A/N: Wow, thanks for all the reviews! You are so great! This chapter is quite short, but I hope it doesn't disappoint you…

Disclaimer: I don't own Mission: Impossible.

Chapter 3

The silence in the room was unbearable, but neither agent Carter nor agent Hunt knew what to say. Agent Brandt was still sleeping peacefully, oblivious to all the madness that was going on around him. Jane was still holding the note in her hand. She had already re-read it twice but her brain still refused to process it. Ethan was seemingly in the same state, but it was difficult to tell what was in his mind. Jane started to read the note once again, as if believing that it was some kind of a puzzle game and she would figure it out if she read it enough times.

"Guys,

I am very sorry for leaving you like this, but it just can't go on. I know you won't understand but don't be angry at me. Everything has just become too complicated, and I got tired of hiding it behind the smiles and silly jokes. I am ill, and it will only get worse. I wanted to wait until the end of the mission but it became too much to handle. I can't deal with this anymore, and I don't want you to see it. I'm afraid there is only one way to end this. Thank you for being with me all this time. You were like a family to me, and it really hurts to upset you. I am sorry, and goodbye.

Love,

Benji.

P.S. Take care of Brandt and make sure he'll get back to normal soon. I'd be upset if he gave up on the plans he had told me about".

Carter finished reading and kept staring at the note without blinking, until all the lines started mixing together in front of her eyes.

"What is this?" she finally forced. Her voice was reduced to whisper, not only because she didn't want to disturb the sleeping agent, but also because of the lump in her throat.

Ethan shrugged, unwilling and unable to state the painfully obvious.

"Guess this is the explanation to your recent conversation," he finally replied, standing up and walking towards the window.

"But how come we didn't notice anything?" tears were sliding down Jane's cheeks.

"We all have our secrets," Ethan sighed, glancing at the sleeping analyst, wishing to be in his place right now.

"What are we going to do?" it was the question Ethan Hunt didn't know the answer to. There was another heavy silence, which ended when Brandt started to stir and opened his eyes.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

That was lame, Benji thought for like a hundredth time, as his taxi was on its way to the hotel. It's just one note and you can't write it. They should add a course of writing suicide notes to the training.

Benji shook his head, forcing himself to face the reality, no matter how surreal it looked. Thinking about this virus thing gave him a headache, as he still wasn't sure whether to believe it or not. He started wondering what exactly the favor Henderson wanted from him was. It was unlikely Henderson was staying at the same hotel, after two people had been killed there. He would soon find that out, anyway.

He thought back to his actions. There was one thing about the whole situation he could be proud of. At least something was done right. Although it didn't depend entirely on him. Benji then tried to imagine his teammates' reaction. It must have been devastating. He felt sorry about it, he really did. He could have probably gone with another excuse but this one just popped into his mind, and there wasn't enough time to think any more. He didn't even get to say goodbye properly. His scene with Jane was hardly a goodbye he would have liked to say. He couldn't remember if he had talked to Ethan at the hospital at all. And Brandt… He wished he could have stayed there for just a bit, just to make sure of William's recovery. Hopefully, the note will tell them enough. Because, Benji's eyes widened in realization, there was practically no lie in that note. And his mission was pretty much a suicide one.