I was silent for a moment, stunned.

"You know we can't start over," I said, my voice strained. "Too many things have happened. You've... you've done too much. Yes, we can move on. But starting over again isn't an option."

Wash looked down.

"Somehow, I knew you were going to say that," he said. He was quiet for a moment. "But don't think I'm going to give up."

He spoke suddenly, fiercely, gazing at me unwaveringly.

"Just because I screwed us up the last time doesn't mean I plan to again."

I said nothing back, though my heart was beating wildly. I turned quickly to exit the room but immediately collapsed on the floor before I could leave. "Augh!"

I had moved too fast. My ribs pounded horribly and I grabbed them protectively. "God damn it!"

Wash rushed over to support me and flung an arm around me just as Tucker strode in and immediately glared at Wash. "Ells, what's going on?"

"I'm fine!" I snapped, painfully shaking Wash off and staggering back to the couch by myself.

Wash rolled his eyes. "Right. You can't even turn around without falling. You're perfectly fine."

"I don't need your help," I shot back. Tucker walked forward to stand between me and Wash, and I growled in frustration. "I don't need your help either!" I scowled at the aqua soldier, balling my fists. This was just too much. "There is too much testosterone around here!"

Church walked in carrying some pain medication but stopped as I spat the last sentence.

"Okay, um, I don't think there's anything we can do about that, Eleven," he said, his eyebrows raised. Wash and Tucker were busy shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.

"Yes, there is," I muttered irritably. I knew one person who could save me from all the men. "Where's Donut?"

After convincing the Blues and Wash that I could walk without killing myself, I carefully used the portal—by myself—and tenderly walked toward Red base.

"Donut!" I called.

"Ells, we're in the kitchen!" I heard his voice say back.

I walked carefully into the kitchen an encountered Donut and Caboose having what looked like… a tea party.

"You're just in time for some jasmine tea!" the pink soldier said excitedly. Caboose waved as he happily munched on some cookies. "It'll make your ribs feel better for sure! Jasmine helps soothe bruises!"

I was pretty sure that wasn't true, but I didn't press the matter. I sat down slowly at the table and drank out of the cup Donut handed me.

"How are you feeling, by the way?" he asked, sipping daintily at his own teacup. "We heard about what happened—"

"Wait, wait, wait," I cut him off. Caboose was now dumping cube after cube of sugar in his tea. "First, I need to get something straight. What the hell happened when Wash and I left?"

Donut sighed. "It took us a long time to wake up. And then it took us a long time to realize that you were gone. For a bit, we assumed that you'd just gone over to Red base to check things out. And then you didn't come back. By the time the other Reds, Caboose and I came over here to check for you, Wash had already carried you back unconscious.

"You were out for a long time, Ells. While you were passed out, we returned back to Blue base and Wash explained everything. Meta and the AIs and Tex and all that. We…" he paused, downing his tea in a large gulp rather reminiscent to a shot. "We've got some shit to deal with here."

"Ugh, tell me about it," I groaned. "This whole situation is a disaster. And now the AIs are even more powerful than they were before!"

"And," Donut added. "We can't start looking for them until you get better. That's a bit of a setback." Donut thought for a moment. "Do you think Meta did that on purpose? Beat you up like that?"

"What do you mean, 'on purpose'? It's not like he was accidentally kicking the shit out of me."

"No, I mean, do you think he injured you because he knew it would take you a while to recover, and we can't go looking for them until then?"

"I doubt it. He and O'Malley were planning on killing all of us, so that's probably not it." I sighed. "I'm tempted to tell you guys to go on without me, but I have a feeling a couple of people back at Blue base wouldn't even let me bring up an idea like that."

Donut glanced at me knowingly. "You mean the two over at Blue base who pretty much have hated each other since they got here?"

I buried my face in my hands. "They started fighting while I was unconscious. Well, I guess I wasn't unconscious then. I was just listening to them argue. They… well, they—uh—"

"I'm guessing Tucker wasn't too happy about Wash attacking you," Donut commented knowingly.

I didn't look at him. "He won't be happy if he finds out about last night, either."

Donut choked on his tea. "'Last night?'"

"Not like that!" I said quickly, my face reddening. I groaned. "I was just having nightmares, and, apparently, the only way to get me to stop freaking out in my sleep was for Wash to… uh…" I wasn't sure how to go on. "To, like… put his arms around me."

Donut raised an eyebrow. "You mean you were cuddling?"

"No!" I responded sharply. I stopped, struggling for words, as Donut gave me a piercing stare. I crumbled. "…Yes."

"And you were okay with this?"

I glared at him. "I didn't even know he was doing it until I woke up. And then I freaked out at him. So, no. I was not okay with that. I'm just glad Tucker didn't see it. I don't think I can stand anymore fights."

"You're the only girl in this canyon," Donut said simply. "Something like this was bound to happen."

"Well, it's not making my job any easier," I responded bitterly.

"Come on, Ells, when is this job ever easy?"

"Point."

Donut and I fell silent for a moment as Caboose began blowing bubbles into the cream with a straw.

"I hate feeling like I can't do anything useful," I said, rubbing at my ribs absently. "I hate feeling weak."

"You aren't," the pink soldier insisted. "You're temporarily out of service."

"Great," I responded dryly. This recovery period was going to make me crazy. "So I'm like a plugged up porta-potty."