(Los Angeles, CA)

They say home is where the heart is and when Jared and I finally got home, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Mrs. Jenkins had been worried sick, but she was also relieved to see us safe.

Jack and Pete also came by to check and make sure everything was fine.

"You were pretty brave there, kiddo." Jack ruffled Jared's hair as we walked into the living room.

"Thanks." he said, "That Murdoc guy was a real piece of work."

"Yeah, about that." I quipped, "How did he know where to find you?"

"I think I can answer that question." Pete said, "It turns out our leak was working for Murdoc. He managed to get his hands on some files of yours and found out about Jared. Thankfully, we've managed to apprehend him."

Mrs. Jenkins looked shocked, "How could someone do that?"

"Money and greed, Mrs. Jenkins," I replied solemnly, "It's the oldest story in the book."

Pete's phone rang and he excused himself to answer the call.

"Dad," Jared said, "are you like an agent or something?"

"Let's just say I have a knack for fixing problems, Jared." I replied, trying to downplay the situation. "But that was before you were born. Now, I'm just your regular dad."

He smiled. He liked that. "Speaking of dad, when Murdoc kidnapped me, he tried to pretend he was you. But I knew something was off." he said with a swell of pride.

"Yeah," I said, "How'd you know that?"

"Well, I told him I won a game in tennis."

"But you hate tennis."

Jared's smile grew, "Exactly."

"Guess he didn't do his homework." Jack chuckled, he then turned to me, "So, you finally going to get into the action again, Mac?"

"Don't push it, Jack" I said, with a smile albeit serious in my response.

Pete then got off the phone. "Mac, I need to talk to you." he whispered as he motioned to the kitchen.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I just got a call from the Foundation...you're never going to believe this."

Pete's expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. "Murdoc's dead," he said.

I took a minute to take it in, "You're joking, right?"

He shook his head. "The fire at the compound got out of hand, and he didn't make it out. They found the body this morning."

I felt a mix of emotions. Relief that Murdoc could no longer threaten Jared or me, and a weird sense of closure knowing that a long-standing enemy was gone.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked, seeing the expression on my face.

"Never better." I said with a nod, trying to hide the relief in my voice.

We went back out into the living room, where Jared was telling Jack about the wild adventure he had just been through. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in my chest. He had kept his cool under pressure, and his quick thinking had helped us escape.

That night as I tucked him in, he couldn't help but say one more thing. "Dad, you know what made me not be so scared?"

I leaned closer, "What's that?"

"I remembered what you told me the night before you left for that trip," Jared said, his voice muffled by the pillow. "You said that no matter what happens, I should remember that God is with me, and that nothing is too hard for Him."

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through me, "That's right, Jared. And it looks like He had quite the adventure planned for you."

"Yeah, I guess so." he said with a yawn. "Well, 'night dad."

"Goodnight, buddy." I said, turning off the lights and leaving the room.

Sometimes life can give you more than you bargained for but when stuff hits the fan it helps knowing that the God of the universe has got your back. That's what I said to Jared and that's what I believed too.