"Never, never again."

Jane squeezed Maura for a second longer, feeling the other woman hold her tightly also. The Captain had no idea what had overcome her, suddenly she was making promises and hugging this stranger. Yet she couldn't shake something, an itch in the back of her mind. As she felt Maura's hands grip her tighter it almost felt like she had felt them before.

She felt fear and uncertainly twist at her stomach at that thought. She inhaled, trying to regain her composure but she felt the muscles in her shoulders relax, her nose picking up just the faint trace of vanilla, like it had when she was giving Maura the boots. Something about the smell made her forget that they were from two different Universes, made her forget that they were strangers. Quickly Jane let go, stepping out of Maura's arms. She coughed into her fist, trying to clear her voice, but it still came out raspy.

"I won't, okay?"

"Okay," Maura replied softly, wiping at a stray tear. She stepped out of Jane's grasp, collecting herself. The Captain's memory seemed to kick in finally.

"Oh, Maura…," Jane hesitated, waiting until the blonde turned to look at her. "Some… things came through with you." Maura tilted her head asking,

"Something's came through the portal with me you mean?"

"Yeah," Jane answered, remembering the shell thing that Officer Carlson was holding and the dark bag the other Officer was holding. "A bag of some sort, I'm not sure if whatever was inside of i-" but Maura cut her off before she could finish.

"Bass, please tell me Bass is alright!?" Maura asked urgently, walking up to her, locking eyes with Jane.

"Bass?"

"My tortoise." Jane's face fell, her eyebrows knitting together.

"Your what?"

"My tortoise," Maura said again, her face urgent. Jane looked down at her Omnicuff, making sure her translator was still working. When she got a green light back Jane grew even more confused.

"I uh…. I have no idea what a… tortoise is?" Jane's raspy voice stumbled over the odd word.

"It's an animal often times mistaken for a turtle." Jane perked up at the word turtle.

"Hey I know what turtles are. But I have no idea what a…. tortoise is. I'm pretty sure the shelly thing was an animal though." Jane scratched the back of her neck, upset that she couldn't provide Maura with more information.

"Where is he? I have to make sure that he's alright." Maura's mind raced, Bass being the last connection that she has to her old life, Maura needed to see him. Jane watched as the other woman started to pace slowly. The Captain gulped feeling out of her element, not knowing how to calm her down.

"Bass… Is in quarantine along with the other things that came through with you."

"He hasn't been feed, he needs to eat, I need to see him." Maura looked at the door that lead to the hallway, not thinking rationally. Jane finally rested one of her hands on the blonde's shoulder, getting her full attention.

"Maura, you're in no condition to start wondering around the ship, you're tired and need to rest. Tell me what Bass eats, I'll go down to the gardens, see if I can find something, hopefully and then bring him up here for you," Jane spoke louder hushing Maura's objections. "While I'm doing that, why don't you take a shower? You look like you need some help relaxing." Maura smiled softly again, no matter what Jane knew what she needed.

"I think I would like that actually."

"I thought as much," Jane said. She walked over to the table, wrapping up the rest of her sandwich and tucked it into her pants pocket. Turning around to face Maura again, she swiped her finger over her Omnicuff a blank screen popping up.

"So what does a turtle eat?" The Captain asked.

"It's a tortoise Jane," Maura said shaking her head.

After showing Maura how the shower works, which took longer than she had expected due to the blonde asking so many questions, Jane finally left Maura's apartment. The door closed softly behind her as she made her way to the elevator, rubbing her forehead. All of this business with Maura has been distracting her from her normal duties, but now it was too late, everyone would have gone back to their rooms, their shifts over.

Jane sighed as the elevator doors opened, still it wouldn't hurt to look and see how all the repairs were going. They wouldn't be able to fix the hole in the side of the ship until they get back to the Charkgin home world. Jane rocked on her feet as the elevator moved. They would have to slow down there normal speed. The door that separated the room that was subject to zero gravity and the rest of the ship was thin compared to the metals that made up the hull and she didn't want to take any chances.

