After Jack called, the excited group slowly left, all heading off to their lives. Connie stayed in shop, with intentions of wiping down the countertops until she saw Jason finish talking with his father. Hesitating, she lingered by the counter until his father was out of sight.

"Wait Jason - " Connie exclaimed as Jason started for the door. He stopped.

"Yes?" He asked, his eyebrow raised in inquiry. Connie swallowed.

"I wanted to know...I might be overstepping your boundaries but I wanted to know if...you're really alright." She said awkwardly. He looked at her.

"Hey I'm still alive." Jason said with a shrug though weariness was written on his face.

"When Whit said you'd be coming back I expected, I don't know. I guessed it would be dangerous but...Jason what even happened?" She finally asked. Jason realized suddenly how obvious it was to her he was troubled.

"Well, I was on the hunt for Grote for months,"

"Grote?" Connie wondered. Jason nodded and crossed the room, avoiding eye contact.

"The man behind the smuggling here last summer. Infamous criminal mastermind who worked with - an alias I had. "

"Oh." Jason nodded.

"We were ordered to take him into custody so I joined up with a man who saw revenge as the perfect opportunity for justice. It was a while before I understand his motives, he wanted to make Grote suffer, in return for the suffering he caused. That wasn't my intention, revenge wasn't my intention but I see how easily it could have been. The man, stepped out of line and it was up to me, the one with a - reputation to - show him mercy."

"Mercy, you mean giving him what he didn't deserve?" Connie asked.

"Yeah that. And I realized how hard it is to share mercy but how God continually does it." Jason said then sighed, a pained expression on his face.

"Wow. Are you okay?"

"What?" He slumped in a nearby chair, unsure, Connie sat opposite him.

"You're sharing this with me." Connie replied.

"Well you asked." He glanced at her.

"I sorry, just wanted to make sure you were okay, you're my...friend." She waited for him to say something about it not being her concern. Instead he laughed softly, bending his head of brown hair ever so slightly.

"I'm...okay. Thanks, you wouldn't believe how easy it is to miss this place, well actually the people."

"I have an idea." She smiled. "Welcome home Jason."

I do not own these characters or Jason's adventure in London. A single review would both excite and encourage me.