She stood in front of the glass, arms crossed, her lips turned down into a frown.

She had trusted Mick Rory. Believed in him.

And here he sat, a killer with a smirk across his face.

"You ever gonna say something Princess?" His rough voice cut through the tension, and Alex clenched her jaw at the nickname.

"Everyone else hated you," She stated, recalling the way he had been treated on the ship, Mick freezing at her words, anger brewing behind his eyes. "They expected you to be evil, to be something that I knew you were not." Alex grit her teeth together, never leaving her spot, "I trusted you Mick, when everyone else said you'd go left, I knew you'd go right."

Silence hung over the two of them, Rory leaning forward without an inch of regret in him.

"You were wrong," He responded, a smirk on his face, "I'm a killer, I always have been."

Alex shook her head, "No you're not," She wasn't sure why she was holding onto the hope that he could change, "Because I've met killers, and they may look like you, but you're better, I can feel it."

Mick laughed at her statement, "You holding out hope for me Princess?" He taunted, face suddenly dropping into a more serious expression, "you wouldn't be the first."

Gideon's voice came over the intercom, telling her that the team was back.

As she was getting ready to leave the room, she hesitated, turning to face Rory again. "Leonard's lucky to have you." She stated, ignoring the hurt panging from his earlier words, "I hope you know that."

The door hissed open and she followed the hallways down to the bridge, where Rip, Sara, and Leonard were waiting in the Captain's room.

"What's going on?" Alex breathed as she moved to sit on the other arm of the chair Leonard had claimed.

"We found Savage," Sara informed her.

Alex turned to Rip, knowing what their next move was, "That's great, what are we waiting for?"

"Slight problem girl scout," Leonard's drawl made her hesitate, and she turned toward Rip fro an explanation.

"He's a teacher." Sara jumped in instead.

"Tutor," Rip corrected, "it would seem, to young Per Degaton himself."

"I'm sorry, did you say young Per Degaton?" Alex asked, trying to process all the information sent her way.

Sara was the only one who answered her question, "He's fifteen right now,"

Alex nodded, "And you want us to kill a fifteen-year-old?"

Rip didn't say anything, changing the subject completely, "After the death of his father in five year's time, Per Degaton unleashes the Armageddon Virus," He explained,  "which decimates the world's population, leaving it ripe for conquest."

"That doesn't change the fact that you want us to kill a fifteen-year-old." Alex snapped, not believing this.

She understood the reason why. It was strategic. But she was more upset about the fact that Rip had willingly held this information back. That he had lied through omission again.

And that was the worst part about this.

"Per Degaton primes the world for dictatorship, and then when the time is right Savage snatches that power away from him--" Rip's tone was urgent, trying to justify his decision.

"--By killing Per Degaton." Sara finished for him.

Alex scoffed, "great, so he dies anyway," She shook her head, upset with herself.

She couldn't believe she was actually on Rip's side in this scenario.

He was right. It was a strategic decision more than anything.

One life for a billion.

"Okay, so we don't have what we need to take out Savage," Alex thought aloud, trying to formulate a plan in her head, "but maybe now we can figure out a way to stop his rise to power."

Rip nodded, pointing at her in agreement, "By depriving him of his springboard, Per Degaton."

"Okay," Sara scratched her forehead, trying to understand everything that had just been decided, "how do we do that?"

Alex sighed, knowing they had no other choice.

"It's quite simple, really." Rip began, cut off by Leonard's smirk.

"We kill the little bastard ourselves."

She leaned forward, frowning at the decision they had made, "One life for a billion."

***

Alex hung her head between her arms as she sat on the stairs, Leonard sprawled out behind her.

She was so goddamn tired of debating the same thing over and over again.

"To be clear, we're talking about murdering a child--" Stein began, but Alex cut him off easily.

"Who will eventually kill billions of people" She shouted into the wide room, lifting her head up to face the rest of the team.

Jax was quick to rebut her argument "but hasn't done anything to anyone yet"

Kendra shook her head, unable to fathom killing a child, "There's got to be a better way."

"There isn't" Leonard called from his spot on the stairs, "Alex is right, we need to make sure this little bastard bites the dust,"

Her stomach squirmed at the language Leonard was using. Just because it was the logical solution didn't mean she agreed with the decision.

It was a strategic decision. Not an emotional one.

