.

Rhett nods to the agents surrounding him and takes them to Link's house.

He politely asked them to wait before he went upstairs and sat before Christy's closet.

He nocks gently on the door: "Link, are you in there?"

Link hums his response while Rhett lets out a sigh of relief: "Can I join you?"

He hears Link's weak wobbly voice: "There are cameras everywhere.."

Rhett looks around, fully understanding Link's sudden paranoia: "I'll shut the door behind me. I promise no one will see."

Link hums and Rhett cracks the door open and slides in, trying his best to fit his giant body in the cramped closet.

Link doesn't seem to take much space and Rhett takes a good look at him through the dim closet light: "Why are we sitting here, Link?"

Link's lips wobble as he looks at Rhett with the most earth shattering broken look: "I have nowhere else to go.."

Rhett reaches over to touch Link but Link shakes his head so he takes his hand back: "I'm here. I got you."

Link rubs his eyes with his shaky hands: "I'm so tired, Rhett. I can't do this.."

Rhett whispers back: "Do what?"

Link lets out a sob and looks away: "I know I'm not a good person but this is too much. I'm at my limit. I just.. I don't want to be here. I just want to disappear. I lead a meaningless life and I will die miserable and alone."

Rhett reaches over and grabs one of Link's shaky hands: "You are not alone."

Link tries to remove Rhett's hand while sobbing: "Don't touch me. Don't.."

Rhett leans closer, not letting go: "Why?"

Link rubs his tears away and says: "Don't.. I feel so disgusting and stupid.. Just take the kids and go. Let me rot in here in peace."

Rhett pulls the smaller man by the arm until he is almost in his lap and puts his arms around him: "Listen to me because I will only say this once: If you die, I die. I can live without my wife, my dog and my kids. But we've been together for so long, your soul is part of my soul. If you leave this earth, you better believe I will not stay here without you one second."

Link squirms in his arms, pretty alarmed with Rhett's bold declaration: "That's not funny, Rhett!"

Rhett tightens his hold on the skinny man to stop him from struggling: "I'm not joking."

Link lets out a sob: "I'm sick. You can't possibly make that kind of stupid comment to a dead man walking."

Rhett groans: "You're not going to die from this. Not if I have a say."

Link leans on Rhett's warm chest, giving up on fighting his giant friend: "I don't want you to die.."

Rhett lets out a chuckle: "I won't die if you don't die. It's that simple."

They stay in silence for a while until they start hearing commotion brewing outside.

Link sighs: "I'm so embarrassed."

Rhett: "Why? We've done stupider things on our show than what the bastard showed. He actually made you look like a saint."

Link felt fresh tears trickle down his face and his breath stutter: "I'm so stupid.. I thought people liked me.. I thought our crew liked me.. I thought I was a good boss to them.. they hate me, Rhett. How am I supposed to look any of them in the eye ever again?"

The noises coming from outside intensified and Rhett tightens his hold on his friend: "Fuck those haters and fuck the crew. I'll fire them all tomorrow. Every single one of those freaks will learn how to respect you or leave."

Link wipes more tears angrily: "You can't force people to like me. If that many people think I'm an asshole, then I'm the problem."

Rhett pats Link's shoulder: "You are not the problem."

Link huffs a laugh: "You got immune to my imperfections. Your opinion is biased."

Rhett: "If you're an asshole then I'm the devil. If the worst human being in the world thinks you're an angel, who are we to disagree."

Link whispers: "Stupid Eponym.. Dumb ass name.."

Rhett leans back to look at his friend's face: "Does that make you feel better?"

Link sighs loudly: "No."

They hear a soft knock coming from the closet door: "Mr. Neal, I'm special Agent Gabriella Garret from the FBI. My friends call me Gabby. May I call you 'Link'?"

Link sits up in alarm and looks fearfully at Rhett. Rhett sighs in announce: "What do you need Agent Gabby?"

Gabby: "May I open the door please?"

Link's lips wobble once again as he shakes his head.

Rhett responses: "There is barely enough room for two tall ass men in here. I don't think we can fit any more."

Gabby: "I understand. Link, I know you're feeling like the world is closing in on you and that you need to hide but we're here to help, not add to your problems.

I took the initiative of scanning the whole house and removing all the hidden cameras and recording devices. We contained the media storm outside the door and we're ready to move you to a secure location if you wish.

I also contacted your primary physician. She is downstairs waiting to check you over per our recommendation.

I have two teams of FBI agents and Homeland Security on the premises, so please be reassured.. you are not alone in this."

Link's eyes were so wide and he whispered to Rhett: "Why are they here?"

Rhett talks loud enough for Gabby to hear: "Link wants to know why are you guys doing all this?"

Gabby: "Eponym is on our top 10 most wanted criminals and it seems he/she has taken a shine to you, Link. For the first time ever, Eponym promises a follow up after the fact. We just want to make sure that you're safe and this obsession is not malicious in nature."

Link shakes his head as more tears roll down his cheeks: "The kids?"

Rhett: "What about our kids?"

Gabby: "They are secure at Mr. McLaughlin's house. I have agents surrounding the area and the house was clean."

Link whispers to Rhett: "What do we do now?"

Rhett felt his back cramp and winces: "How about we get out and meet this lovely agent? We need friends who can help at this point."

Link grabs Rhett's arm: "I'm not.. I'm not ready."

Rhett smiles sadly at him: "We got this. Trust me."

