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Of Kings and Pawns (IC)

The statement of 'war never changes' had never been truer in a time like this one. Here they could see that there were deaths, there were deserters, and there was a winner and a loser and a lot of blood. That's the only backbone of war in its own right. To make matters worse, there was no real reason behind the war that had just taken place. No one had initially provoked it. Bradan had been midning his own business and out of nowhere his friends and allies were getting gunned down. Of course things were bad. Of course a war broke out. But he came out on top, as to be expected. Anyone who lived nearby Bradan's area (some of them even being simply behind The Lucky Jack in various apartments) knew that any shooting going on there was never a good thing. But all of them? They paid his Sergeants and Lieutenants for protection from local crime. They were some of the safest people in the city - living around there wasn't cheap, after all.

The war continued until Al-Asheera turned on each other, ran away, or in some cases, ended their own lives. It was a rough scenario, but at this point it was too much of a bloodbath for anyone involved to really feel sympathy over. The people living in the area were literally cuddled up under some beds with their kids and loved ones, waiting for the gunfire to stop. It was terrifying. Business in the area was definitely going to be dropping for quite some time now. Even Bradan would have to look at finding a new base of operations.

The best thing, though?

More people would want to join Bradan at this rate. More low-time criminals would be looking to go big with him over anyone else. He just won a gang war. A war with a gang that had been running for two decades, one that people initially thought was impenetrable.

Things would be on the up for Bradan. That went without saying, really.

But at the moment, he was looking down at Sammy's body. He'd been riddled with bullets. Four in the chest, one in the head. Did he take the bullets for Bradan himself? Most likely. He scanned over him; poor kid. A man that Bradan was secretly in love with - in a fucked up and strange kind of way. Sammy was nothing more than his bitch, and Sammy knew it well. But Sammy was loyal. He treated Bradan like a god in his own right. In Sammy's eyes, no one could ever be better than Bradan.

One of Bradan's lieutenants stopped beside him. He'd taken some shots but he was alive. He was standing.

"You okay, boss?"

Bradan nodded once.

"Fine." He whispered. "Go and get patched up. We've got business to discuss."

He felt the man pat him on the shoulder before walking off.

What a day this had turned out to be. The police would be here soon enough, so already, all of the men that had been armed with small firearms were running around and sweeping up the guns that had been dropped, or guns that were still in Clover possession. They were going to be hidden in a secret stash in the building, in the basement, to be precise. The police wouldn't find a thing. Bradan would refuse statements and that would be the end of it.

--

Frank was watching it what must have been pure shock. It just seemed to get worse and worse as the minutes went by, and eventually the shooting stopped, the people filming any live feeds retreated and no one else was sending in any footage. They were running before they got caught, clearly. There was someone who lived within earshot of all the shooting, and they sent in a video of them and their kids cowering under a bed. Their kids were crying. They were all terrified. They were hiding, because stray bullets weren't uncommon. Anything could happen, and crazier things had. There was no time to hang around and take chances.

"This is crazy." He said. "But this is good news for us, isn't it?" He asked. "I think it's a pretty good turn of events. This means less work for us. The sooner all of this closes off... The sooner we can get back to leading normal lives." He said, "If that's ever going to be possible for Jordan." He said, "I don't know how easy it's going to be. His whole family's in a freezer box somewhere waiting for him to be found. I almost feel selfish, but I can't let him get thrown into the system, Tony." He said. "No matter how bad things get I can't allow for that to happen." He said. "Even if... Even if somehow Bradan forgets all about him, I need to keep him with me. A kid that's been through so much won't survive in something like that."

He was right.

A kid who had lost his whole family and was extremely vulnerable? He'd be prayed on in no time. There were plenty of abusers out there that just wanted the payment for fostering a kid. Frank didn't want that for him.

Then there was the phone call.

Frank wasn't so sure about the voice, but, he had to admit that he'd heard it somewhere at some point. He definitely had. He just didn't know where he had.

"I know what you mean." He said. "Maybe it's nothing to worry about. Remember, I've only just got detective." He said, "I wouldn't say I've been around long enough in all departments to know everyone there. I've been there for four years but that doesn't mean shit for me. Shifts rotated too much for me to really be hanging around at all." He shrugged. "You think it's someone we know?" He asked. "Call sounded pretty real to me." He said. "Is he even near the station right now, or is it just blind luck? Or maybe just a coincidence? I don't know." He said.

"I have to admit I don't like being here. In the middle of nowhere. It feels so hidden but exposed as well."
 
It's no question that Thalia had to come back eventually. With all the bitterness she'd held towards James, she really didn't have anywhere else to go besides the streets, and the last time that happened, she found her life in a downward spiral of physical and mental abuse. Better to be hurt by what's already hurting than create new wounds, she thought. So, turning back for the mansion was her only smart option, one that would keep her alive and her family close. Speaking of which... she still hadn't seen her mom or brother since she broke out. She didn't even have them on her mind when she stormed off, and didn't even see her mom nearby as she turned her back on James. Anger did a number on her and was close to sending her off the edge in some respects. She knew it was unlikely she'd find Jenny's body in the forest, but the part of her searching for closure knew she'd have to try. Would she ever get a chance to find the body? She didn't even know, because after several hours of walking that would get the average girl lost, she'd come up empty. And the entire time, she could only think of one thing: revenge. As much harm as Damien had done, he didn't lie to her. The same way she tried to justify her unnecessary bluntness to Charlie to that federal agent that came to take a recording from her, she justified Damien's honesty to form bitterness towards James, who tried to justify in his own way. Though a volatile threat, she still saw Jenny as innocent, and undeserving of death. Even if her words came off as sympathetic towards Ra's' code of conduct, it was all she really knew in terms of justice. And unfortunately, it was taking over.

And Ra's' punishment for the deaths of innocents? Compensate the death. Thalia had to pay a million for the death of that man who tried to be a hero in the Coral Cafe a week ago. But that wasn't going to be a struggle for James to pay, and he was probably already going to give them money anyway. So that left one option in her mind:

Blood must compensate for blood.

Which is why she got dressed into the outfit given to her - a red football jersey that was a size too big on her, black jeans, and sneakers - and retraced her steps back home. Getting lost wasn't an issue, and she could find the heavily-guarded mansion with ease. But she didn't plan to kill James with her bare hands... Stowed away in the back of her pants was a sharpened block of tree bark that she'd ripped from a tree int he forest and fashioned into a sort of knife. Her intentions with such a weapon were clear: she wanted blood, and that psychotic side of her that had butchered scum like Roland Simmons was floating back to the surface, giving no regard for the heavy security outside the Jackal's mansion, simply walking up to the front gates where their ride had been parked, staring the security detail straight in the eye and not stopping to present herself as a friendly.

And as expected, they halted her. "You're trespassing on private property, ma'am. Step away..."

Though with two bullets in her left arm, her right arm was still plenty useful, which is what she used to pull out the makeshift shank from behind her and swing it at the man trying to stop her. The sharp end managed to slash him across the cheek and gave her enough time to use his reaction as a distraction to kick around his leg at the tendon near his heel, making him lose his balance. She took the chance to grab the guard in a chokehold, her injured arm comfortably securing his neck and holding back the mild pain in her shoulder, standing right behind him with the piece of bark to his throat. She then noticed his colleagues with their weapons pointed at her head. The danger of getting shot didn't matter to her, as she'd already been through enough of that for one lifetime.

"Try anything funny, and I'll cut this throat wide open for you all, got it?" she snarled. "I'm going in there, and you guys are gonna wait out here and not say a damn word to your buddies..."

The guards gave her no response, but they didn't lower their weapons. Neither did Thalia. But one thing the redhead failed to do was check her 6. The Jackal had several men more than the few standing at the doors, and the second an intruder laid a hand on one of their own, it meant that reinforcements would be inbound. And indeed, they were, one of them going as far as taking a swing behind her head and sending her to the ground, releasing the man she'd scratched with a measly piece of tree bark. She fell face first into the pavement beneath her and couldn't muster the energy to get up after that mighty blow to the back of her head. She softly groaned in pain, hearing the sounds of the guards' weapons pointing at her now that she was subdued. Whatever chance she had at storming the gates and stabbing James like she did to that other Al-Asheera brute in his garage was out the window. Because now, they had an intruder with Al-Asheera tattoos who tried to force their way inside. Definitely not a great first impression.

She could hear them giving orders to one another: "Get the boss; tell him we have an intruder on the premises. We're bringing her into the freezer for interrogation."

It was only then that Thalia realized she'd be going inside to see her family again. They'd see her dragged in as a hostile intruder who did harm to one of their own. Not quite the accomplishment to make her mother proud when she finds her daughter tied up to a chair in a freezer.

--

Fortunately, the shooting came to an end, as reported by the news and the lack of new shootout footage. It was interesting to see the contrast of people. There were the people hiding in their homes, afraid of catching a stray bullet and hiding in closets or under beds with their children - with as much shooting as there was, anyone would jump for cover. Then there were the thrill junkies who were recording and streaming the mayhem on their phones. Weren't they afraid of death? Didn't they feel that they should take cover rather than foolishly watch over and marvel at the blood and gunfire? Part of it sickened Tony to see how desensitized some people really were. He'd already seen such behavior in other cases, and even very recently while the media went out on a witchhunt to make Thalia look bad thanks to his big mouth, but for people to want to get the best shot of a nearby gang shootout just seemed a bit too far - almost like they were asking for a swift death. But violence seems to sell, and the media was eating this alive, an active gang shooting between the two bad boys of LA. It wouldn't be long until the LAPD was on the scene to clean up the bodies.

"I don't think Bradan going to stay at the Lucky Jack after this," he sighed. "If he cares to keep his organization running, this base of operations was just compromised. Not sure if I should be thanking Al-Asheera for that or giving them the finger. Because now, we have no idea how to find this guy from here on out. Unless those guys that you talked to Murphy about are still out there. Or they were killed in the shootout, which may just be good in one way, that the men who killed the Redgraves are dead. But bad because we'll lose our only new lead on the LAPD insider and to the head of the snake... Speaking of which, where the hell is Marcus? Tell me he wasn't anywhere near that bloodbath, cuz I haven't seen the guy all day. If he survived the massacre, we might still have a way in, but that's a big 'if'. Who knows if Bradan will still trust him. Old pal comes out of jail, and a few days later, his base of operations is shot up by a bunch of terrorists? Looks a bit shady if you ask me. Conspiring with police is one thing, but what if we just gave the impression that McAllister sold out to Al-Asheera? I don't know. He's probably going to still be useful, but I don't know how much, is the thing."

The voice on the phone call kept ringing in his head. He knew he'd heard it from somewhere. Maybe Frank didn't because he was still relatively new as a detective. But Tony had experience... who was she? A secretary? A street-cop? Someone from forensics? A fellow detective? Or someone higher up? Whatever it was... Heather's act was mighty convincing to the point that Tony couldn't tell that it was staged.

Being in the middle of nowhere didn't bother Tony all that much... perhaps it was because he'd already lost everything he was playing for. Frank, on the other hand, didn't. Many people had someone or something left to fight for. But not as much could be said for this veteran. "Can't say it beats my place in Santa Monica," he scoffed. "That place is probably ransacked with two gangs on my tail. Not like I can go back there. I get that the isolation out here is a bit bothersome, Frank. If it helps, I did overhear Mrs. Griffin talking about the potential for gathering the children and getting them somewhere else. I thought maybe you'd want to join, but I guess we need to see the aftermath of that shootout. See if the threat isn't as severe. I can tell Al-Asheera won't bother with you and Jordan, but they are after Charlie. Poor kid, being thrown in the middle of all of this. Reeves is sick for even thinking of doing that to an eight year old boy. Not to mention everything else he's done. Bombs, live broadcasting murders... it's like this isn't the same Al-Asheera I've been after all this time. Hate to say it, and don't take this the wrong way... but I kind of do miss the gospel according to Ra's. He had control and respect from the masses, and even if he was a sicko all the same, he at least had lines he wouldn't cross. Reeves... doesn't. Who knows what his next move is? I can't even predict it at this point. He could drag a dirty bomb into LA, and I'd never be the wiser. That's how bad it's gotten."

As they chatted, Tony could hear noises of a struggle a few rooms away, which startled him at first. Who was possibly intruding on them at this time? Some Al-Asheera brute? Truth was, that was an accurate guess, just not quite the one he expected. He threw himself up from his seat and marched to the foyer to find the front entrance security detail dragging in Thalia, struggling to get herself out of the cuffs behind her back and the man gripping her neck. Tony could only watch as if he'd seen a ghost. After the arrest, he didn't think he'd see Thalia ever again. Unbelievable, she actually broke out of police custody. That would only make her life even greater of a hell, but at least she was safer here than in prison where Reeves would have her killed.

"Hey, what's going on?" Tony asked the guards. "She's with us. Why is she a prisoner?" Never did he imagine himself defending the mystery redhead, but that vicious image of her was permanently out of his mind now that he had closer over who really shot Richie that day. It wasn't Thalia after all. But he did fear one thing: what if Thalia finds out about Jenny? And the fact that he'd pulled the trigger? Or worse: that she never deserved to die in the first place? That she was framed for Tony's own sins....

"She attempted to force entry with a lethal weapon," a guard explained, holding out the sharpened piece of bark. Tony arched an eyebrow in confusion... why did she want to come in to kill someone? And who? Was it him? Couldn't be, what reason would she have to do that? No way she could've put the pieces together about the underlying truth that quickly.

"The hell..." he murmured to himself.

Thalia, in her struggle, tried to cry out to Tony for assistance as she kicked and thrashed about. "He killed her, Tony!" she shouted. "James killed Jenny! And he had no reason to! She wasn't a threat!"

Tony could recognize the completely psychotic look in Thalia's eyes that he'd seen plenty of times before. Was she really losing her mind? Or was she truly told that Jenny was dead, and by James' hand? The grip on her neck was tightened, and the guard holding her barked back into her ear, "Shut up. You keep quiet, and this will go easier for you."

As he watched her get taken away, Tony could only look back and forth between Thalia and Frank in confusion. Thalia came back to kill James... Could this be discussed calmly and without incident? Can they burn this bridge? "I'll help you get out of this, Thalia," he said, hoping she heard that as they dragged her off to another room. What kind of torture would she be subject to there? Hasn't she been through enough? Fortunately, her mom wasn't anywhere nearby to see this, and was with Charlie in her own bedroom watching some mindless cartoons with him as a way to cool down after a stressful day.

One thing was for certain: Thalia didn't cool down this time; she came back fueled with rage. And so, the drama story between her and James continues. Tony was glad, however, that it wasn't him getting targeted with that piece of bark. She almost killed him once. She might just do it again if given the chance.

--

Though late at night, there was no sleep for Richie or Heather that evening, as there was plenty of work to be done with a gang war in play. Given Richie's health condition and Heather's lack of experience, neither were allowed near the Lucky Jack, but that didn't mean they were useless from the confines of the office Tony and Frank once shared. After all, it was once partially for Richie, so he had every right to take it back with the other co-owner gone rogue. He took to his old desk, which was Frank's technically, where he could finally take a seat and relax after being up and about all day. With his injury, it was expected that he'd become tired and slightly in pain. It gave him some time to take the painkillers that he'd promised his wife he'd use. It also gave him time to reflect on the day, and admire how old habits don't really change with Tony's messy desk on the other side of the room. He watched as Heather took in the new experience, being under the wing of a seasoned detective and getting in on the glorious action she'd been after, and also pursuing her own agenda all at the same time. She was no parasite and was by no means dependent on Richie for future success, but she did hope that being partnered with one of the Al-Asheera detectives as her mentor would go a long way for her. She could only grin in satisfaction, leaning up against the back of the desk in satisfaction. This office first housed the Tony/Frank partnership... now came Richie/Heather, because at this rate, there was no way the former partners would ever come back to their old jobs again.

They'd already seen much of the news and made their peace with being unable to get near the crime scene - that was long past the point of disappointment. Besides, Miranda would personally skin Richie if he gets anywhere near the location of a recent shootout. What really interested them was the news that shortly followed: Heather's idea of a smear campaign made prime time news, and it wasn't just on a single channel... so many were reporting the news. Whether Reeves liked it or not, he was now the talk of the town. Maybe that's what he wanted. But perhaps evidence of an actual rape would burn his entire legacy to the ground. And Heather could only grin at her success.

"Well..." Richie spoke, rather impressed. "I'm surprised you didn't get into acting, young lady."

Heather proudly stood up from her place and stepped away from her own disaster for a desk and closer to Richie's. "Can't say I'm not a natural. But what I'm curious about, in your professional opinion, is where we go from here."

Richie sighed, reaching forward for the desk and toying with a pen sitting around. "For us, we have to keep waiting, especially after what Al-Asheera tried with the Clover Boys. You saw the masses making a run for it. I doubt those guys are ever coming back. If they do, they might just eat a bullet for their holier-than-though leader. But no... these people aren't prepared to die for Reeves. Ra's, maybe. They wouldn't be fleeing like you saw on the news. But Reeves has basically broken every rule in Ra's' holy book and has left his people confused. Guess they're making their choices now after so many horrible decisions all day. It might just be his downfall. I guess Al-Asheera wasn't meant for a successor, and that's why Ra's left no room for one, according to Thalia Griffin. Reeves just thinks he can compensate with Charlie Griffin as a promise for righteousness. I think that they've just woken up and smelled the flowers, at long last. People are still turning themselves in in boatloads. Let's give it some time and keep interrogating those we have, because it's those brutes that'll help us form a complete verified image of the inner circles of Al-Asheera."

She nodded. "I just thought there'd be more to it."

