The jet touched down with a heavy thud, its engines whining as they powered down. Inside, the team was silent, the weight of their recent escape pressing down on them. Rory had not been able to muster up the energy to confront the President alongside the rest of the team, rather resting on the jet. Rory winced as she slowly rose from her seat, the adrenaline beginning to wear off, leaving her exhausted and in pain. She could feel the tension in the air, like a storm building, waiting to break.

Scott was already on his feet, moving with a purpose, his face a mask of controlled emotion. He hadn't spoken much since they escaped from the dam, his focus entirely on getting them back to safety. As the others disembarked, exchanging glances filled with unspoken relief, Scott stayed back, his eyes fixed on Rory.

Rory caught his gaze, her stomach knotting at the intensity in his eyes. She knew this was coming—the confrontation, the reckoning. She had pushed herself beyond her limits, taken risks that Scott would never have approved of. But at the time, it hadn't mattered. All that had mattered was saving them, ensuring his escape.

As the others filed out of the jet, Rory slowly followed, her movements stiff and careful. She could feel Scott's presence behind her, his silence heavy with unspoken words. When they finally stepped out into the hangar, Scott reached out, his hand gently but firmly grasping her arm, stopping her in her tracks.

"Rory, wait," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper, but laced with something dark and heavy.

She turned to face him, her heart pounding in her chest, knowing that the storm was about to break.

Rory turned to face Scott, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the turmoil in his eyes. His usual stoic demeanor was cracking, revealing the raw emotion he was struggling to contain. For a moment, they just stood there, the silence between them thick with tension.

"Do you have any idea how reckless that was?" Scott finally said, his voice tight with barely restrained anger. "You could have been killed, Rory! Not only did we lose Jean, but I could've lost you!"

"I had to do something," Rory replied, her voice softer than she intended. "Jean couldn't hold everything on her own. We had to get that jet in the air, or none of you would have made it out."

Scott ran a hand through his hair, pacing in front of her like a caged animal. "But at what cost? You can't just throw yourself into danger like that! You're not invincible, Rory!"

She flinched at the sharpness in his tone, but she didn't back down. "I know I'm not. But neither are you, Scott. I made a choice to take a risk. Damn it Scott- we take risks all the time. I wanted to keep you safe."

He stopped pacing and turned to her, his eyes blazing. "That's not the point! The point is that you scared the hell out of me! I thought—" His voice cracked, and he clenched his fists, trying to regain control. "I thought I was going to lose you."

Rory felt her resolve waver, the anger, and fear in his voice cutting through her defenses. "Scott, I'm sorry," she said, taking a step closer to him. "But I love you too much to not protect you if I can."

His expression softened slightly, the anger giving way to something more vulnerable. "I know. I know you were trying to help. But you don't understand, Rory. When I saw you out there, when I realized what you were doing..." He trailed off, his voice thick with emotion. "I can't lose you. Not like this."

Rory's heart ached at the sight of him, so strong and yet so afraid. She reached out, placing his hand on her heart. "You're not going to lose me, Scott," she whispered. "I'm right here."

Scott's gaze locked onto hers, and for a moment, they stood there, the world around them fading away. Then, in a sudden movement, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. Rory melted into the embrace, feeling the tension in his body slowly ebb away as he held her close.

"I was so scared," Scott murmured into her hair, his voice trembling. "I can't lose you, Rory. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you."

Rory wrapped her arms around him, holding him just as tightly. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered. "I love you, Scott..."

They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the weight of the day's events slowly fading as they found comfort in each other. For now, the storm had passed, leaving only the quiet strength of their bond, holding them together as they faced the uncertain future ahead.