Boom, we're back! strap in for the emotional rollercoaster times. this chapter gave us a bit of pickle tone wise so heres hoping. but The girls are fightiiiing-!

"No? What?" Atlanta said. Except it came out in a bit of a squawk. "You think I'm not- I'm the one not alright? I am so!"

Marina rolled her eyes. Hard. She shook her head again. And Again, gave a tap tap; this time on the coffee table.

"No."

Atlanta struggled to compose herself and smoothed down her uniform; wishing she could do the same to her anxieties.

"In that case then Marina you're a fine one to talk." She said, frowning. "Well, not talk. Oh, you know what I mean! Don't be a hypocrite."

Atlanta gave up, folding her arms in a sulk. So much for grace and composure, she thought.

With words spilling before she could put a cap on her temper, Atlanta continued,

"You've been acting strange. And you've been running. Every time I've tried to simply say so much as hello! Any usual v-activities in and out of work, you run and hide or bolt. "

Marina winced but shook her head, crossly.

"Oh yes you have Marina! To the point the others have clearly set this up as an intervention thinking there's been some sort of fall out between us? Except now you can't even stand to be in the same room as me?! " Atlanta argued.

"Look," she continued, "If I've done something wrong and that's why you're avoiding me then fine; I'm sorry for it. But I've been worried sick about you Marina. You've been off with everyone and now you've the cheek to get- to-!"

I can't do this. Atlanta suddenly thought. Forget it. Forget waiting for Troy. Forget Marina and whatever she was playing at-!

Atlanta stood up and snatched up her bag half a mind to storm out.

"it doesn't matter. I'll see you around." she said over her shoulder.

Only she caught a glance of Marina's feet poking out from under her skirt. The image of the thick angry scar was burning on Atlanta's vision behind her eyelids again as she made for the door and she faltered at that thought. She had, after all, been trying to catch Marina on her own. It'd be silly to walk out now, even if things were getting ugly?

It didn't matter anyway. She only got a few steps near to it when, much to Atlanta's surprise, Marina was shocked into moving. She sped past her and stepped in Atlanta's way, her personal space with hands thrown up, blocking Atlanta's exit.

Marina was not crying. But she was definitely very upset by this turn of events. And there was definitely, definitely a pleading look in her eyes. She was frowning too, mirroring Atlanta. All Sad and angry like.

Atlanta stopped. And the fight left her momentarily. Left both of them actually. Marina seemed to crumple in on herself a little but Clapped one hand twice. Then twice again.

" No." Marina said, again and again with her Morse code like taps; along with Atlanta's name and with wobbling shakes of her head.

(far more exaggerated than a normal shake of the head might have been from a 'normal' person. And again, Atlanta wondered if such gestures were used the same in Pacifica or Marina learnt them solely to communicate with them. Or was Marina just trying hard to make Atlanta understand her.)

"No no no Atlanta no."

"No…no what, Marina? What are you saying?" Atlanta asked.

Marina stopped and looked around trying to find something. She made a fumbled start of a gesture, but threw her hands up in frustration and rubbed her eyes. She looked so tired. Just as tired as Atlanta felt. So, Marina hadn't been sleeping well either? Oh dear.

" No, you don't want me to go? Or no, that's not what you meant?" Atlanta tried instead.

Marina nodded, held up her index fingers and brought them together. Then two fingers on one hand and a finger spelled 'B'.

"Both?" Atlanta asked.

"Both." Marina agreed, (again the "two" and "B" in sign) nodding, and finally "Yes."

"Well… what do you expect me to think? With the way you've been behaving." Atlanta scoffed. Marina blinked and still looked rattled.

"Don't look at me like that. You have been. And don't think I don't know that there was a Bright Star alert for Stingray yesterday! Even if everyone 'forgot' to mention it, Troy included. But it was there in Mackrell's report."

Marina made a face and signed her dislike for the brothers but Atlanta ignored it. Mostly.

"Oh, I'm aware. But Mackrell clearly wasn't in on the cover-up, was he? It was about the only thing that was in the report, truth be told. You are alright though? All of you. You, Troy and Phones?" Atlanta pressed.

Marina nodded untruthfully, not looking at her, fixing her gaze on a patch of carpet instead. "We're okay. A-Okay. Crew all okay." She said in a mix of diver's sign and ASL.

"Oh, come off it! You are not. You're not sleeping, are you? Why is Phones getting funny with you about eating? Why has the rota been changed for you as well as me?" Atlanta rattled off then realised.

"Wait. Marina, you know what a 'bright star' is, don't you?" Atlanta asked.

Marina thought about it then shook her head. Which was fair. Despite her ongoing adventures and training, it wasn't a radio code term they used that often.

"It's medical. Stingray came home under a medical emergency." Atlanta said. "Marina, please tell me the truth; were you in a medical emergency?"

Marina, unable to lie, didn't say anything to that.

