☀ P R E Q U E L: Part 2

TOBY groans, pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes. "KEN?"

CHAMP gives a nod. He looks rather miserable. "Well... yeah."

"I told you we should have just edited the treaty! I could've figured it out; it couldn't be too hard. This was bound to happen."

"I was just trying to keep things going, TOBY."

"Well, it's been three days, and look where we are!"

CHAMP looks down at his hands. TOBY inhales quickly. He rakes his fingers through his hair. He didn't mean it like it came out.

TOBY gets up slowly from his desk. Both the chair and the desk are like something out of a Lord Byron biopic -- a huge mahogany claw-footed desk, with a red velvet claw-footed chair. He crosses the plush Persian carpet to the side table, where there's a decanter of brandy and some crystal glasses. He pours one, heads over to the midnight blue chaise where CHAMP is sitting, and sits next to him.

"You're doing fine, CHAMP," TOBY says softly, handing him the glass. "You're in a tight spot. But... this isn't sustainable. The parolees are people, too; think of it from their perspective."

"I am! Trust me, I am. I'm the one of the two of us that was once exactly where they stood. God, I remember what it was like..." CHAMP sips pensively, lost in thought.

After a long moment, TOBY glances away.

"CHAMP," he says quietly. "We have to talk about what it means that CARRIE hasn't come back yet."

CHAMP stiffens.

"Now -- I know that sounds grim," TOBY says quickly. "But we need to be--"

CHAMP shakes his head hard! He stands up, sets the glass on the end table.

"Thanks for the drink, TOBES," he says quickly, with a bright flashing smile. He rolls his shoulders. "I'm feeling much better. Really. Suddenly I'm feeling like everything will be fine!"

"CHAMP...?"

"Dinner's probably up by now. Boy, that MARLEY can cook! And you know what? I'll take the security shift this evening. Won't be able to sleep anyway. You just take it easy and curl up with one of those books of yours or something. Sound good?"

"I -- sure, I suppose, but --"

"Thanks again," says CHAMP, on his way out now. "I think by tomorrow, things are going to be just fine."

He closes the door behind him on his way out.

TOBY stares after him, confused.

"Okay...?"

BUNNY blinks from where she'd been standing, just on the other side of the door...