Devineaux walked into the hospital, humming, holding a little white box. He strode towards the elevator. He'd been given immediate clearance by ACME to go straight up to Julia's room a few days ago.

Audric was manning the front desk, as he did so often. In the week or so since Devineaux had first visited Julia, Audric had been there most days he'd visited.

Devineaux smiled quickly at the purple-haired clerk, who looked up at him. "[Wait! Devineaux!]" Audric cried.

The larger Frenchman turned. "[Yes?]"

Audric face was twisted and angry like Chase had never seen; but it didn't seem directed at him. "[Julia's not here.]"

"[She's been moved? To which hospital?]"

Audric eyes flashed. "[No. Your agent friends checked her out today to go back into the field.]"

"[But I thought she wasn't going to be fully healed for another couple weeks!]"

Audric nodded gravely. "[She wasn't. And she's not. Devineaux-]" He said, suddenly urgent. "[You need to take care of her. Don't let her hurt herself. Please.]"

Devineaux nodded gravely, still looking shocked. He looked down at the little box in his hand, and set it on the desk. "[This was going to be for Julia, but you really should have it. Especially because Julia's been taken out."] Devineaux winced. [Egh..poor choice of words.]

Audric opened the box. It was an eclairs. He smiled a little. "[Thank you.]"

Devineaux smiled determinedly. "[Julia will not come to harm.]"

Julia looked up as Devineaux came in. She was re-dressed in her ACME suit, the only visible indicators of her injury a lump beneath her jacket and a shadow under her eyes.

She smiled. "We've been re-paired at my request. We're partners again."

Devineaux smiled. "I am glad. I need to make sure you are healthy. You were taken from the hospital too soon."

Julia smiled a little again. "Oh. I'm sure I'll be fine. ACME needs all their agents." Her tone was nonchalant, but her eyes were dark and she was stiff.

Devineaux frowned, but nodded. "I will see you soon."

"There!"

A call came from one ACME agent as he spotted Carmen. She was running easily along the side of a building, sparing the agents a disdainful glance only.

Zari, from on top of the building, signaled to Julia and Devineaux on the ground. The pair started chasing after the thief.

Carmen glanced behind her again, mouth slightly open, and did a visible double take. "Jules?" She gasped.

Julia was wheezing, but keeping pace with Devineaux. She grinned a little bit. "Hi Carmen."

Then, she tripped, falling hard with a cry of pain. Both Devineaux and Carmen gasped and stopped, and Carmen started to turn back. Julia, doubled over on the ground, shooed her away with a flapping hand.

"Jules-" Carmen started, but Julia waved her backwards again. "Ill be fine, go, you'll be arrested!"

Carmen looked for a moment like that wouldn't be such a bad price to pay to help Julia, but then she turned uncertainly and ran off.

Devineaux, still crouching beside Julia, hardly looked up during the entire exchange. A few minutes passed before the other agents could get to Julia and Devineaux. Julia was still on the ground, wincing in pain, breathing heavily.

"What happened?" Zari snapped. "What are you two doing, fooling around? You let her get away! You two were our only shot at getting her for who knows how long!"

Devineaux looked up. Julia had torn out a few stitches in her fall. "Julia is injured, and I-"

Zari snorted. "You could have kept going, Devineaux. That thief is our number one priority." She looked at Julia on the ground. "Get up, Argent. You're fine. You only do this because you like her."

Julia righted herself a little bit and looked up, eyes flashing, defensive. "Even if that were to be true, I am still an agent. I tried to catch her. I tripped and ripped out some stitches."

Zari scoffed. "Okay, right. You know, Chief says you're our best, and you've done more information collecting on Sandiego than anyone else. But I was the one who nearly got her in Stockholm. I don't have emotions holding me back."

Devineaux reached out a hand and helped an unsteady Julia up from the ground, shooting Zari a little glare. Julia was angrier than he'd ever seen her, but she was silent, trying not to show how heavily she was leaning on him.

The other agents moved away, and Julia panted, holding Devineaux in place. "One sec."

Soon, Carmen dropped silently from above, hanging from her grappling hook line like some sort of spider.

"You sure you're okay?" She said quietly, glancing around as Devineaux turned away and pretended stonily that she was not there.

"I'll be fine." Julia whispered, pecking Carmen on the cheek. Carmen turned bright red, and nodded. "Maybe I'll visit you later." She retracted the line, shooting upwards and flipping away.

Devineaux turned back around, looking uncomfortable. "Done doing everything you just denied to Zari?"

Julia grinned a little, a strange, uncharacteristic glint of rebellion in her eyes. "Yes. I'm feeling much better now, I think."