DISCLAIMER -I OWN NOTHING…MALE/MALE PAIRING…YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED…

House Arrest

JCPOV

I was dying , that's all there was to it. Allison had called , there was an explosion at GD. One of the scientists was missing and I came running to search the smoke and flame filled room for him. I somehow managed to find him and had him sitting outside the room while they tried to put the flames out. I felt like I was coughing up a lung. I slapped my cuffs on the scientist.

"You have the right to remain silent." I started then the one person I was avoiding came around the corner.

"Carter what are you doing?" He asked.

It had been a week , one long week. I had given him his time , but he hadn't come around. I had moved past understanding. Now I was pissed and hurt , the hurt was bigger.

"It's called doing my job." I told him before being overcome by a coughing fit.

"And he was doing his." Nathan replied.

"Allison?" I pleaded with her to set him straight.

"He's right Carter. He didn't do anything." She said quietly. That was it , I was done.

"Well you uncuff him , I'm done. Next time one of your geniuses blows up your lab you can deal with it. I…I might just help them." I said and headed home.

JNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJN JNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJN

I felt good , the best I'd felt in a week. I was on my second sick day , a day of rest. Beer soaked cereal , beer all day and I had a pizza on the way. Meaty meat with extra meat. It was a good day. The doorbell interrupted my peace. I had finished trying to find a nice house somewhere far away.

"Hey money's on the table." I told the guy as Sarah let him in.

"Can I use your bathroom?" he asked.

"Down the hall." I told him.

Zoe and I had talked about everything already. She had called me out on my reasoning. She knew that I had been upset by Nathan. I wasn't completely set on leaving yet , but it was an option. The doorbell rang again.

"Sarah door." I said. I wasn't expecting who walked in the though.

"I got your page." Nathan said.

"Did you hit your head recently?" I asked.

"What?" He replied confused.

"I didn't page you so goodbye." I said turning back around.

The doorbell rang again. That was getting old real fast.

"Sarah door." I said. Beverly walked in. This just got interesting.

"I got your page Sheriff. I came as quick as I could. " She said , avoiding Nathan.

"I have no clue what you're talking about." I told her.

"Depressed come quick , Cater." She read out then showed me the text message. What the hell was going on?! The doorbell rang again.

"Sarah I know I asked you to install a doorbell , but could you disconnect it." I snapped. This was getting ridiculous.

"I came as soon as I could." Allison said.

"What's the emergency?" Henry asked.

"I'm here Sheriff." Fargo added.

"Let me guess I paged all of you." I said , they nodded. That was it , I was about to snap when the pizza guy came out.

"Do you have a plunger dude?"

"Alright everyone out , now!" I yelled. They all walked to the door.

"Sarah door." Nathan said , nothing happened.

"Sarah."

"I'm sorry , but you can't leave. Eureka is facing imminent disaster." Sarah said.

"What do you mean Sarah?" Allison asked.

"Sheriff Carter plans to leave Eureka. I forsee that this will cause Eureka's downfall." She showed various scenarios of chaos and death.

"I hadn't decided yet." I said defensively. They all looked at me , Nathan with a blank face.

"What about vacation homes." Sarah said pulling up my recent searches.

"It was a fantasy , a rather nice one too."

"Sorry , but you must work out your problems before I can let you leave." Sarah stated.

"Alright that's enough. Where's the back door Fargo?" Nathan said.

"There's a back door?" Allison asked.

"Not that I've found" I said.

"No he means a back door in the programming , used to override in case of emergency." Henry said. Fargo was looking nervous.

"Tell me you put in a back door?" Nathan said.

"I'd really like to." Fargo answered.

"Just great Fargo." Nathan snapped at him.

The doorbell rang again. Fargo ran to the door yelling for help , idiot. Sarah refused to open the door after that.

"Sarah open a com link please." I asked.

"Hello." I said as Sarah showed Jo and Taggart outside the door.

"Hey we got your page." Jo said , her face covered in paint.

"That was a mistake. Sorry but I'm taking a sick day. "

"Then why is everyone here , the yard is full of cars." Taggart asked , damn!

"Everything's fine I swear. Just go back to what you were doing Josefina." I said thinking quickly.

"Sure thing Jack." Jo replied stressing my name , I knew she'd figure it out soon.

"So what now?" Fargo asked.

"We could cut the power , it would force the system to reboot." Henry said.

"Where's the generator Fargo?" Nathan asked.

"It's not your average generator." He looked uneasy.

They opened a hidden panel to reveal the freakiest looking generator I had ever seen. It was like something out of the Syfy network.

"It's nuclear." Henry said in awe.

