FLASHBACK. 1997. Three Years After David Clarke's Imprisonment:

He waits in the prison, touches the cord on his end of the phone as he waits behind the glass that's scuffed from use. Everything in this prison needs a touch up, but he's used to shit like that. It was the same at MIT, desks scuffed, penises doodled over things, gum stuck to the bottom of seats.

He watches prison guard after prison guard go by in their dark blue gear, holding their black batons that could do some real damage. It's high security, some have guns, some have Tasers, but all he really cares about is not to piss them off. They think he's trouble since he's going through his grunge phase, all flannel and Kurt Cobain T-shirts honoring the late musician's life and he had that hair that probably needed a good washing. He's seen David Clarke multiple times this month and he trusts him more than he trusts his own family. He never knew his father but his mother was an alcoholic. She wasn't good to him so he was quick to trust David Clarke who treated him like a son. David Clarke had money, he didn't, and he was there to once again pitch his ideas for his computer programs that he wanted to turn into an empire.

He spots David Clarke come down the hallway, being followed by two bulky guards. He runs a hand through his hair that is a bit shaggy and tangled. He sits up as David Clarke sits down and picks up the phone.

Nolan wants to touch the glass, to try to get close to David Clarke once more. He never had the chance to properly thank him with a hug. Nolan always liked physical contact; he needed it especially since he saw David as a father figure. The man believed in him and that was more he could say for any other person in his family. He went to David Clarke for help, for money and promised in return to protect his little girl, Amanda Clarke.

"Nolan," David Clarke husks, his voice sounding battered.

"What happened?" Nolan asks, a worried sound shooting through his own voice.

David just shakes his head. "Nothing you need to hear about Nolan. How's Amanda?" he asks.

Nolan's eyes focus into his lap. "She's alright. She was moved to a new foster family."

David nods, eyes transfixed on the young man before him. "Nolan, god if you were older, more mature I would ask you to raise her."

Nolan shifts in his seat, almost squirming, eyes looking hurt. "I am mature."

David shakes his head. "I just mean, I couldn't ask you to do that."

The chair Nolan is sitting on, all plastic and probably from the seventies scrapes against the linoleum floor tiles. "I would...If it was possible, if I could find a way, I would David."

"I know you would Ross," David says, using Nolan's last name at some times because he liked the way it rolled off his tongue. It showed the man that they were friends, that he trusted him.

Nolan takes a breath and relaxes. "Did you think about my offer, about my...my pitch I mean."

David nods. "The business ideas?" he asks as he clutches the phone a bit tighter to his ear.

Nolan does the same, "Yeah, about my plans for Nolcorp. Are you in?"

The older man with the curly hair in need of a haircut and wash, same as Nolan's moves forward as if he is inspecting the twenty-something before him. "Nolan...you made a promise to me... to watch over Amanda. You're doing a good job."

Nolan nods enthusiastically. "My soul purpose is your daughter David."

David's eyes almost well up, as if he's going to cry and melt into a puddle onto the floor. "Then my soul purpose is your business Nolan. Consider it paid for."

Nolan can feel his lip quiver, no one has cared for him this much in his life ever before. "Thank you David."

Rising to his feet, David keeps the phone in his hand, to his ear. "It's been a pleasure Nolan. As always."

Nolan rises and they look into each other's eyes, a mutual understanding. "Goodbye David."


PRESENT DAY

Being on an airplane for copious amounts of time was the kind of thing that made Emily Thorne want to blow her brains out. Everybody talked too much when she just wanted a bit of quiet and everybody was too silent when she needed something to listen to. Babies cried, middle aged couples fought and she knew when the woman in the red dress got up a few calculated seconds after a man in a suit that they weren't going to be using the bathroom. She had traveled a lot in her lifetime, mostly between The Hamptons, Japan, Los Angeles and Virginia but she had been all over the world for CIA missions.

Now here she was in The Hamptons at the house she grew up in, her infinity box placed in her lap. Emily sat on the wood floor, a few boards cranked up where she hid her box, the one her father had Nolan give her before he died. That box and the physical being of Nolan Ross were her main connections to her father and maybe that was why she valued them so much only she'd never actually say it to Nolan's face. Her father, David Clarke had had the box in his prison cell with him all those years. He had kept it stocked with him in his New York Prison over at Riker's Island and the same with the Nagano Prison in Tokyo. Inside the box were pictures of people that had wronged her father, people she had since gotten her revenge upon the past summer. Inside the box was a little Japanese fan, a jade dragon and files and tapes she had put there since the box became her property when she was 18 years old. The little wooden container was packed to the brim and she would soon need a bigger one, the wood only able to keep so many secrets inside.

