First Person POV (Kaira)
Well, this was interesting. I got the text to go to the restaurant, where I meet the team. Where Nate proceeds to tell us that we have to save a man room destroying his own company. Apparently, Charles Dodgson, the CEO of Dodgson Energetics, has been cutting employees, slowly destroying the company. And if the company goes down, so does the town. And the only way to do it was to change Dodgson. On paper, simple enough. But with Nate, nothing's ever simple. And Nate had agreed to the job.
We were all at the table gathered around, except for Elot as he went to get snacks.
"Yes? You said yes to the man? Nate, are you out of your damn mind?" Hardison questioned Nate.
"We are running the White Rabbit." Nate revealed.
I give Nate a look. I was all for helping the guy, not pull off the hardest con imaginable.
"The White - what? No, Nate. No, that's not what we do." Hardison argued.
Eliot came in with small baskets of appetizers, sitting down.
"That's what I said." Eliot argued.
Nate tried arguing.
"We help people, that's what we do." I argued.
"All right, listen, we wreck the bad guys. We don't turn one kind of guy into another kind of guy." Eliot argued.
"Wait, Eliot, are you saying that people can't change?" I snipped at Eliot.
"Wait - what is the White Rabbit?" Parker asked before Eliot could answer, which I don't think he wanted to.
"It's the ungriftable grift. It's impossible." Hardison explained.
"Yeah, but we do impossible." Parker said.
"No, Parker, not like this. For this, you have to get inside the mark - like inside their head, inside their dreams." Hardison explained.
"Can't be done." Eliot argued.
"That's not true. There's a grifter sitting among us who has successfully pulled off the White Rabbit - Sophie." Nate said.
We all looked at Sophie. She seemed hesitant to respond.
"It's possible." Sophie said.
"There you go. It's possible." Nate said.
"A bit of NLP, some mesmerism, some of Eliot's special sedatives." Sophie said.
I perked up.
"Excuse me? Babe, you have sedatives?" I questioned Eliot.
"It's just a little psychotropic I picked up outside of Bogotá. Puts you under fast, keeps you dreaming for days. Unless you take a stimulant before they dosed you." Eliot explained.
I drop it for now.
"See? Possible, griftable, doable." Nate pointed out.
"This guy hasn't broken any laws, all right. He's not skimming. He's not mobbed-up. Why are you thinking of doing this?" Eliot asked. Nate was hesitant to answer.
"Look, we're not God, Nate. Why do we get to choose what kind of person he gets to be?" Hardison asked.
"Guys, if you think about it, every job that we do, every single job, we're kind of playing God." Nate said.
"And we help people. There's obviously a reason why this guy is destroying his own company. And if we don't save the company, then it's gonna destroy the town. So we should do this. Whatever it takes." I explained.
The team was in agreement. Mostly.
Eliot got up, and I could tell he was pissed. The team looked at me. I groaned and followed Eliot to the office. The door slammed behind me. Eliot was pacing. When he heard the door shut, he turned to me.
"How the hell can you be okay with this, Kaira?" Eliot asked me.
"How the hell can you think that people can't change? Has the last four years meant nothing to you?" I started yelling.
"Kaira, that wasn't what I meant." Eliot argued.
"Then what the hell did you mean?!" I yelled.
"Because we chose to change, Kaira! We chose to leave all that shit behind and change! You can't force someone who doesn't want to change to change! We won't have control of the mark! Someone will get hurt. And I don't want it to be you, or us, or any of them." Eliot pointed out.
"Eliot, we'll be controlling the mark by using your drugs-" Eliot cut me off.
"And how the hell can you be okay with drugging the mark? You and I both know what it's like to be drugged. The feeling when you lose control, it sucks. You and I both have felt it." And I felt my hand connect with Eliot's face.
"Don't you dare use that against me, Eliot! That was the worst day of my life!" I went to walk away, but Eliot grabbed me.
"Don't you think I know that?! I was there, Kaira! I was there to hold you as you cried, trying to regain that control again! I was there to pick you up from that shitty motel room. I was the one who beat the hell out of the guy!" Eliot reminded me, though I remembered quite vividly.
"Yes, I remember too, dear, thank you." I said sarcastically.
I walked away again, not being able look at Eliot for the moment. I went up to our room and shut the door. I just laid in bed, holding the pillow that smelled like Eliot. And my body tells me to toss the pillow across the room.
Third Person POV
Eliot walked into the room, upset at himself. He wasn't trying to get Kaira pissed at him. He just wanted her to understand what Nate was asking of them. He didn't see Kaira on the bed like she usually is when she's upset. So he knocked on the bathroom door.
"Sweetheart, please. I'm sorry!" Eliot called through the door.
He just heard Kaira crying. He put his back to the door and held back the tears.
"The hell you doing, Spencer?" Eliot asked himself.
