Not Well

Nate's firm tone surprised Garret a bit, and he raised an eyebrow at how emphatic he was. How was it that friendship felt so complicated and unwanted to Garret, yet to Nate, it was what kept him alive? It didn't seem like it should be something that would mean two completely opposite things to two people. Was there a right or wrong? If there was, did that mean Garret was wrong? Or right?

The invitation to stay brought Garret's mind back into focus and he looked at Nate in disbelief. After all this. The whole day, and then supper, and then this conversation and he still invited Garret to spend the night? In his family's house? Without lock and key? His trust was utterly astounding. Garret would never trust himself in a situation like this. Yet here Nate was, taking things one step further like usual.

He wasn't sure how to respond, when he suddenly realized Laura had appeared beside the couch, holding a pillow and blanket. She'd been listening.

Garret looked up at her, doubly surprised she supported her husband's offer. And for a few awkward moments, he really didn't know what to say. He didn't want to stay here. No. Why should he? It was weird enough the way it was, with Nate trying to be friends and all that. His eyes came back to Nate. "Okay."

It only took a few minutes before, Nate had gotten Maggie up and off to her room, he and Laura had gone to bed after making sure Garret knew where everything was, and the living room was dark and quiet. And Garret was asleep almost before his head hit the pillow.

Upstairs, Laura tucked her arm around Nate and rested her head on his chest. "You're a good man, Nate," she whispered. "Don't ever stop caring about people... It's what I love most about you."


...Early morning. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon. Grey light seeped in around the curtains, creating shadows in the empty living room. The blanket was folded neatly, stacked with the pillow on the couch. In the laundry room, the borrowed clothes had been laid on the washer. All of Garret's things had been picked up from the bathroom. No evidence remained that he'd even been there.

His boots crunched on the road's gravel shoulder as he walked back towards the Elite. At least it wasn't raining, and the chilly breeze had subsided from the day before. But he was still cold. Keeping his hands in his pockets, he lowered his head, trying to conserve heat as he walked. It wasn't that cold out though - he knew it was just him. He had slept like a rock all night - better than he had in literally months - but upon waking, he knew he wasn't well. Chilled and achy, all he'd wanted to do was stay put. But he couldn't. He wasn't ready to experience the morning family dynamics. It was better that he was gone before anyone else woke up and they could go about their day like normal.

With a steady pace, it really didn't take all that long to arrive back to the Elite. By now the sun had risen and it was getting warmer, but he didn't feel it. And by the time he walked through the door, he regretted having come on foot. His chill had worsened. Thankfully, no one was there yet to question where he'd been, and he aimed straight for his room and closed the door.

Slipping off his boots and throwing his cap and jacket in a chair, he sank down on the bed to curl up on his side. His head was now pounding, and he shivered even when he pulled the blanket up. His skin felt hot, but he was so cold. With his back to the door, he drifted to sleep, not even able to fight any more. And in his room is where he would remain, oblivious to anything else going on in the building, and not particularly caring either.


Kirk just grinned at Adison's defense over the last time they'd had too little sleep. She'd always blame him, and he'd always blame her. That's just the way it was. 

"Okay. Great." He shoved the rest of the pizza slice in his mouth - which was too big - and had to chew for several seconds before being able to speak again. "Those," he mumbled, pointing to the pages she held. "Here." He patted an empty spot on the table and sat in his chair, knowing she'd take the one next to him. Grabbing his glasses, he still squinted at his computer screen. "Here we go. Who do we have first?" 

One at a time, he had Adison read off names and any notes he'd already taken as he typed out an official report on each one. Some were easy, like Susanne - she was loyal and did her job by the book. Jamie was the same, with the only concern being her history of abduction and torture by none other than Carson himself. There were many pauses during Kirk's typing as he hashed through these topics with Adison, or simply had to express his amazement that these people hadn't all killed each other. Sapphire had been an easy case until the subject of Gage, but he had to stick to his main focus, that she was a good agent. Nate. Strong, loyal, and a good record of getting his job done. The only issue there was his recent involvement with Garret. 

