Paula Van Doren had maybe too much respect, admiration for that young woman
that, though having been through a lot, had accomplished so much. She was
only thirty-four years old and she was the greatest teacher, the perfect
lover, the best mother. The person most devoted to life itself one could
say. Paula had followed her during the good times and the bad times, not to
closely, but close enough to have a bit of control over the situation. She
had somehow found out Samantha was going back and she had started the
teaching program, even in the same building. Van Doren wanted her to
succeed, and that wasn't any secret. She had become very fond of Jack and
Sam's relationship. She had done everything to allow it to happen. Any boss
would have reported such a relationship, but Paula tried others not to find
out for the simple fact that Jack was working properly and he never showed
any kind of preferences towards her: he was extremely just. Not even the
accident in the bookstore could change her mind of Jack being objective.
She was asked what had happened she had answered that he would have done
that, as crazy as it was, for any other of his agents, a thousand times if
it were necessary. Paula did everything she could to protect them. Jack new
it. Samantha knew it, and so did the rest of the team now.
"Farrell is back. For Samantha."
"What do you mean? Why? What did you say?"
"You know how much I've put at stake for you two."
"Yes, I know."
"He'll talk to you first. I would have done something if this were under my reach but it's not."
"Does she know?"
"No. I want you to tell her. Now."
"She's in class."
"Then send someone else. She has to back up her story of four years ago."
"Thank you Paula."
She didn't answer. She didn't think there was anything to say 'than you' for. She had covered for them but it was not a big deal; they were both too good people to ruin their reputation or carrier.
He was standing out of the room thinking whether he should go in or not. On one hand last time he had gone in her students had bombarded her with questions and he didn't want that to happen again. On the other hand, she had to know about Farrell.
Was it luck, or coincidence that Tony was late that day? He saw him standing, leaned against the wall, next to the door, doubting.
"Hey man, are you okay?" Tony asked before realizing who it was he was talking to. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you."
"It's fine." Tony was about to push the door when Jack added "Hey wait a second. Could you give Samantha a message please?"
"Sure. This, right?"
"Thank you," said Jack walking away...escaping from the moment.
As Tony walked into the room he looked at the scene: Samantha sitting at her desk putting folders and piles of papers in order, and his classmates quietly writing an assignment she had put up on the board. He would have to approach to her either way, but having a message for her, from Jack, didn't make him feel comfortable at all.
"When do we have to hand.?"
"You have a week from today," Sam answered without looking up.
She was too concentrated. Too inside of her work, planning what she was going to do, class by class the following week. But her situation changed drastically as he slipped the paper in which Jack had written his message under her sight. She read to herself 'NTT. FRRLL S BCK !!!' and looked up, finding the answer in his words.
"He was just outside."
Tony went to the first empty bench and looked at her steadily.
She didn't say anything, just remained there, astonished, confused. When she reacted she stood up, fast, and without giving any excuses, motioned towards the door. She didn't plan to take long in coming back. She went down one floor and entered into Jack's office, giving no hellos or smiles the least.
"Got your message."
"You'll have to back up your four years' ago story."
"I know. What about Caia?"
"You think you could get Danny involved?"
"As the father, maybe. But Caia's just like Hannah and besides Hannah visited me in DC with Danny."
"Danny's the father. Hannah adores Danny and wanted to meet his child."
"Sure. Why are WE together?"
"Because we love each other. Because we can."
"Jack!"
"I meant it. Could you tell Danny the story?"
"We'll have to tell Viv and Martin too. The kids that know about us and Hannah and Kate just in case."
"You take care of Danny and the kids, I'll do the rest."
"Fine. How much time do we have?"
"He'll be here tomorrow first hour. I'm not sure who he'll want to talk to first."
She had to go back to class so she asked for permission to take Danny with her. Danny took a chair and sat by Sam. For the students, like eight year olds, it was suspicious how both adults side by side talked and looked at each other, so low and so close together.
"Sam, your going to tell me what all of this is about?"
"I need you to do something for me."
"Of course. What are we talking about here?"
"Farrell, he's back. For me."
"What?" Danny said, letting all the ones present hear.
"Danny, lower your voice, please. He'll be here tomorrow. I have to stick to what I told him last time."
"That there was nothing between you and Jack."
"Aha."
"You need me."
There was no response.
"Farrell is back. For Samantha."
"What do you mean? Why? What did you say?"
"You know how much I've put at stake for you two."
"Yes, I know."
"He'll talk to you first. I would have done something if this were under my reach but it's not."
"Does she know?"
"No. I want you to tell her. Now."
"She's in class."
"Then send someone else. She has to back up her story of four years ago."
"Thank you Paula."
She didn't answer. She didn't think there was anything to say 'than you' for. She had covered for them but it was not a big deal; they were both too good people to ruin their reputation or carrier.
He was standing out of the room thinking whether he should go in or not. On one hand last time he had gone in her students had bombarded her with questions and he didn't want that to happen again. On the other hand, she had to know about Farrell.
Was it luck, or coincidence that Tony was late that day? He saw him standing, leaned against the wall, next to the door, doubting.
"Hey man, are you okay?" Tony asked before realizing who it was he was talking to. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you."
"It's fine." Tony was about to push the door when Jack added "Hey wait a second. Could you give Samantha a message please?"
"Sure. This, right?"
"Thank you," said Jack walking away...escaping from the moment.
As Tony walked into the room he looked at the scene: Samantha sitting at her desk putting folders and piles of papers in order, and his classmates quietly writing an assignment she had put up on the board. He would have to approach to her either way, but having a message for her, from Jack, didn't make him feel comfortable at all.
"When do we have to hand.?"
"You have a week from today," Sam answered without looking up.
She was too concentrated. Too inside of her work, planning what she was going to do, class by class the following week. But her situation changed drastically as he slipped the paper in which Jack had written his message under her sight. She read to herself 'NTT. FRRLL S BCK !!!' and looked up, finding the answer in his words.
"He was just outside."
Tony went to the first empty bench and looked at her steadily.
She didn't say anything, just remained there, astonished, confused. When she reacted she stood up, fast, and without giving any excuses, motioned towards the door. She didn't plan to take long in coming back. She went down one floor and entered into Jack's office, giving no hellos or smiles the least.
"Got your message."
"You'll have to back up your four years' ago story."
"I know. What about Caia?"
"You think you could get Danny involved?"
"As the father, maybe. But Caia's just like Hannah and besides Hannah visited me in DC with Danny."
"Danny's the father. Hannah adores Danny and wanted to meet his child."
"Sure. Why are WE together?"
"Because we love each other. Because we can."
"Jack!"
"I meant it. Could you tell Danny the story?"
"We'll have to tell Viv and Martin too. The kids that know about us and Hannah and Kate just in case."
"You take care of Danny and the kids, I'll do the rest."
"Fine. How much time do we have?"
"He'll be here tomorrow first hour. I'm not sure who he'll want to talk to first."
She had to go back to class so she asked for permission to take Danny with her. Danny took a chair and sat by Sam. For the students, like eight year olds, it was suspicious how both adults side by side talked and looked at each other, so low and so close together.
"Sam, your going to tell me what all of this is about?"
"I need you to do something for me."
"Of course. What are we talking about here?"
"Farrell, he's back. For me."
"What?" Danny said, letting all the ones present hear.
"Danny, lower your voice, please. He'll be here tomorrow. I have to stick to what I told him last time."
"That there was nothing between you and Jack."
"Aha."
"You need me."
There was no response.
