As the TPN flowed, Claire felt a tiny surge of relief, but it was short-lived, quickly overshadowed by the worries clawing at the edges of her mind. Her gaze drifted down the line, following the drip of the nutrient solution, then back to Desmond's pale, still form. It was a start—a lifeline—but it wasn't enough to erase her deeper fears. Her mind raced over all the unseen dangers lurking within him, things she had no way of monitoring, of managing. She bit her lip, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table as her thoughts spiraled.

The function of his organs—the state of his liver, kidneys, electrolytes—none of it was something she could simply check with a glance. Each silent hour stretched his body further from equilibrium, a fragile system that could collapse at any moment. Without blood tests, she was in the dark, unable to know if his liver was processing the nutrients correctly or if his kidneys were holding up against the strain. Any shift, any silent failure inside him, could worsen his already precarious condition, and the thought gnawed at her, relentless.

"Claire?" Aiden's voice was softer now, and she looked up, startled to find him watching her with a hint of concern. The playful glint in his eyes had softened, replaced by something quieter, more attuned to her mood. "You're doing everything you can, you know that, right?"

She let out a slow breath, running a hand over her face, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in her bones. "It just doesn't feel like enough," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't see what's happening inside. I can't track the damage. It's like… like I'm just throwing things at the dark, hoping something works."

Aiden stepped closer, his expression a blend of sympathy and reassurance. "He's tougher than he looks," he said, nodding toward Desmond. "He's made it this far. And he's got you here, keeping an eye on him."

She managed a faint smile, appreciating the encouragement, but her gaze lingered on Desmond's face. "I just hate feeling helpless," she whispered. "If he were awake, he'd hate it too. The idea of not having control…"

Aiden's voice softened even further. "Control's an illusion, Claire. You know that better than most." He glanced back at Desmond. "But you're keeping him alive, giving him a fighting chance. That's not nothing."

She took a steadying breath, nodding slightly, her fingers moving instinctively to check the line again, making sure everything was set perfectly. As much as Aiden's words helped, the fear still lingered—a reminder of the razor's edge Desmond was teetering on. But for now, at least, the TPN was a start, something to sustain him in the absence of everything else she couldn't give him.

The quiet moment between Claire and Aiden was soon interrupted by the soft murmur of footsteps approaching. Claire glanced up, finding the rest of the team filtering into the small, dimly lit room. The cramped space took on a warmer glow as the familiar faces appeared, each carrying the weight of worry and exhaustion in their expressions.

William entered first, his eyes scanning Desmond's setup with the sharp precision of a leader assessing a battle line. His gaze softened slightly as it landed on Claire, a subtle nod acknowledging her efforts. Behind him, Rebecca's face was a mixture of relief and curiosity, her fingers already tapping anxiously at her tablet, no doubt running checks on Desmond's vitals and the Animus data.

Paul, tall and stoic, moved to the side, watching the scene in contemplative silence. His rugged, weathered face was partially shadowed in the dim light, but there was an unmistakable glint of respect in his gaze. "Looks like you managed quite the haul," he murmured, eyeing the setup around Desmond.

"It was a team effort," Claire replied quietly, though her tone hinted at pride.

Then came Shaun, his expression shifting between a frown and a faint smirk. He adjusted his glasses, his gaze darting from Desmond to the TPN line and then to Claire with that usual critical air he carried. "Well, Nurse Starling, I suppose we should thank you for your 'heroics,'" he quipped, his tone dry but not unkind. "Though I shudder to imagine the things you pilfered for our… comatose friend."

Claire shot him a look, catching the amusement beneath his sarcasm. "Just the essentials, Shaun. And I didn't see you volunteering to come along," she countered, the hint of a smirk on her lips.

Shaun adjusted his glasses, giving a mild huff. "Someone had to keep the rest of you from running off and getting yourselves caught, didn't they?"

Rebecca, unable to contain herself, let out a chuckle. "He's right, though," she said, glancing at Claire and Aiden. "You two managed to pull this off just when Desmond needed it most." Her gaze lingered on Desmond, a hint of sadness creeping into her expression. "We'd be lost without him."

William stepped forward, his gaze still on the steady drip of the TPN. "This buys us time," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. He looked up, his expression a mix of gratitude and resolve. "Good work, Claire. You did what was needed."

