Jack spent much of the weekend making his final preparations for Sloane's trial. He poured over mission debriefs, checking facts, covers, and histories. That's where Elizabeth found him late Sunday night, hunched over a stack of files.
She came up behind him and began rubbing his shoulders. "Jack, love, it's after 11. You should come to bed. Besides, I think you've got those files memorized by now."
He didn't answer at first; he continued making notes but leaned into Elizabeth's massage. Jack finished his sentence and lay down his pen. He stared at the paper, but took her hand from his shoulder and kissed the palm.
"Is something wrong, Jack?"
He turned her hand and kissed her knuckles this time. "Nothing's wrong, sweetheart. I simply want to be prepared for whatever they throw at me tomorrow.
"I need to be detached and keep to the facts. The best way for me to keep my emotions in check is to have everything in order. But even I have my limits."
Without warning, Jack pulled Elizabeth into his lap and placed gentle, sensuous kisses just below her ear. She sighed into his embrace, grateful for the contact. They hadn't made love since before Sark had kidnapped Jack and Elizabeth felt like her nerves were on fire from this small touch.
"Did you realize," he kissed her ear, "that at this time next week," he kissed her eyelids this time, "we will be," he kissed the corner of her mouth, "Mr. And Mrs. Johnathon Bristow?" Jack coaxed Elizabeth's mouth open before he realized she'd stopped responding.
"What is it sweetheart? Did I make you nervous?" he gave a small laugh, not expecting her answer.
"You have no idea," she said softly.
Jack was stunned by her admission. "What? Why would you be nervous?"
Elizabeth pulled away to sit next to him. "I don't know how to be a wife. You've had the experience of being married . . ."
"And we know how well that turned out," he said sardonically.
"But it wasn't a fabrication on your part. You were a husband to Laura. I've never had that," she tried to explain. "My relationship with Joseph was doomed from the start because of my feelings for you and the fact that I couldn't tell him about MI-6."
"Elizabeth, I never thought I would have a normal relationship; because of the example set by my parents and that farce of a marriage I had.
"But marriage, husband, wife . . . those are just the formal words. Marriage is two people in a partnership, taking care of one another. You've done that and more. The truth is . . . you've been more of a wife than Laura ever was.
"In my mind we've been married for 40 years. The ceremony next week only makes it official," Jack kissed her gently.
"How do you know exactly the right thing to say?" she leaned into his embrace. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Jack stood up and pulled Elizabeth with him. "I need you," he breathed into her mouth, just before he kissed her again.
No more words were spoken as they made their way to the bedroom. It didn't take long for them to shed their clothes. Elizabeth pushed Jack down tenderly on the edge of the bed, then knelt between his legs.
Softly, she stroked the inside of his thighs and he let out a low moan. When Elizabeth took him in her mouth, Jack flopped back on the bed.
He managed to get out a strangled, "You don't . . ."
Elizabeth lifted her head briefly, "Let me do this for you, love."
Slowly, teasingly, she licked and sucked and stroked his erection. Jack could feel his orgasm building and tried to stop her before he came. She ignored his protests and continued her ministrations until he exploded.
He panted as she kissed her way up his body, paying special attention to the fading bruises left by Sark's minions. At last she made it to his lips and lightly traced his mouth with her tongue.
"You didn't have to do that," he said. "Not that I'm complaining."
"I wanted to."
They were on their sides, now, facing each other. Jack planted feather light kisses all over her face, all the while stroking her nipples and caressing her breasts. Then he slipped a hand between them and found her surprisingly wet. He looked at her with an eyebrow raised.
"What can I say? I've always liked giving better than receiving," she quirked a smile.
He returned it then slid inside her. Their pace was long and leisurely. They simply enjoyed each other's bodies until they were sated.
The next morning, they arrived at the CIA's field office and headed to the basement where the courtroom was located. Once there, Jack and Elizabeth separated; he had to wait in the witness room until they were ready for him.
She kissed his cheek, "You'll be fine, Jack. All you have to do is tell the truth."
"I know. I just don't like the fact that I have to be in the same room as Arvin Sloane."
"Don't even look at him and if you get the urge, focus on me or Sydney or Nadia instead."
He nodded and gave her a quick kiss before leaving her. She sighed, hating what he would go through over the next two days.
The prosecuting attorney took his time in reviewing what Jack knew about Sloane and his crimes. At times the judge asked her own questions, clarifying responses. Except for a brief break for lunch, Jack was kept on the stand until almost four o'clock.
At that point, the defense attorney was given leave to begin his line of questioning.
"Your Honor, I only have five general questions. I think it would be better to start fresh tomorrow," he suggested.
"I agree," the judge said. "Court adjourned until nine am tomorrow morning."
