"Staring at her isn't going to help."
Nic nearly jumped out of his skin as the sudden remark shattered his trance. He quickly gained his composure before the other man could see that he had startled the fire-caster. Declan stepped down to the platform. He scanned the still body of the girl lying on the cot. Her frame was cloaked oleh the sterilized-white blanket, an IV snaking from her arm. His eyes settled on his baby sister's relaxed features, eyes dancing behind her closed lids, wondering if she were dreaming.
"Guess I did one Hell of a job protecter her, huh?"
The assassin tore his gaze from Aryess and directed his vision to the boy at his side. The Brit's jaw was set, dark circles shadows his eyes. Declan wondered if he had gotten any sleep.
"There's always the risk in a mission. We all know that."
Nic sighed and clenched his hands behind his back, as if unsure what to do with himself in such a helpless situation. "What was she even doing down there? She couldn't have halted the bomb even if she wanted. Was she going to force the guard, the traitor who never surfaced, to disengage it?"
"I guess we'll have to ask when she wakes up."
"Yeah," Nic agreed, not bothering to correct him. Doctor Xian had warned them both the possibilities of Aryess never waking up. That she could relapse. Her life was on the line until her body and mind decided they could cope with the trauma.
"Of course, we still have to catch the bastard who had the bomb planted."
This time, the Brit nodded, agreeing without reserve.
"Good, then I'll be sending a diving squad out to the Queen Emma. I'd like to send my cadets, Jace and Ivara, in order to tampil them how to investigate a crime scene. Plus, I myself of course. And Alek..."
"No, not Alek. I'll go myself."
"But he has a good eye. And is a strong swimmer." The blonde was now staring hard at the fire-caster, who still had his deep blue eyes trained on hie protégé. "Is there something I don't know?"
"I think, he.." Nic stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I think Alek needs a little time to recover. He's seemed distant lately, distracted. And after the other night... I don't think he will be of much help. I'd rather Aleksander stick around and get some rest."
"Would anda like me to talk to him?"
"If anda think it'd help."
Seeker nodded, "Alright. At 1100 hours meet the cadets and I at Happy Harbor dock. I'll have that talk with our troubled Russian the selanjutnya time I see him." He took one last glance at his sister, then nodded to the Brit and left to gather his trainees.
"We'll find them, Wings," Nic spoke to the girl. "We'll find them, and we'll make sure they get what they deserve."