Claire felt a subtle flush of pride at his words, though it was quickly tempered by the anxiety still gnawing at her. "It's only a temporary solution," she reminded him. "Without any way to monitor his organ function… it's all guesswork. We won't know how his body's really handling this."

Paul's steady gaze met hers, his voice a calm reassurance. "It's all any of us can do right now. One day at a time."

Shaun rolled his eyes, though his tone was almost gentle as he remarked, "Perhaps, but if history teaches us anything, it's that blind optimism has its limits. Let's not rely too heavily on miracles."

Aiden raised an eyebrow, glancing between them with a smirk. "Then it's a good thing we have Claire here to be our 'miracle worker,' right?" His gaze softened as he looked at her, a flicker of genuine admiration in his eyes.

Claire sighed, the weight of their collective expectations settling on her shoulders. "I'll do my best," she muttered, self doubt gnawing at her.

They fell into a shared silence, each of them absorbing the gravity of the situation, the stakes of their mission heavy in the air. Desmond lay between them, still and silent, but his presence filled the room, a quiet reminder of the responsibility they all carried. Each of them, in their own way, was invested in his recovery, knowing that without him, the path ahead would be even darker.

Finally, William spoke, his voice a steady anchor amidst the uncertainty. "We'll keep watch over him. Rotate shifts, monitor any changes. But for now… rest while you can." His gaze lingered on Claire, the faintest hint of a smile breaking his usual stoic expression. "We'll need you at full strength, Nurse Starling."

Aiden snickered, earning a glare from Claire, but she couldn't help the slight smile that tugged at her own lips. She gave one last look at Desmond, her hand resting on the edge of the bed as if grounding herself.

"Bill, I am going to go grab everyone some grub." Paul said as he walked over to Aiden holding out his hand for the car keys.

"Yea about that…" Aiden started, scratching the back of his head.

Aiden shifted his weight as he met Paul's expectant gaze, glancing at the empty space on his belt where the car keys usually hung. Clearing his throat, he offered a lopsided grin, trying to downplay the mess.

"So… about the car," Aiden began, his voice casual, though the glint in Paul's eyes told him he wasn't going to get off easily. "We had a bit of a situation."

Paul crossed his arms, eyebrow raised. "Situation? You ditched the car?"

Aiden chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Ditching is putting it kindly. It's… tucked away in the forest somewhere. Don't think we can go back for it, though. The followers we picked up got close enough to catch our license plate. So, retrieving it? Not an option."

Paul's face darkened, but he couldn't hide the twitch of amusement at the corners of his mouth. "Perfect. Just what we needed—a stashed, identifiable car out there. You do realize we're now down a vehicle?"

Aiden shrugged, leaning against the wall with that same lopsided grin. "Couldn't be helped, really. And hey, I kept us from getting followed back here. That's worth a little inconvenience, don't you think?" He shot Paul a look, half-challenging, half-playful.

Paul sighed, exasperation lacing his voice. "Well, unless you plan on taking the box truck for a grocery run, I'll have to go commandeer us a new vehicle. I doubt it'll be as smooth as the last one, but it'll get the job done."

Aiden's grin widened. "Think of it as a chance to stretch your legs. And maybe take the scenic route?"

Claire, standing nearby, tried to stifle her amusement. "Just grab enough ice for the cooler and whatever else we need while you're at it," she said, earning a chuckle from Rebecca, who'd been watching the exchange with amusement.

Paul glanced around the safe house's dimly lit interior, giving a resigned sigh as he looked at each member of the group. "Fine. If I come back with anything too flashy, don't complain."

He turned, muttering as he grabbed his jacket, a half-hearted grumble about "babysitting mission control." But there was a determined glint in his eyes that hinted at his commitment to their cause, no matter how many inconveniences they faced.

As he left, William looked over at Aiden and Claire, his face impassive but his eyes carrying a hint of appreciation. "Well, at least we're still off the radar. For now, everyone take a shift. Desmond's situation is stable, but he'll need constant monitoring. Let's make sure this mission doesn't become more of a circus than it already is."

William turned his gaze to Aiden, his tone all business. "Aiden, you're up first until Paul gets back. Keep an eye on Desmond, monitor his drip, and check for any changes. We need to stay vigilant."

Aiden gave a nod, the earlier humor slipping away as he focused on the task. He settled into the chair beside Desmond's bed, his gaze serious as he looked over the setup, adjusting a few things to ensure everything was stable. The hum of the TPN pump was steady, a rhythmic reminder of the nutrients flowing into Desmond's system—a small lifeline they'd fought so hard to secure.

