Connor knew someone was in the room with him. The door had opened almost an hour ago, followed by footsteps and the sound of someone sinking into the chair beside the bed. Connor had kept his eyes shut, not wanting to admit to being awake. If he was awake, he would be expected to talk. To smile. To pretend.

Somehow, he just wasn't up to it at the moment.

So he continued to lay there, eyes closed. He kept is breathing as even as possible, hoping whoever it was wouldn't be able to tell he was faking.

The door opened once again and he heard the person in the chair shift. "How is he?" Abby asked softly, moving forward quietly to stand beside the bed.

"Still asleep," Stephen's voice floated to Connor, making the younger man's breath hitch slightly. Stephen? Stephen had been sitting beside him for the last hour?

Neither spoke for a moment, and then Abby let out a deep sigh. "I didn't even- how did you know? I didn't-"

"I can't understand that," Stephen said, his voice hard – though Connor could tell his was fighting to keep his voice soft. "I can't understand how Cutter… it wasn't right! I was in the building for less than half an hour and I knew-"

"Yes, yes," Abby said, her voice betraying her impatience, "So you already said. Cutter said it was an accident- and how should I have known?! I was with you!"

"And you came back at the same time I did," Stephen replied, his voice growing even harder. Connor gave into temptation and cracked an eye open. Abby was standing over Stephen, glaring down at him with her arms crossed over her chest. Stephen was returning her glare, sprawled out on the chair, his jaw clenched. Connor saw his eyes start to shift toward him and he slammed his eye shut. "Cutter – there isn't an excuse for Cutter. He was there. He saw him get hurt – knew he was unconscious – and he just left!"

"He explained that, Stephen. He said he thought the Special Forces-"

"He should have checked! Connor is part of his team! He's Connor!"

There was silence once again and Connor had to remind himself to breath. What the hell did that mean? He's Connor? Was that some way of saying he needed extra watching over?

"That's right, he is Connor," Abby agreed, and Connor was startled to realize he couldn't pick out the emotion in her voice. He didn't think he had ever heard that tone before. "The same Connor you laugh at on a regular basis. The same Connor that irritates you. The same Connor-"

"The same brilliant, funny, utterly odd Connor that no one could hate." Stephen finished dangerously.

"I never said you hated him, I just meant that you have never seemed to care-"

"I think you should head back to the ARC, Abby," Stephen said, his voice just a little too loud. He seemed to realize that as well, because the next sentence was softer. "I can watch over him."

Connor wished desperately to know what was going on now, what their faces were showing, but he didn't dare open his eyes again. He finally heard footsteps leading away from the bed, then the door close softly.

There was silence once again, and Connor was forced to think about the conversation he just heard. Cutter had forgotten him. Abby hadn't realized he was missing. Stephen-

Stephen did. Stephen had figured it out and couldn't understand how the others hadn't. Stephen who had called him brilliant. And funny. And hadn't answered Abby when she said she didn't know Stephen cared about him.

Connor was startled out of his thoughts by a loud sigh. He fought to control his breathing as he heard Stephen stand and then the bed sink slowly. What the hell was he doing?

"How long are you going to pretend to be asleep? I admit, I'm a pretty patient guy, but an hour and a half is pushing it."