Intruder

Axel and Leo both smile as Ryan joins them in the shop.

"I have plenty to do other than hang around here," Leo responds. "Now him..." He thumbs to Axel. "He doesn't have a life. I've been trying to pull him out of his shell but he just aagghhh!" Leo teeters backward as he's pulled into a choke hold. "Axel!"

Axel keeps a firm, but friendly grip around Leo's throat with his arm, and looks over to Ryan, his eyes twinkling. "What Leo is trying to say is that yes, we both have plenty we do besides work, but we have such a great work ethic that we have to make sure our jobs are completed to the fullest, even if it means staying late." He releases Leo, giving him a little shove.

Leo stumbles forward, then whirls around, whipping out a rag to swat Axel with. Axel was still quicker though, and catches the flying rag, giving it a swift tug to yank Leo closer, then hooks his ankle.

Leo goes down onto the concrete floor with a thud and a groan. "Ohhh," he moans. "When am I gonna learn not to go up against you?"

"Learn how to dance," Axel advises, tossing the rag aside. "Now... where's my wrench?"

"Um..." Leo looks up from the floor. "Somewhere?"

Axel rolls his eyes and find his wrench, leaning back over the engine again. Not a moment later though, the tool is clanging back to the floor. Axel spins around the other side of the car and doubles over as he holds his hand, the pain shooting through it like persistent knives. He grits his teeth to hold back what he really wanted to say.

Leo's eyes widen and he stands up, the teasing gone. "Hey, man, you alright?"

Axel nods, breathing through the pain.

Leo isn't convinced, and looks to Ryan, then back to his friend. "You've been working late because you've been having more trouble with your hand, haven't you?"

Axel rubs his hand, trying to stop the pain and tingling. The numbness would be here soon then he wouldn't be able to work for at least another half an hour. He hadn't even told Jess how bad the spells had gotten. "Don't tell Darrell." He looks over to plead with Leo. "I can't lose this job."

"But your hand... you're not gonna be able to keep up with the work if you keep having trouble with it and-"

"Shut it, Leo," Axel snaps.

Leo immediately retreats, his eyes flickering with surprise. Axel never snapped at him. "You want help on the car?"

"No..." Axel manages to straighten back up as the numbness began. "Maybe. I don't know. You got things to do."

"Well but-"

"I'm fine." Axel's voice was back on an even keel, and he retrieves the fallen wrench. Leaning back into the engine, he fumbles, trying to get the job done with one hand until the spasm wore off.



Alec skids to a stop on a street corner and looks both ways. Breathing heavily, he bends to catch his breath. He was glad this end of town was so quiet this evening. Fewer eyes. Fewer risks of being caught.

The further he went, the clearer his head got. The clearer his head got, the more determination he had to survive. The more determination he got, the less fear bothered him.

He'd been stupid to go out and get drunk. He should have been making plans, but instead, he'd been out for hours, then hit his typical mellow stage after being drunk. Unfortunately, it had been with someone else, and he'd let his guard down like a lost dog looking for shelter. He'd been just as stupid to let someone help him. Back to his senses though, the world looked different. Now all he needed was to find the one contact he had in order to lay low then figure out how to get out of this mess and back into the Agency's good graces. What had he been thinking with Ryan anyway? He didn't have a clue. But he should have taken advantage of the situation earlier. Instead, he'd been too out of it to think straight. Now it might be too late.

Continuing on his blind route, he's very surprised when he sees an auto shop up ahead. And the familiar car. What luck. He could have been wandering all over this city for three days without finding Ryan and here it hadn't taken him long at all. They'd been close to the shop. Maybe his luck was finally turning around.

It takes him just a few more minutes to make it down to the shop, steering clear of some passerbys and a vehicle with a loud muffler. Coming up on the shop, he automatically sticks close to the building. It was quiet. Most likely they were closed for the day.

Slipping around the side, he carefully peers into one of the windows. He sees two men, but not Ryan. Maybe she'd just dropped her car off. For a moment, he wonders if this was really his way out or not. Then he spies a door inside that reads "office." Now that could have some possibilities, whether his target was here or not.

Ducking back down, Alec slinks around back and around the other side. He was in luck again as he tries the door. It was open. Slithering inside, he looks around quickly. He could hear one of the men's voices in the adjoining shop, but he felt safely alone, here in the office and waiting area.

Going behind the counter, he spies a drawer with a keyhole. Bingo. He knew it would hold cash. Grabbing a letter opener, he starts to work.


Leo backs off from Axel and shrugs at Ryan with a look that said 'whatever.' Fooling with some tools a moment, he snaps his fingers. "I forgot my time card. Be back in a jif!"

Axel watches him trot over to the office, and shakes his head. Sometimes the energy was just too much. He doesn't look over to Ryan... she'd been the only one who had witnessed him having a worse bout than this with his hand, but he never brought it up. Why should the inevitable be discussed?

Leo swings open the office door, whistling to himself. Going around the counter he's not paying any attention and is suddenly in another hold. But this time it wasn't Axel, and his arm being twisted behind his back hurt. And it wasn't an arm under his throat - it was a sharp letter opener. In an instant of panic, he flails his arm sending items flying off the counter and onto the floor.

Axel's head snaps back up and he looks to the office as he hears a strange noise. "Think he ran into the wall?" he asks Ryan teasingly.


"First thing's first, hmm?" Ryder gives Thirteen's hand a gentle squeeze as they go to Jason's office to retrieve the big dog. Getting a leash, they're soon headed for the main floor. Ryder remains silent until they're outside in the parking lot.

"I don't know when Reese will know you're not dangerous," he finally answers. "Don't blame him though. The Agency has hurt many people he cares deeply for. He's just trying to protect them."

Reaching the car, he lets Trooper into the back seat. The dog seems more subdued than normal, seeming to know that he'd done something wrong, and as a result, things weren't the same anymore.

The ride seemed to be a little dimmer than normal. Ryder still tried to concentrate on keeping Thirteen comfortable, but he knew he was pushing his limits with her. She'd had quite the day as it was.

Reaching Jason's house, Ryder parks and gets out, letting Trooper out with him. He waves at Thirteen to come too. It was a quiet part of town so there weren't many people going by, and not much noise. It was just starting to get dark.

After getting to the door, Ryder finds the spare key and Trooper bounds in front of him, heading straight to the kitchen where his dog dishes still were, having been there for ages it seemed. He waits fairly impatiently as Ryder finds some food to give him.

Finishing up with the dog, Ryder ambles back to the entryway, Thirteen still in his shadow. "There's a tv there.... and a couch... and the bathroom is down the hall. Jason's bedroom's there too, but I told him I wouldn't invade his own space there." He gives a little nod. "Um..." He fidgets with his keys. "Trooper is going to be in here the whole time, and... I'll be right outside in my car. You can even see me through that window there."