Fractured Bonds

James's fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white, his body tense with frustration. His breaths came in ragged bursts, his chest heaving as he took a step forward. He couldn't stand seeing Alex like this—so distant, so cold, so completely unbothered. Every fiber of his being screamed to lash out, to make Alex feel the same hurt James had been feeling all along.

"Let me go!" James barked, his voice thick with anger, his muscles coiling with every word. He struggled against the firm grip of Nicky and Paul, who were trying to hold him back. But it wasn't working. His fury was like a storm that wouldn't be contained.

"This is good for nothing. Alex needs to feel my—" James's voice cracked, his anger spilling over as his words turned into a frustrated growl. "—rough—ahhh!" He jerked again, trying to break free, but Nicky and Paul only tightened their hold, their expressions a mix of concern and worry.

Alex, meanwhile, didn't move an inch. He didn't flinch or show any sign of the tension in the air. Instead, he turned slowly, almost deliberately, and walked back to his bed. He didn't even look at James as he went. His posture was stiff, his movements slow and calculated. His eyes—those cold, detached eyes—remained fixed on some distant point, far away from the storm unfolding in front of him.

James's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with a mixture of confusion and fury. "Alex!" he called out, his voice desperate now, almost pleading. "What the hell is wrong with you? You think this is just—"

"I'm fine," Alex interrupted, his tone flat, almost bored. He sat down on the edge of his bed, the blanket draped loosely over his shoulders. His eyes never once met James's. "I know you're just worried about me. But I won't go to her, and I won't talk to you about it. So just... give it a rest."

James froze for a moment, the weight of Alex's indifference pressing down on him. There was no emotion in Alex's voice—nothing. Just that cold, impenetrable wall. His words hit harder than anything James had felt in a long time.

Nicky and Paul exchanged uneasy glances. Even they could feel the tension crackling between the two of them, and they didn't know what to do. Was this the end? Were they really going to lose Alex to this kind of numb detachment?

"So you won't see her?" Paul asked, his voice quiet but filled with uncertainty. He glanced at Nicky, waiting for any kind of reaction from Alex.

But Alex didn't answer. He simply turned his back on them, curling up under the blanket as if they weren't even there. The coldness in his body language was enough of an answer. He was shutting them out, and James hated it. He hated how easily Alex could block them all out like this.

"You see, he's always acted like this," Nicky said with a sigh, his voice dripping with frustration. He looked at James, his expression one of concern, but also a little exasperated. "He's never let anyone in when it matters most. You know that."

"Alex—" Nicky began to speak again, but he was cut off when he quickly reached out to cover James's mouth, pulling him back. He hissed in a low whisper, his voice urgent. "Not now, James. Please, not now."

James pulled away fro his grip, frustration building again, but he didn't push. Nicky's plea, his soft voice, made him pause. He wasn't sure what to do. His anger still burned, but it was starting to feel hollow, like the more he fought, the further Alex would slip away from him.

"Why does he do this?" James muttered under his breath, more to himself than to anyone else. "Why does he shut everyone out?"

"Not now," Nicky repeated, his eyes soft with pity. "Not right now, James. Please."

James clenched his fists again, but this time, the fight seemed to drain out of him. He felt like a child again—helpless, lost, unable to get through to someone he cared about. He swallowed hard, fighting back the wave of frustration and sorrow. He didn't want to back down, but what choice did he have?

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Jake stepped forward, his brow furrowed with concern. "What's going on here?" Jake asked, his voice quiet but steady. He looked at the group, then at James, noticing the distress in his friend's eyes. "You all look like you're about to explode. What's happening?"

James took a shaky breath, the weight of everything he'd been holding in suddenly coming to the surface. He turned to Jake, his face contorted in guilt and confusion. His chest ached with the unspoken words he couldn't find.

And then it happened. The dam broke.

James collapsed into Jake's arms, his sobs coming in ragged bursts. His hands gripped Jake's shirt as if he were holding on for dear life. "Jake…" he whispered, voice breaking as the tears flowed freely. He wasn't sure if it was the anger, the fear, or the sheer helplessness that caused the tears, but they came, unstoppable and overwhelming. "I don't know what to do anymore… I don't know how to fix this."

Jake didn't say anything at first. He just held James, rubbing his back in slow, comforting circles. His own face was etched with concern, but he said nothing to push James. He knew that right now, the only thing that mattered was being there for his friend.

