SHOUTOUTS\ANSWERS

ArodLoverus2001: Thanks. Keep readin' and find out. Hope this is soon enough.

Jayme: Thanks.

DISCLAIMER

UC: Undercover belongs to NBC. I only own characters you don't recognize. Oh, and I forgot to mention it in the last chap, but Alex and Jake are wired.

Alex looked at Jake. Her partner was staring at the newcomer and aside from his initial 'no', he hadn't said a word.

"Well, this is a surprise," the man smirked.

"You two know each other?" Rick asked.

"Just a dog I took in some years back," the man replied. "Gotta say, wasn't expectin' to see him again," he continued.

"So, who are you?" Alex asked.

"Name's James Whitlow, Sweetie. And I gotta say, you sure look good," the man said flirtatiously.

"You're not gonna touch her, Whitlow," Jake snapped, finally finding his voice. Sure he was scared as heck, but he wasn't about to let this guy get his paws all over Alex.

"Calm down, Jake. Don't get yourself riled," Frank said into Jake's earpiece. However, Jake's eyes still flashed.

"Easy, Jake. It's okay," Alex assured, putting a hand on his arm. Whitlow just smirked.

"Same old Jake," he said. From their position in headquarters, Frank, Monica, and Cody stared in surprise. How did Jake and this guy Whitlow know each other? And why had Whitlow called Jake a dog?

"So, what brings you two here?" Rick asked.

"Heard you were short a couple of members," Jake answered.

"And you thought you'd join up?" Rick questioned.

"Yeah, well, we---" Alex started to say in a ditzy voice.

"Maybe," Jake interrupted with mock irritation. "It all depends on you," he continued.

"Well, I normally wouldn't do this, but as you say, we're hard up. So, we'll let you in...on a trial basis of course," Rick stated.

"Of course," Jake agreed.

"Good. Glad we got that settled," Rick approved.

"How do we keep in touch?" Jake asked.

"Me and my boys are gonna be in town. We'll make contact when we got a job," Rick told him.

"Kay," Jake accepted. Rick looked at Alex.

"You know, I believe I've forgotten my manners. I'm Rick Hiram and who might this lady be?" Rick introduced himself.

"I'm Alex Laughlin," Alex responded.

"Walk with me, won'tcha?" Rick offered. He took her by the arm and led her off. Mugs and Tiny followed. Jake went to follow them, but was intercepted by Whitlow.

"I don't know what you think you're doin' here, dog, but you better not step outta line...you hear me?" the man asked softly.

"Yeah, yeah. I hear ya," Jake dismissed, walking away. Two hours later, everyone convened at headquarters.

"I want out...now!" Jake shouted.

"Jake---" Frank began to say.

"No! I don't care what you gotta do! Pop me! Put me on suspension! Send me to an adminstrative function---anything! I won't work with that man!" Jake interrupted.

"Jake, just calm down," Frank told him. Jake blew out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Jake, what is going on?" Alex questioned.

"Yeah. How do you know this guy?" Cody asked. Jake's eyes became pained and his throat became tight. He closed his eyes. Jake was thrown back on the bed.

"No. Please. Not again. Please," he begged. Whitlow pinned Jake down and positioned himself on top. Jake tried to struggle, but Whitlow tightened his grasp.

"Jake?" Donovan's voice broke through Jake's reverie.

"Donovan, please...I just can't," the operative insisted.

"Give me a good reason," Donovan told him.

"You remember what happens if you ever tell, don't you, Jake?" Whitlow reminded.

"No one believes me and I just get it worse," Jake reiterated.

"Good boy," Whitlow smirked.

"Sorry, Donovan. I can't," Jake responded.

"I'm sorry too, Jake. Because without a good reason, I can't pull you off the case," Donovan told him.

"If Keller were here, he'd pull me out no questions asked," Jake angrily said.

"Well, Keller's not here. And it's time you faced the fact that he's gone and he's never coming back," Donovan responded in the same tone. Jake lunged forward, pushing the older man against the wall.

"Don't you talk about him like that! Don't you dare!" he exclaimed.

"Jake!" Alex cried.

"You didn't know him! You have no right! No right!" Jake yelled, shaking the man. Alex ran up to them and pulled Jake away.

"Stop it, Jake! That's enough!" she reproached.

"He's got no right! He didn't know Keller like we did," came the response. For a moment, Alex was silent. She didn't know what to say.

"Jake," she said softly. She knew her friend was still grieving for their first leader. She was too.

"I'm out of here. I need a drink," he responded. Then, he stomped off.

"What was that all about?" Frank wondered. Sure he gotten Jake and Alex's profiles from Monica, but Jake's file had been sparse, superficial.

"Jake and John were...very close. Kind of a friendship\father-son thing. He's---he's still trying to come terms with his death," Alex explained.

"She's right. And what you said---it just drove him over the edge," Monica agreed.

"I'd sure like to know Jake's connection to this Whitlow fellow," Cody commented.

"As would I," Frank mused. "Cody, run the name through CODIS," he instructed.

"Yes, Sir," Cody agreed. Then went to his chair and went to his computer. Frank's eyes clouded in concentration. If only he knew what was bothering Jake. Meanwhile, Jake was at at bar, drinking away his pain. As he did so, the memories came back unbidden. Whitlow came at Jake, who was pushed back by the girl. Enraged, the man slapped her repeatedly.

"Stop it! Leave her alone!" Jake shouted. He rushed the man, who merely knocked him away. Jake grunted and averted his gaze. The door opened. Jake and the girl in front of him sat up and she pushed him behind her. Whitlow chuckled.

"Why do you do that, kitten? Why do you protect a dog?" he sneered. Jake cringed and shrank against the wall as he shook in fear. Jake let out a shaky breath and took a long drink and let the beverage burn his throat.