Plans

Jason listens to Aerith thoughtfully, then gives a little nod. “Yeah…I like to fish. Don’t do it as often as I want, just ‘cause I’m busy with other stuff…but I know a few good spots around here.”

He knew his dialogue was just waiting to become and invitation, so he relents. Who knew…this might be the last conversation he ever had with Aerith anyway. He was just being polite. “Maybe I’ll have to show you sometime when you’re not busy coming in to work in your free time.” He offers a slight smile, then catches Mabel’s eye from a distance and waves her over for something light to eat. Sticking around for a little while wouldn’t be that bad, and he knew he needed to eat something.

Before long, the meal is finished, and Jason is preparing to leave. He gives Aerith a brief farewell and thank-you for the chat, then heads on out. The bell on the door dings as he leaves, and a few moments later, his motorcycle’s engine his heard revving up before he pulls out down the street.


Carson gives Misty a smile and turns around, bringing her close to wrap his arms around her. “Thanks for coming over.” He gives her a kiss on the top of her head. “I could use the company for a while. But please…no more singing…”

After supper is finished and cleaned off the table, both settle down in the living room and Carson pops a movie in. Halfway through, they’re snuggled up on the couch when Jason comes home, though he pays them little attention, just giving a short wave and heading for his room.

As the movie credits roll, Carson pries himself up off the couch, even though the thought of just staying there all night is appealing. Giving Misty a kiss goodnight, he walks her out to her car and promises to see her tomorrow at work. He’d be going straight in without his morning run tomorrow…work needed to be done.


The morning dawns foggy and gray. The weather prediction was fair, forecasting sunshine in the afternoon. It felt warm and fresh...a contrast to the tension going on in a small corner of the world...


Scott winces as he leans down from his desk chair to scrounge in one of his drawers. Rick would kill him if he knew he was at his desk instead of in the bed next to the infirmary where he'd been moved earlier. But he'd heard about what was going down today, and he was the one in charge of tech support and he wasn't going to let someone else fool with the equipment. Not to mention, he was bored out of his mind.

It was still early yet...Rick had come in way early to check on things, then had stepped out again. The floor was still relatively quiet, so Scott had gotten himself up and dressed, though was still in his bare feet, and looking as though he really had just rolled out of bed.

Holding his side, he scoots to the other end of his desk to retrieve some wireless mics. Plugging things in, programming devices and typing away on his keyboard, he preps for what he knew was coming.


It was almost noon. Jason had slept late after a rough night and had spoken to no one this morning, though had forced himself up and out to make it here for the meeting Nate had informed him about. He takes long strides across the main floor towards Reese’s office. Upon arriving, he finds Reese, Nate, Wyatt, Carson and Misty gathered. He knew more would be involved, but obviously this was the core team for this one.

Reese looks up as the door opens and nods, relieved that Jason had actually shown up. But before he can say anything, the phone rings. Picking it up, be puts it on speaker phone. “This is Reese.”

“So glad you decided to be there for our call.” It’s a male voice this time, one that Carson didn’t recognize.

Reese bristles at the taunting tone. “We’re listening, and we’re ready to deal. Just name the place and time.”

“Good. It’s going to be number two-twenty-five Hobart street. Seven-thirty tonight. Now listen carefully, because you screw one thing up, and Mick dies. A gun will be pointed at his head at all times and we will not hesitate to pull the trigger. We will bring him out of the building at exactly seven-thirty. You will have one representative and Carson. That’s it. One more person than that, and we will view it as a threat. You will bring Carson to the middle of the street and step back. We will send Mick across, completing the trade, while Carson stays put. Once Mick is in your custody, you will get into your vehicle and leave without looking back and without calling the authorities. Are these instructions clear?”

Reese glances around at the others grimly. “They’re clear.”

“Looking forward to doing business with you. Seven-thirty. You don’t show, Mick dies and we move on to another hostage.” A click signals the end of the call.