"How do we even know that this Per Degaton kid's path to becoming a world-ruling dictator is inevitable?" Ray offered up, trying to come up with an idea that didn't end up killing a child.

"Because in the future that I'm from," Rip interrupted, crushing Ray's dreams, "children learn about Per Degaton in the same way that children in your time learn about Adolf Hitler."

Alex grimaced at the comparison. That wasn't great.

All the more reason to deal with Per Degaton before he killed anyone else.

Stein, however, was determined to remain on the moral upright side, "What about addressing the larger societal problems that would allow such a despot's rise to power?"

Alex's laugh pierced the air, "That's great Martin, you have a couple of centuries to do so?"

The professor sighed in defeat and Leonard moved to support her again.

"Besides, we already know what pushes this punk to the dark side," He paused for dramatic effect, "Savage."

Alex pointed at Leonard, silently agreeing with his reasoning. She hated the idea, but what other choice did they have?

Jax, as always, sided with Stein, "Look, it's not the kid's fault he's got an immortal psychopath as his tutor."

"He's going to die anyway," Alex protested, "This way we save billions of lives and we have the chance to stop Savage's rise to power."

Rip nodded in agreement, "If he doesn't build him into the greatest tyrant the world has ever known," he began, taking in a deep breath, "Savage can't become the last tyrant the world will ever know."

"Murdering a child in cold blood just like Savage murdered your own son," Stein continued his moral upright argument, and Alex collapsed on the stairs with a sigh, "What's the use in saving the world if we stoop to his methods to do so?"

She placed her hands over her face, dragging them down in frustration. Debating with these people was sisyphean.

"I'm with Professor Stein," Ray announced, and Alex chuckled mirthlessly.

"Of course you are," She muttered under her breath.

Leonard finally offered another solution and Alex was starting to hail him as her own personal hero at that point.

"Okay, fine," Snart began, "If y'all don't have the guts to kill this kid--"

"Then removing him from the timeline might be the next best thing." Stein finished for Leonard. Alex sighed. At least this plan didn't involve any murder.

"Great, we've gone from infanticide to child abduction," Ray muttered under his breath, "Progress."

Rip pulled up something Alex couldn't see on Gideon's screen, "First we need to devise how to abduct him from underneath the noses of his father's private guard."

"And don't forget the army of Atom robots."

"We're going to need an accomplished thief." Rip turned to Leonard, who finally looked interested in the conversation.

"Well, while you're kidnapping baby Hitler," Ray continued, gesturing to Rip before looking over at the professor beside him, "Professor Stein and I will sabotage the robot army."

Stein nodded in agreement and Jax was the first one to speak up about which team he wanted to be on.

"I call Team Robot Army."

Sara shook her head at the plan, "Isn't that a waste of time?"

"Not for the Kasnian citizens who are tormented by my technology."

Alex scoffed inwardly.

Ray Palmer, always trying to save the world.

Rip nodded in Ray's direction, "That technology does lead to Savage's rise to power. Good backup plan" He complimented, "Take Alex with you,"

"What?" She protested, standing up from her position on the stairs, "Why do I get Team Robot Army?"

Rip shrugged, "Because frankly, you draw too much attention with the..." He gestured to her entire body, "Well everything."

Alex rolled her eyes, moving past Rip, "We all know that's not the real reason but sure go with that," She hissed as she passed him, making sure he was the only one who heard.

Rip rolled his eyes at her statement.

Sara sighed before raising her hand, "Fine, Team Kidnapping."

Rip lifted a fist, a weak "Go team," leaving his mouth as they went their separate ways.

***

Alex's heels clicked against the tile floor as she followed beside Ray, Stein, and Jax right behind them. A redheaded woman was giving them a tour of the facility, and Alex was canvassing every inch of the place in case they needed to return to stop the army of robots later on.

She couldn't even understand half of what the woman was saying anyway.

"Since the introduction of our latest line of autonomous law enforcement officers," The Doctor continued, showing off the skeletons of the ATOM suits, "crime has dropped precipitously. In fact, it's nonexistent."

Alex wanted to scoff. It was nonexistent because citizens had been forced into a police state.

Stein, however, could always find the good in these types of situations though, "Really? Well, thank you for showing us around, Dr.Brice."

Brice smiled as she gestured to the building surrounding them, "It's my pleasure. We don't get very many visitors from Central City ever since the S.T.A.R. Labs Corporation took it over."

