Will doesn't want to do this. He already made a huge, long speech about not leaving his family again. And he meant every word of it.But he has to.
Besides, it's just talking to Sloane and convincing her to do something about all of this. It shouldn't take too long because he and Kittredge have pretty irrefutable evidence. And they're already halfway there.
The fact is that It isn't even about him. It doesn't matter what he wants right now. What matters is what's at stake. Just because he's pissed at Ethan, doesn't mean won't help. He doesn't care about Gabriel or the mission or Ethan, but he cares about Julia, he cares about Adam, he cares about Chloe. He can't risk them dying just because of his own stupid problems. Jane would be telling him to stop being an idiot and do the right thing, and he'd listen because she's always right, and it is the right thing to do.
His phone buzzes. Nate texts him every five minutes asking him random questions like, what are you doing, or how's it going? In any other situation, it'd be irritating but now, it's actually quite comforting.
————————————
They make their case to Sloane and she agrees to help, grudgingly, but under one condition, that Ethan be held accountable for his rogue tendencies and the many, many guidelines he's broken. Yeah, real professional. It's stupid and unnecessary, but they need all the help they can get.
That being said, Will's sitting in a briefing room and trying not to comment on how petty Sloane's being. They've got an entire S.W.A.T team that Kittredge is briefing. The team leader, however, is preoccupied with Ethan's profile. He reads it and then reads it again. Because it's Ethan Hunt. The agent you always hear about but never really take seriously because the stories people tell about him seem impossible and that's true, unless you're Ethan Hunt, the living manifestation of destiny, as Huntley said. Will's been on a few missions with Ethan and still hears stories that he's not sure about. "Am I reading this correctly?" Heads swivel toward him. "What?"
"The file, it says he's gone rogue three times, and each time he was exonerated without consequence?" Here we go again. "Yes, that's true, but, to be fair, given the circumstances, there was no other way to complete the mission. And all three times, the mission was successful." Sloane is not satisfied. "And you never once questioned Hunt's 'tactics'."
"Yes, of course we did, and each time Hunt's had probable cause." That's true. "Well, there's even more. Apparently, he gassed a security briefing to steal a key that he was supposed to give to the IMF." Kittrege sighs, "It was uncalled for, yes, but ultimately, necessary."
"Oh, and Hunt was also in the Kremlin on a mission to obtain nuclear launch codes when it blew up, which is by the way, an ongoing investigation-' They don't have time for this. "First of all, the bomb was actually meant to kill him, and second, this isn't about him. This is about a family that is going to die if we just sit here, so can we focus on the task at hand?" No one protests this time.
—--
As they continue down the long white hallways, Ethan hasn't said a word. He just stares ahead at nothing with that thousand-yard stare. He isn't seeing the corridor. He's seeing something else. Gabriel watches him — really watches him — as the silence stretches between them, the echo of their footsteps the only sound filling the corridor. He knows that look on Ethan's face, the haunted blankness that isn't really blank at all. It's calculation. It's self-preservation. It's a mind spiraling through a thousand scenarios per second, burning through fear and memory like a machine chewing glass, trying to find a single edge to hold onto.
That's what makes Ethan so maddening, so fascinating. Most people break under pressure. They fracture, piece by piece, and once the cracks start, the rest is inevitable. Ethan? Ethan tightens. He hardens. The more pressure you apply, the sharper his instincts become, like stress for him isn't a weakness but a refining process — a forge. That's why the usual tricks never work. That's why Gabriel doesn't waste his time with conventional fear.
No, with Ethan you have to dig deeper. You have to peel the layers away one by one, until you expose the core — the part even Ethan lies to himself about. That's where the real leverage lives. That's the game Gabriel is playing. That's why he chose this place. This building is nothing but an open wound for Ethan, every step scraping over old trauma like sandpaper on raw skin.
It's not about fear. It's about disorientation. Because Ethan's weakness isn't that he cares. It isn't even that he loves. It's that he thinks love is enough to save anyone. And once you strip away his faith in that, in himself — that's when he starts making mistakes. That's when he starts hesitating. Gabriel lets his gaze linger on Ethan's posture, the rigid set of his shoulders, the twitch in his jaw, the way his eyes are always moving even when his head isn't. Calculating. He's doing the math, trying to stay three moves ahead, trying to see the trap before it springs.
