Picnic

Hearing about Scarlet's cousin, Eli frowned and shook his head. "I'm sorry to hear about that. That's rough." For a moment, he thought about his own life, prior to coming here. Living with his girlfriend had gone south as well...he could relate to being in an unhealthy situation. Although at the time, he was probably most of the problem.

"I think that's great that you can help her out. That's what family is for." He gave her shoulders a squeeze. "As long as I still get you to myself from time to time," he teased.


Sitting on the floor in front of his couch, Hunter's arms were draped around Katie as she sat between his legs, leaned back against his chest as they watched the movie. It was one they'd both seen, so it was more about spending the evening together than catching every line. 

"I was thinking about taking my bike up to the lake tomorrow," he tempted her as he rested his head on top of hers. "Wanna play hooky and take a long lunch to have a picnic with me?" He tightened his arms around her. "It would be so much more exciting than work..."


Reese blinked again, and just stared at Nate for a moment. "You...have had contact...with Victoria." He frowned, pursing his lips in thought. "Well...I think you're playing with fire, and I have no reason to trust what that woman says, let alone her intentions." He paused. "But...I've no idea how this could be a setup. There would seem to be no reason to tip us off about this if there was mal-intent." 

His brow furrowed as he continued to think. "I can't lie... I am... disappointed that you didn't tell me about giving Victoria a way to contact you. I guess I consider that fairly important and... I trusted you to be completely honest with me. Now I wonder if there's anything else you haven't -"

"Yeah, what do you need?" Jason came into the office and looked between Reese and Nate. "What's going on?"

Reese let his conversation with Nate go for now and shifted his focus to Jason. "We just got a tip... There's a new threat on your life."

Jason's shoulders dropped. "You're kidding me. Is this some disgruntled guy I helped put away, or the Agency?" 

"It's the Agency. Victoria apparently shared that Garret was killed, so she could protect him. But now they want revenge."

"Well, why me?" Jason crossed his arms in frustration. "I don't get it."

"Does the Agency ever make sense?" Reese shook his head. "You're not to go anywhere without a bodyguard, effective immediately."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Just what I wanted."

"I'm serious, Hotshot. This is a direct order."

"Great. Just great. So what now? I get a shadow that some sniper is just gonna shoot around anyway?"

"It'll be a second set of eyes," Reese reasoned. "Katie was invaluable the last time there was a hit out on you."

"Yeah and that never did get solved."

"Well maybe this time it will, and your skin will be saved in the process. This is not up for debate!"

Jason scowled before looking at Nate. "So your role in this is what?"

"He got the tip," Reese informed. "Now. About a bodyguard. I want Katie -" 

"Oh come on!" Jason threw up his arms. "You know that she and I -"

"Are the best dang team I've got," Reese finished sternly. "She is your shadow until this is over, and you and her will set aside any of your screwed-up personal issues in order to get along as the duo I know you can be. End of discussion." 

Jason gritted his teeth. Already he was imagining the dreaded awkwardness. He and Katie were getting along fine now. They talked at work, and were finally starting to share at least a small kind of friendship again. But to be forced to spend all day every day together... It didn't feel cool at all. "Fine. But what about nights?" There had been a time when he and Katie would have been fine with that too...but not now.

"I'll see who's free, but it will probably end up being Wyatt or Pete, or both. Well see how it all works out. But Katie's your primary bodyguard. I'll inform her in the morning."

Though still upset, Jason shook his head. "No... I'll tell her myself." He sighed. "Is that all?"

"Yeah...for now. But don't go home until you've got one of the guys with you."

"And what if I've got a date?"

Reese quirked an eyebrow. "Do you?"

"Well no..."

A grin toyed at Reese's mouth. "Then do as I ask before I suspend you."

"Right." Jason smirked and threw Nate a look before he left the office.

Reese sighed and turned his attention back to Nate. "Thank you. For the intel, I mean. And I'm sure if Jason were in a better mood, he'd thank you too. Now...any other tidbits of news I should know about?"