"Jesus Christ, damnit…"

"She's going to be fine. Go back to bed… I'm keeping an eye on her," the German persisted.

"Yeah, but you need sleep, too, doc.."

"I'm the only doctor able to keep her alive right now, Scout! Get out or you might ruin it for her!"

"Alright, alright, jeez… but.. she can't really die, right? Like, like… Respawn would bring 'er back, right?"

"No, I just got word that somezing happened to Respawn and it's shut down now. The Medigun, as vell. You see zees heart readers? They're too small. She's barely alive. She needs medical attention without interruption, Scout. Go tell her fazer, while you're getting out, zat he needs to rest assured zat she vill be okay."

"But she might not!" Scout piped with a squeak.

"RAUS," Medic bellowed angrily.

Scout exited quickly, fearing the wrath of the German. Pill's dad was standing at the door, an angry glare on his face.

"Respawn's down?"

"Uh…yeah, h-h-how'd you guess, sharp-shot?" Scout stammered, glancing away from the Aussie.

"I knew it was a bad idea t'let 'er go off again… she gets so confident so quickly, so eager to try out new things…" He sighed, collapsing against the wall and sliding down to the floor. "I knew it…"

"Woah, hey der, Snipes… she's gonna be okay, Medic's got it all handled. He always does."

Sniper waved his comment off, taking off his hat and bunching it in his fists nervously. "I 'ope she makes it out alright…"

"She will, she's tough," Scout persisted, shoving his hands into his pockets and sitting down across from Sniper.

"Why are you 'ere, anyway?" Sniper asked quietly, leaning the back of his head against the wall as he looked at Scout.

Scout blushed a bit, puffing out his upper lip, not wanting to answer honestly. "Uh..I..uh.. worried 'bout 'er… like any good friend.."

Sniper chuckled lightly. "Scout, it's written all ovah' yo'r face, ya mongrel…"

Scout blushed an even darker shade, burying his face in his hands. "Then, you know…"

"Y'think yo'r dad n'I don't talk at all?" He chuckled nervously again, twisting his hat. "Yeh… I know about your little.. crush on 'er. And.. truth be told, I don't think it's a good thin'."

Scout nodded. He knew. Oh, yes, he knew all too well that Sniper didn't like him much at all. He also knew that Sniper hated the idea of Scout having a crush on his daughter much, much less.

"But I can't stand in either of yo'r's ways… well, tha'is, if she makes it outta the lab okay…" Sniper sighed, rubbing his face with one hand. "She's a big girl, too old for 'er father's control. But… all I gotta say is… if ya go through with it, know that if you break 'er 'eart… I'll break your legs."

Scout shivered, looking at Sniper through parted fingers. "Understood," Scout said. "I might be too pussy t'even ask 'er out, though… so… y'might not even gotta worry," Scout said hopefully, the idea of his best physical feature being snapped into two different pieces completely horrifying to even think about. "I won't stop being 'er friend, though."

Sniper nodded, fiddling with his hat some more. "She's tough. Kinda… scares off men, always 'as. So it was kidna surprisin' y'took a liking to 'er, y'know? Cuz… you are a little on the wimpy side…"

"Hey!" Scout protested, "No need to get personal here! And and I NOT wimpy!"

Sniper smirked. "Yo'r gonna 'ave t'prove it to tha sheila, then."

Scout's eyes got a little big, realizing what Sniper meant. "Well… she's a lot tougher than I am.." Scout stated slowly, "but she's not, like… rude about it… she's.." he thought, "smart, funny, pretty, tough and sensitive at the same time… with the whole, uh.. PTSD thing goin' on.."

Sniper nodded. "Yeh… but.. she still works through it all. 'Asn't needed a therapist yet, thankfully…"

Scout grinned, nodding. "Yeah… yeah, she is tough…" he stared up at the ceiling dreamily…