Redemption

Chapter Forty-Eight

Despite her important discovery, Danni's snitch would have to wait. Of course, she was sure he wouldn't go far. But, just to be safe, she'd set up a time and place for them to meet. It wasn't the best place in the world, but for the particular digging she was going to be doing, she figured it would be good enough. She still had to watch her back with him. He was a trickster. He'd pulled the wool over a few hardcore gang and mafia leaders' eyes, which was why he was helping the police out. They would protect him for as long as he fed them the information they wanted. If he tried the same thing with them, their partnership would end and he would be fed to the wolves.

She was lucky, though. She wasn't as easily confused and playable as most of the gangs in DC. But, there was always the chance and she didn't want to risk it. He was good for information, but she had to remain on her toes while in his vicinity.

And it was for that very reason Bobby would go with her, but he would stay as far away as possible while keeping Danni in his sight. He would be her backup, though not in the visual sense. They would walk to the site together, but not approach him together.

If Marty knew that she had brought a fed with her, he would run as fast and as far as he could. She could protect him from so many things. There were bound to be things that he'd done that she wouldn't be able to save him from. She was sure he was listed in their databases and it might not bode well with Bobby to let him off the hook. After all, extortion and arms' dealing were federal crimes. She just couldn't let Bobby know that he'd done those things.

She'd told him that he was her weapons' expert, which he was. That was all he or the team needed to know—nothing more.

Yet, until their meeting, she would have to endure the pleasure—and she used the term loosely—of her parents' company. She continuously rolled her eyes on the drive to the diner. This was the last thing she needed right now.

As Bobby focused on the road, he couldn't help but spare a glance at her as she stared out her window and up at the medium-gray clouds that hovered above them. He knew that she wasn't looking forward to this, but he had pushed her into it for a reason. He reached over and took her hand in his as he kept his gaze upon the road. He gave it a gentle squeeze to get her attention, but the look she gave him when she turned to him made him wish he hadn't.

She looked like she would jump out of the car at the first chance she got and he would make sure that she didn't do it. He raised her hand to his lips, gently brushing them over her knuckles before lowering them again so he could concentrate on the road and not the scent of the perfume she'd placed upon her wrists. It was a beautiful flowery scent and she would only mist those spots for very important occasions. This was an important occasion, but she really hadn't needed to go to that much of an extreme. Of course, perhaps she was just very nervous and she'd done with without realizing. She was a puzzle when she was wracked with nerves. Fortunately, he loved puzzles and he loved her so much more. "Relax, Luv. It's not going to be so bad."

She scoffed loudly and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right," she muttered and went back to staring out the window. The dark cotton puffs hovered lazily above the city, threatening rain, but would most likely pass over them and continue on until they poured down upon some unsuspecting town dozens of miles away.

He chuckled softly, squeezing her hand again, but getting nothing back in return. Her mind was a million miles away right now. He was sure she was making something of nothing, though. That was why he disputed her offer to call them up and cancel due to the fact that the case was a higher priority than lunch. It might have been half true, but until they found something new, they would reach another stalemate. By that time, someone else might have been killed. They would go to lunch, first, and then talk with Marty. He would make sure she kept up both appearances, no matter how much she protested.

She had to squint her eyes as she watched the video. The picture wasn't very clear. Tara had tried to clean it up as best she could, but there was only so much she could do and keep their lips clear enough for Sue to read. She was having difficulty, but she was able to fill in the blanks as she ran through it for the second time.

She paused the video, giving her the opportunity to rub her tired eyes. She took a deep breath as she glanced around the bullpen. She was the only one there—the numbers of their large team had slowly dwindled until she was the only one left. Jack had offered to take her to lunch, but she had declined. She wanted to transcribe the tape before she got too wrapped up in anything else. Knowing Jack, he probably would have insisted that she go—only thinking of the best for her, of course—until she requested that he bring something back for her. She just wanted to be alone and think about things while no one else was around.

Worry had consumed her. Not just for herself or for Jack, but for every member of their team. If these men were killing for Dessa to take revenge and nothing more, any one of them could be next on their list. She thought back to the conversation Bobby had had with Jack. She still didn't know or understand his or DeMarco's involvement. If he was putting his life in danger just to protect her, she didn't know what to think. She wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to him.

Jack said they had a man on the inside, hence the video. From what she could see, everyone present had been hit-men in their past, which meant that the man on the inside had to prove himself before he was accepted as one of them. She couldn't help but wonder what it was he exactly had to do for that to happen.

A hand waved in her peripheral vision to get her attention, knocking her out of her reverie and slightly startling her. She was partly happy for the interruption, but the other half of her wished they could have waited a few more moments. That was all she needed. Of course, she hadn't expected anyone to be back so soon. Her hazel orbs flickered to the chocolate brown ones that had captured her heart and made her stomach do flip-flops when he stared at her as intently as he was now. She smiled at Jack as he stood before her.

