Chapter Three: Newfound Power

Komui woke the next morning feeling rested, but odd. For a moment, he struggled to place the feeling. His shoulder still hurt, his leg still hurt. The rest of him felt...tingly, light, as if he'd not only fallen asleep, but managed to get all the muscles in his body to fall asleep too. Or as if he'd taken a high dose of pain medication. He was puzzled for a moment, then the memories of the night came rushing back. His vigil. The Singer. The Innocence.

Komui jerked upright, wincing as the movement jarred his injured shoulder. The shift of fabric across his chest caused an odd feeling. It was almost like an itch he'd scratched too often. Komui blinked, then lifted his good hand to press against his chest. It didn't hurt, really, but it did feel sensitive, a little sore.

He stood, then staggered to the bathroom attached to his office. It was a necessity, given that he drank gallons of coffee and was often holed up in the office for two and three days running. He had a similar set-up in his personal lab. He walked into the small space and closed the door. Then he took a deep breath, and removed his shirt.

There upon his breast, directly over his heart, a cross-shaped scar had formed. It wasn't as intricate as the rose cross the Order wore as their symbol, more like the cross etched in Allen's Innocence hand. Nevertheless, it was there, proof that he hadn't dreamed the events of the previous night. It was hard to see in the bright light of his bathroom, but when he flicked the light off, the cross shone faintly green. He swallowed hard, then closed his eyes.

The Innocence pulsed in his mind, dormant but there. He knew, instinctively, that it would only take a thought to activate it. He quickly settled his thoughts and emotions, knowing this was one power he shouldn't play with too carelessly. As a scientist, he was curious about what he could do, what it would do. He longed to explore his new abilities. But the part of him that was a Supervisor of the Dark Order was stirring in caution, reminding him of the consequences of foolishness. And he'd been around exorcists long enough to know it wasn't a power to be invoked lightly, or too often.

Komui sighed, then pulled the shirt back on, settling his white jacket over it and fastening it. His mind was whirling as he considered the implications.

He was an Innocence host. If the Singer was correct, he was host to the Innocence Heart. Based on his own observations thus far, he had no reason to doubt the claim. But now that he had it...

The Innocence had fused with his body, meaning it was at least a parasitic type. Considering what it was, it might defy classifying all together, but he knew his own body would be sustaining it. Actually, now that he was thinking about it, he could already feel the hunger pangs. He wasn't normally given to eating a great deal, so he'd have to find a way to increase his intake with out being obvious. Coffee would help, but even with caffeine, he couldn't drink that much.

The thought that he didn't want to be obvious stopped him a moment. He hadn't considered that he wouldn't tell anyone about the Innocence, and yet...the implications of telling people sent a chill through him.

His thoughts were interrupted by the click of the door latch, and the sight of the door being pushed carefully open. Komui blinked as Reever stepped carefully into the office. "Captain Reever?"

Reever blinked. "Supervisor. I wasn't sure you'd be awake yet."

"Ah." Komui gave him a half-hearted grin. "And I thought you were breaking into my office for something? Or...were you planning on trying to do something while I was asleep?" He let a glitter of his usual wicked humor fill his eyes.

Reever snorted. It was almost laughter, except for the exasperation in it. "Not a chance. I have too much work to do as it is. Speaking of which..." The humor died out of his eyes. "Did you finish what you needed to, Supervisor?"

Komui's own humor vanished. "Yes. I did." He turned and retrieved the folder from his desk. "We'll have to put this in the proper archives." He sighed. The words reminded him of the task he had left to the other man the night before. "Crowley?"

"He was asleep. But he's in Allen's room, and I asked Lenalee and Miranda to check on him. They all have instructions to break the news as gently as possible, as soon as he's coherent enough to gather that something's gone wrong." Reever shrugged. "He might have woken by now. I haven't been by to check this morning."

"I see." Komui nodded. His gaze flitted over the stacks of paperwork that needed doing, but his thoughts wouldn't settle enough for that. He could force it if he had to, but he didn't want to. Then his gaze came back to his second in command.

The other man looked tired, but even more, he looked depressed. Hurt and worn down. Komui knew the feeling. He still felt weighed down with grief himself. But the purge of last night had settled him some, turning crushing despair into a more bearable pain, one he could deal with, or bury carefully in the back of his mind. He frowned, wondering if there was a way to do something similar for Reever. But he didn't know what the man's mourning rituals were, aside from attendance at the burials.

Then a thought struck him, and he couldn't help the tiny smirk that twitched one corner of his mouth. The best thing to do would be to distract the man. It wouldn't solve his problems, he knew, but it would at least ease the weight temporarily. More than that, it was a solution Komui knew how to implement easily.

He reached over and grabbed the coffee mug sitting on his desk, then gave his subordinate a smile. "Well, I'll just leave things with you then."

"Oi?" Reever's eyes widened. "Supervisor?"

"Well, I'm out of coffee, and Lenalee isn't here to get me some, so I'll get it myself. Besides...I have things I want to take care of." He shot Reever a mischievous grin, then edged himself to the door. "So then, I'll be off."

"Hey...Supervisor..." Reever's eyes widened, indignation replacing the tired desperation in his eyes. "Hey! You have paperwork to do! And the work in the labs..."

"I trust you to take care of it. Good luck, Captain Reever!" Komui grinned and gave him a quick wave, then ducked out and shut the door behind him. He couldn't run very well, because of his injuries, but he did manage to make it to the first hallway and duck into it before his subordinate came bursting out if the office.

"Supervisor! Hey, Komui! You can't just..." Reever pounded past his hiding spot, frustration on his features. "Damn it, Komui...you bastard! I'm not letting you get away with this!"

Komui smiled softly to himself. He knew Reever would go down to his lab, then try to find Lenalee and ask her. But they'd been doing this for years, and he knew Reever wasn't anywhere close to figuring out all his shortcuts and hiding places. Besides, his subordinate was a very responsible man. Sooner or later, he'd decide that there was no point wasting his energy looking for him, and he'd go back to work. Of course, he'd be furious when Komui did turn up again. It would earn him a lecture. But for now, Reever's frustration would distract him from his grief. Komui smiled again, then turned down the hallway. He was fairly certain that there was a back route he could use to get through to the kitchens from here, and his stomach was growling.

