Jo sat on the sofa in the Quartermaine living room in a daze. She could hear Drew on the phone behind her but her disbelief of the situation kept her from actually making out what was being said. She could feel the tears streaming down her face and she instinctively wiped them away with the back of her hand. After a few moments she felt someone sit down next to her. This caused her to jerk her head back a little and turn to see who it was.
"Drew!" She choked out and laid her head on his shoulder.
Drew pulled her close with his arm and stroked her face with his other hand.
"Jo, how are you doing?" his voice full of concern.
Jo shot her head up off his shoulder and rubbed her hands roughly across her face. She knew she needed to snap out of it and be alert and ready to figure out what was going on.
"Drew, I'm good, I'm good." She squeaked, swallowing hard. "Who were you talking to?"
Drew shifted in the cushion slightly to move closer to Jo. He grabbed her hand and rested them on her thigh.
"That was my former commanding officer. He was able to find out more information about this and JJ, he confirmed, De- Deke is alive." Drew stuttered out, letting a smile creep across his face.
Jo turned and looked at Drew with her eyes wide. After a moment of processing what he had told her, she then threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Oh, Drew, oh my God! Tell me everything you found out!"
Drew stroked the back of her hair and rubbed her back slightly. Jo pulled out of the embrace to look Drew in the eyes. When she moved her head their lips were close enough to feel each other's breath. Jo inched slightly closer almost touching Drew's lips with hers. Drew searched Jo's eyes to find the confirmation he desired. The two sat there for a brief moment lingering in the electric energy. Drew grabbed the side of Jo's face and pulled her into him, their lips finally touching. Just as they started kissing the sound of Drew's cell phone pierced through the air and caused them both to jolt back. Jo, cleared her throat and stood up from the couch, tugging at her neck.
"You better get that." She replied flatly.
"Uh-hum," Drew sighed out loudly. "Yeah, right I am expecting a call back from my old CO. This is Drew Cain. Yes, sir. Okay, yes, I understand. I appreciate you pulling the strings sir. Where's the rendezvous point? Okay, at 0800, okay, got it. Thank you again, sir. Goodbye."
Drew stood up from his position on the couch. As he did Jo walked over to him with a puzzled look on her face.
"What was that about? What do you mean the rendezvous point, at 0800?" Jo quizzed him.
Drew walked over toward Jo and reached out to take her hands in his. He bent down to catch her eye and get her to look at him.
"JJ, Deke died on my watch. Or I thought he died on my watch and now, now I find out, he didn't die and I left a man behind!? I can't have that. That is a wrong, that I have to make right."
"Drew," Jo protested, knowing where he was headed with his explanation.
"No, JJ, listen, there is NO way I am letting someone else bring him home, he was my responsibility and I am going to be the one to pull him out of that hell." Drew insisted.
"But Drew, you just had brain surgery two days ago. You just got out of the hospital today. How did you even get clearance to go?" Jo demanded.
"My old CO, he called in a few favors for me. Since that was my squad back then, he was able to get me special permission to go on the rescue mission and get him back. JJ, I HAVE to do this. You understand, don't you?"
Jo stepped in toward Drew and caressed his cheek. She grabbed his hand tighter and guided him to sit down with her.
"Drew, of course I understand your need to do this, but I'm worried about you. You just had a major surgery. I'm worried you are going to push yourself too fast and relapse. Would Monica even greenlight this?"
Drew squinted his eyes slightly at her and pursed his lips to the side.
"Oh, that's a pretty low blow there, commander, pulling my mom into this." Drew said teasingly, letting out a chuckle. "JJ listen, you know me. I'm like a tank. Yeah, I had a little hiccup but that was only because of that memory procedure. I got a clean bill of health to get out of the hospital, so I'm good."
"You got out of the hospital with instructions to rest!" Jo exclaims.
"I know, I know, and I'm going to, tonight." Drew quips.
Jo rolls her eyes and slaps him on the shoulder.
