Chapter 2

Jack cracked his eyes open, brought around by Matty moving around the room, shortly after sunrise. He wasn't sure he wanted to move, but he tried some smaller movements first and seemed relatively ok, so he sat up and "Owwwwwch! Yikes!" He stood carefully, thinking that had to be a better option, but his clothing still pushed the little invisible spines…the ones that were still attached… in irritating directions. This was not going to be fun.

"Jack? I'd ask how you're feeling, but…looks like not so well," Matty observed. She came over and lifted Jack's tee shirt and the gauze covering part of his skin and winced. It looked like a bad sunburn with a bunch of tiny pinpricks all over it. Looks like if you drink any water, you'll spring about 1,000 leaks, like in a cartoon!"

"Yeah, I'm sure it's all fun for you. I'm the one with the million holes in his skin, Matty. Also, I hate to complain, but the five percent of spikes left in me are causin' a problem."

"Are you going to be able to go on with the mission?"

"Give me a minute. Is there coffee?" he asked on his way to the bathroom.

"I'll get some at the office and be right back. And don't scratch at any of those or they'll end up in your fingers too!" She warned as she closed the door.

Jack hadn't considered that. He wondered if they tried the gauze trick again in certain spots, if it would get the rest out, and if it didn't, how he'd sit in a car all day, 'observing'. He washed up and shaved and turned to look at his back in the mirror. Geez, there was dried blood, red skin, and little holes everywhere. He looked a mess! Fortunately, it did feel like his back was rid of most of the offending pointy cactus weapons. He could tell just moving his shirt around. There were a few areas south that seemed to need revisiting. Maybe he could do the glue and gauze trick himself there, but he was still covered in ointment, so that wouldn't work. He really did not want to ask for Matty's help again, but it seemed inevitable…unless….

Jack stepped out of the shower after using a washcloth everywhere he could reach to rid himself of the first aid ointment and maybe some of the offending spines. He dried his skin and wrapped a towel around himself carefully, stepping out of the bathroom to get the glue and gauze Matty had used. Matty was on her way in with coffee at the same time. She took one look at him and shook her head.

"What are you doing?"

Jack explained his plan as he rooted around for the items he needed. He would have asked her to turn around, but then thought better of it, because, really? What would be the point after last night? Matty handed him his coffee and got the glue and gauze and put it in the bathroom for him.

"Jack, if you need me to do it, I will, okay? It's no big deal. Why don't you show me where the worst of it is and I'll see about using the tweezers first, then we'll use the glue again. We have about an hour before we have to leave to get to our observation point, so you've gotta let me know if you are going to be able to do this."

Jack reluctantly sighed and lay on the bed again, pointing to the areas that still hurt when his clothes moved against them. Matty was able to remove a few more tiny spines and then got the glue and spread it on the gauze, applying it to a few spots that Jack could identify. When she was done, he had a quite a few strips covering the back of him again.

"You ready, Jack? Try really hard not to yell because there's a lot of people outside moving around at this time of day, okay?"

Jack nodded and bit on the corner of his pillow as Matty yanked the gauze off as quickly as she could. Jack was literally shaking when she finished and she really couldn't help but to feel badly for him. Now, his previously red skin was even redder, now swollen, and the bleeding had started again. Matty ran a cool shower and got Jack some pain meds, which he accepted and swallowed eagerly with his coffee. Matty produced some sort of local pastry from a bag and made sure he had a few bites so the meds wouldn't make him sick, then she waived him in to the shower.

Jack turned the water as cold as he could stand it to help stop the bleeding and swelling. He tolerated that for about five minutes and got out, shivering, drying down with a clean towel and turning around when Matty knocked and came in with more antibiotic ointment and clean clothes. Finally, he was dressed and as comfortable as he thought he would get for a while and he emerged from the bathroom.

"Well, you look better! What's the verdict? We're on the clock here."

Jack winced and sat gingerly on the bed, testing out his tolerance for any pressure on his sitting parts and the backs of his thighs. Other than a few little stabs from remaining spines, it felt acceptable and he nodded.

"Ok, Matty, let's get goin'." He finished his coffee and pastry and packed up. He stopped when he realized Matty was right behind him. "What are you doin', Matilda?"

"Just wanted to see if coffee was leaking out from any of those holes," Matty smiled and winked. Jack returned her comment with a sarcastic eye roll.

They had to find a new vehicle, but that was no problem in a town this size. They were able to pay someone to use their vehicle for the day. Matty wasn't a bad con artist. She sold the story that they're car had broken down on the way to a funeral. The older gentleman at the garage seemed to feel sorry for her and loaned them an older model sedan, which Matty paid him twice the going rental rate for. Jack shook his head and smiled as he crossed his arms and leaned against the building, watching her. This woman had more hidden talents than he had ever given her credit for!

Jack put their bags in the trunk and very gingerly got in the driver's seat, earning a questioning look from Matty.

"What? Damn clothes feel like they're made of hair!" he groused, but sped off in the direction of their observation point.

Jack managed to stay seated in the car most of the afternoon, as they watched the drug dealers come and go from the warehouse down in the valley, about a hundred yards from where their car was parked on a hill, behind some shrubs…and cacti. He fidgeted occasionally and grimaced as he looked through his field glasses and Matty watched his expressions covertly.

"A little sore, there, Tex?" she teased lightly.

"I would appreciate if you would drop the subject, Matty. It's bad enough I had to swallow my pride and let you pluck the damn thorns outta my….well, you know, but I don't really wanta hear about it forever. Not exactly a pleasant memory," Jack said as evenly as he could without taking his eyes from the binoculars.

"I'm sorry, Jack, but I was just trying to make light of it a little. I don't want you feeling all uncomfortable about it," she said almost sincerely.

Jack looked away from their intended observees for a moment to look Matty in the eyes. His expression was sincere. "Matilda, I'm only goin' ta say this once and I want you ta know I mean it. Thank you… for helpin' me out. I couldn't a done it myself. You're a true friend and you even tried not to make too many jokes at my expense. You were even…you know…kind. I appreciate it more than you know. But if you ever make any jokes about this, or tell anyone else about this, I will make you sorry." Then he smiled warmly at her and went back to observing through the binoculars.

"You're welcome, Jackass."

Epilogue:

Jack sat at his desk in the CIA headquarters in LA, doing the dreaded paperwork that his job called for from time to time. He'd wished he'd taken off for his birthday, but was trying to save up his time for a proper vacation, so he was resigned, but not exactly thrilled to be working on his birthday. He looked up when he heard a knock on the door. One of the secretaries smiled at him and brought in a medium sized floral delivery box.

"Mr. Dalton? This just came for you," she smiled pleasantly, adding, "There's a card!" She turned and left as Jack just stared after her and then at the box. Suddenly, his day was looking a lot brighter. Apparently his mom or sister or, with any luck, some admiring young woman had thought of him on his birthday! He opened the box and peered inside at the tissue paper surrounding a potted…cactus?!

He got up and closed the door, returned to his desk and opened the card.

"Happy Birthday, Jack!

Matty"

Jack threw the card onto his desk, picked up the boxed plant and stormed out of the office toward Matty's.

"MATILDA!"