It took him several minutes, but he did manage to make it to the kitchens. The main breakfast rush was long over. Komui stopped in the doorway, searching the few gathered there for Reever, or Lenalee. He knew his sister would scold him for not eating the day before, and for abandoning his work. He sighed. He wanted to see her, wanted to hold her again and reaffirm that she was all right. But still...his thoughts were whirling, the implications of his new status still spinning in his mind. Of all people, Lenalee was the one most likely to guess something was strange about him. If she guessed before he managed to sort his own thoughts on the matter out, he'd probably wind up telling her too much.

Komui winced. He knew Lenalee had accepted the Innocence to protect him. If she discovered that he'd accepted the same fate, especially if she discovered he'd done it for her...well, furious wouldn't begin to describe her reaction. Nor would grief-stricken. Komui swallowed, knowing then that he meant to keep his new status a secret for as long as possible, if only to prevent the tears his sister would shed when she discovered what he'd done.

It occurred to him that he was far too conspicuous, standing in the doorway as he was. He swallowed again, forcing back his thoughts. He couldn't quite manage a smile, but a relaxed attitude would hopefully be enough. He entered, then pushed the door closed behind him.

Jerry spotted him almost instantly as he worked his way to the Chef's counter. The man grinned and waved. "Supervisor!"

"Shhh!" Komui covered the last few feet, then put a finger to his lips, adopting his best conspiratorial look.

Jerry had no trouble interpreting his look. "Dodging Captain Reever again?" He grinned. Like everyone else, he bore marks of sorrow, and Komui was glad his antics provided the man some amusement.

"Yes. I just wanted some coffee..." Komui gave the chef his best mournful look, his voice almost a whine. "And some rice and baked fish and..." He listed off a few of his favorite breakfast foods. He saw Jerry's eyebrows raise as he continued his order.

"That's a lot more than normal, Supervisor." The man looked at him, surprise in his expression.

Fortunately, he had an excuse already prepared. "I forgot to eat last night. And Lenalee didn't even bring me fresh coffee..." He pulled another mournful look.

"Ah... that's right. She was working for Reever and helping in the infirmary." Jerry's look turned sympathetic. He gave Komui a thumbs up. "All right. I got it. I'll have your food ready in just a minute."

"Put it on one of my working trays, please." Komui forced up a small grin. "I've got a new project..." He let a gleam enter his eyes.

"Not a new Komurin?" Jerry paused in the act of dishing out rice. "Though...if you've got one that could clean up around here..." There was sadness in the man's face.

"Ah...no. But that's a great idea!" Komui grinned. "I was going to repair Kanda-kun and Lavi-kun's Innocence, so they'll stop arguing with the nursing staff and pestering Reever, and then I can work on that." He nodded. "And I've got an experimental serum for wounds that I could test... since I have plenty of subjects." His smile died, faltering under the renewed memories of the wounded and the dead.

"Ah...that's a good idea, Supervisor." There was compassion and sorrow in the cook's gaze. Then a small smile touched his face. "Well then, here's your order." He set it down, neatly parceled for an easy trip to the lab. He touched a finger to his nose. "I won't lie to dear little Lenalee...but if Reever comes by, I won't have seen you. Good luck on your work, Komui!"

"Thank you!" Komui grabbed his food, and the coffee thermos Jerry shoved at him, then turned and made a quick exit. He was just in time too. He barely managed to duck into one of the side halls before Reever appeared and raced into the dining hall.

The trip to his lab was longer than he would have liked, since he had to take the back ways, but he made it without getting caught. Komui allowed himself a small grin as he closed the back door to his personal lab. A quick glance assured him that the cover on the door window was shut, and it was the work of moments to make sure both entrances were locked. Even if Reever somehow found him here, it would take more equipment than the man had to pry him out.

Komui sighed, then opened Jerry's package for him. Everything he'd asked for was inside, including a large helping of rice and the coffee thermos. He set himself an impromptu breakfast on the counter, then dug in, enjoying the taste of the well seasoned food. Jerry did everything perfectly, and he was the only one besides Lenalee that Komui trusted to brew him a proper cup of coffee. Komui almost melted into his chair as the first bites went into his mouth and down his throat, easing the growling of his stomach. He couldn't remember the last time he hadn't simply grabbed something and run, so he allowed himself to enjoy the meal, but his mind was working furiously.

He was an Innocence Host. If he was correct, he carried the most important Innocence of them all, the Heart. Procedure demanded he inform the Grand Marshalls and turn himself over to Hevlaska to be tested. And yet...he knew the Marshalls would demand he step down from his post as Supervisor. More than that, he would immediately be taken by the experimental departments, to determine the true strength of his Innocence. There would be tests, and trials, and a number of things. Given the gravity of what he carried, most likely he would be confined, for his own safety. Even more likely, he would be under the direct supervision of Leverrier, and the Vatican.

Everything within him rebelled at that idea. He had become the Supervisor to protect Lenalee, and the other exorcists in his care. To leave that would be to leave their fates in the hands of someone new, someone unknown. And there was no guarantee that that person would care for their lives as he did. In fact, the only people he felt he would even remotely be able to trust were Reever, and Bak Chan of the Asian branch.

A small smile quirked his face. Bak would certainly protect Allen and Lenalee, given that Allen was his friend, and he'd had a crush on Lenalee since practically their first meeting. Honor would demand he protect the others, and the guardian of his home was certainly powerful enough for that. Reever would defend the exorcists as devoutly as Komui himself did, and for much the same reasons. Still...there was no guarantee that either man would be given care of the Black Order if he were removed.

He knew Leverrier had been getting involved with the exorcists, taking a closer hands on management since Allen had revived the Ark. If Leverrier took over the Order...Komui shuddered. The man considered exorcists and Innocence nothing more than weapons to be used. He might keep Komui safe in the Order, as the Heart, but the children he strove to protect would be put into a virtual meat grinder, sent on one mission after another until they died or broke under the strain. Komui's hand tightened on his coffee cup. There was no way he was going to accept that fate for his people.

That meant his new status must be concealed. No matter what, he had to prevent the others from seeing his Innocence in action. He had no intention of not using it, but...he would have to be careful. He would have to train himself carefully, in secret, learn his abilities when no one was looking. The lab here was a decent place to start. Better still...Allen's Ark. As the Supervisor, he had access to it at any time. And the secrets of the Ark, even with Allen helping, could easily take a lifetime to explore. Plenty of excuse to go in there, on the guise of research, and borrow a room to work in. Equally...he couldn't accompany the exorcists, but anywhere they went, he could have Allen build a gate...to save time and energy in transportation, and for emergency purposes. And once the gate was erected...anyone could use it until Allen took it down. He could follow, defend them from the shadows. He didn't have Allen's Akuma detector, but he would manage. He was fairly certain, after all the time he'd spent studying their movements, that he had the same chance as any other exorcist.

