Mike followed Nel's directions for twenty minutes. When they started to get close, she turned around in her seat and started to rifle through the few items he had in his backseat. He raised an eyebrow. "If you're looking for a smoke…"

She scoffed, her seatbelt off and her body half-over the seat. Her hip brushed against the man's shoulder. He tried not to scowl but failed. "Hardly. I need something to cover my face when I walk in – in case Joseph's near." She paused and glanced over her shoulder, well aware of her butt being next to his face now as she searched his car in an awkward position. "You know, since my hair is so definable?"

Mike kept his gaze on the road for cars, hostile ex's, and cops. "I've got a jacket in the trunk I'll pull for you. Now sit down." The last part came out in a growl.

Reluctantly, she did as he instructed. As an added bonus, she put her seatbelt on. Brushing her hair gingerly from her face, glad that the bruise wasn't visible from his side, she sighed. "The visit shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes." She confessed. "Then we can leave, I'll pay you, and you can be on your tired, merry way."

Mike shot her a sideways glance, his brow raised slightly. "And your threat?"

"If all goes well, he'll be dead by dinner." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, hoping to read his reaction.

Mike just nodded. Well, Nel thought, that was disappointing. They drove a few more blocks in silence before she pointed to a building. "That one." It looked as normal as the rest, a way to blend in. He pulled off to the side and looked around. Nel evidently caught the same idea as she didn't move just yet, her one-eyed gaze traveling as well.

When he felt it was safe, he got out of the car and popped the trunk. It took little time for him to grab his jacket before returning to the car. "You don't think it'd look more suspicious to walk in with a coat over your head?" He asked as he handed her the item.

Nel shrugged as she took it. "Honestly it would have been better to have a scarf or something, but this'll work." She paused, frowning suddenly. "Perhaps…you should join me." Her blue eye flickered to the building, then at him. "It's not that I don't trust my contact, but his loyalties only extend to the end of a favor he owes." Joseph might be inside, in other words.

Mike nodded without hesitation. He turned off his car and briefly touched his gun at his side. "Ready?" He asked when she had the coat over her head.

"As ready as E.T. was to jump off a cliff." She mumbled before stepping out. Luckily the trip, unlike E.T., was far shorter. Within thirty seconds, they entered the building. She pulled the coat off and grinned. "Not bad." She mumbled. As she made to hand him his coat back, she grimaced.

One of the buttons had caught a curl. Nel's face warmed considerably and turned a shade of pink. "If you laugh, you won't see a penny." She threatened sharply.

Mike looked over and had to bite back a grin. Instead he grumbled with the same neutral expression, "E.T. never had hair to be a problem." He noticed a trend though. She was mortified at being mortified; she was embarrassed at being embarrassed. More to the point, she hated to be seen as weak or humiliated. It explained her hiding in the shadows last night, her blush at his observation of her black eye, and this.

Nel scoffed softly and her shoulders weren't quite as tense as his fingers worked to undo the tangle. Although it couldn't have lasted any more than thirty seconds, it felt longer. She stood and brushed her hair back, cautious of her side. "Wait here." She started up the staircase.

"And if your ex is waiting for you up there?" Wherever 'there' was, given the several flights of stairs.

She leaned over the rail and studied him for a moment. A smile broke out onto her face. "I'll shout." When Mike's unamused face didn't change, she sighed. "Alright, fine, if I'm not back down in…four minutes, come up to room 528." Without waiting for his response, she darted up the stairs.

Luckily it was three minutes and forty-three seconds before she came down the stairs once more. From the sound of her footsteps, not quite rushed but definitely quick, he suspected she wasn't running away from her friend. There was no stomping either to indicate anger - as Nel was rather apt at expressing her emotions. Perhaps things had gone well.

When he looked up at the staircase, their gaze met. She grinned slowly. Without a word, she nodded to the door and started her way over to it. He followed, wondering if it was such a smart idea to walk out without cover. Well, he thought, he was her cover.

When the pair got into the car without incident, he glanced around once more. It was only when her seatbelt clicked in did he look at her. She was still grinning. It was tempting to inquire, but Mike knew well enough. Instead, he grinned a bit himself and started the car.

When she had given him his money, he had inquired what she might do if her plan failed. That is, would she call him back if Joseph wasn't...taken care of by her friend? Nel had only smiled and wished him a good life. He noticed, however, that her smile made her eye a bit brighter.

Mike took the good wish, the money, and left. That was it, he figured. That was the end of that job.

And he was right...yet...he wasn't. Not quite. While the job was complete, it would not be the last time he saw Nel.

A couple of months passed. He found new jobs, ran into new problems, got a beating that felt like two. His granddaughter and daughter-in-law were safe now, that was the important part. He was worn out and tired, but he felt satisfied in that regard. He had a new obsession in his offtime, sure, but for now, for that night, he wanted to drink a beer, watch some mind-numbing television, and then sleep.

Except when he opened his door and turned on the light, the last thing he expected to see was...Nel standing at the couch, her hip pressed against the chair. She was wearing a grin that looked nervous and awkward, her hands were up in a show of peace. His first thought, of all things, was to notice how well the bruises had faded and how bright her eyes were.

His second thought was for his hand to go for his gun.