Chapter Twelve
Dr. Casssandra Mitchell wakes up at 2330 to see she is alone in the bed and Kaja is gone from the room. Kaja's bag is still in the room and open. Cass looks inside the bag and notices a pistol and a few clips inside of it. "Oh no, Kaja. Where did you go?" comments Cass to herself as she looks around the hotel room hoping the asari is only in the bathroom. Dr. Mitchell finally sees the note Kaja left for her on the table next to the couch. Cass sits down to read it:
Cass, my dear, I can't sleep. Too many things running through my mind. I went for a walk. I hope to be back before you wake up, but I'm leaving you this not in case you wake up before I return. I love you, Cass.
Kaja
She puts the note back on the table and curls up on the couch. Cass falls back asleep.
An hour later, Kaja returns to see Cass is on the couch and the note is in a different spot on the table. Which tells the asari, Cass read it. She takes the pistol from her waist, takes the clip out, and puts the gun back in her bag. Kaja kneels next to the couch and gently wakes the human. "Cass, my dear, I'm back."
"Where did you go?" asks Dr. Mitchell when she sees those blue eyes looking at her.
"I went for a walk to think about a few things. I'm sorry if I made you worry. I didn't mean to cause you any concern," answers Kaja with a reassuring grin on her face.
The look on Cass' face shows relief. She asks as she sits up, "Do you always go for walks when you have things on your mind?"
The huntress looks to see what time it is and feels guilty for her late night walk. "Yes, it helps me figure things out. Dad used to work out, I take walks." Kaja offers her hand to Cass. "I'm finally ready for bed."
Cass takes the hand offered to her and gets off the couch. She caresses the asari's cheeks softly, "What's on your mind, Kaja? Work, me, or something else?
Kaja leads Cass over to the bed. She removes a few articles of clothing without answering Cass' question. She isn't ready to say what is on her mind. To reveal the things she wants to do to keep the human safe. Kaja lies on her back looking up at the ceiling, feeling the guilt of putting the beautiful human's life in danger. Feeling the guilt of not paying more attention to the dangers from Eclipse. The huntress wonders what will it take to resolve this problem. If it that is even possible.
"Something wrong isn't it?" asks Cass when she joins Kaja and curls up again next to the asari.
Guilt is eating away at the huntress. "Yes, but it's not what you think, Cass." Kaja with her right hand supporting her head turns to face the human lying against her and decides to tell her now instead of later, "Cass, I love you. You've given me more than I can ever give you in return. It's because of you, I'm still alive. Eclipse is still after me and I'm afraid they'll go after you to get to me. It's a tactic used by scum to get their target to come at them without thinking, which make them easier to kill. I'm not stupid, Cass. Matriarch Jilianea has others from my unit looking into Eclipse. The threat is serious enough for her to look into it."
Kaja looks away when tears start rolling down her cheek, "If something was to happen to you while you are on Feros, I would never forgive myself. Because they went after you because of me. She pauses as she looks into the hazel colored eyes looking at her. "I am tempted to hire someone, a bodyguard, for you while your on Feros. I have a few people I trust completely and I'm sure they would help me if I asked. And if I paid them."
Dr. Mitchell lies there listening to every word Kaja is saying. She wipes the tears from her Kaja's face. Cass isn't sure what to say. She has already had this talk with Liara while Kaja was in the hospital. Cass already knows Eclipse is after Kaja and she got swept up in it. "I know your not stupid, Kaja. I know you'll do everything possible to keep us safe. If you think it's for the best then talk to them. I don't know how that will work at a dig site though."
The guilt is gone, but Kaja isn't feel any better. "I don't know either. It's an idea. I didn't think when I ran into Eclipse last year, this would be the result. Maybe I should have known. I didn't do anything, but interrupt a meeting. I guess it was enough for them to want revenge for it. I was there following up on a case involving red sand and a huntress smuggling the drug to Thessia. All I did was watch and take notes. I wasn't there to arrest anyone and used cloak most of the time. Maybe there is more to this and I don't know what it is. I need to find out."
