Redemption

Chapter Sixty

The room arrangements had been complicated to figure out after everyone was refreshed from a shower and a fresh change of clothes. At first, it was planned for Jack to stay in the second bedroom, while Danni and Sue stayed in the master bedroom, leaving Bobby to sleep on the couch. Danni figured it would be proper punishment from yesterday, even though she felt he had gotten enough punishment from almost being blown up. Still, it wouldn't hurt him to be put out for one night and as long as Jack and Sue were comfortable, she was sure he wouldn't mind.

Unfortunately, Sue didn't enjoy the fact of putting Bobby out of his own bed, so she volunteered to take the couch. She was, after all, the only one among them who wasn't injured and the couch couldn't be that uncomfortable. She could sleep anywhere as long as everyone else was comfortable. Jack knew her well enough and thought her willingness to put herself before everyone else was noble, yet he protested her offer and told her to take the second bedroom. His ribs were not broken—according to the paramedics—and he could settle for sleeping on the couch. His word was final.

"Look, I know I'm under house arrest here," he began with a grimace, "but I am still team leader. I'll sleep on the couch." He wouldn't take no for an answer, so the others had to agree. There was no use arguing against him—he was as stubborn as Sue some times, Danni noted, which meant he would get his way or else. She couldn't hold back her chuckle as she compared the two. Those two were perfect for one another and yet they were still too blind to see it. She figured it was time for her to team up with Lucy and Tara to try to get them to admit their feelings to one another.

After the arrangements had been settled, Danni and Sue whipped up a little something in the kitchen while the boys rested—nothing big, just enough to satiate their hunger. Jack and Bobby's injuries were worse, so they would be pampered for one night. They'd just better not get used to it.

"How's your head?" Jack asked, motioning to the bag of frozen peas Bobby held to the back of his head. The Aussie hadn't bee complaining about the sharp pain for some time, so either it was gone—highly unlikely—or the larger man was growing to ignore the pain.

"Well, it's not throbbing anymore, which is good. But, it's settled into a dull ache for right now, so every time I turn my head one way, all I get is pain." He thought about demonstrating then realized that wouldn't be a good idea. He removed the frozen vegetables from his head and set them upon the coffee table as he shrugged with a dimpled smirk and welcomed Danni's warm, comforting embrace as she curled up beside him.

Her leg was still wrapped and it ached, but she was able to walk fine, so she really couldn't complain. Yet, if her injury had been worse, she would not have been as content and someone—most likely Bobby—would have received an earful about it. Of course, he would try to pamper her and try to make her as comfortable as possible, which she would have objected to. She hated it when others tried to baby her when she was incapacitated. They would treat her like an invalid, when she considered herself only to be… physically-challenged.

"Aw, poor baby," she cooed, placing a kiss upon his temple. She lightly ran her fingers through his hair in an attempt to massage his scalp, yet she continuously hit the bump and had to stop because of the constant hissing noises he made every time her fingers made contact.

The conversation over dinner was light, leaving both couples to their own devices as they enjoyed the closeness. This was one of the only times Jack and Sue could embrace their relationship with others around until Garrett came back to them. Of course, whether or not he would be bearing good news was anyone's guess, so they would enjoy the time together while they still could.

Neither Danni nor Bobby had brought up the meeting, feeling as though it wasn't any of their business, yet equally curious. If Jack and Sue wanted to tell them, they would, so they wouldn't press on the subject. At least while everyone was in the room together.

Sue and Danni stood up to clear the dishes, Bobby pulling Danni back to her seat as a hand wrapped tightly around her waist. "You should rest," he urged as she pried out of his grasp, her gaze was soft but he knew the underlying emotion she was feeling.

"And what? Leave Sue to do the dishes herself?" she asked, before she was met by his serious stare. It was very rare when he used his agent-on-a-mission gaze on her, so she hadn't been able to build up a defense against it, but she would certainly try. "Bobby, I'm fine, honestly," she reassured him with a quick peck on the cheek before getting back to her feet. When her eyes met Sue's, they rolled toward the sky as she mouthed 'men' to her cousin. Sue only laughed as she followed Danni to the kitchen.

"I think you've met your match, Crash," Jack chuckled as he took a sip from his glass of water. It was all he was allowed to drink for tonight until his lungs finally cleared. Anything else would build up too much phlegm and cause him to break into another coughing fit.