Alex shoved her hands in the pockets of her grey coat, eyes monitoring every inch of the place. If this was the future, she was glad she would be dead before it came to light.

She and her mom may have long lives, but they weren't that long.

"Uh, unless I'm mistaken," Ray cleared his throat to speak up, "your tech utilizes a dwarf star alloy."

"The technology is proprietary, but yes," Brice responded, eyes creased in confusion, "How did you know, Doctor..."

It was a moment of tense silence as the woman asked for his name.

"Lecter." Ray came up with on the spot, "Dr.Hannibal Lecter."

"Jesus Christ," Alex whispered under her breath, placing her head in her hands as they continued on their walk. Jax and Stein apparently felt the same way.

"So how did you get into robotics, Dr. Brice?" Stein changed the subject, desperate to try and make up for Ray's awful name choice.

The redhead smiled at the question, "Oh, well, it's in my blood." She said proudly, puffing out her chest, "Robotics have been a passion of my family ever since my great-great-great-great-grandfather founded this company."

They turned the corner, Alex's steps ceasing as she caught sight of the bust of the founder.

She withheld her surprised laughter, settling for an open mouth in shock.

It looked exactly like...

"Is that--"

"Oh, my God." Stein and Jax had echoed her exact thoughts and before she could stop it, a laugh erupted from her lips.

The bust was a perfect image of Ray Palmer himself.

And that's when it finally hit her.

He was a father. He was someone's grandfather.

He was married to someone else, he had a life with someone else.

Alex's stomach growled, twisting at the thought.

Oh no.

"Huh, weird." Brice exclaimed, "You look just like him."

***

She had stayed behind, not wanting to talk more about Ray's great-great-great-great granddaughter anymore than she had too.

Her relationship with him was already complicated enough.

Alex stared at the bust of Ray, still trying to figure out what exactly her feelings were for the man.

She couldn't hate him. No matter how hard she tried, he just couldn't. But he hadn't made any effort to try and improve their fractured relationship.

Did he even want to be friends anymore? Did she?

"Excuse me," Brice's voice interrupted her thoughts, "The tour is over, but I would happy to answer any questions you have, Miss..."

"Trevor," Alex responded, plastering a smile on her face, "And I was just admiring this gorgeous bust," She gestured to the statue, "It's a great likeness, I'm assuming?"

Brice smiled, a proud smile, clearly happy to be a part of such a successful family, "Follow me,"

Alex did as she was told, the red-head leading her down a winding hallway, portraits lining the walls.

Brice lead her into a small office, everything in pristine condition, "This was my great-great-great-great grandfather's office," She began, gesturing to the possessions in the room, "We've kept it in the best condition possible since his death, but if you wanted to see what he really looks like..."

She reached over the desk, pulling out a photograph, "here, it's a picture of him with my great-aunt,"

Alex smiled, glancing at the picture. Her lips dropped into a frown as she recognized the figure standing beside Ray.

It was herself, laughing with a glass of champagne in her hand as the picture was taken. She'd never seen herself look that happy in her life.

"You look just like her," Brice finally addressed the elephant in the room, "It's strange, she lived so long, I can remember her reading stories to me in my youth." The doctor laughed. Alex couldn't take her eyes off the photo.

"She never stayed for long though, always had somewhere else to be," Alex caught the hint of resentment in her voice and handed the frame back to her.

"This is beautiful, but I don't understand why--" Alex cut herself off, catching herself. She wanted to ask how she and Ray were still friends in the future. What this meant.

What brother did he have for her to marry?

Was she so stuck on him that she had to weasel her way into his family somehow?

Was letting him and Kendra be not enough?

"Why are you showing me this?" She asked instead, trying to figure out the woman's motives.

Brice shrugged. "I just...I guess I trust you for some reason." The doctor shrugged, placing the photo back on the desk, "The way you interacted with Dr. Lecter out there...it reminded me of my great aunt, I guess."

Alex chuckled involuntarily, sensing the sad nostalgia Brice was experiencing. She wanted something familiar. Something recognizable. "She sounds like a remarkable woman."

Brice shot another wistful glance at the photograph, "She was"

Alex's heart tugged at the sight, and she found herself taking pity on the young woman.

"Do you wanna get a coffee or something?" She asked, wanting to see the woman smile again, "On me."

