She could see the questioning gaze and she mentally shook her head again.

She closed the distance between them  before she could change her mind, her hands unclasping the necklace behind her.

“Lower your head please.”

Brian glanced at her before leaning forward.  She saw the top of his head as she gently put the necklace around him.

She stepped back as he touched the necklace, examining it with an unreadable expression.

“Are you religious, Dr. Lee?”

Lena felt the lump in her throat as she managed a small smile.  “No, but someone once told me science and religion are not that far apart as they seem.”

She cleared her throat nervously over the silence. “ It’s something that means a lot to me.  It would make me feel relieved if it was safely in your keeping for awhile.”

Brian glanced at her, still holding the necklace, before nodding.

“I will take special care until you ask for its return.”

Lena felt a weight off her shoulders, seeing the necklace find its way home to him.

She opened her mouth to speak when there was a sudden ear splitting scream at the other end of the hallway.

Brian immediately ran towards the sound, abandoning the carts.

“Brian, wait!”  Lena cried out, following after him.  “We should get security, it might be dangerous.”  She was breathless as she struggled to catch up to his long strides.

By the time Lena caught up to Brian, she was gasping for air.  Stopping at the doorway, hands on her knees as she gulped in air, she glanced up and her eyes widened at the scene.

The other solider she recognized had destroyed the lab he found himself in and ended up in the corner of the room, in a tight ball as he held his head in his hands, rocking himself back and forth, the momentum bumping him into the wall.

“Where am I?  I’m not supposed to be here. Captain will be angry I left my post.  I shouldn’t be here.”  He kept muttering, his eyes glazing over.

“Stand down, soldier.  You’re safe.”  Brian calmly answered, still slowly approaching.

Lena walked into the room, about to reach for a syringe and tranquilizer when Brian subtly shook his head at her, continuing his pace towards the other soldier.

“Soldier, state your name.”  Brian continued to calmly speak.

The soldier dropped his hands from his head, still gazing blankly.

“Daniel Kang.  28^th division.  Sir.” He mumbled, starting to calm down.  He glanced up, a feverish look in his eyes replacing the bleakness she glimpsed earlier.  

“Where am I?  Why am I here?  I wasn’t supposed to leave my post.”  His voice started to rise hysterically, grabbing his head once more.