Episode 8: Packing Peanuts + Fire

Riley ducked her head and closed her eyes.
"Elwood." She huffed somewhere between frustration and anger. Why did he have to show up now? Riley was in a good place with Jack, had a family at Phoenix and had left her past behind until it breezed in and told embarrassingly bad jokes.
At least he hadn't stank of booze. Riley's mind travelled down an old path, one she'd thought left behind a long time ago. The smell, the yelling, the sound of fist hitting face...the betrayal. Riley sighed and shook herself. She retrieved her digicam and headed to Phoenix. She had half an hour before they jetted away on another mission. Riley found herself looking forward to it. She'll have something to focus on rather than the burning question that haunted her most of her life. Let Elwood in or kick him to the curb permanently? Riley huffed, resenting Elwood for giving her dilemma and hating herself for even thinking about it. But still…

Riley plugged the video in and pulled up the biometric program. She watched it through. Was this going to be the time her father finally comes through? Why should she trust him? Riley slapped the desk. Cage came in and was no help.

"For what it's worth, he's telling the truth. I see a father wanting to

Reconnect with his daughter." Riley felt her gut fall.

"Don't tell Jack." Cage nodded silently saying "Duh" over her shoulder. Riley leaned on the table and stared into her father's eyes. What about Jack? Riley didn't want to hurt him, Jack had taught her to trust again; helped her learn what a real family feels like. Riley shook her head and headed to the war room. She had a pretty good idea how Jack would take the news she was letting Elwood back into her life. After he threatened Elwood, probably involving a beating to drive the point home, Jack would lose it ranting at her demanding to know why. Whatever it cost, he couldn't know until...well, until she knew the answer herself.

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Jack wrung out his shirt. He glanced over to see Mac dripping beside him. Jack may not know what's up with Riley, but Mac's frustration was perfectly clear.

"It wasn't my fault we ended up in the drink." Jack offered. Mac turned, slowly razoring off Jack's head with his stony glare. Jack huffed, "Ok, fine. It's a little bit my fault."

"A little bit?" Mac growled.

"It was a chair!" Mac shook his head and sluiced back his wet bangs, but didn't reply, "It was a chair. People probably parked their butts on it for centuries like they're supposed to. How can that be art?" Mac took a calming breath.

"It was a Louis XV…"

"Well he don't need it no more does he?"

"Jack-"

" What? Sam Wilson's Colt is art, a Harley Sportster is art…"

"I'm done with this argument." Mac muttered as he hopped out of the van and led the way to the bathroom. He ignored the stares the wet pair got as they crossed to the back of the store.

"The weather out there! Freaky storm-freaky!" Jack called over his shoulder. Mac closed his eyes and turned the spout of the hand blower upside down. The hot air against his wet face felt good. Over the roar of the motor he could still hear Jack.

"...what about the chairs at McDonald's, are they art? Or, I know, those rolly chairs with a broken wheel, that has to be art!" Mac closed his eyes and shook his head trying to ignore his partner.

"...my four-year-old niece's finger paintings is better than some of the scrawled crap in that gallery…" Mac opened his mouth to shout at Jack to shut up when the phone rang. Mac snatched it up in relief.

"Bozer?" He asked surprised.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Riley winced at the wheezes and gasps as Jack tried to suck in air. Blood spilled down his chin. She'd heard something snap in his chest. She knew he was taking the beating to protect her. Riley closed her eyes hating herself for her relief.

"...maybe you're little friend here…" Riley cringed back, terror thumping in her heart. She remembered what had happened to her in Supermax, she knew the look...she turned away as Jack sprayed blood gasping out a threat. Riley bit her lip as the man taunted Jack.

"You'll what? You'll do nothing. You're helpless hanging here like a beaten dog." Jack rattled the pole above them. Riley winced at the tug on her shoulders. Jack was taller than her, she could barely touch the ground. Pain seared up her back, shoulders and neck. Worse was the snap of electricity and Jack's body thrashing beside her.

Reminding Jack how helpless he was to help Riley was one of the cruelest tortures the guy could throw at Jack. Riley watched Jack fight for air. She glared at Lamier vowing to scratch the asshole's eyes out if she got the chance. Jack's head hung low, blood dripping to the floor.

Jack. Riley silently moaned. As if hearing her, Jack turned his bloody face toward her and winked. Before Riley could offer back a small smile, fairy sparks of fire flew across the room. Cage blew through the men holding them like a swirling ninja, and Riley had a glimpse of someone moving above her before she fell on the cement. Riley stared at the ceiling pushing air into her lungs, her brain taking a minute to catch up.

"You ok?" Mac asked softly as he cut her loose. Before she could answer, the blonde crossed to Jack who arched his back and moaned, "Jack?"

"Thank you!" Jack gasped rubbing his wrists. Mac helped him sit up smiling.

