"That was pretty nice," Phil Smith said as he strode through the door of his suite.
"I heard," Leslie replied with a smile. "I'm sure Ed's pretty relieved."
"He was shittin' bricks the whole way to the hospital," Phil said. "I honestly have no idea what that must be like."
"Children?" Leslie asked.
"Yeah," Phil replied as he tossed his keys onto the bed. "I never really thought about settling down or ever having a family or anything like that. I guess I thought this place was home, at least for now, and the team was the only family I really had."
"And now the team is coming apart," Leslie observed.
Phil nodded sadly. "I got the call from Griss. We won't be seeing Priest anymore, I don't think."
"What are you going to do, then?" Leslie asked. "Are we going to go ahead with the island like you planned? Or is it time for us to leave too?"
"I'm not sure," Phil replied just as the room phone beeped. Phil hit the speakerphone button. "Suite 700."
"Mr. Phil Smith?" the concierge called over the phone. "There's someone here to see you."
"I'm not taking visitors at the moment," the telepath replied.
"They're from the UN, Mr. Smith."
Phil looked at Leslie, puzzled. Leslie shrugged.
"I'll be right down," Phil answered before he hung up.
Leslie looked alarmed. "You're not actually going down there, are you?"
"What choice do I have?" Phil asked as he went to his closet for a jacket. "They're not going to go away. I have a feeling this is about the team, and I have no desire to jeopardize the others - or you - by being stubborn. This is a chance I'm gonna have to take."
"Be careful," Leslie murmured worriedly.
Phil slipped his shoulder holster on before donning his leather jacket. He slid his .44 into the holster and headed for the door. "I intend to."
And with that, he was gone.
