Another chapter! We are really, really sprawling this time. Moving forward, but length estimates are officially a thing of the past. :-D

Skyrider45, thank you so much for the review! We finally got more of a bead on Wilson (yay!), and I was surprised too by how sad the cookies bit was. Hopefully they'll get to do that eventually! (plan for final story of series: make it longer than all other stories combined? :-D ) Nice analysis of Brand and the SAT book, too; he's smart, and I think you are right that it was a helpful idea for keeping Jug optimistic and focused. Also: I hope you're having a good week!

Living Lucid Dream, you have a keen eye for detail. :) Quinn and Clark continue to be in the story, but I agree: sweet and out of the loop, and hopefully everyone will get safely back on track! Between Wilson and the dangers, there may indeed be big changes coming. I mentioned before that I shouldn't write a mammoth "choose your own adventure" version of the story that is eighteen times the length of this (already long) story, but I can see multiple possible paths! I also love Veronica, and she's got some great impulses, even though I agree with you that the teens might not follow the most logical impulses when it comes to worrying about Jug, because of their experiences... We shall see! Brand bringing the SAT book came up twice this week, so I thought a lot about that as well; he really does bring something Jug needs in his education (in Brand's obsessive way, of course), and it's one of the key places where Brand and FP balance each other (and hopefully Jughead) out - and where they are starting to find more common ground. I'll also be interested in seeing where it all goes. I hope you are doing well!

Enjoy!

-Button

00000

"Clark, I really need an answer on this." Agent Quinn was not trying to hide her amusement, but Clark's tactics were not getting them anywhere. "Can you take the time off from classes to travel with me and Agent Williams and learn about field work, or would you rather spend that time locally, so that you can continue attending school while working with Joaquin DeSantos?"

"Look, if I'm in that much danger, just say so. If I show up at the safe house and there's, like, a trapdoor and a cage, I'm going to say I told you so until the end of time." Clark was lying on Agent Quinn's couch with a textbook propped open on his lap. He grinned up at Sarah as he pushed his hair back from his forehead. "Also, I still haven't heard what kind of food options you each are offering. How many stars for the accommodations? Are there bedbugs or fleas or anything I need to worry about in either case?"

"I am not telling you anything more until we make the determination that you are - or are not - being read in on the situation."

"Ri-ight. The 'situation' that either involves field work or DeSantos." Clark nodded. "I'm hearing you. I just want to be sure I make the right decision for my education. My future."

"I'm not telling you anything. You need to make a decision, commit, and then you'll be read in."

"Or not read in, as the case may be." Clark's eyes narrowed craftily. "So tell me again what Davies said about my staying with you?"

"This really isn't a game." Quinn sighed when Clark merely shrugged and continued grinning up at her. "He said, quote, 'Keep Clark alive for me, if he doesn't make that impossible. Let him hate me if that helps, but do whatever you can to make sure he stays safe.' End quote."

"No, the part about-,"

"He was joking."

"So say it in a funny voice; I don't mind." Clark smirked up happily. "I really think hearing it again will help me make a decision."

"Fine. But then you have to decide."

"Deal."

"He said not to flirt with you, encourage you in any way, or give you any impression at all that-,"

"That he would not soundly kick my rear if he came back and found that I'd made a move on you." Clark tucked his hands behind his head and stretched lazily. "Okay. I've decided. I'm going with you and Agent Williams."

"That's fine. I'll make the arrangements and update the RA-,"

"You don't want to know my reasons?" Clark's grin was increasingly mischievous.

"Not even a little bit." Agent Quinn raised an eyebrow, wondering fleetingly if this was what it was like to have a younger brother.

"Special Agent Davies obviously wants me to keep an eye on-,"

"I'll just send you to work with DeSantos if you're going to-,"

"Sorry. I'm done." Clark's tone was abruptly penitent. "I really do want to go with you and Williams. I promise, no more teasing."

"Good." Agent Sarah gave him a stern look but then smiled. "I'll let Wilson know and we'll read you in later today."

