"Hey, buddy, you doing okay?" A slight tremor slipped into Dex's voice, but he cleared his throat.
"Yes, of course. Is something wrong?"
"No, everything's fine. Just checking in. Sorry to interrupt your uh...."
"Autopsy. You know, I've never seen a liver this color. Nina, what color would you say it is?"
In the background, Dex could hear Nina call out. "Booger green."
Hudson grunted. "Thank you, Nina. That was...."
"Gross," Dex prompted, receiving a quiet laugh from Hudson in response. "Yeah, you're wearing gloves, right?"
"Shall I pretend you didn't ask me such a silly question?"
"I'm kidding. I know you are. Talk to you later." Dex hung up, then shot off a quick text to Seb, asking him to keep an eye on Hudson if he could. He made sure to add there was no need to be alarmed, before Seb came down here to strangle Dex for putting Hudson in harm's way. Dex needed to have another chat with Hudson about that. "Hudson's in his lab with Nina. I asked Seb to keep an eye on him."
They all turned their attention to Sparks.
"Well?" Sloane asked. "Care to shed any light on this?"
"Wolf's motives are unclear, but as you're coming to learn, he does nothing without a purpose. Until we find out more about what's going on, I would suggest we listen and keep an eye on Dr. Colbourn."
"I hate to say it," Dex grumbled, "but I agree."
Ash shook his head in disbelief. "We're listening to a murdering psychopath now?"
"Are you willing to put Hudson's life at risk on the off chance Wolf is fucking with us?" Dex challenged. "Because I'm not. Wolf's at the top of my shit list, but if he's warning us to protect Hudson, then there's a reason, so until we find out more, we keep an eye on him."
Everyone agreed, and Sparks looked a little too pleased for her own good. With that settled for now, Sloane peered at her. "What did you call us down here for anyway?"
"I'll keep you posted should there be any developments. My operatives are delving into Dowling's life, as well as that of Juarez and Turner. If there are any other connections between them and Wolf, we'll find it. Now, if you'll just meet me in Sparta as previously agreed, we'll get on to the purpose for my meeting. I have a few things to wrap up here, so I'll be along shortly."
Dex wondered if those few things had to do with covering up Wolf's identity. As they headed out of the security office and through the cellblock toward the stairs, Dex couldn't help the niggling thought in his brain. Once they were in the stairwell, he caught up to Sloane and murmured so only Sloane could hear him.
"Do you think Sparks ever covers for Wolf? I'm sure she covers things up if he's involved and it could expose TIN, but personally, do you think she covers for him?"
"What do mean?" Sloane asked.
"The guy worked with her for years. I get the feeling they were close. Wolf saved her life. With all of Sparks's skills and TIN's resources, don't you find it a little weird that Wolf's eluded capture all these years?"
Sloane opened the exit door that led out into one of Sparta's corridors and waited for everyone to go through before he answered Dex. "I see your point, but we're talking about Sparks here. She's all about the job. You really think she'd take that kind of risk on an operative gone rogue?"
"You're right." Dex let out a sigh. "And here I'd hoped we'd heard the last from that asshole." Sloane pulled Dex to one side, motioning Ash to go on ahead before turning his attention back to Dex.
"Hey." He placed a hand to Dex's cheek, and Dex leaned into the touch, smiling warmly. "Are you okay?"
Dex thought about it. He was still working through his kidnapping and what Wolf had done, but he was doing much better. The nightmares had stopped. Of course, he'd believed Wolf was somewhere in Europe. "Surprisingly," Dex admitted, "I'm okay. I don't feel... scared. It was different before. Between me, you, and the changes, I think if the bastard showed up, we could hold our own." When Dex had first been taken by Wolf, he'd been completely Human, the odds stacked in Wolf's favor tenfold. Wolf might be a better spy, but Dex was a far better match now.
Sloane wrapped his arms around Dex and kissed his lips. It was quick but sweet. A couple of fellow agents walked by, whistling and telling them to get a room. Dex chuckled and swatted Sloane's ass playfully as they headed for the training bay Sparks had specified to Sloane.
It was empty, with only their team inside. It also went into privacy mode as soon as Dex and Sloane stepped inside.
Dex arched an eyebrow. "Well that's not ominous at all." Something in Sloane's scent changed, and Dex turned to face him. "Sloane?"
It was funny the way his team worked. Dex had shared the news about his mutation, how he was no longer all Human, and although they were concerned and would likely have questions, they appeared to be taking it in stride. According to Ash, the fact that it was Dex made it less weird. Whatever that meant.
Sloane took Dex's hand in his, and what he said next threw a wrench in the works.