"We're nearly there anyway." Troy said. Marina nodded; and was reminded of the return home earlier that day. When he'd said it as they passed the islands.
"Gosh that felt a while ago. More like seasons rather than terrain hours."
Troy wasn't kidding. A very very short time later the car pulled up along another of the paths.
"Let's get you up. And then inside." Atlanta was leaning around her undoing their seat belts. Marina nodded again, but the world seemed to be moving to slow again. Or was it just her?
"Hey there-?"
The car door opened eventually. There were arms outstretched to take hers. Marina pushed herself up with some- (a lot!) Of help from Atlanta behind her. And found herself lifted up, up again by the under arms. Or is she floating? Floating above blue water, light crashing off the waves. Marina's webbed feet trailing above it, skimming the ocean as she was lifted up out of the car and over the grass kerbside.
The hands under her arms that were holding her upright then set her down onto the smooth paving slabs. And Troy's face, real close to hers said, "Hey? Marina?"
"Hi?" Marina blinked. But Troy was already talking over her head,
"Did she sleep? Like at all?"
"Sort of, I'm not sure." Atlanta said. Marina could hear her getting out of the machine. "She's still a little out of it, poor thing."
Fisher was locking up his car and following them out. Marina made to turn and follow them.
"Oh, can you walk? I don't mind carrying you again." Troy asked her. Marina paused to think about it.
She must have taken too long. With a grunt, and an "Up we go", Troy gently scooped her up in a princess carry again. He was very careful this time and they set off up the parking ramp, the same that were outside everyone's billiards.
"Fisher could have parked there. I never use mine." Marina sighed. Before she then thought about adjusting her arms around the captain's neck, she was already set down again, now at the rough door mat.
"Oh. Thanks Troy." She thought and made an attempt at signing it. "At least I can stand I guess?"
Even if standing it was supported on both sides. With her head against another shoulder and raised stripes on their epilates-
"Phones!" Marina realised. It wasn't tall enough for Troy. And the tower officers' uniforms; their ranks were flat on their shoulders so it couldn't be the other two. Marina breathed a sigh of relief he was there. She'd trusted he would be like he said he would see her later. But still...
She curled into him happily, Phones steading her waist.
"Hey there. Good to see you up." He chuckled as she beamed at him. "Is she okay? You seem a bit wobbly on your feet still, Marina."
"She just woke up. Sort of." Fisher explained.
"Yeah? You folks sure took your time." Phones frowned.
"I'll tell you later." Troy said in a mutter.
"I am right here." Marina thought with a puff of air.
"They're trying to be polite is all." Phones reminded her. Atlanta meanwhile was at the apartment's front door. There was the rattle of - not a rattle of the cell door. Marina shuddered.
There was the rattle of door keys and a call from Atlanta of "Don't let him out!"
"Yeah we got him."
"No, you don't buddy. Back inside."
"Daft animal."
"Oink?" Marina asked as she was hustled through the door. But she didn't hear or see the seal. And Oink was never very quiet.
Because there was another click. And Marina was suddenly dazzled, blinded even, by the lights. So unlike sunlight and too bright they caused her to hiss and wince, shielding her eyes and stepping back aways.
"Marina?"
"Oh shoot," the overhead lights were immediately knocked off again.
"Did that hurt her?! I'm so sorry!" Atlanta said. "Are you alright?"
"It's fine." Marina waved off with her other hand. Phones steadied her at her elbow again. "I'm fine it was just sudden, that's all."
"I'll hit the lamps instead. I didn't think of that." Atlanta said. "Oh, gee, that's not going to help your headache."
"Let me help." Troy said. "I think it just made Marina jump is all. That right Marina?"
Marina blinked and nodded. Troy spoke the sort of truth and besides, she didn't want to upset anyone. Slowly she looked up and opened her eyes experimentally. Softer lights were lit, a much gentler lighting. It was still a little too much for her to get her bearings. But better.
The stars were too loud though. And the walls let out that irritating electric powered buzzing, louder than usual. Marina struggled to hear and follow what was said over it. Her friends were talking to her as she padded along with them. They led down her, yet another corridor, gunfire and grenade smoke followed them.
No, it didn't. There was soft carpet under her flippers.
"- Your bedroom is closer? If that's okay?" she heard Troy say and was steered one way even as she nodded.
Marina wasn't sure how, but she was suddenly sat at the dressing table, her back against the bakerite. Trying not to go forward or flop back she steadied herself gripping the stool. A cushion was pushed on her lap to help and Marina lent on it.
"You take it easy there."