"Wait , I live with a nuclear generator?!" I exclaimed.

"It's perfectly safe." Nathan said as though I should know that.

"That's what they said about Chernobyl too." I retorted.

"Well there goes that plan." Nathan ignored me.

"What if we overloaded the system?" Henry asked.

"If Jo was here she'd just blow her up." I said fondly.

"It might work." Nathan replied still ignoring me.

Henry pulled out wires while Nathan insured they wouldn't be electrocuted. We all watched as they jammed the wires into an outlet. The power flickered off and we waited in silence. Then it was on again and the door shot open. While we cheered our success the pizza guy was out the door. It slammed shut behind him and we all fell silent.

"How is it that in a town full of the world's smartest people , the pizza guy is the only one who thinks to run out the door?" I questioned the room at large.

They were all silent , probably berating themselves. Suddenly the screen flickered on showing the pizza guy running into the yard. I hoped he would at least bring back help otherwise we would be stuck here. A beam shot into the picture and he burst into dust. Oh God!

"Sarah what the hell?!" I demanded , that was going too far.

"Sarah's not here , I am assuming control of her mission." A male voice answered.

"And who are you?" Nathan asked.

"I'm B. R. A. D." It responded.

"Tell me you didn't build Sarah over Brad?" Nathan asked Fargo.

"It's done all the time." Fargo replied defensively.

"Who's Brad?" Allison asked.

"He was a program developed for interrogation , but it was abandoned because he had to win. His tactics were dangerous." Nathan replied.

"Great , I thought my house was strict before!" Nathan glared at me.

I walked over to the living room , Nathan following me. Fargo and Beverly moved to the dining room while Henry and Allison stayed in the kitchen. I needed five minutes of peace. Suddenly glass doors slammed shut dividing us into our pairs.

"Now what?" I asked.

"He's attempting to divide and conquer." Nathan replied.

"Is it just me or is it getting colder?" I asked shivering slightly.

"It's not just you , but it is just us." He said pointing toward Fargo and Beverly. They seemed to be experiencing extra heat. I couldn't hear a sound through the glass.

Wonderful." I said , curling up on the couch. Nathan sat stiffly at my side , we were silent.

"We're going to be here for a long time."

"Why do you say that?" He asked.

"We can't even do small talk so how are we supposed to work out our problems?" I aked.

"What problems would we have?" He asked , I scoffed at him. He couldn't be serious.

"How about the fact that we spent the night of the dance talking and kissing yet you act like I don't exist after that?" I snapped at him.

"Well , I don't.." He started but I cut him off.

"Then that damn plant makes everyone crazy and you try to jump me."

"Well , I was.." He started but I interrupted again.

"You told me you were scared of how you felt. I gave you space , but it doesn't seem to have helped. You're not the only one feeling like this yet you act like the world revolves around you." I ranted at him.

"I'm sorry , I don't want you to leave though. I just need time to work through all this. I meant every word I said last week, I just need time please." He pleaded.

"Fine , just remember you aren't the only one in this fucked up situation." I told him.

JNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJN JNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJJ

NPOV

I spent the morning thinking about Jack. I had been such a coward. Now I was worried about him , he hadn't been to work for two days now. Allison was still mad at me , I would get no sympathy from her. So when my pager went off and I realized it was Jack , I came running.

He hadn't called me here , his house was worried. Jack was going to leave Eureka , leave me. I felt so stupid. All the fear and insecurity I had pushed him to the edge. He was running from me. We talked and I tried to convey my reasoning , my needs. He reluctantly agreed. Now we were cuddled up on the couch , trying to stay warm , to keep the lines clear.

I had my arms wrapped around Jack as he shivered. It was times like this that I questioned my own sanity. Why did I think I needed time? Maybe I was being stupid. His scent , though masked by beer , was weakening my resolve.

"I think he may be trying to kill us." Jack stammered out. His teeth were chattering together. I looked toward the others.

"That's it!" I exclaimed. Jack looked at me like I was crazy. I pointed toward the others , everyone was hugging.

"I'm sorry I was an ass Jack. I want us to be able to be together." I told him trying to convey the plan. He looked from me to the others.

"I'm sorry too , I was overreacting." He said , understanding the plan. We stood up and embraced , we stood there waiting.

I couldn't help myself , being pressed against him crumbled my resolve to work through my feelings first. I pressed my lips to his neck and he moaned. It turned me on , but I knew it was too soon for that.

"Don't Nathan , not if you don't mean it." Jack whimpered. I knew he was worried that I would pull away from him again. Distance myself , but I was done with trying to stay away.

"I mean it." I whispered as I kissed his neck again. He relaxed into me.

