"So we should be able to end this lockdown and move forward with Unit operations." Hal said.

"Good." he went on.

"Barring Jordan, which I have no idea what to do about, and Aedan, who may very well need Fyrane help, we're all back to normal. Or, as normal as we GET." he added with a light chuckle.

"Now. YOU." he stated.

"YOU look like crap." he commented.

"I assume you'll be taking some time off, yes?" he asked.

Hal met her gaze, and nodded.

"I know." he said.

"I get the feeling the worst has yet to come, and it's going to be shattering." he muttered.

"Maybe not permanently, but... we've not seen the last of Vanessa Encrae, now more than ever." he went on.

"Something tells me we're headed to a last stand disturbingly shortly."

Hal thought about it, before looking at her again.

"If you wish to try that, go ahead." he told her.

"I'll... well, actually I cannot sign off of that. She doesn't work her and I have no guardianship over her." he admitted.

"But I won't stop you." he said further.

"I get the feeling SHE'D want you to try anything at this point."

Hal nodded in response.

"You do that." he told her.

"I'll make sure Jake's not expected back in for at least a week." he said.

"Now go and do what you need to, I have a Unit to get functioning again." he reasoned with a sigh, as he slowly stood up.

"And thank you for all your hard work during this."

After about 10 seconds, the door was opened, and Jake was looking a little better. A little.

He looked at her, and smiled slightly.

"Hey again." he greeted her.

"Starting to feel better, little by little." he reported.

"Anyway, what's the plan?" he asked.

"I get the feeling Sharp's sending you home now?"

Jake was silent, before nodding.

"Right." he said.

"And I'M in no condition to drive either, so... hm." he mumbled.

"I'm sure Hal can arrange us a way back." he reasoned, as he stepped out of the room, closed it behind him, and locked it.

"Need to give this key back to him, anyway." he added.

When they made it back to the office, Hal was surprised to see them there. But before he could say anything, Jake dropped the key to where he'd been onto the desk, and looked him right in his eyes.

"I wish Anya and I were safely back at our home, in our bedroom, on our bed." the Ramaarin stated cleanly.

Hal was silent for a moment after hearing that, but then sighed.

"Lockdown is still too strict for that to happen right now." he lamented. "However, I do have something for that sort of emergency." he quickly added, taking a coin out from his desk and imbuing it with his mana. He then handed it to Jake, and stood up.

"I will help you and Anya to the front, and when you are in the security area, use the coin to get you home." he told them.

The three then made their way to the landing in question, where Izzy was, and Jake smiled slightly at her as they approached the barrier that had been keeping them in.

"Izea, Jake is clear for leaving." Hal told her. "And the rest of the Unit is as well, save for Jordan Sherwood and Agent Callimachi." he added.

"Ah, right." Hal said.

"That would have done a number on you, huh?" he asked rhetorically.

"Well, just tell me what's hurting in specific, or if there's anything worse than anything else, or even if it's simply a migraine, and I'll see about getting something to help speed that up." he told her.

"In the meantime, I'll get to unlocking this damn building as well." he finished, as Jake looked at Izea.

"...hey, Izzy." he greeted her.

"Sorry about how I've been acting." he apologised. "I know I seemed to be ambivalent and non-caring about it, but those sweets REALLY meant a lot to me." he assured her further.

Jake and Anya stepped through the door, and started to head towards the entrance/exit, before they paused.

And Jake looked back.

"Weird shit?" he asked. "How do you mean?" he asked her.

"Indeed, I would like to know as well." Hal commented from where he was, raising an eyebrow.

"Has something else been happing in the world right now? Or around here? Or what?" he inquired, folding his arms across his chest.

"And how serious is it?"

Jake and Hal looked at each other, and the latter sighed.

"Well, normally I'd say it's her arm acting up, but... given the info you've told me about yourself and Azazel not being able to sense anything, that... complicates matters." he mumbled.

"It really does." Jake agreed.

"However, YOU two concentrate on recuperating." Hal then told Jake. "You should recover faster than Anya, so you be sure to give her the best care you can give." he said further.

"I have all intention to give nothing less." Jake responded.

"Izzy, I'll see you sometime in the near future." he then said to Izea.