Marie checked her phone, only to see four missed calls from Skylar. As much as she wanted to pick up her phone and return her calls, she just couldn't do it. Not now.

Maybe in time she would be able to get past Skylar's role in Hank's death, but for right now, she just couldn't bring herself to forgive her. They'd been through so much together, but this- this was just too much to take in. Her husband was gone, and nothing Skylar could say or do would make this all right.

Of course, there were the kids to think about. Skylar would certainly have her hands full both protecting and comforting her children. And Marie certainly did care about her nephew and niece. Yes, she would check in on them, just not at that moment.

Just then there was a knock on her hotel room. She looked like shit, but she didn't care. Maybe it was someone who knew something-anything-about the whereabouts of her husband.

She opened the door cautiously, then opened it up when she saw that it was Hank's boss.

"Hello," she said softly as she allowed him to enter.

"Marie...I just came here to personally tell you how sorry I am for your loss. Hank was one of a kind, and he was a hell of an agent. More importantly, he was my friend. I know there's nothing I can say that will make this better, but I wanted to let you know that we are doing everything we can to...to find him. We will leave no stone unturned. Our hearts and thoughts and prayers are with you during this terrible time. Is there anything you need for us? Anything we can do, anything at all?"

"You can bring me my husband back!" with that, Marie started to shut the door, but he stopped her.

"Marie...there's one more thing you should know."

"Has Walt been caught?"

"No, I'm afraid not..."

"Then I don't see what you can possibly tell me that will make this all better!"

"Gomez is missing."

She stared at him for a minute, trying to comprehend what he'd just told her. "Gomez?"

"Yeah. We figure he was on a stakeout with Hank when Walter somehow managed to manipulate the situation. All we know is that White's on the run and two agents are missing..."

"Is there anything else I need to know?"

"No."

She finally shut the door and sat down on the edge of her bed. How many people had to die before Walt could be stopped?

0000

"Marie!"

Marie walked right past her sister and the bodyguard and looked around. "Flynn? Are you here?"

"Coming Aunt Marie!"

His eyes met hers apologetically, and he searched desperately for the right words to say. But nothing came to him.

Dectecting the sense of despair and helplessness from her nephew's demeanor, she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Flynn...I came to talk to you. Skylar has no say in this discussion. I want you to come stay with me."

He looked at his mom before answering. "I can't. My mom ..Mom needs me."

"What I think your mom needs is knowing that you and your sister are safe. I will do everything in my power to provide you both with the security that your mom obviously can't." With that, Marie shot her sister the dirtiest look she could muster.

"Marie.." Skylar approached her and took her by the arms."You're not thinking straight. I know you're hurting. But we all are. There is no way I'm going to lose my children, not now, not after everything we've been through."

"Don't touch me!" Marie angrily pulled away. "You don't get to choose anymore. You've made your decisions and you have to live with them. We all do. I couldn't be there for my husband, not when he needed me the most. But if you think for one minute that I'm going to stand by and watch you jeopardize your children's lives once again, you have another thought coming to you."

"Flynn, please go to your room. I need to talk to Aunt Marie for a minute," Skylar ordered.

"Marie," she continued once her son had obeyed her. "I know you're hurting and I get that you only want to protect my kids. I get that, I really do. But I can't put my kids through any more toil than what they've already been through. I need them."

"You need them? How selfish are you? You kept them in a house with that monster, just to feed your own feelings of security. You always say you pride yourself in being a good mother? Why don't you start being a real mother by doing right by them for the first time in a long, long time?"

The tension between the sisters was almost palatable. "You're not taking my children," Skylar said firmly.

"You know that Flynn and Holly are not safe. You know what your husband is capable of, more than anyone in this world. He kidnapped Holly! This time, he brought her back. But what about next time- and trust me- there will be a next time. I don't think Walt will be so giving the next time."

"Marie..." Skylar said, her voice softened and she placed her hand on Marie's arm again, this time in a very gentle manner. "Marie, I love you. Nothing will ever change that."

Marie wanted to yell, to scream, to lash out. But suddenly, to Skylar's surprise, she doubled over, clutching her stomach.

"Marie? Honey, are you okay?" With that, Skylar helped her sister over to the couch.

Still clutching her stomach, Marie shook her head. "I'm not okay. I'll never be okay as long as I live."

"Can I get you anything?"

"I don't..I don't really feel well. Would you mind if I laid down on your bed?"

"Of course. Let me help you."

Too overwhelmed to protest, Marie allowed Skylar to help her to the bed. Without another word, she pulled the blanket over her head and quickly fell asleep.

tbc