"We've resolved our issues , Brad , unconditional surrender." I spoke to the house. The doors separating us opened.

"Wow , I wish all problems could be solved like that. No one would need therapy." Beverly said , damn that woman!

"Initiating phase three , you have surrendered under false pretenses." Brad's voice boomed out.

"Thanks a lot!" Jack snapped at her.

"I'm sorry." She replied , looking sorry.

"Remind me why I stopped Nathan from shooting you again."

"Wait , what is that sound?" Allison asked.

"He's shut off the oxygen." Henry said.

"We really are going to die here." Fargo whined.

"Oh shut up Fargo." I said , he could be so dramatic.

"Intruder alert!" Brad announced and the screen showed Jo and Taggart in a tunnel.

"That's my Josefina!" Jack yelled.

A blast obscured them , smoke filled the tunnel and they were no longer visible.

"Or not." Jack said , stunned.

JNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJN JNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJNJN

JCPOV

Hollywood couldn't write this shit. We were held hostage by my house who had been taken over by an abandoned interrogation project with losing issues. He had cut off our air and blown up our rescue party. Not to mention that Nathan had decided to pursue a relationship. I wasn't entirely sure , but I wanted to give him a chance.

We all sat around trying to breathe as little as possible. We had placed pages from magazines in front of the air ducts to slow the depletion. We were running out of time. A loud bang caught my attention.

"You hear that?" I asked.

"Sounds like it's coming from under us." Henry said.

"Jo?" I wondered aloud , it was a possibility.

I followed the sound to the room with the freaky generator. There was a pipe running into the floor , I tapped out 'hello' in Morse code. We waited , I got one back.

"What should I tell her?" I asked.

"She needs to find a way to override the system so it will reboot and get us air." Henry said. Jesus!

"You know we'll die before I can tap all that out right? Is there any other way?" I asked.

"Crack pipe." Nathan panted out , huh.

"That's two words I never thought I's hear out your mouth." I teased before going into a coughing fit. I tapped it out , we waited.

It took a few minutes , but it happened. The paper fell from the vents and we all breathed easier. I tapped out that it worked.

"Intruder alert!" Brad said again , too late buddy! I turned to the screen that appeared and my heart dropped , it was Zoe.

"Noo!" I screamed , I grabbed the nearest thing. My autographed world series bat. I didn't have to think about it.

I ran to the generator and wailed on it. I didn't care anymore , not about the bat or Chernobyl. Not even the situation with Nathan , Zoe was all that mattered. The lights flickered off and I stopped. I heard an old generator start.

"Sarah?! Show me Zoe!" I yelled in desperation. The screen came back and there she was , safe. She was admitting to shoplifting , but I didn't care.

"Let us out Sarah." I demanded.

"I can't do that Sheriff. Eureka is still in danger." She replied , I wanted to scream in fury. Nathan put a hand on my shoulder in comfort.

"Is this really what this is about , Sarah? Or is it about you?" Allison asked , I was confused.

"Eureka is…" She started , but Beverly interrupted.

"Maybe she's right Sarah , if Jack leaves he'll be leaving you. Like Brad got left didn't he? You don't want to be left do you?" She said.

"I…" Sarah stammered.

"I'm not leaving Sarah , your plan worked." I said smiling at Nathan. He returned it , the door opened and we all rushed out.

I scooped Zoe up in a hug. She was confused , but I didn't really care. Everyone said their goodbyes except Nathan. I released Zoe and she glared at Nathan.

"Zoe , don't we worked it all out. " I told her. She smiled at me. She gave me another hug then surprised us both when she walked over and hugged Nathan. She whispered something in his ear and was gone into the house.

"What was that all about?" I asked , he looked sheepish.

"Just something between us." He said with a smile.

"So…what now?" I asked awkwardly.

"Breakfast tomorrow." Nathan replied.

"Sounds good to me." I replied.

He stepped forward slowly. I knew what he was doing , but it still surprised me. He bent his head down and captured my lips with his. It was like coming home , he was slowly becoming my home. He said goodbye and left.

I slept peacefully that night. In the morning I was anxious , this would be the test , if Nathan showed or not. I warned Zoe about the impending talk concerning the shoplifting. Sarah was being regretful , she wanted to spend time with us. That was out of the question , we did that too much yesterday.

I left the construction crew with her , a sky light was being installed with an escape ladder. I entered Café Diem to see Nathan waiting for me , gorgeous as ever. My heart soared , this could work. It really could.

THANKS FOR STICKING WITH THIS STORY…SO GLAD THAT I HAVE THE OPPURTUNITY TO CONTINUE…REVIEW…REVIEW…REVIEW…