---

Marinalia felt things did not work out well but just gave up trying to fight that particular argument in her head as he turned to leave for his flight. Yeah, she was a mess, and needed some time to get her head straight. Joels parting words did carry with her... Office work was not her thing and gave her too much time to think over everything that happened.

Waving to joel with abit of a resigned wave, life was just... Strange right now.

Have a safe flight.. Maybe see you when you get back.

Turning, she saw him vanish into the checkout gates, "This office stuff doesn't suit you". Quietly to herself, yeah... Maybe Ivan hm was about and had somthing late or delayed..."Yeah..well if we never meet again... You where right."

Heading into the office at dispatch and various pilot related tasks, she soon found Ivan, with a large coffee mug. She needed to fly again, even if was testing some planes that had just been repaired. She could fly thr majority of their non jet fleet, with a a little bit of time to read a manual. She never quite saw the apeal of flying jets, thr big ones where like flying a building. Everything was soo so slow at responding to a simple turn, landing was mostly on computers. It was like... Not flying but more a glorified button control.

know I'm off flight, but I'm going insane on the ground.. I
a. Willing to take any gig you got. Just get me somthing with a engine and contol columns.

Gotta be a job round here that needs doing...

A short while later and a quick stop by the medical section they had a gap on maternity leave at the flight training, and Marinalias 9 years experience on multiple continents plus helicopters and fixed wing made it pretty easy to convince the manager to let her help out. She already had been training someone to pass there helicopter liscense, and enjoyed it. If it gave her more time in the air, well flying cargo was kinda lonely at times... Maybe she would stick around and take the contract extension.

...

Later wensday Marinalia was queueing through old harbour as it seemed every single car was crawling about a fraction of regular speed, tail. Backs on the main road and more. Great, it was gonna take a while to clear. Clicking thr sat nav and finding a way round abit, not perfect but would cut out a abit taking a side road. Passing a modern apartment building... Well that was the delay.

Ambulance, police cars and more all on mass outside a building, a few police looked abit jumpy as she nosed out a side road next to it, though they only had closed off main road atleast, it was open and she just wanted to get home. Hopefully whatever this palava going on was, it was not as serious as it looked.

Seeing a few vans about joining the mass of first responders and law enforcement, yep definitely right choice going round. Forensics ans more.. That was going to be in the news for sure even if just about the traffic. A few minutes later she home, yep. Old Harbour traffic due to police incident, no further details. Bar some passer by shouting claiming some strange theory, making a anti police protest for the cameras. Nutty that one...

...

A few days later, she was headed back to old Sol Airport, the flight instructor role had slotted naturally in and once she got used to things.. It was more flight hours, less paperwork and she was starting to feel better about things. Sure it had its frustrating moments and some of the ones they got where a tad... Well they be lucky to fly a drone... But for the most part it was great. More regular hours, more flight time and the pay was the same pretty much. In fact with helicopters, single, double and quad engines it had gone up a a little.

She sti kept her neat office uniform just Incase.. She had to admit it looked pretty damn nice on her. When she wanted to wear it anyway. In a change of heart and deciding it might be better, she had made a small but important change, her ID now listed as Marinalia Romus Olympus, instead of Marilania R Olympus. She began to relise she might be abit more like her father at times than he thought.

Maybe she had finaly found somthing decent in the degenerate pit of a city. Texting as she waited for her student to come out of the briefing, she did her final checks on fuel and made sure the rotars looked good, oil was topped. The sun was out, aviators on, wings gleaming and her trademark coffee in hand. She had a full international plan. Foreign family and all....

Hey...things went.. Weird.

You where right though. Why are you always right? . Whatever happens between us. Thanks. I found job that's making me happy. I'm flying again, teaching new pilots. Life's turning around slowly, and.. Thanks for the nudge, intended or not.

Marlin.

With a quick re Read, and a send, locking the harness as she kept a close eye on her pupil, clicking the start up checks and sequences into place. They where a a fast learner, maybe try a landing at the ruins of a old industrialists Manor, long abdonned the large woods, cross winds and rougher surface would be a good test of what they learned.

Great your learning fast. So ease her up slow up to 750 altitude then we do a turn to South South East. Keep us at 130-150 MPH

We got a strong wind to West, 35 knots. So watch your drift. Get rougher if your go above 1000 for now. 750 is where you want to be.

When your ready.

The skies awaited.

