Once again, Justin noticed Ryan looking past him, and wondered if "Alec" was here with them now. "Finding someone who makes us feel special is a big thing," he responded gently. "It's hard when they're gone...especially if we took them for granted while they were here."
He leaned down to reach in his bag and pulled out a small journal to set it in front of Ryan. "I want you to do me a favor. It might be awkward at first, but that's ok. Not everyone likes to write. But I want you to use this at least twice a day to record how you feel. Whether you're sad or angry or confused. Even if you just put down one word. And if you see or hear from Alec... I want you to put that in here too, and record how that makes you feel."
His small smile returned. "I'm not going to read it - it's just for you. I want you to get more comfortable expressing how you feel, even if it's just on paper. Sometimes it's surprising how simply admitting something can help us figure out what's making us tick...or what's thrown a monkey wrench into things." He reached out and opened the journal to reveal a handwritten note stuck inside. "This is my cell phone number. If something happens or gets worse, or you just need to talk, call me. Or text. I'd like to meet with you again though, maybe in a couple days, if it's alright with you?"
Heading back down to the holding cell, Garret had a hard time battling his adrenaline. This - being controlled without a fight - went against an entire lifetime of training. And when they reached his cell, all he wanted was to go to Victoria instead. But all he could do was glance at her door before being locked up again. He trusted Nate would do what he could, as promised, but he didn't trust Reese or the Elite system.
Reese was quiet for a few moments mulling over everything he'd witnessed, along with Nate's deduction. He tapped a pen on his desk as he thought, proving his stress level. "I just find this whole thing hard to believe," he finally admitted. "He's certainly acting irrationally enough to be in love...but a top Agency man? Giving in to his emotions? He's got how many years of training, yet he not only runs away, but runs into the arms of the enemy?" He shook his head. "It's a tough pill to swallow."
On the other hand, Reese's passion for his rehabilitation program made him want to see this through. Helping people out of the Agency was where he really felt he was doing the most good. If Garret was telling the truth, how could Reese turn his back?
"As far as Victoria goes, I don't know what to think, and now, apparently, there's another man loose out there. Which reminds me to tell you to watch your back and watch it closely. I don't want the next bullet to take you out for good."
He sighed deeply. "What if Victoria doesn't want to stay with Garret? How can we not turn her in?"
12/12/15
One thing..
Hearing Justin's question Ryan looks up past Justin again at Alec. He was standing in the same place still smiling at her. Almost finding humor in what her answer might be.
"He was just miss understood. I enjoyed his company, the way he made me laugh. He just...made some bad desitions."
Ryan felt so strange talking about this. It was hard, it was strange. Ryan felt like she could say so more but she couldn't find the words.
"He made me feel special in his own way."
Looking at Garret Nate just studys him for a long moment. He felt like there really was more but he didn't think he'd get anything else from Garret right now.
"I can't blame you for wanting to protect the one you love. That's all I really want to do in this world too."
Nodding twords the door Nate opens it. Garret would back to his cell for now till tomorrow. Everything hung on Victoria and not even Garret knows what way it would go.
Walking back down the cubicles after Garret was back in his cell. Going to Reese's office he sits down in the chair across the desk from Reese.
"Well you heard everything. I know one thing for sure. Garret loves Victoria and I do believe he did this all for her."
Half Truth
Justin nodded slowly and scribbled a note on his pad before he cocked his head. A new smile emerged. "Oh, I don't need to know anything - all I'm doing is helping dump out the box of puzzle pieces so we can figure out what the picture is together."
He paused to simply read her for a moment before speaking again. "Alec, he um...could be a bit of a scoundrel from what I understand. But you saw past that, didn't you? What did you see in him?"
Nate's question set Garret on edge again, but this time he held his cool. He knew in his silence that followed, it was as good as admitting he'd been hiding something, but he had to form his words carefully. He was too far out of control to think too quickly on this one.
"Medridge...has favorites." Garret finally let his eyes rise once again to see Nate's face. He wanted to trust him. He was at the Elite's mercy whether he liked it or not. But there were just some things he refused to reveal until he was certain of the future. "I'm a favorite and so is Victoria. Her training goes a long way back, and she's one of the best. I was recruited when I was..." He paused. "...young. So I've had my fair share of training as well. We are both valuable to Medridge because of our skills and loyalty. I was his right hand man - you don't get that far without being good at what you do. Though her role has been different, Victoria's rank in the Agency is as high as mine. There are few operatives who know more than we do."
He leaned back in his chair, finally more at ease, although he knew good and well he was still holding back. "You're right - Medridge can easily replace agents. But he's spent many years grooming us for our jobs. Me, to take his place, though it's never been documented officially. And Victoria to eventually serve as an equal. She's special because of her knowledge and skills. Medridge would be a fool to simply try and replace her. He has too much invested in her and he takes his possessions seriously."
Everything he'd said was true. Those were all valid reasons as to why Medridge would want Victoria back. But if Reese found out she was the psychopath's flesh and blood, he'd never agree to trusting her, let alone protecting her. Garret had to convince them to trust her before he would be willing to give up this piece of information...even to Nate. And now the question was...did Nate believe what he'd just told him?
Garret glanced to the mirror then back at Nate. "If Victoria won't stay... I can't go back. So...my own offer to help in return for freedom still stands, regardless."
He paused to simply read her for a moment before speaking again. "Alec, he um...could be a bit of a scoundrel from what I understand. But you saw past that, didn't you? What did you see in him?"
Nate's question set Garret on edge again, but this time he held his cool. He knew in his silence that followed, it was as good as admitting he'd been hiding something, but he had to form his words carefully. He was too far out of control to think too quickly on this one.
"Medridge...has favorites." Garret finally let his eyes rise once again to see Nate's face. He wanted to trust him. He was at the Elite's mercy whether he liked it or not. But there were just some things he refused to reveal until he was certain of the future. "I'm a favorite and so is Victoria. Her training goes a long way back, and she's one of the best. I was recruited when I was..." He paused. "...young. So I've had my fair share of training as well. We are both valuable to Medridge because of our skills and loyalty. I was his right hand man - you don't get that far without being good at what you do. Though her role has been different, Victoria's rank in the Agency is as high as mine. There are few operatives who know more than we do."
He leaned back in his chair, finally more at ease, although he knew good and well he was still holding back. "You're right - Medridge can easily replace agents. But he's spent many years grooming us for our jobs. Me, to take his place, though it's never been documented officially. And Victoria to eventually serve as an equal. She's special because of her knowledge and skills. Medridge would be a fool to simply try and replace her. He has too much invested in her and he takes his possessions seriously."
Everything he'd said was true. Those were all valid reasons as to why Medridge would want Victoria back. But if Reese found out she was the psychopath's flesh and blood, he'd never agree to trusting her, let alone protecting her. Garret had to convince them to trust her before he would be willing to give up this piece of information...even to Nate. And now the question was...did Nate believe what he'd just told him?
Garret glanced to the mirror then back at Nate. "If Victoria won't stay... I can't go back. So...my own offer to help in return for freedom still stands, regardless."
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