Rees takes a deep breath and folds his arms over his chest. “Well…that’s that. Hobart street…that’s out at the southwest corner of town that’s deserted isn’t it?”

Carson nods. “They picked a spot where you could set off a grenade and no one would hear it. No one hears, no law gets involved.”

“Two-twenty-five is an abandoned bank,” Jason adds.

Reese quirks an eyebrow. This was the quick Jason he knew. “What else is around there?”

“I been down to that area a few times,” Jason replies. “It’s in the middle of a block. Brick buildings…all vacant, obviously. Across the street are more buildings, probably three stories tall. Be a great lookout if you ask me. We could position a sniper up there, and fill in the downstairs with lookouts too.”

“What if they’ve already got the place crawling?” Wyatt asks.

“They won’t.” Carson shifts his weight, nodding to Reese. “The Agency is cocky. They’ll expect us to be afraid enough to do exactly as they say. They won’t have extra men except in the old bank with them. Another reason being, that they’re serious about killing Mick. It won’t be any skin of their teeth…we don’t do as they say, they kill Mick, they go after someone else, and the cycle continues until they get what they want.”

“So what about snipers?” Wyatt asks.

Carson nods. “It’s what I was thinking. My advice is to get down there a.s.a.p. We arrive before they do, get our own men in position so we have the upper hand. No surprises. We go in, we start to exchange people, but instead of following through, we take out the competition.”

“What about the trade?” Reese intervenes. “They won’t send Mick across unless they see you in the middle of the street.”

“I need to be up on that roof,” Carson points out, “Where I can see what’s going on. I know faces, I know how the Agency moves. If they try something unexpected, I don’t want to be on the ground useless. From a lookout point I’ll be able to tell if they’re trying to pull something before anyone else.”

Jason quirks an eyebrow. “Sounds to me like you just don’t want to be in the line of fire.”

Carson turns to glare at him. “Look, I suggested going ahead with a trade, but you people won’t let me. If I’m going to help, the best way to make that happen is to make me a pair of eyes instead of bait. I know the Agency and I’ll know if they’re going to double-cross us. But if I’m on the ground with Mick, I’ll be useless because by the time I move, he’ll be dead.”

“That still doesn’t solve our problem,” Reese points out.

“What about a decoy?” Wyatt suggests. “What if they think it’s Carson, but it’s not?”

Reese raises his brow. “But they know Carson well. Besides, who looks like him?”

“Well they wouldn’t have to look like him exactly…just someone close this his build…give them a denim jacket and a baseball cap that’s pulled down low and there you have it. He’ll be in the middle of the road – it’s not like he’ll have to talk.”

“I don’t know…”

“It might work,” Carson muses. “Most likely if they see someone they think is me, they won’t look too close and just go on assuming.” He glances around the room. “We’ll need snipers besides me too. Jason?”

For now, Jason bypasses all personal feelings and mood, putting himself into work mode. “Yeah, I’m in.”

“What about Katie?”

Jason gives him an uneasy glance.

Carson purses his lips. “Reese?”

“I don’t know,” Reese responds. “We can ask her though. Do we need to call Con in?”

Jason shakes his head. “Don’t do that to him. He’s finally got the quiet life he wanted, and a job he’s trying to hold down. Don’t tempt him to jeopardize that.”

“Maybe you’re right…well, that’s two and three if we get Katie. But what about the decoy?”

Carson glances over to Nate, sizing him up. “How would you like to be an Aussie for an evening?”

I do

*Misty stands leaving her half eaten food going up along side Carson.*

"Dont worry Hun, we will get him out. Just dont do anything till we all talk tomarrow ok."

*Misty puts her arm around Carson and gives him a squeeze.*

"How about we watch a movie or I can sing you another song."

*Misty's grin widens trying to lighten the mood.*

*For a moment Aerith is quiet as Jason listens to his voice mail. Not wanting to talk and intarupt something important. As Jason hungs up and informs her it work Aerith cant help but roll her eyes and laugh alittle. What was it with these guys and work.

