AN: Here's the latest installment. I am sorry it was slow in coming. I hope you guys enjoy it. The lyrics are from Tara MacLean song "If I Fall." Please let me know what you think.
Chapter 3
Stronger Than Ever
Nina snapped awake the next morning with Jack's hand pressed over her mouth. He put a finger to his lips instructing her to stay silent.
"We have to go." He whispered his voice barely audible. Nina heard the sound of someone's feet crunching in the gravel just outside. She nodded getting slowly to her feet her body stiff and sore from the night before. Jack made his way towards the back door of the shed and edged it open and surveying the landscape around them looking for a viable escape. The ground sloped down behind the shed and a black SUV was parked on the road roughly ten yards from them. Jack motioned towards the SUV and they made their way wordlessly down the incline towards it, careful to stay low and using the terrain to shield them from view. Once they reached the vehicle Jack tried the driver's side door and was relieved to find it open. He slid into the seat and checked the visor, which of course weren't there.
"Cover me. Once they hear the engine start they'll know exactly where we are and we'll have to move fast." Jack said as he leaned across the seat and popped open the glove box looking for anything he could use to hot wire the car. Nina pulled her gun with her good hand and pressed against the side of the car keeping careful eye on the hills above them. Inside the glove compartment Jack found a stack of various papers and a small vial of familiar clear liquid and a syringe which he slipped into his pocket without really even thinking about it. Finally he found a hunting knife and used it to pry the wires lose and get the car started.
"Get in." He said as soon as he heard the engine rev. Nina jumped hastily into the passenger seat and as predicted they were met with a hail of gunfire. On of the shots shattered the back windshield as they sped along the dirt road.
~*~
After they had been driving along the road for quite a while Nina finally broke the silence.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"Renosa, I have a contact there that can help us get out of the country." Jack said keeping his eyes fixed on the road.
"Renosa?" Nina questioned.
"It's a small town south of the Texas border." Jack explained.
"Yes, Jack, I know where Renosa is and while the geography lesson was entertaining that wasn't what I was asking." The sarcasm in her voice was palpable. She was baiting him and she was enjoying it.
"What then?" Jack asked exasperation creeping into his voice.
"If you are trying to get off the continent, the last thing you want to do id head back towards the American border. I know a guy in Mexico City who would be much safer to use." Jack cut his eyes angrily towards her.
"We're using my guy in Renosa." Jack said adopting the finality he used we gave Kim the "because I'm your father" speech.
"That makes no sense. Now that we have the virus every border patrol agency will be looking for us. Going to Renosa increases our risk of getting caught exponentially." Nina said bristling at the condescension in his voice. Jack said nothing he just kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles blanched.
"Oh, I get it. Your good solider mentality can't handle the fact that you just scored big while simultaneously screwing over Uncle Sam. Now, you feel you need to take unnecessary risks as some form of penance." Her words dripped with mocking.
"No." Jack said his voice barely audible.
"Is there more to that or am I supposed to guess." To Nina's surprise Jack suddenly stopped the car. Throwing it into park and turning to face her.
"No, we are going to Renosa because we are going to be using contacts that I know and trust. We will not be using your guy in Mexico City because frankly I don't trust you. And while I haven't acquired your comfort with betrayal and discounting collateral damage, I have absolutely no intention of going back there. If you still aren't okay with that then get out now and see how far you make it on your own." She held Jack's stare for a long silent moment.
"Fine." She said finally looking away. Jack started the car again and they continued on in silence.
~*~
By the time they reached Renosa night had fallen heavily on the desert and the stars stood out brightly in the darkness. Jack pulled up outside of a small dusty building. Swinging precariously from one hinge was a hand painted sign that read "motel."
"We can stay here for the night." Jack said parking the car as far from the road as possible to avoid it being recognized.
"Oh, Jack, you take me to the nicest places." Nina said rolling her eyes as she got out to stand beside the car.
"I'll go get us a room." Jack said heading off to what he assumed to be the office. Nina leaned back against the car. Her shoulder was stiff and throbbing from sitting still all day and her mind was reeling. What was she doing? She had to make some kind of play and get out of here but every time she tried something stopped her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it…curiosity…boredom. Messing with Jack was like playing with fire, it was fun for a while but inevitably you get burned. Jack had been the closet thing she had ever felt to love and the closet she had ever come to ever having a worthy adversary, it was a strange combination. Every time she saw Jack she was overwhelmed by the temptation to see just how far she could push him until he snapped.
"We're in room 9." Jack said walking up from behind the car. "And I grabbed you this." He held out a pink t-shirt with Mexico scrolled across it. "If we are going to get anywhere you can't keep wearing that." He gestured towards her blood stained shirt.
"Yeah, I guess the bullet hole is a little hard to explain." Nina said reaching out and taking the shirt "You had to get pink didn't you." She shook her head and smiled slightly.
