Finally! – Felicity’s Journal, April 3

Punishment and place of confinement: 10 Years, ADC – Correctional Institutes Division. Sentence of confinement suspended to one year in minimum security facility followed by 8 years probation. - Brendon’s sentence, June 25

“We have a plane waiting at the Calgary airport,” Briel explained. “I'm sure our client wouldn't mind an of extra passenger, especially in light of how much you have helped us.”

“And when you land,” Felicity interjected, a sudden mirth turning the corners of her mouth skyward, “you can get the rest of the files from Nick.”

“From Nick? What does he have to do with this?” Despite her apparent resolve, Briel seemed curious about the man she – perhaps futilely – had determined to reject.

“You didn't think I got the files by myself?

“I just assumed that you had gotten them off of your computer.”

“Nope. Nick found them on ProtoComm's computers. He hacked them, and sent them to me.” Felicity smiled widely as she watched her words sink in to Briel's brain. A look of undisguised fascination flashed across the young agent's face before she recovered her professional demeanor.

“Well, I'll be sure to find him, then, and thank him,” Briel hedged, obviously trying to hide her pleasure at the thought. “There was some good intel on our client’s daughter on there.”

“And Nick will likely be able to help you find more.”

Briel nodded before Nessa came and escorted Felicity to a waiting car.

“Is Jase okay?” Nessa wondered.

Felicity bit her lip, that hypocritical jealousy scratching at the door of her psyche.

“I wish I knew,” Felicity admitted. “He’s stronger than I could imagine, so I’m not sure how much touches him.”

“You’d be surprised,” Nessa sighed.

The operative seemed somber, and Felicity knew that her own envy was a selfish indulgence. “You know him well.”

Smiling, Nessa huffed a laugh. “No, no one knows Jase well. He is a closed book, but that doesn’t mean things don’t touch him.”

Felicity found her breath constricted, and after a few seconds’ struggle, she finally found her voice, asking a question that pained her by the surrender it implied.

“You’ll take care of him?” Felicity begged, trying to keep desperation out of her voice.

Surprised, Nessa smiled up into Felicity’s face. “I know how much you care about him. Maybe it’s a consolation to you or maybe it’s a curse, but I care, too. I will take care of him as much as he’ll let me. We've brushed shoulders over the years, but he doesn't invest in relationships. Jase has a history with everyone he has met, but he may or may not know it. Not that he will forget you, of course. But Jase is just the kind of person who has an impact on the people who know him but he may never see it.”

Felicity nodded, repressing her discomfort. “I’m glad he has friends to look after him.”

“Friends,” agreed Nessa with a hint of sadness. “And you take care of your family. Briel seems all business, but she’s not all that different from Jase – tough on the outside, but a heart of gold. She loves your kids.”

Despite a slight pang of fury at the memory of Briel with her kids, Felicity shook off her childish sentiments. Briel had done Felicity right in the end, and if nothing else, Briel had given Felicity the really pleasant memory of Brendon pinned to the ground by the knee of a woman just over half his size.