Reflections or mirages
Missing scenes from the fourth season.
Nota del autor: Translation to English of my story "Reflejos o espejismos". Please, tell me if you find any typos or grammatical errors.
Chapter 1. Cracked
=During and after FBI S04E02 "Hacktivist"=
She knew he had transferred it to Rina as well, but the last look Jubal gave Isobel before he left for the hospital to be again with his son, made her feel the overwhelming weight of responsibility he was entrusting to her. To get free the systems of the six compromised hospitals, including the one in which Tyler was, on the verge of death. Isobel didn't allow herself to be crushed by that weight and made a firm determination to achieve her goal. She had the best team in the FBI, and they would not fail. She wasn't going to fail him.
And the team did not disappoint her. They discovered who was behind the deaths of Lydia Ryan's friends, which was the non-negotiable demand of the hacker. Unfortunately, the suspect resisted the arrest and ended up dead. Ryan didn't believe his version of events and refused to reverse the lockdown. It was Maggie who saved the day, by finally convincing her to collaborate. Isobel couldn't stop thanking Heavens that she had done it in time for Tyler would undergo surgery.
On the other hand, Isobel really hoped she wouldn't see Tiffany or Stuart in a bind because of it, but to be honest, that arrest had been a disaster. First Wallace had parted without backup and without reporting; she claimed that while attacking her, the guy had confessed all he had done. When he was about to kill her, Scola had to shoot him to avoid it. And the killer didn't survive, making Tiffany's statement... questionable. Isobel, however, didn't doubt of their versions. She had full confidence in both of them. Furthermore, the evidence they had collected at the suspect's home should be enough to back it up. So, before what happened caught the attention of the OPR -and knowing that she had Rina breathing down her neck about everything- Isobel made an effort to get everything tied up. She didn't want things to get ugly for her two agents. Even less because one had saved the life of the other.
Only later did she go to the hospital where Tyler was being operated on.
When she arrived, Isobel was still saddened by the arguments she had with Jubal during the day. To begin with, she had to get him out of the interrogation room, because he seemed to be on the verge of assaulting Ryan into agreeing to lift the blockade on the hospitals. Whether it was, when she had tried to explain it, Jubal returned to the JOC leaving her hanging. There was no time for that. The worst thing was that, at that moment, he was absolutely right. Later, when Jubal showed up with the asylum files, and after what happened in the interrogation room, she was terrified to think what he could have done to get them... But he didn't even want to talk about it.
Once the hospitals were operational again, the first thing Isobel did was, with the excuse of giving thanks, call the asylum. She buttered them up, explaining how important their collaboration was to stop a murderer on the loose and prevent a tragedy; and left aside that their indolence had cost the lives of several of his patients. She would come back to it later. Fortunately, Jubal hadn't been as insane as Isobel feared, and apparently he hadn't physically threatened anyone. From the manager's answer, Isobel didn't get the impression that they were thinking of placing a complaint.
That had managed to reassure her a bit but, anyway, seeing Jubal so lost, so desperate, broken, risking so much to help his sick son, and that she wasn't able to do better, was heartbreaking for Isobel. She had the bitter feeling he must have felt abandoned, that he must have thought she had turned her back on him when he needed her the most. Because, to be honest, Jubal had been more decisive in his undisciplined frenzy than she had accomplished following rules. That felt wrong. Horribly wrong.
That was why she had come here now, to try to make amends and offer him all the support Isobel was capable of.
Walking through the hospital doors, she saw Jubal sitting in the waiting room. Rina was with him. She had her hand on his inner thigh; he held her hand in his. They talked with their heads close together.
An unexpected invisible fist clenched Isobel inside her chest.
Not that what she saw really took her by surprise. Neither Rina nor Jubal had mentioned anything, but Isobel had already suspected for weeks that there was something going on between the two of them. They had been very careful, but certain looks, certain awkward silences gave them away. She had come to terms with it and looked the other way because it was none of her business. Rina and Jubal were two adults; they could have a relationship with whoever they wanted.
Well, she thought she came to terms. Even though she knew about it, she hadn't been prepared to witness this demonstration of closeness, of intimacy.