Kaira had her back to the door and lowered herself until she was sitting. Eliot exhaled, rubbing his face as he lowered himself until he was sitting.
"Kaira, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wasn't trying to use that against you. I know it sucked. God, I'm such an asshole. I was just - I wanted you to understand what Nate was asking of us. And I'm sorry I made you think people couldn't change. I know we both changed in the eight years we've worked together. And I thought the only thing I'd regret about us is that I didn't tell you I loved you sooner. Turns out, this is the second thing I regret. And I probably don't deserve forgiveness. I know I don't deserve you, Kaira." Eliot rubbed his face again, groaning.
Kaira was taken back by what Eliot was saying.
"And why you chose me over someone who deserves you, I don't think I'll ever know. You're the best thing to happen to me, Kaira. You have a right to be pissed at me, Kaira. Please, open the door so I can fix this. Please." Eliot all but begged Kaira.
Kaira held her pillow closer, the emotions getting to her. She got up. Eliot heard her get up, so he did.
Kaira unlocked the door and just stood there, looking at Eliot. Eliot was surprised Kaira opened the door. Kaira tossed her pillow back on the bed and all but pounced on Eliot. They held each other hard, not wanting to let go.
"I'm so sorry, Sweetheart." Eliot choked out.
"Me too, babe." Kaira choked out.
She let go and grabbed Eliot's hand.
"God, how the hell did that happen?" Kaira asked.
Eliot was reluctant to answer.
"Cause we're both stubborn as hell." Eliot said.
Kaira let out a chuckle.
"Yeah." Kaira breathed out.
She looked at Eliot.
"I'm sorry, Eliot. I didn't want to fight. I know where you're coming from. But I have to save this town, and I'm not seeing another option here. If you have any other ideas, please tell me." Kaira told Eliot.
Eliot wanted to speak his idea, but he was silent, not sure of any other options. Eliot walked away. Kaira exhaled and followed him down to the briefing room.
First Person POV (Kaira)
It's never fun when you fight with someone you love. And I'm not sure what caused me to blow up like I did. And how we ended the fight wasn't the best. God, I'm such an idiot sometimes. But I'm not sure what else I could say to Eliot right now. And I wasn't seeing any other options to do this. So, swallowing my pride and doing the job was the only thing I could do.
Eliot stood a bit behind me, and I was sitting at the briefing table, Parker and Sophie at her sides. Nate was in front of the table, and Hardison was at the screen. Hardison pulled up a newsreel of Dodgson, where he seemed happy and enjoying talking about his company. Not in a cocky way, but in a prideful way. Hardison paused the newsreel.
"Well, that guy's changed. Now that's Charles Dodgson five years ago. Four years ago, his pops hands him the keys to the family biz. Now, D.E used to make high-end batteries for military drones, hybrids, laptops." Hardison explained.
"I'm sorry - used to?" Eliot questioned.
"Well, three years ago, they were hip-deep in developing the alpha broadcast battery, then all of a sudden, Dodgson started making cuts - departments, personnel, clientele." Hardison explained as Parker raised her hand.
"Yes, question from the sexy stuff in the front row?" Hardison looked at Parker, a smile on his face.
I can't help but chuckle a bit.
"How do we break into his head?" Parker asked.
"Well, dude keeps a tight schedule - I mean, work, home, work, repeat. No friends, no family, groceries are delivered. He doesn't even drive his own car." Hardison explained.
"Okay, there it is right there - car service. It'll be easy to swap Eliot out with his regular driver." Nate pointed out.
"Swap Eliot out for what reason? I still don't see an in on guy." Eliot asked.
"That's because you didn't hack three months' worth of satellite data to track Charlie boy. He drops in here once per week - behavioral therapy. Now, at first, I thought it was OCD. Turns out they're panic attacks. And he's keeping these little visits secret - just between him and his driver. Wait - you know what? Give me a week, a warehouse, some digital projectors, Eliot's cocktail - yeah, we can put this guy in wonderland." Hardison made a plan.
It was a solid plan. "All right, Sophie. Now, you're gonna take point on this, and you'll decide whether or not it's a go." Nate told Sophie, now standing behind her.
"All the way through it." Nate told Sophie.
He left. I looked at Hardison.
"You want some help, man?" I asked Hardison.
"Yeah, sure." Hardison agreed.
Third Person POV
When Dodgson went to his therapy session, Sophie introduced herself as his new therapist. Sophie suggested they talk about his dreams, but Dodgson pushed back, saying he came to terminate his old therapist and his family doesn't do this. Sophie said she could solve his panic attacks in 10 days. She then started talking about guided dream therapy. Dodgson said his dad had them, and he controlled it, so he can. Sophie said he had help. Dodgson then left.
