A/N: Due to some computer problems, I am posting the remainder of this story so I am not leaving anyone hanging. I appreciate all the kind words and if you drop me a note on this section, please be patient for your response. Think the old computer is going to the shop for a few days. Thanks.
"Tara?" Jack called climbing into the van serving as a command post outside of the warehouse where Sue was being held.
"Myles and Bobby are heading up teams. So far, nothing," Williams reported, glancing back at Jack and D.
"This is Sam-Three-Three. Second floor is clear. No sign of suspect or hostage. Heading to third floor," Myles reported, his voice coming through the speakers.
"Roger, Sam-Three-Three," Tara acknowledged from the surveillance van. "Bobby's team just headed to the same floor a few minutes ago," she added for her co-worker's benefit. Triggering the microphone, she called, "Sam-Three-One, what is your status?"
"Sam-Three-One, no sign of suspect, but I've located the hostage, third floor, southeast corner. Hostage is not clear. Repeat hostage is not clear. Tell the bomb squad we've got multiple explosives involved and move everyone back at least a block."
Scanning the area with eyes and his weapon, Bobby heard Tara call for the others to evacuate as he slowly advanced towards Sue. Reaching up to pull his mask from his face, he called over to the woman anxiously watching him. "Is anyone else here?" he asked when he was close enough for her to see.
"No," Sue answered back. "He's gone. Bobby, you need to get out of here. It is going to blow up at any minute."
"Not going to happen love," Bobby said distractedly, already kneeling and assessing the bomb mechanism strapped to his friend. "Jack would never forgive me if I left you here and saved my own neck," he added a tight smile on his face.
"How is he?" Sue asked pensively. "Was he hurt bad?"
"Nah, you know Jack," Bobby scoffed, coming up from looking under the chair. "Nothing keeps superman down." Sobering, he picked gently at the fabric sticking to a wide gash in her leg. "That looks sore," he said, gently probing the area. "Going to leave a scar I'm afraid. Sam-Three-One, Tara, have an ambulance standing by."
"Roger Sam-Three-One. Be advised Sam–Three-Six is on his way."
By the time Tara had finished, Bobby could hear the sound of Jack's footsteps advancing quickly.
"Jack!" Bobby yelled, scrambling to intercept him before he reached Sue. "JACK!" he yelled again grabbing him. "Listen to me!" When Jack stopped his forward motion, he continued. "She's wired, at least three triggers, one of them a vibration trigger. Less than ten on the timer." Stepping back, he glanced back toward the woman in question. "She's shaking so bad, she might blow us all up before I can even figure out how to disarm this thing."
Knowing what he needed to do, Jack squeezed Bobby's arm before advancing at a slower pace. "Sue," he called moving in, reaching for her. He could feel the tremors pass through her and her skin was cold to the touch. "Shhh, it's okay," he murmured, laying a hand on the side of her face, careful to not touch the gash along her hairline. "You need to hold still until Bobby can work his magic."
"She's freezing," he threw over his shoulder at Manning.
"Jack," Sue choked out. "You and Bobby need to get out of here."
"In a minute, we're all going get out of here," Jack soothed. "Are you hurt anywhere besides your head and leg?" he asked. Slipping his jacket around her shoulders, he could see a distinct hand print around her throat. Lifting her chin to get a better look, he winced.
"No, I'm okay," Sue said, leaning into Jack's touch. "Cold. Scared."
"I know, I'm scared too," Jack said, moving to cut the bindings on Sue's legs and arms. "Don't move," he cautioned. "Bobby?"
"It's tricky. Best I can hope to do is delay it," Bobby said, making sure his features were not in Sue's line of sight. "Not too late to get out of here. I'll bring her out with me," he offered.
The piercing look Jack threw at him told him that there was no way that was going to happen.
"Right then," Bobby sighed, sitting further up so that Sue could see him. "You ready to get out of here?" he asked tightly, a forced smile on his face. Seeing a nod, he continued. "It's going to be a rough," he warned. "When I give the word Jack's going to pull that vest off of you and give it to me. Then he's going to get you up and moving toward the door. And you're going to need to be quick about it."
