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Unsung Heroes: Mission Two	By : RavenLadies Category: +G through L > G.I. Joe Views: 1326 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the cartoon(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
Chapter Fifteen

While Lifeline endured his self-imposed exile, Rebecca Chambers had thrown herself headfirst into working through the file retrieved from Lakeview. She read it over and over, fitting it up against Billy's medical files on record with the Joes. Like Lifeline, she slept little and ate less, occupied only with making absolutely sure she had all of her information as correct and perfect as she could humanly make it before she took her findings to anyone. Luckily for her, she had been more or less left alone by the Joes. Hutchinson came to check on her now and again, as did Hancock when he could be spared. But for the most part, she had been left completely to her own devices. Part of this time had involved a trip down to see Billy, to tell him what she could, and see to returning his Magnum to him.

The talk they had was a quiet one, and she told him everything that had happened. Billy knew most of it, of course, but he hadn't heard as much about Edwin killing the Trojan Horse carrier they'd found in Lakeview, and felt a twist in his stomach when he heard that the medic had been forced to use the Magnum, though it made Billy feel a hell of a lot better for insisting that Edwin take it. Finally, Rebecca left him, and returned to her own work again, checking and double-checking what she'd found. Once she was absolutely certain she was right, and that the information was true, she had gone looking for Lifeline. Sorenson had been the one to inform her that Lifeline wasn't there, having been given some days off to recover before returning to active duty.

That in mind, she had gone to speak briefly with Billy, getting directions to the condo that Edwin owned. It hadn't taken much to convince someone to take her into town. Hutchinson didn't know the area well, but she knew enough to get Rebecca into town. Once there, Rebecca rented a car and headed for the medic's condo. Now, with Billy's Lakeview file tucked under her arm, she strode up the stairs and toward Edwin's front door. She wasn't sure how her arrival would be welcomed, but the nature of her news might make up for it. Rebecca hesitated at the door, looked down at the files in her hand, then looked back up at the door and reached out, rapping sharply on it.

# # #

Lifeline was dozing, stretched across the rumpled bed, feeling physically and emotionally exhausted after a nightmare-filled night that had kept him awake until the sun rose. The muffled sound of Rebecca's knocking permeated Edwin's sleep fogged brain and with a small sound he slowly opened his dark eyes, blinking them against the light in the room.

When the first knock didn't gain a response, Rebecca knocked again, more loudly this time. C'mon, Lifeline, please be home, she thought fervently.

The second knock drew the medic up off the bed, Edwin's fingers rubbing at his eyes as he shuffled out to the living room and towards the front door. After unlocking it, he slowly opened it a bit and looked out into the hallway. Rebecca blinked a little. "Hi," She said softly.

Lifeline was barefoot and without his glasses, his jaw darkened by several days worth of stubble while his dark hair was mussed. He was dressed in a pair of light brown plaid flannel pajama bottoms and a plain white t-shirt. “R-R...Rebecca...” Edwin's voice was soft and a bit hoarse, he had not spoken aloud since he had gotten home.

Rebecca was struck speechless by how terrible Edwin looked, and she felt a stab of guilt; although she knew she probably didn't look much better. Although spared the indiginity of stubble, her hair was lank and unwashed, her own clothing rumpled and her coloring less ruddy than usual after going so long with infrequent meals. Not that she figured Edwin could tell without his glasses. Truth be told, she was grateful for it.

“What...what are you doing here?” Lifeline asked. “How did you know where I lived?”

"Billy...he told me how to get here," Rebecca replied, wondering for a moment if she should have waited until Lifeline came back to base. Still, there was no turning back now, she knew. "I needed to talk to you..."

The medic regarded the young woman silently for a few moments. “I, uh...” Edwin hesitated, fully aware of what he probably looked like to Rebecca.

"It's important," Rebecca replied when Edwin hesitated, her tone soft. Lifeline nodded his dark head a bit before pulling the door open wider for Rebecca. As soon as the door was open enough for Rebecca to fit through, she slipped inside, clearly not wanting to give Lifeline a chance to change his mind. "I'm sorry to intrude like this," she said softly.

The medic silently nodded his head once again as he closed the door. “I uh...I wasn't expecting anyone...” he said as he stepped away and towards the sofa, moving to pick up a blanket that was lying on it before straightening up the throw pillows. “Uhm...please, have a seat.”

"Thank you," Rebecca said softly , walking over and sinking into the sofa, laying the file that was under her arm in her lap, her eyes casting about the condo.

“Sorry the place is such a mess,” Edwin said as he haphazardly folded the blanket. “Like I said, I wasn't expecting anyone.”

"It's all right," Rebecca said.

Edwin moved to the chair across from the sofa and set the blanket down on the back of it, but remained standing. “How – how is Billy?” he asked softly.

