Over two hours had passed since his arrest and Eliot found himself alone in an interrogation room. The officer who had cuffed him excused himself for a phone call, leaving Eliot sitting cuffed to the chair. He passed the time staring at the two way mirror, trying to guess how many people stood behind it and pinpointing their locations.

Finally the officer reentered the room. "Good news- witness testimonies and surveillance video confirmed you never left that room. We will be dropping the charges."

Eliot's tongue rolled across his teeth before he spoke. "BUT you're not cutting me loose."

"No," the officer sat across from him, "we don't have any charges against you- but your prints caught the attention of the FBI. They have two agents en route to collect you any minute."

A sigh erupted from Eliot's chest as his eyes closed and his head bowed.

"I'll see that they keep you updated on your sister's condition," the officer assured him as he laid his hand on the table. Eliot nodded when a knock on the door disrupted them.

"Guess that's them." The officer stood and went to open the door.

"We're from the Bureau…" a familiar voice echoed in the room. Eliot looked at the door quickly. Parker and Hardison stood in the doorway flashing FBI badges.

"Agent Hagen… this is Agent Thomas…" Parker introduced. "We're here to pick up."

"Yes, Spencer right in here. I was just telling him." The officer invited them into the room with a wave.

"Eliot Spencer, we've been looking for you for quite a while," Hardison taunted as he entered.

The relief of seeing his friends overran the confusion in Eliot's mind. He didn't know how they knew to follow him, but he knew it saved him from a messy bit of work.

"Nothing to say?" Hardison ripped. He was met by narrowing eyes. Eliot may have been relieved to see them, but his sense of humor was gone in the chaos of the day's events.

"He is all yours. I did promise him that I would make sure you kept him updated on his sister's condition. She was assaulted earlier," the officer began.

"You arrested him on suspicion of that act," Parker stated.

"Well, yeah, but we've cleared him of it. I just feel criminal or not, that he deserves to know."

"We will make sure to do that," Hardison answered with a quick finger point. He looked at Eliot's cuffed wrist and began rolling his finger in the air above it.

"Right," the officer approached and opened the cuff. "Thank you, Agent Thomas."

Eliot stood up as Parker pulled her own pair of handcuffs out. She began to place them on his wrists.

"These better have a key," he whispered in a growling voice.

Parker smiled slyly as she snapped the cuffs closed, leaving him standing with his wrists pulled tight across his front.

Outside the police department, Parker ushered Eliot into the back of a dark van labeled transport. Hardison continued talking to the cops until she had finished. She cleared her throat to prompt him.

"Keep up the good work," Hardison saluted as he turned on heel and made his way to the driver's seat. Parker nodded and leapt into the passenger seat.

All three waited until Hardison cleared the lot before speaking. Eliot sat on the sideways facing bench seat, looking around when Parker slid the partition between the front and back aside to allow communication.

"Duffel under the seat- key and clothes," she stated.

Eliot reached beneath the seat, removed the duffel and placed it on the seat next to him. He dug the key out and began to open the cuffs.

"How the hell did you know?" he demanded as he opened the second cuff.

"It's a gift," Hardison smiled.

"Hardison… I may be grateful but it doesn't mean I won't hit you."

"Right," Hardison swallowed. "My monitors received several pings when your flight took off. Someone opened your police file and your military record- I mean the SEALED one. That sent more than a few bad feelings going. We came straight here. The moment we landed, Dillon called to tell us you'd been arrested. I hacked the police communications and intercepted their messages to the FBI. Neither side will know you're missing for a while."

"What the hell is going on?" Eliot pulled the hospital scrubs and ID card out of the bag. "Scrubs?"

"You want to see Jesse, don't you?" Parker asked.

"Did you see her? How is she?" Eliot dropped the scrubs in his lap as he talked.

Parker and Hardison stared at each other silently for a minute.

"She was in bad shape, man. Some really bad injuries including some trauma were mentioned. Head trauma was in there. She's in a coma. I'm sorry," Hardison explained.

Parker stared at Eliot who froze at the thought. His eyes widened, his breath stopped and he paled.

"She's in ICU. Problem is half that hospital saw you get arrested and you're supposed to be in FBI custody. You can't exactly just walk in there to see her," Hardison reasoned.

Eliot swallowed, staring down at the scrubs. "So I have to sneak in… to see my own sister."

"That's not the worst of it."

"How does it get worse?" Eliot flinched as he said it, knowing it could get worse.