"What would you rather, Marina? Sweatpants or pyjamas?" Atlanta asked, before turning to the chest of drawers and opening the top one. "Or a nightdress even? You might need a sweater though."
"Pyjamas? I don't wear those. My sleeping robe is by my pillow. Or in the bottom drawer," Marina frowned looking up. Then wished she hadn't. The room was back to front. More green and pinks than her blue walls. It muddled her already spinning head. Really spinning head.
"I don't think she heard you?" Fisher said.
Again, Marina felt strange. Not ill or sick. But certainly not right.
"I want my Mother." she thought bitterly, cuddling the cushion in her lap, and not caring if it was childish to think so. She was still thinking about it when Fisher caught her off guard.
"Here Marina? Atlanta's gonna help get you into some clean clothes." he said, crouched in front of her. Maria trying to process it again missed part of what else he said as he continued, standing back up,"-but it might make you feel better huh?"
The idea made Marina blanch, but she nodded. She very carefully stood up too on shaky legs and made to unhook the outer layer of her skirt from under the hem of the dress' bodice.
"Woops-!"
"Wait-!" Atlanta was suddenly at her side covering and stilling Marina's hands. Fisher fled the room, so fast Marina only saw the soles of his boots. Phones whipped around to face the door and him and Troy both had their hands over their eyes.
Belatedly, Marina realised her mistake, that she'd been about to undress.
"Americans." Marina huffed with a laugh. Ignoring the idea that she'd gotten far too used to being watched all hours again. There was a beat.
"Huh. It's in layers. I always thought it was just one piece." Troy said. Phones clipped him with his own hat.
"Boys, out!" Atlanta said sharply moving in front of Marina.
"What can we do to help?" Troy asked her.
"Wait outside would you?"
"Let's go make a pot of coffee, skipper." Phones said, steering him out before either Marina or Atlanta could answer.
"That, I can do." Troy agreed. "See you in a little while girls."
But Marina heard him say to Phones as they left, "Earlier Doc said ibuprofen might help? Two every four hours. If we can get her to eat something with it."
"She's not had much appetite." Phones frowned. "Didn't even manage all of a muffin back at the tower. I don't want to give her an upset stomach too."
"What about another protein block?"
"You said yourself; those shouldn't count as food-!"
Marina sighed leaning on the dressing table as the door shut. So did Atlanta.
"Alright Marina. Do you want to go to the bathroom and wash up at all? " Atlanta started. Marina shook her head. "No, that's okay. I'll fetch you some water and a flannel-? But you definitely need some chapstick with that lip I think... Let's get you dressed. You'll have to show me what order this comes off in? First the skirt, then what? Then the top, okay. "
Marina had unhooked the first skirt and stepped out of, slash, unwrapped it. Followed by the leggings. Atlanta helped her out of them. Marina let her, unable to find any more energy to burn up protesting and did as she was told.
But the sharp spike in pain and cool air on her skin perked her up a little. And she was more alert even momentarily. Not that that was an entirely good thing. Atlanta's positive patter only interrupted by a gasp and a wince.
"Your knees. I can see through the fabric. You really are black and blue-! Well, yellow." Atlanta before sighing. "Let me get the top's zipper- oh. Huh. Buttons."
"I can manage." Marina said. She couldn't though. They wouldn't work under her fingers. The red nails did them so easily instead. Atlanta then brought a warm damp washcloth, gently began to sponge over Marina's face and neck too, until Marina took it off her. "Hey. Wait, I'm not a child-!"
Careful as Atlanta had been Marina was feeling crabby. About being moved. Touched. Manhandled. Brought from place to place. Everything all at once. She jumped again and worse, her hair had either come loose or been loosened. Took a moment for her to realise as Atlanta went to unpin her hair for her.
"I don't need a maid either." Marina turned in her seat and tried to push those hands away, well-meaning as they were. "Atlanta don't. Stop. Stop!"
The washcloth hit the floor with a splat. Marina found herself panting from the effort. And then found Atlanta looking worried. Marina felt awful for being the one to put that look on her face on top of everything, after the car ride and it all.
Atlanta had backed off, hands up. A comb in hand too that she set back down guiltily.
"Marina, you're shivering. Sorry I just-?"
"No. I'm sorry." Marina echoed back. Oh gosh, the second time she'd pushed a friend away. They should hate her for it-!
"Please." She signed instead and tried to string a full sentence together. Then struggling for the full words fumbled. she tried, slowly spelling number and letter. When even letters turned too hard, Marina ended up drawing a 'H' in the air.
