Chapter 9 and 10

Author's Note: This is really NC-17 for very implied m/f sex. There is a longer, very R/adult rated version on my website 24nmore(dot)com if you are interested.

THE SALAZAR RANCH, 6 Days before the planned raid.

Soft lips met his. He parted them to let her tongue dart in, her taste tantalizing. His hands rose to cradle her head, but instead, clumsily, found their way to her hips. But he was still content with where they had landed, her skin warm and soft under his palms.

"Wake up, baby," she cajoled.

Jack opened his eyes; a bit surprised he'd been asleep, only dreaming her. But when he saw her face staring down at him, only inches from his own, he realized he had indeed been asleep, but the woman was no dream.

She was beautiful. Her hair, a deep shade of brown, fell down around her shoulders. The color of her eyes was an exotic greenish brown and they seemed to glow as she looked at him. And her golden skin was uncovered by any garment. But as beautiful as she was, she shouldn't have been there.

He started and tried to sit up, trying to make sense of where he was and why she was on him, straddling him.

But she was quick. She laughed softly and gently pinned his arms to the bed. In his confusion, he let her. He laid back. The room was the same, he hadn't been moved. The last few days, however many it had been, were a reality. The pains he'd fallen asleep with after a small fix last night were still there. Only the girl was different.

"What's going on?" he asked, slightly annoyed with her quixotic grin. He didn't appreciate her enjoying his confusion. And he didn't like being confused. He tried to sit up again.

"You need to relax, Jack," she ordered. "Mr. Salazar won't be happy if I let you get away."

Ramon? What the fuck?

"I can't relax if I don't know what the fuck is going on," he said gruffly.

"Do you start off with all your women this way?" she asked playfully, unperturbed by his upset.

"My women?" he asked.

"I'm yours for the day," she explained, letting go of his arms and sitting up. Jack could not ignore her bottom as it brushed against his belly. She thrust out her breasts, as if for consideration…for back up if her mere presence and nakedness atop him were not enough to entice him.

It was…enough to entice him. He was coming to life under her backside unbidden. She noticed, smiled, and slipped down to his thighs so she could take him in her hand. Jack closed his eyes and let his head back. She was distracting him from being annoyed.

"Please, stop," he ordered, regaining control with difficulty. He'd been miserable for what seemed like forever. What she was doing was the opposite of miserable. But obviously this was some ploy of Ramon's, and he knew better than to want any part of it…despite the part of him she was holding wanting it.

"I can't," she said, continuing to fondle him.

Jack sat up quickly, more quickly than her this time, and gently pushed her off his thighs. "Yes, you can," he said coldly. He rolled to the side of the bed, planning a retreat to the bathroom to think.

As his bare feet hit the floor, Ramon materialized from the bathroom, just where he'd been heading. Jack froze. Ramon had been watching all this.

Jack was angry and embarrassed at once. But Ramon's 'lessons' had not been in vain. He swallowed his emotion and immediately lowered his eyes, lest Ramon see the anger there. Another day, another game in Ramon's perverted quest for his submission. And 'perversion' seemed to be an aptly appropriate word for today's round.

"Where are you going, Jack?" he asked coldly. "I left you untied, and now you take advantage of me? And you are rude to your guest?"

What the fuck was he supposed to say?

"I'm…" he didn't want to blurt an apology again. "I'm unclear what this is about Ramon."

Ramon chuckled. "There's a beautiful, naked woman in your bed and you are unsure?"

Well, you are also in the room-where I've been confined for days being abused and drugged. Not your typical bedchamber.

"You don't like her?" Ramon asked, eyeing the girl lasciviously.

Jack turned to look at her. His initial impressions had been right. She was gorgeous, exotic looking, with a perfect body. She sat impassive, regarding both men, waiting to do their bidding. Ramon had spent a lot for this one.

