Shikamaru leaned against the wall opposite the door as he waited, arms folded loosely over his chest. He wasn't planning, not yet, though he knew he'd have to do so sooner or later. When Fox opened the door and nothing giant and hungry jumped out, he assumed the worst-case scenario had been avoided.

"Okay." Shikamaru's voice lacked the sensitivity it might have had if he'd known Fox better or they hadn't been in the middle of a dark hospital filled with giant cats. No girl. Check. Moving on.

"You said that you and someone else got out of the building. What happened then?" Fox's voice had trailed off after the statement, indicating something bad, but it was likely--probable, even--that they'd just made mistakes that could be avoided the second time through.