Riley went searching for Kent after ending the call with Whey, but Patrick had stepped out of the office when she knocked, blocking her entrance. He had been unwilling to tell her what was going on, only that she needed to leave Kent alone for a while. She could sense his pain through the bond, but no matter how much she pressed, Patrick had been unwilling to tell her anything.
She skipped lunch, opting instead to hide in her room and replay her conversation with the commander over and over again. He had ended the conversation by making sure she understood that no matter her decision with Kent, it was very likely she would be losing her job.
It was sometime around three when someone knocked on the door. She opened it, slightly surprised to see Max standing there. He looked rough, his bl
