The Handler was still a step ahead of everyone. She had Diego and AJ as hostages, a bounty for Cielo's head, the entire Commission was under her control, and highly trained individuals targeting the Umbrella Academy. Any openings were sealed off with some backend deal she made in advance.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck! What do I do now? Okay I need to find Mister fish head- uh- Kraken. I need to find Kraken first. Ughh but he's going to be guarded by her daughter. I can't fight her daughter! She's scary enough for kidnapping Kraken, what the fuck am I suppose to go against that? Ughhh." She paced back and forth in front of the bulletin board. There was too much happening at once.

She was taught how to make prosthetics and how to make choices to help time persist. Not how to take down a dictator that killed her mentor and manipulates everyone that comes her way. Now without any formal power here, Cielo was her next target.

The silence was getting to her. Besides Five and Luther, she didn't have any human interaction today. While the latter was a bit friendlier, she was exhausted dealing with this mess. She wanted someone to take her spot. If not that, then give her a hand. She didn't want any of this.

"I'm in over my head. I need to get Kraken and just hope that he doesn't let the daughter kill me. Confirming his presence is enough to get the Umbrella Academy here. That's all I need." She held her briefcase close to her chest. "That's all I need."

She changed direction to head to the surveillance room. Careful of every corner that she had to cross. She didn't have to be silent to get around. She knew this place like the back of her hand. The patterns in the way people walk through the halls. Everyone tended to avoid this hallway in the west wing because it had no natural light and one of the lights flickered 2 out of 3 times in passing. People liked to say it was a bad luck charm to pass this hallway. It gave Cielo a free way to get where she needed to be.

She knocked on the door before hiding away just in case. Most of the time there really was no need for the surveillance room. It was solely a safety protocol. With how peaceful this place usually was there was no need for anyone to be stationed here.

Hurrying inside, Cielo locked the door behind her. Practically jumping into the chair to turn on all the monitors. "Okay okay, find Kraken and Mister fish head. Mister fish head's office doesn't have cameras for privacy so where can I look? The jail cells? Hmm the daughter wouldn't leave him alone; that's too risky. Dorms don't have cameras either. So let's try to see if anyone walking about knows anything."

She kept moving through the monitors to try getting different angles of the place. The more she saw, the less hope she had of finding him. The two hostages were precious. Of course they would keep them somewhere she couldn't find them. But if she couldn't prove that Diego was here then she couldn't convince the Umbrella Academy to help her. Bringing them here on a wimp would only make it worse for her.

The Commission was hardly ever this ominously empty. They worked 24/7 so there were always people around. If not working, then walking about. Everyone that wasn't an operative lived in Commission. Talk about living and breathing for their workplace. Especially now that the briefcase room was closed that they couldn't even leave.

The briefcase room! She paused her rush. With the briefcase room closed that meant she was the only one with a means of escape. Besides those already out on the field. And as much as the Handler could summon everyone back, there was one person she couldn't touch. One of Commission's former best operatives, Hazel.

When AJ first took her in from 2019, he never told her why he ordered the Handler's death. It wasn't until she rose from the dead that she found out the truth. In exchange for a briefcase to leave 2019, Hazel was to kill the Handler for failing her duty and for found information that proved that she was violating multiple time management rules.

Hazel was still out there. If Cielo could find where he was, his strength and knowledge of everything Commission related was the best asset to have in this case.

"Okay let's check the ISB rooms anddd they're all filled. Okay okay. Not that route. Ummm let's try the records room, records room. Surely Mister fish head must have left something in there for me to work with. Not like anyone likes to be in there for long." As she guessed, the records room was empty and a new destination was set into her briefcase.

The records room was basically a large storage unit used to keep all physical copies of information and relics. However, with the invention of the ISB, many favoured the technological side of things. Hardly was there ever a need to comb through thousands of files when it was so simple to pull up on the monitor.

It was pretty simple to find Hazel's file. AJ was extremely persistent on her learning every nook and cranny of the building. Turns out it's pretty handy to memorize all codes to the private rooms, logical order of all agents past and present, and how to read years' worth of information.

She set the new destination to Hazel's tracking chip's last known coordinates into her briefcase. "Oh wait the 1963 apocalypse. I have to stop that too. What could they have done this time to cause it? Did they stop the assassination of the president? That doesn't sound like Five. Maybe his family?"

