Pushing the magazine into the gun's handle, Craig rolled his shoulders as his emotions boiled through him; he missed Tina badly. Usually, they would spend time together before he left on a mission. She wasn't here tonight, and he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing.

"Idiot," he muttered, "you wished her well with Nigel, but you haven't stopped thinking about her ... smart move."

Staring at a spot on the table he was using to assemble his weapons, Craig wondered if he should call and apologise.

"Sure, and then what?" he sighed.

What if his emotions and abilities flared out of control, or he couldn't control himself the next time someone provoked him, as David had pointed out. Shuddering at the thought of the possible result, Craig closed his eyes tightly. He didn't want that kind of action to be what he was remembered for or his legacy. Shaking his head as he remembered how hard he was on Valencia when she had a similar problem, how she would laugh now.

"No, I wouldn't," Valencia said, stopping next to him, "it's not easy having an unknown ability appearing ... it's downright scary."

"You were in my mind," Craig said, looking her way.

"No," Valencia said, meeting his penetrating gaze, "Cara asked me to address a matter with you ... your thoughts are loud and non-stop. She's getting a headache."

"Is Cara close by?" Craig looked around, frowning.

"She is in the tech room," Valencia smiled, "like I said, very loud. The closer I get, the easier it is for me to hear you, so yeah ... loud."

"Yeah, sorry about the din. I have a lot on my mind," Craig sighed, "I'll try to keep it down."

"You need to talk to Tina," Valencia said, "you need to apologise for doubting her."

"There is nothing to doubt," Craig smiled sadly, "not after what I saw."

"What exactly did you see?" Valencia frowned, "Tina crying over two injured people?"

"Yes," Craig said, "Val, it was the look in her eyes. It told me she cares deeply for Nigel. She didn't want to leave him and ... didn't even know I was there. When his heart failed, it was torture watching her heartbreak."

"You saved Nigel for Tina," Valencia said, frowning, "yet you never allowed her to explain how she knows him or how they are connected."

"It doesn't matter how or where she knows him from," Craig shook his head, picking up his gun and pushing it into the holster at his waist, "I just want her to be happy."

"You're not doing a good job," Valencia said, shaking her head. "Devon and Nigel were moved to the safe house today, the one Tina is settling; even though she has seen them, spoken with them and is around both of them, she is not happy."

"How would you know?" Craig sighed, leaning on the table.

"Calla, Iris, Rose and Daisy," Valencia crossed her arms, "I had to talk them out of physically hurting you. You can thank me, it wasn't an easy job."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"They don't have anything to do with Tina and me," Craig growled, "tell them to mind their own business."

"You don't get it," Valencia said, glaring at Craig, "Tina is their business; she always will be. They can't help it. The whole thing of being joined by DNA ensures that connection. They know everything about each other, literally."

"When I last saw her, Tina seemed happy," Craig said, "she couldn't wait to get away from me."

"Couldn't...wait ..." Valencia scoffed, "you still don't get it. You don't know Tina if that is what you think."

"What are you talking about?" Craig glared at the short fiery woman.

"For someone intelligent, you're an idiot. Tina would never leave you," Valencia said, "she volunteered to look after a safe house so she could feel needed and useful. Hopefully, it gives her a purpose other than worrying about you and being shunned for her troubles. If Tina wanted to leave you, she would have packed up everything, left the base, or moved to another room."

Craig frowned at Valencia, stunned at her directness. Could she be right?

"Think with your head and not your bruised ego," Valencia said, "not everything is about you; sometimes, it is to do with other people. Can't help it if you're too much of an idiot to see that."

"What?" Craig muttered as his brows puckered as he watched Valencia stride away.

"Yep," Trevet said, glancing between Valencia's retreating form and Craig as he stopped next to the table, "have to agree ... you're an idiot."

"Not you as well," Craig sighed.

"Me as well," Trevet said, grinning and bracing his feet apart, crossing his arms over his chest. "Tina's a beautiful woman with a soft, gentle heart and soul. For some reason, she loves you with everything she has, and she is carrying your kids ... not easy to start with, never mind all the weird stuff they do. Here you are, feeling sorry for yourself while you do a good job throwing her away. It doesn't sit well with anyone; I thought I'd tell you before there is a line. You already got into it with David because he called you on your lack of control. Man..." Trevet shook his head, "you would have pulled one of us from the field faster than any of us could say "jackpot" if we went off like you did. You know David is right, Val is right, you need to get this new ability under wraps, and you need to make it right with Tina."

Craig stared at Trevet then, "What would you have done if someone you love displayed intense emotion for another man?"

"I would be worried," Trevet said, "even been perturbed, but I wouldn't shut her out, and I certainly wouldn't let her go without hearing her side of the story. I would want to know everything ... how she knows him, where he is from and how she feels about him. After getting that knowledge, I would decide if I felt I needed to, but I wouldn't assume a damn thing, let alone hand her over to the guy lock, stock and barrel. You don't even know him; he could be bad news or worse."

"I messed up," Craig groaned, grimacing.

"You did," Trevet nodded.

"I need to make it right," Craig sighed, rubbing his hands through his short hair.

"You do," Trevet nodded again.

"Perhaps before we leave," Craig said, taking out his mobile and grimacing, "but I don't have her number."

"Here," Trevet said, handing Craig a slip of paper, "thank Jonathan. Daisy is giving you a short time before she comes after you."

Nodding, Craig took the piece of paper and looked at the number before punching it into his mobile.

"Thank you," Craig said, lifting the ringing phone to his ear as Trevet returned to his gear table.

Craig listened to the ringing on the other end. Tina's answering machine picked up, and her voice ran over his nerves straight to his heart, shooting a sharp pain across his chest. Craig closed his eyes. The beep of the answering machine echoed in his ears.

"Hey T," he cleared his throat, "just wanted to chat before going on a mission to Europe. It was good to hear your voice ... missed hearing it. We need to talk …" he sighed. "I … hope you're enjoying your time and ..." Craig swallowed hard, "I miss you so much and love you more."

The beep indicating the end of his message time sounded. Lowering the phone, he cancelled the call, slowly pushing it back into his pocket. He had a job to do, and there was no way he would let his team down. Not again.

David walked past him, nodding in acknowledgement. Another relationship he needed to fix, but right now, he was required to gear up.