Joan nods her agreement while her fingertips stroke the placket of his shirt where she's used to having a tie to straighten in this moments when vulnerability makes it difficult to speak. "In other words, unless this is a dream and we wake up a day or so from when we left, or they can prove we were held captive and even then, at best we're consultants. You're too visible to put back into place and Jai will already have my job."

A tight frown crosses her lips along with a flash of irritation. "I'd been considering it, a more public career, if and when you left the Agency, but not like this. I was ready to fight, but I don't see how we can fight this."