One by one, names were checked off the list. A pot of coffee was made...and was drunk. A run to the all-night convenient store brought back munchies and more pop. Rick, Dalton, Scott, Hope. There was so little bad to say about each of their characters - it was only when it came to protocol that Kirk had to word things very carefully, making sure Adison agreed he wasn't being too bias one way or the other. 

Misty. Wyatt. Pete. Gunner - he was the loosest cannon of the entire bunch, and with his history, he was one of Kirk's main concerns, and he couldn't hide it on paper. In his opinion, Gunner was even a higher risk than Scott because he chose to act out rather than it being a condition as he labeled Scott's case. 

Angelica. Carson. Ty. Hal. What could be said? They were just as bent on justice as anyone else. Little could be said about Simon or Chance since they were offsite, and Xander had to be talked about carefully until his family was safe, but it would seem he'd played a big part in providing intel against the Agency. 

Jason and Katie? That report took a while to write, and required some extra pacing, gesturing and an additional cup of coffee. And in the end, Kirk skirted around the entire questionable incidents and focused on how great a team the two were and all the good they had accomplished. He had to write in that both seemed young and perhaps would benefit from some official law enforcement training. Jason's past bothered him, and he had to mention that, as did Katie's past and her own record. It was a long time ago, but Kirk knew Barnes would bring it up so he might as well put it in his report so it wouldn't look like he was avoiding the negative aspects. 

And then...Reese himself. Another tough one. So much history. So many mistakes. So many triumphs. After listing all of Kirk's honest concerns, he had to write just as many compliments on Reese's integrity, dedication to protect the community, determination to bring down the Agency, and his honesty even when the Elite had to become public. He had worked with law enforcement ever since then, never refusing to cooperate, which would help his current case a lot. 

The morning sunlight shone through the large living room window. Kirk was sprawled on his back on the floor, his head between his hands, his face contorted as he tried to think straight. "Is that all of them? Please tell me we got through all the files." 


The sky was still grey in Texas when a loud car horn broke the morning peacefulness. Already on high alert, it didn't help nerves any, especially when a moving van and car pulled up to he main house since the gate was supposed to have been closed with a padlock at the end of the driveway. Though chores weren't started yet, many were already up and moving, including Mick, who met the stranger at the porch, shotgun in hand. 

Chance swung down out of the moving truck and held up both hands. "Whoa there, mate, it's just the family arriving."

Mick glanced to the car. Sure enough, he saw a woman and children. It had to be Xander's family. He lowered his gun, but only a little. "How'd you get in here?"

"Oh." Chance pointed to his pocket, and getting a nod of approval, drew out a pocket knife. "Picked the lock. Sorry. Old habits." 

Mick smirked. He didn't know much about Chance, but from what he'd heard, this guy fit the description. He finally relaxed, and turned to stick his head back inside where the scent of coffee wafted out. "Xander!" he called. "You got visitors." 

All Night Show

   "It's not just about you Garret! You can not want friendship all you want, and I can understand now why, but its not just what you want. Its what others around you want too. To me, to Maggie, you are our friend. I know it goes against everything you have learned in the Agency, and everything you know, but there are days friendship is the only thing that holds me together."

Relaxing a little more Nate watches as Maggie shifts again and takes Garret's hand in her own and pulls it close, tucking it under her cheek. He always wondered what went on inside his sisters head. What did she think about, what did she dream about. She saw the world much different than most people. Maybe it was for that fact alone that drew her to Garret. She was an outcase too. Maybe for a different reason, maybe different outcomes, but she was.

   "You look exhausted. How about instead of walking back to the Elite in the rain, I move that sack of potatoes in your lap, and you can have the couch to rest on for the night. Not sure if its more comfortable than the Elite bed, but its a warm place to rest."

