Chapter 14

As Erica washed off the dirt from the day before, the fifth attack on one of Anna's warehouses that week, Hobbes made himself a strong black coffee to start the day.

"I thought she was getting better?" Jack commented to Hobbes as Jack made his coffee and sat down on the bench beside him, "But these last few days something has darkened her mood again."
"She hasn't mentioned anything to me, but I'm keeping an eye on her. After everything she has been through you have to expect a few ups and downs."

"Are you sure Anna didn't do anything else to her up on that ship?" Jack asked concerned.
"Joshua swears she didn't have time to. They wanted to break her first." Syd informed him.
"They did a pretty good job of that." Hobbes retorted angrily.
"We'll just have to wait and see. She'll tell us in time." Syd replied optimistically.
"I hope you are right." Jack replied, looking towards her doorway.

"What are you two chatting about?" Erica asked, smiling as she took Hobbes coffee and began to sip it.

"We're taking bets on Science boy there. I say he can't crack the code, Jack here says he can." Hobbes teased him.
"Have a little faith Hobbes. He might surprise you." Erica grinned, as Hobbes continued sipping his coffee some more after rescuing it back off of her.
"Oh I highly doubt that." Hobbes grinned at Jack.

"Welcome back Erica. Paul and Chris greeted her as she stepped through the elevator doors onto the main platform.

"Glad to be back." Erica smiled as she walked comfortably up to the main conferencing table. "What have I missed?"
"Plenty of time for that." Paul said, passing her another coffee. "Why don't you tell us everything you know about Anna and these attacks on her warehouses. I assume you are behind these?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Not you personally of course, but Fifth Column. I assume you are still in contact with them. Have they been conducting these raids or is there another group out there that we need to be worried about?"
"Not to my knowledge, but I've been out of the loop for a while, they may not have kept me informed."
"Great." Paul was very impatient.

"What does it matter who is behind these. I say we use them to our advantage, strike Anna while the iron is hot."
"Id rather know who we are dealing with first. Plan an organised attack not some hillbilly revenge. Are you sure you cant set up a meeting? Get us in contact with them?"
"I tried, they don't trust you yet."

"This is all going nowhere." Paul interrupted again.

"Maybe Erica has a point… If we give them a little faith, make some noise of our own then they will see what we are capable of."
"And we will show our hand to Ana."
"But that's the beauty of it all. Anna will think that it's Fifth column She'll never suspect us."

"Are you willing to risk that kind of exposure? Is Fifth Column?"

"I'll put your proposal to them and see what they say."

"In the meantime Erica I suggest you get some rest. You've been through quite an ordeal and if you don't mind me saying, you don't look 100% just yet."
"Are any of us? It's been a long fight and t's not over yet. Not by a long shot."

As Paul and Chris left her to catch up on what she had missed, Jack made his entrance and came to sit beside her.

"Still having dizzy spells?" Jack asked noting that she was rubbing her neck again and shielding her eyes.

"Yeah. Detoxing is a bitch. Sorry Father" Erica
"You haven't had a drink for almost 3 weeks. Shouldn't it be out of your system by now?"

"I guess I was drinking a lot more than I knew."

"I really think you should see a doctor."

"I'm ok. Really."

"Erica." Jack was very concerned for her. She didn't look at all well.

"I said NO Jack."
"You know what's wrong. Don't you?"
"Just leave it."
"I knew it." Jack leaned in and whispered. "How long?"
"What? I don't know what you are talking about?"
"Are we going to start lying to each other now?"
"No. Of course not."
"Then tell me."
"I don't know?" Jack looked at her unconvinced, "I don't…"
"You must have some idea?"
"9 maybe 11 weeks." She couldn't bring herself to believe that she had actually said it. She looked around to make sure that no one was listening in.
"My god Erica." He had no idea it had been that long.
"You can't tell anyone."

"They have to know."

"I have no idea what I'm going to do."

"You don't believe that."
"I was a drunk Jack, do you have any idea what damage that can cause? And there is no telling what the V's could have done. It may be better off for everyone if this never happened."
"I don't believe that. I could never believe that."

"I know, and I'm sorry but this is my problem not yours."

"He has a right to know."
"You are not to tell him. Promise me Jack. Not a word."

"Erica!"

"Don't get all self-righteous and religious on me Jack, I couldn't stand it, not from you."
"No judgement here Erica, I just want you to reconsider…"

"I told you this in confidence Jack. I mean it, not a word." Jack was torn. He needed to know, to help her through this. Hobbes was never going to forgive him if he kept her secret, but she would never trust him again if he didn't.