Brice's eyes lit up, "Are you being serious?"

"Oh, I'm always serious about coffee," Alex joked, the two women sharing a laugh before leaving the office arm in arm.

***

The atmosphere was tenser than when she had left. The coffee meet up had done wonders for her attitude.

Turns out, talking with her future grandniece was somehow the best part of her entire day.

"Hey."

Alex stopped in her tracks, ignoring the way her stomach twisted at the sound of Ray's voice. It was bad enough she wasn't over her anger at him, but this situation had skyrocketed the awkwardness up to a whole new level.

"Hey," She responded, plastering a fake smile on her face, "What did you need?"

Ray creased his brow, worry clouding his dark gaze, "Well I was worried when you didn't come back right away," He admitted, "I thought maybe..."

"What?" Alex scoffed, "That I had been scared off by your family?"

Ray chuckled, his nerves manifesting in a twitch below his eye, "Well, we don't know for sure she's family, I mean she could be--"

"Ray," She cut him off, moving closer, "I saw a picture of her great grandfather," Alex paused, clearing her throat before continuing, "He looks too much like you to be anyone else."

Ray bobbed his head, as if not fully convinced it was his relative out there programming his creation to be evil. "She showed you a picture?" He asked, a slight upturn to his lips, "Why?"

Alex shrugged, letting her nerves knot themselves in her stomach as she lied once again to him, "I don't know, she said I reminded her of another dead relative."

Not a lie. She told herself. A half-truth.

Ray chuckled, "So what? You bonded over robotics and went out for mimosas?" He teased.

"Coffee actually," She patted his shoulder as she walked by, her body screaming out for more as she moved past him.

She hesitated at the end of the hallway, turning around to face the worried inventor, "You know, she's not that bad," Alex told Ray, recalling how happy she felt after the encounter, "She's actually really intelligent and full of that stupid Palmer optimism."

Ray smirked at her comment, gaining a small chuckle from the man.

Alex smiled softly, "You want a family? It's right outside that door"

She pointed toward the Waverider exit as her lips twisted to the side and she continued down the path to the bridge.

"So," Leonard joined her in the hallway on the way down, "You and Raymond seem to be getting along again."

Alex let out another sigh, "Do you just wait in hallways to start conversations about people's love lives?"

Leonard smirked at that, "Only yours,"

"Wow, I'm flattered," Sarcasm dripped from her voice, ignoring his previous statement.

Leonard followed her again, "May I suggest some advice?"

Alex stopped in her tracks and finally faced him, crossing her arms, "No, but I get the feeling you're going to anyway."

"Go easy on the boy scout," He told her, "He probably feels just as bad as you do about the whole thing."

Alex scoffed, waiting a second before continuing down to the bridge, "You give terrible advice," was all she said.

The ship shook and Alex grabbed the wall to brace herself. The two of them shared a look before running down to the bridge, hoping to find some answers.

"What the hell was that?" She asked as she moved to where the rest of the team was surrounding the table in the middle of the room.

Sara sighed, "Rip took the jumpship" the assassin paused before letting her know how bad the situation really was, "And Per Degaton."

Alex's eyes widened as her anger finally spilled out, "And you let him? What happened to kidnapping?"

Stein shook his head, "Apparently it did nothing. NO matter where Per Degaton is in the timeline, it does nothing to stop Savage's rise to power."

Alex shook her head. "If kidnapping did nothing then why does he think that murdering will be any different?"

Jax was quick to defend their captain, "Rip is not a murderer."

"He isn't?" Alex challenged, "Because that's all he's been advocating for since we found out about Per Degaton."

"To Captain Hunter, this isn't about killing," Stein interjected, trying to explain Rip's mindset, "It's about saving."

She let out a defeated sigh, "One life for a billion."

Stein nodded, "His son's life for Per Degaton's." It was all starting to make sense now, "Rather simple if cold-blooded calculus for a father to undertake."

His statement caused Alex to wander.

If what he was saying was true, would her father have stayed around if he knew about her?

Would he have gotten on that plane at all?

She was still locked in her thoughts when most of the team had left the bridge, leaving her alone with Martin as they examined possible places Rip would have disappeared to.

The ship shook again, harder than the last time, circuits sparking. If it hadn't been for her grip on the table, she probably would've been tossed to the ground.

