Elizabeth hugged Sue and Katie when they entered, trying to give Lucy a warm greeting, but her face showed every line of worry she had accumulated. "Baby, why don't you and Levi go make a picture for Uncle Jack at his desk?" Liz signed.
Lucy walked with Katie to Jack's desk, unpacking the bag they'd brought her with crayons and paper as well as her books and one of her dolls. Levi looked at Sue and followed Lucy and Katie, as comfortable at Jack's desk as he was at Sue's and Lucy's. "Did they find anyone?" Sue asked, looking over the computer.
"Demetrius and Tara are safe. He's called Donna, but both of them are still there, looking for Jack and Bobby." Liz looked near tears herself. "I'm so out of my element here."
"Tara and Demetrius are still wired, right?" Sue asked, looking at the computer.
"They're giving us what little they know. Jack and Bobby were deeper in the warehouse. They split up…"
Liz and Sue turned their attention to Katie. "Is Uncle Jack coming home for Christmas?" The little girl signed. Lucy looked up at her friends, wanting to answer for them, but not knowing the answer.
"Of course he is, sweetie." Liz promised, hoping she wouldn't have to break her promise to her little girl. They had five hours to find and rescue her brother before Christmas morning. "He might be a little late, but he'll be here."
It was eleven o'clock at night when Tara passed the word along that they had located Jack and Bobby. There was no way of knowing how badly, if at all, the boys were hurt. Elizabeth lifted her daughter, cuddling her, carrying her downstairs, walking near Lucy and Sue, Levi at his mistress' side as he always was when she was upset.
Demetrius stood on the outside of the police tape, his arms around his wife, resting his head on top of hers, his eyes never leaving the building that had nearly killed him. There were cuts on his face and head, his clothes were torn and smoky, but he had spent hours searching for his friends before Donna had arrived. He felt like he wanted to apologize to Sue, for getting separated from Jack, for letting what should have been such a happy occasion become something far worse.
"There's base camp set up over there," Demetrius pointed out to Liz. "The kids are there, asleep. And there's hot chocolate, coffee…"
Sue couldn't help but think of the thermos that she and Katie had packed for Jack only hours before. It seemed like weeks. She had all but forgotten about skipping Christmas Eve service, which had seemed so important that afternoon. All she wanted was to see Jack and Bobby walk away from this, to have one of Jack's hugs that seemed to make even the worst scenario better. Once again, she tried to push the negativity away. It was totally out of her, and everyone else's, hands right now. All they could do was pray.
Elizabeth carried Katie to the building set up nearby, smiling and kissing her forehead as she curled up with Demetrius' little girl, her finger and thumb rubbing the ribbon of the blanket over her. "I'll stay with her," Lucy volunteered.
Liz started to argue, but she knew everyone was too tired for that. "You're sure?"
Lucy nodded. "You should be there when Jack comes out…and Bobby."
Liz looked up in surprise, but didn't deny it, only nodded. "Thank you," she said softly, brushing her fingers over her daughter's hair. "She loves her Uncle Jack. He's her hero. I don't know what she would do without him." She had no idea when she'd gone to the adoption agency that day that she would fall so completely in love with the girl no one else wanted. Jack had been her strength through the adoption and then through single motherhood, doting on the baby girl.
"She won't have to find out. Neither will you. Or Sue." Lucy looked out at where her friend was hugging Tara, talking with her. She could see what few others could, how close Sue seemed to breaking, how fragile she seemed. She remembered so many times when Sue had gotten her heart broken and Jack had been there: the time Sue had been kidnapped and Jack hadn't slept until they found her, the time Levi ran away and he was the only one who could make her rest. They had been so close for so long; it was hard to picture one without the other.
Tara was so close to telling Sue the truth, telling her Jack's plans, but she didn't want to spoil it for her friend. Lucy and Elizabeth came out together, each holding one of Sue's hands, and Demetrius stood behind them, Donna inside with the kids so the team could be together. It was then that Sue's tears started to flow without ceasing. They lost count of how long they stood together, as a family, until Jack and Bobby were brought out together.
Elizabeth and Sue ran to the boys, Liz going to Bobby, who was sitting up and alert, albeit in obvious pain, and Sue going to Jack who was just alert enough to hold her hand with one hand while flashing the sign for 'I love you' with the other. She flashed it back for him, trying to smile as she whispered, "I love you too".