"At this stage, I don't think there's more we can even do. But who knows? I could be wrong, after all. For me, I'm just glad to be back on the job, really. Tired of being useless on medical leave. At least if I'm sitting at this desk, I'm making a difference. And so are you, you keep that in mind."

The two detectives exchanged a smile at this newfound friendship. "I guess it's a job well done, then."
 
Thalia had been officially caught. Wandering around in the woods for hours on end wasn't going to get her very far, and sneaking in to try and kill someone? More importantly, James himself? It was going to cause a lot of drama and potentially cause a lot of trust issues that weren't possible to repair. It was going to be a rough night and things were going to get a lot worse before they got better. It didn't take much to overhear guard chatter, because of course Karin was going to hear Thalia kicking and screaming when she actually got dragged back into the house.

Karin heard all the commotion but she didn't want to get involved in any of that. She just stood behind a door and listened, and what she heard was shocking.

Sneaking onto the property, deadly weapon, James.

And Thalia was angry.

Surely she wasn't... She couldn't be...

Karin felt her heart drop. She wasn't here to harm James, was she?

Maybe she was.

Even so, the boss was called pretty quickly and they didn't have much chance to talk before Tony immediately got shut back down. The Jackal didn't want someone intruding on his business, and there was one thing he hated more than that - someone who tried intruding on his home.

"Stay the fuck out of it, mate." The Jackal said, planting one firm hand against Tony's chest and pushing him back. "Someone keep an eye on him. Don't let him interrupt." He pointed to another door, "Go and get her in the freezer room. Tie her to a strong chair, preferably one she won't be able to break. Something metal and heavy. There's plenty of them lying around this place." He said. He looked at Tony again. Tony got a rather sharp look.

Frank had come running, as well, and when he saw her he was shocked to say the least. It was a face he never thought he'd see again. After seeing Tony get threatened he wasn't about to vow to help her. He had to protect Jordan as well. If it got him and Jordan thrown out on their ass - or worse, killed - then that wasn't going to do them any favors. He needed to get that kid out of here at the first chance he got, money at hand or not. He had enough cash banked, but...

Fuck, it wasn't going to be easy. Watching Thalia get dragged off was also painful but he didn't really have much say in that at all, did he? He was just going to have to sit and listen, hope that maybe she got out of there.

But it wasn't about to get any easier.

Karin was in her own room basically debating everything in her head. Now, she was having nothing but doubts. Did revenge really outweigh her? James? Joseph? The baby? she didn't like to think so but it was beginning to appear that way, and that was a real kick in the teeth. Just like everyone else, she'd have to wait and see if she got a chance to talk to Thalia.

Or scream at her.

At this point it could be either one.

Thalia, however, was promptly dragged down to the depths of the basement, shoved into a cold freezer room and tied to a metal chair. Having a look around, the bloody bags that hung from hooks in there could have either been actual animals, or other humans who had met the same grizzly fate that she seemed to about to go through.

Oh dear.

She was left alone for a few minutes, as well. She was left in complete silence - it wasn't just any bodyguard. It was The Jackal that entered the room before too long, sporting leather gloves, a toolbox, and a small kit that must have had some sort of surgical equipment inside there.

He took just a few moments and looked at her, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Not very often we get your type all the way out here. That worries me." He said. He unzipped the kit, and yes. There was a lot of surgical equipment. All of it looked sharp and terrifying. "Now, I heard all the shouting, I know..." He opened the toolbox and pulled out a huge wrench. He brushed it over the top of her knee.

"Is there something I missed during all of this?" He asked. "Is there something that makes you think you're allowed to storm in here to try and kill one of my friends?" He asked. "It's my right in this hellhole of a country to defend my home. Second Amendment, and all." He shrugged.

"Now." He said, "I'd hate to rearrange that pretty face of yours. I'm sure we can figure something out here."
 
Karin wasn't the only one broken when she'd heard Thalia's fury in the foyer. Her own mother wasn't too far away, and even if she weren't, the screams would reach her all the same. Those familiar screams... her daughter came back, as anticipated, but wasn't expected was that she came back without a clear mind. She came back with a lethal weapon, tried to force entry, and had the intentions of killing someone inside. She wanted James dead for his actions, which is what Nicole was praying she wouldn't come back with in mind. And now, she was about to be punished for it with no chance of explaining herself to a trustworthy party. She doubted she'd respond well to torture. She just wished she could get a chance to talk to her daughter first, but after seeing the guards keep Tony at bay and guard the door to the basement, she knew the worst was to come, covering her open jaw in shock. She could only watch and be left speechless, not even meeting her daughter's eyes.

But she had to try. It was her daughter, after all. She'd just gotten her back. She wasn't going to just let her slip away that easily.

So she stepped forward to another guard as Tony was nudged away. She began to speak, almost demanding. Composure was there, and it felt like the shrill demands of any school teacher. "That is my daughter down there. I demand to speak to her immediately. Whatever you wish to do her is not how you should treat her. So if you could step away so I can settle this without anyone getting hurt..."

The guard she'd gotten in the face of placed both hands on her shoulders to stop her in her tracks, not buying a word of it, and definitely not allowing her entry. "Back it up, lady. Nobody sees her until the boss is finished with business."

Struggling and trying to push away, Nicole barked back, "How dare you give a stranger priority over the girl's own mother?!"

"That stranger is the owner of this property. She trespassed with hostile intentions, so she will be interrogated accordingly. So you stay out of it and behave, and you'll get a chance to talk to her only when the boss is done. Clear?"

She shook her head, and continued on her livid stream of responses. "This is madness. Injustice, I tell you. If you could just give me five minutes with her, I can justify that she had no ill intentions, and whatever torture you have in mind is pointless..."

Tony could only watch on as Nicole was pushed away to a different room by the guard, clearly keeping the basement secure and only for two people: Thalia and the Jackal. Could Nicole really soothe Thalia? That was a big maybe... but it could've happened. One thing was for sure: torture would only make her more hostile. She'd already endured enough. And all Tony could do was watch over the almost weeping mother get blocked.

With Tony pushed back by the Jackal before he could even do anything or get close to Thalia being hauled away, it wasn't long until Frank came to watch the events unfolding as well, giving Tony someone to converse with without suspicion. The two ex-detectives were around each other a great deal anyway, so it was hardly a worrisome matter for the two to retreat and talk. It's not like either were stupid enough to go down to the freezer room and break her out. Besides, if she really wanted to kill James, best she remain restrained until they make sense and come to terms of peace once again. But Thalia was dangerous, as seen in her past few psychotic outbreaks, and with Tony a firsthand victim to her wrath, he figured, after thinking it over again, that having her secured would be safer so she doesn't do something she'll regret later. Tortured, however? No, but it's not like he could stop that. Before their agreement to stop fighting, Tony might've wished that Thalia suffers the same near death experience he had by her hand. Not so much the case anymore. Saving someone's life really changes your perspective, after all.

"I think she wanted to kill James," he turned to Frank and explained, although it didn't need much explanation. She'd made her desires clear enough with the screaming and scene she'd created. "It's because of what happened with Jenny, that he had to take her out of the equation..."

Jenny... Shit, Tony thought, connecting the dots in his mind. Jenny died for HIS sins. Thalia was blaming James for his judgment and harsh punishment. When she finds out that James' judgment was wrong and that it was Tony that landed them in this situation, and his lie got Jenny killed? This time, the mystery redhead wouldn't hesitate to kill him. That inner shred of Al-Asheera would be unleashed, and he'd be as good as dead without anyone to defend his case.

So he patted Frank by the shoulder and the two walked away from the guards who were keeping watch over him to prevent the two men from pursuing the prisoner. Not like Frank had any plans to, and Tony wouldn't let him anyway.

"If the truth ever gets out there about what I did, you know I'm a dead man," he whispered in a panicked, semi-aggressive manner. That was the only thing left in whispers, as the rest was spoken out loud, shamelessly. "I don't expect you to go up in arms and fight this. God knows these guys will tear you apart if you side with a hostile, and you can't afford that with Jordan. But you can't tell me you don't feel a thing by seeing the woman you used to love get hauled away to get butchered. And Thalia is ex-Al-Asheera. She's probably going to give them nothing but the 'fuck yourself' chatter, and get herself killed for it. I know she and James got in a fight, but what kind of men would we be to let our ally just... if we just leave her for the wolves like that? It's not like she snapped for no reason, you know. She's unstable, has been from the beginning, and can't handle loss. So when James told her that Jenny was gone, that he had to off her, think about the mental downward spiral she fell into. She may be psycho, but she's a damn faithful one. You weren't at the port when she... she saved me from one of those brutes using me as a meat shield. And I saved her in return, when Ra's cornered her and almost executed her."

Tony gulped... Perhaps he felt bad for Thalia, after all this time of finding her nothing more than a savage in a mask who took a friend from him, he finally saw the truth. Thalia was more than the faithful psycho that helped kill the leader of a dangerous gang. She really was looking for life anew. And if forgiving her present sins could do that... so be it.

"Whatever happened between you two... just put it aside, Frank. Help the kid out before there's no going back. We have to ask James to have the Jackal spare her. Just so we can sort this mess out. I know that's weird coming from the guy who's hated her from day one, but after Sam told me that he shot Richie and not her... I was wrong about her. Wrong about everything. And it's about time we make up for that."

--

Thalia continued to resist and struggle throughout the entire walk down to the basement. She was taking no shit from the guards, taking whatever opportunity she could to thrash about and try to break free, yelling out groans in effort to try and escape to complete her mission to attack James. But that wasn't happening anytime soon as, even if it took a few men, she was strapped to a chair in the freezer room and left for a short time while the boss showed up. In that time alone, she did anything but relax. She continued to struggle against the restraints with no sign of stopping, using up any bit of energy she could, and that was draining quick in the cold environment. As she got colder and time passed, she began to grow tired and even shiver. She did have the energy to scream on occasions, begging someone to come in and let her out, those of which would go unanswered.

That was until the boss himself arrived with his tools in hand, tools that Thalia didn't have to guess the nature of. She was about to be tortured, and she was going to bite her tongue and brave it out until the bitter end if that meant that she was dying to oppose James. That psychotic side didn't seem to fade with her energy, but it manifested differently. Verbally, especially when the Jackal showed up and got close to her. Normally, she'd kick him in such a situation, but with her legs restrained, that wasn't an option. She was going to behave as hostile as she could until she got facetime with James. Hell, if the Jackal got close enough to her face, she may even try to bite him, as her lips weren't restrained.

The question... what was all the fuss about...

"Fuck yourself," she growled, crossing her eyebrows in front of the strange older man, jolting in her chair with the bits of energy left in her. And she got more excessive and vulgar than the typical Al-Asheera clansman. "You hear that?" she gave him a maniacal grin and jolted again. "Take your puny little wrench and shove it up your ass, because you and your buddy James are killers, and if you do the same to me, you'll only prove me right. You're heartless killers with no remorse and who will kill without asking questions, you draconian fucks!"

Well... not quite the best first impression she'd made. Definitely would've been different if her mother was there to ask the questions. But it seemed like Thalia was prepared to take more pain than she'd already been through.
 
"You're right, Tony. I'm not going to be fighting them on this. I'm not even going to try and convince them that it's worth letting anyone down there." He said, "I can't take risks anymore, I just want out." He said. He looked away from him and towards the guards. He was right. Thalia would certainly kill him if he found out. They couldn't have that now. He was sick of everyone being at each other's throats. He wanted to get out of here. It wasn't a healthy environment for anyone, and the fact that they'd all managed to say relatively sane throughout all of this was a big indication of how strong they all were. But... At the same time, he was struggling.

It was all so negative and he wasn't sure how much more he could take.

He wasn't sure if he could handle it, really. He really didn't know.

He just wanted to leave. If he could take Jordan and walk out the door and never come back, then he would do that without a doubt in his mind.

Did it hurt to see Thalia dragged away like that? It came down to the whole 'we can still be friends' thing post-breakup. At the end of the day, he was taking Jordan in as his own, and before too long he was on his own with 0 support. She wanted to 'live her life' and do things that a normal girl her age would be able to do. He didn't know what she thought of his and her relationship right now, but, he had big dreams. He dreamed of weddings in Italy and lots of little kids all running around.

It's what he wanted. He wanted Jordan to be part of that dream.

.. So when someone shows you they have no faith in such a thing, you tend to lose all feeling you had for them and it just turned numb. It was more seeing her get pulled away that hurt - only because he knew she wasn't a psycho at heart.

"She's not a psycho." He said, "Just emotional, I just..." He sighed.

He could help, maybe.

"I'm happy to go and talk to James and ask if he's willing to go easy. Nothing more." He said. "If there's a way out of this, that's fine. But only if there is a way. If it all gets shut down then I'm not going to extend my effort to fight for it. These guys could kill us at any given moment, and that's all there is to it." He said. "I'm not taking an extended risk. If you feel bad for her, you can, but just because I was in love with her doesn't mean I feel any different. It was a long time ago now - at least it feels that way - and the magic between us is long since dead." He said.

It was just the cold truth.

He would feel pain for a long time, no doubt.

But it probably wouldn't go beyond that. Who knew. Love's a bitch.

--

"Heartless killers? That seems very rich coming from a girl who rolls with a group of terrorists." He said, gently patting the wrench in his hand. "You know, I heard a lot of talk about a certain Mystery Redhead, and they've been having all these talks upstairs of getting you back, all of the discussions of how you needed to be saved, how you deserved some sort of second chance." He said, "Yeah, it's not hard to piece together that you're who they're talking about. Figuring out that it was you James wanted to so desparately save became easy as soon as I saw you. You fit the description." He said.

"But you know what I think? I think you're nothing more than a terrorist. A wolf in sheep's clothing." He said, "You've fooled them all, Redhead, but you certainly haven't fooled me." He shook his head. "I'll make sure to do your family a favor and let them know they'd be a lot safer if we left you in a freezer. Maybe get them far away from here. You deserve something slow and steady, not something quick." He said. "But I will make you a deal."

He swung the wrench and clocked her in the stomach with it - that would leave a nasty bruise, and all of the wind was knocked out of her, no doubt. He tossed it back in the toolbox and picked the toolbox up.

"My deal? If you're still alive tomorrow morning, I'll give you something quick and painless." He said. "Sleep tight. If you start to feel warm at some point, that would be hypothermia. You're pretty much done for then. Good luck." He said.

He stepped out and slammed the door shut behind him.

It locked.

And she was alone.
 
Thalia was left alone in the freezer, locked and alone, to suffer in the cold with a new injury to add to many already there. If two gunshots weren't painful enough, then a wrench to the stomach, pretty much where she'd been stabbed four years ago, was only going to make her time even more miserable. Throughout the Jackal's monologue, she clenched her teeth, prepared to bite at his face if he got too close. Unfortunately, that window never came up, and all she got was another nasty bruise and a long stay in the freezing cold. Even after the clicking of the lock echoed throughout the room, she continued to scream in pain and misery, yelling out assorted curses towards her captor and demanding release with no backing at all. If there was any side of her that would prove to deserve death, it was this one. But one thing's for sure: that same side wasn't going to show much in the way of good behavior, not if she was threatened with torture or death at least.

And it's not like she'd beg for a quick death or anything... she'd keep up her insane act after catching her breath until all of the energy just gets exhausted. And in the cold, it wouldn't take long.

Upstairs, however, it was quite clear to Tony that Frank had hardly any room in his heart to prioritize their ally, the one that he gave a chance while the more experienced one doubted her at every corner. Oh how the tables have turned... He could understand how Jordan mattered more at this point, but this much? It's been a week, even less since they agreed not to be a thing, but it felt like Tony was more serious about helping her than Frank. And oddly enough... it bothered him. It felt like if James gave them a simple, unjustified 'no', Frank would retreat without another word to defend her. Tony? He didn't want to stop there. And judging by the distant screams, if they didn't hurry, they probably wouldn't get the same Thalia back when this is over.

"A long time?" he scoffed. "Frank, it's been a week, maybe less since you two agreed not to go further. And even then, if she were a total stranger, what kind of cops would we be to just let that happen? We've broken the law more times than we can count this past week, but let's show a bit of integrity, even this once. You know James isn't going to give you the boot if we just ask nicely to see what she wants. If it's Jenny's death she wants avenged, I'm sure we can talk about a way to make up for it that doesn't get anyone hurt or killed. It's not the first time someone has stopped her from butchering someone, hm? She just barked up the wrong tree at the wrong time, is all."

With a tap to his partner's shoulder, Tony turned away to find the room in which James had placed himself in when he returned all those hours ago. Part of the older detective couldn't help but look back in the direction that Nicole Griffin was dragged away to. He felt awful that things were going in the direction of an outcome where... their gold mine to killing Ra's and Al-Asheera was probably going to die. True, she was useless against Reeves, but that didn't make her expendable. And all of this, in the end... was Tony's fault. Because he, in his past untrusting mindset, divulged too much to Roland, who managed to pass on that information to Ra's, who somehow got it to Reeves before leaving this life. It should've been him shot in the head and left to rot in the forest, that is, if he wasn't fed to Thalia first. In that moment, one life mattered more than their accomplishment coming to fulfillment at the same time. It was guilt, the guilt of seeing the life flash from Jenny when he pulled the trigger that made him realize he'd deserved that. And a mother was about to lose her newfound daughter because of that misjudgment.