She had ordered that section of the ship sealed off, no one allowed over there, she didn't want to lose even more of her crewmates. The doors opened reviling a deserted Wing D. She stepped out, her boots hitting the grated ground echoed down the long hallway. Jane slowed done her swagger, spotting the area where the fuel line exploded. Someone had welded a metal plate over the hole, making it look tacky. The floor wasn't littered with bits of metal like it was the first time she had seen it, when they found Jacob's body.

Jane stepped around where she knew where the Commanders body had lain, respecting that spot. Konif had only told them enough to understand how she had died, but other than that the redhead had grown silent. Jane itched to know what went down in her ship, what happened to cause such chaos. She sighed heavily and kept walking down the hall.

She opened a Holoscreen from her Omnicuff looking at the list of things that Maura had told her to grab. The Brunette looked up, the gardens stretching around her, the ceiling domed, artificial sun light coming down from it. Jane had forgotten just how massive this area was. It fed the ship with oxygen and filled the reserves, not to mention they eat the fresh plants. Jane rubbed a soft leaf between her pointer finger and thumb, looking at the row of plants there.

Maura had been very specific as to what Bass could and could not eat; half of the list was unknown to Jane and another chunk not an option due to them not having it on Hapsha. Sighing Jane walked around, looking for the handful of things that she hoped would be down her.

Maura sighed happily as water pounded against the tense muscles against her shoulders. She turned, letting the water spray down on her chest, her hair clinging to her neck and face. She closed her eyes, resting one of her hands against the wall, welcoming the steam that was filling the room, clearing her nasal cavities, helping her breath better. She took a step forward, bowing her head as the water sprayed against the back of her head. Her shoulders drooped as her mind grew blank for once, letting her enjoy this moment of normalcy.

Konif smiled at something Shafter had said, feeling its hand rest against her own, squeezing it softly. Palmer had passed out awhile ago, his light snores echoing through the medbay. Shafter's humming laughter slowly died down, its eyes looking away from her and into the tubes that tangled into her open Omnicuff.

"Shafter?" the redhead asked, looking at where it was.

"We almost lost you Olga…," it paused, its voice growing soft, its bottom two eyes slowly started to fill up with black, its third eye blinked twice; sadness. "I almost lost you." Konif turned her hand in Shafter's gripping its fingers.

"Shaf…," she spoke in a whisper, her other hand coming around, cupping the aliens face, making it look at her. Jane had once asked Shafter why Charkgin didn't cry. It was just out of mild curiosity, crying being such a big thing that Humans do to express their feelings. When Jane had asked, the redhead had stayed quiet, she had seen Shafter cry before; all those years ago when it had saved her life.

Its long arms had wrapped her up, its tall body protecting her from the flames that blew out of the back thrusters of a Fighter by accident. She remembered it perfectly; looking up slowly as she felt heat envelop her but felt no sting of injury. Through the screams of people, all trying to turn off the flames before they killed Konif, no one spotting Shafter there, its Simitu suit saving her. She was shocked when she locked eyes with her savoir. Dark blue eyes met her own, tears falling from the Charkgins face, its neck vibrating.

"Please be okay little human."

Konif pulled herself out of the memory, looking at Shafter, a tear falling out of the eye next to her hand. She leaned forward, Shafter closing its eyes as Konif carefully kissed the tear off of its cheek, resting her forehead lightly against Shafters.

"But you didn't, I'm here," Konif paused, feeling Shafter lean forward, resting its face in the crook of her neck, its hand gripping hers. The redhead still had yet to drop her hand from its cheek. "You didn't lose me," she took a small breathe, lowering her voice even more, she felt her vocal cords strain as she spoke the next word. "Kloonicht." She had been practicing it for so long, she had no idea how many times she sat alone, trying to say it over and over again, comparing it to a recording of Shafter saying it. She had known she could say it for a while now, but was always worried she didn't have it right. That she wasn't pronouncing Shafter's real name right.