"She's beautiful, Ramon," he granted. What Ramon wanted was obvious. He wanted to watch. Maybe he should just be relieved that it hadn't been Ramon who he'd awoken to in his bed, on top of him. Ramon's suggestive actions from yesterday had been playing through his mind all night and had him slightly worried. Maybe this was a good sign that he'd been imagining things.

But could he perform for Ramon? The thought disgusted him. He had avoided the women Ramon provided to the men as much as he could. He knew Ramon had been annoyed when he did not take advantage of his 'gifts.' So, a few times, he had slept with one of them to pacify him. The sex had been drunken and perfunctory…but at least it had been private.

He would have been worried about the effect of the heroin on his libido, but she had already proven that, as of yet, he was still okay. One time, with Claudia, he'd not been. Another reason he had quit.

Ramon said nothing but stared him down. Jack lowered his eyes and knew he had no choice. He swung his feet back onto the bed and laid back. He closed his eyes when her soft hand fell to his chest in an instant.

"The only rule, Jack," Ramon said in voice that sounded far away, "is that you do everything she says…obey her as you would me."

The last words were barely audible, but they sounded like a claxon in Jack's ears. Oh, God, thought Jack, I can't do this. His mouth went dry as she took his now limp penis into her hand. He imagined Ramon's eyes on him. Was Ramon enjoying his discomfort…or worse, was he turned on? Jack felt nauseous.

Ramon settled deeply back into the chair in the corner. With his foot, he pulled over a stiff wooden desk chair and set his feet upon it, his ankles crossed in comfort. The bright afternoon sun was dampened into an orange-grey hue by the barely cracked shutters. Dust danced in a single strong ray that broke through one crack and fell onto the foot of the bed. The room was not dark. Jack and the girl were clearly visible in the odd cast of light that had been created. Jack's tension, the quiet, and the light created an engaging scene before him that he could not help but enjoy.

RAID BASE CAMP, 5AM Real time

"Where the fuck are they?" Ryan Chapelle ranted, slamming his phone shut so hard it would be a miracle if the thing ever worked again.

"They'll be here," Chase assured, covering his own anxiety.

This mission had been planned down to the detail. And already they were having trouble. First, the local police were showing up in dribs and drabs. They'd not even notified them of the raid until six hours ago, and then only a few trusted supervisors. Any more time and any more people would assure that Salazar would be warned.

But now that meant they weren't organized…hell, a third of them weren't even present. They'd cut all communication to the compound and they'd had a wide perimeter control in place all night—so at least the ones that weren't here weren't calling their amigo Ramon either.

So he had enough on his hands trying to herd all these forces into a cohesive unit. Tony and Maria were to be responsible for collecting all the central players after the compound was secured. Making sure Ramon and Hector didn't sneak out wasn't a small task. Chase would be surprised if the cartel leaders didn't have escape plans.

And he hoped that keeping Jack alive once the raid began wasn't an issue. Jack's indeterminate status was a concern. If he was under guard because Ramon was suspicious, the beginning of a raid might tip the scales toward execution.

Fifteen minutes passed by. The raid was to begin in 30 minutes. Off in the distance one last dilapidated local police car limped toward the staging area. Chase rolled his eyes in annoyance. Why bother at this point? He had just finished organizing and assigning positions to enough relatively untrained and relatively unenthusiastic locals.

Grabbing a bottle of water, Chase took a moment to rest and awaited the arrival of his last reinforcements. The first policeman to emerge from the car was wearing handcuffs. So was the second. Chase couldn't help a grin when Maria Lopez stepped out behind them, looking more like a street walker from East LA than a CTU agent. She appeared a little disheveled but unhurt. Behind her, Tony leaned against the driver's side roof, in obvious need of a shave and some sleep. He wouldn't be getting either any time soon.

Maria guided the hapless prisoners/police towards him and gladly handed them off to one of the Mexican federal officers who had walked over. She rattled off a list of charges. "Illegal search and seizure, assault and battery…and solicitation."

Chase smiled wide at the last charge. She'd obviously played her part too well.

Maria walked past him without pausing. "Don't say a fucking word," she warned irritably. "And please tell me you brought down the clothes I asked for."

