<div align="center"><strong>-=Vincent Kincaid - The Gamble's loading bay=-</strong></div><br/>Seconds passed after calling out into the ship and Vincent was beginning to wonder if anybody was even inside.  Surely Dani would be present if nobody else.  That is unless the Wah Ching had sent a contingency group just in case the first, more low key approach failed.  In which case, he would be as good as dead.  When Griff darted out to meet them, Vincent never thought he'd see the day that he would be thankful to allow the captain to take Mae from his arms.  Mae was hurt and Vincent had known that he had reached his limit, not having the strength needed to walk the remaining yards to the infirmary on his own.  To say nothing of having an unconscious woman in his arms.<br/><br/>When Lex offered himself as a crutch, Vincent happily lent him some of his weight so that he was unencumbered enough to walk up the sloped loading ramp.  Thanks to the help of his friend, he had made it to the infirmary in a few moments rather than the hour it likely would have taken him.  At least that was how long he felt it would have taken him.  As Dani set about examining Mae, Vincent thanked Lex after he helped ease him into one of the chairs in the room.<br/><br/><em>"Vincent, what happened?"</em><br/><br/>The fatigue was clear in his tone as he responded with short, concise statements that was a result of needing to speak with shallow breaths.  "We were mugged on our way back.  Big guy hit her head with a sap.  Knocked her out.  Hasn't been awake since.  He and a few others tried getting away with her.  I wouldn't let them."  Vincent decided to omit any mention of the Wah Ching or any parts if his past that were not necessary to help Mae's diagnosis.  Doing so would only entice unnecessary worry and doctors always seemed to work best whenever they remained in the clinical state of mind free of rampant emotion.  All the while, the young co-pilot could practically feel Griff's harsh gaze like the barrel of a gun pressed firmly against his back.  He did not turn to meet the man's eyes, instead remaining focused on Mae as Dani did her thing.  There was no doubt in his mind that a verbal lashing would be forthcoming.  In all honesty, Vincent was convinced he deserved that and so much more.  It had been his fault Mae got hurt in the first place.  Just as he had expected Griff the pull the proverbial trigger to his onslaught of scolding comments, Dani interceded.  Vincent wasn't sure if he was glad or disappointed by that, feeling that being verbally kicked while he was down would do him some good.<br/><br/>However, the doctor knew what was best so Vince wouldn't argue.<br/><br/><em>"I don't want to know what you have planned for a second date."</em><br/><br/>A meek smirk adorned his face, one that shown the expression while not convincingly selling it.  "I typically get fancy on the second date and find some way to incorporate a cage match into it."  Anybody who knew Vincent for more than a day was all too aware that humor was his default method for dealing with any situation.  Even when it came to coping with regret and self-loathing.<br/><br/><em>"And what do the other guys look like?"</em><br/><br/>"It's nothing that a few weeks in traction won't make tolerable.  Unfortunately I didn't have a sharpie on me to draw obscene pictures on their foreheads for the entertainment of the medical personnel who I have burdened with patients."<br/><br/><em>"Shirt off please, Vincent.  Do you need a hand?"</em><br/><br/>Vincent shook his head as he crossed his arms to grab the hem of his shirt.  He had made it just above his navel when he had to stifle a hiss as pain lanced through his body.  Gritting his teeth, he continued to remove the article while cursing loudly in his mind for having gone with such a tight shirt.  A breath of relief escaped his lungs when he finally pulled his head free and allowed his arms to drop to his sides.  The skin on his sides already had a purple and red blemish to it as the bruising begun to show.  As Dani began poking and prodding the tender areas, he had managed to restrain his reactions to the pain to controlled wincing and choked breaths.<br/><br/><em>"Vince, don't try to hide any discomfort...I need to know where it hurts.  Or else how can I fix you?"</em><br/><br/>Feigning alarm in his tone, he once again reverted to his patented defense mechanism.  "Fix me?  It's just some bruising and minor blunt trauma.  I fail to see how castration will help the healing process in any way."  Though after that he made no effort to hide his discomfort to her prodding and clinical inquiries.  Following her instructions, he pulled himself onto the vacant examination table ignoring the dull pains glad to have a chance to rest a bit.<br/><br/><em>"I want you to stay here for the night.  I need to monitor you for concussion.  Even though you didn't lose consciousness, you took some nasty blows to the head, and although you might feel okay now, concussion can take its sweet time to kick in. And if you're a really good patient, I might even give your shoulders a massage. They've got to be pretty sore."</em><br/><br/>"Keep treating me this good and I'll need a pair of sunglasses to counteract the saintly glow you'd gain."<br/><br/><em>"Are you especially sore anywhere else?"</em><br/><br/>Vincent moved his arm to begin fishing around in his cargo pocket.  "No, I think you've manage to poke every tender spot I had earned.  Though,"  He continued, withdrawing the busted radio from the pocket.  "I don't suppose you'd be able to do anything to treat my wingman.  Little guy took one for the team in the form of a aluminum bat that was intended for my dome piece.  The little trooper saw to it that your job would be a bit easier and significantly cleaner when looking after me."<br/><br/>When Dani escorted Griff from the room, Vincent allowed himself to look over to Mae's unconscious form on the table next to him.  Grief flooded through him as he was once again reminded of how he had failed to protect her.  At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to hold her hand and comfort her however he could.  Sadly, she was just far enough away for him to be unable to reach her without her meeting his hand halfway.<em>If anybody deserves to know the whole truth about my past, it's her.  If she asks, I owe it to her to be open and honest and hope she still wants me after it's all said and done.</em>