The Truth

Even though Garret's expression was as hard and steady as always, on the inside, as Nate stared at him, he felt sick. He'd just destroyed everything he'd been working towards. And even if Nate believed the truth, that didn't mean Reese would. 

He started to reach around his back, but a gun cocking made him stop instantly and look to Jason who had just drawn on him. His eyes grew even dimmer. They still thought he was out to kill them all. Turning his back slightly, he revealed he was reaching for a folded piece of paper, not a weapon. "Relax," he suggested. "I'm unarmed." Retrieving the paper, he handed it to Nate. "This is all the defense I've got."

The paper was a handwritten note:
This was my decision and mine alone. I forced Garret into helping me with the upgrade by blackmailing him. He didn't want to do this and should not be blamed or punished even in the event that I die. This was my last chance to be useful.
It was signed with Scott's signature. 

Jason, having lowered his gun once again, came over to read over Nate's shoulder. "You've got to be kidding me."

Garret gritted his teeth. "It's Scott's own signature."

"And you expect us to believe you didn't force him to write and sign that?" Jason shook his head. "Scott would never have done this of his own free will, let alone blackmailed anyone. Sorry, but you obviously don't know him well enough to have written a more convincing message, and that was your first mistake."

Garret held his hands out to the sides as a signal of surrender. "It's the truth." His eyes locked with Nate's, only now revealing enough to show his silent begging to be believed. "I didn't want to do this."

"You're the one that argued with Reese about doing it," Jason countered. He holstered his gun as he looked to Nate. "I'm going to help get Scott back. I know you're Garret's handler, not me, but I suggest you bring him in. Because if you don't, I'll come after him myself." Spinning on his heel, he stalked away to come near to Hope. His expression and tone immediately softened. "It's going to be okay," he assured. 

Scott moved slightly and groaned. 

Jason pursed his lips. There was only one way to do this. Lifting Scott out of the chair was easier than Jason had expected. His friend weighed even less than he thought. "Lead the way," he directed Hope. Getting upstairs and out to the car, he had Hope open the back door. "Sit with him...I'm going to lay him down."

Scott could feel himself being moved, but was too out of it to really understand, so he didn't fight. Still shaking, he felt himself lowered and allowed to lie down. His head rested on something warm and comforting. Hope?


Eli caught Ryan's quiet laugh, and perked up a little. She'd just...really laughed? It had been small but...she had? And she'd smiled again? Maybe there really was something to having Hunter around. 

Hunter grinned again and shook his head. "Okay. No sappy movies. I don't want to see Eli cry anyway. That's...gotta be disturbing." Both of them laughed again before he nodded at Ryan. "And you definitely don't need to be crying."

His tone softened a little as he cocked his head. "There's a time for everything... even a time to let go." He could have kicked himself for saying that - where had it come from anyway? He had no business saying thst to her even if he did know her situation. He didn't know her well enough. Yet he'd been prompted to say it. And it was the same lesson he'd learned while in Texas. 

His eyes dropped for a moment. Where were these thoughts coming from? Mick would say the Holy Spirit. True? Again the words were blurted out before he could stop them. "You ever been to Texas?"