Chapter 4

Noah spent a lot of time finding the right outfit. He was going for something that looked respectable of Six's condition, but also made him appear desirable to Rex without making it look like he tried too hard. He finally settled on a pair of black jeans, a white short-sleeved buttoned shirt with small black stars printed on it and the fitted dark blue jacket Bash got him to up his sad wardrobe. Pairing that with his favorite running shoes, not the ones he'd worn earlier, but an older pair that had been left in his closet, Noah thought he had nailed the causal, but respectable look. Satisfied with his choice he took the outfit off and went into the laundry room to quickly steams them to get out any wrinkles from their time in his suitcase. Next, he tried to fill the time with studying. He was able to work for almost an hour, making some progress with his schoolwork until he felt drowsy enough to catch a quick nap. He double-checked his phone to make sure the ringer was on before plugging it in to charge.

He is awoken by the blaring tone of rock music a few hours later.

"Yeah?"

"Afternoon, Sleeping Beauty, you ready to leave the tower?"

"Bobo?"

"Yeah, unless there's someone else who'll call you a princess."

Noah laughed. He was still a little tired but hearing Bobo's drole teasing help break through the easy trap of laying back down for a long nap. "No, no. What's up?"

"Now that you are, your new credentials have been approved. You officially have permission to visit HQ."

"Awesome, thanks Bobo," Noah said trying to suppress a yawn.

"Don't thank me yet. I got transport on the way. They ought to be there in ten minutes."

"Shit! I gotta go."

Bobo's nefarious chuckle told Noah that he was hoping Noah would react a certain way. "See ya soon, blondie."

Noah ran into the bathroom to empty his bladder and washed his face when he saw the sleep marks on the left side of his face when he washed his hands. Rubbing at his cheek he hoped they would disappear as he raced to put on his prepared outfit. After pulling on the jacket he felt like he was overdressed, but just as he was rethinking his choices the doorbell chimed throughout the house.

A moment later his father's voice hollered up to him. "Noah! Your ride is here!"

"Coming!" Noah yelled back. "Screw it," he murmured and kept the jacket on.

Noah headed downstairs where he spotted his dad standing in the living with a person dressed in the white and black uniform of a Providence Agent. Horace noticed Noah on the stairway and smiled broadly at him.

"Noah. There you are."

The Providence Agent turned as he followed Horace's line of sight. She was medium height and her long brown hair was braided and wrapped around the top of her head in a bun. Noah smiled with relief.

"Beverly!" He went up to her but stopped before he entered her personal space. She hadn't lowered her hands from behind her back as she looked him over.

"Mr. Nixon," Beverly said nodding once at him. Her tone mirroring her stiff and professional posture.

"Uh, Agent Holiday," he said returning the cool greeting. Confusion at her treatment made him hesitant to approach her. "Um, it's good to see you. How have you been?"

"Busy." She said curtly. She frowned at him and Noah had the strongest urge to apologize to her the longer she stared at him.

"Bev..." Noah winced.

Suddenly her face broke out into a smile and she was laughing. "Oh, you should see your face. You look like I just kicked your puppy." She managed to say between giggles.

"I do not. You're such a brat." Noah defended himself, but he was unable to stop his own smile. "Permission to hug?"

"Permission granted," Beverly grinned and the two friends shared a short, nice embrace.

"Was this Bobo's idea? You, picking me up," he clarified.

Beverly shook her head. "I volunteered. Babysitting you beats cleanup duty any day."

"Fair enough."

Horace placed a hand on Noah's shoulder, gaining his attention. "Noah, a quick word before you go," Horace said. It wasn't a request.

"Sure, dad." To Beverly, he said, "I'll be right out."

"If you're not out in five, I'm gone," she teased with a wink. Noah rolled his eyes. He knew getting him to Providence HQ was her current mission. There was no way she would leave him behind.

As Beverly opens the front door Noah followed Horace into his home office.

"What's up, dad?"

To be fair, Horace kept his speech short and to the point. "I know you're a man now, but you are also still my son. You may not have a curfew anymore, but I'd like to be kept in the loop."

"I don't know how long I'll be gone. Just getting there is going to take at least forty-five minutes." It was more like thirty if Beverly was the one driving, though Noah didn't think it would be something Horace would appreciate knowing.

