A post full of sadness!

Shutting the door quietly behind him as he left Laura's room Nate just stands there for a long moment. His eyes were tired, black circles under them. Sleep had not come in a long time and blame on himself was the only thing that remained in his heart.

Wondering down the hall very slowly Nate comes to the glass windows where his newborn son was and Con was standing too. Quiet he looks in the window binging his hand to the glass. He hadnt even been able to hold him yet and he was still to fragel to the new world and it pained Nate's heart even more. Not looking away from the little bundle on the other side Nate gives a sigh and finally speaks.

"It's my fault Con. I should of talked about it with Laura, taken precautions, I should of taken responsibility enough to have talked with her. Now my son might not make it, and the woman I love more than anything is on the edge and there is nothing I can do but pray."

Nate was so talked some of his words he didn't even know he was speaking or maybe he did but what he was telling them to Con he didn't know. Maybe it was to try to bring his ownself comfort, or maybe the look in Con's eye told him everything that the blame really was on him, and he was trying to tell his friend, his brother in law sorry for not being able to protect his sister like he should of.

Hearing people moving around in the other room Destiny sits straight up as her heart starts to race. Voice, new voice...Chance...where was he. Looking around the room reality seemed to slap her in the face the the memories of what had happened early in the day played back in her mind. Hearing the voices again She could make out one of them as Jason's.

Bringing her knees close to her chest Destiny rests her head on them not moving from the bed. She didn't want to know what was going on or who was coming and going. For all she cared the Agency could storm in here now for her and she'd willingly go.

She new sooner or later Chance would of left and she would of been prepared for that but this...this was a totally different thing now and she felt like the last little bit of light she had left, now had gone out. Now...now she truly was alone.

Looking up as Reese comes into the office Dalton raises and eyebrow for a moment as he tells Alec to stand. He and Alec had just been messing around with some free time they had so he now wondered what was up.

Watching Reese as he takes the cuff off of Alec he and hears about the key to his apartment Dalton can't help the smile that passed over his lips. He was happy for Alec that he was finally got to have his own place.

Once Reese was gone and the bewildered look was on Alec's face Dalton couldn't help but laugh finally. Shaking his head he leans back in his chair a little bit putting his hands behind his head.

"Yes, yes, and yes. Told you helping me would get you on the boss good side. Congrats man. So what are you going to do with your first night of freedom?"

Giving a laugh and getting into her car Ryan pulls up right before Miles on one side, and waits for Leo to get on the other side. Waiting for the ready, and than the go Ryan squeals her tires before taking off leaving Leo behind. Keeping an eye out for cops Ryan speeds down the road making her way to the pizza box.

Not taking long with the high speed Ryan gets there quickly. Looking around and not seeing Leo's car she gives a little smile. Getting out thought and leaning on her own car for a moment she waits but its longer than expected and she can't help but worry about Leo for a moment. Figuring everything surly was ok Ryan heads inside to wait.

Looking up as the other enter the restraint Ryan gives a smile but seeing Leo still not here she worrys a little more but trys not to let it show to much as she jokes around with the other.

"Maybe this time I blew him to kingdom come?"

Stopping for a moment Ryan thinks before shaking her head and rolling her eyes at herself.

"Now that wouldn't be a good thing. Leo's the only good competition I got around work."

Ryan gives a smirk to the other guys knowing they would have something to say about that. But before anything else can be said, or even though about Leo entered. Giving a little sigh of releaf Ryan was happy to know he was ok after all.

"Hey Jed, sometimes the guy who finish in last place is the winner all along."

Turning and giving a small grin to Leo Ryan can't help the small twinkle that danced in her eye. In the back of her head she wondered if Leo hadn't lost on perpus though she wouldn't bring any attachen to it.

"Come on I already pulled an extra chair to the table, and saved a seat for the rest of you. So pick a spot and park it, just don't sit on the far inside on the right thats my spot and I'd hate to have to beat someone to a palp right here and now."

Putting her arm around Leo a little and giving his back a little pat Ryan chuckles before heading over to the table and sliding in. She was happy her friendship had returned with Leo, she missed it. She'd miss him.

Two pitchers of pop along with ice were already on the table along with a few menus for the crew to get there order started.

Did he...am I...

"Okay. Sounds good to me." Gage grins and leans over for one last kiss. "Thanks for spending time with me. I might go stir crazy otherwise."

Still smiling, he pries himself away and gets out of the car, waving and watching as Sapphire drives away. Then turning, he heads inside and up the two flights of stairs to his apartment. Once there, he kicks off his shoes and flops down on his mattress. But try as he might, sleep would not come. Lonny had helped him out, and it was great for being up and about, but now that he wanted to get some rest, he was still too wired.

