Please?

Ryder looks up at the clock again. He'd dozed off on the couch. His shoulder hurt. He was still hungry. And it was even later now. He was beginning to wonder if something was really wrong. Or maybe everybody here worked late.

Getting up, he wanders to the kitchen, searching for some numbers. Finding TJY's, he dials.

Wyatt is just getting in to the office. He'd left earlier, but then had been called back to help with someone who had attacked Scott. His blood boiled... his friend had been attacked yet again. He wanted to go to the hospital, but his father had asked him to come in instead.

Just as he's passing his cubicle, he sees the main phone line ringing. A quick glance to the back proved Susanne had gone home for the night. Deciding to answer it, he catches it before the answering system. "Yeah, TJY."

Ryder hesitates. "Um, yeah, this is Ryder Billings..."

Wyatt knew the name, though hadn't met him yet. "Oh yeah. What can I do for ya?"

"Well, I spent the night over here with Katie and... I was just surprised she hadn't gotten back tonight is all."

Wyatt's eyebrows shoot up. "You what?"

Ryder realizes his mistake. "I borrowed the couch," he clarifies quickly.

"Oh... of course." Wyatt rolls his eyes. "Yeah, well she's at the hospital right now. Scott - one of our guys - he got attacked and so she and Jason went with him over there."

"Oh." Ryder was sorry to hear about that. He'd learned just a little bit about this Scott's history, and knew that this couldn't be good. "Well, um, I don't want to startle, um... what's her name... Katie's roommate, when she gets back either, so could you..."

"She won't be back for a bit," Wyatt interrupts. "She got roughed up the other night by a guy so she's staying somewhere safe for a while."

Now Ryder felt like he was just being a pain. "I see. Okay, um... well I guess I'll just sit tight then."

"Can I get you anything? Have you eaten?"

Ryder glances around and spies a jar of spare change on the counter. He could pay it back later. "Know any places that have good take away?"

"Sorry?"

"Ah..." Ryder thinks. "Take out."

"Oh, right right. Yeah, Eddie's downtown has some good subs. They're in the phone book and they'll deliver."

"Perfect. Thanks, mate."

"Sure."

Hanging up, Ryder goes for the phone book and begins thumbing through the pages. Suddenly Henry jumps up on the counter next to him, looking into the book. "And what are you doing?" Ryder reprimands, though he scratches Henry's head. "You hungry too?"


Scott swallows hard, his focus still on the ceiling above. He knew Katie was speaking to him, but no words of his own wanted to come. He felt so many things at once right now, it was hard to sort through them. Though the two biggest clashed on the surface, creating an unbearable turmoil. He didn't know which to confront first.

Suddenly, there is a new voice. Scott has to turn his head to see that it's Hope, and he feels her hand on his arm. If she hadn't spoken, it might have taken him a moment to recognize her, dressed so casually. But instead of responding to her gentle humor, he turns his head the other way. He hated her seeing him like this. She'd already seen him at his lowest, and now it was just adding salt to that wound. He wanted to be strong again. To face this thing and be like all the other TJY agents who could stand up to anything. But for the first time, he had... and what had he done...? He sees those lifeless bodies again... the ones that he had taken down with his own hands.

Jason watches, feeling no danger, though this woman was a stranger to him.

This must be Scott's therapist... the one Rick's been having him see.

Seeing Scott's reaction, he knows it must not be typical. None of this was. Not his silence, or apparent dislike of seeing anyone.

Let's leave him alone for a few minutes... maybe he'll talk to her.

Holding out his hand, he waits for Katie to stand, then goes with her out into the hall. "Let's go find the doctor to see what he says... I can't sit and do nothing."

Scott can hear the footsteps of his two friends leaving. Part of him was glad. Part of him felt more lonely. All he wanted now was to feel better... just to feel better.

Without thinking, he shifts his arm up so his hand meets Hope's. He curls his thin fingers around hers in a sign that he just needed someone who understood... someone who wouldn't leave. He trusted her. He knew she wouldn't abandon him.

"They killed Domino," he whispers. A silent tear runs out of his eye to trickle down to the pillow. "They just..." The scene flashes in his mind again. That little dog had been his partner for the last several years. She'd been his friend. She'd been his pride and joy. And now...

Scott turns his head back again to see Hope's face. "And I killed them."

His gaze aims to the ceiling again, and he closes his eyes. "I didn't mean to... I was just... so mad and..." His words are cut off as a sharp pain reminds him of his injury. His eyes still closed, he whispers again. "Don't leave me... please?"


Hearing Misty enter the holding cell, Rick turns around, relieved to see her. "You're a life-saver."

Reese smirks. "What? I wasn't doing a good enough job?"

Rick works to stop the bleeding on the right side of the man's chest. "You were until she came. Now you can go."

Reese rolls his eyes. "I'm being dismissed by my own employee. What is this office coming to?"

Rick tries not to let his humor show as Reese walks away. "Thanks, Misty. This bullet went clean through, and amazingly didn't hit anything major. We just need to sew him up."

He sighs as he works. "Though unfortunately, part of me would like to just leave him here without helping him." He grits his teeth, returning to Misty's question. "Two guys went to Scott's tonight. We don't know the story, but the other guy is dead."

Suddenly, Ty appears in the doorway. "You wanted me?" His eyes widen. "Whoa, what happened?"

"Later," Rick directs. "Go out to my car. You'll know what to do."

Ty lifts his eyebrows. "Wha.."

"Move!"

"Alright, alright!"

Rick makes sure Ty is on his way before turning back to his patient. "This guy can't be a day over twenty-five," he mutters. "The Agency takes them younger every day."

All of a sudden, the man gives a groan and starts to move.

"Shoot." Rick works faster. "I was hoping that bump on his head would keep him out longer. Give him a sedative would you?"