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(A/N: Vague sort of scene of intimacy here. Not a lot of detail, but better safe than sorry.)
Be the Serpent under It: Part 6-Justice
Tears streamed from her eyes as he kissed her, her arms draped over his shoulders. The first thing he had done when next he'd seen her was catch her around the waist, hoist her up onto his waist, and kiss her without hesitation or apology. It wasn't a little kiss either, or chaste. It was raw, it was passionate, it was everything. Every feeling, every emotion, every apology, and every thank you. It was a kiss only broken when neither of them could breathe anymore, and he set her down on the counter, his forehead still pressed against hers.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to him, tips of her fingers pressed against his cheeks and voice breaking. He shook his head vehemently and kissed her again. She returned in full, and likely it would have gone on and become intimate, but last minute they managed to regain their self-control and stopped.
He swallowed thickly and looked up at her. Gently he cupped her face and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. "If I asked you to marry me, would you say yes?" he asked. She laughed through a sob and grinned, nodding quickly and leaning against him again, kissing him once more. She didn't care anymore. She couldn't fight it any longer. She didn't want to! She loved him! Oh gods she loved him!
With difficulty they pried themselves apart and gazed at one another, trying to digest what had just happened here. She sniffed and cupped his face gently, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs in turn. "How did we get here?" she whispered.
He pressed his forehead to hers again, nuzzling. He had no answer for her. "I have to admit, this isn't quite how I pictured proposing to a woman," he wryly joked
"I never exactly expected to be proposed to," she replied.
"Will you marry me?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered immediately.
No!
"Yes, I'll marry you," she repeated through happy tears before kissing him again, and oh gods she'd never begun to imagine it was possible to feel so happy and content yet so miserable and afraid. But she didn't want to listen to logic and reason right now. This would get her closer to him anyway! Right? Oh how it would get her closer...
"Not sure how Sheldon will feel about this," he said.
She grimaced a little at the thought, but she supposed if Jack hadn't been lying about Gemini being his best friend, her brother would be best man. Assuming the wedding was a regular-sized one of course. She wasn't really inclined toward that though. "He can suck it up," she replied with a frown. "But ask him if you want. There's no father for you to go to anymore. I'll probably end up walking down the aisle with my mom assuming this wedding is normal-sized."
"What do you want it to be?" he asked.
"Honestly? Either elope or exchange vows and sign a couple of documents at City Hall," she replied. It was better that way. And safer.
"How boring. Color me interested," he replied, smirking a bit. "Very... clandestine." Her smile briefly vanished before reappearing again.
He knows.
"Huh. Didn't expect that response," she replied.
"I'm no more eager to have my name in the papers than you are," he replied.
"Any family you want present?" she asked.
"No," he said a bit curtly, so she got the feeling she'd touched on a sensitive topic there. She let it go immediately.
"The fewer the better anyway," she agreed.
"Who'll be the witnesses?" he asked.
My brother and maybe a court appointee. I don't really want to bring mom in on this right now," she replied.
"Any other guests?" he asked.
"A college roommate of mine. Vivian Francis Porter. Child protege. About eight to ten years younger than I am. She's going in for a doctorate in robotics. Honestly, I'm going for a doctorate myself. Criminology, not sciences. In a few months I'll be Dr. Director instead of Miss. Or I guess Mrs.," she replied.
"Breaking the bank, aren't you?" he answered, smirking.
"It's about thirty-five grand," she replied, grimacing a bit. "Not the most expensive doctorate, but still a good chunk of change. Don't worry. I'll manage it."
"What's mine is yours, you know," he said, smiling up at her.
She smirked. "I've got this love," she replied, touching her nose to his. What was she doing? "Any specific date you have in mind?"
"You have access to my schedule. Pencil it in somewhere and I'll find the time," he replied.
"Simple formal wear?" she asked.
"If you'd like," he said.
"I've never seen you anywhere without a suit, so I might as well match," she replied.
"Mmm," he said before kissing her again. "White evening gown?" he mumbled against her lips.
"I bought my prom dress with the intention of reusing it as a wedding gown one day to save money, so yes. Absolutely yes," she replied. "About time a good memory gets attached to it."