Komui set the remains of his breakfast aside. He knew that the plans were tentative still, but at least he had a course of action to follow. There were still numerous details to work out, and no doubt several obstacles that he hadn't even considered, but it was a rare project that didn't have those concerns. In the meantime, he had plenty to do.

With a sigh, Komui finished the last bite of rice, then poured himself a fresh cup of coffee. He sipped it, then reached into a drawer and pulled out two tattered sacks, turning to dump the contents onto his main work table. He frowned, surveying the broken shards of Mugen, and Lavi's Hammer.

Physically, there wasn't much difficulty. He knew the shape of every exorcists weapon, and made sure to have appropriate supplies on hand for repairs. In Kanda's case, he had spare katanas, all the warrior's preferred length. He'd crafted the first one himself, then sent the specifications to a trusted sword-smith in China. He'd done well enough, he knew, but these were definitely of superior make. However, Kanda's skill had been such that he'd never had to replace the warrior's blade before. He'd only had to do routine maintenance to the physical component. Komui grinned, wondering how the gruff warrior would respond when he gave him his new blade. Kanda had never complained about Mugen, but he knew the exorcist had definite expectations about how a blade should handle.

Lavi's hammer was even easier, physically. A straight up black-smiths hammer, with a slightly narrower handle, and solid blackened steel. Why it was blackened steel Komui had no idea, but that was what the red-head preferred, and he'd agreed. He went to a drawer, and pulled out one of the appropriate size and strength. A quick test on both the replacement hammer and the new katana confirmed that the balance and heft were still in good shape. He set them on the table, then studied the weapons.

The hardest part of Innocence transfer was the Innocence itself. He could get it out of the damaged weapons, but then he had to confirm that the Innocence itself was undamaged, then mold it into the new weapon. He had a gift for it, one reason he'd been permitted to become Supervisor, in spite of the potential conflict of interests. But still...it required special tools, and a great deal of work. He could do routine maintenance himself, but usually a transfer required at least Reever's help, and sometimes Hevlaska's as well. Sometimes, it took the whole lab. Miranda's had been extremely tricky, with it's time alteration capabilities, and it had taken several scientists to fine tune Marie's strings and hearing aids.

Komui frowned, studying the broken hammer and sword. After a moment, he retrieved his drill. With both weapons in fragments, it was the work of moments to break them down until the fragile green lights were revealed, and only a few minutes more before he'd freed both Innocence fragments from the remains of the weapons, setting them aside. Then he laid the drill to one side, and lifted Kanda's Innocence in his hands, swallowing nervously. He wasn't sure the experiment he had in mind was going to work, and he certainly didn't know what the consequences would be. However, he did want to test his powers, and confirm if he truly held the Heart. And this...this was his best opportunity.

Komui closed his eyes, feeling the light that surrounded his heart, the sleeping power within him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever happened next, then spoke the words he'd heard Lenalee use, only four days prior. "Innocence...activate."

Power flared to life, turning his blood to fire. He could feel it, such force that he staggered, his eyes opening to avoid knocking Kanda's Innocence against the table. He half expected to be glowing like a bonfire, but his skin seemed normal. After a moment, the fire was replaced by tingling. He closed his eyes as a wave of impressions hit him, flashing through his mind. The awareness of Innocence. For a moment, it threatened to overwhelm him. But he was a scientist, and he hadn't worked for over a decade without developing some discipline. He closed his eyes once more, forcing himself to focus, closing off thoughts and impressions one by one, breathing deeply to bring his heart-rate under control. One by one, the images and feelings faded into the background, until he was focused on one.

Kanda's Innocence glittered brightly in his hand, and in his mind. Through the power of his own Innocence, he could feel Mugen's energy. He studied it, forcing himself to remain detached, as he did when he was working. A faint feeling of relief went through him when he realized that Mugen was essentially undamaged. However, the power of the Innocence had changed, fused with another energy source. Komui frowned, tracing the energy, trying to remember where he'd seen the pattern before. Then he stiffened.

Mugen had combined with Kanda's life force. He recognized the feel, because Kanda had done it once before. The battle hadn't been nearly as fierce as the fight against the Noah, but he remembered the intertwining that came from Kanda using the taboo illusions. This was much stronger, much deeper than he recalled, and it obviously hadn't reverted after several days. He recalled how Kanda had been the only one not to need serious medical attention after all the fighting, aside from the Marshalls. He also remembered how the wounds he'd received in battle healed so fast he'd watched them close. It wasn't exactly the same as Lenalee's Innocence, but the similarity made him shiver. Mugen was evolving, much like the Dark Boots. He wondered if there was any way to slow it, or prevent it, but he couldn't think of one.

He stood a moment, studying the Innocence. Then he sighed. Perhaps, once he'd mastered his own strength a bit more, he'd be able to do something. For now though, his best option was to transfer Mugen to the new blade and get it back to Kanda. The warrior would be in less danger that way, and the proximity would allow him to study the effects and plan more clearly. In the meantime, he could at least tell Kanda what he'd noticed, and give him appropriate warnings. A small smile touched his face. He knew Kanda wouldn't listen to him, but still, he had to warn the young man.

After a moment, he shook his head, returning his thoughts to the matter at hand. He'd successfully determined that his own Innocence would allow him to analyze the condition of any other Innocence, and it's relative attachment to it's host. But rumors said the Heart would not only react to other Innocence, it would affect it. That too, was a theory he wanted to test. He lifted Kanda's Innocence in one hand, then picked up the replacement katana with the other and set them together. Theoretically, if the rumors were true, he could use the Heart to combine the Innocence with the weapon in some way.

Komui closed his eyes, focusing, willing Mugen to merge with it's new housing. Willing his own power to work. For a few seconds, nothing seemed to happen. Then his Innocence flared, light tracing a path through his own blood to his hands. Within the pathway, words formed, and actions. Komui moved, acting without conscious thought as his new-found abilities took over. His hand slid across the blade, causing him to wince as the sharp metal cut his palm. What flowed from his hand, however, wasn't blood as much as it was light. The shimmering wound around the Innocence, and the sword, and a single word formed, springing from his lips unbidden. "Fusion."

