St Louis, Missouri, Saint Louise University Hospital, 2019

As Luke slowly awoke through another groggy haze, he remembered where he was and reached his hand out. "Dad?"

"I asked him to slip out for a bit." The voice brought Luke instantly back to consciousness.

Agent Williams, looking tired with dehydrated skin stretched across a furrowed brow, leaned up against the far wall. He was sun burned too, Luke noticed; perhaps from spending hours outside while working to hunt them down.

"Come to finish the job?" Luke resentfully asked with darkened eyes. He wished his voice wasn't still so raspy. It made him sound weaker than he would have liked. "I did what you people asked, okay? It's not my fault the guards found me…"

"Finish the job…?" Agent Williams repeated. "I'm not sure what you mean."

Luke wanted to scream out his rage that they'd lied about Leo. Various threats and furious expletives crossed his mind, but he couldn't risk letting on he knew where Leo was. Besides, he knew such words would just be wasted on Williams.

The agent's eyes met Luke's. "Are you talking about the man who visited your cell?"

"So you do know?"

Williams nodded. "I checked the prison surveillance cameras on a hunch. We have a picture, so there's a chance we'll be able to identify him."

Luke smirked. "Yeah right! He said his name is Agent Lin. I doubt that's true. He had a very unFBI-like tattoo of a snake down his left arm and I recognized him from the day of the murders. Marsden called him Garrett. But if your capture history's anything to go on, then the likelihood is you won't find him."

Luke was surprised when Williams didn't argue the point. With a beaten look, he simply sagged onto the stool by Luke's bed. "You know where Leo is… don't you?"

Luke turned his head to look the other way.

"It's okay," the agent continued with a slight smile. "You don't have to tell me. I'm just glad he's safe, that's all…"

Luke regarded Williams carefully before stating, "You lied to me."

Williams nodded.

"When I asked you about Leo's health you told me he was fine. But you couldn't have known that, Agent Williams, now could you? Since Leo had already snuck out of the hospital by then!"

"So you do know where he is."

Luke internally cursed his runaway mouth and hugged his arms into himself.

Shit!

Agent Williams held up both his arms in a motion of surrender. "Don't look so worried, Luke. Like I said… I'm glad he's safe."

Luke couldn't help asking. It was his naturally curious nature. "How did you know?"

Again the agent smiled. "The first words out of your mouth, back in that interrogation room, were always to ask about your son, Luke. I suspect if you were still worried for him, this next little meeting of ours wouldn't have gone much different. As it is… you didn't ask. So you see how I can make my assumption…"

Luke did see, and he shuddered at how easy it was to unwittingly give away vital information simply by the things not said.

"You know, Luke?" The agent shifted on the stool like he was getting comfortable. "Ever since I was a little kid I was fascinated by the law. I knew I wanted to be a federal agent from the age of 13. I gave up everything for the job. I believed in everything the bureau stood for - Fidelity… Bravery… Integrity."

"You're breaking my heart," Luke scathingly replied.

Ignoring him, Williams continued. "That is… I believed it until your husband paid me a visit last night."

Luke blinked; unsure he'd heard right. Distrust built quickly and he glared at Williams.

Does he really think I'm gonna fall for that?"

"He told me the same story you did," Williams continued.

"If that's true, then where's Noah now?" Luke asked, trying to appear impassive while his mind raced.

Adrian smiled, rubbing the back of his head. "Like you said… my capture history's not the best…"

"You must think I'm really fucking stupid!" Luke spat. "Noah would never do something so risky. He's not crazy!"

Adrian nodded. "Not your Noah, no… but… soldier Noah is a whole other kettle of fish… As I think you've always suspected he might be."

Luke's heart thudded. "What do you mean?"

"I am sorry, Luke, believe me," Williams said, seemingly sincere. "I made a mistake and I admit that. After you were found in your cell, I released news to the press that you died."

The words hit Luke hard. "You what?"

"I think..." Williams continued, "...that in his current state of mind, Noah will pretty much risk anything."