"You were way out there," he told her as he held up a paper bag filled with lunch for the both of them.

She awkwardly cleared her throat to make sure she could actually speak. She usually found herself tongue-tied when coming face-to-face with the intensity of his eyes. "I, uh- I thought you were eating out."

"Well, I was going to, but, you see, the girl I've been seeing had other plans." He gave a playful wink before he continued. "Besides, I didn't want you to feel all alone in this big, scary, empty bullpen." He gave a teasing grin as he pulled up a chair and sat down next to her. He pulled out both orders, setting each one upon his lap before throwing the bag away.

She knew Jack Hudson better than he thought she did, which was why she didn't believe him. He had other reasons for joining her, yet she wouldn't complain. She enjoyed it when he joined her for lunch. "So, what's the truth, Hudson?"

He feigned hurt as he clutched his chest, his eyes filling with a teasing sorrow. "I'm hurt, Thomas. Do you actually think I could lull you into some sort of false security?" She only raised a questioning eyebrow as an answer. She wasn't going to answer that because he knew what she would say. He'd been caught. He couldn't fool her. "Well, I was wondering if you were okay. You don't seem to be the Sue we all know and lo- care for." He cleared his throat, his brow scrunching as he tried to cover his mistake. He'd almost said the "L" word. That was something that shouldn't have belonged in their vocabulary for being such a new couple.

Of course, Jack had always loved her. He couldn't imagine being without her. She was his whole world and he would do anything to protect her. Even if it meant lying to her; something he really hated doing, even if it was necessary.

She couldn't resist giggling. She'd noticed his little slip-up, but wouldn't call him on it. She figured if he was so close to letting it slip out at work, it meant that he would tell her soon. She honestly couldn't wait for that day to finally arrive. "I'm fine. I think it's just the weight of this case. We've been on it for so long, yet we're no better than when we started off. I think Dessa might get away with it again." Her eyes filled with something that looked like sadness mixed with anger. She didn't want him to get away again. He'd ruined too many lives as it was.

He gently rested his hand upon her arm, letting his fingers tickle her milky smooth skin and sending a shiver down both their spines. "Don't think like that. We're more knowledgeable now than we were when we first faced him. He won't know what hit him." The confident smile he wore wasn't as convincing as he wanted it to be. He wasn't to believe what he said. Too bad he couldn't.

"I just don't like this," she said as she stood up, Jack following her lead. "Any member of our team could be the next one to be killed. None of us could survive a loss like that. We've made a family here and he's out to destroy that." That thought made her hug herself as if chilled. The thought about losing one of her friends was sickening. It just wouldn't be the same with one less person in their family.

"But," he said seriously as he closed the gap she had created. Their bodies were only mere inches apart, her scent wreaking havoc upon his senses. He'd almost forgotten what he was going to say as be breathed in her perfume and shampoo as they meshed together, almost succeeding in their mission to drive him crazy. "We won't let him."

He took in a deep breath, drawing that wonderful scent more into him so he could savor it. That scent always made his senses go wild and his inhibitions flying out the window. He didn't care that they were in the bullpen. He didn't care that someone might walk in at any moment. All he cared about was the woman standing before him, her dazzling eyes staring directly into his and into his soul.

Her soft lips were parted as Jack invaded her personal space. With anyone else, she would have backed away the first second they stepped so close, but this was Jack and he smelled so wonderful. His cologne had lingered in the bullpen when he left and it had diverted her attention from the video until she realized that she was standing the in center of the room, reveling in the divine scent.

Now that he stood merely inches away from her, she couldn't help but be swallowed up by the intoxicating aroma. Their conversation was totally forgotten as they got lost in each others' eyes. Her heart rate increased and her palms became sweaty as her lips became suddenly dry.

Jack felt his head lower, his mind no longer having control over it. His tongue danced lightly over his lips to moisten them before hey lightly brushed over hers. They were warm and inviting, no longer willing to pull away from his like they were before. The light touch made his heart skip a beat and the sound of her whispering his name made it beat faster. Their lips connected once more and he was sure his heart would fly out of his chest until she flattened her palm upon that very spot. A moan rumbled deep in his throat as her hand left a searing heat upon his skin.

Then, footsteps. They were getting closer to the bullpen. Two pair.

Then, voices; familiar ones.

He gently pulled away, signing that someone was coming, his eyes filled with an apology that he had let their kiss get out of hand. He'd meant for it to just be a light brush of the lips, but it had increased to more. His skin still tingled from where her hand had rested upon his chest and he was willing to pull her back to him to pick up where they left off. But, he'd controlled himself and waited for her to give a nod as acceptance, which she gave, despite her confusion of what just happened.

She cleared her throat loudly as she turned her attention back to the video. She let her tongue lightly run across her lips, feeling the size difference from before Jack had kissed her. She felt the heat linger upon her cheeks and couldn't stop smiling. Her entire body was tingling and she managed to spare a short glance and a smile to Jack as Myles and Lucy re-entered the bullpen.