* LYDIA *

Mitch's condition was not the best. He still had a fever that I couldn't beat. Medicines were of little use either. I knew how much Thomas loves his brother and that's why I tried my best to help him.

As for me, I didn't know what to think of Mitch anymore. He did everything to protect the family, so he wasn't that bad after all. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone learns from them.

I may not be able to trust him, but I won't let him die. Everyone deserved a second chance... And he, in particular, should get it.

Thomas sat with his brother all the time, didn't leave him a step. He was worried about him which was normal. After a long time of persuasion, I managed to convince him to finalny get some rest. I promised to stay with him, and I did.

While the others were already asleep, I stayed with the older Rapp and gave him another cold compress to finally reduce the fever. I changed his dressings once again.

I looked at him. He looked so innocent when he slept. Just like everyone else.

I sighed and went back to doing the cold compresses on his forehead.

"Mitch..." I looked at him again and pushed a strand of slightly longer hair from my forehead, then placed a poultice on it. "You have to wake up, you hear me? " I said and looked at the sleeping brunet. "You have to fight. You've been doing well beforeYou have overcome so many obstacles so you will be able to overcome this too... " I said honestly. "You're not giving up. You're Mitch Rapp. Don't let such a trifle stop you. "

I smiled slightly.

"Thomas needs you... Maybe he doesn't show it like that, but it's the truth, you know? " I pushed another strand of hair from his forehead. "He wants his brother back... He loves you. You're his older brother by less than two minutes. " I smiled. "He needs you and you need him. Only together you can beat Luke. I know that. " I soaked the handkerchief again for a cold compress. "You know why? " I looked at him.

"Why? " he asked after a moment, opening his eyes slowly.

I smiled slightly seeing him as he woke up. His eyes narrowed slightly, but I knew he was staring right at me.

"Because I believe in you. " I looked back at him and put the compress to my forehead. "Both of you. " I added and smiled slightly, which after a while he reciprocated.

***

I didn't even know when I fell asleep, leaning against a small table by Mitch's mattress. I opened my eyes slightly, and when I saw that Rapp was gone, I jumped to my feet.

"Relax. " Suddenly I heard a voice behind me so I turned to face him and saw older Rapp. "I'm here. " He smiled slightly.

"You should rest. " I walked over to him. "The fever may have gone, but you are still weak."

"How can you be so sure? " He glanced at me.

"Because I can see it. " I replied and then I stood in front of him. "Get back, and lay down. " I pointed at the mattress.

"Are you just ordering me? " The dark-haired man folded his hands on his chest.

"Yes. " I entered his words and, like him, I folded my hands. "March back to the mattress. " I indicated the place where he should be.

Rapp said nothing more, he just nodded, smiled slightly and then sat down on the mattress. I smiled victoriously.

"I'll get your brother. " I said and was about to leave, but stopped when he called me.

"Wait. " He said and I looked at him. "Thank you. " Aaid after a long moment.

I thought I had misheard, but I wasn't. I smiled slightly and wanted to go get Thomas, but I waited a moment and looked back at the brunet.

"Mitch? " I called and caught his attention. "Whose side are you on?" I asked uncertainly.

Rapp looked at me for a long time and said nothing until now.

"On the side of the family. " He replied. "As always. " Added.