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Despite the hell and chaos that had recently become an everyday occurrence, the guard had to keep himself from humming as he grabbed a few bottles from the cafeteria's beer stock and slipped them into a small cooler of ice. Thoughts of a quiet evening spent with the only person on this hellish island that he'd voluntarily have been locked in a room with had lightened Hayden's heart considerably. There was a bit of extra energy in his step as he finished packing the drinks and headed for the door.

They'd had dinner earlier. Upon spotting Karen in the cafeteria, Hayden had been quick to discretely offer her an invite to join him in his room for drinks later. He'd been pleased when she'd just as quickly accepted. He couldn't wait to see her again; it'd seemed so long since their last 'visit.'

His stride down the hallway was quick, clipped; his boots loud on the hard floor. Soon his room slid into view and he reached out to turn the handle before slipping inside, the cooler of drinks still on his arm.

Expecting to be alone, at least for a bit longer, Hayden froze upon entering and realizing there was another in the room. Then he relaxed, a smile crossing his face once he recognized his guest.

"Lying in wait for me, hmm? That's rather...predatory," he joked lightly, setting the cooler of beer bottles on the table. The guard seemed much more relaxed, not only in Karen's company, but in the relative safety of his room, away from prying eyes and ears.

"You've made yourself comfortable, I hope?" He smiled, crossing the room with a beer bottle in each hand, offering one to Karen as he took a seat beside her on the bed.

Touchy subject, indeed. Hayden chuckled a bit, looking awkward as he forced a smile. "To be honest, well...let's just say I really needed a night like this to relax. I'm glad you decided to take me up on my invitation."

He popped his own bottle open and took a long, slow drink before wrapping his arm around Karen's shoulders. He needed to relax more than he wanted to let on. Things were happening...things were happening soon and he wasn't sure if he'd be ready when they did. Chaos was impending, that much was for sure.

"How have you been?" he asked, seemingly innocently. "Keeping busy? Feeling alright?"

The hesitant pause was more than enough to arouse even the most oblivious person's suspicions. And yet, Hayden couldn't bring himself to just spit out the lies that had been used so long that they'd started to sound like the truth. He couldn't do that with Karen for some reason, no matter how much he wanted to offer her comfort instead of worry.

"If you'd like, I can get you something for the headaches. If they're something to worry about though, or they get worse, talk to the doctors, okay? They are there to take care of you, that much is true." He sighed, withdrawing his free hand from her shoulder to rest it on her hand on his leg. "Just take care of yourself, alright?"

He paused a little longer before plunging forward, turning his eyes away from her and towards the floor. "Maybe you should be worried though. There's been talk...and just...a feeling running through the lab." He didn't explain what sort of feeling or why it was so familiar to him. Or why he knew just what events this feeling preceded. "Something is going to be happening soon. If anything strange happens...if you feel different or anything like that...let me know? I mean...if you still feel comfortable with that. I'd understand if you'd want nothing more to do with me. I am technically one of 'them'," he practically spat with bitterness. The sudden feelings of self-loathing and pity were almost overwhelming. If it hadn't been his room, Hayden would have probably retreated from the exchange in shame, but he'd look rather silly in leaving his own room.

The poor guard was torn out of his pity party and left speechless by Karen's revelations. She...really felt that way? About him? While this may not have meant much on the outside, here on the island, especially for Hayden, this was something very, very mind-shattering. He'd never thought anyone else would care about him in such a way again. Yes, they enjoyed one another's company, but he just figured that this was a temporary arrangement...that they were just good for a night together once in a while and that would be it until the changes started and he was left alone again.

The fact Karen genuinely cared about him shook Hayden to the core, leaving him a bit off-balance for a moment. Enough so that he dropped all pretenses and pulled her close for a short, but tender kiss before pulling away and resting his head on her shoulder, eyes closed and arms wrapped around her waist. "Thank you," he whispered, grateful for many things. Her company. Her cooperation. Her trust.

Hayden took his time to relish the moment, storing it away in his memory to call up again on those lonely, horrible nights when he'd need it most. Then again...no, they couldn't do this that often. Even if something developed, they'd still have to keep things quiet and discrete. It wouldn't do to be having a public relationship with one of the 'subjects.'

Sighing softly, Hayden pulled back at last, reaching up and brushing a hand lightly over Karen's cheek. How would the changes manifest? The thought wasn't a comforting one, but he couldn't seem to squash it down, no matter how he tried. Without thinking or betraying his line of thought, he simply muttered aloud, "You're so beautiful, Karen..."

'I hope that doesn't change...no matter what else may happen...'

"I'm sorry things had to be like this."

Hayden sighed, shaking his head to hide the sadness in his eyes. He stroked Karen's cheek tenderly with his thumb, still afraid to meet her eyes right now. Yes, he meant their relationship, but he also had a secondary meaning. That they could have met under different circumstances. That he didn't have to be a part of the series of events that condemned this beautiful young woman to a horrifying fate.

Taking each of their bottles and setting them safely aside, Hayden set about getting more comfortable, sitting further back on the bed, Karen still in his lap, and leaning back against the wall.

"I'd have done anything if the situation could have been different."

The guard looked mildly puzzled, but nodded nonetheless. "Yeah, I did."

Appearing outwardly calm, within Hayden's mind was racing. What was it he'd told Karen exactly? The memory of their last meeting came rushing back at him and he reviewed the conversation about their histories with one another. It wasn't that he'd lied to her...not exactly. He just...hadn't told her the complete truth either. And...he'd fudged a few things.

There were some things he wasn't quite ready to discuss with anyone else. Not even Karen.

Not yet.