"It's not a bad way to go down," Bobby quipped with a wiggle of his eyebrows before he heard Danni yell: "I heard that" from the kitchen. Bobby dared Jack to say something cynical and was pleased when his best mate raised his hands in silent defeat. "Besides," he chuckled, "you'll be in my place soon enough."

Jack's brows furrowed in confusion as he set his glass down on the coffee table. "What do you mean?" He had an idea of what the Aussie was talking about, yet he and Sue hadn't even said they loved each other—well, he had, but she just hadn't seen it—so, what made him think that marriage was on the horizon?

"Well, you've finally made your move. You and Sue'll be hitched in no time." This was normal teasing between the two men and Jack would usually counter, yet he wasn't in the mood to. He wished that statement to be true, but after their talk with Garret, there didn't seem to be much light at the end of that tunnel. Bobby watched as Jack leaned forward in his seat and covered his face with his uninjured hand. Anxiety had washed over the other man so suddenly that Bobby wasn't sure he'd seen the point of change. "What's wrong, Sparky?"

Jack shook his head as he glanced over at Levi who was lying on his side underneath the window. Luna lay on his upturned side, curled up into a ball as she slept upon her new best friend. He wasn't sure when the kitten and dog had become such great friends, but it was interesting to see, since Levi would usually chase creatures of that size up a tree. It would have been humorous if they were together on different terms. If he wasn't under house arrest and just enjoying time with his best friend, Sue, and Danni, he would be able to manage a chuckle or two, but that wasn't the case. God why couldn't that be the case?

"I've been trying to figure things out for a while, but I can't seem to find anyway possible to make this work." A bad taste formed in his mouth as the words escaped him. The thought of he and Sue being apart hurt him more than anything, but that nightmare was quickly becoming a reality.

"So Garrett didn't approve?" his voice was soft as he tried to understand what Jack was going through. He knew he would never have to deal with pressure such as that, but he could see how his friend's heart was breaking.

"His hands are tied, right now, though he knows we're the best team for Dessa's case. That's the only reason why we haven't been pulled." his voice broke as he explained, though he felt the breakdown only a few words away. He tried to say more, but he was on the verge of tears or anger—he couldn't discern which—whatever came out would be words he wouldn't mean.

"Do you actually think he'd separate you two? Work wise, I've never seen a better partnership." he was speaking the truth and if Myles had been with then, instead of out in the hall where he was keeping guard, both he and Tara would agree whole-heartedly. D would too, no doubt about it.

"He said he would try, but I don't think it would do any good. The damage has already been done and Sue and I just need to face the music."

"What about the video feed?" Sue had filled Danni in on the reason why Garrett had been called away from his vacation and she had filled Bobby in.

Jack figured he would have found out about it and thought nothing of it—or if he did, he didn't voice it. "There's nothing we can do about it. Tara's already tried to locate the signal, but we've ended up with nothing."

"Do you think it was Dessa?"

"What better way to take revenge?" Jack shrugged as he leaned back in his seat, a sardonic expression etched into his jaw. That question was true. What a better way to take down your enemy but by taking away one piece of his life at a time? First would be his and Sue's relationship, them breaking up because the stress of being with one another and working together would be too much. After that, his job would go; he would either get fired because of his reluctance to part with Sue or he would quit just so she could be his.

He groaned loudly as he ran a hand through his hair. This conversation was depressing him more and more.

"Have you talked to Sue about any of this?"

"How can I?" It seemed pointless. What would it even accomplish if he did? Besides, he'd already tried, yet he couldn't find words enough to express his feelings. He feared what she would think of him if she discovered that he wasn't always the hardened agent he would act to be. Too bad she already knew that.

"Well, usually, I find that I feel better after talking things out. If you want to continue with Sue—work or personal—I suggest you open that mouth and put it to better uses, though what you have been doing with it is rather productive, turtle-boy," he managed to quip, hoping to draw a smile from the man sitting diagonally from him.

Jack couldn't help but chuckle and blush at his friend's comment. He knew he could count on Bobby to make him feel better. He'd been wondering why he still kept him around and now it had finally all come together. He was lucky he could rely on the Aussie when it came to his troubles, but, of course, what were best friends for?