Richard's hand lifted to cover the hand now clinging to his arm, staring at the door where the sound had emanated from. It had startled him...but once the initial leap of his heart subsided, he easily calmed himself.
Because he'd caught the faint sound of footsteps behind that closed door--small, skittering steps that he only heard because they struck a primal chord in the back of his head, touched his lizard brain and ignited something other than fear in his chest.
He wasn't surprised Alex hadn't caught it--she'd never had children.
Still conscious of a possible threat, he lifted his hand to put a finger to his lips for Alex's benefit, then carefully dislodged her hand from his arm and urged her to take a step or two back, keeping her behind him.
Approaching the door quietly, Richard did his best to check the knob in silence...open. Turning it, he shone his light ahead of them when he found no one behind it.
More certain of their safety, he beckoned Alex to follow him and started down the stairs as he called out.
"We're not here to hurt you! I'm a doctor, I can help you."
no subject
Because he'd caught the faint sound of footsteps behind that closed door--small, skittering steps that he only heard because they struck a primal chord in the back of his head, touched his lizard brain and ignited something other than fear in his chest.
He wasn't surprised Alex hadn't caught it--she'd never had children.
Still conscious of a possible threat, he lifted his hand to put a finger to his lips for Alex's benefit, then carefully dislodged her hand from his arm and urged her to take a step or two back, keeping her behind him.
Approaching the door quietly, Richard did his best to check the knob in silence...open. Turning it, he shone his light ahead of them when he found no one behind it.
More certain of their safety, he beckoned Alex to follow him and started down the stairs as he called out.
"We're not here to hurt you! I'm a doctor, I can help you."