Chapter Twelve: Beyond the Call of Duty

Elena was as nervous as she'd been the very first day she reported to Tseng's office when she returned to his room. She paused in the doorway, taking a deep breath and studying him for a moment as she thought about what she was about to do. His eyes were closed and he appeared to be sleeping peacefully, but by now she knew that didn't necessarily mean he was. He was really good at faking that… His breathing was even and appeared unlabored, and by now she barely noticed the sounds of the monitors attached to his body. Her eyes briefly fell upon his left arm, taking in the many tubes and wires attached to it. There were angry bruises in several places from the intravenous lines, and despite his far more serious injuries the sight of them bothered her. She quickly looked away and entered the room, stepping around the foot of the bed and quietly dropping into the familiar chair on the other side.

She sat and waited, watching him closely for any sign of a reaction. After listening closely to his breathing, she was convinced he was awake, and once a few more minutes had passed he finally opened his eyes and turned his head her way. His eyes were a bit heavy, and she realized he had likely been given additional pain medication while she was out of the room.

"I'm sorry, were you trying to sleep?"

"Not really."

His voice was clear and she nodded, satisfied that he was alert enough to hold a serious conversation. Her stomach came alive with butterflies as he watched her curiously, and she cursed the cowardly part of her that wished he had been asleep after all.

"I'm, ah, sorry I ran out like that," Elena said, looking down and feeling her cheeks grow warm. "But I really did need to talk to Reno about something important."

Tseng's expression instantly darkened into a scowl, his dark eyes growing cold. "It is one thing to have no idea what is happening inside my own department, but to have it rubbed in my face is insulting," he snapped. "Please leave."

Elena's mouth dropped open, never having thought of how her actions could be misinterpreted. She sat in stunned silence as Tseng pointedly turned away from her, until she finally found her voice. "What? No! No, that isn't what I meant!" she exclaimed, horrified. "I would never do that! I have more respect for you than… than anyone! And… and…"

She looked down into her lap, not trusting herself to continue. Tears of frustration burned her eyes, but she quickly pushed them away before he could see them. Dammit, why was she always so stupid and saying exactly the wrong thing? She was trying to help him, and cared about him so much, yet all she ever managed to do was annoy him and piss him off. This was going to be an extremely difficult conversation, and she had already directed it straight toward hell in a hand basket.

She started to get up, intent on fleeing the room and reconsidering what she doing, when she heard Tseng sigh heavily.

"Wait…"

She immediately dropped back into the chair as if following an order, clasping her hands tightly in her lap and daring to glance up at him. He was staring at the ceiling again, and she briefly wondered just how sick he must be of the view.

"I'm sorry. I'm just… frustrated," he said quietly. "What were you going to say?"

Elena swallowed nervously, picking at a small scab on the knuckle of one finger until it bled. "Um… well, I was going to tell you why I needed to talk to Reno so badly. Because we were talking about you."

Tseng turned his head again, and his eyes lit up with sudden interest. It was the most life she'd seen him display in a while, and she couldn't help but smile a little.

"All good things I hope."

Other than that comment about romancing your desk…

"Well, that depends," Elena said hesitantly, biting her lower lip and looking away. There was something so intense about his eyes that she could never hold his gaze for very long. "I um… made him a bit of a proposal about my assignment."

When she looked back again, Tseng appeared puzzled. "Your assignment?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. "Is that not to remain here?"

"Right," she said, fumbling for the best way to explain. Her face was already flushed, and she could barely look at him as she spoke. What if he hated the idea and thought she was insane for suggesting it? What if he wanted her to leave his side once she told him, and it permanently damaged their working relationship? Gods, how was she ever going to get through this? "But I asked him if we could change it."

"Oh."

The moment she'd finished her last sentence, Elena wanted to slap herself in the forehead. Hard. Now it sounded as if she was going back on her word and abandoning him, and she could hear the slight note of betrayal in the single word he spoke. His expression never changed, but it didn't have to. Elena shook her head and briefly covered her face with one hand, groaning miserably.

"Do me a favor?"

"….Yes?"

"Never let me explain a mission or business proposal?"

"Done."

Elena took a deep breath and forced herself to meet his eyes again, a weak smile on her lips. He looked thoroughly puzzled by now and more than a little concerned, and she knew she had no choice but to press forward. "What I meant was… I had an idea for how we could still get you released as an outpatient by altering my assignment."