"Take all the time you need. I would just like a call if you are planning on being out longer than your old curfew. It would help keep your old man's blood pressure down," he said patting his chest right over his heart for emphasis. Considering his dad already took medicine for his high blood pressure Noah didn't want to cause it from getting any worse.

"Yeah, I will."

Satisfied with Noah's response, Horace pulled Noah into a hug. "That's my boy. I know this may come out wrong, given the circumstances, but have fun today. And tell Rex I said hello."

"I will," Noah repeated though with less confidence than he had when he promised to call if he was going to be late coming home. He wasn't even sure he was going to see Rex. But silently he reminded himself to relay the message if he did.

Horace shooed him out of his office and Noah made his way outside.

Beverly was leaning against the armored vehicle parked on the street. She was leaning into it through the front passenger window talking to the driver. It was someone Noah had never seen before. With a gesture from the driver, Beverly turned back to him. "About time. Get in loser, we're going shopping," she barked, quoting one of his favorite lines from Mean Girls.

Noah chuckled and did as he was told because that was the correct response to that line. Prying open the side door Noah climbed into the back seat of the armored vehicle. The driver and Noah exchanged a "hey, man," as Beverly got into the front.

Noah looked out the window and saw his dad standing in the doorway. Noah clicked on his seat belt and then sits back as the truck drove off.

The drive was going to be a long one and after chatting a bit with Beverly it was also a quiet one. Although Noah had the clearance to visit Providence HQ that didn't mean he was allowed to know what missions the agents accompanying him have been on. So instead they talk about what they do in their off-time and Noah talked about his time in college. They pass a bakery and Noah asked if they could make a quick stop. After a short conference Beverly and Shawn, as the driver introduced himself, agreed. Noah got a container of really good dark roast coffee and pastries (making sure to pick up Rex his favorite; a bear claw. Noah also made sure to get enough for Beverly and Shawn as a thank you for chauffeuring him.

Just as he was heading to the truck he spotted a convenience store next door. He slowed and called out to Beverly. When he had her attention he pointed to the store and held up a finger asking if he could step inside for a minute. She replied by holding up her hand palm open, indicating that he could have five. After all, it wasn't like there was a time limit to when he could go to HQ and the longer they stayed out the later Beverly and Shawn would receive their next assignment.

The moment he entered the store he shivered as cold air washed over him. Heading to the long wall of the store where the books and magazines were shelved Noah quickly scanned the titles, looking for his gift for Six. After spending a lot of time thinking up gifts he could bring with him when he visited Noah was pretty confident that he nailed it. Instead of getting Six flowers or a 'get well' card Noah bought him the thickest book of Sudoku that Noah could find. Six may have to be stuck in bed for a while as he healed but that didn't mean Six had to let his mind rest too.

Satisfied with his purchases Noah headed back to the transport truck.

Bev and Shawn are overjoyed by the treats and Shawn started to open up more around him. He even let Noah sync up his phone to the truck's radio so he could play music. Which was nice since Noah's nerves started to build, tightening his stomach and making his pulse race as they passed familiar landmarks. He was getting closer to HQ. To Rex.

After they parked in the garage and Beverly handed over his credentials. After passing through security, she led him to the medical ward. Noah followed staring only at the back of Beverly's uniform. Doing his best to regulate his breathing and preparing himself to see the almighty Six lying unconscious in a hospital bed with wires and monitors hooked up to him.

"There we are," Beverly cautioned before she slowed down as they neared one of the last doors in the hallway to a private room. She stepped to the side to allow him access. Before Noah could enter Beverly placed her hand on his shoulder. "When you are ready to go just contact me on this." She instructed and held out her hand, palm up, on it was an earpiece to communicate with other agents. "I have it preset to my channel. Do you remember how to use this or do you need a refresher?"

"No, no, I do. I got it. Thanks, Bev." Noah said and held up his arms. His hands were full what with him carrying his earlier purchases. "Could you?" he asked tilting his head to the side, exposing his ear.

"You bet." Bev placed the comm into his ear. "How does that feel?"

"Like I'm not wearing anything at all." He replied with a wink.

Beverly giggled and lightly punched him in the shoulder. Her expression sobered when her gaze darted to the hospital room once, her eyes going sad but then she looked at him and smiled. "See ya later, Nixon."