"Yes!" Clark pumped his fist. "I guessed right!"

"As if you were actually debating. You are starting to take after Davies," Sarah said as she turned and left the room. "We'll talk more later, but we'll be heading to Toronto this week. You'll need your passport."

Clark waited for Agent Quinn to leave before he allowed his smile to fade; he sat up and closed his textbook.

Toronto was where Davies had gone with Jones and FP for undisclosed reasons. It couldn't be a coincidence.

Sighing heavily, Clark raked both hands through his hair and slumped forward to rest his elbows on his knees and process how upsetting this news was. Apparently there was something very wrong.

And if something was so wrong with Jones, FP, and Davies that they needed backup from Quinn and Williams, then that was scary. It would have been much more reassuring to hear that it was a training exercise, or simply a continuation of the protections for DeSantos' role in the upcoming trials.

Clark owed them everything. His very life. Jones had personally knocked a knife away from his throat, and FP had been the one who made sure that nobody else came near him. Davies had freed him and overseen the apprehending of his attackers on the spot. They'd also taken him into their home, and that alone might have saved his life a dozen times over; Clark would never know for certain.

Well. Clark might not know what was coming or what role Agent Quinn would permit him along the way, but he was entirely determined that if there was any possibility whatsoever that he could help Jones, Davies, or FP, he'd be jumping in feet first.

00000

"FP, I said you could have the bed, and I meant it. You need to be well rested."

"Jughead is not going without a bed. Lord knows he did that enough when he was growing up."

"We've got the couch, too, and he's welcome to it. I'm good on the floor."

"Well, maybe I'm good on the couch."

"Look, you do alright in a recliner, but I just don't think your back is going to forgive you for this couch. Come on; don't turn this into a problem just because you're feeling guilty or have some misplaced sense of pride. Jones is young, and sleeping on a cheap couch won't mess his back up for days like it could do to you."

"Jughead shouldn't be doing any of this. The least I can do is make sure he has a real bed."

Jughead watched silently from the kitchen. So far he had been dissuaded from entering the argument by a potent brain fog due to sleep deprivation, but his dad seemed to be winding up instead of winding down.

Brand and FP had been tense since they'd arrived, and now they were stalking around the small one-bedroom apartment that had been arranged for them. Well, it had been arranged for Brand, and all of them would be sharing it.

Right about now it was seeming awfully small.

"No bunk bed this time?" Even as he tried to lighten the mood, Jughead stifled a yawn that was so powerful that it made his eyes water. He opened the cooler to begin transferring the perishable food to the refrigerator and freezer.

"Don't joke about that right now, huh, kid?" Brand's voice was tense. "I'm not superstitious, but I'd like to think this whole thing is going to go just a little more smoothly than that."

"What bunk bed, Jughead?" FP asked curiously, responding more to Brand's reaction than to anything his son had said. "When was that?"

"Oh, uh," Jughead looked between the two men with no small amount of trepidation and really wished that he was awake enough to think more clearly. Brand looked like he would be upset by any retelling, and now that Jughead was hesitating - and the seconds ticking past in silence - his dad was starting to look annoyed as well. "We were in an apartment that had a bunk bed once. That's all."

"Uh-huh." FP looked far from satisfied, but he let it drop.

With a pang of guilt, Jughead wondered if his dad was thinking of their years living in the trailer, and how even a bunk bed might have represented an improvement. Jughead also reflected that he had spent altogether too much time comparing the months he'd been living in Toronto to his painful reentry into life in Riverdale, so anything that his dad was feeling now was likely his fault. While he'd kept his mouth shut about it most of the time, Jughead didn't think he'd ever forget the times when FP had accurately intuited an unfavorable comparison. He doubted his dad would forget them either.

Brand sighed, looking from Jughead to FP. "We were keeping our heads down because of Jameson. Jones here got bored and almost climbed the walls," Brand shot FP a conciliatory look as he explained. "We bought quite a few books that week."