"He seemed okay, when I went to talk to him. He's been worried about you, though he's been trying really hard not to show it much."

“I uh...I didn't get a chance to see him before I left the base.”

Rebecca's eyes lowered to the file in her lap and she nodded.

“Can I get you something?” Edwin asked after a lengthy silence.

"N-no, that's all right," Rebecca said. "I don't want to inconvenience you more than I already have." The medic dropped his dark eyes, feeling slightly chastised. "...I've been going over the file we got from Lakeview," Rebecca pressed on, looking up when Edwin didn't speak again.

The words caught Lifeline's attention and he looked up at the young woman. “And?”

"I think we may have a way to deal with the parasite..."

The medic stepped over to the couch and sat down next to Rebecca. “A way to cure Billy?”

"I...don't know about cure. But at least disable the parasite, and keep it from trying to completely take him over." Rebecca looked over at Edwin as he sat down.

“How?”

"By destroying its brain. It's a T-Virus off-shoot, so the brain will be vulnerable."

Edwin's dark brows quirked together. “And leave it inside of him?”

It was Rebecca's turn to hesitate, and after a moment, she nodded. "I don't think it can be removed without extensive, possibly life-threatening, surgery."

Despite what hope he may have had to the contrary, the medic had seen the extent of the parasite's entrenchment in Billy's internal organs, and he knew that Rebecca was right. “How can you destroy its brain?”

"I...I found a notation in the file...um...will you be able to read anything without your glasses?" Rebecca ventured.

“Huh?” Edwin looked at Rebecca blankly for a moment before her words sank in. “Oh yeah, glasses...“ He frowned a bit, not quite sure when or where he had had them last as he had been wandering around the apartment without them for the past couple of days. Abruptly he rose from the sofa and softly padded towards the bedroom where he kept a spare pair in the nightstand next to the bed.

As he headed for the bedroom, Rebecca swallowed against the urge to cry and looked down at the folder in her lap. Edwin's current state troubled her greatly, knowing he had come to this because of what he had been forced to do to save her life. That made her responsible, however indirectly, and that weighed heavily on her. She took a shuddering breath, and abruptly, her hands clenched and she closed her eyes, her head tilting forward to let her hair obscure her face.

Edwin fumbled in the nightstand drawer until he found the hardshell case that held his spare pair of glasses and carrried it back to the living room. The medic stopped in the doorway between the two rooms however as his eyes fell on Rebecca's seated form. His footsteps, silent since he was barefoot, kept Rebecca from hearing him as he returned. Even without that, she very likely wouldn't have heard him, her clenched fists shaking and hot tears crashing against the back of her eyelids. She had been fighting a breakdown like this since their return, and off and on before that. It seemed, however, that she was at the end of her rope. “Rebecca?” Edwin's voice was soft as he spoke her name, the medic stopping in front of her.

"I-I'm sorry, Edwin. I'm so sorry...it wasn't supposed to happen like this..." She said, then began sobbing softly, one hand raising to cover her face.

Lifleine felt something in his chest clench and he squeezed his eyes closed for a moment before sinking down on the couch next to the young woman. “Rebecca...” he whispered as he slipped his arms around her, pulling her into an embrace.

"I'm sorry..." She kept whispering, over and over like a mantra, very nearly curling up against Edwin like a child, startling herself with just how much she felt she needed that comfort.

The medic had been alone since their return to Joe Headquarters, and as he embraced Rebecca, he realized just how much he himself had been craving some comforting human contact as well. His dark eyelashes beading with moisture, Lifeline's fingers slid into Rebecca's hair, gently combing through the golden brown tresses. Without even thinking about it, Edwin bent his head a bit and pressed his lips to the top of Rebecca's head.

The fingers running into her hair helped soothe Rebecca some, but when she felt those lips on the top of her head, she looked up at Edwin, wiping ineffectually at the wet streaks on her cheeks. Edwin's glistening brown eyes met Rebecca's gaze, his fingers slipping from her hair so that he could cup the side of her face. It was almost reflex, the way her head tilted into that touch, but her eyes never left the medic's. Edwin leaned in closer to Rebecca, tilting his head a bit as he pressed his lips to hers. Rebecca's eyes widened a little as Edwin kissed her, her heart lodging itself somewhere in her throat, even as she felt herself returning it. A part of her mind was screaming at her to stop, but her body, it seemed, didn't want to listen.

Unconsciously, Lifeline's arm tightened around the young woman, the hand on the side of Rebecca's face once again returning to her hair as the medic cupped the back of her head. The kiss itself held no sexual conotations, but was instead something more along the lines of a need to fill a deep seated need for some kind of comforting contact. A shade of Rebecca's uneasiness melted away when the kiss remained chaste, and after a moment she shifted, her arms found themselves circling the medic, hugging Edwin, hands clenching in his shirt.