"It's okay," Jake finally murmured, his voice steady and soothing. "We'll figure it out. Just breathe."

But inside, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing—and maybe not for the better.

Meanwhile, in another room...

Mia lay unconscious in her bed, oblivious to the storm that was brewing just beyond her door. Nawe sat beside her, watching her with a gaze that was both affectionate and amused. The silence stretched on until Nawe's voice broke it, soft and teasing.

"My brother, Alex, likes you," she said lightly, her tone almost playful. She leaned back against the bed, crossing her arms over her chest. "No—scratch that. He loves you."

Nawe grinned to herself, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Wait… you already have him. He's all yours." She chuckled softly, shaking her head as she leaned closer to Mia. "You're lucky, you know. And unlucky."

Mia didn't stir, still lost in unconsciousness, but Nawe's words hung in the air. She sighed dramatically, a smile curling at the corners of her lips. "My brother is the most loyal person I've ever met, but that's also the problem," she continued, her voice quieter, almost sad. "You'll never truly know how much he loves you, or how you drive him absolutely insane with your presence."

Her words held a strange mix of amusement, sadness, and something else—something she couldn't quite place. But she smiled again, watching Mia as if she were already part of the intricate puzzle that was Alex's world.

"Sister-in-law," Nawe said, her voice dripping with playful malice as she leaned in. She grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "I welcome you to our small family, but just so you know… if you dare hurt my robot brother, I won't go easy on you."

She leaned back, her smirk widening as if she were testing the waters, enjoying the effect of her words. The playful threat hung in the air, but there was an underlying seriousness in her tone that made it clear she wasn't entirely joking.

John, sitting on the opposite side of the room next to Nawe, barely glanced up from his phone. His expression was completely unreadable, an effortless calmness that seemed almost bored. He gave no reaction to Nawe's words, his face as neutral as ever, though his eyes briefly flicked to her before returning to his screen.

Nawe didn't seem to care that John wasn't paying attention. She gave a little dramatic roll of her eyes, obviously enjoying herself. She turned and left the room, but just as the door clicked shut, she swung it open again.

"Hey, Sir," she said, her voice suddenly dropping to a more casual, almost conspiratorial tone. "Hope you won't tell anyone about this little chat. See ya."

The childish grin on her face was unmistakable, as though she'd just gotten away with something mischievous. She waited a moment, expecting John to react—yet, as usual, he did nothing. His eyes were still locked on his phone, indifferent to everything happening around him.

John gave a half-hearted shrug without even looking up. "Yeah, sure," he muttered, his tone flat and disinterested. He didn't feel the need to engage. Nawe's little theatrics were nothing new, and he couldn't be bothered. After all, nothing ever really fazed him. He was like a rock—unshaken and unaffected by the storm that always seemed to whirl around him.

Nawe paused for a second, realizing she wouldn't get any further reaction out of him. She rolled her eyes again, her playful annoyance almost visible, before finally turning and walking away, leaving John exactly where he was—unmoved, unbothered, and unshaken by her playful threat.

"Mia, only listen to me," Inspector John said, his voice firm but gentle as he walked slowly beside her bed. He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning her pale, unconscious face. His heart tightened with concern. He couldn't afford to show it, but deep down, a knot of worry twisted in his chest. He had seen too much in his years on the force, and this—seeing her like this—was weighing heavily on him.

He cleared his throat, trying to steady his emotions. "We have clues about where to find your mama," he continued, his tone softening just a little. "Wake up, soon, my child."

He leaned in closer, his hand hovering near her as if unsure whether to reach out. Mia's face was still, her expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something—an imperceptible twitch of her eyelids. He saw it, and for the first time, hope stirred in him, faint but alive.

He leaned a little closer, his voice lowering to a whisper, as if afraid the words would be too heavy for her to bear. "Please, Mia. We're so close. Don't give up now."

Her face remained still for a few more seconds, but John couldn't shake the worry that gnawed at him. His eyes lingered on her, studying every detail of her expression, as though trying to decipher the unreadable lines of her features. He saw the faint shadows beneath her eyes—evidence of the exhaustion she had endured. But he also saw something else: a quiet strength, a resilience that hadn't fully disappeared, even in sleep.

With a sigh, he straightened, his hope flickering like a candle in the wind. "Soon, Mia," he murmured, stepping back. "Soon."