"Damn, not again," Lauren chuckled as the medication took effect.
"They took Lydia, but you're safe now. Everything's okay," Mitch reassured her.
Lauren frowned, concern in her eyes. "What was Lydia doing? And what happened on the train? I know something's not right."
Mitch's smile faded as he sat beside her. "Lydia didn't take Katrina's death well. I didn't either. I wanted to hunt down the people responsible, expose them, and make them pay. But Lydia chose a different path."
"On the train, I didn't know how to react, so I lied," he admitted.
"So, she killed those innocent people, and she's on Brandon's side?" Lauren pieced it together.
Mitch nodded and stood up. "Water?"
"Yeah," Lauren replied.
Mitch headed to the hotel's kitchen to get Lauren some water. She called out, "Can I get up?"
"I wouldn't recommend..." Mitch began as he walked back in, but before he could finish, Lauren tried to stand and stumbled.
"Just stay seated, okay?" He gently placed her back on the couch and handed her the glass of water.
"I wanted to shower," she pouted.
"I can help you with that," Mitch smirked.
"Really?" Lauren chuckled, taking a sip of water.
"Yeah," Mitch confirmed, giving her a kiss on the forehead. "Irene said she's taking care of Elena at headquarters, so it's safe and on lockdown."
He placed the empty glass on the side table and helped Lauren remove her shirt.
"The doctor said you can shower, but only with the waterproof wrap on," he explained as he unwrapped the cotton bandage from her neck and applied a smaller, waterproof bandage.
"Rest for two days before getting up too much, or you might strain your neck further. Nothing vital was hit, so you'll just end up with a small bullet-shaped dent here." He gently tapped the bandage, and Lauren smiled at him.
"I'm quitting after this mission," Mitch declared.
"What?" Lauren furrowed her eyebrows.
Mitch unbuttoned Lauren's jeans and helped her slide them off. "I want a settled life, with a boring job and normal friends."
"Really?" Lauren queried.
Mitch held out his hand for Lauren to grab as he continued, "I met this incredible girl. She was the love of my life and still is. We met in high school and got engaged at nineteen."
"Nineteen?" Lauren questioned.
"We were head over heels," Mitch admitted. "I had been saving up for a trip to Dubai to propose to her."
"Here?" Lauren pointed at the ground.
"The resort just down the block along the beach," he nodded.
"Men Brandon had deals with came and attacked right after she said yes. But I wasn't there to protect her," Mitch explained, stopping the water as it reached the top of the tub.
"Even if I was, I wouldn't have been able to save her. I wasn't the man I am now. I would've taken one punch and died next to her."
Mitch grabbed some shampoo and positioned himself behind Lauren. "Sometimes I think I would've preferred that."
"Dying with her."
He began gently scrubbing her hair and detangling it with a brush.
"But then I met someone who made me stop thinking that way. I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to love again, but I didn't know how. I still don't know how..." he paused, rinsing her hair.
"But for you, Rose, I want to figure it out. I want to love again. I want to trust again."
Lauren turned to face him in the tub, her eyes filled with emotion.
"So, I'm quitting because I want to be with you," Mitch concluded.
"You don't have to quit to be with me," Lauren said.
Mitch looked puzzled. "Stan said you guys could train me. I see your passion for making things right. We could do that together."
"Or we could be regular folks in a house in the middle of Michigan with our kids Kat and Sofi going to volleyball practice."
"Kat? Sofi?" Mitch couldn't help but smile.
"Kat for Katrina and Sofi for my super-secret best friend," Lauren replied.
"And you're not going to mention my confession?" Mitch asked.
Lauren shrugged. "It's still sinking in. Acknowledging it might make me cry, so I'll circle back to it later."
"Fair enough," Mitch nodded.
"But whether on the job or off, I'm with you, okay?" Lauren handed him the conditioner.
"Okay," Mitch grinned.