A soft sound escaped from Lifeline as Rebecca pressed closer to him, his larger frame beginning tremble a bit. While Rebecca's lithe arms weren't the ones that he had been so desperately wanting to feel, he nevertheless soaked up her warm comforting embrace. It was Rebecca who finally broke the kiss, and laid her forehead against Edwin's chest, her arms tightening again. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest, and she bit her lower lip hard. Edwin tilted his head and laid his cheek on Rebecca's hair, glistening tears escaping from his dark eyes.

Fresh tears broke from Rebecca's eyes, and she bit her lip harder to keep from sobbing, simply clinging to Lifeline like his namesake. She didn't want to look up at him at that moment, wasn't sure she wanted to see what she would find in those coffee-colored eyes. Edwin closed his eyes, sniffing a bit as he tried to get himself under control, though he made no move to loosen his hold on Rebecca. She didn't seem inclined to relinquish the embrace either, although she released Edwin's shirt, her hands aching from having been holding the fabric so tightly for so long. “I – I thought I was past all this crying...” the medic said softly after a bit, trying to make a joke, but failing miserably.

Rebecca uttered a weak laugh and shook her head slightly. "Well, at least you don't have to worry about smearing your makeup," she whispered back, her own attempt at a joke.

“But then again, I've never had a nervous breakdown before either...” Edwin whispered, the tone of his voice clearly indicating that he was not joking.

"That's pretty impressive," Rebecca replied, looking up and meeting Edwin's eyes for the first time. "Considering everything I know you've been through."

“I think I may have finally reached my limit.” he said softly, dropping his eyes.

"Edwin..." Rebecca's tone was soft, and her arms around the man tightened a little again. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..."

“It's not your fault, Rebecca,” Edwin said, his fingers once again combing through the young woman's golden brown hair.

"I wish I could convince myself of that," she murmured, closing her eyes as Edwin's fingers slid through her hair.

“I'm a soldier...I – I did what I had to do...“the medic said softly, his voice cracking slightly.

Opening her eyes again, Rebecca reached up and touched Edwin's cheek gently. "T-thank you...for saving my life," she murmured softly.

Lifeline's dark eyes welled up once again as he looked at Rebecca. “Billy would have had my ass if I had let anything happen to you.”

"And he'd have had mine if anything had happened to you," She replied with a tentative smile, trying not to let herself tear up again at the look on Edwin's face.

The medic's dark eyes slid closed as he exhaled a weary sounding breath. Rebecca gave Edwin another hard hug, then pulled back a little and looked up at him. "Um...do you...possibly have a bathroom I can borrow?" she asked softly.

Lifeline opened his eyes, blinking a little as he looked at Rebecca. “Oh...uh...yeah...” he replied as he released her from his arms.

"Thanks," she said, giving the medic a tiny smile.

“Its through here,” Edwin said as he rose to his feet and started towards the bedroom.

Rebecca rose to her feet, continuing to look around at the condo as they walked. This place, she knew from her talks with Billy, had become something of a safe-haven for the two of them away from base. And she couldn't help but feel somewhat like an interloper there, walking into the bedroom she knew the two of them shared.

Like the living room, the curtains in the bedroom were pulled closed, casting most of the room in a dim light despite the small lamp burning on one of the nightstands. There was a television on a stand across from the bed, which was rumpled, the comforter partially draped on the carpeted floor. As the pair passed a tall chest of drawers, Rebecca noticed a framed picture of a young boy resting on top of it, something about the child's grin reminding her of Billy. Reaching the bathroom, Edwin stepped just inside the doorframe and turned on the light. “Here,” he said, stepping back out of the way.

Rebecca looked up from where she had been looking at the picture, and she smiled a bit. "Thank you," She said softly, then glanced back at the photo. "Who's...who's this?" she asked.

“Billy's son, Robby.” The medic answered, smiling a bit.

She blinked. "He has a son?"

Edwin's dark brows crooked together. “You didn't know?”

Rebecca shook her head. "No. I only knew Billy for a day...not even a full day, really," She replied softly.

“He's uh...” the medic thought for a moment. “Twelve, I think now; although I think that was last year's school picture.”

"He's going to break hearts when he's in high school," She said softly, then shook her head and looked at Edwin. "Excuse me," She said, and walked past the medic and into the bathroom.