Shafter suddenly purred loudly, pulling back a few inches, looking at Konif closely. It closed its bottom two eyes, leaving the third open; pleased. Slowly it took its other hand, still holding hers, and rested its thumb in the middle of her forehead, were her third eye would rest. Shafter's hums turned deeper,

"Correct…," it said softly, finally closing its third eye, dropping its hand. Konif let go of its hand, wrapping her arms around its shoulders, pulling Shafter closer to her, burring her face into its shoulder; trying to push away the thoughts of what ifs.

She sighed happily as Shafter held her closer still, feeling her body go relax as Konif slowly started to fall asleep.

Neither of them heard the door open, feet pounding against the ground as someone walked away.

Juggling the plants in her hands Jane clicked the Holoscreen with her hip, calling the elevator down. She tapped her foot impatiently, the elevator taking longer than normal. When the doors opened she smiled softly,

"Well, look, who it is," Jane said, stepping into the elevator with Shin-Tu. The man had an odd air about him, normally one with formalities, he didn't salute her, just said a sharp,

"Where too Captain Rizzoli?" He didn't even question why Jane had her hands filled with plants.

"Wing B." He clicked the button, the lift's atmosphere filling up with his bad mood. She didn't question him though not knowing him enough to have that right. The door's opened to Shin-Tu's destination, the base of the ship. He stepped out, nodding his head goodbye. Jane put her boot down, stopping the doors from closing.

"When your superior officer steps into the same area as you, it is often times considered polite to salute them and acknowledge their presence," she rasped out. The black haired man grew red, turning and saluting her. She stepped back into the lift, letting the doors close without returning the gesture, showing her anger to him.

But as soon as the doors closed Jane let out a puff of air, sighing heavily. She hated being rude, she hated calling people out, but she had to do it, it was her job. She tugged on a leaf, grumbling to herself. The doors opened softly, allowing a handful of people to step inside, Jane stepping out. The military personnel saluted while the others nodded their heads in greeting. Jane shifted her cargo stepping down the hallway. More people where here than anywhere else in the ship, the scientist test's needing to be monitored at all hours. Lab coat wearing people ran by her, stared at clipboards or spoke in low voices to their colleges, not wanting to ruin the soft hum of the room.

Jane kept walking though, heading towards the end of the wing. Windows lined both sides of the hall; the ones pointing towards space where farther apart and thicker; than the ones that where on her right. People walked around inside the room, looking into beakers and microscopes, the Human race still trying to decipher space. She spotted one or two Charkgin, humming next to their Human partners as they shared ideas. She couldn't stop the small smile spread across her face as she spotted a Jungken jump up and down, her pinchers clicking excitedly making a group of Humans run over to her, sharing in her excitement.

She looked back forward, weaving around a person pushing a cart just in time.

"Whoa that was a close one Captain!" The man said, laughing as he pushed the empty cart away from her. She simply nodded her head, spotting the door that she needed.

"Okay, let me get this straight. Those things came from a different Universe?" Jane was greeted by voices as she walked into the observation room that led to the quarantine room.

"I believe so, that's what Zaq said when he came by to drop them off."

"Oh, hey Captain." Kate Larson said, giving her a salute. Jane lifted her arms, showing they were full, indicating that Kate could be at ease. Jane let her arm load fall heavily on a free table.

"Captain Rizzoli, pleasure as always to see you," said a tall woman. She was older, her hair dotted with grey. She smiled softly at Jane, always kind to her.

"Dr…," Jane paused for half of a second, her eyes glancing down to the crisp identification tag that was pinned to her jacket. "Charlotte." The woman's smile beamed, acting like she hadn't noticed Jane's pause. There were over 2,000 people aboard this ship; she didn't expect Jane to remember everyone's name.

