Rufus opened the door quietly, seeing Ted exactly as he had left him: staring blankly at an archival photo of himself and Bill, smiling. When Rufus's highly polished shoes clicked on the tile, Ted spun around. In response to the silent question in Ted's eyes, Rufus shook his head, slowly, sadly. Ted's shoulders slumped and his normally cheerful face darkened.
"Why don't we go get some hot dogs and Pepsi?" Rufus suggested. Ted looked like he needed some air.
"Naw. Thanks anyway, dude. I'm not hungry." Rufus looked at him with sympathy.
"I'll leave you alone, then."
Ted remained standing until he heard the door click quietly shut. He then slumped against the wall, leaning his head wearily against it. What am I gonna do? Bill's counting on me, but I'm not the smart one. Bill is. How in the world am I gonna save him? Ted pulled his jacket tighter against his shoulders, and silently, a tear rolled down his cheek, falling on the forgotten picture.
Rufus walked over to the computer terminal at his work station. He sent a note to the person he felt most likely took his family. Anxiously, he waited. He stopped in the middle of a pace when Ted walked in, carrying a mug of coffee.
"Here dude. You look like you need it." he said, handing the coffee cup to Rufus. "Whatcha doing?"
"Trying to get my family back." Rufus sighed, then told Ted exactly what he had written, finishing with "and we can't get Bill back until they're safe and sound. The kidnappers are monitoring all booth activity and if we go anywhere, they'll hurt them."
Ted looked at his worn-out sneakers for a minute. He jammed his fists in his pockets and whispered, "Then don't do anything. I couldn't stand you losing anyone, even if it means not getting Bill back- " His words cut off with a silent sob.
Rufus put a comforting hand on his shoulder and said "Ya know dude, that's very heroic."
Heroic, no. I just don't have any other choice. I mean, what else am I supposed to do? Let Rufus's family die? No way!
Ted stood at the back of the room, watching with a depressed smile at the reunion between Rufus and his family. He got tired of standing (he'd been doing it for hours, anyway) and sat down, his elbows on his knees, head in hands.
"C'mon, dude. We got someone to find." Ted looked up to see Rufus holding his hand toward him. Ted took it and Rufus helped him to his feet.
"What about your family?" Ted asked, sincerely.
"They'll be fine. There's still someone I care about who's in trouble."