The light from his hand flared, and the blade began to glow as brightly as the Innocence it was meant to house. Then, before Komui's eyes, the Innocence simply melted into the katana, merging seamlessly with the metal. Then, as if a switch had been turned off, the glow faded, and Komui was standing looking at the repaired sword in disbelief, his hand aching from the shallow slice across the inside.

Komui stared a moment, then set the sword aside and lifted the hammer, and Lavi's Innocence. He set them together, his mind tracing the steps of the previous procedure. The Innocence still sang in his blood, his palm still glowing faintly. He laid his wounded hand over the place where hammer and Innocence touched, and whispered the word again. Light flared, and moments later, he stood looking at Lavi's hammer, completely intact.

For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at what he'd done. Then a wave of dizziness swept over him. Komui staggered, then dropped himself heavily onto his work stool, reaching blindly for the coffee thermos Jerry had given him. He didn't bother pouring it into the mug, he wasn't sure his hands would manage. He simply tipped the coffee straight from the thermos to his mouth, letting the shock of heat settle him, even as the rush of caffeine cleared the cobwebs in his skull. His mind was already going over the details and results of his experiment.

He could affect other Innocence. Apparently, however, the Heart required a medium to act through. Komui smiled tightly, realizing that somewhere in the past five minutes, his doubts about what he possessed had passed. Then his mind turned back to his work.

The Heart required a medium to work through, to affect Innocence. His own blood seemed to be the best option, which didn't surprise him. After all, it was resting in his heart. Still...he looked down at the raw, red slice in his hand. It stung, which was distracting. But if he was going to go into combat, he couldn't afford to cut himself every five minutes. The blood loss would be bad for him, never mind that he couldn't hope to hide that many injuries from Lenalee. He could say that he'd slipped with Kanda's blade, and they'd believe him, but accidents in the lab would only cover so much. Too many wounds, and even Reever would get suspicious. He'd have to explore other options.

He moved then, setting down the thermos and opening a drawer that contained bandages. He kept a supply down here. After all, he didn't want to disturb the nursing staff for every little accident. The head nurse was a generous woman, but her patience had limits. He pulled out a strip of linen, and wrapped it across his hand and wrist with easy, practiced motions, pulling the knot with his other hand and his teeth. He noticed then that his stomach was already growling, and felt a smile cross his face. He'd eaten more for breakfast than he usually ate in a day, and already he was hungry again. Apparently, like any other parasitic type, the Heart took a lot to maintain. He swallowed some more coffee, letting it ease the growling of his gut a little. Then he settled back to the seat, considering what to do next.

He needed to take Kanda and Lavi their weapons back. With his new abilities, he also wanted to check Crowley, Allen and Lenalee's Innocence. The research team had already done some preliminary testing on Lenalee, but the others hadn't been analyzed. He wanted to see if any of them were evolving as hers had. He didn't know if the Crown Clown could evolve any more, but he could at least make sure it was all right. But it was going to look suspicious if he simply walked in and waved his hands over them. Never mind if his Innocence started visibly glowing. He needed a distraction. A small smile curved his face. Well...he'd been making strange new machines practically every day since he'd arrived. There was no reason to stop now.

Komui spent the next few hours drawing out plans for a few Komurins he thought might be useful, and cobbling together a pair of gloves. They didn't actually do anything, but they hummed, and had glowing green lights. He was fairly certain they'd mask the light of his Innocence activation, and he could always say they were doing the work for him. He even included a small monitor. Of course, if anyone in development looked too closely, he'd be caught, so he began tentative plans for something that might work better. By the time he stopped again, he'd drafted a design for some gloves that would work for regular scientists.

His stomach was growling again. Komui sighed, looking at the clock. It was just into afternoon, but he had been working for several hours. He considered, then tucked the gloves into one pocket, the medicinal salve he'd been developing for months into another, settled the repaired weapons under his arm and wrapped his dishes into his napkin to take back to Jerry. Then he shifted one hand and opened the lock on the back door of his lab.

Minutes later, he was sneaking back into the dining area. In the time of repairs, most of his staff had erratic eating schedules. He hoped he'd be able to make it to the infirmary without getting caught.

The area was almost deserted, so much so that Jerry was actually cleaning tables, something he usually only managed after the late night dinner rush. The chef looked up as he entered. "Supervisor!"

"Shhh!" Komui ducked under that table like a child, knowing the other man would be amused.

Jerry chuckled. "Still avoiding Reever?" He sat down on the bench next to Komui. "I hope you have some results to show for it."

"I do." Komui grinned, pulling himself up on the bench beside him. "I repaired Kanda and Lavi's Innocence, and I have that salve I mentioned. And these." He held the gloves up. "They'll allow me to monitor the Innocence in our exorcists without troubling Hevlaska too much."

"Well, that seems like a fair amount of work. But you know Reever's going to scold you again." Jerry snickered.

"I know. But until then..." Komui forced a smile. "I was hoping I could have some more of your excellent coffee, and a sandwich or two before I go see dear Lenalee and the other exorcists in the hospital wing." He laughed lightly, holding up the weapons. "At least, I cam make Kanda-kun and Lavi-kun stop fretting about their Innocence weapons, and I can check to make sure Allen-kun and Crowley-san are doing all right. And Lenalee."

Jerry smiled. "All right. I'll get you that sandwich, Supervisor." he turned to his kitchen, and returned seconds later with a plate of sandwiches. "Here. For all the exorcists. You be sure to take care of them, Komui."

"I will." Komui stuffed the gloves and salve back into their pockets, Lavi's hammer into his belt, and awkwardly tucked Mugen under one arm. Then he took the plate, took a sandwich off the top, and took a bite. A smile crossed his face. "Excellent as always."

Jerry made a shooing motion. "I'll send up your coffee as soon as it's ready. Go on, go take care of your exorcists." He gave him a grin. "I'll delay Reever a little longer okay? Just do me a favor." The smile faded a little. "Make sure Johnny gets a sandwich, and tell him I said hello."

Komui felt his own smile falter. "I will." Then he nodded again, and went through the door, headed for the infirmary.

