Hooked on You

The next day, Ella and Ryan were back at the research centre bright and early, ready to tackle the next phase of their investigation into the pollutant source. The field trip with the executives had left a mark, sparking concern and some tentative promises of support, but they knew they'd need more than words to stop the damage to the reef. They needed solid evidence that the facility was directly responsible for the pollution—and that meant more fieldwork, more data, and more late nights.

As they settled into the lab, Ella glanced over at Ryan, who was already setting up equipment with an uncharacteristic focus. He looked up, catching her eye, and gave her a small, almost shy smile—one that sent a thrill of warmth through her despite the serious nature of the task ahead.

They spent the morning analysing water samples, comparing chemical compounds, and cross-referencing pollution levels, trying to piece together a trail that would lead back to the facility upstream. Ella was knee-deep in data, fully focused, when she felt a gentle nudge at her elbow.

She looked up to find Ryan holding out a mug of coffee, his expression soft.

"Thought you could use a pick-me-up," he murmured, his hand lingering a little too long as he handed her the cup.

She accepted it with a grateful smile, feeling her cheeks warm. "Thanks. You're surprisingly thoughtful, you know."

He chuckled, leaning against the counter beside her. "Don't spread that around, Doc. I've got a reputation to protect."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that lingered as she took a sip of coffee. They shared a brief, quiet moment, each of them seeming to forget the urgency of their work, before the whir of a nearby machine snapped them back to reality.

"Alright," Ella said, setting down her cup and focusing back on the screen. "We're looking for a particular compound here—the same one we found at the discharge pipe. If we can trace it along the river's path and match it to the reef, we'll have a solid case."

Ryan nodded, adjusting his focus as they resumed the meticulous work of comparing data points. They worked side by side, occasionally brushing hands or leaning close to examine a screen together, each of them pretending not to notice the little sparks of electricity between them.

As the afternoon wore on, Ella's focus turned to the map spread across the table, dotted with pins representing different water sample points. She traced the route of the river with her finger, mentally noting the locations of high pollutant readings.

"This stretch here," she murmured, tapping a section of the river. "We've got the highest concentration of pollutants right near the old dockyard. That's just downstream from the facility."

Ryan leaned in, his arm brushing hers as he studied the map. "Makes sense. If we get more samples from that stretch, we can confirm if the pollution is flowing straight from the facility to the reef."

Ella nodded, their faces close enough that she could see the flecks of green in his eyes. "Alright. We'll head out first thing tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan," he replied, his voice low. For a second, it felt like they were the only two people in the world, everything else fading into the background.

But just as quickly, reality returned. They were working to save the reef, and now wasn't the time to get lost in each other's eyes.

---

The following morning, they loaded up the boat with their sampling equipment and set out along the river, retracing their previous route toward the old dockyard. The early light cast a golden glow over the water, the peaceful scene at odds with the tension Ella felt as they prepared to collect more samples.