"Oh. Hi, Jane. I'm sorry, I -"
"She doesn't know."
Killer cut in and I lost it.

"What is it that everyone knows but me!? What is it Nick?"
I was still crying.

"Nobody told you?"
He asked cautiously making me even angrier.
"Told me what?!"

Nick looked at uncle, asking permission. He nodded and Nick looked back at me.
"Colonel Stuart was involved in this mission. He was leaking info to the hackers. He must have been placed under custody by now."

Time stopped ticking.
I could see every freckle and every injury on his face clearly. But I could not hear anything. I could not make sense of any word.

"You are lying. My dad would never do that. He's not even here. He's on a foreign -"

"He was at the HQ the whole time."
Uncle cut me in without looking at me.

"What? He lied? You lied too! You knew it all along?"
How is it even possible?

"Yes. Earlier, Stuart had been caught leaking info during Wills' mission. That's when Yazan, Aarham's brother decided to kill Wills instead of torturing him more. He came to know that Wills was getting info from them and not the other way round.

Luckily Wills was rescued by Kadner and killed Yazan before leaving that place. While going through that recording, I heard Yazan taking Stuart's name. Wills confirmed that it was true.

Without any delay I informed General Reese who got him to HQ on a long TD. He interrogated him thoroughly and asked him why did he do that? He said Yazan blackmailed him by threatening his daughter's life.

Expecting his successor, Vargas to attack or kidnap you, after killing Yazan, you were immediately sent here and the foreign trip story was made up. That's why we kept you under strict observation. Stuart promised he won't do it again if his daughter is safe and kept under dark.

He was given a month's secretive custodial punishment and was returned back to HQ. Not many people came to know about his deeds, only the trusted ones.

There were incidences of more info leaks and so, this second mission was planned. Only General Reese and I suspected Stuart. I told him that I won't send Wills this time. He got hold of Nick on the condition that he won't be involved outside the hackers' area.

The point of keeping either of the my boys was to keep Stuart in trust - if things go worse, like it did, we hoped he doesn't blow up everything knowing Nick is there and that he had protected you. Stuart would never hurt Wills or Nick, willingly ofcourse.
But since we were not sure of Vargas's reaction if he comes to know that we've caught his messenger, we had to give you this security today.

As soon as the hackers were caught, Vargas was alerted to escape, again by Stuart. We came to know that because we were keeping an eye on him. He was caught red handed.

The job to catch Vargas was given to three Class-I agents that went to the mission along with Nick. He turned out to be smarter and trapped all three before they could even start working on the hackers' info.

Nick and one other class II agent, Eden, came to help the three trapped class-I when Vargas's men started raining bullets while he escaped. Both of them got hurt in the firing. Rescue team was on its way, so even if Nick and Eden would have stayed back as per orders, they wouldn't be lying here in the hospital!"
Uncle said complaining and scolding Nick.

I took in each word I heard and it felt like someone just laid out last 6 months of my life and said 'it was all a lie.'

"My dad would never do that."
I repeated, asking myself. Uncle would not say big words about his own dear friend if all this was a lie.

"I wish that was the truth, Jane. I really wish. He'll be placed under custody and this time, no one will help him. Not even General Reese. Not even if we catch Vargas with his help."
Uncle said sadly.

Suddenly there was a ping on his phone.
Somebody had sent him a message.
He shouted.
"That's Stuart. How did he get his phone?"

Dad has his phone with him? Even in custody?
What is going on?

Uncle called Beta the very next moment.
"Sir, Stuart-"
"Escaped an hour ago. We came to know just now. We're trying to trace him."

"No need, sir. He texted me an address just now. I'll fwd it to you. Send the teams there. I'll go there, too."
"No, James. You should not -"

"Sir, he is my friend. And he has to give me a few answers."
"Fine. Go. But stay careful. Meet the second line at the location and join the rear team."

"Yes sir."
Before anything could happen, my phone rang up.