Aerith can tell Jason wanted to revery from talking about himself and the past and Aerith was fine with that. It wasent always easy for some people to be open.

As Jason brings up fishing Aerith cant help but smile. Just mentioning it braught back memories.*

"My dad and I use to go fishing all the time. He new a great spot outside the City. It was quiet and always nice to get away there. We would pack lunch and have a great old time. But I havent gone since he passed. I never had anyone alse to go with and sometimes its just not fun to do stuff alone."

*Aerith gives alittle shrug.*

"Do you like to fish?"

*Aerith really did enjoy talking with Jason. He had his shair of shadows, but he really did seem like a nice sweet guy. The conversation with him was intellagent as well and that was always nice.*

Some Answers

Carson opens his mouth to say more on the same subject, but realizes that Misty is giving him an out, so he takes it, following the redirected conversation.

“Oh, kind of…not really.” He chews on a fry thoughtfully, the frustration showing through. “She said the Agency waited until now because they actually thought that I’d come back to them at some point…they didn’t really believe I was on this side for good. When they realized that, they got desperate.” He shakes his head, still confused. “They think I know where the last remaining computer chip is.”

Carson pauses, not understanding the whole thing. “I guess there’s a war going on internally at the Agency. Medridge is starting to play around with his own men now, creating havoc. He told someone that I was the key to where the chip was, but he wouldn’t give them any more than that. So one of the gangs assumed that meant I knew where it was and decided to come after me. They want to find out where the chip is, in order to get to it before TJY, even though Medridge didn’t tell them to.”

He finishes off his burger and leans back in his chair, chewing until he can talk again. “So I know why they want me bad enough to kidnap Mick…they want me alive – maybe that’s a good thing. Problem is, I don’t have a clue where that stupid chip is. Why Medridge would say I did, I don’t know. But what I really wanted out of Ashlyn was to know where this would go down tomorrow…how many of their men would be there. But…she wouldn’t give it to me.”

Carson stands up to pace a little bit, trying to sort through his mess of thoughts. They were all tangled up with each other, leading to nothing that was helpful. “The good thing is, that one, they don’t want to kill me. Two, that if they’re not being led by Medridge, you can bet they’re not as organized. And three, they don’t have a clue how many of our own will be there.”

He stops to lean on the counter, staring at the sink. “We’ve got to get Mick out of there alive…”


Jason turns his head back to Aerith, unable to help but find a spark of amusement. She really did talk too much, but her innocence wouldn’t let Jason get upset. Katie tried to get into his head, Con tried to talk him out of his actions, Nate tried to give him advice on everything…but Aerith didn’t have a clue about his situation and was simply receiving information without judging or trying to advise him. It almost felt strange.

He opens his mouth to reply when the phone on his belt buzzes and he rolls his eyes. Picking it up he sees it’s Nate and decides not to answer, but waits to hear the message, separating his thoughts from Aerith for just a minute. Listening to what Nate says, Jason quirks an eyebrow, but lets out a tired sigh. Would this ever end?

He puts his phone back and shakes his head a little. “Work,” he explains. “Guess it’s an early morning for me.”

Looking back to Aerith again he almost quirks a smile. No, he wasn’t going to elaborate on his own life…he’d already said too much. But her company was worth keeping up a dialogue. His body language clearly tells her that he doesn’t want to talk about his troubles, and he switches the conversation, using the opening she had provided. “Fishing, huh? Was that a random topic, or do you actually like to fish?”

Info

*Aerith slids into the booth across from Jason no hesitation what so ever. What Jason had said came as a saprise but it explained why he seemed sad.*

"I'm sorry all that stuff happend to you. Someone as nice as you certinly dosent deserve that. I guess I can simpathys with you alittle bit about coming home and not understanding or feeling like you fit anymore. After my father died and my mom remarried everything just seemed differnt and it was hard fiting in."

