Ellis sat in silence with Jenkins, which she knew must have him wondering about her because she was chatty, studying her papers she'd pulled when Jenkins suddenly broke the quiet.
"We need to after them!" he exclaimed, "I've looked through all my research and I should be able to put us within a five mile radius of their location."
Ellis nodded, making sure to mark where she left off in her reading, "That's a lot of ground to cover, but if it's the best chance we have, then I'm in."
Jenkins nodded before he moved to his device and began working on it, preparing them for their mission to save, though he hoped they didn't need saving, the rest of the team. As he worked, Jenkins looked up at Ellis and thought of something. "Dear, do you know if we've had any luck with our special, secret project?" he asked, unable to hide his smile as he thought about what they'd been trying to accomplish.
Ellis hated seeing how joyful he was when she felt so unsure, but she chose to keep up with her lie for now, "I won't know for another week or two, fingers crossed," she faked a smile. She couldn't shake what he'd told her about Charlene earlier in their relationship. Ellis knew Charlene gave her heart to another, but her emotions were currently all over the place, and she couldn't handle the idea.
"Fingers crossed, indeed," Jenkins replied, shaking Ellis from her thoughts, "If we're not successful, we'll just have to start trying harder," he added with a sly little wink causing Ellis to smile.
He finished with the adjustments on the door a few moments later, "Ok, we're ready."
Ellis nodded, moving forward, ready to go through the door with him once they were open. It only took a second for that to occur. Jenkins reached for her hand and they went through together, finding themselves in a large area of greenery.
"It's going to be a very long five miles," Ellis commented as she started moving forward, Jenkins hand still in hers.
After they'd been walking for what felt like ages, Jenkins and Ellis stumbled upon a gate and a guard. "Maybe she can help us find out where we're going, or what we're looking for," Ellis said.
Jenkins nodded, "It can't be a worse idea then continuing to walk around these woods in circles."
"Excuse me," Ellis began, "I'm Agent Ellis Taylor with NATO," she'd grabbed Eve's badge a few days ago when Eve left it, thankful she'd forgotten to give it to her. "We need to a safety check."
The girl smiled, strangely warm, "NATO, wow! Well, I've been having trouble getting in touch with Control so you're welcome to follow me. The trucks out and the path is rough," she shared.
Jenkins replied, "It'll be no trouble for us."
Ellis noted the woman give Jenkins a strange look when he spoke, she assumed it was because of what he said and his age. "Lead the way," Ellis said, bringing herself back in the moment.
"Yes ma'am," the guard answered as she began walking forward, deeper into the woods.
Jenkins and Ellis followed, unable to hold hands anymore for their cover, though Ellis still thought something was off about their guide.
After awhile, the guide began to get ahead of them, enough that she was out of earshot.
"Are you alright, Ellis?" Jenkins asked, adding, "You've seemed a little off today, or maybe your mind's elsewhere."
Ellis shook her head, trying not to choke on her surprise at his intuition, but she needed to remind herself how well he knew her. "I'm good, just a little worried about everything that's going on, I guess."
"Is that really it?" Jenkins pryed further, "We've faced some pretty serious things and you've always been the most calm under pressure. If that's it, I get it, but it just doesn't seem like you. Remember, we can tell each other things."
Ellis shrugged, wondering what she could say to get him to back off before she revealed her true reason for how she was acting. "I guess it's the sudden appearance of Charlene," Ellis decided to be partially up front, "I know how you feel about her and she doesn't have Judson anymore. And, I could be pregnant so it's just getting in my head a little, I guess. I didn't want to say anything because I feel so petty for the way I feel."
Jenkins moved forward and placed his hand around her forearm, "You don't need to feel ashamed for having concerns like that. Why wouldn't that idea cross your mind?" he began, not exactly making her feel any better which he could see all over her face, "I was just agreeing with you, breathe," he instructed in a soothing tone. "I understand why you'd think those thoughts, but I want you to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I love you and nothing can ever change that," he moved forward just enough to be able to lean down and kiss her forehead.
Ellis swallowed, feeling even more guilty for her worries, "Thank you, I do feel better now. Let's focus on finding the team."
Just as Ellis spoke, the guard returned, "You have some colleagues in the facility?"
Jenkins took over, "Yes, they were ahead of us on the safety check but when we lost contact we grew worried."
The guard nodded, "Oh sure, people get lost here all the time. But, your colleagues, do you think all five are in the lab?"
Ellis furrowed her brow, "We never said how many people we were with."
Suddenly the guard's eyes glowed pitch black before returning to normal.
Jenkins shook his head, "Apep? Of course you're behind this."
She pulled a gun on the couple, her voice changing when she spoke, "The only reason you've been alive for this long is because I needed to know the Librarians were in my trap."
Jenkins looked behind them, down the cliff's edge. He whispered to Ellis, "I need you to trust me, right now."
She looked at him, "I know I said those things, but I will always trust you, Jenkins."
Jenkins pulled Ellis into his arms before he threw himself, back first, off the cliff until he landed on the flat, rock, surface below with her safely in his arms.
Ellis inhaled like the wind had been knocked out of her as she moved off of his chest, worried about him but also suddenly worried about their baby. He'd be furious if he knew she'd let him put her through a risk like that knowing she was expecting.
"Babe, are you alright?" Ellis asked, her tone rushed as she focused on what she could know for sure.
Jenkins replied exasperated, "I missed the river by that much," he held his fingers to show the distance, as he started to stand back up. "There are advantages to being immortal. You can save the love of you life, but that doesn't mean it doesn't," he paused as he fully stood, a cracking sound emanating from his back, "hurt like hell."
Ellis wrapped her hands around his arm, trying to comfort him in anyway she could, "Do we go back to the door or follow her tracks?"
"Follow her tracks," Jenkins replied, "We still need to save the rest of our team," he started walking forward, moaning from the pain with each step causing Ellis' heart to ache.