Episode 4 "Acceptance"

Chapter 2

Jack fidgeted restlessly in the deck chair on Emily's outside patio, at the former Grayson Manor. It was early morning; the sun was just beginning to rise. He was still in last night's party clothes, now stained with sweat and a few smears of blood when he had helped Emily move Daniel. She had insisted he call the medics right away even though it looked like he could not possibly have survived.

He ran his fingers through his hair and rested his head in his hands, trying to piece together all that he had witnessed. Another woman in his life gone, and similar to the others, she was not who she said she was. Just like Amanda. Only this time, he had pulled the trigger. He was truly responsible. And rightfully so, for he had been a fool, playing right into his hands from the start. Despite Emily's warning, he had pushed onward in hopes that her suspicions were only the fringes of her undying obsession with revenge pushing through the surface, forcing their way into his life yet again. He had been stubborn, hoping that she was wrong but knowing in the back of his mind that his childhood love had an instinct for being right about these things. And that stubbornness had almost cost Emily her life, and may have cost Daniel his. While Jack could care less about the Grayson heir, he had watched intently at how Emily rocked him in her arms, trying to keep him lucid until the paramedics came. How she had begged him not to reveal Kate's true identity to the police, for fear of putting his life and her father's in jeopardy if they were to reveal the connection to Malcolm Black. She had not acknowledged that he had saved her life, only urged him to stick closely to the story they agreed on, and not to trust anyone. And then Emily was by Daniel's side again, and rode with him in the ambulance, leaving Jack to explain to David and Victoria what had happened after they rushed in shortly thereafter. Victoria had mentioned Margeaux's name before following, making him aware for the first time that she and Daniel must have rekindled their relationship. And last he vaguely remembered answering Emily's phone, which she left behind in all the commotion, and telling Nolan on the other line to just go straight to the hospital. It was all a blur and now this was his first chance to digest it all.

He looked back towards the house, inside the broken glass doors where debris still was strewn about, and the Hamptons police were still browsing through the crime scene, mixed with federal agents as well. This scene would not soon be empty. Some areas were marked off and he saw a few detectives taking pictures. It was crowded, and yet Kate's body still lay on the floor, draped over and the areas surrounding taped off. He replayed the moment he had rushed in, full of adrenaline and fear, and thought only for a second before pulling the trigger three times.

"Porter, I think we're going to need you to come down to the station later," Captain Alvarez brushed past Jack before taking a seat across from him on the patio.

"Is there a problem, Captain?" Jack asked nervously, worried that the details of his story would be questioned again.

He had done exactly as Emily said, holding to every word, even though each moment pained him that he was back in this place he did not want to be. Lying through his teeth, slowly abandoning every value he had put up around himself when he vowed to make a difference just eight months earlier. And here he was, back in Emily's inner circle of revenge, covering for her yet again. But this time was different, and Jack felt a change in him. Something had clicked when he pulled that trigger, or maybe it had happened when he saw Kate's real name flash across the computer screen at Nolan's house. He felt like the protective shroud of integrity and honesty he had put up had fallen. As if his own notions that he could make a difference were all just a joke. A lie he had been telling himself. There was no justice in the system, how could there be? When someone like Kate could infiltrate without anyone knowing? There was no safe haven any longer, no crutch he could rely on. Had he lost hope?

"It's complicated," Capt. Alvarez replied. "There are speculations of corruption, of foul play and the entire bureau is on alert. If we're not careful this becomes a national issue. Now the force is on your side but I'm going to need you to tell me everything you know. We're still trying to understand what reason Agent Taylor had to be here with Ms. Thorne, and what caused her to attack her. Were you aware of any previous acquaintance she had with her?"

"No," Jack answered, squinting up a little and then trying to relax. "Like I said they just met at the yacht club opening last night. We talked a little, Kate found out Emily had become the new owner of Grayson Manor and Emily invited her to come see it. I was a little tired so I told her I'd meet her over here and when I came in I saw Emily on the ground, hurt and Kate had just fired at her. Daniel was just in the way. I yelled for her to freeze, she saw me and turned the gun on me but I was able draw before she fired. I fired three shots."

"Were you aware if she was doing any investigative work on her, I understand Ms. Thorne was close friends with your wife when she was alive?"

"Yes, that's true they were close but Kate never mentioned anything about her. She said the case was closed on David Clarke and that she was heading back in a few days. I invited her to come out with me and she said yes."

