Your way

Reese doesn't interrupt Ryan, willing to listen and maybe even a little intrigued. His eyes travel between her and Alec, studying the young man as well, and taking into consideration that he seemed much more calm than he had just a week ago.

Focusing on Ryan's point, Reese remains standing, rocking on his heels a little as his mind wraps around what she's saying. A long pause begins, tense enough that they could hear the buzzing of the florescent lights on the ceiling.

Alec can feel the heat on his neck. He'd figured out that Ryan had cared but had had no idea she was quite that passionate about it... about helping him. He'd never liked thinking he needed anyone else in his life, let alone needing the help of someone else. But... for some unexplainable reason... Ryan's words did not irritate him. If they would have come from anyone else, he would have growled a response that he didn't need anyone to defend him, let alone a woman. But right now it just... didn't seem to... matter. The feeling baffled him, but he didn't have much time to think about it. So instead, he simply stood next to her, looking at Reese with his hands hanging from his jeans pockets as if to say, "yeah, what she said." A cool ember burned in his eyes, but it was more one of hate towards being locked up, not hate towards the Elite as a whole anymore.

Reese studies Alec, then Ryan, then Alec again. Oddly enough, a grin makes its way to his face and he shakes his head, almost amused. "Leave it to a woman," he muses wryly. "Miss McKade, I couldn't agree with you more. Why do you think I've been fighting to keep this guy out of prison?"

He backs up a step to his chair, easing down and motioning for the other two to sit as well.

Alec hesitates, wondering what the trap was. He'd rather be standing in case he needed to bolt. But glancing at Ryan, he figures he's come this far... he might as well play along. So he sits in a chair, but only on the edge in case he wants to get up quickly.

Reese leans forward on his desk, folding his hands. "Alec, I want you to know that if it hadn't been for your bullheadedness and your temper, we would have let you out a whole lot sooner than this. I know you think Gage is a pushover, but at least he's free. Now you're the one in second place and it's going to be a much longer haul for you, I'll tell you that right now. But I do have one question for you. Why didn't you run when you had the chance today? You went to the work of slipping our spy, yet when alone, you still came back. What was your reason?"

Alec looks at Reese dully and shrugs. "Because I'm crazy?"

"Come on, Alec... tell me why you didn't run."

"I don't know. It felt stupid but I did it anyway and that's all I know."

"Did you come to try and take advantage of us, or because you're ready to get on your way to real freedom?"

Alec swallows hard and looks to Ryan. It was more than freedom he wanted. His eyes roam back to Reese. "Nothing's free, not even freedom. You're asking me to give up freedom in order to gain it. And... that didn't make much sense... until today."

"Praise be." Reese throws up his hands, raising his eyes to the ceiling. "He finally got it." Looking back to Alec, he shakes his head. "Whether you believe it or not, we're on your side here, fighting for what's right. Now I want you to know that one wrong move, and we'll turn on you as fast as you turn on us - then you'll have both us and the Agency after you. But stay on the right road, and we'll have your back. How many times have you heard that before?"

Never. Alec doesn't like the intimidated feelings creeping up on him, and his fingers pick at a tear in his jeans. "So what's your point?"

"My point is, how badly do you want long lunches with Miss McKade here?"

Alec's eyebrows rise a little. He didn't get it. He wanted to get mad, but at this point, he was too baffled. "I don't know. I guess..." He looks at Ryan again, then back to Reese. "...pretty badly."

"Then you're gonna earn it," Reese states flatly. "As much as I want to say you're free, it just doesn't work that way. So you're going to stay here - but you're going to give us something we want, in order to get what you want."

"Such as?"

"This was a good start." Reese holds up the notebook that Alec had written in. "But we want more. That's your bargaining chip and it's the only one you got because other than information about the Agency, you're worth nothing to the legal system. And you know we have a man who can tell us if you're telling us the truth."

Alec frowns. "Yeah, he almost killed me."

"He probably should have," Reese reminds. Scott had been defending his home, plain and simple. "But call this a second chance. If you're finally willing to stop bucking the system, I can pull strings and get you out of here. But if you remain stubborn, the Chief of Police is ready to get you on trial and thrown into prison for life. You don't want that, I don't want that, and Miss McKade doesn't want that. So why not take the better route?"

Alec grits his teeth, fighting against his own nature... his want for control. He didn't like being in this position. He hated having the short end of the stick and he hated being vulnerable. This is why he hadn't wanted to give in before this. But... he can feel the chain beneath his shirt. Maybe... there was something... worth... making a compromise. His shoulders drop slightly. And though the fire was still in his gaze, it was a glowing ember, safer than the raging flames that had been present before. "How long will I have to stay here?"

"Don't know. Could be as short as three weeks. Could be as long as six months. Though we have a lot of our own rules, we're still under some regulations that we have to abide by. The duration won't be decided just by me - I can only recommend a time frame."

"And what would you recommend?"

"Probably a month... to see if you're actually gonna turn around."

Alec thinks for several long moments. Freedom today meant being hunted by the Elite and the Agency. Freedom in the future meant having the Elite as a friend despite being sought after by the Agency. And whether any Agency scum would admit it or not, the Elite was the only adversary they really worried about. "I'll stay," he finally answers. "One two conditions."

"And they are?"

"One - you don't lock me in and you don't keep an ankle bracelet on me. If I have to trust you not to shoot me in the back, then you gotta trust me too."

Reese thinks for a moment, then nods. They could lock certain doors at night so Alec couldn't have access to anything important if he did decide to turn on them. "Alright. And two?"

"Free lunch hours."

Reese furrows his brow, confused. "I don't follow."

"If I wanna leave over lunch, eat by myself, go to the park or sit in the bathroom, the hour is mine."

Reese purses his lips in thought, looking to Ryan a moment. His expression remains serious, despite the humor in his eye. "We better make it an hour and a half," he muses. "Deal. Are you in?"

Alec can feel the inner war again and wished it were easier than this. He didn't like this place, he didn't like the lack of freedom or control. But unfortunately... it appeared it would be better than the alternative. Turning his head, he stares at Ryan, not looking back at Reese when he answers. "Deal."

"Good." Reese stands up again, setting aside the notebook. "You and I have a lot to talk about then, and I'm sure Miss McKade needs to get back to work by now. I'll still be here waiting for you."

Alec knows that's the cue to leave, so he stands up, wandering from the office with Ryan. Susanne was away from her desk, so the two were alone in this corner when Alec stops and looks down at Ryan's eyes. He didn't wear a smile, but there was something different about his countenance that only few would notice. "Now that you got your way, am I gonna see you again?"