031 Broken
Ryan was right about one thing. Watching him was very boring.
Eric had pulled his headset back on after a while; Ryan glared at him the first time he tried to report in, but he could keep track of what was going on, at least.
Ryan surged to his feet just as the Guardians on duty began yelling about a breech. "Where?" he demanded, stuffing the scanner into his pocket.
"This way." Eric turned, barking quick orders into his headset.
Ryan overtook him without looking back; Eric halted at the edge of the loose circle that had formed around the incursion. "What's going on?" he demanded, pulling his headset off again.
"It's the blonde," Kelsey said from beside him. "She wants antibiotics."
"Why?"
"Didn't say."
"If they can get sick…"
"It's not for them."
Eric frowned, looking at Ryan. He was standing near the centre of the circle, watching the blonde; Eric could see Carter and Dana across the open space, ready to come to Ryan's aid if necessary.
"It's not for them," he repeated. "Leelee's helping some civilians."
"Say it a little louder, why don't you," the girl complained. "If my mom finds out about this there'll be big trouble."
"Sir," a Guardian at Eric's elbow murmured. "This is everything we have."
Eric took the small packet, weighing it for a second before calling, "Ryan!"
Ryan caught the packet without looking away from Leelee. "Don't go," he said when she took it.
"Hello?" She waved the bag at him. "They're waiting for this? Even if they weren't, if my mom figures out I'm gone, there'll be trouble."
"Come back, then."
"Why, so you can get all the news straight from the violent oppressor's mouth?"
Ryan moved so fast Eric missed it, catching Leelee's arm and pulling her close. Carter and Dana both broke through the lines, stepping forward. Leelee didn't retaliate, though, just listened to Ryan's whisper and then stomped towards the barrier as soon as he let go.
Carter and Dana immediately joined him, talking urgently. Eric watched for a moment, until he realised Carter was supporting Ryan; then he turned, ordering the Guardians to disperse, yelling at them for as long as he could manage.
"Thanks," Ryan muttered when he joined them. He was too pale, even for him, and still leaning heavily into Carter.
"Is she worth it?" Dana asked, ignoring him.
"Yeah. She's not…she's like me. Raised there, not born from it. She's not evil. She just doesn't know how not to be."
"Worry about it later," Carter said firmly. "Right now you need to sit down for a while."
"I'm working," Ryan protested. "For Angela."
"It can wait. Come on."
"Wes didn't stay last night," Eric offered. "The command tent's empty."
Carter nodded, steering Ryan towards the command tent. Eric watched them go, only realising when he turned to leave that Dana was still there.
"You need something?" he asked, pausing.
"No."
"He ok?"
"Yeah. Ryan gets…intense, on things like this. It's personal."
"Tommy Oliver's the same." Eric risked a light pat on her arm. "Your brother's a good man. But if he tries something like that again, he's likely to get shot."
Dana grinned, ducking her head. "I'll tell him. Thank you."
Eric watched her follow her brother, smiling faintly.
