Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hayden shot a look towards the squad leader...then scowled, turning away. Who cared at this point? He certainly didn't. Plus, he could tell that Sarafina wouldn't try anything. He could see it in her eyes.

The boat was already setting out to sea, leaving the cruise ship far behind, as Hayden quickly set at the gag. "Hold on, Sarafina," he muttered, working as quickly as he could, despite the difficult knots. It took him a moment, but finally he managed to get the offending cloth loose, pulling it away and tossing it over the side of the boat in disgust.

"Better?" he asked softly, eyes searching her face. The poor girl...

His gaze darted over towards the leader, catching a glare filled with hatred and rage.

Yeah, he'd pay for this one later...but it was worth it.

Hayden hid his disbelief well thanks to months of practicing what emotions he showed...but still! That was what she was upset about? He couldn't believe it! If only she knew the truth about what was happening to her and where she was headed...but no, he wouldn't be the one to tell her. She had to hate him enough as it was.

Instead, he offered her a weak smile. "I'm not sure if this actually makes things worse or better, but..." He paused, rubbing his neck hesitantly, shifting nervously in his seat across from her. "I can almost guarantee you won't have to worry about your father getting upset with you." Almost sensing what she wasn't saying, he gently placed his hand over hers. "He won't be able to reach you to harm you. I promise."

Hayden sighed, shaking his head a bit. This was a mess...a complete and total mess. No, more like a travesty. He patted her hand lightly in what he hoped was a reassuring manner, even if he himself didn't feel it, and tried to offer her a weak smile. "No worries. I meant what I said earlier...I'll look out for you. And that includes dangers from any direction, alright?"

Not that the guard figured they'd ever have to worry about seeing Sarafina's parents, nor would she, ever again. And still, he had no idea why he felt so determined to comfort the girl, nor why he felt so driven to protect her. It would be some time later before he realized just why she struck him so, but by then he figured she'd never want anything to do with him again.

-----

The boat sped over the waves, leaving the cruise ship far behind in no time. The night air was chilling and they traveled for some time without speech or change in scenery. In fact, Hayden felt himself dozing once or twice before jerking awake with alarm. This was not the time to let one's guard down.

Before long, a dark shape on the horizon began to grow in size, soon taking on the appearance of a small island, only a few miles perhaps in length.

The island was nearing quickly and Hayden was shaking off his sleepiness quickly, adrenaline helping with that task. "Sarafina?" He whispered, turning to speak to the girl...and startled to notice she was asleep...and that he hadn't realized where until just now. He must have been more out of it than he'd realized. Not a good sign.

He started to shake her gently to wake her...then stopped. No point really in waking her just to upset her again by the new setting rising so ominously in the distance. She'd had more than enough to go through tonight...and there'd be plenty more in the future. Best to let her avoid what she could WHILE she could. Plus...she looked so calm sleeping like that. ...so young. He'd absentmindedly begun running his fingers through her hair soothingly while his mind worked silently. Hayden shook his head slightly, shoving his thoughts back in order. At least she seemed at peace now. He was loathe to disturb that for her. He said he'd watch out for her...take care of her. He intended to do just that.

The boat approached the island, circling a short distance before putting in at a small inlet, almost invisible from the outside unless one knew exactly what to look for. The special ops squad moved quickly to secure the boat and disembark. As another moved to wake the girl, Hayden practically growled at the man, slapping his hand away while keeping himself steady so as not to wake Sarafina. "Don't touch her. I'll take care of her." His voice was quiet, but sharp and laced with venom. The other was surprised enough by this reaction that he didn't argue, simply stood back and shrugged, waving a hand that indicated that the other should hurry up and get off the boat then.

Ignoring the deathly glare of the special ops leader, Hayden shifted Sarafina carefully so as not to wake her as he stood, then gathered her into his arms, making sure she still held her bag. Considering his usual activities and job responsibilities on the island, he had no problem carrying the young woman and took care with his balance while climbing out of the boat. He ignored the sharp bark of orders from the leader, sending two of his men as escorts to the lab with Hayden, the others remaining behind. Hayden didn't care if they sent two or twelve men...he still had to return to the lab and that's what he would do. Not that he wanted to, but there was nowhere else to go on the island at this point.

Still carrying Sarafina, cradled carefully in his arms, her head on his shoulder, Hayden headed for one of the nearby Jeeps that they'd use to return to the lab. Poor thing...hopefully, whatever she was dreaming now was happy...

In the back of the Jeep, Hayden almost didn't hear the soft words over the noise of the vehicle. He was sure the special ops hadn't heard from the front seat. Still cradling the young woman gently in his arms, trying his best to shield her from the bumps and jars of the rough ride, Hayden frowned as he looked down on her face, suddenly twisted in a mix of emotions. Apparently her pleasant dreams had taken an awful turn.

