(Establishing Shot – Middleton General Hospital. SYD walks in DES' room)
SYD: AUNT JESSIE? What happened?
JESSIE: DES was stabbed in the neck.
SYD: By who?
JESSIE: I...don't know...
SYD: Oh....
JESSIE: ...(trying to make conversation) How was Thailand?
SYD: (shrugs, hiccups, covers her mouth. The cupcake wrapper is intact in her hand)
JESSIE: (staring) You'll excuse me if I don't ask.
SYD: (nods)
JESSIE: So, how was it?
SYD: Well, I swallowed a cupcake wrapper, beat up a punching bag, and, oh yeah, found out DEMENTOR'S trying to get me killed so he won't have to worry about anyone protecting you.
JESSIE: SYD, whatever you do, stay out of it. You shouldn't've taken that call.
SYD: Why?!
JESSIE: It was probably a trap.
SYD: You're being paranoid!
JESSIE: I'm just worried about you, SYD. Is that really so wrong?
SYD: Just leave. Me. Alone.
(SYD walks off)
JESSIE: (stares)
(Later. SYD is working out in the GJ gym, lifting weights with one hand. SAM punches a punching bag (like the one seen earlier) nearby.)
SYD: (with her spare hand resting under her head) And she just totally lost it, SAM.
SAM: She probably just wants to make sure you're safe. (beat) How heavy is that dumbbell?
SYD: 250 pounds, why?
SAM: And you're liftin' it with one hand?!
SYD: I'm athletic.
SAM: SYD. You spend your entire day eating chips and Ding Dongs. In no way, shape, or form are you athletic.
SYD: Everyone's a critic.
SAM: Got that right!
SYD: I hate you.
SAM: You hate all blondes, remember?
SYD: Oh yeah...
SAM: Which I never understood. Although in the case of your aunt, yeah, I can definitely see why you hate her.
(SYD balances the dumbbell on the bottoms of her feet)
SAM: I still wanna know how you did that.
SYD: OK, fine, FBI training. Happy now, Ms. 'Global Justice Top Agent'?
SAM: Anyway, your aunt's right. You should be careful.
SYD: Arh...You sound just like her, SAM.
SAM: No I don't. One, my voice is a lot quieter. Two, I don't sound like a thirty-year-old woman.
SYD: Ya do when someone takes the last slice of pizza. On both counts.
SAM: I do not!
SYD: Do too!
SAM: (Rolls her eyes)
(Later, SYD walks downstairs into the living room.)
SYD: (seeing something) OH MY GOD!
(Camera pans to DES and RON, who are sleeping on the couch, a blanket pulled up to their chins, a bundle in their arms)
SYD: OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!
JESSIE: (Walking down) What is it, SYD? (beat) OH MY GOD!!!
(DES and RON wake up)
DES: What?
JESSIE: (to RON) Out. Now.
(RON runs out)
JESSIE: (To DES) I THOUGHT YOU KNEW BETTER THAN THAT!
DES: AUNT JESSIE, it's not what you think....
JESSIE: WHAT IS IT, THEN?!
(DES moves the cover, revealing a cheetah's face)
JESSIE: HOLY... (faints)