Cielo went over to the USA historical events section. Pulling out the large cabinet drawer regarding the JFK assassination. "As long as they keep his death and have a low profile, they should be fine. Unless something happens to the person assigned to keep... fucking hell Five is going to go after his doppelganger next. That's one way to get a briefcase I guess. Good thing I left Spaceboy with him. Hope they aren't around each other for long for the symptoms to kick into full gear."

She pulled out a folder containing a few papers and a cassette tape. The Frankel Footage dated November 22, 1963. Depicted in the papers was that the tape was an old couple accidentally recording the lawn on the day of the assassination. Seen was the infamous Babushka lady, a family of four dressed in summer clothes, rushing secret service agents and a man dressed in full black holding an umbrella.

A memory of Five telling her why he travelled back in time came to mind. It was because he saw an umbrella. It made him reflect on his actions; remember his family and why he was doing what he was doing. With the information she currently had, she couldn't stop the 1963 apocalypse. She could, however, give Five another few days to survive. If she showed him this tape, show him the umbrella, he'll have to lay low until she could get everything here under control.

Tucking the tape into her pocket she put everything back where it belonged. Double checking the coordinates, Cielo opened up her briefcase with closed eyes. Making a silent promise that she'll be back soon.

Hazel's new place was quaint and isolated in the countryside. The cottage had a nice porch with multiple bird feeders hanging around. It suited him and Agnes. After all that they went through, they deserved this quiet life.

It was apparent that neither of the home owners were expecting a guest so late in the night. Nor were they expecting her. Before either of them could say anything, she held up her briefcase. An item Hazel knew all too well. "Sorry to intrude but I need help. A lot of it."

"Come inside. Hurry." Agnes stepped to the side, rushing her in. The waitress aged a bit since she last saw her. Though this was the first time she ever saw her in comfy clothes. The two of them must have been living without many strife to hinder their retirement.

After living in Commission so long, this was exactly the homely feeling that she missed so much. She was seated on a couch that had multiple pillows and blankets that squished under her weight and wasn't made out of old cracking leather. Even though she was a wanted fugitive, she felt safe in this house.

"Can I offer you some tea or coffee?" Agnes offered as Hazel cautiously remained by the windows. Monitoring any danger that may appear.

"Just some water if you don't mind."

"Water it is. I also have some leftover doughnuts that I was testing recipes today. I'll fetch you some too. You two can have a long conversation." Now that Cielo thought about it, she didn't eat all day. Some doughnuts sounded amazing right about now.

The married couple shared a reassuring telepathic moment before Agnes left the two alone. The action warming her heart. After what happened in 2019, she was slightly wondered how they managed to move on. She was glad that the two were so happy. The guilt that she had to resort to disturbing this life looming over her.

"You were the woman that was at Number Five's that day. Why do you have a briefcase and what does that have to do with me?"

She took a deep breath. There was a lot to unload. The conversion of being a completely normal prosthetist to AJ's personal assistant was all easy to state on paper. In reality, the weight was hard to say. The past few hours proved that both in a positive and negative way. She was able to sneak in and out of Commission without anyone realizing but the moment anyone did, she would be a goner. Add on all this apocalypse nonsense just for fun.

"Now the Commission is being run by Handlebar and I'm wanted dead or alive. And yeah. That's pretty much it. Any thoughts, comments or questions?"

Hazel's mouth remained open from the start of her entire explanation. His impression of Cielo when they first met was that she was a strongly independent, forgiving person. He never would have imagined that she would become the time traveller that she was. Nor that her life would be in danger from the employer he murdered.

"Why did you come to me then?"

"Because you're the only one right now that has both the knowledge and skill that I need and the only one I can trust. I'm sure there are plenty at Commission that would love to dethrone Handlebar but I can't risk potentially getting someone that'll betray me to her. And I don't really see how you would side with her over me. Honestly speaking."

"So what do you want me to do?"

She rubbed the warm cup of water that Agnes made her to calm down. "I want to find Mister fish head and exile Handlebar for acts of treason. I am not against assassination of someone so cruel."

