Hiro ducked his head. "I just offered a cup of water, like I did for you before--his throat sounded dry. I guess I got too close."

Like hell he had. But chagrined, apologetic, frustrated--he could be any of those, if it worked to calm them down. That was the thing about running a debriefing--that however much you might pretend to be their friends, if it got you what you wanted... you weren't. It didn't matter what they thought of him in the end, so long as they told him what he needed to know. Didn't matter if they thought he was stupid, incompetent, or cruel.

There was a reason why, for bad missions, ANBU agents rarely drew the same debriefer twice.

Also probably the reason why the full-time debriefers are so unpleasant to be around. I'm glad I'm a field agent.

"Look, I'm not going to ask anything until you guys get yourselves settled. The medics said you were cleared for debriefing, so that's why I'm here. But if you're not feeling well..." He trailed off uncomfortably. "Well, I'd offer to leave, but I can't actually do that until I get my report. I can wait, though," he volunteered.

Someone else's screw up--you know how that goes. So sorry. Not my fault. Please believe it, and don't clam up on me now.

The medics had said they'd been clear for debriefing eight hours ago. Hiro trusted Kotoe-san far more. Still, she hadn't turned him away; they must be in a stable enough mental condition, as well as physical.

Now, if he could just manage to ask the right questions.