Tseng managed to control his expression and maintain eye contact, though his frown deepened just slightly. She could almost see him battling with himself, wondering if he ought to give in to the hope that there might still be a chance, or avoid anything that might expose him to further disappointment. "How is that possible? You heard what the doctor said."

"Yes, I did. And that's why I…"

Elena suddenly couldn't continue, looking down at her hands and staring at them helplessly. Her face grew warm with embarrassment and all she could hear was the frantic beating of her heart, her pulse pounding at her temples. She was struck mute by the worse case of anxiety she had ever experienced at precisely the moment when she most needed her voice. That was ironic… Her mind raced in circles, picturing every possible way things could go horribly wrong. Gods, this was a horrible mistake! She never should have even considered suggesting something so foolish, so full of opportunities for her to humiliate herself and ruin what little relationship she had forged with Tseng through their work. She was an idiot for ever thinking she could-

She gasped as a hand entered her field of vision and covered both of hers. Her head jerked up and her eyes widened in disbelief. Somehow, Tseng had managed to shift himself over in bed far enough that he could lean sideways and stretch out to just barely reach her. She had been so absorbed by her fears that she never saw him move, and was quite certain he should not be doing any such thing. When she shyly met his eyes, he smirked, looking rather proud of himself though there was an obvious pain and tension he couldn't quite hide. A moment later the smirk faded into a softer expression of concern, his warm hand lingering on top of hers.

"Are you all right, Elena?"

"Y-yes. I'm sorry, I was just… thinking," she stammered, watching as he removed his hand and awkwardly settled himself back into bed, careful not to disturb any of his intravenous lines or monitors. She always felt warm all over when he spoke her name, his accent making it sound so much more important somehow. The look on his face told her he knew she wasn't being truthful, but she was grateful when he didn't push the issue.

"I've accepted that I must remain here," he said, wincing in pain as he attempted to sit up a bit more against the pillows stacked behind him. "I will endure."

The combination of his physical pain and the stoic way he had accepted his fate finally broke through Elena's fear, filling her with such deep concern and respect for him that it actually hurt. The desire to tell him exactly how she felt had never been stronger than it was when their eyes met across the short distance between them, and she swallowed the lump in her throat along with the powerful emotions racing through her. Would it help him to know of her feelings for him as he fought to recover, or would it only make everything more complicated? The question hardly mattered, as Elena knew she lacked the nerve to tell him. It would only guarantee his rejection of her aid, and she knew how important leaving the medical center was to him. But while she may not have been able to express how she felt for him, she had finally made up her mind to let him know of her plan. It was the least she could do for the man who had quietly stolen her heart.

"You may not have to 'endure' for much longer," she told him, managing a weak smile. "Would you like to hear what I had in mind?"

"Of course I would. The suspense is beginning to kill me."

"All right. But I'll warn you… It's a little, uh, drastic," Elena said, feeling her face grow hot again and cursing her pale skin and emotional nature. "Do you promise to hear me out before saying anything?"

Tseng nodded, clearly intrigued. If nothing else, she figured she was entertaining him and taking his mind off the pain. He was watching her so intently that she fought not to squirm in her chair, his eyes upon her causing both nervousness and exhilaration. She had always longed for his undivided attention, but now that she had it she felt awkward and childish. She hoped he couldn't tell how uneasy she was, clearing her throat and praying she wouldn't make a complete fool of herself again.

"Okay," she began, focusing on keeping her voice as strong and devoid of emotion as she could. "It's pretty simple, really… You need someone to stay with you in order to be released as an outpatient, right? Well, I'm already assigned to be here with you, and I know your medical information really well by now. Besides that, you're my partner, whether because I'm still in training or not. I told you I'd be here for you until you were better, and I meant it…" Elena paused, taking a moment to gather herself before continuing. Tseng's eyes never left her face as she spoke, though she was unable to read exactly what it was she saw in them. "So I… I asked Reno if… he could extend my assignment here indefinitely. I'm… willing to stay with you around the clock so that you can be released to your quarters."

Elena immediately looked down into her lap when she finished delivering her proposal. Her chest had grown tight and she concentrated on drawing each breath, clasping her hands together. There. She had said it. She had done so clearly and calmly, and her voice hadn't wavered even once. Now all she could do was wait. She was certain he was about to laugh, or deliver a scathing lecture and send her away for the last time. At least she would know that she had tried her best, and done everything she could to help him. She had made the suggestion because she cared about him so deeply when he had no one else to fight for him, whether he realized her motives or not. It would do little to ease the pain of losing him, but at least she would never have to ask herself what could have been had she only tried a little harder.

