Took quite a while there. Just came back from vacation and had tons of assignments. That's why sometimes I hate breaks. They make you think its for resting but they give you tons and tons of assignments. Sigh...

The loud beep of silence beside his ear was enough to wake him up. Maybe. Or was it the bright light hitting his eyes? He tried to pry his eyes open but they were heavy with sleep. He let himself rest for a minute before trying to rub the sleep off his eyes. The first thing he noticed was white ceilings. No. He immediately got up and looked around. Glass walls, no white walls. He was in a room but outside was a research lab. People with long white coats conducting experiments and sitting behind computers with utmost concentration.

Was he...? Then he heard the door open. A man wearing, of course, white long coat came in. He immediately noticed the Madrigal coat of arms. He sighed and laid back down on the bed. For a second, he thought it was all just. Good thing it wasn't. What he did was real.

The man cleared his throat. "Mr. Ian Kabra?"

Ian hummed in response just to let the man know he was listening.

"Are you feeling okay, Mr. Kabra? Does anything hurt?" The man pursed his lips as silence fell between them. The younger man seemed to have spaced out for a while until he looked at his way at asked.

"Where are the others?"

"Uh..." The man shifted his weight uncomfortably.

"Where's Amy?" this Ian asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I can't-"

He cut him off and asked in a louder voice. "Where is Amy?" The man was at a loss for words. He doesn't know what to say. He truly doesn't know where the girl was. He wasn't assigned with that information. He wasn't even in the position to conduct his own research, only to aid in the research of others.

"I'm really sorry, sir-"

He was forced to stop because their patient suddenly stood and walked for the door. He tried to stop him. "Sir!" But the young man continued, ignoring his protests. "Sir!" He tried again but to no avail. Ian continued walking though the man noticed he stopped.

"Floor?" Ian asked.

The man furrowed his eyebrows.

"Fiske's office, Mr. Richards." Ian stated.

"Uh..." the man was alarmed. How could he know that Fiske was looking for him? Plus his name?

Ian rolled his eyes. The man had a name tag and he forgot. Sometimes people are just too slow. "I don't have all day." he said impatiently.

"I-uh Th-third."

"Thank you." Ian replied as soon as the man said the floor and walked towards the elevator.

Amy was not on this floor. The floor was basically for research only and, yes, he was for their research. His phone told him one day has passed after their escape. They must have probably found out he has the Cahill serum flowing through his veins. Also the nanogenes would catch their attentions. He waited for the elevator.

The others were treated in an infirmary. Probably not in a research lab like him. The others must have been treated and were resting by now. Except for Amy, considering the amount of damage her body took when the serum's effect nullified. His heart grew heavy with guilt. He was surprised at the sudden weight. For the last three years, he was taught to be hard and tough. Sentiment is a weakness to one's resolution. He grew cold as time went by. He thought these emotions were already dead, never to be felt by him again.

His thoughts were cut off when he felt the elevator stop at his floor. He stepped out and was greeted with an office air. People all with earpieces were typing, walking and talking all at the same time. Truly very busy. At the end of the room, he saw a large door. Of course, it's reserved for the head only. He took his time walking and observing. People of all races were busy working in this office. He noticed something red. Hair. Ginger.

He remembered her. Then she came by again. He was fully aware of the things his old self once had for her. But these were deleted from his mind. He doesn't even remember how it feels to feel again. He went to see her. He had questions, not important but simple questions. He didn't understand though why it was like he was so desperate to know the answer. Or maybe he just wanted to see her. Of course, he denied the latter. He saw her shocked state for the first few times and his cold heart didn't waver until one day.

Fear. That's what he saw. That's what he saw in her eyes, her body, her cries. She looked so weak and frail as she curl into a ball. A familiar yet unfamiliar feeling settled upon his heart. It's like his heart was being crushed. He realized Isabel was right. Emotions are dangerous. He knew he already lost. Everything he thought was lost came back and he didn't regret everything he did.

He opened the door to Fiske's office. Looking at the intruder through his glasses, Fiske was behind his desk, full of papers.

Fiske raised an eyebrow, obviously irritated at his sudden entrance. "Ian."

Ian smirked. "Fiske."

Fiske removed his glasses. "Take a seat." he said, motioning to the couches in front. Ian threw himself down quite ungracefully. Fiske cleared his throat. Now it was Ian's turn to raise his eyebrow. "You weren't expecting me." Ian said. It was a statement and a question at the same time.

"Yes and no." Fiske replied. "I am expecting you to see me as soon as you recover. I just didn't expect you to be up in such a short time."

Ian chuckled. "You know why. You took samples of me."

