Connor's eyes flew open in panic, only to meet a pair of bright blue ones only inches away from his own. He gasped, trying to press himself into the mattress. "Uh-"

Stephen's lips twitched as he leaned back, obviously trying not to laugh. "Ah, good, you're awake," he said with sarcasm.

Connor felt his face flush slightly, looking away from the other man as he muttered his answer, "I didn't know it was you."

"Ah, so if you had known it was me, you would have opened your eyes an hour ago?" Stephen questioned, obviously not believing him for a second.

Connor felt a blush slowly overtaking his face, "Uh, well, I might have-"

"What do you remember, Connor?" Stephen asked bluntly, sitting back on the bed and staring at him with hard eyes. "Cutter remembered you getting hurt, but he swears you were awake when they left-"

"I was not!" Connor protested, once again trying to ignore the stinging sensation in his eyes, "I woke up and no one was there - I tried to make it to the road but I couldn't – and I tried to get my mobile but it was broken-"

"Calm down," Stephen said, his voice softer than it had been just a moment before. Connor flinched when he felt a hand brush against his own. "You're alright."

Connor felt his breath hitch in his throat as those fingers slowly tightened around his. He stared down at his hand, noticing how small and pale it was compared to the one it was wrapped in. Connor swallowed hard as he continued to stare, his mind not quite comprehending what was going on. "Connor, Nick and the rest of the men swore you were with them. They didn't leave you there on purpose."

"They didn't notice. Even when they got to the ARC."

Stephen slowly shook his head. "Nick was – no, Connor. They didn't notice. And I don't know how they didn't…"

"How did you?" Connor asked, recalling the conversation he had just heard. "How did you know-"

Stephen shrugged, a smile pulling at his lips. "It was to quiet."

Connor couldn't help it, he felt a laugh swelling up until it burst out his mouth. He started to laugh until the tears he had previously held back fell down his cheeks. He squeezed Stephen's hand tightly, savoring the feeling of the skin on his.

"Well, sounds like someone is feeling better," a voice said from the doorway. Connor stopped laughing abruptly, his eyes slowly rising to see the people making their way into the room. Jenny, who had spoken, was followed closely by Cutter, then Lester. "Ah, Mr. Temple, feeling better?"

Connor nodded at Lester, his hand tightening on Stephen's. "Yes, sir."

"Don't lie," Stephen snapped, a glare on his face as he looked at the people in front of him, "just because he's awake doesn't mean his miraculously healed. He has a serious concussion, not to mention the fact that his ankle is held together with screws at the moment. He has to stay off of it for the next six weeks, than they can check it again. So no, I doubt he's feeling better."

Jenny and Cutter were both blinking frantically, their mouths hanging open, as Lester slowly arched an eyebrow. "Well, well, protective are we?

Stephen didn't reply, just tightened his hand around Connor's with a glare on his handsome face.

Cutter cleared his throat uncomfortably, looking thoroughly confused as is eyes rested on Connor and Stephens entwined hands. Good, that meant Connor wasn't the only one.

"Well, I guess we should go," Jenny said, smiling with bright red lips. Connor didn't respond, merely nodded as Jenny shepherded the two men out of the room.

There was silence for a few moments, then Stephen let out a sigh, "Well, that didn't go well."