The infirmary wing had multiple rooms. Since the attack, the girls, Lenalee and Miranda, had been staying in one room. Allen and Crowley had been placed in a separate room, with Johnny, due to the severity of their injuries and the fact that Allen and Crowley's stomachs had a tendency to growl, loudly, when they were hungry. Kanda and Lavi had a room to themselves. Kanda didn't want to even be in the infirmary, but Marshall Tiedoll had forced him into it. The remaining Exorcists, Marie and Chaoji, were staying with the Marshall, as his students. Komui frowned, looking at the three doors. Then he smirked and walked to the one housing the girls. He tapped the door, then stuck his head inside. "Lenalee!"

"Nii-san." Lenalee looked up in surprise. "Captain Reever was looking for you."

"Yes, well..." Komui felt his smile slip into place. His heart still ached, seeing the cross shaped marks on her ankles, the taped up wounds on her hands and face. "I was working in the lab..."

"You abandoned your duties and left it all to Captain Reever again?" She sighed. "Nii-san..."

"But I was really working hard." He strode over to her bed, then wrapped her in an embrace. "Lenalee..."

"Nii-san..." He heard her breath catch, and a hint of tears in her voice. He felt a little shaky himself. It was the first day since the attack that he'd sought her out. He felt his heart pounding in his chest and for a long moment he was content to simply hold her, reveling in the fact that she was alive, and still with him. Then he gently took a step back. "Please, take a seat."

"Nii-san..." She faltered, looking up into his face. He knew that she could see the lines of sorrow still written there.

"It's all right." He let his mouth twitch in a small smile. His gaze slipped past her, to the woman in the other bed. "Miranda...if you could wait there. I'll be with you in a minute."

"Of course, Supervisor." The other woman settled down quickly, watching both of them.

Lenalee sat down hesitantly. Komui touched her shoulder reassuringly. "It's all right." He knelt on the floor before her, slipping the glove onto his hand. "I just want to check your Innocence."

"But...the lab...Hevlaska..."

Komui smiled. "Ah, but I've been working on this in my private work area. It'll let me detect the condition of Innocence without the lab. A portable Innocence scanner!" He grinned foolishly at her. "I just need an exorcist to test it on..."

"Nii-san..." Lenalee's expression was more exasperated than anything else, but he saw the hint of a smile in it. She sighed again. "All right."

"Thank you." He bent down to take her foot gently in one hand. His thumb, the one not covered by the glove, rubbed lightly over the scarred area. He felt an ache in his chest, and swallowed back the pain. "Does it hurt you, still?"

"No. It's all right. It seems to have healed."

He felt like weeping at the brave tone in her voice, but he knew well enough why she was using it. She didn't want to upset him further. So he forced his tears away, bowing his head to keep his expression hidden, and pushed a little bit of lightness into his tone. "All right. Well, hold still then." he laid the glove over her ankle, pressing the stud to make the light glow, and whispered the words in his mind. Innocence...activate.

It took a definite act of will for him not to flinch as the power awakened, tingling through his blood. But he'd experienced it enough to be moderately familiar with the sensation, and it was nowhere near as powerful as the energy he'd used to forge the new Innocence weapons. He took a deep breath, his eyes seemingly fixed on the small screen embedded in the glove, his mind focusing on the Dark Boots. It was easier than he'd expected. Lenalee was the exorcist closest to him, and therefor the easiest to connect to. He focused his thoughts, letting the information flow through his mind.

The Dark Boots were fused into Lenalee's very blood, the way the Heart was to his. Komui almost winced. Actually, it was an even deeper binding than his. His mind registered that her synchronization wasn't at Point Breaker level yet, but it was certainly well into the ninety percent level. Possibly even one hundred percent. She lacked Allen's tremendous power, or his control, but he suspected that wasn't far behind. The Innocence was a part of her body, a new form of a parasitic type. With the power of his own Innocence, he could even tell how much energy it would use in it's dormant state. He'd never had cause to measure exorcist metabolism rates, but he guessed that hers would go up by at least fifty percent.

He came out of trance aware that his hands were shaking slightly. Then he pulled back, willing his power to settle.

"Nii-san?"

He heard the concern in her voice, and straightened quickly, forcing up another smile, though a slightly sad one. He reached out and laid a hand on her head. "It's all right."

There was nothing he could do to take the Innocence from her. He lacked both knowledge and strength. He wasn't sure it was even possible to begin with. The thought flashed through his mind, wondering if there was a way for the Heart to change the Dark Boots into a form that was incompatible with his sister. But even as he thought it, he was rejecting the thought. He couldn't remove the Innocence to do it, and if he tried while the Dark Boots were still fused to her, then he would kill her. And that, he wold never do.

He shook the thoughts away, seeing the worry for him written on her features. "It's all right." he rubbed her head, then pulled her to his chest for another embrace. "You're all right."

She let him hold her, then pushed away so she could see his face. "The Dark Boots...?"

"Well, they seem to be fused with your system, like Allen's. But they're in good shape. And while I can't tell for certain, I think your synchronization has gone up. So...it's just fine." He ruffled her hair affectionately. "But you should eat more. The Dark Boots as they are now will affect your metabolism. If you're not careful, they will drain your system." He held out the plate of sandwiches he'd put down when he came into the room. "Jerry sent these up to share. You should have some." he smiled, then leaned down to whisper teasingly in her ear. "Otherwise, you'll get too thin."

"Nii-san!" She swiped at him, but through the exasperation, she was smiling again. She sighed. "Don't you have work to do?"

"Yes, yes." He smiled, and handed her the plate, then strolled over to Miranda's side. "Miss Miranda."

A quick check confirmed that her Innocence hadn't suffered any radical changes. Her ability to synchronize had gone up slightly, but it was nowhere near the level of the others. He wasn't surprised. Allen, Kanda and Lenalee had been exorcists for years. Miranda had only been using the Time Record for a few months. The Innocence and the Record he'd placed it in were both undamaged. He smiled, gave her the update, then gave both of them a quick going over with the salve he'd brought. He was gratified that both of them commented it felt good, and the inflammation around the cuts faded even as he watched. After that, he gave Lenalee one last embrace, left a few of the sandwiches, and went to check on the others.

Kanda and Lavi were housed next door. Komui reached for the door just as shouting erupted from the other side. "Stupid rabbit!" He made a face. That was Kanda, clearly in a bad mood.

"Ah...Yuu-chan!" Lavi, in a clearly teasing voice. Komui didn't have to enter to guess what was going on. They were both bored, and Lavi was teasing Kanda again.

"I said don't call me that, you idiot!" Kanda's voice snarled out.

