Sorry

Garret wanted to argue. He wanted to beg. He wanted to stay in here as long as it took to convince Victoria to stay with him. To give it a fair shot. To give it more time. But that look in her eye...he knew she'd already made up her mind. And he knew that once that happened, there was no changing it, not even by him. Further words might just cause more damage. And again, he felt the hard consequences of his decisions. 

His eyes dropped, along with his shoulders. And when he glanced up again and saw her tear, his pain deepened. Tears were not something she normally allowed to happen. He reached out and gently brushed it from her face.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "For everything." He knew he could still return with her. But what about his word? What kind of man was he without it? Then there was Aaron. If he didn't stay, Aaron would surely go to prison and Garret needed to somehow make sure that didn't happen. It was his fault Aaron had been here in the first place, and if it hadn't been for him, Susanne never would have been taken. So how could he just leave Aaron for the wolves? Loyalty to anyone but a commanding officer was not something taught or encouraged within the Agency. But something in Garret's heart knew it was right, and for once, he wanted what was right.

"If you're really going to go, you should do it quickly. Wait until someone comes, and if it's not Nate, I'll ask for him, then tell him to let you go." He knew it would be hard for her to do it this way, but for their sake, he didn't want violence. And he knew Nate was probably the only one who wouldn't appose...and might even stand up for them. "I'll go with you outside, then... You can go your way."

His hand returned to her face. Emotions churned under the surface, enough so, that he instinctively closed the door on them as years of training had taught him to do. Breaking down was not an option. This was simply a consequence of what he'd chosen.

"I love you. And should we meet on opposite sides...know that I'll never be able to betray you. I'd take a bullet to my heart before harming you." She had always been his weakness, and that wasn't about to change. He swallowed hard. "And should you ever change your mind... I'll still be here."


Falling into Chuck's embrace, Susanne burried her face against his chest and just breathed in his warm scent. Oh, how she'd been waiting to feel his strong arms around her again. She'd fought tooth and nail against her feelings for him since the beginning, but she couldn't deny all she'd wanted while in that dark basement was just to be held by him.

After a few moments, she pried herself away so Misty could take care of her, and in the end, she was sporting just a few small bandages and a wrapped ankle. Assuring everyone no other harm had come to her, she asked simply to go home so she could rest, and was grateful Chuck was willing to take her. 

Once they were at her house in the driveway though, Susanne's emotions were getting closer and closer to the surface. She'd been so strong this entire time, and even though scared, she hadn't broken down once. But as she stared at her front door, new fear gripped her heart.

"Would you...walk me inside?" she asked quietly. "And maybe...maybe stay just a little while? I...I don't...feel like being alone."