"At least we shouldn't run out of food this time. You won't have to, uh-," Jughead's brain abruptly caught up with his mouth and he stopped short.

Brand gave Jughead a horrified look from behind FP's back and then closed his eyes in frustration. "What, I won't have to tie you up and gag you so that I can get a moment's peace, or the freedom to make a grocery run?"

FP scoffed, and somehow the tension was broken. "Stop being dramatic, Brandon."

Jughead quickly turned back toward the refrigerator to hide his facial expression from his dad. His eyes felt sore from how long he'd been awake, and it was increasingly obvious that he was not firing on all cylinders.

A few moments later, Brand dropped a hand on his shoulder and started to help him unload the cooler. His voice was low when he spoke into Jughead's ear. "Stop trying to help."

"Yeah. Sorry, Brand."

"Your dad's processing. It's hard for him to be in Toronto with the two of us like this, even aside from the Rose situation. Give him some time, tell him some stories, but please try not to-,"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Just… wait until we get some sleep. Then whatever you want to say is fine. I can take the heat, and you might benefit from talking about some stuff now that your dad's here with us. I'm only asking for you not to do it right this minute." Brand squeezed Jughead's shoulders. He raised his voice so that he could be heard in the other room. "FP, are you hungry or do you want to go right to sleep?"

"The couch pulls out into a bed. It's not bad at all; it looks clean to me." FP sounded relieved and pleased as he made the non sequitur announcement. "Jug, we can both sleep here. And no, I'm not hungry. You two should have a snack while I get the beds made."

"That's fine by me," Brand replied.

"Can we…" Jughead looked from his dad to Brand and then lowered his voice so that only Brand would hear him. "Can we put the couch in the bedroom?"

Brand studied Jughead for a few moments, and then he moved from the small kitchen into the slightly larger living room. "Hey, FP, let's keep everyone in one spot for sleeping. It'll be easier to secure, and that way we'll have the option of putting the monster outside of our room. I don't know how he'll do overnight in an unfamiliar place, and we'll all need our sleep. Want to bring the bed out or the couch in?"

"Couch in," FP responded easily. "Fewer windows that way."

"Good thought." Brand helped him fold the bed back into the couch and then lift it. "I think it should just fit, too."

Jughead folded his arms over his stomach and smiled gratefully when Brand winked at him.

00000

Jughead wasn't sure that it was entirely normal to feel reassured by his father's loud breathing and Brand's occasional sleep-twitching on the bed, but his position on the pull-out couch between FP and Brand felt safe.

And for some reason, despite having felt bed calling insistently to him for the past hour or two, the moment Jughead had laid down in the dark room, he'd become inexplicably wide awake.

Trigger had adjusted well to the new location, and having sniffed around the apartment he'd been happy to curl up on Jughead's feet and go straight to sleep.

In fact it felt so safe that, in a corner of his mind, Jughead couldn't help feeling that it was one big reminder that it couldn't last. The morning was coming, and they'd have to begin the first stage of Brand's plan.

It apparently involved Brand and Jughead visibly being tourists in very public places, and beyond that Jughead "following Brand's lead," whatever that might entail.

FP needed to see and be seen as well - but only by specific people, and emphatically not by others. He was under orders to find some of his non-Serpent buddies and contacts in the city, firmly establishing a timeline for his presence in Toronto and laying groundwork that Rose could never deny, but at the same time not letting anyone within Rose's network catch wind of the fact that he was around. He was supposed to avoid the Serpents, too, since Brand insisted - and FP even acknowledged - that they were unpredictable and a little too willing to take matters into their own hands.

And if Rose so much as realized that FP was in the city, the jig would be up. Or at the very least, their whole ploy would look awfully suspicious.

It was a risky plan on all counts, and Jughead wondered for the millionth time what the FBI was doing to back them up. It had to be something, but Brand wasn't spilling so much as a hint. His silence on the subject was not the worst idea, since Jughead couldn't slip up with information that he did not have, but the teen was still was having trouble wrapping his head around the get-Jughead-reconciled-with-Rose plan paired with the establish-FP's-presence-locally-without-Rose-or-the-Serpents-knowing plan.

