We thought...

Jason meets Katie as she comes from the break room, giving her a knowing look.

It'll be okay... and so will Jeff.

He reaches out to wipe away a tear. There was still an unresolved issue between them, but for now, he wouldn't let it interfere. Instead, he slings an arm around her shoulders to walk with her back to the infirmary.


JT nods kindly to Charlotte. "Okay... you can follow me then." He guides her from the waiting room, and down through a series of halls until they are at the Intensive Care Unit. The room is small and open in case the doctors are needed, so there isn't much privacy, but at the moment, the atmosphere is quiet.

"Take as much time as you need," JT offers. "If you need anything, just ask one of the nurses." Leaving slowly, he lets Charlotte be alone. Wandering back down the hall a little ways, he goes into an employee break room to sink down on the small couch. Leaning forward, he rests his elbows on his knees with his face in his hands. It had been a long day. Bret had been his worst case, and he was worn out. But he had to stay a little longer... just a little longer.


Bret lies in the bed, still and quiet. There were many wires, hooked up to monitors to track his vitals and warn if anything went out of balance. His breathing is slow and rhythmical and his hands lay at his sides, motionless.

A brace supported his neck, while his head sported bandaging near his temple. His right shoulder was wrapped tightly, surrounded by cold packs, and his left ankle was wrapped and elevated. A few bruises had formed on his face, but he seemed to be resting peacefully.


Ryder settles in at the small table, sitting across from Thirteen. He had timed their arrival to Mom and Pop's in between mealtimes, so it wouldn't be too busy, and he'd calculated correctly. It would probably start to get busy in about half an hour, though customers did drift in and out right now. It was quiet enough though, that Ryder was confident Thirteen could handle it, especially after being at the mall. She really was improving, and he was proud of her.

"Well, after all that shopping, I do believe I have a bit of an appetite again," he muses, scanning the small menu. "Mm... maybe a slice of pizza?"

He glances over the top of the menu to Thirteen and his eyes squint slightly, signaling that he was hiding a smile. "It's some of the best pizza in town, even if Carson's the one who makes it."

"Did I hear my name being taken in vain?" Carson calls from the kitchen, turning from Aerith and poking his head out and over the counter.

"You did." Ryder gives him a wave.

Though both men weren't the best of friends, during the last month or so they had managed to settle their differences enough to interact on a friendly level and just lately had started to tease each other as well, proving that the rocky past was being slowly overcome.

Carson grins. "I see you have a friend with you today."

"I do." Ryder winks at Thirteen. "We've had quite a day. Shopping... ice cream... and a promise to learn how to swim."

"Ooh now that sounds like fun." Carson smiles at Thirteen, finding pleasure in seeing her blossom out of the dark corner she'd lived in. "I was just-" A timer dings, warning him to get back in the kitchen. "More later."

"Yeah, later." Ryder nods before looking back to Thirteen. "Hungry yet?"


Just as Carson is returning to the stove, his cell phone rings. He growls and hands off the pot to Dani before answering his phone. "Yeah, make it quick."

"I have it."

Carson bristles at the gruff female voice. "The password?"

"Yes."

"When do I get it?"

"Meet me at the vacant lot on the corner of town. You know the one."

"What time?"

"Thirty minutes."

Carson's eyes widen. It would take him at least that long just to get there. "How about tonight?"

"Thirty minutes or you can forget it."

"No... no, I'll come. Just... wait for me." He hangs up and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. The bell on the front door startles him and he sees seven people walk in. Great. His mind races. He had to go. He had to get that information and this was his only window. But it was going to get busy here and he would be gone for at least an hour, if not two. But what about here? He had to go... he had to stay...

Looking around the kitchen he sees Aerith and Dani already hard at work, Herb was having a quiet day at home, and Mable had already gone home and wouldn't be back until later. Great. Just great. Then an idea hits him.

Hurrying out to the tables, he spots Ryder. "I need your help." He takes Ryder's arm and starts to pull him from his chair.

"Whoa, steady mate. What's this about?"

"I need you in the kitchen." Carson unties his apron and hands it to a bewildered Ryder. "Dani and Aerith will show you around. Just for an hour or so, that's all I need."

"The kitchen? What? Me? No way, what are you -"

"Please," Carson begs. "I know you've been working on your Italian cooking, and I have to go for just a short time. Please..."

Ryder looks to Thirteen, to the apron in his hand, then to Carson. "Well... I..."

"Thank you." Carson pats his shoulder. "I knew you would. Be back in a jiff." Turning, he jogs back to the kitchen to grab his baseball cap and keys, and he's out the back door.

Ryder gives Thirteen a lame look. "Someone's got a few loose Kangaroos in the top paddock, and it isn't me." He blinks. "Um, I guess.... I'll be right back, or you... come with me." He heads to the kitchen with Thirteen, feeling stupid at his announcement. "Um... Carson left."

"He did what?" Dani's eyes widen and she looks to Aerith. "Why? When?"

"He didn't say. He just wanted me to do something, um, I don't know, cook or something?"

Dani couldn't believe it. "Do you even know anything about cooking?!"

"Kind of. I mean yes. I've dabbled some-"

"Dabbled?!" Dani throws up her arms. "Of all the.... he's an idiot! Leaving us with you!"

"Hey now." Ryder quirks an eyebrow. "I didn't have much of a choice here, but how about you see if it was an idiotic idea or not after he comes back ay?"

Dani can't help it that his calm tone calms her down too. "Well, put on an apron. We just got an order for two chicken parmigiana, a meatball sub, a personal pizza with mushrooms and olives, a chicken scampi and two chicken and shrimp carbonara."

