I woke up with an ache in my back, resting at an odd angle. I wanted to turn over, but something was blocking me. A stuffy weight was pressing down and I couldn't dislodge it as I tried to stretch. I opened one eye a crack.

"Ugh, Taiga." I mumbled, trying to turn over. I felt her claws gripping harder into my side as she attempted to roll with my movement. I settled onto my back, and she nestled down in a new location on my stomach. She stared at me with slitted eyes, annoyed.

I realized with surprise I was sleeping on the couch. The comforter from my bed was draped half on my and half on the floor, a rough silk throw pillow under my head. I looked around bleary eyed. I'd left my contacts in overnight, I discovered. I could see, but everything had a weird sticky halo around it. I squinted against the sun coming in through the blinds. By the brightness of the glare, it was morning?

I tried to turn and sit up, but Taiga was having none of it. She clung on like a sailor in a storm, waiting for the choppy waters to pass. She ended up draped at an angle across my body, her forepaws on my collar bone. I was slouched halfway down the couch to avoid further action by the claws. This was no good. I used one hand to lift her front paws up and away from my body, and maneuvered her form onto my lap so I could sit up straight. Taiga promptly yawned and stretched. Then with a last disgruntled look, hopped down and exited the room.

"Good morning," Iter announced. He was sitting in the lounge chair, leaning slightly forward with the barest hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth. He was resting his head in his palm, leaning with an elbow on the chair arm and watching me with a grin

"'Morning," I mumbled. "W'time izzit?"

" A little after 9am." A slight crease appeared between his eyebrows. "You were worn out," he observed.

I absorbed with shock that I'd fallen asleep in the same room as someone else for the first time in… well, I couldn't remember. There was only one thing for it. "Coffee," I mumbled, and as if by miracle, a cup was placed before me. Well, it counts as a miracle if a god does it, I suppose. "Thanks," I offered, and took the cup in both hands for a sip. It was still warm, though not quite hot. It was black and bitter, and I must have made a face.

"Is it not acceptable?" He asked, a note of consternation in his voice. "We reproduced the actions We observed you take to prepare this concoction. Quite accurately, or so We believed."

I wasn't able to deal with a sulky god this early. "Sugar." I said, threw the comforter open, and carried the cup to the kitchen.

I returned with the coffee appropriately doctored, and synapses firing more rapidly on glucose and caffeine. I observed the room containing the downcast god.

"Thanks," I said quietly. "For the coffee, and for the blanket." I started to roll the comforter up in my arms to return it to my room. "I'm sorry for conking out on you like that."

Truthfully, I didn't remember much of what happened after accepting the quest and talking about leveling up. I remember deciding to wait to look through the options, but everything after that was fuzzy.

I suddenly recalled Iter hugging me in the kitchen, and felt my cheeks grow hot. That was unexpected. That I could so easily fall asleep after that with Iter still in the room illustrated just how exhausted I must have been. I quickly moved past Iter with the comforter and brought it to my bed. I paused to regain some composure in the limited privacy of my bedroom. I felt a burst of irritation spread through my body, warring with the embarrassment. I forced myself to examine my memories of the event. It didn't seem like he was making a move on me. It felt more… comforting? Consoling? It was scary. My heart started beating more rapidly thinking out it.

I shook it off. Whatever all that was, it was a problem for another day. I was starting to head back to the front room, still unsure if I would confront the god about last night or let it pass, when the doorbell rang.

Frowning, I walked down the hall to the door. Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I saw the silhouette of a person through the frosted exterior window. I double-checked that I was still wearing the same outfit I had on last night, a little rumpled but otherwise fine. Curiosity rising, I opened the door.

"Hi Mai," Bushra smiled sheepishly at my raised brows and wide eyes. "Can I hang here for a bit?" She raised a long, flimsy white box in her hands. "I brought doughnuts."

✦ ✦ ✦

Bushra was sitting on my couch, dressed in professional attire, with a laptop satchel on her lap. I was seated in my desk chair, moved to sit diagonally across from her. The box of doughnuts sat unopened on the coffee table between us. She looked awkwardly from side to side. Iter had stepped away, saying something about checking on Taiga.

"So, uh," She began, eyes darting about. "I kinda haven't told my parents that I don't have a job yet. I couldn't think of anywhere else to go, so I ended up here." For the first time she looked up and focused on me. "I'm sorry, did I wake you or anything?"

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"No, I woke up a little bit ago," I said. An inopportune yawn formed, and I struggled unsuccessfully to smother it. "Do you want any coffee? Or wait, it was tea, right? I can get some," I stood, and started for the kitchen.

"No, I'm okay," She raised a hand quickly to forestall my trip. "I went through a drive-thru espresso spot on the way over."

"Ah," I aborted my mission, and sat gingerly back down.

"Sorry for the unexpected visit." she leaned forward.

"No, its all right." I slumped in the chair, at a loss for what to say next.

Silence dragged out. I retrieved my cup and took a sip. It was rapidly reaching room temperature, but it was something to busy my hands with. What's this about?