@Pilatus

Paige Kennedy

There were suddenly a lot of people showing up outside of Paige’s room and the corridor was getting crowded. Regular police were out front, a State Trooper and a Marshal were standing guard outside her room adding themselves to the regular, hectic movements of a busy hospital wing. She didn’t really like all the attention and was somewhat embarrassed, but she knew the drill and had been in their shoes before. Her Chief Deputy and her partner, Xi, were also outside talking. Both had been on assignment and rushed over. Milo was looking increasingly impatient and she knew him well enough to know that he wanted to do something, immediately, and that it was itching at him like a piece of metal slag he couldn’t get out of his skin. “No, it’s fine,” She said turning her glance back to him as the nurse left and they were momentarily alone. She realized her use of the word ‘fine’, was not what he wanted to hear or would accept, but the nurse had started her on some painkillers for her head and she knew, to some extent, her thoughts weren’t all there. “This is what I do,” She said solemnly and looked at the people passing by the doorway echoing her words from Sunday.

The cardiac monitor beeped steadily with the sound of her heartbeat and the effects of the painkillers were beginning to make her feel like she was sinking into the bed. She could understand why people got addicted so easily as her nerves relaxed. The nurse would soon be coming back to take her for a round of tests with the doctor. Her thoughts drifted into what she said to him that day. Who are you really, Paige? She thought about Ana and her old life back in Delta and she could feel the familiar fire in her soul burning distantly. She’d won again, just barely, but she’d done it. No high-noon, no trashtalk, just outright survival. There was never a thought of what could have happened only where she was going next. Milo had been right in a way that he didn’t know.

A slight commotion broke her trance and she looked up to find Sio standing in the doorway. She hoped she at least looked like a tough law officer to her younger friend instead of a beaten victim. “Hey, Van,” She said with a tired grin, “Don’t worry… I won.”

@RoccanIronclad

---

---

Siobhan looked at Paige and swallowed loudly. I won? Won what? Was that supposed to be reassuring?! Siobhan took in the scene. Paige lying on a hospital bed looking like she was drugged out of her mind and beaten like a female clone of Rocky Balboa. Milo looked like he wanted to pound some metal or someone's face probably someone's face. She snapped back to Paige and with a stubborn set to her countenance she walked in farther.

A nurse managed to get out “There's too many people in there…” only to get the look of ‘I will end you if you think you can make me leave’. So Siobhan walked over to Paige's bedside and nodded to Milo. “Milo. So who do we need to eviscerate or since you said, so eloquently, I won; I gather the perp is dead already? And can somebody please tell me what is going on? All I was told was attacked.” Looking over at Milo. “Thank you by the way.” She looked back at Paige. “If you can tell me what kind of attack?” She hoped she wasn't stepping on police toes by asking. This would give her some time to put herself together. She wanted to hug Paige but she looked so fragile and she didn't know anyone else as well as she did Paige. She sat down by the bed and put her hands on the covers smoothing them out as if it were something to do.

---

---

Milo sat down next to Paige, a hard an uncomfortable hospital chair, the events of the evening finally starting to catch up. he was tired, he had worked extra hours to try and get his projects done and now it was late. The sounds of the monitors and Paige seemingly dozing a bit just made him more painfully aware of how tired he was, but he wasn't going to sleep for as long as he could, as long as there was a need for him, he was going to be there, he had to, this was his fault, his problem, his mistake. What could he even do, everything he could think of only ends with him dead or in jail, kick in a courtroom door and blow Jackie away, hunt down his employers, it was all impossible for him. Milo watched all the people outside, for a moment, the idea of becoming a cop or something ran through his mind, but he probably needed other skills for that, an angry guy with a gun doesn't make the best officer.

Siobhan sprinted into the room, she looked panicked worse than he did probably, a story behind that expression for sure. She started to make comments that started to piece things together for him, this girl wasn't a cop, just some girl, Milo's expression began to grow dark when she asked about hunting someone down, "Sio, there isn't going to be any hunting." Milo nearly choked on the words his visible disgust of letting it go glaring bright, Sio already knew too much about his problems, and now understanding that she isn't even a cop only makes him feel worse, if she started to look into this, if she got targeted, she wouldn't be a lucky as Paige, then an innocent girl would have been killed because of his stupidity. "A guy from her previous case must have sent out a hit, tried to strangle her, but she shot him." Milo's voice was subdued, "I... I'm gonna be right back. Keep her company for a bit." he said looking to Sio, he turned to Paige, "I'll be just outside." He stood and grabbed his coat, before leaving the two of them.

