Chapter 22 - Developments

She didn't know what time it was when she woke. She rolled over to see the watery sunlight peeping in through the blinds. Mac was propped up against the pillows, his right arm crooked behind his head. He was just staring into space. She suspected he had been awake for some time. Shivering she snuggled a little closer glad of his warmth. He slipped his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers tracing the line of the dark blue bandage that crossed his chest.

"What time is it?"

"A little after six."

"Did you sleep?"

"Enough."

Jo raised her head and looked at him. "You don't have to do this ..."

"Jo!"

"It doesn't have to be you," she pleaded. She saw a brief look of regret cross his face. He raised his left hand and cupped her face running his thumb across her cheekbone. He lowered his head burying his face in her hair.

"I have to do this," he said simply.

"Promise me you'll be careful." He pulled away slightly looking deep into eyes. It took her breath away like he was looking into her very soul. "Mac ..." Her words were cut off as his lips found hers. They probed gently exploring hers. He ran his hand through her hair allowing the long silky tresses to slip through his fingers. Her breathing quickened and he deepened the kiss. She felt him shift his weight and they rolled over, his lips still on hers. Just as she wished that the kiss would never stop, it did but only to be be replaced with his lips on her throat. His hand slid down pushing away the stiff white sheet. She shivered as her skin came into contact with the cool morning air and shivered again as his hand caressed her waist, her hip, her thighs. His arms tightened around her, as though he never wanted to let her go. She could feel his desire, his longing, his need. Little by little her fears melted away as her senses were overcome. The world beyond the four walls of the plain little motel room became non-existent as though they were the only two living beings on the planet. For them time had stopped. Nothing else mattered.

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She must have dozed for when she woke again she was alone. She reached over to the pillow still dented from where his head lay. It was cold but she could smell the faint trace of his cologne. She pulled the pillow towards her and hugged it tight, burying her face in the cotton folds as though to hang onto the last traces of him. She gripped it until her knuckles turned white and she prayed that today wouldn't happen but even as she did, she knew that nothing would prevent what was coming. A hot scalding tear made it's way down her cheek as she remembered he hadn't said the word 'promise'.

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It was a little before eight when she arrived in the lobby where they had sat the previous evening. The sideboard had been cleaned and it held the large coffee-pot, a curl of steam escaping from the spout with clean cups, fresh milk and sugar. Two unfamiliar faces who she took to be O'Neill and Watson were helping themselves to pastries from the large basket. She guessed that Ben and Jerry had replaced them staking-out the Centre. She felt a presence at her side.

"We'd better get in there before the Feds eat all the breakfast," Flack whispered. "You must be starving after last night!"

Jo felt her cheeks flush. Her words caught in her throat as she stared at him not knowing what to say. He couldn't possibly have heard her could he?

Don looked at her in surprise. "Oh come on Jo, even you have to be hungry after that pathetic excuse for a meal they served on the flight. And we only got a muffin for dinner!" he moaned feeling slightly guilty that he had snagged an extra two on his way out when the others weren't looking. "Oh no, here are the others. You know how much those army folk eat. Come on."

Jo sighed with relief at her false assumption and followed him over to the breakfast table where they introduced themselves to O'Neill and Watson. Brief pleasantries were exchanged as everyone filled coffee cups and grabbed pastries. A sudden silence fell over the room as the three team leaders entered.

"Oh you've got to be kiddin' me," muttered Don half to himself. Jo felt her stomach tighten and suddenly the apple pastry in her hand didn't seem so appetizing any more. Agent Wright, dressed in full assault gear took a large plan and spread it out on the table. He motioned for everyone to sit down. Even as she sat she was unable to take her eyes off Mac. He and Harry Fisher were both dressed in BDUs. Both were fully armed including rifles and hand-guns and what appeared to be a host of other items stuffed into pockets or clipped to their belts.

