A little extra

Jason chuckles and shakes his head. "I don't mind. Keep working in here and maybe we'll finally get to share an office yet."

Trooper had been brought in by Ryder, and he gives a groan as he stretches then wanders over to Katie, resting his head on the table beside her paperwork. Sniffing a little, he inches his head closer to her hand very nonchalantly before swiftly taking the pencil from her hand and looking at her as if daring her to take it from his slobbery mouth.

Jason grins. "Apparently, he wouldn't mind your company either."


Sparky lies there dumbly as Faith take the Bible from him. He really wasn't all that sure what he'd been trying to do anyway. It had seemed a good idea at the time... whatever it had been.

Shifting to lie on his side, he tucks one arm under his pillow, the other under the blanket, following orders though he felt oh, so hot. His eyes start to drift shut, but as Faith begins to read, his eyelids flutter and he watches her. The verses seemed to calm him and his breathing quiets as he listens to the words. His eyes kept trying to shut, but he would force them open again, just watching Faith as if were he to lose sight of her, the reading might stop.

Eventually, sleep would come, but it was a much deeper sleep, brought on by the raging fever. During the night, his temperature rises dangerously, requiring Angel's care as well as Faith's. Though opening his eyes and mumbling responses, he would not remember much about the next two days. While Jade was able to be up and about again, Sparky was far worse, enough so that the question of taking him to the hospital came up. Thankfully though, with patience and Angel's skill, he was stabilized, enough so that they continued his care in the bunkhouse. Sometime during the third night his fever finally broke.

The sun was just starting to rise, sending streams of dim light through the cracks in the blinds. Sparky stirs, feeling as though he'd been run over by a truck. From his back, he rolls onto his side, only to find himself in a mild but painful coughing fit. Once he regains control, he blinks, opening his eyes for the first time in a day. He didn't feel hot though and he knew immediately that he didn't have a fever.

Trying to regain a bit of his senses to figure out just where why and when he was, his eyes land on his bedside clock. The date was clearly shown and he's surprised to find out that several days have passed. All he knew was that he'd been sick. "Dang..." His voice is hoarse and raspy, and he looks around again, realizing that Faith was there as well. Why was she there, and how long had she been there? His eyes catch hers and he just studies her for several moments before speaking again. "And to what do I owe this early morning visit?"


Gunner hangs up his phone, giving a weary sigh. JT had still gotten nowhere. During the last several days, they had put together enough clues to figure out that the whole thing with Bree had to do with money that was supposed to go to her, but that's as far as they'd gotten. Every single avenue ended in a closed door. Even JT's lawyer friend couldn't get through as many layers as there were to find out the truth. And without the truth, there was no proof of foul play. And with no proof, there was no way to get Bree out of Crescentview.

It was getting late. Some people were heading home for the day. Gunner glances at the clock. He himself had done as much digging as he could, but JT had been right - Crescentview had tight security. Gunner couldn't get much farther than finding out how many people were employed there and that there were only a few short windows during a week that visitors were allowed - but even then, it was only to particular patients. He had respected JT's wishes to wait, be patient and do quiet research so as not to draw attention. But by now, Gunner could barely stand it any longer. He hadn't been able to dig up the information they wanted - he just wasn't good enough with that, with limited time and skill in that area.

Making up his mind, Gunner gets up and heads towards the hall. Making sure no one else was around, he slips into Scott and Dalton's office, glad they were still there. Leaning down on the desk, he stares both men in the eye. "I need your help."

Scott quirks an eyebrow and gives Dalton a sidelong glance before looking back at Gunner. "What's up?"

"I've got a friend in trouble... she's being held in a mental hospital and I need help getting her out."

Scott blinks. "Is this an Elite case? I haven't heard anything about-"

"No, it's not," Gunner states flatly. "It would probably be best if Reese didn't even know. If you two don't want that, then fine... but if you're willing to help quietly... I'll tell you what I need."

Scott purses his lips, thinking. He looks at Dalton again, then at the clock. It was just after five. "We're off the clock," he reasons. "What do you say?"


Gage's usually quiet walk is replaced by a forceful pace as he heads up to his apartment. He'd been trying so hard... he really had. Ever since he'd found out what kind of people the Agency really was, and ever since he'd realized the difference between right and wrong, he'd been trying to change. But sometimes... sometimes it was just too much.

Scowling as he unlocks his door, he shuts it behind him, using all the restraint he had not to slam it. Locking it again, he stands quietly for a moment, seething. Breaking out with a cry of frustration, he hurls his keys across his apartment, sending them smacking into the wall, creating a nick in the drywall.

