Failure

Kirk cocked his head at Sapphire's response and just studied her for a moment before easing down in the extra chair. "I can certainly see you all are busy most of the time. It seems to be down to quite a skeleton crew around here. As I understand it, there used to be more players on the team." But that wasn't why he was here. He flipped over a couple pages in his notepad where he had written a handful of notes. 

"So...it must be pretty interesting having an ex-Agency operative for a boyfriend," he mused before looking up at her. "I've had to investigate Gage's story of how he came to be here, and I must admit, I'm impressed with his apparent progress in living among normal society without causing trouble. However..." His brow furrowed. "I have to ask... what would happen should he return to the Agency? That would put you in an awfully hard position, wouldn't it? I mean...I find it hard to believe you would remain a hundred percent loyal to the Elite if you knew Gage would suffer for it. So tell me...what would you do if you found out he was still working for the Agency?" 


Con dropped his gaze again as Hope finished her question, mulling over it for several long seconds. "Maybe," he finally responded. "I mean...of course it feels good to save someone. I just..." 

He clamped his mouth shut as his emotions started to rise without warning, and it took him a few moments to regain control. "I'm just scared of the monster in me." His eyes rose, showing the terror he felt deep down. "When Dalton got hurt on that job I botched, I shot a guy in the back just because I was angry. Maybe he deserved it. But that's what I'm capable of. I've hurt people...badly...with my bare hands, guns, or both. Then with this, doing it so easily, and then feeling like all of a sudden I'm on cloud nine when it's over, I...I can't tell if it's because I did something good, or if it's the monster that's happy." He shook his head. "I didn't know what a deep hole I've been in lately until I felt better and could see it. I don't want to go back there. But I don't want to feed a monster, either, and I don't know what to do."


A smile spread across Jason's face. "Of course. You'd get the best seat in the house no matter what, though." After he'd said it, he quickly diverted his gaze and cleared his throat. "So anyway, yeah. Thanks. And this way, too, I can assure Reese that I'm being looked after."

He ran a thumbnail along the top of the cubicle wall, lost in thought for a moment. "Wyatt thought he saw someone tailing us this morning, coming from my place. No shots though, so...I may have 'forgotten' to tell Reese." He gave Katie a look that combined silliness and guilt. "You don't think I'd be endangering innocent bystanders by going through with the concert, do you?"


Lane's eyes dropped as he was reminded how badly he'd hurt his sister. "I know," he responded quietly. "I just...I've been a failure at everything. Husband, father, brother." He shrugged. "I guess I deserve this." 

He forced a faint smile. "Thanks for looking after Travis anyway, though. I appreciate it. As soon as he's better, we'll get out of everyone's hair and this place can get back to normal again."