Merry Christmas from a tired post(wo)man.

Pritchard's first instinct was to yank Malik in to the apartment and close the door but that was not something he could pull out gracefully. Also, while she was certainly surprised of her find, it didn't necessarily mean she had any idea what kind of liability it was to know Jensen's whereabouts at the moment, so instead Pritchard just stepped on the side from the doorway and gestured towards his apartment to invite her in. He didn't like at all about how things were going, though there had been very little to like in the events of the last few days in any case.

On the other hand Malik had a sense of honor and was even somewhat protective and didn't always act by the book when it came to her friends. That much had became clear from the little episode she had dragged Jensen through in Hengsha related to an old friend of hers, and while Pritchard had been scoffing at their irresponsibility when he'd found out about it, he hadn't told to mister Sarif about the quality use of his top agent's time. Jensen was surely as much a friend of her as that girl had been and she would probably be on Jensen's side when hearing the truth of the matter.

That raised another question, why hadn't he himself contacted Sarif right after finding Jensen from his doorstep regardless of the plea to not do so. They certainly hadn't been friends. Had it been pity? Or perhaps curiosity towards what had been able to fell the supposed superhuman that way? It couldn't be that he had learned to trust Jensen's ability to judge situations, and thus assumed whatever the reason for his request was it would be a valid and honorable one. If there was any honor in the world left anymore. There was the worrying implication that he'd just cared about him as a friend, much for the same reasons he had been worried about him when he had gone out of grid for few days. He had worried way more than just an operator who had lost an agent he was supposed to support.

Pritchard realised he was over analyzing when he noticed Malik was already far in his apartment, heading towards the bedroom door since Jensen had greeted her from there. She stopped at the door frame and looked from barely blanket covered Jensen to Pritchard and back and the grin forming on her face told she'd made maybe the worst possible misassumption she could make.

"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" She asked with amusement clear in her voice.

"Good god, woman" Pritchard muttered while heading towards the other room as well. "If you need to know, Jensen is recuperating from a blackout that nearly killed him," he snarled while going to his desk to snatch the unfinished coffee. Jensen's chuckling didn't help his mood, the damn spybot dared to be amused of the misunderstanding.

"Sure, and he has to do it being naked in your bed?" Malik continued playfully either not believing the explanation or just teasing Pritchard's uncomfortable reaction, probably latter since she continued in more serious tone. "Does mister Sharif know? Last I heard he sent you on vacation. I'm sure he'd want to offer support regardless of the problem you have."

"Mister Sharif doesn't know where I am and I want to keep it that way." Jensen stated with his usual gruff manner. "I'm actually on the run from him. I tried to resign from his service and in response he shut down my systems saying I was too valuable tool to loose. I don't even fully know how I was able to escape."

There was surprise and maybe a bit of horror on Malik's face but since she was not saying anything back, a proof in itself that she was shocked as she usually had always a comment for everything, Pritchard continued the explanation.

"I found him near death from my door the other night, choosing me over your place being a sure sign he hadn't been thinking straight."

"Not necessarily the worst choice, seeing how he seems to be alive and well," Malik mused. "Besides I wouldn't have been at home anyway, that night I was busy flying mister Sari… Damn!"

She looked at Jensen apologetically. "I just realised the big crate mister Sharif took back to Detroit with him from Panchaea must have contained you. I'm so sorry I didn't realise…"

"I don't blame you. It's not your job to doubt mister Sarif. At least I know now how I got back to Detroit."

"Guess you're right. So, what are you going to do now?"

"The less you know the better. Just forget you even saw me, it'll be better for you that way."

Jensen's suggestion was followed with a deep sigh. Pritchard gritted his teeth in annoyance for his typical 'I will handle this by myself' attitude. Jensen might have been the hero boy under normal circumstances but at the moment he should have welcomed every help his friends were ready to give. There was no denying there would probably be consequences but it was their own decision to make.

"Sorry to interrupt your little chat but the flygirl here was supposed to get me to work preferably in a speedy manner. I'll explain you the details on our way to the chopper." Pritchard emphasized his point of hurrying by draining his cup and near slamming it back on the desk. The others quit their talking and just looked at him.

"What, did I grow a pair of horns or something?" he snarled back while leaving the bedroom to head out. Malik let out a small laugh but Jensen actually sounded worried while shouting after him.

"Frank, don't go with that plan of yours. You'll never get past Margoulis."

Malik looked like he would have wanted to ask something but seemed to decide against it and instead turned to follow Pritchard who paused for a while. It had been rare for Jensen to call him by the name he liked to use, and the worry in his voice had seemed genuine instead of belittling.

"Fine, I'll see if we can figure out something better. In the meanwhile you could make yourself useful and try to find out more from that newsbot. I left the device in your reach and I'd assume even you can figure out how to use it."

Malik's curiosity seemed to get the better of her. "Newsbot? Do you mean..."

"Yeah, he was kind of saved by that bucket of bits, Eliza. Now shall we go?"

Pritchard answered while heading out of the door without leaving Malik any other choice but to follow. Jensen let out a heavy sigh again as he was left alone.