Ian noticed his eyes widened a little. Ian smirked again. "Why don't we start with that?" Fiske suggested.

"I'm assuming you don't know this. The Master Serum only lasts for a short time without the Madrigal serum. Balancing the serum was no problem but sustaining the effects was. I couldn't get my hands on the Madrigal serum for some reason so we just created a technology that would act like the Madrigal serum. Thus the nanogenes. We added a few modifications. Made it better. For example, the ability to repair the tissues of the host quickly."

Fiske's eyes widened in shock. "You couldn't get your hands on the serum?"

"The Madrigal serum." Ian corrected.

Leaning back on his chair, Fiske fell silent after. Ian waited for another question, impatiently tapping his fingers on his knee. Ian closed his eyes and tried to hold on to his rope of patience. But the rope slipped from his hands and was quite surprised from his reaction. "Fiske." he growled.

"Why?" Fiske asked immediately.

"Hm?"

"Why do this?"

"The night I went missing before the prom, they sneaked into my flat. Knocked me out cold and dragged me to their base. Then they drugged me. And I had the nanogenes carrying the serum in my body before I woke up. I can remember everything perfectly. It's just that my drugged mind decided to ignore them."

Fiske leaned forward. "You know that's not my question. Why do this?"

Ian furrowed his eyebrows. "I don't...understand."

"Oh, of course you do. Why the change of heart?" Fiske groaned.

That question completely caught him off guard. No. He knew the answer but no, he's not going to answer it. He knows what it was and he's not sure so he's not going to answer it. But at the back of his mind somewhere deep in his mind he knows it's true. Silence stretched between them. Fiske knew he hit a spot. He could see the boy was struggling to find the answer. Ian was staring past his shoulder. He could see it getting very uncomfortable for Ian and decided to let the question go.

"Amy." Fiske said. Ian's eyes focused back to him. Fiske continued. "Explain."

There was a 5-second delay before Ian finally regained himself. "Remember what I said? The serum won't last long without the nanogenes though she did have nanogenes in her system but they were the prototypes. One of the first we made. It didn't last long yet the effects remained the same, body enhancing and tissue repairing. I injected the nanogenes into her before they were 'tested'."

"The labyrinth?" Fiske asked, referring to being 'tested'.

"Yes."

Fiske just nodded and placed his glasses back on his nose. He arranged some papers on his desk while Ian watched him. After a few seconds, Fiske spoke again. "Second floor."

Ian stood up, hands inside his pocket.

"Last room." Fiske said before returning to his work.

"Thank you." Ian muttered before closing the doors behind him.

He found himself walking towards the said door, ignoring the shouts of the nurse telling him they are for family members only. He opened the door and the first thing he saw was her. It was a big room with couches and the bed in the middle. Slowly, he walked towards the bed. His heart ached as he drew closer. He's never seen her look so frail. She looked so pale and thin. A bunch of tubes was in her arm that suggested she was under IV therapy. The monitor beside the table told him the operation was successful. He felt the weight on his heart lightened.

A strand of hair was on her face so he gingerly reached out and tucked it behind her ear. His chest tightened. She looked like glass. It felt like she was going to break in any second. So fragile and weak. He bit his lower lip. It's his fault. He shouldn't have been so weak. If he had been stronger, then he would have protected everybody and prevent this from happening. He would have protected her.

Then he heard the door open followed by a familiar voice that he doesn't want to hear right now. "Hey."

Ian turned around and saw the red face of Jake Rosenbloom. He just stood on his ground until Jake stood so close to him. He could see his face covered in scratches and some bruises. Then a sharp pain on his cheek made Ian's eyes water a bit. Jake's fist relaxed. That punched helped his anger ease a bit.

He was not shouting but Ian could feel the anger in his words. "You bastard. I told you not to harm her."

He can clearly remember what he told him on the plane. It was perfectly clear. "You better make sure nothing bad happens to her..."

"Did I?" Ian replied calmly.

Ian could see smoke coming out of his ears. "Damn you! Isn't it obvious!?"

Ian crossed his arms across his chest. "I did save her, didn't I?"

He noticed his hands curled into fists. "Whatever! I told you not to hurt her!"

"Well, she's alive now."

Ian waited before Jake's punch reached midway. Then he grabbed his wrist and looked him straight in the eye, eyes flashing gold with anger. His bubble of anger burst inside of him. "Don't act like you own her because you don't." He released his grip and turned to her thin body. He reached for her hand and brushed his lips on her knuckles. He stood straight, hands in pocket, and gave a look to Jake before his footsteps were no longer heard.

I like the sass of this chapter. Hahaha. Reviews and criticisms are appreciated. :)