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'Rei…'

Rei opened her eyes to find herself floating naked in a white void, the glowing silhouette of a woman in front of her.

'Who…are you…?'

'You know the answer to that, Rei…'

'Lilith…'

'Yes. Adam and I have been reborn, along with his children. Now that we are reunited, we have no further quarrel with humanity. Once we have regained our strength, we will leave this world forever. We only wish to be left in peace. If that is done, you will have nothing to fear from us. Goodbye, child…'

#####################

'Rei…? Rei, can you hear me…? I think she's coming to…'

'Where…where am I…?' Rei asked, opening her eyes to see Dr Uyemura, Misato and Dr Akagi standing over her.

'You're in the Infirmary,' Dr Uyemura said. 'Do you…remember what happened…?'

'I was…helping Dr Akagi. I…felt dizzy…I was in another place, with Lilith. She told me that she has been reborn, along with Adam and the Angels, that they only want to be left in peace…'

'And how do you feel, now?' Uyemura asked, taking out his penlight and shining it in her eyes. 'Any headaches? Confusion or nausea?'

'No…'

'…alright. Your pupil reactions are okay and your EEG readings are returning to normal…'

'…what…do you mean…?'

'While you were unconscious…your EEG was showing similar responses to those recorded during synchronisation…'

'Then…what I saw…was real…?'

'…possibly. Either way, I want to keep you in for observation for the next 24 hours…'

'I am fine…' Rei objected, glancing at Misato, who's eyes narrowed.

'Doctor's orders, Rei…'

'…yes, Major…'

#####################

'How is she…?' Kaji asked as Misato emerged from the medical bay.

'…she should be fine,' she said as Kaji fell in step with her. '…Kaji…I've got an assignment for you…'

'…and here I thought you were pleased to see me…'

'I am, but we've got other problems, in case you've forgotten. It appears that NERV is a public R&D company. I need to find out how much the Municipal Government knows about us and whether they are aware of the Evas…'

'…alright,' Kaji said, walking away with his hands shoved into his pockets. 'I'll be in touch…'

#####################

'Do you think it's true, Major?' Commander Ikari asked.

'…I hope so, sir.' Misato said. 'Until we can find a way to make the Evas operational, we're essentially defenceless…'

'Thank you, Major. You're dismissed…'

'Yes, sir,' Misato said, turning to the door just as it opened to admit Yui Ikari.

'Excuse me,' she said, stepping past her and closing the door behind her.

'You need to get some rest,' Yui said. 'You've been working non-stop since this started…'

'I don't have time,' Gendo said, without looking round and Yui frowned.

'We'll see about that,' Yui said, unzipping her coveralls and letting them drop to the floor. Gendo hesitated before standing up and taking off jacket, Yui taking his hand and leading him towards the couch…

#####################

Kyoko finished buttoning up her blouse, drawing back the curtain around her bed. Outside, Misato and Asuka were waiting with Dr Uyemura.

'Thank you for bringing the clothes,' Kyoko said and Misato nodded.

'You're welcome…'

'You need to try and rest,' Dr Uyemura said, handing her a paper bag. 'Here's your medications and I've included the details of several counselling services. I want you to come back for a check-up in two days…'

'…thank you,'

'I've arranged an appartment for you,' Misato said, handing her a set of keys. 'It's not much, but there are beds, showers and food in the cupboards. Don't hesitate to call if you need anything…'

'…thank you…'

#####################

Shinji hesitated before knocking on the door of his father's office.

'Come…' his father said, Shinji chewing his lip as he pushed the door open, his father not even looking up from his desk. 'Yes…?'

'I'm…sorry,' Shinji began. 'I…never thought…how you felt after mom died…I…never talked about it…I guess I am a coward…'

'I…was a coward,' Gendo said, after a moment, putting down the file he was reading. 'I…did not know what to do…without your mother…I did not think I could raise you alone…I was afraid that I would fail you as a father and I felt that you would be better off without me…'

'That's something we agree on,' Shinji muttered, walking away and slamming the door behind him.

#####################

'Hello, Rei,' Yui said as she approached her hospital bed.

