From now on, this gets easier...no more past flashbacks, one time line - moving forward. Enjoy!
March 3rd
13:16 PM
Leland Residence
Lucy didn't receive any reply when she knocked on the door and she slowly counted to ten and opened it, peering inside. She saw him sitting on the thick carpet, his hands covering his face.
She approached slowly, closing the door quietly. "Myles?"
"What do you need, Lucy?" He snapped.
"Are you alright?" She asked, his rage not bothering her as she remained standing behind him.
"I believe I have just encountered a cosmic punishment." He answered sarcastically, rising to his full height and placing his hands in his pockets before turning to face her, his eyes red and bright.
Lucy just stared at him, swallowing hard, she spoke. "You think you know the missing agent?"
"Think?" His voice rose. "I'm sure, the similarities are way too much and everything connects to her." He snorted humorlessly. "I'm actually surprised I haven't been struck by lightening sooner but fate had other plans for me." He motioned his hand towards her. "I betrayed you and therefore someone else must betray me." He sat down on his leather sofa, sighing. "The Mossad, I should have known, when she said a relationship between us was complicated I haven't imagined that I was dating an assassin." He vented off, mumbling to himself. "I work for the government, she said and I just brushed it off thinking she was a secretary or a consultant or heaven knows…"
"Myles, they reported that the missing agent is an analyst…"
"Oh and you really believe it?" He mocked, his eyes cold as he looked at her. "Would the F.B.I publish that a very important high key agent is missing? That's killing him on the spot." He shrugged his shoulders, rising to pace the study. "It doesn't matter anymore…"
"Did you ask her?"
"What?"
"Did you ever ask her what she did for a living?"
Myles paused for a moment. "I…it doesn't matter anymore! I can't keep going after something like that. We didn't stand a chance anyway with her living in Israel…"
Lucy gaped at him for a moment. "You were worried about her." She recalled. "She's the woman who was twelve hours flight…" She gasped, her hand covering her face. "I'm so sorry, Myles, you were worried and I was making fun of you…"
Her eyes watered and he shook his head, searching to ease her discomfort. "It's what we do, Lucy, we mock each other, it's our own way to get past what happened four years ago."
"No, Myles, there is a difference between bantering and hurting. I didn't know I'm sorry." She reached out for him and he squeezed her hand.
"I know you never forgave me and it's a small price to pay if it makes you feel better." He averted his eyes when he spoke and she sighed, recognizing the truth in his words. She couldn't forgive him, didn't know how to forgive for such betrayal. He apologized many times and every time she told him that she forgave him and every time she lied all over again, knowing that he meant his words but unable to believe them and now he was hurting and against every scenario she imagined she didn't feel relived, she couldn't gloat at his sorrow, all she knew was that he made a mistake and that he didn't need to pay for it all over again. He had told her that loosing her was the payment he had to pay and she didn't believe him, until that moment when she held his hand in the small room.
"Myles…" She started but his cell phone rang suddenly, startling them both.
He was suddenly angry again, wanting to toss the annoying piece of technology out the window; instead, he picked it up. "Leland."
March 3rd
13:16 PM
Leland Residence
Tara sighed and headed towards the spare bedroom, the air in the room suddenly chocking her, Myles' departure startling her. Bobby found her on the bed, lying on her back, her hands covering her eyes. He approached slowly, his throat contracting as he tried to speak. "Tara?"
She startled, wasn't aware that he was following her. She sprang to her feet, wiping her hand over her eyes, pretending that she succeeded in hiding the tears that finally came. Bobby was silent, simply looking at her as she composed herself, he made a step forward but she backed away from him and there was a brief flash of hurt in his eyes. "Bobby?" She asked, not sure what was about to happen.
He swallowed; the room seemed to grow smaller as he tried to find his voice. Why did he follow her into the darkened room? "I wanted to see if you're alright." He mumbled and she nodded her head, her small smile illuminating her features and warming his heart.