Komui sighed, then twisted the handle. If he didn't go in now, he was likely to have a broken nose when Kanda came storming out. Still, a small smile crossed his face. If they were well enough to cause trouble, then their wounds were healing just fine, and they'd make a full recovery. He'd been worried, after how many times they'd gone flying across Hevlaska's chamber.

He entered to find Kanda pulling on a robe, while Lavi sat perched on his bed, a care-free grin on his face. At his entrance, both youths looked up. Lavi grinned and waved. "Hey! Come to let us out?"

"Not yet, Lavi-kun." He returned the smile, then turned his attention to the other exorcist. "Kanda-kun, did the Head Nurse say you could leave yet?"

"I'm getting out of here!" The young man snarled the words, then pulled the belt on the robe tighter. He glared at Komui, standing between him and the door. "Move, Mister Sister-Complex."

"I can't do that. The nurse will scold me if I do." He smirked. "Besides, if I let you leave now, then I can't give you a present." He'd already planned for this, using one hand to awkwardly hide Mugen behind his back. He smirked. "But if you're good, I'll even give you a sandwich from Jerry." he waved the plate.

Kanda growled. "I don't need it." His hand tightened into a fist from irritation. "I don't need a present either. So move."

"Ah...even if it's this?" Komui's smirk widened, and he pulled the sword from behind his back. "I fixed Mugen, but..." he sidestepped and slipped the blade behind him again as Kanda made an instinctive lunge for it. "You can only have it if you're a good boy." Kanda stared at him, and he winked. "Back to your bed, Kanda-kun."

The younger man stared at him for a moment, then gave a snarl of pure frustration before spinning around and stalking toward the bed. He sat down roughly, pulled one foot up onto the frame, then held out his hand. "Give it to me, you blue-haired bastard."

Well, it was ungracious enough, but at least he was sitting. Komui smiled, then set the sandwiches down and placed the blade into the youth's hand. "All right. Tell me how it feels."

Kanda hefted the blade, then drew it. "This isn't the same sword."

"Of course not. I made that sword years ago. Of course I have better ones now." Komui smirked. "Is the balance right?"

Kanda didn't answer, just hefted the blade, swinging it in shallow arcs, testing it. Komui watched him. Kanda flexed it a few times, then suddenly whirled and swiped in Lavi's direction. "Mugen!"

A glowing wedge of light enveloped the blade, then slashed across the room. Lavi dove off his bed with a startled yelp. "Yuu-chan!"

Kanda settled back, a slightly satisfied expression on his face. He studied the blade a moment more, then placed it back into the sheath.

Komui sighed. "That wasn't nice, Kanda-kun. Now the Nurse will scold you." He pushed his glasses up his nose. "It's satisfactory then?"

"It's fine." Kanda set the blade beside him.

"Good. Now let me see your shoulder." Before the warrior quite had time to pull away, Komui was beside him, pulling away the sleeve to reveal the intricate black design tracing across Kanda's left shoulder, down his arm, back, chest and side. "This is worse than last time. Has it faded at all yet?"

"Some. It's no concern." Kanda looked away, clearly uncomfortable.

"Kanda-kun." Komui sighed as he released the young man, allowing him to re-cover the markings. "You know what this will do to you. When you use that power, Mugen eats your life energy. You won't have your full strength until it vanishes, you know." He let a small smirk touch his face. "I should tell the nurse to keep you in here until then."

"Like hell." Kanda scowled at him.

"Ah, I know, I know. But remember." Komui's smile died away, leaving his expression serious. "You mustn't use that too often, Kanda-kun. It will kill you if you aren't careful. And I've monitored Mugen. It's evolving, and attaching itself more to your life-force. So be careful, okay?"

"I don't need you to tell me that." Kanda scowled, but he didn't try to move from the bed again. After a long moment, he looked away.

"That's the way." Komui grinned again, then ruffled Kanda's hair, jumping back just as the young man took a swipe at him.

"Hoy, Supervisor." Lavi spoke from the other side of the room. "What about my weapon, hey?" He was smiling. "It's not fair if only Yuu-chan gets his back."

Komui met the red-heads smirk with one of his own, then pulled out the hammer and walked over. "Here you go."

Lavi hefted it. "Feels all right." He extended one arm, murmuring his invocation. "Little Hammer, Big Hammer...Grow. Grow. Grow."

With each word, the hammer expanded in size. Lavi grinned, then shrunk it again. "Feels as good as new, Komui."

"Good. Sit still." Komui caught the young man, then pried open his jar of ointment and began to slather it over the wounds. "Kanda doesn't need this, but it'll make you better in no time."

"Komui-san." Lavi struggled a little, but he'd had too many injuries lately, and Komui was stronger than he looked. "Ah...feels strange."

"That's because it works." Komui let a small smile touch his lips. "It doesn't hurt as much now, right?"

Lavi blinked. "Yeah."

"Good." He tapped his nose. "Now then, your Innocence hasn't progressed to the level that Lenalee and Kanda have, but your synchronization has gone up. Be careful how you use it, okay?"

"Yeah. I know." Lavi gave him a carefree smile, then met his eyes. "So...Supervisor...can I have a sandwich?"

Komui smiled back. "Of course. You need to eat and regain your strength."

Lavi took a sandwich. "Have you seen the others yet?"

"I've looked in on Lenalee and Miranda. I'm just going to talk to Allen-kun and Crowley and Johnny." Komui set a couple more sandwiches by Lavi's bedside, then picked up the plate.

"You knew Crow-chan woke up then?" Lavi blinked at him.

"Yep." Komui nodded, then straightened and headed for the door. "You two behave." he shot a grin over his shoulder. "And Kanda-kun...don't break anything." He shut the door quickly on the warrior's curse.

The next room over was much quieter. Komui swallowed as he approached the door. Johnny, Allen and Crowley were inside. They'd been the worst hurt of all his people. For a long moment, he stood, uncertain if he could even find the courage to face them. Then he lifted his free hand and knocked lightly. "I'm coming in." He took another breath, forced a small smile to his face, and opened the door.

All three patients were sitting up, reclining against the pillows. Komui felt his heart trying to break at the sight of them. Johnny had few visible bandages, but the stricken haunted look in his eyes was bad enough. Allen was wrapped from throat to waist, and beyond, with more bandages taped to his face, and his arms wrapped from shoulder to palm. He'd fought long and hard. Komui could still see images of the young man's body, being moved by his Innocence after the wounds had totally crippled him. The nurse had sworn Allen would make a full recovery but still...the memory of the boy's blood on his hands made him want to throw up.