"I was just telling Kate here that these specimens were from Universe 201, well that's what Officer Carlson said at least." Jane stood next to them, looking into the white room. It was bare, save one small table with a sad chair next to it. The dark bag sat on top of it, the materiel shinning from the stark lights.

"Look! Look!" Kate said eagerly, pointing at something on the other side of the glass. "It's moving!" Dr. Charlotte stepped forward, getting a closer look at the animal that slowly crawled across the floor, looking for something.

"Bass…," Jane mumbled to herself. Both women looked at her, confusion on their faces. Jane ignored them, looking at the animal for a few more seconds before she explained further. "Maura, the woman that came through the portal," Jane paused as they nodded their heads. The Captain still had yet to make an official statement about Maura being aboard the ship, or about what really happened, but she knew the rumors kept everyone informed. "She told me that that animal's name is Bass." She stopped talking, looking back at the tortoise.

"I thought she couldn't speak," Kate thought aloud, hoping for further information from Jane, who stayed quiet. She walked over to the door, flashing her I.D. over the Holoscreen. As she walked into the room, she felt Kate and Dr. Charlotte's eyes on her. Jane slowed her walk as she came up to the tortoise who had retreated back into his shell from the sound of the door opening. Sighing, Jane turned away, looking at the bag. Her hand hesitated at the opening before grabbing the handles and walking out of the room. Jane had thought for a second that she should go through what was inside of the bag; get a better glimpse as to who Maura was.

But she thought better of it, this woman already going through so much. Without thinking about it Jane dropped the plants into the bag, making it easier on herself. She fiddled with her Simitu suits configurations as she walked back into the room, her eyes squinting against the light. She cracked her knuckles before squatting down, about to pick up the animal when she heard a strange noise from it. She bent down, her hand resting on top of its shell.

Bass's black eyes glared at her. She pulled her hand back as it tried to bit her pinky that hang over the edge of its shell. Just great, the thing hates me already. Jane thought. She slid her arm underneath it, her other wrapping around the top of Bass's shell, holding it close to her body. The Simitu would help her with the long journey back up to Wing A.

"Is that really safe?" Dr. Charlotte asked as Jane walked back out, the door hissing close behind her.

"Maura needs something to calm her down and as far as I can see it, this is the only connection she has to her old life."

"But Captain, we don't know what kin-" Jane cut the doctor off, sliding her arm through the handles of the bag, Bass carefully cradled in her arms.

"Did you not disinfect the room with these things inside of it?"

"Yes we did, but-" again the woman was cut off.

"Then I don't see any reason as to why we shouldn't help Maura come to terms that we have ruined her life. Furthermore, like I said earlier, these are the only connection that she has and as Captain, I deem them safe." Jane didn't wait for anymore arguments to break out between her and the doctor. The things that she now carried in her arm had been sitting in Hapsha for hours, not to mention being in close proximity with Zaq and his escape pod crewmates.

It had been almost two days since the arrival of Maura, if these things were contiguous or held some secret virus; someone would have been showing a symptom by now. Jane thought, reassuring herself. She was breaking major protocol with taking them out of quarantine. She walked down the hallway, no longer engrossed with the actions in the other rooms, lost in her thoughts. She shifted the animal against her body hearing it groan at her again.

"Yeah, yeah," Jane grumbled. She clicked the elevator Holoscreen with her hip. A few seconds later the door opened, she stepped inside, finding herself with only one other passenger again.

"Captain Rizzoli," Officer Carlson said, saluting her. She nodded her head.

"Wing A." He clicked the button, lights filtering in through the slots on top of the elevator. She cleared her throat, gaining the Officer's attention.

"Carlson," she glanced at him, he didn't even seem to care that she was holding a very angry tortoise in her hands. "How would you feel with a promotion?" Zaq blinked at her, confused. She looked back at the doors, glancing up to the Holoscreen that told them where they were in the ship as they moved. "You have always been more than willing to work alongside me and to leave the ship on missions."