I thought I had it in me
I used to be so sure
There I was stronger than ever
Here I am blaming the hurt
And if I fall
I will find a way back to my hands
I'm the only one who can help me find my feet
Again
Sweet little fighter
Sweet little scar
Sweet little fire in my heart
Chapter 3
Stronger Than Ever
Nina snapped awake the next morning with Jack's hand pressed over her mouth. He put a finger to his lips instructing her to stay silent.
"We have to go." He whispered his voice barely audible. Nina heard the sound of someone's feet crunching in the gravel just outside. She nodded getting slowly to her feet her body stiff and sore from the night before. Jack made his way towards the back door of the shed and edged it open and surveying the landscape around them looking for a viable escape. The ground sloped down behind the shed and a black SUV was parked on the road roughly ten yards from them. Jack motioned towards the SUV and they made their way wordlessly down the incline towards it, careful to stay low and using the terrain to shield them from view. Once they reached the vehicle Jack tried the driver's side door and was relieved to find it open. He slid into the seat and checked the visor, which of course weren't there.
"Cover me. Once they hear the engine start they'll know exactly where we are and we'll have to move fast." Jack said as he leaned across the seat and popped open the glove box looking for anything he could use to hot wire the car. Nina pulled her gun with her good hand and pressed against the side of the car keeping careful eye on the hills above them. Inside the glove compartment Jack found a stack of various papers and a small vial of familiar clear liquid and a syringe which he slipped into his pocket without really even thinking about it. Finally he found a hunting knife and used it to pry the wires lose and get the car started.
"Get in." He said as soon as he heard the engine rev. Nina jumped hastily into the passenger seat and as predicted they were met with a hail of gunfire. On of the shots shattered the back windshield as they sped along the dirt road.
~*~
After they had been driving along the road for quite a while Nina finally broke the silence.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"Renosa, I have a contact there that can help us get out of the country." Jack said keeping his eyes fixed on the road.
"Renosa?" Nina questioned.
"It's a small town south of the Texas border." Jack explained.
"Yes, Jack, I know where Renosa is and while the geography lesson was entertaining that wasn't what I was asking." The sarcasm in her voice was palpable. She was baiting him and she was enjoying it.
"What then?" Jack asked exasperation creeping into his voice.
"If you are trying to get off the continent, the last thing you want to do id head back towards the American border. I know a guy in Mexico City who would be much safer to use." Jack cut his eyes angrily towards her.
"We're using my guy in Renosa." Jack said adopting the finality he used we gave Kim the "because I'm your father" speech.
"That makes no sense. Now that we have the virus every border patrol agency will be looking for us. Going to Renosa increases our risk of getting caught exponentially." Nina said bristling at the condescension in his voice. Jack said nothing he just kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles blanched.
"Oh, I get it. Your good solider mentality can't handle the fact that you just scored big while simultaneously screwing over Uncle Sam. Now, you feel you need to take unnecessary risks as some form of penance." Her words dripped with mocking.
"No." Jack said his voice barely audible.
"Is there more to that or am I supposed to guess." To Nina's surprise Jack suddenly stopped the car. Throwing it into park and turning to face her.
"No, we are going to Renosa because we are going to be using contacts that I know and trust. We will not be using your guy in Mexico City because frankly I don't trust you. And while I haven't acquired your comfort with betrayal and discounting collateral damage, I have absolutely no intention of going back there. If you still aren't okay with that then get out now and see how far you make it on your own." She held Jack's stare for a long silent moment.
"Fine." She said finally looking away. Jack started the car again and they continued on in silence.
~*~
By the time they reached Renosa night had fallen heavily on the desert and the stars stood out brightly in the darkness. Jack pulled up outside of a small dusty building. Swinging precariously from one hinge was a hand painted sign that read "motel."
"We can stay here for the night." Jack said parking the car as far from the road as possible to avoid it being recognized.
"Oh, Jack, you take me to the nicest places." Nina said rolling her eyes as she got out to stand beside the car.
"I'll go get us a room." Jack said heading off to what he assumed to be the office. Nina leaned back against the car. Her shoulder was stiff and throbbing from sitting still all day and her mind was reeling. What was she doing? She had to make some kind of play and get out of here but every time she tried something stopped her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it…curiosity…boredom. Messing with Jack was like playing with fire, it was fun for a while but inevitably you get burned. Jack had been the closet thing she had ever felt to love and the closet she had ever come to ever having a worthy adversary, it was a strange combination. Every time she saw Jack she was overwhelmed by the temptation to see just how far she could push him until he snapped.
"We're in room 9." Jack said walking up from behind the car. "And I grabbed you this." He held out a pink t-shirt with Mexico scrolled across it. "If we are going to get anywhere you can't keep wearing that." He gestured towards her blood stained shirt.
"Yeah, I guess the bullet hole is a little hard to explain." Nina said reaching out and taking the shirt "You had to get pink didn't you." She shook her head and smiled slightly.
I thought I had it in me
I used to be so sure
There I was stronger than ever
Here I am blaming the hurt
And if I fall
I will find a way back to my hands
I'm the only one who can help me find my feet
Again
Sweet little fighter
Sweet little scar
Sweet little fire in my heart