"What about you?" Jack pressed.
"I'm going to be about two steps behind you mate," Manning assured him, silently hoping that was going to be the case. Pausing, he pinned Jack with his eyes. "We're only going to get a minute, minute and half tops from the second I cut this wire. You up for it?"
"A minute and half to get a couple hundred yards to the stairs, down two flights, out of the building and find cover before this whole thing goes up. Sure. Not a problem," Jack said flatly, knowing the odds were not with them.
"Minute and half tops," Bobby reminded him softly. "More likely we're going to have less."
Nodding, Jack glanced at Sue before looking back at Bobby. "But if we wait, it's still going to go off."
"Not much of a choice is it?"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I've never been good at waiting," Jack said with false bravado. "Let's do it."
Nodding, Bobby reached out to stop Jack. "Whatever happens, you keep moving, you hear me? You need to get Sue out of here."
"Bobby?" Jack questioningly, grabbing his arm and pinning him with his eyes. The serious tone in his voice made him think that Bobby was going to sacrifice himself to save them.
Reading the worry in his friend's eyes, Manning smiled. "Don't worry mate. I don't have any intention of dying today. I've got a bone to pick with one Daniel J. Farther."
Relieved, Jack snorted. "Well, you're going to have to wait 'til I get finished with him." Turning back toward Sue, he asked. "You ready?"
Looking at both of them with eyes bright with tears, Sue shook her head. "I don't think I'm going to be able to walk. I can't feel my legs. You and Bobby need to leave me and get out of here. I'm not worth risking both of your lives."
"Gotta disagree," Bobby retorted as Jack vehemently shook his head.
"I'd give my life ten times over if it meant you'd walk out of here safe. You are worth that and more Sue," Hudson asserted hotly. Softening his gaze as he locked eyes with her to reinforce his words. Seeing her realization of what he was saying, Jack reached out and cupped her cheek for a few seconds before turning back to Bobby.
Taking in a deep breath, Bobby nodded to Jack to get ready. Easing his hand under the vial of nitroglycerin, he held it steady, snipping a lead wire on the triggering mechanism. "Clock's ticking!" he snapped, shifting to take the vest after Jack loosened the final straps from around Sue.
"Come on," Jack said, pulling Sue to her feet and catching her as her legs buckled. Sliding her arm over his shoulder, he ignored the screaming of his own injuries and urged her forward towards the stairs. He tried unsuccessfully to ignore the stifled whimpers coming from Sue. Somehow he knew that sound was going to haunt him for some time to come.
Reaching the doorway leading to the stairs, Jack chanced a glance over his shoulder. He could see Bobby attempting to position the vest and the vial of nitroglycerin to buy them time.
They had only made it down two steps before he heard Bobby's footsteps behind him. "I'll take her," Manning urged, barely pausing to sling her over his shoulder. He followed Jack pounding down the stairs as quickly as he could, silently apologizing for each jolt he knew Sue was feeling.
Swinging open the outer door, Jack stepped out, immediately scanning the area for cover. "Bridge," he snapped, pointing across the parking lot toward the solid concrete pillars.
Breaking into a jog, they had only made it part way before the building behind them ripped apart. The force of the blast sent them to the ground.
Raising his head when the debris that was raining down around them finally stopped, Jack looked around for his friends. Seeing Bobby's wave that he was okay, he crawled the short distance between himself and Sue. "You okay?" he asked anxiously, helping her to sit up.
Sue shook her head as tears beginning to fall in earnest.
Realizing she wasn't talking in purely physical terms, Jack wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He ignored the pain as she put her arms around his body and buried her face into his neck. Lowering his head, he rested his cheek against her head and closed his eyes, trying to hold back his tears of relief.
Swallowing a lump in his throat, Bobby dropped his head and sent a silent prayer of thanks to the heavens that they had all made it. Hearing the calls from the approaching teams, he said softly, "helps on the way," before turning away to allow the two to have few moments alone.
