Simon

Phone call after phone call kept rolling into my office about the mission and they were not good calls.

"I'm sorry, who's missing?" I asked.

"Rebecca, and now we're getting reports that Tabitha may also be missing. We aren't confirming that just yet but none of us seem to know where they've disappeared off to." Coach Jackson informed.

I rubbed my forehead, stressed, "I'll contact our New York investigation team. They shouldn't be too far... Hold on, I'm getting another call."

"No problem, I'll call you back as soon as I get more information on the case, sir."

I hung up and answered the video call on my computer, "Nicole." I tried to smile through the stress, knowing my little girl is okay. It was truly a relief for me to know that at least one thing went well but the look on her face didn't give me a pleasant feeling...

She looked disappointed, sad even. Wherever she was, it was pretty quiet with plain white walls. Nothing like the scene of the mission.

"Hey, Simon..."

I frowned at her expression and tone, "What's wrong, Soldier?"

She sighed deeply, pausing for a moment while keeping her eyes down and away from me. A raw gut feeling I had told me that I was about to hear something I wasn't ready for. I braced myself for the worst... She finally moved her big, red, watering eyes to me as she quietly asked, "You still love me?"

"Y- yes... Always... Why would you ask that?" I asked, looking directly into the brown in her eyes that were still very much vibrant compared to the red surrounding them.

"We uh... We failed our mission..." she said with a fake smile that quickly turned into a disappointed head shake.

And there's the headache again.

"Simon, believe me when I say this. As far as I know, we've done the most we can do to make sure all 15 thousand people in that stadium were safe. I don't know what went wrong. Rebecca didn't stick to the plan, we were misled-"

I can see her clenching her fists, "Nicole... Breathe." I told her.

She took a deep breath, "And Jaden..." she almost whispered with pain written all over her face.

"What about Jaden?" I've never heard her say his name without sarcasm or rolling her eyes. It worried me.

She looked over the camera at something then turned her phone for me to see what she did.

Oh my...

My eyes widened at the sight of our member hooked on to wires and tubes on a hospital bed, unconscious.

Even from here, I could tell that he was in horrible shape. Critical shape.

"This wasn't supposed to happen..." I could hear the anger and sadness tremble in her voice.

"So the suspects... They managed to get away?"

She shrugged, "Only Fire Catcher. We got lucky with Freak Show. Dani and D.T captured him. He's currently being held behind bars and the investigators are working at finding answers about the business they were running."

I nodded, "There's some good news then."

She shook her head, "Not entirely... He refuses to speak and gracious knows what they did to my partner to have him on the verge of death. Look at this!" she snatched up a stack of papers she had on her lap but it wasn't readable from here.

"What is it?"

"It's a description of Jaden's condition, Simon!" She angrily flipped through the papers, "Broken bones, first and second-degree burns, unsteady heartbeat, stab wounds, fucking poison?"

"Nicole..."

"He's going to die, Simon!"

"Nicole!"

She slouched in her chair, her face reddening as she tried to hold back tears.

"Don't talk like that, Soldier. I'm sure the doctors are doing everything in their power to make sure he doesn't perish."

She looked away and didn't respond.

"I'm going to get answers for you as to what went wrong during the mission and I'll probably fly out to New York to get everything back on track. I'll have to postpone some minor missions here but it'll be worth it."

She nodded then just ended the call without another word.

Nicole

I sat in silence listening to Jaden's heartbeat monitor.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

His body was still, almost lifeless. I didn't dare want to look at his face again, afraid of how I might react but, at the same time, I wanted to see him. I wanted to see him breathing.

I groaned, resting my head in my hand. I just want you to be okay... After a short moment, I found myself standing up and walking over to him anyway. After all, this may be one of the last times I see him.

As I approached him, chills crept up my spine.

He didn't look as bad as I thought he would but it was still hard for me to look at. The doctors had already finished his operation a few hours ago but he still wouldn't wake up.

Jay... Quit messing with me and get up.

I almost reached out to touch him but, instead, I crossed my arms when I felt the tears coming.

Dammit... Should've been me.

I rubbed my forehead and shook my head in disbelief. He didn't deserve this bullshit! He doesn't deserve the punishment! "Should've been me!" I groaned angrily, punching the wall. A huff steamed through my nostrils as I held back tears. I needed to calm down, he'll be fine... Simon said he would. He said he would!