"Miss Director, you're only making me more curious," he replied, eyes lighting up a bit in intrigue.
She frowned a bit. "You don't wanna know," she replied. "High school was a nightmare. Especially after I ended up with the eyepatch. Got worse when one of those tapes I mentioned ended up leaking. Guess the dad of one of the kids I went to school with was into that. Would explain why she was so messed up."
He winced a bit. "Oooh," he said.
"Mmm hmm. I grinned and bared it. Come prom, some guy I had been crushing on since elementary asked me out. Popular, smart, charming... Should have figured it was too good to be true when he asked the resident outcast to be his date," she said. "Let's just say prom night was humiliation nation."
"Do tell," he replied.
"When I say you don't want to know, you really don't want to know," she said. He gave her a look and she shifted a bit, grimacing. "My brother spilled a secret of yours to me. Might as well even it up and have him spill a secret of mine to you," she solemnly said.
He started and frowned a bit. "It wasn't a bad one. It was... It was about your father."
Jack was quiet a beat and suddenly looked a bit defeated. "Fair enough," he finally replied.
She nodded. "Jack, I'm sorry. If I'd known that..."
"Don't," he cut off. "It's fine. I've moved on and done my best to forget." She nodded in understanding and considered something. "I was fourteen when my father died. Car crash. It was... it was after I told him and mom about Uncle and the whole pole thing. I'd never seen him so angry... After losing it on his brother, he stormed out to take a drive and cool down. It was winter. Roads were bad. He went driving along... along a lake. He was missing for two months before anyone found him. I never really got over that guilt. Kept telling myself that if I'd just kept quiet, maybe he would still be there."
He pressed his lips to hers again, gentle and lingering. When finally they parted, he said, "I wish I could promise you that I'll always be there."
She closed her eyes and nodded. "We'll face it as it comes," she said. Once more she kissed him before they at last parted for real.
KP
Gemini's expression was grim as Jack spoke to him over drinks at a bar regarding the engagement. He'd never been more right, he realized, and for once he hated it. Something was going to go wrong, he just knew something was going to go wrong. That thought frightened him more than it should have... It took him a moment to realize his friend had stopped talking. Gemini blinked a couple of times and turned to Jack curiously. Jack was watching him in some amusement, waiting for an answer. "What, no congratulations? Does it concern you that much?" he asked.
Gemini was quiet, staring at him. "I stand ready to defend you," he finally said.
"I'd think it would be her you stood ready to defend," Jack replied, knowing full well the animosity between the two.
Gemini scoffed, turning away and moving the glass around in a circle on the counter. "I have no loyalty to her, Jack," he answered. He supposed that wasn't entirely true, seeing as he hadn't told Jack who she was yet, but still. It wasn't that he didn't believe his twin had come to love her target, he knew that she had, but things weren't connecting in a way he deemed safe. For anyone.
Jack tilted his head curiously at him. He wouldn't hesitate to admit he was suspicious about this tone. "What are you hiding?" he asked.
"She can be a heartbreaker," Gemini lied, shrugging and not meeting his eyes. He wasn't going to betray his sister that easily. Probably some misguided sense of loyalty he felt towards her, but whatever the case, it held him fast in his stand. Jack watched quietly. His friend's words didn't ring true. He didn't like when things didn't ring true.
"You told her about my father," he remarked after a moment. Gemini looked quickly at him, eyes narrowed warily. "You owe me a secret of hers now."
Gemini was silent. "Within reason," he finally replied.
Jack nodded, and though a part of him wanted to ask the real question he had, the one that could mean life or death, he wasn't sure he wanted to face it just yet... "What happened the night of your prom?"
A dark scowl slowly blossomed over Gemini's face, and he clutched his glass so tight Jack started to worry he might break it. Gemini's grip relaxed soon enough, though, as he recovered himself. "Humph... She and her date were named prom queen and king. Of course, it was all a setup. Betty was a stupid, naive teenager, but even she started to realize something was wrong at that point. Suddenly all these people who until that evening relished in humiliating and bullying her were congratulating her and celebrating. I remember staying back glowering like a jealous idiot, more oblivious to the connotations than she was. We were both stupid, naive teenagers back then... I remember her searching for me in the auditorium. I remember seeing the unease in her eyes and something inside me just... It was like I could feel her fear and anxiety. Her eyes met mine and held them until she and her date were carried off. Like she was pleading for me to follow. The spiteful part of me said to just drive away and leave her to find her own way home. The part of me that still perhaps cared for her wouldn't allow it, so I followed."
