Desolate grayness surrounded her. Would she ever find release from this horrid place? Day after day, the cold cell mocked her good intentions. She'd only wanted to help her brother. She'd been deceived, chosen the wrong path, and ended up here. Monica heaved a sigh. She would be paying for her actions longer still. "If only" plagued her thoughts, constantly.
Voices down the corridor yanked her back to reality. Her eyes focused on the door to the cell. Likely the voices would pass right by. No one ever came to visit her—further proof that no one actually cared about her. Suddenly, she sat up taller. One of the people speaking sounded familiar. And with a gasp, she realized who that voice belonged to. It couldn't be! No, absolutely not. They never actually let the visitors back to the cells. But he had his connections. Monica tried to compose herself, but her nerves were suddenly on edge. She must act nonchalant.
"Hi, Monica. Long time no see," he said with that positively irksome and infectious grin of his. One eyebrow lifted. A blush crept up her cheeks. "Hello, yourself," she replied. "Though, I have to say, it wasn't by my choice."
He winced slightly and laughed a little, "Touché. I see you still get right to the point. Look, Monica, I wanted to come sooner, but circumstances prevented me from coming." She glanced away. She didn't want excuses; if he had truly cared, he'd have come. "Monica, I know I've hurt you. I don't want to excuse my not coming—I did make the choice to go back to the agency, and leave this area. Leave you. But I didn't trust those missions to other people. The peace of the lives of the ones I love was at stake."
"That's the Jason I know. Always rushing off to madly save the world from the big, evil bad guys," Monica said, trying to play it off. "Including from me," she added, with a soft, regretful sigh." He shifted. "Jason, I know you didn't have a choice. You tried to help me see the light, but I was just so blinded by trying to save the day in my own little world, that I couldn't see you trying to save, well, me."
Jason reached through the bars on the door and took her hand. "Through the last couple of years, I've learned a few things. I almost got lost in the labyrinth, myself. Trying to be the hero. That's when I got out, came back to Odyssey. And I knew I had to come see you. To tell you that I…understand, now. And I'm sorry." His face softened.
Monica choked back tears. She hadn't expected this. Hadn't ever wanted anyone to even come close to the mistakes she'd made, least of all, Jason. Hearing the vulnerability in his voice let her know how close he'd come to being lost. She squeezed his hand. "Apology accepted." She let go, and let his hand fall back to his side of the door.