A/N: Hello? Remember me? Didn't think so. Anyways, apologies on this one taking so long. I wrote it sometime last fall, then I got a bad floo, so I put my notebook away so it wouldn't get infected because I don't know how to properly sterilize a notebook. Then I forgot where it was. Then I got carbon monoxide poisoning. Then I got the Half-Life series so I played some of that. Then I dropped a bottle of cleaner and lost half of the vision in my left eye. Then when I was in the hospital for that they discovered the CO poisoning ended up doing a bit of damage to my heart muscles and sometimes it hurts. Also sometimes we ran out of money and didn't have groceries so I got hungry. Sometimes I wonder if I live in some dramatic tv show. Anyways feel free to ignore all that boring stuff, let's get to the story.

(Usually I'd provide exceedingly boring commentary on what I was thinking about when I wrote this, but I can't remember.)

18. Trial
Summary: A quiet moment within the testchamber walls.
Genre: Friendship
Characters: Chell, Wheatley
Warnings: Mild Chelley?

Long after her escape from There, it would not be the portal to the moon that would be crystal-clear in her mind; nor would it be Her awakening, or Her downfall leading to his betrayal.

Instead, it would be a quiet moment. A moment taking place in one of those hidden spaces within the testchamber walls.

Somehow, without the ability to use her voice, she had managed to negotiate for her little blue companion to be spared from Her claw and for him to accompany him throughout the testchambers. In hindsight, she would wonder just what had compelled her to do that - after all, hadn't she wished just minutes before that he would just shut up?

But hindsight is always 20/20, and when it came down to things, she was successful.

Throughout the chambers, he proved to be a talkative, albeit seldom helpful, companion. It was a stark contrast from Before, from the first 19 testchambers. No longer was there the all-pervading sense of isolation, nor the feeling that nobody would miss her if she died within these white walls.

Because now she had a friend.

Despite the influx of adrenal vapor that permeated the stale air to provide a constant cycle of testing, flinging herself through portals, avoiding the path of turrets, lasers, and deadly water, all while lugging about a small but hefty metal ball, eventually did take its toll on her.

Which only served to make the discovery of another den a great relief. She had been leaning against a panel, out of breath, trying to ignore Her taunts and figure out the layout of the current chamber when the panel behind her suddenly had given way. Although she didn't land on her behind - that would have been a little too undignified - she had come very close, and much flailing ensued in the struggle to catch her balance.

She had fallen into a two-foot-deep pit. Drawings and words were scrawled on the wall. One of the drawings was of herself.

Wheatley was oddly silent, so Chell gave him a little shake.

"Oh? Why'd you stop? Look here, lady, we truly, honestly cannot afford to waste any time, not with Her up and about. We can't give Her any -"

Chell, mindless of his panicked babbling, yawned and slid down to a sitting position.

"- on the other hand, you have defeated Her before, so I'll just defer to your vast experience and let you decide, all right?"

Chell's only response was another yawn as she settled down. She picked up a semi-circular radio, fiddling with the knobs. It began to play a song; not the short, jazzy loop she was normally used to hearing, but a slower, sadder song.

Does it feel like a trial?

Does it trouble your mind the way you trouble mine?

Chell exhaled, looking down at the blue-eyed core beside her. His optic was half-closed in what appeared to be a simulated drowsiness.

"We'll escape Her, luv," he mumbled. "Both of us. We make a good team, don't we? You with your arms and legs and portal device, and me with my elite hacking skills."

Chell yawned again.

"Tired, luv?"

She held up an extended hand. Give me five minutes.

Within moments she was asleep. He could give her ten.