Chapter 7
"Jake."
"I see it."
Sari looked up from where she was keeping watch and turned to face the front. She saw the car that had been run off the road and the dead girl that was lying there. She leaned forward to get a quick look and said, "Don't stop JJ."
"I'm not stopping until we get to Rogue River," Jake replied more to let Eric know that he wasn't going to follow through with his brother's protests.
Sari swallowed back the bile that threatened and looked ahead and then out to the left. She knew that all three of them wanted to stop and inspect but… not now. Just like that village… She closed her eyes and slowly opened them and readjusted her hands on the weapon.
"We can't just leave her on the side of the road like that," Eric protested as he looked out his window. He didn't like that there was a dead woman lying there. Or she could still be alive.
"Yes we can," Sari countered.
"See that second set of skid marks back there?" Jake glanced in the rearview mirror. He didn't like it either but he was not going to risk his brother, his partner or is life in something that could be an ambush. "Means that someone forced her off the road and probably robbed her and killed her. For all we know, they could be waiting out there to do it again."
Eric looked at Jake like he was a whole different person. He glanced back at Sari. He had been expecting her to protest too but he got none from her. Instead she said that he wasn't to stop. What really had been going on the last five years with these two?
"I don't like it any more than you two," Sari piped up from the back as she leaned forward. "But this is how it is."
"It's not Afghanistan," Eric replied looking a little annoyed.
"Might as well be," Sari countered firmly. She twisted to look Eric in the eye and continued, "We may have law and order in Jericho but out here… might as well be over there. People are scared and they are reacting. Some are taking advantage and will do anything including killing and using others as bait. It sucks because in the end you can't tell who is friend and who is foe and all you see is the end result." She looked at Eric well aware that she may have gone a little too far but she had to get her point across.
Jake had been silent during her whole speech. He knew she had seen things but he was just hearing the details. It had him wondering where she had been exactly. Some of what she had been saying sounded exactly like what he had seen. Did she see what he had done? He was hoping she hadn't. It was a mistake and one he regretted deeply and carried with him. He was afraid of what she knew and what she might think of him if he ever told her the truth.
Keeping that in mind, he countered a bit more gently, "If we don't make it, Dad dies. This is the world we live in now and maybe… we should listen to Sari more." He gave a glance towards Eric.
Eric was silent as he looked at Jake. He didn't want to admit that maybe his brother was right about a few things. A lot of things were happening and there were people who had been willing to step up and make the hard decisions. It was just easy to disregard Sari because he still thought of her as the sweet little girl he remembered growing up despite the few times she surprised everyone like hauling Stanley Richmond in a fireman's carry. And yet here she was trying to keep Jericho safe.
The silence carried on a few more miles until Eric pulled up the map of the area. "Okay," he said as he peered at the map, "I got a route to the County Hospital in Rogue River. Take Cedar Run Road…"
"No good."
Eric looked at Jake with a pointed look, "You don't even know what I was going to say."
"Put the map away, we're taking the back roads."
"Jake, Dad's on borrowed time. We need to get the medicine and get back." Eric looked at his brother like he was crazy. They didn't have time to mess around here.
"Me and JJ spent most of our teenage years driving these backroads," Sari entered in a quiet tone. She caught Eric's eyes and couldn't help but tease him, "Where do you think we went all those times?"
Jake felt his lip twitch a little at that. It was true he and Sari spent a lot of time on the backroads. It was how she was able to find him so fast a month ago like she did. She knew which ways were backups in case the main roads were blocked for whatever reason and how to make up for lost time. That was one of their great adventures they had once they were teenagers and had a certain amount of freedom to move around. "We'll make up the time," he added.
"You always think you know better," Eric shot back bitterly. The next thing he knew was he had the rifle shoved in his face and he was asked if they were loaded. "Yes, it's loaded."
Sari didn't interfere with the exchange. Even though they all grew up together, they did go their separate ways and there were some things that just didn't rub the right way. Even before she and Jake left there was a bitterness between the brothers and in the beginning she sought to try and fix it but both told her in their own way to leave it alone and she did. She didn't like it since she actually didn't like fighting or conflict. She still didn't even after everything she had done. So it was hard for her to let the Green brothers work it out.
"Jake, Sari… what are we going to have to do?"
