Ryker's muscles bulged and tightened some more, the strain on them evident.

"Someone pull him out!" he shouted out.

Literally just as he said that, a female rushed forward, grabbing Eke under his armpits, and started to drag him away from the wreckage that he had been trapped under.

"I pulled him out!" she exclaimed.

This caused Ryker to drop the mass of debris will a massive thud... just as sirens were heard in the distance.

"Sure, NOW they're coming." he growled, as he rushed over towards Eke.

"Just keep looking at me, kid." Ryker responded.

"Keep yourself awake. Keep your attention on me." he went on.

"Talk." he then said.

"And I'll talk back." he went on.

"Just stay awake until the medics arrive."

"You managed to save everyone." the woman replied.

Ryker just sighed.

"Well, there you go." he said, as the ambulance and firetrucks arrived.

"Eke, just keep it together." he went on as the paramedics started to rush over.

"Got it?" he asked.

"You'll wake up in a hospital bed, and I'll be sitting beside it." he told him.

"But you gotta keep it together for as long as you can."

"EKE!" Ryker exclaimed, putting a hand to Eke's cheek.

"Eke, stay with me!" he told him.

"Keep yourself awake, Eke! Come on!" he said further, as the paramedics arrived.

"Come on, kid! Don't leave me!" he went on.

"Not now!" he pleaded as Eke was surrounded and Ryker was gently nudged out of the way so they could work.

Some time later, Ryker was where he said he would be.

In a chair, in a hospital room, beside the bed that Eke was sleeping in.

"......" he was silent, and sighed.

"Damn it all." he said quietly.

"Why always you, kid?" he asked the unconscious Eke.

"Why can you never catch a break...?"

"AH!" Ryker exclaimed.

"Oh, you're awake." he said.

"Thought you were still out of it." he admitted.

"...well, kid, that was really something." he then told him.

"You saved a lotta people back there."

"I suppose so." Ryker agreed.

"Just... yeah, I suppose so." he said.

"By the way, seems you're a hero." he then told him.

"People are talking about what you did." he went on.

"Odds are you'll get some kinda reward for this." he then added.

"Nooooo clue." Ryker admitted.

"A doctor should be coming by to check on you and give some specific numbers." he told her.

"That leg was smashed up pretty good, though." he went on.

"It might be outta commission for a bit, but I don't think it's permanently busted." he then assured Eke.

"Odds are you'll be here for a bit until your leg's at least set." he sighed.

Ryker was silent for a moment.

"....wait, what?" he asked.

"Hold on, what?" he repeated, shaking his head some.

"ME?" he asked Eke.

"How?" he asked further.

"Seriously, I had nothing to do with what happened there... at least, I don't think I did..." he went on, trailing off at the end and sounding more unsure of himself now.

"....how about you explain what you mean." he then suggested.

Ryker was silent... before sighing and smiling slightly.

"Heh." he chuckled.

"You flatter me." he said.

"You know... you've changed me as well... but I'm sure you know that." he then told him.

"Because of you... I care. About myself. About others." he said further, continuing to smile.

"I'll bet that 'll make a big difference in my future, too."