Settling down a little, Gage wanders to his air mattress and sinks down, leaning back against the wall. Sapphire would be here any minute. They were going to go out and grab something for supper. And now he'd have to explain why he had a split lip. More than that, why he had blood on his shirt and it wasn't even his own blood. Maybe he'd just tell Sapphire that they would go eat tomorrow night instead.

Miserable, he glares at the Christmas tree in the corner. But looking at it, he remembered the fun he'd had with Sapphire... the stories she'd told him... the good feeling of creating something that looked nice. Eventually, he reaches down to the extension cord and plugs it in. The blue lights of the tree made the dark little apartment glow, the white star reflecting off the ceiling.

Gage sighs deeply and puts a hand to his tender lip. It hadn't been a bad enough hit to make another scar. But he'd been trained to fight... trained to torture. He might have had a sudden turn-around in his life after realizing who the Agency was, but he'd still been raised by them... taught by them. Everything he did and thought was influenced by their training. And today had been the first time he hadn't been able to resist it. Up until this point, he'd had no real opposition. He'd had no real reason to get upset or to fight. He'd been given a new chance and though living here wasn't the greatest, it was better than a sterile Agency room. But being provoked today, he just hadn't been strong enough to keep himself from doing what he did best. For the first time, his old self had come through, and he wasn't sure what to do with it.


Ryder flips through the mail, thumbing over some bills and junk mail. Seeing a handwritten envelope addressed to him, he pauses, throwing the rest of the stack on the table. The return address was Texas, and he recognized the writing.

Cocking his head, he peers into the living room to make sure Thirteen was still in there. They'd both had the day off and had been running errands all day. Now she was settled folding laundry at the couch and it was just as well that Ryder tore into the envelope while he was alone. There was a letter and a check, but it was more than expected this time.

Ryder,
Here's my check for the month. I wrote in a little extra this time for something special for Jasmine. Please make sure she has a nice Christmas.
-Trent

Ryder looks at the check and sighs a little. It was so obvious that Trent cared about his daughter, but he was too stubborn to tell her. Folding the check and slipping it into his back pocket, Ryder wandered into the living room, coming up behind the couch. Reaching down and over Thirteen's shoulder, he picks up a sock, draping it over her ear. "Hey, you."

He leans down closer so his face was next to hers. "We're gonna go have supper tonight wherever you want. Then afterward we're gonna do whatever you want to do. You name it."

Relaxed

Just wrapping his arms around Jade to hold her Dan felt so comfortable just laying there with her. It was nice to have someone by his side, just holding her made me feel warm.

"Human ones are the best kind. I guess the warm arm wraps help too."

Continuing to just hold Jade, this was where Dan would say. To make sure she was ok, and if she needed anything sh wouldn't have to go far. He didnt mind taking care of Jade, in fact he rather liked it.

Giving Jade a kiss on the top of the head Dan leans his head against the the wall closing his eyes. He was comfortable and relaxed, Staying like this forever he could get use to.

Sitting back down in the chair as Sparky seems to be resting Faith picks up her own book ready to pick up where she left off. But as Sparky sits up again and drops his bible on the ground Faith can't help but jump bringing a hand to her heart. She hadn't expected that and it scared the living tar out of her.

Just watching him for a moment while he fumbled and tried to read the book upside down Faith had to do her best not to give a giggle. It was kind of cute that Sparky was trying to read upside down, but she new he was sick and really it was no laughing matter.

Getting up and setting her book down once again Faith goes over to the bed and sits down. Giving a soft smile she takes the book from Sparky.

"Here, let me read it for you. James right?"

Turning the book the right was and flipping the pages Faith finds James. Not sure where Sparky is in the chapter Faith just starts at the beginning. Her voice was soft as she read but there was emotion in it with what she was reading.

Letting out a tired sigh Katie makes her way to her own cubicle. After everything had happened she felt drained again.

I understand what you mean! There is always going to be something to deal with I think. It's just kind of a part of our life now, even if it does suck sometimes.

Not really feeling comfortable at her cubicle Katie gathers some of her waiting paper work together. Standing and heading across the floor to Jason's office. Giving a soft knock on the door she new she didn't need to but wanted to anyways. Hearing Jason answer she enters shutting the door softly behind her.

Taking one of Jason's overstuffed chairs Katie pulls it up to one of the tables by the wall and puts her paperwork down before pulling out her pen and starting to circle a few things. Looking up as if forgetting that Jason didnt know what she was doing Katie turns and gives him a grin.

"I didn't really feel like being alone. I hope you dont mind!"