"A letter was delivered while we spoke with Dillon and your folks. It was addressed to Spencer. Your mom read a bit before your dad took it. The phrases 'white hat', 'turn coat' and 'double cross' were mentioned, as well as 'being imprisoned by a former associate'."

Eliot's eyes grew fifty percent in size as the phrases registered.

"Before you ask, I already checked. Moreau is still secure in lockdown, but we know that doesn't mean he can't be calling the shots," Hardison continued.

A choke escaped Eliot's throat. "I did put her in the back of the truck."

"Eliot, don't…" Parker began.

"Don't tell me it's not my fault. Moreau was my fault. If I hadn't gotten involved in his operation in the first place- she'd be fine." Eliot kicked the opposing seat in frustration.

"Ay, hey… this is a rental, man!" Hardison barked. "Let's just focus. We can do this."

Eliot sighed, "Yeah." He began untying his boots as Parker slid the partition nearly closed, allowing enough gap to hear.

"So if Moreau is still locked up- he has to have someone out here doing the dirty work… and someone back there to relay messages," Parker reasoned.

"There wasn't anyone left of the original crew when we locked him up- he has to have new guys," Eliot replied as he slid his boots off.

'Which leaves us nowhere, San Lorenzo insists no one has visited Moreau or spoken to him without supervision placed by Flores. We have no way of narrowing the search to find the guy on this end," Hardison sighed.

"So much for an advantage over the cops," Parker muttered. She slid the partition just enough to stick her arm through. An earbud lay in her open palm.

"Thanks." Eliot snatched the earbud between his fingers and slid it in his ear as Parker closed the partition once more. "We'll just have to do it the hard way."

"Come again?" Hardison groaned.

Eliot tightened the waist on his pants as he tied the drawstring. He pulled his outer shirt off. "We have to draw him out."

"And how do we do that?"

"We know what he wants…" Eliot paused as he pulled the scrubs top over his head. "Hardison…"

"What?"

"Where are they?"

"Should be at the hospital, why?"

"He won't strike as long as the cops are crawling around," Eliot breathed and finished pulling the top down over his head.

"Um, the cops processed your truck and moved on."

"Dammit, Hardison! You left them alone with this guy?"

Hardison scoffed, "Thank you for rescuing me, but you should have left me for some unknown danger. Seriously, man, we know better. We called in some back up." He smiled.

Eliot made his way toward Jesse's room. He was grateful that Hardison had taken note of the room number so he wouldn't have to ask. Even with his scrubs and his hair shoved up into a surgeon's cap- he didn't think he could fool the attendant still manning the reception desk.

As he stepped over the threshold, he took a deep breath and exhaled sharply. His steps slowed to take in the view gradually. Jesse lay in the bed, a blanket pulled over her chest leaving only her arms and from her shoulders up visible. Her arms were bruised; several fingers were swollen or broken altogether. A gauze wrapped bandage did little to cover the swollen, bruised and cut up face. Her chest rose and fell to the pulses of the machines behind her. The entire scene caused him to lose his breath.

"Nice outfit," the familiar drawl teased. He turned to face the voice. Dark Dockers, a pale blue polo, a cocky grin and a loose, curled blonde ponytail on a tall frame met his eyes.

"Quinn," he stated.

"Eliot Spencer… trouble seems to stalk you," Quinn smiled as he rubbed his right hand across his left knuckles.

"A habit I plan to quit."

"Honestly, I'm sorry about your sister. Looks like she doled out some before… you know. Pretty impressive," he admitted as he approached. Eliot finally noticed his family sitting in the corner of the room.

"I taught her a few things," he added absently.

"It shows."

Eliot stared at the corner a moment. "Thank you for doing this."

Quinn grinned, "Hardison called- said you needed help. I was in Dallas and figured what the hell. Being able to say Eliot Spencer owes me one, better than cash any day- not that I'm not getting paid too."

A slight smile tugged the corner of Eliot's mouth as he nodded.

"I'll be over here," Quinn pointed toward the doorway as he spoke. He clapped Eliot's shoulder and stepped aside.

Evelyn and William left their seats in the corner to speak to Eliot.

"Honey," Evelyn sniveled as she hugged him. "I'm glad they straightened it all out and let you go."

"Uh, yeah something like that," Eliot responded.

"With that getup- I'm going to guess no one knows you're here. Do we want to know why?" William growled.

"Long story and probably not," Eliot answered. "Can you give me a minute?"

They both nodded and shuffled over to the door by Quinn as Eliot approached Dillon, who was curled up in a chair.

