51 hours missing

"Okay, we need at least four agents on every possible exit," Jack stood in front of a large assembled team of FBI agent, "My team and I will enter the building and-"

"Agent Malone," a voice cut him off.

"Oh, for fu-" he muttered before turning to face the approaching man, "Agent Bains, how can I help you."

"You can move out of my way."

"Excuse me?"

"This case has become mine," the man smirked, "It's under homeland security jurisdiction."

"Under who's authority?"

"Mine."

"I should have known," Jack muttered to himself and looked at him, "Hello Assistant Director Fitzgerald."

"Hello Jack," he smiled at him.

"Right… well now we've got the niceties out of the way; what?"

"Sorry Jack, but this is a delicate diplomatic situation and as such is within the juris-"

"With all due respect, sir, don't give me that juris-my dick-tion shit," Jack growled, "This is my case and it's almost closed."

"It's been reassigned."

"Bullshit!"

"Malone?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I don't care… I've had it with you getting involved and screwing us over!"

"Right, Malone, you're out. Go back to the office and wait for me there."

"What am I; five?"

"Malone…" the assistant director warned him.

"Agent Malone?" Jess interrupted.

"Sir, perhaps you'd like to explain the situation to Agent Simmons, of MI5 and Lizzy's bodyguard team."

"What's going on?" Jess looked from agent to agent.

"Miss Simmons-"

"Agent Simmons."

"Agent Simmons," he narrowed his eyes, "The case has been reassigned to Homeland Security as it comes under their jurisdiction."

"Actually, it doesn't," Jess pulled sheaves of paper from her jacket, "It comes under the jurisdiction of the British Secret Service. Elizabeth is a subject of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, a citizen of Great Britain and as such is under the protection of MI5. I have requested the assistance of one FBI Missing Persons Unit, headed by Agent Jack Malone. So as you can see, this team is fully within it's right to run this operation."

He ran her eyes across the page and replied, grudgingly, "Everything seems to be in order. Malone, you can go ahead."

"Thank you." Jack replied.

He folded her arms and stayed where he was. Jess glanced at Jack and turned to him, "You can leave now."

"Agent Simmons," he glared at her, "do you even know who I am?"

"You assume I care."

"I'm the assistant director of the FBI."

Jess equalled his glare, "I'm this girl's bodyguard… and her natural born mother. I know who you are, and I can only assume that if that was Martin in there you'd be exactly the same."

Assistant Director Fitzgerald looked at her and smiled a little. He turned to Jack, "Agent Malone, I think we're going to need a meeting when this is all over."


Jack waited until he left before turning to Jess, "And that was me losing my cool. But thank you."

"No worries," she shrugged. They walked towards the rest of the team, "Jack, I know that I'm too close to the situation to lead it, which is why I let you go ahead."

Jack raised his eyebrows, "You're a lot smarter than most agents your age."

"Why do you think I have the job I do?" she smiled.

"Are we going in yet?" Martin slid his gun into its holder.

"Well, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted," Jack slipped back into agent mode, "We're going in; just our team. The others are staying outside."

"Jack, I think I should go in first." Jess folded her arms.

"What?"

"It's me he wants. We'll have more chance of getting Lizzy out safely if I go in alone."

"No, I'm not putting you in unnecessary danger."

"I get it. It's an American thing; you have to go in all guns blazing. But I know this guy. He'll have no problem with taking her life."

"Jess, I don't think that it's a good idea."

"Jack… trust me… please; I'm not trying to be a hero."

"You think you're not… but a part of you will be," he studied her for a moment and then shook his head, sighing, "Fine. But get a wire on yourself."