But it won't work. Not here. Because Ethan isn't fighting Gabriel, not really. He's fighting his own mind. And the beauty of it, the poetry, is that Ethan always almost wins. Always. He patches himself together with sheer force of will, convinces himself that the next time will be different, that he'll be fast enough, smart enough, strong enough. And Gabriel is the shadow waiting to prove him wrong, again and again, until even Ethan can't deny the truth anymore. That's why he's still alive. Because Gabriel isn't done proving it.
Ethan's remembering something. A face, maybe. A scream. Some old mission that went wrong, some life he couldn't save. Good. Memories are better weapons than bullets. Memories slow a man's trigger finger more effectively than doubt ever could. And Ethan's memories are a goldmine. Gabriel tilts his head slightly, speaking just enough to anchor Ethan's thoughts where he wants them.
"Fawned memories?" Gabriel knows the answer of course, it's why he picked this particular location in the first place, trauma. There isn't just one traumatic memory here, there's an infinite amount in every door, every wall, it's visible in everything Ethan looks at. And that's the point. It's jarring, disorienting, it impairs judgment, and logical thought process'. It's not to keep Ethan trapped, it's to test his limits, just as everything else was. "Something like that…." Not a limit. It's that simple. Gabriel stares at Ethan, who keeps moving his mouth as if to say something but nothing comes out. "What?" Ethan does speak this time. "You're supposed to be dead."
"Sorry to disappoint. But, then again, you're the one who didn't shoot twice." Ethan looks at him now, a spark flickering momentarily in his eyes before it burns out. "You were wearing a vest." Wow, how intelligent, Ethan. "How'd you not get fired or at least investigated?" That should be obvious. ""No one knew. The CIA didn't care, I guess. They never even tried to investigate, or asked any questions. I just got lucky." That's one hell of an understatement. "And these agents….?"
"They work for me, yes, but not like Ben. They're all here because they want to be. There's the young, eager one's who think they can actually make a difference, like you were, and then there's the ones who want an excuse to kill people." Ethan's eyes keep drifting, scanning for threats perhaps. "But Ben-" Gabriel stops and looks at Ethan directly. He's doing a bit better at hiding the fear, but he can see it, and Ethan knows he can. "Ben was a lot like you were when you started. Just out of the Army, eager to do something important. But unlike you, he managed to realize what he'd gotten himself mixed up in and he quit. But you know very well that it's not that easy. I really was going to leave him alone, until you got involved." He sees Ethan falter slightly. "What made him agree in the first place? Before you threatened his family?"
"Everyone has a weak point. You find it and use it until they don't resist. His family was just a way of making sure he listened." The spark turns to fire in Ethan's eyes as they stop at a door. That's a limit. If Ethan's already this close to snapping, there's no doubt he'll snap when he sees it happen. It's tricky with Ethan. He only fights. Even when the odds are long gone, even when it's already over. And that's exactly what Gabriel is counting on. But, if one underestimates Ethan, they've already failed. Ethan's the most strong willed person Gabriel's ever known. Never assume anything when it comes to Ethan Hunt because he will make you pay.
"Do you know what I've always admired about you?" Gabriel's voice cuts through the heavy air like a scalpel, casual but precise. "It's not your skill, or your tenacity, or even your so-called moral compass." Ethan doesn't answer — of course he doesn't — but Gabriel can see the pause in his step, the smallest falter before his pace resets. "It's your belief."
Ethan is predictable. That's the irony. He plays the part of the wildcard, the outlier, the man who defies logic — but it's not true. Gabriel's known it for years. Deep down, under all the instincts, the training, the impossible escapes, Ethan Hunt is still the same person he's always been: a man who cannot let go. A man who carries his ghosts around like armor. And sooner or later, even the strongest armor cracks.
