Atlanta wasn't sure how long they were there, sat on the floor with Marina clutched at her clinging like a man at a mast. It was awkward. Not least because of the angle. Atlanta could feel her foot getting pins and needles and her neck getting damp from Marina's crying. But it didn't matter. She just squeezed marina tight right back, and talking nonsense Comfortings things with lots of Shh sh ings and okays.

"There, there I've got you. You're safe. Shush there, there. It's okay, you cry then. There, there Marina. Oh honey. You're safe, sweetheart. Shh it's alright it'll all be okay."

Marina didn't reply, apart from the occasional nod against her. So Atlanta just carried on talking to fill the silence. As well as petting her green hair and rubbing circles on Marina's shoulders in what she hoped was a comforting manner, careful not to go too near the scar on Marina's back. And trying not to think what some nut jobs would do to get a hold of actual mermaid's tears. Or the story's about them.

"There there. It'll be okay. Let all out. It'll be okay, It'll all be okay…"

Atlanta kept it up until Marina wasn't crying quite so hard, and her grip became slack.

"Now you listen to me, Marina-? It's going to be alright... You're strong and you've outsmarted Titan. And you saved Troy's life twice from him. Phones too. You're safe. He didn't win. You never have to go back to Titainica again." She told her.

"And he is never ever going to. And when you're ready? And If ever you want to I mean? you can talk about this to someone properly qualified if you like. But only if you want to, we won't force you. We should have supported you better and for that I'm sorry. But we can start… We can start right away. Whatever it takes."

"And I'm here." Atlanta insisted. "Troy and Phones are there for you. You don't have to show them or tell them anything if you don't want to. But they are always there for you, you know? Those fellas would go to the end of the earth and cross oceans for you. That's what a crew does. That's what friends do. You look out for each other. They are here for you. I'm here for you too if you'd like. And so is my father. and Fisher and all the other friends you've made up here. Is that clear? "

Marina nodded against her again. She tapped a hand lightly yes too on Atlanta's shoulder.

She'd stop crying. But only because she seemed too exhausted to continue. Atlanta could feel her trembling between each deep breath. After another moment or so and one last squeeze , Marina wriggled around and pulled away a little to wipe her still damp eyes. Atlanta tugged the cuff of her uniform and dabbed Marina's face, helping wipe her face of tears. Probably not the best thing, what with the braiding? but it did the job.

"You are not alone." Atlanta said quietly as she did so. "You don't have to be on your own like that ever. You'll never be a slave again."

Marina Scoffed just a little, still not believing her; but nodded.

"I mean it. You chose the WASPS and we should have helped you better." Atlanta said firmly, undoing her overshirt and wrapping the mergirl up in it on a whim, hoping to comfort the still shivering Marina. She might run cold but Marina burrowed into it like she would a blanket; or the now stolen hooded sweatshirt that had once belonged to Phones but seemed to keep migrating into everyone else's laundry. Even if the shirt was significantly less snuggley than those.

"What you went though. Was awful, you've every right to feel upset. That doesn't mean I won't worry or we'll push you away?" Atlanta tried, again. But she then lost momentum as Marina looked at her. "Oh hell. come here?"

Admittedly Atlanta didnt know what else she could do. Or say. But Marina didn't seem to mind. She even melted into another hug as Atlanta started repeating herself. This time Marina curled up into the cuddle, Her petite frame both Light as a feather and crushing a dead weight against Atlanta.

"Lost. Couldn't face. Friends." Marina 'mumbled' in Sign language right up under her chin.

"I know, I know. It's okay." Atlanta reminded her. "But you're safe. You're free. You got me. You have your crew, the boys-."

Speak of the devil? there was a laugh, startling them both. It came from out in the corridor. As did the sound of both footsteps and a hover chair approaching the standby lounge, real close. Marina's normally keen senses must have been dulled by her emotions if didn't hear them coming. And the door opened without a knock before Atlanta could protest. so she moved instead. Scooping Marina up like a toddler with a babydoll- (which was relatively easy seeing as marina was Pretty much in her lap anyway.)- In that split second Atlanta had twisted around so her back was to the door, shielding the rung out mermaid from sight and seeing; Just as the commander barged in. Troy and Phones were just behind him, the three men discussing something or other. Then froze in the doorway.

"OUT!" Atlanta snapped. Ordered even. And was very surprised to be listened to.

Troy gaped like a cod fish. But Phones yanked him hard out the room by the collar before he could say anything. Her father took one look at his daughter, gulped then slammed on his reverse. A tad too hard judging by the thud and vibration of him hitting a wall. Atlanta hoped he hadn't damaged his chair. She wasn't sure if Fisher was with them either. If he was, the poor guy might have just been trampled on in their hasty retreat.

The big fire doors swung back shut. Atlanta sighed. Marina squirmed.

"Sorry I-." Atlanta started, relaxing her grip somewhat. manhandling the mergirl about hadn't been in her day planner.

"Worried." Marina interrupted.

"It's alright. It was just the Commander." Atlanta fibbed, rescuing the hanky. Marina took it but shook her head. and tapped her own shoulder where stripes would be.

"T." she finger spelled. Then cupping one ear. Meaning "Troy and Phones."

She then curled tighter into herself again. Atlanta, protective of the younger girl, held her close.

Sure enough when Atlanta looked up again there two faces were pecking in through the porthole like windows in the doors. Well one face and half. Troy didn't need to tip toe. He did, however, duck. But seeing she's seen him anyway, Phones waved. He knocked on the glass and gave a thumbs up, followed by "Question."

Atlanta frowned at him over the top of Marina's head. But nodded. And mouthed 'Go away'. It took an additional Shoo!-ing motion to actually get Phones to duck as well.

But not leave. Even Atlanta could hear the muffled whispers between them. And she could feel Marina all tense, listening. The mermaid shifted again Pressing herself closer as possible to her friend. Atlanta could feel the sharp cheek in her neck. And the sharp breath against her skin; Marina was trying not to panic again. Atlanta, hand still cradling Marina's head, rubbed her back with the other hand again, continued watching the door.

Atlanta had to admit it must look more than a little odd. How often do you see an upturned standby lounge? With two clearly emotional women sitting in the middle of it, having a big old heart to heart? Especially with the lieutenant in a very non-relegation pink shirt sleeves blouse, (there'd been a red cuff mixed in with her white wash, yet another fumble Atlanta had had over the past week.) and the other sat in her lap with said work shirt over her shoulders. Anyone else it might have looked compromising.

And 'Out' hadn't exactly been her normal cheerful greetings to her father and the fella's either.

Troy's head suddenly poked up at the window again, and the door creaked. Atlanta gave him a fierce look; hoping to convey that if he so much as put a hand into the standby lounge right now then she wouldn't speak to him for a week! Troy frowned back. but got the hint, and retreated a little. but didn't disappear entirely. Just enough for the door to shut. Instead Troy breathed on the glass panel and wrote 'R U 2 okay?' in the fog. (then realized it was back to front to the inside so wiped it off and did it right way wrong way around.

'Okay?' Troy asked her, tapping the word on glass. Much like Marina might have. Atlanta scowled but nodded. They were. They will be. Or they would be. Marina would be. Two evenings later, Atlanta would tell him as much…