Cassandra holds Kaja in her arms. The archeologist thinks more about what Kaja has said to her over the past few minutes. Bodyguard? Cass doesn't know what to think about that. Is it really necessary? What would the students think? Even if they are post-graduate students. Better question is what would the university think? "I left all my notes at the apartment, but I think there might be a security detail provided by the university. I would have to double-check that."
"Okay, that makes me feel a little better," comments T'Soni. It only makes the asari feel a little better. For some reason, Kaja thinks Cass is saying what she wants to hear to make her feel better. She will still worry about the archeologist's safety while they're apart. Maybe it's something she will always do, worry about Cass' safety. Even after dealing with the Eclipse issue. Kaja closes her eyes and relaxes as she lies next to the warm human.
–
Next Afternoon-Blu Rose Restaurant
The soldier and the archeologist are finishing their lunch. They are wearing the new dresses Kaja bought yesterday. The asari grins every time she looks across the table and sees Cass in the short-sleeved yellow dress. "Well, doctor. This was a good idea. One of the nicer restaurants I've been to lately." Kaja winks at Cass.
"One of, huh? I bet you take all your dates to restaurants like this one," teases Cass.
"Nah, only the ones who look smoking hot in yellow dresses," replies the asari. Kaja has a smirk on her face if her mother ever witnesses it. She would think she is seeing Leia. The huntress reaches across the table and gives Cass' hand a tender squeeze.
Cass bats her eyelashes at Kaja. "Is that so?" The human keeps flirting with the asari sitting across the table.
The salarian waiter checks on the couple. He ignore the interaction between the human and asari. "Would either of you care for dessert?" ask the waiter as he clears the table of the empty plates.
Kaja shakes her head, "No, thank you. Everything was wonderful."
"I'm full, but I will take a piece of chocolate cheesecake to go," replies Cass.
The waiter nods his head, puts in the order for dessert turns to head into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he returns with the cheesecake in a box tied with string to make it easier to carry. He also places the check on the table. Kaja grabs the check and pays the bill after looking it over, so she can decided on how much to leave as a tip.
They leave the Blu Rose and walk back to the hotel, so Cass can put the cheesecake in the room's mini-fridge. Dr. Mitchell goes to the room, while Lt. T'Soni goes across the street to the few shops to price a few items she noticed during her late night walk. One is an electronics store. Another is a personal security store. And a few stores up the block is a jewelry store.
The huntress goes to the electronics store first. She is looking to price a portable comm terminal. Kaja isn't sure what type of communications will be at the dig site and she wants to make sure Cass can communicate with her or anyone else at any time. She walks out of the store and leans with her back against the building watching her surrounding while waiting for Cass.
The human archeologist walks across the street heading in Kaja's direction. The huntress keeps a keen eye on Cass while the hazel-colored eye human crosses the street. Cass gives the asari a hug then a tender kiss. "Find anything?"
"I did. But I wanted to talk you about it first," replies Kaja as she leads Cass to the electronics store. She shows the archeologist the portal terminal she wants to get. "I don't know what type of communication you will have on Feros. Maybe having this terminal will make it easier for you to contact me or your family on Earth or your friends here. Maybe the university will set you up with one. I know there is the colony of Zhu's Hope on Feros, but you made it sound like it wasn't close to the site."
Cass looks over the terminal then she looks to Kaja standing next to her with a smile on her face. "I think I can use this, Kaja." She looks at the price and her mouth drops open. "Ah, you sure about this?"
Kaja already knows what it will cost her and the monetary value means nothing compared to knowing Cass is safe and able to contact her at a moment's notice. Plus it isn't the only thing Kaja wants to buy for Cassandra before she leaves for Feros. "Yes, I'm positive." The asari leans closer to speak softly, "Credits are the only thing I can use to keep you safe and give me peace of mind while we're separated. Plus, if I couldn't afford it, I wouldn't get it. I'm not foolish with my money."