"Found a witness who saw a dark colored pickup tear out of the parking lot not five minutes before we got here," Dimitrius reported as he watched the paramedics put sterile strips over a gash on Bobby's arm.
"Any description of the driver?" Jack asked from beside him, having been given a cursory checkup and waiting to go the hospital for a more through workup.
"Mid-forties, blond hair, stocky," D answered, cocking an eyebrow as if to dare either Jack or Bobby to make a guess who it might be.
"Sure sounds like Dell," Manning offered.
"Has Sue been able to tell you anything?" D asked, looking towards the woman in question being tended to by the medical personnel a short distance away.
"Not yet," Jack replied softly, his eyes following D's. "Maybe once we get to the hospital and they get her patched up." Glancing back at him, he added, "She's pretty shook up."
"Understandable," Gans replied. "I'm just glad you two got her out of there in time."
"Yeah, well, that was thanks to Bobby," Jack said seriously standing up to face his friend. "I appreciate it man."
Bobby clenched the hand being held out to him and was pulled into a brief hug before being let go. The reality that all of them could have easily died was still too close for comfort. Stepping back he tried to brush off the magnitude of the moment. "Yeah well, I told her that I'd never hear the end of it from you if I didn't." Jack's and D's grin and chuckle told him he'd managed to lighten the moment as he had intended.
"Agent, we're ready to go," the medic said, coming up to Jack.
Glancing back, he realized that the gurney holding Sue had already been loaded into the ambulance. "Sure you don't need to come too?" he asked Bobby.
"I'm good. This is only the first time I've been banged up this week," he quipped back. "At the rate you're going, they can just dedicate a room for you there at the hospital."
"Ha, ha," Hudson said dryly. Turning to D he added, "Have funny man here pick me up after he finishes his routine, would ya?"
Laughing, D said "Sure." He sobered as he watched the medic take Jack's arm to help him to the ambulance. The slouched posture and slow movements told him that the adrenaline that had masked the pain was wearing off.
Turning he caught a frown on Bobby's face. "Didn't say a word about being in that much pain, did he?" Gans hazarded.
Manning glanced at him. "Did you expect him to? It wouldn't have mattered if he'd been half dead. He'd made up his mind that nothing was going to keep him from finding that shiela."
Opening the door to the hospital room, the nurse sighed in frustration. She had told Agent Hudson twice to return to his room but he was still here. Shaking her head, she resigned herself to the situation. Moving into the dimly lit room, she paused momentarily to greet the yellow Labrador that came to see her.
"It's okay boy," she said softly patting his head. "I just need to check on your friends here," she added, running her eyes over the woman asleep in the bed as she moved to the recliner to check on the other sleeping patient. Picking up his wrist, she took his pulse before pulling a blood pressure cup from her pocket.
"Jack," the nurse called softly. Carefully avoiding the gun resting on he leg near his hand, she raised his arm and applied the cup. Looking into sleepy brown eyes, she smiled. "Just need to check your vitals," she assured him. Waiting for the machine to take the reading, she took his temperature. Nodding towards the gun, she asked, "Don't you think the two agents in the hallway are enough? They seem to be pretty protective as to who gets in here."
"Can't be too careful," Jack said, clearing his throat and instinctively moving the gun to the other leg where it was more accessible.
Getting the message, the nurse changed subjects. "You'd be more comfortable in a bed. I can come get you when she wakes up."
"I'm fine here," Jack replied, trying to sound reassuring. Looking around the nurse, he watched Sue for a moment to see if she was awake. "She doesn't like hospitals," he offered as an explanation.
"No one really likes staying in one." Pulling off the blood pressure cup, she looked at him reading the pallor and fatigue reflected in his features. "Can you give me a pain rating?"
"Two, three," Jack threw out, not meeting her eyes.
"Uh huh," she acknowledged not quite believing him. "Do you want something?"