Sophie reported. Hardison, Kaira, and Parker were at a warehouse constructing Wonderland as Nate watched on. Nate told Sophie he wasn't, and that he was about to have a panic attack. Nate cued up Parker.
Eliot then started talking to Dodgson, pretending to hit Parker. Eliot got out, yelling at Parker for cutting it close. Eliot continued driving.
Soon after, Sophie then got the call from Dodgson, saying he changed his mind. Dodgson came back and told Sophie that his attacks were at random, and if he knew what was causing them, he could stop them. Sophie put a blue patch on his neck, putting him out.
Eliot told Sophie that the blue patches make him loopy, the red patch knocks him out. Eliot said they'd be at the warehouse in 10 minutes. Hardison was ready, saying the Dreamnasium was a go.
Later that night, when it was dark, they got set up. Nate and Kaira met with Eliot and Sophie at the car and they walked Dodgson in. Hardison and Kaira used digital projectors to change the landscapes and some stuff like chairs and that he could touch. There were multiple sections. One was the shrink's office. Two was anything they wanted. And a hallway to act as a neutral zone. Sophie reported they were ready. Hardison said Hamlet was a go and counted down from five. /
And at one, the simulation started. Eliot played a knight, and a voice distorter made it seem like he was a ghost. Then Dodgson went into a white hallway, where he was greeted by Sophie, who assured him everything was okay, and that he was dreaming, and from there they'd confront the cause of his panic attacks. Nate said they were in, and said the rallying cry, which this time was "Let's go steal a dream".
Dodgson questioned whether he was dreaming. Sophie told him he was. Dodgson questioned why it was so solid. Sophie explained it was a lucid dream. She explained that Dodgson was dreaming, but was aware. Dodgson tried looking through blinds, but had a face full of light, realizing nothing was there. Sophie told him it's because his subconscious doesn't want them to go outside the office.
Then Sophie told Dodgson to follow her. Hardison cued up the Factory Floor projection. Hardison reminded Sophie that they couldn't touch anything but the doors, and the bugs weren't all worked out yet. Dodgson and Sophie made it to the factory. Dodson asked why they were there, which Sophie said it was his emotional landscape and whatever was there was bothering him.
Sophie pointed out a door, which Dodgson didn't want opened, saying they don't use that area anymore. Sophie asked who closed the area, which Dodgson revealed he did.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Well, I guess this isn't going that bad yet. I quickly looked up company logs since Hardison was busy with the simulation.
"That door's gotta be to Research and Development, it was the first thing he closed. It's been untouched for years." I reported to Nate, Hardison, and Parker.
"Very important to him. All D.E's future projects are in there. Now we get him to reopen it in the dream, go inside, and see all the inventions he left to rot." Nate gave us a plan.
"And then what? He flips back to being a good guy?" Parker asked.
"Well, we get him thinking about the future, which will bring him hope." Nate explained.
Something about what Nate said struck me.
"And nothing works quite like hope." I said kinda quietly.
Third Person POV
Dodsgon couldn't bring himself to open the door. Dodgson started panicking, and Sophie tried stopping him. Dodgson wanted to go back to his office, but there was no office, cause as Hardison said, it wasn't requested. Nate told Hardison to get them back in the castle and called it a night.
Parker went in to knock Dodgson out. Eliot took Dodgson back to his place. Hardison and Kaira shut the projectors down for the night.
Sophie met with Nate to talk, and Hardison and Kaira joined. Sophie told Nate that she doesn't want to pull the plug on the con, but they had to rethink the plan to get Dodgson to open the door. Hardison said he didn't want to do open the door. Nate pointed out that Dodgson wanted to go to his office and asked why. Sophie realized the sentiment behind the office, as it was his dad's office. Nate said they'd let him go there and if Dodgson wanted to take the long way around, that was fine as long as he opened the door.
Kaira got the floor plans and Hardison said that if they got pictures of the inside, he could set it up. Hardison and Kaira left to work on that plan. Sophie told Nate that finesse wasn't going to work on Dodgson. Nate said they had to push him and shorten the leash.
Once Dodgson fell asleep, Eliot dosed him with the blue patch and got him back to the warehouse. Sophie took the patch off, going back into her role, opening in the shrink's office.
Sophie said this was stage two. Dodgson questioned it. Sophie explained that first they had to get him acclimated to the dream state, and how he had to take control. Dodgson said control was the last thing he had, saying the panic attacks were worse. Sophie explained that panic attaks are about loss of control, and he was gonna take it back. But he had to want it. Dodsgon said he did. Dodgson said he was ready to start.
Sophie said they had already begun. Dodgson realized he was dreaming. Dodgson asked how he could tell. Sophie started levitating a silver ball between her hands. Then the whole room shattered and it looked like they were in space. Thanks to the team they played guys who were fired. Then Dodgson was put on a battlefield, gunfire everywhere. Sophie appeared again. Dodgson asked her what they wanted. Sophie said Dodgson. Dodgson was back at the factory at the door. A bright light shown on him.
