Hey everyone. As usual, I don't own Flashpoint, and check out my profile for story ideas.

This takes place during 'Slow Burn', but before Greg rips up the papers at the family picnic. Again, it sounded better in my head. I heard a song on the radio the other day that goes well with this story (at least the chorus does, I didn't really hear the whole thing), though I wrote the story before I heard the song. I think it's called 'It Ain't Yours To Throw Away', by Sam Palladio. Thanks for reading.

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Greg leaned forward, putting his head in his hands, ''I've failed.'' He had come to Wordy's house, not knowing why, but after five minutes of finding himself parked in front of the mailbox, he'd decided to talk to his former teammate. He didn't even have to knock; Wordy had opened the door as soon as he stepped onto the porch. Following his friend to the backyard, he'd opened up to Wordy about everything.

''Do you really think that, boss. Cause if you do, then fine, you failed,'' Wordy said, deciding tough love would work best with the present situation. ''At least, though, you can say you tried - which is a lot more than anyone else can say. You may not succeed in all the cases, but in the ones you do ... you trying, you taking the time ... made all the difference in the world to those people. No matter the outcome, you tried. How many people see our subject every day and they don't help them, but for that moment, whether you succeed or fail, for that moment, they know someone cares. If you think, that you failed ... then you really have, because it means you lost hope, and once you lose hope - then there's no more trying, and that, Boss, is when you should think about retiring. Greg, people out there ... they need you, the team needs you.'' Shaking his head, he continued, ''but, hey, it's your decision. One you need to think about from all angles, not just one. So when you go home tonight, you're going to mull it over. Whether the best you have, is good enough for the majority you face.''

Greg nodded to himself and took another sip of his coke. He spent another couple of hours with Wordy, before heading home. Getting into bed, he submerged himself in his thoughts, as he drifted off in an uneasy slumber.