The room remained silent other than the sounds of the monitors, though Elena still did not dare to raise her head. She could not bear to see the rejection and disapproval on his face. She wanted to get up and leave the room, but knew she had to wait for an answer before she did so. The last thing she wanted to do was disrespect him, or appear rash and unprofessional. She began to chew on her bottom lip, wondering what was taking him so long to respond.

"Do you realize what you are offering to do?"

His voice was full of quiet disbelief instead of the annoyance and displeasure she had expected, and Elena slowly lifted her head. He was studying her closely, his head tilted slightly.

"Yes. I'd have to stay with you… in your quarters... until Dr. Welsh upgraded your status and decided you didn't need someone there all the time. And I'm sure it would also involve taking part in some of your care."

Tseng looked distinctly uncomfortable for a moment, averting his eyes. "I could never ask you to do that."

"But you didn't ask me, Tseng. I'm offering on my own."

"That is very kind of you, but I don't want you to feel obligated toward me, or make a decision out of pity that you will come to regret. Thank you, but no. I will remain here."

Elena stared at him wordlessly as his gaze returned to the ceiling. He adjusted the blanket that covered him with his free hand, as if trying to send a hint that the conversation was over and he intended to go to sleep. She frowned, frustrated, not about to let the subject drop so quickly after everything she'd just gone through. She couldn't believe he was willing to let something he wanted go so easily. Wasn't he the slightest bit intrigued or tempted by the offer?

"So that's it? You aren't even willing to talk about it any more, even though you hate it here so much?" she asked, her tone more demanding than she intended. "I'm not suggesting this because I feel obligated. That was never the reason I wanted to be here with you, and I'm pretty damn sure you know that! We're Turks, and that makes us family. I'm here because I want to be."

Tseng's eyes found their way back to her face, and though he tried to look cool and uninterested, there was a spark in them he couldn't quite disguise. Elena took it as encouragement and continued with more confidence.

"As for pity? I don't pity you, because I know that isn't what you want. I feel horrible that you're suffering, and it kills me to see you this way and know how unhappy you are…"

Her voice cracked at the very end of her statement and she blushed, quickly clearing her throat in an attempt to disguise it. She knew she hadn't fooled him, but his reaction only served to confuse her. His gaze softened and the harsh line of his mouth turned up in what almost appeared to be a gentle attempt at a smile. There was a nervous flutter in the pit of her stomach and her heart caught in her throat.

"So you really wish to spend gods only know how long as my personal babysitter?" Tseng asked after a moment of awkward silence. He was attempting to lighten the mood with a joke, but it was obvious that he was bitter and embarrassed by his situation. "That is hardly in your job description."

"Maybe not, but all I've heard since I was hired is how Turks always stick together, and how you always have your partner's back," Elena said, forcing herself to sit up straight in what she hoped was a more professional and determined manner that showed she did not intend to back down. "You're hurt, I'm already here, and we take care of our own."

Tseng sighed quietly and stared down at his free hand resting on top of the blanket that covered him. His expression had changed to one she knew well, the one he wore when he was weighing his options while trying to make an important decision. She folded her hands in her lap and hoped he couldn't tell how alive with anxiety she was, though she took it as a good sign that he was finally taking her suggestion seriously.

Long moments of tense silence passed, during which Elena feared she might go mad. It was difficult not to say something, to question him, to ask what he was thinking or what he had decided. But she knew better than to interrupt him when he was thinking over something important. She had learned that lesson the hard way during her training, and was embarrassed to admit that it had taken several times to sink in. Any time Tseng was faced with an important decision, his eyes would shift to the left, his mouth forming into a thin line of concentration. His entire body grew still and he said nothing, almost as if he was momentarily unaware of his surroundings. When Elena had grown anxious and interrupted him, he would simply raised a hand, open-palmed, to silence her, and continued to think without changing his posture or even blinking. This had happened numerous times, both in the office and out in the field, until she finally learned that she simply had to endure the frustrating ritual until he'd made his decision.

She was both relieved and full of nervous dread when Tseng finally blinked and turned to face her again. He shook his head almost imperceptibly, sending butterflies racing through her stomach.