'Hey, kiddo, how are you doing?"

Dillon shrugged. His eyes were red and puffy. His gaze was locked on his hands, fiddling with a stone weight.

"What have you got there?" Eliot asked.

"Mom gave it to me a couple years ago..." Dillon held out his palm to display a carved stone deer, "she said it had something to do with family and safety."

Eliot pinched the head of the deer in his fingers and flipped it over to see a cross scratched into the left hind quarter. He choked on a laugh despite himself.

"I know, I gave it to her," he sighed.

"Really?" Dillon sniffled.

"Yeah," Eliot picked it up as he sat next to Dillon. "I was eight, I think, and your momma was four or five. We used to wander an artisans' faire in the park near our house on weekends. A little old woman carved these and we would sit and watch her for hours. Your mom wanted one but she couldn't buy it obviously. I think I walked every dog in a two mile radius eight times over to afford it- but I did it. It was a way for her to remember that we were a family and nothing would destroy that. I didn't realize she had kept it so long."

"She said if I hold it when I'm scared, I'll be safe."

Eliot handed the deer back to Dillon. "That's the story."

"I shouldn't have it. If she would have kept it…" Dillon cried.

"She gave it to you for a reason, Dillon. She loves you and she wants you to be safe. Much as it hurts, she would be worse off if anything happened to you. You should keep it- but maybe keep it close to her," Eliot lowered his voice as he leaned in to say the last line.

"Okay," Dillon sniffed as he ran the back of his hand across his face. "Uncle Eliot?"

"Yeah?"

Dillon hugged him. "I love you."

"Same here, kiddo." Eliot wrapped his right arm around him a moment before Dillon pulled back.

"Are you gonna find this guy?"

"You bet… and he won't hurt anyone again."

"Good. I wish I could help."

"I do need your help. Quinn is going to stay here with you to keep you safe. I know you'll listen to him, but Grandma and Grandpa aren't going to want to… I need you to help him keep them safe. They'll listen to you."

"I'll do my best."

"Good boy. Alright, I need to talk to them for a bit. I want you to go with Quinn and get something to eat. Your momma's not gonna be happy when she wakes up if you haven't eaten."

Dillon laughed, "She would be mad."

Eliot smiled, "Then you better get."

After shoving the deer back into his pocket, Dillon scampered to the door. He told them what Eliot said about eating. Quinn nodded Eliot's way and led Dillon down the hall toward the cafeteria. William and Evelyn made their way back toward Eliot as he made his way across the room.

"I wanted to apologize. This is my fault- all of it," Eliot began.

'What the hell are you talking about, boy?" William sniped.

"Hardison told me about the letter…"

"That letter wasn't for you, boy. It ain't your fault. It's mine."

"What?" Eliot was lost.

William inhaled sharply. "It's a long story, boy, and one I guess is long overdue in telling. No point in hiding it now." He walked over to the chair by the window; Evelyn sat on the window ledge behind him.

"You better sit, honey," she advised. Eliot took the chair across from them.

"That night before you left… we had that big fight about you joining the military…" William sighed.

"I remember. You hated the military," Eliot replied dryly.

"I gave you that impression, but it wasn't true. Truth is- I'm a 21 gun salute breath holding patriot through and through. Part of me couldn't have been prouder of your decision. I served myself."

Eliot's eyes grew wide. "But…"

William wagged a finger at him to hush. "Let me finish. I joined when I turned eighteen, Army Rangers as a matter of fact. In my late twenties, I found myself on a special unit- commonly called black ops nowadays- a preventive strike unit. Our leader was a man named Harold Brixton. We were all over the world. No one was better. We got orders to strike this forest compound without prejudice. Arms dealers and warlords the intel said. Suppose now they would have said terrorists. Anyway, we hit the compound. We were halfway through the building before we realized the intel was wrong. The men around us were not armed soldiers; they were diplomats for a revolutionary sect. Brixton had forged the orders because he perceived the sect as a threat."

Evelyn placed her hand on his shoulder.

"You never said any of this…" Eliot swallowed.