Tony left a few light knocks on James' door before allowing himself to enter, peeking over his shoulder to Frank. He entered first, slowly though as to not frighten James. "James, we need to talk," he spoke quickly, as if they were on a timer, which wasn't entirely inaccurate, too. "Thalia came back.... but she came back with something sharp. And to come after you. I don't think I need to tell you why she's after you. I thought she'd come back somewhat calmer after she stormed off like that. She always has before, right? Go figure." He shrugged off that remark, and got right to the point. "She's not doing so well, and I highly doubt that's the same Thalia that helped us out that's kicking and screaming down in that goddamn freezer. Call her whatever you want, but killing her after all she's done for us isn't doing her or us any justice. She's mad, sure, and she's taking it too far. But that's not grounds for us to waste her while her mom and brother are right upstairs. What kind of justification are we gonna give Nicole and Charlie to say that their precious Thalia was left to freeze to death? Cuz I don't know about you, but if Thalia's gripe with you is that you had Jenny killed without much in the way of questions, then you're going to have another problem with the morally-righteous Nicole Griffin. She probably won't come at you with a knife, but who's to say she won't lawyer up and come after you for killing her daughter? Unless you wanna waste her, too, and just leave her son to wonder where his family went."

Taking a breath, he paused, realizing where his train of thought was off to. "Sorry. That was out of line of me. But I'm just not on board having her killed or tortured like this. I did have an idea for how to give her peace. Is there any way we can find where we... let Jenny go last night? Just to let her say her last words and show that you want to extend an olive branch. Maybe that will promote a less... emotional response." He had to hesitate before using the word 'psycho', a word Frank carefully avoided. "Maybe even a chat with her mom, letting her see her brother. But it's gotta be quick, before the Jackal just offs her."
 
"Integrity? Don't you even think of taking the moral high-ground here. Your integrity can kiss my ass."

Tony had stepped on unstable ground and now it was beginning to crumble.

"We're not cops. We're not even detectives. Jesus Christ, we're not even decent people. We did a deal with the devil and its blown up in our face. We're wanted for sleeping with the enemy, for the potential kidnapping of Jordan. No one's going to lecture me about Thalia when it was me that had to pull people off of her for the first 90% of our time working together. Do you remember that, Tony?" He asked. "How I had to stop people from beating her to death? To stop people from strangling her and hurting her?" He asked.

He certainly spun that one. But it was true. He'd stepped in the way many times when Tony had hit Thalia, when Thalia hit Tony. He'd been there to stop it, so, he certainly wasn't going to let his own morals get questioned. He had his reasons - sometimes when you felt alone and abandoned your mind could do crazy things, and that's exactly what it was doing to him. Was it entirely unreasonable to feel a sense of loneliness? A sense of... Unnecessary solitude?

Some people would say yes, other people would say no.

"But yeah. Let's go."

So, they went to James, who was simply relaxing. Listening to music, light drinking. His eyes trailed to Tony and Frank but not much else of him moved while he listened.

He nodded.

"I know she did." He said. "She came here to try and finish me off, I know. I don't know what the word 'loyalty' means to you, but to me, it means respecting your friends and not biting the hand that feeds you." He said, "Because the way I see it, all that's happened these past few days has been extra hassle." He said. "And this whole little ragtag operation we've got going on? I could have done it myself, done it a lot cleaner, too - it just would have taken a bit longer." He said. "And where would you two be? No doubt leading successful careers, not worrying about all of this shit." He said.

He could only laugh at what Tony said, though.

"Lawyer up, huh? And find a man who died years ago? Sure. Good luck with that." He said. "I have enough contacts to have the US Army raid this house if I really want me to. Don't try using scare tactics, Tony, because you know it's not going to work. I'm not scared of Nicole and I'm definitely not scared of Thalia. Just disappointed. Offended. After all that's happened, the way she's acting is completely unreasonable and self-centered. She's chosen a dead girl's life over the rest of us. She's chosen a little spoiled narcissist over her friends, her allies, and her family." He said.

It was his final statement that sealed the deal, though.

"You're all very wrong about me." He said, "You think I'm just some sort of heartless monster, don't you? Some ruthless killer with no compassion or empathy. If you think the same as her, Tony, then stop wasting your fucking breath. Because I'm not going to waste the energy it takes to listen to your theories about me orphaning her brother or killing her mother, alright?"

He cranked up the music just a tiny bit and sipped his drink.

"Are there any more poor judgments you'd like to make before I ask you to leave?" He asked.
 
Frank wouldn't budge, and it seemed neither would James. For once, the roles were in the exact opposite. Everyone against Thalia, but Tony the only one reaching out to her defense. All because Jenny only died because of him. Had she never been suspect to being the rat, she might've received a slap in the face and a few threatening words to scare her right off. But instead, she came making threats right after their livelihood was on the line. Now, Thalia had no one to defend her apart from her family who were in for devastating news later if she were to be left to die. Maybe a lawsuit wouldn't get anywhere, and maybe James simply didn't care to give her another chance like he'd done for Tony, but the older ex-detective did. Jenny died because of his lie, and now? Thalia was going to die as a consequence of that death. The lives of two young women, though not the purest of souls, were on his conscience. And he couldn't tell, because that news wouldn't save Thalia; it'd just put him in a seat right next to her in the freezer.

Or would it? Would the truth set her free if it could be spun the right way?

"So this is it," he sighed. "You're going to just... let her die. After all she's done for you. You know, as tech-savvy as you are, we'd never have had Ra's found and killed, and we certainly wouldn't have discovered the truth about Reeves if we never came to her for help. Al-Asheera has limited technology. Before Thalia started helping us, and you, all anyone had to go on was a gang of masked men, a few captured men - all of which were killed in their cells - and a mysterious redheaded female leading the more dangerous heists. You're talking about her not being grateful... give me a break. You spared me when I sprayed to Reeves, the most dangerous person I could've done it to. Yet, when Thalia threatens your livelihood all the same, your first instinct is to off her."

Tony's tone was very dull, not trying to be convincing or argumentative, but almost like he'd given up. He'd never been able to convince James of a single thing except that Jenny was the chicken in the henhouse. So, what made him think he could convince him to try to open a dialogue with Thalia. "All I ask is two things. One, when she's dead, and you go tell her family that she's gone, leave me out of whatever lie you tell them. And two, spare the other Griffins. Nicole lost a husband, soon a daughter. Charlie lost a father, soon a sister. Even if you throw them both out of here on their own, just let them salvage whatever lives they have left."

Bothered and irritated that there was nothing he could do anymore to salvage his lie, he stepped away from Frank and left the room, abandoning both. Once, again, no one was on his side here, but this time, no one was on Thalia's side either. He stepped out, tense and uneasy. One thing was clear: the screaming from the freezer seemed to have come to an end. Thalia wasn't screaming about and thrashing in her place anymore, and if there was any noise coming from her, it was too soft to be heard outside. She'd given up rather quickly, especially with her injuries and the cold, plus the fact that she'd wasted all of her energy by resisting the guards earlier. It ached his heart... Tony was the catalyst of a long list of deaths and woes, and now, it seems like he'd bitten the hand that feeds all along. Odd, an argument he could've used to pin on James, but one that didn't come to mind. Fuck, he told himself in his mind. He needed a break from it all, some sort of peace before the end. And he knew where to go.

Nicole, the widow, and possibly soon the grieving mother, who was told to stay away from the situation, surprisingly peacefully. Seems the guards were aware she was a civilian who had no harmful intentions, so they considered her a null threat. She was left to stay in her own room on her own, which is where Tony was off to. He left a few knocks from his knuckles and soon heard the words, "Come in." She was surprisingly calm, not in tears after seeing her daughter hauled away like that. Perhaps she'd cried enough for the loss of her daughter for eight years that there just wasn't anything left to release now. Tony walked in on her seated on her bed, simply facing a blank TV screen, the one where she'd witnessed her late husband's body mutilated and humiliated on television, the event that drove more to happen. He gulped as he stepped closer.

"May I sit?" he asked, gesturing to the bed.

She patted a seat for him and nodded. "You may."

Tony did so and let out a heavy huff of breath, unsure of where to begin. "I'm sorry you had to see that. With Thalia."

"I would just like answers, Detective Walsh," she answered. "No one is telling me what she's done wrong. She's been screaming about James, that he'd wronged her, but apart from that, I can't gather much more."

So she wasn't aware of what her daughter had planned exactly. But that's not what he was here for. "Your husband... he was a man of God, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he was."

"Do... you consider yourself equally religious?"

A bit of a surprise question, but... "Of course. One of the factors that I admired most from my husband was his strong Christian faith."

"That's quite... admirable. I was raised Catholic, but you can't exactly call me a practicing one at that. Mostly because my father raised me alone."

"I can certainly understand that. Why do you ask, Detective? Something related to my husband's death?"

He shook his head. "To my knowledge, the Reverend's killer was caught and... dealt with. I asked because... being in a life-threatening situation makes you really question the nature of your maker."

"Indeed, it does. I recall when Jon was bringing me and Charlie to the airport, we were... found by one of the men who was responsible for all of these problems. I can't tell you the thoughts running through my mind, the prayers I was telling myself in case it would truly be the end for me. Even I, as a faithful woman, even wonder about my own judgment."

"Obviously... You think Thalia does, too?"

"Most certainly, whether she believes in the faith we brought her up on or not, I'm sure she's thought of it in her time, especially in the line of work she was placed in, and all of the horrors she's been through."

"What about regrets? Some of her actions in the past week have been rather questionable, but do you think she has the capacity for..."

"I know for certain, Detective. And I can tell that from when I had dinner with her two evenings ago. She'd give it all to express how sorry she was for doing anything she didn't mean."

Finally... someone to side with. He hadn't face the teacher the entire time, just staring at the screen as if he were in a trance. It was then that he looked to her from the corner of his eye, unsure of what to say next. But she beat him to it.

"Detective, what's wrong with my daughter? Why did they take her into the basement like that? Why was she screaming?"

Tony froze... he'd told many mothers that their precious children were dead. But never had he told one that her daughter was on a timer. Silence... nothing more.

"She's done something terrible, hasn't she?"

He gulped. "Not quite... But she was going to."

"Is it about Jennifer?"

Tony's hand trembled as the intellectual to his left was getting nearer and nearer to a grim reality. "She blames James for it."

"I know she does..." It was then that it occurred to her what was going on. "She is still mad at him, and she threatened to do something... indecent?"

"I..." He almost choked on his words in that moment. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Griffin."

Nicole froze in her place. Tony didn't want to break the news to her, but it seemed very clear what was to come. Her daughter wasn't coming home after all. Again, no tears seemed to come from her eyes, possibly because she'd exhausted them all after all of those years before. "My... my baby..." she muttered. "Ma belle fille. (My beautiful little girl)."

What more was there to tell? It wasn't his intention to come in and beat James to the punch to break her heart. Those words hurt to come out of him, and they didn't even explicitly make it, but Nicole wasn't stupid. What more could a woman of faith do to save her daughter knowing that a superpower like James was going to let her die? There was one option, the reason Tony had come along. "Is your son in bed?"

"He's in his room with the boys. I'm going to let him stay up with them a little longer."

"Hm..." He fiddled with his finger, unsure of how to proceed. Nicole looked traumatized, but not a single tear came from her eyes. He admired that strength she had, and wished he could possess even a fraction of it now. He blamed himself for what might happen, and he sought forgiveness. He wasn't going to tell Nicole herself, but she clearly knew someone else he could tell. "I... I haven't quite prayed in a long time. You think... we could? You and I? We say a few words for Thalia before they...."

A sniffle came from Nicole, a sign of her stopping herself from crying. But there also came a nod. She would've done it anyway when Tony leaves, but she figured, why not? She could sense Tony was a man of doubts and sins as well, and she believed it was never really too late to seek forgiveness. She extended a hand forward for the detective... and he took it. It was now a time for peace, solace, remembrance of the dead and living, and it was a release Tony needed now more than ever. A chance to tell someone, even to a being he didn't entirely believe in, about his grave mistake that snowballed into the demise of the long-missing, now-found Thalia Griffin. Daughter, sister... friend.

--

There wasn't much to do for Detectives Hart or Kane anymore that night, especially after the Clover Boys/Al-Asheera gang shooting that left numerous dead. With that incident behind them, emergency services were about to arrive on-scene, but the high-rise detectives heading up the Al-Asheera case were asked not to be nearby as a security measure. It was just a body-bagging operation, in the end. The next day, once the scene was confirmed secure, they might be allowed to check out the scene, but until then... it was back home for both detectives.

For Richie, it wasn't quite 'home', but more like Karin's home. His wife had guided him with directions to find the small place so he could get there. He'd dropped off Heather first, it being his car after all, then made his way to Burbank to get some rest. He felt... exhausted, somewhat depleted after a long day like this. As he stepped out of the car, he could feel his right leg shake a bit. It was the hardest for him to move in his minimal physiotherapy. But he refused to show a sign of weakness. As he felt the pain return in his core, he reached into his suit jacket for the capsule of painkillers, screwed it off, and dumped one down his throat. His cane was nowhere to be seen as he stepped up to the front door where his wife was waiting for him on the other side. And she and the boys had already seen their hero for a man returning from battle at his slower walking pace, and they didn't hesitate to open the door, the first to run out of the door was his younger son, Jonas. He immediately came running to his father, who had an ear-to-ear grin as he slowly got down to his son's level and took him in to the hug.

"Daddy!" he cheered. "You came back!"

"Ahhh, yeah I did, Jo. Didn't think that an injury was gonna keep your old man out of the fun, huh?"

Jonas giggled as he took his face from his father's shoulder. "Mommy and Nathan said you were stopping bad people. The ones that came to our house."

He nodded, ruffling his son's hair. He could see his wife and older son at the door watching the interaction. "Yes, kiddo. I've been going after bad guys...." His eyes were directed towards the older of his children for a moment. "Whatcha doing up there, Nate? 14 year olds still hug their old man. Bring it in here."

Nathan, after spending so long being strong for his brother and mom, shrugged and stepped out of the door. Being taller, Richie stood up and gave Nathan a stronger hug, feeling the equal strength coming back into him.

"Agh, big guy, " he jokingly groaned. "You're gonna put me back in the chair with how strong you're getting. I heard you were quite the hero while I was gone. Saving your brother and your mom."

The boy was surprised that his father had heard the news this quickly. "Y-Yeah. It was no biggie though."

"No biggie?" he scoffed, not appearing to be mad in the slightest. "You might just be more of a hero than I was today. You had me worried sick when I heard you were in the way of those bullets. But I'm proud of you, big guy. Keeping your mom and brother safe while I'm out at work. I hope you know how much I appreciate that."

Nathan grinned, still recalling the words that James had told him about this life not being something he'd want. But his father... half-approved? Although it seemed more like he was surprised at his son, Nathan almost took it as encouragement as he hugged his father tighter. "I love you, Dad."

Taking both boys into his arms closer, Richie could finally relax in the comfort of his family once again. "I love you guys, too."
 
Frank didn't leave when Tony did. He actually stayed there.

"James... Please just think about this." He said. "I don't think you're a monster. I understand where you're coming from." He said, "Thalia makes decisions in the moment. She doesn't consider the long-term." He said. "I learned that the hard way." He said. James slowly looked up at him and reduced the music again. He sipped his drink and sighed, gently.

"Frank, I don't want to hear it now."

"Please." He said, "Just listen to me."

"It's about the principle." He said, "In the long term she would have regretted it. Great. I'm touched." He said, sarcastically. "She may have came in here and tried. Heavy emphasis on TRIED - to kill me." He said, "But that doesn't change the fact that she tried to kill me, did it?" He said.

"So... You're going to just let her die?" He asked.

"If you and Tony keep crawling up my ass, I might just do that." He said. "You do realize that The Jackal basically runs a whole mafia, don't you?" He asked. "You think I can just overthrow one of his decisions just because you jumped up little pricks think it's a bad idea? Please. This is just about as convincing as your whole 'we're cousins' act you pulled on me at the start." He said, "Thalia may have opened up a lot of pathways, but, I'm not about to use that as justification." He said. "She can't just go off the rails just because something doesn't go her way. And she can't use her fucked childhood to reason against that, either, because even the youngest of children have the power to understand that." He said. "Face it. She had a solid upbringing where she would have learned the best way possible that throwing a tantrum doesn't get you what you want. She's lost her mind, or she's at least very close to losing it." He said.

Frank wiped his face.

"Do yourself a favor, Frank, and just stay away from it." He said. "If anything, let this be a lesson to her."

A lesson?

Well, you had to survive to consider something a 'lesson', didn't you? Frank nodded a few times and slowly turned and walked out of the room.

He did find Tony and Nicole sat somewhere. He sat down with them. Judging by the look on Nicole's face and the fear in Tony's eyes, he could only assume that they were both clued up on the situation now.

He looked between them both.

"She's going to be fine." He whispered.

Presumably. She was going to have to survive a night in the freezer first.

Frank got up and left as quick as he sat down, and he was straight out of the room to be on his own. Death was the last thing he wanted for Thalia, but there was something about the way things were unfolding that hurt more than words could describe. He didn't want to be part of any prayer circle (even though he sort of needed it), so, being alone was the most ideal thing here until he had to tuck Jordan into bed.

Frank was a gentle soul, really. The one man who had been involved in the least violence in the whole group. Now that he was surrounded by so much of it? It was doing funny things to him.

...

Overnight, the freezer was turned... up. Only slightly. It had to go unnoticed, but someone changed it to a temperature that she would actually be able to survive in. It wasn't going to make much difference to her - at least it wouldn't feel any different - but it would make a difference. Now, the person who adjusted the freezer? It wasn't Karin nor Frank. Karin was pissed off and hurt, yes, but she had no idea her friend was locked in a room where she'd potentially die overnight.

And it wasn't The Jackal that changed it, either. That left one real person who could go down to the basement without being questioned. James.

Who knew. Maybe she'd notice eventually that her blood was flowing a little more. Maybe she'd notice the dripping water as the ice melted around the thawing... Corpses that were hung up in bags.

It didn't melt much.

But it definitely melted enough to be noticeable. Depends on how switched on she was. Being in the cold for too long can really take it out of you.

In The Morning...

