Peebee was not aware when tears started to explore her face. Kalinda's hand was a warm reminder something was happening deep within her. It was painful… Her whole being was screaming, her mind was too confused to build any fences around her, and then, the kiss…. She felt the skin of their bodies connected in that slow and careful touch. The time had stopped, everything, her heart missed a beat. She felt like drowning and wished somebody from the Tempest would appear and save her from these feelings…. she wished to hug her plush Geth, or lay her head on Poc. Her eyes reflecting the bleak light in the room slowly closed as trying to stop her tears flowing in streams.

Kalinda's hand was gently wiping them. They were only one millimetre apart, Kalinda waiting patiently for Peebee's reaction. The black colour surrounding Peebee's eyes was creating a new pattern by the tears destroying the symbol of her independence. The paint coloured Kalinda's fingers and the betrayal felt even more real, more materialistic and visible. This was the black she painted on Peebee's face. Kalinda raised her other hand and with a one thumb she blurred the colour even more under Peebee's eye as searching for the original blue.

"I'm so sorry…" She whispered to Peebee's lips. She opened her eyes again and directed them to the brown shade watching her closely. Kalinda looked sincerely sorry. This kiss had not come from a pure urge… She was seeking forgiveness. That vulnerable look was breaking Peebee into pieces. She still loved this despicable person… A person, she was sure, did not deserve her feelings or her care.

"You don't deserve this… Kalinda…" Said Peebee slowly. It was true… She was not sure she could ever trust her again despite what she felt.

"I never will…. But… Without you, I'm definitely lost…" Sweet talker…. as always Kalinda knew how to get under her skin... It nearly made Peebee smile to hear these exact words.

"I just wish to feel you…. once again…." Continued Kalinda with sort of a broken voice that Peebee nearly believed it. She believed it. One more time, and then never see each other again... that could work, maybe… Maybe she could turn Kalinda into a one-time thing and leave her like she did. Maybe that would free her from this nightmare…. Maybe…

Peebee's body was drawn to Kalinda. Her eyelids fell like a heavy curtain, and Peebee tasted her lips once again but now directed by her own mind. She felt a smile shaping from those lips when Kalinda realised what was happening. She kissed her deeply, enjoying the warmth filling her body. She needed Peebee. She needed to touch her, to show her how much she was determined to deserve her forgiveness.

Minutes passed when Kalinda interrupted their kissing. She touched Peebee's lips with her fingers. The paint already dried with her tears and made the pattern represent the true shape of their relationship. Kalinda hugged her chest with one hand to ease the pain and slipped from the sofa on her knees. She was kneeling in front of Peebee.

"Don't… you silly…." Said Peebee and was about to raise when Kalinda laid her head on her knees and closed her eyes.

"Hmmmm…. I missed this..." uttered Kalinda quietly. She used to do this when she was tired from everyone in the high ranks. One reason Peebee fell for her was seeing Kalinda resting in her lap and letting Peebee be above her, be in her power and mercy. She repeated this surely on purpose, knowing that it worked like charm.

Peebee touched Kalinda's head. Could she really forgive her? Watching her like this made past too close having her caged within memories when things were still good. She felt Kalinda delivered a kiss on her palm and raised her head.

Kalinda was watching the silence surrounding Peebee. She was so beautiful when she was sad. Still kneeling before her she partially unbuttoned Peebee's jacked and explored her naked belly. It felt long she could touch her like this. Peebee shivered.

"It'll be okay…." Kalinda raised again and leaned towards her in attempt to push her on the table touching her naked waist, slipping her fingers under the black shirt.

"No… It won't…." Peebee said, but her touch filled her with known sensation. She remembered the way how Kalinda always made the foreplay slow and nearly ritualistic. Maybe that was why Peebee sought wild and energetic experiences with other aliens. Anything else then a reminder of this slow exploration.