"Can you describe your relationship with her?" Capt. Alvarez looked intently at Jack.

Jack tried halfheartedly to laugh it off. "I mean we went out on two dates? I barely knew her outside of work."

"Not Agent Taylor," Capt. Alvarez replied. "Emily Thorne."

Jack looked surprised. "Emily?"

"She and you were close, correct? Following your wife's passing. I've seen her here at the station a few times. Is there any chance Agent Taylor was jealous of your relationship?"

Jack finally understood and began contemplating whether the direction the Captain was going would be better or worse to cover the truth. But he couldn't see an advantage either way and didn't like putting any additional light on Emily. "Emily and I are just friends, we always have been. If Kate thought there was something more to it she never said anything to me about it."

"Perhaps it wasn't you she was worried about; maybe she thought Ms. Thorne was making an advance towards you?"

"No, Emily's not like that, she's not jealous and she wouldn't imply she was interested in someone just for kicks. Trust me I would have known the difference. If she's into you, you'll know."

"I'll say," interjected a voice from behind Jack's shoulder. Around walked a uniformed Ben, placing his hand on Jack's shoulder and then sitting beside him. "You were telling the truth when you said things were complicated with that one," he continued.

Jack grimaced and realized Ben's observations could only lead to more questions from the Captain.

"Officer Hunter, Porter was just filling me in on the relationship that Agent Taylor might have had with Emily Thorne before attempting to kill her in her own home last night. As you both know, this is not just a local police scuffle, a federal agent is dead. This place is crawling with feds and we already have enough on our hands with David Clarke's attempted murder. Not to mention the fact that Agent Taylor had just closed it. So I don't need to tell you that it is imperative that you cooperate."

Jack nodded intently and Ben did the same, with a side eye on Jack. Ben piped in, "Captain I feel like I should disclose to you then, that I've been seeing Ms. Thorne."

Capt. Alvarez and Jack both looked over at Ben in surprise. "Oh really?" the Captain asked. "How long has this been going on?"

"Technically it's only been one date, but like Officer Porter alluded to, I can vouch for her not giving off any sign of interest in him." He looked over at Jack. "No offense, Jack but I just wanted to corroborate your view. She made it clear you were just a friend, and I did plan on seeing her again. That's if I can…" he looked back over at Capt. Alvarez.

"Fine," Capt. Alvarez still looked intently at Jack. "But we're still going to need her full statement on the attack and anything else she can tell us about Agent Taylor's motives in coming after her. In the meantime, Officer Hunter, I'd like you to continue to see Ms. Thorne as much as possible and see if she can give you any information she wasn't able to give us."

Jack again looked nervous, and jutted out his bottom jaw, while Ben looked slightly entitled.

"I'll do my best, Captain," Ben agreed.

"Officer Porter, as the firing officer you will still need to report in for your full dissertation with federal oversight this evening, and pending any investigation that follows you'll be expected to fully cooperate. And if anything else comes to mind… notify us. Clear?"

"Yes, sir," Jack replied.

"Go easy on him, Captain," Ben insisted. "This was his first."

Capt. Alvarez nodded and briskly pat Jack on the back, "First one's the hardest, Porter." He returned to the inner foyer of the manor, leaving Jack and Ben alone on the outside patio.

"Hey, the Captain's just doing his job right? This is a high stakes crime scene. A federal agent, possible corruption…did you suspect anything?" Ben pried while Jack rubbed his brow again.

"No, I didn't suspect anything. Listen, when were you gonna tell me about you and Emily?" Jack snapped back.

"Whoa, easy tiger. I just did you a favor. Emily's under the microscope right now, it's a good thing I was able to vouch for her character. Besides you didn't seem that interested when you were at Kate's a few nights ago. What kind of a block are you running?"

"Do me a favor alright, when I tell you something is complicated, just trust me and stay out of it," Jack asserted. "It may not seem like I have the right to say this but I know her-"

"Apparently not as well as you think you do. Did you know that the first half of our date she was hot on the Captain's tail?"

"What?" Jack's face scrunched up in disbelief.

"Yeah, once I got her to admit it she told me the truth. She thought he had something to do with the suicide of that perp that was after David Clarke. Then I see her leaving the hotel where Kate was and when she realized you were with Kate, she gave me the same look you gave me about a minute ago when I told you I was seeing her. And next Kate turns up dead at her house, with you on the other side of the trigger. What's going on Jack? I want the truth."

