Lena was amazed at how well she seemed to be keeping herself together as Hyun Joon focused on the other figure no more than 5 feet away from her.  She tried to stay close to Brian while she worked but Hyun Joon would request items from her desk.  With every request, she would try not to rush as she went about her duties.

Her mind worked furiously, trying to will herself to find a way to escape with Brian in tow.  She watched Hyun Joon and wondered if she would have the courage to spike his coffee. Chewing her lip, she was about to announce her lunch break to slip away to the pharmacy when she heard the main door slide open.

“How are my prodigies doing?”  

Lena forced herself to tear her gaze away from Brian and managed a weak smile at Dr. Nikolaev, who came to stand by her.  He picked up a folder hanging by the bed and clucked at the information.

“This one will need some more hydration.  Elena, my child, do you mind to get more from the storage?”  

Lena gripped the bed railings, still forcing a smile on her face and nodded but Hyun Joon beat her to it.

“That’s a new hydration pack, sir.  His vitals seem stable for now.”  He nodded towards his own patient with a smile on his face.  “They’re both doing very well.  Within another hour or so, they should be awake.”

Dr. Nikolaev grinned at Lena.  “Very good news!”

Lena stood up, clearing her throat.  “Since everyone seems to want to celebrate, let me grab some more coffee from the cafeteria.”  She suggested, already planning how to pick up some laxatives from the pharmacy on the way back.  

She hoped Dr. Nikolaev wouldn’t stay long so she wouldn’t have to spike his coffee as well.

Dr. Nikolaev shook his head.  “This calls for an official celebration!  Dinner is my treat!”

Hyun Joon grinned at the doctor while Lena managed another smile.

The two of them already gathered their things to head out for dinner.  Lena put on her coat but turned to the two men.  “I’ll meet you there. I just have to run to the bathroom quickly.  I’ll close up here.”

“No problem.  We’ll just wait for you so we can go together.”  Hyun Joon responded.

Dr. Nikolaev shook his head the same time Lena was about to argue back.  “Let us do as the good doctor prescribed.  We will be gentlemen and secure a reservation for the ladies.” 

Before Hyun Joon could protest, Dr. Nikolaev nodded and grabbed the young man around the shoulders.  

Hyun Joon managed an exasperated sound before giving in to the big man’s enthusiasm and exited the lab.  She waited until their voices faded before she turned back to Brian, her heart beating furiously. She glanced down at her clock, which read quarter to six.  She estimated that she would have a most an hour and a half before the two would notice her absence at the restaurant. 

The next problem was how to evade security.  The lab was well known for its top notch security.

Touching the pendant gave her courage and she straightened her posture and took a deep breath.  “I can do this.” She murmured, already disentangling the various lines across the bed, connected to Brian.  She allowed herself to think as far as getting the two of them to the end of the hallway and nothing else. 

Switching off the heart monitor and other monitors around him, she held two fingers to his neck to monitor his breathing.  Feeling his steady heartbeat, she pulled the side rails down and untucked the bedsheets to lightly cover over his head.  Running back from the storage room with another rolling bed, she placed it closely beside the bed and used all of her strength to carefully slide him into the other bed.