Rather than risk the smart ass answer he had on the tip of his tongue, he pointed towards the truck where she could find her things. Although if she stayed in that outfit, she'd provide a decent distraction to the other side during the raid. Tony walked over.

"You okay?" Chase asked.

"Yeah, fine."

"What happened?"

Tony tiredly shook his head. He needed a quick cup of coffee and a few minutes to put himself into the mindset for the battle ahead. "It's a long story—some other time. But that Maria, damn she's good." He looked around him at the units formed and ready for deployment. "Are we ready?"

"Now we are," assured Chase. "Let's go find Jack."

Chapter 10

SALAZAR RANCH, 5 days before raid

"Maybe you should end this, Ramon," Hector ventured, even though for the last two days his brother had been irritable and demanding, he risked the suggestion.

"Maybe you should mind your own business, little brother," Ramon snapped.

"It is my business, Ramon," Hector snapped back, annoyed that Ramon felt it necessary to remind him who was in charge. "Two weeks. That's all the time we have to get ready. We will have powerful and rich men here who will be trusting us to carry out their business for them. If we do this right, we will make more money than ever before."

Ramon glared, but was listening. Ramon hadn't been doing much of anything the last two days except appear distracted and distant. He hadn't even been tormenting Jack since the day before yesterday. He'd been in there a couple of times, but not for long. Jack was up and about, still a prisoner in the room, but unrestrained.

But now that he thought about it, Jack was as edgy as Ramon. Much of that was the drug…or the need of the drug. Ramon had been very stingy with the doses. But it was more that the addiction. He was a caged animal, pacing anxiously, itching for freedom.

They were both stubborn asses.

But the business of the cartel should come first. And for that, both of them needed to be working on this deal and the upcoming meeting. Or at least Ramon.

"What are you going to do…with Jack I mean. Christ, it has been nine days. The men are growing wary about this 'trip' he's been on. They are restless and yesterday's training…fuck, it was almost a disaster. One of the men almost blew himself up mishandling an explosive. Tomas is doing the best he can, but…"

"But he's no fucking Jack Briggs," Ramon interrupted angrily. "Is that what you are trying to tell me? That I need him to run my fucking cartel? Is that it Hector? You've decided?"

Hector knew it was time to retreat. "No, Ramon," he said evenly. "That is your decision. But the cartel at least needs its leader…and that is you. I need you," he added obsequiously, playing to his brother's ego.

There was a quiet pause as Hector waited for Ramon to think.

Ramon knew his brother was right. He'd let this thing with Jack go on too long. Mostly because he was still undecided. Jack had played along as much as could be expected. And despite the anger Ramon knew he felt, he believed he had Jack's loyalty.

Of course he was cooperating because of the threat to his life. But Ramon had experience in these matters. He knew when men were just afraid and feigning loyalty and when they were angry that their true loyalty was being questioned. Jack was the latter, that, at least, he'd come to learn.

He'd let the discrepancy about the 'interrogation' go. He would not know for sure. The detail was sufficient as a focal point for pushing Jack, but not enough to kill him over. After the other day, with the girl, Ramon had needed time to step back and think. And he'd needed distance to control himself.

When he'd gone in to give Jack his fix since that afternoon with the girl, his mind had been consumed with images of she had done. Jack hadn't said a word about it. And he hadn't acted any differently…until Ramon had touched him. Of course, Ramon had grazed Jack's arm unnecessarily when he'd pushed back Jack's shirtsleeve. The contact had been suggestive, but minor. Nevertheless, Jack had stiffened briefly then tried to cover his reaction.

Ramon's first impulse was to slap him, throw him to the bed, and really touch him. But that would ruin all the work he'd done up to this point…to make Jack see. He'd spent the last day contemplating whether he'd done enough, not wanting to let Jack free too early, making sure he'd done all he could…not rushing and wasting the effort thus far.

Hector was right, this needed to end. But in the back of his mind, he wasn't ready. Jack wasn't ready.

