A/N: I apologize for the wait on the next chapter. I had a major exam to study for and my mind was definitely not on this story. Now that it's done, and I passed, I can focus on writing more stories for this. So in this story, day four is the day Liam runs into a brick wall, so to speak and Darius must find a way to help him.


Day Four

On day four Darius has to figure out how to help Liam through a rough patch and finds he's not as emotionally stunted as he feared.

The first three days are so chaotic neither Darius nor Liam have much time to think. They have some time to solve the iron core problem but why wait when they have so many enemies hoping for their failure. Not to mention, Darius really wants to win one over ReSyst for once.

Today is no different. They still have a lot of work ahead of them so it is surprising when Darius realizes that Liam has yet to come down to work. He sends the young man a couple texts and receives no reply. That worries him. Liam is never far from his phone.

When his third text receives no reply, he abandons his work and nearly jogs up to Liam's apartment. Part of him is tempted to just walk in, after a polite knock, of course. He stops himself, though.

"Liam," he calls out, knocking on the door. He hears a shuffling and some groaning. Perhaps Liam simply slept late. They have been working long hours and last night was the first night Liam spent back in his own apartment.

He expects the door to open any time but as more seconds pass and it doesn't, he finds himself growing worried.

"Liam," he calls out, louder this time, his knocking harder. He hears something muttered but can't make it out. "Unless you come to the door in the next thirty seconds, I'm coming in, Liam.

Darius listens, waits, and counts.

At thirty-one, he knocks and opens the door. Inside the studio apartment, the lighting is dull and the air thick. In the midst of it all is Liam, lying flat on his back and still and quiet on the bed.

"Liam?" Darius moves quickly to the younger man's side, mind going quickly to the worst of possibilities. When he looks at Liam, though, he sees the man wide awake, eyes wet with tears, and face red from spent tears.

"Liam," Darius says, voice quieter, worry clear. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Liam answers finally, voice empty. He hasn't yet averted his gaze from the ceiling.

Darius stops himself from saying anything more, from saying the harsh words ingrained in him from his childhood. As he searches for how to respond, to help Liam he thinks of Harris and Grace. And then he sits on the edge of the bed and in a softer, more empathetic tone speaks.

"What happened, Liam?"

There's a long pause and Darius wonders what to do next when Liam finally speaks.

"Jillian," Liam says quietly, swallowing heavily. And then Darius sees what he wasn't.

"She is safe, Liam. And you will see her again," Darius says.

"How do you know that?" The words drip with emotion, worry.

"Because we're nearly there on solving our iron core problem. Just a little bit more and we'll have it solved."

"And then ReSyst will try again or the government, or whoever it was. It doesn't matter if we find a solution, Darius, they'll just do it again." Liam ends with a stifled cry, bringing his hands up to cover his eyes.

Darius sighs lightly.

"Liam," he begins calmly, "you need to focus on what you're doing, not on them. Liam, are you listening," Darius asks when he hears Liam sniffle. When Liam doesn't respond, he gently pulls the younger man's hands away. There are fresh tears and a look of shame in his eyes.

"If you always think about what our enemies might do to stop us, then you'll be stuck like you are now. Yes, they are likely to try to stop us again but we have to keep moving forward. We have to keep fighting them and not just for our own survival. This is for Jillian and Grace and Harris, for everyone."

Liam takes a deep breath, blinking as he thinks. He understands what Darius is saying but it's not that easy to follow, not when Darius is there, thinking steps ahead of everyone, oozing calmness. A model of planning and perception, always unperturbed.

"And Liam," Darius says after a pause, looking directly at the younger man, voice quieter but still clear, "appearances are just that, appearances. Certain people, they learn to put up fronts because that's what's expected. It's not the truth though."

Liam finally looks at Darius, seeing the honesty in his face. He doesn't say anything, he can't think of what to say, but he does nod his understanding.

"We still have a lot to get done. You think you'll be ready to start in again this afternoon? After lunch?"

"I just need a few minutes." Liam sits up, pushing himself back to rest against the headboard.

"Take the rest of the morning. You've been working hard. I'll send you a text when lunch is ready." Darius stands, moving towards the door so Liam can have time to himself.

"Darius," Liam says when the older man is nearly to the door. He stops, turning with a questioning look on his face. "Your pep talks are improving."

Darius chuckles and Liam finds he can manage a smile himself.

"Anytime, Liam. Don't sit around wallowing in your own misery. It gets you nowhere but miserable. You don't have to be alright but don't keep it to yourself," Darius says and then leaves, closing the door behind him.

Even before Darius left, Liam resolved to not spend the rest of the morning alone in his apartment. He quickly gets himself showered, dressed, and heads down to the lab to keep Darius company because if he shouldn't keep to himself right now, then neither should Darius.