"Oh for- Marina!" Atlanta started throwing her hands up, worried and worked up again. "You should be resting then, not at work. What happened? And Why have you been avoiding me? And the others. That's what I want to know."

Marina didn't respond to any of the questions, still frowning at the floor pulling her arms around herself more and more with each inquiry.

Atlanta sighed feeling like they were still dancing around the issue. "You've been so weird around me. And calling in sick the other night but not for work? And avoiding the others?"

"No, I Was not." Marina argued.

"You have been!" Atlanta argued back. "Or in just avoiding me you're accidently avoiding the others? And when you're not avoiding them, You're jittery all of the time!"

That, Marina took offence too. She even stamped her foot.

She nodded to Atlanta; and again signed, "You."

Then took up Atlanta's abandoned magazine. Marina opened it as if to read. But held it in a White-knuckle grip so hard the paper crinkled, almost shaking it; until Atlanta got the message.

"I've been jittery too, is that what you're getting at?" Atlanta scowled, folding her arms again. Marina mirrored her; face and stance to a T. and nodded. But then had to unfold her arms again to sign yes, something she didn't normally bother to do. Then her face softened once more. And hesitantly placed a worried hand on Atlanta's arm.

"I've been no worse than you've been." Atlanta grumbled, and then sighed.

"You know what, Marina? Fine. No. I'm not alright. And neither are you. I'm wound up, I've been having an awful time of late. You AND I know what I saw the other day so don't play it off or pretend otherwise when you're a mess inside too!" Atlanta said.

It was meant to be soft. It had started out soft. But It came out more like a scold; all catty and Waspish. Not like she'd meant too at all. Marina Flinched again at her tone. And let go of her arm as if burnt. Atlanta cringed and felt guilty for that. Poor girl always hated arguments and raised voices.

Marina was pretty Guilty looking too, a tear clinging to her long eyelashes as her gaze drifted back to the window. Atlanta could see her Thinking hard, confused. The hand went to her chest instead; flat, before Marina signed "Sorry".

And then Y. A finger spelled y for: "Why?"

Why? You've been like this About me? Marina seemed to say in her expression. Not with words but the meaning was clear. About what you saw?

Her other hand went to her sweeping low ponytail at her shoulder, fingers wrapping about her hair.

The commanders- Her father's words came back to tap Atlanta on the shoulder too.

"You stay silent and let this fester, you risk losing this person's friendship. And they risk losing yours. And those around it."

Marina turned away and Atlanta thought the mergirl might, for a third time, make to leave the standby lounge. That wouldn't do. she Caught Marina's wrist as Marina tried to slip away from her.

"Wait no, don't go. Not again."

Marina looked from hand to her face and back again, trying to shake her off. But Atlanta's grip stayed firm. Not tight, not inescapable. But firm.

" That's- that came out all wrong." Atlanta explained, pinching the bridge of her nose with her other hand. Then Remembered her eyeshadow. "Oh shoot. Please Marina, just…just let me finish. Hear me out. Then you can do whatever you like, I promise. But You've run away. I didn't do anything to help you, Marina and I feel so useless. I didn't- I still don't know what to do. Or how to make things better. That's all I want. "

Marina looked at her, and Atlanta for the life of her couldn't read her friend. But she didn't pull away again. And when Atlanta did loosen her grip as she talked then let her go, Marina stayed.

"I Didn't mean for any of that to sound like an accusation. Really, I didn't. I just- I've been so worried when you didn't come around the day after? Or answer the videophone, and and then the Brightstar?!"

Marina took a breath covering her face in her hands, nodding. Then the truth came out little by little as she spoke with her hands and replied to Atlanta's questions.

They were both still learning sign language. It made for slow going conversions. And it took a few attempts each sentence, sometimes each sign. American sign language to both spoken word and to Pacifican's way of communicating. Plus, it was very tiring for the mergirl.

But it was better than nothing. Better than what the crew had had before… which wasn't much. So, sign it was. with a mishmash of charades and the word cards they kept in the standby lounge, along with the odd misspelt written word and pointing out words in books stirred in.

"No, I'm not alright." Marina finally admitted. "That's what I meant. But you aren't either? I Didn't know. My problem. Not yours. Crew A-Okay. Troy Phones okay. It's me. Ill yesterday. Sick. Needed first aid. I'm not okay."

"Oh. Marina. You didn't have to keep it bottled like that!" Atlanta said, not without irony. "We're your friends? We could- I could have helped? We didn't have to have this mess between us both."

"I didn't know!" Marina snapped back, hands fast. Then shook her head and more calmly signed, "I'm sorry. Really, I did not. Didn't know you were affected so much. Why?"

Atlanta was bewildered.

"Well of course I was? you're my friend. I was upset for you? That mark-? It's awful! But You and I, we could have just talked about it and then a- Oh."

At Atlanta's words Marina pulled away, pulled back. And fear, fear clouded her face. As if she'd just seen a monster of the deep. Not her friend.

