outward again. "What? No! I'm not going to use you as a human shield." She tried to step out from behind Justina, who spread out her arms and stubbornly moved with her. "Justina. You don't need to do that."

"Stop moving and let me protect you!"

"Freeze! Both of you!" Noah's face was beginning to turn red.

They stopped. Justina glanced at both of them. Then edged a little to her right to stay perfectly between them.

"Justina!" Xanaria yelped, grabbing for her.

Noah burst out laughing.

His stunner drooped to point at the floor as he braced his other hand against the wall. His shoulders shook helplessly. Justina started to giggle too, but petered off as his laughter faded into sobs.

"Oh Gods, Dani, I'm so sorry. I set you up for this didn't I? I came here and pushed you when I knew you weren't ready, when I knew you might never be healed. I swear I will find you, and I will save you, and when I do I won't try to guilt you into coming back with us ever again. I promise. I was just so tired of trying to deal with this on my own. It's been years, and it's like everyone else has forgotten what happened. You're the only other person who was there, who understands. I wanted… I don't know. I didn't want to be alone with this anymore. I'm sorry. You can be a smuggler if you want. I'm sure it's better than it sounds. Just please don't be dead." He took a shaky breath and looked back at them. "Please, take me to my friend. Please. You can copy someone else. I… I won't stop you." He grimaced.

~Wow, that promise must have cost him a lot.~

Dani surged forward. Startled, Xanaria backed off. Justina stumbled as Dani brushed past her.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Noah. I'm sorry. You always seemed so in control and you never wanted to talk about it. I shouldn't have said what I did. I don't believe it. I just wanted you to stop making me remember. I want to go back. I do. But I can't. I have to live with all of those deaths, and I can't do that while I'm surrounded by their memories."

Noah, focused on her. "Dani?" He looked around and then back at her a little suspicious.

"She wasn't lying. I don't know how, but I have a visitor in my head. I played the coward and made her deal with all of this by herself. I'm sorry."

Noah shook his head, "That makes no sense."

Dani raised one eyebrow and said dryly. "Old Captain Frostbite is a bitch and a half despite being dead as an icicle."

Noah dropped the stunner as he swept her up in a hug. "Dani."

Their moment was interrupted by Justina's whimper. They all looked at her, concerned, to see that her eyes had gone glassy.

"Oh God, it's happening again. Every time I think I'm getting a little more sober, suddenly it's like I've taken a shot. But I haven't!"

"Oh, shit! The Blitz!" Dani swore.

"You drank a blitz?" Noah asked.

"Uh, yeah. A Blueberry Blitz."

"Those are time released. They're designed to keep someone buzzed and awake all night. But it shouldn't affect you that much, they're kept baseline so you can drink other things too."

"What if I also had almost all of hers?"

"That would do it. That's not good. Dani, have you got any medical supplies for alcohol poisoning?"

"I should. I didn't realize she'd had so much. Come on let's get you back to my quarters."

It wasn't far but by the time they got to the elevator Justina needed help walking.

~Be careful.~ Xanaria urged, worried.

Calm down, I know what I'm doing.

In Dani's quarters Noah guided Justina to sit on the bed while Dani went rummaging around in her first aid kit. She pulled out two boxes of patches.

"Alright," she explained in a gentle voice as she sat next to Justina, "This one is for the alcohol itself, we'll put this one on first because that's the most dangerous thing right now."

Dani stuck a patch on the thick muscle at the base of Justina's neck. Justina took a deep breath and cringed, burying her face in her hands.

"And this one is for the nasty headache the first one leaves you with."

Dani placed a second patch just below Justina's ear. She relaxed with a sigh and smiled.

"Thank you." Justina said, then her eyes rolled back and she collapsed sideways onto the bed.

"Justina!" Xanaria panicked but Dani didn't relinquish control, "It's fine, she's fine. It also counteracts the stimulants already in her system. She'll wake up in an hour or two. She won't feel great, but she will be fine."

