Washington

Giving Charlotte a smile as they walk to the car, a new feeling suddenly hits Bret. He'd never been close to Maria's family at all...they hadn't liked him, and they'd never interacted at all. It was nice to know that Angelica approved of him, and he actually looked forward to interacting with her, especially now that he was part of the family. It was a good feeling...a peaceful one.


Mick glances up to Rosetta and shakes his head, though isn't feeling the greatest. "No...I just took a couple pain killers half an hour ago."

He scoots BJ over to the side so they can give Rosetta room, and Mick pats the now-empty space beside him. "Sit down and let's have us some food." He nudges BJ. "And don't leave any crumbs in my bed," he teases.

Settling back between his wife and adopted son, Mick gives a contented sigh. Though physically in a bit of pain, he couldn't be happier.

Enjoying the light meal while watching BJ's movie, they kid around with each other, just enjoying their time. And though Mick desperately wanted to be up and about, being tired was simply inevitable. Soon, he's laid his head back and is sound asleep, one arm around BJ, the other hand in Rosetta's.


"Now you two behave yourselves." Jason pauses outside of Katie's car as they get to Mom and Pop's, staring in at the dogs. Both sit in the back looking up very innocently.

Jason rolls his eyes and heads for the restaurant, holding the door open for Katie.

Once their owners have disappeared, the dogs root around in the backseat for a few minutes, Domino going playfully after one of Trooper's legs, while the enormous dog tries to play without squishing his tiny playmate. The car shakes as the tussle continues until Domino finally jumps into the front seat , putting her paws up on the steering wheel, just high enough that she could peek over to keep an eye on the restaurant door.

Not to be outdone, Trooper somehow manages to crawl to the front as well, squeezing his huge frame between the seats until he's half siting, half hanging off the passenger seat, also looking out the windsheild to wait for his master. A bit of drool ends up on the dashboard, Trooper knowing good and well what kind of goodies were inside that building.

"...so we still think it might be in Washington..." Jason sets his sub down and wipes his mouth, pointing to some of the papers he's got spread out on the table. "We just don't know where at all, or even if there's any Agency activity up there."

He takes a sip of his pop, still thinking. "And even then..." He sighs. "It's such a long shot that all of these clues are even connected. We could be barking up an entirely wrong tree."

The bell on the door of Mom and Pop’s rings, a lone figure entering the warm restaurant. His face was slightly flushed, his eyes filled with tension. It looked as though he’d slept in his clothes for at least one night if not more and he was just a bit grimy. For those who knew him, it was quite out of the ordinary to see him in such a state.

He scans the tables until he spots Katie and Jason. Lengthening his stride, he makes his way over to them quickly. Stopping at their table, he looks down at the open files and the papers. “Yeah, I thought so.”

Jason looks up, his eyes widening. “Reese. What on earth.”

Reese cocks his head. “If you guys are finished here, we’re taking a trip to Washington state.”

Jason looks at Katie, then back to his boss.
What on earth is going on? Where has he been? Why does he act like he knows what we’re doing?
“What’s going on?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you to that. Or Dalton, for that matter.”

He knows.
“Wha…how…”

The corner of Reese’s mouth upturns slightly and he looks at Katie, then back to Jason. “You think I didn’t know you two well enough to know you wouldn’t let the subject drop? I just couldn’t make it official to avoid an uproar, and I didn’t want you two snooping around my own investigation.” His gaze drifts past Katie, softening a little. “In case we were wrong.”

He stands a little straighter. “Now. I’ve been hiding out for two days. I’m tired, I stink, and I’m hungry. And I can’t talk here. Meet me back at TJY in an hour. I have a location.”

“A location, but…how…”

Reese quirks an eyebrow. “Not here, Jase. I had to be sure before I involved you guys. And I am now. He’s alive. At least…he was. No promises now, but…I won’t stand for doing nothing.”

