“How much coursework are you missing?” Brendan asked as he left the window to go sit on the far corner of the couch.
“Medical school runs at a breakneck speed. I don’t want to get too far behind. My professors are accommodating me for this week, but if the mission goes on longer than that, I’ll need to figure something out. I may need to go in and make up an exam tomorrow when you’re working.”
“I didn’t think asking you to stay over would cause so much trouble.”
Trevor looked at him with nothing but compassion in his gaze. “Keeping you safe isn’t a hardship, Brendan.”
“If you say so.”
“Hey.” Trevor reached out to pat Brendan on the knee, his touch warm and comforting, like at the hospital. “Don’t belittle yourself like that. The MDF can’t order me around anymore, so believe me when I say I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.”
Brendan flexed his fingers around his mug and nodded. “Usually I’m the one doing the saving. It’s weird being on the other side and needing to be helped.”
Trevor smiled, his eyes going warm, and Brendan couldn’t look away. “You deserve to feel safe. That’s why I’m here.”
Brendan cleared his throat. “Thank you, but I don’t want to distract you from studying. I can stay in my room if that will help.”
“I’m not running you out of your own home. Besides, I’ve focused under way worse conditions plenty of times before. You’re fine.”
“If you’re sure.”
Trevor squeezed his knee. “I am.”
Brendan nodded and took a sip of his synthcaf, not moving away from Trevor’s touch. His family was by no means shy when it came to invading personal space for hugs, but it had been a long time since he’d been touched like this—careful, almost intimate in a way.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t like it.
Trevor eventually pulled his hand away and Brendan felt the loss more than he liked to admit. To help distract himself, he stood up and went back to the kitchen.
“If you’re going to study, I’ll cook you breakfast.”
He still had some leftovers in the fridge, though they’d eaten their way through a lot of the food yesterday. Trevor could put away food like no one else, and Brendan honestly had no idea where it went. What remained in the refrigerator wasn’t really breakfast food, but he knew he had some bacon and eggs that were still good.
The least he could do was make sure Trevor was fed.
7
Washington, D.C.
USA
“The Telepathy Warrant was granted,and I stripped Lydia Briggs’ mind of any pertinent memories,” Katie said as she swiped her finger over her tablet’s screen, flipping through the pages of her report. “She has strong ties to a Sons of Adam cell, but no networking beyond that. I don’t think they are in contact with former CIA Deputy Director Carter Bennett. This seems more a familial case of domestic violence and revenge.”
“Because revenge is how everyone likes to start their day,” Jamie said through the holoscreen uplink.
Trevor could see the impersonal decorations of a hotel suite behind him. Looked like Jamie was back on the campaign trail for his father after the excitement last week.
“Makes a good hobby for some people.”
“Speaking from experience, I take it?”
MDF Deputy Director Ranisha Stirling cleared her throat. “Let’s focus on the threat and not any incriminating past activities I’d like to continue knowing nothing about.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Trevor hid a smile behind his water glass. Katie’s blue eyes met his across the table.I can hear you mocking me.
Out of love,Trevor said through the telepathic link.Purely out of love.