*As Aerith talks she can tell Jason really was having a hard time with everything that happend to him. She could tell by his suddon change in demeanour that he just wanted to shut down and hide. Tilting her head alittle bit Aerith trys to catch Jason's eye for a moment.*

"I know its probley a hard thing to talk about Jason. So if you dont want to thats ok, but I am willing to listen if you just need to talk. Or if I am being to nosey you can just tell me to be to quiet to. We can always just eat in silence too, or you could tell me about a great place to go fishing or something. and sometime I really do talk to much."

*Misty gives alittle smile to Carson as she stuffs another fry in her mouth. Carson's past hurt to hear and though Ashlyn had come between them once it was just the past now and Misty did have faith in Carson again even though he did struggle. Misty was thankful that Carson had been honest and told her even though it was hard on him ans she new it. Giving Carson's hand a pat she takes another sip of her soda.*

"Thank you being honest with me Carson."

*Knowing Carson probley felt pretty uncomfortable Misty trys to redirect the convesations alittle.*

"So did you find out the information you were looking for?"

No lies

A sorry scoff makes its way to the surface, encased in a dry humor. Jason scoots back in the booth to sit sideways, leaning up against he wall and stretching out his long legs over the seat, his boots hanging off the end. “I guess when a man spends over half a year in prison, comes back to a life he doesn’t understand, and breaks up with his girlfriend, he might seem a little blue, eh?”

Only after the words have left his mouth does he realize that it’s the first time he’s said that about him and Katie aloud. It hits him hard enough that he starts to shut down and he looks away from Aerith for a moment. “I guess coming here was a distraction.”

Another forced smile surfaces. “Though the smell of the food is getting to me, so I might just have to relent and eat some supper while I’m here.” He cocks his head to the other side of the table. “Booth’s empty. Unless I’ve just succeeded in scaring you away, you’re welcome to it.”


Carson slowly relents and joins Misty in the kitchen. He half expects an interrogation for the call she’d just heard, but it doesn’t come. Instead, her question catches him just a little off guard.

He doesn’t answer right away… He unwraps his own burger and takes a bite, letting the silence rule for several minutes. His eyes stay lowered to the table. “There’s a lot of things about me I’ve never told you, Misty…mostly because it’s over and I don’t want you dwelling on why I did what I did, and who I did it with. And I know you’re smart enough to know that kind of past exists.”

Carson sets his burger down and folds his hands not even sure what to say. But Misty deserved an answer. “Ashlyn and I…had…a relationship based on all the wrong things. She liked me, I liked her and that was that. Commitment on either side never existed…we just…spent time together when we wanted to. And whether it was a day or a week, when it was over, it was over and we wouldn’t hardly see each other until the next time.”

He shrugs. “When describing her and me I’d never use the word love…but I won’t lie to you…there was more than a one night stand there, yes.”

Carson can feel heat creeping up the back of his neck. He didn’t like talking about this with Misty…he didn’t want to hurt her, and he didn’t like verbalizing his feelings either. It felt unnatural and awkward. But right now…it seemed necessary enough to grin and bear it.

He sighs deeply. “I guess…on some level I believed I’d found something resembling happiness when I was with her. Though there were…others…in between…somehow she and I always ended up back together again…often enough that the others in our circle at the Agency considered us being together as a given, or when we would show up at the same place that we’d…” He lets his voice trail off. Misty had been there that evening with Drew in the cabin…she’d witnessed the way the others had reacted to him and Ashlyn being together…he need not go on.

“Anyway…I guess that’s it. I don’t want it to be hard now, but it is sometimes…I was just trying to get answers from her tonight, and it was harder than I thought it would be. But…” He finally looks up to see Misty’s eyes. “But I’d never want that to come between us again…that's all in the past, and...as far as I’m concerned, you’re it.”

