Rhys didn’t come back to the testing room that they had used. That didn’t mean that he didn’t call for them. Almost half an hour on the dot, Kellen’s phone started to vibrate in his jacket. Kellen had his hands full, one being still wrapped up, the other holding a shake his Mom had forced into his hand, so Charlie grabbed it for him and answered.

"Hello Captain Rhys. Kellen’s hands are full. Do you want me to put him on?" Charlie asked. He had recovered significantly from the blow that he had been dealt. Listening to everyone theorize and talk about the good and the bad of their collective charts and the patterns that they saw had helped him change perspective.

He was back to being his happy go lucky self, and Kellen was glad for it. He would still check in with him later, but for now, he was happy to see him in a better mood.

Charlie nodded along to whatever Rhys was saying on the other side. He was speaking quietly enough that the two other S Classes nearby couldn’t hear, which made Kellen curious. Charlie turned to him, smiling.

"He said that everything is going well, and two more people have woken up. He was hoping that we could pack everything up here and bring it over to where they are." Charlie said, the phone still against his ear. He heard what Rhys said, nodded, and looked towards Kellen. "He said that Bree woke up."

Kellen’s hand dropped, his Dad catching the shake that had been in his hand.

"She did?" Kellen asked, trying to gather himself. Jules watched the scene unfold, Charlie nodding easily.

"Yup! That’s what he said. He also said that she’s been asking for you." Charlie told him, the phone still to his ear. Kellen felt his body move almost without his control.

"I have to go." He muttered. Kellen’s Mom nodded, her expression soft.

"We’ll catch up." She promised, and Kellen moved. He didn’t even grab his phone from Charlie and instead just left down the hallway. He knew the way to Bree’s room, since it was the same way to his sister’s room.

Kellen moved almost like he was in a daze. He didn’t greet anyone he passed, and as he got closer to the epicenter of everything, he was passing a lot of people. It made sense, given that this was what everyone had been working towards for weeks at this point. If he had been more of himself, he would have noticed how everyone looked relieved, joyful. As if this nightmare was almost over.

Kellen pushed open the door to his sister’s and Bree’s room to find that everything was still inside. The bed where Bree normally was, was empty, while Gwen still lay on her side. She was still, the monitors beeping in a slow, steady pace and Kellen could feel his pulse in his ears. Where were they?

"Guide Woods? Those who have awoken have been moved to different rooms. The Captain asked me to come and direct you to the right place." It was a soft voice, a male one, and when Kellen turned it was to find one of the medical team. He was smiling at Kellen, his expression relaxed, and Kellen nodded.

He let the man lead him in the right direction, only casting a glance over his shoulder for a second at his sister. He swallowed thickly, but nodded at her. Soon it would be her too. She wouldn’t be alone in that room for long.

Kellen found that at the very least, he hadn’t flown past the new room where Bree and Rhys were when he’d made his way towards them. They were further in the Medical Bay and it should have clicked for Kellen as soon as he spotted them.

Each room was guarded by some rather severe looking Espers, but when they saw Kellen their expressions relaxed. They grinned at him, excitement pulsing in the air. Kellen smiled back at them, nodding to them as he passed.

They stopped at the furthest door and Kellen could already hear several voices speaking inside. He almost pushed passed the man guiding him, but held himself back as he knocked on the door before opening it.

When the door opened, Kellen held his breath.

There she was. Sitting up on a hospital bed, wearing the same hospital gown that she had been put into when everyone had arrived at the Guild Tower and they weren’t as afraid of an attack. Her hair had been braided and pulled back from her face, the colour fading from it since she hadn’t been able to maintain it while she was unconscious. She looked frail, her eyes sunken in, but she was alive.

Bree was alive and breathing.

Kellen finally let out the breath he had been holding in, almost completely ignoring everyone else around them. He saw the medical people moving around, knowing not to get in their way. He could feel Rhys in the room, but his sole focus was on Bree.

She saw him as well. Her breath stuttered, her expression turning confused, before horror crossed her face.

"Guide Woods?" She repeated and Kellen nodded. His feet felt heavy but he continued to move towards her. Her voice was raspy, clearly from the lack of use, and she was still hooked up to a bunch of machines.

"Hey Bree." Kellen said softly, still moving towards her. She looked horrified, taking in the eye patch and his arm in a sling.

"What happened to you? You weren’t injured when I saw you last." She said and Kellen gave a soft laugh.