"Maybe in a little bit," he said, trying to muster a small smile. "Thanks."
Pausing as the door, the nurse looked back. "I have to change her bandage in a half hour. If you decide you need something before then, just use the call light."
Waiting until the nurse had left the room, Jack grimaced as he eased himself upward. He wasn't convinced the hospital bed was going to be any more comfortable than the chair he had been napping in. Besides, his room was too far away as far as he was concerned. Looking at his watch, he frowned when he realized it was only a little after midnight. At this rate, it was going to be a long night.
His emotions were seconded in Levi's sorrowful gaze as he rested his head on Jack's leg. Reaching out, Jack laid a comforting hand on the dog. "She'll be okay buddy. We'll both make sure of that."
Seeming to be satisfied by Jack's assurances, Levi went back to this post beside the bed where he could keep a watchful eye on both of his people.
Watching the placid canine, Jack was glad Lucy had thought to bring him to the hospital earlier. Although she had not gotten to see Sue personally, she had said it made her feel better knowing that Levi would be here when Sue woke up. Jack had promised to keep her posted on Sue's progress.
As it had been several hours, he thought he should send her a note to assure her that Sue was resting comfortably. Picking up his phone from the floor beside the chair, Jack scanned the messages. Reading one from Bobby, he punched in his number. "Bobby, what'd you find out?"
"S.O.G's still tailing Morrow. We're hoping he'll lead us to Dell," Manning relayed.
"And if he doesn't?" Jack pressed.
"If nothing by morning, we'll pick him up and have a little chat with Mr. Jeffrey Morrow," Bobby assured him.
"I don't want either of those guy slipping into oblivion," Hudson pressed, afraid Dell would elude capture has he had previously.
Agreeing with Jack, but not needing to say it, Bobby changed subjects. "How's Sue?"
"Still sleeping. The doctor said she'd be out for hours, and he evidently meant it. They'll have to change the packing in her leg again before too long so that will probably wake her up. As long as she doesn't spike a fever, doctor thought she'd be okay."
"And you?"
"Sore," Jack admitted begrudgingly.
"Are they going to let you go home tomorrow?" Bobby asked.
"Suppose to," Jack said, not telling him that he wasn't exactly being the most cooperative patient or that he had no intention of leaving until he was convinced Sue did not need him here.
""Kay. I'll stop by in the morning and bring you some clean clothes," Manning said.
"Appreciate it. And Bobby, call me if you find Dell," Jack pressed.
"Night Jack," Bobby intoned, not promising anything before disconnecting.
Unseeingly, Jack looked at the phone in his hand. He really didn't know what he would do should Morrow and Dell escape capture. He wasn't sure Sue would ever feel safe again as long as they were free. He knew he would be looking over his shoulder that was for sure.
Sending Lucy a quick text, he decided to lie back down. Wincing as he moved, he began to wonder if he was being a fool to not take something for the discomfort. He was afraid if he did, it would knock him out to the point he would not hear Sue if she woke up.
Blowing out a breath, Jack smiled at the liquid brown eyes standing immediately beside him. "I'm okay boy," he said softly. As the phrase seemed to answer Levi's question, Jack watched as he again sank to the floor next to Sue's bed. "You're not getting much sleep either, are you?" Jack asked rhetorically.
A thump of Levi's tale responded to Jack's question.
Closing his eyes, Jack tried to focus on his breathing and ignore the throbbing of his side. He was close to succeeding when the sound of a strangled cry brought him upright. Across the room Sue sat up, panic and disorientation on her face.
Moving as quickly as he could, Jack tried to get past the dog standing with his feet on the side of the bed and whining. "Sue," he called, trying to get into her line of vision. "You're safe. I've got you," he said evenly, laying his hands on her upper arms and slowly rubbing them.
"Jack?" Sue called hesitantly, her eyes scanning his face.
"I'm right here," he said as he watched tears appear in her eyes. "Hey," he said trying to lighten his features. "It's okay. You're safe now."
"I thought you were dead," she whispered huskily, reaching to touch his face.