Jack met eyes with Ben, feeling a combination of trapped and lost. "Ben, I don't even know what the truth is."

"But you obviously know something, or you wouldn't be covering for Emily," Ben persisted. "I care about her too, Jack. But the only way I can help you protect her is if you tell me what you're both hiding."

Jack looked back over at Ben and thought deeply before his next words.

Margeaux enclosed her hands around Daniel's with a sigh of relief. Her heart was pounding, so full of questions and confusion, but she was thankful the father of her unborn child, who she had just come to accept again, was still alive. Barely here, but nevertheless, he had made it. He was speaking to her and his face seem joyed to see her. But she couldn't get out of her mind the look she thought she saw on his face as Emily Thorne left the room just before she got there. She could not think of who to call when the hours had rolled by and Daniel still had not returned. And it was only when she finally checked her phone that she saw Victoria had tried to reach her over 15 times. The message she left had sent her into shock and she had to breath calmly and try desperately to pull herself together and meet them over at the hospital. Victoria had tried to reach her at home but didn't expect her to be at Daniel's apartment, she had no idea they had reconciled just moments before the tragic incident. But finally, she was here by his side and had begun to calm down. And now the questions were swirling again in her head.

"I'm so sorry for taking so long to get here. Victoria tried to call me but—" Margeaux sighed. "I'm so thankful that you survived."

Daniel smiled, wincing in a little pain. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

His short words tugged at her curiosity even more. She couldn't hold back. "Daniel, what were you doing there?"

"I heard fighting, so I went to see what was going on. When I got there, Emily was hurt and this woman was trying to kill her."

"She owes her life to you. I can't believe you would risk yourself like that," Margeaux looked down, sheepishly. She chided herself for selfishly wishing he had never investigated the noise. What a shock that could have meant for her if he had died! And just to save the life of a woman he repeatedly told her he hated so much. Her tension rising she added, "Especially for a woman like her."

"Margeaux," Daniel suddenly gripped her hand a little stronger. "Emily's not who you think she is. She's…" before he could finish, Victoria and David appeared at the door.

"I'm sorry, she couldn't wait any longer," David apologized.

Daniel looked away, exasperated. Margeaux turned and gave Victoria a repressed smile. "Its ok," she turned back to Daniel. "We have the rest of our lives to spend together now. Thank goodness." She motioned to Victoria, "you should visit with your son. I'll be back soon, Daniel."

Margeaux kissed him on his forehead and the left the room, while Victoria and David approached. David walked over to his bedside first.

"Daniel, I know I haven't had much time to spend with you. But I understand you saved Emily's life. Your mother's told me you know who she is to me."

"Yes I do, sir," Daniel replied quietly.

"I haven't shared that with too many people. There are people that would try to use that information against me. But I love her very much. And I'm forever in your debt for what you've done to protect my daughter. Both of my daughters." David paused to think deeply for a moment.

"I know it's been an adjustment, me being back in your mother's life, and I don't expect you to want a relationship with me. But I just want you to know I'm here for you, and I can't thank you enough for what you did." David began to tear up and Daniel could see the raw emotion in his eyes, a father who truly loved his children and would do anything for them, and he was reminded instantly of Emily's dedication. David then turned to Victoria and then back to Daniel. "I'll leave you to visit with your mother now. Thank you, Daniel."

Before he walked completely out of the room Daniel called out softly to him, "David?"

David turned around.

"Emily is fortunate to have a father like you."

David nodded in acknowledgement and then continued out of the room. Daniel turned his attention finally back over to Victoria. "You told him the truth?"

"Yes, Daniel. Everything," she exhaled, sitting down next to him on the bed.

"And?"

"I don't know yet. All I can wish for now is his forgiveness. Daniel, you inspired me to change," she began, but then out of habit, stopped herself, expecting Daniel to interject. But he did not, only looked stared ahead, trying to absorb if what his mother was saying could possibly be true.

Noticing that he did not seem ready to hear her completely, Victoria decided not to go any further. "I just want you to know that I'm thankful to still have my son. I don't know what I would've done without you Daniel."

Daniel's underlying agitation got the better of him. "So you don't resent me for saving Emily's life?"

Victoria looked flustered and that was just the pause needed for Daniel to question her sincerity.

"Never mind. I think I know the answer to that question."

END OF CHAPTER TWO