Sorry for the delay, school, motivation and mental health were kicking my ass for a while, but it's finally done. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!

Talwyn's heart hammered in her chest, she had taken a huge risk but it had paid off tremendously. When she had first suggested taking the place of Ratchet and Clank, she had only guessed the Smuggler would take the bait. It was clear that he was attracted to her, she just wasn't sure that, in his mind, she would be worth more to him than the duo. When he didn't seem against the idea, that was when she needed to follow through. When she had turned back to Cronk and Zephyr, she had winked at them, letting them know she had a plan. Then, when she had made a show about laying down her gun, with her other hand, she had reached out for Zephyr's blaster. Thank God he figured out what she was doing. He slipped it right into her outstretched hand. As she stood back up, she tucked it into the back of her belt, then she just had to pray she wouldn't accidently move too quickly and drop it, or have the Smuggler notice. She just had to distract him. Kissing him was the hardest thing she had to do, next to hearing Ratchet and Clank's concerned calls of fear. She had just shut her brain off, detached herself from the situation and did only what she needed to. Now she had him, and she would make him pay.

"I said, drop the knife!" Talwyn barked, digging the blaster deeper into the nape of his neck. The sound of metal clattering graced her ears and she saw as the Smuggler carefully moved his hands away from Ratchet.

Suddenly though, there was a loud squawk.

"Dammit! When did you let go of that bird!?" Zephyr cried. Talwyn could hear the two robots scampering after the thing, before the Smuggler squeezed his eyes shut and bellowed,

"Birdbrain! Hit it!"

Instantly, Talwyn's vision filled up with white.

She then felt the Smuggler slip away from her. She fired blindly towards him, trying to stop him, but she couldn't even hear her own shots, much less his footsteps. The only sound she could hear was a piercing, loud ringing. She waved her hand out blindly, trying in a last ditch effort to somehow grab him, to stop him. He couldn't get away now, not after everything. He couldn't. But by the time her vision had cleared and the ringing had dissipated, he was already gone.

Talwyn tossed her blaster to the ground, defeated.

"Concussion grenade." Cronk angrily muttered, rubbing his eyes, answering the question, before anyone had even asked.

"'You thinking, escape pod too?" Zephyr grumbled in return, shaking his head of the lingering effects.

"Most likely." Cronk agreed.

Talwyn rubbed a hand down her face, adrenaline quickly draining and leaving her feeling like an empty shell. How could she have let him get away? She had him. She had him, right there. Why didn't she shoot? Why didn't she just kill the bastard on the spot? Why did she wait? Why had she hesitated?

The sudden moan from Ratchet snapped Talwyn out of her guilt ridden spiral. Her self loathing could wait, right now there were more important things.

"Cronk, Zephyr, check the other room for the keys to the shackles. I'll give these two nanotech." Tawlyn said sternly.

At the request, the two robots stood up straight and gave a quick salute, before doing as told. Once they had disappeared into the other room. Talwyn reached for her nanotech, intending to give it to Ratchet, before he suddenly spoke.

"Clank first," Ratchet said, in a coarse whisper. "Help, Clank first."

Talwyn's bit her lip.

"Are you sure?" She whispered back.

He looked up at her with tired eyes, but she could see how much he meant it. She gave him a nod.

"Okay. I'll be right back over. I promise." She said quietly.

Talwyn quickly crossed the room to Clank. She kneeled down in front of him and produced the nanotech, administering it carefully.

"Is hE ALRight?" Clank enquired, his voice strained, not just from his voice modulator being fried. Talwyn gave a quick glance backwards.

"Yeah, I… I think he'll be alright." She replied. In reality she wasn't sure, she wasn't sure at all. But she wanted it to be true, wished with every fiber of her being for it. And, maybe, if she believed hard enough, it could be.

Once she had finished with the nanotech, she checked Clank for any further damage. She had a small repair kit on her ship, she should have brought it with her. The nanotech could only do so much, especially on non-organic lifeforms. She hoped Clank would be able to hold up well and long enough for them to get him properly looked at and repaired.

"I am sorry to have jeopardized the mission by getting myself captured." Clank murmured suddenly, his voice modulator stabler now.

Talwyn paused, giving him a small smile. She pulled him into a hug.

"It's alright, I'm just glad you're okay." she replied.

Once she released Clank, she got up and turned towards Ratchet. His eyes were back down on the floor.

She was across the room in the blink of an eye, and quickly fell to her knees. His eyes remained downcast and far away, staring at nothing on the floor. Her heart ached so deeply seeing him this way. Even though he sat right in front of her, she felt like he was oceans away. Carefully she moved her hand towards him, and gently touched his cheek. Ratchet reacted instantly, flinching hard and jerking away from her, as if she had burned him. Talwyn pulled her hand away quickly, almost believing that she had.

