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"You’re not training anyone until you get yourself in shape"

"Was that an offer?"

A slow smile spread across his face "Why? Think your ht mine could run circles around his Tie his into knots

"There’s no si his head toward the treadht the monsters off, at least I can run them out of my head for a little while When was the last time you trained seriously?"

"Before" Jesus, as the last ti at HQ had been brutal at first, the very definition of an uphill battle--one that was fought with limp, weak limbs I’d had blisters onof bruises had made me look like I’d been in a major car accident The pain had flared and pulled and twistedmy body to its own standards

Most of the kids had been in the prograh to hone their bodies for Ops at the sa to sharpen their Psi skills Itand cardio every other day, with self-defense, kickboxing, and weapons training thrown into thethat hard, you’re focusing on everyto train each and every et out of your head for a little while

There had been aof ti, mentally and physically, and h And soed to lose that piece of myself I’d let the doubt back in, the insecurity I’d lost control of myself

"I want to be pushed harder than the instructors worked us," I told hi for everyone around ether I want to take care of everyone"

Cole held up his hands "I get it"

"You don’t," I said, hating the edge of desperation in my voice "It’s like every tiht back in that tunnel with all the walls collapsing, and it feels like--"

"No" Cole stood "We’re not going to sit around, holding hands, and use the Cate Conner " He crossed the rooh a blue plastic bin to retrieve an old, worn pair of sparring gloves He tossed them my way