Stormy Weather
by matahari2
Summary / Disclaimers, etc.: See Chapter 1
Chapter Nine – Clearing Skies
Paktia Province, Afghanistan, Early evening
Pulling up the seemingly huge pair of pants she'd borrowed for his disguise, Jamie asked,
"Fariya! What do I do with these?"
As she hurried over to help him, folding in two additional pleats and pinning them in place, she stifled a giggle. "Americans!" she muttered under her breath.
After Jamie had slipped the cotton tunic over his head and tied the long sash at his waist, he held out his hands, saying, "Well. . .how do I look?"
"Wait—here, don't forget your vest," Bob said, holding it at Jamie's back so he could slide his arms into it.
"There is one more thing, Mr. King," Fariya said, touching two fingers to her chin and fixing her gaze on Jamie's light hair. She turned to Bob with outstretched hands, saying, "Balachandra! Please give me your turban. Here. . .you may wear this Persian wool cap instead. With your dark hair, it will not matter if your head is not completely covered."
After the exchange of headgear, Jamie asked, "You're positive our friends out there are all asleep?" At her nod of assurance, he looked to Bob, asking, "All right. . .what do we do now?"
Bob waved his hand in a 'Let's go' motion. "Follow me," he said, as he led them out to the courtyard.
Fariya had already disarmed their captors and moved their weapons, along with Jamie's cameras, to the saddlebags they'd use for their journey.
"Horses?" Jamie asked.
As he put his foot into the stirrup and swung himself up into the saddle, Bob replied, "Yeah. . .how'd you think we were gonna get out of here?"
Realizing that he had no idea, since he had no memory of arriving at this God-forsaken place, Jamie simply shrugged and pulled himself up onto the horse's back, as the three of them rode off to the east.
**********
Middleburg, Virginia
"Sorry Lee, she's in the shower right now," Dotty apologized. "She'll be so sorry she missed your call. You want me to have her call you?"
"Oh no, that's all right. I wanted to tell her something. . . good news about Jamie, possibly. . .but I'll be on my way soon anyway," he replied. "I'll just tell her when I come home."
"Good news?" Dotty asked, the glimmer of hope sounding in her voice.
"Well. . .possibly. We'll have to wait and see," Lee said honestly. "Anyway, please just tell Amanda I'll be home around 5:00, okay? And Dotty. . .thanks for everything. See you later."
Just as Dotty replaced the receiver in its cradle, she caught sight of Amanda at the foot of the stairs. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear, but you just missed Lee's call," she said, as she began to relate the details of their conversation.
**********
Absently running a hand through his hair, Lee stood up from his desk, car keys in hand, and considered what he hadn't told his mother-in-law. . .that after his frightening experience on the highway the night before, he didn't want to wait until dark to start the drive home. Hell—he'd been having enough trouble in the daytime. When he and Francine had nearly collided earlier, he truly hadn't seen her until she called out his name. Shaking his head, he lectured himself, 'Time enough to worry about that later, Stetson. Better get going,' as he left his office and crossed the bullpen.
As he made is way out into the corridor, being careful to look both ways, he saw Jack Robertson. "Any more news?" Lee asked, as he continued on toward the elevator.
Glancing off to the side for a second, Robertson hedged, "Yes, sir. It could be very good news, sir," clearing his throat nervously.
"And what you're not telling me is?" Lee prompted, circling a finger in the air.
"You see, sir. . .", Jack started, a bead of sweat forming on his brow, "we think they may have escaped."
The elevator doors opened just then, and Lee pulled Jack Robertson into the small space along with him as he said, "How do you know? What was it you saw?"
"Well. . .we saw five people who'd been standing around earlier, lying down, either on the open ground or inside the fort somewhere. Then, while we still saw two people moving occasionally, in an isolated space, it looked like there was another individual moving from one of the still bodies to another. . ."
When they had reached the Georgetown foyer, Lee listened in silence, as Robertson continued to relate their latest findings. 'Good! They had help from someone else,' he thought, smiling to himself.
When Robertson finished telling about the possible escape, Lee's face brightened as he said, "This could be very good news, Robertson." With a glance at his wristwatch, Lee continued, "All right, I'm on my way home now. You go ahead and relay this intel to Francine up in the Q, and ask her to contact me either at my cell phone number or at home, just as soon as we have confirmation. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" Jack said, turning to hurry up the stairs.