It was the morning she was apparently going to die a quick death. Because she was very much alive, you see, just... Extremely cold and probably feeling bruised and damaged in more ways than just physically.

Eventually, the freezer door opened.

The Jackal was stood there.

"Well, I'll be damned." He huffed, "You're tougher than I thought." He pulled a gun from behind his back. It was a silenced weapon. He pulled the slide back. "As I promised, you'll have a quick passing. I'll make sure you're given a proper burial. Ten miles off the Californian coast." He said.

Now was the time to talk, if any.
 
For the first part of her time alone in the freezer, Thalia suffered from the harsher conditions of the usual freezer room's temperatures. It took a toll on her overall energy, alongside her sudden, quick movements that made her grow tired quickly. The cold didn't help, and she found that she'd reached a point where her chair had tipped over on it's side and the only movements she could do was shiver, waiting to basically freeze to death. And she even felt her eyes sagging like she wanted to give up shortly after she grew tired of screaming. No one was coming to save her, and odds are, her mom didn't even know she was going to die. Judging by the Jackal's words, he'd spray some sort of lie that she had to be put down. Would she even be buried? Would anyone remember her for the good she managed to do before she snapped? More importantly, was Jenny, someone responsible for much of her suffering... worth it? So much misery, and Thalia had defended her to the bitter end, literally. She didn't condone murder, but now in hindsight, approaching the mansion with the intention of killing James was probably the worst decision she'd made in a while. And though she'd lived int he northeast, the cold was still going to hurt. Maybe dying in the cold would've been easier than facing the barrel of a gun and being dumped in the forest by some mob boss.

But not long into the night... she realized the cold wasn't catching up to her as she'd expected it to. On the contrary, she felt... somewhat adjusted. Regulated. Like something was tampered with, and those moments of freezing were gone in favor of something more tolerable, at least enough for her not to freeze to death or let the hypothermia get to her. Still on her side in the chair, she felt she could relax more peacefully to sleep, but the fear of death seemed to prevent her from fully going out of consciousness. She could see some things ever so slightly melting, questioning the hanging sources of meat in the freezer. Were they human? Or just pigs? Hard to tell, even with the minor effects of melting.

More importantly... why was it warmer than usual? Who turned up the temperature, even ever so slightly? Did the Jackal really want her dead? Or was this just a scare tactic so that she doesn't repeat her mistakes?

Tony's only hint to the situation was Frank's whisper that she'd be okay. And not that he didn't trust Frank, but he seriously doubted that with how James was reacting to it all. He genuinely feared Thalia dying that next morning, if not overnight, and would at least try to get the Griffins some sort of protection if he could. He didn't think James would give them anything and make them pay for Thalia's mistakes. If that were going to be the case, Tony was ready to turn himself in to police, ready to talk under the one condition that Nicole and Charlie Griffin get witness protection. Self sacrifice to hopefully atone for his wrongdoings. It wouldn't bring Thalia back, but it was his way of trying to make peace with his maker in what seemed to be the end approaching.

Nicole, after hearing that hint, didn't deviate from her prayers. She continued to depend on her faith to guide Thalia to safety and possibly even mercy after she's gone. She didn't even know how to explain to Charlie in this case. First her husband, then her daughter. Now, with her own suspicions of another child on the way on top of her eight year old boy, what more could she do? She eventually invited Jon in to vent about the night, letting him in on the details, hoping talking to a man she'd grown to trust very deeply would put her at ease. It didn't even seem like she'd get to say good-bye. Had she lost her daughter again?

The next morning came along. Thalia had survived the night thanks to the change in temperature. She'd passed out eventually after the haunting thoughts of the slabs of meat hanging around possibly being human only to dip into her nightmares of the next morning. How would they get rid of her? Quickly? Or was the Jackal going to make it slow and painful? She could still feel the wrench slamming into her, almost where Ra's had stabbed her all those years ago. Her eyes were red, and she even had a few tears in her eyes in those few moments before the door to the freezer unlocked. Feelings of guilt finally took over now that her psychotic phase had died down with her energy. She felt numb as she waited for the inevitable.

And there it was. A gun to the face. She didn't even have the energy to try and resist like before. Not to try and swing at him or attempt any sort of funny business. And a simple 'I'm sorry' simply wouldn't cut it here. She coughed a heavy, sickly one before looking up to the Jackal with her red, weary, weakened eyes.

"C-Can I just... say bye to my brother? Just for one minute?" she whimpered. Asking to talk to James wasn't going to happen in her opinion - otherwise, the criminal mastermind himself would've made an appearance instead. One thing she kept consistent was her gaze into his eyes to make sure he knew who he was killing. "He doesn't even know me all that well. I... just want to hug him one more time, just as a dying wish. I can't even feel my arms or legs to try and fight..." She coughed again, mucus ejecting from her lips to the floor away from her soon to be executioner. "Just... one minute please?"

Tony's night of sleep was no better. He'd woken up long before the rest and made his morning coffee just to be awake for when the actual execution happens. It's not like he wanted to watch it for some sick sporting purpose, but he just felt a need to have to see the consequences of his actions. Yet another form of self punishment. He already had Jenny's dying glare stuck in his mind in his sleep, so adding Thalia's wouldn't have made that much of a difference. He'd already seen enough death for one lifetime. He hated himself for those horrid words he'd said to Roland Simmons, now that he was about to witness the consequences.

Here he was, about to watch a friend who'd saved his life that he'd wronged so much about to be left for dead, that is if she wasn't already frozen from the long hours in there. Little did he know that she could still be saved as he stood before the stairs to the basement freezer... waiting for her to come out dead.

...

Nicole didn't get much in the way of a good night's sleep either. She'd kept tossing and turning in her sheets, constantly thinking about the sight of her dead daughter appearing in her dreams, and not the same way as she'd thought of it before. Her nightmares of the past were of young 13 year old Thalia appearing washed up on the shore, drowned by some terrible accident. Or starved on the street or run over by a speeding vehicle. Maybe even exploited by a pedophile, which wasn't too far off from the truth. But this time, it was of her dying right before his eyes, shot between the eyes as she's begging for mercy. It was innocent image of Thalia that she wanted to remember her by. And all she could see was the life sucked out of her eyes in one fowl swoop over and over and over again, as if it were on some sort of eerie rerun, all culminating in one horrific scream from her at 7 in the morning.

Her shriek probably didn't leave the room, but her fingers were clutching the bed frantically as she looked back and forth. Thalia was nowhere in sight, neither dead nor alive. But it didn't make the dream any less scary. Her breathing was heavy, but also under control. She was frightened of the reality that the Jackal would kill her before her eyes.

Or would he?

"Jon?... Jon?" she frantically reached for her protector by her side, as if for comfort. It wasn't the first time she'd woken up in the night asking for comfort, and she was hoping she wasn't entirely a burden because of it.

Fortunately, Charlie was isolated from it all... the innocence of youth was her one solace in this.
 
It had indeed been a long night for Thalia Griffin. Frank didn't sleep so well, either. Part of him wanted to try harder to get her out of there, but what more could he do? He'd tried to convince James that it wasn't worth just letting her die, but beyond that he'd end up getting shot if he tried anything further. The worst of things could happen and he really didn't want to chance it. He didn't want to die and leave Jordan behind - Jordan still wouldn't talk to any other adults, but... He talked to the kids. That was the main thing here. It was just adults he wouldn't speak to. He would not to them, smile, shake his head - basic communication. But he wouldn't speak. He'd get there eventually, Frank was sure.

He'd actually sat in the kids' room last night and told them all a story as they got off to sleep. He told them a story full of adventure, about a man and a woman, partners in crime, who took down a whole organization of rogue treasure hunters - they got the riches for themselves, of course. But it was a good story and nothing inappropriate for the kids, either. He made sure they were all tucked in properly and fast asleep before he went to get into bed himself.

It was a long night from there. He didn't sleep for more than an hour or two.

It was early in the morning that Frank realized Thalia was going to be dead soon.

He laid there staring at the ceiling. He wanted coffee, but at the same time, he didn't want to move. He felt sick. He felt too sick to do anything and he had to just...

He wasn't sure what he was going to do. He had to get out of here as soon as possible.

...

Downstairs in the basement, The Jackal looked at her, curiously.

She had one last dying wish.

She wanted to see her little brother, to say goodbye, to hug him one last time. She'd accepted her death, she'd accepted it was coming - but why? Why not fight? It left The Jackal confused, but, whatever elusive shit was going on in here, he didn't want to deal with it.

"No." He said, firmly. "Maybe if you'd tried the calm approach last night I would have considered it." He said. "I'll tell them that you said goodbye, though. Just remember, Thalia - you blew the only chance you had to show me that you were worth something more than some... Self-entitled terrorist. But you didn't. Your death, your disappearance, and your family's confusion and grievance is on you and no one else." He said.

He pulled the slide back and chambered the first round.

"Have a nice trip." He lifted the gun.

He began squeezing the trigger.

"Wait." A familiar voice called out from the room behind The Jackal. Thalia knew that voice. He was out of sight, but she knew that voice. "Leave her."

"You're going to embarrass this like me in my own house, James?"

"I'm not embarrassing anyone. Just don't kill her." He said. "Let me talk to her."

The Jackal didn't say a word. He stepped out of the freezer.

Thalia soon found her chair being dragged from the room, by the one and only, by James.

She was brought into a warmer room just outside the freezer, where she soon had a blanket draped over her shoulders. The Jackal walked off, annoyed, and Thalia found James sat just across from her. At least she could start warming up now.

"It was hard getting down here to tamper with the freezer. That's why it wasn't sooner." He mumbled.

He went quiet and just stared at her.

--

Jon immediately jolted awake as soon as he heard Nicole's scream.

"Hey, it's okay." He quickly rolled over no matter how tired he looked and hugged her. He hugged her tight and held her there, "You're fine. It's alright. Just a bad dream." He said.

Jon hadn't exactly slept fantastically, though, and he didn't know the whole story. He knew James had a big hand in this - he understood both sides of the argument. If he was to try and kill James, and James won, he'd taken out back and shot like a dog without question. It was all a question of loyalty, and nothing mattered to James more than trust and loyalty. It was one of those things where Jon couldn't really influence the decision. Everything had derailed so suddenly - this was between Thalia and James. They were the only ones who could fix this, really. He didn't even know if she'd escape death, but...

He hoped she did.

"I'm here." Jon continued hugging her close to him. He gently kissed her forehead.

He took in a deep breath.

"You okay...?" He asked, quietly, squeezing her hand under the covers.
 
With her dying wish denied, and the Jackal's word law as she'd seen, Thalia knew it was over. With a whole night to rethink her decisions as a reaction to the news of the death of a friend, it came to her that the suspicions of others, and herself, might just be spot-on: living as a slave to Ra's and Al-Asheera traumatized her and changed her in a way she had no power over alone. One day, she wanted to fight a hundred men to get revenge and kill a single man, even if she would die with him afterward. Today, she questioned the entire basis of it. Her rage over Jenny's death and suspicions of her actual guilt were there, but more tame and not shown in the form of violence and threats. Perhaps it was also the weariness and physical inhibition that helped her calm down, but also her own mental process had an impact. Not much she could do to remedy it anymore, because she'd pissed off someone potentially bigger, more powerful, or at least someone who had James by the balls to the point that he couldn't save her this time.

Or could he?

From the corner of her eye, after her cough, she took a look directly at the barrel of the weapon to be used to kill her, watching his finger grip tighter on the trigger, waiting for her vision to flash into darkness before she could even hear a thing. But it wasn't the soft noise of a squeak that came to her ears next. But instead... Wait? Thalia knew that voice among many. But the question is, why did he choose now to come save her and not hours ago? Did he want her to get tortured, left in the freezer for a night as punishment? Coming to think of it... it might not be too far-fetched. She might not've been in many freezers in her lifetime, but she did feel a temperature drop in the course of the night. He might've just spared her. Thing is, the Jackal was unaware of this, and was clearly not pleased that his intruder was being spared. Was this James stealing his thunder? Did he want his own last words before she dies? Or did he really want to keep her alive for good, even after hearing that she threatened to kill him? Life under this roof couldn't get any stranger as she saw the Jackal stomp away and James take his place.

So her suspicion was true; James pulled the strings to prevent her from freezing to death. And for that, she offered up some kind words from her shaky lips. "T-T-T... Thank you." It's the least she could offer with nothing more to give him besides her head for him to blow her brains out.

But he wasn't just here to save her without something in return. Maybe there was one thing she could do to maybe make her death more pleasant.

"Do you know how many people Ra's took from me?" she coughed again. "You know the obvious, sure. Vanessa, my father, a few other people I never knew on a first name basis in Al-Asheera. He almost got away with my mom and brother, too. And every time he'd step up and do something like that without asking me to assess things, I could never do a thing to stop him without getting a beating if I got too close to him without dropping his robes and sucking him off for the entirety of Al-Asheera to see. But there's another life you probably didn't know he took from me..."

Or did he already know? It was never official, and it wasn't like Karin had told him already. "You must've thought: after all the times that monster fucked me, did he... or we, I guess, ever have a child? A potential heir to his perverted kingship?" She cleared her throat and gulped before coming forward with the horrible story that happened four years ago. "Yes. Yes, James, I carried that sick fuck's child for five months when I was 17 before he found out and felt the need to eliminate a potential competitor for his throne." Her weaker tone grew strength. Anger showed, but not in a way that was attacking James. "He cut the baby right out of me without hesitation. While I was awake and standing right in front of him. He felt he could take whatever he wanted whenever just because he had power and authority. Even if he almost killed me to do it. Because even if that kid had Ra's' blood in him, he still had mine, too. I was just a kid, too. Who was I to raise another human being? But who was I to decide if he lives or dies?"

She felt the tears coming back after mentioning it, but very faintly. Just a few watered eyes that she couldn't rub off. "I could never touch Ra's, no matter who he decided needed to live or die. I thought you were different because nobody lived or died that was close to me without me also getting a say in it. Except... except when you killed Jenny. Think whatever you want about her. She was a narcissist, a brat, even a bitch. She's hurt me before, but I just had this hunch. A gut feeling that she didn't do this. She called before I got back to Encino completely unaware ofthe severed head or what happened to Tony and Frank with the blood on their backs... and I can't help but believe her. And now that she's dead? I can't know. And that's because..."

Normally, she would've continued by thrashing about and blaming James for killing her so quickly without questioning her further to know how deep they were compromised, if at all by Jenny. She would've pointed fingers and tried to act out like she did to the Jackal. But instead, she bowed her head in shame and stuffed her face into the floor beneath her on the tipped chair.

"I'm... sorry." An apology. Exactly what she wanted to get across. All that was left to give. She sniffled and continued, "I'm sorry I tried that. I got mad, I couldn't think straight after you told me what Damien said was true after I left him for dead and didn't believe him. I'm too messed up to be useful to you anymore. Ever since Ra's was killed, I guess I was just a liability. I can't help with anything with Reeves because I've never met him and I don't know what he's planning. You used me for whatever you needed, and I'm glad I was a part of it. But now, what... Just make sure my mom and Charlie are okay? Please, that's all I'm asking of you."

These were more meaningful last words than those to the Jackal, that's for sure. The difference? She couldn't even look at James without feeling disgusted or guilty. So she remained with her head in the floor, ashamed and waiting for the blackout.

--

Once she felt Jon's comforting grip against her, Nicole immediately halted her small panic attack. Apart from being at gunpoint, this was Nicole at her weakest and most vulnerable in her entire life of remaining a strong woman who could hold her own. But with the return of her nightmares in a state worse than ever, she couldn't help it. Having Jon felt like a blessing now in the absence of her husband, someone by her side in bed to soothe her. His grip in her hand met hers, a bit tighter and more tense, still in shock and shaking from the images in her sleep. She could understand that it was all just a dream, yet the image of the execution scene repeating over and over again was still drilled in her head.

"Is... Is it too late?" she whimpered. "Did they kill my baby yet, Jon? D-Did Charlie hear about it yet?" At least her secondborn was going to be okay. Devastated if he hears that his sister was killed, but physically okay. He'd probably treasure that pendant that his sister had given him more than ever. Wear it around all the time like she did. He was already making a habit of it as is. Odd how it was never confiscated while he was in FBI custody.

"I saw it happening as if it were on repeat, Jon," she explained as she caught her breath. "Them, executing Thalia. It felt like they'd just keep bringing her back to life and shooting her in the head repeatedly all to make me suffer. I've never been this terrified in my life. Even after Jacob's death, I felt I could handle the stress of it all, but this? My daughter is going to be killed not far away, and all I can do is just... sit here and wait for it to happen? They wouldn't even let me talk to her when they took her down to the freezer. They are treating her like a prisoner, and I haven't even been told what she's done to deserve this. Jon, I'm not asking you to go fight anyone and get yourself killed, too. I can't bear any more of this loss. But at least go see if she's still alive so I can go see her before they..."

She couldn't even utter the words. The shivers became weeps as her face fell into her and Jon's interlocked hand to cover from the tears. High and mighty Nicole Griffin, broken by a mafia boss executing her daughter just downstairs and her having no power to stop it. It could get more disturbing, but this was already enough for Nicole to feel sick to her stomach.

--

After the bloodbath between the Clover Boys and Al-Asheera, one could only ask: between that and all of the other blows Al-Asheera has taken from the collapse of The Ten, to the shootout at the port, to the surrender of the royal guard, to the invasions made because of Thalia's information to the LAPD, to the many who'd quit after the death of Ra's or even the live broadcast eviscerating Jacob Griffin... what was left of the legion of monsters known as Al-Asheera? An army that used to consist of hundreds, trained or not, was now reduced significantly. Hardly a gang anymore, but rather a small group of criminals now on the run. It's a surprise the remainder were still loyal to Reeves, perhaps because they had no family or faith to go back to. Because now? The almighty Al-Asheera was nothing more than five men: Reeves himself as leader, a designated van driver, a doctor, a muscular brute with heavy weaponry strapped to him, and a bomb expert. That was all that was left to tell of the band of thieves.

