Author's Note - This is a short chapter to lead up to the end of the story.

Denver, Colorado - Several Hours Later

The hotel had a large, inside courtyard which made it much easier to spy on the Walker family. Mason Banes casually ate his dinner, his eyes keeping track of 0535 while his right hand took notes. It seems the fighter was doing surprisingly well, even had shaven the Mohawk and was now sporting a buzz cut. Wonder how he was doing mentally?

He took a deep breath, finished his tea then stood up so he can meet up with Terry. After he put his spiral notebook into a backpack he made his way towards the bar located at the front of the building. Once inside he spotted the small man sitting on a plush chair near a window.

Mason sat down next to Terry and shook his head. "You really think Mr. Case will want 0535 back considering how injured he is?"

Terry nodded. "He's worth a lot of money to him." He took a deep breath as he shifted his weight around. "You ready to let 0535 know we're here?"

"Yeah, got the stuff right here." Mason got back up then smiled down at Terry. "I'll see ya in a few months in Kansas."

"Will do." Terry got up to shake Mason's hand. "Don't get yourself caught."

After exchanging cell phone numbers Mason headed back out into the hotel to see a flock of reporters at the front counter. He quickly went pass them, but as he stepped up to the elevator Ranger Gage approached from the right.

Mason pushed the up button then smiled at the Ranger. "Are ya from around here?"

The Ranger shook his head. "Nah, you?"

"Nope, from California." Mason stepped into the elevator and pushed the number fourteen button while Gage pushed ten. "Ever been to Denver?"

"Yeah, just for work though." The elevator dinged open and Gage stepped out with a wave. "Nice meetin ya."

As the door closed shut Mason watched through the glass walls to see where Gage went. Unfortunately once he rounded a corner, he seemed to have just disappeared. So, 0535's room must be out of sight from the elevator. He quickly took note of this before stepping off onto his floor. He casually went into his room, locked the door then threw his backpack on the bed.

He took out his cell phone and dialed Mr. Case's number. "I'm in."

"Good. Remember, this is to rattle him even more. If things get sketchy, leave."

"Will do."

Once Mr. Case hung up, Mason took out the phone's SIM card from behind the battery and tucked it into his pocket. This way, if anybody found the phone there will be nothing to connect him to 0535, but he can still use his old number. After he did this, he wiped the phone clean and threw it into the trash knowing he will never use it again. One step down, just a few more to go.

Mason went back to his bed, opened his backpack and pulled out the hotel uniform stolen from the laundry room. If all went well many will think 0535 was truly losing his mind. A smile spread across Mason's face as he pulled out the blue ski mask.

XXXX

Inside another hotel room Walker sat on a bed while Alex gently changed the bandage on his left leg. Because of his risk for blood clots Doctor Abernathy didn't want Walker to fly. He winced as the gauze got caught on the stitches, but Alex was careful not to pull too quickly. She smiled at him then cleaned the suture area with a special antibiotic cleanser.

"It looks really good, Walker." When she was done Alex got up and went to Walker's duffle bag. "We should let it air out tonight." She pulled out a pair of sleep shorts, a t-shirt then handed them to Walker. "How's your back?"

Walker slowly nodded his head as he pulled off his t-shirt to show Alex nothing has changed. Ever since he told her about the scars that covered his back she's been checking daily to see if any had disappeared. Hopefully, once back in Dallas he'll be able to see a cosmetic surgeon that can help reduce some of the scar tissue.

"Any pain?" Walker shook his head. "That's good. Do you want anything to eat?" She grabbed the menu from the side table and pointed at a chicken salad. "I'm thinking of getting the grilled chicken salad."

Walker picked up the tablet and wrote, "I'm not hungry."

Alex's face quickly soured. "Walker, you need to eat."

"I'm fine, don't worry." He wrote.

He slowly stood up to change into his night clothes. Once dressed he slipped on some shoes, grabbed his crutches then went for the door.

"Walker, you know you can't…." Alex quickly got up and made her way in front of Walker, her face showing her concern. "You don't know who might be out there…." She handed Walker the tablet as though wanting a response from him.

He wrote down, "I need some time alone."

Alex nibbled on her bottom lip as her eyes wavered away from his. "Just watch out for reporters." She gave him a kiss then opened the door. "Don't go too far."

Walker shifted his weight on the crutches, gave his wife a hug then slowly limped out of the room. He took a look around to see the hallway and saw an undercover detective pacing by the emergency stairs. Seeing the man going about his job brought back memories of life back at the cabin. No matter how hard Walker tried to forget his time as a hostage, simple things always brought back a tinge of anxiety. Will his life ever get back to normal?

