"Hi," Eve said softly from the doorway.
Dimitri turned immediately, and when he saw her, something in his expression shifted. The operational hardness softened into something that looked almost vulnerable.
"Hi," he said, and crossed to her in three strides.
He pulled her into his arms, and Eve went willingly, burying her face against his chest. She could feel his heartbeat....steady, but faster than usual. Could feel the tension still running through his entire body from the briefing.
"Talk to me," she whispered.
"About what?"
"About what happens tomorrow. About what you're feeling. About... anything. Everything."
Dimitri held her tighter, his chin resting on top of her head.
"I'm scared," he said, and the admission seemed to cost him something. "Not of pain. Not of death. I'm scared that I won't come back to you. I'm scared that I'll walk into that facility and something will go wrong and you'll be left wondering forever what happened to me."