Argument

Even though she felt physically terrible, having Dan next to her still made her smile. Closing her eyes, she lets out a sigh, then leans her head over to rest it on his shoulder. Her comment made her giggle. "Liar. I look terrible."

Pulling the blanket up a bit more, she knows Dan gets to stay a while since he took his boots off. Wriggling down a little further so her head could lean against his chest, her one arm wraps around him as she snuggles in close. Her head was throbbing, but she couldn't be more comfortable than this. The beat of his heart and the gentle up and down of his breathing was like a lullaby, beckoning her back to sleep. "Living pillows are nice," she teases groggily.


Sparky's head hurts so bad he doesn't even want to open his eyes at all, but he pries them open anyway to see Faith and watch her as she comes near to pull the blankets up. His words were a bit slurred and someone might have trouble knowing if he was in a lucid moment or not. "You'd... make a good nurse for... for Angel," he mumbles, half into the mattress.

To the suggestion of food and drink, he shakes his head a little. He didn't feel like eating anything. All he felt like doing was sleeping, but even that was hard as achy and hot as he was. Coughing, he winces as it causes pain in his chest. Whatever this bug was, it was nasty and it had taken over very quickly. He knew that even once his fever broke, he'd be miserable for a while.

Still coughing, he manages to roll onto his side and reach for the glass of water on the bedside table. Then sinking back down again, he grimaces, trying not to complain, but it was hard. A chill comes over him and now he's glad for the blanket as he shivers, though still feeling hot as he sweats.

With the room going in circles again, everything looked a bit funny. The colors didn't seem right... and he was pretty sure that it wasn't lightning outside... or was it snow? Either way, things were very strange.

Seeming to fall back asleep again, his body rests until suddenly his eyes are open again. Out of nowhere, he reaches for the table once more, but this time, he tugs at his leather Bible. It falls to the floor with a thud and he looks over the edge of his bed, reaching down to flip the pages. He didn't realize that it was upside down, and was having quite the time trying to find what he was looking for. "I was in James," he mumbles, squinting at the blurry, upside down type. "But I suddenly seem..." He coughs, interrupting himself. "...to not be able to read."


Rick shakes his head slowly. "You're right, Katie... they didn't brand you." He takes Jason's hand, flipping it palm-side up to reveal the burn pattern that was becoming a permanent scar. "I believe that on a normal daily basis, the flow between you two doesn't have a pattern or come from one source - if it did, it would be easier for outside interference. However... Jason, I think that when you purposely force out your emotions, that it comes in that pattern every time. I think it did from the beginning, we just couldn't tell."

Jason furrows his brow. "So when Katie and I held hands... and there was so much force... it actually burned my hand, and in turn, burned hers too."

"Precisely." He looks back to the computer. "Dalton, back it up to the beginning, would you?" Once the footage was in play again, Rick points to where Jason had been standing. "Look." On the screen, Jason's hand twitches right before the glass explodes.

Jason quirks an eyebrow. "I don't remember doing that."

"I think you do it every time," Rick concludes. "I think that if we would have caught every instance on tape, we'd see that each time, you move your palm towards the target. It's so fast and slight though, that you don't even realize that you're doing it. And... I think Katie does the same thing when she draws emotions. It's just not obvious."

"What if it was? What if I were to purposely aim at an object?"

"I'd say we would need more than safety glasses." Rick purses his lips. "If you two want to experiment, be my guest. But take my advice and do it out in some open field somewhere."

The whole time, Scott has been looking at the screen too, his interest piqued. The whole thing was amazing, and he looks up out of the corner of his eye at Katie for a moment. This thing never ended with her and Jason. It was constantly evolving and they were constantly learning new things about it. Would there ever be an end? "At least... it wasn't done on purpose then," he reasons.

"That's a good thing," Rick agrees. "We know that all the Agency did was amplify the emotional state with whatever formula they have. However.... whether they realize it or not, you have been branded. Whenever you go undercover or need to conceal your identity, you will have to rely on bandages or gloves, and a good cover story."

Jason nods, slowly letting out a deep breath. "Alright... now what?"

Rick shrugs. "You two are free to go. I want you back in the infirmary tomorrow for checkups, but... otherwise, just take it easy for a few days. If you have any more ideas or epiphanies, come and see me."

Once they all split up again, Jason wanders to his office where he hadn't been in almost two weeks. Easing down in his chair, he puts his head in his hands.

I don't want to complain... and I don't want to take it away but... it sure would be nice to not have to deal with this for once.


"Where are we going?"

"My place."

"But you said you know where she is."

