More Than a Memory

I'd Rather Stay With Delta

Day 15 On the Job

"I think I'm gonna hit the hay early tonight," York says, getting up from his chair in the living room.

"Goodnight, dear," Margaret says, smiling at him.

"See ya in the morning, kid," Joe says, laughing.

"I am not a kid," York grumbles.

"You keep telling yourself that."

York walks upstairs, brushes his teeth and washes his face before closing himself into his bedroom. He strips off his t-shirt and jeans, dropping them on the pile of clothes in the corner. After pulling on the pajama pants Joe let him keep, York plops down on the bed, lying on his back.

I don't get it, D.

"You do not understand a lot of things, York."

I'm being serious here. I should be happy here. Of course, I appreciate everything they've done for me. I mean, I've got everything I need here, and the work during the days helps keep my mind busy, but then why do I feel so shitty every night?

Delta doesn't respond at first, but York can feel him humming in the back of his mind. It's the kind of hum he does when he knows what he wants to say is something York doesn't want to hear. York sighs.

"I think you know why," is all that Delta says.

Okay, yeah, I'm feeling guilty. But why should I live while the rest of my team is dead?

"We don't know for sure they're all dead. Agent Washington is likely still alive. Possibly others."

He didn't even seem like the same guy I knew. But we know for sure that Wyoming, the twins and Florida are gone. And of course we lost C.T. and Maine by the time the project crashed. That leaves Wash, and-

"The likelihood that Agent Carolina survived the fall-"

We've been over it, D.

"Yet you continue to bring it up."

There was never any report of her death. The others were all official. So either someone's hiding something, or she's alive. Or both.

"Don't you think it is odd that there have been no signs of her since the incident?"

Sure, D, but you know Carolina. If she didn't want to be found, there's no way anyone would. Besides, I know you're good, but there's no way you can look for her everywhere in the universe 24/7.

"Yes, even I have my limits. Though you haven't made it very easy for me to look, either."

What? How?

"Well, while we were on the run we were often in places where getting and keeping a connection was...difficult, to say the least. And now, without your armor on to boost the signal-"

Wait, you've still been looking?

"Of course, York. You said it was a top priority. Would you like me to stop?"

No. I just-you always say...

"I may not be able to have the same blind faith you do, but I do have respect for your wishes. I hope for both of your sakes that you are right. Besides, while the odds may not be in your favor, it is not statistically impossible that she could have survived, only highly improbable."

Awe, D, I'm tearing up. You really do care.

"I am indeed being sincere, however I suspect that you may be using sarcasm."