Adison can't help the rolling laughter that came out of her. That had been quite the night and not many people were happy with them. But it had been fun, at least to her it was. That twinkle in Kirk's eye told her he had though so too. Giving a slap to his arm she takes another sip of her coke.

   "Me!!!! I was good at 2 pots of coffee, but than you had to go and make another and pull out your stash of candy. You know what caffeine and sugar does to me. I don;t think I've ever crashed so hard in my life."

Setting her now half empty can down Adison finished off the crust of the pizza taking one more bit and making sure to get the pepperoni. Tossing the rest of the slice back in the box. She couldnt eat another bite or she would pop. At least now anyways. 

Standing she moves around the paperwork to find the "A" files. Bending down and picking it up and holds it for a long moment before looking back to Kirk. She new nothing about these people but knowing Kirk she would very soon.

   "Alright...time is ticking. Lets get those all night show on the road."



 

Friends

"She just hasn't figured out yet she made friends with a rattlesnake." Garret spoke before thinking. His mind continued to mull over Nate's words though as his eyes remained glued to the ceiling. Why did Nate want to be his friend? What was the point? Friendships made people weak. Friendships just caused pain. Without hardly realizing it, he'd opened his mouth to talk. Maybe it was simply because he was too tired right not to fight it. 

"Aside from Victoria, I only ever had one person I'd call a friend," he recalled softly. "We were young teens being trained in the Agency, and...they executed him." It was the first time he'd said that out loud, and it hurt a lot more than he anticipated, leaving him quiet again for several long moments. "He'd tried to escape and they caught him. I learned two things that day. One, making friends is pointless. And two, you can't ever escape. At...fourteen...I decided never to make a friend again. So I didn't." 

If Maggie hadn't been sound asleep under his arm, he would have gotten up to physically escape the room. But as it was, he couldn't move. In spite of trying to hide his discomfort, his jaw muscles visibly worked on his tension. "I told you once before I didn't come here to make friends...and I don't know why you insist on trying to make that happen. I'm only here because making allies is good business when you're trying to stay alive." If that were true, why did he have Maggie tucked in close beside him? He wasn't even making sense to himself anymore. Was he going mad? 

"As far as using the computer earlier..." He bit his tongue as once again he hadn't intended on responding, but it was too late now. "Forget it. I won't do it again without permission. I was just trying something that failed and I was upset with myself, not you." There. Close enough. Sort of. Maybe it would at least get Nate to shut up about it. He didn't want to admit what had really happened inside of him earlier today. 

A rattling pan from the kitchen where Laura was washing dishes made him jump slightly, also making him realize he'd just allowed his eyes to close. Why was he so tired? He wasn't being careful, and that was not smart at all. He just felt so lethargic, that it was hard to concentrate and he feared he might talk too much...reveal too much about himself. Nate might be ready for that, but he was not.



Kirk's eyes widened. "I thought we agreed never to speak of that again!" He slapped a hand to his forehead. "I will never forget the look on Barnes' face when we walked in, sleep-deprived and way-over caffeinated because you thought that would be a good way to stay awake for that trial. I was so strung out by the afternoon, you had to help me up these stairs so I could actually go to bed." 

He rolled his eyes and grabbed the last slice of pizza to finish it off. "You really wanna do this? Tonight? If you do, start picking up this mess in alphabetical order and we're going to go through each one, one at a time, write up their personal report and move on to the next until they're all done. Then I'll have to develop my final, overall report." 

Standing up, a pepperoni slid off his pizza and he caught it mid-air, followed by a silly grin. "I still go it." 

Failed you

Just watching again for a long moment Nate though about many things that had gone on in the day. From Garret helping, to His mood change, to him being here and now. Everything with Garret confused him, maybe because he really didn't know him all that well and yet there was still that need, that want to help and be there.

   "Pft, I am not even close to a replacement for Justin. Just a friend letting you know I am here if you even need him. No matter how cranky you get."