Oh no… Noah…

"You son of a bitch!" Luke breathlessly seethed. "How could you do this? Oh my God!" Luke threw his head back into the pillow, not even flinching from the pain in his neck. "He's gonna to get himself killed because of you!"

Again Williams nodded apologetically. "That's why I need your help, Luke. This situation is very desperate; and right now Noah is out there thinking his life's pretty much done. I imagine the only thing keeping him going is your son… But… there's no telling what he'll do to achieve his goal..."

Suddenly, when he realized where Williams was headed, Luke cynically laughed and burned holes in Agent Williams with his glare. "As much as I'd like to believe this quick turnaround of yours Agent Williams, I think you're lying! Just like the FBI lied about the events in Oakdale and just like Agent Lin lied about Leo so I'd hurt myself!

"I promise you, Luke. This is no trick. I believe you and Noah and I think I know how to help. But my first priority is making sure you and your family are safe."

Luke folded his arms and shook his head. It would be so easy to believe Williams. A part of him hoped to God the agent was on the level. But experience had already taught him to tread carefully where the bureau was concerned. Luke wasn't about to give away anything that could come back to bite him later on.

God, but Noah must be going crazy!

"I understand your anger." Williams said, taking Luke's silence as his answer. "But just think about it, okay? You're the only one who can get Noah to come in voluntarily."

"Are you going to tell the press the truth?"

Williams thought for a moment and then shook his head. "I'd like to… for Noah's sake. But, at the same time… it's perhaps best for your safety, those pulling the strings still believe you're dead."

"I don't give a fuck about me, Agent Williams! I think I proved that when I hung myself! If what you say is true… and you really believe us then… please… help him!"

"I have to do what I think is right for both of you. If you agree to help me bring Noah in then, of course, the press will be alerted so you can be interviewed on camera. But until then I'm going to keep you safe, whether you want me to or not."

Luke swallowed back the tears. "I want to see my Dad."

"Luke, please… try to consider…"

"What?" Luke snapped. "Trusting you? I can't do that Agent Williams! I hope you mean what you're saying… and if you do then I hope to God you figure all this out. But if you think I'm going to let you play me so you can get your hands on my husband, then you don't know me very well at all!"

It looked as though Agent Williams might argue again but then he stopped.

"I'd like to see my father now, please," Luke finished.

Agent Williams sighed, nodding at Luke before leaving the room.

It wasn't long before Holden entered; a look on his face so grave, Luke suddenly realized what must have happened to the whole family.

"I'm so sorry, Dad," Luke told him. "You thought I was dead?"

Holden nodded. "For a moment. Yes… we did."

Luke sat up as a thought hit him. "And Leo? Does he think-"

"No…" Holden quickly assured him. "We didn't tell the younger kids. We wanted to give Noah some time to clear your names first."

Luke sighed in relief. "Thank God."

Holden took a seat beside his son. "But, Luke… Noah…"

"I know…" Luke whispered; breath shuddering. "Shit, Dad! I keep thinking how I'd feel if I thought Noah was dead… and…" Luke thought for a moment and looked into his father's eyes. "Noah scares me, Dad."

Holden's eyes widened in surprise. "He's violent?"

"Oh no! No!" Luke quickly clarified. "Nothing like that! It's just… if things were swapped and I was the one thinking Noah was dead, I'd cry and scream and suffer through. I'm not sure I'd make it, but that would be my reaction. Do you understand what I mean?"

Holden nodded, not wanting to speak and break Luke's train of thought.

"But… Noah… Noah compartmentalizes things, Dad. When emotion gets too much for him, he has this thing he does… like…"

"What are you most afraid of, Luke?"

A small hurt sound escaped Luke's throat. "I'm worried he'll do something he can't come back from… I'm worried that… even if Noah survives this… I'll still lose him."

Holden sympathetically rubbed Luke's bicep. "So… you know him better than anybody. What's his next move?"

As Luke considered this his eyes flew wide open and his heart sank. "He'll head for the source!" Luke reached over to grab Holden's shoulders. "Dad! He'll go after Senator Marsden!"