The anguish of her tone brought a lump to Jack's throat. Pulling her close, he pressed his lips to her forehead before wrapping his arms around her as she pressed her face to his. He could feel her tears on his cheek as he slowly rubbed circles on her back until he felt her stop trembling. After a few minutes, the feel of Levi's incessant pawing caused him to pull away.
"Okay, boy. You get to greet her too," Jack said, shifting enough to allow Levi to again stand on his back feet to get to his mistress.
"Levi," Sue called joyously, relishing the welcoming feel of his kisses on her face. An unbidden laugh erupted from her at the overwhelming love she felt from her furry companion. "I missed you too buddy."
"Lucy brought him earlier," Jack said, pushing Levi back down. "She said he would feel better if he was with you."
"And me with him," she added softly. Moving, she winced and instinctively gripped her leg.
"Do you remember how your leg was hurt?" Jack asked, pushing gently on her shoulders to ease her back in the bed. "Was it in the crash?" The doctor had told him it appeared to be caused by jagged metal.
"When they pulled me from the car I think," Sue said frowning. "I remember we were talking, then the truck," a shudder ran through her finishing the sentence. "I was dazed and then I looked over and I thought…." She paused to swallow back the tears that again appeared in her eyes. Jack picked up her hand and began to rub his thumb in comforting circles on it.
"You were… unconscious and bleeding," she started again after a minute. "My head hurt and my eyes were burning from the airbags, and suddenly these hands grabbed me and pulled me out of the car. I remember a sharp pain in my leg as they did it."
"You were bleeding pretty bad at the scene," he said looking down, a frown causing his brow to furrow. Looking back at her, he raised a fist to his chest and rubbed it in a tight circle. 'I'm sorry.'
Sitting back up, Sue shook her head. "It's not your fault, Jack," she said, gripping his hand tighter. "There was nothing you could have done."
Shaking his head slowly in disagreement, he looked at her with a pained expression. "I could have listened to you and left town when you asked. I could have left you at the office. I could have hold up in some hotel and sat on my hands until Tara, Bobby, D, and Myles caught those clowns. I could have told D to hand the case off to another team. I could have…." Jack said tightly before looking away, his jaw clenching.
"It's not your fault," she reiterated, stressing each word to try to make him hear. Silently she watched him wrestle with his guilt and her words. "Thank you for coming to rescue me," she said softly, after a few moments.
Soberly, he turned to stare at her. "I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you."
Sue cupped his cheek, feeling him lean into her touch. "I'm right here," she said, mirroring his words from before. "It's okay. I'm safe."
Reaching up, Jack put his hand on the side of her head and pulled her closer. Leaning forward, he kissed her gently. Feeling her respond, he cherished the feel of her lips moving below his. Breaking the contact, he laid his forehead on hers, relishing her touch for a moment. Feeling a sudden change in her, Jack sat back. "What's wrong?"
"Why are you in hospital scrubs?" she asked, fingering the material of his smock. Looking at his arm, she realized he had an identification bracelet. "You're a patient?"
Shaking his head, Jack smiled softly to ease her worry. "Merely a precaution."
"What's wrong?" Sue asked, not convinced.
"Various parts of me are shades of black, blue, green or purple," he said quickly, blowing out a breath and waiving off the significance of the statement.
Not understanding exactly what he meant, Sue shook her head slightly to indicate her confusion.
Debating for a moment, Jack sighed. There was no way, he was going to be able to keep it from her for very long as the doctor had already told him he was not going to be cleared for several days to return to work. Reaching for the bottom of his shirt, he lifted it partway up to expose the deep purple and greenish bruising covering half his body.
"Jack," Sue gasped in horror, looking at the damage.
Lowering his shirt to make her bring her eyes back to his, he signed, 'I'm okay'. Dryly, he added, "I don't think I'll be going shirtless for awhile," trying ease her worry.
"Does it hurt?" she asked wincing.