"I'm not sure it would be proper for you to stay with me," he said, looking somewhere over her shoulder instead of directly at her. Elena felt her face instantly grow hot, and she was unable to contain the nervous laughter that escaped. Her blush only intensified when his eyes found their way back to hers and he raised an eyebrow, the slightest hint of a smile turning up one corner of his mouth. Was he embarrassed, too, or did he just think she was being immature?

"I doubt anyone is going to think anything like that is going on in your condition, si- er… yeah…"

I hate myself and I want this chair to kill me.

"But I don't even have anywhere for you to sleep. You saw my quarters."

"You have a couch. It looked comfortable."

Tseng frowned and tiredly lifted his hand to his forehead. "I'm going to look like a true gentleman after this," he muttered under his breath, along with something else Elena didn't understand. It took her a moment to realize he'd spoken a few additional words in Wutaiian, but she wasn't about to ask him to translate. She was quite certain the entire point was that he didn't want her to know.

"Don't worry about it. It's necessity, and I've slept in far worse places," Elena quickly reassured him. She was thrilled to realize he was speaking as if he was actually accepting the idea, and wanted continue the conversation before he changed his mind. "I'll do whatever you need me to do and otherwise stay out of your way as much as possible."

"You do realize I'm going to be in bed the entire time, so that won't be difficult."

It sounded like a joke, but she wasn't quite sure. She paused, the intensity in his eyes only adding to her nervous energy. "I've got enough belongings here on the base that I'll be fine for however long I need to stay," she told him, wondering if they'd actually agreed upon this yet or not. "I'll… do my best not to bother you. You won't even know I'm there! I'll get some books and things and just keep to myself and let you rest. And I don't snore or anything that I know of. I promise not to talk too much and drive you nuts, and-"

"Elena."

She immediately closed her mouth at the soft sound of his voice admonishing her, realizing to her horror that she had begun rambling at a high rate of speed. She looked down into her lap, cursing herself for her inability to lose such an annoying, potentially costly bad habit.

"Sorry… That didn't exactly help my cause, did it?"

To her surprise, she heard Tseng start to laugh quietly, though after a few short moments he abruptly stopped and seemed to almost gasp for air. She lifted her head, her embarrassment forgotten, and saw the pained expression on his face as he brought his hand up to his chest. He seemed to struggle to breathe, squeezing his eyes closed in an expression of intense pain as his left hand balled into a fist beside him on the bed. Her eyes widened in horror and she bolted out of her chair, reaching for the button to summon his nurse. Her fingers nearly brushed against it when he managed to reach up and push her hand away, exhaling sharply as he finally managed to start breathing again. Beads of sweat shone on his forehead, and Elena could hear the ragged sounds Nurse Becky often spoke of coming from the left side of his chest. Tseng laid back heavily against the pillows behind him, wheezing and struggling to catch his breath, closing his eyes for a moment until the worst of the episode had passed. When he opened them and looked up at Elena again, she was stunned to see that somehow, there was still mild amusement in is eyes.

"Are you all right?!" she exclaimed, shakily returning to the chair before her legs gave way beneath her. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that she had the illogical fear it might break free. She was more frightened now that she had time to think about what had just happened, staring at him as if she expected him to die right in front of her. Gods, she had almost managed to kill him sitting right there in the hospital. What was going to happen if he was released to her care?!

"I'm fine," he rasped, though to her he looked and sounded anything but. "It only hurts when I laugh, apparently."

She wasn't sure if she wanted to hug him or smack him for frightening her so badly, then acting as if it was nothing to be concerned about. Did he have no concept of how dangerous it would be for him if his lung collapsed again? Did he not realize there was at least one person on the Planet who was greatly affected by his suffering…? Elena gradually slowed her breathing and tried to relax as she watched him do the same, realizing he was relying on his ability to meditate and remain calm in any situation to handle such incredible amounts of pain. She studied him carefully and watched for each new breath he took as they remained silent, awed by his strength while at the same time wishing he didn't think he had anything to prove. Through it all, he had never made a sound. It occurred to her that she'd never heard him cry out in pain throughout the entire year she'd worked with him, no matter how badly he'd been hurt. Did he really have such tight self control, or was there a deeper reason behind it?