Because, as far as he could tell, none of that had anything to do with making the bust.

Brand had only said that it was meant to force Rose to honor both arrangements, first (hopefully) letting Jughead apologize and get off the hook for his missteps in their current deal, and then releasing him from all obligations when FP turned out to be in the city, watching like a hawk over Jughead's shoulder and pressuring Rose somewhat publicly into admitting that family members were - of course - covered by FP's long-standing arrangement.

According to Brand, both steps had to happen, in that order, or else Rose could maintain a claim of some kind on Jughead. And only if Rose gave up any claim on him could the bust then be made without any fear of reprisal - since that was the only way that Jughead would be totally in the clear, and in fact protected from then on by Rose's (reluctant) blessing.

Or so Brand assured the Joneses.

Apparently Rose's impending retirement necessitated his keeping everyone confident that he was wholly committed to honoring his word. That part made sense.

The fact that so much effort was going into a two-stage process that in no way seemed to serve the FBI's interests (and in fact only delayed the bust), or even Brand's interests for that matter, made Jughead extremely uncomfortable.

Moreover, the terrifyingly simple nature of the plan, paired with the incredible ease with which it could unravel without any warning if someone made a wrong move, almost made Jughead wonder if it was all an elaborate ruse for his own benefit and not Brand's actual plan at all.

He kind of hoped that was the case.

Trigger sighed and snuffled against Jughead's left shin.

Brand rolled over noisily.

FP's hand jerked, startling Jughead when it closed on his shoulder, but his breathing went straight back to its sleep pattern once he had a firm grip on his son.

Jughead patted his dad's hand, hoping that would reassure him even in his sleep. And as the grip on his shoulder relaxed slightly, Jughead felt his own eyes closing and his thoughts beginning to wander to Brand's tourist plans. They were as yet undisclosed, but Brand had told him to charge his camera batteries.

Jughead nudged Trigger lightly so that he could adjust his legs, and soon he was drifting off to sleep as well.

00000

"Pretty nice, huh?" Brand motioned to the waterfront and the crowds of people streaming past one another between tourist attractions. "I've already got passes to some stuff, but anything you see and you like, let's do it."

Jughead blinked at the packed area. "I guess this is what Alice always talked about. She mentioned the islands, too."

"I want us in the jam-packed places for today, but we can put those on the agenda for tomorrow." Brand nodded agreeably. "Let's get you somewhere visible and I'll make the first phone call."

"Sounds good." Jughead knew that meant Brand would be calling Rose to lay groundwork for - or perhaps even set up - their first meeting with him. Jughead wasn't meant to overhear, in part so that he'd honestly be in the dark about what was said and could play it cool. "I'll get a few shots from over there."

Jughead pointed toward a likely vantage point where he could photograph several striking views just by turning in different directions. The spot was already crowded with photographers.

Brand nodded and pulled out his phone. "Right there. Don't budge."

Once his godson was far enough away that he would not overhear, Brand called Rose.

"Brandon? What a surprise."

"A good one, I hope. I've got a few more surprises for you too, Rose. I brought Jones to Toronto to make his apologies, some commitments, and also for you to get a good look at why I think he's going to pay out." Brand wasn't messing around; he made the pitch in one breath. "There's no hurry. I know you're a busy man with a tight schedule, so we've made it an open-ended trip and we've got a few outings lined up."

"You're here? You brought the boy? How thoughtful." Rose sounded pleased. Very pleased.

Brand had gauged this correctly, then.

"I do have some obligations that I'm juggling at the moment, but by all means - I've been eager to see Jones in person and to catch up with you more satisfyingly. I trust he filled you in on his recent questionable behavior?"