"And...?" Jack fished.
"To summarize? Attempted assault, multiple perpetrators, multiple observers standing ready to film and mock and take pictures," Gemini bitterly said. "She and her date parted company with the others. He showed her a good time. Candlelit dinner, romantic walk through a firefly-filled park... a perfect fairytale. Flirtations, gentle whispers, sweet nothings... he was a charmer that one. A perfect gentleman. He led her to a clearing in the woods. It was almost storybook, the way it had been laid out. Flowers, blankets on the ground, a clear view of the skies... A tent..." Jack frowned a bit. "He propositioned her. Fortunately, she had more sense than that and refused. He pushed. She became firmer in her denials until at last she told him she had to go. She made to leave, but he called after her so sadly with that oh-so-charming voice of his. Apologized. Swore he wouldn't ask for more than she was willing to give. Begged her to stay and watch the stars with him, even if only for a while. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Soft-touch she is, she relented and returned to join him. More flirtations, more sweet nothings... Teenage hormones running wild, wildly romantic surroundings, rising passions and desires. She turned away when he went for a kiss. She told him she didn't trust that a kiss wouldn't lead to something she wasn't ready for. He asked if she trusted him. She told him she didn't trust herself, but I know she didn't trust him either. She was just too clever to say it. She rationed it might spark his anger and put her in a bad spot. She didn't realize how bad a spot she was already in. She told him she had to go and rose, starting to leave. I was just starting to relax and think that maybe I wouldn't have to go out there and beat a classmate into the ground for touching my sister after all, when suddenly his friends sprang from hiding. Some from the tent, some from the bushes. There were seven in all. They grabbed her, she screamed, and I reacted on pure instinct, throwing myself out of hiding and shouting at them to let her go. The next thing I know, I'm jumped by some of the would-be observers. She cried my name as they wrestled me into submission, then more giggling observers stepped out from behind trees and bushes, camcorders and cameras in hand. The look of pain and devastation that crossed her face... I can still see it so clearly..."
Jack's jaw twitched a bit, a hard look in his eyes. "What happened?" he asked darkly.
"Merciless mocking, cruel laugher... They threw her to the ground and chants of encouragement echoed all around telling the boys attacking her to have at her, putting it nicely. Strip her, let them see some skin, get her to do a little dance for them because there were plenty of thin trees around... They dragged her up to her knees, unzipped her dress, and pulled it down. I lost all control, shouting curses at them. Betty lost herself too... She screamed in grief and fear and anger, thrashing like mad, and the next thing I know, the boys assailing her were on the wrong side of her heels. She used the things like weapons but didn't strike to kill. Fortunate for them. I certainly would have. I shouted at her to run the moment she had breathing room. She fled as quickly as she could. I broke free of the schoolmates who'd jumped me and ran after her, but lost her in only minutes and was left panicking and wondering where she'd gone. She called me hours later when I was just about ready to give up looking. She asked me to come and pick her up at the walking bridge. One that crossed over a flooded river. I... I tried not to think about what her intentions had been in going there... I never asked then, I haven't asked since. I don't think I ever needed to... She was curled up on the railing, face buried in her knees. She heard me approach and lifted her head to look at me, and there was this... this silent understanding between us. She got off the railing and approached. Then she hugged me. Hugged me tighter than she ever had before. It was the last time she ever did. I held her back and didn't bother to speak. I brought her to the car and drove her home."
Jack was quiet a moment, digesting this. "We're all messes, aren't we?" he wryly asked.
"She's coped remarkably well, so I'd be more inclined to say you and I are messes. She's a recovered one," he answered.
Jack nodded quietly. "Do I have your blessing?" he asked after a moment.
"My blessing wouldn't matter either way. She'll marry you regardless. I suppose if it had to be anyone, I would just as soon it be you," Gemini dryly said. "There's no other man I would sooner call brother. You have my blessing. My approval I'm still on the fence about."
