It'd been a week since John's escape and a tension had filled the Mill. Even the nurses and janitors tiptoed around like they were trying to avoid stepping on glass. Carly sat in her car the engine still running as she tried to calm her nerves. She wiped her sweaty palms against her pale blue scrubs. Her hands shook as she breathed closing her eyes.

Breathe. Just breathe. It's going to work. It has to. What if doesn't? What if I get caught? They'll kill me. I'm dead. Why bother? We're all dead. Oh no. No. I can't do this. Calm. Remain calm. Breathe. It's going to work.

Today was Megan's check-up and Carly could barely contain her nerves. She would only have to see a handle full of patients before heading out for Megan's appointment. Carly turned off the ignition dropping the keys onto the floorboard because her hands wouldn't stop shaking. She reached down the grab the keys and stepped out of her car with her hands still shaking as she stood next to her door for a moment to gather herself.

Breathe. It's ok. I'll be ok. Simple. It's a simple enough task. You've got this. If only I believed that.

The front doors of the building slid open as Carly ringed her hands together trying to hide that her hands were shaking. An invisible pressure was pushing down on her almost as if eyes were watching her every move or so she thought. A small bead of sweat dripped down the back of her neck as she headed straight for the bathroom. The jaws theme music played in her head as she pushed open the bathroom door. Duh---Duh--Duh--Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh. The internal music only grew with each step she took towards the mirror. 

Letting out a sigh Carly stared into the mirror giving herself a pep talk "You've got this Carly. You are the only one. Pull yourself together and go out there. The team is counting on you." 

A toilet flushed as another woman exited the stall. 

Crap. Crap.

Giving Carly an awkward look the woman quietly washed her hands and said, "Evaluations are the worst, you'll do fine." 

The woman gave Carly a reassuring nod and exited the room. Carly sighed in relief.

Thank God she. Just relax.

Carly gathered herself and headed to check in and picked up the paperwork that she needed for Megan's checkup. Carly slipped in the extra sheet at the end of the stack that had the message. I have never seen the Green Run, but I have seen the face of beauty. You know your mission. Stay ready for the storm. They have ears.

#

Knocking on the large door Rutherford stood in the doorway that made him look smaller as he asked, "Sir, did you get the device on her badge?"

"Yes, she left me a note the other day asking me and her mother to come over for dinner. We had dinner with her last night and I secured the device to her badge." Replied Jude looking up at Rutherford from behind his desk.

Nodding Rutherford responded, "I guess all that is left to do now Mr. King is to wait."

Leaning back in his large chair putting his hands behind his head Jude replied, "Yes, time will tell."

#

"Today's the day." Stated Joanie walking into the room.

The room looked similar to the inside of a submarine with its poor lighting and rusty steel walls. There were three listening stations in the room with a small walkway inside the leaky room. Joanie paced nervously as June and Norma sat behind computers with headsets on. June had one hand on her headset listening carefully as her other hand, jotted down quick notes. Norma pushed down her glasses from her head as she turned to face Joanie. 

Small beads of sweat had formed across Norma's brow she wiped them away with her sleeve before addressing Joanie, "Maybe you should step out for a bit. I think we can handle it from here." 

Stopping her pacing Joanie responded, "Ok, but if anything happens you call me."

"We will," Norma replied. Joanie left the room as Norma and June both sighed in relief.

"She's always so tense. It puts me on edge." Said Norma breaking the silence

June nodded, "I know, but she's the boss. I think she just worries too much. Marj said that something happened a long time ago that changed her. I assume that's why she's always on edge." 

Shrugging Norma responded, "You're probably right June."

Joanie walked down the small hallway making a few turns before she reached her room. She swung the door open and let out a sigh as she stepped in her shoulders slouched. She shuffled over to a table in the corner. Putting her head in her hands Joanie breathed in deeply and tried to calm herself down. Her leg was shaking like a jackhammer. Joanie laid her head down on the table facing a bookshelf. Skimming the books on the shelf her eyes stopped on the photo album. Rising from her seat she grabbed the album and turned to the fridge pulling out a bottle she poured herself a small glass and put the bottle back. 

Sitting down she began to flip through the pages. There were photos of her as a child playing on a swing set. Then of her pushing her brother on the swing. 