Leaving the bedroom, Edwin made his way back into the living room, rubbing his hand over his face. I've got to pull myself together... he said to himself as he sat down on the couch, only to get up a moment later as he realized he was sitting on something. Looking down, the medic saw the folder that Rebecca had been carrying, and stuck between the cushions of the sofa, the case with his spare pair of glasses. Reaching down, he picked the items up. As his hand touched the folder, the memory of the kiss that he and Rebecca had shared hit him full force. “Oh my god...” Edwin felt the heat of the blush that flamed his cheeks as he abruptly sat down. No wonder she's hiding out in the bathroom... The medic's dark eyes dropped to the folder in his hand. Opening the case, he pulled out the glasses and settled them on his face before opening the folder.

# # #

Rebecca, in the meantime, was sitting in the bathroom, running her hands through her hair and trying to pull herself together. There was a part of her that urged her to get out of the condo as quickly as she could, leave this place where she was intruding on Billy and Edwin and what they had built together. Her lips were still tingling from the unexpected kiss, however chaste, and that only served to strengthen that argument. There was another part of her, however, that knew she had to discuss her findings with Edwin, and they could do so more freely here than they ever would have been able to on base.

# # #

Out in the living room, Edwin had become lost in the contents of the folder, more than once his hand going to his mouth as he read, the medic even having to stop every now and then to regroup before continuing on. “God, Billy...” without realizing it, he murmured the Marine's name as he read a particularly lurid description of the effects of the parasite's intrusion and take-over of its host body and the excruciating pain that it caused.

# # #

Rebecca sighed softly and finally clenched her hands together. You are not a child anymore, Rebecca Chambers, she thought harshly. Now pull it together, and get your job done.

# # #

Turning the pages within the folder, Edwin came across one that had been flagged with a blue sticky note, the words Potential Treatment, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy? scrawled on it. The medic frowned a bit as he stared at the words. Rebecca had talked herself out of the bathroom at that point, and came back out into the living room in time to see Edwin frown. "What is it?"

The medic started a bit, having been so engrossed in the file's contents. Looking up at Rebecca, he couldn't help blushing a bit. “Oh, uh...there's a note stuck in here. Something about a potential treatment. In...” he glanced back down at the folder. “Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.”

Rebecca nodded. "So far, it's looking like it might be the only way to deal with the parasite," She said quietly.

“What is it?” Edwin asked. “I don't think I've heard the term before.”

"I hadn't either before this, but I've been doing a little looking into it. It's an advanced mode of high-precision radiotherapy that utilizes computer-controlled x-ray accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to a malignant tumor or specific areas within the tumor. The radiation dose is designed to conform to the shape of the tumor by modulating the intensity of the radiation beam to focus a higher radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues. They plan treatments by using CT images of the patient in conjunction with computerized dose calculations to determine the dose intensity pattern that will best conform to the tumor shape. They've been using it to treat cancers of the prostate, head and neck, breast, thyroid and lung, as well as in gynecologic, liver and brain tumors and lymphomas and sarcomas," Rebecca went on. "It could just as easily be used to target the brainmass of the parasite, and disable it. At least, I don't see any reason why it couldn't."

Lifeline glanced back down at the blue note. “Leave it brain dead...” he said softly, as if to himself.

"Exactly."

“And Billy would be alright?” he asked, looking back up at the young woman.

"He might experience pain during the treatment, since the parasite's integrated into his nervous system as well as his organs, but he'll come out of it unharmed, yes. The targeting has to be very precise, though."

“Do we even know where it's brain is?”

Rebecca nodded again, and walked over to sit beside Edwin, picking up the file and flipping back a bit. "Right here," She said, pointing to another notation that had been handwritten in the file. "It would seem the brainmass develops near the host's heart. The idea behind it, I think...was to allow the host to remain functional, even after a fatal head wound." Rebecca's voice cracked a little. "It...was something they had been working on as early as the Tyrant project..."

“His heart?” Edwin shook his dark head a bit. “I don't know Rebecca...”

"I know it's risky, but we don't have much choice..." Rebecca said softly.

The medic lapsed into silence for a few moments. “Have you told him about this yet?” he asked.

Shaking her head, Rebecca replied. "I wanted to talk to you about it first."

“I wouldn't even know where to get something like that, assuming that we even could,” Edwin said quiety. “Maybe a research hospital...” he mused. “More than likely we'd have to take him off-base.”

"And that would be another reason why I haven't mentioned it to anyone else yet," Rebecca said, her own tone sounding weary. "I...seriously doubt Duke would allow it."

“Not if there was a possibility of that thing manifesting itself.” Edwin agreed softly. “And if it realizes what were trying to do...”

Rebecca nodded. "The parasite is so advanced at this point..." She sighed. "We have to figure out something."

The medic shook his dark head slightly. “Damn it...” he said lowly. “There doesn't seem to be anything else we can do. This IMRT thing is the only lead we have.”