"Anytime, Riley?" Riley barely noticed Mac helping her to her feet. She watched as Jack straightened and stalked toward the art dealer.

"You want to know who I am? I'm the guy who broke your nose." Jack staggered after he laid the guy out with one punch. Mac was at his partner's side. Jack's face lost it's stony anger and Riley could see pain etch itself in the older man's familiar wrinkles. He held out a hand and bro-hugged Mac.

"Thank you." Jack said again, his eyes travelling to Riley. Mac smiled and patted Jack on the shoulder.

"Anytime. We'll take care of this." Jack nodded and stiffly walked to Riley.

"Are you ok?" The care and concern in Jack's voice almost broke her into a tearful mess. Jack wrapped her in the only father's embrace that had ever meant safety.

"Jack." She murmured burying her face into his shoulder. Jack pulled her in closer. He smelled of sweat, blood and faint chlorine. Riley breathed in his smell and warmth barely holding back her tears. She pushed back when she realized Jack's breath was halting.

"Here, I'll help you." Riley said softly. Jack allowed her to put his arm over her shoulders and wrap her other arm around his hips. Jack winced running a hand along his side.

"Yeah...does kinda hurt." He managed. Riley rolled her eyes. Outside the abandoned mall an army of Rendõrsėg officers and Phoenix agents. Riley refused to leave Jack's side as they rushed to the hospital and got checked over.

Riley hovered over Jack until the man was medicated and stretched out snoring on the plane home. She sat across from him staring at him.

How different he was from Elwood. Riley tried to imagine Elwood beside her in the same situation. She shook her head and angrily rubbed at the tears leaking from her eyes. Why was she crying? Jack was the one hurt-because of her. And here she was picturing the impossible, her father-the drunk who beat the crap out of her mom- standing up for her like Jack did. Riley ducked her head unable to stop the tears. How was she going to choose between them? Jack was her real dad, hands down; Elwood was a childhood dream, a what-might have been. And yet she couldn't just cut him out if he really had changed could she?

Riley jumped when a hand nudged her shoulder. She looked up into Mac's calm face. He held out a cup of tea. She nodded wrapping both hands around the cup. Mac checked over Jack then turned to Riley. Mac frowned and nodded his head to a couch forward in the cabin. Riley looked at Jack, about to refuse. Mac gently reached over and put an arm around Riley's shoulders leading her to the couch. His other hand took the tea. Riley crumbled. She slowly gave into soft sobs. Mac set down the tea and wrapped Riley into a comforting hug gently rubbing her back. It wasn't the solid warm safety of Jack, but was a patient comforting port as the adrenaline she'd been riding crashed like tall waves in a storm. Riley reached around his torso and squeezed him tight as she began to shake. Mac didn't murmur or whisper into her ear, but held her patiently without judgment as she buried her head in his chest. When she finally pulled back and rubbed her face, he guided her to the bunk and handed her a wad of tissues.

Mac left her side to get himself a cup of tea. Riley was grateful for the time to pull herself together. Cage was at the front of the plane on the phone to Matty. Jack hadn't stirred. Riley let out a pent up breath relieved they hadn't seen her melt down. She knew her make up was a fright and no one has ever pretty-cried. Riley sniffed and gave her nose a final wipe before lifting her cup and taking a sip. She raised an eyebrow. Chamomile, rose and burgundy-not a mixture she'd ever imagined, but as it flowed through her body she felt herself relaxing. She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath.

"Here." Mac said softly. Riley looked up as Mac draped her shoulders with a heated blanket. She pulled it close taking a deep sip of tea. Mac sat beside her and sipped his tea. He gave her a warm smile and said nothing. She leaned back. Her muscles slowly unclenched easing the ache in her arms and back. She felt no pressure to fill the silence between them. Riley let the background sound of the plane and faint murmur of Cage's voice seep into her. She fought a yawn as she finished her tea. She turned and watched Jack, her bottom lip trembling.

Mac leaned forward and took her cup. He waited until Riley turned to face him.

"Riley, it's what Jack does." Riley stared into those amazing deep eyes and nodded. Mac squeezed her shoulder and brought the cups to the galley. Riley leaned back and closed her eyes suddenly tired.

"Here." Riley blinked as Mac held out a pillow. Riley turned on her side and relaxed into the pillow. Mac dimmed the lights over her and pulled the blanket over her shoulder.

"We're all right here." He said softly. Riley reached out and grabbed Mac's forearm. Her dark eyes met his silver blues she smiled.

"Thanks, Mac." Mac smiled then turned away. Riley could almost see the pink in his face.

"Anytime, Riley." He silently walked down the aisle and sprawled on the couch across from Jack. Riley smiled closing her eyes. He would look over Jack, keep them all safe. Riley sighed, relishing the feeling. She would let Elwood try again, she decided. For the first time she realized it wasn't an either/ or dilemma. No matter what happened with Elwood, she had a family ready to catch her if she fell.