—--
"See, they're all here, they're all fine." Ethan's standing, eyes scanning each person in front of him. Julia gives him a nod. They're okay. Good. He ignores Gabriel's razor sharp stare and walks closer to the three people in front of him. He's really not sure why he does this, maybe it's the way they're all watching him — not just his family, but everyone, even Gabriel. Watching and waiting. Expecting him to do something. Expecting the plan to unfold. But he doesn't have a plan. Sure, Benji and Luther are most likely already on their way. But that's it. They're the only things left, and Gabriel probably already knows they're coming. Hell, Gabriel probably counted on it.
"Hey, you guys hanin' in there?" It's a dumb question. Stupid, hollow. He knows it, and so do they, but he doesn't have anything else to say. "Dad." No question. No emotion. Just the word. Dad. But Ethan understands. "You're gonna be okay, buddy. You all are…" Liar! Adam knows it too, but he nods instead. "I know."
"What's the point of lying to them anymore, Ethan? It's not very convincing." Ethan breathes in. Don't listen to him. It's hard not to when there's no other voice speaking though. "What else haven't you told them?" The trap closes, as subtle as a fox for prey. Of course. He should've expected this. Now everyone's looking at him again and his brain feels like it's slowly melting. "They know you haven't told the whole truth. They know you and I used to work together. Adam was curious to know why…"
"Is what that file says true, Dad?" What files? He tilts his head. Oh, those ones. Ethan's not sure how to answer. "Adam…." But his son's gaze hardens. His chest tightens even more as his mind scrambles, tripping over itself, searching for something to give them. Something that isn't another lie. He looks at Gabriel, trying to think of something that's not a lie. "Don't look at me, she asked you." You already told Benji and Luther the truth, this is no different. It's family, your family. If anyone can understand, it's them. 'Just because you're human doesn't make you weak.' "I thought-at first I thought I would be helping people. I didn't think I'd-" Kill people? Kill innocent people? "I was wrong, and I should have stopped after….I still don't know why I did it, but it was the worst decision I've ever made, and I….There's not a day I don't regret it…." That's the truth. "But…you didn't want to?" He never had a choice. "Not after I realized what I realized what I was a part of, no."
"Well, it doesn't really mean it's your fault then, does it?" Does it? "I mean if you didn't know what you were going to be doing…?" Chloe's right. "No. I-I guess it doesn't…." It doesn't. It's NOT his fault. It was never his fault. "What an intriguing perspective." It's HIS fault. It's Gabriel. All of it — the beginning, the end. It was always HIM. He's the one who did it. It was HIS choice. There's a shift then. Something's shifting in Ethan. It's not like when he was talking to Luther and Benji. It's not just a crack, it's an infinite hole. An indescribable shift that doesn't feel like a bad thing. The weight is still there, more than ever, but his mind shifts. He feels the urge to speak, and this time, there's nothing stopping him. He can do this. Ethan turns back to Gabriel, his gaze like a pointed spear.
"Enough of this. Enough games. I'm here, for what?" Unfortunately, Gabriel has no reaction whatsoever to Ethan's sudden calm, focused demeanor. "Fine, but answer one question, what's your goal? What are you trying to do?" He knows he shouldn't answer. "What I'm doing is not letting anything happen to my family."
Gabriel sighs, looking somewhat disappointed again. "Exactly. You still don't get it." He says it like he's chastising a rookie soldier. "I told you that everyone has a weakness. You find it and you don't let it go. I thought it was your compassion and it is, but there's something else with that. Love." What's he getting at? "Not only do you refuse to sacrifice the ones you love, but you still really think you can save everyone. You can't, and even if you could, that doesn't ademadicly make everything okay, does it?" No, it doesn't.
Julia's got a sorrowful expression that makes Ethan's stomach twist. "You got what you wanted. I'm here, now what?" The look in Gabriel's eyes is quite a contrast to the coy smirk he's giving Ethan, which he's internally shuddering at, forcing himself to stay as composed as he can manage, but Gabriel can see it. HE always does.