He quickly shook the memories out of his head then proceeded towards the elevator. Wonder how Angela is doing with Sydney? Both had decided to get away for awhile and was doing a little bit of shopping at a local mall. Alex had wanted to come with them, but opted to stay with Walker. Though frustrated he knew Alex needed some time alone with him, but without his voice Walker didn't know how his emotions might come across to her.

Walker slowly rounded the corner then decided he should head back to Alex. He shifted his crutches around wishing he could get rid of the stupid things. Unfortunately because of severe muscle damage he will have to use crutches for at least two more weeks.

"0535, I'm surprised they allow you to walk all alone."

Walker's heart began to beat fast as he stopped dead in his tracks. Though he didn't know the voice, the use of his number and the tone told him it was somebody from the fight ring.

A man wearing a blue ski mask moved into Walker's vision and smiled. "Take it easy, we might need you again." The man took an item out of his pocket, a picture then gave Walker a nod. "I'll see you around, 0535."

"Why are you here?" Walker's voice was not even above a whisper which angered him. "Answer me!"

The man placed the picture down onto the floor. "I'm sorry that you had lost your voice."

Walker shifted all his weight on his right leg then swung a crutch towards the man. The padded tip smacked the ski mask man in the temple and he flew onto his back. Without giving him much time to recover Walker hit the guy once more, this time in the ribs.

"You're nuts!" The man quickly got to his feet as the door to Gage's room opened. "Shit!" He pulled off the ski mask then bolted down the hallway.

"GAGE!" Walker screamed out, his voice very low and scratchy. When his friend looked his way he quickly signed, "He's a guard!"

Gage's eyes got real big at what Walker had just said and he quickly bolted after the hotel employee. Did Walker really see a guard from the old compound? Or was this another illusion of his? He heard the stairwell door open then slam against the wall, the sound echoing throughout the hallway.

He ran through the open doorway then took one quick glance up and down the stairwell to see nobody in sight. The man must have taken a side door which means he could be anywhere by now. He let out a loud curse, took out his phone then dialed Carter's number.

"Carter."

"Yeah, it's Gage." Gage began to make his way back to Walker, hoping his friend was okay. "There was a hotel employee that Walker pegged as a guard in the fight ring."

"Did you get a good look at him?"

Gage shook his head. "No, by the time I saw what had happened the man was already long gone." He spotted Walker talking to Alex through the tablet, the latter's face showing frustration. "I'll call you back if I get anything from Walker."

Walker's head turned to Gage and he quickly signed, "Did you get him?"

"No, he ran off before I could get a good look at him." Gage knelt down next to his friend as Trivette came running up to them. "Walker, are you all right?"

Walker nodded then wrote, "Yeah, there's blood on the tip of the crutch. Should get CSI to secure a sample."

A police officer ran up to Walker and shook his head. "Sir, we need you to come with us to the station. Unfortunately it might take awhile."

Gage gave his friend a pat on the shoulder. "I'll stay behind and wait for Angela and Sydney." He took a look at Alex before nodding his head. "Don't worry, we'll catch this guy."

XXXX

Once he knew the Ranger wasn't chasing him, Mason made his way to his room knowing he will have to leave tonight. He quickly threw his items into his duffel bag, including the ski mask then began to wipe things down. Everything would have worked out well if 0535 didn't react the way he did. Unfortunately, because of 0535's reaction another fighter may loose his life.

After the room was clean Mason left hoping he wouldn't be spotted by the police he knew would be combing the building. He put on his baseball cap as he made his way towards the elevator. Can't believe he allowed 0535 to get the best of him. Why did he let his guard down? Did he really think that all the fights broke the man's spirit?

Inside the elevator he took several deep breaths knowing if he got frazzled it would make him look suspicious. When the elevator dinged open he casually made his way to the large desk located by the main doors. As he walked his eyes shifted from side to side, mentally taking note of the police presence in the lobby. So far there only seems to be the occasional straggler, but any of the civilians could be undercover detectives.

He took out his credit card and smiled at the young lady at the computer. "Hello, miss. My name is Joshua Steele, I want to check out."

The young lady nodded. "Sure thing." Her fingers flew across the keyboard then stopped. "Okay, do you have your room key?" Mason handed it to her with a smile. "Okay, sir. It'll be two-hundred-and sixty-three dollars."

Mason paid with his credit card then nodded at the woman. "You have a nice night."

He managed to make it out of the front doors with no problems and once outside he turned left. While he walked he took out his wallet, pulled out all his ID and credit cards then threw them into a nearby trash bin. Tomorrow he will be another person within America going about his usual business.