"Okay, you win," comments Cass with her hands out in a defeated pose. She gives Kaja a hug, "If this makes you feel better, who am I to say no. I can take it any where right?"
"Yes, you can take it any where," answers the asari huntress. Kaja takes the terminal to the counter so she can pay for it. She gives the store employee instructions to deliver it to her mother's house. Kaja's plan is to set it up for Cass while they are at her mother's tomorrow.
The asari/human couple walk to the personal security store holding hands. Before going inside, Kaja stops to say something, "Cass, there is something here I want to get for you too. Something else to help keep you safe when I am not around."
Dr. Mitchell hugs the asari tightly before asking, "What is it?"
"It's a piece of jewelry fitted with a small shield generator. It will stop small arms fire like pistols," answers Kaja with a hint of concern mixed with a dash of guilt in her demeanor. She puts a smile on her face anyway.
Cass starts to think about things. The way Kaja is fretting over her safety is finally sinking in. Maybe this is the time to tell the asari what she wanted to say last night. Cass takes the commando's hand and leads her back to the hotel. "I have something I want to say. What I couldn't say last night."
Ut oh, I wonder what this is about. Lt. T'Soni walks with Cass as they cross the street and enter the hotel. Kaja wonders what is on Cass' mind. The asari has enough patience to allow the human the time she needs to say what she needs to say.
As they enter the room, Cass says, "Kaja, please sit. I have something I need to say to you." Cass points to the couch. Kaja sits on the couch while Cass grabs a chair in sits in it facing the asari. The human takes the asari's blue hands and places a tender kiss upon each one before saying, "I love you, Kaja." A bright smile appears on Dr. Mitchell's face. "I know you love me and I know you're scared about my safety. I also know we've only met over a week ago, but I feel like I've known you my whole life."
Cassandra pauses to caress the huntress' cheek. "We both agree everything between us has moved at FTL speed." Kaja chuckles at the comment, but doesn't say anything. She listens carefully to every word. "I'm going to ask you something and I don't want you to answer right away. I want you to take the time to actually think about it. Even if you think you have an answer, I don't want your answer today."
Lt. T'Soni is seeing an assertive side of Cass. Not only is Kaja liking this side of Cass, it's also turning her on. "Yes, dear," remarks the huntress as she continues to give Cassandra her full attention. The asari has a grin on her face when she looks the human in her hazel-colored eyes.
"I appreciate everything you are trying to do to keep me safe. If I didn't want this, being with you. I wouldn't have spent every moment I wasn't at work with you while you were still in the hospital. I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Cass looks into the ocean blue eyes staring at her. Kaja's calmness is making Cass nervous again. She wonders if that will ever go away. Being nervous around the asari she loves dearly. "Will you, Kaja T'Soni, spend what is left of my life with me?"
Kaja leans her head to one side and smirk. The asari has an answer, but will do what Cass wants. Which is to think about it and not give her the answer today. Instead of commenting, Kaja asks, "Are you asking me what I think you are asking, Doctor?"
"Yes, I suppose I am, Lieutenant," answers the archeologist as she moves from the chair to straddle Kaja's lap. She whispers, "I still don't want your answer today." Dr. Mitchell starts kissing the huntress' neck and running her fingers over the folds of skin on the back of Kaja's head. She moves from one side of the asari's neck to the other.
Kaja closes her eyes, wraps her right arm around Cass. She puts her left arm on Cass' side. "Hold on, Cass. I want to try something," says the huntress as she stands up. Cass has her arms around Kaja's neck. T'Soni clinches her teeth and jaw when a sharp pain goes from her shoulder down her arm as she carries the archeologist to the bed. The huntress tries hard to carefully put Cass down, but drops her on the bed instead. "Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to drop you," comments Kaja as she gives the human under her a grin.