Link looks into Rhett's eyes for a few seconds then swallows hard and nods.

Rhett slowly opens the door to reveal an African American woman with a strong build and a gentle smile: "Hello Link. I'm honored to meet you."

Link takes one glimpse of her then looks at Rhett. Rhett smiles: "She's a good person. We can trust her."

Link whispers to her: "I'm sorry you got roped into this. I'm sure you had better things to do."

Gabby shakes her head, extending her hand for him to take: "I have no where better to be."

She helped Link sit on the stripped bed and secured a blanket for the shivering man. Rhett sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder, thighs touching.

It seems to calm the small man down so he didn't move.

His resident hematologist showed up and did her examination in silence. Rhett hasn't seen the central venous catheter before.. It looked painful but the doctor assured him that it's not.

The taller man had so many questions but it didn't seem like the right time to interrogate the lady. He will get his answers later.

The doctor kneels before Link and puts her hand on his knee: "Link, your vitals are all over the place. I don't want to drag you to the hospital with the shit storm happening outside but I need you to calm down."

Link rubs his face with shaky hands: "Someone just posted my dirty laundry on every network in the world and you want me to calm down? I'm barely holding it together.."

She nods sadly at him: "I know.. I know.. but you're sick, Link. You're on sensitive medications and this kind of stress is not good for you. Do you mind if I give you a mild sedative for now?"

Link sighs loudly: "I need to face my kids. They must be freaking out right now."

The doctor, Dr. Sandy Bright, rubs the knee she was still holding to comfort Link: "Once you calm down and have a good nap, things will get better. I'm sure your kids can wait for a few hours as long as they know their dad is safe."

Link looks at Rhett. The taller man nods at him and the doctor receives Link's approval. She loads a shot of something clear and administers it to his port and a few minutes later, Link was horizontal and peacefully sleeping.

Rhett sat next to him in bed and whispered to the doctor who was monitoring Link's vitals: "Tell me about his illness."

Sandy knew that Rhett was his medical emergency contact and was kinda shocked that he didn't know: "It's a rare type of blood disease that affects the production of platelets and red blood cells. The damaged cells crowd the bloodstream and force out the good ones causing prolonged bleedings and other major problems in the body. The plan is to target the bad stem cells creating the bad RBCs and platelets and destroy them, making more space for the good stem cells to grow."

She gently smoothes the blankets on Link's shivering body: "He came in early so we chose to treat it with mild medication for a long period of time. He didn't want to be hospitalized for the more intensive treatment."

Rhett: "Was that a better option?"

Sandy: "Not for him. He is underweight and lacks the health necessary to combat the side effects of the stronger drugs. This was the more comfortable course of action for his situation."

Rhett: "Tell me more about the treatment.."

They talked for an hour then the doctor left.

Gabby entered the room after that and found Rhett sitting at the bed, next to his friend.

She whispers: "We found something.."

She hands a letter to Rhett with "To my Angel, Charles" on it.

Rhett takes it: "What's this?"

Gabby purses her lips: "A letter from Eponym to Link. It was sent by mail five days ago. Return address is fake and it was dropped in a location without surveillance."

Rhett: "Did you read it?"

Gabby nods: "We had to open it for security reasons and to swap it for evidence."

Rhett examines it: "Should Link read this?"

Gabby didn't look happy but she nods anyways.

Links stirs after five hours of sleep and blinks his eyes open to see Rhett sitting next to him, staring intensely at his phone.

He whispers: "You're still here.."

Rhett whips his head to look at Link and smiles at the innocent sleeping face of his friend: "I promised to stay, didn't I?"

Link sighs and closes his eyes.

It was warm, he felt relaxed and he didn't want this calm feeling to end.

Rhett stares angrily at the letter in his hands and whispers: "Link, Eponym sent you a letter."

Link didn't skip a beat when he answered: "Burn it."

Rhett looks at his sleepy friend: "We have to read it."

Link opens his eyes to glare at Rhett: "I'm at an all time low, Rhett. The only thing holding me together is our kids and your stupid ultimatum. What else would that jackass want from me?"

Rhett hands him the letter and cocks an eyebrow up: "Read it and find out."

Link groans but sits up anyways.

He takes the letter and stares at it for a few seconds: "I've never hated my first name more than I do right now."

He angrily opens the envelope and scoots closer to Rhett so he can read the letter with him.

"My Angle,

I hope my report today did not offend you.

I have nothing but admiration for your natural kindness and respect for your fellow humans.

Even though the world seems dark and evil, following you for 10 months shined a light on my dimmed views.

I find you fascinating.

I've watched every episode, every content, every recording ever made with you in it.

I can safely say that I know you very well and I was not just fronting by declaring guardianship over you.

You are not perfect and you're not shy about showing just that; your imperfection is the ultimate perfection.

Our Angel,

Be at peace and recover safely.

I will be watching over you, always.

Your guardian,

Eponym."

Link stares at the letter for a few seconds then looks at Rhett with a blank stare: "He's not done?"

Rhett purses his lips: "The freak is obsessed with you."

Link throws the letter on the floor: "He'll get bored after a while. I'm not as special as he thinks I am."

He gets up slowly and goes to the restroom.

Rhett leans over the bed to pick up the letter to read it again: 'We wouldn't be best friends for 35 years if you were not special, Link.'

He sighs loudly, predicting a long road filled with more weirdness in their future.

.