Chapter 4 – NOTE – Tasha was never pregnant to Jonah. She's not heavily pregnant in this story.

(In Peter's office)
"That's not an option." Jack said sternly to Peter.
"Listen Jack, Henry Guild is after you. This is proof that he's not going to give up anytime soon." He exclaimed, waving a death threat around in front of Jack. It was the third one this week, and the threats were becoming more intimate. "Witness Protection is your only option."
"No it's not. There's another." Jack argued.
"No." Peter warned, raising his finger. "You're not going after him. He'll kill you straight away. He's after revenge Jack, he doesn't care about jail or getting killed himself."
"I'm not going into Witness Protection. To me it isn't an option." Jack refused. Peter sighed.
"Why not? Jack, you're in danger. You could be putting your whole family in danger if you stay." He argued. "What if Henry finds out who your family are? Or Martha?" Peter asked. Jack looked down at his hands.
"He wouldn't hurt them…" He mumbled. Peter laughed.
"Why wouldn't he? If he knew it'd get to you, of course he would! What if he held them hostage? You'd go, anyone would. Then he'd have you and kill you all." Peter said. Jack looked down, admitting he was right. "You need to go before it's too late." Peter finished, tapping the statements in front of him.
"But… I can't leave them. Tony and Lucas have travelled around with me whenever I've had to move.. leaving them would be like I'm not grateful. And Martha… I can't leave her. Not today of all days." He explained, rubbing his forehead.
"Why not today? No day is going to be the right time Jack." Peter insisted.
"We had an argument. A pretty nasty one. I need to make it up to her and apologize. I can't leave without saying goodbye." Jack told him. "I just can't." Peter shook his head.
"Sorry mate, you're not allowed. She can't know." He said sympathetically. "That's the way it goes. You have to leave now, suddenly and silently. There isn't any other option. He's getting closer and closer by the day; he's going to make a move soon." Peter said. Jack hit the desk angrily, darting up.
"This isn't fair!" He grumbled. "That man killed 4 people! 4 innocent people! He was going to make it 5, he was going to shoot me! I had to shoot first. I had to…" Jack trailed off, angrily thumping his hands to the wall. "Why can't Henry just face it? His brother deserved what he got." Jack asked.
"Because he's just as crazy and malicious as his brother." Peter sighed. "Now Jack, are you going to go into hiding or not? It might not be for long. Couple of months?" Peter said.
"Or a couple of years. Or maybe, I won't get out of hiding. What if I stay in the protection for the rest of Henry's life? Or for the rest of my life? This isn't going to end unless we put a stop to it." Jack argued, turning around from the wall.
"No Jack, the only way it'll end is if you die. And to be honest, I don't think myself, your colleagues, your family, or Martha want that – do you?" Peter said. Jack slumped back in the chair, looking around the walls at the framed certificates. "And if you don't go into Witness Protection not only will you get killed, Martha and your family will get roped into it too." Peter added. Jack sighed, rubbing his eyes as he attempted to clear his mind. He was in a spin, he was so confused. Why had this all happened now? Now he'd dealt with the whole Harry Chambers ordeal, and found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he had to leave. His life had finally sorted, he was happy! He had thought his life was too good to mess up now, for it to end so terribly. He thought everything was going to be okay, he thought that he could rely on everyone to sort it out. Why did it have to come to this? Why did he have to leave his perfect life, his perfect family; his perfect woman? Jack stood up sharply, leaning on the desk.
"You've been telling me for months that you're getting closer to catching him! You made it sound like it'd all be over by now!" Jack yelled angrily.
"Because he has been getting closer! He's been doing it on purpose! He's the one finding you, he's the one cracking down - not us." Peter said. "I'm sorry mate, I really am. But this is what has happened. I can carry on apologizing or I can sort it out now. The choice is yours mate. Stay at home, Henry WILL come after you and most probably Martha and your family. Go into Witness Protection, leave your loved ones behind to get on with their lives." Peter said. "I hate to put it so harshly, but you sticking around is only going to sign Martha, Tony and Lucas' death certificate." He finished. Jack sat, staring at the surface of the shiny, dark wood.
"What would you tell them?" He asked softly.
"That you left with Witness Protection." Peter answered simply.
"So I wouldn't be faking my own death?" Jack asked.
"No. That takes time and a lot of setting up." Peter said. "It'd be impossible to do. And anyway, no one around here would know where your new location is so Henry can't threaten anyone! Everyone would be safe, including yourself." Peter pushed the papers towards Jack. "So, what's it going to be?" He asked, handing him the pen. Jack grasped it tightly, a thousand thoughts rushed through his head yet one simple, clear thought rang out. He couldn't risk their lives. Jack silently leant down, forcing pen onto paper.
"Peter!" Sergeant McGrath stormed in. Peter yanked the papers from his desk in an effort to hide them.
"What?" Peter asked, annoyed with the intrusion.
"It's Henry Guild. He's in town with hostages. He wants Jack to be there in 15 minutes or he'll start killing." He told them. Peter nodded.
"Right, we'll need back up from the city." Peter instructed, standing up. Jack jumped up and made his way to the door. "Hey, hey! Where do you think you're going?" Peter asked, grabbing his arm.
"You heard. He wants me." Jack said. Peter laughed.
"Which is exactly why you're not going. He'll kill you." Peter told him. Jack sighed angrily.
"Listen, lives are at stake here, I thought our job was to save them?"
"No, that's doctors and nurses. We can handle him, you just sign these papers and go." Peter said, handing him the statements. Jack shook his head, ripping them in half.
"You either take me as an officer, or I'll go on my own - under my own rules." Jack said sternly. Peter gave a long, frustrated groan, his eyes flicking around the office as he thought.
"Get your gun." He instructed, leaving his office.

