Title : Where Do We Go From Here… (at last, Part III of the Trilogy!)
Author : Jaggie 107
Disclaimer : JAG and NCIS characters belong to DPB, CBS and Paramount. 'Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye' belongs to PAX TV – and I hope all parties will allow me to have fun for a little while, and replace them all when I'm done. Thank you. (I remembered to add NCIS to the Disclaimer – missed it for a few chapters. Sorry!)
Rating : T (I think!)
Thanks for the reviews to : jtbwriter; Radiorox; DD2; Nikki; froggy0319; anna7; Jbird7986; beegirl; JAGFANWI; Abigaile; Judy; roxy; KJFlygirl87; mayaresi; alicia; starryeyes10; skyefire; jnp; JAGJenni; laura carr; AnniGH4ever; Arian04; aserene; rosan; achaon; martini1988; Sarah; wheels04; BlueJay; chawkchic; Manda; BrittanyLS; jaggurl; MiDushiNoSushi; prymtns; Mey80; kchs123; Sariana of Wind; daisymh; TV Angel 711
BlueJay
Thanks for your review. I hope you like this next chapter, and please keep reading!
froggy0319
Here's to keeping you smiling! Hope you like this next chapter, and thanks as always!
prymtns
Thanks for your great review. I'm glad you're liking the 'younger' generation in this story – means I'm doing something right! Hope you like this next chapter, and please keep reading!
jtbwriter
Hiya! Thanks for your review as always! I like to think Harm never forgot Josh, even though Annie kept them apart, and this is my way of keeping them together now. I'm not too sure about writing 'teen angst' but I think that both Mattie and Josh have had to 'grow up' faster than usual and so are more adult than most their age, and Blaise is older anyway, so I'll be writing on a more adult basis for their storyline. As for Sue and Jack, they're in this chapter – Jack's worried about Bobby, and Sue's there to help out! Hope you like this chapter, and pinkie luck as always.
TV Angel 711
Hello and welcome to the story! Thanks for your lovely review, and I hope you like this next chapter. Please keep reading!
daisymh
Thanks for your review, and as requested, here's more! I hope you like this chapter, and please keep reading!
MiDushiNoSushi
Thanks for your great review! I believe Mac and Harm's relationship to be so solid no-one can shake it – at least in my world – so Josh, and even his mother, won't rock them. Mattie's relationships, however, are proving to be another diversion in the story… please keep reading, and I hope you like this next chapter.
BrittanyLS
Thank you for your review. I always thought that Josh should have been kept up as a character, and so this way I at least get what I want! STFBEye is on in Saudi (that's where I am right now!) so I get to watch it; hope you get to see it sometime! Hallmark seem to repeat episodes now and again, if that's any good to you… Hope you like this next chapter, and please keep reading!
starryeyes10
Thanks for your review. Hope you like this next chapter, and please keep reading!
FBI Headquarters – Conference Room – Later, Monday Morning
Jack looked over the people present for the meeting. Sue, Lucy, Tara, Miles and D from his office, with both Harm and Jennifer from JAG. Conspicuous by his absence was Bobby.
"Okay. The plan is from today we're tailing Torrance. Find out his routine. SOG have been on him since early this morning, and his last reported position was his office on the base. Nothing unusual in that. It's his after-hours locations we're interested in. The sooner we find his pattern the sooner we can move in with Harm and Jennifer." Jack went on to outline the 'argument' planned between the two JAG personnel.
"So, we wait to hear from you," Harm reiterated, and Jack nodded.
"I guess that's all we can do for now," Jack added, picking up the folder in front of him and getting to his feet. "Erm…has anyone heard from Bobby?" The negative reactions around the table didn't ease Jack's worry. "If he calls or comes in, tell him I want to talk to him. He needs to know what's going on with this assignment."
"I'll try his numbers again," Lucy offered and Jack nodded absently, distracted by his friend's behaviour.
"Thanks, Luce." Jack turned to face Harm and Jennifer after answering Lucy. "I'll see you both out." As Jennifer fell in behind Harm and Jack she was aware of the tension in the set of Jack's shoulders. When she and Harm were back in his SUV, headed for Falls Church, Harm spoke up, his voice reassuring.
"It's not your fault, Jen. Whatever's going on in Manning's head, it's down to him to sort out. You're doing a good job with this assignment, and I know we're going to get Torrance, with or without Manning. I just wish it was going to be easier for you."
"Thanks, Harm." Jennifer gave a small smile, and then turned to look out of the side window, striving to keep her emotions in check. Harm left her to her thoughts, and continued the drive to JAG Headquarters.
FBI Headquarters – Ted Garrett's Office – Same Time
Ted Garrett lifted his head at the sound of Jack's knock on his open door. With a smile he waved Jack in.
"Jack. I didn't know we had an appoint…"
"We don't. I just…I was wondering if you had put Bo…Agent Manning, on another case…" Jack paused, and Garrett gave him a shrewd look.
"You don't know?"
"Know what, sir?" Jack's expression told of his surprise, and Garrett answered him in a lowered tone.
"Agent Manning requested personal leave for a few days. As he's no longer part of the sting itself, I agreed. I thought he would have cleared this with you first. Obviously he didn't."
"No…he didn't." Jack's admission, and resigned look, made Garrett ask another question.
"Is this a serious problem, Jack?"
"No…I'm sure it's not. There's been a recent…upheaval…in his personal life, and maybe it's good he's taken this time out. As you said, he's not part of the sting itself, so we can go ahead without him. I'll be sure to bring him up to speed as soon as he comes back to work."
"Good enough. Keep me posted on our friends from JAG, too. It's a good plan you've put together, Jack."