Nolan sat at his desk that was a little bit like a cubicle. He, as a techie was placed in the back with the other officers. Some of them had their Star Trek and video game memorabilia, but all he had was just his Shamu-Cam, a little whale shaped camera he had deemed a good friend when he couldn't find many others. He considered David Clarke a friend but he was gone, Emily was a friend but he didn't know if the feeling was mutual and Ashley was a friend but only after the incident with Tyler.

Ashley spotted Nolan Ross sulking in his office space and slipped him a yellow post it note that said (HI) before she spoke. "You know, I never liked you much before."

"Before Tyler?" Nolan asked as he fingered the post it note, letting it bend and morph in his hand.

Ashley nodded, bangs framing her face "Yeah, thought you were bloody annoying. I mean, I haven't been here all that long but I guess you gave me the wrong impression."

"And now I give you the right one?" he asked as he ripped the paper in half between the H and the I.

"When we were alone in the room with Agent Barrol, I was bloody scared. At first I was scared of Tyler, he had a gun. Well you know, you were there, he had a knife Nolan..."

"That he cut me with, yes." Nolan said, as he touched his arm where Tyler Barrol had cut him open.

Ashley swayed her hips a bit, wiggled into the chair next to him like she was trying to get comfortable, get everything just right. Nolan saw her irritability with her own body "Everything can't be perfect here Goldilocks."

Ashley laughed; she was the complete opposite of Goldilocks. "I'm fine Nolan, thank you."

"You're not fine; you didn't come to sit down with me because you're fine." Nolan said as he brushed his hair with his fingers and looked over some work he had to get done before the day was over.

"Maybe I want a friend," she murmured.

Nolan smirked, side swept hair now parted wrong. "I pay people to be my friend. I don't think you want me as one."

"Like you paid Jack, Emily's friend in The Hamptons last summer?"

Nolan scoffed, his head shaking "Did everyone find out about that?"

Ashley Davenport snorted. "Just me. Emily told me. She tells me very little but I remembered that because I thought it was all very sad Nolan."

"You mean pathetic." he barked out before looking away "I don't need your sympathy friendship."

"I didn't say that, it's all just very, I don't know, blue," the petite woman said.

"Do you want to be my friend Ash? Just because I'm a three on the Kinsey scale doesn't mean I'm interested in going shopping and gossip."

Ashley crossed her arms. "Well, I don't know about that. You're very well dressed" she proclaimed.

Nolan nodded as he looked down at his attire, popped collars, some bright colors, argyle socks. "So you want me to come watch you try on clothes and hold your bags?"

Ashley shrugged; eyes fixed on him. "I wouldn't mind it."

Nolan smiled an actual genuine smile before he bit his lower lip. "Are you sure you want me to come and not Emily or Victoria or Lydia even?"

Ashley sighed. "Lydia was blacklisted from the agency. I heard Victoria even put a burn notice out on her."

Nolan's eyes widened and he eased forward in his seat, ass hanging off the side, a bit discombobulated. "Seriously?"

Ashley nodded. "I've been here a lot less than you yet I know about this. How weird."

"Maybe I don't pay attention enough," Nolan said.

A smile appeared on Ashley's face. "Clearly. Emily's a great agent but she's not very good at "Hanging out". When we're together she mostly only talk about business, weapons training, manuals, reports, all that."

Nolan nodded, hands clasped together. "She does love guns."

Ashley laughed. "I saw you in weapons training, you're horrible!"

Nolan chuckled. "I'm not good with weapons but I happen to be very good with my fingers."

"Oh my god!" Ashley said as she brought her hand to her mouth.

"I mean with computers," he said, trying to defend himself.

Ashley stood up, gaining composure. "Sure you meant that..."

Nolan leaned back in his desk chair which he had custom built for comfort. "Do you know where Emily is, I haven't seen her in two days."

Ashley cocked her head, pretending to shake. "Ooo two whole days, what ever would she do without you?"

Nolan stood now, feet planted firmly on the ground. "I need to know where she is. Do you know Ashley?"

Ashley didn't answer.

"Agent Davenport, answer the question." Nolan barked, his instinct for being the protector overpowering his manners.

"She went to The Hamptons, well, I think," Ashley stated. You could practically hear and see the gears grinding in her brain. "She seemed like things were on her mind. She seemed to need her favorite vacation spot."

Pen in hand Nolan cracked his back before setting his eyes on the second floor where he could see the offices of Victoria and Conrad Grayson. "Back to the beginning."