Thank you everyone for reviewing! I really appreciate it.
Some of you noticed that Jack's character/personality is beginning to show a bit more…I hope that as the story continues you'll also continue to "warm-up" to her…
I started a new story called Conspiracy Theory OneShots…it's a compilation of the characters' inner thoughts in certain parts of the story, deleted scenes, extended scenes, song fics, and Jack's background. I hope that this will also shed a little more light on Jack's character...
Okay, enough rambling…on with the next chapter!
Chapter 47: Sanctuary
Jack, Lincoln, and Sara sprinted back to the waiting taxi. Jack flung the back door open and hurried Lincoln and Sara inside the car. She slammed the door shut and hurriedly took shot-gun.
"Drive! Now!" she ordered the cab driver.
The driver gave her a puzzled look.
"Hit the freakin' gas pedal!" screamed Jack, desperation as well as annoyance flashing in her eyes.
The driver mumbled crossly under his breath, but obeyed her order. He slammed on the gas and the car peeled away from the curb and back out onto the main road.
Jack glanced back to see if The Company decided to try and follow them. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized that she and Lincoln probably injured enough of them to keep them at bay for the time being.
She glanced at Sara for a moment.
"You okay?"
Sara nodded, eyes still wide with shock.
Jack nodded briefly and then glanced at Lincoln. His face was a mask of horror and disappointment. Jack frowned sadly.
"I'm so sorry Linc," she murmured, "I tried…I just…I couldn't get to him fast enough."
Lincoln nodded slowly.
"I know…I know," he muttered, "It's not your fault. And anyways, we got Sara."
"Thank you, by the way," said Sara after a moment as she gave Jack a quick glance.
"Yeah…no problem," replied Jack giving her a slight smile.
"So…I guess I've missed a few things," said Sara, glancing back and forth between Lincoln and Jack, "I guess you aren't with The Company anymore?"
Jack smiled, "Yeah…you are a little behind. No, I'm not with The Company anymore. As you know, Michael was taken to…" Jack paused and glanced nervously at the driver. Sara nodded to indicate that she understood.
"Well, so was Alex," continued Jack, "I'm working with Lincoln to help them both get out. That, and I want to make things right. After all that's happened…after all I've done…"
Sara nodded in understanding.
"Where are we going?" asked the driver in a heavy Panamanian accent.
"Back to the hotel," said Lincoln.
"No," protested Jack, "The airport, please."
Lincoln gave her a curious look. Jack shot him a glare that simply ordered him to just stay silent. Lincoln frowned in disapproval but sat back in his seat and remained quiet for the rest of the ride.
The second the taxi cab pulled up to the airport, Jack leapt out of the car. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small wad of bills and tossed them into the car as Lincoln and Sara climbed out.
She hurried them inside the lobby of the airport and over to a less-crowded section. She looked Sara in the eyes to ensure that she had her full attention.
"Okay," she said quietly, but firmly, "I need you to just do what I say, okay? Ask no questions, don't say anything, just do it."
Sara nodded, her eyes full of fear and uncertainty.
"Good. Now, I want you and Lincoln to stay right here while I go make a phone call. When I come back I'm going to tell you what's going to happen. Just remember what I said okay?"
Sara nodded again, still confused.
Jack gave Lincoln a quick glance and then walked back out of the airport. She sat on a wooden bench on the sidewalk and pulled out her razor cell phone.
Taking a deep breath, Jack punched in a number and prayed.
Several rings later, someone finally answered.
"Hello? Who is this?" asked a demanding voice.
"Lang? It's Jack…Jack Harper."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment.
"Jack?" breathed Lang in shock, "Are you okay? Where are you? What's going on?"
Jack laughed slightly.
"I can't tell you all that," she said, sadly, "But I do need you to do me a favor."
"Okay…what is it?" asked Lang, hesitantly.
"Okay…this is going to sound crazy, but I trust you. I know that you've known what Alex and I've been doing for quite some time now. And yet, you never told on us. You never called us out on it. You stayed loyal. Well…I need you to trust me one more time."
"Of course, Jack," said Lang, sincerely, "I'd do anything for you and Alex, you know that."
Jack swallowed back the emotion that somehow suddenly snuck up on her.
"Thank you Lang, that means a lot. Um…I have a friend that's going to need to stay somewhere safe for a while. Would it be a problem if she stayed with you?"
"No, not at all. Who is it?"
Jack hesitated.
"Jack?" asked Lang, suddenly becoming concerned, "Who is it?"
"It's, um…Sara Tancredi."
Lang did not reply for a moment.
"How in the world…?"
"It's a long story," said Jack, "But she needs to stay somewhere safe. Now. Can you do that for me?"
"Um…yeah. Yeah, sure."
"Okay. She's flying in today. I'll give her your address and phone number. She'll call you when she lands and I'll need you to be there to pick her up."
"Will do."
"Thanks Lang…really, thank you."
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Jack walked back into the airport and approached Lincoln and Sara.
"Here," said Jack as she handed Sara a piece of paper, "When you land call that number. A friend of mine will be there to pick you up from the airport. Her name is Felicia Lang. You need to get the next plane to Chicago. Okay?"
Sara nodded and glanced down at the paper.
"Can…can you do something for me?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah. What is it?" asked Jack.
"Can you…can you tell Michael that I'm okay? And that…that I love him?"
Jack smiled sympathetically for a moment. She suddenly realized how much she could relate to Sara. Both the men they loved were in SONA. Sara had gone so far for Michael. She had destroyed her career for him. Jack had gone far for Alex too. She had nearly destroyed her entire life for his sake.
"Yeah, yeah I'll tell him," replied Jack in a whisper, "We both have people we love in there. And I'll do what it takes to get them back. Be careful Sara."
Sara nodded and gave Lincoln a quick hug. She turned to Jack and gave her a hug as well.
"Thank you…thank you so much," she whispered as she gave Jack a squeeze.
Jack felt emotion well up in her chest again and she had to swallow to clear her throat.
"Yeah…anytime."
Jack and Lincoln stood, side-by-side, and watched as Sara walked away and disappeared into the crowd.
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