She couldn't breathe. By sheer instinct, Isobel hid in the doorframe, struggling desperately to control it, but no matter what she struggled with, couldn't get rid of it. And where did it come from? The fist clenched viciously, and something cracked inside her.
And then, as if her chest had only been full of that when it was subjected to such pressure, shame washed over her. All this, she thought scornfully, is absolutely inadmissible. Such weakness, inexcusable. Isobel forced herself to take a breath, and did the only thing she could do: she buried it in the most unfathomable and dark of her interior. Though it remained there, writhing and radiating a dull and at the same time sharp pain, Isobel decided she would ignore it until it was gone. It should do it sooner or later. Because it was just plain stupid.
Taking a few seconds to regain control of her face, she headed back to the door.
·~·~·
When Isobel walked in and Jubal saw her, he was just breaking away from hugging Rina.
"Isobel", he greeted her with a sigh. "Thanks for coming".
He came over with every intention of embrace her too, because he was really grateful that she was there. But she clasped her hands in front of her body, left over right, in a gesture of obvious reserve. That stopped him in his tracks and made him keep his distance. He accused the blow, although did not show it.
"How is Tyler?" she asked, her face tight, concern obvious in her voice.
"He's OK" Jubal nodded, still concealing that her excess of formality had affected him. "Doctors said that he will be fine".
Isobel's expression relaxed, showing open support and affection.
"Good... I'm glad." She sighed and became very serious again. "Hey, I'm sorry", she glanced apprehensively at Rina for a moment, "for everything that happened earlier..."
That caught him off guard. Why did Isobel think she should be the one who should apologize? He was who had been very unprofessional and was also rude to her.
"Don't mention it, please. In fact I-"
But at that moment, Sam returned.
"Any news?" she asked restless, clumsily thrusting a small bottle of water and a slightly squashed sandwich into Jubal's hands.
He nodded, placing both items on the low table of the waiting room, and smiled reassuringly at her.
"The surgery went well. He's going to be all right".
Sam hugged him and he responded with a few awkward pats on the back. Physical contact with Sam was always difficult for him now; the familiarity of years present, but nowadays inconvenient. Meanwhile, Rina seemed somewhat tense. Isobel's expression, by contrast, was compassionate.
When Sam pulled away, obviously relieved, Jubal realized that he was surrounded by three of the most important women in his life. And that all three were looking at him.
It was a weird feeling, like experiencing at once three different moments in time. Sam, the mother of his children, his past. Rina, her sin and her present. And Isobel ... What was Isobel? That it couldn't be? That it could never be? As always, Jubal had to force and remind himself that it should be enough to have her as a friend. And, as always, he didn't want to admit that it hurt.
She was actually who broke that odd time spell.
"I brought something for Tyler", Isobel said, reaching into her handbag. "You mentioned that he liked the Good Omens TV show. I thought, maybe", she took a copy out and handed it to Jubal", he might want to read the book.
"Wow..." he said, taking it. "I'll give it to him. Thank you..."
He stared at the cover, somewhat stunned. It was a very thoughtful gift. And full with personal meaning. Not long ago he and Tyler had spent a few days alone because Abi was at a pajama party at one of her friends' house. Among other things, the two had a good time together bingeing on the British show. That the book was about a boy saving the world from the Apocalypse was the icing on the cake. Even the title itself conveyed the best wishes...
Either way, it didn't justify the intensity of what Jubal felt about Isobel in that precise instant, and that it shouldn't be there. Or did it?
"I hope he read it and enjoy it very much," Isobel said. "I think he may like it even more than the show... Well, I have to go. Sam, Jubal", she moved closer to them, addressing them both, "I'm so happy Tyler is doing better. Do not hesitate to count on me if I can help, please".
She said it with that special warmth in her voice. Isobel smiled at them and left. Jubal couldn't help but wonder why she had come all the way there and then only stayed for five minutes. It left him with the uncomfortable feeling that if he wanted someone to stay, it was her, no one else. And with the annoying task of managing it.
~.~.~.~