An 'oomph' escapes Cass' lips as Kaja drops her on the bed then she starts laughing. "Better than landing on the floor."
"Goddess, I wish I hadn't done that." grimaces Kaja as she lies next to Dr. Mitchell. "Let me ask you something, my dear." She puts her left forearm into the brace to keep it from moving.
Cass straddles Kaja's mid-section, shaking her head at the asari lying under her. "Be careful, Kaja. Your shoulder won't heal if you keep doing things you're not suppose to do. Like picking me up and carrying me across the room. What do you want to ask, sweetie?"
"Yes, my lady." Kaja has a sheepish grin on her face. "You told me you didn't want my answer today, but you never said when you wanted it. How long do you want me think about your proposal?" asks Kaja as she moves some hair from Cass' face.
"Hmm. I don't know. I do want you to give it heavy consideration. Please. I don't want you doing something you don't want because you feel you need to keep me safe. Keeping me safe seems to me to be your priority. I appreciate it very much and I love you for it. What I want most of all is for you to be happy, Kaja. Whether that is with me or someone else," replies Cassandra. She leans closer and barely touches Kaja's nose with her own. "Okay?"
The asari moves her head enough to kiss the human straddling her. "Okay. But I must say, this assertiveness you are showing today is turning me on, Cass." Kaja runs her finger across Cass' chin.
"Oh, is that so?" replies the archeologist before she starts kissing the huntress again. She stops long enough to remove her dress and unfasten the brace around Kaja's shoulder. Making it easier for the asari to remove the dress she is wearing. Cass kisses the left side of the asari's neck, moves up to the jaw line, and finally to Kaja's lips. Cass breaks away from the blue lips she's kissing when she feels Kaja only using her right arm and is leaving her left arm across her chest, "Need your brace back on, sweetie?"
"Yes, please," answers Kaja. Cassandra carefully puts the brace over the wounded shoulder, while the commando runs her free hand sensually over the human's left side. Kaja reaches around to unhook the archeologist's bra then removes it completely when Cass finishes putting the brace back on. "Thank you, my dear. Close your eyes and relax," replies Kaja before her eyes turn black when she starts their meld.
–
Several hours later
Cass and Kaja are lying on the bed holding each other arms after another life altering meld. Kaja holds Cass with her right arm, thinking about their future together. The young asari is sure she wants to settle down with the human lying next to her. What Kaja worries about the most is Eclipse and how she feels she is living on borrowed time. Is that fair to Cass? Kaja isn't sure. Maybe that is why Cass wants her to think about her proposal before giving her an answer. Kaja sighs softly so not to wake the human next to her.
Cass starts to stir in Kaja's arm. The human opens her hazel-colored eyes and sees Kaja lying next to her in what Cass thinks is in deep thought. She moves to give Kaja a soft peck on the cheek. "You look like you're in deep thought."
"Heh, you could say that." The investigator in Kaja wants to see Cass' expression when she tells her some of what she is thinking. Kaja gives Cass a tender kiss on the lips then gets out of bed. She puts a robe on before looking out the window to the busy street below. "I've been considering your proposal." Kaja turns her attention to Dr. Mitchell. "Cass,..." The asari rubs the back of her neck then looks out the window again with a heavy heart. "...because of Eclipse. I feel like I am living on borrowed time. I'm not sure if that is fair to you." Kaja moves to sit on the edge of the bed next to the human still lying on it. She takes Cass' hand into her own.
Dr. Mitchell rubs Kaja's back, "Kaja, you're a commando. Your life is always in danger. I know and understand you could die on any mission you go on. Stop trying to push me away."
"I'm not very good at this, am I?" Kaja glances over to Cass, but is unable to look Cass in the eyes. The asari thinks today is the first time since she was a child, she is unable to look someone in the eye. It is the one of many things her parents taught her and her sisters at a very young age. Hold your head high and look people in the eye. Even when you are in trouble. Own up to your mistakes and learn from them. Kaja hears her father's voice in the back of her mind. From do your duty to I love you, little one and everything in between.
