Starring:
Summary: After "Saving The Cheerleader", Noah talks shop with Ghost.
Date It Happened: February 11th, 2008
Business
Nissan
The mission was a success. A simple in and out, Claire given a big hug by Noah before being pulled out by D.L. to meet at a remote location where Noah was certain that they would not be tracked. From what he could tell, the teleporter was too busy with other Company members to worry about Noah. The main objective was complete and the ruthless father secured his daughter.
Now, Noah drives in the Company Nissan, making his way back to the Bennet home. Mr. Hawkins is in tow, but the Company Man hasn't said a word since starting the drive. The attention is given mostly to the road, the experience Agent merely making sure that there is no one following him, making a few unnecessary turns where he feels they are needed.
Ghost has removed his mask since being inside the Nissan. He's crouched a bit lower, since he's taller and making sure that he's leaning back against the seat. He occasionally peers out of the side and back windows to assist with the making sure that there's nothing following them. Quiet, though, he's not going to be the one to break the ice. The man in the driver's seat just got his daughter back… there's not much that needs to be said. Or should be said. He knows that whenever he gets Micah back in his arms, he'll be getting the hell out off this crazy ass coast. Vegas-Bound!
Claire contentedly rides in the back seat. She doesn't say… anything, really. Her focus instead remains on the wrists that she's still rubbing, despite the fact that the marks from restraints and IV lines and needles and the occasional central line have long since disappeared.
Occasionally, her blue eyes flit upwards to look at the black man in the passenger seat, to her father, back to D.L., to the window, and then back to rubbing at her wrists.
There's a whole lot of silence going around.
A few long seconds pass before Noah finally speaks. "So, Ghost. You plan on leaving town with your son? If you want, we could look for your wife. If she is out and about, your son will likely be able to help point you in the right direction." Bennet doesn't seem to mind talking business involving D.L. with Claire around, likely due to the fact that there is little that she can with the information given.
D.L. finds himself looking out the window when the question is asked. If only because he doesn't know what he wants to do. "I want my son." is the first thing that comes out, but his tone leans, almost as if he has more to say. It's a struggle but he manages to get the rest out. "… I'm not so sure that me and Niki have a future anymore." Not after what happened in the cell that day. When he told her… to move on. "Maybe it's best if Micah and I were out of her way." Besides, one family's back together already. No reason to try and push their luck, right?
Noah only replies with a simple question, only offering a brief glance before looking back to the road in front of him. "Do you still love her?"
Unfortunately, D.L. doesn't have to think about this one. His head touches the glass on the passenger side and he peers out into the darkness. "I can't stop loving her. That's the problem." D.L.'s more than likely looking at this the wrong way, but it's just so hard. Not that he's going to be confiding in this dude with glasses and connections about such things.
It's odd that Noah would give advice to D.L., but there is likely a reason for it. Maybe he wants to help the man, showing a rare shred of empathy for another man struggling to keep his family together. Maybe he feels he merely owes D.L., giving him something to help make things even. Or maybe, Noah is doing what Noah does best, working the angles to get the advantage. However noble or underhanded his reason, the words remain the same, his gaze remaining entirely on driving.
"If you love someone, then you should go after them. After all, you don't even know what has happened to her. The least you could do is make sure she is safe and alright. She might need your help. If there is anything I've learned in life… Is that if you are willing to sacrifice for those that you care about, you can give them a better life. And sometimes, that's just the best a man can do."
D.L. continues to stare out of the window. This has a lot to do with thinking about what Noah's saying. And then he's finding himself turning in his seat to look into the back and see Claire. And then he's looking from there to Noah. It's this whole long process that doesn't really take much time but he's lost in a world of slow motion at the moment. "You can find her for me?" is inquired about towards the one known as Noah.
When D.L. looks back at Claire, the petite blonde lifts her eyes to look right back at him. Then those eyes narrow, ever so slightly, as she considers him anew. And then he's turned around again. She sighs and folds her arms over her knees. "Dad can find just about anyone if he wants to," she finally offers quietly.
HRG frowns, giving the matter some serious thought. "It's possible, but it would take time. For now, talk to your son. See if Niki has tried to make contact. If she did, but you can't find her, we can use the clues to track her down." The Company Man looks back to Claire, giving her a weak smile. After all, he knows that her words weren't meant entirely as a compliment. Looking back to the road, he adds, "I have a lot of connections and methods from where I work, finding Niki is entirely possible."