"Gideon?" Stein asked, the AI explaining that Per Degaton's father had gathered his forces to attack the ship.

The rest of the team reappeared and Alex was already handing out orders.

"Gideon, can you fire back?"

Jax answered for her instead, "The robots targeted our weapons systems,"

Ray straightened up and turned to Alex with a wide smile on his face, "We don't need weapons."

Stein backed him up, "He's right, we have superpowers."

Alex and Sara shared a look and nodded as they headed to their rooms. She pulled on her armor, twisting her wrist to loosen it up before the battle, following Firestorm and the rest of the team out of the Waverider.

Alex charged forward, blocking several blows from the ground troops, sending a kick into the chest of another one, the soldier flying backward into one of the warehouses.

She tore her tiara from her head, sending it flying through the crowds of soldiers, knocking several of them out before it returned to her, launching another kick at the soldier in front of her before placing it back on her head.

A red blur crashed to the ground, and Alex looked up just in time to see Ray's figure land a few feet away from her.

"Ray!" She called pushing through the onslaught to reach him.

She helped him up from his stunned state, "So this is what it feels like to be last year's model." He groaned, eliciting a chuckle from the woman who had helped him up, "They're too fast. We have to find another way."

Firestorm landed next to the two of them, "Forget about them." He said confidently, "We'll hold off the robots."

Alex nodded, an idea coming to her head, "We can take out their command center."

Ray nodded and Alex leaped upward, landing just outside the robotics building, sidewalk cracking upon impact. She ran inside, yelling for everyone to evacuate the building while she caught up with Ray.

Alex kicked down the door, sword brandished, causing the man in front of them to shoot up from his position in the chair.

"Who are you?" The nervous techie demanded, his confident facade faltering at the sight of the two heroes before him.

Ray shrugged before landing a punch to the man's jaw, sending him collapsing to the floor.  "Yeah."

Alex moved to join Ray, Jax's voice sounding urgent over the comms.

"Ray, hurry up. I can only hold them back for so long."

His fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up the active schematics to find a way to shut the entire suit down for good. "Almost got it," Ray murmured under his breath.

Alex held hers.

The click of a gun forced her to release it and she whipped around, coming face to face with the young doctor who had escorted them around the building earlier.

Brice's eyes widened at the sight of Alex's uniform, her mouth dropping open in shock. "It really is you," She spoke softly before shaking her head and pointing the gun at Ray, "Where did you get your suit?" Her voice became hostile again, forced to put on a cold exterior.

Alex wanted to chuckle, of course, she sounded like Ray when she was scared.

Ray moved beside Alex, his hands held up in a gesture of surrender, nerves practically radiating off of him.

"Look," Ray began, trying to calm the redhead down, "if you don't let us disable your evil robot army, then the whole world will be destroyed."

Brice scoffed, not lowering her gun, "They're designed to bring peace."

Ray shot a look at Alex beside him, a heavy look in his eyes. With a sigh he lowered his hands, "I know," He removed his helmet so she could see his face, "I designed the robots."

Brice was very clearly taken aback, "What?"

Ray sighed, clearly upset with the distraction, "I am your great-great-great-great-grandfather," Alex placed her forehead in her palm. This was the best idea he could come up with? Revealing time travel to the woman in charge of a robot army? Even if she is one of the nicest people Alex had met on her travels, that didn't mean she could be trusted.

"the guy you have a bust of in your lobby," Ray continued, as if it was obvious, "father of the robotics industry."

Brice lowered her gun slightly, but not enough to feel safe, her brow raising skeptically, "You're trying to tell me that you're Sidney Palmer?"

Alex hesitated, still processing the information she had been given. Her response was cut off by Ray's outburst, "Wait...the bust in your lobby is of my stupid brother?!" He scoffed, clearly upset by this new development. If Alex had to hazard a guess, he and his brother did not get along, "Of course. He must have gone to work for Felicity in 2016 after I vanished." He continued to think aloud, not letting anyone else get a word in, "He allowed my tech to be perverted by the defense industry, That is...so Sidney." Ray snarled, still caught up in his own bubble.

"Anyway," Alex continued, finally getting a chance to talk to the other woman, "I am who you think I am," she continued, hoping the girl would understand without revealing their relation to Ray, "But right now, I think we have more important things to worry about" She spoke that last part to Ray, reminding him that they had a mission to complete.