"Why?" Jack asked.
Gemini huffed and downed the rest of his drink. "I suspect you know why," he answered, standing up and laying money down on the table. "Drinks are on me. A celebration of your engagement. Congratulations, Jack." He turned, leaving quickly. Jack watched solemnly and silently after him.
KP
Jack was left stunned when he saw her approach him in the gown she'd spoken of. It was almost dream-like in appearance. Beautiful white, floor-length but airy, split thigh and backless... Over it was a filmy mesh, sparkling beneath the light like a thousand stars. He could only gape. She reached his side and smiled gently up at him. He grinned back, heat rising to his cheeks.
The exchange of vows was short and sweet, but with every second that passed, Gemini grew more and more anxious. The moment Jack was separated from his blushing bride, he approached his friend. "Be careful with her, Jack," he said directly.
Jack tilted his head curiously at him, then looked towards Betty who was chatting with the girl Vivian she'd spoken of. He was silent a moment, watching them until Betty turned her head in his direction and gave him a beaming grin. He smiled gently back, nodding to her. The second she turned away, he looked at Gemini once more. "How much is real?" he asked quietly, sounding almost defeated.
"All of it," Gemini answered. "That's what makes it so complicated."
Jack nodded solemnly. "How did we get here?" he soon asked.
"If you and she can't answer that, what makes you think I can?" Gemini asked, watching as his sister left Vivian's company and began approaching her new groom. Though not necessarily fond of the decision, she had chosen to keep her maiden name. They had both understood it was safer this way. His reasons were obvious. Her own not so much.
Jack looked toward her again and his eyes lit up softly, a gentle smile spreading across his lips. He took her hands in his and kissed her forehead. She grinned, closing her eyes and nuzzling him. "Are you ready to go?" she asked,
"Of course," he answered. "Are you?"
"I have to admit it'll be a little scary calling your home mine. I've only ever been in it once. I hardly know my way through the place. I'm afraid I'll be getting lost for a while," she said.
"Don't worry. I'll give you the grand tour. Sooner than you think you'll get used to it," he assured.
She smiled at him. "I'm going to feel like an intruder," she said.
"All I have is yours, Dr. Director," he said to her, nuzzling her with a grin.
She giggled softly and looked toward Vivian. Her smile slowly fell. The girl was currently being eyed up by a random kid hanging out in City Hall. Likely between the ages of eighteen and twenty. Probably the son of some higher-up. Vivian was the type of girl who would look older than she was until she hit adulthood, and from then on look younger. It put her at a lot of risk. Betty got the feeling she would have to step in a lot on the girl's behalf as she got older. Right now, though, it seemed Gemini was handling it, approaching the boy, taking him to the side, and informing the youth of the girl's actual age. The kid started, eyes widening in shock, then looked suddenly nervous and awkwardly excused himself before shuffling off. Vivian frowned at Gemini, giving him a pout. Gemini rolled his eyes, ignoring her.
"I'm a bit worried about Viv," she confessed.
"I take it her parents don't live nearby?" Jack asked.
"No. Across the country," Betty replied. "Not a lot of institutions are geared for child proteges of her caliber, so they sent her here. Her parents and mine were old friends. They knew she would be safe with us. Poor girl is going to have a tough time as she grows up though."
"As long as she has you around, I think she'll be just fine," Jack teased, linking his arm through hers. "Now, shall we?" He gestured to the exit. She nodded with a smile and allowed her new husband to lead her out.
KP
Gemini watched after his sister and her new groom in utter and grim silence. Vivian watched him quietly, reading him for a moment. "You know something, don't you?" she asked.
"Humph. More than I wish I did," he dryly replied.
"Did you know it wasn't supposed to lead to this?" she asked.
Gemini gave her a wary look. "I'm more surprised that you know," he cautiously replied.
"I know a lot. I'm just interested in if you told him," she said.
"I should have," Sheldon bitterly replied. Turning, he started walking away.
"Sheldon, is she in danger?!" Vivian called after him.
Gemini paused and looked back coldly. "No. He is," he replied
"She loves him," Vivian said, frowning.