"I don't even know why I bothered trying. You are too stubborn for your own good." Jo flatly replies.
Drew flashes puppy dog eyes at her and sticks out his bottom lip.
"Yeah, I know, but that's why you love me, right?" Drew straightened his back up and jolted backwards as soon as the words came out of his mouth and let out a low groan.
"Jo, I didn't mean…."
"It's fine." Jo interrupted him. "I know what you meant and honestly, I am tired of hiding my feelings. I do love you, Drew. I loved you 7 years ago when you disappeared and I've loved you every day that you were gone. I know things are complicated now with Sam and your life here, but I can't let you go on this life-threatening mission without letting you know that I still love you. And, you don't have to say it back, I know, you are conflicted still. I just can't let anything be left unsaid." As she finished, she leaned over and gave him a small peck on the lips and then a soft kiss on the cheek.
"You better be careful and come back in one piece, you, stubborn ass." Jo chides as she gently punches him in the stomach.
"Yes ma'am," Drew jokes, as he salutes her. Letting a serious look come over his face. He caresses his thumb along her cheek. "Seriously though, I'll be careful. I've got too much to come home to, to not come home." He places a soft kiss on her cheek and then kisses her hand.
"I'm going to hold you to it." Jo smiles "So tell me, how do they know for sure this is my brother?"
"There was an undercover op in a village in Afghanistan. One of the operatives saw your brother being held captive in the back room of this building. They were able to snap a pick and then did a facial recognition on him. That's when they found out it was Deke."
"Did they say, how does he look, I mean is he healthy, is he hurt?" Jo quizzes.
"He's alive J, that's all I know. You know, how they treat prisoners over there, though. I think you should prepare yourself." Drew's voice got low and he got a worried look on his face.
"I know, you are right. But you know what, the important thing is he's alive. I still can't believe it. How did he survive? They shot him point blank."
"I think Deke will be the only one able to tell us what really happened. I was still a distance away when I saw the shot, but I guess they didn't shoot him in the head like I thought. Then, when that round of artillery hit us, we had to retreat and I couldn't go get him. I hated that Jo. Even thinking he was dead, I hated leaving him out there." Drew recounted.
Jo grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Drew, hey, this was not your fault. It was war, you had other squad members to think about and orders to follow. I don't blame you. I wish you wouldn't blame yourself. Besides, look, we got a miracle. He's alive, Drew. Deke is alive!" Jo squealed with excitement.
A big smile beamed across Drew's face at how happy and excited Jo was. She had been through so much in her life and now having this miracle, he hoped would lessen some of that weight.
Suddenly, Drew felt pretty tired. He also needed to pack his go bag and be up early the next morning to meet his ride at the airport for the rendezvous point.
"JJ, I better turn in. I've got a big day tomorrow that starts early and I still need to pack. Besides, since you are being a worried wart, I better try to get some extra rest, right?" Drew teased.
Jo turned her nose up at him and stuck her tongue out, mockingly.
"Yeah, you are right. We both better turn in, not that I'll be able to sleep a wink, but I should try, it's been a really long day."
Jo got up from the sofa and began to walk out of the room. She stopped when she reached the doorway.
"Drew, thank you so much, for bringing him home. You have no idea how much this means to me. I'll see you in the morning."
Drew stands up and turns to face Jo.
"No thanks necessary, I know how much it means JJ, it means a lot to me too. Yeah, I'll see ya." Drew quietly replies.
Jo nodded her head slightly and flashed a sweet smile before leaving the room and heading upstairs.
Drew turned around and headed to the bar cart in the corner of the room. He picked up the cannister of dark liquor and poured himself a drink. He held the glass up and tipped it into the air, giving an imaginary toast. He took a small sip and then placed the glass onto the cart. A half smile formed on his face and as he turned to leave the room, he mumbled to himself, "no matter what, I am righting this wrong. Jo will have her brother back."