Taking another long sip of his tea Nate's heart really did hurt for Garret. How things where different from what he was use to. How his ideas on how things worked had been screwed. Almost like going to a new country, and having an idea on how the culture worked from movies you had seen.  But when you get there it was the complete opposite. 

   "Your not foolish, and don't ever lose those grand ideas. Things just run differently than intended. You stepped into a world you new nothing about, No body can blame you for how you are feeling because of it. Things might not be happening at the speed you want them too but they are happening."

Slowly but surly Garret was changing, and so were the people around him. Trusting him more, getting use to him be there, he had his own room too. It might not be what he expected, or wanted but it was step up from a cell.

   "You helped me today at Brookshire, and I was so thankful. If you hadn't we never would of seen that woman, and we never would be on the path we are now."

Nate thinks again for a second. Garret had gotten so upset with him before he wondered if bringing it up again was such a good idea. 

   "I wasn't upset with you earlier about he whole computer thing and I'm not your babysitter not even in the least. I do want to help keep you on the right path, and continue to keep you out of prison. But I can't do that if I dont know whats going on. I was put in charge of that and I take it very seriously. Not just because its a job, but because weather you like it or not you have a friend. You have more than one friend actually...and I think she'd be pretty upset if I failed you."

Grabbing another slice of pizza and taking a bite She chews thoughtfully. What a mess, this whole thing and what a toll it was having on Kirk. Soon it would be over though, and what happened happened, she just hope he didnt blame himself whatever it might be.

   "How about finding more good than bad? Maybe in your report don't lie, but talk about about the good."

Flipping the pizza around and eating the crust before the rest of the pizza Adison thinks once again. Hearing the thought of all nighters she perks up a little and makes her eyes go wide looking at Kirk.

   "Do you remember what happened LAST time we pulled all nighters..."

Her words linger in the air....

   "Lets do it again....tell me what to do and I'll do it."

All-nighters

Ignoring the wack to his head, Kirk just kept talking until Adison slid down next to him. Letting her have her turn, he just listened, genuinely appreciating her insights. As someone outside the case itself, she had a different perspective, and he needed that. She was right - where would these people be without being a part of the Elite? But what about rules? Protocol? But was it worth destroying their world as Adison was implying? 

"Better..." The wheels in Kirk's mind sped up. "Yes...better," he mumbled. Getting to his feet, he almost tripped over some of the papers, but managed to tiptoe around them to get to his table where he bent to use his laptop, talking as he typed. "The Elite is a self-sufficient living organism, comprised of self-taught agents with abilities and dedication, in some instances, surpassing even that of the FBI." He paused and looked over his shoulder, but kept typing. "To dismantle such an organization would be equal to destroying a well-oiled machine whose purpose is not yet finished. But to come alongside in order to help make better what is already established would be to the benefit of the Elite, the FBI and the civilian community whom the Elite has worked so hard to protect." 

Straightening up, he turned back to stare at what he'd just typed. It was all true. Despite the flimsy structure and vigilante ways of the Elite, his true feeling was to not force them to close. He stroked his short beard in thought. "How the heck am I going to combat all the negative evidence though?"

Wandering back to his spot, he lowered himself down next to Adison again and finished off his pop. "I can't lie. I think my final statement outweighs the negative aspects. But I know good and well Barnes won't agree." Their superior was beyond strict when it came to doing things by the book. "I can't not include the information I've learned - that would be just as bad." He groaned. "At most, they'll shut down the Elite. At the very least, they'll tighten the reins. But you tighten them too much, and things come to a standstill, which is counter-productive." 

He turned to shove his face into her shoulder. "Why me?" he mumbled. It took him a moment, but he finally straightened again to stare at all his paperwork. "Okay. Not my call whether or not the Elite survives. I'm just to present facts both good and bad and let Barnes take it from there." He nodded, although on the inside, he still felt as if he held the future in his hands. It all hinged on the perspective of his report and what he might recommend. 

"I...think I'm gonna be pulling some all-nighters to wrap this up," he mused. He glanced to the pizza box and propped it open with a toe. "Two pieces left. You gonna help me finish it or what? I gotta keep you fed so you don't go telling anyone I shared all this with you."


