Hillary was walking back to the hut when he saw Lara frantically running away from the hut. He shouted her name and walked up to her. He saw the tears. Catching her off-guard, Hillary gave her a comforting hug. Lara stood rigid as Hillary hugged her. She knew she should be grateful that Hillary was trying to ease her pain, but right at that moment all Lara wanted to do was curl up in a corner and cry.

After returning from a quick search for Lara, Alex stood in front of the door of the hut; blocking the entrance. Kurtis had been trying to get past Alex for the last five minutes but to no avail. He was becoming agitated that Alex was getting in the way. Kurtis wanted to apologize to Lara for his behaviour and being so abrupt about how she and Alex were going to die if they stayed. Kurtis knew he was in the wrong.

Lara couldn't help but sob into Hillary's shoulder. She couldn't take the emotional strain. Hillary was becoming concerned about Lara's sanity; she never let her emotions out. Ever.

"Lara, are you alright?" Hillary asked, his tone worried.
"Yes, no, god I just can't do this anymore" Lara sobbed, her body utterly exhausted. "I thought he was my friend but no, he was just another bump in the road"
"Who Lara?" Hillary asked, his concern growing.
"Kurtis, he said that if me and Alex stayed we would die" Lara continued.
"Lara, you need to learn to respect your decision and not listen to those who undermine you" Hillary said, his tone comforting to Lara.
"Thanks Hil..." Lara began before her body could no longer take the emotional strain and passed out.
"Lara?" Hillary said worryingly after catching Lara's falling form. He scooped her up in his strong arms and carried her back to the hut, careful not to hit any part of her on the doorframe on the way in. When the door banged open Alex looked up from where he was glaring at Kurtis to see Hillary; with Lara in his arms.

Alex dashed over to Hillary and took Lara in his arms. In one swift movement he had Lara laid on a sofa with a blanket over her. He glared at Kurtis.

"This is what happens when you go shouting your mouth off" Alex shouted angrily at Kurtis.

Kurtis took this as his cue to leave. He had been hoping that nothing would happen to Lara whilst she was out and about on her own in a state. On the inside, Kurtis knew something was going to happen to her, it always did.

Alex crouched down near the sofa in which he had laid Lara. He noticed the dark circles under her eyes and the paleness of her skin. She was shivering. He stroked her cheek softly, not to disturb her 'sleep'. He wished there was something he could do. He loved Lara and he didn't want to lose her. Alex noticed Lara was whispering something and had to strain his hearing in order to hear her.

"We can't do this, we can't" Lara repeated over and over. Alex pulled her up slightly and gave her a strong hug. He began to whisper in her ear.
"Lara, we can, if we stick together nothing can stop us" Alex whispered lovingly into her ear. "I'm not going to let you die, I can't lose you". With that he kissed her forehead before falling asleep in the armchair opposite.

The sun rose at six the next morning. Alex was woken by Hillary casually tiding up the lounge. He glanced over at Lara, who, during the night had become paler. Alex stepped up from the chair and placed a hand on Lara's forehead. She didn't even react; Alex felt the cold temperature that gripped her body, even in the heat of Egypt.

"Hillary!" Alex called, distressed. Hillary dashed to Alex's aid.
"Yes Mr West?" Hillary asked calmly and politely.
"Lara hasn't woken since last night and she's absolutely freezing" Alex said, clutching onto Lara's hand. "What can we do?"
"There isn't much. If she doesn't wake up herself we may have to ask Mr Trent to mentally wake her up." Hillary said cautiously. He knew that Alex wouldn't be happy with the latter. Alex glared at him. "I know you dislike Mr Trent but if he can help then maybe you could put your differences aside for Miss Croft's sake."

Alex decided to take it upon himself to go and find Kurtis. He had no idea where the other American had gone but Alex was on a mission to ensure the health of his beloved. He started off searching some of the vacant huts on the lot and then went near the excavation site. Kurtis was nowhere to be found.

Kurtis stumbled through the forests that enclosed the excavation site. He had been walking for god knows how long and was running on fumes. He was exhausted. That's when he heard footsteps coming closer and closer to him. With no energy to fight, Kurtis knew that if he got attacked he wouldn't be able to fight back which would leave him injured or dead. He sank down to his knees and began to think of everything bad he had done in his life, starting with leaving his father and joining the legion, becoming a mercenary, nearly killing Lara whist in Paris and leaving her over a year ago. All those thoughts were going round his head and he didn't see Alex come up behind him.

Kurtis was confused. Alex had wanted to inflict pain on him earlier, but now he was helping him?
'No, that can't be right surely?' Kurtis thought to himself. 'He wouldn't help me, would he?' His thoughts only stopped when Alex helped him up and helped him walk back to the hut. Kurtis was placed onto a chair before being explained to as to what was going on.

"Lara," Alex said solemnly. "She's not well"
"So that's why you called a truce?" Kurtis asked. "What's wrong with her?"
"We don't know. She's been asleep since last night" Alex began. "I wouldn't mind usually but she's bloody freezing. We've tried blankets and everything but she's cold"
"So you want me to wake her up?" Kurtis asked slowly, the information sinking in.
"Precisely" Alex said, before extending a hand to help Kurtis out of the chair.