(Author's POV)
The ride back to the base was quieter than expected.
Not because the mission had gone badly.
Actually, it had gone better than anticipated.
They had found another lead.
The information wasn't much, but it was enough to give them direction.
Not enough to locate Kyle.
But enough to keep moving.
Enough to know they were getting closer.
The convoy entered the underground parking area one vehicle at a time.
Engines shut off.
Doors opened.
People stepped out.
Yet nobody immediately headed for the elevators.
The conversation had started before they even reached the base.
And somehow—
it had become about Jay.
Again.
"Did she eat before we left?" Deniel asked.
"No."
Alex didn't even hesitate.
Luna sighed.
"Of course she didn't."
Nobody looked surprised.
Because they already knew the answer.
Cora leaned against one of the vehicles.
"She barely touched breakfast."
"That's not breakfast."
"Exactly."
Deniel, Luna, Alex, and Cora exchanged looks.
The concern was obvious.
Nobody said it out loud.
But everyone was thinking the same thing.
Jay was getting worse.
And she was hiding it badly.
Alex ran a hand through his hair.
"She's exhausting herself."
"She thinks if she stops moving she'll start thinking."
The words came from Cora.
Nobody argued.
Because she was right.
Ever since leaving—
Jay had refused to sit still.
Refused to rest.
Refused to acknowledge what she had left behind.
Or who.
Deniel looked toward Cora.
"Was she crying during the flight?"
The question made the group fall quiet.
Cora's expression softened immediately.
For a moment she didn't answer.
Then finally—
"Yeah."
Nobody spoke.
The image hurt more than expected.
Because Jay almost never cried in front of people.
Not willingly.
Not openly.
"Bad?" Luna asked quietly.
Cora nodded.
"Really bad."
The silence that followed felt heavier.
"She kept trying to hide it."
Alex looked away.
That sounded exactly like Jay.
"She thought nobody noticed."
A sad smile crossed Cora's face.
"But she couldn't stop."
Nobody laughed.
Nobody made a joke.
Because this wasn't funny.
They all knew why.
Keifer.
Nobody needed to say his name.
It hung between them anyway.
Invisible.
Present.
Heavy.
"I've never seen her cry like that," Cora admitted.
"Not even once."
That statement alone made everyone uneasy.
Because if Jay had broken down that badly—
how much pain was she actually carrying?
The question remained unanswered.
Eventually Luna pushed herself away from the vehicle.
"We should check on her."
Everyone nodded.
The group headed toward the elevator together.
The ride down felt unusually long.
Level after level passed.
The doors finally opened.
And immediately—
something felt wrong.
Nobody could explain it.
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
The atmosphere felt strange.
Heavy.
Like something had happened.
Alex noticed it first.
His pace slowed.
Luna noticed seconds later.
Then Cora.
The farther they walked—
the worse the feeling became.
Nobody spoke anymore.
The briefing room lights were still on.
The door was partially open.
Alex frowned.
"Jay?"
No answer.
His heartbeat picked up instantly.
The group entered.
And froze.
The folder lay scattered across the floor.
Photographs everywhere.
Reports everywhere.
A chair knocked over beside the table.
And Jay—
was on the ground.
"JAY!"
Everything happened at once.
Cora reached her first.
Alex was right behind her.
Luna immediately dropped to her knees.
Jay barely seemed aware of them.
Her face was streaked with tears.
Her hands were shaking.
Her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
"Jay."
No response.
"Jay, look at me."
Nothing.
Her eyes looked distant.
Unfocused.
Like she wasn't seeing the room at all.
Like she was trapped somewhere else entirely.
Fear immediately settled in everyone's chest.
Because this wasn't normal.
Not even for Jay.
"Jay."
Cora gently grabbed her shoulders.
"Hey."
A small sound escaped Jay's lips.
Broken.
Barely audible.
Then suddenly—
her breathing hitched.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
And again.
Too fast.
Far too fast.
Alex's expression changed instantly.
"Jay."
No response.
"Jay, breathe."
But she couldn't.
Every attempt seemed to make it worse.
The panic on her face grew.
Her hands clenched against the floor.
She tried taking another breath.
Then another.
Neither seemed enough.
"Look at me."
Cora's voice remained calm despite the fear in her eyes.
"Look at me."
Jay tried.
Failed.
Tried again.
The room around her seemed to spin.
Everything blurred together.
Voices.
Faces.
Lights.
Nothing felt real anymore.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Every breath became harder.
The panic grew.
And grew.
And grew.
Until all she could do was sit there trembling while the team surrounded her.
Terrified.
Not knowing what had happened.
Only knowing one thing.
Something had completely broken her.
"Deniel."
Luna's voice came out sharp.
He was already moving.
Without wasting another second, Deniel carefully slid one arm behind Jay's back and the other beneath her knees.
She barely reacted when he lifted her.
Which scared them more.
Because Jay always reacted.
Always complained.
Always insisted she could manage on her own.
Now—
nothing.
Her head fell weakly against his shoulder as another shaky breath left her lips.
"Jay."
Cora quickly stood beside him.
"Hey, stay with us."
Jay blinked slowly.
But her eyes still looked unfocused.
Like she wasn't fully there.
Deniel immediately carried her toward the sofa near the far side of the briefing room.
"Move."
Alex pushed a few folders aside while Luna pulled the cushions into place.
A second later Deniel carefully lowered Jay onto the sofa.
"Easy."
The moment her back touched the cushions, she instinctively curled slightly toward her side.
A small pained sound escaped her.
Cora's heart dropped.
"Jay, look at me."
Nothing.
Her breathing hitched again.
Too uneven.
Too quick.
Like she couldn't get enough air no matter how hard she tried.
"She's panicking."
Alex ran a hand through his hair.
"I know."
"Jay."
Cora crouched beside her immediately.
"Listen to me."
Jay tried taking another breath.
Then another.
Neither seemed enough.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the sofa.
The panic in her eyes only growing.
"Hey."
Cora gently grabbed her hand.
"I'm right here."
Luna moved closer from the other side.
"You're okay."
For the first time since they found her, Jay's eyes shifted toward them.
Only for a second.
Then another uneven breath escaped her.
Deniel exchanged a look with Alex.
Neither of them liked this.
Not one bit.
Because whatever had happened while they were gone—
it had shaken Jay far more than any injury ever had.
And none of them knew why.