The day lingered. Brock felt like a haze had settled on him. A fog that was suddenly inescapable. It was like being one or two seconds behind the rest of the world. Sound carried in a way that reminded him of being underwater. Everything seemed delayed but he knew he was just reacting slower than he should be. It took longer to sort his thoughts they lingered like the day and festered like an injury that had become dull. It was an ache he was sure would never subside.

His skin tingled lightly the fabric of his shirt seeming rougher than cotton ever should. Everything was both muted and intrusive at the same time. He tried to focus and maintain his composure but was almost completely lost when he heard Sonny yell.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU HAVE TO BE TOLD?" The Texan was enraged and both Ray and Jason were standing between him and the same deputy Brock had thought kind earlier.

"Sir, I need you to calm down. The reason I'm asking is." The deputy started before being cutoff.

"We know why." Jason interrupted the man. "But we're telling you that no, there is no way he is a danger to the public, he wouldn't hurt anyone."

"Just himself." Brock said it softly. It was the first time he'd spoken in what felt like hours although he had no idea how long it had actually been. "Do you think he's already gone? It's getting dark and we've spent the whole day here hoping for what? He isn't going to walk back through the door and all I can think about is who's going to tell his Mom."

"Brock." Ray stepped forward.

"No it's okay Ray. No one has to say it. It's me. You have the Vet Center, Sonny is helping Stella with Brian, Jace is still cleaning up the TBI mess with the brass and oh God it's me... It's going to be me. It will. I'll box this place up and I'll tell his Mom. It will be me and fuck. It's going to be me." Brock slumped back into a chair leaning forward to cradle his face in his hands. "I want to go to the beach and watch the waves. I want to take Pepper for a run. I want to be anywhere but here because I feel like I'm suffocating and crawling out of my fucking skin. It's me."

The deputy spoke softly to Jason before stepping outside.

Ray moved closer squatting in front of him. "Brock you won't do this alone. I promise you that."

"Hey now why are we talkin' like he's gone. This is all gonna turn out alright. A big misunderstanding is all." Sonny motioned toward the kitchen table as though Trent's affairs weren't displayed in order for them all.

"Son, we gotta be ready for anything here." Jason looked down at his boots.

"No. No Jace we don't. We need to go find Trent. We need to kick his ass and bring him home. Enough of this waitin' around shit." Sonny clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Where do we even start to look Sonny?" Brock looked up at him through silent tears.

"Shenandoah National Park." The deputy stepped back inside. "They found his truck."

"That's what a couple hundred thousand acres..." Ray looked to the deputy who nodded sadly. "Seems sort of like a needle in a haystack to me."

"Because you don't have Pep." Brock stood with determination in his eyes.

"The National Park Service is organizing a search at first light." The deputy looked around the room. "You should get some sleep maybe."

"To hell with that. We'll go now." Sonny was shaking his head.

"You will do no such thing." Blackburn's arrival had gone mostly unnoticed.

"Eric." Jason turned to argue.

"No comms, ISR, weapons, gear, support. We don't need the four of you tumbling down a mountainside." Eric spoke sternly. "First light. And you can all consider that an order."

Brock stepped toward the door. "I need to not be here." Stopping he turned to the pictures of Bravo. Sent a silent prayer to Clay and Metal to look out for Trent. The pain in the pit of his stomach told him this was a recovery. He knew the Park Service would look for him now if they believed for a moment he would walk back out of those woods. Tomorrow the would bring Trent home.

"Then let's go." Jason's hand on his shoulder was the first real thing he had felt in hours. It made him want to crumble and collapse in on himself but instead he leaned into the comfort it was meant to provide.

"First light. Turks Mountain parking lot." Eric nodded as he left.

"What now, Boss?" Sonny turned to Jason.

"Now we wait for dawn." Walking to his truck Jason turned waiting for them to follow.