Of Him and Her

Chapter 6 – Of their Refuges

"Is this because we've got captured once in a lifetime?" Declan made a face, throwing documents on his desk.

"Pretty much." Ethan answered, smiling slyly.

"Oh, crap…" The Irishman stopped instantly, grabbing the handle of the chair for support.

"Man, you ok?" The other agent was fast by his Declan's side.

"Just my shoulder…" He pointed his left one that was broken. "Hurts like hell."

"Yeah, I know." Ethan nodded. "Those are the worst bones to break."

Declan made his way to the chair to sit, a motion that cursed as much pain as any other.

"He thinks they've broken us, doesn't he?" He asked after a moment, eyes boring the ones of Ethan.

The agent looked away.

"What do you think?"

"If you say you didn't then I believe you. Hell, I trust you with my life! But you have to get into Brussel's shoos: you've been kept imprisoned, they've injected you with different kinds of poison, there was even found the scorpion one in Zhen's blood, they beat you…maybe you did spill something subconsciously…"

"What?" Declan jumped from his place, hurt expression clearly across his face. "I know the rules crystally! You've slipped, your fault. Shut your mouth and stay that way till you're saved or killed."

"Hey! I'm on your side." The other agent looked up to meet a very sharp gaze. "I know you didn't. And I know she didn't either."

Another moment of silence.

"Emm…Have you seen Zhen yet?" He asked finally.

"Yeah." The fellow agent nodded. "Haven't you."

"No, not yet." The Irishman responded, looking at the table, suddenly finding it more interesting to look at, a movement noticed by the star-agent.

"Luther's with her now." He announced and, patting Declan on his healthy shoulder slightly, left the room.

The woman in the question opened her eyes slightly, adjusting to the sun light behind the window.

"Hey, girl, how do you feel?" She turned her head a bit Luther's concerned face let a small smile.

"Hey…" She responded weakly. "I'm fine. Or will be for that matter."

"Good. Cause Brussel's got a hell coming your direction." The dark-skinned agent chuckled at his own joke while Zhen produced only a tired smile.

"How's Declan?"

"He's ok. Couple broken bones, he'll live." Luther answered, taking a seat closer to her bed.

"Luther, can I ask you something?" She looked up, her eyes revealing no emotions.

"Shoot."

"What do you think of the relationships between agents?"

Luther knew why she asked him. She saw him sense there was something more between the two young agents then just their work. She knew. So he sighed and gave her a straight answer. Maybe not the one she wanted to hear but the one that was needed to be given:

"I think they should be strictly professional. Any emotion involved and you're burned. So is the one you're having those relationships with."

Zhen nodded, her eyes still emptiness.

"Why, you know someone who has it?" Luther decided to play along to give her an impression as if nothing happened. But in reality all he wanted to say was that what they were talking about would never leave the room.

She smiled again, a sad one now, indicating that she appreciated his intentions.

The male agent took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly to reassure her that even if it's not going to be all right, it will get better…

But will it really?