"A little," he admitted reluctantly. The sound of the door opening caused him to sign 'door' before glancing back.
"I'm sorry," the nurse said softly, coming into the room with a cart of supplies. "I need to check her vitals and change her bandage now."
Nodding, Jack stood up. "I've got to step out but I'll check on you in a little bit," he assured Sue, squeezing her hand.
Sue gripped his hand to stop him from leaving. "Get some rest," Sue urged when he looked questioningly at her. "I'll be okay and you need it."
Smiling at the exchange, the nurse looked at Jack. "The lady knows what she's talking about. Since you won't listen to me," she trailed off, jerking her head expectantly toward Sue as if to ask if he was going to pay attention to her.
Rolling his eyes at the nurse, Jack sighed. "Alright. I'm just down the hall, room three- two-six," he said and signed for her. "If you need me, have the nurse get me or send Levi. I'll leave the door part way open." Glancing down at Sue's silent sentry, he smiled softly. "You'll find me, won't ya boy?"
Slapping the table in front of him, Bobby leaned forward to get into Jeffrey Morrow's face. He was tired from being up for the better part of the past three days and he really had no patience for this yahoo. "You don't seem to understand how much trouble you're in here, do you?"
"Accessory after the fact to multiple counts of murder, bank robbery, felon in possession," Myles intoned in Morrow's ear, "and then we get to the really good stuff. Possession of explosives, kidnapping and attempted murder of not one but two FBI employees," he said, his tone becoming harsher as he finished. "And we won't even talk about the state and local charges you're facing."
"Whoa," Morrow hissed, rubbing his hand over his face. "I didn't do anything to any of your guys."
"But your buddies Farther and Dell did," Manning snapped back. "And since you provided them with the truck and the dynamite, tsk, tsk." He paused for effect. "Your fingerprints were all over it. You're in it up to your eyebrows." Sitting back, Bobby could tell that they were close to breaking this guy. "Whatta think Myles? Lethal injection?"
"Oh, definitely," Leland intoned gleefully, leaning against the wall. "I know. We can flip a coin to see who gets to do it, Maryland or Virginia."
"Okay, okay," Morrow snapped sitting up right. "What do you want?"
"Dell," Manning intoned. "Where can we find him?"
Nervously, Morrow licked his lips. "If I give you what I know, what's in it for me?"
Pursing his lips, Bobby pretended to think for a moment. "We'll recommend to the A.U.S.A. life with the possibility of parole… ifwe get Dell," he stressed. "If you're a good boy, you'll be out in thirty."
"Better than death," Myles stressed.
Considering his options, Morrow blew out a loud breath. "I don't know for sure where he is," he breathed quietly, relenting. "But I heard him talking to Farther that his old lady's kid won some pitcher of the year award last fall. You can probably find him through that."
"Where?" Leland snarled, leaning over Morrow.
"Someplace in Virginia," Morrow ground out, leaning away from the glaring faces.
Glancing backward, Manning nodded toward the two-way mirror.
Striding into the bullpen a short time later, Bobby called out as soon as he hit the door. "Tara?"
"Michael Browdon, seventeen, Junior League pitcher of the year," she called out, motioning towards the screen. "Lives with his mother and stepfather just outside of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Mother is a stay at home mom. Step-Dad is a mechanic at a local factory."
Glancing at the waiting faces, she continued. "In trying to find out more about Mr. Tyler Dawgins, the step-dad, I discovered that the real Mr. Dawgins died nine years ago. However, a DMV record says that he registered a dark colored, late model Ford pick up last year."
"Do tell," Myles murmured. "It's a wonder what medicine can do these days isn't. Do we have a picture of this miracle man Mr. Dawgins?"
"We do, from a license. Gentlemen, on your left the recently reincarnated Tyler Dawgins. On your right, James Dell," Tara said, waiting for them to see what she saw.
Bobby looked over at D and Myles to confirm they were seeing the same thing. It was Lucy however who stated the obvious. "They're the same person."
"Address?" D snapped.
