The vicious wind howled around the penthouse apartment, screaming like a wild beast, desperate to break through the high windows and destroy whatever stood in its path. But retrieval expert Eliot Spencer didn't hear a thing.
He stood at those windows, watching the world go by below him. He watched as a small baby like tree was blown almost in half, but admired its strength and courage to stay standing. He watched as the ferocious wind took most of the leaves, but he found himself willing on the few fighters who were clinging to the branches, desperate not to give up their lives so easily to the beast that attacked them. Eliot wished he could find that strength, that courage to go on, but it was impossible.
Nate was gone, in prison for something that wasn't his fault. They'd dragged him into this life and he was the one paying the price. After he was gone, they'd all looked to Eliot for help and answers and a plan. Without even realising it was happening, over time, he'd become the substitute Nate, when Nate couldn't be there, but this time there was no plan. There was no easy answer, no scheme, no con, nothing. There was no way to get Nate out, he'd let them all down. So he'd done the only thing he knew how to do, he'd run.
He'd run so fast and so far he didn't know where he'd been or where he was going, he just had to go. Every time he stopped he saw that moment again, getting on the helicopter as Nate sank to the ground. He'd dreamed it differently a million times over. He'd go back, beat them all; save the day, but in the end, he woke up to the reality. Nate was gone and he had failed.
He turned with the speed of a cheetah as a noise behind him invaded his consciousness, but it was just the random in the bed turning over, moaning in her sleep. He'd sought comfort anywhere he could, in any bed that would have him, but everything was meaningless until he found a way to put the team back together.
Until that day he'd do the only thing he could. He'd keep on running.