Eat

*Katie opens the door As Domino bounds in from outside. Both pants trying to catch there breath. Domino's fav chew toy in her mouth. Heading for her bedroom Katie lets Domino know to stay and she would be right back. Shuting the door behind her so Henry isent disturbed. Heading into the kitchen Katie grabs a glass of water and fills a bowl for Domino.*

*Aerith stays standing crossing her one arm over the other looking down for a moment than back at Jason. How strange it was to see Jason here again. Aerith dident mind though He seemed like a nice person to have a half way decent conversation with.*

"I have to addmit its alot more peaceful here, but when I left my grandmothers tonight to just get away and clear my head I had no intention on coming here. But here I am anyways. I figure God must have a good reson for me to be here. He guided me with out even me knowing it."

*Aerith smiles at Jason studying his face for a long moment. She saw the same looks she had earlyer today and it put the ping in her heart to help once again, but she wasent sure how nor did she want to pry into the life of someone she hardly even new.*

"How about you? You seem alittle blue."

*Quietly Misty listens to the rest of Carson's conversation not moving. Finally as he hangs the phone up she starts to unpake the burgers and frys. Not saying anything for a long moment just thinking deeply.*

"Come eat!"

*Misty sits down at the small table unwraping her wopper pulling off the tomatos she puts the top back on and takes a bite. Misty wasent angry and she could honestly say that. Sure she dident like Ashlyn but at the moment she dident feel angry. Just deep in though over everything. So many questions were still left un answered. Taking a spip of the soda Misty finally speaks.*

"Even if you dident pay attachen or whatever to it, there was more to you and Ashlyn than a good time way back went wasent there? I can tell by the way you talk to her and the look in you eyes."

*Misty dips a fry in katchup and eats it slowly.*

Arguing

It was late in the evening…the tv was droning and Scott was trying to keep himself awake, but it wasn’t working very well. He was alone in the infirmary…Katie had taken Domino home with her to give the poor dog a break, Misty was gone for the night, Rick had left and said he’d be back one more time…otherwise, it was just the night that waited.


Jason looks up quickly, raising his eyebrows at Aerith. It was obvious she wasn’t working tonight…interesting that she’d be here. He forces a weary grin, spreading his hands to show an empty table. “No snack, just…” He shrugs. What was it really? Time away? Time alone? An effort to keep his mind occupied? An effort to salvage some peaceful time while he butchered the rest of his life? “Hanging out,” he finishes lamely.

He cocks his head. “Most people don’t come back to their place of work in their free time…” His memory serves him well. “Or is it more peaceful here than with your grandmother?”


Carson doesn’t hear Misty until she speaks, and he whirls around in surprise. Taking in her comment, his face grows solemn and he holds up a finger, the look on his face conveying the message to stay put and shut up. He continues his conversation on the phone without missing a beat. “No, I swear. I don’t have that information. The Agency screwed up on that one….. Well tell them!” He starts to pace again, his bare feet dragging on the living room carpet. He sighs deeply. “No…I’m not coming back to tell them myself. And I’m not coming to you…that’s…” Carson closes his eyes for a moment, desperately trying not to allow Ashlyn’s words to bring up memories of the past…memories of good times…memories of times before he’d turned around. “Look…” His voice is calmer. “Someone screwed up and now there’s an innocent man’s life on the line. How long are you going to put up with this crap? When will you open your eyes and see that life with the Agency is worthless? Take my warning and get out while you still can.”

He rubs his forehead as a headache starts to form. “Alright…fine…if you don’t believe me, then I can’t do anything about it. Where’s it going down? …Come on, Ashlyn! It’s me you’re talking to! You know dang well that I wouldn’t call just to play games here.” Carson lets a curse slip under his breath as he talks. “What time? …No promises. If you’re double-crossing me, Ashlyn, so help me, I’ll…” His voice trails off as he receives another sly comment. He opens his mouth to retort, but finally ends the call instead, hanging up while Ashlynn is still mid-sentence.

Gripping his phone tightly, he finally lets it go, tossing it through the air and into a corner chair. Folding his arms on his chest, he tries to settle his nerves, and looks to Misty. “You do pick interesting times to show up,” he agrees. “I’ll give you that.”