The general area hummed with voices as Breanna made her way toward Tina's sisters. Concern, anger, and fear. Not a good combination. Breanna watched as Daisy rose from her chair, pacing ... not a good sign. Calla's worried expression followed her sister as Jonathan rose from his crouch at the fireplace as the blaze lit the wood.

"Daisy," he spoke softly, gently, "everything is being done to help Tina and the babies. Please stop worrying. I know you're angry, but it's not going to help anyone if you get angrier."

Daisy paused, inhaled, exhaled ... squeezed her eyes shut and started pacing again, "I'm trying, but the anger is so hot, and it's boiling."

"Daisy," Breanna's voice echoed around the space drawing everyone's attention, "losing control is not going to bring Tina back from whatever has happened to her."

"She's dying," Daisy snarled, "my sister is dying, and there is nothing I can do about it."

"Yes, there is. We need to hold Tina with us until Hana and Rose can sort out whatever has happened to her," Calla said, sighing heavily, "Bre is right. Losing your temper and having a tantrum will not help her at all."

"How can you be so calm?" Daisy shouted, "you feel nothing. What about the babies? How can you be so cold?"

Calla rose to her feet, clenching her hands at her side, "I choose not to lose control. I choose to think with my head while I pray with my heart, and I silently beg Tina to stay with us as they try to keep her with us as long as possible."

Deafening silence filled the space as Daisy began pacing once more.

"Did anyone else feel a needle prick?" Iris whispered into the silence.

Calla and Daisy nodded, "Yes,"

"Tina lost a lot of blood," Iris shook her head, "whose blood are they giving her."

"Craig's," Cara said, rounding the corner and joining them, her face pale and her eyes large with worry. "Tina needs his Nano's to repair some intense damage to her side and leg."

"How many times was she shot?" Jonathan asked, standing next to Daisy, his hands gently resting on her shoulders.

"Twice," Calla whispered, "once in the side and again in the leg."

Daisy stared at Calla, "You felt it?"

"Of course I did," Calla said, exasperation dripping on every word, "just as the two of you did."

"The three of you need to get it together," Breanna said, stepping into the muddled circle, "at this moment, it is up to you to ensure Tina stays present. Stop the bickering; otherwise, I will bench all of you."

"What about Craig?" Cara asked.

"He has to simply think about stepping out of line, and he's benched until further notice," Breanna said.

"What about his teams?" Jonathan asked.

"He'll have to find a replacement," Breanna muttered, "but until I'm forced to make any kind of decision ... let's remember we're here as a team ... as a family to get them through this.

Looking around the group, Breanna nodded before walking off quickly toward the infirmary.

"John, do you think Tina will be okay?" Gina asked as they watched a cartoon in the family room off the small kitchen in Craig's suite.

"I'm hoping so," John said, watching the cartoon, "Craig seems to care about her, which is important."

"It is," Gina nodded, "he's a light thrower."

"Why is that important?" John glanced at the young girl.

"I've seen how they train the younger light throwers," Gina whispered, "it's torture."

"How do you mean?" John frowned.

"They beat other experiments," Gina shuddered, "drug experiments making it impossible to fight back. They do it on purpose so the light thrower will get emotional and miss a few levels."

"Have you seen one of them miss a few levels?"

"Yes," Gina nodded, staring at John, "it wasn't good. Remember Robert."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Black Robert," John nodded, "the teenager who found pleasure in hurting others."

Gina nodded, "He skipped a few levels, and he found pleasure in hurting innocents and bullies alike."

John sat back, thinking, "Why do you trust Craig?"

"He never missed any levels," Gina whispered, "I remember him from a while ago. I liked to watch him climb the walls in the training centre. I recognised the way he climbed the wall to save Tina today."

"He climbs walls?" John's eyebrows rose, "that is cool."

"I remember him calling that mad lady sister," she whispered, "I remember he used to look at her with hatred and anger, but he doesn't look like that at Tina."

"No," John shook his head, "he loves Tina."

"Do you think Tina loves him?" Gina murmured.

"She may," John said thoughtfully, "when she was at the house, and someone spoke about Craig, she would get a funny look on her face like not having him close really hurt."

"I know what you're talking about," Gina nodded, "it's the same kind of look when one of the people who saved us today talked about Tina, and Craig had a strange look on his face."

"They love each other," John nodded, "let's watch the cartoon."

