Author's Note: I do not own any of these characters from Eureka or any other property to be claimed from the show. I also have no ownership over the song Glory Box by Portishead, a line from which I take the title.
To give all of you a fair warning, nothing much happens in this story (although there is a lot of dialogue). I was going to shelve it to see if I could put some more movement into it but it's almost done and I'm not terribly confident I could pull that off. So it'll just have to be what it is, which I don't think is a bad thing.
I am thankful to my fellow writers for inspiring me to be as creative as I can be and for the readers who keep us in business. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter One
He waited patiently never taking his eyes off of her. He clearly didn't want to spook her but he needed answers, especially about her recent bizarre behavior towards him and, most importantly, his grandmother's engagement ring. The powerful emotions between them were still buzzing from the kiss they had shared and there was a sense that they were teetering on something crucial, whether it be a breakthrough or a blowup.
After getting over the shock of how good it felt to be back in Zane's arms, Jo had been horrified by how her momentary lapse would play out. Zane's words to her confirmed that he was beyond mere suspicion of what had happened to her and the rest of the time travelers. That was not good. But in that concern was also the tempting pull of surrendering herself to him and admitting what they had been. She was so tired of living alone with her heartbreak. Maybe telling him wouldn't change anything but it would be something she wouldn't have to bottle up inside so tightly.
The tension snapped as the door behind them opened and closed and the bright voice of Zoe Carter's relieved greeting to Zane reached them. She doubted that Zane missed the look of heartbreak, then longing and finally resignation that she fought to hide. He had already proven how observant he could be when it came to her. In a severe moment of weakness, she had been close to tears seeing him embrace another woman but damned if she'd let them see that.
She barely registered Zoe's invitation to celebrate with her and Zane, panic having already set in. She needed to get away from there; away from Zane's beautiful, probing eyes full of questions and what she must have misread as desire and expectation. Over the last few weeks, she had moments of wondering if there could be something between them. However, in this reality he was not hers in any way and he couldn't ever be hers if he was now seeing Zoe.
Schooling the pained look on her face, Jo left the Sheriff's office and quickly walked to her car without looking back. Her mind was reeling from the kiss that Zane had initiated and that she had fallen into against all good judgment. But when it came to him, good judgment was the last thing she had control over. That had been clear by the way she had responded to him. In the few moments before her sense had come back to her, it had felt like the universe had righted itself. She was Deputy Jo Lupo sharing a tender moment with her irreverent but charming boyfriend after a hard day's work.
It took all her willpower not to break out in a run, knowing Zane was still watching. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of that. No matter what she may have thought was behind that kiss, it was clear that he was otherwise attached and was playing with her now that he had ideas of what had happened to her and the others. She berated herself for overestimating this timeline's Zane. They might have become more friendly given that she wasn't the Jo Lupo he was used to but there was no mistake that he enjoyed getting the best of her. Maybe the events of the last few months hadn't changed his instincts to get under her skin and make her look like a fool. She felt a sharp pain in her chest just thinking about it.
Letting Zane out of jail had been her first stop after securing the site where Beverly had been operating. Even now she justified that as a sense of professionalism and not latent affection for him. What she needed to do was get her mind off of him and his stupid pranks and do so fast. Fortunately, she could wrap herself up in GD paperwork until the she at least partially forget about Zane Donovan and the last five aggravating minutes of her life.
After arriving at Global Dynamics, Jo immediately checked in with her shift commander and then headed towards her office to file the various reports required after a high priority incident like the one today. It was going to take some slight finessing to cover the time travel signature but given that there were only five other people who knew what had really happened, doctoring a few reports wasn't going to be too difficult.
Fargo had beaten her back to GD and was busily coordinating all of the necessary protocols to cover their tracks. In usual Fargo fashion, he was more high strung than anyone about making sure all their secrets remained hidden. Just hinting at being sanctioned for violating time travel protocols was enough to make him break out in hives.
Without looking up from his tablet, Fargo asked, "You done springing Zane from detention?"
"Yeah," she replied walking over to his desk. "It's done. He's out celebrating his newfound freedom with Zoe as we speak." She tried to appear casual about it but Fargo knew better and looked up from what he was doing.
"You okay with that?" The tentative way he remarked on the issue hinted at his thinly veiled concern for her.
She shrugged. "It is what it is. I'll be fine." Not wanting to talk about it further, she quickly changed the subject. "The site has been secured. There are still a few scientists dismantling the equipment and moving it to Section 5. Carter and Allison are still there to make sure everything is transported properly. I'm about to go back to my office and tie everything up from there." She gave him a meaningful look indicating that she would make sure she covered their tracks carefully in light of the impending investigation into the theft of the DED device.
"That's good. Yeah, I'm uh sure you'll take care of things," Fargo stuttered nervously. He was past his original reaction of freaking out about the situation but he was far from comfortable about how things were going to proceed from here.
Jo rolled her eyes, "Relax Fargo. You did good," she said looking him straight in the eyes to reinforce her earlier assurance that she had confidence in him. "It's been a rough couple of days and you took care of things like a real leader."
"You think so?" he asked brightly.
Her responding glare was stern but affectionate. "Don't go fishing for compliments, Douglas," she warned and turned to leave.
"Thanks Jo," Fargo called out after her, feeling as if he should say something. He got up from behind his desk and met her across the room. "And for the record, you showed excellent professionalism today and I will be sure to note such in your file," he added stiffly.
Jo turned back around and crossed her arms in front of her. "Careful Fargo, you're gushing."
"I'm serious," he insisted, falling back into their comfortable rapport of friends rather than boss and subordinate. "How did things go with Zane? You know, with the whole hallucination mix-up," he said waving his hands in a crazy, animated Fargo gesture.
Jo stiffened "Save it, Fargo. I don't want to talk about it," she said shortly, dropping her arms into balled fists at her side. She sighed and briefly closed her eyes to regain her calm. The last thing she wanted to do was lose focus obsessing over that again.
Then, feeling bad for her rudeness, she quickly apologized. "Sorry, Fargo. It just didn't go well and I don't want to get into it now. I've got other more important things to focus on."
"Okay, that's cool." He straightened out his suit and turned back towards his desk. "It's not appropriate anyway, us talking about your personal life on company time. After all, I am your boss."
Jo cracked a smile at him, warmly acknowledging his attempts at humor. "Whatever. I'll see you later." He nodded in return and went back to his computer and the pile of tablets on his desk. Jo turned and left the office, professional mask firmly back in place.
TBC