"I'm alright." She paused for a moment. "Everything just got to me and I kept on thinking if Myles really knows the Mossad agent and I remembered the Harvey case and that we never found out why he killed himself or why he tried to kill Herrman…" She trailed off. "I'm worried about Jack and Sue and now Myles…everything seems to be falling apart."
He seemed to be in her space before she finished talking and she welcomed the intrusion, burying her head in his chest and inhaling his scent, allowing herself a moment of peace. "We'll work it out, Tara; we'll get Sparky out of this mess."
She nodded her head and raised her eyes to meet his, unable to break his gaze. Bobby sighed inwardly, feeling himself all too aware of the attraction that was always present between them. It was in the small touches, the playful banter, the hidden gazes and now it was staring straight into his eyes, beckoning him to act despite his better judgment.
Tara blinked, the air around her buzzing with electricity. She often wondered what it felt like to be at the receiving end of his intense gaze and now he was gazing at her and the way he tilted his head forward indicated that he was indeed going to kiss her. Torn between sudden fear and unbelievable giddiness she drew closer, his lips touching hers gently, almost like he was afraid to wake one of them up. The kiss deepened on its own and he tightened his arms around her, his fingers caressing her hair.
"Bobby!" Myles burst inside, the thought of knocking never crossing his mind as it was his own home.
Tara yelped, tearing herself from his mouth and trying to back away. Bobby sighed and kept her in the circle of his arms, half turning to face Myles and hiding her with his body. Myles turned away from them before speaking again. "A source of mine from GW just called, someone dumped Jack at the entrance of the emergency room."
Bobby and Tara shared a look, regret mixed with relief before hurrying after Myles, heading towards the hospital.
March 3rd
George Washington University Hospital
15:08 PM
There was a sense of warmth and a sweet, sickening scent in the air. For a horrible moment, he refused to open his eyes, not willing to find himself in the filthy room once more. A soft voice beckoned him to wake up, the words convincing and calming his beating heart. He tried to obey, opening his eyes and then closing them against the bright light. He breathed deeply and tried again, the room slowly coming to focus before him.
A sweet looking nurse gave him an encouraging smile and handed him a small glass of water which he accepted it gratefully. "I'll let the doctor know you're awake, in the meantime, there are some people who want to see you."
He blinked his eyes when Sue walked inside, followed by the rest of the team, Dimitrius closing the door behind him. He smiled a little, catching Sue's eyes and averting his eyes to look at the rest of the group. "How do you feel, Jack?" Dimitrius asked and Jack shrugged his shoulders.
"Like someone hit me in the head." He said quietly, gently touching the old bruise on his forehead.
Bobby's eyes narrowed as he stared at his best friend. "Did you manage to catch sight of the people who took you?" He asked.
Jack pursed his lips before answering. "I was drugged; the last thing I remember is turning to check the fuse box before someone hit me." He creased his brow, wincing with pain. "I don't remember anything afterwards."
"Was there another agent with you?" Myles asked and Jack stared at him with curious eyes.
"Another agent? No, but I told you I don't remember."
There was a strained silence in the room when the doctor arrived. He insisted that everyone leave and allow him to check his patient. Jack asked Sue to stay with him and she agreed, taking a seat while the doctor checked his vital signs. Bobby led them outside, frowning at Dimitrius.
"What do you think?" His supervisor asked quietly.
"He's lying through his teeth." He answered, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not sure why though."
"Let me try another patient." Myles said quietly, turning towards the reception and quickly receiving the room number he was searching for, verifying their suspicions about the contact between the two disappearances.
Lucy followed him, Levi trailing behind her. "Myles, maybe you shouldn't…"
He raised his hand, stopping her. "I think it's time to drop the charade, don't you think?" Levi whined and Myles reached out to caress his head before looking at the door again. Lucy stared helplessly as he rested his hand on the handle for a few moments, breathing deeply before opening the door and entering the room.