TO BE CONTINUED
by matahari2
Summary / Disclaimers, etc.: See Chapter 1
Chapter Nine – Clearing Skies
Paktia Province, Afghanistan, Early evening
Pulling up the seemingly huge pair of pants she'd borrowed for his disguise, Jamie asked,
"Fariya! What do I do with these?"
As she hurried over to help him, folding in two additional pleats and pinning them in place, she stifled a giggle. "Americans!" she muttered under her breath.
After Jamie had slipped the cotton tunic over his head and tied the long sash at his waist, he held out his hands, saying, "Well. . .how do I look?"
"Wait—here, don't forget your vest," Bob said, holding it at Jamie's back so he could slide his arms into it.
"There is one more thing, Mr. King," Fariya said, touching two fingers to her chin and fixing her gaze on Jamie's light hair. She turned to Bob with outstretched hands, saying, "Balachandra! Please give me your turban. Here. . .you may wear this Persian wool cap instead. With your dark hair, it will not matter if your head is not completely covered."
After the exchange of headgear, Jamie asked, "You're positive our friends out there are all asleep?" At her nod of assurance, he looked to Bob, asking, "All right. . .what do we do now?"
Bob waved his hand in a 'Let's go' motion. "Follow me," he said, as he led them out to the courtyard.
Fariya had already disarmed their captors and moved their weapons, along with Jamie's cameras, to the saddlebags they'd use for their journey.
"Horses?" Jamie asked.
As he put his foot into the stirrup and swung himself up into the saddle, Bob replied, "Yeah. . .how'd you think we were gonna get out of here?"
Realizing that he had no idea, since he had no memory of arriving at this God-forsaken place, Jamie simply shrugged and pulled himself up onto the horse's back, as the three of them rode off to the east.
**********
Middleburg, Virginia
"Sorry Lee, she's in the shower right now," Dotty apologized. "She'll be so sorry she missed your call. You want me to have her call you?"
"Oh no, that's all right. I wanted to tell her something. . . good news about Jamie, possibly. . .but I'll be on my way soon anyway," he replied. "I'll just tell her when I come home."
"Good news?" Dotty asked, the glimmer of hope sounding in her voice.
"Well. . .possibly. We'll have to wait and see," Lee said honestly. "Anyway, please just tell Amanda I'll be home around 5:00, okay? And Dotty. . .thanks for everything. See you later."
Just as Dotty replaced the receiver in its cradle, she caught sight of Amanda at the foot of the stairs. "Oh, I'm sorry, dear, but you just missed Lee's call," she said, as she began to relate the details of their conversation.
**********
Absently running a hand through his hair, Lee stood up from his desk, car keys in hand, and considered what he hadn't told his mother-in-law. . .that after his frightening experience on the highway the night before, he didn't want to wait until dark to start the drive home. Hell—he'd been having enough trouble in the daytime. When he and Francine had nearly collided earlier, he truly hadn't seen her until she called out his name. Shaking his head, he lectured himself, 'Time enough to worry about that later, Stetson. Better get going,' as he left his office and crossed the bullpen.
As he made is way out into the corridor, being careful to look both ways, he saw Jack Robertson. "Any more news?" Lee asked, as he continued on toward the elevator.
Glancing off to the side for a second, Robertson hedged, "Yes, sir. It could be very good news, sir," clearing his throat nervously.
"And what you're not telling me is?" Lee prompted, circling a finger in the air.
"You see, sir. . .", Jack started, a bead of sweat forming on his brow, "we think they may have escaped."
The elevator doors opened just then, and Lee pulled Jack Robertson into the small space along with him as he said, "How do you know? What was it you saw?"
"Well. . .we saw five people who'd been standing around earlier, lying down, either on the open ground or inside the fort somewhere. Then, while we still saw two people moving occasionally, in an isolated space, it looked like there was another individual moving from one of the still bodies to another. . ."
When they had reached the Georgetown foyer, Lee listened in silence, as Robertson continued to relate their latest findings. 'Good! They had help from someone else,' he thought, smiling to himself.
When Robertson finished telling about the possible escape, Lee's face brightened as he said, "This could be very good news, Robertson." With a glance at his wristwatch, Lee continued, "All right, I'm on my way home now. You go ahead and relay this intel to Francine up in the Q, and ask her to contact me either at my cell phone number or at home, just as soon as we have confirmation. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!" Jack said, turning to hurry up the stairs.
TO BE CONTINUED