Ramon rose from his desk and stood next to Hector. "You are right, Hector," he admitted. "I will make a decision about Jack in the morning."

There was a tentative knock at the open office door. Claudia stood there looking beautiful. Hector was glad she'd had time away; it had been good for her.

"Dinner is ready," she announced, looking at Ramon then at Hector. She smiled when Hector smiled at her. Ramon's dark eyes stayed on her, but she couldn't read his expression. He'd been almost creepy around her the last day or so. No matter how long she was on this ranch, she doubted she'd ever figure that man out.

Hector was so much simpler. A good man deep down, very deep down, who had been corrupted by the family he'd been born into. At first, she'd seen only the good man. That he was also marred by the gene that carried the Salazar temper—she'd discovered that too late. And he wasn't as clever as his elder brother. All things combined, he was the perfect sidekick for Ramon.

"Thank you, Claudia, we'll be right there," Hector said politely.

She turned and left them to their business. The house had a strange feeling since she'd been back from her trip. Hector had been busier than usual and Ramon had been moping around. She'd seen both of them hanging around the rarely used guest wing on the far side of the house.

Under the context of offering help, she'd asked what was going on, if they needed her to do anything for them. Hector had told her they were just getting ready for the meeting and the important guests who were to arrive before the end of the month. This is what she had suspected—she'd heard there was to be a big business meeting here; still, there was Ramon's mood. And Ramon was helping prepare living quarters? Not likely. And if that's what they were doing, why couldn't she be of use?

She was still curious, but had learned that a little curiosity around here could get you into deep trouble. And she wasn't that curious. Plus, she was already flirting with enough danger carrying on this liaison with Jack.

She'd been asking around. Oscar had been in the house the other day, sorting and filing for Tomas. She knew the boy liked Jack. She'd seen him follow Jack like a puppy a few times around the courtyard. In a sense, they seemed two of a kind, but if asked to, she couldn't put into words why the two of them fit each other-except that neither of seemed to fit on the ranch.

From him she'd learned Jack had been gone for over a week. He'd left around the same time as she had. The long absence had made her nervous. But no one had suggested anything untoward. Still, there had been that strained conversation in the kitchen the last night she'd seen him. Jack had been nervous and Ramon had been giddy. She'd been unsettled since she'd recalled that night and the odd sense of danger she'd had at Jack's unease.

Claudia had just finished setting the table when the two men arrived. "Will anyone else be joining us tonight?" she asked innocently. Often Tomas or one of the local town officials would arrive for dinner when there was business to conduct. It was a fairly common occurrence.

"Jack won't be, if that's who you mean," Ramon snapped.

Claudia was taken aback. She hadn't said a word to Ramon the other night about Jack. There had been no subtle way to get him invited and then she'd soon found out that he wasn't home that night. Only later did she learn he hadn't been here for many nights.

Ramon was eyeing her uncomfortably. Hector was oblivious, opening a bottle of wine for them. "No, Ramon," she said calmly, "I didn't mean Jack. He's not even home." She turned away to bring the food to the table. And to hide her upset that Ramon had targeted Jack. Was he suspicious? Her heart leapt to her throat. She was only calmed by the fact that if Ramon knew, Hector would know, and she would be dead.

Nonchalantly, she continued the conversation as she sat down. Maybe he'd be less suspicious if she spoke of Jack openly. "But, I've heard he's been gone a while. May I ask where he is?" She took a bite of her dinner to feign nonchalance.

Neither brother answered right away. Instead, they glanced at each other. Claudia still thought she was safe, again, if they'd killed Jack because he'd slept with her, they would have told her by now. But something was up. She was afraid for Jack.

"No, you may not," Ramon answered curtly.

He's in a fine mood tonight Claudia thought sarcastically. But she wasn't put off. Ramon was curt to her most of the time. She was quite used to it. And she was fine with it. She'd seen how he was with women…callous and possessive…and was very glad to tolerate his tongue as long as she didn't have to tolerate his hands on her. And he had never. At least he respected Hector that much.