"Mush? Two... Too much? Alright. Yeah, I guess it is. I'm sorry, let's... Slower?" Atlanta said quietly. Marina nodded, apologising again. "No honey don't be sorry. You just take it easy as you need, alright? What is it I can help with, and what do you need to do?"
They tried again. Marina loosened and brushed her own hair while Atlanta fluttered about her again. Calmer this time, and like in the car, talking to her all the while, told Marina what she was doing. It made it easier, but Marina still curled in on herself. At the shame of feeling like a dress up doll.
She'd hated the supposedly pampered treatment in Pacifica; being dressed and governed. But now Marina supposed she had to admit defeat where she did need help. She'd hated it then. Hated being unable to do things herself her independence. Hated not having her freedom in Titanica. Hated it now. Hated being sat there and feeling like a chore for something that should be so easy for her to do usually.
If Atlanta thought so she was kind enough not to say it out loud. In fact, she was very careful and caring about it. Like in the locker rooms where the younger human women changed with the t-shirt tricks and shuffling under towels. Well, when they had the luxury of time to get changed like that after a swim rather than bolting for their uniforms.
"I know they're not yours, but they should fit." Atlanta said as she helped her change into soft loose very terrain clothes that Marina wasn't sure were long shorts or short trousers, pulled up under her skirt. then sat Marina on the bed and tied them with the waistband.
"You can always change into something else if you get too warm or too cold. Arms up. Which shoulder is it that's sore?" Atlanta asked as she helped her out of the upper part of Marina's dress and petticoat and stays; till Marina was just in the last under layer.
Marina pointed to the shoulder in question. And was met with another Soft sharp gasp and hiss of teeth when Atlanta moved behind her. "Oh, Marina. Your shoulder is bruised up like a peach too! You poor thing. They really did a number on you huh? No wonder it's giving you trouble."
Marina tried to look and winced again.
"Don't worry. Wait there just a second." Atlanta said and popped out into the corridor. Marina heard Fisher come to the door who handed over another first aid kit.
Soon Marina was being dabbed at again. First the Warm wet cloth again. Then more of that stinging antiseptic on her cheek, her arm, all the scratches and grazes.
"Go ah?"
Marina did so. Atlanta applied lip balm too like she'd suggested. Then came in with bruising stuff all over. Even using a makeup brush near Marina's eye concentrating on the part where it got too close to go in with a finger. Then slavered the salve on her, gently working it into her shoulder.
"I feel like a dead fish in a herd rub, before you cook it." Marina thought. She wrinkled her nose at the botanical smell. It was nice. Just very potent. And then Marina got what Phones had been joking about earlier. When she'd been bundled up in the tinfoil. 'Fish dish.' He'd said. And 'dish' was a land compliment too. Marina had to chuckle to herself, even a little bit. It was silly but quite sweet of him.
"Is that ticklish?" Atlanta asked. Marina nodded, no energy to explain so let her think so. "It's good to see you smile. Arms up again?"
Marina wasn't sure how, but Atlanta deftly replaced the camisole with a loose shirt with little effort on Marina's part before she could notice.
"There. All decent." Her friend beamed. And collected up Marina's dress. "I'm not sure how to fix the tears but it's not unravelling on the sleeve at least. Goodness the weight of this though, Marina! So many layers too. I wouldn't have thought it the way it almost floats around you!" She laughed, sweetly. "You're stronger than you look, carrying all this around all day."
Marina laughed too. Only, Marina disagreed.
"But I'm not strong... I'm not, Atlanta. If I was strong I'd have escaped on my own. People wouldn't have been put in danger. Troy and Phones wouldn't have walked into a trap... I should have seen the aquaphibian in the first place! And warned Troy sooner than none of this would have happened-!"
"Marina are you okay to-oh. Oh! No, you're not alright."
The stool with her things on went over. Again, Marina didn't realise she'd started to cry until one tear then another ran down her face and then fell in her lap. If anymore were falling then Atlanta was already wiping them away with a handkerchief. "Oh. Oh, honey, there there don't cry.."
Marina nodded, trying to stop crying. But her thoughts were spiralling and whirlpooling.
"Did I say the wrong thing? Or does something hurt too much? Shh it's okay." Atlanta continued.
Even as there was a tap at the door.
"I heard a bump." Muffled a voice. "Is everything okay in there? "
"No." Atlanta called back. "Wait, Marina, stay there!"
Marina stood up so fast as the door opened. Too weightless, too lightheaded and ungrounded she over balanced. But Atlanta caught her. As did Phones who rushed in and pulled her upright under the arms.