"In love, there's always one who loves more," Gemini replied.
"Well I think you're just jaded," she replied, crossing her arms.
"Or you're just naive," Gemini answered. Vivian glared at him, eyes narrowing a bit. Gemini huffed. "He knows. I never told him, but he knows."
"You said she wasn't in danger!" Vivian exclaimed, eyes widening in alarm.
"She isn't," Gemini grimly replied. With that, he walked away from her. She was silent, suddenly feeling uncomfortable about this.
"Gemini, wait!" she called, hurrying after him. He sighed in exasperation and looked back. Vivian paused, wincing a bit. "I uh, I have no ride," she sheepishly said.
Gemini glared coldly at her. "You told Betty you did," he finally said.
"I lied. She's going home for the first time with her husband! They didn't need to worry about some kid tagging along," Vivian said. "I just need money for the bus and I can get home myself."
"No. Get in the car. I'll bring you to my mother's house safely," Gemini replied. Vivian nodded in agreement. He rolled his eyes and led her to the vehicle.
KP
Jack and Betty sat together on the railing of the balcony outside his room. Their room. His arms were wrapped around her stomach. She leaned back against him as gently he swayed from side to side, very nearly lulling her to sleep. After all, they were in no rush. He kissed her head softly. She sighed deeply in contentment and tilted her head back to look up at him. "If you're not careful, I'll soon be asleep," she murmured.
He smiled and chuckled, then pressed his lips to hers before sighing through the nose and resting his cheek on her head. "I don't know. I'm kind of enjoying the cuddling," he answered.
She grinned and closed her eyes with a sigh of her own. "How did we get here?" she murmured softly.
He hummed in response. "The mystery is better," he said, hand trailing up and down the length of her leg. The slit in her dress revealed more than a little of it as it fell open, that was for sure. She leaned back in his arms extending her neck. He pressed his lips against it and began decorating her throat. A pleased sound escaped her lips, and he grinned against her flesh before lifting his head to look down at her wickedly. Smiling, she slipped out of his arms and off the railing. He leaned back against the post, watching her in amusement. She walked into the bedroom and he followed her.
"We should go swimming," she said.
"An unconventional marriage bed," he replied, catching her hand and drawing her back. He reached up to her shoulders and gently slid the straps of her gown off them, then leisurely down her arms. bringing the dress along.
She caught her breath and stood utterly still as the entirety of her upper body was revealed to him. His eyes lit up a bit and he whispered something under his breath. She turned shyly away, nerves starting to take over, and held her dress up before it could expose any more of her. "I've never been like this in front of anyone before," she murmured softly, looking up at him again.
He smiled a little and slid his hands back up her arms to her shoulders. "We go at your pace," he promised.
She gazed up at him a moment then at last released the gown, letting it pool on the ground at her feet. He looked down and caught his breath. She smiled a bit. She'd worn nothing beneath it. "Your turn," she said.
"Afraid I won't be quite as impressive, love," he replied, admiring her from head to toe.
"Let me be the judge of that," she replied.
He met her eyes once more and smiled mischievously. "I kind of like things as they are," he said.
"Behave," she said, grinning.
He hummed and scooped her up in his arms. She giggled, wrapping her own arms around his neck as he carried her over to the bed and lay her down in it. He began to loosen his tie and took it off, then undid a few of the buttons on his jacket. He leaned over her, pressing his lips to hers. She continued unbuttoning his jacket at a leisurely pace. There was no reason to rush. She pushed it off his arms and he shrugged it off onto the ground, then removed his shirt as well. Her eyes lit up a bit. "I'll assume that's a good sign," he said, grinning at her. Not that she hadn't seen him shirtless before, but it had never been in a context quite like this. She blushed, smile vanishing, and looked like she'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. He laughed and kissed her again, bending over her body. She leaned back until her head rested on the pillows, arms wrapped around his neck. He deepened the kiss and for a moment they made out before pausing. "I love you," he whispered as they parted.
Her smile slowly fell and she felt a painful tug at her heart, guilt creeping up into her bones.
"Kill him."
"Justice."
"He won't stop."
This was never supposed to have happened...