"Yes - he's been overeager, but I've seen him make some huge strides in maturity over just a couple of days. You have a knack for bringing out the value in your associates." Brand warmed up his tone as he continued. "He's better trained every day. I don't think we could have timed a visit more appropriately, and I believe you'll be very impressed."

"Really?" Rose sounded intrigued. "He's responded so well to my little nudges? Considering his youth, that is surprising. It's also refreshing; I suffer overeager associates in every area of life, or so it seems, and having someone around who is a little more responsive to my stated desires and needs would be a delightful change of pace."

Given Rose's moves toward retirement, that dynamic was hardly surprising. Everyone wanted an opportunity to shine and they were no doubt scrambling to gain any foothold in the enterprise.

"He's made great progress." Brand smiled into the phone, knowing that his expression would carry in his voice. "You'll be pleased."

Jones looked over from about thirty yards away, a questioning look on his face. Brand nodded and waved encouragingly; this was going about as well as he could have hoped for, and he figured that was apparent even from a distance.

"So, when would be best for you?" Brand continued.

"Well, that depends." Rose's tone became thoughtful. "Tomorrow evening might be workable for a brief visit, and we could decide at that time whether it would be beneficial for me to get to know Jones better during your trip. Perhaps one on one."

"Absolutely." Brand had expected that threat and he did not hesitate. "That is very reasonable, and given the time and resources that you've invested it might even be prudent. He's more than up to it."

"However, I suppose I will have to make time sooner if I'm pressed to do so."

Rose's tone shifted slightly, and Brand was suddenly on high alert.

"We've got the time. I don't think there's any need-,"

"Overeager associates do love to mess with my schedule, and I never wish to disappoint when they show up with a gift. They can be much like cats, presenting me with their kill and expecting to be patted and fed." Rose sounded downright amused now. "But if you could head that off when it comes to young Jones and keep things on track for tomorrow evening, I'd appreciate it, Brandon."

Brand was way ahead of him, already scanning the crowd anxiously for a glimpse of Jones.

Who had disappeared.

00000

Jughead was supporting his camera awkwardly with one hand as he was ushered swiftly through the crowd by the two larger men who had approached him. "Hang on. Where's Brand? I thought he was coming too?"

"He knows where we're headed." One of the men motioned vaguely. "He'll be at the car."

If Brand had not waved and nodded to confirm the men's story, Jughead would be fighting every step of the way. It was frustrating not being privy to the details of their plan and its apparently convoluted steps, but Jughead figured that the best thing he could do for the moment was play along and keep his eyes and ears open.

Brand had also taken Jughead's cellphone the previous day, turning off the GPS and assuring him that they would sit down together to text and reassure his friends each night before bed, so Jughead couldn't try calling his godfather. It was probably a moot point anyway, since Brand had been on the phone when Jughead was approached in the crowd and told that he was supposed to go with these men to meet with Rose.

All the same, Jughead couldn't help but think of Clark, and his suggestion that too much caution was sometimes better than not enough.

"Let's give him a minute to catch up." Jughead tugged against the men's grip on his upper arms, pulling them to a halt. "It's hard to find people around here, and he's not always the sharpest."

Jughead craned his neck, trying to spot Brand in the crowd.

"Rose won't like a delay." The man's grip on Jughead's arm shifted slightly, and suddenly he was manipulating a pressure point. "Brandon will be able to find us more easily once we're in the car, kid. Keep moving."

"Hey. Do you know these guys?" All three were startled when a stranger stepped in front of the trio. While he was neither large nor obviously muscular, he seemed astonishingly confident about accosting them, and made careful, searching eye contact with Jughead.

"Uh, I-," Jughead was torn. He was nervous about going along with the men, and the situation was setting off all of his self-preservation instincts, but at the same time he really didn't want to screw up part of Brand's plan. Everything about the mission in Toronto was liable to make Jughead nervous - uncomfortable - after all, and involving an innocent bystander in any way seemed like a frankly terrible idea.

"His father's meeting us right over there." The second man spoke up when Jughead faltered, pointing toward the street.