"Uhm, thanks for taking me home last night. I was kinda out of it." Her fingers fiddled with the cords attached to the zipper on her satchel.

"It was a rough night all around." I deflected, and sipped again, unsure how to proceed.

Bushra exhaled a long slow, breath. "I can't really thank you enough. I've dragged you into my mess, forced my ideas on you, you haven't even healed all the way yet." It all came out in a rush. "I thought we were in the same situation, had the same problems." Her eyes still couldn't land anywhere, as if following some imaginary fly zipping around the table and floor. "But that's not true." She finally looked up at me, eyes locked in place. "You came with me to Jon's, and that happened… " She faltered, her gaze dropping.

I waited to see if the flood had passed. Looking closely, I noticed beneath her makeup her eyes were puffy and tinged with red. I wondered if she'd slept at all. If she could. I felt a twinge of guilt in my chest.

"I'm fine," I asserted, pushing aside thoughts of bathrooms, kitchens, and couches. I reached over and laid a gentle hand on hers. "You're not to blame. I make my own choices." I sat back again and searched for a brighter topic. "Your ARC is the real deal. I don't think I had a chance to tell you, but I spent a good part of yesterday putting it to the test with some people I know, and it was pretty amazing. Everyone was excited."

Bushra sat back, obviously not expecting this turn in the conversation. A weak smile tugged at her lips. "Really?"

"Truly. I haven't transcribed all my notes yet, but there was a lot of feedback and ideas. All positive." I wasn't exaggerating either. There were suggestions for improvement, of course, but all of it delivered with passion and enthusiasm. "I've run full-fledged betas and never heard such fervor from the users. I should have you drop in on the next session to see for yourself. Nothing like customers using the product to get the motivation pumping." I smiled. I'd have to see when Laci might be free again. We likely couldn't get everyone together like before, but maybe Laci could rope in one or two others.

Bushra put a hand over her mouth, and her eyes crinkled in a grin… along with a hint of wetness. Uh, that's not what I expected.

"No, it's okay, ugh," Bushra waved frantically at her face. "You just…god," She looked upwards toward the ceiling. "You never do what I expect." She chuckled dryly, blinking her eyes rapidly. "This is weird, but you make me feel… safe. Supported." She beamed at me through an uncertain and unstable gaze, but never stopped smiling.

Now it was my turn to look away uncomfortably.

"Well, speaking of safe," I knew we'd have to broach this topic eventually, and Bushra seemed a little sturdier now. "I think that's what Jon was trying to do yesterday. I don't condone what he did," I added hastily. "But I think he tried to make amends. Did you see the note he wrote?" I asked. I'm not sure how she could have, but maybe the police showed it to her or something.

Bushra's face went stiff, and she swallowed and shook her head.

"Jon confessed to lying about your situation, and took the blame. He wanted to apologize. To you, his family, to everyone."

Bushra's jaw bunched. Then, slowly, I could see the muscles visibly relax. "Still a coward. He couldn't even face me and tell me at the end." Her voice was harsh, but her eyes looked sad.

I kept quiet about the other person I saw on Location. I didn't know who it was or what they were doing there, whether they had a role in Jon's death, or just came upon the body like us. I couldn't I explain it, and wasn't sure how it would change anything, anyway.

"But that means you're free and clear. In fact, you likely have full rights to your app now due to wrongful termination. I'm not sure of the contract details, of course, but Jon's confession pulls the rug out from under them. They might even be forced to offer you your old job back." I lifted a corner of my mouth in a weak grin.

Bushra seemed stunned by that revelation. Then she made a sour face. "There's no way I'm going back there. I couldn't work for them again, after what they said and did."

"Well, I don't blame you there. But you'll have your app, the bonus they gave you, and maybe even some kind of settlement coming. They won't want to lose the rights to that app under any circumstances." I looked at her sidelong, gauging her reaction.

Her gaze was serious now, and focused inward. I could see her thinking through the implications, her world re-orienting.

"Hunh," she managed at last. "That's interesting." Her voice didn't sound excited. It sounded puzzled.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing, I just… It doesn't feel like I thought it would." She focused on me. "ARC was my dream since joining Complyze. Then, it was the means for getting back at them." She scrunched up her face. "I'm not sure what it is anymore." She sat for a moment in silence, thinking. "Maybe I can… "

The doorbell rang again.

"Sorry, Bushra. Seems like it's my day for visitors." I levered myself out of the chair. "I'll be right back."

I went to the hall, when I saw Iter had already opened the door. "Greetings Ms. Dougherty! You are welcome to join Us!" Though I couldn't see it from behind, I could sense the brilliance of Iter's perfect smile pointed at the guest.

Kris was on the doorstep, staring at Iter with a mix of confusion and annoyance. She was wearing a pair of grey dress slacks and a ivory white blouse – her 'workwear' she'd once described it. She was holding a thin, flimsy, and pink cardboard box. "Uh, is Mai home?"