TBITC Chp. 38

Jack's head swam and his vision blurred when he was able to force his eyes open. But he quickly closed them because the light hurt too much. Forcing his eyes open again, Jack ignored the pain. He turned his head as much as the pain would allow before forcing him to stop moving. Though his vision was foggy, he could see someone standing in the corner of the room. "Wha…where…where…" He croaked, forcing the words out through his dry throat.

The figure approached, looked down at him and smiled. "You had us worried, Captain." She said, but then her face turned serious when she saw the pained expression on Jack's face.

"Jack…"

He shook his head, the pained expression remaining, but slowly turning to one of shock. "Jenny…oh God…oh God, I'm so sorry."

Suddenly, the monitors around him beeped and wailed urgently as nurses rushed into the room in an attempt to calm the distressed man. Meghan, for her part, wanted to melt into the floor. She'd offered to sit with Jack while everyone else went to eat.

"Ms. Reynolds?"

Meghan turned and looked at the nurse who'd spoken. She'd stepped out of the room to give them space to work. "Yes?"

"We sedated Mr. Caine. He was asking for someone named Jenny. Is that his wife?"

Meghan schooled her features, forcing an impassive expression on her face, while inside she was reeling. "She was."

The nurse nodded in understanding and walked away without another word. Ten minutes later Horatio and the team arrived. Meghan saw Dr. Long talking to Horatio, presumably telling him what happened. She shot daggers at her lover. How could the man, who professed to love her, not tell her that she looked that his deceased daughter-in-law? It probably wouldn't have bothered her, except it had put Jack in distress. Knowing that she didn't want to face him now, like this, she turned and walked away.

000

Joe Wood's flashed his DHS credentials and was directed to the ICU waiting room. He'd taken his time on the drive and arrived three hours after leaving his house. He found Horatio and Alexx sitting with Sam. The rest of the team, including Meghan and Madison had opted to go to another safe house and sleep. There backs were to him and he cleared his throat to get their attention. Alexx turned first and stood with Sam still in her arms. "Hi, daddy," she said with a smile, "thanks for coming."

"Anytime, baby." Joe said, hugging her. Sam watched him warily. Horatio stayed off to the side, letting Alexx introduce Sam to her father.

"Sam, this is my dad, Joe. Can you say hi, baby?"

After a minute, Sam grinned and said, "Hi!"

Joe grinned. "Hi, Sam. It's nice to meet you." The big man said. At 67, Joe was still an intimidating 6'6" and 230lbs., Joe could be intimidating. But Alexx had also seen his gentle side when her children were alive. And that helped her, because if her father could compartmentalize his personality, so could Jack and their relationship would work. But the question was, would he do it?

But before Alexx could explore the issue further, she saw Dr. Long coming toward them. "Jack's awake. And he's asking for Alexx."

000

Alexx walked into Jack's room, forcing herself to ignore the fact that he looked like death warmed over. But she failed, because Jack grinned at her and said weakly. "What? Do I look that bad?"

She quickly shook her head. "No, no, baby. You look good."

"Liar. You'd never make working for Christians in Action?"

Alexx's eyes shot up. "Where?"

"He mean's the CIA, Alexx. Central Intelligence Agency/ Christians in Action. CIA." Joe said, with Sam in tow, eating a bag of M&M's. Five minutes and one trip to the vending machine, and they were now friends for life.

Joe brow furrowed. "Wait. I know that voice, but it can't possibility be who I think it is because that guy's in a nursing home." Jack said, grinning as Joe walked into the room.

"Bite me, pincushion." Joe said, shooting the former soldier a glare. "Did he tell you that was his codename?"

Alexx shook her head and laughed. "You're serious? Pincushion?"

"Yeah, he kept getting shot, so we called him pincushion." Joe said.

Horatio had been listening from the door and shook his head. "Maybe you should ask for more morphine, son."

"Waj ab zibik." Jack spat at the two men, wishing them both infections in very private places.

Joe's eyebrows shot up. Like Jack, he spoke fluent Arabic. "And quite the mouth on him too."

"Try this. You, you." Jack said, pointing at Joe and his father. "Out."

"What about us?" Sam asked, referring to himself and Alexx. "Can we stay?"

"You better stay." Jack said, with a grin.

"Wasn't like we were going anywhere else, baby." Alexx said, smiling at Jack and kissing his cheek. Sam grinned at them.

Jack looked at Alexx. "You think he knows something we don't?"