"I can run the information by one or two contacts I have with the CDC. Maybe they know something I don't," Rebecca said. "In the meantime...all we can do is run what we've found by Duke and hope for the best..."

Edwin nodded slowly. “Hopefully he'll see reason.”

# # #

“NO! Absolutely not.” Duke's voice boomed out. The big blonde man was seated at his desk, his icy blue gaze fastened on the two people sitting across from him.

“But Duke...” Lifeline started, only to be cut off by his commanding officer.

“Save it Lifeline, the answer was no five seconds ago and it's still no now.”

The blonde's harsh tone had long ago silenced Rebecca completely, and with his answer now, she stood. "Sorry for wasting your time, Sir," She murmured, and slipped out of the room.

“Rebecca...” Edwin watched the young woman leave , calling out to her but to no avail. The medic turned his dark eyes back towards Duke. “This may be the only chance we have.” he said. “I know it's risky, but...“

“What part of no don't you understand?” Duke asked. “You asked, I gave you my answer, that's it. End of story.”

Edwin sat quietly, his gaze locked with the big blonde's for several moments before he spoke. “I could go over you and make an official medical request,” he said, his tone firm despite the butterflies in his stomach. “Trust me, I don't want to do that.”

Duke's jaw tightened. “Do you think this is easy for me?” he asked the medic. “He's a Joe, Lifeline – one of us. Even still, I can't risk it. He's too much of a threat. I can't let him off this base.”

The medic regarded the other man silently for a few moments before rising to his feet. “Sir,” he said, giving Duke a salute before turning to leave.

“I'm sorry, Lifeline.” The blonde said just before Edwin stepped out of the office.

# # #

The hallway was silent as Lifeline stepped out into it, Rebecca nowhere to be seen. Taking a few steps away from Duke's office, the medic paused for a few moments and closed his eyes, his hands clenching tightly at his sides. Today was Edwin's first day back after his week long “mental health” leave of absence; and, if his meeting with Duke and Rebecca were any indication of how things were going to go, it was going to be a long and difficult one.

Taking a few deep breaths, Lifeline opened his eyes and tried to relax a bit as he started down the hallway towards the stairwell, intent on returning to the infirmary.

# # #

The pain was back again.

Billy wasn't quite sure when it had started again; he had very little concept of the passing of days in his small room. Unlike before, when the pain seemed to creep up on him and gave him some small semblance of warning, it now came on in a full, mind-numbing blaze that kept him bound to his bed, staring at the ceiling and praying it would end. He was just coming down out of one of those fits now, in fact, having had the pain wake him from a light, troubled sleep.

# # #

Lifeline stepped out of the elevator, his hands thrust into the pockets of the white lab coat that he was wearing over a set of standard issue fatigues as he made his way down the corridor. He had spent the past two hours in his office, trying to concentrate on the work that had been left sitting in his office and not making much headway. Everytime he had tried to focus his attention on the files and other paperwork in front of him, his mind would instead wander to Billy Coen and his earlier confrontation with Duke over moving the Marine. Finally, Edwin had given up, pushing his chair back from his desk and leaving his office, his feet automatically taking him to the elevator.

# # #

The door to the containment lab slid open, Lifeline stepping through the doorway a few moments later, the medic's gaze immediately going to the main monitoring console and the young man seated there. Marcel Hancock looked up as the door opened and gave Lifeline a tired smile. “Corporal,” Edwin said, acknowledging the younger medic with a nod of his dark head.

"Sir," Hancock replied, standing and giving Edwin a quick salute. "Are you here to see the Lieutenant, Sir?"

“Yes,” Lifeline replied, his eyes going to the reinforced glass that separated them from the room where Billy was being kept, searching for the Marine. "He's been in bed most of the day, Sir," Hancock said, settling back down into his seat. "But I don't think he's asleep."

Edwin nodded his head as he stepped closer to the glass, his gaze settling on the bed across the room on the other side. He could make out Billy's prone form in the dim light, the Marine lying on his back, his face turned away from the glass. The lights in the room were dim, but the Marine's skin gleamed even in that faint light. He was unaware of that, however, unaware of the scrutiny and mostly unaware of his surroundings as he waited for the last of the agony to recede, and the world to start reasserting itself again.

Lifeline frowned a bit as he turned toward Hancock. “Has he been alright?”

"As far as I can tell. He hasn't complained about anything. His signs have been a little erratic, but nothing like they were before." Hancock frowned faintly. "He hasn't been as active just lately, but I was figuring that simply being depression because of Hopper and everything."

“No complaints about pain?” Edwin asked as he turned his eyes back to the glass.

"None at all," Hancock replied. "Of course, he hasn't said more than two or three words to anyone since Scarlett came down to get that letter for Hopper's family. We considered administering anti-depressants, but we weren't sure what we could give him, so we've been holding off."

