"What are you doing here?  How did they capture you?" Yousef's eyes were beginning to clear, to focus. Mea crept closer, covering the hand that had the scalpel with one of her own, much smaller and darker. "No one captured us, Yousef, we're in a safehouse, in the states. Remember?"<br/><br/>"Mea?..."  She smiled hesitantly, nodding. Then, the situation seemed to come fully into focus and he looked down at his legs. "Did they give me a spinal tap or something?"  She coughed, unable to tell him the truth. She just stared at him, her expression one of deep regret.<br/><br/>"I guess not, huh?"  She swallowed bitterly, shaking her head.<br/><br/>"Well, I guess I had better brush up on my typing.  Or find me a Tony Stark to help with this problem... oh, wait.  Is not comic book."  Her smile was forced and humorless. He put the scalpel away after she dropped her hand, the finailty of the situation making his face ashen. Then, he noticed that the tray was the only thing left in the hospital room that he hadn't utterly destroyed, and flicked it with his middle finger, sending the contents clattering onto the floor. "Can't have that now can we.  I have Bull in China closet image to uphold."<br/><br/>"I'd offer to give you a piggy-back ride everywhere... but my back is messed up enough as it is..." Mea clenched her teeth, turning her head to see that both Marcus AND Gerad had managed to insert themselves into the hospital room.<br/><br/>She directed the others to help him up onto the bed, and when Tank was comfortably situated on the gurney, she patted him on the leg. "I"m going to have to have a chat with Cowboy real quick. You hang tight and the nurses should be around in a few minutes to set you up. Marcus, can you come with me please?" She cocked an eyebrow at the blond, tilting her chin towards the door.<br/><br/>She didn't seem angry as she moved down the hall, ignoring the nurses and orderlies as they scrambled to tend to Yousef. She ducked back into her own hospital room, and waited until Marcus followed her in before she shut the door.<br/><br/>She motioned to a chair. "Have a seat."<br/><br/>She sat down on the hospital bed opposite him. Her pale blue eyes glittered with anger as she pinned him with her even, unblinking stare.  "I don't know how you did things here in the States, Valentine, but when a superior officer gives you an order, you will follow it. From now on. The survival of this team depends on your ability to do so. If you can't...then you can stay here in the states while we go after Strazzi."<br/><br/>She leaned back, crossing her slender brown arms over her chest, and raised both eyebrows. "Do I make myself...absolutely...clear, Valentine?"