'Glad you could drop by at such short notice.'

The sound of Lester's voice made me turn my head back around away from the detector, distracting both me and Connor from the combination of physical repairs and software updates we were simultaneously trying to put into the system.

Danny was sitting somewhere on the floor beside my chair, reading through the instruction manual that had made sense all those years ago when Connor and I had written it– but seemed a little more confusing now.

Behind us, Becker was sitting at my workspace at our desk drinking a cup of tea, adding interpretive suggestions of our own words that I suspected he knew weren't helpful but were funny none the less.

'Now, Christine, I wanted you to be the first to know…'

Connor's ringtone started blaring once again and he quickly pulled his phone from his pocket and half-glanced at the caller I.D before he declined the call. 'Sorry,' he said quietly. He shoved it back into his hoodie.

I didn't bother to get up. And in fact, I didn't even uncross my legs to take my feet down off the chair. I eyed the woman wearisomely as both she and a man who held himself just like Becker approached where we were sitting.

'–I am going to need a man just like Captain Wilder,' Lester finished.

'I'm glad you've come round to my way of thinking,' Christine replied.

'Oh. Not Wilder himself of course,' Lester clarified, making her turn her head towards him, 'no he's… err… playing a much too vital role on your own staff. But Danny Quinn here is just like him.' I barely had enough time to notice Danny whipping his head up and blinking in confusion before it was all masked by Connor's excited and quiet gasp. 'Background in the police, firearms training, management skills,' Lester continued, sharing a brief look with me as though to acknowledge I'd made some excellent points in our chat in the office. 'The perfect choice for a new team member. Welcome to the team Danny.'

Christine narrowed her eyes. 'Member?' she repeated questioning, before she finally worked out the implication behind it, 'so that means that the position for Cutter's replacement is still–'

'Let's get one thing clear,' Lester interrupted in frustration, 'nobody could replace Professor Cutter,' he said. And I had to angle my face down to the ground to hide my sad smile of appreciation. 'However, the team does need a leader, and thankfully the best candidate for that was already right here. Doctor Havisham will be taking over.'

And it was quite a statement to hear. Even I had to inhale. Connor brought his attention around sharply to me and I had to quickly elbow him. Danny's hand quickly patted my knee, and behind everyone else I saw Becker smirk into his mug.

Christine raised an eyebrow. 'Really?'

I didn't have time to react because Lester was already prepared. 'I don't think anyone here would contradict the fact that there is nobody better for the job. I've already cleared it with the minister. He's read all our reports, he's quite the fan, I don't think it would wise to disrepute her to him.'

She slowly turned her head back to me and I had to force myself to stop wincing. She came forward, offering her hand to me, and I finally stood up so that I didn't seem too rude.

'Congratulations,' she irked insincerely, 'I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other.'

'God,' I replied instinctively, 'I hope not.'

Becker chocked on his tea. Connor wheezed in amusement before his eyes went wide like he couldn't quite believe he'd reacted out loud whilst everyone else was trying to disguise their own laughter.

So much for not being rude.

She pulled her hand back from mine. I didn't bother to look apologetic before she turned on her heel and walked away.

'I trust that's alright with you,' Lester continued as he eyed each other the others in turn.

'You're kidding,' Connor said with a lopsided grin.

'No arguments from me,' Becker added from the desk.

I gave a small smile of gratitude. 'I'm not gonna…' I started before I even really know what I was saying, 'straight away,' I added in continuation and hoped it made sense. 'I just need a little time to…'

Connor nudged me. I stopped; they all understood.

'In the meantime,' Lester said, 'you're all going to have to listen to Danny, I'm afraid. God help us.'

Danny's brow furrowed even further. 'I'm in charge?'

'Temporarily,' I said.

'So, I'm officially part of the team?' he questioned, 'did you have something to do with this, Ace?'

'Might have done.'

'I knew you liked me really,' he teased. I groaned. 'You know that means occasionally you're gonna have to come out of your office?'

My nose crinkled. 'Says who?' Connor's ringtone pulled my attention back across to him and I immediately frowned. 'Connor?' I questioned, 'that's like the third time in 5 minutes.'

He glanced somewhat shiftily back at me. He was probably hoping I wouldn't mention it and ignored the noise altogether, but with the realisation that he would at least need to stop it ringing he ducked his head and reached towards his pocket.

'Ooo,' Danny cooed, 'secret girlfriend?' he teased.

Connor pulled the phone out, rolling his eyes and opening his mouth to respond when I leant in against him and peered down at the phone screen.

He suddenly yelped, startling me, and going as if to pull the phone into his chest but as he pulled his arm back too quickly, the phone slipped out his hands and landed beside me on the nearest work surface.

So I picked it up, about to hand it back to him when he karate-chopped it out my grip. 'Ah! What the fuck?' I asked in surprise.

The phone flipped through the air again, this time landing on Danny's lap, and he leant in to read the name on the tiny rectangular screen.