"I said I think I do." JT keeps his eyes on the road, his jaw muscles tightening with every second as the tension runs high.

"Then why aren't we going there?!" Gunner didn't understand and his frustration was growing.

"Because we can't just barge in there," JT answers firmly. "I'm going to go home and call Crescentview and see if Bree was checked in there. If she was, we have a place to start."

"Why can't I call TJY? We'll have those guys in ten seconds flat."

"Just cool it, Gunner!" JT waves a hand at him. "Let me think!"

Gunner falls silent, still rubbing the back of his sore head.
Where are you, Bree? Don't let them win. God, why did this have to happen?

Twenty minutes later, Gunner paces the kitchen like a caged tiger while JT was on the phone. Walking back and forth and back and forth, he holds an icepack to the back of his head, half listening to the one-sided conversation JT was having on the phone at the table.

"All I want to know is if Bree Conner was checked in today." JT's voice was strained as he tries to stay calm. "I know you can't give me any information about patient's conditions - I'm a doctor and I happen to know all about privacy laws. But what I do not know is if Bree Conner was brought in today. Would you please check for me?"

His fist clenches as he keeps from losing his temper. "My name is Doctor Jack Timble. Yes. Thank you." Being put on hold, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair. Part of him wanted to know that Bree was there so they would know what they were dealing with, and part of him wanted to find out that she was not. A voice comes back on the line and he pays attention again. "Yes, I'm still here. What?" He blinks in amazement. "You've got to be kidding me. No, no, wait... I just..... don't...." Hearing the click on the end of the line, he growls and slams the phone down. "Gah!"

Gunner quickly joins him. "What happened? Is she there?"

"They wouldn't tell me." JT looks up at him, his eyes narrowed with anger. "Apparently they have my name on file and are not to hand out any information to me whatsoever."

"What?"

"That's our answer though." JT shakes his head. "If they've got me pegged, there's only one reason."

"Because they've got Bree."

"Bingo."

"Now what?"

"We make some more calls."

"Oh, come on!" Gunner shoves a chair in anger. "Quit making calls and lets go get her!"

"We can't do that, Gunner!" JT stands up, slamming his palm on the table. "This is going to take legal strategy, not storming the gates!"

"They used brute force!" Gunner raises his voice in anger. "They played it dirty and you know it. I say we go in and play dirty right back at them!"

"And do what?! Wind up in jail?"

"I'm Elite, dang it!" Gunner holds up his badge. "I can get in where you can't!"

"They won't let you in!"

"I'll get a warrant!"

"They won't let you! Don't you hear me?!" JT shouts his question, trying to get through to him. "Bree's father has control everywhere! No matter the price, they've got it. I don't know why this is happening again, but I can guarantee that we can't just waltz in there and take her back out again. It just doesn't work that way!"

"Then we make it work that way!" Gunner's eyes blaze. "I can't just sit here while you make your phonecalls, knowing that she's in that place getting tortured! It isn't right!"

"I know it isn't right!" JT is one step from giving Gunner a shove, but he withholds physical force despite his anger. "She's my niece, Gunner! You think I don't care?! I want to barge in there now as much as you do, but I know good and well that it just isn't going to work! Crescentview isn't like Northside! They got guards there... armed guards. If they've got me pegged, I won't even be able to get past the first gate. You may be able to get into the front building, but I'd bet my life savings that they'll know you too and you'll leave there with no more information than when you came. Put up a fight and they'll have you behind bars so fast your head will swim, whether you're Elite or not." He pauses, panting from his spiel. "We have to go through quiet legal channels with this one. It's the only way we're going to win."

"But..." Gunner's shoulder's drop, the reality of JT's words starting to sink in. "That could take days."

"It could take weeks," JT confirms grimly. "But if we make one wrong step, we could lose this before it even starts. Who we are matters nothing to people like this. My brother-in-law has connections everywhere... and I mean everywhere. We've got to watch our step and play this smart."

Gunner sinks down into a chair and puts his head in his hands, his temper calming down. "What do we do?"

"I'm calling an old lawyer friend of mine. I have a few other contacts that may be able to help me figure out why this happened. We have to understand what the reason is here. I'm sure it has something to do with money, but I don't know what. Once we figure that out, we'll have something to go on."

"And me?"

"Get the lowdown on Crescentview. Figure out everything from who's not allowed to have contact with Bree, to when they have the electric meter checked. Anything and everything."

"That's gonna take some time."

"I know. But you got the resources."

"Reese would have a fit if he knew I was working on something like that."

JT quirks an eyebrow. "Who said he needs to know?"