On a roll

Garret bit the inside of his lip, trying to decide whether or not to take Nate up on his offer of lunch. He couldn't deny it sounded good. Really good. "Yeah..okay. Thanks. And as long as Reese doesn't mind, I'm more than willing to look through tapes." After all, that's what he was good at. He wished Aaron was on board with this whole thing...then they'd have two sets of eyes. 


The atmosphere at the Elite today wasn't bad, but tension still hung in the air. After all that had happened yesterday with Garret, the FBI's involvement was growing more and more obvious. Most remained quiet, although a lot of disagreeable whisperings were happening.  

Kirk knocked on Sapphire's cubicle before entering to sit in her extra chair. "Hey, got a minute?" He held a notepad and pen. "Making my rounds but hadn't had a chance to actually talk to you yet, and as long as you're not busy, I'd like to ask you a few things."


"And that's that." Con stood in front of Reese's desk, finished with telling him where he'd left off in Texas. 

Reese nodded with satisfaction. "Good. I'm glad you got the boy out safe and that the ranch is on alert. I'm sorry Xander had to be involved but pretty soon he was going to be exposed anyway."

"Yeah. FBI really being that hard on the Elite?"

"Pretty much. It's only a matter of time." Reese shook his head sadly. "There's nothing we can really do about it either. Technically, I can't blame them. We've always been a vigilante group that plays by our own rules. I understand why they wouldn't approve and they'd want to control us. Doesn't make it any easier though."

"What about people's jobs?"

"Don't know. If we merge with the FBI, maybe we'll all still have jobs. If they disband us, maybe we'll be offered something in law enforcement." Reese quirked an eyebrow. "You're not supposed to know any of this, mind you. You and Nate are the only ones." 

Con grinned a little. "Think none of the others have figured it out?" 

"I think there's a lot of theories, but I don't want to make any kind of announcement until we know for sure what kind of report Agent Young is going to give. I don't want to cause a panic." 

"True." Con sighed. "Well... I'll see ya."

Reese nodded. "Thanks...for helping out, Con. I knew you were the right man for the job." 

Con thought for a moment, but didn't respond. He knew Reese was holding back from asking him again to come back. And for now...that was okay. Wandering across the main floor, he waved to a few people he hadn't seen lately, but instead of heading directly outside, his feet carried him down the hall. Stopping in front of Hope's office, he paused, thinking for several moments. Finally though, he knocked...

...A few minutes later, Con sat in one of the empty chairs, lost in thought. He hadn't planned on talking to her but...he didn't like the way he was feeling, and he didn't know who else to talk to. 

"So...that's how it happened," he finished telling about what had gone on in Texas. "I didn't think I could do it. I didn't think I could take charge and actually succeed, let alone save anybody. So I... well, I felt good about it." He paused and looked down at his hands. "I...I feel better than I have in a long time. Like...like I'm actually worth something again but..." He shrugged. "I killed a guy. I'm a sniper. That's what I've always been good at, but... I just... When I came home, things were great with Jamie and me and...and I could tell she was happier with me than she had been in a long time, but..." 

He sighed deeply. "I just didn't expect to feel so good after putting a bullet through someone's head and...it scares me." He finally glanced up at Hope, knowing if she was going to say anything, he needed to look at her to make sure he caught everything. "I don't like feeling good after doing something like that. I feel like there's something wrong with me." 


Jason leaned over Katie's cubicle wall until he got her attention, and gave her a sheepish grin. "Alright, so this weekend...we've got this concert coming up where JetStream is opening for Kyle's band, and... well..." He scrunched is nose a little, unsure how to say what he was thinking. 

"I dunno... we'd love to have you there as always, but if you'd be more comfortable having Wyatt watch my back, I'll work it out with him." He just didn't know how much Katie really wanted to do. It had been almost like old times lately, but he didn't want her to feel too awkward. Concerts had been a big part of their history together and if she felt too weird about it, he didn't want her to have to be there. 

"You're the one with the hawk eyes though," he mused. "You've always been a better bodyguard than him."


Travis just stared at his dad. He was sitting up in bed that evening, his dad in a chair having just told him the whole story - finally, after having pressed the issue all afternoon. He'd learned of the history here. The Agency. Why Lane had never mentioned family. It all sent Travis' head spinning. "You mean to tell me that my life has always been in danger, and you never thought to tell me?"

"No, it wasn't like that," Lane assured. "I was trying to keep you safe. As long as you weren't around here, then there wasn't any danger."

"Which was proven so well just now."

Lane shrunk back a little, his shoulders sinking. "I know I haven't always made the right choices, but I did what I thought was best. I'm sorry. But what's done is done. You're safe, and that's all that matters."

"No, it's not!" Travis' voice rose slightly, though it was difficult. "You've been lying to me my entire life!"

"I haven't lied! It's just... I was trying to keep you safe. It didn't work, I was wrong, and I'm sorry. What else do you want me to say?"

"I don't know." Travis looked down at the blanket and played with a loose thread. "How long do we have to stay here?" 

"Until you're on your feet again and we don't think the Agency is coming after you. Then life goes back to normal."

"I don't think it can ever go back to normal." Travis threw his dad an angry look. "Just...I wanna be alone for a while."

Lane opened his mouth to argue, but then stopped. More talk wasn't going to help anything. He sighed and finally stood up and simply went to the other room where Angel was. Looking at his sister, sorrow was in his gaze. "Well, I certainly messed that up. I'm on a roll lately."