Hearing her father's voice is too much for Kaja. She slides off the bed and curls up on the floor. Kaja starts mumbling incoherently about being unable to live up to her father's deeds and how she isn't Commander Shepard. "I can't. I'm not you. I'm not good enough." Kaja repeats the three sentences over and over as she covers her head with the robe. She is oblivious to Cass being in the room with her. The self applied pressure of being the eldest child of the late great Commander Leia Shepard has broken the huntress.
Cass joins Kaja on the floor. "Kaja, come back." She is unsure what will bring Kaja back to the present. Dr. Mitchell took a couple psych classes in college, but nothing in her studies has prepared her for what she is witnessing. Cass attempts to move the robe from Kaja's head and Kaja holds it tighter. "Come on, sweetie. At least get off the floor. Please."
Kaja curls up into a tighter ball when Cass tries to move the robe from her head. "No. No. I can't do this. Not anymore. I'm not you. I'm not you." The huntress keeps repeating herself.
Cass gets off the floor, puts her clothes back on, and calls Liara. It's the only thing she thinks might help. Maybe Liara can bring her back. Cass hopes so.
Dr. Liara T'Soni's form appears on the holo. "Hello, Cassandra. Something wrong?"
"Yes, ma'am. It's Kaja. I don't know what to do. She's curled up on the floor mumbling how she isn't good enough. I think you need to get here. We checked into the Duchess Hotel. Room 1011," replies Cass. There is a great deal of concern in the human's tone and body language.
Liara picks up on both Cass' body language and her tone. "I'll be right there, Cassandra." The holo of Liara disappears when the Shadow Broker ends the call. Liara gives Glyph some instructions and takes a data pad with her in case Glyph needs to contact her. Within five minutes, Liara is out the door and on her way downtown to find out what is wrong with her daughter. Dr. T'Soni has a feeling, Kaja finally snapped from all the pressure Kaja has put on herself trying to live up to her father's deeds.
Dr. Mitchell goes back and sits on the floor by Kaja, so she can try to bring Kaja back to the present. It's obvious to Cass that Kaja's mind is some place else. She cautiously puts her hand on Kaja's arm. "Kaja, it's okay. I'm here. Please come back." Cass pulls her arm back when she sees the huntress' biotics start to flare. "I won't hurt you, sweetie. I promise."
Lieutenant Kaja T'Soni flares her biotics when she feels a hand on her arm. "I'm not good enough. I'll never be you, dad. Never. I can't do what you did. I don't have what it takes to be a good commando. I'm not good enough. I can't do my duty, dad. I'm not you. I'm not you."
Cass sits against the wall crying. Scared to touch the asari she loves. She is afraid Kaja will use her biotics. The asari has already flared them once when she touched her. Cassandra Mitchell hears a knock at the door. The human wipes the tears from her face before she gets off the floor to answer the door. She looks through the peep-hole to make sure it's Liara before she opens the door. "Please, come in."
The Shadow Broker hears Kaja talking to Shepard. "Oh, Goddess." Liara gives Cass a hug. "How long as she been like this?"
Cass replies, "Not very long. When I realized she wasn't hearing me, I called you. She keeps saying she's not good enough. I touched her arm and she flared her biotics, so I backed off. Liara, I'm scared I'm losing her." The archeologist sits in the chair to give Liara room to deal with Kaja. She still has tears running down her cheeks and her hand is covering her mouth.
Liara walks over to the other side of the room and kneels next to her daughter, "Little one, it's mom. It's okay. You don't have to do anything anymore. You don't have to be your father. You never did, little one."