Crowley sat in the furthest bed, an IV still in his arm. Bandages wrapped him as well, from shoulder to waist. Komui knew there were more on his legs, and white gauze striped places on his arms. He'd read the injury report for the man, and couldn't for the life of him understand how Crowley was even alive. Reports indicated the man looked as if he'd been beaten halfway to death, then crushed in a giant spiked vise, then shredded. Still, he didn't much care how the miracle had occurred. Crowley was alive. That was enough.

"Komui Supervisor." Allen greeted him politely, and Komui realized he was standing in the doorway, staring at them like an idiot. He made an effort to collect himself.

"Hey, Allen-kun." He moved over, and set what was left of the plate of sandwiches between his two exorcists. "I came to check on you. Jerry sent some sandwiches, so eat up while I look at Johnny, okay?" He left the plate. Allen smiled, and reached for a sandwich with an enthusiasm that proved he was recovering.

Komui turned and made his way to Johnny's bed. "Hey, Johnny."

"Supervisor." The young man managed a weak, watery smile for him, but the eyes were damp, and he knew the slightest little thing could push Johnny to tears.

"Yes, yes." Komui held up the pot of ointment he'd brought. "I brought something new to tend your injuries." He gently brushed the blankets back. "I've already tested it on the others, so there's no need to worry." He smiled lightly. "I even gave some to Lenalee."

Johnny looked away. "There are others who need this. Allen-kun..."

"I have plenty, don't worry. But I need you back. If I don't do something, Reever-san will scold me for neglecting the paperwork again." He smirked, and was relieved to see Johnny smile weakly.

Working carefully, he undid the side zippers holding the legs of the hospital pants together. These were a special type he'd had made specifically for leg injuries. They could be unzipped nearly to the hip, to prevent embarrassing the wearer. He made use of that. He lightly removed Johnny's bandages and began to smooth the ointment into the wounds. He kept his touch gentle, reassuring, the way he often had with Lenalee when she was younger.

Under his careful ministrations, Johnny gradually relaxed. "Thank you, Supervisor." The hands clenched in the bed sheet relaxed. "That feels good."

"I told you, didn't I?" He knelt to tend the last cuts, and the blue-black bruises were Johnny had been seized by the akuma. "There." He re-wrapped the bandages, then closed the pants and gently swung Johnny's legs back onto the bed. "You'll be good as new in no time."

"Thank you, Supervisor." Johnny looked away, but not before Komui caught the start of fresh tears on his face. He didn't have to be a mind reader to know what the young man was thinking of. Like him, Johnny saw all too clearly the faces of the victims, and one in particular. He felt his heart breaking, and wished with all his soul that there was something, anything, that he could do. But if the Heart held the power to heal, he didn't know it yet. And he wasn't sure there was any power in the world that could mend such a broken heart. He laid a hand on Johnny's shoulder, offering silent comfort for a moment, then left his handkerchief in the young man's hand.

Allen's face was solemn and pale when Komui reached him. His gaze was on Johnny, and there was no humor in his eyes. He met Komui's gaze. "Komui-san..."

"Shh. You did what you could, Allen-kun." Komui offered him a tight, proud smile, tinged with sadness, then leaned forward to lay a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You did very well indeed, Allen-kun. Now, you'll just have to let me do my best for you. All right?" He reached into a pocket and pulled out the glove. "Sit still."

"Komui-san..." Allen was eying his glove with undisguised worry. It wasn't surprising, given how often he'd experimented on the boy.

"This is just to check on your Innocence, Allen-kun. Don't worry. I tested it on Lavi-kun, and he's fine. Kanda too." He smiled, then laid his hand on the young man's arm, activating his own powers.

What he found didn't surprise him, though it did concern him a little. Allen's bond to his Innocence was higher even than Lenalee's. Of course, he was already a Point Breaker, an exorcist who had gone beyond the normal 100 percent activation. And the Crown Clown was levels beyond his original Cross Gray-man. But he'd gotten the reports from Bak Chan, and the level of linkage now was beyond even that. It was hard to tell where Allen began and the Innocence ended.

Cautiously, Komui extended his read, probing the connection between the two. Then, without warning, his own power touched something that made him want to gag. He recognized it at once. Allen's curse. The brand of the pentagram that marked his face, that gave his left eye the ability to see demons and their true form. That too had grown stronger. Komui couldn't help flinching at it and withdrew quickly. He wasn't sure his current level of synchronization was strong enough to withstand the contact.

"Komui-san?" Allen was looking at him with concern, and he knew he'd startled the young man.

He forced a smile to his face, and tried to ignore the cold sweat on his brow. "Ah, it's nothing, Allen-kun." He looked at his gloved hand. "I just got a little shock, that's all." He reached out his free hand and ruffled the young man's hair affectionately. "You're doing well." He slipped the glove off, and picked up the salve. "Now then, let's tend those wounds of yours, shall we?"

It took longer to tend to Allen's wounds than it had any of the others. The young man insisted he didn't need any treatment to his left arm, but Komui salved it anyway. His power was still working, and he smoothed the ointment on with his own wounded hand, letting the bloody bandage act as his medium. Allen was right, there wasn't much damage done to the Innocence housed in his left hand. Still, it was the work of a few moments to tend to what had been done. He set everything he could to rights, then settled the young man back into bed. "There. Take care of yourself." He eyed the sandwich plate, only a few had been eaten. "Help yourself to the sandwiches. I'll have Jerry send up some more food later."

Allen smiled and took another sandwich from the plate. "Thank you, Komui-san."

Komui felt a small, sad smile tug his face. "Thank you, Allen-kun." he watched the boy a moment, then turned to the final figure sitting before him.

Crowley still hadn't turned to face him, and there was no evidence that he'd touched the food, though he had to be hungry. He was still healing, and his metabolism was similar to Allen's. But even with his expression obscured, Komui knew enough to see the pain and shame written into his posture and the lines of his back.

He stepped over, around to where he could see the vampire exorcists expression. "Now then, let's have a look at you, Crowley-kun."

Crowley raised his eyes, and there were tears on his face. "Supervisor..."

He knew then what the problem was, and laid his hand over the other man's. "Allen-kun told you."