"I love you too," she whispered.
"Mmm... Do you?" he asked, gazing down at her with a sort of sadness in his eyes.
He knows...
She felt an unwelcome sting in her eyes. "I love you," she repeated. He smiled ruefully down at her then pressed his lips to hers once more before standing up and stripping down. Her eyes roamed over his body. This was never supposed to have happened... But for him, she could make an exception.
He sat on the bed again, gently cupping her cheek and wearing that same rueful smile. "How long do we have?" he murmured.
She felt her heart twist in her chest and the stinging in her eyes was back. "The rest of our lives," she answered, brushing the back of her hand over his cheek.
"'Til death do us part... How long do I have?" he asked.
Oh gods... He knows...
"I love you," she promised. "Please don't be afraid." He closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against hers and nuzzling gently with a soft, tired sigh like he didn't believe her. "Jack," she said, caressing his neck and jaw. "I love you," she swore again.
He gave her a soft smile and took her lips gently. She lay slowly back, wrapping her arms around his neck and drawing him with her as the kiss deepened. His hand roamed slowly down to her thigh, rubbing it up and down. She wrapped her legs around him and a quick breath escaped his lips. She released the kiss and leaned her head back, letting him tend her throat with his lips again. A soft cry escaped her mouth as he entered her body, and she drew a sharp, shaking breath at the sensation of him there. A quick moan escaped next at his following move, and she whispered his name breathlessly. She felt him smile against her skin, and her heart pounded in her chest. As he continued, her fingernails dug deeper and deeper into his skin. The further he went, the quicker her breathing became. She let out a cry and pressed her mouth against his shoulder when she felt her body begin to tighten. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut. A pulsing sensation began going through her, her breathing started to pick up again, and soon she was lost completely in the throes of pleasure.
This wasn't supposed to have happened... But gods, she prayed it never stopped.
The Next Morning
The morning sun trickled through the French Doors. She gazed out of them as she lay awake in his arms. He was fast asleep, breathing even. Not that she blamed him. Last night had been... Wow. They'd carried on for hours on and off, and she'd really started getting the hang of it to the point he was the one having trouble keeping up.
Now his arm was draped lazily over her body. Her head rested in the crook of his neck. She could feel his every breath. Hear every heartbeat.
She never wanted them to go still and silent...
She had never been as happy as she'd been last night. She'd never felt as miserable as she did now... Nightmares had plagued her. Memories of her mentor's dying eyes, of the corpses littering the GJ facility, of whispers begging her to kill him, of promises of justice being served. She'd wanted to break down into tears and beg to be released from those vows she'd given...
"What's wrong?" she heard him murmur into her hair. She was aware, then, of the tears in her eyes.
"Nothing," she whispered. "Nightmares is all."
"A nightmare bad enough it's driving you to tears, and you claim it's nothing?" he incredulously asked, lifting himself on an arm and gazing down at her.
She looked up into his eyes. She didn't want to lie to him, but to tell the truth... It would sign her own death warrant. She was living a lie now. One she'd never wanted to live.
It doesn't have to be a lie. You know he knows...
"I dreamt you were killed," she answered in a whisper, voice wavering.
He was silent for a moment, watching her. "At who's hand?" he finally asked. She said nothing.
You know he knows...
"Mine," she whispered.
Silence. "How?" he finally murmured.
She lifted her right hand and gazed at the ring sitting there. She turned it so it caught the light. "A poisoned ring," she said.
He eyed the ring quietly for a long moment before taking the hand and kissing it long and tender. Directly where the ring sat. She shivered. He lay back down, trailing his hand up and down her side. She closed her eyes tightly, curling into herself a bit. She couldn't do this. She wouldn't! But it was her duty. But he was her husband. But she had promised... She would gladly die in his place if it meant avoiding this curse she'd trapped herself in.
"I wasn't supposed to fall in love with you," she said, voice breaking. He was quiet, observing her. She hated that she couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling... She didn't have the courage to turn around and face him either, though.
"What do you want for breakfast?" he finally asked. He, it seemed, wasn't ready to face it yet either. They just wanted to stay here lost in their shared dream, this fantasy they had conjured up that kept them so far from the people they were and the paths they'd chosen that it didn't even seem to matter anymore.
