"You are distracted." Teyla said as one of her sticks crashed into Max's ribs. Max gasped, staggered, recovered and blocked the other stick at the last second.

"You must focus."

'You're not hitting hard enough." Max growled through gritted teeth and attacked. The attack was clumsy exacerbated by the blow to her ribs. Teyla easily dodged it and lashed out striking Max upside the head with the flat of the stick.

Max grayed out and went to one knee but managed to roll off the mat before the second stick could land. Teyla had aimed for her shoulders hoping to flatten the immortal.

"Okay, I take it back, you hit hard enough." Max gasped through the ringing in her head and the throbbing of her ribs.

"It is not like you to be so distracted and provocative in combat." Teyla said between breaths.

Max sat up and sighed rubbing at her head as the pain began to fall away. "I don't have an excuse Teyla, I apologize for wasting your time." Teyla smiled gently and offered her friend a hand up.

Max took her hand and got to her feet. "You will not be permitted to rejoin the team if your focus does not improve."

"Yeah I know, I just…I don't know I guess I'm just distracted all the time now."

"Your friend?" Teyla asked as they walked to a bench.

"Yeah, him." Max said wryly.

Teyla toweled her face, neck and arms while Max used a towel to mop the blood from her head and gingerly felt her ribs.

"You are recovered?" Teyla asked.

"Yeah I'll be fine, no less than I deserved."

"You were correct, I was holding back."

"Luckily for me."

"If you continue to lack focus in our next session…I will not." Teyla said with an impish smile.

Max laughed. She got cleaned up and tried to think of any reason not to go to the infirmary. As she was admitting defeat she heard someone at her door.

"Major Lorne?" She asked as she opened the door.

"Uh hi, I thought you might want some company at the infirmary."

"Good guess. Honestly I've been avoiding him."

"That's pretty understandable. I'm not sure I'd be eager to visit in your place."

"You mean with all the insane shit around here you've never seen a friend permanently inhabit another friend's body?"

"Yeah no you're a first." He laughed.

"This is so fucked up. I did not sign up for this shit."

"Who would?" He sighed. "Look, Max, you're doing good work here I know you've had problems before but we need you and you have a place here."

"I always find a place, it's keeping it that's hard." She said with a half laugh.

"Why do you think that is?" He asked.

"Why do you do that?" Radek asked.

"Do what? Continually demonstrate my intellectual excellence to your detriment?"

"No, I know why you do that," He sighed and took his glasses off, "Why you keep acting like she is some sort of bug eyed monster out to eat you."

"Do you know what she did? She's a murderer Radek!"

"Have you ever even asked her about that? No, of course not, you are Rodney McKay biggest brain in the galaxy, clearly you know all things."

"Near enough, why do you care?"

"Because she is a good woman, she keeps her temper around you and does nice things for you but still you treat her like a dangerous carpet."

"What does that even mean? You know what never mind, I'm going to get something to eat."

"You just ate." Radek said as McKay stomped past him.

"So you'll be fit enough to be discharged in a few days. You'll have quarters assigned and when you're strong enough you can start helping the city. There's never enough linguists and with your skills you can help in several areas –"

"What do you do?" Methos interrupted. Max was slowly getting used to looking at him and not seeing Jarod but it was still difficult.

"I uh I'm on a team. Like the old days."

"Good."

"But there's plenty of work to do here –"

"I don't mind combat Max."

"Why?"

"The best defense –"

"Bullshit."

He sat up slightly in his bed and regarded her carefully, his expression distinctly neutral.

"You think I don't remember who you are? You can wear his face but you're still you underneath. The kicked dog that grew teeth. You're me Methos and I'm you and that's what drew you to me in the first place. A chance to stop a Horsemen at the time of inception, right?"

"Is that a terrible motive?"

"Is it true?"

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, yes it matters you asshole! It matters if I'm a person to you or just something to tick off your fucking bucket list of redemption."

"The end result is the same."

"Fuck you it's the same! It's the difference between you giving a shit about me and you using me. I've been used, I'll be used again, but you, I never thought you would use me too. I trusted you, relied on you –"

"And I trust and rely on you. Why does the initial motivation matter?"

"Because I thought I knew you. Because Sheppard and Carter and this city are relying on me to figure out if you can be trusted. Because if I fuck it up motherfucking space vampires could invade Earth. Get it?"

"I get that you're angry Max, and it's not about whether or not I'm a threat. You're pissed off that I hurt you, that I died."

"Because that's not part of it? Jesus you're such an asshole. Do you only see the world and the people in it as checks and balances?"

He didn't answer, expression stony and impassive.

"Methos, I care about you, I'm not your enemy, I swear to fucking god I'm not, but you have to open up you have to talk to me."

"Why?"

"Because dumbass you can't go home now. No one has actually said it but why the fuck would they risk having you on Earth when here they can throw you at a hive ship? Two birds one stone."

"You would stand by for that?"

"Right now? I don't fucking know. Yeah, I'm pissed, but I'm pissed at the string bean that killed himself, I don't think I ever knew the man that would do what you've done."

"This wasn't my choice –"

"You can't prove that and I have no reason to trust you right now."

"I don't believe you, you wouldn't stand by and let something like that happen.'

"How do you know?"

He stared at her.

"I killed innocent people, I've spent years in maximum security prison, how do you know what I can and can't do? Your vast store of experience?"

Tears shone in his eyes now.

"Maybe it's because you trust me? Because you actually gave a damn and weren't balancing a ledger?"

"Two birds one stone." He said hoarsely.

"So help me trust you, you stupid shit." She sighed and sat on the edge of his bed.

"I don't know how it happened. I remember …dying and then waking up here. There were glimpses in between. I think…I think he…let go. There was a sense of peace and release and then I was here."

"He…left?"

"I don't know." He sighed.

She took his hand, "Look, just…focus on getting your strength back for now okay? We'll talk more later."