"You know you can talk to me, right?" Lara said as she put her hand on my shoulder. I sat on one of the beds in the ship cabin, resting my head on my hands while my elbows rested on my knees. I felt the ship swaying left to right. Normally I wouldn't be bothered by it, I've been on countless boat trips. But now it did. It made me nauseous, very nauseous. Then again, at that moment everything did. I was repulsed by everything and everyone at that moment. Except by Lara. My heroine. I looked at her, and could see the worrying in her face. I didn't get it. She had to kill so many people, had to do so many horrible things, go through such horror and yet her she was worrying about me. Not about herself. Her wounds on her face, hands and arms, and probably everywhere else, were still fresh, but here she was making sure I was okay.

"I know." I tilted my head and placed my cheek on her hand. "But I'm fine, really." I said.

"You can't be fine after what you've been through, Sam." She said.

"Can you?" I returned. She looked away, as I lifted up my head again. Even though she was here, worrying about me, I could see in her eyes that she was different. Different from what she was before we were stranded on Yamatai. No wonder, after what she's been through.

"I guess not." Lara said. "But I know I have you to talk to, when I need to. Right?"

"Of course. Of course you do." I comforted her.

"I need to ask you something, though." Lara suddenly said.

"What?"

"What did they do to you? I mean, how did they treat you?"

"Other than trying to burn me alive, and offering my body for a long lost mentally insane queen?"
"Yeah…"
"Honestly, I can't remember that much. It's a all a haze, really."
"That worries me." Lara said as she looked me in the eyes.

"Why?" I asked.

"Just… no reason." She said as she looked away again.

I've never felt so weak in my life as I did when I opened my eyes again. The room was a lot more dimmed than before, but my eyes felt extremely dry, as did my mouth. I tried to look who was standing next to me, but I still wasn't able to identify people standing merely 3 foot away from my face. Not by face, nor by voice.

"How are you feeling?" The familiar voice asked. There was a constant ringing in my ears. I tried to talk, but I couldn't. Too dry, too weak. I wonder for how long I had been out. Judging by the amount of weird dreams I had, I'd say about eleven decades. "Can you hear me, Sam?" I slowly nodded my head in acknowledgement of the stranger her question. Was it Lara? It has to be Lara, she sounded so familiar. I tried to water my mouth with my saliva, but my mouth refused to produce any. I tried to lift up my arm which, to my greatest surprise, I was able to do. I pointed to my mouth, hoping the stranger would understand I was longing for water. "You need something to drink?" I tried to nod as quickly as my heavy head would let me, having never been so happy about the prospect of drinking a bit of water. I heard the stranger exit my room, as I tried to sit up straight. My vision was once again returning and I rubbed my eyes. I cursed the person who decorated the room for not putting a clock in. How late was it? I lifted up my left arm, to check if it was still cuffed to the railing of the bed, but it wasn't. Things were looking up for me, I told myself sarcastically. As the blurriness in my vision slowly went away, I looked around the room once more. My clothes were still in the same spot. I wanted to check if my phone was still in my pocket, but when I noticed how heavy and slow my legs were, I convinced myself to stay in a bit for just a bit longer. I wouldn't want to knock myself out on my way there by falling over. I switched my focus to the door, waiting for the stranger to come back. It must've been Lara, right? I mean, who else could it be that had such a familiar voice? I didn't really know anyone else, not these days, anyway. I was confined to the Croft manor, and Lara. Not that I minded really, but sometimes I couldn't help but miss some of my friends back in Japan. Or my family. It was hard to pretend I was really happy with how Lara and myself lived after Yamatai. Perhaps moving back to the manor wasn't the best idea, after all. The big building only echoed our loneliness. Echoed our need for help.

Just as I wanted to let my mind drift to the golden olden days, the door to my room opened again. My heart sank when I realised it wasn't Lara who stepped inside. It was that mohawk girl. It was Livia. The girl who had practically thrown herself on Lara her mouth. That bitch. Was she the familiar voice? How is that possible?

"What the hell are you doing here?" I was shocked at how much I sounded like 95 year old man. I coughed.

"I was in the neighbourhood." Livia said grinning, in her Austrian accent. This was the first time I got a good, sober, look at her. She was actually quite attractive, and pretty fit. I'd never seen a girl who sported a mohawk so well. She really dressed like a surfer girl, with her ragged capri jeans, t-shirt, slippers and a colorful, cheap, necklace. Her eyes were as blue as the ocean. But why on earth was she here?