Sighing, he rolls over and flips on the television to find some cheesy afternoon movie to watch. But by the time Sapphire would come later, he'd only dozed for for a short while.


"Ten seconds?" Leo scoffs. "You kidding? I don't need no ten seconds."

Going over to his own car, which was certainly no race car, he pats the hood lovingly. "Miles! Help us out."

Miles rolls his eyes, though grins and wanders to the edge of the parking lot. "Leo, why do you like to embarrass yourself?" he wonders aloud.

Once the two cars were facing the street, Miles looks both ways to make sure no traffic was coming, raises his arm, then lets it drop. Cringing at the squeal of tires, he stands still as both cars shoot around him. Coughing in the exhaust, he watches them zip down the street, noting that Ryan was already half a block ahead of Leo. He shakes his head and wanders back to the others. "Does Leo really think he has a chance?"

"No." Axel starts towards his own car. "He's just smarter than some people."

Miles furrows his brow and looks to Ron, then Jed, but only receives shrugging shoulders. "Why does he always have to be so cryptic?"

Jed laughs. "I'm too hungry to think about it. C'mon, you can ride with me."

It was only a short while later that the three man arrive at the Pizza Box to find Ryan already inside, with no sign of Leo. "You mean we even beat him?" Miles can't help his laughter. "So much for that race."

No sooner had he spoken, than Leo walks through the door, wearing a quiet grin.

"Leo!" Jed bows to him. "Congratulations on receiving last place. Somebody had to win it."

Leo just shakes his head, twirling his keys and stuffing them in his pocket. He'd made a turn not long after leaving the auto shop, making his drive longer than necessary. He holds up his palms, then lets him drop. "I guess that means I owe Ryan a pizza."


"Alec..." Reese enters Dalton's office, finding Alec at the second desk.

Alec looks up skeptically, tilting his head to down the rest of the Mountain Dew, to which he'd quickly become addicted after spending too much time in here. "What?"

"Stand up, please."

Alec rolls his eyes and stands. "What now? Do I get to go to the firing line?"

Reese doesn't answer, but instead, comes forward with a special key and kneels in front of Alec, lifting his pantleg to unlock the ankle bracelet. After a moment of working with it, it releases and Reese takes it, standing back up. "I have the key to your apartment," he informs. "When the day is over, come see me before I leave and I'll take you."

Alec blinks, stunned as Reese leaves the office. Turning to look at Dalton, his eyebrows are still raised. He'd gotten wind that Chance was their man for both the hacking and the murders, but he hadn't expected this kind of response. "Did he... am I... did that just happen?"


"Alright, Chance, come on."

Chance looks up in surprise as Reese comes into the room with Hal. He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there, but he was pretty sure it had been a couple of hours. What was going on now?

Hal uncuffs him. "Get up."

Chance does as he's told, squinting a little with his sore eyes.

Reese sighs deeply. "Hal will be taking you to the airport, where you will board an Elite jet and be flown back to Arizona."

Chance was sure there had to be more. "Then what?"

"Then you're free to go."

That was just too simple. "What's the catch?"

"Nothing." Reese shakes his head. "You're right. TJY started out undercover and as a vigilante group. Whether or not I agree with the Underground's methods, I owe you the same respect that I desired when defending myself for going around the law."

"So that's it? You just let me loose at risk of causing trouble?"

"We let you loose without the honor of the Elite to do as you please. But should we ever catch you involved with the Underground again, you will be arrested and taken to trial."

Chance studies Reese's eyes, feeling very uneasy about this whole thing. "You're going to track me, aren't you? You know I won't give up any more information, so you're gonna track me and hope that I lead you right to the Underground."

Reese doesn't reply, though it was as good as saying yes. "Hal, please escort him."

As Chance is being pushed to the door, his mind races. Reese was smart. He'd gotten out of drawn-out legal proceedings and had successfully cornered Chance - for if he stayed out of trouble, then that was good. And if he went to the Underground and was caught, that was good for the Elite too. For them, it was a win-win situation. And for Chance, he was being stripped of all dignity and left jobless to fend for himself. "What about my things?"

"They'll be on the plane with you," Hal informs.


Back at the safe house, it was Jason and Gunner who went through Chance's things, gathered them up and packed them, except for Chance's computer which would remain so that he couldn't retain any Elite information. Gunner was the one to meet the other team at the airport, and it was Jason who would remain here, at least for now.

Once Jason knows Gunner is on his way, and the security system had been double-checked, Jason settles down in the living room, stretching out on the couch, but the television remains silent. He had yet to see Destiny. He was sure she was still upset, but he wouldn't rouse her unless she didn't show up by bedtime.


