Earl POV

I sighed as we got out of the car. That young Anderson did not know when to shut up. He didn't stop bombarding me with questions that he knew I would not answer. It was also obvious that he hated Kane for a reason unknown to me.

I got him some equipment in case he wasn't used to the temperature and pressure of the underground room. Unfortunately, as Kane was leading the way down, Aaron continued to talk.

"Would you shut up even if it was for a second?" I cut him off royally annoyed.

"You called me here when I had important business to attend to. So, no," Aaron answered with a smile as he continued his pointless rambling.

As we approached the room, the temperature started to rise. Aaron had to take off his jacket and finished his bottle of water. And for a moment, I hoped that he would stop to save him some saliva.

As we reached the room, Kane entered first and Aaron followed. The young man looked around before approaching subject number two and three before observing them. As for Kane, he stayed at the entrance his arms crossed always staring at the same spot. He was really slow today...

"Okay, I have seen enough," stated Aaron out of nowhere.

I nodded and we walked back up and to my surprise, Aaron was silent. Not that I was complaining. We had to make multiple pauses before continuing because of the pressure changes. When Aaron and I finally walked out of the tunnel, Kane was already there waiting for us, still staring at... the car maybe?

"Are you okay?" I asked starting to really worry. "You have been daydreaming all day, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine... Is everything done?" he asked after a few minutes I asked my question.

I nodded and he went to the car. He was about to open it, but he fucking tore off the passenger's door!

As I ran to him and scold him about tearing off the door, I heard him swear, "Fuck, mar-thà?!" Before I could say anything, he turned to me. "Tha thu a 'dol a' chiad dà, bidh mi a 'ruith air ais."

"What did you say?" I asked worriedly not knowing what to do.

"You two go first, I will run back," he said after rubbing his eyes with his fingers.

"Tell me what's wrong," I ordered enough of being put in the dark.

"I just... Need some time to rest," he awkwardly answered.

"I said, tell me what's wrong. That's an order."

"I-I need to take a bath..." he answered faintly.

"A bath?! Wanting to take a bath made you tear off the car's fucking door?!" I answered furiously.

"A chemical bath... Body... can't..." he half-answered as he fell on his back not being able to stand.

I hurried to help him, "Okay, okay, tell me what you need for... Your bath."

Kane looked at Aaron and I felt his consciousness slip. I tried to tell him to stay awake, but his eyelids seemed so heavy.

The young man sighed, "Let's take him back, I'll tell you what is needed on our way back."

As Aaron sat on the passenger's seat, I tried to put Kane on the rear seats. He was so heavy! It was obvious that he was struggling to stay conscious. Why didn't he told me earlier about his condition?!

"Coming back from the tour, I have a favor to ask."

It was about that? I sighed as I started the car. I was about to have a headache. I couldn't afford to lose him, he was the only one awake after all.

It was only half way back that Aaron started to talk.

"He would need a bath every month, but it'll be best to make him sleep in it every night. The composition of the bath was already sent to you," he briefly explained.

"Why does he need a bath?"

"It's to keep his body healthy. I don't advise you to stay in the bath for more than a few minutes," he looked at me seriously. "You have to immerse him completely, not even his face can be out of the water. Don't worry, he won't die," Aaron smiled as he said the last sentence.

Back at the headquarters, I called for Heather to help. She came with a stretcher and together we succeeded to put Kane on it.

Before we could walk away, the young Anderson spoke. "I'll have to go back to Paris today, there's some business I need to attend," he shortly said before entering his black car not waiting for an answer. "And Earl?" he called for me as he opened his window. "Keep me informed," and he was gone before I could even give him an answer. What an arrogant kid.

"What happened?" asked Heather as she helped me take Kane inside.

"He fainted and need to take a chemical bath. Is the pool being used?"

"Not yet, but..."

"Take him to the pool I'll get what he needs for his bath!" I ordered as I ran to the storage room.

I unlocked my phone and took all the ingredients needed for his bath. Unbelievable! If Kane died right now, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. Kane was a precious subject!

I took all the bottles I needed and I'll need to order more or I wouldn't be able to keep the pool filled. Fortunately, the main ingredient was water, but because of the size of the pool, everything I needed would be multiplied by ten.

As I rushed back to the pool, Kane was laying on the ground unconscious as Heather was ordering people around.

Great, the pool was already cleaned. "Fill the pool with water, but no chlorine!" I shouted and then looked at Heather. "Help me mix all the chemicals together. Kane time is counted."

As we worked at a fast pace, the pool was slowly getting filled which wasn't fast enough. The first solution was already ready and I slowly poured it into the pool. I waited for the pool to be filled a little more before pouring the mixture again. Now, half full, it was ready for Kane to go inside.

