Title/theme: SURVIVAL
Genre: General
Summary: She was grateful that he said those words, because it meant that she didn't have to.

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"What?!" the young boy exclaimed.

Murrue winced inwardly. But she tried not to let it show.

"That's right, we're going to retrieve some of the ice, and we're going to need you guys to help out," she repeated as calmly as she could manage.

"But that's Junius Seven out there!" protested Kira, "So many people have…died…there."

Murrue winced once again. "I know. We're not going to disturb the dead. We're just going to take what we need." She paused. "In order to survive."

This all felt so wrong to her, and she didn't want to do this any more than the students did. And she had been just as surprised and appalled as the teenagers were when Lieutenant La Flaga suggested the idea.

But she didn't blame him for coming up with such a plan. Because he was right, they didn't have much of a choice. They needed supplies, and they needed them now. So like it or not, they'd have to do this. After all, she was responsible for the lives of her crew.

Still, that didn't ease any of the guilt resulting from Kira's glare. She hated to make him and his friends do these things, especially considering how she was responsible for them being on this ship in the first place.

She sighed, and opened her mouth to reason with him. But Lieutenant La Flaga spoke up first.

"Look, we don't like the idea any more than you do. And nobody's crying out 'hurray water!'"

"Lieutenant…"

"But we're still alive, and we have to do whatever we can to stay alive."

She looked uncertainly at the man standing beside her and smiled grimly. His words felt like no more than a superficial excuse. Yet, she couldn't criticize him for it. In fact, if anything, she was grateful that he said those words, because it meant that she didn't have to.

Kira stared at them silently for a moment longer, before making his way out of the bridge with his friends following.

Murrue let out a small sigh. She didn't think anyone would notice, so she was a bit startled to hear the Lieutenant's deep voice speaking up beside her.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah," she gave him an uncertain smile, "Thanks."

She made to get up, intent on helping out, when his hand on her shoulder pushed her back into her chair.

"You stay here and direct things, I'll go help them."

"T-Thanks." She sat down, glad that she didn't have to go out there and face the remnants of Junius Seven.

As she watched his tall figure exit the bridge, she couldn't help but feel very grateful that he was on board. She had lost count of the number of times he had saved them in the short time since they left Heliopolis. And somehow, she was getting more confident sitting in this chair, knowing that he was around to help.

She smiled to herself and clutched her pendant tightly. One of these days, she'd be sure to thank him properly.

AN: yeah the scene is kinda different than in the actual series, and the conversation and stuff, but I wrote this before rewatching the ep, and I liked how it turned out, so I don't want to change it.