"Ma'am?" he waited before she looked at him before continuing. "Are you asking if I would like to be Hapsha's new X.O.?"

"Not yet. It's…," Jane paused, frowning. "It's too soon to make that announcement officially. But I could use someone that has my back on board the ship while I leave." He stood at attention again, facing her.

"I would be honored Ma'am, thank you Ma'am." Jane glanced at him again, just as the doors to the top of Wing A opened.

"Carlson, please, stop calling me Ma'am, you're older than me," he smiled besides the circumstances of his promotion. "Rizzoli will do just fine," she said just as the doors closed on him. The Captain sighed heavily, pulling Bass closer to her chest as she walked down the hallway to Maura's room. With her hands full the only thing that Jane could do was pound the tip of her boot against the door. A few seconds ticked by which dragged on more. Frowning Jane pounded again with her boot.

"I have no idea how to open the door," came a muffled voice through the door. Jane couldn't help herself, a small smile started to spread across her face.

"Click the darker orange button on the Holoscreen." She stood there waiting for a few more seconds before the door whooshed open, reviling a shocked Maura.

"Fascinating…." She stopped, spotting what Jane held in her hands. Maura kept staring, not believing her eyes that it was actually Bass.

"Uh… Can I come in, he's getting kinda heavy…," Jane huffed, shifting the animal again. Maura looked flustered as she stepped to the side, allowing Jane to walk in. She quickly went to the very center of the room and carefully sat Bass down who immediately tried to bite her retreating hand. As soon as Jane had set the animal down Maura had rushed over, dropping to her knees. She was wearing some clothes that Jane had brought in; they seemed a bit too small and large for her in certain places.

"Bass…" Maura said, resting her hand on top of his shell. He slowly stuck out his head at the presence of his owner.

"Oh right," the Captain said crouching a little bit away from the pair. She set the bag on the floor, opening it up. "I couldn't find everything that you mentioned, but I think I got some of the other stuff." Maura left her hand on Bass but shifted over so she could peer into the bag.

"My purse made it through?" Jane mealy shrugged pulling out a leaf and handed it to Maura. The blonde grabbed it examining it as Jane pulled out the other plants, setting them out so Maura could look at them.

"So Bass huh? Who's that? An old boyfriend?" Jane tried to joke. Maura placed the food in front of her animal.

"No, after William H. Bass, the forensic anthropologist who founded the famous body farm," Maura said with a smile.

"Ah, I should have known." Maura's face darkened for a second before she quietly shook her head, focusing on her pet. Jane watched Maura as she seemed to get rid of the dark thought that had made itself known. Dropping her gaze she reached her hand in again, pulling the final plant up when she froze, seeing something in the bag. She didn't know what it was, but she instantly recognized herself on it, along with Maura.

"I think these will do," Maura said. The Captain looked at the thing in the purse for a few more seconds before looking back up to the blonde. She was looking at the plants that sat in front of her, distracted. The brunette looked back down into the bag, looking at the thing. With a rush of air Jane stood up straight, looking down at a questioning Maura.

"Well, if everything is alright here I have to go," her voice was deep and held something Maura couldn't quite place. Jane bit her tongue, feeling anxious to be alone, to sort out her troubled thoughts that suddenly attacked her mind.

"I think so…?" Maura said, looking at her.

"Alright, good. So I'll wake you up in the morning? Give you the grand tour, or maybe get Shafter to do it? Would that be okay? I have a… a few things I need to take care of," Jane said this as she started to step back. Maura slowly stood up, watching Jane back away. Maybe she just needed to sleep too. Today had been rather busy. Maura thought.

"Okay." Jane turned, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then." Before Maura could say anything else, Jane walked away, the door closing behind her, leaving the blonde alone with Bass.

I am saddened by the lose of Lee Thompson Young. May he rest in peace.

If you need anyone to talk to, know that I am here and more then willing to listen. -FTP