"Do you know why this is happening, Ethan? Why I don't just kill you?" 'Give me one reason I shouldn't just kill you right now. Why wouldn't you kill me? He winces at the scared voice in his head, his mind flashing back — the voice in his head, young, terrified, pleading. Ethan doesn't want to say it, because then it's true, then he admits it out loud, to Gabriel, to his family, and after he's promised this whole time everything is going to be okay after he's promised them that he'll figure it all out. Ever since joining the IMF, Ethan's wanted one thing, to help people, to save them, to save everyone, to prove Gabriel wrong, but right now it's really hard to he can't find any proof.
Gabriel's still watching him expectingly, but Ethan can't say it. He won't! "Yes, I know why." He can see something flashing in Gabriel's eyes, the same one he'd had after Marie. It's a quiet contentment that's inching closer to the surface. "You do? Tell me what you think it is." No. No, no, no, no, nononono-"Dad, what's he mean?" Don't say it! The dread creeping in Ethan is starting to become suffocating. If he says it, HE wins. HE'LL get exactly what HE wants.
"To prove a point." It's all he can say without actually saying it. It's good enough for HIM though. "And the point is….?" Gabriel's looking him dead in the eyes now. You ca-Stop it. You c-Stop It! Y-STOP IT! He can't hold his gaze. "That I…." Don't say it. "I-" NO. Don't let HIM win-Stop it, HE doesn't mat-it does-No, it doesn't! HE-For fuck's sake! IT DOESN'T MATTER! Bu-HE WILL KILL THEM! Stop-No, HE-Stop it-You know HE will-No. It's Not going to happen Again! IT- "That I can't-" Ethan feels like he's going to vomit. "I-"
Just say it! He's so tense his muscles ache. JUST FUCKING-He breathes to steady himself. "I can't….I…." His heart feels like it's going to burst. "I can't save everyone….". There. He said it. "What about them? Can you save them?" You f-YES, YOU CAN- "No….I don't-I don't think I can…." Ethan sees the way his family's looking at him now and it hurts. It's the same look Huntley gave him. Go. He looks away again when he sees Adam's eyes. He looks back at Gabriel. HE's not smiling. But HE's got a fake, teasing look as if HE's proud. Proud. "I must say, I didn't think you'd actually say it."
Gabriel pats him on the shoulder with a sort of proud smile. Ethan wants to kill him. He wants to tear HIM apart. "But there's still one thing. You still can't accept it. So, I thought, what would make you accept it? I think I found the answer…." Ethan's attention snaps back to them. To Adam, to Chloe, to Julia. The star Adam's giving him is somehow even more haunting than Gabriel's cold one. Ethan opens and closes his mouth, his brain trying to blend a coherent sentence together. He opens his mouth again. His vision is clouded by tears that he refuses to let out. "….Guys, I'm-'m ss-so sorry…." His voice comes out in a cracked whisper as his words blend together, almost inaudible now. "I'm s-s-sorry…."
Julia holds his gaze and swallows back the tears for now. "….Ethan….." As he moves toward her, every step feels harder and harder, as if his shoes have weights in them. He crouches down to be eye-to-eye with her. Julia gives him the best smile she can muster right now, and for a second Ethan feels a strange warmth before it gets drowned in his tears he's holding in still. She takes his hand.
"Ethan……It's okay…." No, it's not. Nothing is. "I never met for-" She squeezes his hand. "I know. It's not your fault, Ethan. We know. It's not your fault, none of it." He lets a single tear fall as his voice is finally clear when he speaks. "I love you…." He looks to Adam and Chloe as they lean close and settle their hands on his and Julia's own. Ethan warmly smiles as he uses his free hand to hold them closer. He never wants to let go. He holds on as tight as he can as if he can hold them all together forever. "I love all of you, so, so much…." Chloe's silently crying as Julia's free hand is wrapped around her shoulders. Adam's clinging to his Dad like a small child would. Julia bows her head to gently rest her forehead on Ethan's own. No moves as the heartbreaking silence stretches on. They're huddled together like there's a shield around them, keeping them safe.
Even now, Ethan lets himself embrace the quiet, tragic peace that envelops them. Adam sniffles. "Ya-You'll b-be okay, Dad. We all-will….I trust you….You'll be okay, Dad-"
BANG!