And then there was Damien, kept alive by the hands of the remaining doctor. He soon came to wake up that morning from the injuries inflicted upon him by Thalia. He came very close to death, and Reeves was surprised he could be restored to a functional state. Functional enough to talk at least. With nowhere to stay, the remainder of Al-Asheera had to camp out in two vans loaded with the remainder of their resources and assets: medical supplies, weaponry, a laptop, some sacks of money... and one last bomb they'd stolen from SWAT. Where was that going?

Reeves knew exactly where. So he stood by Damien on the stretcher of one van, who had tubes in his nostrils, his shirt cut off to patch up his wounds, and his long hair tied back as to not get in the way. Now was the time to talk...

"Wake up, betrayer," Reeves scowled, pressing down on the patient's shoulder wound.

He immediately began to twitch until he woke up moaning. His eyes wandered, wondering one simple question: "W-What... where am I?"

Reeves answered him, having his head appear right in Damien's line of view. "You're in hell, betrayer. You are here to suffer, but you can minimize it by cooperating."

Now aware of the face in front of his eyes, with no need to even ask if this is The Hidden, Damien's eyes shot out. His head fell back into the stretcher, shaking his head in fear. He did call upon The Hidden, but he didn't expect to be tortured. "I have information you can use. But only on my terms."

The former sergeant scoffed. "You think you get a choice in this, you pathetic traitor? Think again. You betrayed Al-Ra's, and clearly, you haven't suffered enough. So that is why we are going to immerse your face in the fires of hell in a way you can't prepare for."

Damien shook his head. "You won't break me. You never have before."

"Al-Ra's couldn't break you... but tell me..." Reeves reached over from his side to pull out a simple looking tablet screen from next to the stretcher. It appeared to be streaming a live feed from a small camera strapped to an individual's chest.

This camera showed the front door of a simple neighborhood home. No way to tell the identity of the man behind the camera, but it wasn't a good sign. Damien seemed unfazed by it, and continued that way for quite a while. A hand emerged from the side of the camera for the doorbell of this house. A few seconds passed of silence before a familiar face answered in a t-shirt and pajama shorts.

"Officer Hendrix?" the man behind the camera asked, his voice deep and manly, as if he had a large muscular physique.

"Yes, who's asking?" he replied.

"Our lord and savior." The cop at the door looked as if he were in state of panic, attempting to creep away from the frame of the door as if he'd seen a ghost. But he couldn't get away in time for a silenced bullet to hit him in the side. He fell back onto the wooden floors of his home, screaming in pain without his weapon. He took off a few more shots into his chest, causing his body to squirm in place, now lifeless and leaking blood from underneath. It didn't seem like anyone else was nearby, but the man with the camera trapped on kept walking. His silenced weapon was now visible in the camera as it kept pointing back and forth from room to room in search of something, it seemed.

Yet Damien was wondering... what was this for? This execution didn't seem to affect him.

But what did affect him was a familiar little girl in a nightgown who appeared on in the face of the man as she emerged from the bathroom. Her face was clearly on screen, and she immediately screamed upon their run in. And it was then that Damien felt his heart sink.

"Angie?!" he growled, barely able to move from being heavily sedated, forced to watch the muscular man corner his sister in the bathroom, grab her by the mouth to stop her from screaming, and drag her as a meat shield in front of him on the way to the front door. "NO! YOU MOTHERFUCKER, LET HER GO!"

Reeves grinned and chuckled maniacally. "You thought we were done hurting your loved ones."

"No! Ra's said he wouldn't touch her!"

"Ra's is dead, traitor. And there is only me left."

As they spoke, a woman's voice could be heard calling out, "Angie? What's wrong honey..." she couldn't finish her sentence as she appeared with her back turned to the camera by the front door, as if she'd just seen the cop's dead body at the door, and was quickly dropped by a few bullets to her back. Angie tried to scream, but her covered mouth prevented her as she clenched her eyes shut to avoid the horrible scene in front of her.

"NOOO! STOP! DON'T HURT HER!" he howled.

"You know the ticket for us to not harm your little princess, traitor. It's her life for that of the blessed child. So, we are not playing by your rules. No, you play by ours and that's final, or else little Angie gets to suffer the same way Thalia Griffin did eight years ago. How does that sound?"

"Okay! Okay!" he yelled in panic, immediately caving and looking away from the live feed. "I'll do it! I'll take you to Charlie Griffin! Just don't hurt her, please!"

Reeves lowered the tablet from Damien's line of sight and gave him a gentle tap on the aching shoulder, causing him to moan in pain. "That's the spirit... hang in there. And don't try to get wise. We'll be moving out soon."
 
James sat there in silence and stared at her. He stared at her as she coughed out an apology and went in-depth with all that had happened. At the end of the day, what the past held didn't matter. James wanted them gone. Damien knew where they were based out and he hadn't seen anything in the news about him being found at that construction site. He was worried they would come back for revenge, which wasn't something that he wanted. It wasn't worth taking the risk. It wasn't worth hanging around. Even if he came back and killed one of them, he could end up killing one of the heads of the operation.

He could end up killing one of the kids, just to spite all of them, just to hurt them. It wasn't worth taking that chance. He wouldn't deny that Thalia's story was sad - she lost a child which was something that no one deserved to go through. Not even the most monstrous people on earth deserved to go through that level of heartbreak. She wasn't a monster, no, but...

"With all due respect, Thalia, your apology doesn't hold much weight to me." He said. "I've heard enough apologies and 'It won't happen again' over and over. Same shit, different day." He shook his head. "A question I ask myself a lot is 'was it worth it?' - Maybe you should start doing the same thing. If I was a few seconds late, you'd be lying on the floor with a bullet between your eyes. How many close calls are you going to get yourself into before no one's there to save you again?" He asked.

He spoke softly. Calmly.

"I wanted to make you understand that I never killed Jenny to hurt you. I didn't kill her because I didn't like her. I killed her because she put an active threat on everyone. Tensions were high after the cops, Thalia, you can understand that." He said. "I am not trying to be your enemy, but still you..." He shook his head, "Still, you made the effort to come and kill me, no?" He asked. "Don't take me for a fool. I understand why what I did upset you so much. But you need to learn something about adult life, Thalia. Things don't always work out the way we want them to. I think that deep down, part of you is still only 13 years old. Part of you believes that if you kick off and fight for long enough, eventually things bend to your favor. That's not how it works. Sometimes decisions have to be made without you, and I think this time, you sadly had to learn it the hard way. That's just what being an adult is. Don't let the power I gave you get to your head - for years you spend your life being nothing more than... A glorified slave. With Ra's you were only as free as he wanted you to be." He said. "With me, you have the freedom to make your life into what you wanted it to be, but at this point? I get the feeling that isn't what you want anymore. I get the feeling that's not something you care about."

He rested his hands in his lap.

"I expected betrayal." He nodded, "I expected it from someone. Tony, maybe Frank at a push." He said, "But not you, Thalia." He whispered.

And that was the bombshell dropped. He viewed her as one of the most loyal, one of the most trustworthy.

But that title had been killed off now, hadn't it?

"I'm not going to kill you, if that's why you think I'm here." He said. "I'm not angry at you. I'm disappointed." He said. "I'm disappointed that after how far we've come together, you immediately jumped to kill me, all because I saw danger and dealt with it. It wasn't ideal, no, but it was the only option we had at the time." He said. "She proved herself to be dangerous, Thalia. Jesus, she hit your mother because she didn't give her money to go shopping with you and Karin that day."

He sighed. He wiped his face with one hand.

"It's not just me you've hurt with your actions." He said. "And therefore it isn't me you need to apologize to." He said. "I'm not going to hurt you as punishment. The only punishment you're going to get from this is having to face the consequences yourself. You may think I don't care about you - but I do, and that is why I'm giving you the chance to learn a very hard but also very valuable lesson." He said.

She was going to have to address Karin with all of this, after all.

--

"Shhh... It's okay, Nicole." He continued holding her. "Try not to think about it too much." He said, "I know James was thinking about it last night and I think he might have been going down to see her this morning. Let's see how things play out. The Jackal is James' friend, not mine. It's best for James to try and find a way out of this." He said.

He sighed.

He had to tell her what Thalia did, really.

"Thalia..." He sighed, "Thalia came back here with the intention of killing James because of what happened to Jenny." He said.

He wished he didn't have to tell her such a thing. She'd spent the longest time thinking that her daughter was on the road to recovery. She spent a long time believing that her daughter at heart was no killer, and she was simply backed into a corner by her captors, forced to do evil things. It was worse this time because she did it all by choice; she had a choice of finding a peaceful resolution, but instead she went on the road to destruction.

Jon knew it wouldn't be easy to hear.

"I'm sorry, Nicole."

He rubbed her back.

He didn't really know what else to say.
 
Thalia shut her eyes and just listened, which is all she could do. Her head dropped in shame as she heard that she'd basically destroyed the trust she'd made with the man she never thought she even had it with in the first place. She might've run out of tears for Jenny, and maybe for the friends upstairs, but what about those for her friendship with James? That, she hadn't really cried for, which caused her to start right there. And the worst part was that he was right. She might just be stuck in the mindset of a 13 year old girl, although a more violent, twisted one than normal. Hearing his justification for killing Jenny wasn't much different from the moment in the car - she was a threat and needed to be taken care of. If her hands weren't tied behind her back, she'd cover her ears and scream to avoid hearing those words all over again. But it was then that she took some of those words to heart, deeper than before: Was it worth it?

Her mom was upstairs crying herself to sleep, suffering harsher nightmares than ever, and praying her daughter wasn't going to return dismembered in a body bag to be thrown in the ocean. Her brother was still being shielded from it all, but the news would come around soon enough. And Karin was probably the most betrayed of them all. So no. It wasn't worth it at all.

Now was a time for her to try and act more maturely and not kick and scream to get things her way. It wouldn't bring her friend back anyway. She did try to combat one part of James' defense she found a tad... odd. "What about Tony?" she sniffled. "Nothing beats what he did to us. Sure, he threw threats around like Jenny did, but that guy beat me in order to get his way. He backstabbed his partner by framing a murder on him. And when he went out to clean up the mess, he got caught and squealed like a pig. The world would've never known who I was if it weren't for him. He was ready to take the police right to your doorstep if you didn't show up in time. And the best part.... you knew. We knew for sure that he planned on ratting us all out, that he was purposely trying to destroy my life and put my name out there. But Jenny.... you had no proof besides just her threats. Maybe I could get behind you neutralizing a threat... but Tony's still alive. Why does he get to live and Jenny doesn't? They were both equally traitors in their times. Why did you not let me kill Tony, but Jenny..."

Her words, though peaceful and not so aggressive, were cut off by another cough. Not like they'd mean much. He wasn't amused from the start of it all. She couldn't even look at him anymore. She could only wonder... what's taking so long if this was just an opportunity for him to go on a tirade before offing her? Well... he wasn't going to do it. She gulped, finally looking up to him in shock. She was going to live, but her main punishment would be living with the consequences of her betrayal. Facing her mom again, explaining all this to Charlie, trying to ask for forgiveness from Karin - the three people that mattered most to her. Some cruel form of penance to possibly earn her place her, for whatever it was still worth. But she'd be spared all the same. Another chance at life after coming what might've been one second away from death. So if it wasn't quite apologies that were needed more, why not thanks?

"T-Thank you..." she shivered, wiping away her tears on the floor beneath her. "For not killing me. There's... just something that came to mind while you were talking about me not wanting to take my freedom and change from being... a slave, sort of. You promised therapy for my family. My brother, namely, if he suffered any trauma from what happened with our dad and all. From seeing our mom at gunpoint. I know he's having nightmares, and he's had them since he left Philly. But is that... offer still on the table? Because I think I may need it, too." Finally, she admitted to fault and to the potential that the dark cloud left behind by Al-Asheera was going to affect her more harshly in the future if she doesn't get the right help. "I don't deserve it and all, I know. You can go on about the trust thing again, but I don't want to end up like that again. Not thinking straight and immediately thinking about killing someone. I kept on declining, but not anymore. Is that too much to ask, if you believe it?"

That was the thing: could James believe a word she says anymore? She jolted in place, not so much to break from her restraints, but more to make herself more comfortable. "I want another chance at that freedom you spoke of. It's all I ever wanted. I want to get better before I actually do something I can't come back from. And whether you want to help with it or not, just don't go hurting my family any more than they probably are after they see me like this, please?"

She also wished she could get up from the ground and untied from the chair. She looked calm enough to be trusted, her wrists hanging behind her back, her neck dangling loosely from her shoulders. Would James trust her to have that luxury again? She was tired, cold, aching in those bullet wounds and where she'd been hit in the stomach the past night. Clearly, she was in no position to fight even if she wanted to. She just wanted to get up and hug her brother again after a whole two days of being apart.

--

Till that point, all Nicole knew was that her daughter had done some sort of wrong to James, unaware it was to the point of a desire to kill him out of revenge. But hearing it firsthand was a tough pill for her to swallow, especially after hearing her stories of how she wanted to get better on that first dinner they'd had together. How could she go that far, all over the death of one person? Perhaps she did have some feelings for Jenny all along if she felt that strongly about her being gone. Or maybe it was some humane side of her that left her to not want to wrong anyone. If that's the case, she certainly was a Griffin after all, taking from both her mother and father. But murder wasn't in her blood. It was made out of her. Clearly, she didn't get away with it, but she didn't come with intentions for peace that night either. No... she chose the monster inside her. And all Nicole could think of was... is there hope for her to get better? Could she come back from this? Her expertise showed that she could come back from it, somehow, someway. If she survives, at least.

Nicole had no words, but instead, collapsed into tears into her own palms, her head falling back into Jon's chest for comfort. What else could she do except keep that hope in her mind, remembering Frank's words that she'd be okay? She didn't want to lose Thalia twice, but maybe this form of loss would be one she could come back from once again. She kept telling herself in her mind that Thalia could be helped. Maybe she could be. Maybe this last crime of hers would be the one that changes her forever, the first with truly life-changing consequences.
 
"The only reason I didn't kill Tony... Well, there's more than one. But the main one is the same reason I never killed you with all the trouble you and Tony caused." He said. "Information. Potential." He said. "And in some ways, sympathy. Tony derailed. He lost the only person he had left in this life and it killed him - he lost his father, and now he's all alone." He said. "He may have made threats. But he was punished accordingly." He said. "Plus, he knew too much about Al-Asheera to just let die. Same for you. You had potential to change. You lost a lot but you knew a lot, too." He said. "You knew all the people of interest and that's what we needed." He said.

"What did Jenny give to us, exactly?" He asked. "Did she help us in any way? Did she have any valuable information we could use to help save your family?" He asked.

He went quiet and looked at her for a moment.

"Didn't think so. All she did was cause us trouble." He said. "All she did was stir drama and threaten. She brought nothing to the table. It's not even a question of usefulness but more of risk." He said, "But now I've also got a leash on Tony and he's not going to step out of line again. He knows that he's a dead man if he does." He explained. "I've got dirt on him, and as far as I'm concerned, that's as much detail as you need to know."

The trust was definitely there originally. But now it wasn't, that was for sure. It would take work to get it back with James, as it always did.

"The offer still stands for your family." He said. "And it still stands for you, too. I'm glad you're finally realizing what it takes to admit something. You're making progress already." He said. "You can have the therapy as soon as all of this settles down." He nodded.

He got up and walked over to her, and then leaned down and cut her wrists free from the chair, and then her feet, too.

"I hate to say it, Thalia, but this might end up being something you can't back from, anyway." He said. "You may be alive and walking, but it's not about that. It's about what you might have lost." He said. "You can make things right with everyone. If you weren't worth keeping around I wouldn't have had Frank and Tony groveling to me last night to not kill you. So people clearly care about you." He shrugged. "And I do too. As much as you might not believe it." He said.

He went and sat down.

"Save me for last when it comes to fixing things." He said, "You've got bigger fish to fry, as such." He shrugged, "And pack a bag. We're not going to stay here long and police never reported finding Damien's body. I don't want to believe he survived it but there's always the chance he's going to come back here for revenge. We can't risk that. I hope you're still a good shot if shit hits the fan." He said.

She was free to face the music as soon as she warmed up.
 
As much as she tried to whiteknight Jenny, there was one thing Thalia had to agree with James on, because it was true: Jenny was nothing but trouble. She came with no information or anything beneficial to the hunt. All she brought along with her were rivalries, and even the potential that she compromised everything with bold threats bigger than her. Tony? He might've just suffered enough by the loved ones he's lost. Was that the punishment due for his wrongdoings? Or did James just have him by the balls in some other manner? But she did nod in agreement. Trouble... as much as she didn't think her friend deserved to die, she was a problem that they had to figure out a solution to. And in a panic? Maybe killing was that quick way to bring it to resolution. It was unnerving, but it wasn't going to make her break out into violence once again.

She finally got the freedom from being tied to chair, too. Movement was difficult for her, but at least it felt better than being in chains, a feeling she knew a bit too well. Getting up was also difficult, so she was also grateful for the help getting to her feet, seeing she was still in two heavy casts, still jittery from the cold, feeling sick, and in pain in her abdomen. She stood up somewhat properly and tried to keep her balance on her own. She was worried James would think she'd attack, but she had no intention of doing it. She looked too weak to even try that anyway. He did confirm that the psychological help was still on the table, but also warned that she might not be able to run away from everything, and that's when it hit her...