"Of course not and I'll tell you why. After we realized what happened, we pulled out- all of us. The military did their best to cover the situation. We admitted to all of it. Since we were following what we thought were orders, we were granted special provisions. For our honesty, we were given silent discharges and were allowed to keep military medical services until we could find outside employ. No dishonor but we lost our pensions and our records were expunged. Brixton was ruled incompetent to stand trial for his crimes and was locked away in some asylum. He was so delusional and paranoid- I don't know how it was missed for so long. Anyway, I found myself back home, no work history and with plenty of demons in my head. I couldn't handle it. Your mother tried to temper them but I couldn't undo anything I did. I decided I had to start fresh- get away from everything I had known. Your mother understood that and supported me. She uprooted herself and came with me here. I never told a soul about my military background. Your mother became my crutch. My whole life was her- taking care of her- and it worked for a while. She was so beautiful when she smiled. That smile could tame any demon. When she found out she was pregnant with you, her smile was never more beautiful. I knew that it meant I had two reasons to live."

Eliot swallowed knowing what came next. Evelyn covered her mouth as she felt her tears start.

"When she…" William started to tear up. "When she died in delivery- I lost myself. I wasn't sure how to continue. I couldn't help but believe it was the demons in my soul getting even with me. I became hollow."

The room grew eerily quiet as all three of them sat in silent tears.

"You saved me, Eliot, you and Evelyn. I returned home from work one day and found Evelyn trying to rock you to sleep. You had such a terrible colic those first months and fussed so much. I don't know how I would have handled you myself. Nanny or angel, I still don't know which one she is but she was a godsend. Something about that moment made me watch. I saw her gentle touch and coo as it soothed you. That eventual peace as you fell asleep… it struck me. I knew I still had a purpose. I had to protect that. I wouldn't let my demons ruin your life. Not that it worked. You may have your mother's eyes and smile, but you bleed me. I knew you would be a hard case when you clocked Frank that day… You took so much from him, but when he went after Jessica- I still hear that cop laughing about a grown man being owned by a little kid. I was proud as hell and just as scared. When you brought home that military folder your junior year- I was scared then too. I wanted to be your proud pop- but I knew they would see what I saw. I couldn't see those demons, that regret, in your eyes… your momma's eyes. I didn't know what to do, so I resisted. It probably pushed you into it, but it was all I could think. Sadly, all it seems to have done is cost me twenty years without my son. I couldn't even protect you from that… I know I saw it in your eyes that night on the porch. You've had your own regret and demons that now haunt you. I have to wonder if I could have spared you that if I had just been honest with you back then. I'm sorry." William broke down.

Eliot couldn't move as he processed everything he heard. His bottom lip quivered as he fought the tears.

Evelyn rolled her gaze toward him. "Eliot?"

He finally cracked. The tears flowed down his cheeks. She stood and rushed over to hug his face against her chest.

"I'm sorry, Eliot. I was wrong. I've been a complete ass. You deserved better, instead you got me- me and my 'BOY'. Now look at us. Jesse, you and my stubborn pride- what did I do?" William sighed.

Eliot composed himself as he slid Evelyn aside to look his father in the eye. "You did what you could. No one could ask more. You have all of us yet. You made mistakes- so have all of us. But you try to deal with them and protect those around you. Yeah, you may not have stopped me from finding my demons- but you sure as hell are showing me I can get past them just like you. You have Mom here, and Jesse… you did right there. And you have Dillon."

"Dillon loves to go fishing with me, but he idolizes YOU," William argued.

"You just said I am you. Dillon loves you. Let him see the real you and I think you'll see it too," Eliot corrected.

William nodded. "You know, it feels really good to get this out. I should have done this years ago." They all choked back a laugh.

Eliot scratched his brow a moment as he considered the life-altering conversation that was now winding down. The initial trigger still troubled him. "So the letter… how did you know it was for you?"

"White Hat was my tag. The letter was for me. I'm positive," William answered.

"Brixton upset enough to hire someone?"

"Possible… he is crazy enough."

"Um, (sniff) Eliot? He wouldn't need to…" Hardison's voice in the com startled Eliot as he realized it had been open the entire time.

Eliot pressed his finger against the com as he muttered, "Dammit, Hardison, you couldn't have said something to let me know you were listening!?"

Parker and Hardison glanced at each other in the van. Both were misty eyed at the conversation they had overheard.

"Yeah, sorry," Hardison choked.

"Now what do you mean?" Eliot sighed at the uselessness of scolding the two team members.

"Who are you…?" Evelyn began to ask but William shushed her.

"Brixton, I found him." Hardison hit a key on his laptop. "He was released from the asylum two years ago. He's out and free."

Eliot locked eyes with William as he clenched his teeth.

"What did you find?" William asked.

"Brixton's a free man- two years."

"And he's here- and he isn't looking to talk," William frowned as he looked at Jesse in the bed.

"No, he's not," Eliot agreed.