Milo stepped outside into the night air, Milo pulled out a pack of cigarettes, he took one out and tried to light it but his hands were shaking and he couldn't strike the lighter. After a few moments of trying he managed to strike it and lit the cigarette, a couple draws and he sat on a cold bench. He wanted to go back, before he had ever messed things up, maybe then he wouldn't be in this mess, and Paige would be fine... But then they would never have gotten this close, she would have been transferred still and he would be in Delta, how could something good like the time spent with Paige only been bought through his mistakes? Was it worth it, should he have just let her do her thing? That stubborn woman would have found a way to get attacked eventually though. Milo laughed a bit thinking about Paige managing to piss of some other crime boss just fine without his help, but it didn't last. He stood and flicked the filter away, he wasn't going to let go, not again, his mistakes bought this, and he wanted to make it worth it.

@Pilatus@Almalthia

---

Last night had been interesting to say the least with the bit of drama Ashton had managed to get into, but overall it was a fun time. Marine and Ein drank quite a bit though to Marine's disappointment she didn't really find anyone to her fancy. Still, it was a great time and the tall firefighter couldn't really complain. The next morning was the day of her appointment where she had to attend, so she had the day off. Honestly, she'd rather be working instead, but taking a break was okay. She just wasn't sure what to do. Honestly, she didn't have too many friends to hang out with outside the station. Everyone was on duty as well.

Ah well, it was alright! Today was a bright new day to have fun and greet the world and its people with a friendly smile!

Walking along the river wearing her usual baggy clothes of a white t shirt with a raggedy old black jacket with some fluff at the edges of the hood and torn up jeans, Ashton flicked her gaze toward the river as she recalled the morning.

---

Sitting in the familiar office, the morning sun gingerly seeping in between the blinds, Ashton sat in a cozy leather chair, gently kicking her legs as her back relaxed against the cushy back of her seat. In front of her sat a woman in a light gray suit, brown hair pulled up in a bun and her blue tinted glasses resting upon her nose as she took a pale finger and pushed them upward. The professional woman sat in another chair, behind her a desk that had her name of 'Mrs. Saffron' with some photos of family sitting on the desk as well as plaques of awards on the wall, sharing some space with serene pictures of nature.

"Miss Griffone, how are you feeling today?" Mrs. Saffron questioned, her voice having a soothing and calm sort of tone, though perhaps with slight frustration.

Ashton turned her amethyst eyes towards the psychiatrist and gave a smile along with a thumbs up with her right hand.

"That's good. Have you had any nightmares as of late? Have you tried to communicate through speech?" Mrs. Saffron asked, her green eyes watching the dirty blonde seem to ponder the question before holding up her hand up horizontally and lightly waving it side to side in a 'eh' motion.

Gingerly scribbling down some notes on her clipboard, the woman looked to the firefighter once more. "I see, do you still feel pain when you make a attempt?" came another question.

Tilting her head, a index finger gingerly scratching her temple, Ashton raised her hands along with her shrug and bobbed her head side to side in a 'eh yeah a bit' sort of way.

Sighing softly, Mrs. Saffron took her glasses off and gingerly rubbed her eyes with a thumb and index finger. "Miss Griffone, I feel that perhaps you should try and take some rest from your work. You seem to have a tendency to over exert yourself." she suggested.

Ashton gave a soft smile, waving her right hand before her before leaning back and putting her hands behind her head. Watching as Mrs. Saffron sighed before the clock on the desk buzz, the woman tapped it before standing up. "Well that is all for today, see you at our next appointment."

---

Memory ending, Ashton took a breath but smiled thoughtfully. It sometimes was a little inconvenient with her lack of speech with some people not really understanding the odd situation. However Ashton was just as satisfied even if she never spoke again. She didn't need to speak in order to communicate. Plus, wasn't it fulfilling to get across your feelings without words?

Walking along the river, Ashton paused as she could see some smoke, come from one of those more pricey apartments that rested near the river. Amethyst eyes widened as she saw flames flicker out from a window near the top floor. Immediately, the dirty blonde started to bolt, leaping into the river as she pulled her phone and pager out to hold out. Tapping swiftly with her thumb as she notified Marine of the situation and location. Clicking the pager as well before dunking her head under the water then climbing out. Shoving the two items in her pockets as she ran along towards the apartment building.

A crowd was starting to form at the bottom as they started to notice the flames, the loud ringing fire alarm screaming its warning. Quite a few of the tenants were already outside, panicked. The tall blonde blinked her amethyst eyes before charging into the building. As she moved, Ashton's eyes quickly looked over for a fire extinguisher, yet the station where it should be wasn't there. Confused but having little time to think about it, the firefighter charged up the stairs.