"Yep," he promised and watched her leave wondering what that strange moment was. Noah shook his head. He couldn't worry about that now. Shifting the shopping bags in his hands he managed to open the door and entered the room. He realized too late that he should have knocked first, but it was what it was and he had to deal with just walking right into the room without being invited by the patient within. It turned out not to matter since Six was asleep and more than likely wouldn't have been able to hear Noah's weak attempt to knock with hands full of pastries and coffee.

Six was asleep and he had machines hooked up to him, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Noah feared it was going to be. There was a few days growth of facial hair. It was odd seeing him looking so vulnerable. So human. It was a ridiculous thought. Of course Six was human.

"Noah?" a warm voice pulled Noah's attention away from Six to the corner of the room where Dr. Hoilday was seated on a plush visitor's chair.

"Hey, doc," Noah said placing his shopping on top of the small chest of drawers for patient's belongings that sat against the wall.

The first thing Noah noticed was Holiday wore glasses now. They were a nice pair of silver frames that made her brilliant eyes more intense when she looked at him. Even while she looked so sad watching over Six. It was clear she hadn't given one thought to her own well being. Her clothes were wrinkled all over and the makeup around her eyes, usually flawlessly applied, were smudged at the corners. Despite the stress and worry in her features, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.

A genuine smile broke over her face when she saw him. Setting aside the datapad she was reading she stood to greet him.

"Noah! It is so good to see you." She gushed giving him a tight hug. He returned it with gusto.

"And you, though I wish the circumstances were different."

"Me, too. You are going to have to change that and come and visit me soon. I've been working on a few things I think you'll find interesting."

Noah perked up at that. She seemed delighted to talk about something other than the reason they were both there. He admired her courage. He always knew she was strong, but seeing her now his appreciation of the older woman reached a new height. Inviting him to her lab like it was any other day took more strength than Noah thought he could ever muster if he were in her position. He wasn't going to dishonor that strength with an empty promise. He told her he would visit her soon. And he would.

"Good, I can't wait to show you."

"I can't wait to see what you have in store." Noah smiled at her. "I put some donuts and coffee. Can I tempt you?" He motioned towards the bags and then started rummaging through it placing the box of treats and container of coffee with the complimentary paper cups and cream and sugar.

"Yes," she sighed happily and began making herself a cup. "This was just what I needed."

"Sugary junk food and lukewarm coffee?"

"Exactly," she laughed lightly.

"I, uh, also got a book of sudoku," Noah explained, pulling it out of a bag. "For Six. I don't know if he'll want it. He doesn't have to keep it. I just thought he'd need something to keep himself from going nuts as he recovers." Noah was rambling. He knew he was rambling, but he couldn't stop himself from filling the space with mindless talk as he held the book out to her. "I don't have a pen," he added dumbly.

Holiday shook her head. "That's okay, I'm sure I can find him one." She looked down at the book and was quiet for a moment. Noah saw a range of emotion cross her features, sadness and anger were there but when she looked up at him all he could see was gratitude. "This was very sweet of you, Noah. I'm sure he'll love it."

"You're welcome," was all he could think to say. He blushed as he realized she hadn't thanked him and how his response made him sound like an asshole. "Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"It's fine. I know you didn't mean that in a bad way," she interrupted him. "We'll all a little stressed and it comes out in strange ways."

"Right. Thanks."

"Noah." The voice spoke softly and was full of surprise and disbelief and unmistakenly belonged to Rex.

Noah spun around and his heart squeezed at the sight of him. Rex was standing in the doorway. He didn't have his red jacket on, instead, he wore a plain black cotton tee shirt, but he did have on his signature pants. He looked stunning even if he didn't appear pleased to see Noah.

Noah smiled. He couldn't help it. "Rex."

"I can't do this." And before he could say anything more Rex turned around and rushed out of the room.

The sound of Holiday's heavy sigh brought his attention back to her. "Go. We'll chat later."

While he felt bad for leaving her he didn't want her permission to go to waste. "Thanks, Dr. Holiday."

"Rebecca," she softly corrected when they hugged again.

"Thanks, Rebecca," Noah amended releasing her to search for his longtime friend.