Ha. Look how cute we were. 

Tears started to form in her eyes as she ran her fingers over the face of the young boy,

Young and innocent. We were stupid. 

She took a sip of her drink before flipping to another page. A photo of her, Marj and Sal in front of the diner where she used work at sat in the center of the page with the caption The Crew. On the next page was a photo of her and Julian making goofy faces behind Marjorie. She flipped the page again searching for one in particular.

She found it near the back it was captioned with a heart. The photo was of her and Sal under a mistletoe at the office Christmas party. 

We were perfect. Life was perfect. It was easier. Simple. Happier. 

Shaking her head she laughed at the next photo of Julian trying to look like he was holding a statue. 

Ha. Stupid. 

There was a knock at the door. Joanie quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and closed the book. She downed the drink in her hand before responding, "Come in."

#

Carly finished up with her patients at the Mill before heading out to do the home checkup for Megan. She gathered up the needed paperwork and headed to her car. As she drove to the house she ran the plan through her head. 

Do the checkup. Sign the paperwork. Show her the message. Easy. If only it was. 

She pulled into the driveway and noticed an older woman working on some pink roses in front of the house. Stepping out of her car Carly sighed and gathered up her supplies. She approached the woman and asked, "Are you, Megan Garvey?"

The woman still knelt down turned to face Carly. Pulling off her gardening gloves she began to push herself up from the ground. Her white locks fell from under her yellow hat as she turned to face Carly and responded, "Yes, I assume you're here for my checkup."

Carly nodded and stuck her hand out as she responded "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Garvey. I hope that this checkup will go smoothly."

Laughing slightly Mrs. Garvey shook Carly's hand and responded sarcastically "A pleasure."

Megan motioned for Carly to follow her as she headed for the front door. 

Megan wiped her feet on the doormat as they stepped into the home and over her shoulder, she said, "I'm parched." 

Heading into the kitchen Megan pulled out a glass and filled it to the brim with water. "Would you like some water dear?" asked Mrs. Garvey.

Yes. Yes. Yes. 

Carly nodded her head remembering the bug on her badge. "Yes please."

Carly took the glass and thanked Megan. Megan and Carly both took small sips from their glasses. After Megan had finished her glass the pair moved into the living room for the checkup. Carly performed the checkup without any difficulty and when she finished the checkup she said, "Ok Mrs. Garvey everything looks great. You're in good health and now all that's left is the paperwork."

She handed over the stack of papers for Megan to sign. 

"I'll be right back I need a pen."

Rising from her seat Megan went into the kitchen for a pen. Carly followed her. Megan leaned against the counter as she skimmed the paperwork and signed each section. She reached the end of the stack and read the message I have never seen the Green Run, but I have seen the face of beauty. You know your mission. Stay ready for the storm. They have ears.

Megan cleared her throat and took the sheet into her hand. She stared into Carly's eyes, squinting trying to decide what to say. Carly's face grew hot as Megan stared her down. Touching her ear Carly looked down at her badge and then back at Megan a few times quickly. Seeing the motion Megan nodded her understanding of Carly's message. She moved quickly catching Carly off guard. She knocked over the glass of water in front of Carly spilling it all over Carly's shirt and badge.

#

"Sir she's just entered the wife's house," Rutherford spoke as he lifted the headset from his ears.

"Good, keep listen and tell me everything." Replied Jude as he sat back in his chair.

"She's drinking water with Mrs. Garvey. Now they are moving to do the checkup." Rutherford said as he continued to listen.

"Anything else?" Jude asked with his eyes still closed.

"No sir, she's following procedure. Nothing out of the ordinary." Rutherford responded shaking his head.

Nodding Jude sat back in his chair as Rutherford continued to tell him every detail.

"Ok, they're doing the paperwork. They should be finished soon." Rutherford said as Jude sat up in his chair.

"Ok, let me know when she's left."

Rutherford put his hands on the headset pushing them closer to his ears trying to listen. All he could hear was the sound of static as he turned to face Mr. King, looking nervous he said, "Wait something happened. I lost the signal. I can't hear anything, sir."

"What do you mean? Rutherford, you better pick that signal back up. And you need to do it yesterday." Jude slammed his fist onto his desk as he stood up. 

#

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