Before Cadence could respond, Taylor chimed in. "I've seen that one! Oh, yeah, what if that happens? See, Cadence, you are going to end up with Elliott!"
"Oh, my God, people! Can we please just get back to the Grizwolds? I need to know if anyone catches the squirrel!"
"You've seen this a million times. You know that Elaine Benes catches the squirrel," Jon chimed in.
"Fine, fine," Sydney agreed. "But if Aaron sends Elliott to get you, I'm placing a $100 bet on you becoming Mrs. Dr. Elliott Sanderson!"
"Place it," Cadence dared her. "That's not happening."
"Okay, mark my word," Sydney said, pointing around the room at all of her witnesses.
"Can we get back to the movie now?" Kash, who had been quiet the entire time, finally asked.
Taylor turned the movie back on and the light off, and the group got back to their movie, though Cadence was having a very hard time shaking off their comments. It didn't help when she got a message on her IAC from Elliott wondering what time the movie might be over. "Are you coming to get me?" she asked, praying he was just curious.
"That okay?" he shot back to her.
"Of course," she replied. "My friends already told me they knew you were. It should be over in about fifteen minutes."
"All righty then, on my way. Unless you'd rather I sent Christian," he responded.
"See you in a few," she replied.
The knock on the door a few minutes later came to no surprise to Cadence, and Kash went to answer it while the credits rolled, and Jon and Taylor discussed the role of the best boy grip.
"Look who it is," Kash announced, leading Elliott into the living room. "Our old friend, Dr. Sanderson."
"Hello, everyone," Elliott said, an air of caution in his voice. "How was the movie?"
"Hilarious," Jon offered, getting up to shake his hand.
"Ah, yes, Christmas Vacation. Love that movie," Elliott replied, recognizing the song. "You ready to go, Ms. Cadence?"
"I am," she replied, standing and sliding into her coat. "Sorry I can't stay and chat, guys. I'm just really tired."
"When are you leaving to go back to KC?" Sydney asked, bouncing off of the couch and stepping toward her friend.
Cadence glanced at Elliott, whose expression told her it would be soon. "I think tomorrow," Cadence replied, hearing a groan in response. "But I should be back at the end of next week for Christmas." She wasn't sure whether she was coming back for Christmas or not at this point, but she didn't think it would hurt to say so.
"Well, be careful," Sydney advised, giving her a hug.
Cadence said goodbye to the rest of her friends and then followed Elliott out to the Enclave. "Wouldn't let you drive the fancy car this time, huh?" she asked.
"Oh, that things a bit of a tight squeeze for me," he explained. "You wanna run over and see everyone or do you want me to take you home?"
Cadence considered the options for a moment before finally saying, "I'd like to see everyone," so Elliott aimed the car in the appropriate direction. The hotel wasn't that far away, and they spent the short trip discussing how the movie had gone and Laura's progress. Pulling the car into a parking spot, Elliott ran around and opened the door for her, making her laugh and roll her eyes. No wonder everyone thought they were a couple.
The team had rented three hotel rooms, though they had spent most of the evening in the room where Laura was recovering. When Cadence arrived, she went into the adjoining room where most of the team had assembled since Laura had asked to speak to Aaron in private. Jamie was in the third room sleeping and recovering from the physical drain it took to heal Laura. Eliza, Laney, and Hannah were sitting on the bed, deep in conversation, and Christian was sitting on the couch watching an episode of COPS.
"Hey, guys," Cadence said quietly, not wanting to interrupt. Hannah stood and walked over to hug her. Laney smiled at her, as if to say, I recognize you, but I don't know you, and Eliza barely glanced in her direction, an indication to Cadence that she was pissed off about something.
Christian also stood and gave her a quick hug before returning to the couch, deciding to let the ladies talk. Elliott sat down at the other end of the couch and Christian caught him up as to what this particular shirtless drunk guy had done wrong.
"How are you doing?" Hannah asked Cadence, a sympathetic, yet clinical expression on her face.
"I'm okay," Cadence admitted. "It's definitely been a crazy day. But I'd rather have a Resurrected Jack than no Jack at all, I guess."
"Possibly," Hannah said thoughtfully. "It all depends on whether or not he decides to come in and get trained.”
"Oh, absolutely," Cadence agreed. "He will, though. I know he will. Jack is. . . he's not the sort to disobey rules. No, Jack will come in."
"Don't be so sure about that," Laney said dryly from her position at the foot of the bed.
Cadence walked over to where she was sitting. "What do you mean?" she asked, trying to keep any defensiveness out of her voice but not doing a particularly good job of it.
"I've seen Giovani ruin a lot of lives over the years," she explained. "I know Jack was an upstanding citizen, a great guy. But Giovani makes it a priority to corrupt everyone he works with--and corrupt them absolutely."
Cadence glanced back at Hannah, whose expression echoed Laney's concern. "I just can't see that happening with Jack," Cadence repeated.
"I hope not," Laney agreed. "I'm just saying, we need to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
Considering that for a second, Cadence quickly pushed it out of her head. She couldn't even give vocalization to the worst, couldn't even think it. "I think we can bring Jack in and destroy Giovani at the same time," Cadence explained. "And I definitely want your help, and Laura's, in doing so. Do you think there's any chance she'll consent to working with us?"
"I don't know," Laney admitted. "But the fact that the first person she asked for, after being out for over five hours, was Aaron, makes me hopeful."