The prosecutor, Adam Hargrave, pulled no punches. He began as soon as the judge reminded Jack that he was still under oath. It was clear from the get-go just where Hargrave's line of questioning was headed.
"Mr. Bristow, when did you first meet my client?"
"In 1970. He was my superior at the CIA."
"And when did you become friends?"
"Shortly thereafter. I was on the fast track and quickly became his equal."
"So whose idea was it to begin Project Christmas?"
There was a gasp from the gallery and Judge Turpin quickly silenced it with a bang of her gavel.
"Arvin brought it to me," Jack was not going to offer additional information unless asked.
"And why did you use it on your own daughter?"
A mask dropped over Jack's face. He should have known this was coming. "I had no choice. After Irina Derevko was extracted, I was forced to prove my loyalty in many ways. The CIA needed guinea pigs for the program. If I had thought for once instant that Sydney would have been harmed in nay way, I would have refused."
"How did your daughter react when she found out?"
"She wasn't pleased."
"Indeed. How did you feel when Mr. Sloane recruited her against your wishes?"
"I was not pleased."
"And yet you did nothing to ensure her safety."
Jack looked at the judge, "I'm sorry, was that a question?"
"If you have a point, I suggest you come to it," ordered Turpin.
"Of course, Your Honor. I'll rephrase. Why didn't you tell your daughter what she was really involved in?" clarified Hargrave.
"You must understand that I was a double agent. I couldn't expose what Sydney was doing without breaking my cover. It would have been dangerous for both of us.
"I did my best to keep my daughter out of harm's way. I made sure she was partnered with Marcus Dixon, a man whom I recruited and trusted."
"You recruited unwitting men and women into a faction you knew to be working against American interests?"
Jack slapped himself mentally; he'd walked right into that. He willed himself not to become defensive. "As part of my cover, I did recruit CIA agents. This was done with the full knowledge and approval of my superiors at the CIA."
"Indeed," Hargrave replied. He shuffled some papers on his table then turned back to face Jack. "Let's discuss your murder of your wife."
Jack felt his face flame with anger as the prosecutor yelled, "Objection!"
"Goes to character, Your Honor," countered Hargrave.
"Overrule, but tread very lightly Mr. Hargrave."
"Mr. Bristow, why exactly did you shoot your wife?"
"First, Irina Derevko was never truly my wife; we were married under false pretenses. Secondly, the person I shot in Vienna was not Irina Derevko; she was a double. And lastly, I received intel that my daughter was about to be assassinated by that woman; I had to act."
"And murder was your only option?"
Jack struggled to maintain his composure as he replied, "This was a sanctioned CIA hit."
"That couldn't have been performed by another agent, perhaps at long distance?"
"No, it couldn't. The point of the mission was to make absolutely sure that Irina Derevko was taken out for good. My previous . . . relationship made me the best agent for the job."
"Apparently not, since you didn't 'take out' the right bad guy."
"Objection, Your Honor. Argumentative."
"Sustained. Counselor, I believe you've made your point. Move on."
Hargrave once again glanced at his notes. "One final question, Mr. Bristow. Could you please explain the circumstances surrounding my client's execution and subsequent resurrection tow years ago?"
Jack didn't blink at this question. In truth, he'd been expecting it much earlier. He explained the situation matter-of-factly and sat back in his chair.
"But isn't it true that your daughter had to convince you to act in the first place?"
"Yes. I didn't believe Arvin; he has a penchant for lying especially when he's backed into a corner."
"You seem to have derived a certain amount of satisfaction from my client's 'death.'"
"On the contrary. Arvin was a friend, for a long time. Until he became obsessed with Milo Rambaldi."
"Nothing further," Hargrave ended his cross-examination rather abruptly.
As Jack predicted the defense attorney did not want to go down the slippery slope of the Italian genius.
Judge Turpin turned to the prosecutor, "Do you have anything for re-direct?"
"One question, Your Honor." He stood and faced the witness stand, "Agent Bristow, do you believe that Arvin Sloane should be put to death for his crimes?"
"Objection!"
"Overruled. I'd like to hear your opinion, Agent Bristow."
Jack thought carefully about what he was about to say. "I had hoped that when he found Nadia Santos, that having a daughter of his own, Arvin would realize that there was more to life than Rambaldi. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I don't know if it was because he knew Nadia was not his or if that mattered at all.
"Despite our friendship, I do feel that he should be executed. Arvin's crimes have gone beyond the pale. He's not the man I once knew."
"Thank you, Agent Bristow. You may step down."
Jack and his family did not stay for the closing arguments. They had done their parts and now it was up to the judge to render her verdict. They didn't have to wait long to hear. APO was notified just after one o'clock the next afternoon. Judge Turpin had reached a decision.