And one time he didn't. Michael's experiences with death and loss.

A series of ficlets about Billy mentoring our favorite new agent.

A completely, fanciful story without any logic whatsoever so fair warning to suspend your disbelief and just let your imagination take over. It came as inspiration from watching WAY too many Man of Steel interviews.

Casey's a pragmatist; Rick's an idealist. It's all part of being a team.

Rick's not sure how the stages of grief are actually suppose to progress, but he's fairly certain that frenetic, full-time mission planning isn't one of them.

The rain is steady now, unyielding. It's cold against his skin, and he feels it wash the blood away. He wonders if it should be a consolation that if he dies, he'll die clean.

Casey thought it was a simple task. Fix the hard drive filled with classified materials. It wasn't too much to ask of a colleague; was it?

Rick doesn't see it coming.

They were all scared. Even if none of them wanted to admit it.

In short, confidence was Rick Martinez's greatest asset. It was also his greatest weakness.

Billy knows how to throw a punch. If only because he's taken so many over the course of his life.

All the next steps Casey's taken, one right after another. Each one has made sense; every one has been right. But now that he's here, he's not sure where to go next.

So he was concussed and shot in the middle of the desert. So his cover was compromised and he'd been left for dead. So his teammate was missing and he was miles from any kind of civilian. So what?

The ODS doesn't negotiate with terrorists.

Some secrets were worth dying for. Others, Higgins decided, really weren't.

Casey can't defy the inevitable.

Because it's a gunshot to the chest, which means Billy's going to die.

Rick's been on the team three years, and he's not the new guy anymore. If only he could convince his team of that.

Michael always has a plan. Some are better than others.

Some bonds, once forged, can't be broken.

They hold true because they always have, not because they always will.A

Casey's never been scared of such responsibility, but he's scared of this.

One agent...or the mission. It's not an easy call...except it is.

Rick knew how it was supposed to go. He joined the CIA to be a hero; he wanted to serve his country, to do the right thing. Serving was a choice, but the mission never was. The right thing wasn't black and white, and the fact was, there were no heroes in the CIA. There were just people who did what needed to be done.

Billy always fights until the fire burns too bright and darkness is all that's left.