[Katie. She's Katie. It beats in his head like a quiet drum. Katie. Matt and the Commander's sister. They'd talked about her, quiet, laughing, affectionate with deep love. Katie. Precious to them. So - precious to him. And he saw the uncertainty in her eyes when she looked at him. Monster. Creature. Lost boy. His eyes trace down to her hiding move, see the hand shadowed by the pulled down sleeve. Katie.
He hadn't been able to protect her family. Was he really allowed to have a second chance?
Would he take that second chance if it was given to him?]
Katie. [His voice was soft now, steady again. Another chance. Maybe for both of them. He pulled in a breath and counted its slow exhale in his mind. His human hand reached out and long, large fingers closed over her hand. Gentle, Katie was precious, but firm - because Katie was a Holt. And the Holts he knew were tenacious. She hadn't needed to give him a second chance. She could have turned away or blamed him. He held out his other hand, palm up. An offer of damaged to damaged. And he met her eyes with his, sure.]
We'll get them back. We'll get them all back. I promise.
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He hadn't been able to protect her family. Was he really allowed to have a second chance?
Would he take that second chance if it was given to him?]
Katie. [His voice was soft now, steady again. Another chance. Maybe for both of them. He pulled in a breath and counted its slow exhale in his mind. His human hand reached out and long, large fingers closed over her hand. Gentle, Katie was precious, but firm - because Katie was a Holt. And the Holts he knew were tenacious. She hadn't needed to give him a second chance. She could have turned away or blamed him. He held out his other hand, palm up. An offer of damaged to damaged. And he met her eyes with his, sure.]
We'll get them back. We'll get them all back. I promise.