He'll be fine...

I turned back to Jaden for a moment, listening to the beeps from his heart monitor again. Those beeps... They were promising me his well being. That there was some hope. I rubbed my sore knuckles as I silently made my way to his bedside, gazing at his battered face. His lifeless expression... You'll be okay...

"How's he doing?"

I quickly looked back to where the voice came from, seeing Coach Jackson leaning against the wall, near the doorway.

I only shrugged, turning back to Jaden. I didn't know what to do or say. All I could do is be next to him and ask "how?"

I've seen worse injuries than this, even a few deaths in my experience but something about this really hit me... I cared about this guy. A lot. More than I actually thought. Now that I'm here, watching him die, I realized that I already began to miss him.

Jackson laid his arm around my shoulder, "We should sit down..." he suggested.

I shook my head. I didn't want to move from this spot. I wanted to stay by Jaden's side.

He gave me the smallest smile then pulled his jacket off, placing it around my shoulders, "Those nurses were generous to give you a change of clothes."

I pulled my arms through, thankful for the jacket because it was freezing in here. "Well... I was getting Jaden's blood all over their furniture. They kind of had to." I took another look at the blue scrubs they gave me. It lightened my mood just a tiny bit.

He chuckled softly then glanced over at Jaden.

"Think he'll be up and around again?" he asked quietly.

"I refuse to answer that... It's best to just wait and see." I grabbed my car keys off of the small table, "Will you come with me?"

"Sure. Where to?"

"Just the condo. I just need to pick something up. Then we'll make our way back."

He nodded, "No problem. You can lay back while I drive."

I shook my head, looking down at my keys, "No, I'm driving, you drive too slow..."

He laughed and followed me as I headed out, "I don't drive slow."

* * * * *

We made it out to the parking lot, Coach getting in the passenger side while I started the car and got on the road once we were settled in.

He looked behind him, at the bloody backseats, "Ooh... What happened back there?"

I rolled my eyes, not wanting to keep thinking about it, "What do you think?"

He nodded, not answering.

Good. I didn't want him to.

The rest of the ride was silent. Coach tried to change that some by bringing up a little bit of small talk here and there until we arrived at the condo.

"Do you mind if I ask what exactly are we getting?"

I walked in front of him to open the door to our place, "Yes, I do mind. It's none of your business."

"Then why bring me along?" he chuckled.

"Because I needed someone to distract my negative thoughts. Any more questions?"

"Nope. That's all for now..." he smiled then his phone suddenly rang. "Go ahead and grab it quickly while I take this."

"Mhm." I walked inside the room while Jackson spoke to one of the investigators.

I headed towards the bedroom I shared with Dani and began going through my drawer, looking for that watch I grabbed from the mall a while back. It's not usually my thing but I thought it'll be decent if I let Jaden have it. I've caught him looking at it a few times when I had it on, I had this feeling that he planned on taking it from me one of these days so I figured I would just give it to him.

I stuck it in my pocket but stopped myself at the door.

Maybe I should wait...

I pulled the watch out again and looked at its details. All of its satisfying diamonds and its expensive gold plated rim.

Actually. I think I'm going to keep it...

Just give it to him.

Yeah, he'll like it.

No, wait! That's too cheesy.

This would be kind of lame...

Cheesy? It costs more than your life!

I pulled my hair in frustration.

What's wrong with me?! It's just Jaden, he'll be dead in about 10 minutes!

I gasped at that thought... "No, he won't..." I whispered outside of my mind, feeling my heart ache.

He wasn't "just Jaden", he's "my Jaden"... I want him. I missed him. I missed everything about him. His corniness, his stupid jokes, his smile, his positivity towards life...

I dropped myself to the bed, staring at the watch. I would give him this watch plus the world if it would save his life...

"Greene!" Coach called. "I can't stay any longer, will you hurry?"

Screw it.

I stuck the watch in my pocket, heading out of the bedroom door, "Yeah, I'm coming..."

As I headed towards the living room, a soft sound of a door closing alerted me. I almost didn't catch it if I hadn't been listening.

Someone's here... There shouldn't be anyone here...

Raising my eyebrow, I headed back in my room, grabbing my pistol from my drawer.

I quickly made my way to the other bedroom's hall, stopping in front of its door. I pressed my ear against it to listen for any movement but it was completely quiet.

