"Hm." Nate mumbled.

"At least you both seem to be fine." he said.

"As for when... well, knowing Erica, she's going to want to do this ASAP. However, she very recently helped Cameron, who gave her a broken nose and bruises around her neck in the process." he informed her.

He then paused for a moment, before letting out a sigh.

"But due to the advanced treatments and mana we have here, that can mostly be dealt with in an hour." he admitted.

"So if you can, bring him in in about an hour and a half, if possible."

"...I don't think clarity will be an issue, here." Nate admitted.

"Pretty sure all Erica needs to do is isolate what made Virgil act like this in the first place, and then do her thing." he said.

"That being said, if that IS an issue, then she'll just have to wait." he went on.

"Quite frankly, your powers and abilities are... frighteningly strong." he admitted.

"...nevermind scary..."

"All right, thanks." Nate responded, before they ended the call and he hung up.

He was then silent, before making his way back to Erica's room, where she was having her injuries tended to.

"Virgil will be brought here in a little over an hour." he informed her.

"I'll let you know when he's here. Or, odds are YOU'LL know, really." he then sighed.

"Regardless, little over an hour."

"...I see." Nate responded.

"That's... that's not good." he said.

"I mean, it's helpful that you can sense it, but... well, that can't FEEL good." he clarified.

"..." he was then silent for a moment, before sighing lightly.

"Thank you." he told her.

"For going out of your way and helping those afflicted... even though it's clear you're suffering from it."

"Right." Nate responded.

He noticed that her words and phrasing had been... shorter. More succinct. More to-the-point. She wasn't nearly as chatty or friendly as she had been in the past, but he understood it. What she had gone through was... traumatic, to say the least. Quite frankly, it was amazing that she was even talking THIS much. He was just grateful that she wasn't completely shutting herself in, mentally OR physically.

"All we can do is keep trying." he told her.

"...just keep moving forward. One step at a time." he sighed.

"Anyway, I WILL let you know when Virgil's here. PLEASE don't just wander off, okay?"

Virgil said nothing, but obediently did as he was told, going and sitting down in the closest chair, as Nate approached... and paused when he noticed the leash connecting the two together.

"...ooooooookay then." he mumbled.

"I admit, wasn't sure WHAT I was expecting, but... don't think it was THIS..." he admitted.

"Anyway, hey." he greeted Anya.

"I see you have Virgil... well in control..."

Nate was silent for a moment, before hesitantly accepting the leash. As he did, he felt the control he had over Virgil... and he had to admit, he felt VERY uncomfortable with it. He had NO idea how to properly handle it, but Anya seemed to sense that, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Just lead him to where you need him." she said.

"Ah... r-right." Nate stammered in response.

"Anyway, where are YOU headed now?" he asked.

"You going back home or sticking around the Unit?"

Nate merely nodded again.

"Right." he muttered.

"...c... c'mon." he then said to Virgil, who got up from the seat and immediately followed Nate. The two made their way through the medical bay... attracting some VERY awkward glances along the way... before they stepped into Erica's room.

"D... don't ask." Nate said to her.

"He's only behaving because of this leash." he then informed her.

"Do you need it removed, or do you need to risk him at his most primal?" he asked.

Nate just sighed again as Erica continued to look Virgil over. After a few seconds, she could see it on his left shoulderblade. Or in that area, at least. It looked like it was the result of a hug.

The copy had hugged Virgil.

It was at that point, Nate just shook his head.

"All right, let's get this done. Quickly." he told her, as he undid the collar, not wanting to risk some sort of interference with Erica's work.

And as soon as he did so, Virgil looked at Erica with an intense sexual hunger.

And she could see it. Plain as day.

All doubts were IMMEDIATELY washed away when Virgil practically launched himself at her. She flinched and practically forced herself to not shove him away... especially when she felt his lips on the base of her neck, and felt his hands quickly trending downwards.

She knew that in mere seconds, this was going to get far more intense, and immensely more uncomfortable for her.

So she quickly gave him a hug, placing her hand over where she knew the mark was.

And as soon as she did so, Virgil froze. He froze in place as she removed the mark, and continued to stay frozen for a few more seconds... before quickly scrambling away, almost in an outright panic.

And she saw the horror and guilt in his eyes.

"I-I-I'm so s-sorry!" he blurted out.