Author's Note: Enter Nas! Nothing we didn't already get from the show, but a slightly different scenario. And some Jeller angst, naturally. :D
Wishing more than ever that she'd bought a gun in Oregon, Jane cast a swift glance over at Weller, checking he had the situation under control. She was in better shape than she'd been when she'd escaped the black site, and now she and Weller had this woman outnumbered, but she'd had the element of surprise while fighting Keaton's team, and while capturing Kurt. In a pinch, she could improvise—but it would set back her recovery, and she was keen to avoid that.
Relying on Weller for physical protection as well as his power as Deputy Director of the FBI…that pissed her off. But she had no choice.
"Who are you, what are you doing here and how did you get in?" Weller demanded, staring at the stranger down the barrel of his gun.
"I'm with the NSA. I was hoping to talk to you about a project I think would be in both your interests, but I'd rather not do it at gunpoint, if that's all right with you. To answer your third question, I just waited until your agents had checked the place, and came in the back. Don't reprimand them too harshly. They did a thorough job."
"Let me see your credentials. Jane?"
Jane took the ID the woman offered, examined it as if she could tell if it was fake or not, then read it out to Weller. "Nasmeen Kamal, National Security Agency. Seems legit."
Reluctantly, Weller lowered his weapon, took the ID for his own scrutiny, then passed it back to its owner.
"Shall we sit down?" Nas smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"There's a time and a place for official business, Ms. Kamal, and it's not after gaining unauthorised entry to an FBI asset's safehouse. If you want to discuss something, you can make an appointment." Weller holstered his gun.
Jane very much wanted to know what this woman's proposal was, but she could hardly undermine Weller after all he'd done for her. She kept quiet, even when Nas' gaze landed on her.
"Jane, I'm the reason Deputy Director Jake Keaton has agreed not to seek your recapture at the moment."
Jane's stomach clenched. She'd been tortured on a daily basis not just by a CIA flunky, but by the Deputy Director of the CIA? What the hell was wrong with this country, that it could sanction that kind of depravity at the highest level?
"In that case, thank you," she said carefully, "but I'm not sure why you'd do that for me."
"I'd like to explain, if I may." Nas gave them both questioning looks.
Weller sighed. "Make it quick."
They sat down—Weller and Jane on the couch, and Nas at the breakfast bar that separated the kitchen from the living room.
"I work for an off-the-books branch of the NSA named Zero Division," Nas explained. "I've been monitoring Jane ever since she was dropped off in Times Square, because I know who put her there."
"What? This whole time, you've known where I came from? What the hell is it with people revealing things they know about me this week?" Jane looked from her to Weller, trying to gauge if this was something else he'd failed to mention.
He looked as taken aback as she was, thank God. If he hadn't been, she would have given him a right hook his face would remember for weeks, and to hell with her healing shoulder.
"Explain," Weller ordered.
Nas said, "A terrorist cell operating within the United States sent Jane to your team as a Trojan horse. I assume that by now, your team has figured that out."
"Could have used a little help to put it together sooner," Weller said, his voice hard.
"We were looking at the bigger picture, Agent Weller. There is far more to this organisation than just Jane, I assure you. They've been responsible for over a dozen terrorist attacks in the last decade, and we were unsure as to their motives with Jane. So we held back to assess the situation."
"And now my boss is dead. Thanks for your assistance." Weller's sarcasm made Jane flinch. The night he'd arrested her…in this very room…
Fighting back panic, she said, "If you're confirming that I'm a terrorist, why aren't you arresting me?"
Weller put his hand on her arm, an attempt at comfort. Jane jumped up from her seat immediately, pacing across to the other side of the room.
Nas watched the whole thing with a concerned eye. "Jane, are you all right?"
She swallowed. "Yes. I'm fine. Could you answer my question, please?"
"Am I right in believing that you were about to turn on Sandstorm before the CIA took you into custody? That you were about to tell Agent Weller and his team everything?" Nas asked.
Jane directed her answer to Weller, balling her hands into fists so that she could keep her words civil, if icy. "That was the plan, yes."
"And have you confided in Agent Weller since your escape from the black site?"
"Yeah. But if you're going to make me recap, I'd like to rest first. I don't do well on planes and I'm still recovering from government-sanctioned torture."
"Don't worry. I was planning to hook you up to an MRI-based coronary lie detector before I get any details out of you."