Sophie told him that they were him, and all of this was him. Dodgson ran and made it to his office and hid behind his desk. Sophie asked him how he would get better if he doesn't listen to her. Dodgson asked if it's all in his head, and reminded himself he was safe in his dad's office. Sophie told him it was up to his subconscious, and asked if they could get in. Pounding and shouting was heard. Sophie extended her hand, but Dodgson didn't accept it. Sophie brushed him off, saying if he didn't need help.
Dodgson stopped her, asking her to tell him what they wanted. Sophie told him it wasn't how it worked, and she was a guide, and he had to do the hard work. Dodgson asked what the Research and Development lab meant. Sophie told him her feeling was that once he opened it, he'd know. Sophie helped him to the door. Sophie was about to open the door, but Dodgson tried stopping her, saying to not let them in. Sophie opened the door and the pounding stopped. Sophie and Dodgson walked to the door.
Eliot, Parker, Hardison, and Kaira came back to the computer area. Eliot pointed out how good Sophie was at this. Nate said there was nobody better. Nate wasn't sure about something. Sophie jangled keys. Dodgson brushed her off as they walked to the door. Dodgson tried unlocking the door, but said he couldn't, and it had to stay locked. Sophie told him the block was acting like an anchor, and if he'd open the door. Dodgson said he wasn't, and Sophie couldn't make him. Sophie put the knock out patch on his neck, saying she believed him. Sophie caught him as the lights flicked on, saying she needed a word with Nate.
Eliot took Dodgson home. Nate and Sophie were in the hub and Parker and Kaira were outside it. Parker and Kaira went in, reporting that Eliot brought Dodgson home. Nate said he was almost there and was right on the edge. Nate said they had to find something that pushed him the right way. Parker said pushing doesn't work so well. Sophie pointed out that how resistant Dodgson was being that was bothering her, and she couldn't say why. Parker said he was stubborn.
Sophie reminded the group that pulling off the White Rabbit required Dodgson to buy into the idea that his dreams are real, and in some way he knew it was all false. Nate said if Dodgson needed it to feel real to make it real.
They repeated the process again the next night. Eliot made him loopy with the blue patch. Him and Sophie drove past security, with Sophie playing a "lady friend" of Dodgson. The guard let them through. Dodgson woke up, seeing Hardison, Kaira, and Sophie. Dodgson thought Sophie was her therapist alias, but Sophie introduced herself as Sally Sparrow from Hatter Mercantile (A/N Doctor Who and Alice in Wonderland reference for y'all!). Sophie introduced Hardison as Mr. Steed, and Kaira as Ms. Tyler, her partners. Hardison said how impressed his was with Dodgson's place. Kaira said it was a beautiful tribute to his grandfather. Sophie asked what his motto was. Dodgson said it was keep moving forward.
Sophie said Dodgson's done a stellar job getting the place in shape. Dodgson said he was trying to cut the fat. Hardison told Dodgson there was one thing he needed in order for them to make a real decision. Kaira said they had to see the Alpha battery. Parker walked by, holding the battery. Dodgson was confused, saying they never finished it. Dodgson started following Parker, trying to get her to stop.
They ended up in the lab, where Parker said she was working. Dodgson said it was wrong, and that she couldn't be there. Parker tried leaving. Dodgson then tried taking Parker with him to leave, saying he had to get her out of there. Parker asked for help. Dodgson then called Parker Patience. Then Sophie, Hardison, and Kaira all ran to catch Dodgson as Parker knocked him out. Hardison helped lay him on the floor. Sophie helped Hardison, and Kaira checked up on Parker, making sure she wasn't hurt. Parker asked who the hell Patience was.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Well that wasn't supposed to happen. Eliot, Hardison, Parker, and I drove back to Dodgson's house and Eliot placed him in bed.
"He called me Patience. Look for anything with that name." Parker told us.
We started searching around. Parker went to his closet, Hardison went to his computer, and I looked at shelves. I wasn't gonna lie, things were awkward between me and Eliot. After our fight, we barely spoke to each other. In fact, we weren't even sleeping together, Eliot would sleep on the couch while I slept in bed. Yeah, it scared me. I was drifting away from the man I love. And I wasn't sure what to say to him, and it was pissing me off.
"So, who the hell is Patience? Girlfriend, relative, what?" Eliot asked.
Eliot gave something to Hardison, who started stammering, saying it wasn't his department. Hardison told Eliot to stop taking stuff. Parker then wanted to take a Cinccinatti t-shirt. I told her to put it back. I heard Eliot curse, causing me to chuckle a bit at his grumpy face. Dammit, why can't I stay mad at him?
"Intel. We're not here to steal." Hardison reminded us.
