Again, Hal sighed.

"Just one." he said. "And I don't know if it's the best." he told her.

"...Angela." he revealed.

"She's a single parent as well, but Ezekiel is there often enough to be considered a caregiver. And she has essentially a full-time sitter as well." he reasoned.

"I have yet to properly ask her about it, though." he then said further.

"But she is my only real consideration as of right now."

"I shall do that immediately." Hal told her.

"...and that's... actually all I'm here for." he said.

"Oh, and to ask you when you have your next free evening." he then said further. "...local time." he clarified.

"It HAS been a while since we've had dinner together." he reasoned.

"I want to change that."

Hal thought for a moment, and nodded.

"Yes, do so." he told her.

"Call me when you're ready to duck out of here." he said.

"...oh, and what do you think you'd like to eat tonight?" he asked. "Any preferences?" he asked further.

"I'll find us a place to have dinner while I'm waiting."

Hal nodded in response.

"Can do." he said.

"I'll book us a place after I talk to Ty and Angela." he told her.

With that, they parted ways so he could let her get on with her work and enjoy her drink, and made his way back to the Unit, where he entered his office and called both parties to his office. Once they were there, he shook his head.

"For starters. Lunet WILL be pushed into the mage adoption system." he reported. "However, for the next couple of months, until she is properly placed in it, she will need to be placed in a foster home." he continued.

"Angela, would it be putting too much on your plate to foster Lunet until she is officially into the adoption system?" he asked Angela.

"Only if you think you can do it." Hal responded.

"And YOU." he then said to Ty, looking harshly at him.

"YOU are OFF booze as of now." he told him.

"...wait, what?" Tyson asked.

"You regularly abuse your liver to an early grave, literally, and just kill yourself to come back to life, fresh as a daisy." Hal said. "That may be all well and good for you, but having a father with an alcohol abuse problem is NOT something ANYONE will tolerate." he told him.

"You are off the booze. I don't want you getting drunk any longer. If you can do that by the time Lunet is up for adoption, and keep that lifestyle going, then and ONLY then will you be allowed to adopt her." he stressed.

"......" Ty was silent for a moment. He looked at Hal, then at Angela, then back at Hal.

"...I wish all the alcohol in my possession... in my home, my car, my hiding places... was gone." he said. "Gone. Vanished. Destroyed." he said further.

Hal just smirked, and raised a hand.

"Granted." he said, snapping his fingers.

"Good start." he told him.

"..." Ty was silent again, biting his lip.

"Ohhhh most likely." Hal responded.

"Agent King is... infamous among the Council." he said.

"Great." Ty grumbled.

"Remember that Ms. Remmington is sticking her neck out for you as well." Hal then told him. "She will defend you and go to bat for you... so this is your ONE chance to show everyone you can be trusted to care for a child." he stated.

"I get it." Ty responded.

"..." he then paused for a moment, thinking about it.

"Welp, looks like I have some hell ahead of me."

Hal looked at her and narrowed his eyes.

"Depends." he said.

"Please clarify your definition of 'making it easier for him'." he told her.

He then leaned back in his chair and awaited her answer.

Ty just looked to her, a little on the confused and curious side.

'...what DOES she mean by that...?' he wondered.

"That's fine." Hal responded.

"But NO quick-fix helps." he said.

"Tyson, I say this as your boss, and your friend." he then said to Ty. "Do NOT fuck this up. If you do, then I don't see you EVER getting a chance for something like this in the future. And your standing with the Council will become even rockier." he warned.

"Yeah. I figured." Ty responded bluntly.

"Are you SURE you want to go through with this?" Hal then asked. "If you leave this office without saying otherwise, then your test period will start." he finished.

Ty didn't say anything, before standing up and making his way to the door.

"I'll be in the medical wing." was all he said, before leaving without any more words.

"Very well." Hal said.

"...seems he's really serious about this." he then muttered.

"Never seen him quite THIS determined before." he admitted.

"I hope he does it." he said further. "I really hope he succeeds in this." he continued.

"I get the feeling Lunet might be just what he needs to get his shit together. I mean REALLY together."