Claire lingered by the doorway, her gaze flicking back to Desmond's still form before she turned to Aiden. "You've got this?"

Aiden gave her a reassuring look. "Go rest, Claire. I'll call if anything changes."

She nodded, hesitating only for a moment before retreating down the hallway. In the sparse living room, William, Rebecca, and Shaun were gathered, their expressions reflecting the quiet exhaustion each of them carried. Claire moved to join them, sinking onto the old couch, feeling the weight of the night settle over her.

continue this:

William turned his gaze to Aiden, his tone all business. "Aiden, you're up first until Paul gets back. Keep an eye on Desmond, monitor his drip, and check for any changes. We need to stay vigilant."

Aiden gave a nod, the earlier humor slipping away as he focused on the task. He settled into the chair beside Desmond's bed, his gaze serious as he looked over the setup, adjusting a few things to ensure everything was stable. The hum of the TPN pump was steady, a rhythmic reminder of the nutrients flowing into Desmond's system—a small lifeline they'd fought so hard to secure.

Claire lingered by the doorway, her gaze flicking back to Desmond's still form before she turned to Aiden. "You've got this?"

Aiden gave her a reassuring look. "Go rest, Claire. I'll call if anything changes."

She nodded, hesitating only for a moment before retreating down the hallway. In the sparse living room, William, Rebecca, and Shaun were gathered, their expressions reflecting the quiet exhaustion each of them carried. Claire moved to join them, sinking onto the old couch, feeling the weight of the night settle over her.

She leaned her head on the back of the couch, letting out a deep breath. To some extent she could appreciate the hospital run for supplies. It had felt ...normal. Or at least the most normal she had felt since Abstergo had gotten their hands on her.

The cottage was quiet, the faint hum of the TPN pump drifting down the hall, punctuating the silence like a steady heartbeat. Claire settled onto the worn couch, letting her shoulders relax for the first time in hours, the tension ebbing away as exhaustion seeped in to take its place. Across from her, William, Rebecca, and Shaun looked up as she entered, each of their expressions a mixture of weariness and relief.

Rebecca offered her a small, understanding smile. "Glad you're back safe," she murmured, eyes flicking to the cooler they'd returned with earlier, still tucked in the corner. "Everything go alright?"

"More or less," Claire replied, her lips curving in a faint, tired smile. She leaned her head against the back of the couch, closing her eyes for a moment. "It's strange… but being in the hospital, pulling supplies, keeping low under the radar—it almost felt… normal. Like some twisted version of a regular life." Her voice trailed off, laced with the weight of memory, lingering on how different things used to be.

William nodded, his eyes distant but understanding. "These missions have a way of reminding us of what we've left behind." His gaze softened slightly as he looked at her. "But you did good, Claire. Securing the TPN—it'll make all the difference for Desmond."

Claire opened her eyes, meeting William's gaze, the words of approval settling over her like a quiet reassurance. She hadn't expected it, but it steadied her, grounding her in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. The sting of her guilt eased just a bit.

Shaun cleared his throat, breaking the silence with his usual dry tone. "All this talk of a 'normal life' is positively heartwarming, but let's not kid ourselves. None of us are exactly built for normal anymore, are we?"

Claire chuckled, though there was a raw honesty in Shaun's words that struck a chord. They weren't built for normal anymore—perhaps never had been. Still, the fleeting feeling of routine, of purpose, had reminded her of something she thought she'd lost entirely: her drive to protect, to secure a future for the people she cared about, even if it meant facing the risks alone.

Rebecca leaned forward, a glimmer of warmth in her gaze. "Well, even if none of us are cut out for normal, we're still a team. And we're here for Desmond. For each other."

They all exchanged a look of quiet solidarity, the room filling with a sense of shared purpose that lingered in the air, unsaid but understood.

As the silence stretched, Claire felt her exhaustion creeping up, her eyelids growing heavy. "I think I'll try to get some sleep," she said, pushing herself up from the couch. "Aiden's with Desmond for now, so I might actually manage to get some rest."

William nodded, watching her with a rare softness. "Go ahead. We'll take over if anything changes. Get some sleep, Claire. You've earned it."

She gave them all a faint smile, then made her way to her room, feeling the day's weight pressing down with each step. Once she was alone in the small, dark room, she closed the door quietly behind her, sinking onto the bed.