"Kellin, Andy wants to see you," Shinoda whispers in my ear. "Good luck. He has some very important people in there and it looks very important." 

I nod and walk into the office where at least ten people turn and stare at me. "Uh, you asked for me?" I speak awkwardly, staring at the people in the room. Luckily, I know most of them, it's the ones I don't know that I worry about.

"Kellin, please take a seat next to Agent Fuentes," Andy speaks formally. I sit down and Vic glances at me. Awsten smiles at me from across the table. "You already know Fuentes, Knight, McDougall, Jardine, Way, and Preciado. Meet Walters, and Williams."

I nod at them and the guy with blond hair smiles at me. The woman gives me a warm look before turning back to Andy. 

"We've all heard from Jardine, and I didn't know Kellin knew about it until Fuentes spoke up," she glances at me. I shrug. "Anyway, we need to come to a decision." 

"I think we go," the blond says. "We hit them before they even make it into the warehouse, Tay, you said you know where the location is?" He asks. Tay nods. "So, we could hit them on their way." 

"Yes, but think about the risks. This might be a game, Bostwick has been playing with us since the start," Jenna says. "I say we think about this again, plan everything to the second."

Vic glances at me and raises an eyebrow. "What do you think?" He whispers. I nod. He looks over at Awsten, who glances over at Andy. 

Alright, secret code...

"How many believe we need to go?" Andy sighs. Jaime, Tay, Walters, and I raise our hands. I glance at Vic in confusion.

"How many believe we wait?" Jenna, Williams, and Way raise their hand. 

"Fuentes, why didn't you vote?" Andy asks. Vic smiles and stands up. 

"Because we're missing someone," he answers. Andy tilts his head in confusion. "We're talking about this, but we have someone who knows more than anyone- except maybe Jardine." 

"No, we're not using him," Walters says. "That's ridiculous, he is unstable and may turn his back on us."

"His brother is with him. He won't do that," Vic shoots back. 

Oh no. No. Fuck no.

"Sir," Vic turns to Andy. "I say we bring in Remington Leith Kropp for our final decision." 

~~~

"Hey, Kellin Quinn, right?" The blond from earlier walks up to me. "I'm Patrick Walters, everyone calls me Patty." We shake hands. 

"You already know me. Hey, how come I haven't met you yet? I figured I would have met everyone by now."

He smiles. "That's because I was with Hayley- she was introduced as Williams, in a different part of the building. We were working on associates and location tracking. Nothing really in the field."

That's when Awsten walks over. He smiles at Patty before turning to me. "Andy needs us back in the conference room," he says. 

"I guess I'll see you around. I hope next time, we're celebrating the end of all of this," he nods at me. 

"I hope so too," I mutter as he walks into the room, me being right behind him. I spot Vic... Remington and Emerson sitting next to him. Andy stares at me with his cold-blue eyes. 

"He has information about the raid," Vic speaks up. "The only thing Ms. Jardine was missing was the exact time. She had somewhere between 12 to 18'o clock. Remington says it will be at 15."

Remington nods at Vic's words. I give Awsten a confused look, in which he returns. 

"How can we trust him?" Jaime says. 

Vic takes a deep breath, trying to choose his words carefully.

I can't believe Jaime is even here. After Tony... Vic and I thought Jaime would be removed from the mission, but Andy hasn't pulled him out yet. 

"We can trust him because his brother is present. Emerson Barret Kropp has been cleared every single time we investigate him. Along with that, Remington has only been involved with one... Incident."

I feel my body tense when he says that. Remington ruined lives- my friends' lives. I grip the chair and glare at Remington, who gives me an apologetic look. I try to remember to breathe as Remington shifts in his seat nervously. 

"Kellin, breathe," Awsten whispers into my ear. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, releasing the chair and relaxing- only slightly. 

Vic noticed me and gives me a worried look. I nod and he continues. "And although it was bad, he's giving us information that seems correct. Ms. Jardine is currently undercover again to find out if Remington is right. If she can't find out in time, it's a gamble for us to take."

Andy nods and Vic sits down. He stares at me from across the table. Are you okay? He mouths. I nod. 

"I would like all of you to stay in this building for the remainder of the day. If Ms. Jardine fails to find information before midnight, we must decide if we go or stay. Dismissed," Andy finishes before closing his file. 

Patty, Jenna, Hayley, and Gerard lead Remington and Emerson out, I assume to a private room so those two can stay until we make a decision. Jaime waits until they're gone before walking over to Vic, whispering something, and walking out. 

"I'll see you later," Awsten whispers before walking over to Andy. 

Vic waits for me at the door. "Kellin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so insensitive, but-"

"No, it's alright. I just, I've been ignoring all of my friends. I've rarely gone to any classes. I just- I feel like that man is taking everything from me. Justin and Nick paid the price for simply knowing me for God's sake, and Tony-" I stop myself before I say too much and break down in the middle of a building full of agents. 

"I'm sorry Kellin. I wish I could do something, but you are seconds away from getting pulled into a protection program. Maybe you can meet your friends again?" 

I shake my head. "I'm putting them in danger. The rest of my family is already in danger, I can't have everyone around me being in danger all the time." 

"None of this is-"

"My fault, yeah yeah, I get it. Heard it a million times," I roll my eyes. "I just hope Remington and Tay are right because I want this to end as soon as possible so I can go back to living how I used to."

"You and I both know that's not what will happen. This entire situation has changed your mind in ways you haven't realized yet, but you will soon. It may be the same, but it will never feel the same again. That's why agents never seem to quit." 

"Like Awsten?" I ask. He nods. 

"Awsten was in your situation and tried to go back, of course, the end of the mission was pyrrhic and he came back after two weeks." 

"Well then, at least it would be better than having a target on your back and putting targets on everyone's back," I sigh, crossing my arms. "I'd love to see what would become of us once this is over. I like to imagine you as a cheesy boyfriend that buys flowers and chocolate for Valentine's day."

"Who says I won't?" He deadpans. 

I let out another sigh. "Well, at least you'll be my cheesy boyfriend."

~~~

Waiting for midnight was like New Year's without the balloons and champagne. Vic and I went over to his desk, which is next to Jaime's, and across from Tony's. I spent the time talking to people or staring at Tony's empty desk. 

He would have been at this meeting. Voting for our next move. 

"Kellin," Awsten calls. I look up and see Vic walking toward me. I stand up and we walk back to the conference room. 

I spot Tay standing next to Andy as he watches us enter the room. "Ms. Jardine couldn't find anything," he starts once everyone enters the room. 

"So it's a gamble?" Patty asks. Andy nods. 

"I hope you've come to a decision. It's time we vote," Andy says. "All those in favor of going, raise your hand." 

Patty, Awsten, Jaime, Jenna, Tay, Gerard, and Vic raise their hands. I do the same after they do.

Hayley stares at us before raising her hand as well. 

"Then it is unanimous. We're going after them tomorrow at 15," Andy nods. "Dismissed." 

Vic leads me out of the office and pats my shoulder. "This might be the end," he smiles. 

I nod. "I really hope so. Do you think he will be there?"

"Honestly? I don't know," he sighs. "This entire thing is a chess game for him and nothing more. We never know what he's thinking. All we know is that we have a chance to get rid of them, or drastically damage them."

I nod and look over at Awsten, he has a rather serious face on, but when he makes eye contact with me, he shoots me a smile. 

I look back at Vic and nod. "I hope we destroy them."