DEVIANT [H.S.]

19 - Getting Personal

Eventually Harry takes me up to the lab, away from everyone for the time being.

"What do you have to do now?" Harry asks me, motioning to Tara in her bed. "You shouldn't be doing anything regardless... you got punched in the face."

Thank you for reminding me, Harry.

I head over to my clipboard that I slammed down in anger earlier and read what I was scribbling down.

"Just find her specific pain medication... the transfusion can take a physical toll," I murmur absentmindedly.

"I thought she was going to stay here longer..." He trails off, worry tinging his words.

"Well, she's strong enough to be on her own now. She doesn't need close supervision. Just make sure she doesn't do anything too strenuous," I explain, walking over to the Retrieval.

Harry rushes to my side. "I really think she should stay here," He insists. "She'll be tempted to fend off her symptom, it's a habit for us... for her."

"She won't be tempted to run anymore. Not after the transfusion," I say rather coldly.

I don't mean to come off cold with him; it's just easier to say things for what they are when it comes to being transparent.

"Why not?" Harry questions, looking at the Retrieval, to Tara, then to me.

I take in a sharp intake of air and pray I won't be strangled on the spot with what I'm about to say. If he wants the truth, here it is.

"She has Protector blood in her veins now, Harry. She's stronger than before."

With the mention of Protector, Harry almost flips the Retrieval on its side. He paces away from me, tugging at his hair.

"Why the fuck does she have Protector blood in her?! How?" He shouts.

"It was the only way to save her! Without it she would have been dead," I say in the simplest terms possible.

"You could have at least told me! Now my sister is a Protector, the very thing we came here to avoid? Thank you, Serena," He replies sarcastically, storming away from me towards his sister.

I charge over to his side, pushing his shoulder so he's facing me. "Hey, don't you even try that shit with me, Harry. Malachi and I saved her life in the only way possible. You should care that she is alive, no matter what. It doesn't matter what's in her veins!"

"I do care, Serena! I told you I was indebted to you and now you tell me Tara is running on the very formula that was killing us?" He snaps, his voice nearly cracking by the last word.

I look into his eyes; they're red and strained. "The blood we injected was a stable form of the formula, a form that worked. It could work for others here in the compound!"

Harry shakes his head in protest. "No, no... I am not going to be injected with fucking Protector blood."

I lift up my hands in defeat, tired of this argument already. "I can't even inject you! I don't even know what your symptom is!" I exclaim.

Harry instantly recoils, stepping back from me slowly. His face constructs itself into a blank expression and it's difficult to read his next actions.

"What?" I ask, annoyed by his reaction. He might as well tell me what's going through his mind rather than have me guess.

Harry runs a hand through his hair as he recollects his thoughts, whatever they may be, before responding.

"I can't.. um.. I have to go," He stammers, stumbling out of the lab and back into the elevator. I'm left with my mouth slightly parted and a confused look on my face.