The others didn't seem to notice him leaving. Except for Danny, anyway. The two had become pretty good friends since Phil's arrival on the island, maybe because as misfits they each knew how it felt not to belong. Danny got up and followed him out to the lobby. "Something wrong, mate?" he asked.
Phil shook his head. "No. And yes."
"That's helpful," the Aussie quipped.
"Watch it, Danny," Phil replied, half-seriously. "I'm okay. Just... confused."
"Leslie?" Danny asked.
Phil chuckled. "Maybe I'm not the only telepath here after all. Is it that obvious?"
"She's been all over you for the past few weeks," Danny explained. "She never left after the storm, which I thought was odd. I didn't mind us putting her up in the building, but she hasn't done anything with us since then."
Phil smirked. "I beg to differ."
"Shut up." Danny laughed. "My point is, she's not contributing to the team."
"May I remind you," Phil said, "that I'm not an official member of the MBL myself?"
"True enough," Danny said. "But how many times have you saved our asses in recent history? Quite a few. What I'm getting at is that she's only here because of you."
"I guess I'm just dead sexy," Phil deadpanned.
"She's up to something," Danny insisted.
Phil looked at him. "Of course she's up to something, Danny! I know she is! I may not remember some things, but I'm not stupid. It's just that I don't know what she's doing. At first she wanted to get me off the island for some reason. Now all she wants to do is stay put."
"She's got some kind of money, mate," Danny said. "She doesn't work anywhere, yet she's got a wardrobe that would put a CEO's mistress to shame." He looked away. "She hangs out with Rachel sometimes."
"And naturally," Phil finished for him, "you eavesdrop."
Danny shrugged. "Naturally."
"Anyway," Phil said, "I'm just trying to feel my way through things. I figure I'll get it figured out in a few more days."
Danny looked at him curiously. "Better put it on hold, mate. We got a mission coming up here soon."
Phil didn't answer.
Danny eyed him curiously. "Phil?"
Phil sighed.
Danny frowned. "You're not going, are you?"
Phil looked at him. "Danny, I've been here for almost two months. I've been through some of the weirdest crap even I can imagine. I've been scrambling all over the place doing things for no reason. And yet I still haven't figured out who I am or why I'm here. Why should I go on another crazy trip that has nothing to do with me when it won't help me find that out?"
Danny nodded. "Fair enough. So what are you gonna do?"
"I'm helping rebuild the building," Phil said. "I'll keep working on that and keep up my research."
"How's that going, by the way?"
"The building? It's great. Griss figured out how to..."
"No," Danny said. "Your research."
Phil sighed. "Slowly. Quantos is helping me, but I'm still having a rough time." He looked down. "I think Leslie knows something, but I'm not sure."
"I'm sure that with your persuasion skills, you can coax it out of her." Danny winked.
Phil laughed. "Maybe." He turned to leave. "Be careful on this mission, buddy."
Danny smiled. "Too right, mate."
"And be sure to have fun," Phil added.
Danny laughed. "The Phil Smith school of superheroism."
"You know it." Phil walked off toward the elevator. "Catch ya later."