"Woah let's get you back down." He said. "No more falls and feeling faint, okay? Please."
"I think I upset her. She's crying again." Atlanta hissed. "Deep breaths, honey. It's alright."
Marina let him set her back down, sinking into the hug of him and Atlanta holding her up.
"Hey hey. It's okay darlin'- Marina." Phones said. "I mean, everything will be okay."
"Do I need to fetch Troy too? So she can do the thing again?"
"Maybe? But what happened?"
After what seemed another eternity Marina felt she was over the sudden flood and worse of the tears at least.
"A little crying never hurt nobody. You get it out your system." Marina hiccupped and looked up to see Phones knelt in front of her, reassuring her. Atlanta must have told him what had set her off.
"I mean it. You are." She was saying.
Marina shook her head. Phones squeezed her knee gently and moved to sit next to her other side, so Marina was sandwiched between the two of them, the two other people who also loved Troy most.
"Marina, you are strong. Even if you don't feel it right now." he sighed.
"And brave." Atlanta said with a nudge. "I'm sorry I upset you. But it is true, believe me."
"not." Marina thought and shook her head again.
"Yeah you are! You went back to Titan. After everything. And knowing first-hand what he can do. I dunno if I could have done that." Phones admitted.
"And it was an awful thing to ask of you." Atlanta nodded. "Your actions saved Troy. You did that. And by yourself, you didn't hesitate-?"
"I did!" Marina tried to argue, flapping a hand uselessly. "I didn't want to go back. I hesitated. That cost time."
"You were so brave."
"I wasn't!"
"You are brave. And strong and brilliant."
"You remember that, yeah."
Marina blotted at her face, feeling more tears flow and feeling the world going fuzzy again. She tried not to look at them. Tried not to notice Troy and Fisher hovered in the doorway unsure what to do. It was them wasn't it? It wasn't just the shadows from the guards outside her cell.
Marina curled in on herself leaning on her knees focused on breathing. And just arms around her, the presence at her sides.
Marina only blinked and looked up when something long sleeved and fluffy was put over her.
"Arms in?" Phones asked. "or do you just want it over your shoulders for now?"
Marina thought. Then shrugged it on, with help to wriggle her hands in and pull it over her head. Felt them untuck her hair from under it, running a hairbrush very gently over it this time, whispering. Marina let them, not really seeing anything. She felt all cried out and worn down for at least the third time that- was it a day? Then she heard the door open and saw someone leave. Marina realised it was just her, and Atlanta in the room again.
"Phones? Troy?" she asked not so much in signs as and a look around. "where?"
"Just outside again. Phones just went to update the other two." Atlanta told her. Atlanta was hanging up Marina's dress, folding up the other bits. Marina frowned and rubbed her head trying to fit her mind back together through the fog.
"okay. Question?" she asked, looking back up to Atlanta. Atlanta had taken off her own jacket and was in the work blouse. "Troy Phones okay question."
"Yes they are. All a-okay." Atlanta said, sitting back down with her and asked, "how are you feeling now?"
Marina frowned harder unsure. She ran her hands down her front and lap, trying to sooth herself. Then remember about The sweater, not her usual fabric. It was a grey blue, and there was a wasp embroidered on one side, matching the one on all her friends' badges, only bigger.
There was a soft knock at the open door, "drinks are up."
"Are you alright for them to come in again, or do you want to go lie down." Atlanta asked.
Marina beckoned 'in'. And made to stand herself but Atlanta insisted she didn't get up.
"hey fellas-? Marina said come in."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's alright you can come back in now."
"This has got to be one of the weirdest get-togethers we've ever had." Phones joked.
"We don't normally hold them in bedrooms." Atlanta said dryly. Marina laughed softly in agreement. It was quite funny to see Troy being the one carrying in the drinks tray too. Three coffees and another teacup. And a packet of cookies. With no plates.
"Fishers just on call. See whether either of you are needed back at the tower." Troy said in a hush to Atlanta. "And he's got a coffee too. I didn't leave him out."
"Hey, you're looking better Marina. We made you some tea. Have a cookie as well, would you at least?" Troy then said, coming over to her and handing her the teacup. "It's chamomile. I'm not sure how you take it, but I can go fetch some sweetener if you want."
"Warm and wet is fine." Marina joked as she took it, even only to herself. She eyed the orange bottlejar he had in his other hand she recognised as medical looking. Then loudly pointed at it and shook her head. "I don't know I want to take that, though?"
"Nothing gets past you huh." Troy laughed, handing it to her. "Are you sure?"