"I failed, mom. I failed. I'm not good enough. I'll never be good enough. How can dad be proud of a failure like me? How?" asks Kaja as she peeks at her mom with the robe still over her head. "I'm not even good enough for Cass. Being with me will make Eclipse go after her and there's nothing I can do about it. She's better off without me." The huntress looks away and keeps her head covered with the robe.
Hearing what Kaja is telling Liara is like a dagger through Cass' heart. She sits in the chair crying, thinking her gut was right. It was too soon. Kaja's breakdown is her fault. All she wants is to spend her life with the huntress. Kaja is good enough. But she isn't sure if she is able to convince Kaja that.
Liara looks at her daughter then over to Cass. She knows Kaja's words have cut through the human like a hot knife to butter. "Kaja, please get up. You are good enough and your father loves you. All you need to do is live your life. Stop trying to be your father and be Kaja. I want you out of the military. I never wanted you to join in the first place." Liara looks to Cassandra again and motions with her hand to join her. Cass joins Liara and sits on the floor with her knees against her chest. Dr. Mitchell doesn't say anything.
Kaja shakes her head in defiance from under the robe. "I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough for anyone."
"Okay, Kaja T'Soni. If you're not good enough, why is Cassandra still here?" asks Liara as she points the the human sitting on the floor next to her.
Lt. T'Soni answers, "I'll get her killed because I'm not good enough to stop it. I'm not good enough" The huntress keeps repeating it.
The Shadow Broker whispers into Cassandra's ear, "Follow me." Cass nods, but stays silent. Dr. T'Soni gets off the floor and walks to the other side of the hotel room. Dr. Mitchell follows her. Liara leads her to the bathroom, so they can talk without Kaja hearing them. "Cassandra, I hate to ask this, but I feel I must. What were you two talking about before she curled up on the floor?"
"We were talking about our future together and how she feels it's not fair to me because she feels she is living on borrowed time because of Eclipse. Dr. T'Soni, I asked her to spend the rest of my life with me and to think about it before giving me her answer. Then suddenly she curled up on the floor and started mumbling how she isn't good enough. Seeing her like this. Hearing what she is saying is breaking my heart. She is pushing me away and I don't understand why," answers Cass. She then adds, "I feel like this is my fault. Just like I felt it was my fault she got shot in the first place,"
Liara gives the human a small grin as she nods, thinking what she can say to get her daughter off the floor. "Cass, what has she said to make you think you caused this? Don't forget, Cass, you were wrong about how it was your fault she got shot. I'm willing to bet everything I own, you are not the reason for her breakdown."
Dr. Mitchell thinks for a moment, "She keeps saying she's not good enough. I think she is either talking about her father or me. I'm not sure which. If I hadn't asked her to think about it, maybe she wouldn't have curled up on the floor. Maybe you're right, Liara. I hope so."
"I think she's scared then add in what happened last week. I think all of it is finally catching up with her. Plus, Kaja has never dealt with Shepard dying. Kaja has her entire life try to live up to her father. I can't live up to what Shepard did and I was there with her during the war. Her father is one of a kind." The elder asari gives Cass a tight hug. "I asked you last week to be there for her and so far you haven't left her side. But if this is becoming too much for you, Cassandra. You should leave, so I can take her home and try to get her head back on straight. I hate to sound rude, but it is what is best for Kaja."
Shaking her head at Liara and pointing in the Kaja's direction, "I'm not leaving her. I love her, Liara. I suspected she has unresolved issues with her father. I noticed it the night we met. Her demeanor changed when she saw Commander Shepard's statue. I'm here for her. If I need quit the dig site on Feros, that is what I will do," replies Cass.
"Good, now let's try to get her off the floor, so we can take her home." says Liara with a somber smile on her face. "You need to do your job and go to Feros. I know that is what Kaja wants. Even if she says otherwise."
"Yes, ma'am. I want her happy. I think I make her happy, but now I'm not so sure." comments Dr. Mitchell as she hangs her head.
