ImmortalSpuffy202: Thanks for taking a moment to review the last chapter! I've been a little less busy so I'm able to update quicker now. But that will only last for another two weeks, sadly...

Next chapter to come soon!

As soon as Swift left and closed the door, Desmond stumbled up off the ground and hurried to Hershel to free him. As he meddled with the lock, he stopped a moment, catching a glimpse of his brother's back. Swift had wasted no time in being accurate. Each of the four strikes had left a red stripe, one deep enough that blood started to drip down Hershel's back. As Desmond saw these marks, guilt and failure began plaguing him again. These feelings were so extreme it caused Desmond pain. He felt a deep pit in his stomach and a lump in his throat. He shouldn't have let him go through this suffering.

"I'm so sorry, I never should have let him do this..." Desmond mourned as he returned to loosening his hands.

"Ngh—" Hershel choked as he lowered his arms painfully. He put his hands on the wall in front of him, trying to cope with the coursing pain through his back. Even though the impact was over, his back felt as if it was still in the process of being sliced open. Shutting his eyes tightly, he attempted to swallow the sounds that tried to escape him.

"Hershel..."

"Just—" Hershel's breathing hitched for a second. "Give me a moment..." The longer time went on, the more it felt like his back was on fire.

Desmond stepped back and waited. He cast a side glance at Bronev. He supposed he should untie him, but he really didn't want to. Bronev's head hung in shame, not wanted to face his sons again. Deciding to stay near Hershel, Desmond pretended to forget about Bronev for a moment. He waited for Hershel to recover enough to talk.

Hands still on the wall, Hershel turned his head to Desmond. He didn't know where to start. "Claire... is she really... pregnant?"

"Yes, I'm certain of it. I know it's hard to take it in that you're going to be a father. It was for me, and I wasn't in this tense situation... I know you'll never let me live it down that I knew about your child before you did... but I swear it's true..."

Layton was still speechless, unable to comprehend a clear thought through his pain. "But... how could I not have known or noticed? I cannot believe this..."

"Love is blind," Desmond shrugged, then the room once again went back to being silent. He felt as if he owed an apology to Layton. Pain still could be seen in Hershel's eyes, even if he was trying so hard to hold everything together. Desmond was sure that the emotional pain Hershel had in this moment matched his physical pain. Knowing he was going to be a father should have been exciting, but in this circumstance made the news mostly frightening, knowing his baby was in danger.

"I'm sorry for all of this... I should have told Swift sooner before he could hurt you..."

"If this really is true, you shouldn't have told him at all!" Hershel shouted, letting his agony get the better of his emotions.

"I'm sorry I'm a failure! But if I wouldn't have told him, then you would be dead! Or at least close to dead!" Desmond defended himself, feeling as if he truly did fail him. But what other choice did he have? At least he stopped Swift before letting Hershel get beaten into a pulp.

"But worse, now he's going to kill my wife and... my... my child..." Layton's eyes grew as he said the truth aloud. "Desmond... do you really believe I... have a child?"

"I already told you. Yes. I could tell Claire was hiding something from us... but it was good of her to hide it. Don't worry about her. Swift wouldn't do anything that drastic... would he? He's kept us alive for this long. Does he really intend to murder anyone?"

"Yes... He will go to any lengths to save his daughter."

"What?"

"That's his motive... His daughter is terminally ill. He thinks the power of the Azran is the only way to save her. He— Agh!" Hershel drew in a quick breath as a spasm of sharp pain sliced through his back. Hunching forward, he tried to stop himself from falling entirely.

"Hershel! Don't talk right now. Rest. We need to find something to clean your cuts. You're going to get an infection."

"You would be one to know about that," Hershel pointed out.

"An infection was the least of my worries. But let's not talk about me. Sit down," Desmond urged. Hershel sat of the ground carefully and Desmond kneeled next to him.

"I promised you I would do whatever it took to help your family, but I failed..."

Still in pain, Hershel only looked at the ground as he spoke. "I suppose I reacted too harshly. I'm sorry for losing my temper with you. Please don't feel like this is your fault. There's nothing you could have done."

"But I let him do this to you..." Desmond couldn't shake the remorse. "I could not control my emotions, and when they took over, I couldn't think straight... if only I could've—"

"Desmond, enough. We cannot dwell on what could have been," With a sincere look in his eyes, Hershel looked at Desmond. "I know you aren't easily persuaded, but these things you are thinking are all lies. Can't you see all of these negative things you want to believe about yourself are all just lies?"

With unbelief, Desmond looked back into his brother's serious eyes. "Don't be ridiculous..." He slowly stood up and turned away, not able to look into his brother's eyes any longer.

"You're not a failure, Desmond."

It was almost as if the truth had gripped Desmond by the ankles, stopping him in his tracks. After swallowing, he breathed out.

"I don't care if you don't want to believe that, but I want you to know that's what I know to be true. You always come through when I need you to. Back when we were in the Azran sanctuary a year ago, you risked your life to save Luke. You're not a failure."

Desmond closed his eyes tightly, not wanting another emotional roller coaster to start. "Hershel, I think we have more important things to discuss right now."

"Your dignity is important," Hershel said seriously.

"Your wife is pregnant!" Desmond reminded, turning back towards him. "I think that's a little more important at the moment."

"Fine. But don't forget what I said... Believing things that aren't true about yourself can destroy you... and it could mean life or death in this situation. You could be your own worst enemy," Hershel trailed off, then thinking back to the matter at hand, so many questions plaguing him. "I still cannot believe Claire did not tell me..."

"She really wanted to... it was such a hard secret for her to keep, I see now, but she wanted to protect us. When I knew she was hiding something, I was upset, thinking it would tear you two apart, but she said it wasn't keeping secrets that was dangerous, it was having a lack of trust in each other."

"I see..." Hershel slowly stood up, grimacing in pain. "I only wish I could protect her... but now that we are on the enemy's territory, we are under his power. I should have never left Claire that note! For once, I've been surprised with a fact I didn't know. If I had known this was going to take such a turn, I would have told her to stay out of this..."

Desmond froze. "...What note?"

Desmond is me.

"Let's not talk about me"

*Immediately proceeds to talk about "me" and have a pity party for "me"*