The rest of dinner was silent. The lack of conversation afforded her the time to study Hector and Ramon. There was something between them tonight. But of the two, Ramon was by far the most agitated. He'd made quick work of a bottle of wine on his own and was soon up finding and opening another.

She would clean up quickly tonight and disappear. Hector would come to her when he was ready. She did not need to hang around worrying when and if Ramon, even more dangerous drunk, would snap. Hector was used to being the lighting rod. She was not.

The men rose and headed outside to smoke in the much cooler evening air. She heard a bottle clank as it was removed from the living room liquor cabinet on their way out. One of them spoke, the other chuckled in return and gave her hope that all would be calm.

When she finished the dishes she went to the living room and looked out onto the porch. She overheard snippets of calm conversation and saw them each with a glass in their hands. Maybe Ramon was better now, with the drink and Hector working to calm him. After all, that's what Hector was did best…it's what he'd been doing most of his life.

She didn't interrupt. When a cool and comfortable evening breeze blew through the screen, she turned and headed to her room to change and enjoy the evening on her own balcony-while she waited for Hector and wished for Jack.

Jack, jailed on the other side of the house, also stared out the window. He'd watched the sunset for the second day in a row. And for the second day in a row had sat bored and confused in his well appointed jail cell.

Since the whore, Ramon had been in a few times. He hadn't spoken of what had happened. Jack had been relieved at that. And relieved that, thus far, Ramon hadn't touched him. He'd begun to think that maybe he'd overreacted…read too much into the look Ramon had given him and they way Ramon had touched him several times. Maybe Ramon was just trying to intimidate him, using sex as a threat. Maybe the girl and Ramon's voyeurism had been the finale.

Since then, Jack hadn't been restrained. And twice, when he'd come in to give him his fix, Ramon had actually chatted for a few minutes…about business-and not about the drug business.

Ramon had, much to Jack's surprised, brought up the cartel's new venture. Jack's heart had pounded in his chest as Ramon had casually mentioned an approaching meeting. He had queried Jack about weapons, training, and money. The questions had been general, but for the first time with Jack, Ramon had openly shown his hand regarding the cartel's terrorist involvement.

All Jack's other knowledge…what groups were involved, arms, money…he'd gleaned from clandestine forays into the cartel's records. The risk he'd taken breaking into the encrypted files had been huge, but had been spurred by his frustration and ignorance.

During the conversations, he'd had to work hard to show the appropriate level of curiosity and surprise at the information Ramon had just dropped into his lap. He had to cover his excitement that this door had finally opened-that maybe he had survived and succeeded this sick and odd test Ramon had thrown in his path.

Ramon was bringing him into the loop. This is what he'd been waiting for. All he had to do was get out of this damn room and back to work and prove to Ramon how invaluable he could be in his dealings with the terror groups. Fucking Ramon had to let him out soon. He'd spent his hours calculating how to speed his own release without irritating Ramon any further and extending his sentence.

As the room darkened, Jack didn't bother turning on the lights. He stood at the window and watched until the moon rose then turned away. He flopped onto the bed fully dressed. His bored mind wandered until thoughts of Claudia appeared and took root. He briefly wondered if she had any idea this was happening to him, what Ramon was doing.

Then he longed for her body. But thoughts of sex brought him immediately back to the other day. His face flushed at the memory of what the girl had done to him and how his body had reacted-and how Ramon had been there to see every detail. He turned on his side and buried his head in his pillow and tried to sleep, wishing he could have a fix…a decent dose that would make him high and make him forget.

He must have dozed off, because when the lights snapped on, he startled awake to see Ramon standing at the end of the bed. It was too early for his next fix. Suddenly Jack was uneasy.

Ramon smiled strangely and walked around the side of the bed—unsteadily. It was then that Jack noticed the partially empty bottle in his hand. Ramon was drunk, very drunk. Ramon very rarely got drunk. In fact, in all the times Jack had seen him drink and indulge in an endless variety of drugs, he'd never seen Ramon wasted…as he was now.

