Trust me

Though Trooper was barking and the room was in chaos, Ryder hears Thirteen's words. Catching what she says about wanting to be brave and not embarrassing him, something inside of him breaks. Halting the fight for just a moment, he looks at her with a stare that was beyond emotional. In the heat of the moment, did he feel he hot sting behind his eyes?

Thirteen bolts. Reese whips around to go after her, but Trooper is right there, still snarling and snapping. "Thirteen, get back here!" he shouts angrily.

Ryder dodges to the door, but takes one moment to spin around with a look that could kill. "You have no idea the setback you've just caused," he hisses. He sprints out into the hall, but Trooper is on his heels, almost getting a mouthful of denim as he goes for Ryder's legs.

Hal has heard the commotion and was in another room. Stepping out at just the right moment, he takes the dog by surprise and grabs him by the collar. Trooper is choked to a halt and whips his head back, teeth barred.

Hal cries out as the dog's teeth sink into his arm. Before Trooper can fight any more though, Reese is on top of him, using his belt as a quick muzzle and tightening it around the dog's mouth to clamp it shut. Trooper whines and shakes his head, trying to struggle out of his predicament, but unable to bite, and having two men on top of him, he winds up on the floor, whining as he watches down the hall.

Ryder doesn't stop. "Thirteen, wait!" His tennis shoes hit the tiled floor and his strides lengthen behind her. He reaches her just as she's about to duck into one of the supply rooms. He doesn't want to scare her further, but he had to use some force to get this whole thing to stop. One hand goes for her arm, the other goes around her front, well under her chin to bring her back against himself in a tight hold.

"Calm down." His own heart is pounding, and he has to try and catch his breath. Thirteen's strength is surprising and he struggles to hold her back. "You're okay, you're okay," he tries to comfort. "I'm not going to hurt you. Please... just calm down."

His arms around her are warm and strong and he tries to be gentle. The strange pain is still in his eyes. "Please," he begs. If she didn't calm down, she'd be taken away, and his chances to restore her would be over. "Trust me." His words are spoken softly in her ear. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."