Saying I didn't freak out is a misunderstanding. When Fitz fell down again and didn't get up, all of my fear and panic that was temporarily hidden rises up again. Laurel and Audrey see this and walk over to me. I can feel more uneasiness seeping into all of my thoughts. With a pale face, I watch as Mr. Wallace pulls a phone out and holds it to his ear.

After explaining that we need some "medical assistance immediately", the middle aged man hangs up and looks at me. "Caroline and Steven will be coming as soon as they can," Mr. Wallace tells me. Remembering how Caroline's a biologist, I nod.

Laurel looks at me in confusion, "Who's Caroline? And Steven?"

"Caroline's a chemist and Steven's a pathologist," I explain. "Fitz..." I pause, looking down at his heavily bruised body. "Fitz and I met them last year- we were working with them on the murders of David and Michelle Grahams."

The Altruistics and Sovereigns nod in comprehension. I then glance up to see a familiar couple rush down to us. Caroline looks at me before seeing Fitz. Shrieking, she kneels down immediately and yells, "Steven- the stretcher!"

"Stretcher..?" I echo, watching Steven quickly pull out a rolled-up stretcher. I watch as Steven gingerly carries the unconscious Percipient onto the stretcher. Almost glaring at Mr. Wallace, he orders, "Carry the other side- we're going to the laboratory!" And before I know it, Mr. Wallace and Steven are already heading down the hallway towards the laboratory.

Once they disappear from view, Caroline rushes over to me, enveloping me in a tight and affectionate embrace. Savoring the hug, I wrap my arms around her for a few moments. After we pull away, Caroline asks, "Who did this?"

My expression turns bitter as I spit out, "Fitton Galster." As Caroline gasps, I find myself glaring at the area where Fitton was before he disappeared. I then narrow my eyes when I see something glisten in that same spot. Frowning, I walk over and bend down to pick up a small, teal crystal. I furrow my eyebrows in thought as I wonder why it looks so familiar.

Then it hits me.

That crystal that knocked me out at the warehouse, I think.

That's called Tzanion, Fitz's voice echoes in my head, causing me to tense up. They're used in prostrators to give people a wave of agonizing mental pain before they're rendered unconscious. Few can still stay awake after they're hit with that. The purest form of tzanion- which is extremely rare to find- gives one telepathic powers. The smallest ones- which are easy to find- can knock people out.

My eyes widen. You're awake already?

Um... Fitz's voice wavers a bit. Nope, he transmits after a moment of silence. Still unconscious. But my mind's awake now. All of my injuries were physical, right?

I nod hesitantly. Yes... how do you know what tzanion is? I ask. And what's a prostrator? I immediately think of that white gun that shot the small tzanions at me at the warehouse.

A prostrator is a white gun that shoots out very tiny- and powerful- tzanions at someone, Fitz explains, confirming my theory. And for how I know this... it's weird. It feels like when you transmitted that there was a crystal that knocked you out, I could only think of tzanion. Like it was hidden, but came up again.

Can you tell if your injuries have healed yet? I ask.

No, not really. But I do know that although my mind's awake, it's not strong enough to operate my body again

I nod sympathetically. I glance over to see Laurel, Caroline, and Audrey looking at me curiously. "Who are you talking to?" Laurel asks. "Mr. Wallace?"

I shake my head, "Fitz, actually. His mind's awake, but it's not strong enough to wake his body up." Still shocked, the three of them nod. I then look down at the tzanion between my forefinger and thumb. Do you think you're strong enough to wake up? I transmit to the male Percipient.

Um... I don't know. Where are you right now?

In the main lobby, with the Altruistics, Sovereigns, and Caroline. Why?

Do you think you can visit... Fitz's thoughts trail off since he doesn't know where he is. Where am I?

Mr. Wallace and Steven took you to the laboratory, I tell him as I begin to walk down myself. I'm coming now. I suddenly feel a an arm grasp my wrist, stopping me from going forward. "What's wrong?" I ask Caroline as she releases her grip on me.

"Where are you going?"

I sigh. "Fitz was asking if I could visit, so I was heading down there myself," I explain. "Would anyone else like to come?" The five of them nod, so I lead them down the hallway to the laboratory. Occasionally, Caroline will point the way when I suddenly blank out.

Once we arrive, I first stare at the still unconscious Fitz. Somehow, all of his bruises are gone, and his wound on his arm is now properly bandaged. Walking over to his side, I sigh and roll the tzanion around in my fingers.

Am I awake yet or..?

Although I visually shake my head, I transmit back, No, you're still sleeping. Can you not tell when you're awake or not?

I don't really know, Fitz admits. I've been trying to use all of my mental power to wake my body up, or at least force my eyes to open. But I feel like I'm draining myself more.

I can't help but scowl. Well, stop doing that! I mentally scold him, furrowing my eyebrows.

So you want me to stay unconscious for a longer period of time? Fitz asks.