Jack sat up against the headboard when Ramon plopped heavily on the edge of the large bed without a word. He obediently took a swig from the bottle when Ramon's unsteady hand thrust it toward him. Ramon pulled one leg up onto the bed so he could turn and look at Jack. Jack took another draught, needing it this time, before Ramon demanded the bottle back with only a gesture. He managed to down the rest of the bottle without his eyes ever leaving Jack.

"Take your shirt off," Ramon ordered.

Jack swallowed hard, gulping down the protest that was on the tip of his tongue. With Ramon hammered like this, did he have a better chance of talking him out of this, or were his chances worse? Was Ramon's temper fueled or dampened by the drink? Because he'd never seen Ramon like this, he just didn't know what kind of risk he could take here.

So he obeyed.

Ramon's hand reached out and stroked his chest. Jack wondered if he could see and feel his heart pounding under his skin. Jack closed his eyes and wished Ramon's hand away. His own hands clutched at the sheet to keep from forcing Ramon off him. In his mind, visions of killing Ramon and possible escapes off the ranch played in an endless reel. Unfortunately, each loop ended with a different version of his death just before the next playback. He'd never make it back to the border. There was no where to hide for a twenty kilometer radius in this barren wasteland.

Because his eyes were closed, he didn't know Ramon had leaned in until he felt his lips on his. Jack's stomach tightened. He smelled the drink and tasted Ramon's expensive cigars. Much to his surprise, Ramon was gentle and didn't force himself in. His face lingered there as his hand dropped down to the button on Jack's jeans. Jack kept his eyes slammed shut; knowing opening them meant staring straight into Ramon's face.

Ramon deftly, without seeing, undid his button and fly and slipped his hand under Jack's waistband. As much as he tried not to, Jack finally tensed and made a half hearted effort to pull away, wanting to badly, but knowing that's not what the man in control wanted.

When he opened his eyes, Ramon's lips were gone. He was sitting up and looking at where his hand disappeared into Jack's pants. Ramon hadn't reacted to his weak attempt to shake him off and his hand hadn't advanced to really touch him yet.

Jack watched as Ramon, by raising his arm, managed to push his waistband down a couple of inches into his open fly. His hand reappeared. Ramon ran his finger around the small cut's and burn mark he'd made the other day and had just exposed. Jack breathed so hard in both mild relief and continued anxiety that a small sound escaped.

"You don't want me to touch you," Ramon said softly with a small smile. He was still watching his own hand on Jack's belly.

Jack said nothing. The truth would likely get him hurt.

"The girl…she touched you…very intimately. You liked it." Ramon swayed a little as he sat there. His words were slow as his drunken brain had to work to form them.

That wasn't exactly true. He would have never chosen that-his body had responded, that's all.

"She's a woman, Ramon," Jack responded simply, without challenge, "and not my employer."

Ramon chuckled. "Pleasure is pleasure, Jack," he said, "doesn't matter who it comes from."

"It does to me," Jack snapped back, knowing that defending himself was stupid, especially since Ramon was so drunk, logic or argument was a waste of time.

"Because…because that way you stay…in charge, right Jack?"

There it was again. Did Ramon want to do this to him just to show him he was in charge? Or did he really want him sexually?

"You're in charge, Ramon. I know that. I know that well. I did before all this."

"Did you Jack?" Ramon smirked.

For being drunk, Ramon was remarkably quick with the comeback. The son of a bitch never failed to surprise him. That's what made him so fucking dangerous.

Ramon's hand finally came off him. He fumbled clumsily in his shirt pocket. Jack saw by the sag in the light fabric that there was a small vial and syringe in there.

"But it was a nice try, Jack. Gotta admit…nice try. Not going to work…" Ramon was essentially mumbling to himself as he tried to ignore his drunkenness and fill the syringe. Jack saw him squint his eyes to clear them.