With each floor, she checked for one, yet all of them seemed to be missing. Odd. Still, the tall dirty blonde bolted to the door that was starting to burn, flames flickering and spitting threateningly, a clear warning to stay back or get burned. However the tall woman ignored such a warning, using her right foot and kicking the door down. Raising her hands over her head as smoke spewed out, threatening to suffocate her. Crouching lower, Ashton quickly entered inside the burning room. Over the roars of the flames, she could hear crying screams of distress coming from the kitchen where the flames seemed to have taken over the most.

Moving foreword the firefighter saw a child of perhaps ten years of age over the body of a man. Perhaps the little girl's father. As the child looked up to her, the girl could only utter sobs. Ashton removed her jacket and draped it over the little girl before crouching to examine the man. He was breathing, he had burns all over his body and he needed immediate attention. It sorta seemed like he was cooking and something exploded. Either way, she didn't have time to think about it. She checked his neck, for any indication that it would be bad to carry. Not like there was much choice.

So with a soft twist in her face, she lifted the man in her arms, throwing him over her right shoulder. Her right arm wrapping around his waist to get a good grip on him while her left arm wrapped around the girl's shoulder. Quickly rushing them out of the building. The girl stumbled in the rush but Ashton was quick to get the girl to her feet and continue the escape. When they were outside, Ashton set the man down before flicking her amethyst eyes towards the little girl as she pulled at her sleeve sobbing.

"...K...K... Kitty...!" the little girl wailed as she pointed toward the building once more.

Ashton before looking to the building as she stood up, patting the little girl's head before charging back inside. She could hear the sirens or the emergency vehicles and the roars of the fire engine, but she didn't stop. Soaring up the flights of stairs, she returned to the burning room, coughing a bit as she crouched and covered her mouth. Quickly scoping out the apartment for some signs of a pet. Entering a bedroom, she faintly heard a wail. Moving to look under the bed, she saw a wailing small white kitten covered in soot. Reaching with her right arm, Ashton snatched the kitten gently before bringing her into her chest. Just then there was a crackle above.

Snapping her gaze upwards, a chandelier groan before falling. The tall firefighter held the kitten close before trying to dive out of the way. Tensing and gritting her teeth as she felt sharp metal crush against her left leg. Face scrunching, she used her other leg to kick at the chandelier off of her before stumbling on her feet. Or foot. Her left leg shot pain through her body as she tried to stand on it.

Tightening her lips together, the fire crackled against a bookcase, and she watched as it collapsed in front of the room door. Coughing, Ashton looked around before turning to the window. Limping and opening it up, she looked over the side. Hearing the roars of sirens, the yelling of people, and the hissing flames behind her. Looking below, she saw the river. Looking over her shoulder for a moment, Ashton scrambled through the window, her left arm holding the kitten close while her right hand held the window sill. Right leg firmly pressed against the window sill as she tried looking around.

Clenching her teeth she took a breath before pushing her foot firmly against the window sill, launching her off as she jumped.

She felt the crushing impact of water, and her world instantly going from a inferno into cold cool liquid.

The light turning into darkness.

Then nothing.

---

---

Siobhan watched Milo walk out. “What the he-okay…” Siobhan looked back at Paige. “Alright Rocky, not the best follow through on a date. Unless of course you're dating a doctor. So big questions...who's after you? Do you need a lawyer? Cause I know a shark. She's amazing. So Milo seemed pretty torn up. You keep dodging the question of whether or not there is something there. Hum very Beauty and the Beast. So you drugged up enough to tell me what is going on or do I have to wait till the nurse comes back? Or heaven forbid Milo.” Siobhan leaned over Paige and smirked absentmindedly braiding Paige's hair so it was out of the way mostly.

She thought about how much her life had changed due to Paige and how she had changed because of her friendship. She wanted more friends like Paige. She also thought about Joel and seeing him more often made her get nervous but in a good way. Her phone went off and she looked down at it and glanced at the text message.

~Where u @?
~Busy Sighing she replied.
~Best get unbusy
~Rain check. Fam in hospital. Scowling at the phone fingers flying over the keys.
~2 weeks from now outta respect 4 u but if ur not here he takes it out on u. u know u don't want to push that u know what will happen.
~I know Sighing she pocketed the phone after turning it on silent greatly appreciating the short reprieve only to realize Joel would be back by then and how to hide something like this from him. She'd only been able to hide it from Paige cause Paige had been busy with the Marshall stuff. She kept her face blank after pocketing her phone to look at Paige smirking at remembering her last remarks.

