As Michael is driving, his tire is suddenly shot out from an undetected device that blows out all the other tires.
Michael Monroe: Damn it!
He then notices a masked man in a white suit. This isn't Yuri, but Robert in his hitman persona. Michael exits his car and stands few feet from him. The two men stand there, Hitman with his hands behind his back but holding the very same gun that killed Trevor while Michael readies himself. He cracks his neck and watches Hitman's every move. Hitman attempts to draw first, but Michael is much quicker this time and draws his then shoots the gun out of Hitman's hand then tosses his two pistols down, wanting to settle this with his fists. The two then charge at each other and begin to display their own set of martial arts. At first, Michael seems to get the upper hand when Hitman outsmarts and takes him down with various combinations.
Hitman: You have gotten better, but I have been doing this for a very long time. You have only done this for a few weeks. You are driven by anger, revenge, rage and that is where you are weak.
Hitman begins walking circles around him as if to taunt him, much in the same manner before he executed Trevor.
Hitman: I know what you really want, Michael, but you see you are very weak much like your brother was. And I would suggest if you don't want to end up in a grave next to him, you forget everything and return to that pathetic excuse you call a life. Consider this mercy.
Hitman starts to walk away, but Michael refuses to let him escape.
Michael Monroe: You know, I remember back at the factory when you tried to kill me. You tortured me and all I did was laugh in your fucking face. Do you know why I did? It's because all I saw was a coward. You are not doing this strictly because your wife was murdered, no. I know everything there is to know about you and you are doing this purely out of doing it and for the money. But money won't save your life.
Hitman turns back to face him, now enraged.
Hitman: You dare provoke me?
Raising his gun, Hitman fires at him, but Michael dodges it, rolls onto the ground, snatches one of his pistols and shoots him in the shoulder then in the leg to bring him down. Approaching him, he kicks the gun away and aims the pistol at him.
Hitman: Go ahead. Do it. Kill me. It won't make the rage go away.
Hesitating a moment, Michael glares at him with so much anger that he wants to pull the trigger but can't bring himself to do it, because he's not a killer like him.
Hitman: So weak just like your brother.
His words force Michael to unleash a fury of punches until he is out cold.
Michael Monroe: You and I have different takes on being weak.
Michael then zip ties Hitman's hands behind his back and later drops him off at the doorstep of the police department with a note to David.
News stations start releasing reports on Michael's vigilantism and even give him the name, "The Outlaw" because of his handy work and how many criminals have been arrested and brought to justice by him in the span of a month, but this doesn't make him feel any better even with Robert behind bars, Roman is still the main target.
Clint Gallows: Well, congratulations. Not only are you a vigilante, but now you are The Outlaw. You've taken care of Robert; you've damn near placed the fear of God in every criminal bringing the crime rate seventy-two percent in the past month alone and you still want to go after Roman?
Michael looks up from the hood of his car.
Michael Monroe: My entire mission to kill Roman. No matter how many of his clients I take out, Roman dies at the end of this. You should already know this, Clint.
Clint Gallows: But you got the man that actually killed Trevor. I mean, the ACTUAL guy.
Michael Monroe: Could you hand me that wrench right there? No, the one next to it. Thanks.
Clint hands him the wrench Michael pointed to when Roy returns on his motorcycle.
Clint Gallows: And where the hell did you get this piece of filth?
Roy Wheeler: I got it from a someone called mind your business.
Clint Gallows: Smartass.
Roy Wheeler: Thanks to our resident superhero, I'm allowed to say that, aren't I? People seem to be more out tonight than I've seen in quite some time.
Roy places his helmet on the table and removes his gloves.
Michael Monroe: Even with the crime rate low, Roman is still out there. He's taking his time and when it's right, he will launch an attack unlike anything this city has ever seen.
Michael climbs into the car and turns the keys to the engine starting up. He wipes his hands with a dirty, greasy rag and closes the hood.
Michael Monroe: Look, we've seen this happen before when we were overseas, you mostly Roy. We served in the same platoon, so you should know.
Roy Wheeler: So, what do we do? Just kick his door in and drop a box of girl scout cookies?
Michael Monroe: No. Hitman may have been dealt with, but Sasha is still out there. He's on his way back to Slovakia. We take him out, Roman is all alone, and we can finally make our move.
Clint Gallows: You also are aware that Slovakia is five thousand miles away from here, right?
Roy Wheeler: Five thousand, five hundred and eighty-four miles to be exact.
Roy adds in as Michael tosses his rag away then turns to look at him.
Michael Monroe: I'm heading out.
He leaves the garage to his room to change as he has a date with Brooke that evening. Walking around the city in what seems like forever, Michael and Brooke can surely spot the difference as more families are able to be out and enjoy themselves while most small businesses can stay open later to avoid muggings and robberies. The two go to a deli shop for dinner as Brooke doesn't really prefer fancy restaurants for first dates, plus the owner of the deli is repeated customer to Michael's auto shop and is always helping him when he has car trouble, so he visits the deli daily as appreciation. They take a seat at a table with their food and start to eat.
Brooke Cade: How's work at the shop?
Michael Monroe: It's going. Busy every single day, which is fine with me.
Brooke Cade: I noticed you had a good conversation with the man behind the counter.
