Mission: Continue?

Lea and KJ walked into John’s hospital room.

“What’s up?” she asked. “Is the applesauce not to your liking?”

John frowned. “Wait… I was supposed to get hospital applesauce? I haven’t gotten anything since I woke up. This is total bullshit.”

Lea chuckled. “Well, you seem like you’re in a better mood all of a sudden.”

“Actually, they do have applesauce,” said KJ.

They both shot him a look, and KJ cleared his throat. “Well, you asked so…”

“I need you to look at my phone,” John said.

Lea walked over and picked up his phone from the desk. Her eyes immediately widened in shock.

“What are these coordinates?” she asked.

“They’re from my tracking watch,” said John. “The one KJ gave me.”

“Aw,” said KJ. “You do use all my stuff!… And have yet to send me a report…”

“The one I didn’t want you to take off so I could track you at all times?” she asked.

“What are you, my mom?” asked John. “Don’t get snarky with me. It wasn’t my fault. Someone stole it off me.”

Lea paused, then narrowed her eyes. “Mango stole it, didn’t she?”

John shrugged. “Yeah… Well, I didn’t exactly ask for it back.”

“Wait, if this is Mango’s position… then that means—”

“-She’s still alive,” John finished. “That’s where they are.”

Lea turned off his phone and sighed. “John… you know this is over. You’re under arrest. Someone’s on the way to pick you up. You’re done.”

“I know,” John said quietly.

He continued staring at her, then a sly smirk began to form on his face.

Lea blushed. “Oh no. Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” said John, still smirking.

“I’m not doing it,” she said, looking away.

“Doing what?” said John. “You’re here to arrest me. You did that. I'm chained to the bed, what am I supposed to do? Don't let me leave. Do your job. She should do her job, right, KJ?”

KJ’s face scrunched. “Uh, is something happening? I feel like something is happening.”

“I know what you’re doing,” said Lea. “And I’m not going to let you out of here so you can go on some wild chase where you will most certainly die! You’re safer back home. That’s all I’ve ever wanted, John! Was for you to be safe. You don't have to go this far! Let some else handle it.”

“Okay,” said John, looking away.

She sat down beside him. A silence fell between them for a moment.

“You know… the whole division misses you,” said Lea. “It’s a lot quieter without you.”

“I know,” said John. “People are so boring.”

“I know,” she echoed. “I miss you."

John turned to her. She looked at him with those big hazel eyes. John sighed.

“But you just miss me being there,” he said. “You don’t really miss me.”

“I do miss you, John. But… I don’t miss you the way she does.”

“Yes, you do,” said John.

“And because I do… you know I can’t.”

Silence again.

“Does she make you happy?” Lea asked.

John nodded. “Yes.”

Lea frowned and leaned back.

“You know,” she said softly, “I think you’re the first man to ever make me jealous.”

“And you’re the first woman to ever drive me this crazy.”

“You realize once this happens, you’ll have a shoot-to-kill order. You will be considered too dangerous to be captured. Authorized for termination. It's a really big deal.”

John shrugged. “Think they’ll get me?”

KJ scratched his head. "It took you being actually unconscious and injured for more than 24 hours for us to get you."

"Soooo..."

"So what?" asked Lea.

"Come on, Lea. You're not a pencil-pushing drone. Even if you want to be."

"I knew it! I knew coming along was a bad idea..." Lea stood and sighed. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

She stood back and gestured for KJ to go to John. “Do it.”

KJ’s face lit up. “Really?!”

“Yeah, give it to him.”

KJ quickly produced a black chase from under his coat. He quickly went over and opened it for him. Inside was a resupply of all his gadgets.

John’s eyes widened. “So you were gonna do this from the jump, huh?” he asked with a grin.

“Shut up,” said Lea. “If anyone’s going to capture you fair and square, it’s going to be me… not some hospital that got lucky.”

“Yeah, well,” said John. “I’m still in these cuffs.”

“Chief!” Lea called out. Chief Roman walked in.

“Yeah, yeah,” said the Chief. “I know what you two are planning.”

“I didn’t say anything,” said John. “You can’t legally prove that I did.”

“Yeah,” said Roman. “And I’m also saying I can’t let you three leave through the hallway.”

They all stared at him.

“Seriously?” asked John.

“Seriously,” said Roman. “You three have caused me more gray hairs than any terrorist ever could. I’m not letting you walk out the door.”

John frowned. “I thought we were in this together. I thought you always had my back.”

“Yeah!” said KJ. “Or else I snuck him this stuff for nothing!”

Roman scoffed and gave him that old Sicilian stare. “Don’t talk to me like that, you idiot.”

He reached into his suit pocket and tossed a key to Lea. She caught it, eyes wide in shock. They all looked at each other again.

“I swear to God,” said Roman, “it’s like you don’t listen. If you did, maybe you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“But you said—” Lea began.

“-Are you deaf too?” Roman interrupted. “I said I can’t let you leave through the door.”

They all looked at the hospital window. Then back at Roman.

Roman shrugged. “If you can survive a five-story explosion out of a hotel room, I’m sure a second-story window isn’t a big deal.”

Lea rushed over and unhooked John’s handcuffs. He rubbed his wrists, finally free.

“Well,” John said. “I’m going to have to start listening more often.”

“You won’t have long,” said Roman. “Wait until we’re gone before you go. I can't look like I saw something I wasn't supposed to.”

John nodded. “Thank you, sir.”

“And do me a favor,” said Roman. “Succeed or die. I actually like my job… unlike you, apparently.”

John smiled. “Hey, you’re the one who told me to leave the desk. I’m just going to need one more thing from you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” said Roman. “You’re so predictable.”

He walked to the door and opened it. “Noreen, get your ass in here!”

A moment later, Noreen entered. “Who are you talking to like that?” she said.

“She’s in Hawaii,” John told her.

Noreen’s expression shifted. “Hawaii?”

A wide grin grew on her face. “So she’s alive…”

Then her expression dropped. “But I don’t think my biplane can get that far.”

Roman handed her a card and a set of keys.

“I hope you’re an actual pilot,” he said. “If you crash my jet, I’m going to be pissed.”

“A jet?!” KJ said in surprise. He turned to John. “Is there anyway I could get you to hang from that?”

Lea gasped in an over-dramatic fashion. “Using government property for private rescue missions? That’s so against the rules,” she said sarcastically.

“Yeah, well,” Roman replied, “I can’t help it if my stuff gets stolen. I’m getting old. I misplace things.”

He turned back to John.

“One shot. Got it?”

John got out of his bed. “Trust me, sir, that’s all I need.”