"I'm not a father." Ray sounded so defeated, and Alex couldn't help the pang of sympathy that clung to her chest.

Everything she had known was a lie. If this timeline stayed intact, then the picture of her and Ray was actually a picture of her and Sidney, and somehow that was more upsetting.

Because somehow she ended up being Brice's great aunt.

Somehow she ended up with Ray.

Against her own will, her future was set, and that was scarier than anything she had encountered so far.

Alex swallowed her nerves and turned to face the redhead, "We still need your help disabling the robots." She explained.

Brice still refused to lower the gun, "and--and why should I help you?"

Ray's face fell and Alex moved forward, knowing exactly what to say.

"Because you're a Palmer," Alex stated with a smirk on her face, "It's in your blood."

Brice nodded and sat in the chair, disabling the army, and actually giving the Legends a fighting chance against Savage.

Just as they were leaving, Alex stopped herself, placing her hand on Brice's arm, "Thank you."

The redhead nodded, a soft smile on her lips as she watched her two relatives disappear from view.

***

"I can't believe I got to see you in action," Brice bounced on the balls of her feet, her smile wide as she stared at the two women in front of her, "My mom always told me stories of you in your prime, armor and everything,"

Alex chuckled at the excitement. Maybe this was how her mom felt all the time when meeting people.

"You do realize we have to erase your memory of everything?" Kendra spoke beside Alex, holding the device in her hand.

Brice nodded sadly, staring at the ground, "Oh I almost forgot!" The redhead reached into her bag, holding out a small piece of paper to the older woman, "I double-checked the photo, it's not you and Sidney after all."

Alex glanced at the scrawl across the back, only able to make out a couple of sentences.

Ray and Alex, engagement party 2020

She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned the picture over, gazing at the bright smiles the two of them were wearing. If this was real, if her future was already set from the moment she landed on Earth-1...

She smiled instead, "Thank you, Brice," Alex responded, tucking the photo into her pocket, "It was really great getting to know you,"

The redhead smiled at her compliment, "You too Auntie,"

A flash of light went off and the two women left Brice to continue her tour.

"She called you Auntie," Kendra was the first one to talk, and of course it was the one thing Alex didn't want to talk about.

Alex nodded, trying to pretend it didn't bother her, "Apparently I'm her great whatever aunt in this timeline," She said nonchalantly, hoping Kendra would drop the subject.

She didn't. Instead, the woman stopped Alex in her tracks, freezing just outside of the Waverider.

"Have you told Ray about--"

"No," Alex cut her off sharply, not even entertaining the idea, "And I don't plan to, so please don't tell him."

Kendra scoffed, "This is too important Alex, you need to have a conversation with him,"

"Oh what, like you did about Carter?"

Kendra went silent at that. Alex knew it was a low blow, but she didn't have any other cards to play.

"I respected your decision back then, please respect mine now."

Without another word she marched into the Waverider, accidentally bumping into Ray on her way to her bedroom.

"Oh hey!" His voice was cheerier than it usually was, "I was looking for you,"

The lump formed in her throat again, the picture feeling like a heavy weight in her back pocket, "You were?"

"Yeah, I uh, wanted to thank you for helping me out back there," Ray responded, his lips turning up slightly, "And uh, I'm sorry for what happened in 1958,"

Alex's chest constricted at his apology. She hadn't been ready for this conversation, and now it was happening.

"I shouldn't have lashed out," Ray continued, biting the inside of his cheek, "You were right, it was too soon to propose something like that." He paused, "It was stupid, immature, and untrue."

Alex nodded, her the lump growing too big to allow for words to form.

"I really want us to be friends again," Ray admitted, "I hope you can forgive me."

The truth was she had forgiven him the moment she had seen him again. She had been angry of course, but she'd always forgiven him.

It was who she was. And she hated it.

"Of course," She choked out, falling into Ray's embrace, hiding the nervous look on her face before breaking apart.

Gideon's voice chimed in, informing the two of them that they were needed on the bridge immediately.

"I should go find Kendra," Ray finally spoke up after thanking the AI, "She doesn't know about--"

"Yeah," Alex shook herself free of her stupor, "Go, I'll uh, I'll see you on the bridge."

He smiled as he left, a little skip in his step. When she was sure Ray had disappeared for good, she pulled the picture out of her pocket, thumbing the crease she had created.