"There is no way out." they said, shutting the door behind them.

"Sometimes it's a blessing being a nobody." they went on.

"You can blend right in as an employee of... anywhere." they continued.

"And one can hold great power when one is in the position of handling food." they informed her further.

"Also, so predictable." they then said.

"I knew you'd be brought here, thinking this place would be safe."

Deryck seemed to panic when she yelled out as she did, and rushed up towards her, clamping his hand over her mouth and nose, and using his other hand to apply pressure to her throat.

Hard.

"Shut up!" he hissed.

"Just shut your damn mouth!" he told her.

"Why do you always have to-!?" he started to say further, applying harder force to her throat... before he heard footsteps approaching.

Rapidly.

"Shit!" he cursed.

He then released his hold on her and raced towards the window... leaping into it and crashing through it, about 5 seconds before Rene burst through the door.

"Desiree!?" he exclaimed.

"DAMNIT!" Rene cursed, running to the window and looking out.

"Crap, I don't see him anywhere." he said.

"As slippery as a damn eel." he growled, before shaking his head and making his way back to Desiree.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Well, THAT'S a small relief..." Rene muttered.

"What the hell...?" he then asked.

"How did he even KNOW you were here?" he wondered.

"Or going to be here at the hospital?" he went on.

"This makes NO sense." he growled further.

"Hm." Rene muttered.

"While it's possible, we can't say for certain." he said.

"For now, assume you're safe with Jaden." he told her.

"I know that can be foolish, but you know how good the security is at his building." he continued.

"...and we need to make sure Jaden doesn't feed you shellfish." he then growled.

Rene crossed his arms over his chest.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"If you think Jaden is out for your life, tell me." he told her.

"Kalin and I will see to it that he never bothers you again." he said further.

"Well... Kalin will. And I'll make it permanent if he tries to make another attempt on your life." he promised her.

"But tell me now." he continued.

"Do you want to return to Jaden's suite, or go elsewhere when you're released from here?" he asked.

Rene was silent.

"...Desiree." he said.

"You know your word is final." he told her.

"However, if you cannot give a definite yes or no, then I will have no choice but to assume the answer is no, and I will start the proceedings of making sure he doesn't bother you again." he said.

"Your safety is something that I will NOT take chances on." he continued.

"...however, I know better than to go against your wished." he then admitted, uncrossing his arms and scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"That being said, you're not set to be discharged from here for another 30 minutes. Red tape and blah blah blah." he went on.

"So you'll have some time to think about it." he said.

"However, I AM staying in this room to make sure nothing happens in that 30 minutes." he then finished.

Rene looked to it, and paused for a moment, thinking about it.

"....hm." he mumbled.

"You know what? Given the extenuating circumstances? Yes." he said.

"I think we can bypass that. It's just a half-hour." he reasoned.

"Let's go." he told her.

"We'll get you outta here and..." he started to say further, before pausing.

"Well... I guess, home with Kalin and myself?" he shrugged.

"I mean, unless you say you want to return to Jaden's, for whatever reason."

Rene nodded.

"They are." he told her.

"And all right then. We'll return to Jaden's." he said.

"WE'LL." he stressed.

"I am coming with you." he told her further.

"I am going on break, and I am going there with you." he stressed.

"Regardless, let's go."

"............." Rene was silent for a long moment.

"Oh. Right." he said.

"I... insisted to be the one to care for you... so I defaulted to 'work mode'..." he mumbled.

"But let's be off." he finished.

With that, he managed to get her away from the hospital, and they teleported right into Jaden's suite... where Jaden was waiting for them... looking VERY ashamed of himself, and VERY guilty.

"...." he was silent, before looking at them.

"Hi." was all he said.