Chapter 9: You can't handle it

As the plane taxied in to the airport Jack once again assumed the identity of Devin Fredrick. He wrapped his arm around Leslie or should I say Stacey. They walked out of the terminal and gathered their bags. He went to the Avis car rental terminal and rented a Mazarati. They walked out of the airport to their car looking like a happily married couple. Jack opened the door for Leslie and climbed in the driver's seat.

As Jack crank up the car he noticed a man in a black hoodie coming toward the car.

"Hand me my duffle bag." he whispered to Leslie.

She reached into the backseat and handed him the black bag.

He reached into it taking out his .99 and put on the silencer. He put it in his lap never taking his eyes of the approaching figure.

"Good afternoon sir." the man said removing his hood. He had on a cop's uniform but Jack wasn't fooled he knew this guy. Good thing this parking lots deserted Jack thought.

Leslie stared at the man she had seen his face before.

"Sir could you step out of the car it seems your car is leaking." the man said smiling.

"Of course." Jack answered smoothly moving the gun to his waistband.

He stepped out of the car and walked to the trunk of the car with the man.

It was at that moment Leslie remembered where she saw his face before.

"JACK LOOKOUT HE'S THE HITMAN THEY WARNED US ABOUT!" she yelled out the window.

Hearing Leslie's outburst the man pulled out a knife and lunged towards Jack. Jack caught the man's hand but not quick enough to keep his side from being sliced open. He kicked the man behind the knees sending him sprawling the knife clattering uselessly on the ground. Jack grabbed at his side trying to stem the flow of blood. He raised his gun shot the man once between the eyes and climbed back in the car. He floored it and shot out into Tokyo traffic. He contacted headquarters and requested a cleanup team.

"Good thing I remembered right." Leslie said feeling proud.

"Don't talk to me right now." he answered through gritted teeth.

"You are so ungrateful I just saved your life. Neither one of us was hurt" she yelled at him.

"SAVED MY LIFE. I KNEW WHO HE WAS. I HAD EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL UNTIL YOU DECIDED TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH. LOOK AT THIS," he said removing his hand from his wound showing her the blood soaking through his shirt. "DOES THAT LOOK LIKE I WASN'T HURT."

"Oh my God. Jack I'm sorry," she exclaimed "We need to get you to a hospital."

"We can't go to a hospital it would compromise the mission. Besides I've had worse." he said grimacing.

One hour later he pulled up to front of the hotel and stopped the car. He pulled on his black jacket and stepped out the car. After handing the keys to the valet he checked them in and escorted Leslie to the elevator.

"Are you ok." she asked, Jack's eyes were starting to pale.

"Yeah. I just need to get to the room." he said, his eyes were closed and he was breathing heavier.

The elevator door opened and they stepped out. Leslie took the key from Jack and opened the door to their suite.

Jack stepped inside and collapsed into the chair. She ran over to him her face showing concern.

"Jack what do you need." she said.

"Alcohol." he said wincing as he applied more pressure.

She went over to the mini bar and pulled out a bottle of Scotch.

By the time she returned to Jack's side he had removed his shirt. He had a nasty gash across his side. She crouched down by him and removed the towel he was holding to his side.

"Open the bottle and hand it to me." he said. He took the bottle and poured it over the cut. He bit his lip trying not to cry out.

"Do you know how to sew." he asked her.

"Yes." she answered unsure where he was going with this.

"Ok, good, now sew up the cut. There's a suture kit in my bag."

When she returned with the kit she kneeled down and threaded the needle.

"Go ahead." he said.

She bit her bottom lip and started sewing pulling the needle through the skin.

Jack winced and she stilled.

"Keep going."

She continued until the cut was sewn up completely.

Jack checked out her work. He was impressed.

"Thank you." he said catching Leslie off guard.

"What." she replied bewildered.

"Thank you." he repeated. He rose from the chair and went to take a shower and change his clothes.

"Your welcome." she said.

He returned a few moments later wearing nothing but boxers.

"Hey! What are you doing." she said looking at him bewildered.

He just laughed and turned on his comms.

"Base Ops this is Watchtower what's the status on cleanup."

"Taken care of Watchtower. Our guys handled it."

"Copy that everything's ok here."

"Copy that. Everything on schedule for tonight."

"Yes. Everything is in order. Going radio silent until then."

"Copy that."

With that Jack turned off his comms and stretched out on the bed. He was asleep in minutes.

Leslie just looked at him. This man intrigued her, Preston cried when he got a splinter, but Jack was a real man he could handle anything.

Forget the consequences she thought. She took off her jacket throwing it on the floor. She kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed with Jack. She straddled him, and he shot up his eyes unfocused. She reached up and placed her finger against his lips.

"What are you doing." he mumbled.

"Shh. Let me take care of you." she said kissing his chest.

"You don't want to do this." he said pushing her off him.

"Yes I do, I want you Jack."

"You can't handle me." he said slyly.

"Try me."

With that Jack grabbed her head bringing her lips only inches from his, and kept them that way for a minute, it was enough to prove his point. She fell backwards onto the bed once he released her, her chest was heaving.

"Told you. Besides I don't want to attend your funeral." he said stretching out again.

Leslie went and sat in a chair by the window, her breath was still labored, how was he able to do that without doing anything. But one thing was true she wanted more.

Jack lay on the bed his thoughts drifting to Irina. She did do a lot for him. She had his back on missions, she always went out of her way to show him she cared, and she was more than his lover, and wife. She was his friend. He sighed wondering what she was doing and if she was thinking about him.