'Good afternoon, Mrs Ikari,' Rei said, looking round as she sat in the chair next to her.

'I…heard what happened,' she said. 'I came to see how you were…'

'I…am fine,' Rei said, uncertainly. 'Thank you…'

'I brought you some books,' she said, placing them on the bedside table just as a nurse arrived.

'I need to draw some blood…'

'I'll come and see you later…' Yui said, standing up and stepping back as the nurse set to work. Glancing around, she saw that the ward was empty and strode towards the admissions desk. With another glance over her shoulder, she slipped behind the counter, sorting through the clipboards into the rack until she found Rei's chart. Quickly, she flipped through it until she found what she was looking for.

Bastards…

#####################

'How…is Rei…?' Ritsuko asked as Misato sat down opposite her in her lab.

'She's…alright, I think,' Misato said. 'Dr Uyemura wants to keep her in for observation….Ritsuko…is it possible to destroy the Evas…?'

'We could dismantle the armour and put the organic components in cryonic suspension,' Ritsuko said. 'But, it will take some time and we won't be able to reassemble them quickly…are…we really considering this…?'

'I…don't know…' Misato admitted. 'But, I want you to start making preparations, anyway…'

'…alright…'

#####################

Kyoko unlocked the door to the appartment, opening it to reveal a small kitchen and lounge with a couch and television in the corner, the evening sun coming through the window on the rear wall. To the left is another door that, she suspects, leads to the bedrooms and shower.

'We'll, it's not too bad…'

'…yeah,' Asuka muttered, closing the door behind them as her mother slumped onto the couch, closing her eyes for a few seconds.

'Are…you okay,' Asuka asked and she opened her eyes, forcing a smile.

'…just tired. Seriously, I'm fine…'

'…okay,' Asuka said, heading to the kitchen, starting to rummage through the cupboards.

'…ugh. Nothing but instant noodles and canned food…'

'…how about we order some takeout…?' Her mother said, grinning. 'Misato did give me that NERV debit card…'

#####################

'…yes…?' Yui asked, pushing herself up from where she was lying on the couch, the knock on the door jolting her out of her doze. 'Come in,' she said, rubbing blearily at her eyes as the door opened. 'Shinji…? Are you alright…?'

'I…spoke to father,' Shinji said, looking down at his feet. 'I…told him that I…don't want to have anything to do with him…I…I'm happy that…you're back, but I need to sort…things out….'

'I understand,' Yui said, getting to her feet with a groan. 'I'll be here if you need me…'

'…thank you,' Shinji said, hesitating before hugging her tightly.

#####################

'I think this was Genaro…'

'I think this was, too…'

Asuka popped the last piece of chicken into her mouth, dropping her chopsticks into the carton and sitting back, only half-heartedly watching the tv.

'What are they standing around for…? Get out of there…' Her mother asked and Asuka shrugged.

'…dunno…'

'Alright…what's wrong…?'

'…nothing…'

'Asuka…'

'…fine. I'm angry about the synchronisation test…'

'…why…?'

'I…piloting the Eva…was the only thing that I've been good at…if I can't do that, then what use am I…?'

'…whether that's true or not, you still have your whole life ahead of you and you don't need to decide that tonight. Whatever happens, we'll sort it out together…'

'…thanks, Mom…'

#####################

'Shinji…? Are you okay…?' Misato asked, Shinji looking up from the chair where he had been sitting, staring blankly at the wall.

'…yeah. I…spoke to my father…I…told him that I don't want…to see him again…'

'…okay,' Misato said, putting a hand on his shoulder. 'You can stay with me until you figure things out…'

'…thank you…'

#####################

'We need to talk about Shinji,' Yui said as she closed the door to Gendo's office behind her.

'He's not a child anymore,' Gendo says. 'He needs to make his own decisions and we have bigger concerns…'

'We…?' Yui asked, Gendo handing her a slim folder. She hesitated before opening it, flipping quickly through the pages. 'You're serious about this…?'

'Yes. And I need you…'

'…alright. I'm in…'

Thank you for reading. I hoped you enjoyed it. Any reviews, comments or constructive criticisms are very welcome.