"Bullshit, seriously, what the fuck is going on? And you said you were getting some water." I said, really needing some water. It felt like my throat hadn't been watered in a decade.

"You're right, that is bullshit." She laughed. "I was actually visiting Lara, but heard she was at the hospital, so I came here. Also, your water? No idea what you're talking about. First time I stepped foot in this room, Sam." She was visiting Lara? How did she know where she was? Did Lara tell her, and if she did, why? Oh my God, I really hope Lara wasn't into her.

"Who was in my room just now then?" I asked surprised.

"Hit your head that hard, huh? I don't know?" Livia shrugged. "Lara, perhaps? She isn't in her room." My heart started racing again. The fact she wasn't in the room next to mine meant she either left it because she was okay, or because they lied and she was never here. My eyes started to tear up. I decided to get out of bed and check my phone. I got out and managed to stumble to my jeans, but unfortunately my phone wasn't in there.

"Hey." Lara said. I quickly turned around and saw Lara had stepped inside and was standing behind Livia. Livia pretended she wasn't even there. I felt absolutely overjoyed as I saw Lara standing there smiling as she was holding a cup of water. That was the familiar voice I heard. My mind wasn't messing with me. I was so happy she was okay.

"Lara!" I yelled as I ran towards her. I wanted to give her a hug, but she held her hand up to stop me.

"Wait, Sam." She stroked her ribs with one hand, before I reached her. "My ribs are bruised, please no hugs yet, okay?" She stepped aside and walked to the movable table on the side of my bed, and put the cup of water on it. I hadn't even seen that table before. It was one of those movable things which you were able to position all the way up to your face when you were in bed, so you could eat from it. I looked surprised as I realised my phone was on it, as well.

"Okay…" I said a bit baffled. "How're you feeling? That was quite the crash."

"Have some water first." Lara smiled. She was right, I still sounded like an old man. I quickly walked towards the table, grabbed the cup and gulped the water down.

"Thanks." I said. The water worked miracles as I actually sounded like a female now. I looked at Lara and saw no sign of any wounds.

"So, how're you?"

"Pretty good, actually, all things considered." Lara smiled again. "How about you?"

"Little weak in the legs, and head but I'll be fine. Jesus Christ Lara, I am so extremely glad you are okay. I was so fucking worried about you." I pointed at her head. "How's the head wound, I saw the blood in the car… Nothing bad?"

"Just a scratch on my head. Already closed up."

"Wow, how long have I been out for?"

"Quite a while, actually. I visited you every day."

"Every day?!" I asked shocked. I quickly grabbed my phone from the table and checked the date. "It's Sunday?!" I yelled. "That means I've been out almost an entire week, what the hell!"

"Yeah, you have been out for a bit. I was really worried about you, but the doctors said you were going to be fine. They kept you down to make sure you hadn't suffered any permanent damage."

"But that Mitsuo guy said-..."

"Fascinating!" Livia said. I had completely forgotten she was in the room with us, as well. I turn to her, and she was looking right at me, but then turned to Lara. "Well, I am off again. Lara I will speak to you when we can have a private moment, okay?" She winked at her, which made Lara blush. Livia stepped out the room and left.

"Uhm, what did she mean?" I asked Lara.

"I don't know. Perhaps she'd like to talk to me in private." Lara shrugged. "She's a bit weird, isn't she?" I looked at her, puzzled.

"Yeah… I guess so. Anyway, no time for that. Did that Mitsuo guy visited you, as well?"

"Yes, he did. And he explained everything to me. Quite..uh...fascinating, isn't it? Not sure what to think about it."

"Tell me about it." I said, suddenly realising I was still only wearing a hospital gown. "Do you mind if I get dressed quickly?" I added.

"Of course, sweetie." Lara said as she gestured at my clothes. She sat down on the side of the bed.

"What are we going to do?" I asked as I was putting on my pants.

"Well, he did make a convincing point, don't you think?"

"About what?" I frowned as I put my shirt over my head.

"You know, about why you would be the person to get the stone. It makes sense, I guess." She said. I looked at her for a bit, baffled at what she had just said.

"Did you hit your head too hard? He's saying I have to get some stone because it's probable I won't combust when I take it! The key word here being probable!" I yelled.

"Yeah, I mean, I get that. I'm just saying he makes sense."

"This is so fucking weird." I sat down beside Lara. "I mean, there's like a million questions I have about everything what had just happened and all you can say is 'he makes sense?' What the hell, Lara?"

