That night Winter and Valkyrie set off for Pantar to find and to bring Gabriel back home. Even if they didn't get along that well, Valkyrie didn't say anything for the sake of helping Travis accomplish his wish.

Winter sat on the co-pilot seat while looking below ground to see the night view of the city. The different colors of lights at night gave life to the bustling city.

"Are you ready to face him?" Valkyrie asked her while maneuvering the private plane out of the city's border.

"I'm actually nervous and worried. Would he be happy to see me? Would he come along with us? I don't know and knowing the answer's a bit scary." Winter mumbled while watching him pressed on different buttons.

Valkyrie just smiled at her without saying a word. He didn't what to say either. With what happened between them, Valkyrie couldn't say if Gabriel would be fine after seeing her.

Since they were traveling by plane, it only took them an hour before they arrived at the airport where Shein made an arrangement for them. Since they were from the military, they just have to show their badge and no one will stop them.

"We have arrived. We will be starting our recovery mission tomorrow." Valkyrie told Shein who called them as soon as they landed. He was monitoring them back at Jillyanna's house when they came home after dinner.

"That's good to know. Let's all have a rest so we can have an early start tomorrow morning." Shein responded on the other line.

"Hn. Thanks for your assistance."

"No problem."

Shein and Valkyrie didn't talk much. Winter was also talking with Travis behind him to make let him know that they were all safe and sound.

They immediately found the hotel that Shein booked and presented their IDs for policy and procedure compliance.

When they got inside their own booked rooms, Valkyrie called Brown who was currently at the hospital, looking after Jackie.

"I guess you have arrived?" Brown greeted him with a question while helping Jackie check her IV drip.

"Hn. We just landed and arrived in the hotel that Shein booked for us. What are you doing now?"

"Waiting for the doctor to come over and replace Jackie's IV drip."

"I see. We will be both busy now." Valkyrie uttered almost a whisper. "Get as much sleep as you can while I'm away. When I get back, I'll claim my reward from you." Valkyrie teased him, switching Brown's buttons.

"Shut up! Focus on your task!"

"Of course I will. How can I get my reward without accomplishing my task?"

"You're hopeless."

"I'm hopeful with you."

Brown rolled his eyes and huffed a deep sigh. 'This guy really knows how to irk me.' he thought to himself. "Then, take a rest now."

"Good night Evan." Valkyrie whispered gently with a silly look on his face. Not only that, his message was accompanied with a kiss sound on the phone screen.

Brown blushed with this sudden sweetness he got from him. "Good night Matt." He said it in his normal voice and ended the call immediately. However, he send Valkyrie a text message. "Take care of yourself cause I will be checking your whole body when you get back. If you get a single wound, I'll shave off your head."

There was threat to his message but you can still sense his care for him. Valkyrie who received his message smiled happily. He knew why Brown sent it instead of saying it, Jackie was obviously present.

Brown put away his phone and went to Jackie's side. She was awake and was staring at him with obvious tease for quite a while now.

"The doctor will be here any minute to change your drip. It will be the last one since you're out of critical zone. Still, you have to rest for few more days due to the wound you obtained."

Jackie just nodded her head and looked at the time on the wall clock just above the door frame. It was almost nine in the evening which made her smile faintly.

Not long after, Vincent came with an insulated box of chicken and mushroom soup. He greeted Brown politely, not just because he was a family to Jackie but also because he was from the military and a bit older than him.

"Why don't you take a rest instead? You still have work tomorrow." Jackie spoke to him without moving an inch. Her body was still aching, specially the wounds on her back.

Brown excused himself and went out to buy some snacks, giving them time to talk.

"I'll be taking my day off tomorrow. My junior will be taking over my place for the mean time." Vincent answered, his smile was bright as if he got a new lease in life.

His smile was like a warm honey, coating Jackie's heart with sweetness and comfort. She was extremely thankful that she didn't shoo him away this time.

Meanwhile, Gabriel couldn't sleep in his humble abode. He felt extremely anxious at the moment and he couldn't seem to find the sleep that he wanted.

He stared at the space in front of him and let his mind wander, losing himself in deep thoughts and wonders.

"I shall teach my students some survival techniques." Gabriel murmured to himself. "Oh! I need to buy a laptop tomorrow." He added which wasn't really the thing he wanted to think about.

He has been denying himself and his past. He evaded the thought of Winter and buried every memory of her at the back of his mind. However, during this time, whenever he's alone, her smile, her pouts, her upset expressions, etc., they all came, invading his thoughts and sanity.

"Winter. Winter Avery." He whispered her name twice. There was melancholy and longing in his voice but he didn't dwell so much on it. "I wish we didn't meet at all."

He really wanted to tell her this but he just couldn't bring himself to do it.