“But you…”

“You don’t want to let our comrade down, do you?” Reese pats Jason’s shoulder. “An hour. Be ready to leave and tell no one. Not even friends, and under no circumstances are you to breathe a word to Sapphire or other family. I don’t know what we’ll find... And you're both under direct orders not to talk to Austin or be in contact with Carter about this.” He turns, giving a quick wave to Mabel, then is so fast out of the restaurant that Jason has no time for further questioning.

Dumfounded, Jason stares after him, then looks back at Katie. “That dog…he knew we’d investigate, and I’d bet you anything, somehow he used what we found. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been in Washington. He must have pinpointed a location…he had to have talked to somebody to get any facts…”
If it were any other time, I’d laugh. He had us and our actions pegged. That’s the last time I underestimate him. The only thing that worries me is why he's hiding this from Austin and Carter.

“Come on.” Jason closes his folder and downs the rest of his drink. “I’m not waiting around here.”

Tossing payment on the table, he dons his jacket, grabs his keys and makes sure Katie’s with him to exit Mom and Pop’s quickly.


Carson glances up from the kitchen in time to see Reese leave, then Jason and Katie hurry after him. A strange pang hits him… almost a wish that he was involved and knew what was going on. He missed the action.

Looking down, he goes back to his work. It was a fairly quiet day today, but he wished it were busier. One of these times Herb would corner him and ask him about the black eye he was sporting this morning, and he really didn't want to have to try and explain that one. Dani had left before he'd gotten back from his jog that morning, so she hadn't seen it yet, but he would be seeing Jess later, and was sure to get questioned one way or the other.



“You fool!”

The back of a hand comes flying full force into Scott’s face, knocking him out of his chair and onto the floor. Scott’s energy spent, he can’t even fend off the kicks that come to his back and ribs. All he can do is pull himself into a ball and hope that the attack would stop.

Donovan grabs the syringe off the table. “I might not be able to kill you, but for that stunt you just pulled, you’re going to pay.”

“Donovan!” Riggs comes into the room. “What happened?”

“This worm tried to send a message to his friends,” Donovan scoffs. “I cut off the power soon enough that no one will be the wiser – they think he’s dead anyway. But he won’t be back in this room again. We’re through.”

“But the boss said to use him.”

Donovan gestures to Scott. “We did. He gave us more than enough information, but now he screwed up. So it’s over for him. He’ll not be back here again. His cell is now his home.”

Riggs crosses his arms and scowls. “I told you I shoulda killed him when I wanted to. Now we have to go to the expense of keeping him alive even when he’s doing us no good.”

Donovan reaches down and sticks the needle into Scott’s arm. “He’s just another addition to our little zoo. The boss likes it that way, you know that.” Standing up, he tosses the empty syringe into the trash. “I’ll let you get him out of here.”

“Oh, thanks.”

“Do it!”

Riggs smirks with displeasure. “Whatever.”

Scott is already starting to writhe in pain, unable to move on his own, unable to even think straight.

Riggs simply grabs his arms and literally drags him out of the lab and down the hall to the stairs that would take them to the underground cell.

Scott cries out as a last ditch effort, but it’s no use. The next thing he knows is the darkness of the cold cell once more as a soothing wet cloth is put to his forehead. The floor was hard…he knew where he was… he also knew the hand that touched him. “I… can’t… too… hurts…” His words get tangled as his mind tries to get past the pain and make some sense.

“Just lie here,” the rough voice instructs. “Quit fighting and they’ll leave you alone. They’re not going to use you anymore, and if you act sedated, there’s no more fun in giving you anymore of that stuff.”

Scott rolls over onto his side, balling up again, a whimper coming to his lips. If no one could come, he just wanted to die. It would be easier that way. He just wanted this to end. Hope had already died. “But…”

“No buts.” The ally doesn’t retreat, but puts the cloth to Scott’s forehead again. “Just…rest.” He sighs. “They’re not going to kill you, so the only way they won’t hurt you anymore is if you just lay low and don’t fight. Can you do that?”

Scott didn’t have the energy to fend off a fly, let alone Donovan anymore. Taking a deep breath, he shudders before his eyes roll back in his head, unconsciousness taking over again.