Your Loss, My Gain

Normal?

POV: Sang

Luke puts me down on the ground and I  feel the loss of his heat immediately.  I know that my temperature is just about up to normal for me, which is why I am usually cold.  As he and Gabe walk out the door, they pass Kota and Victor who are waiting to come in to see me.  Besides the small, silent communication that I had with Kota, I had not spoken with either yet.

"Princess, are you okay? What can I get for you?" Victor's fire eyes are banked as if his life changed in the past few hours and he was still trying to figure it all out.

"I am fine, my sweet Prince.  I think it is you that I need to thank for helping Kota find me.  What did you do that may not have been legal?" I don't want him to get into trouble, but I am glad that he was able to help me and feel like he was contributing.

"Let's just say that the Chinese government temporarily lost control of one of their satellites, which we are not supposed to know about.  It wasn't our government, so I am not worried about getting in trouble.  If they try to make a big deal about it, then they have to admit that the satellite is there in the first place." He sounds very confident.

"How did you know it was there, Vic?" Kota asks the same question that I am thinking. It is sometimes amazing how in tuned with the boys I am, especially Kota.

"Corey and I may have stumbled on it a little while ago when we were testing out some new technology for the Academy.  Funny thing is that I think he has used it for something similar fairly recently.  He said something at the Camping Event, but I didn't press it," a contemplative look graces his face.

Reaching out to him, I pull him into a hug and whisper my thanks in his ear.  He shivers in response and holds me a little longer running his fingers along my rib cage. 

Drawing away, I look at Kota who is staring at us with an almost blank face, but I can see the trace of anguish on it. "Kota, what is it?"

"My Perfect 10, I hate that I keep putting you in danger.  I hate that your practice family damaged you so much that your first instinct is to run because you were unable to run for so long and had to put up with the punishments from that woman.  I hate that I did not react the way that a Family Lead should act.  I hate the fact that even with 9 of us trying to protect you, you still seem to get into trouble and get hurt.  I feel like a failure." The look in his eyes breaks my heart.

I step back from Victor and look at the handsome, intelligent boy, almost a man, in front of me.  His eyes are downcast and his posture is stiff.  The relaxed, carefree look from earlier this weekend has vanished.  I need to fix this immediately.  I hate for my sweet Kota to feel like this, so I choose my words very carefully.

"Dakota Jameson Lee, you are the farthest thing from a failure.  You are an amazing, capable, loving person who took the time to study a stranger and figure out she needed help.  You were the first person who was actually nice to me.  You were the first person to actually care.  You have protected and taken care of me even when I fought you on it.  You brought me into this amazing, crazy family and made me feel a part of it.  I know that it hasn't been easy for you.  I know that you have reservations about everything from the plan to me being part of the Academy.  I also know that you will never do anything to hurt me on purpose.  I have noticed you listening to me more and really hearing what I say.  As far as reacting like a Family Lead should act, you did.  You listened.  You may not have had the "mask" that Owen puts on, but you didn't say anything negative.  I know you were disappointed when I said that I wanted to do the assignment.  I just need to know what you are thinking."

He looks up into my eyes and a tentative smile crosses his face.  Taking a step forward, he cups my cheek with his hand and takes a breath.  "Ten, I wasn't mad at you and I certainly wasn't disappointed in you.  I am mad that the request took me by surprise.  I knew that you would be asked to do some assignments as part of your application process, but I didn't realize that teams would ask for just you to help.  I realize now that Lily was just trying to get you comfortable with the Academy.  I also realize that you would not be as comfortable with any other team.  I guess I was disappointed that your first mission would be without me.  I want to be there for all of your triumphs and your pain.  I want to celebrate with you and comfort you when needed."  He looks over at Victor, "We all do.  We all want to be there for every good thing to cheer you on and every bad thing to help you pick up the pieces.  Sang, I can only speak for myself on this, although I know that the others have similar feelings, I love you.  I have loved you for such a long time and I never want to let you go."