Kalinda pulled her jacket off with one precise and rough movement which made Peebee moan. It was a vulnerable sound. She lost. Running all this time to lost the final encounter. She felt like Kalinda's body pushed her on the table and with a kiss owning her lips in passion. Peebee enjoyed this kissing it was making her thoughts disappear at least for a moment. She raised her hands and traced them around Kalinda's shapes as well. It felt good until she touched the place where the rib was located and she felt Kalinda make a painful sound. It was like a wake-up call and she put a finger in-between their lips.

"You need a doctor…" Said she although the right words forming in her head were: I can't….

"Doctor can wait. I need you babe…" Said Kalinda hungry for Peebee's body.

"No…." Peebee slipped under Kalinda and moved away a little. She buttoned her jacket again like a protective shield and looked at her. "Wait here, I'll get someone…. Just wait here, please." Said Peebee and walked away fast.

When the doors closed, she was breathing heavily. She looked horrible she was sure, but this was the right choice. She send a distress call to the Hyperion med-bay for a doctor and then leaned on the wall near the room.

It took only few minutes when she noticed Harry and Lexi coming. Oh, not those two. But what was she thinking when she sent a call to the Hyperion. When Lexi saw Peebee standing there with the black make-up blurred by tears obviously, she speeded and ran towards her.

"What have happened, Peebee?" Her voice was worried and she touched her face with one hand gently. Peebee looked at a side.

"Kalinda is in there…." Lexi was looking at her with a question. She knew those two were about to meet. She hoped Peebee did not… Harry caught up with them fast. Peebee looked at her.

"Just a broken rib… I'm not sure." she finished and Lexi felt like she could breathe again. Ok. No one died. That was good. She looked at Harry.

"Harry, please, can you have a look? I'll take Peebee back on the Tempest." Harry nodded and Peebee let her to move her freely. She was in no state to resist anyone now.

IIIIIIIIIIII

Lexi handed Peebee a cup of warm tea.

"Please… drink some. You'll feel better." Her voice was soft and had a calming effect on Peebee. She took the cup, but could not hold it… It fell on the floor and cracked. The hot liquid splashed around. She sighted.

"I'm sorry, doc…. I'll clean it.." She was about to bend down to touch the crack but Lexi stopped her.

"That's ok…" Lexi sat next to her and scanned Peebee's face. Something terribly shaken Peebee, she had not seen her so weak, well ever. Even Sara did not have such an effect on her.

"We kissed…." Said Peebee suddenly. Lexi's lips changed into a very thin line. Now she understood. Lexi was never convinced Peebee moved on from Kalinda. Yes, she was on run, but her commitment issues were signalling a very broken heart.

"She asked me… for forgiveness, and kissed me…. I returned it…" Peebee still had not washed her face to cover the trace of crying, so Lexi had a good picture of emotions Peebee needed to deal with in that moment. She touched her hand and grasped it with a little force to show her support.

"She looked so vulnerable…. honest, and I wished I could believe it just for that second." Peebee was staring somewhere in the unknown, but kept talking.

"Just for that second… I felt like .. It was all just a bad dream…." Her lips were trembling and she entwined her fingers with Lexi's. She needed a good friend now. It was only a bonus she was also a psychologist.

"I thought you might still love her after that…. after when you chose her over your passion, Peebee." Peebee looked at her with sadness so deep that it nearly made Lexi cry.

"It hurts…. Being with her hurts so much…. But imagining her death and loose her. I don't think I could cope with that…" Said she confused.

"It's not an easy task to fall in love. With age never comes this wisdom… It's the pain which teaches us this." Said Lexi, remembering her past experiences. Sometimes it was a curse to live so long.

"I don't know what to do, Lexi…" She looked lost, so lost. She understood her feelings well and sighted.

"There is no good advice, Peebee. Everything would hurt you in one way or another." Said Lexi slowly.

"But, in order to find out whether you are capable of moving on, you need to forgive yourself first. You need to let Pelessaria in before anyone else. Peebee and Pelessaria need to be united again." What Lexi said was definitely logical and correct. She was running from everyone including herself.

But, was she capable of embracing it again?