TBITC Chp. 33

Jack moved to the front of the zodiac and covered the front, pressing the magazine release, palming the half empty metal box, and slapping in a fresh one as he moved. He leaned against the gunwhale and sighed. He wanted a cigar. No, scratch that, he needed a cigar. And a drink, preferably Jack Daniels'.

It wasn't that Jack wasn't happy that Sam was alive and safe, because he was. He was more than happy, he was ecstatic. But what upset was that it never should have happened. He reviewed the mental catalogue of dead faces from the house in his mind. Five cops, three detectives, two patrol men, three city officials and two guys he didn't recognize. But Clavo wasn't among the dead, and now burned, corpses.

Jack saw the yacht's running lights, and keyed the mic on his radio. "Oil Rig, this is shark, comin' home. Five minutes out."

"Roger, shark. Do you have the package?"

"Roger, package plus one."

"Roger, Oil Rig out."

"Roger, Shark out."

Seconds later, the zodiac slowed and came alongside the yacht. Jack jumped from the zodiac to the yacht, and Meghan followed him. He covered the direction the small boat had just traveled and she covered the opposite. Mike and Kenny helped Alexx, Sam and Anya onto the yacht. Once everyone of the out of the line of fire, Jack stood and turned, lowering his weapon. What he saw was like a knife through his stone cold heart. Sam was literally shaking in Alexx's arms. It made Jack wonder how many of those bastard's had hurt him.

"Do you need a hospital?" Pavel asked.

Jack turned, and shook his head. "No, too risky."

The Russian raised his eye brows and gave Jack a look that said he shouldn't have said that in front of Alexx. And she proved that when she turned and sent Jack a glare so cold that he shivered.

"What the hell do you mean 'too risky'?" she asked, keeping her voice low and controlled because of Sam. But even so, Jack could feel the deadly edge to it.

"People ask questions at hospitals, Alexx. We had no legal right to do what we just did. There's nothing to stop them from calling the police and sending us to jail. For murder, among other things."

"And what do you think is going to happen when all this is over?" she asked, her voice still cold.

But before Jack could answer, Sam spoke up for the first time. "No doctor, mommy. Doctor's hurt." Sam said, whimpering and buried his head in Alexx's chest.

Alexx drew and shuddering breath and struggled to maintain her composure. Before the conversation could continue, Eric's mother stepped in from the galley. "Alexx, if you'll follow me, I prepared a room for you and Sam."

"Daddy too?" Sam asked.

Chlorinda smiled at the boy. "Of course, your father can stay there." Alexx gave her a look of thanks over Sam head.

Alexx smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Chlorinda." As the trio left, Jack shot Chlorinda a look of thanks and she nodded in understanding. You would've had to blind, deaf, and mute not see that Jack cared about Alexx and Sam.

Once they were gone, Jack turned to Anya, who was sitting on the deck. She must have felt him looking at her, because she turned and their eyes met. And she must have read his mind, because before he could speak she said, "Ask me whatever you want, Jack. As long as you promise me one thing."

"Whatever you want, honey." Jack said, his tone gentle.

"Make those bastard's pay for what they did." She said. Her words had an edge to them that should have surprised the former operator, but after what she'd been through, they really didn't.

Jack nodded. "I intend to. Your English is very good."

She smiled. "Thank you. My mother taught me. She was British, and my father was Russian. But she taught me the American way of speaking, so that I wouldn't sound strange here." Then she looked away.

Jack was surprised that she trusted him like this, and mulled it over in his head. She watched him. "Sam told me I could, if that's what you're wondering."

"Sam told you what?"

"That I could trust you. He said that you lived by a code. 'Don't mess with my family, my friend's, or my money.' I think."

Jack and the others grinned. "Yeah, that's right."

The other's had gone to bed long ago, except Natalia, who'd been watching from the galley. She walked in and Mike turned to her. "Anya, this is my girlfriend, Natalia."

"Then you must be Mike." She said, and he nodded. "And that makes you Ken." She said, and Ken nodded.