"Thanks, sir, but actually it was Captain Rabb who came up with the idea of the argument between himself and Petty Officer Coates."
"They must have a very special friendship to put it to the test like this," Garrett observed, and Jack smiled.
"They do, sir."
Jack left Garrett's office and returned to his own desk, giving Sue a nod as he passed her desk. With a quick glance at Bobby's empty desk his attention was caught as Lucy came over, a worried look on her face.
"Jack, I've been trying Bobby's numbers again…" she began, but paused at the look on Jack's face.
"It doesn't matter now. Bobby's taken personal leave for a few days. I'll get in touch with him at home, and bring him up to speed."
At Jack's short statement the rest of his team glanced at each other and then back at Jack. When he kept his head down over a file on his desk they returned to their own work. Except for Levi. As if sensing Jack was troubled, the dog padded over to his desk and laid his head on Jack's knee. Jack leaned back and stroked Levi's golden fur for a moment or two, and then caught Sue's worried gaze on him. With a lopsided smile he signed 'later', out of sight of the others, and Sue nodded, managing a small smile in return before calling Levi back to her desk.
Jack's Apartment – Early Monday Evening
Jack was stretched out on his couch, eyes closed, his thoughts in turmoil. He had been around to Bobby's apartment after work, using his spare key only when the knocking had brought no response. On the desk by the door he had found a note.
'Knew you'd be round, mate. I'm okay, really. Just need to clear my head, so I've gone off for a couple of days out of town. No big deal. I'll be back in time to bring in the bad guy.'
The note now lay on Jack's coffee table, straightened out after Jack had crumpled it into a ball in a burst of impotent anger. It was the first thing Sue saw as she rounded the end of the coffee table and then she saw Jack on the couch. Signalling Levi to go lie down, Sue dropped her purse and coat over a nearby chair and picked up the note as she perched on the edge of the table.
"Jack?" Sue knew she was whispering, by the way she spoke, but it hadn't roused Jack, so she put out a hand to shake him gently. The reaction she got was a sudden grabbing of her wrist and a wild expression in Jack's eyes.
"Sue? God, sweetheart, I'm sorry!" Jack shot up from the couch and pulled Sue over beside him as she nursed her wrist. It would bruise, it was already starting to discolor, but Sue was more concerned with Jack's reaction.
"What happened, Jack? I've…never seen you like that!"
"I was thinking…about Bobby. I guess I fell asleep, feeling angry at him, and it was my first thought when I woke up, to hang on to him so he couldn't leave. I never meant to hurt you…" Jack apologized again, and Sue smiled at him.
"It's going to be fine. I just better get the gel pack from your freezer." Making a move to get up, Jack pushed her back against the cushions and got to his feet himself.
"You stay right there. I'll go fetch the pack."
Within minutes he was back with her, and with the iced gel pack around her skin, Sue watched the expressions cross her fiance's face. Raising her uninjured hand to Jack's cheek, she murmured softly.
"I read the note. He's coming back."
"I know. At least he says he is. I only hope he isn't going to do something…stupid…while he's off work."
"You mean gambling?"
Jack looked surprised, and then grinned sheepishly. He remembered the time Bobby had gone undercover to infiltrate a gambling syndicate, and the consequences for a gambling addict had almost been the end of Bobby Manning. With a strength of character Jack still admired, Bobby had got himself sorted out, both personally and professionally. The fact that Sue had realized what was going on but had confided only in him had given Jack a further insight to her character too.
"Why did I think you wouldn't know what was going on in my head? I can't hide anything from you…and I wouldn't want to…" Jack began, but couldn't finish the sentence, and Sue leaned forward to gently brush her lips against Jack's.
"You care about him, Jack. That's why you're worried. We all are, but you're closest."
"I just wish…I wish he could be as happy as I am…I honestly thought, with Jennifer, that he'd got it together again."
"If it's meant to be for them, it'll work out. You have to trust him to know that, Jack."
"I know." Jack nodded in response, resting his forehead against Sue's, and then leaning back. Lifting her injured wrist he moved the pack away and saw the discoloration. Without words, he dropped his lips to her skin and brushed a soft kiss there. "I really am sorry, sweetheart…" he began, but Sue shook her head. In silence she raised her arms around Jack's neck and pulled him down with her as she settled back against the couch cushions, in the spot Jack had been laying earlier. As they lay together, in continued silence, Levi came around the end of the couch and flopped onto the floor beside them. Jack gave Sue a mischievous look and then glanced at the dog.
"Have you eaten yet?" he asked, and smiled as Sue shook her head.
"I fed Levi, but I figured you'd go round to Bobby's first, so I thought I'd wait until I got here, then we could order something in."
"You're staying."
"I'm staying," Sue agreed, squeezing her arms around Jack in confirmation of her words. "I just want to be with you tonight. I didn't want you to be alone."
"Thank you," Jack murmured, his voice silent, but the words clear nonetheless as Sue took in the darkening of his eyes.
Jack's Apartment – Late Evening
With the remains of their meal cleared away, Jack and Sue had settled Levi in his place in Jack's kitchen, and then gone to bed. Settled in a comfortable hug, Sue was already yawning as Jack leaned up on one elbow over her. Opening her eyes sleepily, Sue looked up at him.
"Jack?"
"I'm glad you're here, Sue."
"So'm I…" Sue answered softly, and Jack leaned down to brush his lips gently across hers.
As Jack lowered himself to the bed once more, Sue snuggled in further, and they settled down to sleep almost immediately. One fleeting thought crossed Jack's mind and he frowned as he tried to grasp on to it, but the pull of sleep was too strong and he relaxed.
To be continued