"I'm talking to him. Do you know these guys? Are you okay?" The tourist repeated his words, this time more gently. "I'm on vacation, so I'm out of uniform, but I'm a police officer from DC and you don't look all right to me. Did these two approach you and say that your father's having an emergency? Have you tried calling him?"

Jughead hesitated again, trying to formulate a plan - but he really wasn't sure what his goal was, so that made this impossibly tricky.

More people were stopping to watch the confrontation play out.

When the two men dropped his arms and disappeared into the crowd, Jughead wasn't sure if he should panic or be relieved.

"Are you okay, son?" The vacationing policeman watched the two men flee with a sharp frown, but seemed unwilling to leave Jughead alone in the crowd. "That is what was going on, wasn't it? Were they armed? Did they threaten you?"

Before Jughead could respond, another hand closed on his arm, yanking him forcibly into a strong embrace. Jughead was entirely disoriented, and he struggled against the larger man's grip before it became clear that Brand had located him.

"Jones, somehow I don't think you've gotten the memo about strangers. We're going to need to have a good long talk."

Jughead sagged with relief. "Dad! There you are. I couldn't find you."

Brand looked at him like he was crazy, but the tourists milling around them smiled at the happy reunion and began to move along.

"You're his father?" The vacationing officer did not move away and seemed ready to lecture them both. "I don't know if you're aware, but there are people who will grab an unattended kid right off the street. It's less common for it to be a teenage boy, but you can see for yourself how quickly it can happen. They tell him a convincing story or pull a weapon, and you so much as blink and he's gone."

"Uh... thanks." Brand seemed torn between wanting to smooth the interaction and wanting to escape.

"Oh, sorry. I'm not some crazy person who's trying to scare you; I'm a police officer, and trust me, I know this sort of thing. Keep an eye on your boy. And you, young man, stick closer to your father. For the most part this is a safe city, but in any place there can be predators looking for an opportunity. You've got that nice camera, too, so they might have targeted you for having some money."

"Thank you," Jughead replied quickly, before Brand could say anything. "I won't get too far away from my dad again."

"Good. I'm glad things turned out this way." The man smiled and nodded to Brand before he moved along as well.

Brand sighed heavily, doing a quick check of Jughead to make sure that he was unharmed.

"I'm fine. I could have gotten away, but I was confused. They said they were with Rose, and I thought you were nodding to say that I should go along with them-,"

"Well, let's clear that right up. Absolutely nothing at any point in our plan involves you being taken away from me without your consent and a full conversation first. Anyone grabs you like that again? I want you to take them down hard; I wouldn't mind seeing broken bones and permanent damage. I didn't know about them, and Rose didn't send them."

Brand looped an arm around Jughead's shoulders and he gave him a reassuring squeeze. "They probably were planning to take you to him, though, and most likely you would have been just fine."

Jughead made a face at Brand, confused by that idea. "Why? We're already planning to see Rose."

"I think this is starting to seem like one big… retirement party to Rose." Brand shrugged. "He's enjoying the attention and the jockeying, and whether or not he has any desire whatsoever to see you traumatized or me scrambling to put out one fire after another, it's got to be flattering to him."

Jughead still looked skeptical, so Brand continued explaining.

"Think about it, Jones. Guys grabbing you off the street to impress him. His heir apparent shutting it down, proving once again Rose's good judgment in choosing me. His mildly rebellious protégé getting a good scare and toeing the line more with each passing day. From what I can tell, he thinks it's funny."

"Funny?" Jughead felt someone brush a little too closely against him in the crowded area and he flinched into Brand.

"It's important that you understand this, kid. He's rational, and that means we can work with him; I'm pretty sure of that. But he's dangerous, too, and he's... whimsical." Brand looked pained. "He likes the idea of you, and I've done my best to encourage that. But we really don't want the winds to change once he gets to know you in reality."

"If those guys had brought me to Rose, would the winds have changed?"

