Ky: I really am sorry for the wait, my iPad went all AWHOL on me and deleted all the notes I had. Something about a glitch it had and went back to factory settings. Anyway, I'm in the works of getting the chapters re done, but its a slow process because I've been pulling double shifts at work to try and get money in the bank for classes this fall. Anyway, that aside, LyssaKay commented correctly- actually there was a correct reply before them but the person didn't want to give an OC, so I gave it to LyssaKay who was second. You will see her OC in this chapter, later on towards the end. For now, we find Taz right before Up's big surgery, and then we skip to after, right before the physical therapy and recovery begin.

Once more, I don't own Starship or the characters, just my plot and the ideas I have. Enjoy!

Chapter Four: Finding Myself, In You

Our Story

"Now, remember, Commander Up is not responsive-"

"Up can not respond to me right now because the machines are keeping him alive," Taz cut off the nurse whose name she now knew to be Gonzalez." He will probably hear me, because he is in an induced coma, but may not respond. If he does respond, it will be minimal. He is not himself, the right half of his body is gone, the machines are keeping him alive, and I have to be sure to let them steralize me entirely before I enter." The nurse gave her an expectant look." Senora, I have been waiting too long to see my Up, to mess it all up now. Jou will not find me skipping any instructions as long as it means seeing him."

"Fair enough, Miss Lopez," the nurse smiled. She led Taz to the sterilization chamber, where she had to strip and let the machine wash and make her germ-free, for a whole three minutes. After that, she was put in a clean patient gown, and handled only by the doctors in their sterile suits. She entered the hospital room and glanced at the same sterile white walls as in her room. It wasn't until the doctors let go of her arms that she let her gaze find purchase on Up.

"Oh... Up..." She let slide past her lips. She covered her mouth with her hands and stepped forward. His right side was partially covered by a blanket, but she could see that there was an empty space where his body should be. She sat on his left side, finding his hand and tangling her smaller one around it." Up... Estoy muy apenado por no poder ahorrar... Lo siento, Lo siento, Lo siento... Mi amor, te amo, Up..."

Taz didn't speak much after that, a few more uttered Spanish phrases here and there, but mostly she held Up's hand and kissed it here and there. She studied his "sleeping" form, rememorizing the man she loved, who was now so broken and hurt. She left only when the doctors told her she herself needed to rest, but could return whenever she wanted the week before his surgery. She nodded, giving them a muttered "Gracias..." before leaving, stopping to kiss Up's cheek this time. She allowed the nurse from before to take her to her room, and she fell onto the bed as soon as the woman was gone, falling asleep immediately. Now that she knew Up was okay- if barely -she could sleep easy. He would soon be okay, her Up would be better and back to her in now time, as soon as the surgery went down.

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"You know that the surgery will be another eight hours or so," Junior said to Taz. The girl didn't say anything, finding that ignoring the boy was easier then answering his stupid statement. She knew this surgery almost as well as the doctor performing it, of course she knew that her sitting here for three hours was only a fraction of how long it would be. She also knew that she wouldn't move until the Doctor came out and said Up was in recovery. Then she would be in the recovery waiting room, sitting there until they let her into Up's room, to wait until he woke up." Waiting here is only going to wear you out."

"No offense- no wait, all offense meant. Please be so kind as to Vete a la mierda," Taz spat at the annoying boy. He thought he ruled the world because his dad was in charge, well he was in for a rude awakening because Taz could care less abou the G.L.E.E. as long as she had Up. She would give up every award she had won because of battles, give up her zapper, her lucky bandana and her knife, even her position as a Ranger, to have Up.

"I don't speak Spanish," Junior scowled," But I'm going to assume that was something not very nice. Look, I was only looking out for you, I know what it's like to have someone in there..."

"How could jou know that?" Taz asked tiredly.

"My mom has a very weak immune system," Junior admitted," She was born with it, and she's had plenty of surgeries over the years. I've been in the exact same spot you have more times than I can count. It sucks, and it wears you out."

"I am sorry I snapped at jou..." Taz said after a moment. Junior nodded at her and sat beside her, offering a stick of gum. She declined, but allowed him to sit with her for another hour, mostly rambling about whoever passed by and what dirt he knew about them. It was more enteratining than just sitting there, alone, anyway. He left after awhile- something about having lunch with his mom and dad -but promised he would visit her again, later. She nodded, not expecting him to return. So, when he came back another few hours later, two coffees in hand, she was surprised, but allowed it. She sipped the bitter black liquid and nearly moaned in ecstacy. The nurses didn't let her buy coffee, saying that it was bad for someone as small as her, but she used to have a cup of it- black and bitter -every morning with Up; it tasted like familiarity, like home.