It was quiet but my gut told me otherwise.

I opened the door gently and carefully scanned the room as I walked in, checking under the beds, behind dressers, and under the messy covers.

I know you're in here...

I didn't know who but someone was in here. Their presence wasn't a safe one. I sensed danger.

There were a few suitcases up against the wall, filled up, which prompted my suspicion.

I looked over at the closet. It was shut closed all the way, making me smirk. A room shared by three girls would never have the closet door closed.

Oh, the curiosity...

I quickly swung the door open, aiming my gun, "Out!"

Wait...

"Rebecca?"

Oh... Fuck... No...

I yanked her out of the closet then pulled her little companion out as well, "And Tabitha! Were you two hiding?"

I didn't even notice that Tabitha was gone!

They exchanged shocked looks but didn't answer.

The bags... They were planning on leaving!

I could instantly feel the blood under my skin begin to boil at such a high temperature that I became a fully powered human steam engine. I grabbed Rebecca by the collar, pressing my pistol to her head, "You asshole..." I groaned furiously through gritted teeth, "You had one job, one important job and you abandoned us..."

"Nicole, let me explain..." she swallowed.

My hands quivered as I tried my best not to clench my fist and pull the trigger, "Explain... What...? How you purposely mislead us on the mission? How you didn't 'feel like' arresting the criminals because you were too scared? How you and your blonde dog planned on leaving without telling anyone! FOR WHAT REBECCA?!" I angrily pistol-whipped her, not able to control myself anymore. My last nerve bursted and, just like that, I became a monster, a demon.

"NICOLE STOP!" Tabitha screamed as I repeatedly bashed Rebecca's skull and face with my fist, wanting to literally crush it open.

"LET GO OF HER!" Tabitha tried to pull me off but I shot a warning bullet near her, making her back up.

I harshly grabbed Rebecca's cheeks, making her look at me, staring deep into her soul. So deep that I could see her conscious crying out in fear as it burned from the flames of my rage, "Because of you, Jaden is dying in the hospital. You hear me? He's dying and there's nothing we could do to stop that. I'm going to make sure that you will go... BEFORE HE DOES!" I screamed at her, aiming my gun at her and pulling the trigger.

A strong pair of hands forced the gun into a different direction, the bullet barely missing Rebecca. I heard her scream and noticed that the bullet grazed her shoulder instead of piercing her skull.

"Nicole! Are you crazy!?" Coach Jackson yelled, pinning me to the wall with heavy force and snatching the pistol out of my hands.

I forcibly shoved him off, "I'm not the crazy one..."

He looked back then did a double-take, "What the hell? Rebecca? And Tabitha?"

I rolled my eyes.

She sat up against the wall without a word, trying to stop her shoulder from bleeding with her hand.

Coach turned to me, raking his hair back stressfully, "Bathroom. Now." he then looked back at Rebecca and Tabitha, "And you two stay right there." he ordered sternly before guiding me to the bathroom.

I watched him as he wrote a note in a small notepad he kept in his pocket.

"What do you want?" I asked through a sneer.

He shoved his notepad back into his pocket then tossed my pistol onto the sink counter, "Really?"

I stared at it without saying a word.

"You were going to shoot her. Even kill her if I hadn't shown up!"

I sighed. He's really going to lecture me right now...

Of course I was going to kill her. I had every reason to... I wasn't going to say that out loud though.

"I don't care how pissed off you might be, and believe me, I'm pissed at her too, but that does not mean you go and pound on her 'till she bleeds."

I felt my jaw clench and my urge to knock him out grew stronger. He's missing the whole point here.

I looked him in the eyes with a glare, "There is a criminal on the loose because of her. A criminal who is capable of committing untraceable crimes if no one catches her. Are you saying that this shouldn't be a reason to give her exactly what she deserved?"

"You don't hold authority here, Nicole. That's my job, I didn't come here just to waste space."

"I don't care who holds authority around here. I do what I feel is right."

"Whooping her ass was right?! Attempting to shoot the girl in the head was right?!"

"And what were you going to do?!" I raised my voice to his level. "Write her a referral? Tell Simon? Or maybe give her a little pep talk on what 'good behavior' looks like... As a matter of fact, why don't you go do that right now." I walked around him, towards the exit but he immediately slammed the door shut with his hand coming from behind me before I could leave.

"Where do you think you're going?" his voice became more threatening.