"You were barely coherent when we saw each other last. Are you sure that I wasn’t injured then?" He asked and Bree didn’t look so sure. "I’ll be fine. Taylor and the others have been working on it. I’ve also gone through the same style of treatment that you’ve gone through and my body has responded well. I’ll be fine soon." Kellen came to a stop in front of her. He scanned her face, taking in her features slowly, carefully.

He swallowed, reaching out his hand and giving her shoulder a squeeze.

"How are you feeling, Bree?" He asked her quietly and watched as Bree blinked quickly a few times. Her grey eyes were watering as she fought off tears.

"I feel a little lost." She admitted. "One moment I was in the gate and trying to get everyone out, and the next I’m waking up in the Medical Bay and it feels like months have passed." Months hadn’t passed, but Kellen understood what she was getting at. He nodded slowly, squeezing her shoulder under her hand.

Feeling her alive, breathing, moving about was a little surreal after seeing her unconscious for so long. So still, so quiet. Kellen could feel his emotions overwhelming him already. He couldn’t imagine how he would behave when his sister woke up.

"It’s a very unusual situation, but I’m glad to have you awake and conscious, Bree." Kellen told her. Bree’s face crumpled and she dropped her head as she began to cry. Kellen pulled her into his chest, holding her against him as she sobbed.

She wrapped her arms around him, tugging on the lines connected to her but she didn’t seem to care. The people around them made sure that nothing came out or hurt her as Bree let go of everything.

Kellen could feel Rhys in the room. He knew that he was there, and it was only once Bree started crying that he moved into Kellen’s line of sight. He had been talking to others in the room, getting a better understanding of her condition, but now that she was crying he remained to offer her comfort. Or offer Kellen comfort. Kellen wouldn’t know with him across the room from him.

Kellen felt a knot that he wasn’t aware of in his chest loosen as he held Bree in his arms as she cried. He felt a little bit uncomfortable with the fact that he felt good that she was crying, but he told himself that it was only because she had been still for so long it was good to see her do...anything else. Even if it was crying.

The people taking care of her continued to work around them, taking care of Bree quietly for as long as they could before they needed to interrupt the moment.

Bree pulled away from Kellen, wiping at her eyes as she did so, looking embarrassed. Instead of letting her dwell in it for long, Kellen softened, reaching out to cup her cheek.

"You’ve made it out on the other side, Bree. You’re alive. Congratulations on your first survival of a gate." Kellen told her and Bree’s eyes grew wide. She clearly hadn’t considered it that way, not at this point. Kellen wanted to plant the seed now. Over time, she wouldn’t feel like she was lucky. Especially with the fact that the funeral for her fellow fallen Guild Members was just around the corner.

It was a bit frustrating that they had woken up when they did. If they had woken up sooner they probably would have been cleared to attend, but given that they probably had a plethora of tests that they needed to run through, Taylor wouldn’t let them go. Rhys wouldn’t let them go.

Kellen would probably let them go, so it was a good thing he wasn’t in charge of that.

"We’ll talk more later, Bree. For now, do your tests and get some rest. I’m sure news that you’ve woken up has reached the others and your room is going to be flooded with Field Guides." Kellen told her warmly. "They did the same to me." He told her. Bree looked a little shaken, a little afraid, but she nodded. Kellen wanted to comfort her more, but Rhys was the one who reached for him and tugged him out of the room so that the team could help her.

Kellen was glad that he was there for him as he stood in the hallway, stunned.

"She’s alive." Kellen repeated and Rhys stared at him, nodding quietly. "She’s truly alive and breathing." Kellen repeated. Rhys nodded again. He reached for Kellen’s cheek, cupping it in a similar way that Kellen had cupped Bree’s.

"Yes, my love. She’s alive, you saved her, and now she is going to go on and live because of what you did. Come. You’ve got a few more people who want to see you." Rhys said, leaning in and pressing a soft, warm kiss against his forehead.

Kellen nodded, reaching for Rhys’ hand and threading his fingers through the Espers. Rhys smiled at Kellen, taking in the other man’s severe, shocked expression and knew that he was seeking comfort from him. Rhys didn’t mind. He was happy to be an anchor for the other man, especially when this was a good moment for not just him, but the Guild.

They had defeated the poison gate. Whether they had cleared it or not did not matter. Those who had gone in were waking up. Nothing would be able to hold them back anymore.