And D.L.'s head is going back to the glass now. "Micah." is whispered to himself. Not that he forgot about his son but… there are factors. "This means I'm going to need to stay local, huh?" He's figuring that if there's going to be any hope of putting his family back together with the help of Glasses Fever over there, he's going to have to be close enough to make contact whenever possible.
"It would be best. If your wife cares abour your son, just whisking him away could make her unpredictable. It is best to try and uncover the truth, but do as little as you can to rock the boat, don't draw in the son more than you have to." There is a pause as the Family Man considers the past. "You don't want him getting involved in the stuff you and I just handled." He looks back to Claire, giving a simple pained look. He doesn't say anything to her, but it's clear that these past events has shaken even the mighty Man with the Horned Rimmed Glasses. The last thing he wanted for something like this to happen to his daughter. And it did.
See? That's how you know that Claire and Noah are family. He saves her from the HELL HOLE, and she still is comfortable enough around him to offer the very best in passive-aggressive, veiled beligerence. Now that she's got her jab in (and now that she knows that Noah heard her), the blonde lies down in the back seat, curling up there. The indestructible girl, you see, does not need to wear a seat belt.
"Right." D.L. just listens. He's not the expert here. But he can tell when good ideas are being spoken and, well, this dude managed to get him out of jail and cleared of charges and somewhat of a clean slate. He sighs and leans back against the seat again, trying to let all of this mull over in his chocolatey head. "I'm gonna' have to find a job. Ex-Con with multiple counts of everything under the sun? Oh yeah. I'll be working in no time." Oh, the sarcasm. Does it burn? It should.
"Seatbelt. Now." Noah glances back toward Claire to let her know that he means business before continuing the conversation with D.L. (who he doesn't care if he wears a seat belt or not). "I'd offer you work where I am, but I am not sure it's the best place for a gentleman like yourself." He would say 'best place to start a family', but that is just asking for his daughter to hate him even more.
There's a grumble as Claire sits back up and puts her seatbelt on. Then she crosses her arms over her chest and looks out the window at the scenery as it goes by. It's easier to look grumpy that way. Eventually, however, her head just lolls back as she rests the side of her head against the headrest behind her.
"Yeah, for some reason, I don't think the Men in Black would be the best place for me." D.L. finds this little bit of humor to try and lighten up the mood. Already this girl's back with her father and having to be fathered around. Which is not a good thing after whatever she's been through. "But since we're on the topic… maybe I could do, what do they call it? Freelance? Work for you and your people. Until I can get on my feet and find someone willing to give me a chance…" Race Card!
"You don't want to work for my people. Trust me on this, Ghost." Noah states this as fact as he continues to drive. Getting into the city of New York, traffic begins to slow. "If you want a job somewhere in the city, let me know and I can see if I can pull a few strings. If you want a normal life with your wife and child, you'll need to hold down a job. For the work you've done, I can at least try and secure you a decent job. Let me know what sort of field you're interested in, and I'll do what I can."
This is not Company policy. But as Claire knows, when it comes to protecting his daughter, Noah is more than willing to bend the rules Both professionally and personally.
In the back seat, Claire's blue eyes shift sharply to regard her father with a frown curling her lips. After a moment, however, she just shifts her gaze back to the window.
D.L. holds his hands up, no longer pushing the subject. When his hands drop, he's moved onto the other part of what Noah's speaking about. "That would be helpful. I've already got a place. But I'll need some money coming in." He won't even mention about the money from the Vegas thing. If Niki hasn't squandered it all doing whatever it is she's off doing. Or Jessica. Or whoever. "I'm good with my hands. So anything manual labor I can do."
Noah considers the choices and hrms to himself. "I think I know where I can get you a good job. Give me a couple of days, you should be getting an interview. When you do, you'll have your references mailed to you." Noah is giving D.L. fake references? Damn straight he is. Claire won't like it, but she should. HE'S HELPING. Sandra would understand, yes she-Okay, no she wouldn't, but HE'S HELPING.
D.L. looks back towards Claire, again to try and make sure everything is okay back there. He kind of thinks they got away with that too easily. "I like having you as a business associate. I get things." Okay, that's enough jokes. And he's already turning his attention back to the front window to ride out the rest of the ride. Quietly.
Another look to D.L.. This time Claire meets his gaze head on, blue eyes catching his darker ones and holding them for a moment. But she doesn't say anything. There's nothing she can say that seems appropriate given that these men risked so much just to save her. There's an additional downward turn of her frown, and then she turns back to the window.