Marina put off answering, sipping her tea instead.
"It's okay if you'd rather not Marina, but you don't have to push through anything." Atlanta reminded her. Marina sighed and rolled the bottle in her hands still unsure.
"How about just one or two aspirin then?" Phones compromised. "Or half of one even? Just to take the edge off?"
Marina relented. And let him help splitting the pill. It wasn't nice but it tasted better washed down with the tea rather than water at least.
"Atta girl."
"Drink plenty with it."
"Is that better?"
Marina nodded and took an offered cookie too.
"Why do they bother?" she wondered. And froze, biting down harder than she meant to. That thought that horrid thought, came unbidden. And it sounded too much like Titan's sneering servant in her head. Marina wasn't sure if he had said that for real or just her imagination tricking her.
"Aren't you a traitorous? And now a traitor to the Wasps?" it tried. Marina wouldn't hear it.
"You're the traitor, not me. Slave or not, who would willingly serve Titan over others?" Marina told it, anyway, hoping to quash it before it became its own nightmare. "And you are a liar, Agent. That's not true, they're my friends! They care. They came and got me. They didn't have to, and they did anyway."
Had they not held her when she'd cried or fallen or both? Held her up or close. With a gentleness she wasn't used to. Heck, even carried in Troy's case…
"Wouldn't the lounge be better to set up in?" the man in question was saying. Marina, trying to tune back in, followed along. Even as her eyes drooped.
"To keep an eye on her you mean?" Atlanta asked, with a hmm.
"Well yeah? But if she wanted a bite to eat-?"
"She might but it's not as comfortable if she wants to sleep. Will she want to move again?"
"I could carry her through again?"
"How about actually asking her?" Phones pointed out, not unkindly. "You don't want another fight Troy."
"That's true. Marina, what do you reckon?"
"reckon to what?" Marina wondered with a yawn, rubbing her eyes. She managed to sign 'What' at least.
"I reckon that I don't think she'll stay up much longer." Phones chuckled and nudged her playfully.
Troy agreed. "You might be right, brother. Marina? I think you need an early night and a full eight hours."
Marina agreed with a nod. That got another little laugh from Atlanta as she got up and fetched pillows from the top end of the bed closer, fluffing them up.
"Scootch back Marina. Lie down?" she coaxed soft and soothing. "Get some proper rest. Or a nap at least."
"I can't-?" Marina resisted, trying to fight it. But it sounded like such a nice idea. If only for a little while? And she was surprised how quickly the chalky little aspirin pill dulled the ache of her bones again. Marina hadn't realised quite how much her head had been hurting. It now felt fuzzy rather than a sharp little pains. And her whole body felt limp.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just rest her eyes. And they'd said she was bone tired so it would be good to let those rest as well. She only needed a slight push from Phones and another to lift her feet on to the bed to settle on her side.
Marina felt like she might drop off the moment her head touched the pillow. Instead, her mind and senses lingered at consciousness even with her eyes closed.
Something is pressed in to and under her arms. Too solid to be a pillow. With four legs and a floppy head. Marina thinks it might be the toy dog from her bedside. Troy had brought both her and Atlanta back one each when he'd been in Washington. But she's too drowsy and cosy to open her eyes to check.
"You've had a rough time." Phone said as Marina was ironically surrounded by the soft bedding around her. "Sleep well, you deserve a break, Marina."
He folded the sheets back over her and tucked her in, the wrong way on the big American bed. A tad too tight over her feet. But she didn't really care. Not if her friends were there. Three of the most important land people to her. They weren't split up. No one was sick on a breathing machine.
They talked over her in hushed whispers, trying not to disturb her.
Troy was safe. So was Phones. Troy was alive. Atlanta was happy again. Marina herself was safe and free.
"I'm happy too. Home... Safe? Just ...tired." Marina insisted despite what her own traitress thoughts were telling her.
"Safe." Marina repeated to herself, her muscles relaxing. The weight and pressure of the sheets cocooning her, reminding her of her real ocean home. And she can pretend the hum of the discussion is the hum of Stingray's motors.
She can hear in his voice. Quiet as he's trying to be, Troy had his captain's head on, once more trying to plan something by musing out loud. To fix things, make it all better. He's safe and recovering. Breathing on his own. Up and about. Not comatose. Not dying in a hospital bed.
"We can make sure at least one of us will be here-?" Troy was saying. Or something along those lines. It's the last thing she heard as Marina drifted off. And finally, finally let sleep fully embrace her like her friends had, if only for a little while.