Chapter 18, enjoy.

"Sophia!" Tyler, our forensic pathologist says "You shouldn't be in here."

"I want to see him." I say softly, stepping around him and pause when he blocks me.

"Soph, there's nothing to see. Quaritch emptied an entire clip into his face." when I try to move again his hands lift to my shoulders "If you really want to look his stuff is on the other table."

I glance at it, a sense of sadness filling me. I pull on some rubber gloves, fingers leafing through the bloodied clothes, scraps of wire, wire cutters, black gloves and dig through his pants pockets. A few nicknacks were on the table before I move to his shirt. My fingers slide over the material, seeing the two bullet holes in the shoulder, left chest and lower abdomen.

He must have been running on pure adrenaline to get up after these…

My fingers hook in the pocket. Holding the standard t-shirt and jolt when my finger shifts.

"Uh doc?" I ask, glancing inside the green pocket more "can you come look at this?" he walks over to me "I think there's something in here."

Doc looks into the pocket, cutting the pocket from the fabric and places it under the light.

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"Well the splattered blood makes it hard to see but there was some sort of card stuck to the fabric."

"Can you separate them?"

"Yeah, but i'm not sure if we will be able to see the picture well." he grabs a pair of tiny tongs "I can run a 3D scan on them after but you will be missing part of the image either way."

"Because I shot him."

His eyes flicker to me "why don't you go eat some breakfast and I'll let you know when I have something."

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I sat in the cafeteria, playing with the oatmeal before me.

"It's only beneficial if you eat it." Mom's voice says beside me. I spare her a sideways glance as she sits.

"What do you want Grace?" I sigh

"What I'm not allowed to check on my daughter after a terrifying attack?"

"You would if we had any ounce of an actual relationship. But we both know that's a lie. So I guess that brings us back to what do you want Grace?"

Her eyes widen slightly, eyeing looking to the left "You were supposed to drive an hour ago, village life starts early."

I drop my spoon into my bowl with a sad laugh "Doctor Carter says I should be focusing on what I need."

"Well I wouldn't expect doctor Carter to understand the magnitude of our situation," she sighs "You made a deal-"

I toss my bowl against the wall, the glass shattering on impact and splattering across the wall.

"I ALMOST DIED AND ALL YOU CARE ABOUT ARE THE FUCKING NA'VI?"

"Sophia-"

"GET OUT OF MY FACE GRACE!"

"Or what?" she challenges

"Or I'm going to get in that machine, march up to Eytukan and tell them everything. You hear me! Everything!"

"If you do that there will be no stopping Quaritch. He will kill everyone."

"Well, at least you'll have no more leverage to fuck me over with now will you."

"What?"

I grab my hair "God dad was right! This whole entire thing is a bad fucking joke. We are never going to achieve peace Grace! You can't stop a war when only one side wants it."

"Sophia you just have to try a little harder, I know with time Tsu'tey will-"

"WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THE FUCKING NA'VI GRACE!" I kick a chair across the floor "GOD! I COULD RAKE MYSELF ACROSS HOT COALS ALL FUCKING DAY AND IT WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH!"

Grace rolls her eyes, that mask coming up "Sophia you need to think about this logically. There are-"

Tears stream down my cheeks

"ALL YOU EVER CARE ABOUT IS THE GOD-DAMN NA'VI!" I grab her lab coat, forcing her to look at me "You are the worst mother in the universe!" Grace holds my gaze, tears in her eyes and force myself away from her "Some days I wish you'd never had me..."

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I leaned my head against the glass wall, watching the trucks and helicopters flying back and forth. I had snuck away to my favorite hiding space and thanks to the plastic sheets no one could see me. There were only four people who know about my hidy-hole and three of them were in the med-bay.

I quietly wiped away a few more tears as foot-steps echoed beside me. The platform shakes every so often, telling me someone had found me.

I sigh as the plastic moves "Go away dad, I want to be alone…"

"I'm challenging my fear of heights and you're kicking me out? -Rude!" a familiar voice thick with tension laughs

My eyes flicker to the left, finding a slightly worried Max. The male sets a picnic basket to his left and slides closer and pulls me into a one armed embrace.