Parker found a box in the closet and I went to walk up to her. Eliot yelled for us to go, and Hardison finished copying his computer. Parker took a final look at Dodgson before Hardison lead her out. We went back to the hub, where Hardison showed us his computer. He showed us a photo of Dodson at a party with a brunette woman.
"Meet Patience Mortell - Dodgson's second cousin." Hardison said.
"She doesn't look anything like me." Parker pointed out.
"Close enough. Just saying." I added.
"She's a little younger than Dodgson. They spent their summers growing up as kids, spent their college years backpacking in Europe. She's an Olympic-class party girl." Hardison explained.
"And we're just finding out about this now?" Eliot questioned.
"Well, she fell off the radar after Dodgson took over the family biz." Hardison continued.
"So… you missed it." Eliot said.
"I didn't miss nothing. I wasn't looking for it." Hardison told off Eliot.
"Anyway, after I did a search on her, all I could find was her obit." Hardison said.
I felt bad for Dodgson, but I couldn't quite connect the dots just yet.
"Patience is dead?" Sophie asked.
"Exactamundo. See, she spent a week partying in Aspen, drove herself back home. Black lace plus spin out, car plus guardrail plus gravity plus 100 foot drop plus-" Hardison tried saying, but Eliot kept muttering, and it was annoying me.
"We get it Hardison, car accident." I turned to Eliot.
"Got something on your mind, dear?" I asked Eliot sarcastically, showing I wasn't happy.
"I'm just saying it's a pretty big piece of information for you two to completely miss!" Eliot got loud.
"We weren't looking! She fell off the damn radar, Eliot! And in case you forgot, we've had our hands busy building digital Wonderland, modifying your jungle drugs that you somehow forgot to tell me you had so they don't fry Dodgson's brain!" I started yelling.
"You know, d-d-don't you have chauffeuring to do?" Hardison asked Eliot, cocking his head.
Eliot gave us both a look and walked away. Sophie asked Nate for a word.
But then things started clicking in my head. Dodgson was guilt ridden by Patience's death. Just like I was with Kasey's death. And I could see how messed up Dodgson was getting from the drugs. Just how messed up I was when I was drugged on Moreau's orders. Just like when Sterling drugged me and Eliot.
And then I remembered what I told the team at the start of this con about how nothing works quite like hope with motivating someone. And then everything fell into place.
The reason I've been so pissed off this job is because I was losing hope. Hope that Eliot and I would make up, hope that Eliot and I could start a family. Hope that this con was going to go to plan. Hope we could pull off the biggest and hardest con we've ever done. I was losing myself. Dodgson wasn't a bad guy. He was just sad. And here we were drugging him and breaking him. I realized Eliot was right. This con was a bad idea. Maybe we should have figured out another way. Goddammit, what the hell have I done?
I knew what I had to do. I had to fix this round and round Eliot and I were on. I chased down Eliot. I caught him outside, about to get in the driver's side.
"Eliot!" I called out to him.
He looked at me and shut the door. I ran up to him. I wanted to hug him, but I wasn't sure if he wanted me to, so I stopped right in front of him.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I argued and pushed you away. I'm sorry I've been such a bitch lately." I took a breath.
"I told myself that the ends justified the means, that because the ending was good, what we were doing was acceptable. I realize it isn't. I'm sorry." I told Eliot, trying to keep my composure.
"Why did it take so long for you to figure it out, huh?" Eliot asked me, still pissed at me.
"Because I didn't know until now why Dodgson was doing what he was doing. I didn't know he lost someone. I know, we should've found that out sooner. Truth is, I haven't been myself for a while, Eliot. Ever since that negative test, I've been losing hope. Hope that we could have kids. And with this job, it turned into this domino effect. After our fight, I started losing hope that we would talk. That we could pull this job off." I rubbed my face, getting upset at myself.
"It is killing me that we've barely spoken, Eliot. That we haven't slept in the same bed." Eliot remained silent.
I closed my eyes and the tears came down.
"Please say something, babe." I all but begged Eliot.
Eliot focused and grabbed my face and kissed me hard. I was surprised, to say the least. He let go and our foreheads touched.
"I'm sorry, Kaira. I'm so sorry. I wanted to talk, but I never knew what to say. I was - am scared that Dodgson's gonna break, and someone's gonna get hurt. And if anyone got hurt, I wouldn't - couldn't live with myself. And I know you want to have kids, Kaira. I do too. But I can't lose hope. And I can't let you lose hope. So, if not for me, then for you, don't give up hope, okay?" Eliot said.
I put my hands on his hands, rubbing them.
"I'll try." I choke out.
I kiss Eliot again.
"I don't want this to happen, ever again. It was killing me!" Eliot exclaimed, upset.
"I know. Me too, babe. God, I'm so sorry!" I cried out as Eliot hugged me hard.