"Help me put him inside," I told Heather. We lifted his heavy body. "Let's throw him inside," I suggested.

"But he would be able to breathe!"

"Trust me," Heather hesitantly nodded. "On three. One... Two... Three!"

Kane body went up before heavily hitting the surface of the water. I watched him sink until he touched the floor. He wasn't breathing... Was it an error to trust the young Anderson? Fuck, if that kill him, I'll fucking hunt Aaron down.

I started to take most of my layers of clothes down. If I didn't saw bubbles in the next thirty seconds, I was going to jump inside.

Ten seconds, nothing.

Fifteen seconds, still nothing.

Twenty seconds, nothing.

I was about to jump when we saw Kane's eyes and mouth opened. He tried to breathe which made bubbles exploding on the surface. He didn't move, but he was... breathing? He must be since he was exhaling.

He wasn't completely human...

As I waited for Kane to swim back up, the room started to empty.

"Can you search about this chemical reaction? I want to know what it does," I asked her and she nodded before taking a sample of the water and walk away.

After I clothed myself, I sat near the edge of the pool and continued to observe Kane at the bottom. He still hadn't moved, but I could feel his eyes on me.

The room was warm and the sound of water made it so comfortable and peaceful. And before I knew it, I fell asleep.

(_ _).｡o○

I jolted awake when something wet and cold touched my face. I looked around not recognizing where I was until I saw Kane sitting next to me soaking wet. A part of my shirt was wet and so was my pant.

"Thank you," said Kane out of nowhere. "I would have... Died if you didn't help me," he explained with a small smile.

Surprised that he showed some emotion on his usual poker face, I couldn't stop watching him. My eyes slowly trailed to his neck as I followed a drop of water. "You're welcome," I managed to answer and I saw his shirt clinging to his torso and so was his pants. Nothing was left to the imagination.

"Are you going to sleep here or back in my room?" I finally asked after a moment of silence.

"My body won't degrade as fast when I sleep here unless you want me in your room," he said in a matter of fact, but my stupid mind didn't hear the same thing.

"You need to rest, sleep here tonight," I forced myself to say before I could decide otherwise.

He only nodded and another silence filled the room. Suddenly, my stomach growled in protest. I looked at my watch on my wrist and saw that it was already past one. A late lunch wouldn't hurt.

"Let's get you dried up and changed before going to eat," I said, but I was pretty drenched myself.

We walked back to my room. As Kane went straight to the bathroom, I took new clothes before rapidly changed.

I should forbid the access to the pool until I know more about that chemical bath. It may be dangerous. I nodded as I took out my phone and phoned to the man who was responsible for keeping everyone informed. I explained the situation and he agreed not only on a vocal message but to also put a note on the doors giving access to the pool.

When Kane was fully dried and dressed, we walked our way to the cafeteria. There were only a few people left. We ordered our food and sat down at the same table than this morning. Half way into our lunch, another person joined us, Ashley.

"Hello, Earl," she greeted me with a smile and only glared at the man in front of me.

"Hello, Ashley."

"I'm starving!" she almost shouted before digging into her food.

"I see that females now doesn't care about their weight," stated Kane after he swallowed some of his food.

"What did you say?" Ashley answered back daring him to repeat even though she clearly heard him.

"I said that you eat a lot for a small female. Do all females have difficulties to hear from this close?"

Ashley gripped her fork in an iron fist. For a moment I actually thought she was going to break it. Before she could make a scene, I called her name which made her calm down a little.

"My hearing is not as bad as you say since I heard you fainting on your way back from the site," she coldly smiled at an impassive Kane.

"Earl, I think you should increase her amount of work."

"Why is that?" I asked curiously.

"Obviously because she had nothing else to do than listening to other people talk."

Before I could say anything, Ashley stood up and walked away. I sighed, she was going to complain about that later... I eyed Kane who continued to eat as if nothing happened.

"Why are you trying to make her mad?" I asked before taking a sip of juice.

"I was only naming facts on what I saw and heard," he answered with such a serious expression that I wondered if he was lying or not. "Plus eating until she's full is a good thing. Not limiting herself to only a bite or two fearing to gain weight."

It was so hard to read him. Not even his eyes would betray what he said. In fact, after he came out of his bath, he seemed even colder. Maybe, it was only my imagination...

You want him to notice you.

I'm straight, why would I want a man to notice me? Plus, Kane was a subject for our research. It wouldn't be professional. We didn't live in the same world. He was also older than me! He was alive for 1000 years or more and maybe he already has a lover? That woman sleeping down there was so gorgeous...

I was certain that he was straight.

...

Right?