"The nurse at the desk said that he should be moved to recovery in another hour," Junior said as he drank his own coffee. Taz's eyes snapped up in excitement." The doctor should be coming in to tell you in a few, but I thought you'd like the news."

"Why are jou being so nice to me?" Taz asked, suddenly wary of this nice treatment. Junior smiled and gave an easy chuckle, tilting back the last of his drink.

"Always a well trained Ranger, Taz," He commented," I asked dad to read into Up's files because I thought the case sounded interesting. Your name was all over the files: emergency contact, last living significant person, trainee, his ward, and rumored as more. I can tell that the rumor part was true..." Taz gave him a glare and he shivered slightly." What I mean is, if you're that important to this man, then I knew that getting to know you, keeping you calm, would only help his recovery. And much against popular belief, I like Up. He's a bad ass and a Ranger I've looked up to, all my years as an ensign."

"Thank jou," Taz said stiffly. Junior nodded, knowing this was as close to gratitude as he would get. They sat together as the doctor came out and gave her the run down; everything went as planned- better actually, Up's body seemed to be awaiting the surgery and had taken to the new andriod parts immediately. Junior let them take Taz tot he recovery waiting area, telling her he would see her around. Three more hours of waiting, another smuggled coffe, and a quick nap later, and she was sitting in a chair beside Up's sleeping form. He looked the same as before the accident, perfect actually. The new parts were made to mirror the ones he had, and covered in a synthetically grown skin. he was literally entirely human aside from the inner robotic workings. She grapsed his hand in her two tiny ones, thinking about everything she wanted to tell him when he woke up. None of it mattered, in the end; she fell asleep beside him, and was only awoken, hours later, to a soft whisper, hoarse and gruff and in a southern drawl that she could never forget.

"Taz?"

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"They told me that the only thing they managed to salvage from my body was this," Up said holding out a delicate golden locket. Taz smiled from the opposite end of the bed, she reached into her hospital gown and took out her own dog tags.

"Same," She said softly. They smiled and Up leaned forward to kiss her, but pulled bakc and winced, his new nerves still tender from the surgery. Taz smiled and leaned in so he didn't have to. He smiled into the kiss, and reached up his left hand to cup her cheek. She pulled back to breathe, and touched her nose to his." Te amo, mi amor..."

"Love you too Katia..." Up whispered. They were interrupted by a cough and a knock on the door. Taz turned first, and noticed a woman in the doorway; she was a little taller than Taz herself with long blonde hair and big green eyes, medium skin tone, and a white lab coat meaning she had to be a doctor, if not an intern." Oh, hello, can we help you?"

Taz loved that Up didn't push her away, but rather pulled her so she was sitting up beside him on the bed. She smiled, a cat like quility to it, happy her claim was staked on the Commander. She took time to study her love, his hair always peppered with gray, now entirely gray from the accident, a few new wrinkles and scars on his face, but his eyes as blue and young as ever.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Makenna Stuart," The woman smiled, her eye glowing in a pretty way when she did." You can call me Makenna, I'll be your physical therapist while we under go the three month recovery. After which time you should be more then ready to go back to the service. Until then, I'll be in charge of your daily work outs, and any other training I see fit for your recovery. This must be Miss Taz Lopez?"

"Si Senora," Taz said easily.

"Oh, its Senorita, not married," Makenna said. Taz couldn't help the pointed look she gave Up, and the flirty smiled with it, when she said this. She didn't like it, and she made a point to tangle her hand around Up's, and her free arm around his middle tightly. She had a sinking feeling that this woman would be problems for her and Up, if nothing more she would be a thorn in her side.

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Ky: So, its on the short side, I know. I also made Junior a little more lovable than I realy meant to.. But I love Brolden, so it's a given that I'd make his character slightly nice. I'll try and have another chapter up tomorrow, if I don't pull a double again, if not the next day for sure because I don't have church. Also, sorry for any typos I missed, I'm using word pad, and it doesn't have spell check, so I only skim to find any mistakes. I'll be back on my iPad when it's fixed, so soon. Anyway, R&R, and more agnst, maybe some JuniorxTaz drama thrown in? Who knows, you have to read to find out! On a side note, I will also be posting this on my tumblr account, as well as some little drabbles about other pairings- real and fandoms for Starkid -that I ship. Here's the link, and please follow me!