Officer Ethan looked at Bella. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes glassy and unfocused. Without a word, he stepped toward her.
Officer Matthew and Officer Neil exchanged brief, troubled glances, then quietly turned and walked away, leaving the two of them alone in the hallway.
Officer Ethan reached out and took Bella gently by the arm. "Come with me," he said, his voice low but steady. He led her into his office, closing the door softly behind them.
Bella's gaze stayed locked on him, unblinking, as if she were trying to read his every thought. Ethan guided her to the couch, helping her sit down. Then he reached for the jug on his desk, poured water into a glass, and held it out to her.
She didn't take it. She didn't even move. She just kept staring at him, her lips slightly parted, tears still slipping down her cheeks.
He set the glass on the table, then sat beside her. "Bella…" he began carefully.
Her voice came out barely louder than a whisper, trembling and weak. "How… how is my dad?"
Ethan tried to steady his tone. "Chief Luke is going to be okay," he said.
Bella's eyes flickered, and she asked again, her voice sharper this time. "How is my dad?"
Ethan exhaled slowly and reached for her, pulling her into his arms. "Bella…"
But she pulled herself out of his embrace, shaking her head. "I need to see him. I need to go to him. I have to go now."
Ethan caught her shoulders, holding her still. "You can't go right now. I'll take you myself in the morning, okay?"
Bella shook her head violently, tears falling faster now. She shot up from the couch and ran for the door. Ethan lunged and caught her arm.
"Bella," he said firmly, "I told you—we'll go in the morning. Chief Luke is going to be fine."
But Bella struggled against him like someone possessed. "No! I'm going now! You don't understand—I have to go! Let me go! Please, just let me go!"
Ethan tightened his grip, holding her back as gently as he could, but she kept fighting, her voice breaking with every word.
Then, after a long, frantic struggle, Ethan felt her resistance weaken. He looked down and realized she had gone limp in his arms.
"Bella?" he said, alarm rising in his chest.
She didn't answer. She had fainted against him.
"Damn it," Ethan muttered under his breath, cradling her closer. Without wasting another second, he scooped her up in his arms and rushed out of the office, running down the corridor toward the medical clinic.
************************************************************************
The on-duty doctor adjusted the IV line as Officer Ethan stood close by, watching with quiet concern.
"She fainted due to extreme stress," Doctor Amber said, checking Bella's vitals on the monitor. "And from what her friends told me, she's barely eaten anything lately. Add the intensity of the training… it was just too much for her body to handle."
Ethan gave a small nod, his brows furrowed. "There's nothing serious though, right? Nothing to worry about?"
Doctor Amber offered a gentle smile. "Officer Ethan, I've seen you stay composed in the worst of field situations. But here you are, thrown off by one cadet."
Ethan didn't reply, but the look in his eyes said enough.
"Don't worry, young lad," the doctor continued with a reassuring tone. "I've given her an injection. What she needs now is sleep—deep, uninterrupted sleep. She'll be out until morning. The drip will help with the dehydration and fatigue. She'll be fine. And even if anything changes, I'm right here."
With that, Doctor Amber gave Ethan a quick pat on the shoulder and stepped out of the room.
Ethan followed him out a moment later.
Outside in the hallway, Ellena, Norah, Harry, and Derek were waiting anxiously. The moment they saw Officer Ethan, Ellena stepped forward.
"How's Bella?" she asked, her voice tense.
"She's better now," Ethan replied, his tone steady. "But she'll be staying here overnight. She needs rest. You all should get some too."
They exchanged worried glances, but Ethan continued, "Ellena, I'll need a set of Bella's clothes in the morning. She'll need to change before I take her home."
Ellena nodded. "I'll bring them first thing."
Once the group left, Ethan quietly returned to Bella's room.
The soft beeping of the monitor filled the quiet. Bella lay still under the sheets, her face pale, but calm now. The IV line trailed from her hand to the drip stand beside the bed.
Ethan pulled a chair close and sat beside her. One hand gently adjusted the IV. With the other, he reached out and took Bella's hand in his, holding it lightly but protectively.
He stared at her face—at the girl who, in just a short time, had shaken something deep in him. His thoughts drifted, tangled with guilt, concern, and something else he wasn't ready to name.
Then suddenly, his phone buzzed.
He looked down at the screen.
"Dad".
Ethan stood up slowly, still holding the phone, and stepped out of the room to answer it.