'No, not a girlfriend,' he resolved. Connor snatched the phone up so quickly there was no way it wasn't suspicious. And Danny frowned. 'A boyfriend?' he asked, 'unless that's short for something. Who's Jack?'

Jack? I repeated in my head. Since when has Connor had a friend called–

There was a chocked sort of uncontrollable noise that crackled out from the back of my throat.

'Anna,' he started desperately, 'no, please, I can explain.' He tried to grab a hold of my hands but I pulled away from his touch.

I shook my head. 'No,' I said, 'no. They said…' I had to swallow to stave the uncertainty in my voice. 'Tell me.'

'Jack's alive,' he immediately confirmed.

My hand tightened to awkward fists– not because I wanted to hit anyone, but because I suddenly didn't know what else to do with them.

I needed to sit down but in my shock I didn't remember that there was chair behind me so I just bent my legs and crouched.

I blinked, eyes wide.

'I'm sorry,' Connor said.

'What do you mean Jack's alive?' I repeated slowly as I looked up at him. 'Did you know… this whole time?' I asked. Connor looked down, the guilt preventing him from meeting my gaze. I waited. He bit his lip and tried to collect himself. Then he nodded. I gasped again. 'I don't believe this!'

'Who's jack?' Danny asked a little more firmly, and coincidently more curiously than the last time.

I swallowed. 'My brother,' I said.

I had tried so hard, for so long, to delete Jack from my stream of consciousness because I'd wanted him to be alive but the longer that passed the less likely it had seemed, and having a whole entire dead family seemed a bit too morbid even for me.

Now, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't even understand it. I'd done too much of a good job trying to forget him that thinking about him felt wrong.

'He was in rehab,' I started to explain, before I even realised that the whole tragic story would probably be lost on Danny who barely knew us, 'when my parents died,' I explained further, 'or at least he was supposed to be. But when we called to tell him they said he was gone, that he'd run off in the night to meet some dealer and no one heard from him after that. They said he probably overdosed. They said he was dead.'

'He isn't,' Connor replied simply. 'I just thought it was better if you believed that's what happened.'

'He's back?'

I watched Connor swallow a lump in his throat and pause cautiously, and it made me angry before he'd even started because I knew that was all because he knew I wouldn't like his reply. 'He's living at the apartment…'

So, he was close. He was there and I hadn't even known. I stared at Connor. Betrayal– it was the first thing that crossed my mind because how could he do something like that to me. Except I knew, really, that it wasn't and once I could get over the anger –which would take a while– I knew I'd understand completely that he was doing the best thing for me. Because that's what Connor did.

'How long?'

'… a week.'

And that was exactly how long I'd been away for. And another realisation dawned on me that I'd inadvertently left the two of them alone together for that long.

Connor and Jack didn't get on. They never had. I seriously doubted that now would be any different.

'Connor…' I started.

'I know, I'm sorry,' he blurted in response, 'I should have said something, I know that now. It's just he said he needed help and that he's clean, and mostly sober, and I knew you would do it for someone– help them, I mean, in any way you could, and he is family even if he's –'

'It's okay,' I interrupted because we both needed to hear it. I pushed myself back up to my feet. 'I get it, Con.' I sighed. 'And it's okay.'

I felt sick when I pulled up outside the apartment. My palms were sweating and there was an unshakeable feeling of nausea rising in my stomach.

I had to consciously push it away.

The news had almost perfectly distracted me from the fact that it had been a week since I'd been outside, a week of nothing to eat but snacks from the kitchenette and showers in the locker room and sleeping at my desk. I was barely aware of the exhaustion.

Connor hadn't come with me.

He hadn't even been staying at home himself for the last few days, and honestly when he'd told me it hadn't been a big surprise that they'd only lasted a couple of days in each other's presence before one of them had needed to leave. It explained why Sid and Nancy were living with him at the A.R.C.

I didn't hear my car door slam or the keys jingle in my hand as I made my way towards the front door.

I put my key into the lock, ignoring the fact that my hands were shaking, and pushed the door open.

The apartment was a mess but it hadn't been much different the last time I was here. Knowing Connor, he'd probably tidied before Jack got here which meant all the mess belonged to him.

I heard him. His footsteps crossed the wooden floors and echoed down the hallway.

'Connor?'

His voice took me by surprise even though I knew I was going to hear it at some point, but for a moment it made me feel like nothing had changed, like I was 18 years old again, back in that house on the hill with my friends years before anything had happened. Before he got involved with the drugs and the alcohol and fell apart.

I had to clear my throat before I could respond. 'Nope,' I called back. And the strength of my voice surprised me because I'd already spent too long being afraid of this moment.

He appeared at the end of the hallway looking exactly the same as the last time I'd seen him. Like he hadn't aged and he hadn't changed and didn't even look tired. And I'd forgotten what he actually looked like. The surprise on his face was quickly replaced with a grin. 'And she emerges,' he commented, folding his arms over his chest and looking me up and down, 'my baby sister. Hiya, Annie.'

And immediately I was angry. 'Don't call me that.'