"It would have meant I'd fallen down on the job of supervising you. It might have turned out to be nothing more than an amusing anecdote, or it could have blown up into a serious reason to rethink my merits as 'next guy in line.'" Brand shrugged. "It would have said that I didn't have control of you. And if there's one thing Rose seems to want when it comes to you, it's control."

"You'd get demoted and I'd be…?"

"I don't know. And let's not find out." Any trace of worry was replaced by determination when Brand looked down once again at Jughead. "That's our plan: to never find out. Now, we've officially got free time until tomorrow night to enjoy the city. At that point we'll meet with Rose and any further incidents involving messing with you should end. Let's go see some stuff and make it real clear to one and all that I feel completely in control - and that you're in lock step with me."

Jughead wanted nothing more than to call his dad to come home from wherever he was meeting with his own contacts, head back to the apartment, and hole up with his SAT prep book, Trigger, and the rest of the wolf pack.

Instead he nodded. "I guess… let's go up in the tower. Just stay close so I don't look like I'm alone. I don't want to actually break anyone's bones, all right?"

"I've got your six, killer. From now on, within arm's reach. Just like FP wanted." Brand nodded firmly.

00000

Brand was still a little shaken up when they got home, even though Jones had relaxed quickly once they were inside a building and being herded through lines and enclosed spaces designed for photo ops.

"Dad, it's too bad you can't come and tour the city with us. I brought you pictures, though," Jones declared as they reentered the apartment bearing bags of take-out and a sturdier bag filled with souvenirs that the kid had wanted to pick up for his friends back home. "Can I text, Brand? I just want to let everyone know that we made it safely and I miss them."

"Let's eat and then we can gin up some text messages together," Brand assented. Then he noticed that FP had not moved from his seat at the tiny dining room table, and he appeared to be studying the two of them intently. "Successful day, FP? Or did something come up?"

"I really ought to be asking the two of you that." FP's tone was flat.

"Oh. Uh." Jones froze, and Brand could feel himself doing the same. It hadn't been Clark who'd tipped FP off this time, but the man certainly seemed to have his finger on the pulse these days. "I was going to tell you over dinner, Dad-,"

"No need. I was regaled with the story of how some traffickers got awfully close to getting away with a teenager before an American plainclothes cop intervened." FP looked from one to the other. "What happened to arm's length? At least you 'intervened,' but the whole thing-,"

"Wait, what? The cop wasn't Brand." Jones looked puzzled.

FP's expression went from troubled to furious in the space of a heartbeat.

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea. I was there the whole time. The cop didn't even do much - he said a few things, and I was right there," Brand defended himself swiftly.

"What was really going on? I assume that traffickers didn't actually choose this moment to randomly target Jughead." FP continued scowling, but he seemed willing to hear them out, so that was something.

"Jones, you tell him the story so he knows he's getting it straight," Brand directed. "We didn't rehearse this, either, so don't even go down that road."

"He already gave you away on the plainclothes cop thing, so I think I believe that." FP nodded. "Jug?"

"Hey. Stop putting me in the middle." Jughead set his bags down on the table and looked from FP to Brand. "I'm not settling all of your fights."

"This is not the time to make a stand, kid."

"Just tell me what happened first, and then we can air your complaints," FP promised.

Jughead sighed. "Fine. We think that two of Rose's guys tried to bring me in so they could get some kind of credit with Rose before Brand could arrange a meeting. I wasn't sure what was going on, so since I couldn't be sure that it wasn't part of the plan-,"

Both Jones and FP gave Brand twin accusatory looks, as if his decision to keep information on a need-to-know basis was anything other than a major pain in his neck.

"-I almost walked right off with them. The policeman thought the whole thing looked fishy, and Brand was right there by then."

"By then?" FP seemed relieved to hear that the incident had not been worse, but he still eyed them suspiciously.

"Yeah. He was like a foot away and he grabbed me. And after that Brand didn't let me out of reach for the rest of the day."

"Good." FP nodded. "Let's keep it that way for the rest of your tourist adventures."

