'Damian! '

Dr Forger stepped quickly away, and Damian barely had time to lift his head to see who had called him, before he saw a flash of blonde in his periphery, and a heavyset male figure descended on him, bringing Damian into a crushing hug.

Oof

, the air squeezed out of him. Emile 's rugby practice had really had an effect on his strength.

'Hi ' Emile, ' Damian wheezed, but he didn 't have the strength to say anything more.

Emile seemed to sense this and stepped back, casting a concerned gaze over one of his best friends, while Becky and Alice caught up behind him.

'Boss, is everything okay? '

'Uh ' '

Damian opened and closed his mouth, wondering what to say. He wanted to say '

yes I 'm fine

', or '

I 've got this, don 't worry

', but it didn 't feel right. It wasn 't the truth, and Damian guessed that it was obvious just by looking at him that things were

not

okay.