Crowley's hand fisted in the sheets, more tears of shame spilling over his thin cheeks. "Yes." His head bowed. "We were attacked by a Noah, and the Order was invaded by a level four akuma, and everyone was nearly killed. And I...I slept through it all." He winced, biting his own lip, tears streaming down his face. "I'm worthless. Such a pathetic exorcist." A tortured, self-deprecating smile touched his face. "I couldn't even help my comrades while they gave up their lives. And the scientists..." His eyes came to the bandage on Komui's hand. "Even you...Supervisor. I...am not worthy to be called a comrade. I..."

"Enough." Komui tightened his hand on the other man's, stopping the flow of words. "This wound isn't from an Akuma." He met Crowley's eyes and gave him a small smile. "I just cut myself while repairing Kanda-kun's sword."

The hand in the sheets tightened. "Kanda...he fought..even without his Innocence. And I..."

"Shhh." Komui tightened his grip. He didn't want to see one of his people torturing himself like this. "I didn't fight either, you know." He held the startled brown eyes, and a self-deprecating smile of his own washed across his face. "So many people...died for me. So many Finders...they gave their lives so I could live, so I could run." The bitterness of that memory washed through his words. "I...may be even more worthless than you, Crowley-kun."

"Supervisor..." Crowley was clearly surprised.

Komui bowed his head, bitterness still tainting his features. "I couldn't fight. I can never fight, Crowley-kun. You...you faced the Noah, and stopped them. Allen-kun and the others told me how you took on a pair of Noah, by yourself, to buy them time and get them out. I know the wounds you carry. Even if you had wakened...I could not have let you fight. It would have killed you and I...I can't sacrifice you now." His hand clenched tighter on the one he held. "Do you understand, Crowley-kun?" He looked up into the startled gaze. "I...cannot even do so much. But...I can't give up either. If I allow myself to believe these efforts are worthless, then I assume there was no point to the lives that were given for mine. Because someone values my life highly enough to protect it, I know I am never worthless. It's even more true for you."

"Supervisor..." There were tears streaking Crowley's face once again, but this time his eyes held hope, and relief. Komui took a deep breath. The words had cost him, but just seeing his exorcist recover some of his spirits was enough.

He brought a slightly less bitter smile to his face. "Well, let's get a look at your Innocence, shall we?" He put his glove on, and touched it to Crowley's jaw. He nearly staggered as the information touched him.

Crowley's strength was on par with Lenalee's and nearly to Allen's. It should have been impossible. He'd been using his Innocence less than a year. Aside from Chaoji, he was the newest exorcist the Order had. Even Miranda had seniority, and she'd had more training. Granted, he'd been in several fights, but the level of synchronization was higher than could possibly be expected, and there were signs of evolution in him as well. He frowned.

Crowley saw the frown and his eyes widened. "There's something wrong, isn't there? I knew it. I knew...I..."

"No. There's nothing wrong." Komui touched his shoulder lightly. "It's all right. You've improved quite a bit. I was just wondering...did anything strange happen to your Innocence in the battle?"

Crowley frowned and his eyes went distant. "The Noah...they...they caught me. They were very strong. And I ran low on Akuma blood. They caught me, and they..." His hand started to tremble.

Komui took his hand gently. "It's all right. Take your time."

"They crushed me." Crowley's jaw was trembling too. "They locked me in a spiked Iron casket...only, it wasn't a casket. There wasn't any room. It was a vise. And they...they stuck me in, and shut it."

Komui's stomach lurched, remembering the injury report. But he said nothing, letting the exorcist continue to speak.

"They...I tried to get out, but they slammed it tighter. And then...I was..." He blushed. "I thought...I heard Eliade. And then...I was looking at my body, and I was...all the blood I had lost."

Komui's eyes widened. "You were...blood?"

"Yes. And I fought them, took the demon blood they'd stolen from me. And I won...and I was looking at my body..." His hands were trembling worse now, and Komui gathered the nearer one into a comforting grip. "And then...I was...I was back, and I couldn't move. Everything went dark, and I thought I heard Eliade again. That's all I remember."

"I see." The transfer of consciousness to blood...it sounded like Lenalee's activation, but she'd remained in her body. He remembered Allen, the Crown Clown moving him as he fought the Akuma Four. So close to the edge of life and death that the movements had been entirely connected. Crowley's power lay in his blood. Perhaps it was more like Allen's after all. But that meant that if Crowley wasn't a Point Breaker yet, he would be soon. He frowned. He'd have to compare his readings with Allen and his readings on Crowley, or perhaps ask Hevlaska if she knew.

"Supervisor?" He became aware that the vampire exorcist was staring at him, fear written all over the pale, thin features.

"It's okay. Actually, you aren't alone. Allen-kun and Lenalee have had similar experiences." He smiled reassuringly at the man. "It means your synchronization is excellent, Crowley-kun." He patted the man's hand. "When you're recovered, we'll see if we can find a way to do that without nearly killing you first. It would be much better if you could control such an ability."

"Of course." Crowley nodded, looking slightly nervous. "I'll do my best."

"I know. And we'll help you." He patted the man's hand again, then pulled out his jar. "So then, let's get you patched up, okay?" He smiled brightly. There wasn't any heart in it, but it was enough for the wounded man before him.

Re-bandaging Crowley's wounds wasn't too difficult, though the other man was inclined to flinch and apologize frequently. Komui simply shook his head, laughing quietly, teasing gently, and offering forgiveness as needed. The cuts on Crowley's face gave him all the excuse he needed to slip his power into the man's jaw and deal with the slight damage to the Innocence there. By the time he was done, Crowley had relaxed. Komui smiled, directed his attention to what was left of the plate of sandwiches, then quietly excused himself. Once outside the door, he sighed and leaned back against the wall. His stomach was growling again.

He sighed again, and held up his hand, thinking of all he'd learned. He could mend Innocence weapons. In the case of parasitic weapons, especially the highly evolved ones, he could heal their bearers to some extent. That was good news. He could manipulate and study Innocence. That would make tending his exorcists easier both for him and them.

His mind went back to Crowley's revelation, and what he'd seen in the others. He had a possible Point Breaker, Lenalee's new Innocence form, and the rapidly evolving powers of Kanda's blade. He had himself and Chaoji to train, and at least one of those two had to be done secretly. There was no telling how far his power would really go. And there were plenty of new manifestations of powers to keep him busy with analysis for a while. He sighed again, then headed for the kitchen to see if he could scrounge some more coffee and a snack. He was hungry, and there was a lot of work to be done.