Janet walked up the sterilised hallway of the hospital, heels clacking as dodged harried nurses and doctors and a sinking feeling in her stomach.

She didn't notice the sympathetic smiles from the nurses.

Or the exhausted nods of the doctors.

It was an eternity before finally reaching the room she'd been to so many times before over the past week.

Seven days since they'd found Rachel in the dilapidated house.

Janet pushed open the door and peeked through, the sound of laughter drifting towards her. Tali and Rachel looked up at her entrance, smiles still on both their faces as they sat cross legged on the bed.

"Hi Janet." Greeted Tali. Janet stepped further into the room.

"Hiya kid. Hey Rach. " she wandered to the empty seat and sat, smiling gently at the best friend she no longer knew.

"Hi." Replied Rachel softly.

"You know, I'm pretty sure the nurses are ready to kick the two of you out themselves. Have you been causing trouble again?" Janet raised a disapproving eyebrow.

"Rach wouldn't take her meds. Again." Tali laughed slightly. Rachel threw her pillow at her while sticking her tongue out.

"Tattle." Janet laughed at them both, resting her head on her hand. Tali turned to her with a mischievous smile.

"D'you know the nurses actually gave me their condolences for having to deal with her?" the teenager hid her grin as Rachel gasped.

"They did not, you little-"

"Children!" Interrupted Janet hastily. They fell silent, before all three burst into simultaneous laughter.

"You ready to go?" Janet asked. Rachel grinned happily.

"Absolutely." Tali hopped off the bed and grabbed the bag at the end of it. Janet plucked it out of her hands deftly, flashing the teenager a smile, prompting her to stick her tongue out at her. Rachel chuckled and shook her head at their antics, wrapping an arm around Tali as the three walked out of the hospital.

"Are you sure you feel like coming, Rachel? I understand if you don't." Tali asked her from the backseat as Janet drove.

"I told you kid, I want to. Besides, Janet will be there to catch me if I pass out, won't you?"

"Don't even joke about that." Janet and Tali said in unison. They arrived at Tali's school, the teenager quickly hopping out of the car.

"I have to go get ready- stay out of trouble you two!" she pressed a kiss to Rachel's cheek and blew another to Janet before scrambling off to somewhere unknown.

"Where does she get her energy from?" asked Janet with an astonished grin. Rachel laughed.

"Don't look at me, I haven't the foggiest." They began to walk slowly, ambling through grounds.

"Janet… Tali said we argued, before my op. that I did something that almost destroyed our friendship… what did I do?" Rachel asked awkwardly.

"Oh, rach, it doesn't matter now." Janet told her.

"But it does! Please, Janet." Rachel pleaded. Janet sighed.

"You remember I told you about Taisie and Elise? Well, Taisie adores you. Thinks you're just as good as Lady Gaga, which is saying something. But… you were staying at mine when you were having problems with Sean and you… slept with an ex co-worker of ours. In front of Taisie." Janet winced slightly as Rachel came to a sudden stop, looking at her in horror.

"I did what?" she exclaimed, dismayed.

"Yeah… let's just say I wasn't very happy with you. But it's all ok now- we made up and Taisie can't wait to see you again." Janet reassured her, nudging her slightly to prompt her to begin walking again. They made their way into the hall where other parents and siblings sat, before suddenly the lights dimmed to almost blackness. Beside her, Janet felt Rachel stiffen and gently slipped her hand over hers. A single spotlight appeared on the stage, illuminating a pale girl with shockingly white hair, who was dressed in a midnight blue dress the swept down to the floor, the shimmer in the fabric making her seem ethereal in the sole light.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls. Welcome to the GerillioAcademy's end of term performance. For the year 11's, the last they'll ever do. Enjoy." She spoke, before the lights vanished once again, and the group after group performed, Tali in a few of them. Finally, it was announced the final act of the night was next, and Rachel and Janet both smiled as they recognised Tali, dressed in a blood red dress that was artfully ragged at the bottom, surrounded by other students. They began to sing a song Janet vaguely recognised form one that Elise had been playing, but the tone was softer and slower. A few minutes in, and Tali took centre stage, commanding all eyes on her as she began to sing, eyes locked on Rachel's while dancers twirled around her, twisting and gliding across the stage like playful fae.

I won't run when bullets chase me

I won't rest where arms embrace me

I will love when people hate me

I won't hush, no you can't make me

Send the dark but it won't break me

You can try but you can't change me

Take my life, they will replace me

I won't hush, no you can't make me

I won't hush, no we will sing!

Janet laughed to herself at the lyrics- they fitted Rachel perfectly and she was sure that that was reason for Tali's smirk as she melted back into the group, their voices melding together to create a harmony that sent shivers down her spine.

Where are we going

Oh I don't know

But still I've got to go

What will become of us

Oh I don't care

All I know is I'll go anywhere

Pioneer

Let your heart not be troubled

The group bowed and left the stage, leaving the parents to make their way out of the hall and into the foyer where dancers, singers and actors in various costumes greeted them with joy and enthusiasm.

"Rachel, Janet!" Tali bounded out from somewhere unseen-still in the red dress, although now with a coat thrown over it- and threw her arms around the both of them, a smile lighting up her face.

"Hey kid. You were great." Rachel complimented her, Janet nodding her agreement. Tali blushed, looking at the ground shyly.

"C'mon- you ready to get out of here?" Janet hooked an arm around her and Rachel's shoulders. Tali grinned, resting her head on the older woman's shoulders for a moment before they walked out into the night.

"Ooh, there's Tony. Back in a sec!" she hurried off to the blonde boy in front of them, kissing him deeply as Rachel made a small disgusted sound.

"Did not need to see my little sister doing that." She muttered. Janet laughed, dropping her arm to link it with the brunette's.

"C'mon pal, let's go home."

The End

…probably

All done! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed- you have no idea how big my smile was every time I read one!

The song in this one is 'Pioneer' by The Band Perry

Thank you again!

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