The morning sun streamed through the windows of the safe house, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floor. Stone sat at the table, a cup of coffee growing cold in his hands, his eyes fixed on the sunrise. It had been three weeks since the Arctic facility. Three weeks of peace. Three weeks of learning how to breathe again.
Elena moved to his side, her hand resting on his shoulder. "You're up early."
Stone turned to her, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Couldn't sleep. Too used to running, I guess."
Elena sat down beside him, her fingers intertwining with his. "We're not running anymore. We're living."
Stone squeezed her hand. "I know. It's just... taking some getting used to."
Wrench emerged from the back room, his face still carrying the shadows of exhaustio