"No, no, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Ratchet's voice rang out. He looked up at her, his bright emerald eyes shining like spot lights, locking her in their gaze. The change was so sudden and intense, it pulled an involuntary gasp from her.

"H-hold me, please." Ratchet whimpered.

His voice was so small and dismall. This brave hero she had known for so many years, so desperate and afraid. Every ounce of bravado, of heroic bluster completely wrung from him. She'd never seen him this vulnerable. She knew he never wanted her to see him this way either, but after all the torture and fear and pain he had been pushed far beyond his limits. He looked scared to death, like if she walked out of his vision, she'd disappear and never come back. He needed someone else to be the hero, to save him. He needed her, a friendly face to tell him the nightmare was over. To tell him he was okay now. That he didn't have to fight any longer. That he could finally relax. That he was safe.

Ever so gently, Talwyn wrapped her arms around him, wanting to hold him tight, hold him so tight in her arms and never let go. But she had to restrain herself, lest she exacerbate any of his injuries. She nuzzled her nose into his neck, the scent of sweat, sex and urine making her heart clench. But he was here, they both were. They were here and they were safe. No matter what mistakes had happened, no matter what missteps she had taken, they were finally safe. They were safe and they were alive. She finally pulled back when Cronk approached her, handing her a blanket. She wrapped it around Ratchet as he spoke.

"Good news and bad news. Bad news, it was definitely an escape pod, we found the empty shuttle and no trace of that bastard, but the good news is we found the keys." Cronk reported.

"Good, go help Clank while I give Ratchet the rest of the nanotech.'' Talwyn stated, reaching into her pocket and producing the second dose for Ratchet. Cronk gave another quick salute, as Talwyn administered the aid. She stroked Ratchet's head carefully in a comforting manner as she did. He was still flinchy, but made a point to lean into her touch, reminding himself who it was touching him, that it was a good touch, and that he was safe. Cronk, and Zephyr soon came over, assisting Clank who insisted on trying to walk himself. He was stable now, but his eye would need replacing and his chassis would need to be welded back together properly.

Talwyn put a steadying arm around Ratchet as Cronk reached for the cuffs. Once freed, Ratchet immediately went to fall forward, his body not used to holding its own weight after so long. Tawlyn held him steady, letting him slowly sink down into a more comfortable position. She bit her lip, now fully able to see his wrists. The nanotech had repaired the skin, but the shed blood still lay crusted and matted to his fur. In her mind's eye she could see Ratchet straining against his restraints, digging the metal cuffs deeper into his skin, ignoring the pain, focusing solely on escaping.

"Tal," He murmured, interrupting her thoughts, "Little help. I...I can't raise my arms."

He nodded his head towards Clank. The wobble to his voice and pain in his eyes made a fresh wall of tears threaten to spill over. Since this all began, all he ever wanted to do was hold his best friend in his arms again, but now that he was free, he couldn't even do that. Talwyn held the tears back as best she could, and leaned him closer to him. Clank wrapped his arms around Ratchet, tight enough to compensate for the lack of a reciprocating embrace. Ratchet flinched again when he was touched, but not nearly as hard.

"I'm so glad you're okay, pal." Ratchet murmured.

"I too am glad you are alright, Ratchet." Clank replied. Clank then looked over to Talwyn and reached out an arm. Talwyn smiled and wrapped her other arm around the robot as well.

"I am also glad you are alright too, Miss Apogee." Clank said.

"Yeah, Tal, you really scared me! I really thought he was going too…" Ratchet shook his head, before giving a small chuckle, the tiniest glimmer of his old self shining through. "Don't do that ever again!"

"I won't, as long as I don't have to." Talwyn said, a small smile bleeding through.

"Tal!" Ratchet cried indignantly, before craning his head.

"Cronk, Zephyr, are you two getting in on this?" Ratchet called.

"Of course, 'wouldn't miss a group hug for the world!" Zephyr called.

"You could call us group hug aficionados!" Cronk chimed in.

The two robot's descended on the trio, engulfing them completely in their arms. Ratchet closed his eyes, safe and surrounded by the one he loved. He still shook, but nearly as hard. He sucked in a deep breath.

"You know," Ratchet finally muttered softly "I'm not going to lie, I- I dont think I'm okay."

Talwyn gave his shoulder a little squeeze in encouragement.

"That's alright, I don't think any of us are, or will be for a long time," Talwyn replied. "But you're still here, you're still alive and you're not alone. We love you."

"We are here for you." Clank piped up.

"Call us anytime." Cronk said.

"Day or night, we'll be there in a flash." Zephyr added.

Ratchet felt a fresh wave of tears begin to form behind his eyes.

"Thank you. I love you guys so much. Thank you."

chapter 16 image: i imgur com sJuAk0r png