"Well, if you have so many questions, ask them, maybe I can answer some of them." Lara shrugged. I lifted up my hands, as to gesture I had no idea where to begin.

"First off, why have I been out an entire week? Jesus, that's long. This Mitsuo Mitani guy said I had no permanent injuries."

"Well, I guess the doctors wanted to make absolutely sure." Lara looked at me. "I'm just really glad you're okay, Sam." She once again smiled.

"I...I'm glad you're okay, too, Lara, but you seem to be acting awfully casual about all this." I gave her a confused look.

"What do you want me to do?" She asked. She looked genuinely surprised as to why she should be anything else but casual about this.

"I don't know!" I threw my arms in the air. "Fuck, okay, fine. What is our next step? I mean, we aren't going with these guys, right?"

"Why not?" Lara asked dead serious.

"Well, for starters, they shot at us."

"Mitsuo said that wasn't meant to happen."

"And you trust that guy? Really?"

"Look, Sam, I know it sounds dodgy, but I've been doing some research on what Mitsuo has told me, and it all adds up. I asked him what the terms were , you know, for if we would agree to come along. He said we'd have armed guards around us at all times. We are allowed to carry weapons ourselves. There would always be a scout team ahead of us. Plus, he agreed we could release the true story about Yamatai. Well, without the magic stuff revolving around it." Lara said, apparently trying her best to convince me to come along, already. I didn't know how to react, it was all just too much, and too sudden. There was so many information to process, so many weird things happening, so many unanswered questions, so many things that didn't add up. And Lara suddenly decided it was okay to go?

"I need to eat something." I decided.

"Okay." Lara got off from the bed. "Where do you want to go?"

"Can we just go home?" I said hopeful.

"Sure." Lara smiled. "Let's go." She was already making her way to the door.

"Wait." I said, as I quickly jumped off the bed, as well. "Is that okay? I mean, with Mitsuo and everything?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Lara asked as she held the door open for me.

"Because I was handcuffed to the bed not so long ago?" I said, almost annoyed. Lara didn't answer me. There was something off with Lara, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe my mind was still a bit off by the blow it got. I followed Lara outside towards the car. My car, that is. Since, you know, Lara her car was probably at the dumping ground by now. I was glad we decided to buy two of them, actually. It was around noon, so it was light outside. The sun was shining and it was actually quite a beautiful day.

We didn't speak during the way home. It wasn't a long drive, but it still felt out of place. Especially because of what happened. There was more to talk about than ever before in our lives, but it felt like there was no incentive to do so. The guards were still there, as if they had never left. I looked at the one near the gate, as it opened, and he once again nodded at me, like I had never left. Lara parked the car near the front door.

"What do you want to eat?" She asked as she got out of the car.

"I don't really care. Something that will fill my stomach, what do we have?" I asked as I followed her. This felt like the last thing we should have a conversation about.

"A lot. I went grocery shopping." She smiled at me as we walked inside, the large empty living room awaiting. "I actually made some sandwiches already. You wait on the couch, I'll bring them in a minute, okay?"

"Sure, I guess." I went to the living room, as Lara made a left for the kitchen. I sat down on the couch and sighed. As I was waiting for Lara I suddenly realised I just walked out of a hospital, where I had been kept a week under narcoses, without telling a single doctor or nurse. Dear God, everything was so hazy, so clouded. It felt like my mind had taken a blow, rather than me physically. Lara walked inside with a plate full of sandwiches and placed them on the coffee table in front of me.

"Thanks." I said and gratefully grabbed one.

"You okay?" Said Lara who sat next to me.

"Sure." I said with a mouthful. "As good as I can be in this situation." Lara smiled. "Hey, listen. Why did we leave the hospital all of a sudden? I've told no doctors or nurses. Maybe we should go back?"

"No, it's fine." Lara said as she made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "I already talked to a doctor who said if you woke up, then you're free to go."

"That's kind of weird, Lara." I said as a swallowed another bite. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Okay, then, I guess." I didn't ask any further, I was just glad I was home and not in that hospital bed anymore. I guess I just had to accept some things didn't make sense at the moment. It was probably because my mind was fucked up. I didn't know what it was, but I was sure my brain wasn't running on full capacity. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Always, sweetie." She turned to me.

"What's up with you and that Livia girl?" I asked, slowly.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you made out with her and all. And back in the hospital she said she'd speak to you in private. Did you see her during the time I was in the hospital?"

