My mother sighed as she looked at me. "Estelle Kage lost the USB and she was the one that put together a task force to retrieve it. The excuse from the upper CIA members was that it was a chance for her to redeem herself, but she probably begged her father to give the case to her because she felt humiliated."

I limped towards the chair next to her bed and sat down, biting down a wince. "What do you mean?"

"Her father's high up on the food chain in the CIA. Anything Estelle has done wrong has been overlooked."

I clenched my hands into tight fists, looking out the window as I heard more. So far, there seems to be no redeeming qualities about Estelle Kage. "And how do you know her, Alexander?"

"When I started searching for your father, she came to Phoenix Headquarters to find me and warn me that if I were to find either of your parents, I should inform her immediately."

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Alexander walk over towards me while eyeing me cautiously.

I immediately stood up and knocked back my chair. As I was about to stomp out the door and find Estelle to break some more of her bones, Alexander quickly grabbed my arm to stop me. I tugged my arm to rip it out of his grasp, but he didn't relent.

I huffed through my nose, but stopped moving. Alexander must have understood that I wasn't going anywhere so he let me go and bent down to lift up the fallen chair.

"Sadly, you took after my temper, Vita." My mother chuckled softly. "Perhaps an even shorter fuse?"

I sighed.

"Much shorter," Alexander answered back and I turned to glare at him icily.

My mother burst out laughing.

"It's not that short," I grumbled as I sat back down.

There was a knock on the door and we all turned to look towards it to see Alexander's mother step in. As she walked towards me, Alexander took a step away from me to make room for her near the bed.

"How are you feeling, darling?" She bent down to my eye level and reached over to pat my head with a soft smile on her face.

"I'm feeling alright," I replied back sincerely and she nodded in understanding.

"I have some good news and bad news." She stood up fully and started to inform us all. "Efren and a few of his men were able to drop off the grid right before we got to them. They're currently in the wind. We seized the compound that you were captured in and with Cadence Reyes' information, we are able to take down more of his compounds and buildings across the country. We also have information on his dealings with other organizations and that was handed off to the FBI for them to handle. We will find him soon." Mrs. Blades eyed all of us carefully as she talked, especially me.

I simply kept my expression neutral.

"Thank you," My mother spoke up and Mrs. Blades shook her head.

"You don't need to thank me." Mrs. Blades grabbed my mother's hand and gave it a squeeze. She then got ready to leave. "Rest up, alright?" She gave my mother a hug and turned to me to press a kiss to my temple before she walked towards the door. Alexander kissed her cheek and she left.

Also wanting to visit my father today, I stood up as well. Promising my mother that I would come back today again to keep her company after visiting my father, who was somewhere else in this building, I walked out of her room with Alexander. The moment I closed the door, Alexander lifted me up and carried me towards the ICU where my father was. A few doctors and nurses stared at us as we walked by, but I buried my face into Alexander's chest so that I wouldn't have to deal with all the stares. Perhaps I should have asked for a wheelchair.

He set me down once again when we arrived at my father's room. I took a deep breath to calm myself and as I was about to open the door, a doctor stepped out of the room. He flinched in surprise as he saw both of us standing right in front of him.

"Are you Luke Simmons' family?" He asked.

"I am his daughter," I answered back.

He nodded. "Come with me."

We ended up in his office and he began to explain. "He has several contusions, broken arm and a concussion. It seems he also had quite a severe blow to his spinal cord which damaged his nerves. When he woke up a few hours ago, we asked him to lift or move his legs and he was not able to. This could be temporary or permanent. You should prepare yourself for the worst."

It felt like someone ripped the rug from under me. I couldn't find my footing nor how to react. "The worst?"

"We will continue to do everything we can," The doctor assured me, but I couldn't hear anything anymore.

My father may not ever walk again.

"Thank you for telling me, doctor." I mumbled towards the doctor as I stood up, still lost in a daze as my mind tried to understand what he just told me.

Alexander reached over to help me but I pushed him aside and stumbled my way towards the door. I made my way towards my father's hospital room and peeked through the small window. Wires upon wires were connected to his body and it broke my heart. He looked like he was sleeping and I didn't have the heart to wake him so I began the journey back to my room.