Jake glanced in the rearview mirror to catch Sari's eye. He recognized that she was sitting this one out like she had done before they left. He knew too that there were things that he and Eric had to work out and while he couldn't figure out how to do that and he could ask Sari but deep down he knew he had to find the answer and do it in his own way. "I don't know, but when it comes time to do it…"
"I'll be ready."
Jake didn't need to ask Sari. She had already given her word that she had his back. They were partners again and they always looked out for each other. He just had to remember that she could do a few things on her own too and not undermine her capabilities. He gave a reassuring nod as he made a turn down one of the backroads towards their destination.
The drive became silent. Sari was keeping an eye out in the back and thinking about how to make things up to Ryan. First thing though she was determined to get back from this trip in one piece. Even though she had taken on a fairly dangerous job… that was her goal, to get back to her little sister each and every night. Up until now it had been fairly smooth sailing and that talk they had before she left…
"You haven't said anything for miles. Stay sharp."
Sari looked up, thinking that Jake was talking to her. She found that he was talking to Eric who had also been silent after their initial outburst miles back. She had forgotten that he was there even though she was in the backseat since she had been focused on the mission. She watched as Eric looked up and asked, "What happened to you, Jake? To you and Sari?"
"What do you mean?" Jake looked at Eric and added, "And you've heard Sari. She was in Afghanistan."
Eric looked pointedly at Jake and asked, "Where were you?" At Jake's silence he answered his own question, "I'm assuming jail." There was more silence and he pressed, "Why won't you tell me?"
"Why does it matter?" It was a sore point for Jake and one he didn't want to tell in front of Sari. He suspected that she might know but he didn't want to say anything. Not to her.
"Because all that time I stood and watched Mom and Dad suffer," Eric spat while trying to be civil. "Every time the phone rang, they thought it was you. I used to hate calling the house because we sound the same on the phone. I couldn't listen to them realizing it was only me."
Sari pressed her tongue against her teeth hearing that. She wanted to say something but she remained silent as Jake snapped, "I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry for what I did to our family but don't use me as an excuse for not getting on with your life."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jake gave a slight snort. He had it figured out the moment he set foot back in Jericho. It didn't take a genius to figure it out though he felt bad for April. "You wouldn't be the first guy to leave his wife, Eric."
Eric shot a sharp look at Jake. It was then he felt the back of the seat shift and he realized that Sari was there listening to every single word. She wasn't looking at him with derision but rather more like a cross between disappointment and it was what it was. She knew too and he didn't know what was worse, Jake knowing or Sari knowing.
Jake knew that Sari had been listening. It was one of her talents. She had a way of being quiet to the point you tended to forget she was there. He had forgotten that but it came back full force the moment she got into the backseat and he checked the rearview mirror. Since she was already listening and had leaned forward, he continued, "I'm not saying to leave her. I'm just saying that…"
"You don't know what you're talking about, Jake," Eric warned before glancing at Sari and adding, "You too."
"Didn't say anything," Sari muttered, "But it's not that hard to see when you really look." She adjusted her position to lean back into her seat.
"And I'm talking about what you're afraid to say," Jake added. He shot a look at Eric and then focused on the road. "Take it from me and Sari, life's too short."
"Well don't worry about me. Just drive."
There wasn't that much more to say after that. There was still some tension between the Green brothers and Sari felt it. As much as she knew she should sit this one out, she couldn't let it stay like this. Hell, this was like the time that two of her guys got into a tiff and it carried on into the mission. They did their jobs but they could be doing it better. The best she could come up with was probably the most useful talent and gift she ever had.
Leaning forward she put her forearms on the back of the front seat and said, "Did you know that Ryan was orchestrating a birthday surprise?"
Jake raised his brow at that and replied, "Really?"
Eric looked at Jake. This was out of the blue in his opinion. Yet it was better than talking about what Jake possibly knew about him. He offered, "Yeah, uh… she asked Mom for some ideas about a cake or something like it."
"Cake? Really? That's ambitious," Sari replied with a grin. "I was expecting something more like a treat at dinner."
"Well you are her sister," Jake replied with a grin. "And it is a big number for you."
Before Jake could say the number he got a punch to the shoulder and he chuckled especially when she warned him not to say it. He looked over at Eric and noted the slight smile that formed on his face. He then understood what Sari had been trying to do and he glanced at her. She was a good friend and the best partner he ever had. "I was going to say twenty one forever."