Done eating and just trying to decide if he should go ahead and leave, Garret was yet again surprised by Maggie. It was one thing to have her grab his hand or be excited to see him. It was quite another for her trust him and be comfortable enough to get this close - and even fall asleep without concern. 

Garret propped his feet up on the coffee table as he listened to Nate, although his eyes didn't look at him yet. "You Justin's replacement?" he questioned softly but with just a bit of sarcasm. Talking was not his strong suit, especially when it came to himself or his own inner issues. 

As Maggie shifted into him more, he automatically lifted his arm to drape it around her. He wasn't sure why. A part of him would just as soon she not get this attached - this was rather awkward to say the least. But a part of him...liked it, too. Why this girl's affection had such an effect on him, he'd never know. He looked down at her sleeping form before leaning his own head back on the couch and closing his eyes. He, himself, was exhausted. He shouldn't be this tired yet, but he felt as if he'd been awake for days without sleep. He had to stay awake though. He had to leave soon. Go back to the Elite. To his own room. Get out of people's hair and stay where he belonged. 

"You don't want to hear my venting," he finally answered Nate quietly so as not to wake Maggie. He opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "I came to the Elite with grand ideas. I was foolish. And that pretty much sums up my life at this point. There's really not a whole lot more to say." Actually, there was. He'd been unreasonably upset earlier today and he had yet to deal with it. It would just come back again. But how could he admit aloud what he knew to be true deep down? 

Better?

Popping the top on the nod Adison nods in thanks before taking a long sip. Letting the cold bubbly liquid make its way down her throat. Listening to Kirk start to ramble once again the wheels in her own head started to turn as she thought about everything.

As Kirk almost hits her several times with his flailing arms Adison wacks him in the back of his head before reaching around the other side of him and grabbing his half eaten slice of pizza and taking a bite. 

   "Not everyone can function like us."

Slipping down on the ground next to Kirk she takes some of the papers he was holding and looks them over. Trying to take in all the information, about everyone. It seemed they all had there quirks, issues and problems. 

   "Seems like you found a group of Misfits who had found there place in the world. Where would Scott be without the Elite?"

Adison puts down the information of Scott in front of Kirk.

   "Where would either Giant fit in the world?"

Another file, Con and Dalton places in front of him.

   "Gage, Carson...though they back slide now and again...they have come a long way. If not for the Elite they would still be in the Agency."

More files.

Turning slightly to look at Kirk she searches his face for a long moment again before talking. Looking across the room she takes another bit of pizza thinking. 

   "If it wasn't for the Elite these people, they wouldn't exists. So I guess the next question is...do we want to destroy there world, there life.. just because they are different. or do we want to make it better?"

Once showered and having the PJ's on Maggie made her way back into the living room where Nate and Garret sat. Seeing a little room next to Garret Maggie did her best to squeeze next to him. With her small frame it was easy for her to do and even if it was uncomfortable she didn't mind.

Leaning her head on Garret's arm She didn't say anything and soon as the time drifted on thumb in her mouth, she was fast asleep. 

Watching his sister and Garret Nate smiles. He really liked seeing them interact. His sister was so shy, and yet there was just something that drew her to Garret.

   "She really likes you Garret. Maggie might be different from most, but she sure is smart and observant. It amazes me every day the things she comes up with doing."

Taking a sip of his hot tea Laura had brought him Nate is quiet again just watching, and mulling over everything that had happened today. Garret's mood had changed so fast it really did have Nate worried. Not because he was scared of what Garret might do, but just for Garret in general. He new this was all so different to him, Everything.

   "You do know you can always talk to me about anything right? Even if its about something I might not agree with I will always listen. Even if you just need someone to vent too."

Nate laughs as Maggie shifts a little in her sleep to put her head on his chest and get a little more comfortable. 

    "Maggie is always here for cuddles too if you are feeling down."