"Let it out Soph, I promise I'll put you back together after…"

Despite my best efforts more tears fall, my shoulders shaking as a deep sob rips from my throat.

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I wasn't sure how long I cried, but my eyes were puffy and my throat burned. Max hands me a handkerchief

"What are you doing here?" I whisper

"Well, I heard you missed breakfast." he chuckles, leaning his head on mine "… and I heard what happened with Grace."

I wipe my nose and sniffle "Yeah I think the whole base will know about that soon enough."

"Hey, I would never say it to her face because she terrifies me," he smiles, pulling out some fruit and a few sandwiches "but I stand by every word you said."

He pours some hot-chocolate into a mug and hands it to me. I'm handed a napkin and blow my nose. We eat, the two of us watching the trucks and choppers flying around "As much as it scares me, I can see why you like this place." his head looks to the left "I feel like a princess, watching knights fighting in battles and flying dragons."

"You want to know a secret?" my hands hold my mug "This place was supposed to be finished two years ago. Parker found me in it one night and its been like this ever sense. He bitches about unfinished work but I think he left it here for me."

"Awe, the tin-man has a heart."

My eyes hold his "How did you find me here?"

"Jake did. He followed you one night and saw you coming down from here. He wanted to come himself but this is a little out of his capabilities." I smile softly "you know… I've been wracking my brain, trying to decide on a birthday gift, and I think I figured it out."

I look down at the old hard-drive marked G.A. 7398463, 2107-2108.

"What is this?"

He smiles sadly "That is Grace's video logs, the year she was pregnant with you." my eyes snap to his "I had to go deep into the archives for that, and there are only eight videos on it, but I figured it would give you some insight into her state mind... and maybe help you understand her a little more."

"Max…"

"You don't have to watch them if you don't want too, but I have a computer in my room, if you ever feel the urge."

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(Jake's POV)

"Jake Sooley," I spin, finding Tsu'tey behind me

"What do you want Tsu'tey." I sharpen the edge of an arrowhead carefully.

"Where is Sophia?"

I pause, looking at him.

"She's sleeping."

"She's sleeping?"

"Yes, she had a very hard night, so Mo'at's letting her rest." When he takes a step towards the stairs I stand "You need to back off Tsu'tey."

The male eyes me "Or what?"

"Or I'm going to make you." I grab his arm, the larger bicep was impressive.

"I just want to talk," he grins, canines flashing in the sunlight but I could easily see the darkness lingering in those eyes.

"Like I said, she had a hard night. So go harass someone else."

"You think you can take me?"

"You think I can't?"

My eyes flicker to his fist, the tension in his shoulders and I catch his punch. My hand grips his arm, forcing him back with a shove. Tsu'tey glares at me but I smile.

"Every step you take I'll send you right back." my eyes flicker upstairs as the sounds of paws "Or… she can."

Manova's territorial growl reverberates around the room, yellow eyes narrowing on Tsu'tey. That sound had one meaning.

Go Away, or die.

I cock an eyebrow, all but daring the man to try and cross my arms as Manova stops by my side.

"Make your move hunter."

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"Men! grab your gear, were heading out!" When I hear no footsteps I turn, looking at the group of males sitting around bins and bowls "Men! Are you-"

"We can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"A debt has been called, we are honoring it."

My face shifts, eyeing the large Angtsìk hanging from the ceiling, its guts and fluids dropping into a large basin below. A few hunters were already working on the animal, skinning it with curved blades.

"What is that?"

"Angtsìk." Takun says like it was obvious.

I roll my eyes "I know what it is," I grab his hands as a bowl of skin is placed beside me "Why are you cleaning it?"

His head shifts, confusion in his eyes "A life was saved Tsu'tey, you out of all people should understand the magnitude of that."

"This?!" I grab a handful of flesh, tossing it on the ground "This is nothing!"

"Tsu'tey!" Takun roars

"This is nothing but luck!" his hands hit my chest, shoving me back as I kick over the bowl "Did Eywa even give permission for this kill? huh?!" I look around at my men "Did our goddess give permission for this hunt? No! I think not!"

When I go to grab the basket Arvok and Sonuk force me back

"Tsu'tey!" my younger brother roars "Back off!"