Noah watched their exchange with an unsettled look. "I don't like this. This is weird."

Dani shrugged. "Maybe a little, yeah, but they're good people."

"Is she going to be in there forever?"

"No."

~I'm not leaving Justina like this.~

I'm not asking you to.

~He's going to. You know he is.~

It will be easier for us to talk when we're alone. And we have a lot to talk about. Once she wakes up, and you don't have to worry anymore, then you can leave and I'll take her back where she came out. I have access to those floors. She'll be fine.

~...Only if she's okay with that plan.~

I shouldn't have to negotiate about privacy in my own head.

~Normally, I would agree wholeheartedly, but my best friend is lying unconscious in front of me because of you. I'm not leaving her in your dubious care.~

I didn't tell her to drink all that shit!

~No, you just made cryptic comments, watched her drink it, and didn't bother to let us know it could be dangerous.~

I didn't-

~And then you let us walk into a fight where she got hurt trying to help you!~

She was trying to help you, not me.

~You don't know her the way I do. She would have done the same even if I hadn't been there and even if you were pulling your catatonic bullshit on her.~

I agree she needs help! I'm helping her, and I am not asking you to leave before she wakes up. Can you calm down? You're making me regret that choice!

Xanaria bit back her angry words, but she still simmered. ~Fine. Thank. You.~

Noah, whose expression had grown more and more unsettled as he watched the silent argument, stood up suddenly. "I'm going to get some coffee. Do you want coffee? Great. I'll bring back three coffees. She'll want one when she wakes up."

He beat a hasty retreat.

Xanaria and Dani sat in uncomfortable silence.

I'm sorry. Dani finally said. I know you're scared. We'll figure out what to do next once she wakes up.

~I'm sorry too. I know you've been struggling with depression and anxiety. I know you did your best to break free and helped her get away when you could.~

I am not depressed!

~Even I can tell- you know what? Never mind. I'm sorry I said that too.~

They lapsed into silence again. Dani began to pace around the room.

How long does it take to get coffee?

~You and I both know the coffee was not the point of his escape.~

What if he doesn't come back?

~He'll come back. He always comes back. He's your brother in every way that matters. He just needs some time to get over how weird this situation is. Don't spiral.~

I'm not- yeah. Yeah. He'll be back. He just needs a moment.

~Yeah.~

Dani nodded firmly, more for herself than anything. Xanaria sat back down and brushed Justina's hair off her face.

~How long is she supposed to sleep?~

It varies depending on how much she drank, how tired she is, how much stress she's been under, and that kind of thing.

~Oh. So, she'll sleep for a long time then.~

That's okay. That just means she needs the rest. It'll really only take a couple hours at most. The patches are designed to get you mobile as soon as it's safe. That way, in emergencies, you won't be taking up a space in medical. Once you get her home, you should send her back to bed.

~Okay. Thank you.~

Noah returned an hour or so later with three cups of steaming coffee in a tray. Dani was intensely relieved to see him, though she didn't show it. Xanaria refrained from commenting.

"Alright," he said, handing a cup to Dani and setting another on the table for Justina. He rolled his own between his hands. "Xanaria. I think I'm okay with this now. Don't get me wrong it's weird as hell, but you seem to be a good person and you will be leaving soon, right?"

Xanaria took over Dani's mouth. "That depends entirely on how long it takes for Justina to wake up. I'm sorry, but I can't trust either of you right now. Much as I would like to."

"What? What have we done?"

"Me and Dani have already talked about us, but you pulled a gun on us when we hadn't done anything to you. I get why, but it doesn't make me want to leave her alone with you. I hope you can understand that. If it was Dani, I think you would do the same."

He nodded slowly. "Truce then?"

"Oh, absolutely. And thank you for helping her now."

The three of them tried to talk civilly, but their conversation limped and no one was comfortable.