"Are you hungry, sweetie?" Natalia asked, and as if on cue, Anya's stomach growled rather loudly.

Anya giggled. "I guess that means I am."

Natalia smiled in an effort to reassure the girl. "Well, come on, I'm sure we can find something in the kitchen." When Mike and Ken frowned disapprovingly, she said, "Oh, excuse me the galley. Everything changes on a boat, and these two would know. Mike and Kenny were Navy Seals."

"What about you, Jack?" the girl asked.

"I was in the army." Jack answered for the CSI.

Just as they were crossing the threshold, Anya stopped and turned to Jack. "What did you want to know?"

"Why did Sam say that doctor's hurt?"

Anya stopped, the color draining from her face. Natalia shot him a look that said don't push it. Jack shook his head quickly. "It's alright, you don't have to tell me."

Anya shook her head. "No, I need to start somewhere. When we were first taken, they sent us to a doctor. He gave us a physical, made sure that we didn't have any STD's and were health. He was one of them, and he preferred little boys."

Her monotone narration gave the battle hardened warriors chills. Between them, the three men thought they'd seen the worst of what humanity could do to one another, but this was a new low. Without another word, Anya turned and followed Natalia to the galley. Mike shot his girlfriend a look and saw tears in her eyes. He nodded, knowing exactly what she was feeling and finally understanding where's Jack's special brand of rage at seeing and hearing about Sam's abuse had come from.

Pavel, who'd listen to the entire exchange without a word, said. "You look like you could use a drink. Beer, or something stronger."

"Both." The three operators said in unison.

Pavel returned with a tray a few minutes later. In the center of the tray was a bottle of Jack Daniels' Wild Turkey, and four shot glasses. Next to that were two bottles of Corona Extra, and a Heineken. And three Cuban cigars. Jack's eyes widened.

"Please tell me those are Cuban?" Jack asked in a hopeful tone, pointing to the cigars.

Pavel shot him a glare. "What you take me for?"

Jack grinned and played along. "I don't know, Pavel. I figured you knew your stuff, but…"

"You yankee swine, if I did not think your woman would end my life, I would toss you overboard!" the big Russian growled.

"My woman!" Jack laughed. "Don't let Alexx hear you say that, or she might just kill us both."

Pavel laughed and held the lighter for all three men, before poring whiskey into the four shot glasses. He raised his own glass. "уловите их быстро, убейте их медленные." The four men's glasses clinked and they drank.

000

Natalia managed to find bread and cheese in the galley and, after asking Anya if she liked grilled cheese and being told yes, made a sandwich. The child ate slowly, savoring every bite. "I'm sorry it's not much." Natalia apologized.

"It's wonderful." Anya said with a smile. When she was finished, she yawned. "Where can I sleep?" Anya asked.

The girl seemed comfortable with her, but she didn't want to force herself on the child. But she also didn't want to force herself on the girl. Fortunately, Anya made it easy for her. "Could I stay with you?"

Natalia nodded, surprised that Anya trusted her. "Sure, honey." The two went to Natalia and Mike's stateroom, falling onto the bed. Minutes later, Anya was asleep, but Natalia lay wide awake, watching over her. The CSI promised herself that nothing would happen to this child as long as she was in her care.

000

After finishing his beer and cigar, Jack went to Alexx and Sam's state room. Apparently, according to Sam at least, it was his as well. He thought they were asleep, but when he laid down, he saw Alexx watching Sam sleep fitfully. Sam's right hand clung tightly to her shirt. When he felt Jack next to him, he whimpered and reached out, grabbing Jack's shirt. He clung to both of them for dear life. In the faint light of a half moon that came in the window, Jack could see tears in Alexx's eyes. He reached out took her hand, praying that she wouldn't pull away. To his surprised and absolute joy, she took his hand. He squeezed hers silently trying to communicate that he was here for the long haul, no matter what. He watched as Alexx placed her other hand and pointed at herself, placed the same hand over her heart and then pointed at him. He smiled and mouthed, 'I love you, too." And even though he was asleep, Sam smiled.

000

Translation – catch them fast, kill them slow