Ryder blinks.

Dani looks up from the order pad. "Got all that?"

"Um..."

"Stove." Dani points around the kitchen. "Pots and pans, spices, there's red sauce already made up, utensils are there and there."

"Sure... right..."

Dani sighs and looks to Aerith. "So much for an easy afternoon."

"Fair go..." Ryder wanders around, trying to get his bearings. "I think I can handle this. I mean, what's a little bit of cooking, right? I'll just take a decko here and she'll be apples." He looks to Thirteen, motioning to the small table. "I guess you can take a seat and watch me make a mess."

Dani rolls her eyes. "I gotta go get table six their drinks. Aerith, watch this Aussie, will you? I have to babysit one at home, I'd rather not have to here."


Con ambles from Reese's office, slowly making his way over to the familiar cubicle. His shadow reaches his destination before he does, warning of the big man's approach. "Hey, beautiful."

Grinning, he leans over the wall easily, and pulls something out of his pocket to show Jamie. "What do you think?" An Elite badge reflects the light. "Don't have an office, but... I get a cubicle across the room from you for now."


Reese leans back in his desk chair, heaving a long sigh. He was glad Con had finally agreed to being back on the team. Though he wouldn't be out on as many cases as Jason like he'd been before, he would be very valuable in steak-outs, sniper situations and back in the office as well. There had been a hole ever since he had left, and even though Con wasn't confident he would do as good a job because of his hearing loss, Reese still trusted him.

"They leave, but they always come back." A chuckle comes out and he shakes his head. Groaning a little, he tries to refocus and figure out what he needed to do for the remainder of the long day.

His reprieve didn't last long though. The knock at the door interrupts him and he mumbles a, "Come in," his eyes still on his paperwork. When no one says anything, he looks up.

A chill runs down his spine as his eyes widen in shock. He could feel his jaw drop slightly and words evade him. "Wha..." Slowly, he gets to his feet. "Phinox?" He blinks, the strangest feeling coming over him. Phinox was supposed to be dead. He was supposed to have died at the scene when they had rescued Katie. "I..." He moves closer, making sure he was really seeing Phinox. "How? We thought you were dead."

One after another

Seeing the Dr come out Charlotte instantly stands up waiting to hear the news. Her heart still pounded inside her chest as if it was almost going to explode.

Listing to everything that had happened to Landon and that he would be ok gave Charlotte hope that Bret would be alright as well. Its all she had to hold onto right now that kept her from going crazy.

Taking JT's hand in her own she holds it for a long moment before letting go and bring her one arm down to her side while her other she wraps around herself waiting for the new on Bret.

"Please, how is my husband? Will he be ok?"

Looking up at the Dr with big bright eyes that held a a fear in them, and yet a little bit of hope. Hearing that Bret was alive Charlotte let out the breath she had been holding in. Though Bret was far from out of the woods she was thankful for now he was alive. Bret had always been a fighter and Charlotte just had to keep hope that he would fight through this was well.

Turning back to Kirk she gives a small nod and lays a hand on his arm.

"I'm going to go in and see him. Thank you! Let Landon know I send my wishes and if I can I will come and see him as well."

Turning back to JT Charlotte was ready to go and see her husband. Even if he wasn't awake right now at least she could be near so he would know he had a reason to pull through.

"I'm ready to go see him."

Walking by the kitchen Aerith stops and gives a smile to Carson. She'd gotten use to him running things now and it no longer felt strange. He did a good job anyways at it so there really was no complainants.

"Things are going good. He's been pretty busy the last few weeks but I understand its his job and all so it ok. He see me when he can."

Aerith gives another smile at Carson. She new things had been crazy specially with Carson away so much helping the elite it had to be busy. But Wyatt still came to see her almost everyday when he could even if it wasnt for long, and for that she was thankful.

"...Yeah so thats the lowdown really. I was hoping too if you remembered what the medicine Jeff was on was called? I know it didnt solve the problem last time but it help him at least."

Katie stood in the break room leaning on the counter as she talked with Angel. It was quiet in there and if some tears slipped out only one person would know and she would rather keep it that way.

"Yeah he was on a low dose of Oxycodone. Only about five mg of it when the pain got to bad."

Angel pulled out Jeff's file and flipped through the papers quickly looking for what she wanted on Jeff's illness. It had been a while since he had been sick now and they had thought on taking out the chip he was better and he was still now.

"Katie, let Rick know if might be an allergic reaction he is having to a melat. Thats what it was before. I am going to see if I can get the computer chip from Rosetta and run some tests on it to see if I can pin point anything to help more. ok?"

Though Angel couldnt see her Katie nodded anyways.

"Ok, I'll let him know thanks Angel."

Hanging up the phone Katie takes in a long breath of air and lets it out slowly. Exiting the breakroom Katie makes her way back to the infermary to watch over Jeff more and let Rick know what Angel said.

The rumble of a motercicle draws closer, the crackle of tired on the dirt as it slows and parks outside TJY. The figure that sat ontop of it just staired at the building for a long moment till finally he got off the bick and pulled helmet off.

Phinox took in a deep breath of air. A few new scars covered his face and he walked with a slight limp now but he had exscaped the grasp of The Agency once again. Now it was time to face the music here. He couldn't run forever. Jail or worse Phinox new he had to do what was right. He didnt have much left anyways.

Walkinig into TJY Phinox keeps his head down not to draw attachen to himself as the sound of his leather jacket crackled with every step he took.

Getting to Reese's office and not seeing Susanne around he knocks on the door. Hearing the answer to come in Phinox enters. His eyes lock with Reese but there were differnt from before. They were now tired and almost sad.