A/N: Just a little Hal/Karen one-shot that came into my mind when I was watching 'What Hides Beneath' last night. I hope you enjoy it!

-No Matter What-

Knock, knock, knock.

The soft pounding on the door paused as the woman who had turned us in, Sonja, opened the peephole. "Oh, it's you!"

"We brought more food. Do you have anything to tell us?"

I felt my mouth drop open at the voice—it couldn't be…could it? I saw my dad clutch his gun just a bit tighter and whisper to the woman, "Just as I told you. You're alone and everything's fine."

Sonja nodded. "Uh, no," she continued, "I haven't seen anyone since those people earlier today."

"Dad!" I hissed, rushing over to the door and half-shoving the woman out of the way. I looked through the hole and silently gasped. Karen!

"We couldn't get them." Karen said calmly. "Do you know where they've gone?"

Oh, God! I thought, relieved despite what was going on. You're alive! But there was something wrong. Her voice—it sounded strange, almost completely monotone, and after a moment and a pang of fear, I understood.

"No," Sonja answered, and I quickly reached for the doorknob, only to have Tom and Captain Weaver grab me and pull me back, pushing me against the wall behind me as I struggled to get away. "It's Karen, Dad!" I said almost desperately, "They got her—"

"Sshh!" Tom murmured, "We can't help her right now."

Weaver backed up and walked over to the door as my dad kept his hands on my shoulders. "We don't know how many more are out there."

I don't care! I wanted to shout, She's two feet from me and you want me to just let her leave? "We can't leave her," I shook my head, my eyes wide in panic. "We can't leave her!" Not when she's so close!

Sonja suddenly spoke up, right next to me, and I looked at her, stunned at her words. "She's been coming here for the last few days; she's very brave. Do you know her?"

Do I know her! She's my—

"She's my son's girlfriend," Tom said, and I looked at him helplessly. "The aliens took her three weeks ago." He added, releasing me. I stepped forward as he moved towards the door. I was more relieved than ever knowing Karen was alive; but I was also absolutely horrified because I knew she wouldn't have even known it if I had opened the door and spoke to her. I'd always known she was more than likely harnessed, but seeing it was different—almost too much for me to handle. I'd hoped more than a few times she'd somehow gotten away, somehow would not have to go through what Ben and Rick and the others had. But I couldn't anymore; I'd seen her, heard her. She was harnessed, and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.

I blinked, my eyes on my dad, who suddenly closed the peephole's cover and moved back a little from it. I heard a noise outside that definitely wasn't Karen, and Tom turned to all three of us for a moment, his expression shocked, and then back, looking out once more as we heard retreating footsteps. Whatever he'd seen couldn't have been good, but I didn't ask. My mind was still on Karen. She was gone—I felt like I'd lost her twice now. But I won't again.

If I got the chance to save her at any point, I wouldn't hesitate to take it. I didn't need to think about it more than a second before I had my mind set. Any thoughts of going after her I'd had before were instantly replaced with the one I had right then. And it wasn't a thought; it was a vow.

I'll find you, Karen, and I'll bring you back safe, no matter what. I promise.