Tseng's eyes were alert as they met hers a few minutes later, letting her know without words that he had recovered and was ready to continue the discussion. He was watching her, waiting, expectant, but didn't say a word. Elena had nearly forgotten all about the discussion in her concern for him, but the butterflies quickly returned as she cleared her throat and took a moment to collect her thoughts. It took a bit of effort to remember where they'd left off, but when she did, she knew the blush instantly crept back into her complexion.

"I know it isn't an ideal situation, and that I'm probably not the first person you'd have picked to stay with you… but if you want to try to meet the doctor's requirements to get out of here, I'll be here for you as long as you need me to be. As your partner, and as your friend."

Tseng tilted his head slightly and simply stared at her, the expression he wore completely unreadable. It was not because of his usual guarded professionalism, however. There were definite signs of emotion on his face, cracks in the mask of detachment he wore that she had always suspected was nothing but a very convincing façade. His dark eyes grew even more intense and narrowed ever so slightly, and his lips briefly parted as if he momentarily considered speaking but changed his mind. Just as quickly, the moment was gone and he averted his eyes, looking up at the ceiling tiles.

When more than five minutes passed in an awkward, tense silence she was too nervous to break, Elena began to fear he was about to shut her out again, staring into space until she grew frustrated and left without an answer. She frowned, biting the inside of her bottom lip as she considered her options. She'd thought he was actually considering the idea… reluctantly, perhaps, but at least he was thinking it over and weighing his options. They'd had a real discussion on the matter, and she at least thought he would dignify her with an actual answer instead of this.

She started to grow angry, frustrated with him for refusing to simply tell her he didn't want to do it instead of leaving her sitting there like an idiot while he stared at the damn ceiling again. She heaved a sigh and was about to tell him exactly how she felt when he finally turned to face her again, his expression carefully neutral but his voice atypically unguarded.

"I don't know what to say."

A small smile instantly replaced her frown, though the nervousness and uncertainty she felt remained. She knew he must have felt the same whether he was able to express it or not, and somehow, it made her feel a bit better. They were partners, and they were in this together.

"Then just agree to it," she told him with a confidence she didn't feel as she met his tired eyes. "Reno will change my official orders and let Dr. Welsh know you have someone assigned to you around the clock. Then you can start working on the other requirements. But please don't overdue it… All I- everyone wants is for you to get better."

"All right. Do it."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The lights inside Tseng's room had been dimmed long ago as evening turned to night, but despite the late hour and all of the medication, he still could not fall asleep. For once, it was not the remaining light, or the staff passing by in the hallway, or the incessant beeping of the equipment that kept him awake. It was not the nurses who intruded into his room to check his vital signs or intravenous lines, weak men screaming in pain down the corridors, or some fool dropping a metal tray so loudly it was certain to wake up every patient on the entire floor. No, this time what kept him awake was the sudden awareness of the young woman barely visible in the far corner of the room, peacefully sleeping on the cot that had been tucked there against hospital regulations.

How long had that arrangement been going on? he wondered. He'd been sedated at first, and then so out of it that he hadn't realized the cot was even in the room. He'd been laying flat on his back because of the nature of his injuries until just recently and unable to see much of anything. He'd finally been allowed a few thick pillows behind his head and neck that allowed him to look around the room a bit, though he still could not turn his head very easily. He'd noticed the cot a few days ago, but assumed Elena was simply resting upon it during the day as he often saw her doing, laying on it to read or briefly close her eyes. He assumed she returned to her temporary quarters on the base each night to sleep and saw no reason to think about it any further. Why would she see any need to sleep in his hospital room, after all? There were staff members crawling about the place, monitoring every second of his existence. What more could she do? It had taken her proposal that evening to finally draw his attention to the fact that she had been sleeping there in the corner of his room all along…

By the time Elena had left to speak with Reno after their conversation, it had already grown late, but his mind was still racing after everything they'd discussed. He'd assumed she would not return until morning, lying still with his eyes closed once Nurse Becky had given him his medication and said good night. But to his surprise, he heard Elena enter his room almost an hour later, making an obvious effort to be very quiet. She clearly thought he was sleeping as she made her way to the cot, and after a time he opened his eyes just a crack to see what she was doing. That was when he saw her lying tucked beneath the blanket, her boots on the floor beside the cot and her suit jacket and other belongings set close by, as if it was by now a familiar routine.

