Seven years ago, shortly after the attack on Boston...
He woke up to crying.
Jack rubbed his eyes, his hand moving up through his hair. He sighed and got out of bed. He stumbled in the dark until he reached Fareeha's room. The girl was curled up in her bed, sobbing. Jack stopped in the doorway. What was he supposed to do?
He paused for a moment, then moved forward, sitting at the end of Fareeha's bed. She remained balled up, still sobbing into her sheets.
Jack cautiously reached out hand, gently placing it on her back.
The child remained still, her crying began to slow.
"It's okay to cry," Jack attempted to comfort her. "I miss her too."
Fareeha remained in fetal position, but had now reduced her crying to sniffling.
"Your mother was an amazing person... and one of my best friends..."
Jack began to stroke the young girl's back. He had no absolutely no idea what he was doing.
"I know I'll never be able to fill that void. I never knew I was going to be father. But I will do my best to watch over you. I won't abandon you Fareeha."
The child stirred. Jack removed his hand, thinking he had somehow upset her.
Then she crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Was she... hugging him? Jack's arms awkwardly hovered in the air at shoulder height, unsure what to do. He lowered them slowly and held the young girl in an embrace as she buried her face into his chest.
He felt something in his chest. Something the commander had never felt before as he held the child. A warm feeling of belonging, protection, attachment... family.
That was the word for it. It was an old feeling for Jack. One he had almost forgotten.
He held onto it as he held the young girl in his arms.
Present Day...
Fareeha peaked into Jack's room. He was dressed for combat, blue coat and armor shining in the moonlight through the window. He was currently placing ammo magazines in his coat, checking each one to ensure it was fully loaded. She noticed an oddity in his appearance compared to when he was preparing for a mission. His overwatch identification was missing. He would never forget to have it on unless...
This wasn't a mission.
Fareeha stepped into the room making her presence known.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Her question was less inquisitive as it was demanding.
"Out."
"Out?" Fareeha almost accusingly asked. "Dressed for full combat operations?"
"There's trouble with Reyes. He's going to need help."
Fareeha crossed her arms.
"The kinda trouble that needs you to carry twenty magazines full of pulse rounds?"
Jack stopped loading the current magazine and looked at the wall ahead of him.
"Yeah," he answered quietly.
"And what about me?"
Jack turned around and walked over to Fareeha.
"I need you here. There's no safer place then overwatch's headquarters."
"You know that's not what I meant," Fareeha snapped. "You're going to get yourself killed out there. You're not a young soldier like before Jack. You can't take on the world."
"Fareeha..."
Fareeha raised her voice.
"Don't 'Fareeha' me! You go out there everyday, and I don't know if your'e coming back. Now your'e going out there, fully exposed, no back up, no way out, and you just expect me to sit here!"
Fareeha's eyes began to tear up.
Jack stepped forward and put his arms around the young girl.
"I am not going to die out there. I promise."
Fareeha pushed him away.
"Don't make promises you're not sure you can keep."
The girl turned, and stormed out of the room, leaving the commander standing there alone.
He didn't know why, but part of him felt itself breaking as she left.
He looked down at the rifle propped up in the corner.
He hardened himself, and grabbed the weapon. It felt heavier than usual, weighed down by some unseen force.
"I'm sorry Fareeha," he whispered. "I will come back."
Jack left the room.
He was going to war.