Fiona and Alaya do their best to creep up the stairs.
They step onto the top landing. Fiona notices that Alaya has not transformed into herself. "I don't think it is working anymore."
Alaya turns off her perception device, "We will have to look at it tomrrow." She looks at her watch, "After we get a few winks. It is nearly two in the morning."
They hear above them footsteps, they watch the ceiling as they follow the sound. Then stare at the door which flings open and attacked at once with a grab, then a hug from Odea.
Fiona starts to cry as Odea hug become desperate with whimpers crawling out of her throat.
Alaya pulls her sister close.
Fiona guide the two into the living room. Fiona notices the radio, newspapers everywhere, the map with markings on the blue area of the map, dried food and the fire is gone from the fireplace. The first time since she was just a young girl the fire is out.
Alaya brings her sister over to the sofa and waits for Odea to share anything, if anything.
Fiona's face sours as she does her best to examine the fuzzy food on the china plate, "What was this?"
Odea snaps her head up, "I think pork."
"It is now something out of petri dish." Fiona giggles, "Your pain I sympathize. I truly do, but how on earth did it get like this?" She stops trying to figure out the mess and goes and pulls a large ball of twine from the desk. She starts piling up all the papers and then wrapping one stack at a time.
She looks over to Alaya who smiles as Odea is past out sleeping on the sofa holding her sister's hand.
Fiona goes back to work with tears running down her cheeks.
Fiona brings all the dishes into the kitchen. She is standing over the bin doing her best to scrap off the dried food when she hears a woman humming up the stairs.
Its Olga wearing one of her dresses, "You look lovely tonight."
Olga is startled. She regains her mind and hugs Fiona tightly, "We have missed you."
"What happened?" Fiona holds up a plate with fuzz green substance.
Olga goes into the living room. She sees the sleeping Odea and whispers, "Finally." Waves at Alaya and returns to the kitchen.
"She would not let me clean up. She slept in bed a few hours a night. She has been eating only cold plates for dinner and it has been aweful. Her only saving grace is that we have been terribly busy."
"We know she has not heard from Ada."
"Nothing from Vastra, Jenny or Julia." Olga begins washing dishes. "I have been expecting a call from Julia to check on contracts. Nothing."
Fiona takes a deep breath and tries not worry, "We have not heard anything negative. Which is better than no information."
"The news would inform us," She gets quiet and whispers, "If the ship was sunk. I want to know if they have reach land."
Fiona looks at the wall clock, "Where have you been? It is nearly two in the morning."
"We have been on assignemnt."
"We?"
"Mr. Warrilow and I." Olga talks matter-of-factly while helping cleaning up the kitchen.
Fiona pushes back a red curl with the back of her wrist, "Who is Mr. Warrilow?"
"The new receptionist." Olga hands over a clean plate to Fiona.
Fiona takes the plate with a heaftier tug than nesscessary, "I think you better start from the beginning."
"Mrs. Holt ..."
Fiona laughs heartly and smiles, "Of course it is Mrs. Holt."
"She insisted that we hire a male." Olga becomes sober and her eyes begin to tear up, "Odea told me of the receptionists before Mr. Clements." She pauses her motion, looks up with a stoic face and talks to the wall, "What did they do to that poor child?" She turns her head towards Fiona, squints and asks, "Do you know?"
Fiona touches Olga forearm, "I am sure she would like to know how much you care about her and her mental health."
"She must know." Olga dries her hands and points to the floor, "We are here to be part of her life." Olga gets quiet and remembers how much words matter, "I will do my best."
Fiona nods, "Tell me about this Mr. Warrilow."
The next morning Olga and Fiona make breakfast and sonder into the living room to sleeping Odea and Alaya. Odea has not reliquished her grasp on Alaya's hand.
Fiona goes over to Alaya and kisses her nose and strokes the top of her crown for comfort.
Alaya purrs in such a way Fiona blushes and notices Odea's eyes popping open. "Good morning. I trust you slept well."
Fiona works out the kink in her neck while Odea attempts to release her sister's hand with a bit of difficulty, "I seem to have a bit of atrophy in my hands." She wiggles her fingers and wrist until she has free Alaya from her grip. She looks down at her own hand doing her best to bring back full use, "I am sorry."
Alaya stands up and stretches, "I completely understand. I have been where you are today." She pulls Fiona closer as if the words will make her wife disappear, "I have been without my love longer than I wanted. War effects everyone and everything." She bends down and looks into her sister's eyes, "What will Ada think of this reaction? It is not like you to be messy or compulsive."
Odea looks down at her shoes.
Fiona stands tall, "No matter we are here now and together we shall get you through this."
Odea looks up and takes it to heart how much she isn't alone anymore. She smiles and opens her mouth to take in Alaya and Fiona's scent.
Alaya turns to the laid out breakfast, "I am hungry. Thank you so much." Without waiting for anyone else she slips into a chair begins to eat.
Fiona and Olga follow and soon with hesitation Odea.
"We have a new receptionist." Fiona informes Alaya.