He was so stunned he nearly gave himself away, shocked by the realization of what she'd been doing. He'd always fallen asleep fairly early in the evening, following medication rounds. He still slept the majority of the time anyway, much to his own disgust, but he found he simply could not stay awake for long periods of time no matter how hard he tried. It was as if the energy he lost as his blood flowed out of his body had yet to be replaced, and simply keeping his eyes open and trying to think clearly quickly drained his reserves. He realized now that Elena waited until after he was sound asleep before settling into the cot for the night, and was awake in the morning long before he was to cover that fact. He never knew she hadn't gone back to her quarters to sleep, and her brief returns there to change and shower had fooled him once he was aware enough to notice such things. He felt like an idiot for being deceived by his own rookie trainee regardless of his condition, and it only added to how embarrassed he was that she had seen him in his time of weakness. The fact that he'd been largely unconscious, medicated into sleep, or otherwise incapacitated did little to ease his mind as he lay there feeling pitiful and humiliated while she slept on the other side of the room.

Yet at the same time, he was oddly touched, humbled that she cared so much for whatever her reasons that she felt it necessary to remain close by at all times. She really meant what she said about remaining loyal to your partner and fellow Turk. As a rookie, it seemed that lesson had already sunken in better with her than it had with many of his older, more experienced men… men he would never have trusted with his life. But he found that he already trusted Elena, lack of experience or not. He never would have kept her as his partner for so long if he didn't, and the excuse of 'further training' could only go so far. He never would have risked his life in the field with an ordinary rookie. She was different…

No wonder she'd offered to remain by his side as Dr. Welsh required, Tseng reflected as he stared at the ceiling in the dim lighting. She'd already been sleeping in his small hospital room and spending nearly all of her time with him as it was. As he laid there painfully aware of her presence for the first time, he couldn't help but wonder why. It went far beyond what was necessary, beyond what was required of her to complete her assignment or even to prove her loyalty to her boss and partner. It had been two weeks now, and he was no longer in immediate danger of dying. Yet she rarely left his side…

For just a moment, as he allowed himself to turn his head and watch her sleeping form, he wondered if she stayed for reasons that had nothing to do with the Turks. And for a fraction of a second, he let himself hope that maybe… He felt his face grow warm and frowned, quickly banishing the inappropriate thoughts as he had been almost since the day she first walked into his office. It had been growing increasingly difficult as time went on, and Tseng cursed his weakness. It could never be, so why allow himself to waste energy considering it and tormenting himself? How he felt didn't matter. He was her boss, the head of the department, and that was all he could ever be. He tore his eyes away from her and forced them closed, the tightness in his chest having nothing to do with his injury.

((Author's Notes: I have such a fondness for writing awkward dialog and conversations that go horribly wrong, and these two are perfect for it at this point in time. That lovely combination of opposite personalities, a stressful situation and sexual tension. ;) Anyway. Elena finally managed to explain her idea and got Tseng to somewhat grudgingly agree to it. He really does want out of there. But he's got a lot of concerns and confused thoughts about all of this, too. It's going to be a rather awkward situation no matter how hard they try. And that's IF he can meet all of Dr. Welsh's other requirements, remember. Those aren't exactly simple for someone in his condition. Tseng is pretty stubborn and hell bent on proving he can do this, though. Let's just hope he doesn't hurt himself in the process. That would spell disaster… As always, I can't wait for comments on this chapter! I've got the next one mentally outlined, so I'll attempt not to make the wait too long.

Preview for Chapter Thirteen: Not everyone loves a Wutaiian, one of Tseng's little quirks emerges, and Elena starts to practice this caretaker stuff. We'll see how our patient is progressing (or not) towards outpatient status, and maybe get to hear what his doctor and nurse think of the Turks pushing so hard for it.

- As we approach the new year, I'd like to say that 2012 was a lot of fun. For anyone "new" to me and my fics, this year was the first I had written anything since I abruptly stopped all the way back in 2003. I was really nervous about trying my hand at it again, since I'd been rather well known then and felt so rusty. Can you just 'reappear' like that? Could I still write after so long, and was it okay to pick up with my original AU again after so long? I still loved it, and had so many new ideas for it… that I just HAD to or I was going to go insane. I'd also never worked with the Turks very much, and for some reason they became a very large focus for my new ideas. I didn't know how it would go over, but I've been very happy with the warm response. I'd like to thank all of you for your support, and for making me feel welcomed back to the fanfiction fold. I will definitely be attempting to make 2013 even better and more productive! Thanks, all. ~ JenesisX ))