Chapter 1. Too Late
"This time, this place, misused, mistakes." Nickleback
Jenny Lewis walked into her house and dropped her bag by the door. She was exhausted, not that she didn't have every right to be, she'd almost died. She'd never categorized herself as a quitter, yet that was exactly what she'd done, she'd quit, walked away from the ARC. She kept trying to tell herself she was justified, she'd almost died, and Nick had died because of this job. So why did she feel like she'd made the worst mistake of her life.
She closed her eyes and leaned back on the couch, the silence of the house surrounding her, pounding through her head like someone screaming. Alone, she was completely alone, her fiancé and hers relationship had been over for a long time, courtesy of the anomaly operation and her friends, she'd left those behind at the ARC.
Connor in his sometimes naive and over exuberant ways had become like the little brother she'd never had. Sarah and Abby had become very good friends, her confidants, each strong in their own way. Then there was Captain Becker, soft spoken, fiercely protective and loyal, not really close to anyone but Sarah, but she'd still miss him. Then there was Danny, the rebel, the flirt, the one she couldn't escape even if she wanted. Last, there was Lester, sarcastic, pretended not to care about anyone, Lester, who she'd seen what looked like a hint of regret in his eyes when she'd announced she was leaving. Yes, she would miss him too, she'd spent the last year working at his side and they'd become closer than they would ever admit.
Lester
Too long, too late. Who was I to make you wait?" Nickleback
He'd stood there and let her leave, he hadn't asked her to stay, hadn't made one pleading motion. He'd just let her walk out of the ARC and out of his life.
"That was the biggest mistake of my life," James Lester murmured to himself as he put the last signatures on Jenny's resignation papers.
How many times since she'd started had he found himself entranced by her beauty or in awe of her feisty personality? James Lester wasn't the type of person to get intimidated, but she, she intimidated him.
After his first wife, Rebecca's death, after the kids had grown up and moved away, he'd pretty much written off love, become a completely closed off version of his former self. Then Jenny Lewis had shown up, and he'd found himself enamored with her strong personality, finding excuses to go to her office just to see her. It wasn't like him at all.
He walked over to the fax machine and sent the papers over to the minister, knowing he'd have a lovely list of suggested replacements shortly. He didn't want a replacement, he wanted Jenny back. He knew he probably sounded like a little kid who'd just lost his favorite toy.
Get a grip on yourself James, he mentally scolded himself, You're not Connor, who seemingly can't function without Abby.
Just as expected the list of replacement possibilities arrived half an hour later, with a personal note from the minister stating that he, really liked 4. Lester scanned the list, looked over credentials and promptly threw the list and files that had been couriered over against the wall, causing papers to scatter all over the floor.
Great job, he thought walking over and bending down to pick them up. None of these idiots would be able to handle the ARC's secrecy requirements.
"Why the hell did I let you leave Jenny?" he wondered aloud.
He walked over to his desk and lay the papers in a neat pile before heading to the main room and walking over to Danny Quinn.
"I have an errand to run, you're in charge don't make me regret it." he stated firmly before heading out to his car.
Traffic was a nightmare and he was pretty sure he'd seen a snail pass him as he drove through town. He finally found the street he needed and parked his car on the curb. Once he reached the door he took a deep breath to collect himself before he knocked.
The door opened and Jenny stood there, looking utterly surprised to see him.
"Jenny, I was hoping we could talk."