The room felt cold and empty. The bed had more room than I had wanted. My head hurt, and my chest hurt. Everything hurt. 

As far as I was aware, Russell had took the living room couch and didn't want to bother me. I understood it, but a part of me yearned that he would get up and come in, wrapping me in his arms. 

Out of the blue, a small knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, making me jump. 

"Come in." I spoke. Price had peeped his head around the door.

"Get up, showered, and dressed. We are taking you out." His British accent was powerful, but I didn't think it was as strong as Park's. Hers was more potent. 

I was going to put up a fight and stay in bed, but by Hudson's words, he wanted a few days for us to get to know Gaz and Price before we went to war with them. It was the best way in all fairness. Working with people we hardly knew would be difficult either way, and we needed to get used to each other's tactics.

That was the thing about working with new - or different people. You had to manoeuvre around them, but not enough that it broke the bond of working together. It was an important quality in this line of work, a skill as well nonetheless, but it was vital, learning each other's different strengths and weaknesses is what made teams work. 

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, give me thirty minutes, and I'll be ready." He shot me a smile and closed the door softly. We had three days until we were planning strike on Stitch, and I was feeling more than ready, but somehow empty. I had lost a huge part of my life. It would've been best to keep my thought process on something else and ignore how I was feeling. Russell Adler was and would be forever on my mind, whatever way this whole mess would end.

I swung my legs out of bed and walked to the shower, only to stop in front of the mirror. My eyes were red and bloodshot, and I looked like I had been dragged through a hedge. My eyes darted to the scars on my chest as I lifted my hands and traced my fingers through their depth. Lines deep in my chest, each one resembling a stitch, by Stitch.

I turned the shower on and got on with it. It was all I could do.

-------

Price was driving the truck whilst I sat in the passenger side with Gaz, Mason, and Frank piled into the back. Music was playing softly on the radio as silence coated the air. No one knew what to say, it felt that way. Russell had been moping about, not saying anything to us, majorly hinting that I told him we'd wait things out to sort our issues.

Suddenly, Frank spoke, snapping all of us out of our thoughts. "141? Eh?"

Gaz smiled. "We have others. They just decided not to take part in this one," I nodded tin acknowledgement to what Gaz said, and asked who they were.

"Ghost and Soap Mctavish."

"That it?" I questioned.

"There were others, but we mainly prioritise us with Laswell." He spoke, a sturdy smirk on his face,

Laswell had been spoken about a few times from Hudson, but I'd never personally met her. She seemed like she was on point most of the time, but stubborn. Laswell knew what she was doing. Sounded like Hudson himself, I thought, but maybe less harsh. 

We arrived at a small restaurant on the southwest side of where we were. It was a nice spot, crowds of people with families and friends. I smiled as I opened the door to the truck and got out. The sun was beaming down on us. Seeing people together always lit something in me, I couldn't remember my own family too much, but it gave me comfort somehow. 

As we walked to the restaurant, all eyes were on us as we were wearing our badges. I hated that feeling, but being in force, it was bound to happen. 

"How are you holding up?" Mason asked as we walked towards the entrance, Price walking ahead, and Mason's hand gently laid on my back.

"I'm doing okay." I smiled back.

"Don't let this cloud your head, Bell. We need you clean and clear over the next few days."

"Trust me, I'm clean and clear."

Frank has done his usual checks around the restaurant. Cameras, the general area. Ever since the bar incident, he has always been nervous going places. He wouldn't tell anyone, but it was something everyone noticed, and he was too ashamed to admit. To this day, he still blames himself for when I got kidnapped, and no one would convince him otherwise. 

I sat down next to Price, who shot me a warming smile. There was something about him that lit me up a little. I wasn't sure what it was, but I truly didn't know whether I wanted to find out. Frank and Mason sat in front of me, and Garrick sat on the other side.

A small petite girl with short brown hair handed us menus and told us she'd be with us in a few minutes.

Conversations rolled, and we got more and more into our life stories. It was nice and refreshing to hear other people's stories rather than our own. Things were going well, and then Price asked if I wanted to head out for a smoke. We were awaiting our food, and I agreed. Mason gave me a smile and a nod as I got out of my seat.