"Arvok? You're siding with this demon?" I chuckle in disbelief "You think our parents would approve of this?"

"Mother and father have already agreed!" he hisses in anger "They are the ones that sent me to collect the materials!"

I glance around the group, all of my men doing their tasks diligently "HAVE ALL OF YOU LOST YOUR MINDS?! THEY ARE THE ENEMY!"

"TSU'TEY!" Eytukan roars behind me, my parents in tow "We need to talk."

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(Sophia's POV)

The soft knocking on my door had my eyes opening. I paused, debating on answering it and push the button by the bed.

Parker's soft grin looks back at me "Hey kiddo," I see some movie's and snacks in his arms "I know its not Friday, but we missed our movie night. You up for the next episode?"

I look at the large DVD case, DOCTOR WHO printed in bold black lettering and can't help but smile softly.

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"And who are you?" a soft faced brunette asks

"Me?" a taller lanky man grins "well I'm the doctor."

"The doctor?"

"Precisely," he taps her on the nose "Now the real question is who, are you?"

"I'm Clara, Clara Oswald."

I lift the remote, pausing the show and feel Parker's eyes flicker to me, popcorn hovering before his mouth. He chew's softly, setting down his bucket.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asks after a minute of silence.

"Yeah…" I whisper "Just… not with you." I slide to the end of the bed "I'm sorry Parker but I have to go."

He sends me a soft nod as I open the door.

I run, swerving around a few people, take a left at the stairs and book it to the med bay. I swipe my pass and bounce impatiently as the door hisses open.

"Sophia?" Doctor Smith says

"Is he here?" her face shifts "Wainfleet, Lyle."

Her head cocks to the left "Bed nine."

I slow my walk as I reach the door, every step felt like lead. The weight of his words on my shoulders.

Lyle's eyes flicker open with the door, a softer smile on his face.

"Hey princess." he teases and I can't help the tears that spill down my cheeks, sadness blooms in his face "Hey, hey. What's with the tears?" his hand lifts, beckoning to the bed.

I watch him shuffle over with a wince as I slide into bed, his casted hand lifting the blanket over both of us. I snuggled into his chest, listening to the second heartbeat I'd grown up with. He always did this for me when I was sad.

"It's over," he whispers.

I shake my head.

"No it's not… It's not over in the slightest." I whisper in Italian, not wanting Trudy to hear us yet.

His thumb wipes away a few of my tears when I pull back

"In what way?" he answers in Italian.

"Lencioni's always collect their debts."

His eyebrow lifts "What?"

"Lencioni's always collect their debts. It's what he said to me last night."

"Well, I hate to point out the obvious but he's dead now princess. He can't hurt you."

"I think he can," I sigh, playing with his rough cast "Do you remember when I was almost assaulted at 11?"

He grimaces "Yeah, I don't think I'll ever forget that."

"The guy who attacked me… the leader. he said the exact same line to me."

His eyes widen "What?"

"Yeah, apparently they're brothers."

Lyle grabs the papers from the desk, flipping through them quickly "That's not possible, your dad sent me his files. It says here he has no next of kin."

"I'm telling you Lyle, their related. I'd recognize those teal eyes anywhere."

His finger scrolls down the page "Well that's not concerning…"

"I thought everyone here gets screened?"

"They do. Or there supposed to be." he sighs "It's not always a perfect system, but there are rules and hoops you have to jump through. You can't just board a ship to Pandora on a whim."

"They did that with Jake."

"Yeah but he would have been cleared before hand. When a science geek is considered they do a deep background dive. Extended family, school, history, medical records. The whole works."

"And you know this how?" I muse

I swear Lyle snorts in pain "Oh please, your dad has been trying to weasel his way into that program for years. They don't just give it out to anyone..." he holds my gaze when I don't laugh, those brown eyes narrow "Sophia, what are you not telling me?"

"It's not important..."

"Princess I've known you all your life, you can't hide shit from me." His hand pokes my chest "Now I'm gonna figure it out eventually, so why don't you tell me before I have to go crack'n skulls." I look down, hiding my face more "Hey... it's just me. Nothing you say leaves this room unless you want it to. You know that."

I sigh, playing with the bed sheets "Before I shot him George didn't just say they were related… he said they were my half brothers…"

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