"Yep," Tara answered, holding up a slip of paper.
"Good work Tara," Bobby called, moving to gather his coat. "Let Jack know I'm going to be late picking him up," he said, snatching the piece of paper with the address on it from Williams' hand as he passed.
"Oh, and Tara," D said, pausing at the doorway. "Don't tell him where we've gone."
"Right," Tara said. It was only after they were gone did it occur to her. "So what do I tell him?"
Turning from the window, Jack glanced at his watch. Three hours since Lucy had stopped by with a change of clothing for both he and Sue and the news that the others were following up on a lead on Dell. Sighing, he sank into the chair and looked over at Sue asleep in the bed.
She was doing better than he could have hoped given all she had gone through. So far, she had been spared any more nightmares and the large cut on her leg was showing signs of closing. Thinking about the deep, ten-inch laceration, Jack mentally winced at the number of stitches it would have taken to close it if that had been a possibility. Unfortunately, since it had not been properly tended to after it happened, the wound would take much longer to heal.
Debating on whether or not he should call Bobby for an update, Jack discarded the thought as Sue showed signs of waking. Standing beside the bed, he smiled. "Hey sleepyhead."
"Hi," Sue murmured back, trying to clear the fog from her brain. "Any news on Bobby and the others?" she asked, clearing her throat and sitting more upright.
"Not yet. How are you feeling?" Jack asked, watching her face. It still showed that she was tired, but there was less pain etched into it.
"Better," Sue assured him with a smile. "You?"
Shrugging it off, Jack smiled. "I don't think I'm going to be back in ready-for-anything status for a few days yet."
Sardonically, Sue smiled and nodded. She knew that feeling. Glancing up, her features transitioned to a welcoming smile when she saw the face peeking into the room. "Hey," she called out at the group entering.
Following Sue's gaze, Jack turned to greet his coworkers. Watching them as they stopped around the bed, he read the barely concealed glee in their features. "You got him," he surmised, half as a statement, half as a question.
"Signed, sealed, and delivered," Bobby announced, breaking into a grin.
"He give you any trouble?" Jack asked.
Shaking his head, Myles retorted, "Meek as a lamb. Seems Mr. Dell promised the missus to keep all of his guns out of the home. And since he couldn't get to his truck AND we weren't beautiful women helplessly tied to a chair…," Myles trailed off holding up his hands, suggesting the rest was obvious.
"Thank you Myles," Sue said and signed, smiling at the complement.
"A.U.S.A. says there's plenty of evidence to charge him for the old murders and robberies as well as his more current activities, including taking a shot at you the other night," D assured them. "He won't be out in this lifetime."
"Good," Sue said. "I don't think I'd feel very safe knowing one day he could get out," she added shuddering at the thought.
Jack sympathetically squeezed her hand, but before he could say anything Bobby broke in.
"That's not gonna happen. Besides, the rest of us talked and the next time somebody comes after Jack, he's getting shoved on a plane and shipped to Alaska and you're," Bobby pointed at Sue, "going to the Caribbean."
"Sounds good to me," Lucy said half under her breath. Nudging Tara, she added, "Think we could go as her bodyguards?"
Looking at his coworkers, he could see the truth of Bobby's threats in their eyes. The past week had been hard on them also. He felt bad about that. "What? I get lousy cell service and bears, and she gets sandy beaches and Mai Tais?" Jack objected good-naturally.
D shrugged as if it seemed obvious to him. "I don't think you'd look very good in a bikini," causing all them to laugh at the mental image the statement caused.
Holding up his hands in defeat, Jack sighed. "I can't argue with that. Alaska, it is I guess. What you say Levi? Going with me or Sue?"
Looking between his two favorite humans, Levi barked an apology to Jack before jumping up to rest his feet on Sue.
"Guess he told you," Tara said, laughing with the others.
Chuckling, Jack looked at his friends and smiled. For the first time in days, it felt like things were getting back to normal.
The end.
A/N: Time to roll those closing credits. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Feedback is always appreciated.