Don't wake up. Pretend everything is normal. Pretend everything is okay. Pretend we're anyone other than who we are...
He hated the man he had become... For the first time ever, she was starting to hate the woman she'd become too...
The question was who would shatter the illusion first...
"Um, I'm not sure. Maybe Eggs Benedict?" she replied. She immediately regretted her choice.
He chuckled somewhat bitterly. "Eggs Benny it is," he murmured before dropping a kiss on her shoulder and sitting up.
"I can make it if you want," she said, not turning around. "I figure I should probably find my way around the kitchen at some point anyway."
He watched her quietly. "Sure, Hon. Sure," he answered gently as they both retreated into the fantasy once more.
KP
They cooked together in silence. She was impressed with how well he knew his way around the kitchen. As she stirred the Hollandaise, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle with a smile, kissing her neck. She grinned, tilting it to the side. "Mmm, I could get used to mornings like this," he murmured to her.
"You will," she replied, turning around and wrapping her arms around his neck before kissing his lips briefly.
He chuckled. "You know, we never really discussed whether you'll still be working at Hench Co," he said.
"Am I being fired?" she asked innocently, giving him a faux pout. He grinned then kissed her again. She giggled a little, hopping up onto the counter and pulling back almost teasingly. She drew him near, resting his head against her chest and running her fingers through his hair. "Whatever will I do for a job now?" she asked, resting her chin on his head.
"I never said I was firing you just yet, Ms. Director," he said.
"Mrs. Hench," she corrected. He huffed a bit of a laugh, smirking and looking up at her. "Your call what you want to do," he said. "It's a long weekend. You have a few days to think it through. He checked his watch and frowned. "I, on the other hand, don't," he said.
"Humph. I don't know whether I should be offended that you scheduled a huge meeting the day after our wedding or not," she said, shaking her head at him with a frown.
He laughed. "Have I told you how much I love you?" he asked.
"Not since last night," she replied, smiling.
"Get used to hearing it," he said.
"I love you too," she said. "Don't work yourself sick, Jack. You're a married man now."
"Never been sick a day in my life, love," he replied, turning off the sauce. "Come on, let's eat." She nodded and they plated their food, then went to the table. He finished first, in a bit of a rush, and she watched adoringly as he hurried around getting himself ready for work. A kiss goodbye and he was gone. She was left alone to face the machinations of her own mind, and her smile slowly fell. There was no fantasy for her to hide in now...
KP
She walked down the streets, lost in thought. They could have a future together. A family.
This was never supposed to have happened...
She approached the new temporary headquarters of GJ and entered it. Jack was right. They were too high on the radar. They needed to get much lower. In fact, maybe they needed to go quite literally underground.
"Welcome back, Madam Director," one of her agents said, handing her a cup of coffee.
"Agent," she greeted, taking it. "Where are we on the Gemini front?" she asked, walking up to the surveillance screens.
"WEE has been strangely silent lately," the agent replied. "So has Jack Hench."
Her jaw ticked a bit. "Find a way to get eyes on WEE. I don't like this," she said. When her brother went quiet, it was never a good thing. She supposed it might be in part due to the stress he was experiencing with the whole her and Jack thing, but that wasn't a guarantee.
"What about Hench? It's only a matter of time before he strikes out at us again. No doubt he's heard we're up and running again," the agent said.
"Don't worry about Jack," she said. "I have him under control."
"Jack?" the agent asked, raising an eyebrow.
She started, stiffening a bit with grip tightening on the coffee she held. "Mr. Hench," she quickly corrected. "I meant Mr. Hench."
"Of course," the agent said. She sighed in relief. "By the way, ma'am, congratulations on your wedding." She caught her breath, paling. Oh no. Surveillance. "You got closer to him than any of us ever dreamed. So, when do you plan on delivering the final blow?" Instantly she felt her heart drop and her stomach clench. She was quiet. "Dr. Director?" the agent asked.
Betty turned sharply to him. "Leave the matter to me," she said.
"With all due respect, ma'am, it's been months now," the agent replied with a bit of a curious frown. "Time is ticking. Who knows what he has in the works? The sooner Hench is out of the picture, the better off we'll be."