"But why me? Why not Number Five?" During her explanation, she left out the detail that it was Five that murdered everyone. She knew he somewhat looked up to Five's handy work and it was only because of Five that Hazel had this chance of retirement. There was nothing to gain if she told him that part.

"Five has more pressing matters to deal with than the fall of Commission. From what I hear, they caused another apocalypse in 1963. He's not in the mindset to be helping me. I was going to help him after I fixed everything there."

Hazel tiredly rubbed his eyes. It was late and she threw a lot at him. Though he once was the best of the best, years of retirement makes one lose their game. Already prior to his retirement he had given up continuing his work. "I'm sorry Cielo but I can't help you. I cleaned my hands of all that time business long ago and I intend to keep it that way."

She bit her lip, her shoulders dropping. "I understand."

Silence drew over them. She had no power over him. No super athletic ability, mind control, time threats or hostages against him. She didn't even have the attitude to demand it. She knew how much he wanted to leave the Commission and couldn't hate that this was his decision. As much as she hated to admit it, at least the Handler's way of dealing with people was effective.

"Again, I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. I'm more sorry that I had to come here and disturb you two. What happens at Commission is no longer any of your problem. I have to respect that boundary. Thank you for listening to me though. I'll... figure something out. Can't be giving up after one tiny hiccup. In order to keep the balance, I need to keep going." She patted herself on the back with a smiling face.

Agnes set a full plate of food and a mini doughnut on the coffee table in front of her. Cielo was going to refuse when she sat beside her. "You visited Griddy's in 2019, didn't you? You worked in one of the businesses nearby?"

"Y-yes. You remember me?" She took Cielo's hand into her lap.

"I would never forget a regular. You were always so pleasant to talk to during your breaks. Though you never showed up for your fresh box for your interns." Sometimes she forgot her life before Commission. How she took for granted the simple life she was bored of. Agnes understood the sudden change in life after getting involved with time travellers.

"A lot came up. I'm glad that I can experience your new recipe though. I should take some back with me. Eating one of these could turn the worst of people into a saint." The idea turning her fake smile into a real one. She didn't want to resort to the same methods the Handler and Five did.

Murder and violence has been the way of the Commission. And what did it get them? People filled with negative intentions to either escape their control or get bloody revenge. Maybe the answer that they were all looking for was the cliché cheesy talk over some doughnuts. Going around a circle with a talking item in hand to make everyone take turns to say what they wanted. Ask questions first, action later. Give a chance for compromise. No fighting sounded like an absolute dream at this point.

"You flatter me too much. I'll take you up on that offer after I perfected my recipe. I'm sure you'll fix all that messy work by that point." She spoke in a soft voice that almost made Cielo want to cry. "But for now, why don't you finish these plates and rest up for the night? Hazel has been taking up crochet so we have plenty of extra blankets and pillows."

"No, I can't impose on you two any longer. I really should be getting back anyway. Interacting with the timeline any longer could-" she was cut off when Agnes shoved the doughnut into her mouth. The sweetness instantly made her relax. The taste reminded her of life back in 2019.

"Nonsense. I already made the plate for you that it'll be more of a waste for you to leave. And what's the point of fighting against time on an empty stomach? Rest up dearie. I will take that briefcase if you refuse again."

"Agnes may not look it but she can be pretty stubborn when she's determined. Staying one night isn't going to change the timeline if that makes you more comfortable. Here is better than any hotel accommodation Commission ever made for me. We promise that." Hazel already moving to fetch his self made blankets.

It didn't take a lot for Cielo to want to accept their invitation. Here she was safe, fed and warm. Here she didn't have to worry about time. The toll of everything that happened today was taking its effect the longer she relaxed in this completely normal home. Sleep and dinner were the only things she wanted. Before she knew it, Cielo had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a hot plate in hand.


No plan came to mind. As Cielo fiddled with the Frankel footage, she tried to come up with a list of possible actions to take. A downside of understanding how time flowed was instinctively having a rough estimate of how each decision would turn out. Nothing worked in the logical sense. Besides giving herself up that is.

"Morning." She jumped when Hazel suddenly appeared in the kitchen. For such a large man, he had a clear way of erasing his presence. No doubt from the years of his past employment.

"Good morning." She sheepishly greeted.

"Surprised to see that you didn't leave as soon as you woke up."