Lifeline nodded his head silently, his gaze still locked on Billy's prone form. Hancock said nothing more, unable to help the soft, nagging voice in the back of his head that worried he had done something wrong, or somehow hadn't done enough. He had been a field medic for awhile before getting chosen to join the Joes, but this was unlike anything he had ever dealt with before. “If you want to take a break,” Edwin said after several minutes, turning towards the younger medic. “I'll keep an eye on Devil Dog.”

"Thank you, Sir," Hancock said with a faint smile. "I imagine you're busy, so I won't be long."

“Take your time, Corporal,” the medic said. “I'm sure you've earned it.”

Hancock gave another salute, and headed out of the room. He was grateful for a chance to stretch his legs, and his feet took him away toward food, coffee, and company.

# # #

Once the door was solidly closed, Edwin turned his eyes back to the observation glass and the man on the other side. After a few moments, he moved to switch on the comm between the two chambers. “Hey, soldier boy,” he said softly in the off chance that Hancock had been mistaken and Billy was asleep.

Billy shifted, his movements stiff, and slid off the bed. He smiled a little when he saw who was standing there. He hadn't really needed to see Edwin to know it was him; none of the other Joes would have dared called him 'soldier boy.' He flicked the comm on his side of the glass and replied. "Hey there."

Lifeline's lips quirked up into a faint smile. “Thought I better come down and see what kind of havoc you've wreaked in my absence.”

Billy chuckled softly at that, and leaned against the edge of the observation window. "Afraid I might be molesting the nurses without you here to keep an eye on me?" He teased.

“I had this nagging idea that you might be behind the rise in unauthorized sponge baths that my female staff have been giving lately.”

Billy actually coughed out a laugh at that, caught off-guard by Edwin's remark. "I'm a bad influence on you." He said, willingly rolling with the joke, enjoying the brief levity while it lasted. "And I'm pretty sure I don't have a damned idea what you're talking about."

“Like you'd own up to it, even if it was true.” the medic said, his smile widening a bit before sliding away a few moments later.

Billy's own smile only held on for a few more seconds, before an echo of pain wiped it away. "So seriously, what's up?"

Edwin shook his head a bit. “I just wanted to see you,” he said quietly.

"I've been worried about you," Billy said softly.

“That's supposed to be my line.”

Billy lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "You're still allowed to be, I guess," he said. "But I heard about what happened..."

Edwin gave a barely imperceptible nod of his head. “I'm sorry about Hopper.”

Billy's gaze dropped. "He knew the risks when he signed on," he said softly, although it was clear the words were more for his own comfort than truly sincere.

“We all did,” the medic said. “But that doesn't make it any easier.”

"I know..." Billy shook his head, falling silent. Edwin lapsed into silence as well, his head tilting downward a bit. "So...did you find whatever it was you were looking for?"

“Maybe,” was the quiet reply, Lifeline not wanting to get Billy's hopes up especially after the medic's heated discussion with Duke earlier that day. Edwin wasn't quite ready to give up on the idea of taking Billy off base to attempt treatment, although he still had not convinced himself that going over Duke's head was the best option just yet. “We're still going through the file that we retrieved.”

"Is Becca doing okay? I heard she got pretty roughed up before you rescued her."

Edwin nodded his dark head slightly. “A little...shell shocked, I guess you could say, although I guess we all kind of were.” The medic's voice was soft as he spoke, his gaze once again sliding away from the Marine. “She seems to be okay.”

"What about you?"

“I'm here,” the medic replied quietly after a few moments.

"I'm sorry about all this, Edwin," Billy said quietly. "You've gone to a hell of a lot of trouble over me."

“Yeah, I have.” Lifeline said as he looked up at the Marine, his dark eyes glistening. “I've spent a good part of the past week asking myself if what I feel for you is worth what I've done.” Edwin sniffed and closed his eyes against the tears welling in his eyes and turned his face to the side, leaving only his profile to the window. “And I'm still not sure of the answer.” he said quietly.

Billy reached out, forgetting about the window until his hand came in contact with it. For a brief moment, his frustration left him wanting to strike the glass, but the agitation only brought a twinge of pain, and he forced himself to calm down. "Edwin..." He whispered. It was several long moments before the medic responded, turning his face back towards the window and opening his eyes, slowly bringing his chocolate brown gaze back to Billy's face on the other side of the glass. "I will find a way to pay you back for all this," Billy murmured. "With interest..."

Edwin looked at the other man silently for a few minutes. “I...I should get back upstairs,” he said softly. “I've got a ton of work piled on my desk.”

"All right," Billy said. "Guess...I oughta let you get to it, then."