I gripped him tightly, not wanting to let go. I nearly lost him. I wasn't gonna let him go. But Eliot did have a job to do. We let go. Eliot kissed me one more time.
"I'm sorry too, sweetheart. We'll talk more later, okay?" Eliot promised me.
I nodded and wiped my eyes as Eliot got in and drove off. I do feel relieved that I got that off my chest. I knew Eliot wasn't going anywhere. And neither was I.
Third Person POV
Nate and Sophie went to the room for the shrinks office. Nate started saying how Sophie said it was a bad idea, and they should've done it, and she tried warning him. Sophie then dropped the bomb that she never actually completed the White Rabbit. Nate was confused, realizing it was a rumor.
Sophie told him she did try it once, but halfway through, it went bad. Friends had started arguing, grifters were making rookie mistakes. Nate brushed it off, saying not everything was a cakewalk. Sophie asked Nate if he understood what this con was, saying they were in a man's mind. Nate said he knew, and that grifters and therapists were kind of the same coin because they're both in people's heads. Sophie pointed out that she nudges people into doing something they already want to do, but this was different. Nate didn't see how. Sophie said it was because he's all plans and clockwork. Sophie added that the con was unpredictable and it could break a mark, it could break a grifter, and it could break a team.
Nate told Sophie she was forgetting that it was them, and nothing was gonna happen. Sophie tried to get through to Nate that she couldn't predict how it was gonna fall out. Nate said she needed to be confident, saying she was better and smarter, saying she couldn't feel guilty.
Then Nate had a lightbulb moment. He walked away. Sophie asked herself why she bothered. Nate asked Hardison what the date of Patience's crash was. Hardison said it was at 3 AM March 20th, 2009. Nate asked Hardison to pull up the security footage from the day before. Hardison did.
They realized that it was after the accident was when Dodgson started shutting down the company. Parker was confused. Nate explained about the call Dodgson got in the security feed. It was from Patience. Dodgson ignored it so he could work on the Alpha battery. Nate said Dodgson finds out Patience is calling him, doesn't answer. Sophie said the next day he finds out Patience is dead, he blames himself. Nate realized it made sense.
Sophie realized it wasn't the fear of the future that caused the panic attacks, it was guilt. Nate then realized that every time Dodgson had a panic attack, Parker was involved. The car crash, the first time he saw Parker, when he called her Patience. Nate said the only way to flip Dodgson was to help him not feel guilty about Patience's death. Sophie got excited, Parker not so much, realizing they'd have to prepare Parker.
Another night passed, and Eliot drove Dodgson. And once again, Eliot dosed him. They took him to the main floor, where he was rested against a desk. Parker came in as he awoke. Dodgson followed her. He caught up with her at the door to the lab. Dodgson bought that Parker was Patience. He hugged her, saying he missed her. Sophie, Kaira, and Hardison watched from the shrink's office set. Sophie told Parker it was her show, and to remember to keep it simple. Parker told Dodgson he looked sad and asked him why.
Dodgson said he was in trouble, saying everything was too much. Parker put her hand on Dodgson's shoulder. But then Dodgson said Parker looked different, and asked why. Dodgson then reminded himself that Patience was dead, and asked what's going on, and started running.
First Person POV (Kaira)
Of course, the very last freaking minute, something had to go wrong. Sophie, Hardison, and I were in the office set, watching the screen. Nate was on the screen at the hub.
"Guys, I think something's wrong." Parker reported over comms.
And as they say, shit hit the fan hard. Hardison then showed us the energy shot bottle.
"Damn it!" I cursed under my breath.
"Confirmed. Wrong, something is." Hardison said, showing Nate the bottle.
"Damn it." Nate mumbled under his breath.
"Parker, he took an energy shot. It's working against the sedative." Nate reported.
"So, we pull the plug, right, Nathan?" I questioned what the play was.
As if it could get any worse, before I could get a response from Nate, Dodgson came into the room. He ran up to us. Eliot then came over comms.
"Guys, I hate to pile on, but we got company at the gate." Eliot reported.
"Son of a bitch!" I muttered quietly.
I could hear Eliot try to bullshit his way out, and if there's one thing I learned about Eliot in the eight years I've known Eliot, and the three we've been married, is that he can't bullshit his way out of anything for the life of him. Believe me, he's tried it with me.
"Need some options here, guys." Eliot muttered over comms.
Nate basically told him to stall. I focused my attention back on Dodgson.
"What is this?" Dodgson asked, out of breath, a mess.
Now I feel bad. And I heard Eliot fail to get out of his jam, and he started fighting. See, something else about Eliot is he's like a cat when he fights, cause he likes toying with his opponent. Yeah, I tried telling him to stop. I refocus again.
"Who are you - who are you people?" Dodgson asked us, panicking.