It was Dad.
Uncle stopped in his track as soon as I answered.

"What have you done, Dad?"
I broke down with the phone on my ear.
"Is James still with you?"
He asked calmly.

"Yes."
"Put the call on speaker."

I did and uncle fumed.
"You traitor! I told you I'll kill you if you-"
"I did it for my family, James."

"You're lying! Jane was with us, absolutely safe!"
"But not Hannah."
Dad took mum's name and my heart stopped beating.

"What about mum?!"
I asked him not wanting to hear my fears turn true.
"You two divorced ten years back, Stuart! Don't give me shit!"
Uncle shouted at dad while I waited for Dad to answer me.

"She left me ten years ago because I was a coward. I gave in to all the threats all these years. But I never stopped loving her. You would know that, James."
He has been doing this for more than ten years?

Dad was sobbing loudly over the phone now.
"What about mum, Dad?"
I asked again louder.
"She is exactly where I'm going to be, dear. Forgive me for ruining your life. Your mom was right, I was a coward. I can't face anything now that Hannah is gone. I can't stay here."
He was sobbing. I clenched my phone tighter.

"Mum is gone?"
"Vargas killed her."
I fell on the chair next to me.
This is all just a bad dream, Jane. You'll wake up soon. This can not be happening.

"Don't talk stupid, Stuart. Don't do anything you'll regret."
Uncle was horrified.

"There are no regrets after death, James. Even you couldn't help it back then."

"But I survived dammit! I'm coming to you, Stuart. Listen to me. Don't do anything."
Uncle pleaded.

"I've done what I should have done years ago. I burned the roots. I killed Vargas. He didn't keep his promise and so did I."

Uncle looked at me in shock.
His eyes were wet, knowing what is about to happen.

"Stuart, I beg you. Don't do it. For your daughter's sake, please don't do it."
"I won't be able to look into her eyes, James. I failed Hannah. I failed Jane. I failed Beta. I failed you, your sons, everyone! I'm good for nothing."

"Dad.. I need you. Please. I'll forgive every single mistake of yours. Don't leave me."
The bout in my throat was clenching so tight, I couldn't speak.

"I'm sorry my child, I can't do it anymore."
Dad apologised and took a short pause.

"James, I know I have no right to, nor I expect you to. But I have one request. Just help my daughter survive till she is on her own. I know her, she'll fly one day. Just do whatever I couldn't do for her.... And Jane.. I love you my baby and I'm really sorry. Thank you James, Nick and Wills. I owe an apology to you boys too. Forgive me, please. I'll not put any of your lives in danger ever again."
"Dad.. Please.."
"Sir!"
"Stuart!!! Don't fucking do it-"

And the call was cut.

Uncle thumped on the other chair with his face in his palms. And I went numb.

Killer asked for his phone and said "May I, Sir?"

Uncle nodded and Killer called Beta.
"Good afternoon, Sir. This is Major Wills. Colonel Stuart just called Jane and told her that Vargas is dead. And what we deciphered from his words.. he's going to kill himself too."
"What?!"

"Yes sir."
"I'd be damned! My team will reach there any moment. Shit!"

"I'll inform the team. Tell James to not move. Just wait there."

There was absolute silence for next ten minutes when the only sounds that could be heard were Nick's machines, my sobs and Ren's hushes to calm me down.

Uncle's phone rang up again and last of my hopes surfaced. It was General Reese with rasped voice.
"James, Stuart.. He.. He did it damn it! Not a single living soul. He blew the whole damn building and shot himself right there. Excavation team has been called. We may have killed our enemy, but we lost our man. I wish I could have done something."

And I closed my eyes.
Everything's over.

That was the last time I spoke to my father.
I couldn't even talk to my mother one last time.
I lost both of my parents on a single day, with a snap of finger and I couldn't do anything.

.
.
.
.

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No note from my side this time.
I'm recovering too.

The Epilogue might do justice.

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