"That's more like it," Sari replied with a smirk. "And don't forget that I know how to kick your ass now."
"And I'd love to see that," Eric replied with a grin.
~0~0~0~0~
Ryan was sitting on the floor next to the couch in the Green house. The situation was bad with Mayor Green. She could feel it and she heard it when Gail asked April about his condition. She sighed as she rested her head on the seat cushion and fingered the material.
It was pretty bad from what she heard and it made her feel worse that she had gotten made at her sister for going out there. She knew that was the reason but she couldn't help but voice that she was upset and she was but now… She sighed as she fingered the couch.
"Hey, why are you so down in the dumps?"
Ryan looked up to see Emily looking at her with a slight smile. She returned it but it didn't stay long. "Just…" She couldn't really voice what she was feeling.
"It must be hard with things and Sari being the sheriff," Emily offered though she was certain that there was something more to it. She was trying to be sympathetic to Ryan since she was certain that it was tough on the girl since she lost her parents and Sari was being herself and helping everyone and forgetting that she now had responsibilities.
"Not really," Ryan said, being loyal to her sister. "Sometimes it's hard when things pop up but… I know she's doing it for me and not just the town." She nodded as she added, "We're learning as we go and… I'm worried about Mayor Green."
Emily smiled at Ryan as she sat on the floor. She kneeled in front of her, "Hey, it's gonna be okay. You know that right?"
"I know. Because JJ and Sari are taking care of it."
The devotion to her sister surprised Emily since it had been five years since anyone had seen Sari and there was bound to be some resentments floating around. Then she had to take that back. Since Sari came back, she had offered her help and even took on jobs that most weren't willing to do. It was probably a clever way to get back in good graces but she knew that Sari would never see it that way. Sari loved Jericho as much as she did. In fact Emily didn't know many women who would volunteer as a deputy and end up being the sheriff in the spirit of the whole thing. And she did try to make it so that she didn't have to get involved.
Looking at Ryan, Emily couldn't help but smile and reply, "Yeah, they'll take care of it."
"You don't have to lie to me about how dangerous it is you know."
Emily gave a slight look at Ryan, "Trying to be a tough girl now?" She grinned to indicate she was teasing.
"No. I just know that where they are going is dangerous." Ryan offered a shrug with her answer. She wasn't sure if she should say that her sister went to great pains to not really emphasize the dangers of her job or what they were doing now.
Emily would have said something but at that moment, the doorbell rang. She glanced at Ryan before going over to the door and finding her friend Heather standing on the other side of it with a bag of food. "Hey," she said in response.
"I brought some food," Heather offered.
"Yeah come in. Gail's upstairs." Emily backed away to let Heather come in.
Ryan had followed Emily and saw that it was Heather and greeted her, "Hi."
"Hey Ryan. How are things?" Heather gave a smile at Ryan.
"Okay. You brought stuff for Mayor and Mrs. Green?"
Heather smiled, trying to be cheerful even though it was a serious matter going on. She didn't want to let her worries about Jake make the girl scared or more scared. "Yeah. Well I used to have this phobia of dairy products that didn't need to be refrigerated." She took something out of the bag. "No I thank God for processed cheese food."
Ryan couldn't help but giggle at that. She said, "Then I guess the feeling is mutual."
Heather and Emily chuckled a little at that while Emily replied, "Well I brought soup. Cream of mushroom. What I have left is what I had for the food drive." She gestured at the kitchen table that had things brought over by people.
"Sari and I brought over what we had from the garden that Mom planted. It's fresh," Ryan said as she patted the vegetables that Sari had dropped off before they took off to Rogue River. "Sari was going to make a soup with them. I don't know how but she was."
"Seems like we're not the only ones," Heather said with a slight smile. It was a testament to the good people of Jericho by the amount of help they were able to give from their meager stores. She took a breath, getting down to why she was there, "How is he?"
Emily sighed. She didn't want to say anything in front of Ryan but the girl knew the situation and she probably overheard things. "He's getting worse and April doesn't think he has a lot of time."
Ryan had moved out of the room to let the adults talk. She was well aware of the situation regarding Mayor Green; he was in serious condition and there was the very real possibility that he could die if they couldn't get the medicine that they needed. She couldn't contemplate a world without Mayor Green and didn't want to try which was why she was determined that her JJ and sister were going to succeed and get what they needed from Rogue River.