This was not good. Dodgson asked us what was going on. Dodgson then picked up baseball from the desk, trying to make it levitate. Sophie tried calming him down. He ran off and we followed. We chased him for a bit.
"Anybody want to tell me what's going on in there? Sweetheart?" Eliot came over comms.
"Uh, little bump, just keep it up babe, you're doing great." I said, my voice filled with nervous sarcasm.
"Fine, Smartass." Eliot muttered as he kept fighting.
By the time we caught up to Dodgson, I saw Parker run to the stairwell. I followed her in as the door shut behind me. We both yelled for Dodgson to stop. Parker and I made it to the roof. I see Dodgson is at the edge of the roof, and isn't facing us, so I tell Parker I'm going around a stack to get close if need be.
Dodgson told Parker not to come closer. Parker asked Charlie was he was doing up on the roof. I can't get any air in my lungs and my heart is racing. It was up to Parker. Dodgson said that the ball didn't float. He was panting, and he was scared and confused. Parker said they usually don't. I try not to make a noise. Parker asked what they were talking about. Dodgson said he didn't know what was real anymore, and Parker didn't look like Patience, and nothing felt solid.
He gasped for air. Panic attack. Can't breathe, your heart beats faster, you have no control over your body, you don't know what you feel. Dodgson asked if he was dreaming now, or then. Parker asked which answer got him down. Smart, Parker. Dodgson started breathing heavily, which is not good. Dodgson said that it's said you can't die in your dreams, and you'd wake up. He told "Patience" he wanted to wake up.
Parker said it wasn't always the case. Dodgson said he was tired, really tired. He started crying and his voice broke, saying he really wanted to wake up. He was about to go, but Parker stopped him. Every fiber of my body is telling me to run and pull him back. Dodgson asked Parker why. Parker told him he wasn't dreaming, and if he stepped off that ledge he was going to die.
I overheard on comms Nate asking Hardison what the problem was, and that he thought Hardison hacked into the security system. Hardison said it was a machine lock. Sophie asked Hardison what he was doing. Hardison said he was hacking. I swear to God if Hardison is holding a fire ax right now. Sophie told him to stop. Hardison said Parker and me were on the roof with a guy we spent the last four days driving crazy. Yeah, not ideal, believe me. Sophie said she wasn't happy about it, but they's have to trust me and Parker.
I could hear Dodgson saying it was his dream, and it was a lucid dream and he couldn't get hurt. Parker started yelling for Dodgson to get off the ledge, getting closer, and Dodgson was still convinced it was a dream. Dodgson told Parker not to go any closer. I had to have my back to the wall, so I couldn't see what was happening. Parker told Dodgson she wasn't gonna do anything. Parker said she was going to sit down next to him. Parker kept his focus on her.
That's what I would've done. I heard Parker yelling no, so I ran out. Parker had Dodgson by the hand, holding him up. I went up to her, but Parker gave me a signal to move back. I listened. I had to trust Parker. Dodgson kept telling her to let him go. Parker was losing her grip. I said screw it, and grabbed his other hand. Dodgson was still convinced this was a dream. I tried telling him it wasn't. Dodgson said for "Patience" to let him go.
Parker and I were trying to pull him up. Dodgson said that he'd wake up, and maybe Patience would be alive. Parker and I got him up. Parker ending up falling on top of Dodgson, and I was at the side.
"I'm not Patience! Patience is dead, okay?! She's dead, and it sucks, and that's the way it is!" Parker exclaimed.
She got off of Dodgson. She took off her wig. I knew Parker could do it.
"But you're alive! You're here!" Parker yelled.
She was exhausted and looked run down.
"You don't und - you don't understand. She was the only one who - I'm alone." Dodgson told Parker.
"I don't understand? I had somebody. I lost someone once, okay? And I thought I was alone, too. But you know what? I wasn't. People thought I was crazy, but I never was. I-I never was, and neither are you. And you're not alone. You're own people sent us because they care about you." Parker told Dodgson, putting her heart on her sleeve.
Dodgson was crying, and I was about to.
"I ne - I never wanted any of this. I just - I didn't want the business or the legacy. I just wanted - I just-I just wanted to make things." Dodgson said.
Parker and I looked at each other. I carefully crawled beside her and looked at Dodgson.
"Patience's death isn't your fault. It was just some twisted shitty fate. It's not on you. But what you chose to make of it and what happens next is on you. Believe me, I know about what a family's legacy can do to someone. I thought it was what I wanted, but it wasn't! And I've lost people too! And the guilt nearly ate me alive. Until I met people who told me otherwise! You need to let go of the guilt, Charlie, or next time you may not come back from it." I prayed I made it through.
"It's your life, Charlie. It's your choice. Make something." Parker said.
