"Wishful thinking is natural. We all do it," Robert said. "Alright you lot, those of you who aren't on duty, go to bed. I need you fresh in the morning. I don't want to see you down here. None of you. Kieran, I will excuse. He goes on next. Jack, you and Steven hit the rack. We'll wake you when your watch begins."
When Jack and Steven had disappeared, Khaat looked at her father, "Why that order?"
"They're more practiced. They can go without sleep longer. I want them up tomorrow. If I put Kieran or Dean on later, they will be slow and dazed from lack of sleep by mid afternoon. I can't have that. I need my men fresh."
"But Brian would be up by then."
"Yeah. Good. And if I hadn't made sure of that, he might have been up simply because of all the horseshit that's on his mind. Between the three of them, you might have had the equivalent of one. Doing it this way gives you 6 fresh men. They should be far better this way. As for you, I don't want you up much longer either. Those babies and their mother need rest. Dont' make my drug your tea too."
"I'd rather you didn't," she sighed.
"I dont' want to do it either. 30 minutes. Then you're off. Got it?"
"Yes," she replied.
She went up to her room in 30 minutes, but she was concerned about Brian. He had more stress on his face than she had seen in a long time. Something was eating at him--deeply--and he wasn't sharing it with her. She felt distanced from him. It worried her. She didnt' know whether to pull away from him, maybe run? Give him some space? Would that make it better? She seemed to be the cause of everyone she knew coming apart. Her mind began to think truly hideous thoughts now. She curled up beside Brian, wrappiing a protective arm around him, but unable to close her eyes, unable to stop her mind from racing.