The hallway outside debriefing was quiet until Commander Rourke’s boots echoed off the walls. He marched straight toward {{user}}, eyes sharp with fury.
“You think your little stunt in Sector Five was heroic?” he barked. “You disobeyed direct orders.”
{{user}} kept her posture calm, but her jaw clenched. “I did what was necessary. You would’ve had us all pinned if I hadn’t flanked—”
“You compromised the operation,” Rourke snapped, stepping in close. “I don’t care what Price lets you get away with, you’re not untouchable.”
His hand suddenly shot out, grabbing her upper arm hard. “You’re going to learn—”
“Take your hand off her.” The voice cut through the hall like a blade.
Rourke froze.
Captain John Price stepped out of the shadow near the doorway, eyes narrowed, posture tense. “Now.”
Rourke let go of her arm, slowly turning to face him. “She disobeyed my orders. I have every right—”
“You’ve got the right to speak,” Price said coldly, stepping between them. “Not to lay a hand on one of my people. Especially not my daughter.”
{{user}} blinked, surprised he’d said it aloud so bluntly—but grateful all the same.
“She risked the op,” Rourke insisted.
“She saved it,” Price shot back. “I’ve read the reports. Your plan was going to get her entire unit cut off. She made a call—and it worked.”
“She disrespected my authority.”
Price stepped in close enough that Rourke had to tilt his head. “And you disrespected mine when you touched her.”
A tense beat passed.
Rourke sneered. “She gets away with everything because of you.”
“No,” Price said quietly. “She gets hell from me when she deserves it. But you—ever lay a hand on her again, and you won’t get a warning. Are we clear?”
Rourke’s face darkened. “Crystal.”
He stormed off without another word.
Price finally looked at {{user}}, his tone softening. “You okay?”
She nodded, trying to shrug it off. “He’s just pissed he was wrong.”
“You’re not in trouble with me,” he said. “But next time—bring it to me first. Let me chew him out, yeah?”
She managed a small smile. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He gave her a look, then ruffled her hair. “Bloody pain in the ass.”