(shopping mall)
"I thought that I'd be doing this one day with Jack…" Martha frowned, lifting the small piece of clothing off the rails. Tasha sighed, taking the baby dungarees from her and hanging them back up.
"You will be." She said, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the left. "You and Jack have had a tiff, that's all. You two will have forgotten next time you see each other." Tasha said as she dragged her through the departments.
"No... I'm not sure. I don't like his job Tash. I know he loves it and I think it's great how much he adores his job, but it's so dangerous!" She exclaimed. Tasha let go of Martha once they reached the wedding section of the shop. "Why are we here?" Martha asked, slightly bewildered.
"Because you want to be wearing one of these, don't you?" Tasha asked. Martha nodded, smiling towards the long white gown on the manikin.
"Yea.. one day…" She agreed.
"And you want Jack to be wearing one of them." Tasha said, pointing towards a suit. Martha nodded, walking in that direction.
"Yea… he'd look so cute." She smiled. Tasha laughed.
"To get there you have to do a little bit of compromising." Tasha said wisely. "You love him and you want all this… He loves you and he wants all this. The only thing stopping you is his job. His choice Mac." Tasha summed up. Martha nodded as she stroked the fine silk of a gorgeous chocolate tie. A smile crept on her face.
"You're right." She admitted. "Jack's right. I love him and I don't want to fall out with him. It is his decision and even though I hate it I need to support him." Martha said, turning around to Tasha. "I've been selfish, haven't I?" Martha admitted, biting her lip.
"A little bit." Tasha laughed. "But for all the right reasons." She smiled, patting her friend on the back. "Anyway, lets go home. I think we should organize a nice romantic 'I'm sorry' dinner, don't you?" Tasha smiled.
"Good thinking bat-woman." Martha grinned, walking through the shop. "And besides, I'm sure you and baby need a rest." Martha said, looking towards Tasha's flat belly. Tasha smiled to herself, rubbing her stomach.
"Come on, I know a short cut." Martha said as they exited the electric double doors, pointing her down an alley.

"Are you sure about this? It doesn't look very… safe." Tasha called out to Martha from behind as she studied the trash covered, junk occupied alley.
"It's fine you big wuss. I come down here all the time." She said, stepping over the random pieces of metal and wood.
"But you're not pregnant are you!" Tasha reasoned.
"You can't complain just yet Tasha! You're not even showing!" Martha laughed. "And you haven't even told Robbie." Martha said seriously, turning around. "Now I'm flattered, but I don't think you should have told me first." Martha told her.
"Well it's not my fault you stormed in my apartment when I was waiting for the result now was it!" Tasha argued. Martha laughed.
"Don't leave a key hidden outside your door if you don't want people to walk in then." Martha smiled, turning back around and continuing the journey through the alley.
"Martha, the whole point in it being HIDDEN is so no one uses it!" Tasha exclaimed.
"What's the point in a key if no one uses it?" Martha laughed, listening to Tasha's huff from behind. "Here we are, see, it didn't take long." Martha said, walking out the alley. "Oh my God!" She gasped, covering her mouth.
"What's wrong?" Tasha asked, hopping over another piece of wood as she continued through the alley a few metres behind. Martha jumped back behind the wall, blocking Tasha's way.
"We need to run. We need to get help!" Martha whispered.
"Oi! Girl! Get out with your hands up!" A deep English voice shouted. Tasha looked up into Martha's fearful eyes.
"What the hell is going on!" She whispered. Martha looked back down the long alley.
"Go and get help! They didn't see you! If I don't go around now they'll come around and get us both. I'll be fine, just get the cops!" Martha instructed her. Tasha shook her head.
"What's going on?" She demanded, stepping forward to have a look around the corner.
"Tash! Are you stupid?" Martha whispered angrily. "Go get help!" Martha said, slowly backing to the edge of the alley.
"No! Martha! Come and run with me!" Tasha whispered frantically, reaching out for her friend. Martha shook her head, spinning around and walking out the alley with her arms up.