Her mom might forgive her. She might be able to keep Charlie in the dark. But could she find forgiveness from her best friend?

"Again... thanks," she repeated, now that she was truly given the freedom to move again. "I won't ruin this... third chance I'm getting. Or fourth, if you count Ra's finding me the second one, but oh well."

Pack a bag, though? Damien's body not found? She genuinely looked... confused for a moment. Hopefully James didn't assume she spared him. "That's... I saw him collapse. I saw him bleeding out," she whimpered. "All that blood, he shouldn't have lived that. I stabbed him twice, once right through his lung." She gulped, thinking back at how she pretty much killed a man just a day ago and was expected to behave now. Her hands began to shake now realizing that the man who threw all of her goodwill with the LAPD in the trash might actually be alive and nobody found his body yet. "Maybe nobody checked the construction site yet to find him? I don't know. But I don't have much to pack anyway, right? Whenever you leave... I guess I'll come with without hesitation."

With that out of the way, it was time for her to make amends wherever possible. She slowly walked passed James and towards the exit to the freezer, worried that as she emerged, she'd be shot by the Jackal or by someone else, and all that talk would be for nothing. As she took each careful, individual step, her fears slowly dropped. If James wanted her dead, it would be in the freezer, so why wait any longer and risk it being out in the open where someone as innocent as a child could see her body? It made no sense, so it put her at ease to take the steps up and enter the actual halls of the mansion. Question was... where were those people that mattered so much? She didn't know much about the interior of the mansion in order to get around so conveniently, but it didn't take much searching to run into the first of faces she'd come to see.

"Thalia?"

She turned around as she walked away from the door to the stairway, and there was her first warming face, and the most innocent of them all. Charlie. And seeing him only put a smile on her face. "Charlie?"

Though she was in pain, she couldn't help but fall to her knees and open her arms to the young redheaded boy charging up to his raggedy sister who looked exhausted, sick, and in pain, and just ran into her arms for a long hug he was waiting for since yesterday. It was that warming embrace that woke her up to a reality that her mistake yesterday was not worth losing her brother forever, or him hearing that she was dead and never coming back. This kid was a blessing - he was her motivation to do better. How did he entirely slip from her mind out of anger, all for Jenny? She hugged him tighter and listened to his words into her shoulder. "I was worried you weren't going to come back. Mommy told me you would, but I was starting to think she didn't mean it."

She parted from the hug, placing her hands over his shoulders. "Well, turns out I proved Mommy right there, hm? Didn't think a few injuries would keep me down, did you?"

Charlie paused for a moment and looked to his sister, almost in disbelief. "You were shot. Twice." He reached forward to touch the bandages around her shot forearm.

"Yeah, but bullets don't kill in the arm, do they? It hurts a lot, but not enough to bring tough people like us down." Her tone of voice resembled that more appropriate for children now. A surprising twist coming from the girl who told her brother literally every horror that happened under the wings of Al-Asheera.

"Griffins are tough."

"Yes. Yes we are, and I'm glad you remembered that." She reached forward to ruffle his longer hair playfully. "I sorted everything out with the police, in one way or another, about all the stories I told you before the men with the SWAT gear came in to get me, and now I might... just be able to stay here for good. My arm will get better, as the doctors told me, and then maybe I can come along to your basketball games and you can show me some of those moves you've been telling me about yesterday." More exaggerated truths that really showed her trying to be a better person and a better motherly figure to any child. If there was any sign she wanted to change, that was the beginning of it.

"Yess!" he cheered, hopping in his place in joy, seemingly oblivious in that moment to the horrid condition his sister was in. But as he stopped bouncing up and down and calmed down slightly, he did ask, as any curious child would, "Are you okay, Thalia? You look sick, or at least like you're in pain?"

Her smile, though slightly fake, was 90% real in the face of her brother. She didn't want to go into the details of her pain, heeding the advice of that FBI agent to keep Charlie distant from the more grisly details of her condition. "The only thing that really hurt was that first hug you made, cuz you're really getting strong. Must be your basketball training. But that aside, I'm fine. Like I said, we're tough."

Charlie reciprocated the smile and nodded back, hugging her again. "I love you, Thalia."

Her eyes shut in bliss after hearing those words, the most innocent she could ever hear. At least if things don't work out with Karin, she would have her brother, even with all the wrong things that happened to them. "I love you too, Charlie."

Tony wasn't very far away from it all as he watched Thalia and James return upstairs. He took a great sigh of relief when he saw the mystery redhead return alive. So Frank was right; she would survive this. But what sort of condition was behind it? Maybe there was none and he forgave her in the end like always. Or maybe it was something more... clever. Whatever it was, it did warm Tony's heart to see that Thalia still had loved ones around, and a brother who seemed to have an unconditional love for the sister he'd only known for two or three days. He could only watch and smile, only able to imagine what it could've been like to have that sort of relationship with a child from Melissa. Not to mention his almost-brotherly bond with Sam as a child. But all of that was gone. Every last remnant of his family was gone. The least he could do was wish that Thalia's family would forgive her just as he had done. The question was... did James say that it was TONY that pulled the trigger? At least it would've been better than 'Jenny died for no reason'. Who knows. He just sipped on his coffee and looked to James as he came up from the freezer room. Maybe he could recognize her desire to change just as he'd done.

The hug went on for a bit longer before Thalia continued talking, "Say, why don't we go say hi to Mommy in a little bit? We give her surprise breakfast in bed or something?"

"Oh yeah! I know all of Mommy's breakfast favorites, and we can go make her happy because she was really sad last night."

"That's the spirit. How about you get someone around here to help you out with that, and I'll meet you there to help. I just need to talk to Karin for a bit. You know where I can find her?"

Charlie nodded. "I think I saw her at the firepit earlier." He pointed in the direction of the location he was referring to. "You'll promise to come help me?"

"Of course. Hey, maybe Karin will help us out, too, if she's up for it. I know for a fact she's a great cook, too. How about that?"

"Sounds awesome, I'll meet you there." And with that, Charlie stood up and ran off in the direction of the kitchen. Thalia would warn him not to run in the house in a motherly fashion, but she couldn't help but smile at his innocent enthusiasm... he really was everything she could ever ask for in a brother. Slowly, she returned to her feet, looking back in the direction he'd run off to, and turned away. That was the easy part, reconciling with her brother and seeing that he still loved her. That was going to be the easiest part of them all. Karin might just be the hardest. There was no blood between them, and Thalia had directly announced that she wanted to kill Karin's boyfriend, the father of her child, too. That wasn't going to be easy to face off with. She expected to be yelled at, slapped around, even completely cut off from friendship... but she figured she deserved as much.

Firepit, Charlie told her. She managed to get there in the general direction Charlie had lead her to, and saw her best friend, right there, for the first time since she'd negotiated her freedom. Would that even mean anything now...?

How to even begin a conversation like this, Thalia looking like hell and giving off a sickly cough into her arm that she'd been holding back while Charlie was around. Where else to begin other than...

"I... I don't even... I'm sorry..." she bowed her head in shame, unable to form a full sentence without choking on her own guilt.
 
"We both saw him bleeding out but people have come back from crazier things." He said. "Take Jon as an example." He said. "He crashed a super-car at probably 130mph, rolled it eight or nine times, crashed into a tree, punctured a lung with the torn car door, spent months in hospital, but he survived it." He said. "It's not impossible to survive a stab wound. Especially if someone got to him on time." He said. "It's a construction site, Thalia. There's going to be people on it every day, and security probably patrol it at night." He said. "I should have put an extra bullet in him just to be safe, but..." He sighed. "I guess I almost felt bad. He felt like he needed to be such a little weasel and he'd already lost his parents." He said. "I'm not looking for peace agreements. If he's still alive I just want him to fuck off." He said.

But he had a real bad feeling that that wasn't going to happen.

Either way, he let her go. He sat down and he was quiet for now. He'd wait for the right time for them to make things right - if they could ever be right again. She was planning to kill him, for god's sake. Sorry could only get you so far in a situation like that.

So, for now, he stayed where he was and decided not to move. The time would come.

Frank, however, was just wandering around upstairs. He went through to the kitchen with Jordan - where he started making him breakfast, obviously. He soon caught the little reunion between Charlie and Thalia, though.

"Aw." Jordan leaned forward onto both his hands, "Look, Frank. Charlie's sister came back. He was really worried about her."

"He was." He let out a soft sigh and gently ruffled Jordan's hair. He looked at the reunion, and... He smiled. It was nice to see them both happy.

It wasn't long before Charlie came sprinting into the kitchen, though, hunting around for breakfast supplies and everything.

"Oh, hey, buddy." Frank said to him. "You look busy." He said, "You and your sister reunited, then." He smiled. "You need some help?" He asked.

--

And then there was Karin.

She looked away the moment Thalia spoke.

"What went through your head?" She whispered, hoarsely, after a long silence. "When you decided that killing James was your final decision? When you decided there was no other way?" She asked. "Did you think of me...? Of... Of Joseph?" She asked, "The baby...?"

And the tears started flowing.

"Things were finally starting to look up for us and you just... You just wanted to come in and take that all away?" She asked, "Didn't you think of how it would hit us, too? Joseph finally got the closest thing to a dad that he's had in a long time. Five years. Joe could do all his sports again and James was going to be able to support us. We were going to be able to live happy. I wouldn't have to worry about trying to scratch money together and Joe's medical care was going to just... It was going to improve his quality of life so much." She whimpered.

"And the little one. They were going to lose their father before they had a chance to meet him." She covered her face with her hands. "I thought we had something more than this, Thalia. I thought we were looking out for each other, but you... You just- I don't know what to say, even." She sobbed, "Just be honest and tell me. Tell me if me and my family even crossed your mind before you made that decision." She said.

It was the moment of truth.
 
Charlie knew very well that he wasn't going to make breakfast all on his own - hell, he could barely reach the counters as is from his height. He knew he'd have to ask an adult in the room to give him a hand, or possibly wait for his sister to come back to help him. Worst case, he'd probably go to his mother's room and ask Jon to help him - oddly enough, Charlie didn't have much of a problem with the implication that his mother and Jon were closer than 'just friends'; on the contrary, he really liked the idea of his mother being close to the man they both saw as their hero. Fortunately, he wouldn't have to be disappointed by the sight of his mother weeping. A grown-up and a friend were in the kitchen, apparently getting breakfast themselves. He didn't really talk to Frank much, but was very well aware of who he was, and, as his mother had told him, he was to behave respectfully around him. But what harm would it be to ask an adult, albeit a stranger, for some help? He was close to Jordan, after all - how could he say no?

"Hey Jordan," he cheered, still as hyper as he was when he parted ways with his big sister. The entire idea of doing something for their mom together as brother and sister was a dream come true for young Charlie. It was even better that he got to share that joy with a friend of his. He turned over to Frank, first. "Good morning, Mister Hale. Yes, my sister came back today!" He was still clearly excited about the entire plan, about the idea of having his family united once again. "Thalia said she's back home for good! She was hurt because of what happened with the police, but she says they forgave her for it all. I can't wait till my mommy gets to see!"

Speaking of his mother, he looked over to Frank a bit more, focusing on the former detective. He remembered a few... nice things his sister mentioned about Frank a few days ago. Once he thought he could bring up harmlessly. "My sister talked about you a lot before she was taken away, Mister Hale. She says you're a really sweet man and that she wishes you two could be better friends. I thought maybe you two could try to do that with this idea she had. She wants to give our mommy breakfast in bed and asked me to help get it ready. Lucky for her, I know exactly what her favorites are: scrambled eggs, bread rolls with cheese, and her favorite: orange juice. But... I can't get it ready by myself. Thalia promised to come help, but I kinda wanna get a headstart, but my mommy won't let me use the stove or the pans or knives without her around. Do you think you could help me out before she finishes, please? She wanted to talk to Karin or something, but if she's like my mommy, she's probably going to talk for a while." He shrugged, randomly throwing shade at his mother, but still expression his enthusiasm and politeness all the same. "Can you please help?"

--

Karin's sorrow was contagious, and Thalia was equally affected by it, moved by her words at everything she didn't think of in that moment the previous night. What was she supposed to say? That none of this was on her mind and that all she could process back then was anger and a craving for revenge? Because sorry's weren't going to work for her. Clearly not for James either. Thalia might just be the most hated person under that roof, worse than Tony had ever been all week. She rubbed her eyes, slowly becoming angry but controlling herself with her hands flowing through her ragged, messy hair. What was she supposed to say to make this better? Perhaps this is what James had in store for her punishment: confronting Karin about how killing him might affect her life. The butterfly effect, as she put it in the very beginning of their friendship.

"No, no, I wasn't, okay?" she confessed. "I thought of none of that, and I am not happy about it." Rather than stand in one place, she looked down, clenching the sides of her head through her red locks, and paced from side to side, trying to form some sort of argument. "I was mad, okay? You may not have like Jenny, but I was mad when she was killed. I was thinking I could maybe talk her down, or that James killed her because he was slightly pissed and with me gone, he could do what he pleases to my family and friends. So yeah, I was thinking about myself for a moment because I never could for eight years. For one moment, I didn't think about you or Joe or your future kid, and I feel sick knowing that now, okay?!"

She froze then and there, noticing her voice raising. Temper, T. Stop, you don't need to have another meltdown. She was taking this new approach of self-control seriously, taking a seat by the firepit herself, bowing her head in shame and taking deeper breaths, almost like those of sobs. "I'm sorry, I was yelling. I didn't think of any of that, about you or your family. When I tried doing that, the only thing going on in my head was... what if James hurts my family like he did to Jenny? You don't have to understand, or you can just call me crazy, cuz I know I am at this point. I wanted to get better, but I felt like he just... crushed me then and there and had no remorse. I could never get revenge for any of the people Ra's took from me. I couldn't even kill the son of a bitch myself when I had a chance to. I just thought... I could for Jenny. I could avenge Jenny's death. But what was I thinking..." She clenched her hair harder, using that as a way of preventing herself from going overboard again.

"You asked about what went through my mind... Hurt feelings. Anger. Madness. That's all I could process. And I'm not happy about it. I was worried he was going to hurt Charlie. Or my mom, especially her, because she tends to be vocal about her opinions, even if peacefully. I am so sorry I didn't think of you but... I guess I really am not well after all. Ra's ruined my life and made me into... that person you saw last night who almost killed the man you love. I just... I wasn't thinking, and I don't know how to stop it apart from getting help. And I already told James I will. But I don't even know how the rest of my stay here will be now that I tried to kill him. Not like I'm going to try it again..." And she really wouldn't. She valued her family way more than revenge for Jenny now. If only she didn't have to die. But now, all Thalia could do was cover her whole face in shame and disgust, now unable to look at Karin after one quick glance and realizing what she could've taken away.

--

Unsurprisingly, a cop's murder was very quick to pop up on the radar; not like Al-Asheera was being subtle about it. Reeves didn't care about being off the radar anyway. There was even an eye witness - an old man who lived next door - that caught an armed man with a silenced pistol and a syringe injecting a young girl and throwing her in the trunk of a black van with no plates. Thinking this was some ploy for human trafficking, the old man called 911 saying that his cop neighbor looks like he's been robbed and that a little girl was drugged and hauled out of the house. Police were quick to show up on the scene, still unaware this was Reeves' doing, but aware that a cop was, indeed, murdered.

And once that news made it to public radio channels, the dynamic duo heading the Al-Asheera case immediately assumed control of the investigation. The car ride to the crime scene was one of the longest that Heather had endured, just thinking over her entire decision to keep Angie safe. It was all for nothing - Reeves found out where she was, and Damien's crooked ways caught up with a little girl completely oblivious to it all. Was little Angie about to become another casualty to this bloody war, much like her half sister was? Not to mention the cop that was doing her this favor and keeping the girl with his wife. Reports talked about two bodies, male and female. Hendrix and his wife, without a doubt, both friends of Heather's, both dead because of her decision to let him in on her plans. Guilt was all she could feel, to the point she felt sick and asked Richie to take over driving. Understanding her position, he agreed, even if driving was difficult for him, especially after waking up on the sorer side that morning. He did what he had to do, out of fear Heather might just panic and pass out in the driver's seat.

They came to a full stop at the house, bordered off by police tape. In all fairness, the Al-Asheera manhunt was being headed by two detectives who weren't in the best of positions. Heather seemed in a sort of trance, just staring at the open door and the floor labels for where the blood stains were from the shooting at the front door. That was the cop's blood, the one she trusted so much to help her in tough spots. That was another friend in the morgue next time she goes to HQ. Meanwhile, her partner was popping in yet another one of his numerous painkillers before opening the car door to step out. How much longer could Richie last on just pills in a time where rest was the best thing he could get? As long as he had to, he'd tell himself. As long as it would take to finish what he'd started.

"Hey," he tapped Heather's shoulder gently. "You okay?"

Snapping out of her haze, she flinched for a moment and looked at Richie in shock, rubbing her eyes and stammering. "I - Um.... I'm fine."

"No, no you're not. You knew Hendrix, didn't you?"

She paused, but gave in, nodding. She was looking passed him at the front door again. "He put his ass on the line to keep that girl safe."

"That girl... Angie Romanos, right?"

"Yeah. I gave her my word... And now she probably thinks I'm not good to it."

Richie shut the car door, keeping the two confined inside before they could get out. "I see what this is. This is your first big case, and you're afraid of failure. Just not whether Bradshaw notices you and gives you a fancy position and privileges like me and Tony got. No, you've got a more noble pursuit ahead of you. You care about Angie. You've got a soft spot for kids. I can relate. I've got two sons, for God's sake. If Al-Asheera or Reeves got close to them, I wouldn't rest until I put them all in the dirt. Believe me, I was so afraid that while I was still in that wheelchair, they'd come over and finish the job. My older son thinks he needs to be a hero and has to put himself in harm's way in order to protect his mom and younger brother. Not quite a happy family, not the one I ever imagined."