Dr. T'Soni places her hand on the human archeologist's shoulder. "Trust me, Cassandra. You make her happy. Go and pack up your and Kaja's bags and meet me outside. I'll get Kaja off the floor and dressed, so we can take her go home."
Cass starts to feel better. She hugs Liara tightly, "Thank you." Dr. Mitchell walks out of the bathroom with Liara a step behind. She grabs her bag off the floor, tosses her and Kaja's clothes from the floor in the bag. Cass takes Kaja's bag and removes a shirt and a pair of shorts. She puts them on the bed.
Kaja is still curled up on the floor, The robe is still covering her head. The only difference is she is now saying, "Don't leave me, daddy. Come back. Come back. Don't leave me, daddy. Don't go. I don't want you to go, daddy." She has her left arm stretched out as far as the brace will allow it. It looks like she is reaching out to her father.
Hearing what the commando is saying, Liara's eyes start to tear up. The Shadow Broker kneels down next to her daughter and takes her into her arms. "Little one, it will be alright. I'm here. Cassandra is here." Liara motions for Cass to join her.
"Daddy's gone. Daddy's gone. She left because I wasn't good enough. Because I'm a bad commando. Daddy's gone," says Kaja as she cries on her mother's shoulder. "Cass will leave me too when she realizes I'm not good enough. Just like daddy."
Dr. Mitchell kneels next to Liara, so she can hug Kaja. "I'm not leaving you, Kaja. I love you."
Kaja lifts her head to look at Cass. "You'll leave me, Cass. I know you will. Daddy did." She buries her face in her mother's shoulder, "Don't leave me, momma. Don't leave me."
"Shhhh shhh, little one. I'm here. Kaja, let's get you off the floor and dressed. I'm taking you home. Cassandra is coming too. Right?" comments Liara as she helps Kaja off the floor.
Cass helps Kaja out of her robe. "Sweetie, I'm here. I'm not leaving." She puts Kaja's shirt on the asari without taking the brace off first. As she helps Kaja put her right arm through the sleeve, Cass whispers, "You're good enough. More than good enough for me, Kaja. I love you." She places a tender kiss on the asari's cheek.
After Kaja puts on her shorts, Cass and Liara walk with her to check out of the hotel. Liara is taking both Cassandra and Kaja to her house. They stop at the apartment first, so Cass can grab the portable extranet terminal. She also grabs the Prothean memory shard, but leaves everything else.
When they get to Liara's house, Cass helps Kaja out of the car. Liara grabs their bags and opens the door for the couple. Kaja isn't speaking and hangs her head. The young asari walks into her room to curl up on the bed. Dr. Mitchell stays with Kaja and lies next to her. She holds Kaja in her arms.
Liara walks into the bedroom with a glass of water and a couple of sedatives. "Kaja, you need to take these. They will calm you down and allow you to sleep."
Kaja sits up enough to take the pills then lies back down. The huntress still doesn't say anything until her mother leaves the room. When she hears the door close, Kaja says, "Cass, why stay with me? I'm a mess. "
"What kind of person would I be if I left you because you're having a hard time? I'll go back to working at the museum if you don't want me to go to Feros," replies the archeologist.
The huntress doesn't have a response to give Cass. All she can manage is to curl up tighter against the human. Cassandra holds Kaja tight against her warm body. Within a few minutes, Kaja T'Soni falls asleep in Cass' arms. A few minutes after Kaja falls asleep, Cass joins her in slumber.
Liara opens the door quietly and checks on Kaja. She grins some when she sees Kaja and Cass sleeping and in each other arms. "I love you, little one. Thank you, Cassandra." Liara closes the door to let them sleep. Hopefully, they'll sleep until morning. It seems to the Shadow Broker they both need it.
–
A/N: It finally happened, Kaja finally broke down. Stay tuned next week to see what happens next. There are two more chapters then I'll start posting Part 2. That will be it's own story and will be rated M for language.
See everyone next week.