On the walk out of the door of the pub, Eliot offers to drive the first leg. From the look of Vance, Eliot knows that Vance has likely been up for at least a day if not days. Vance reluctantly relinquishes control of his beloved truck to Eliot's care dropping the keys into his hand on the approach. Eliot has to smile, though the reason for this trip is not pleasant, the memories of road trips with Vance in their Delta days are happy memories worthy of a trip down the lane. Vance settles into his ritual of instructing Eliot on how to operate his chariot. Bessie comes with instructions and nuances for operational use.
As the pair head for the open road, Eliot knows this is going to be a long ass ride with a little too much time for both him and Vance to spend in their heads. Eliot turns on the music as Vance succumbs to call of the sandman. Eliot is happy that he does not have the conversations that he knows are coming. He has the next 42 hours and 2800 miles to think on this.
Sophie turns around to find Hardison reading her mind as the screens begin to come to life. "So I assume you know why, Vance was here, Hardison?" Sophie's voice cannot mask her concern. "Actually, Sophie, unless you have been living under a rock... you know why he was here too." Hardison begins to pull up what he had previously shown to Eliot. The image that fills the main screen is haunting and familiar to all. The embassy burning. The image has been on heavy rotation on every news source on the planet. The carnage, the scandal, it is all too familiar. Hardison brings up what the mass media did not broadcast. Sophie's face contorts with the same expressions of horror as had previously manifested on Eliot's features. Hardison realizes that Parker cannot even bring herself to look at the screen as the security footage from the embassy camera's plays on a loop. The wall of screens only makes it more life like and a little too real.
Nate has now arrived and is curious as to why the team is transfixed by the images of the embassy. He can see the affect on Sophie and walks to the center of the room to offer comfort. The images are disturbing and graphic from the embassy security feeds. Sophie stands with one hand raised to her face in astonishment to the images. Nate knows all too well this is a hack of the State Department and not CNN or MSNBC. Nate looks over his shoulder towards Hardison. All Sophie can offer Nate on his approach is "Vance was here for Eliot." Nate can surmise that since Eliot is not with them that he had left with Vance since Eliot's car is still in the lot.
Nate has seen Vance's starring role in this film noir. He has no illusions as to what this may mean for Vance's career. Nate also knows that the government is needs a fall guy that is shaping up to be Eliot's friend. Vance is no longer protected by the military. After his retirement, Vance became a contractor for the government with a soldier's honor but a civilian's job. Nate wraps his arm around Sophie as an offering of comfort and chivalry. "So Hardison, why are we watching Rome burn?" Hardison is not quite sure how to react to Nate's summation. "Well Vance was here for Eliot." Is the only explanation that Hardison can muster under the circumstances.
Nate begins his customary pacing about the room. "Four of the ten men died along with the Ambassador and five others who were likely CIA." Nate begins a very somber tale. "Because politics got in the way of survival in a dangerous place." Nate pauses with thoughts and a plan coming together in his head. Sophie, Haridson and Parker remain silent until Parker chooses to speak up. "I watched this over and over, they are blaming Vance... and his team. That is just wrong. Just wrong, they were not given a choice. It came down to survival. You don't make a choice between life and death political. It was self preservation and defense. We can't let him take the fall... screw those Senators." Parker joins the mantra of pacing in sync with Nate. All are quite stunned that Parker even knows what this is about. Nate has actually stopped in his tracks watching Parker as she thinks and speaks flaying her arms about with the passion of an Italian opera singer mid aria.
Sophie is astounded that Parker had passion in an opinion. Normally, she could not see outside herself, yet here is Parker with a view on world politics. Nate gets a proud father look about his face as he asks Hardison to book the tickets to DC. They will meet Eliot there. Hardison begins to alter the transmission to less provocative material. They have had enough carnage for today.