-- see a new day, even if I don't say as much. Stepping back and grasping for #Rips., I nod for the doors.

Quiet while #Rips. is on the phone, I'm good to just lead when we're finally given the go ahead to lead--- by her. Even if I don't comment out loud, I still have a few notes about what end of the conversation I can hear. First; begrudgingly isn't the word I'd --

-- use. Second; I ::had:: been afraid that her leg was injured by other means. Third; some of it is due to Braeden., but I'm good enough with myself to say that I wouldn't have left without #Rips.... I'm just not pleased with how long we've stuck --

-- around. Pressing towards the door and swinging it open, I let go of #Rips. so that she can slip out and I can follow. Rather we do it now, before everyone inside has collected themselves enough and start following us. Regardless of what she told them, I don't --

-- want any of them trying to hitch a ride, suck up, or follow us. I don't need people getting any ideas that if they show up where we are, we'll accept them. I guess I haven't entirely changed. Back to walking at #Rips.'s side should she choose to lean on me or --

-- use my help getting in the car, I wave at Braeden. from her distance away in the car. I have no doubt that she, as well as both parents, kept their eyes on the door and waited. We know they did, otherwise #Braeden wouldn't have gotten impatient enough to actually --

-- try and call #Rips.. "For the record, I would have gone and found you regardless of Braeden. demanding I do or not. Though, she did, because it took her all of point-two seconds of seeing me, before she went into panic mode, so." Making a point to --

-- say it before we get to the car, I don't make eye contact or even shift my glance from the car. Hell, #Rips. probably won't even believe it... which is fine. I couldn't care less either way. Perhaps it's a pride thing.

Quiet when we slip into the car and formalities are traded between Braeden., #Rips., and #Malia's father, I might roll my eyes for her question, but don't brush off answering her. Better she have a complete idea of what I am, than to just assume and --

-- be blindsided later. "I'll explain everything you smell later, #Rips.." Said and left at that, it's because we settle into the car too quickly and I don't know if everyone in the car is ::aware:: of everything or not. For their sake, I hope they are. --

-- If not? They better get on board, and ::fast::. Drawing the walkie-talkie from my pocket while Braeden. gets the car started, I try for the loft. It doesn't matter if someone answers, really. What matters is that they hear, and get an update on where we're at. --

-- Beside me, Braeden. seems confident and unphased, and I can't decide if she actually is... or if she just wears a mask that's more perfected than anything else. "This is #Jackson. We've got #MsMartin and #MrTate. Got word of the hospital, on our way back to the --

-- loft. Over and out." Ending in such a way that'll let ::whoever:: know that I don't plan on carrying out a conversation, I settle the thing in the cupholder and lean back in the seat to spend the ride in silence. I've had enough socializing for the last hour or two, sue me.

Honestly? I'm no better than #Rips.. Maybe it's because I'm still stuck in the headspace I had to hold when operating with a troop, that makes me feel like I'm responsible for the people in this car. I don't know. Normally, though? I wouldn't be so keen or --

-- or speedy to use the talkie. We have to, though. Had, I should say, because I've left the most of my troop behind. It makes me just as big of a coward and hypocrite as the rest of them, and I try not to dwell on that. I try to never dwell on internalized guilt, and --

-- that doesn't ::always:: work. It's worked less and less over the years, especially with my initial parting from Beacon Hills. That doesn't stop me from trying, though. Eyes trained out the window, Braeden. and #Rips. quiet humming chatter is --

-- heard in the back of my mind. It's not something that I feel the need to chime in on, it doesn't involve me. I don't know anymore than #Rips. does, so I have no room to comment. If nothing else, Braeden. will just have to relinquish her control long --

-- enough to get to the loft. We'll all see who's there when we get back. Honestly? I can't fucking believe it's a place that I'm going to. I never thought that I'd find myself back in Beacon to begin with, but to willingly reunite with more than just #Rips.? Well, --

-- it's a fucking shock. If #Danny were still around here, I know for sure I'd reunite with him. Leaning my head back on the seat and staring out the front window, #Rips. probably gets her wish when I prove silent for the rest of the trip.

Falsely accused, too!