He finds her first, in the basement of the derelict building... squinting as the light from behind him floods the dark room. It takes his own eyes a moment to adjust and when they do he's stunted by a wave of anger, forcing the emotion to wash over him as the radio near his ear crackles to life. He assures Henry the men weren't lying, she's here, safe and ends the transmission as his feet pick up the slack propelling him down the stairs.
She musters a soft groan as he kneels beside her and the sound twists violently in his stomach. He knows she'll be fine, even after a severe beating she'll still heal faster than most but that doesn't alleviate his guilt. They should have worked faster, found her sooner.
Swallowing the regret he presses to her cheek, tilting her chin up so he can get a better look at her face. There's a large cut over her brow and a bruise forming under her right eye but she manages the strength to push his hand away, insisting that they leave quickly. He assures her there's no rush, that Henry has the men responsible in containment but there's still a hint of fear present behind her unfocused gaze. Bastards, he thinks... feeling his anger resurface. He knows from experience how hard it is to shake her composure and while it's likely due to the concussion, the perceptible doubt is unsettling.
When she doesn't relent in her efforts he sighs and helps her to sit up, wincing at all the various cracks that take place. He wants to believe she's just stiff from laying on the cold cement but its more likely her ribs realigning and for a moment he wishes she'd just pass out... but it won't happen, not immediately at least. She's far too stubborn which is why he holds back, allowing her to try and stand on her own two feet.
He's surprised -though he really shouldn't be- that she makes it to the stairs without faltering but at the first step her shallow breathing becomes apparent and he shifts a little closer. They're less than halfway when his hand moves to her waist in support and by the last step she's finally safe in his arms, completely oblivious as he caries her the rest of the way out.
She doesn't wake once during the drive, doesn't stir as he lifts her out of the van. In fact she remains almost completely motionless for the next forty-eight hours, save the slight flicker of eyelids and rise of her chest. He's seriously starting to worry, wondering if perhaps he was a little quick to judge her healing abilities when she surprises him once again, waking with a reprimand that his filling deserves more attention than her minor injuries.
He wants to tell her the truth, that her 'minor' injuries will probably be the main reason he doesn't sleep for the next week but he holds the comment not wanting to add to her worries. Right now she needs to focus on getting better and it's not the first time, nor will it be the last, that a mission gone awry lingers on his nerves. It's an occupational hazard and he smiles, trying to mask the true extent of his concern.
She buys the diversion, or at least he thinks she does... until warm fingers clamp around his hand and he returns the gesture giving a light squeeze. They're getting too good at reading between the lines, reading each other... though -after losing himself for a moment in her gaze- he decides maybe that's not such a bad thing.
Telling her to get some rest he agrees to her compromise, promising that he'll try and get some sleep as well. Despite her previous ribbing about reports it's clear she worried. After nearly three days at her side he must look like shit and resolves even if he doesn't get to bed to at least shower and shave before his next visit.
He lets go of her hand but glances back as he reaches to the door, not surprised to see she's already dozing. He's relieved to see her colouring has returned to a shade above the crisp white sheets and nods to The Big Guy who's been hovering in the observation room. The towering abnormal returns the gesture and he feels a little more at ease as he vacates the private room.
She's here, safe... and that's all he can ask for.
Well, that and an extension for the deadline on his paperwork.