The hunter looked at her as she pulled him toward the trees. He wanted to stay and fight, to face Hooke and whatever she brought. He could do it. He knew he could. But one look into her eyes, at the worry and fear on her face, and he let the bowstring relax in his hands. He slung it over his torso and slid the arrow into the quiver at his hip and turned toward her entirely, both hands lifting to cup her cheeks. "Listen to me," he said softly as the sky above thundered again, "I will never leave you behind. Never. But right now, I have to stand and fight. I can't let Hooke just come and find you. We both know what she'll do if she gets her hands on you."<br/><br/>He kissed her forehead gently. "Your sister is nearby. I can feel it. Find her, stay with her. I'll come find you both once Hooke's been distracted. Don't worry, love. She won't get her claws on me."<br/><br/><hr class="bbc-hr"/><br/>"Sarah, hey," he smiled when she came in. "Oh my God, you are an absolute godsend, hon." He stood to greet her properly, leaning slightly into the kiss and touching her hand before he sat back down. He took the cup and helped himself to a deep sip, eyes rolling back a little as the stuff warmed him. "Just right. I don't know how you make this hospital crap taste like gourmet, but fuck me if it isn't amazing." He took another sip before he set it back down and looked Sarah's way to listen to her. He had always been fond of the little sister. She was unrelentingly cheerful even now, and Chris was smart enough to know why. The only reason she sat there with a smile on her face was for his sake.<br/><br/>"It's been... a while," he said carefully. He reached into his shirt pocket and took out the ring in question. Despite the jab about how big the band was, it was plain, a platinum ring with no adornment. She was an intelligent woman, creative and appreciative of grand gestures when they were made. Which was why he'd kept the ring so simple. She didn't need some gaudy, flashy declaration. The best statements were one rendered to their most basic design.<i>I love you. Be mine.</i>He sighed and turned it over in his fingers. "Y'know, maybe you're right. A lap around to see my other patients might give me a brain wave on this whole thing."<br/><br/>Chris stood and put the ring back in his pocket, all but ready to leave and trust Erin to Sarah's watch when the machine beeped out of time. It may as well have been a peal of thunder for how it shook him, and he stepped around the bed to check the equipment. It was no malfunction. He shook his head quietly and turned to look at Sarah, then back down at Erin. "That, I think, was proof that you're right." He rubbed her arm gently. "There's a lot of debate about whether or not people in comas can actually process or react to external stimuli... most doctors will tell you no, no way. No can do. It's a vegetative state, nothing gets through. I happen to believe that, pending the damage and severity, a person<i>can</i>hear, and will interpret external cues and respond to them... well. However they can."<br/><br/>He rubbed at his face and the stiff, scratchy stubble on his jaw. "This is... it's a good sign, Sarah. Really good. I think--yeah, I just. I need a few to go walk and think and maybe check with a couple of colleagues. But this is good." He smiled at her, quick and small, then crossed the room to the door to step outside.