I sigh at his use of technicality. No, but if it'll drain you more, and you'll have to sleep longer, I reason. And I doubt any of us want that.

Do you want that?

I can feel my cheeks burning and can't help but be thankful that he isn't seeing my blush now. No, I don't, Fitz. So rest.

I can practically hear Fitz scoffing as he transmits to me, You should as well, Sophie. All of you should, and don't even think about trying to deny it. What time is it?

I... don't know. Hold on. Turning to the others, I ask, "Do you guys know what time it is right now?"

Caroline checks her wristwatch. "It's almost 2:50," she replies, smiling at me. "Why? Is Fitz asking?"

I nod, not missing the confused expressions of Benen, Donovan, Steven, and Mr. Wallace. "Fitz's mind is strong enough to transmit to me, but not strong enough to wake up," I explain hastily. Turning to Fitz again, I think, It's almost 2:50. Why?

Because I was curious to know if time was passing while I'm knocked out, Fitz transmits. I can't help but giggle at his sarcasm. It's because I want you guys to sleep! You'll see me tomorrow, Sophie.

I sigh, knowing that if I keep talking to him, I'll just drain him and myself further. Fine, I'll tell everyone that we need to go to sleep. But don't think that I'll just fall asleep like that.

You'll pass out like a light, Fitz argues, making me pout. You and I both know that you're exhausted from fighting Fitton.

I roll my eyes. What the heck did I do? I ask him. I wasn't even there for most of the fight- that was all you!

You still helped, Fitz says. His thoughts are so genuine that I can't help but blush. I stare down at the ground, even though I know that he can't see my face right now. So go to sleep, please.

I nod. Good night.

Good night- well, morning. Good morning, Sophie Foster, Fitz corrects himself.

I smile more. Good morning, Fitz Vacker. Stepping away, I turn to the group of people near me. "He wants us all to go to sleep," I explain. "So we probably should, since we all need it."

Audrey and Donovan groan. "So much for staying up," Audrey remarks, groaning again.

"Aw, so sad," I say mockingly. I pout dramatically, earning laughter from the adults and Altruistics. The Sovereigns roll their eyes, but still join in.

Suddenly, Mr. Wallace halts me before I exit the room. Turning me around so I'll face him, the middle aged man says, "It seems like Fitz is capable of protecting himself, and so are you. But you also know that Fitz defends everyone more than himself and you're more nimble."

I nod- partially because everything he's saying is true, and partially because I'm confused on what he's trying to say.

"I know that Fitz used a prostrator he got from the warehouse to save you," Mr. Wallace continues. I cringe involuntarily before I can mask it. Ignoring that, Mr. Wallace says, "And he still has the prostrator, thankfully. He was exceptionally smart to use the tzanion back at Fitton. And incredible powerful, since you saw that Fitton didn't fall unconscious like you did back at the warehouse."

I nod again. "So it is tzanion," I mutter to myself.

"Wait- you know about this?" Mr. Wallace asks, now genuinely confused.

"Yeah, Fitz told me," I say nonchalantly. "But I think he had that memory to begin with, since I've never heard of it at all."

Mr. Wallace nods absentmindedly. "Anyways," he interjects, changing the subject before we get too off topic. "It's a very good thing that Fitz didn't take it out, or he might've been dealing with worse consequences than this."

"Like what?" I ask, reminding him that he's not alone.

He shakes his head. "I predict that Fitz will be good in a few hours, so I'll tell him that he needs to keep his prostrator on him at all times from now on," he says.

I honestly can't tell if he's telling himself that or the both of us. Nonetheless, I ask, "Did you just say that it's a good thing that he didn't take it out?"

"Well, now he'll need to protect himself more," Mr. Wallace says. "And I could tell that Fitton had something planned for Fitz if he should that he was that prepared." He sighs in exasperation. "Now he thinks that Fitz is more advanced than he had predicted, which is true. You two show more power than I would've guessed at the beginning."

Realizing that he's now rambling, Mr. Wallace clears his throat awkwardly. "Anyways, that's all. He'll need to bring his prostrator everywhere from now on, and I'll have to supply him with more tzanion for ammunition."

I nod. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind," I say, stepping towards the door. "Have a good night's sleep, Mr. Wallace." Not waiting for a reply, I walk towards the door. I smile when I see Laurel waiting for me at the door. "Didn't you want to go with Benen?" I ask her.

Laurel shrugs. "I wasn't as tired as him, and I feel like you need more support," she explains as we walk down the hall towards the elevators.

"You're so kind!" I exclaim, hugging her. "No wonder you're an Altruistic!"

Laurel giggles, hugging me back. "Well, you're so smart!" she argues. "It's no wonder that you're a Percipient!"

Laughing, we both exchange praises and make small talk as we go back to our own rooms.

As if a widowed husband didn't attack Fitz in the middle of the night.