A thump sounded and Ryan looked up from where she was sitting on the stairs and saw Gail Green coming down the stairs. She stood up to clear the way and followed her into the dining room just as Gail said, "I heard the door and I thought it was the boys and Sari."
Emily offered, "Heather brought some food."
Gail cast a grateful look in Heather's direction, "Oh thank you, sweetheart."
"I'm so sorry about your husband, Mrs. Green." Heather took a step forward to be reassuring to the woman that seemed indomitable at times.
Gail hummed a little while smiling. It dropped rather quickly as she crossed her arms and shook her head. "In this day and age, how can someone die of a fever? It's the twenty first century and I can't get the right drugs. Can't even find ice to cool him off." She looked away wondering what she was going to do and where Jake, Eric and Sari were. True she knew they were on their way to Rogue River but with all the unknowns that were going on…
"I can make ice."
Gail looked at Heather when she spoke. It sounded absurd at first but at this point any idea was welcome. She was willing to entertain even the crazy ideas she had heard the kids of Jericho come up with before all this. She looked at Heather and indicated that she should continue.
"I…" Heather realized all eyes were on her and she collected herself to explain, "One of the students had a project in the science fair last year. I just need water and…" She thought about what she needed and what she could remember from the science project. She looked at Gail and asked, "Do you have fertilizer?"
"Maybe," Gail offered a little confused, "In the garage."
Heather was satisfied that she had everything. Maybe she could do this. "Okay. I can do this… I think." She just wished she felt more confident.
Emily recognized that Heather may have a good idea. She saw that she wasn't overly confident so she stepped in, "Okay. Let's try." She gave Heather a look of confidence.
Heather took it for what it was and nodded before turning towards Gail, "Okay, Grab every large bowl you have." She looked at Emily and asked, "And can you get some buckets and get some fresh water from the well. It'll be cooler and I'll go get the fertilizer."
Gail was liking this plan. This was something she could do to help her husband. She nodded and went to go get every large bowl that was in her pantry. She told Emily, "Buckets are in the laundry room."
It was a mission and one that everyone could do. Emily went to the laundry room to get the buckets and was joined by Ryan. She was grabbing a bucket and heading out the door. "Where are you going?"
Ryan paused and turned to look at Emily and replied, "Going to get water. We have a pump."
Emily wasn't going to discourage the girl from helping but… "I got it Ryan."
"I want to help."
Emily couldn't deny that the girl wanted to help them but she didn't think that it would be a good idea for Ryan to try and help with the heavy buckets though she was certain that the girl could carry it. She was well aware that Sari stockpiled her water just in case something happened and they needed it and no doubt Ryan was probably thinking of that too but… "I know. Why don't you sit with Mayor Green?"
"April is doing that."
"True," Emily replied as she stepped forward to take the bucket from Ryan. "But you are not a doctor. You are a friend… family and sometimes that it different than what a doctor can do." She was aware that she sounded like she was talking down to Ryan but she had seen Sari use the same technique to convince her that her way was better. She hoped that it worked.
Ryan was well aware of what Emily was trying to do. She did want to help and she could get water too but… She sighed at that and replied, "Okay." She handed over the bucket to Emily and went back into the house towards the stairs. She turned to look at Emily. She had questions to ask and ended up asking, "Is it going to work?"
Emily didn't want to lie but she couldn't not tell Ryan what she thought. She replied, "We're going to try."
Ryan nodded and turned to head up the stairs leaving Emily to smile and turn to go get the water. She knew that Mayor Green had a soft spot for Sari and her sister and would no doubt sense that she was around and it would be reassuring. She knew that it would be okay and she went to the well to get the needed water.
Ryan made her way up the stairs and to the room where Mayor Green was unconscious. She peeked around and saw that April was not there so she tiptoed in. She stood by the bed and looked around, not sure of what to do. There was a chair nearby so she took it and pulled it close and sat there looking at the man sleeping. She looked down at her hands and tried to think of something to say or do. Emily said to talk to him so… Taking a breath she said, "Mayor Green? I don't know if you can hear me but…"
A/N: They are racing to Rogue River and the clock is ticking. Stay tuned for more Forces Banding Together...