"That will just be tomorrow. We see Rose tomorrow night." Brand started opening the take-out containers as he spoke, figuring they'd do better with some food in them while they discussed this.

"Is that going to keep any other 'traffickers' away from Jughead?" FP seemed to take the news in stride. Which made some sense, since this had been their plan from the outset.

"Yeah. Once Rose has laid eyes on him, there's no more prize for dragging the kid into Xanadu."

"Good. Come here, Jughead." FP reached toward Jones, who obediently moved to sit next to his father at the table.

FP took a deep breath and his voice was intense when he spoke again. "I hate this plan. I hated hearing that some guys went anywhere near you today, I hated not being there to take them apart for trying it, and I'm not thrilled that Brandon was apparently far enough away that someone else felt the need to step in."

Jones nodded, and seemed like he was about to say something. FP held up a hand and it looked like it took a monumental effort for him to continue speaking with a level tone.

"But I know that I have to trust you, and I have to trust Brandon. I also know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you're going to impress Rose, and that after tomorrow we'll be one step closer to being done here. You're doing a great job with limited information, and I'm proud of you."

"But Dad, I almost-," Jones, ever the contrarian, suddenly seemed a whole lot more upset by what had happened now that he was receiving encouragement.

"Hey. Listen to me. You didn't 'almost' anything, Jughead. You and Brandon clearly went straight into panic mode, so I don't think you've thought this through. What would have happened if you'd gotten to a strange car and your godfather was nowhere to be seen?" FP smiled fondly, even though worry was still obvious in his expression. "I've seen you fight, and I've even seen you fight off people trying to get you into a car when you felt unsafe. My best guess is that you'd have been out of there in seconds, and those guys would have had their butts handed to them."

Jones looked both shocked and thoughtful in response to this new perspective. "That's... not what you said when you thought Brand was trying to kidnap me."

"That's because I've seen Brandon take you down time and again, Jug, and I know he's capable of spinning a story that would keep you from even attempting to fight back."

Jones sneaked a peek over at Brand, seemingly in agreement with FP's assessment. Brand shrugged; it was true enough.

"Now, don't you get cocky, boy. A weapon or an unlucky hit changes things faster than you would think possible - and your ribs aren't even fully healed -, but I honestly don't think this was as close a call as it could have been." FP gave Jones' forearm a gentle tap for emphasis.

Brand watched approvingly as Jones absorbed his father's words and his shoulders began to relax. FP surprised Brand from time to time, and this was one of those instances: it was important that the kid go in confident the following evening, and his father obviously understood that. Good.

And, as Brand thought about it more, he had to concede that FP was not wrong. Jones probably would have been just fine, even if he'd gone quite a bit further with the two men who'd accosted him. Nobody wanted to find that out for sure one way or the other, but it was a surprisingly heartening thought.

"Yeah, that's all true. Toronto is going to find him a far more formidable opponent than he was last time." Brand quirked his eyebrows when Jones looked up at him. "That means FP might not be our only secret weapon, kid."

"I know. We have FBI backup, too. Somewhere." Jones was watching Brand carefully for tells, but he leaned back in disappointment a moment later when Brand gave him a knowing look.

"I only meant you, Jones. Now, there is one other possibility we need to prepare for," Brand continued casually. It was time they talked about the very real likelihood that Rose would insist on keeping Jones as a 'guest' for a few days, as a show of good faith.

"It's not all bad, but it might seem a little scary if it happens. So let's talk through this tonight, all three of us."

When the Joneses looked up at him expectantly, Brand turned to get plates from the cabinet. Food usually helped with this sort of thing.

00000

Undercover work involving multiple competing agendas never did run smooth...? :)

I hope you have a lovely weekend! And as always, your reviews will be a great encouragement to me as (wow) my eyes miiiight be bigger than my capacity to fit all of the plot into an elegant shape. Effort will be made, though, and I've got some momentum. Chapter eighteen is already starting to come together... :-D

Thank you for reading! Take care and be well!

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