"... Or not, I guess." Atlanta finished lamely. Marina shook herself trying to school herself into some level of calm.

But she was Shivering a little. Not from a cold. But like a kitten. Like Candy had when Atlanta had first been getting him settled in at home.

"Please. Stop it." Marina said. Like she was physically pulling shutters down against this conversation. That same panicked expression clinging to her as it had in the conference room.

"Okay Marina." Atlanta said quietly. She approached Marina again slowly and squeezed her arm. Trying to soo like she'd seen Phones do that day. "Easy does it?"

"Please. Can't. Talk about it now. Not now. Need a minute." Marina asked, Shaking her head again and again. A Single small tear escaped and slipped down her face.

"Okay. I can do that. Just, well forget about that for now then I guess. I didn't mean to spook you. Again." Atlanta said apologetically. "Should I go fetch someone else for you? Phones or Troy?"

Marina Shook her head hard again but took the hanky that Atlanta offered.

"I just wanted to know you're alright." Atlanta sighed, feeling stupid as Marina wiped her eyes.

Marina Shrugged embarrassed. then nodded and made the okay divers signal again. Atlanta stared disbelieving at her. And Marina's shoulders slumped. And gave a thumbs down instead.

She gestured between them, at the gap between them. Then Marina Mimed crying. In a more over the top manner then she already was; A fist curing in her cheek rubbing a down turned face then switching back to signing.

"I'm not alright. Sad. And I Upset you too." Marina said.

"Hiding. Made a Rift. Didn't Know you were sick from a bad mind too. I'm sorry. I've just also been -."

Marina paused, stuck on a word. There was Some broader arm waving as she worked it out. Before settling on making both her hands similar to a WASP scouts salute in the way of her face; moving like shoeing off actually wasps.

"Worried?" Atlanta echoed making sure she had it right. Some signs looked very alike. "Or frustrated? No, Worried. You were worried too."

Marina Nodded.

"Yes, I'm worried. A lot. And more than worried." She replied, still trying to find the word.

She held up her 'I don't know the sign' flash card and settled on spelling it out.

S

C

A

R

"That Scar I saw?" Atlanta asked, jumping to conclusions. Marina flinched again and shook her head hard.

"No, let me finish," she asked, tapping twice on another flash card. Atlanta apologised and Marina spelt again. But this time she was able to add on to it.

E

D

S

C

A

R

E.

D.

spelled:

"Scared? Scared."

Marina nodded.

"Not sure but Think it's this sign." She said, making her hands into claws against her, the Fear short of physically gripping her heart and stomach.

Atlanta Made it back, trying to memorise it. She Half wished Phones was here to translate and make it easier on Marina. He was always better at this. Or that Troy was here? Just for moral support.

Then Atlanta realised,

"You were scared. You're Scared Of talking to me?!"

Marina nodded, ashamed. Atlanta goggled at her in disbelief.

"Marina I have heard you stay in Stingray next to exploding shipwrecks to keep her close for the fellas rather than save your own skin. You rushed in as reckless as anything to save the Carson's. And when Titan poisoned Troy-?"

At the mention of that incident Marina smacked her hands down on the nearest flat surface with a slap!

"Yes! Was scared then. Scared those times too!" she argued. Then paced about frustrated, repeating herself.

"Were you really that frightened of me?" Atlanta asked.

Marina stopped. Then sighed. It took a few more complicated and Rudimentary signs to explain herself but she got Atlanta to understand.

"Yes, but no. More Scared because of what you thought. What you might think of me. Changed. Scared you'd tell others too. Secret." She said, "Fear. Couldn't think clearly. Could Not face this. Couldn't face you. Scared. Unclean. Scared. What you'd think. What you'd say."

"Oh. Marina, it's alright. Don't cry."

"Didn't want you to think less of me."

"I don't! Really Marina I don't. I just-."

"Angry?"

"Well yes but I. Oh shoot."

Her eyes were wet again. Poor thing looked really sick. Atlanta reached out again but Marina shrank back. Instead she Slumped over in a seat crumpling up the Handkerchief.

"Sorry." She signed Again looking at the floor.

"Yeah. Me too." Atlanta sighed. "You're right I was angry. And anxious and worried. And I'm sorry too. Real sorry. And …I was Scared to talk as well."

Marina looked up at her confused. Atlanta explained.

"Oh, Marina, I didn't know where to start. Or if I should? It is none of my business after all but you're my friend. I hope."

Atlanta sat down hard in a seat as well, her Head in her hands.

"And I am sorry Marina I just. I guess it was a shock is all. And I felt like I was going mad with it and I got in my own head about it I suppose…that's not fair on you. Not when you've been the one actually hurt-!"

Marina didn't say anything. When Atlanta looked up the mermaid was caught between folding her arms and hugging herself.

"Can we talk?" Atlanta pleaded. "Properly?"