Con stands at the long window, his arms folded as he looks through the glass at his little nephew who was struggling in his big new world. The wires and breathing tube made him look even smaller than he was as a nurse moved about the room, constantly checking on him.

On a different floor, Laura was also under constant watch, one minute stable, and the next surrounded by nurses, trying to keep her from leaving the world her son had just entered.

Con's jaw muscles tighten and relax, tighten and relax. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Laura had been scared from day one, and everyone had assured her that it would be a piece of cake. And now this. After an emergency delivery, now both Laura and the baby were in critical condition and Con had never felt so helpless. He'd always protected his little sister and now there was absolutely nothing he could do.

Warmth

Sapphire enjoyed the meal and having a nice time with Gage like always. Sapphire could see he was a little frigidity but she chalked it up to him being tired. Non the less she was happy to spend the time with him knowing soon it would come to an end.

Finally done with the meal and heading back to the car and than to Gage's apartment Sapphire didn't want there time to end either but she had to get back to work and she new Gage needed some sleep.

"Your right I would chew into you for now sleeping. Its not healthy."

Sapphire gives a little laugh and shakes her head a little bit her eyes giving a small twinkling in her eyes.

"I will call you around six so we can get together for dinner. Maybe I'll bring something over to cook at your place and we can just stay in and snuggle while its cooking."

Not paying much attachen to Chance's grumbling and really what he said from this point out Misty still heard it but just didn't reply. There really was no point in trying to get past his anger to penetrate something deeper. He was angry at the world and feeling sorry for himself nothing would go through that at this point.

Stopping at the door and turning at Chance's last comment Misty gives a nod. She didn't know if she would every see Destiny and depending on the mood or how everything was going she would tell her. Heading out the rest of the way Misty heads back to the infirmary.

Feeling Leo's arm go around her shoulder Ryan can feel the warmth that comes from it. It was the same warmth she had always felt from Leo. The one that said I'm here, I'm always here and I can if I am or not. Just continuing to walk twords the door she new the others were behind them now and couldn't help but laugh at there comments.

"Ohhh...Axel is tied with me. That just means when we get back I am gonna have to step up my game a little."

As Leo lets her go Ryan wonders over to her car opening the door. But before getting in she hears Leo's challenge and raises an eyebrow a little looking over the top at him.

"You...want to race me...do remember who I am right?"

Giving a grin and looking around at the other she gives a nod.

"Ok, your on. I'll even give you a 10 second head start. Whoever wins has to by the other person pizza. Sound fair?"

Race ya

"Mm-hmm." Gage nods. "That's always better than Chinese."

Grinning, he settles back into the seat to buckle in, and engages Sapphire in some small talk on the way to the restaurant. Remaining alert, thought just a little goofy, Gage keeps up with her through their meal, chattering about this and that. A bit more fidgety than normal, he does manage to be quite awake, and by the time they are finished and get back to his place, he doesn't want her lunch break to be over.

Sitting in the car, not really wanting to get out yet, he sighs. "Now I have to go several hours without seeing you." Giving Sapphire a sidelong glance, he grins before leaning over to give her one more kiss. "But I don't want you clobbering me for not sleeping. So... see you tonight?"


"I said patching, not picking," Chance grumbles, wincing as Misty continues on his face. "Regardless, whether I can pick myself up or not really isn't the issue here, is it?" His tone was full of spite... spite for the Elite and spite for himself. "The whole point is just..." He pauses as Misty cleans his lip, his eyes watering from the sting. "...not getting caught."

Feeling her put the him back into the handcuffs, his head hangs again. He had no idea what fate awaited him. At best, he might get away with a year or two in jail, and that was if Reese was nice to him.

Hearing Misty leaving, he calls to her. "Misty..." He pauses, feeling humiliated. "Someday... if your path crosses with Destiny's... tell her I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to happen like this."


Being pulled up and closer to Ryan, Leo can feel his face start to redden, but he doesn't pull away. Ryan wanted her friend back, and he wanted to try.

Laughing, he slings his arm around her shoulders to drag her towards the door. "I don't think I'm the only delirious one around here, and no, please don't quit your day job. Then I couldn't tease the other guys for getting beat by a girl every day."

"Heeeey," Axel defends as he ambles out with them. "I'll have you know we're tied at the moment."

"Oh, sorry." Leo smirks. "I'll just make fun of the others then."

"What about you?" Ron shoots back. "You get beat too."

"Ah. But I don't profess to be greater than the almighty, wrench-wielding McKade!" Letting Ryan go, Leo gives her a playful punch to the arm. "Race ya to the pizza box."