Gina nodded, trusting John and his call on the situation; as long as she was with him, she never feared anything.

"John?" Gina looked at him, waiting for his gaze to meet hers.

"Yes, Gina," he turned to look down at her, "you're not done yet, are you?"

Gina shook her head, "What about the babies?"

John frowned, "You mean the ones at the safe house?"

"No," Gina shook her head, "the ones Tina is carrying. She wears big shirts and tries not to show how she moves around to protect them, but she is carrying half and half."

"How do you know they are ..." John sighed, turning sideways, "I heard one of the team saying Tina was enhanced. The babies may not be half and half."

"Oh, I know they aren't," Gina said, "I heard them arguing about what they wanted to do. One has them protected, and he isn't even taking the strain."

"YOu heard them?" John frowned, "Gina do you have another ability."

"I don't think so," she shook her head, "it came from one of the babies."

John nodded, "If the babies are arguing, you can bet they will live through this. Besides, I doubt Craig would allow them to die."

"What do you mean?" Gina asked, frowning.

"I heard Jaxon saying Craig was not the only nano enhancement in the group," John said, "meaning he can help both Tina and his babies."

Nodding, Gina tucked her hand in John's, "Thanks, I don't feel so bad now."

"My pleasure," John smiled, "can we watch the cartoon now?"

Gina nodded, resting her head against his arm, sighing with relief and contentment.

"How is she doing, Hana?" Breanna asked, entering the infirmary as Rose took a needle from Craig's arm before turning to Tina and doing the same.

"Improving," Hana said, "with a pint of Craig's blood, she will be okay. We checked the wound on the side, and the bullet was right near the entrance of the wound. Those little guys really are working hard in that body."

"At least she is going to live," Breanna said, sighing, "what about my brother?"

"He is … Craig," Hana shrugged, "why do I get the feeling you're going to bench him?"

"There is so much going on, but if he steps out of line one more time..." Breanna shook her head, "damn … if I don't."

"Who will run his team?" Hana frowned in worry.

"Jonathan is his second in charge," Breanna said, glancing at Hana. "Don't worry... Craig will need to do something idiotic right now to get benched."

Hana nodded," I don't think he will."

Nodding, Breanna glanced at the couple. Craig whispered to Tina while rubbing the pronounced belly under the blankets.

"How are the babies?" Breanna asked, concern running over her features and dripping from her words.

"Untouched," Hana said, smiling.

"What? How?" Breanna asked, meeting Hana's happy smile.

"It would seem one of them has a defensive ability," Hana said, "when I scanned them, I noticed a bubble around them.

"A bubble?" Breanna asked, "that sounds ... weird."

"You're saying that is weird," Hana said, waving Breanna to follow her, "look at this."

Breanna looked at the screen with transparent pictures hooked across them, "What am I looking at?"

"Tina's womb," Hana said, "here are the babies ... do you notice how far they are from the wounded area."

"Are you telling me the bullet entered the womb?" Breanna asked.

"It did," Hana said, "the babies should be dead, but they aren't."

"Hana," Craig said, coming toward the pair and glancing at the wall of Tina's injuries, "thank you for helping Rose with Tina. Thank you for everything the two of you are doing for her. Would it be acceptable for me to remain with her?"

Hana blinked a few times before glancing at Breanna and back at Craig, "You know I would help anyone, but it's my pleasure to assist Tina and the babies. Regarding staying with her ..." Hana paused, looking at Breanna before meeting Craig's gaze, "you can stay as long as you like." Craig glanced between the two women, "Thank you, Hana. Bre, ask Jon if he wouldn't mind running point for a while or even Phoenix. I don't want to leave them at the moment."

"Will do," Breanna said, nodding as Craig returned to the bed, "well, I didn't see that coming."

"I thought you would ground him in a heartbeat," Hana said, "but I'm glad you didn't. Oh, there is Rose. I need to do another scan to see how she is doing."

"No problem. Hana, please keep me updated," Breanna said, pointing toward Craig and Tina, "I'll be somewhere near my office or the library. I need a little time to think … hopefully I'll find a space to think."

Hana nodded, watching Breanna leave. Worry coursed through her veins. Benching someone like Craig could be detrimental, but for now, a resolution had been settled on. Turning to the pair, she watched as Craig gently held Tina's limp hand, brushing a kiss across the back and resting his forehead against it.