"Shh...it's alright," he muttered, gently brushing a lock of hair from her face. Chest tightening painfully, he wished he knew how to soothe her troubled mind, but as it was, he'd just have to do the best he could. "Everything will be alright, Sarafina...I promise. Don't worry; just let me take care of everything." Forcing a smile, even if she couldn't see it, Hayden ran his fingers lightly through her hair. Something about this seemed vaguely familiar, like deja vu, but not quite. He couldn't put his finger on it right now...but he'd worry about that later. "Just hold on and I'll take care of things. I promised, didn't I, Selena?"

Hayden froze, blinking as a sudden cold sweat prickled at the back of his neck. Why had he...? He didn't just...did he...?

Shaken, Hayden barely noticed that the Jeep had stopped until prodded roughly by one of the special ops to get out and head for the lab. Mindlessly, he went through the motions, oddly still careful with Sarafina, even as he moved like a zombie. He was so busy thinking on his slip up earlier than he had little time to worry about the fact that he was carrying the poor young woman to her horrifying fate.

It all made sense now. Why Sarafina got to him so badly. Why he seemed so torn just by her mere presence. Why this all felt so oddly familiar, yet not. Even why he'd slipped just now...

Still in a cold sweat, Hayden automatically went through the motions of coaxing Sarafina back to sleep, all while navigating the halls of the lab building with ease born from years of practice.

So familiar...and yet, strangely, so fresh in his memory...

She was...just like her...

Hayden was shaken out of his reverie by a sharp voice.

"What took you so damn long?"

He shook his head and was shocked to realize he'd already arrived at the door to what was soon to become Sarafina's new room. However, the door was already open, as if welcoming them both in.

Except the welcoming party holding the door open left something to be desired.

Hiding the sneer that threatened to give away his true feelings, Hayden turned his gaze away and slipped into the room, his back to the other. "Long trip, Dr. Hakan..." He hesitated. "...sir."

"Excuses, excuses. Get her in here already. You've wasted enough of my time." Dr. Hakan glared at the passing guard, his sharp eyes picking up the discoloration already apparent around the guard's eye and jawline. He smirked a bit, calmly setting about prepping the syringe for the girl.

Hayden ignored the doc's snide remarks and crossed the room to lay Sarafina gently on the bed. With a quick glance around, he grabbed a nearby blanket and started tucking her in. Couldn't let her get cold...might get sick...plus, she'd sleep better...

The familiar deja vu feeling was not missed...though it was starting to get a bit bothersome.

"Alright, enough playing 'house', Rutherford. Move." Dr. Hakan pushed the guard aside to set about the important business of delivering this subject's injection. That done, he could get out of here and on with his work.

Hayden stepped back, but aimed a venomous look at the doctor from out of his line of sight. How tempting it would be, while alone with the doc, just to...

No, much as he'd love to, it was too risky. The security cameras were already active by now and while it might be worth the retribution...Hayden still had things to take care of before he was ready to throw everything he had left away. Besides...it was already too late for Sarafina.

Capping the syringe and dropping it into his pocket, Dr. Hakan stood and whirled on the guard, whose expression had already lapsed into something neutral, preparing to go. He couldn't leave without one last shot though; plus this one didn't even require a needle.

Grinning snidely, Dr. Hakan nodded at Hayden, his eyes mirroring malicious thoughts. "I trust you enjoyed your field work? I thought you might prefer to get away from the island for a while. You've been here some time without a break, haven't you? Seems like years."

Clucking disapprovingly, Dr. Hakan shook his head slightly. "Seems like I was mistaken though about your capabilities, boy. Instead of enjoying your break, you go and get yourself banged up. You know, you should probably visit the medical wing. That's going to swell," he commented lightly, referring to Hayden's eye.

"Well, I need to get back to work. You go get that looked at, Rutherford," he quipped, reaching up to pat the guard's cheek none-to-gently and smiling as he walked away, missing Hayden's subdued wince.

Curses flowed freely, if quietly, from the guard's lips as soon as the door shut behind the doc. One of these days, that sickening creature would get what was coming to him. The hope of that was sometimes the only thing that kept Hayden going. He doubted it was possible, but at times it got so bad that he wondered what it would be like to play the part of karma's hand in that deal.

Frowning deeply, he dragged a chair over to the bedside and took a seat. With a sigh, he reached out and pulled the blanket over Sarafina's arms so she wouldn't wake up cold in the middle of the night. "Sleep well, you poor thing. I can't promise it will be better in the morning...but I'll still be around, trying my damnedest to make it that way if I can."