Sulu was too distracted by the thought of getting away from the ghostly menace in the other room to notice just how poor a job he was doing with this whole blood thing. His mind was only able to focus on one thing, and at this point, Sulu couldn't care less if he was bloodstained and delirious; all he cared about was getting out of the room.

Ianto's comment stung a bit, even with the clear worry in his tone. He didn't want to be the one who was stuck being useless. He hated being useless. Everything could be solved with just the right, decisive action and when he was trapped he never, ever trusted anyone else to perform that action. It was his job - it had been his job with the ensigns, trapped on a hostile, inhospitable planet with monsters outside the door, it had been his job when defending Spock from Nero's ship, it had been, it had been -

Sulu heaved a sigh, suddenly aware that he was breathing a bit hard, and looked away from Ianto, eyes taking in the bright white tile despite the fact that it hurt to look at for too long. "...Just wish it would stay the hell away from you," he finally said, "I don't care what it throws at me, I just don't want it near you."