Wright addressed the assembled crowd: "There have been developments. Mason's associates all left their respective hotels an hour ago. They're rendezvousing at the centre. Approximately twenty minutes ago a large unmarked truck rolled in through the gates and drove around the back. It looks like they're preparing to load up. There is still no sign of Cyrus Mason or Victor Gaunt. Nor of the buyers." He pointed to the map. "However as you can see the terrain is extensive and heavily wooded in certain areas." A heavy red line had been drawn around the edge of the property. Jo estimated that it covered a little over six square miles. It was bound on it's western edge by a river that wound it's way through woodland, several small tributaries feeding into it on it's northern route. The northern and eastern edges had small country roads surrounded by trees. The road to the south was slightly larger and showed an entrance, a short stubby road that suddenly ended in the middle of nothing. There were no markings inside the boundary but someone had pencilled in four small rectangles near the entrance, the right most two joined together in the form of a capital tee.

Don pointed out the obvious. "Why doesn't the map give further detail?"

"Classified. It was a former military installation." Wright pointed to the two leftmost of the rectangles. This is the instructors accommodation, two floors, apartments on the top, offices and catering facilities on the bottom. Next to it is a large garage that can hold up to four cars and parking for another six. This other building is used for training." He indicated the short stubby part of the tee. "These are classrooms and a dining room. Again the accommodation is on the top floor. We believe the other part of the building is a gym. We're not sure of the rest of the layout." He pointed to the empty space behind the pencil drawn buildings. He looked pointedly at Mac and Harry and laid a pencil on the map.

Mac nodded and knelt by the side of the table. Quickly he sketched in an area with a dozen or so buildings to the north and east. "This is The Village, for urban combat scenarios. They're mostly shells or plywood fronts, a bit like a film set but some have stairs and fitted interiors." Then he drew a rough circle to the west. "This is the arena, for hand to hand combat training. The area north of this is heavily planted designed for jungle warfare scenarios." His eyes flickered briefly towards Harry. "There are ..." He paused before the pencil drew two rectangles close to one another. "... two structures … kill houses. Here and here."

"Kill houses?" Don didn't like the sound of this.

"They're actually warehouses, the interiors of which can be redesigned to simulate particular buildings for hostage situations or hostile action. This area is primarily used for SERE training"

"SERE?"

"Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape." Mac met his eye for few seconds and Don got the feeling that Mac was speaking from experience. Mac stood. "Anyway we need more intel than we have at present. We have to have confirmed sightings that Mason and Gaunt are present. We need feet on the ground."

Wright suddenly took over. "Wong, O'Neill, Watson, you're with me. We're going to join Roach and Garrett here." He pointed to position just west of the main entrance. "We constitute Team A. When the call comes we're going to take the main accommodation block. Detectives Danville and Flack, I'd like you to join Sergeant Briggs and Sergeant Moore. You'll be Team B under the command of Major Fisher here. It is your job to secure the training facility. You'll be approaching from the east. There's plenty of cover until you're virtually on top of the building. You'll need to hunker down here until the call." He stabbed a finger on the woodland to the east of the capital tee. "Just south of the Centre there's a camp ground. It's currently closed. Local PD are stationing units there. They will secure the front of the premises and parking garages. No one will be going out that way. All communications will be through the team leaders." He indicated a microphone at his throat. "Questions?"

Steve raised a finger. "Who's making the call?" His eyes flicked from Wright to Harry.

Harry grinned. "Our feet on the ground." He turned to Mac. "After all there's only one Recon Marine here. It would be a shame to waste his talents."

Steve looked impressed. Don grimaced. "Oh man! You're going lone wolf again aren't you?" Mac didn't say anything but he could feel Jo's eyes on him.

Harry laughed and dug a hand into his pocket. He pulled out a small plastic pot and tossed it to Mac who caught it one-handed laughing as he saw the label. "I take it you do remember how to put on camo make-up don't you?" he teased. Mac shook his head in amusement and headed for the door.

Just as he was about to step out he took a last look at Jo. The merest hint of a smile tugged at his lips but before she could return it he was gone and she finally let out the breath she had been holding.

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A/N : Note to Kay. There it is. Jac fluffy stuff. Happy now? ;-) Action coming up tomorrow.