I limped and dragged my useless leg mindlessly through the hospital, leaning against the wall for support. Alexander simply grabbed one of my hands and laced his fingers with mine, half holding me up and half guiding me back to my hospital room.

My throat tightened and it felt as if someone was squeezing my throat tighter and tighter. My eyes no longer felt dry. My hands started to tremble from the shock and I couldn't see the path in front of me anymore.

Abruptly, my legs gave up and as I collapsed onto the floor, Alexander quickly lifted me up into his arms.

"I got you," Alexander whispered and he let me bury my head onto his shoulder as he walked towards my hospital room.

He sat on the hospital bed with me in his arms, holding me tightly.

"R-red." My voice was scratchy and broken. "W-what do I tell mom?"

I lifted my head off his chest to look up into Alexander's eyes and bared all my pain and sorrow for him to see, no longer hiding behind emotionless eyes.

"There's no way, right?"

He remained silent as he looked down at me with sad grey eyes and nothing to say. Alexander simply pulled me closer towards him with a gentle tug, letting me bury my face onto his shoulder again, facing his neck.

My father was always my hero. My superman. He sparred with me whenever he had a chance, taught me how I could protect myself and others with the strength I had. We went on hikes and long walks through the forest together, enjoying the outdoors. He was always the more physically active parent. When we were younger, he regularly took Alexander and I exploring outside because he didn't believe children should be raised stuck in the house.

What if he really couldn't walk anymore?

It would destroy him.

I knew it and so did Alexander. Perhaps that was why he was reluctant to say anything.

"Was I too l-late? Is it... my fault?" I choked out, my voice barely a whisper.

"Angel, no." Alexander gave me a tight squeeze as if doing so could put some sense into me. "There's only one man at fault."

I knew he was right, but my heart couldn't accept anything he was saying. Perhaps if I was a little faster in figuring out who captured my parents, we could have saved them before my father's severe injury.

"Stop." Alexander warned as he probably guessed what I was thinking about. "Angel..."

As soon as one tear fell from my eyes, I couldn't stop the rest. They steadily streamed down my face onto Alexander's white collar as my unsteady breathing shook my body. I held back the sobs that were threatening to rip out of my throat and cried in silence with Alexander holding me tightly in his embrace.

*

I must have cried myself to sleep because when I opened my eyes, I realized I was lying down on my hospital bed and the natural daylight peeked through the blinds. Alexander lay mostly under me, still holding me, however his grip loosened with sleep. My head was on his shoulder and I was on my stomach with most of my torso right on top of his.

I stared at his sleeping face. He slowly opened his grey eyes, looked down at me and rubbed my back lightly to comfort me.

"Why did you really ask me to marry you?" I asked quietly while studying his facial expressions.

Alexander sighed as he looked up to the ceiling. "You never accept anything for granted. You wouldn't have accepted my help because you would think that you would owe me. I thought if I asked for you to marry me, you would think that as payment to me. Otherwise, you would have rejected my offer of help and gone off the grid on a suicide mission to find your parents."

I lifted my upper body slightly to lean my forehead against his and stare into his eyes.

He was telling me the full truth.

Sometimes it was annoying and creepy how well he knew me.

As I stared into his dark greys, he offered me comfort and support without needing to say another word. Even though I knew of the horrors that I will have to face outside his bubble of safety, I felt some peace knowing he would stand next to me and catch me if I were to stumble, just like he has already.

I laid my head back down on his chest.

No matter what happens with my father, we'll just have to adapt and try our best. He's alive and safe. That's what matters most.

I was so deep in thought that when Alexander's phone buzzed, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Victor," he greeted as he answered the phone.

Suddenly, Alexander's eyes widened slightly. It would take some very shocking news to surprise him so it could only mean one thing. He quickly hung up and got us both up to a sitting position without jostling me too much.

"The USB..." I started to ask with my heart beginning to pound with anticipation.

Alexander nodded.

****

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Sincerely,

InvincibleBunny