"I thought that it would be rude to do so without saying goodbye first. Thank you once more for harbouring me for the night. And treating me so kindly after the sudden appearance."

"Don't mention it, you were desperate last night. Have you eaten anything?" He moved over to the fridge.

"Not yet." Though she had been awake for over an hour now, she wasn't one to take food from her kind saviours. Not that she was particularly focused on getting food into her system.

"Well we didn't go to the grocery shop recently so I hope you're okay with some milk and cereal."

"That's fine. Thank you." He set down everything they needed for the two of them to have a quick breakfast. Him sitting down in front of her after turning on the coffee machine.

Hazel watched as she pushed around the cereal floating in the milk. Chewing slowly. The briefcase resting in between her legs under the table. A habit that a lot of his former coworkers would take on. She truly was Commission trained that he was sure that she wasn't aware that she was naturally protecting it. And from what he heard about her new position, there was loads more pressure that she faces than he ever did.

Which would explain why she was so down. As someone that voluntarily left the Commission, he knew the signs all too well. All your hard work being put on a pedestal until you make one mistake. The next, you're given the miniscule mission in a 1-star motel with no air ventilation. There was nothing to do in this case except accept that this was the life you chose. Your needs were always second to Time's.

They couldn't be geniuses like Five or Cha-cha that separated everything. Call them professional or logical or whatever praise the board gave them; it will not change anything. To Cielo and Hazel, they were pitiful. They that watched their partners fall further into their beliefs with no rewards made them the realistic ones. But it also made both pairs enemies for not sticking with the person they counted on more than anyone.

"You know," he started, "you're more than welcome to stay a bit longer. I'm sure Agnes wouldn't mind and it's not like the Commission is missing you."

"They truly wouldn't. While I really do like being here, I have my responsibilities. Ignoring them would fill me with more guilt than I already feel." Her habit of checking her watch happening once more. AJ had been taken over 10 hours ago. The longer she spends here, the less of a chance that she has of finding him.

"So you have a plan?"

"None at all!" She announced with a smile to keep him from worrying. "Well I guess I did but those have sorta gone down the drain. Oh but that's not on you refusing my request. I'm just too afraid to try something else on my own. Bringing footage like this to a timeline where it doesn't or may not exist at all yet is too risky."

She weakly slapped the tape against her palm. "What is it?"

"Old footage of the JFK assassination. I couldn't use the ISB so I had to find something else to work with. If there's going to be anything that causes an apocalypse, it has to be related to this. Unlike 2019, this doomsday is relatively easy to prevent. I thought that if I showed the academy kids what is supposed to happen this day, of that hour, they would at least avoid touching this event. Hopeful thinking, I guess."

"You could still show them. There's a chance that they haven't stopped his assassination."

"Yeah, maybe but honestly? Every single person in that family is fighting for different reasons. Five doesn't want to stop the apocalypse, he wants to protect his family. And they aren't safe in 1963. I can promise that they will stop this doomsday and bring them home, but it means nothing if I can't save them in 2019. Five would rather figure that out by himself than rely on me."

"I never got to ask this but what exactly is your relationship with Number Five?" She carefully put the Frankel footage down on the table.

What was their relationship? There was no denying that they had an odd connection that tied them together. Dragging them back to one another in the worst way. It was hard to say but she didn't hate Five. She didn't want to use his trauma as an excuse for his behaviour, but she experienced the true version of him. When they put Time aside, they actually didn't argue.

Those small moments of peace they shared were uniquely warm. The Five that wasn't pressured and stressed, stopped fighting on his own will. He would soothingly rub his lover's back when he was drunk out of his mind. Say he apologized and said prayers to his brother's statue. Cleaned blood off of Cielo's hands.

That was the Five she knew. The one that was kinder and more fragile than anyone she's ever met but with a wall that didn't dare let anyone in for his own protection. "I just want to help him and his family. How he views me is up for debate."

On the other hand, Hazel saw it the last time they were together. How Five's eyes would flicker between her safety and the fight he was in at the time. The instant reaction to protect her and loosen her fears by offering her a drink. The soft gaze when she gave her gratitude to their hard work. When they spoke about his plans post-apocalypse, Five was watching Cielo. He cared a lot for her.

