The following morning, Lena fidgeted with the edges of her lab coat, her eyebrows knit together in concentration of what she was about to commit.  She reminded herself why she had to do this and took a deep breath to steady herself.  Taking another glance over her shoulder to ensure that the corridor remained empty, she entered the lab.

Her heart sank as she found HyunJoon already in front of a computer, working intently.  A few strands of dark hair fell into his face but he gave no notice as he checked the vitals of both patients, his neat handwriting transposed in both files open on his desk as he clicked through various windows on the screen at the same time.  His lab coat and the sweater he wore underneath were rolled up to his elbows, revealing tanned, muscled arms.

She was about to turn back quietly around when his voice stopped her.  

“Such dedication, Lena.” He murmured, not even a hint of a pause as he continued writing notes in a file folder, his gaze still on the monitor.

Lena forced a small smile on her face.  “I could say the same thing about you.”  Inwardly cursing at the slight tremor in her voice, she took a seat at the opposite desk and opened the closest file to her.  

In the corner of her eyes, she could see HyunJoon continue to work steadily at his desk.

“Lena.”

Her heart constricted but she looked up from the report.  “Yes?”

“Would you like the honour of awakening them?”

Her eyes widened as he finally glanced up from his work and flashed her a smile.

“Go ahead.  The others won’t complain.  Everyone knows you’ve logged in the most hours into this project.”  He encouraged her, already moving to the side panel by the capsules.  He punched in a code and scanned his hand, the door smoothly opening with a light expulsion of air.

Lena prepared herself with an intake of breath, her back rigid as she followed him into the inner room.

“Their vitals are within normal range.” He recounted numbers off the report in his hand.  “Are you ready?” He asked, peering at her over his blacked framed glasses, a twinkle present in his warm brown eyes.

Lena nodded stiffly as she approached the panel next to the tank.  A lump lodged in her throat as she took one glance up at the seemingly serene figure before her, his eyes closed,  his body relaxed.

“Here goes nothing.”  She hoarsely managed to herself, pressing the necessary controls to begin the drain of the necessary fluids that kept him gracefully suspended in place.

With HyunJoon moving the other patient onto an already prepared hospital bed, Lena took another deep breath and opened the glass cover and took a step forward.

She glanced at the long, full eyelashes, still wet from the nourishing liquid that had surrounded him since his creation.  Her hand itched to touch the side of the painfully familiar face, his angular jaw, the same olive tan.

Somehow drawing a reserve deep within, Lena managed to transfer him to the bed beside her.  Carefully pulling the sheet up to his chest, she began wheeling the bed behind HyunJoon, who led them to the main adjoining room.  

Setting up the necessary IV’s and attaching a heart monitor, Lena finally expelled the breath she didn’t realize she was holding.  She watched his regular breathing, his chest rising and falling with each breath and marvelled at the fact of his presence here with her in the moment.

“Amazing, isn’t it?”

Hyun Joon murmured, standing beside her.

Still overcome with emotion, she could only nod in return.  Hyun Joon leaned forward and re-positioned the pillow more comfortably.

“Now while they rest, you and I can share a coffee break.” He announced.

Lena pulled her eyes away from the sleeping figure and was about to protest when Hyun Joon seemed full of surprises today.

He walked to his desk and produced a small thermos.  “Freshly brewed.” He offered with a smile.

She found herself returning his smile and relaxing, accepting the steaming cup as she took a seat by the bedside.

----

When Hyun Joon excused himself for the washroom, Lena leaned forward in her chair and glanced at the sleeping figure.  Without a second thought, she placed her hand over his.  With each movement of breath in his chest, she felt an inexplicable joy and relief to have him near.  She reached forward and gently brushed a strand from his face.

She nearly jumped at the slight movement of his fingers, still clasped in her hand.

“Brian?”  She hesitantly murmured his name.

His fingers twitched with more strength in reply.

“Wake up.” She pleaded in a hushed whisper, watching his eyes move from beneath his eyelids.  “Come back to me. Please wake up.” She repeated, unaware of what she was saying; only that she was desperate to have his familiar warm brown eyes gaze into her own again.  

“Please.  Wake up.  I’m sorry.  Please”. Her vision blurred but she dared not blink in case she lost even a second without him in her sight.

“Any headway?”

Lena tore her gaze away and nodded towards a flashlight on the far desk.  “Can you pass me that please?” She managed, buying herself time as she removed her hand from his only to find him gripping it firmly in place.

Hyun Joon reached over the desk and turned around just in time for Lena to slip her grasp away from Brian’s.  She peered down to find him asleep once more, no sign of movement whatsoever.

HyunJoon made a quick note in the files as she tested Brian’s pupils with the light.  

“He’ll wake up in due time.  Have faith, Lena.”