Michael Monroe: He's a regular at the shop. I always help him when he has car problems and I come here to show my appreciation, plus he makes a killer tuna salad sandwich I can't say no to. He's a good man.
Michael Monroe: So, what brought you to Crystal City? Not exactly a paradise. Don't let the skyline fool you.
Brooke Cade: I try to avoid this, but I was in an abusive relationship for two years. I had to get away.
Michael Monroe: He doesn't know you are here?
Brooke Cade: No. One day, when he left for work, I had enough so I packed up all my stuff secretly and moved away. I changed my number, my phone so he wouldn't be able to call or text me in anyway. I changed my emails, my social media accounts, debt and credit cards, I even changed my license plate. Haven't heard from him in four months, so I guess you can say things are starting to get better.
Michael Monroe: Well, this city sure has its dark history.
Brooke Cade: Before what happened at the hospital, I haven't really had any run ins with any bad shit. I mean, I've heard of a few robberies and muggings, but that's mostly about it.
Michael Monroe: I've lived here my entire life; I've seen my fair share of it all. Robberies, muggings, grand theft auto, murder, kidnappings, rape. My brother was a police officer and sometimes would catch him working on cases.
Brooke Cade: Trevor. You're his brother?
Michael Monroe: Indeed I am.
Brooke Cade: I'm really sorry.
Michael Monroe: When he was murdered, they may as well but the bullet in my head. He was the only family I had left and now I feel so alone. I've never been alone a day in my life despite my parents passing away when I was a child. Me and Trevor looked out for each other and if one got into trouble, we would scold each other and then move on like it never happened. That's pretty much what everyone has been telling me - "just move on. There is nothing you can do about it."
Brooke can start to see Michael getting upset and takes his hand into hers in a way to soothe him. The two leave the shop, leaving behind a generous tip for the owner, they walk together as Brooke wraps her arm around Michael's arm and they remain out to walk around, enjoying the warm night weather. They enjoy each other's company, warming up to each other, laughing and talking, even looking into the windows of shops. Brooke's phone begins to ring, and she goes into her purse to answer, but accidently drops it and bends down to pick it up. When she stands up, a well-dressed man in standing behind her and says her name. She turns around to find her abusive ex standing there.
Brooke Cade: What are you doing here?
Man: I've been trying to find you for four months! I thought something terrible happened to you. I was worried sick!
The man tries to touch her face, but she moves away from him.
Brooke Cade: Don't you touch me. Don't you dare fucking touch me.
Man: I'm taking you home, Brooke. You need to come home. Your parents are worried sick about you.
Brooke Cade: They know where I am. I talk to them every single day.
Man: You need to come with me. You need to come home.
Brooke Cade: This IS my home, Henry! You need to leave. Now. Before, I call the police.
Man: For what? I'm not doing anything. You are the one freaking out and making this a big deal.
Brooke Cade: You've always been a narcissistic asshole. Always turned things around to me and played the victim card. Not anymore. I'm not falling for it.
The man grabs her by the arm aggressively and tries to start pulling her away, but Brooke tries to fight him off when he strikes her in the face. Michael rushes over and shoves him down.
Michael Monroe: Can I help you with something?
The man: Yeah, you can. That's my girlfriend with you, so let her go with me.
Michael Monroe: What kind of boyfriend strikes his girlfriend? I think it's time you left.
The man: Really? And what are you going to do about it?
Michael Monroe: Do you want to find that out the easy way or the hard way?
The man takes a swing at him, but Michael just catches his fist without flinching and begins to squeeze it, making the man groan in pain. He goes to deliver a punch of his own, but Brooke beats him to it by punching him in the face, then knees him in the boy part and sprays pepper spray into his eyes, making him writhe and cry in agony.
Michael Monroe: According to my calculations, it seems she has broken up with you, dick cheese. Have a good night on the ground.
Brooke spits on him and leaves with Michael as the man continues to cry in misery.
The two return to Brooke's apartment and sit in the car for a moment. Michael turns the light on and gently turns Brooke's face to the left to see the mark left by her ex.
Michael Monroe: Does it hurt?
Brooke Cade: I'm used to it.
Michael Monroe: The way you handled him; it was pretty sexy.
Brooke laughs at this and looks at him, but Michael can see the tears in her eyes and wipes them away. Brooke grips his hand tightly and goes to kiss him, but he stops her.
Michael Monroe: Hey, hey. You're in pain and this needs to happen when our emotions are not through the roof. I don't want it to look like I am taking advantage of you.
Brooke Cade: This is my call, Michael.
Michael Monroe: I don't feel right about it.
Brooke smiles at him and instead kisses him on the cheek. They exit the car and walk up to her apartment. As she tries to unlock her door, her hands are trembling from the night's events, so Michael takes the keys and unlocks the door for her as Brooke begins crying. He takes her into his arms and holds her as she sobs into his chest. Knowing the pain she feels, all he can do at this point is to be there for her and ease her misery as best as he can. After she lets out her emotions, she chuckles and wipes her face.
Brooke Cade: That was unexpected.
Michael Monroe: Got to let it out at some point.
Brooke Cade: Thank you. Call you tomorrow?
Michael Monroe: Absolutely.
Brooke gives him another kiss on the cheek and goes into her apartment, locking the door as Michael returns to his car and sits there for a moment and for the first time in the past few weeks, he smiles.