It was a shame that they had differing views of how time should work. Cielo had the role of maintaining the balance for everyone. A role that was threatened by the mere presence that the family was trying so hard to protect.

"You said that this second apocalypse was easy to prevent?"

"No one understands doomsday more than me. I've studied that thing every time I was left alone. Countless sleepless nights and test timelines. I became the best at what I do because I needed to try everything to stop it. The apocalypse is unsolvable as long as those guys are around. Removing that variable from the equation they were never meant to be in is easy. Not that Five stuck around to listen to me."

Hazel nodded, picking up the Frankel footage. "If you don't mind, how about I hold onto this?"

"What? Why? No I can't be leaving something from the records room out like this. I need to keep it on me and then return it when everything is complete. Now with the changing timeline, physical copies like this become extremely valuable and very very dangerous. I can't be responsible if anything happens to this or to you and Doughnut lady."

"Exactly why you can't be carrying it around the timeline while trying to fix it. I can't be of much help at the Commission but... I owe a lot to you and Number Five. If all you want to do is hand him an old tape, I can handle that much."

She wanted to deny the offer. He was retired. He made it clear that he didn't want to step a foot back into Commission business. But this was the best course of action. Hazel's appearance wouldn't raise any red flags to Five that he had a better chance of delivering her message than she had. Not only that but he was more trained on the field than she was. Cielo couldn't deny that if she wanted to keep both the Umbrella Academy alive and save the Commission, she had to split up her resources as best as she could.

"But what about Doughnut lady? What if something happens to you while you're there? This is the end of the world we're talking about. Not exactly a cake walk of a delivery even for you. I can't ask you to do this."

He walked over to the kitchen sink. Underneath the piping being his briefcase. She didn't miss the grimace he displayed seeing it. "For years this thing has been plaguing my mind. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't destroy it. Agnes said that one day I will realize why I couldn't. I'm starting to think that this is the opportunity I was waiting for. To return for this one time for your and his sake, I'll be more than honoured to."

There was nothing that she could say to fight back against his strong presence. Instead she straightened herself up. "Fine. But you know the rules. If I'm going to send you into the timeline than I have to re-establish everything all contract information and control-"

"You and I are not doing this because you're Carmichael's assistant. I'm helping a friend." She weakly chuckled.

"I suppose that you're right. Then let me say this only. With the briefcase you will have the ability to go to November 22, 1963 at any moment you choose. Please wait and talk this over with Doughnut lady before you go." He nodded.

"It's not like I could ever do anything behind her back. She's too keen for that." Everything was established. On equal terms there was no reason for either of them to have any cautiousness around them either.

After quickly gulping down the small breakfast, she was filled with new determination to take the Handler. With Hazel on her side, she didn't have to worry about Five and the apocalypse. All she had to do was find AJ now. The moment she secures him, everything else is sure to fall into place.

No more time to lose, Cielo thanked Hazel for a final time before leaving.

"I feel sorry for her. What did she do to deserve all that weight on her?" Agnes said, finally emerging from the living room.

"I don't know but she certainly isn't anything like any worker I've seen before." He hid the Frankel footage with the briefcase for the fateful day.

"Are you really going out there again?" She had been listening from the start as the couple had developed a similar sleeping schedule after living together for so long that they woke up at the same. Only she knew that Cielo would only talk in more specifics of what's to happen to Hazel alone that she sat out of the conversation.

"Do you not want me to?"

"Do I want you to go into danger again? Absolutely not. But do I want you to help those poor kids that allowed us this opportunity to live here? More than anything, Hazel. Please promise me that you will deliver that tape no matter how scared I am of the consequences." The two joined hands.

"Agnes I promised you that day in 2019 that I would make the happiest, luckiest woman in every timeline and I intend to keep it like that. She said it herself, I can jump at any point we want. So let's take our time to enjoy everything we can. I can make this new promise to help them and until death do we part, I will be by your side. No compromise." He placed a gently kiss on her forehead.

Hazel meant what he said to both of these women. The couple spent the next years as they chose, bounded by the hip until the final happy moment. The departure was tough but in her final moments, neither of them regretted their love. They travelled the world, opened a small doughnut shop where they worked on their own schedule and even catalogued every bird possible in their state.

All Hazel had left to do with his life was to deliver the Frankel footage to Five in November 22, 1963.