Paige Kennedy

The pain in her head and most of the rest of her body was nearly gone and except for being completely exhausted, Paige was feeling very good from the meds the nurse doled out. She was listening to Milo and Siobhan talk back and forth briefly before Milo walked out for a breath of fresh air. Similar to before, she could hear them and understand them just fine, but there was something like a slight delay in her cognition. She had to really concentrate to keep up. This stuff is fan-freakin-tastic. She thought. Her glance was switching back and forth between them as they spoke. He looks mad The voices came up again. He’s gonna kill that guy. One said. Yea! Barehanded! Another added. We don’t need his help, we’ll put the next one in the ground too, just wait ‘til we get outta this damn hospital. She looked over at Sio drowsily. God, she talks a lot. The same commanding voice snapped. Hey! She’s our friend! As Milo walked away, her eyes followed him out. He loves us. One more concluded blissfully.

Paige sighed a little as Sio kept talking. She was glad to have the younger redhead alongside for a while. Being new in the city gave her the chance to pick her close-family in some sense and the girl was the best friend she had outside of work. Sure, she was a bit naïve and a tad nosey, but she made Paige feel human again, much like Ana had done. Like an anchor that kept her from drifting too far into her fix for contempt. She had come at just the right time. For years her motives and schemes cut a dangerous line between becoming an outlaw herself and continuing on as an officer of the law to the point where more than a few criminals accused her of being potentially dangerous if she were on the other side. She focused, trying to pay attention to Sio’s words, but only really catching the last part about Milo. “I don’t know, Van.” She said looking distantly at Sio from just under her eyelids. Part of her wanted to ask who was the beauty and who was the beast, but her wits were as exhausted as everything else. “It’s just… complicated…”

She could feel her hair being moved gently and saw Sio's arms working slowly. The nurse cleaned most of the blood out of it and she wondered a bit about her appearance, though judging by Sio's reaction, black-eye-chic wasn't her best look.

@Almalthia

---

---

Milo had returned after a bit, passing Siobhan in the hallway as she left. When he returned to the room Paige was already asleep, the medication seemed to have done it's job and gotten through the pain, he sat down where he had been before. He leaned back and sighed as he looked over at Paige, he reached out and took her hand in his, "I really am sorry about all of this." He muttered know she likely couldn't hear him anyway. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon at this point only prompting him to remember that he hadn't yet slept, he figured that he should probably go home but couldn't bring himself to leave her alone. He sat there with her hand in his as his eyes drifted and sleep took him.

He thought of what he should do, what he had done, thoughts of what must be done, there were few things that he knew that he wanted and this time he was sure that what he wanted was more time, more time spent with her, when she wakes he would tell her, whether she takes it well or not, would be seen but it wasn't hard to see that they were getting close, and hopefully, she feels the same. His thoughts were disrupted by the sound of a ringtone, it wasn't his, it was Paige's phone, Milo grabbed the phone and answered, figuring that Paige was in no condition to speak and if they were important, they would want to know.

The voice that came across as soon as he picked up was familiar, one that he hadn't heard in some time, "Hey Paige, I bet I know it is pretty early but I had to call, I was talking to a friend of mine out in Sol, she said she saw Milo at the gym. Have you seen him or have you been too busy still?" Her voice was happy and content as always, but why did she care if Paige had seen him? Was she wanting to see if he was still an ass or was she looking to gloat? After all this time, he had wanted to hear her again, now, all he wanted to do was hang up and forget he ever heard her.

He took a breath, "Ana, It's me." The words hurt to even speak, and the silence after was worse. Ana soon came back on, "Milo, where is Paige?" Milo looked down, Paige still asleep, "She got hurt Ana, we are at the hospital, she is sleeping." Milo could almost not breathe, the conversation was a lot on him. "Are you okay?" She asked, Milo almost jumped at the question, "I'm fine, Paige was the only one hurt, she will be fine though, nothing too bad." the audible sigh from the other side of the line was reassuring, "Milo... are you ok?" the question was weighted, he knew it, Ana knew more than anyone when he and Paige were hiding something, Milo stood and walked out into the hall, "Ana, I don't know what to tell you, apologies wore thin and I don't think it matters now, but..." Ana cut him off before he rambled, "Milo, how long have you and Paige been together?" Milo just looked at the ground, "We aren't together, not exactly, she helped me out of a spot and I took her out, we were just trying to be friends again." Milo waited for the response, "Just take care of her Milo, don't let anyone hurt her." Milo couldn't comprehend what was said, "What do you mean?" Ana could be heard chuckling a bit, "Damnit Milo, use your head less, it was never your strong suit, You aren't coming back, and I am not going there, if you two can be happy and safe together, just don't be an ass." Milo grinned, as she chuckled again, "Obviously she must like you anyway, otherwise she would have told me she saw you, I thought you had died on the road somewhere." Milo couldn't help but grin, she had thought about him, "Not yet, not yet."

@Pilatus