Several hours passed and Lena could no longer keep her eyes open long enough to finish the last few files on her desk.  Neatly stacking them back to the edge of her desk, she closed the lights and left the room.  As she passed the lab, where she knew Brian lay unconsciously, she came to an abrupt stop.  She hesitated at the door, feeling her pulse race for what she was about to do.  Taking a quick look around her to make sure the hallway was clear, she entered the code and the door opened automatically for her.  There was a light swish of cool air as she entered the lab, her eyes staring straight ahead at the container.  

Her hands shook by her side as she stopped right before the container and glanced at his face, his eyes closed as if he were only sleeping.  One hand raised on its own, hovering above the cool glass of the container.

“I’m sorry.”  She whispered, losing the courage and dropping her hand.  

“I’m sorry.”  She repeated, touching the pendant around her neck.  “What can I do?”  She helplessly asked, a worn look on her face.  “I could never treat you like some foreign subject, poked and prodded with experiments.  And I could never quit, knowing you are here.”  She whispered forlornly to herself, forgetting for the moment that this was not simply a clone but the real Brian Kim she’s known for as long as she could remember.

“I wish we could have gone away a long time ago.”  She murmured to herself, a faraway look in her eyes.  “If only…”  Her voice trailed off, swallowing the countless regretful actions she’s done that has led her to this.

Lena raised her eyes, forcing herself to look at him, her mouth pursed in determination.  “I will help you get out of here.”  She decided, nodding her head as the idea took root and unfolded as she kept talking to herself.  “Yes, that’s what I will do.  I wasn’t there for you when you needed me but I can do this much for you at least.” 

She raised her hand and mustered the courage to touch her palm against the glass where his open hand lay motionless beside his waist.  “I won’t let them treat you like this.”  

With a sharp intake of breath, Lena spun on her heels and left the lab before she could lose her nerve.  She knew the audacity of the promise and the situation but she also knew that she could not let him be subjected to such experiments, regardless of how much of him is really in this shell.