"I'll strike at my own discretion, agent," she replied a bit sharper than intended.
"But ma'am, he's putty in your hands! Plus, if he's named you his beneficiary, you'll get a pretty sum for GJ too upon his death. The man's a billionaire."
Dr. Director stayed quiet. That was actually part of the reason for her husband's big meeting today, she knew. A revision of his will. "Yes," she admitted, bowing her head. "But I'm not moving too quickly here. If he dies now, it won't be hard to piece together who took him out."
"Dr. Director, GJ is counting on you. You can get away with it, we know you can. This is our top priority. It was the last mission given to us by your predecessor. It must be completed," the agent insisted.
"Focus on WEE!" she barked angrily, startling not only the agent but a few others nearby. She blushed and quickly walked away.
Betty shut the door to her office and leaned against it, swallowing over a sudden lump in her throat. She looked down at her hand, the one the poisoned ring was on. She felt tears burning her eyes. Raising it up in front of her face, she turned it. The needle immediately sprang out. Her jaw twitched and she retracted it. Bowing her head, she closed her eyes. One move was all it would take... One move and her mission would be complete. For the first time, though, she wanted to fail...
KP
"The bomb was HenchCo's, but they weren't the ones who carried out the attack on us," she said in a debriefing to all her agents. "This man here..." She clicked a remote and up sprang a picture of the Uncle, whose face was hidden in the shadow of his hat, "was the one who delivered it," she finished. "He's an associate of Hench's, but they have precious little loyalty to one another. Bad blood. Hench... Hench set him up. Gave him everything but the keys to his research facility." She stopped. It was the first time she had admitted any of this out loud to herself, and she hated every word she spoke. "My theory is that Hench told him about the prototype bomb. Showed him the lab and gave him a false idea of its defenses. Then he hinted that GJ might be closer to taking down this man's organization than this man knew. We weren't, but it gave Hench's target all the motive he needed to steal the explosive. It wasn't personal. We were just collateral. An acceptable sacrifice. A step towards getting one of his worst enemies off the streets once and for all. Two birds, one stone."
"Did he succeed?" an agent asked.
Betty was quiet. "No," she quietly said. "The man caught on eventually, just too late to save us. I... I don't think he even knew what GJ was. He just knew where we were. Doubtless courtesy of Hench."
"The man is utterly brilliant," another agent said in awe, eyes wide.
"In the most devious of ways," she quietly said.
You were right, Sharon. I know you were. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall in love with him, I swear I didn't.
There was utter silence. "He needs to die," an agent finally said.
"I have him contained," she quietly replied, but she wouldn't meet their eyes.
"Or does he have you contained?" the agent asked.
Betty closed her eyes tight. She wished she knew the answer to that... "Don't wait until it's too late, Madam Director. Please. I don't want to lose anyone else," another agent said. She had lost her sister in the attack, Betty knew...
"My brother disappeared investigating Hench," another agent said. "No trace of him was ever found. Jack Hench cannot be allowed to live."
"GJ isn't an assassin organization," Betty snapped, looking sharply up with eyes flaming. "We can bring him to justice. Get a confession, get him arrested! We can take everything from him without killing him!"
"What has he done wrong, Madam Director?" an agent demanded in anger. She too had lost someone. A husband... "On what grounds can he be arrested? Criminal negligence at best, and that's only if we can convince a jury the liability clause in his contracts isn't good enough! He's going to walk! You know he's going to walk!"
Betty was quiet, desperately willing away the lump in her throat. They were right... He would walk. He would walk, and he would do this again and again because that was how he operated. The trail of breadcrumbs to the gingerbread house. His Uncle had done his bidding without even realizing it until the bitter end. How many others had done the same and never known? Hands clean, business clean, stay under the radar, keep within the realms of the law. Manipulate, twist, lead, close out... It was all a game to him. A fool born every minute was all he needed. Dance the fine line, never fall off. He would never fall off! And he would keep doing this again and again and again... Frustrated tears burned in her eyes. What was she supposed to do? Shouts of 'justice' rang out all around her, but she didn't know if this was anything close to that...