"I see the NSA still thinks it's above the law," Weller said.
Nas sighed. "Let me tell you a little about the organisation I believe you're from, Jane. I've given it the codename Sandstorm, so that's how I'll refer to it from now on."
Jane nodded, encouraging her to go on.
"I've managed to link together over a dozen domestic terror attacks that have been written off as isolated incidents. I believe Sandstorm is responsible for the Kentucky State Building attack, the DC subway bombing, a shooting at O'Hare…amongst others. We managed to cultivate an asset within the group, and they told us about Jane's imminent arrival in Times Square a year ago. Since then, we've been monitoring the situation, but we believe that they're planning their biggest attack yet."
"Phase two," Weller said, the words aimed at Jane.
"I'm sorry, could you elaborate?" Nas leaned forward, her gaze sharpening.
"My handler at…Sandstorm…" It was strange to be able to give them a name, though it wasn't the one the group had given themselves. Maybe they'd avoided giving themselves a name altogether, to avoid detection. "He was about to wipe my memory again, and he let something slip. That getting Mayfair arrested was only phase one, and that phase two was about burning the corrupt government to the ground."
"Did he give any more details? A timeline, perhaps?" Nas asked urgently.
"No." A headache was beginning to build behind Jane's eyes. She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take. "If I knew anything that could stop a terror attack, I would have told Weller the first second I could. I know you have no reason to believe me, but I don't have the energy it would take to convince you. I can not do this right now. Please."
There was a moment of silence. Weller didn't say a word in her defence, which only compounded her anxiety.
"Look, I'm going to let you get some rest," Nas said, standing up. "I just wanted to introduce myself and let you know that you don't have to fear a CIA arrest while Zero Division has an interest in you. If you prove to be uncooperative, however… That's a different story."
"That a threat?" Weller said, his voice dangerously calm.
"It's a realistic assessment of how things will play out. Now, Agent Weller, if you could read Director Pellington in on this and authorise my bringing a coronary lie detector to the NYO tomorrow, we can get started. Here's my card if you need to contact me."
Weller stood up and took the card she offered. "I'll get things moving."
"Have a restful evening, Jane. I'll talk to you soon." Nas smiled at her, then stepped towards the door.
Jane nodded, unable to bring herself to force a smile in return.
"I'll be right back, Jane. I just need to make sure the agents outside don't open fire on her." Before she could say anything, he left on Nas' heels.
Jane stood in the middle of the living room, feeling completely adrift. She could have gotten so many more answers from Nas if her brain would only function better, but an irrational fight-or-flight response was building within her, and she didn't know if she could stop it. She'd been so glad to have her safehouse back, not realising what a profound effect being in this room with Weller would have on her mental state.
She fell to her knees on the floor, then realised she was exactly where she'd been when Weller had ordered her to get on her knees while he'd been arresting her. Her distress increased, her breathing becoming ragged and panicked. I can't… I can't…
"Jane."
She cringed at the sound of his voice, leaning forward on her hands, her hair falling in her face.
"Hey, hey… Look at me."
He was suddenly on his knees in front of her, easing her upright, tilting her chin up so that his face was within her line of sight. She didn't want him to touch her, but his expression was anxious, his eyes searching for answers. Nothing like the cold demeanour he'd had the night of her arrest.
"Just breathe, Jane. I'm here." Like he had so many months ago—when she'd first panicked at the memory of being led down a set of stairs as a child—he took her hand and pressed it to his chest, letting her feel the steady beat of his heart.
She opened her mouth to tell him that was part of the problem—that he was here—but the sensation of his heart against her palm, the warmth of his body, the genuine concern in his eyes… Somehow, they soothed her soul in a way they shouldn't have been able to.
"You're safe. I promise."
Yeah, now I have something that's useful to you.
Even so, as the rhythm of her breathing slowed, instinctively matching his, she couldn't bring herself to start a confrontation. When was the last time she'd felt another person's heartbeat? Been touched in a comforting way, when she wasn't in too much pain to appreciate it?
She closed her eyes, tears spilling from under the lids.
"I'm gonna put my arms around you, okay?"
A part of her mind screamed, No! The rest of her ignored it and crumpled into his arms as she sobbed.
"Just breathe. I got you."
Can't you see, Weller? That's what I'm afraid of.