( Collette, someone only a fighter in a literal sense a little over a year and a half ago, would not be the one to sell short the value of someone on your side who doesn't fight. She wouldn't love Caesar if what she needed was a fighter -- someone who matched pace or outdid her in the field.

She listens to Steph, expression baffled, then... even more baffled. Her thoughts had focused on how Steph needs to not be the only body in the field, that her back-up shouldn't only be back-up. Not where this seems to go, and with everything she's said... )

The funny thing is... ( she says, voice soft and expression inscrutable. ) ... I thought that was Ellie's job. Not when she's gone missing, of course, but when she's here. If it's not...

( Then why is she with her? If Steph thinks they're all relying on her, if she feels like they're a burden, and she's honest in that emotion, not just lashing out, then Collette doesn't know what to say. That hurts. She knows Steph has to be hurting too, has to be building her own guilt-bed to huddle in in misery, but it still hurts hearing that now.

I just needed someone I could rely on, instead of feeling like everyone's relying on me. )