He reached forward to try and take Heather's hand from her lap. "We're going to find her. The eye witness's words seem to give the impression that they want Angie alive. I think she's being used as a bargaining chip for that brother of hers. All we have to do is figure out where they're heading off to. But we can't do that if we stay sitting here, alright?"

Heather nodded. "Forgive me, Rich. I... They've already taken Mel and Hendrix. I can't help but feel like they're coming after everyone I care about. I've read Thalia Griffin's statement about her time in Al-Asheera... Please don't let Angie suffer the same fate."

"I promise you she won't. We won't let it go that far. Got it?"

She nodded once again, looking away from the front door and around the neighborhood, more specifically, at a neighboring house. At a distant marking by a window facing the Hendrix's. "What the hell is that?"

Richie squinted and looked forward at the spot. He reached for his binoculars resting in his cup holder. One good look told the whole story. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but that sure as hell looks like a camera."

"Can we get a warrant for it? Maybe it saw more than what the eye witness caught."

"We can sure as hell try."

Heather didn't seem to waste any time in that, immediately turning away from Richie and marching to get a better look at that camera. The older detective could really say much to stop her, feeling her hand separate from his as she stormed off. That must've been her motivation: to save Angie. Noble, he thought. Not many detectives had that deeply-grounded humane motivation. She'd make a great detective someday in the upper echelon of ranks.

But before he could follow... a text. From Miranda? Odd. Richie picked it up, even though he shouldn't take much in the way of personal calls, but seeing his family was in danger, he figured he might as well...

"You left a sketch of a man here. I know who it is. It's Karin Held's boyfriend."

Richie froze in his place. That sketch... the sketch Angie had of the fake mailman at the door. Karin Held's boyfriend... Fritzy. Why the hell was Fritzy working with Damien Romanos? He was only further confused by this realization. At least he had a face to Fritzy, the first active cop to have this. He'd save this finding for later. He didn't need to make enemies with a cyberhacker just yet, especially not one who saved his family. But why save his family, kill off an Al-Asheera sleeper agent, but also roll about with a criminal possibly working for Al-Asheera?

One thing he wondered... could he just call and ask? Karin somehow contacted James on his own phone. How, he wasn't sure. Must be some encrypted number, or emergency contact. It was so tempting to check in and... just ask. But he didn't have the nerve to. Best not make enemies, even if it might blow the case wide open. He stepped out of the car and followed his partner to the neighboring house to ask about the camera.
 
"Hi, Charlie." Jordan gave him a little wave.

Frank smiled at him, though. Charlie was a polite and pleasant kid. He came in here all chirpy - from Frank's experience so far, this was the happiest that Charlie had been in days, which was great to see. He listened to him talk and it seemed that he had some happy plans to carry out. Breakfast in bed for mom, with Thalia eventually helping. If Thalia was off talking to Karin, though... He could only imagine that it was going to be a while before they saw her. Especially if Karin knew what Thalia did last night - of course,she knew. Of course she knew what Thalia had planned. That must have been half the reason she was out there talking to her right now.

He sighed. It was going to be a long day.

"Well, that's certainly a nice idea for your mom." He nodded. "I'd be happy to help, for sure. I don't know if Jordan told you, but, I make the best-scrambled eggs in the whole world."

"He does." Jordan nodded in confirmation.

"You can call me Frank, by the way." Frank gently patted Charlie on the head. "I appreciate the politeness, but, Frank is just fine." He smiled.

Thalia wished they could be better friends, though? Hell, that's what he asked for at the start of all of the drama that went on between them. He didn't feel bitter for that - he said he wanted to be friends but it turned out not being that way. Maybe there was room for change, though. Now that they'd had time to adapt more as people, and now they were able to know exactly what it was they wanted from life... And they both knew they weren't invincible, maybe friendship would be the better option.

"Me too." He said in response to that one. Being better friends would always be nice, he supposed.

"Of course I can help." He said. He got some of the bread rolls out and cut them in half, "Do you want to butter those for her? I can get started on the eggs and you can help me with those once they're cooking." He nodded to him.

--

"Thank you for being honest." She choked.

Thalia could see the moment that Karin's heart shattered, you see, and that would have been the hardest moment of all of it. She cracked, she sobbed and broke down even more, and Thalia was there to pick up the pieces, more or less. Karin now knew the truth - she wasn't even an afterthought in all of this. She was just...

She was just someone who was put aside. Tucked away. She would have had to deal with the consequences of her boyfriend being killed and there wouldn't have been anything she could do about it. She would have had to just accept it. That was the hardest part of all of it. And the worst part was it was so conflicting - there was so much she wanted to forgive but so much she wanted to hold with her until her dying day. Holding a grudge would be easy here, but... Shit, it was a hard choice to make.

She looked up at Thalia.

"I made the decision that I wanted you in my life." She said, "It feels like I made that decision years ago. Because the girl I met cared. She had empathy. Remorse. She had all of what made someone human." She continued wiping her eyes, "I believed in her. I believed that no matter what it would always be me and her against the world until we found what we were looking for." She said, "Me and Joe never had much, but I did my best. I've acted on impulses and done things I shouldn't have, but I still did them." She sniffled. "For the first time in five years I wasn't going to have to do that. I wasn't going to have to work a double shift, I wasn't going to have to steal things from people or get paid by some guy to let him fuck me."

And there was that truth out there. She said she'd done things she wasn't proud of - but was there ever a revelation of... Selling herself? Nope. Such a thing was never revealed in the past - but who could blame her for never telling anyone about that? Some things always stay secret.

"I want to believe that things will be different, Thalia." She sniffled, "I want you to get better. I want you to get help. But how can I know if all of this is true? Can you promise me something like this will never happen again? Can you promise me that you're going to think before you act so-.. So we can avoid the people we love getting hurt?" She asked, quietly. "Please don't make this hard for me. Just promise me this is the first and last time. Don't make me beg."
 
It was too much of a force of habit for Charlie to act formal around his elders, or at least adults he didn't know. A kind 'mister' or 'miss' would always precede the last name, if he knew it. For Frank to say just to call him by his first name was something odd to the boy, but he'd keep it in mind for later, even if he might just accidentally call him 'Mister Hale' again without realizing. All part of his mother's teachings in etiquette.

"Yes!" Charlie cheered after hearing Frank's acceptance to give him a hand. It was so encouraging to hear that this stranger was willing to help him out. He was about to see firsthand Frank's soft side to kids, one that he'd shown to Jordan mainly, but was now about to share it with Charlie as well. No better way to bond than cooking, after all, especially because a youngster couldn't do it all alone. The redheaded boy nodded at the proposition to begin, climbing up on one of the stools to reach the table before him. "Sure, I can butter the bread. Me and my daddy used to do it all the time back home, so I can do that while you do your famous scrambled eggs."

It wasn't just the joy for making food that made Charlie especially happy, but also Frank's words about the friendship between him and Thalia. That they might just be better friends some day. Obviously, Charlie didn't know the depths or the bumps in the road for their relationship, but it didn't take a genius to know they must've fought over something. But, given Frank's positive reaction to it all, he might just want to make it right, much like Thalia. Maybe the mystery redhead had more people to make peace with than she'd originally anticipated.

--

All of Karin's words flooded Thalia's mind to the point that it might explode, realizing the consequences of what had almost happened, if she'd actually gotten away with killing James. She clenched the sides of her head harder, almost wanting to pull hair out from the tension, just wishing it could all be over and that she could be forgiven. She felt horrible, almost wanted to puke. But finally, she got an opening to speak her mind and answer the burning question: would she let this happen again?

"No." Thalia didn't even have to think, and for once, this immediate decision was one that was actually properly in its place. "No, I don't want that to happen again, okay? I don't want to end up not thinking like that because of getting mad. Do you know how afraid I am of slipping up like that if I get upset? After what happened last night, it terrifies me." She shivered in her place, still unable to look at Karin, shameful and guilty in every way she could imagine. She, too, was crying beneath her hands. "You don't have to beg, because I know it was wrong and I don't want to do something like that again."

The question was, how good was her word? It was well known Thalia could lie to get anything, and the gang had seen that before. But was all of this emotion she was exhibiting actually genuine? She meant it, deep down, and didn't want to fall into that darker side of her mind ever again. Sure, Karin was on the back of her mind in her psycho rampage, but now? She had returned to the focus of her cares and worries, side by side with her family. Maybe she lost yet another friend, but to something worse than death. Mistrust. Deeply rooted, hard to break distrust. How on earth could Thalia win that trust back? A promise to not touch her boyfriend again seemed flimsy and baseless. But how to get it back when there was nothing more to do to really show loyalty?

"That girl you keep mentioning, the remorseful one that had feelings and empathy and all... she's here," she whimpered. "But she got mad. She got upset and hurt and did something stupid. I don't even know if I'd actually kill him when I face him. Now, I don't even know if standing up for Jenny was worth it. She wouldn't do this for me, but I just wanted to do something right by her just so she could try to change. I do wish I could have changed things, whatever you may think of her. I wish she could have survived so she could have a chance to change like I did. But I shouldn't have reacted the way I did just because I had my feelings hurt."

Well, that much was made obvious already, and at this point, she felt like she was repeating herself. "What do you want me to do to show you that I'm serious? Wear handcuffs around him or something just to restrain myself? Hug and kiss him to show that everything's okay? I'm still upset that he killed a friend of mine, but I won't kill him anymore. I apologized, I promised not to do it again, and I'm being civil now. What more do any of you want? You said it yourself, you've made mistakes, too. But why do I feel like you don't want to look past mine like I looked past yours."
 
Frank and Charlie were going to bond pretty well, Frank figured. Charlie seemed talkative enough and that was a good start. He could use him as a key to get to Thalia a little more - if Thalia saw that he wasn't going to completely shut her out after what happened, and that he was going to embrace her family with open arms, hopefully that would be a good indication that he was serious in the talk that he wanted to remain friends. He didn't want to shut Thalia out. The whole ordeal hurt him greatly but he knew that it hurt her, too - it hurt her to force herself away from love the way she did, and he realized now that that may not have been exactly what she wanted to do. She may have... Almost rushed into the decision.

Whether or not that would change their state of affairs, love-wise? Well, that was hard to say. Part of Frank doubted it. There was a tiny flame still burning, burning enough to want to stay close, but the fire had mainly gone out now.

He didn't know if there was really anything that could change that.

He looked at Charlie as he started buttering the bread; meanwhile, he got a pan ready for the eggs.

"So... Your sister talks about me a lot?" He asked. "Or... She did before, I mean?" He asked. "What, uh... What sort of things did she say?" He asked.

He was just curious. He wanted to know if Thalia was bottling up words that needed to be said - even if it was just for the sake of clearing the air.

He'd have to wait and see how it all went.

--

"I know she's there, Thalia, I know." She choked, weakly. "I don't doubt it, even for a second. I don't want you to think I'm trying to be unreasonable here. I don't want that." He said, "I just..." She shook her head, "Through my life it's just been so hard to keep people close and I don't know what it is this time but something just feels... It feels like something's jammed and I don't know how to unblock it." She sniffled. "James is the first person I've ever trusted with love in a long time. You know my story, for the longest of times it was just me and Joe. We struggled, but, we were happy. We tried to be. Now things have changed and realistically everything's been going to shit." She sniffed.

"You don't know how useless I felt, knowing you were trapped and there was nothing I could do about it. There was no way of me saving you. In truth, Thalia, I wish I could have the fucking... Balls that you have, sometimes. People see you and they see this... Brave and wild girl who'll take a bullet for just about anyone she cares for. They see me, and- and they see me as some... Some edgy chick who dyes her hair and serves food for a living. I'm not some hero. I'm just... I'm just Karin Held. I'm not even anyone spectacular, am I?" She sniffled, "I'm some girl that's along for the ride and got knocked up by yet another superhero. A superhero who's much too suave and much too capable to love someone as... Basic as me. I mean look at me." She sobbed and brushed herself down. "I just feel worthless. Everything I have or get ends up getting taken in one way or another. All of it. And that's where all of this is coming from."

"It's not you I hate. Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty fucking pissed, I won't lie to you. I'm so upset and hurt that I can't even put it into words. But I don't hate you. I could never hate you, because you're my friend - fuck, Thalia, you're more of a sister at this point - that's what makes this hurt so much. Friends let you down, but family? Family have always got your back. And you always did have my back no matter how much shit we got into. That's why this is so painful. It's not anything to do with your mistakes or your decisions."

She looked off into the distance, "I just... I fucking love you, for god's sake. That's why all of this clashes. Because the girl I know is capable of change - and I believe you still are that girl. And the last thing I want to do is lose you or anyone else because someone... Someone else takes over." She sniffled.

But then it was those last few words that Thalia used.

'But why does it feel you don't want to look past mine like I looked past yours?'

That one hurt. They cut deep. Whether or not Karin took it the wrong way... Well, it could have just been the tone, but the sniffles and sobs stopped and she just went wide-eyed and looked off at some other... Tree in the distance.

She let out a feeble. "Wow."

And she fell to silence.
 
Charlie enjoyed conversations, even if he had a tendency to be excessively talkative and often say things he probably shouldn't have blurted out so suddenly. One example was some of the things Thalia had told him confidence about Frank. He didn't even realize that he was openly talking about his sister's feelings for an ex like that. His idea of Frank wasn't even an ex, but rather a man she crushed over from a distance. Even if he was just eight years old, love like that intrigued him. It was a different love from that he'd been around with his religious family. What he could tell from Thalia's stories two days ago... they had a spark. Something magical, as it was the best way a young child could see it. And like any other optimistic child, Charlie wanted the magic to continue. So of course he'd advocate for the ship between Thalia and Frank to get sailing again. His vision of love would be different from the mature version, but it was still the same at heart.

As he buttered the bread carefully on his own, he answered the questions about what he was told by his sister. "Oh, she talked a lot about you. She said you were one of the heroic good guys, a real life hero because you worked as a detective to stop a group of bad guys Thalia used to know. Well, that's how she said you two met. She didn't really tell me more about how she came to meet you instead of another detective, but she said she didn't regret running into you." Seemingly... vague start, but it soon got more sincere and heart-filled. "She said you saved her life." A reference to when Frank got her out of the resort at the sound of the fire alarm. "She said you treated her well when others never did." That was most probably how Tony used to yell at her, accuse her of fault at every fault, and even beat her at times. "She said she shared a lot of secrets with you about the bad things the bad people did to her. And you trusted her with yours." That must've been that moment in Karin's house that they shared stories with one another. "She also said you two had a lot of fun together." That was probably the sex and teasing, but what does Charlie know?

"So... yeah. She said a lot of nice things about you when we talked the other day. She even said she wished she could spend her whole life exploring the world with you, and even take me with you guys when we meet again. She wished that you two could go back to that nice part of your friendship. But... she never told me the reason for why you and her weren't close anymore. She got really upset when I tried asking."

And there was the overly-curious side of Charlie. Oddly enough, the 'reason' was right next to him. Jordan. Thalia never mentioned the incident with the Redgraves, but Charlie already had an idea of what happened. He just didn't think that Frank taking Jordan in was the reason Thalia grew afraid of a relationship and wanted distance.

--

Yikes, Thalia freaked out in her mind at the sudden silence, taking her face out from her hands to see Karin just... looking away. Her words cut deep in that moment. She gulped, unsure of how to... take back that last line. But it wasn't the only thing to talk about, fortunately. It was clear to her that James gave her and her brother some hope after a while of barely getting by, and she almost took it all away from her in one daring move.

Thalia stood up slowly and stepped closer to Karin, wiping her eyes quickly. "You? No balls? My ass. I don't think I've met any edgy chick with the nerve to stand up to a woman in dark, rough makeup, a mask, and a MAC-10 in each hand and expect to live. You have that daring side, but you have it for a better purpose than me. What do I have the balls to do? Stab a guy to death because he insulted a friend of mine? Go after another because he killed a friend? Believe me, you don't want to be jealous of what I am. No one is going to look at me the same after this. I feel relieved that Charlie still ran up and hugged me as if nothing happened. But James is pissy, that guy who owns the place probably wants me dead, and my mom has probably already disowned me. So please, don't be envious of that part of me. If anything, I was the one jealous of the softer, human touch you have. The fact you can be normal and handle kids well and get a job, drive around wherever you want, manage yourself. A bunch of stuff I can't do. I'm not that much younger than you, and all I've ever done is hurt people. Guess that hasn't quite stopped, right?"

She tried to reach forward and take Karin's hand, unsure if she should actually... take it. "Be mad, okay? I deserve it. I'm so sorry I just... didn't think in the moment. It wasn't just you I wasn't thinking of. I wasn't thinking of Frank or Tony or my family or the kids or anyone. I didn't even take into consideration that they might just shoot me on the spot. That's another reason you shouldn't want to have the balls I do. When I get like that... I just don't think," she choked. "I just act on impulses and don't think how it'll affect anyone later. Not even if it'll affect me. And that's not normal; it's just sick, and I realize that. That's not an excuse, but it's just what I am, and what I don't want to be for the rest of my life. Is that too hard to see? I don't want to get the cold shoulder from everyone in there from now on or for James to take back his promises because of it all, because it already seems like he's going to bench me for whatever else we're doing to stop Al-Asheera. What more do you...."

She froze, almost about to finish it, but her tone was getting angry again. She took a few deep breaths and composed herself. She couldn't blow up on Karin after promising to improve. Her hand retreated, afraid to hold hers. "S-Sister?" Family doesn't hurt family. And Thalia hurt hers. She realized that and stepped back again. "I... I hurt my sister," she whimpered, just staring at Karin, who didn't seem interested in looking back. "I hurt everyone I get close to, don't I? How many people are dead because they just so happened to know me? How many are hurt? I can't even think of one person that I haven't caused some suffering."

