"Hey pal, what are you doing home?" Phillip asked his son as he got out of the car.

"School let out early," Henry replied.

"Nice." Phillip smiled at the boy, "up for a hockey game?" he asked, walking towards the house.

"Ok, but be careful going in there, mom's being weird."

"Oh, so is that where you get it from?" Phillip laughed as Henry stuck out his tongue.

As Phillip entered the house, he felt his instincts scream. Something was wrong. His legs raced towards the sounds of a struggle.

Elizabeth's lungs strived desperately for air, but the tight grip on her throat prevented her from taking a breath. Her instincts and training betrayed her as her consciousness began to fade. Then, suddenly, the grip on her throat disappeared. She gasped as air refilled her lungs. As her senses returned, she saw Phillip straddling Irina, holding her face down on the floor.

Phillip's right hand clasped Irina's wrists holding them behind her back, his left hand pressing her into the floor, but his eyes stayed locked on Elizabeth. She could barely comprehend his words as he yelled her name, "Elizabeth! Elizabeth, get up!"

As Elizabeth came to, adrenaline pumped through her veins. She jumped up from the floor, rushing to grab the gun that Irina had dropped earlier. Her shaking hands gripped the pistol, aiming it towards Irina and Phillip.

Phillip violently lifted Irina from the floor. He pulled her out of the kitchen and opened the door to the garage, dragging her down the short flight of steps. Elizabeth followed closely behind. Gun still drawn, she closed the door behind her.

"Mischa, please." Irina pleaded, appealing to the man she once loved.

Phillip's head spun as he tried to grasp the situation. He was brought back to reality when he heard the front door open and his son's voice call from upstairs "Dad! I thought you were coming outside." Phillip let go of his grip on Irina, looked at Elizabeth, bruises already appearing on her face and throat.

"Don't move," Phillip said sternly, but quietly, concerned now only for his son learning the truth about his parents. He opened the garage door quickly shutting it behind him. He saw Henry standing at the front door, apparently unaware of what had just taken place. "I'm sorry, but me and your mom have to take care of some things. How about you go for a bike ride?" Phillip said as calmly as he could.

"Dad… what's wrong?" Henry asked.

"Everything's fine. Just stay outside, ok buddy?" Phillip responded.

"Ok," Henry shrugged, his trust in his father far outweighing his sense that something was wrong. As the door shut behind him, Phillip ran back into the garage. Elizabeth was still standing in front of Irina, gun drawn. She glanced at Phillip as he re-entered, "Henry?"

"He's fine. I don't think he heard anything." Phillip answered as he walked towards Irina.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Irina was unable to finish before Phillip threw her against the wall, holding her there by her throat.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Irina?"

"Please, Mischa, you're scaring me."

"Scaring you?! I come home to find you in my house, strangling my wife, calling me the name of someone who doesn't exist. You think I give a shit if I'm scaring you? Tell me why you're here before I snap your neck."

Irina began to shake as she looked into his eyes, searching for a glimmer of the gentle man she once knew. Her eyes filled with tears as she pleaded, "Please. I didn't know where else to go. I need your help, they're looking for me."

"Who's looking for you?" Elizabeth interjected before Phillip could respond. Irina did not acknowledge the question, her eyes locked on Phillip's. Elizabeth continued, "If I were you, I'd acknowledge who has the upper-hand right now and start talking before I use your brain to paint that wall," she then turned her attention to Phillip, "Or maybe you would like to explain what the hell is going on here?"

Irina spoke, "After the mission in New York, I didn't report back to the Center. I tried to run, tried to start a new life. But now they are looking for me. They are looking for me, they are going to find me, and then… then they are going to kill me."

Phillip released his grip from Irina, shaking his head, trying to comprehend the situation.

"So, you defected?" Elizabeth asked, "A traitor."

"No." Irina responded "Not a traitor. I didn't tell anybody anything. I just… didn't want to be a part of it anymore." Irina took a deep breath, looking at Elizabeth with her arms outstretched, pistol still aimed, "Can you please put the gun down?" she asked.

"Not a fucking chance." Elizabeth answered.

Phillip looked at her, "Elizabeth, put the gun down."

"Are you joking? No. I'm going to put a bullet through her head," she replied, steadying her shot.

"Just do it," he demanded, "… Please."

Elizabeth looked at Phillip in disbelief. "Fine. Feel free to fill me in on whatever the hell is going on here whenever it suits you, Mischa." She turned to glare at Irina, "As for you, come near me and my son again, so help me, you will die a slow and painful death… and I will enjoy it." Elizabeth placed the gun into the waistband of her jeans, placing her shirt over it, and stormed out of the garage, slamming the door behind her.

"Please, Mischa. If they catch me, they are going to kill me. You know that. I can escape them, but not without your help." Irina pleaded.

"Why me?"

"You are the only one I can trust," Irina answered, tears forming in her eyes, "I have a plan, I just need your help. I'm so sorry for disturbing your family. It will never happen again. Just… Please help me."

Phillip looked into Irina's eyes, seeing something in them that he didn't recognize. He took her hands in his as he nodded, "I'll help you, Irina."