[The first hour is the worst, her body's search for equilibrium has her shaking and sweating, almost feverish, and she's constantly grabbing the water glass and downing it like she's near dead from thirst. Finally the brilliant design of her Coordinator's body kicks in and, having the necessary warmth and hydration, goes to work. She settles and sleeps soundly for a time as her core temperature stabilizes and her system starts making new blood cells at an impossible rate. Within two hours the blue tinge to her lips and fingernails is gone, in three she's looking significantly better.]
[Lacus finally becomes aware of herself again, much later. She sees an empty water glass on the bedside table and knows she must have drank it, but she doesn't recall it. In fact, she can't recall much of their arrival back home; a few blurry images here and there and that enveloping, all-over dread are all she can immediately remember.]
[Immediately, she looks around for Sougo and, seeing him seated on the floor, reaches to brush his cheek with her fingertips. The gesture is at once grateful and apologetic; she can only imagine what this day has been like for him. She's not in perfect shape but good enough that she wants to start making it up to him right away.]