Scene 7 - Tom Foss

It was 0500 in the morning, Tom Foss was still sitting in his pick-up, watching over Kyle and Amanda's houses tirelessly.

He was a seasoned warrior, served as a Green Beret before joining delta command. By the time he left the service, he had participated on all kinds of missions, most of them so classified they were not on any record. Over the years, he had lost comrades, friends, brothers one by one as his soul was slowly chipped away. There would have been nothing left when his family died if it wasn't for Adam.

He had known Adam since high school, he was nowhere near as bright as Adam, but somehow they became friends anyway, Adam had this way to connecting with everyone. He knew then one day Adam would change the world, for the better. After high school, he enlisted when Adam started college. After years of serving his country, Foss left the army and joined private security to spend more time with his family, however, he had developed a drinking habit from all that he had endured and all that he had lost.

When Foss woke up in the hospital after the crush, he found out his family had died, he had killed them, because he was drunk. There was nothing left in the world for him, so he went on to the roof of the hospital, ready to take that one last leap, he jumped. But somehow he fell backward, some invisible force pulled him back. He looked up to see his old friend, who he hadn't seen for more than a decade. He offered him a job, a purpose, a way for him to repent for his sins.

For years, he had been protecting Adam, watching over the boy. Every morning when he woke up, he would look at the picture of his wife and daughter, he would contemplate eating a bullet, but he always decides not to. Because Adam needed him, and the boy needed him. They will change the world, they will make this world a better place; they are worth it for him, for him to risk his life, and for him to live on suffering in pain.

Now Adam had died, all that left is the boy, just over a year since he was born, he already proved himself multiple times that he is worth it. He had failed Adam, he will not fail the boy. So yes, he would do everything the boy asks of him, protect everyone the boy cares about. Not sleeping for a night was nothing new to him.

But there was someone new, the girl. The girl he had nearly killed to save the boy, the girl he had worried might be the downfall of the boy. However, against all odds, they have saved each other, he had ever since regretting not saving the girl while he had the chance.

Day by day, he could see how much closer the boy had become with the girl, and how powerful a team they could be together. And he knew if anything were to happen to the girl, he knew exactly how much the boy will miss the girl, just like he knew how much Adam was mourning over the loss of Sarah, despite he never met the woman, he wished he could have protected her. Now he had two reasons to protect the girl, to make up for not saving her in the first place, and knowing she will be worth it for him too.

As experienced as he was, Foss knew he couldn't protect both Kyle and Jessi on his own, especially with the new threat level. As much as he didn't want to admit, he needed help. Despite still knowing a few brothers-in-arms back in the service, this kind of secret cannot be entrusted to anyone new, so reluctantly, he pulled out his cell phone, and called Declan, the one person who had proven to be loyal so far knowing all the secrets.

"It's 5 in the morning, Foss!" A grumpy sleepy voice answer the phone.

"The Trager's might be in danger, I need you." Foss got right down to business, not appreciating Declan's tone. What happened next surprised him though.

"Be there in 20." A surprisingly sharp answer came back, sounded nothing like the grumpy voice not 5 seconds ago. Foss was rather pleased with the response.

Sure enough, 20 minutes later, he saw Declan driving up in his truck. Foss smiled to himself at this, he knew now that despite his lack of training, he can count on him when it comes to Jessi and Kyle.

Declan got in quickly and straight to the business, stunning Foss. "What's going on? What do you need me for?"

Foss answered, "I don't know the details, Cassidy attacked Kyle last night, Kyle lost control and fought back, he got away. I am afraid things might escalate, so I need to track down Cassidy. But I can't protect Kyle, Jessi and his family and the Bloom girl and track down Cassidy at the same time."

Declan grasped the seriousness of the situation, he already knew about Jessi's mother, so he know how dangerous Cassidy can be. He was surprised by the news that Kyle fought someone, but he knew this wasn't the right time to ask. So he decided to help Foss however he can, including not making small talk. "What do you need me to do, Foss?" He asked.

Foss was again surprised at the maturity Declan was displaying, answered, "First, here is a burner phone with my number programmed into it, from now on, contact me and only me using that phone." Declan nodded taking the phone, Foss continued pointing at the laptop on the backseat, "I have already got access to records of all hospitals nearby, don't ask me how. I want you to check if you can find any trace of Cassidy on there." Declan got right on to it.

Foss observed him for a minute, satisfied he was doing a good job, added, "looks like you know what you are doing, try to get it done before 7, we will go talk to Kyle then to decide what's our next move."

Declan nodded and carried on without a word.