Price opened the door for me and awaited for me to walk out.

"Are you okay?" Price asked as I lit a smoke.

"I'm okay. I'm just confused more than anything." Price lit his own and took a draw before replying.

"I didn't realise that you two were a thing." Price let out a gentle laugh, taking me by surprise. 

"Yeah, I, just, God," I stuttered. "Hudson didn't say anything?" I furrowed my brow, I thought Hudson would have mentioned something to them.

"No, Hudson keeps out of things like that, or so I've noticed." 

I nodded and took another puff. "Hudson never liked the idea, but I know he knew it was going to happen." I shrugged my shoulders and reminisced for a moment.

"I'm sorry it even happened. Russell came across sharp to me a few times at the beginning, but I didn't think much of it." He didn't know what to say, it seemed that way. Like he was trying not to offend me or come off the wrong way. I wasn't going to, I knew Russell had been an ass. 

"He can become overly possessive, especially since that happened to me." I lowered my voice and looked around me a few times. Being out was making me more and more cautious in case someone was listening in.

"Well, we have your back," He threw the cigarette on the floor and stamped on it. "So, try not to worry."

"I'm sorry he came across that way to you. I don't know what the hell his issue is."

"Don't even apologise," Price laughed and gestured towards the door. "Not your fault." As I walked through the door, I could feel Prices hand on my back. I smiled in return.

As we sat down, our lunch arrived. The whole thing was comforting to me, I still had these people who cared for me. Doubts had poisoned my mind in thinking that I would've lost them when breaking up with Russell.

----
Our food was gone as quickly as it had come out. It was clear we were stuffed as we laid back in our chairs with a groan. Then, my radio went off. It was Hudson. "Here's our dessert," I laughed before hitting the button. Everyone rolled their eyes in unison.

"Bell here."

"We have a mission for you tonight. Get back here when you all can."

Everyone at the table heard, and we nodded to one another. "Guess we better get going." Mason wiped his mouth with the napkin and pushed his chair out, everyone following.

Walking back to the van with thoughts racing and hearts pounding, God knows what was about to happen. When we arrived back at the house, Russell was sat with Sims. He looked surprisingly okay. Maybe he didn't retort to the drink, I thought.

We looked at each other for a second before diverting our eyes. Sims had barely spoken to either one of us, but I suppose he was just trying to be there for Russell, as everyone else was pissed off at him.

Hudson came out, and everyone was quiet all of a sudden.

"Alright, Team. We got intel that says that a group working for Stitch is going to Bar Hurst down in maintown Berlin. I need Bell, Adler, Price, and Gaz on this. Frank and Mason, you'll be eyes on the outside. Park and Sims, you'll be on the radio keeping loop. Lazar should've been with us, but he had unfinished business." Hudson took out a floor plan of the bar. It was a Friday night, so I was guaranteed it would be busy.

"So what is our plan then?" I questioned.

"Price and Bell, you'll be on the right-hand side of the floor plan," He pointed to seats that were directly beside the bar. "Adler and Gaz, you'll be on the left side of the room. We need you guys to make a shift that you're just there for a drink. Nothing else. Bell?"

"Yes?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Face the wall when talking to Price. Chances are these people will know you."

"Yes, sir."

"Go start preparing. Talk to one another and decide what way you will do this. We can't fuck this up."

I headed to my bedroom to gather some things, and Price followed.

"Was this an invitation?" Price smirked and wiggled his brows. I couldn't help but laugh.

"No, smartass." I laid the plan on the desk, and we sat at either side of it, wondering what the hell we were going to do.

"What exactly is Hudson hoping we get out of this? That man is as difficult as getting blood out of a stone."

I giggled. "We all think the same. I think he thinks that we'll get more information on whereabouts in case we are wrong."

"Doesn't Hudson have their location, though? That's what Laswell told Gaz and I."

"We do. But we've had their 'location' before, and it wasn't correct."

"Okay, I can understand then."

I nodded, and we continued talking about the situation. Hudson was absolutely correct, we couldn't fuck this one up.