Ahren had gotten the station under lockdown. Ahri was safely following the others around, almost definitely taking mental notes of their every action. Jasper refused to leave my side no matter what. Fletch, Trent, and Jeanine were swapping shifts at the main entrance.

Everything seemed to be under control.

I watch from a distance as Frankie begs Ahren to take a break. He'd been running around all morning and refused to stop. 

Jasper and I chuckle as we watch him blabber on and on about something before Frankie kisses him to make him shut up.

It seems to work and they walk off together seeming happy. 

Jasper and I are leaning against a wall, observing the station. There's a group of traveler's playing cards and seem to be having a great time. Luna and Vega are among them.

I smile. 

"What's got you so happy?" Jasper asks.

I shrug. "The world's gone to shit, there's a massive storm outside, and yet everyone in here is having a great time." 

He smiles. "I hope you know that that's because of you."

"None of this would have been possible without you, Ahren, or Ahri."

"You still did this."

I nod. "I know I did." 

As I look around the station I can't help but feel a flutter of nervousness in my stomach. I try to dismiss it as paranoia but something just seems off.

"What's going on? You look... sick?"

"I don't know... something just doesn't seem right. I've just got a bad feeling." I explain to him.

"You're probably just feeling anxious, there's a lot going on right now and you did just wake up from a coma recently."

I nod. "You're probably right." He probably was but it didn't ease the gut feeling I had.

"Did we post a guard between here and the next station?" I ask, looking up at Jasper.

He nods. "Yeah, I think one of the other permanents is there right now. Look, maybe we should just sit down and relax for a bit."

I sigh. "You're right..."

We decide to go back to my room and just relax. I could tell he was worried about me and my recovery. Things were already off to a stressful start after having woke up from my six-day coma. I was worried about myself as well but it was hard to just sit around. I hated not being able to actively help. 

"What should we do to pass the time in lockdown?" Jasper asks, stretching across one of the cots in my room.

I shrug, sitting at the end of the cot. "Not much to do for fun when the dead rise, is there?"

He chuckles. "Yeah, it tends to keep you busy..."

"Honestly, I missed the hell out of my computer when this all started." I tell him as I remember the days of having access to the internet.

"I miss drinking coffee." He replies.

I nod in agreement. "I used to drink waaay too much coffee."

"Who didn't?"

My smile falters a bit as I remember Cat's strong hate for the substance. 

"What is it?" Jasper asks, sitting up as he notices the change of expression on my face.

I shake my head. "Cat hated coffee. I would have at least two cups every morning and she would always threaten to throw out my coffee maker because she hated the smell, the taste, everything about it."

Jasper chuckles a bit. "I find it hard to believe she was ever so opinionated about something. Since I met her, she was always super quiet."

I look down at my feet. "She wasn't built for this world. None of us were, but some people... some people just aren't strong enough."

"That's why we're still here, cause we're strong. That's the only way anyone is still here."

His eyes meet mine and we hold each other's gaze. At the moment, everything disappears. It's just Jasper and me. He lifts his hand, caressing my cheek with it. I lean my head into his hand, the feeling of his rough skin so close to my lips sends a sensation through me.

He starts to lean towards me, our faces getting closer and closer until his nose brushes against mine. 

"If I close my eyes, all I wanna see is you." I whisper, my voice was only loud enough for someone as close as Jasper to hear. 

I can feel his warm breath against my lips before he replies.

"Then close your eyes."

My eyelids slowly fall shut. In my mind, I see him moving closer. I'm ready for his lips to press against mine.

I'm caught off guard when there's a sudden shout down the hall, my eyes fly open and we both jump up.

"What the hell?" Jasper says as he runs to the door, me quickly following behind him.

"Sasha!"

We run out to see Vega hurrying towards us. Seeing him so animated concerns me. Since Vega had arrived he'd barely spoken to anyone but Luna. Him running and shouting down the hall was definitely not good...

"What's going on??" I question as we meet.

"The people who shot you, they're here."

Jasper doesn't hesitate before he takes off down the hall.

"Jasper, wait!"

He doesn't look back, he just keeps running.

I turn to Vega, "Where are they?"

"The common area, they came through from the next station I guess."

"Wasn't somebody guarding that..."

Oh god... not another casualty...

He nods.

"Go, help the others. I can't run."

He nods again before running off in the direction Jasper went.

I move as quickly as my sore body can, which isn't nearly fast enough. By the time I reach the end of the hall I can hear shouting from the common area.

I begin to quicken my pace from a fast walk to a jog, my body is screaming in pain as I move faster but I can't afford to be back here any longer.

When I finally reach the common area, all of my people are standing together putting a front against the other group. I can hear Ahren's voice at the head of it all. I spot him and Jasper in the front and I begin to make my way to them. The other's move out of my way until I break through the crowd and my one of my several nightmares appears to have become a reality. 

Ahri stands on the opposite side, being held by the very man who shot me. His hand gripped tightly onto her braids.

The roaring pain in my stomach increases with every second I watch.

Ahren is close to losing it by now. Jasper is desperately trying to reason with the other group. The other people from the station are slowly becoming an angry mob, getting ready to unleash on this new threat.

Ahri stands helplessly crying out as the man continues to tighten his grip. 

Then I notice what I'd suspected earlier.

Trent's body is laying lifelessly on the ground between the two groups.

"It's a shame, he looked like a good fella."

I grit my teeth as the man holding Ahri speaks.

My brain is stressing to find a way out of this without any more bloodshed. I can't seem to break even anymore. 

Be careful, take care of Ahri for me, do what I couldn't.

The words repeated in my mind, unsure of where I'd heard them my mind continued to spin. 

"Let. Her. Go." Ahren ordered, placing his hand on his hand holster.

"Or what?" The man pulls his gun, cocking the hammer and pointing it at Ahri.