a/n: Pelias still hasn't explained his plans because he is about to be interrupted by security.

I'm out of excuses for lack of editing. Please understand.

All the good things belong to Monolithsoft, but alas not Pelias and Nicole.

Hope was almost at a loss for words. "What?" Dr. Pelias had asked, irritated to be interrupted while theory-crafting, Quincy nodding along with him. Hope looked at the bright eyes of two researchers, both so carried away by possibilities that they were oblivious to the real tragedy unfolding in that very room.

She should have let them realize the problem themselves, but the longer they looked at her, curiosity sparkling, the more she felt desperate about the upcoming loss. "What?" she mimicked. "What?!" she asked with rising exasperation. "What about Quincy's lungs? What about his soul?"

She bit her lip quickly. She had let herself get carried away. Again. She was doing no one any good, being this upset over Quincy's condition. Sometimes things went badly on Mira, and emotions rarely helped. Maybe she should consider petalose treatment. Maybe she needed a long rest. She felt ashamed by her unprofessional outburst, so unusual for her. She also felt very alone, much more familiar but no less dreadful. A slight pressure on her hand, and she glanced at Quincy. He squeezed harder, followed by a wink. For no reason she could explain, she felt better.

There was a moment of silence as the two scientists pulled themselves back to the situation at hand. Hope fought her blushes and realized that the character of the noises outside in the corridor had shifted. She didn't want to blame it on her unfortunate outburst, but it was hard not to. The polite knocking, really only a genteel tapping, had switched to something sharper during the previous discussion. Now it was a loud pounding, interrupted by mechanical clicks as someone tried to force open the lock. Having noticed the change, it was hard to ignore the implications. Voices arguing, more of them, starting to include ones that are gruffer and more impatient than the usual technicians.

Hope covered her mouth with her free hand and looked stricken. Quincy held on to her other hand more tightly, but to her horror his grip began to lose strength. Pelias shook his long snout until it quivered. "You finally noticed, did you? We're short on on on time for more than one reason."

"What can you offer Quincy?" Hope asked. It was time to get exact answers.

The door slid open, about a third of the way, then shot closed before the person outside could so much as reach in a hand. Even that brief space gave Hope the impression of a collection of people eager to enter but uninterested in Quincy's fate beyond getting him processed, clearing the treatment room, and catching up on their workload.

"Well?" Hope prompted with urgency.

Pelias was now squeezing the tip of his nose none too gently. "They'll get through next try."

Hope was in the mood to squeeze the Ma-non herself. "Then hurry and explain."

Instead, it was her hand that was squeezed, once, fiercely, before Quincy's own hand went slack. She turned to look at Quincy with concern. His eyes were still clear, but his mouth was pinched. "Hope," he said too quietly. She bent down to listen better, close enough that her hair brushed against the paper gown, ghostly scratches that were no match against the renewed pounding on the door. "Could you go out there? And, you know, mediate?" Quincy was having trouble finishing sentences without needing a little rasping gasp in between. "Give Dr. Pelias a chance. A little time to explain. I promise. Not to interrupt."

She searched his face for the answer. "But the medication ... it's affecting your ability to think." She held his hand very very tightly. His response was a faint tremble.

"I think it's pretty much worn off."

She knew that already. Or she would have, if she hadn't been ignoring that his eyes had returned to their normal clever calm, not the goofy brightness of earlier. She had been pretending she was being professional around a patient, but really she had just been enjoying the slow return of her real friend. She looked now, assessing him. He was clear, and although the edges of his eyes were tight with pain, he seemed capable of fully participating in decisions.

"You can trust me," Quincy added.

"Oh, Quincy," she said, "it always was your decision in the end."

"Even about taking off my gown?" He tried to wink again, but the effect was ruined by another round of coughing. It was just too dreadful, to be amused by his gentle teasing.

There were more noises from the region of the door. Pelias made a high-pitched wail that made Hope's entire spine crawl unpleasantly. "Hope?" Quincy asked again. He sounded equal parts resigned and desperate.

Hope stood up, relaxed her shoulders, and settled a smile on her face, one full of positivity and assurance. She was at the door when it opened with a sputtering jerk, and she was there to block anyone from entering. She carried the tide of interlopers along with her, back into the corridor, and stood there, making a barricade that was as stalwart as it was attractive. She beamed at those surrounding her, really only a handful of people. She started by addressing the armed security guard and an Outfitter holding a multi-tool that looked more more threatening than the guard's assault rifle. "I think you can go. Everything is in order." Her glance intensified, broadcasting her position as "Unspoken Head of Mediators and Close Friend of Commander Tanktop". They went.

Hope turned to the remaining mim technicians plus one harried-looking administrator. "Now, how can we, as a team, best provide support for this patient?" She picked out the admin, nodding to her expectantly. "Nicole, I think you had some suggestions for cross-unit support last week?"

a/n: In my AU, Vandham makes no secret that he's getting therapy from Hope. He tells people regularly. Because his people need it too; do not get me started about the survivor guilt that is the bedrock of NLA.

Next up: Enter Nicole OC. I have been longing to feature her since almost 4 years this April.