Chapter Thirteen

It was evening when Jacana returned home. Khalisah had woken and was in the kitchen as she entered, leaning heavily on the counter as she watched further coverage of the attack on Sha'ira's.

"Where were you?" she asked, her tone was casual but laced with suspicion. Jacana could hardly blame her.

"I had some work errands to run. I didn't want anyone to come looking for me if I missed them."

She wasn't entirely sure she had convinced her but Khalisah didn't enquire any further as she turned back to the news report.

"That asari who was tending the door at Sha'ira's. She was one of ones they shot."

Jacana watched her carefully for moment as she slipped off her jacket and moved to stand beside her, "That's not your fault."

"Of course it is. I used her and then I got her killed. I'd probably do it again."

"No, you wouldn't. Not if you could avoid it."

Khalisah turned to stare at her sharply, "You seem to have an awful lot of faith in me, Jacana. I can only assume it's because you don't know me."

Jacana blinked at her tone but avoided flinching. It was quite clear that Khalisah had woken with vague memories of the night before and rapidly begun to regret trusting Jacana with her secret. Knowing how Khalisah had been treated in the past she decided not to take that as an insult, instead remaining calm as she asked: "What do you mean?"

Khalisah snorted grimly, "Oh, come on. It can't have escaped your notice that I am not a very nice person. I destroy people's reputations to get my stories. Expose non-existent scandals just to make some more money. I use anyone I can get my hands on, including you. How many times have you nearly died since meeting me? Why are you even still helping?"

"Because I like you."

"No one likes me! I go out of my way to be unlikable."

"And why's that?"

Green eyes narrowed dangerously, glittering with fire, "I find it's the best way to get an honest response from people. It seems not to have worked on you."

"I don't understand."

"Really? I am not stupid you know. I've been thinking while you were out. What are the chances of you turning up with a gun, and a reasonable skill at using it, just as half the Bekenstein hierarchy decide they want to kidnap me? Not to mention using one of the contacts you claimed not to have to find Robin and then, conveniently, knowing the back door out of Sha'ira's. Do you expect me to believe that it's all one big coincidence? Who are you, Jacana? What do you want?"

Jacana swallowed. The honest truth was that most of it had been a coincidence. As for what she wanted and why she was helping? She wasn't even sure she knew anymore, not really. But she did know that this had gone far beyond a simple assignment.

She stepped forward cautiously as she replied, "I'm a friend. We're not so rare. And I want you to be able to trust me."

"Why?"

"Because you should have someone you can trust. Everyone should. And because…" she trailed off as Khalisah's eyebrows arched accusingly and she struggled not to shrink beneath her gaze, "because I want to see deeper. I want to know who it is that's lurking behind those eyes."

Khalisah blinked, clearly taken aback. Rage had been building inside her but now it abruptly faded, replaced only with anguish. As she searched Jacana's face for answers she suddenly backed down and turned away towards the counter, "No one," she muttered grimly, "there's nothing there Jacana, no hidden depths. I am exactly what people think I am, an untalented reporter willing to sell her own mother if it would get her a story."

"I don't believe that for a second," on impulse, Jacana moved forward, slipped a hand around Khalisah's waist and drew her closer. Khalisah didn't turn to face her but watched her tentatively from the corner of her eye, "even if your intentions aren't always pure, the reasons behind them are. If you were heartless then you wouldn't be tearing yourself apart over the death of an asari you barely knew for more than a minute."

"I deceived her just to get through the door and then she was killed by the men hunting me."

"That's on them. Not you."

"This isn't about blame!" she snapped, "I got her killed. I'd do it again. The point is that I don't regret it!"

Jacana pulled her away from the counter, holding her firmly so that they stood face-to-face and for the first time she recognised something within the human; the ability to survive and the willingness to do whatever it would take. But then Khalisah's face crumpled into something like despair and she avoided all eye contact, "Yes you do," Jacana told her quietly, "you regret that it was necessary. You can't expect me to believe that you are selfish and cruel when everything you do and every sacrifice you make is to protect your own daughter."

"And damn anyone who gets hurt along the way?"

"No, Khalisah," Jacana cupped her cheek in her hand so that she was forced to look her in the eye, "That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"No," barely and inch apart, Jacana leaned in further and felt the warmth of Khalisah's breath against her skin, "you are so much more than you think you are," their lips touched and Khalisah didn't resist as Jacana pulled her in. The kiss was warm, natural, Khalisah's hands slid effortlessly around her, coming to rest lightly on her waist. Though she soon pulled out of the embrace and turned away to look at the floor, she didn't let go of Jacana as she frowned softly.

"Why did you do that?"

Jacana studied every inch of her in the half light of the apartment, reaching a hand up to her hair and smiling as her fingers lost themselves in a dark forest of silken strands, "Because you're magnificent. And intelligent. And strong. There's a quality in you, something that's driven you to survive where others would have surrendered. I'm not trying to trick you or use you, I just want to know who you are."

"Really?" Khalisah muttered, shaking her head grimly at what she clearly perceived to be a lie. Jacana refused to be swayed.

"Really," she took Khalisah's chin in her hand and tilted her head to look into the glistening green of her eyes, "you are extraordinary. And if it takes me all night, Khalisah, I will make you believe it."