She got up and left. I looked back at Charlie, making sure he was going to be okay, and when I looked to find Parker, she was gone. There was no point in me trying to find her.
I made sure Charlie got down okay. He ran down the steps, and I let him be. I meet Hardison and Sophie at the bottom of the steps. Hardison pulled me into a hug, squeezing me hard, which was what I needed. I felt his chin on top of my head, and for the first time since we started this damn job I felt calm. It was over. Hardison lets go, and I hug Sophie.
"You did an amazing job, darling." Sophie whispers to me.
"Thank you." I said quietly.
We made it back to the hub. I see Eliot there, and we start running.
"Babe!" I yell as I'm running.
"Kaira!" Eliot yelled.
I pounce on him and hug him hard. My arms are around his neck, and my legs are wrapped around his waist. Eliot's hands were on my ass, but I didn't care. My face was buried in his neck, and he was buried in my hair. We separate for a moment. I hold Eliot's face and his him hard and quick.
"Sweetheart, you okay? You hurt?" Eliot asked me.
I smile.
"No, I'm okay. I just fell back on my ass, I'm okay." I move some hair out of his face.
"I promise. What about you?" I asked Eliot, checking him out.
I let go and get on my feet.
"I'm okay. God, you had me scared." Eliot holds me close again.
I hold his arm. I look at Nate, giving me a reassuring look. I nod back.
"Time to go the hell home." I look at Eliot.
He puts his arm around my waist and we start walking to the cars. We all head back to the brewpub. Eliot and I immediately head to our bed and go to sleep. It felt nice to be beside Eliot again.
Over the course of the next week, Eliot and I talked about what happened and worked through it. We cleaned up the warehouse, and all our aliases used. I was just glad to be home again. Another situation we ran into was we hadn't heard from Parker since I saw her leave, and we hadn't seen Dodgson since we saw him last.
A week later, Eliot, Hardison, and I were messing with Hardison's electronics. Nate and Sophie had talked to the client, Alex Liddell, assuring him it was okay. Nate told him last they saw Dodgson he was with Parker. Nate then called out for her.
"She's not here." Eliot told Nate.
"Yeah, we can see that. Where is she?" Sophie asked us.
"Said she wanted to go see the Finns. I'll pull it up." Hardison said.
He typed on his tablet and found out what was going on. He put the feed up on the screen. Alex got upset, thinking Dodgson was selling to the Finnish Car Company.
We headed to the building. As it turns out, thanks to our intervention, Dodgson apologized to all the employees and reopened the R&D lab. And it wasn't a buyout, it was a partnership. And he rehired all the employees he let go.
We met with Sophie at the balcony overlooking the floor. We still hadn't seen Parker yet.
"Why the long face?" Eliot asked Sophie.
"Oh, just… sorting stuff." Sophie said.
Nate went up to the railing and leaned against it.
"Yeah, so, the con failed - technically." Nate argued.
Sophie scoffed, and I chuckled.
"The con didn't fail. The con worked." Sophie argued.
"If by worked, you mean completely fell apart." Hardison argued.
"Huh?" Sophie scoffed.
"Sorry, - which one of us is the grifter?" Sophie asked.
I snickered.
"Uh, me, technically." I gave a cocky smirk.
Hey, it was a shitty week, I'm entitled to let off some steam.
"You're getting a bit cocky there, darling." Sophie warned me.
"And you. Look, it's been a long week, I'm not in the mood for technicalities. Though the aim of the White Rabbit is to not break the mark, and well-" I argued.
"I'm telling you - we pulled off the White Rabbit successfully." Sophie argued.
"Pulled off the White Rabbit - how so?" Nate asked Sophie.
"Well, the White Rabbit is about taking the truth, what's underneath, and-and bringing it out." Sophie explained.
"And not breaking the mark in the process." Nate pointed out.
"Every grift is an exchange. The trick is to give enough to hold them up, but not som much that you get pulled over with him." Sophie explained.
"I mean, the con broke the mark, and it was Parker who changed the mark." I heard Parker's boots on the food coming around the corner.
I smiled and turned to see her coming around the corner. The rest of the team turned.
"You helped to, Kai." Parker gave a soft smile.
I chuckled.
"Agree to disagree." I argued.
I walked up and hugged her, glad to see the thief again.
"Parker, huh?" Nate questioned.
We let go and walked up to the rest of the team.
"Parker." Sophie said.
"We good?" Parker asked.
"You tell us." Sophie said.
Parker looked at us and nodded.
"Yeah. We're good." Parker said.
Hardison put his arm around Parker and lead her out as Eliot and I followed. Parker gave Eliot a small shove as we rounded the corner.
Yeah, the con went to shit and I nearly lost my husband and my best friend. In the end, it all worked out. All I knew was I wasn't going to try this con again. And no matter what happened, I was always going to be with my family, and let nothing split us up.