Lifeline made no attempt to move however. After a few minutes, he impulsively reached and put his palm on the glass. After a moment, Billy's hand came up, and he let his hand settle on the glass as well, his eyes meeting Edwin's as he did.

His coffee eyes locked with Billy's deep blue gaze, Edwin spoke. “Hold on for me,” he said softly, his voice breaking slightly. “That's all I need, just for you to hold on until we can find a way to cure you.”

Billy nodded, and mustered a weak smile. "For you...anything..." He whispered. The ghost of a smile quirked the corners of Lifeline's lips as he looked at the Marine. A few minutes later, he slid his palm from the glass.

After a few moments of silence, Billy spoke again. "Hurry, though," He said softly. "Something's...starting to happen again...“

“What?” Edwin asked, his entire countenance changing as a concerned look came over his face. “What's happened?”

"It's waking up again or something..."

“Jesus Christ, Billy.” the medic said as he started towards the door that led to the inner chamber. “Why didn't you say something before?”

"Because when those attacks are hitting, I haven't been able to say much of anything at all...I was hoping maybe you'd be able to tell me what the hell was happening."

“You could have said something to Hancock afterwards,” Lifeline said as he pressed the automatic lock on the door, the reinforced steel sliding open seconds later, the medic passing through it and into the inner chamber with the Marine.

"I didn't want anybody freaking out."

“Lift up your shirt,” Edwin ordered as he neared the other man. Billy nodded and lifted the a-shirt he was wearing.

The medic bent down and looked at the Marine's torso, searching for signs of the bruising that the parasite had caused during its earlier stage of development but not finding anything out of the ordinary. As he lightly prodded at Billy's back and abdomen, he felt the ripple of something under his fingertips as the parasite shifted beneath the blue-eyed man's skin. Billy flinched away from the touch a little. “How long has this been going on?” Edwin asked, looking up at the Marine.

"I honestly couldn't tell you," Billy replied. "It's hard to keep track down here."

Lifeline ran his fingertips over the skin of Billy's back, only to once again feel the push of distended flesh as the parasite slithered under the Marine's skin. Billy shivered. "Stop that, I can feel it moving..."

Edwin looked up at Billy for a moment before reaching and pulling the other man's shirt back down before he straightened up, a frown on his face. Billy retreated a step, leaning against the nearby wall, trying to ignore the shift and pull of skin as the parasite shifted again. “Billy?” Edwin stepped closer to the Marine.

"I'll be all right," Billy said. "It's just...moving around again..." Lifeline reached out and gently touched the side of Billy's face. "Do you have any idea at all what's happening to me right now?" Billy said softly.

“I – I'm not sure, but...I think it's going through another stage of development...growing a bit more...Rebecca has the file, I've only really had a chance to look through it once.” Edwin responded.

"Think you can find out for me?"

His hand slipping away from the Marine's cheek, Lifeline reached for his wrist communicator. “Rebecca? Rebecca? Come in...”

Before their ill-fated trip to the Lakeview Hospital for the Criminally Insane, Main Frame had outfitted the civillian doctor with a Joe-issued communicator and as far as Edwin knew, the young woman was still in possession of it. After a moment, the speaker crackled to life. "This is Rebecca, go ahead."

“It's Lifeline,” the medic's eyes on Billy as he spoke. “Can you get down to Billy's room? There's something going on with the parasite.”

"Give me five minutes." The words were hurried, almost distracted. "I've just gotta finish up something here and throw on some shoes."

“We'll be waiting.” Lifeline flicked off his communicator, a faint frown on his face as he did so.

"I'll be glad when this is over and done with," Billy said softly. "I really hate it when you frown like that..."

Edwin's dark brown eyes softened as he looked at the other man, once again reaching up to touch the side of Billy's face while he tried unsuccessfully to muster up a small smile for the Marine.

Billy offered a tiny, shaky smile to the other man. "I promise I'm not always this high-maintenence," he whispered, trying to lighten the mood, if only a little. Billy's words had the desired effect, pulling a faint yet fleeting smile from the medic. "Edwin...I don't wanna ask this, but I gotta..." Billy's tone was very low. "Is...there really a way to get rid of this thing? Is there a cure?"

Lifeline looked at the blue eyed man silent for a few moments before he turned away a bit, his hand sliding away. “I...” he started, his eyes closing as he took a breath. “I...don't know,” he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper. “The file...its the only lead we have...“

"I see," Billy replied quietly.

“T-There was the mention of something that could be a possibility,” the medic continued on. “I – I don't know how concrete it is.”

"It's gotta work," Billy said, unaware he had spoken the words aloud.

Edwin turned towards the Marine, his cocoa brown eyes falling on Billy once again. “We won't give up,” he said softly.

Billy met Edwin's gaze with his own. "I promised you I wouldn't," he said with a nod.