"Ramon," Jack said, "I don't need much. You were just in here a few hours ago." He really didn't want any. He was a little afraid of just why Ramon was doing this and what might happen if he was out stoned.

"Aw, come on Jack," Ramon teased, "you know I've been stingy. Don't you think you deserve a good high?"

Jack wanted a good high, but right now he didn't quite trust Ramon.

Ramon saw his hesitation and darkened quickly. "Give me your arm, Jack," he ordered.

Jack did as ordered. He watched anxiously as Ramon fumbled with a task he normally did quickly and skillfully. "Ramon, let me do it myself this time," he said without thinking.

He wasn't sure what Ramon did exactly, but the pain in his arm was intense. He closed his eyes and waited for the pain to pass.

"Shut the fuck up," Ramon growled. "You know how this works."

With that, Jack felt the familiar prick on his arm. He opened his eyes just in time to notice where the plunger was set before Ramon's thumb pressed it down quickly. The white plastic handle had been pulled back way too far.

"Fuck, no Ramon," he shouted and jerked his arm back. But it was too late. The dose was in and there was no sucking the venom back out. "Fuck," he whimpered as the room went black way too quickly.

"I'm not going to touch you, you pussy," Ramon said to himself as Jack slumped against the headboard. His own head was swimming and he didn't watch. "I'm too wasted to enjoy you right now," he slurred as he stumbled to his favorite chair, fell into it, and passed out.

The door was open and the light was on. Ramon had said he'd be right back twenty minutes ago. They both had had a lot to drink, but of the two of them, Hector was by far the more regular drinker. When he had walked slowly away, Hector had been slightly concerned his brother didn't fall over something and break his neck. Then he had laughed at the thought. Not Ramon. Nothing in the world, even an end table, would have the audacity to trip up Ramon.

When too much time had passed, he'd checked Ramon's room, expecting him to be asleep on the bed. When he wasn't there, the next logical place was with Jack. He was worried what he might interrupt if he went over there, but he was genuinely concerned about how drunk Ramon had been. Ambling carefully over in his own mildly unsteady gait, Hector was relieved when the door was wide open and the light was on.

Ramon was laid out, arms and legs akimbo, in the stuffed chair. He only groaned when Hector slapped his face gently and said his name. Hector shook his head in frustration as he walked over to the bed. Jack was lying at an uncomfortable angle against the top of the bed, fallen crookedly over onto his left side. Damn, he looked uncomfortable. Only the alcohol in his bloodstream made him have the sympathy to move to lay the poor guy properly on the bed so he was at least able to move in the morning.

If Hector had been a little more sober, he would have noticed sooner how blue Jack's lips and hands were. By the time he did, he had Jack under the arms with his weight throwing him partially off balance. When he realized Jack wasn't breathing, the shock sent him staggering back a few steps and he tripped and fell on his ass, abandoning Jack's body to teeter half on, half off the bed.

"JACK! RAMON!" Hector shouted, recovering quickly, adrenaline rapidly clearing his head. He didn't know who to go to first. Instinctively he knew, even without seeing the abandoned syringe on the floor, what Ramon had done accidently in his drunkenness.

"RAMON, WAKE UP!" he shouted again, returning to Jack to feel for a pulse. To his relief, he actually found a weak and fast one. But he couldn't see his bare chest moving at all. He pulled Jack the rest of the way off the bed. Before he could think about it, he put a couple of breaths past his blue lips.

Then he bolted back to Ramon and hit him hard across the face before shaking him awake. "God damn it Ramon, wake up." When his brother opened his eyes, he was more confused than furious. Hector didn't give him time to get angry.

"Ramon, Jack isn't breathing. You've got to go get Claudia…the medical kit. Then call the doctor."

Ramon stood wide eyed looking down at Jack.

"Ramon!" Hector shook him again. "Ramon, you didn't mean to do this, right?" Hector asked, briefly wondering if Ramon had actually made his decision and decided to execute Jack.

"Do what?" Ramon asked still out of it.

"Kill Jack? You didn't mean to, right?" Hector asked