"Yes, I did." She said, completely neutral.

"Oh…" I looked away. Fuck.

"Why, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing."

"Yes, there is. Tell me."

"No, seriously." I faked a smile. "I was just hoping you'd tell me a bit more. You know, what was going on."

"Well…" She looked down at her feet. "She's kinda cute…" Oh, God, please. "I don't know, really." She blushed. I fought back my tears.

"So, what did you do with her? You know, the past week while I was out." I said, passive aggressively.

"Just hung out, really. I kind of like being around her." She said, timidly. Oh, for the love of God, seriously? Lara actually turned out gay, but falls for another girl? Are you fucking serious?

"Aww, that's so cute." I couldn't even pretend to be happy about it.

"Is that...uh… weird for you?" I saw Lara being distressed. Maybe I shouldn't be so selfish, and be supportive of my best friend. But, fuck me, that was hard.

"No! Of course not." I smiled and put an arm around her. "It really is cute. Do whatever you like Lara, you know I will never judge you for anything. I mean, she is kind of hot."

"It's not about… it's…" Lara stammered. Despite the situation, I laughed as she turned even more red. It filled my heart with joy with how cute she was. I really should be supportive of her. But could I really be around her when she's with Livia? Perhaps that was something for another time. For now, I was just happy she and I were both okay, and together again. Sort of.

"So, what about the Amazon? Are we really going?" I said, trying to change the subject.

"Yeah, I mean, it's… Yes, I think it would be the best." Lara said quickly, probably glad I changed it.

"Why?"

"Several reasons, really. I mean, Mitsuo agreed we could use your footage to publish a show of some sort. As long as it didn't contain any supernatural stuff, you know? You can be the famous filmmaker you always wanted to be. I mean, even without the Himiko part, Yamatai is still one of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the century. And I can clear my family name, in the process."

"Being a famous filmmaker wouldn't help me if I die in the Amazon." I said, genuinely worried. I already knew we were going. If Lara had set her mind on something, that was it. It was going to happen, whether I like it or not.

"I told you, we are getting excellent protection. Not to mention that I am extremely curious about these stones and their powers. Look, Sam, I'd go alone if I could, honestly. But you need to come along, it really is worth a shot."

"What happens if they're wrong? What happens if Himiko didn't transfer any freaking DNA and I take the stone?" I asked, not accustomed to Lara being okay to put me in harms way.

"Mitsuo assured me that you would realise it before you would have to leave the place. If it's cool to the touch, you can safely take it. If it burns your hands, you have to leave it, and we have to come up with a different plan."

"Fine. I guess we are going to the Amazon." I said, to Lara her delight. I'd have put up more of a fight if I wasn't so tired and beat. I just wanted to shower and go to bed. "But you're staying by my side all the way, you have to promise."

"Of course, I promise." Lara smiled.

I was laying in bath, a very warm bath, with bubbles. I had spent the rest of the day eating and showering, and it was now evening. Lara told me Mitsuo would come by on Tuesday to discuss our plan, what we would do, and how. I had avoided Lara for the rest of the day. I wanted to think about what she had said about Livia. Honestly, it ate at me. I didn't deny to myself any longer that I loved Lara in a romantic way. I would've never dreamed about Lara being gay too, let alone feel the same way about me. But being gay, yet falling for another girl? Fuck, that's cruel. Though, I decided not to act on it. If she was happy this way, then fine, I'd support her the way I could. Though, the thing I was worried about most was that if Lara would actually get involved with Livia, I would have to move out. At some point Livia would move in, and it wouldn't possible for me to be here any longer. What on earth would I do without Lara? Where would I go? Live by myself? And then what? Jesus Christ, it was scary how important Lara was to me. Not only do I love her with all my heart, I depend on her too. As in, my life depends on hers. There is absolutely nothing worth living for if she isn't around. Perhaps I should do something about Livia and her? I mean, my feelings aside, she does kind of look like a bitch. Maybe I could convince Lara to see her the same way. Or was that a bad thing to do? God, I didn't know anymore. I just wanted Lara to myself. I tried to push back some tears, and decided to think about something else. Life doesn't always follow the path you'd like it to follow. I spend another half hour in the bathtub, trying to think about anything but Lara. However, since my life pretty much revolved around Lara, that was harder than I hoped it would be.

Finally, I opened the bathtub drain and the water started to run out. Slowly I watched the water go through the drain, together with my tears.