Triumphs and losses

Kyle wants to sit up, but for the moment, his whole body felt like a lead weight. Instead, he just lets his eyes close again, resting his face against Alice's hand. Why was she being so gentle and apparently relieved to see him awake? He didn't understand.

"It was a nice beach," he murmurs, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "I didn't want to leave."

For a moment, he almost falls back asleep, but then he opens his eyes once more to look up into Alice's eyes. There was concern in his own gaze. "Last thing I remember is swimming... what happened? Why am I here?"


Jason watches helplessly as Misty does all she can with Katie. But his lifeline was slowly slipping away from him. He could feel his emotions surging through his body now, finally rid of the antidote. But in this close space, he had to control it, lest it explode.

Swallowing the urge to scream, Jason bends to rest his forehead on Katie's, a tear falling to mingle in her hair.

You can't leave... you just can't... You made it too far to give up now.

His emotions flow from him as if relieved that they were experiencing freedom once again. But while they were able to seep from Jason and soak into their receiver, the channel remained silent. It felt the same as when Katie was sound asleep. But this time, Jason's promptings could not wake her. The emotions were feeding her... but it may have been too late.


Laura breathes through the pain, knowing that she would be fine once she was taken care of. The bullet had gone through, so the only danger was loss of blood.

She lets her head fall over to Nate's shoulder, half letting him know she was okay, and half letting herself simply soak up the comfort he was trying to give her. She was scared. She was in pain. But he was here to keep her safe.

A bump in the road makes her grunt as she bites her lip, and her fingers tighten even more on Nate's hand.


Ryder looks into the girl's eyes for a moment, finding something unusual there. Her dropped gaze tells him that she would probably not be saying anything. He glances to Carson. "I think you're right."

"About what?"

"Her being an Agency baby."

Carson quirks an eyebrow and looks over to the girl for himself. Studying her a moment, he nods. "She doesn't look like an agent... and I've never seen her."

Though prepared to defend himself if he turned out to be wrong, Ryder scoots around in front of the girl, reaching out to tilt her chin up. She did look a lot like Katie. He sees that Reese has her handcuffed to the side of the van, and he almost feels sorry for her. He didn't normally let his guard down with someone from the Agency, but that look in her eye... it was like a frightened animal, not one of hate. "What's your name?"


Reese puts a hand to his headset. "Wyatt... I'm going to head back to base with our prisoner. Some of us will be up to the hospital to join you shortly."

"Sounds good. We're almost there. Do me a favor and call Brown... have him call in a few officers to come down here too and keep an eye out. Last thing we need is for the Agency to mess around here."


Town comes into view. Traffic is sped around and red lights are run. Sirens sound, but not to pull them over, rather to escort them the rest of the way to the hospital.

The parking lot. The injured. The paramedics. The chaos. Three agents needing care. The hospital was all-too familiar. Jason doesn't want to let Katie go, but lying her down on the stretcher, all he can do is kiss her forehead and beg her one last time not to leave him. Watching her wheeled to the ER was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

Laura is rushed into another room as another doctor and set of nurses work on her injury. Scott is still numb and also taken to be looked at. There were still two bullets in his arm that needed to come out.

Other TJY agents show up to find out any news. Phone calls are made, and worry is everywhere. There is relief that it is over. But concern for the injured, and a lingering sorrow for the one that did not return. Everyone dealt with it in their own way, but they knew they would be honoring Phinox's memory when this was over.


... Jason paces like a caged tiger in the hall. No word... nothing... no signs. The light above his head flickers. One would just think the bulb was going bad, but one who knew how tightly wound Jason was, would realize it was his doing.

Suddenly, a hand on his shoulder makes him stop and spin around. Derek looked back at him with a soft concern. "She'll be okay," he comforts quietly. "Just let the doctors do their job."

Jason looks back at him, his eyes filling again. "Thank you," he whispers, his voice wavering, "for helping bring her back."

Derek only wished it would have been sooner... he only wished there was something more he could have done.

Something perhaps no one would have thought would ever happen caused a stir in the hearts of the few that saw it. It sorrow and of comfort. It was an action that took the place of words that could never be spoken. For the first time, father and son embraced, the silent tears flowing.


Laura lays quietly in the bed, struggling to stay awake. The medications were making her sleepy, but she wanted to see Nate before she drifted off. She would be fine. It hurt, and though the wound had been deeper than the doctors would have liked, the repair had not taken all that long. She was supposed to stay off work for a few days, but she would be able to go home tomorrow.


Scott sits on the edge of the bed, his arm wrapped and in a sling. It ached like nothing else. Three bullet holes hadn't made the surgery easy for the doctors, but they'd managed to get the bullets out and sew him up. They only wanted him here for a couple hours to make sure nothing was complicated, but then he could go home.

It was quiet in here... too quiet. His mind was replaying the day over and over and over. The fear, the gunfire, the blood, the deaths.

He closes his eyes a moment and swallows hard, taking a deep breath. But Katie was out... they had gotten Katie out.

Outside his door, he can hear the voices of Reese and Brown. He heard his name mentioned, and wondered what it was about. But he was a little afraid. There was still an unsettled matter involving him and the Agency. He might have gone out on a mission... but he was still considered a risk.