“We'll keep trying, until there's nothing left to try.”

Their conversation cut off then, as Rebecca hurried into the room. "Sorry to keep you two waiting," she said, her eyes going immediately to Billy.

“I'm glad you're here,” Edwin said as he turned towards the young woman.

"What's happening with the parasite?" Rebecca asked, smiling faintly at the greeting.

“It's apparently been moving around again.” The medic answered. “Not that our favorite patient here told anyone.”

"How long, Billy?" Rebecca asked, her green eyes snapping back to the other man again.

"Like I told him, I can't keep track down here."

"Rough estimate?"

"Couple days?"

Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose. "Dammit, Billy, if you weren't a patient..."

"I'd be a corpse," Billy replied dryly. "Look, I didn't say anything because I didn't know it was entirely abnormal. It never really stopped moving."

“Impossible Marine...” Edwin muttered very softly to himself. Billy caught the remark but said nothing.

Rebecca looked over at Edwin, and beckoned for him to follow her. "I don't have the file here with me, but I don't like this. I wanna take a look at his vitals."

Lifeline nodded in agreement, his eyes going back to Billy for a few moments before he started to follow the young woman. As soon as they were in the other room, and Rebecca satisfied herself that the speaker between the two rooms was off, she swore sharply. “What's wrong?” the medic asked, putting his back between the observation glass and Rebecca.

"I like him...but there are days I wanna slap him stupid," She replied, clearly frustrated. "Edwin, this parasite of his is acting strangely, even by the standards of an Umbrella creature."

“What do you mean?” Lifeline's brows quirked together as he looked at Rebecca intently.

"The semi-dormant states, the sudden growth spurts. None of this is in that file," She said, shaking her head. "It's like this thing is mutating...or something about Billy was sufficiently different from the other patients..."

“Or the file is incomplete?” Edwin offered up.

"Possibly," Rebecca admitted. "I've got a few contacts looking for information like I promised, but it could take a little time..."

“Which leaves the question, does he have a little time?”

Rebecca's shoulders sagged. "I don't know. He obviously hasn't had any more episodes like he did before the Lakeview trip...so I'd say his chances are good." Edwin said nothing, only nodded his dark head slightly. "However, I think we'd better keep a very close eye on him..." Rebecca looked troubled. "We may also have to report this to Duke."

“I don't see why,” Lifeline said. “Everything has been pretty quiet.”

"He also told us to keep him apprised of Billy's condition...although since, according to him, this has been ongoing..." she sighed. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I think I'll be glad when this is done with. I hate dealing with politics."

“I hate dealing with all of it.” the medic said quietly.

Rebecca paused, then shook her head. "I'm sorry...this has got to be the hardest on you..." She said.

Edwin shook his head slightly. “I don't care about myself, Rebecca.”

"I know..." She said, glancing toward the window. "I'm worried about him, too."

“Sitting down here all day and night, by himself...I'm surprised he's been able to stand it this long.”

"You and me both," Rebecca agreed softly.

“Asking Duke to let him out for a while would probably be a waste of time.”

"On the other hand, I worry keeping him down here so long might be compromising his health...I can't tell if he's pale because of that...thing, or if he's pale because he hasn't seen the sun."

“Probably a little of both,” the medic said.

"Probably..." Rebecca looked up at Edwin, then looked away again. "I don't know what's going to happen, Edwin. I know Duke wants this kept as quiet as possible, but there are people I've been having to report back to as well, and I'm not sure what actions, if any, they'll take..."

Edwin nodded. “Somehow I wouldn't be surprised if he knew. You wouldn't believe how thorough Joe intelligence can be.”

"You'd be surprised what I can bring myself to believe," Rebecca replied.

The medic smiled faintly for a moment. “I'd like to look at that file again.”

"I've got it down in my quarters," She said. "It'll just take a second to grab. I'll be right back."

“I'll walk with you, if that's okay.”

"Are you sure we should leave him alone?"

“I don't know,” Lifeline said quietly after a few moments. “I don't know anything anymore.” He looked away from the young woman.

They were saved from further debate on that subject, when Hancock returned, and offered both a tired smile. "I'm sorry that took so long, Sir." He said, addressing Lifeline.

“That's alright, Corporal,” the medic said. “You're just in time.”

Hancock nodded, giving Lifeline a salute, and Rebecca a polite nod, before returning to his seat at the console. Once he was settled, Rebecca looked at Lifeline. "C'mon," she said, and headed out of the room.

Edwin returned the younger man's salute. Turning slightly he glanced back at the observation glass before turning and falling into step behind Rebecca.

Rebecca was silent as they walked, her hands pushed deep into the pockets of her lab coat.
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Unsung Heroes: Mission Two