Reuel appeared at the bar almost instantly after Nathan entered it. The angel's face was red with anger and he was definitely shaking with it.

"What are you doing?" He demanded as a form of greeting.

The mastermind just shrugged in reply. He went to the bar and started setting out a glass. He took a random bottle and poured.

"Mourning," he finally replied.

"Mourning," Reuel scowled, "More like becoming the very man you chase."

"Excuse you?" Nate howled, "What have you been watching? Where were you during this whole mess? I'm improvising."

"And we both know how awful you are at that," Reuel replied, "Your thirst for revenge and Ms. Devereaux's return has made you blind to everything else around you."

"I'm trying to save her," Nate rolled his eyes, "I know I lost my temper but I was only trying to scare her."

"And how well did that work?" Reuel growled, "Did it achieve your goal? Is she back? Can you all be a happy family again?"

"No," Nate groaned.

"No," Reuel agreed, "And do you want to know why? Because they're not the same! They're all different. They don't play by the same rules anymore. They're stuck in a world where you no longer save them from themselves."

"I can still try," Nate explained.

"No," Reuel shook his head, "No you can't. The longer you put yourself through this the more and more you will become just like Damien Moreau."

"Then send me back!" Nate hollered, "Make certain it doesn't happen by sending me home! I didn't want to make that wish. I was just so sick of you being near. I didn't want any of this to happen. Send me back."

"I can't," Reuel sighed, "You haven't learned your lesson yet."

"What lesson?" Nate shouted.

"Only you can know that," the angel said, "but beware. The path you follow will lead you to a horrible place."

"Why?" The mastermind demanded, "If you're so smart, why am I changing too?"

"You already know the answer," he said, "With Ms. Devereaux you became a better man."

"And with Charlotte I'm becoming the worst," Nate groaned, "This isn't going to get better, is it?"

"If you leave them alone it will," Reuel smiled, "but we both know you won't. Poor Mr. Hardison will pay the price."

"What's going to happen to Hardison?" Nate demanded fearfully.

"You're going to kill him after he destroys himself."

Then the angel was gone before Nate could question further.

The mastermind threw a few bottles of liquor in agitation of the angel's escape. He screamed and howled and crashed stuff with his temper only increasing as he went. Thunder was pounding on his chest and fire was barreling through his veins. He understood that he what he was turning into. But he would never hurt the hacker, his protégé and in many ways his own son. That was where he would never cross the line.

"Get back here!" Nate shouted into the air. He was staring at the ceiling as if it were the answer to his prayers. "We're not finished yet!"

"Who are you talking to?"

Nate stared at the blonde thief in complete and utter shock. She wasn't even doing her normal thing of hanging upside down. She was standing in the doorway with alarm all over her features. She even looked like she cared. And in this world, Parker didn't care.

"What?" Nate stuttered.

"Who are you talking to?" She asked, "I heard you screaming when I landed and I thought I would check."

"You were checking up on me?" Nate asked, stunned beyond belief. Sophie had taught her how to check on people and their feelings.

"I've upset you," Parker groaned, "At least I think I've upset you. Charlotte told me that people frown when they're upset and you look upset."

"Charlotte's been helping you with your emotions?" Nate demanded in amazement. He could almost swear his heart was soaring and his head was swirling. "You've been talking to her about that kind of stuff?"

"Am I not supposed to be doing that?" Parker asked, "Don't you get in good with the hostage in order to better break them?"

"Yeah," Nate chuckled, "Yeah that works. It's just… uh… I'm glad you're learning about emotions."

"So who were you talking to?" The thief demanded, "You sounded angry… was it angry? Yeah, you were angry!"

"Huh?" Nate said then he remembered, "Oh! Right! No, I was just… yelling for the sake of yelling."

"Oh," Parker nodded, "Ok! I totally get that! I'm gonna go rob some banks… so, bye!"

The thief actually walked towards the door like she had been doing it for years. She didn't do a series of flips or twirling through the bar beams. No, she physically walked herself to the door without a flourish or any sign of her usual actions. Then she stopped and turned around.

"You know," she said, "When I was little I was visited by this guy who told me he was some sort of angle. Maybe it was angel but that's not really important because he was lying anyways. He told me that I was meant for great things."

"What did he tell you?" Nate asked.

"That I was meant for great things," Parker shrugged, "but he's not the only person to lie to me."

"Parker," Nate sighed, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because he had a funny name," the thief replied, "His name was Reuel. Isn't that funny? Anyways, you should remember that. Bye!"

"Wait," Nate called after the thief, "What was that all about?"

"To tell you a funny story," Parker shrugged, "Hardison wants to show me stuff about hacking later. Bye now!"

And just like that, the thief was gone.

Nate stared after her in complete shock. He didn't know what to do about that girl. Every time he thought he had her figured out at least a little bit, she would do something to throw him for a loop. He smiled at how little she changed. Her eyes were actually glinting today. She even smiled and she asked about his feelings before getting side-tracked. She was talking to Charlotte too.

Nate raced into the apartment with a determined grin on his face. He took a quick look on the clock and went straight for the grifter's room. He barged through the door as if it wasn't there at all. He looked out for the grifter and stared at what he found.

She was crying. Well, it looked like she was crying. Her shoulders were twitching and she was clinging to a picture like it was the only lifeline she had. Of course, that changed when the door opened. She flung the picture to the side in her haste to appear normal and in a chipper mood. Unfortunately she was dealing with an expert in reading her. The poor thing didn't have a chance.

"Hello, Mr. Ford," she called, "You look in good spirits. Have you succeeded in ruining my family yet?"

Nate thought about all the ways he could tell her what he saw. He thought about telling her she would be alright. He even stepped forward a bit to squeeze her tight and promise to never let go. But Charlotte wasn't allowed to show her emotions like Sophie was. Charlotte wasn't free to argue with him about which parts of her life could be shared.

Mrs. Moreau wasn't his. That was the problem.

"You're going to see him again," he said instead, "I promise."

Charlotte chuckled humorlessly at that.

"Where have I heard that before?" She asked.

The mastermind shook his head at her horrid thoughts. He walked towards her with his eyes connecting to hers the whole time. He stooped low without breaking eye contact and picked up the photograph with two fingers. He returned to his full height and handed over the treasure she held close to her heart.

"He's never going to lie to you like that again," he replied, "We're going to make sure of it."

"We?" She smiled genuinely towards him.

"We," Nate agreed.

Then just as their lips were mere inches apart. He winked and turned away. His signature move made him feel more like himself and he was pretty certain the grifter was staring after him in disbelief. So he decided to add to the effect.

"Come on," he called, "We're stealing your son!"

And the con was on.