I glared at him over my shoulder, "Back to the hospital... Now move."

He firmly grabbed my arm and shoved me towards the sink, "Wash your hands."

I looked into the mirror, at his reflection who stared back at me in anger and disappointment. I then turned the sink on and began to rinse Rebecca's blood off of my hands. My face turned red from stress and annoyance and tension. I could feel the blood rising in my cheeks as I tried to contain myself from slapping him.

Coach reached his hands over me, pulling the jacket sleeves up my arms to keep me from wetting them. I looked back over my shoulder at him with a glare. I wanted to shove my fist down his throat so badly.

Asshole...

He only glared back at me, pumping soap into his hands then lathered it all over mine. I stopped moving my hands and let him wash them for me since he wanted to pretend like I was some child who wasn't capable of doing it myself.

"You know I don't want to get you in trouble..." his voice was low, calmer this time.

I kept my glare into his sterling grey eyes silently.

He gazed back at me for a moment then moved his eyes to our hands, slightly uncomfortable by my glare as he continued, "But you have to understand that everything I do is for good reason. Simon has already warned you once about the consequences, we want you to stop putting yourself in situations that cause twice as much problems than the original." he handed me a towel. "Here. Go back to the hospital, I need to go check on Rebecca. Ask her a few questions."

I nodded as he moved aside for me to exit.

"And get some ice for your knuckles. They'll swell if you don't."

I nodded again then left the bathroom. I felt him watching me as I went until I completely left the condo room.

I went out to the parking lot, getting into the car and starting it, making my way to the street. There was less traffic now that it was starting to get dark.

I gave some thought to what Coach explained to me. Although I didn't agree with everything he said, he did have a point about me being a little... Harsh, as some would say.

Simon has warned me about putting me back on that Psychology therapy program and he's even threatened to kick me out of the squad before but that didn't bother me too much. I'm one of his best and most useful agents, it would only hurt him just as much to have me off of the team.

I walked back into the hospital and checked in at the front desk, making my way over to Jaden's room afterward.

When I got there, a nurse was beside him, adjusting the settings on the machine that kept him alive.

She gave me a friendly smile when she spotted me, "Hello there."

"Hey," I said softer than I expected as I walked in.

"He's doing a little better. His breathing and body temperature just needs to be monitored regularly to make sure he's stable. As far as everything else goes, he's doing a good job. He's responding quite well to the surgery and the toxic substance is now completely drained from his kidney and digestive system."

"Good to hear..." I said as I gently placed my hand on Jaden's head and caressed my thumb over the bruise on his forehead.

The nurse frowned then rubbed my arm, "The doctors will take care of him, sweetie. You should go get some rest."

The sound of the word "rest" made me yawn. It was getting kinda late and I was feeling a bit tired but I didn't want to go home, I would sleep here if I had to.

"I want to stay here with him. Is that alright?"

She smiled, "Of course... I'm sure he'd appreciate that. Let me know if you need anything or if some funky sounds come out of Jaden's machine."

I nodded, "Thank you, ma'am."

"No problem, love." she exited with the small cart of supplies she came in with.

I sighed, browsing around at the room. I felt tired but I couldn't sleep. I couldn't even sit down.

I found a T.V remote on the counter next to a small bowl of mints.

I could probably tire my eyes out.

I turned the T.V on and left it on whatever channel it was already set to.

"It's time to play... Family Feud!" the host announced then some catchy music played as the audience clapped to the rhythm.

I pulled a chair out and brought it next to Jaden's bed, sitting and kicking my shoes off as I would usually do at home. I grabbed the stress ball off of the counter and propped my legs up on his bed, tossing the ball up and catching it.

Being here released a whole lot of tension from my system. I liked this. It was peaceful, somewhat happy because of the show, and away from other potential drama. I still wanted to murder Rebecca for what she did but being here took my mind off of that a bit.

"We've asked 100 men. Name a Pokemon that describes your wife in bed." The host asked.

I chuckled and took a wild guess, "Pikachu?"

"Pikachu!" The contestant answered at the same time as me.

The board revealed it as the second top answer. I was still proud of myself, I could probably win that car if I was on that show.

I looked over at Jaden's expressionless face... I wonder how he would answer these. He'd probably say something gross like "Squirtle" or something.

Ding!

That was the top answer. I laughed at the irony, "Oh, he would've loved that..."