Thalia couldn't help but feel like one word described her: toxic. "Sh-Should I go? I feel like all I'm doing is hurting you more by opening my goddamn mouth." Retreat might've been wise now, even if they weren't entirely cool with each other. "I'm so sorry, Karin. I wish I could fix this."
 
"Yes..." Frank nodded to Charlie's words, a little... Spaced away from it all.

He thought about it. Yeah, they had a rather sad ending, but... Hey, it's clear he wasn't the only one who was upset by it. According to Charlie, Thalia was hit pretty hard when she thought about it more. It's easy to regret a decision you made when you were panicked or deciding in the heat of the moment. That was what happened when you didn't feel you had the time to think about things. He knew things were different now - Thalia's mentality wasn't as developed as the other adults. Not that that was her fault or anything, but... It was just one of those things. It was one of those things where she was forced to be that way.

Frank would at least reach out and talk to her. Tell her he wanted to be friends. He wanted to help her the way he promised he would. Even if they were only friends and never anything more than that, he still wanted to help her. He didn't make that promise with the hopes of being in bed with her again. He made that promise because he cared. He knew how it felt to be lost and alone.

Secrets, though. He looked at Charlie, he sighed.

"You remind me of myself a lot, Charlie." He said. "You love your sister very much. You care about how she feels and what she thinks." He said. "I... Had a sister. A long time ago." He said. "I, um... Lost her when I was a little younger than you. I was six when she passed away. She was four." He said. "Bit of a smaller age gap compared to you and Thalia, but, even so. I think the four of us are pretty similar in terms of how much we loved each other." He said. "Her death was... Actually the whole reason I became a detective, actually. And the whole reason I'm here is because I'm a detective." He smiled a tiny bit, "So I guess it's all connected in one way or another." He said.

"Your sister's stronger than she gives herself credit for, though. You don't have to worry about her."

"My sister died, too." Jordan chipped in on that one. "So did my parents." He looked at his plate of food and shrugged.

Yup, that pretty much confirms it for you, Charlie.

--

"I guess we both have our vices." She sniffled.

As for Thalia's hand? Yes. Karin did take it. She took it and gave it a squeeze, and then she went quiet again. It was a hard spot to be in - she wanted to be angry but it was such a different situation, one that she'd never been in before. She'd been in similar, but... This was unique in its own way. She'd never had someone she considered family try to kill someone she loved, someone that, if they died, would leave her and her little family in a tough spot. She didn't want James for just that. She did truly love him. It was just one of those things where she wasn't really sure what else she could do.

She shut her eyes and bowed her head.

"No changes are instant, Thalia." She said. "There are certain things that you can't get back." She shook her head. "There's also certain things you shouldn't ever let go off. You're one of those people to me." She said. "I meant everything I ever said." She choked. "I meant helping you to get better, to be a standard person in this world, to help you build a life - I want that for you. I want that for both of us." She sniffled. "I'm not going back on my word, and I promise that much. It's just hard." She said. "It's hard trying to make all these changes to my own life when we're surrounded by so much shit." She said. "I just wish we could get the kids out of here, somewhere they'd be safe." She said. "I wish we could get them out of here and just finish this. Because what good is it if we just keep running?" She asked.

She turned to face her, at last, her eyes met with Thalia's.

"I want you to meet my baby. I want you to be part of their life." She said, "But I need you to work with me, okay? I want to help you change. I don't want to push you away after this." She wiped her eyes, "But you have to promise me you're going to work with me, alright? And... You need to understand that you're not going to like everything that's said and done. There are going to be things that grind you or upset you, but that's all part of it. Okay...?" She nodded to her, slowly.

She wasn't giving up on her. People like them? They didn't just give up.

"I don't want you going anywhere." She gently squeezed her hand.
 
Charlie noticed Frank fade off into his own thoughts for a moment. Was something he said wrong? It couldn't be; he'd already told his mother some of these things without receiving any criticism. Maybe it was just the underlying, adult issues between his sister and the detective that he just didn't understand. Why couldn't Thalia and Frank just be friends? What complicated things so much that was beyond his scope of knowledge? It just kept slipping his mind that it was what happened to Jordan's family. He couldn't imagine that his sister was... shallow enough to just leave Frank like that when the going got tough on him. Then again, even if she was very open about her past, there was a lot she didn't divulge to her little brother. Much of it was her own faults. She couldn't have him judging or hating. So far, he was doing the best at understanding behind his shield of innocence.

While Charlie's words spoke a lot of magic, friendship, and innocence, the conversation took a darker turn when Frank brought up the incident with his own sister. It didn't take long for the boy to realize that this might've been one of the secrets Frank trusted Thalia with. A lost sibling. In reality... how much different was that from how he went his whole life knowing about a girl named Thalia who ran away... until now? On that note, so was Jordan, after the traumatic experience he'd been through less than a week ago. They could all relate.

"I'm..." he stopped in his place, putting the bread in his hands down, hanging his head down, almost as if he were suddenly infested with sadness. "I'm sorry, Mister Hale. I was always told at school that... Thalia might be dead after all this time. The police even told my mommy and daddy that stuff, too. But Daddy didn't want to give up. He had our entire church friends keep up the days to remember her and kept going to the police to ask them questions. I remember, the day before he died, Mommy said he left for the afternoon mass... more excited than usual. But now that I think of it... I think he finally found Thalia. I think he talked to Jon to come take us to Thalia before the bad people she used to be with showed up. But I guess it was too late because they already got to Daddy before us..."

Though far from the truth and highly exaggerated... he was right about the reason for his father's excitement.

Noticing how sad Jordan had become with the grim subject in mind and a reminder of what happened to his family, Charlie got up from his place and got closer to his younger friend, tapping his shoulder in comfort. Charlie, in one way or another, after hearing so many times that Thalia might be dead... understood the pain, in one way or another, and that touch was a way of extending a comforting hand. He just hoped Jordan wouldn't flinch or retreat like he used to do before. He felt good about getting him to open up, and didn't want it all to fall apart over one unpleasant memory.

--

Shivering and clenching the sides of her arms in fear after parting from Karin's touch, Thalia looked down, choking on another sob. "I know it's not something I can change in an instant. I am scared of relapsing if I get mad, but I've been trying not to, only to fuck up last night. And I know you may not want to let me go, but James probably won't let my actions go." She kept her deep breaths to calm herself down, wiping her face quickly again. She realized her hair was falling over her face, so she swiped it over the top of her head and finally worked up the courage to face Karin head-on. No more chickening out. She got closer, once again, to try and solidify whatever was left to their friendship. Karin wanted to bridge the gap. So did Thalia. Whatever James might've thought, that didn't seem like it was changing.

The baby.... Oh, Thalia wanted to meet him or her so badly. For a woman who now knew she'd never get to have a child of her own, she developed a whole new perspective about children. How did Karin's just... slip her mind? It was good that this child wasn't the only one who she'd get a chance to nurture.

"I want that too, Karin," she tried to let out a smile through the sorrows. "I really want to know your kid. I promise you I wouldn't do him any harm, really. I promise you things are going to be different. I know, it sounds like what an addict who can't stop might say, but I'm really going to try and change. No more acting out like that. I'll try to stay cool if things don't go my way and not try to kill someone, I promise. I want to get better and change, and I'll do whatever it takes so that I don't slip up like yesterday."

It seemed like it didn't need words to know that Thalia wasn't going anywhere. But there was another point Karin brought up: the kids.

"I honestly don't know what we're doing about Al-Asheera anymore... can we sit?" she offered, taking Karin's hand and sitting with her by the firepit again. At least this closeness would serve as comfort for her, to reassure her she still had her best friend. "I know that the guy we saw at the restaurant the other day was Al-Asheera. That Damien guy? James knows too, don't worry about whether or not I hid it. He might've been the guy who called the police to come after me. But apart from him? Besides Tony's cousin getting killed, I know that Reeves wants to go after Charlie. He wants to pronounce him the official successor to Ra's just because me and him were engaged. He doesn't want a woman to lead, so he took the next best thing: my brother. Just because I was Bride of the Head. So trust me: no one wants the kids away from her more than me. But where can they go without just getting caught all over again? Reeves has... a lot of men. Even after the port, it's still plenty. And I'm still afraid that if they could find my dad in Philly and kill him and many other churchgoers, then shred his body on television, they won't rest until they find my mom and Charlie, no matter where we hide them."

Thalia's words spoke of one thing: she was still unaware of the gang war between Al-Asheera and the Clover Boys. She was unaware that most of the legions of monsters had just... ran off never to return.

At least she felt safe with Karin, once again.

--

The security camera on the neighboring house would end up to be quite the gold mine for the partner detectives. Besides an eye witness who only saw so much, the camera didn't blink or flinch at the more unpleasant parts of the incident, leaving it to be the most reliable eye in the neighborhood. And there was no need to even get a warrant for it. The second Heather walked up to the front door of that neighboring house and explained that the cop next door was shot and killed, he immediately complied, being a good friend to the Hendrixes, and surrendered the camera's findings without hesitation or anything in return. He had nothing to hide, really, and simply wanted justice for his friend. A common goal for Heather, though her motives were more fueled by a desire for vengeance. Whatever it may be, they'd get a chance to understand what Reeves was up to in this part of town. How he figured out where Angie was might be up in the air, but what couldn't stay on hold was letting him get away for whatever sick purposes he had. And both Richie and Heather heard a testimony of what happens to young girls in Al-Asheera. Angie presently was younger than Thalia eight years ago. No way either would accept to let her slip away and become Reeves' new toy.

The footage was crystal clear quality and at a rather smooth framerate - some camera this neighbor had. It made examining the footage much easier and more convenient for zooming in or slowing down. Now, with nothing more than the neighbor's laptop in his office, they played through the footage over and over and over again. The camera caught the side of the house in such a way that they saw the muscular, armed brute in an overcoat knock on the door, pull out his gun, shoot the cop, allow himself entry, then exit, plunging a needle into Angie's neck to stop her from screaming and kicking to get free, then tossed into the back of an unmarked, black van on the curb.

It was horrible to watch over for many times, especially for Heather. She almost wanted to leave, but as she did, Richie held out an arm to stop her. "You want to get justice for Officer Hendrix and find Angie? You're staying right here. You've got quite an eye, and I need your insight to find the devil lying in the details. Don't leave me like this, Heather, please?"

Covering her mouth in shock and confusion, she nodded and returned to her seat by the older detective's side to replay the footage all over again. "We're just watching him get killed and Angie hauled away."

"I know... and all I can think of is what if that were Nate or Jo being dragged off into a van like that. That's what's keeping me going."

"Saving Angie is what's keeping me going."

Richie nodded. "That's the woman I picked for my partner. So this is our best lead we can follow."

With that next playthrough, in an effort to try and find an anomaly, Richie took note of any sort of detail, no matter how trivial, in order to point out and possibly get somewhere. Whether it was one weird step to the door or some odd hand gesture Angie might've done in the struggle, he had to start somewhere.

"Kinda odd how he's in an overcoat in the middle of July, huh?"

Heather leaned forward in her chair, reaching for the laptop's keyboard and rewinding. "Yeah. A bit too odd."

Was this the eureka moment they were looking for? "Whatcha got in mind?"

She didn't immediately respond, playing the footage from the start, paying more attention than usual. This time, at an odd... leg movement from the assailant. "He kicks his leg back in a really odd way. The front pathway isn't that dirty or anything. Why do that?" She let the footage play ahead, this time a bit slower, with her eyes focusing more on his right hand on the overcoat's pocket. "You think that's just a normal tap there?"

"Hell no," he scoffed as the footage played on. "Nothing's an accident when you're a hitman. I get a feeling that Reeves or some other handler is nearby while this is happening, and the foot kick is just code. Sadly, there isn't much in the way of telling what exactly he touched in his pocket. But I have a feeling he was sending more code to Reeves in a way that he can't see."

"That, or...." Heather grew a rather clever grin over her face as she paused the footage just before Hendrix opened the door on-screen. She proceeded to zoom in on the overcoat they were focusing on. The kick? She was convinced of. Reeves was there himself, at least not far. But what was the tap to his pocket? Maybe it had little to do with the pocket. "Look at the buttons on his overcoat."

So that's why she zoomed in. Richie got a better look, trying to compare each of the three fastened buttons. The bottom two were rather... normal. But the last one? "Top one doesn't match."

She nodded. "And I don't think he accidentally lost it at a party. Can we enhance that still image?"

Richie nodded as he tapped further on the laptop's trackpad. This neighbor had quite the technology to really give his house a thorough security blanket. And they could perform an enhancement on the buttons. And what they saw got both of their attentions. That was no button they saw.

"That's no button replacement," Richie deduced. "That's a fucking camera."

"The tap in his pocket..." Heather continued, "Must've been a trigger for the camera. And get a better look there..."

She pointed to the enhanced image to find a string of letters and numbers. No brand, but with that discovery, they may not need it. "A serial number. Al-Asheera must've really not seen this coming. This might be their own grave they dug by coming after one of our own. Excellent work there, Heather. Our lives might've just gotten a lot easier if we can trace the signal that camera is transmitting to."

But discovering that was only half the fun. They still had the entire mystery of Damien's involvement to get behind. Not only that, but Richie's wife's claim of now knowing the face of Fritzy. What was the seasoned detective going to do in that case, now finally possessing the first known facial description behind an infamous hacker?
 
Frank looked at Charlie.

Shit.

Heavy stuff for a kid his age to be talking about. He walked over to him and gently rubbed his back, "Nah, your sister's way too tough to just... Y'know. Die." He shrugged. "That's not gonna' happen. Sometimes, Charlie, things happen for a reason." He said. "It's not always easy to cope with things that happen. I'm sure you would have loved your sister to be around since you were born, but, there's a reason why it didn't all happen. We might not know what that reason is for a long time now, but... There's definitely a reason behind it." He said. "It might even be something that you look back on when you have children of your own. You never know." He said.

"Like what happened with my sister - I know it was bad, but... It's just the way things are. It happened for a reason. It pathed how I lived my life, and if that didn't happen, I never would have met your sister, and I never would have met Jordan, either." He said, "So I guess it all worked out in the end." He said. "You don't have to be sorry for me, kid. I'm sorry about your dad, though..." He sighed, moving his hand up and gently ruffling his hair instead. "Once again, it all happens for a reason. Think, if you were still up in Philly, you might have had to wait even longer to see Thalia. You might not have ever met Jon in the first place - bad things aren't always completely bad. Some of the best things in life spiral off of the bad things." He smiled.

He knew that Charlie was fond of Jon. He'd seen the two together, and it was clear.

Jordan, however, didn't flinch at all when Charlie touched him.

He just looked at him and smiled.

He was positive enough around Frank and his friends. With Frank there, he felt safe enough. He felt safe with all of them.

"Things will be okay." Jordan said. "I know it. Frank's taking care of me now, and you and Joseph are my best friends." He said, "So I'll be okay."

--

"You're going to meet the baby." She squeezed her hand again. "You're going to meet them and I'm not going to let anyone stop that, no matter what happens." She said. She wanted Thalia to be part of the baby's life. "Aunt Thalia. Has a nice ring to it, I think." He said. "It makes you sound a lot older, sure, but... I like it. It suits you." She said, "We'll let Aunt Thalia be the future Thalia, okay? Something to work towards." She said. "If you think controlling your impulses is going to be difficult, I have a good way you can think of it all..." She said, and she paused for a moment. She sat down with her again. "I think the best way you can think of things right now, is take your brother, and let's take the baby, for example." He said.

"What would you want them to grow up to be, knowing you're one of the people they look up to?" She said, "That's the best way to think of it. Because that way, every time your anger creeps up on you, every time you think you're going to snap, they're going to be at the back of your mind and you're going to stop yourself. Sometimes you won't completely stop it, and your bedroom door might end up with a few dents in it from the punches, or your pillow might end up ripped open, or the wine glass from the night before might end up smashed - but you're going to try and stop it when you think of them. That's the best place to start."

"Stack that with the ideal person, the person you want to be - your brain will work the rest of it out. Think of someone you admire, look up to, want to be more like - picture them as well. Your brain will make associations, and if you want to stop something enough, then it'll happen. You'll find out eventually that less glasses get smashed, less doors get punched, and less pillows get ripped." She shrugged. "Behavioral therapy, I guess. I wouldn't know what else to call it, really." He said.

And then there was the big thing: She knew nothing about the war that was posted all over national TV.

"We can find a place for the kids. It's different now, Thalia." She said, "You... Don't know, do you?" She released her hands and rubbed her head, "Oh, boy. You don't know. There was a fight. A big fight. A war." She said, "They decided they were going to try and take on Bradan." She said, "Safe to say that Bradan won by a longshot, Thalia. Hundreds of them dead, probably." She said. "I don't know what state Al-Asheera are in right now, but it can't be good." She said.

"Damien, though..." She sighed. "Well, what happened to him?" She asked. "Do you think he's going to come after you, too? If he is, we need to think about what we do if that does happen. I'm not losing you to some crazy... Sort-of-loverboy with a vengeance, you know what I mean?" She said. "It would be safer if we just all got out of here and ran to whatever place is up next. Or set a trap." She said, "The Jackal probably has enough explosives and guns in this place to fuel a small army. Setting traps wouldn't be hard to do." She said, "If they're still hurt from the gang war, they won't try and just storm a place that's heavily guarded, will they?" She asked. "It's a longshot, but what if they tried to attack late at night, when it's quiet? We could easily set traps. It's easy to make a bed look like someone's sleeping in it, y'know?" She said.
 
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