This is set during the episode 4x06 "Proof of Concept" so spoilers for that, I guess.

I don't own the Tom Clancy universe, the show Jack Ryan, any of its characters.

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Chapter II: James Greer.

James Greer didn't hesitate to get on a plane to Maryland after learning Jack and company were coming back.

There were five bombs remotely controlled on their way or already in the USA, a sinister plot that seemed to involve everyone around them, information from a dead man they couldn't fucking decode, a former CIA lieutenant in custody but refusing to cooperate, and too many damn pieces of the damn puzzle still missing. So yeah, maybe he should have stayed in Washington trying to figure shit out, but that hadn't stopped Jim from looking Elizabeth straight in the eye as he told her the Acting Deputy Director was flying off to Maryland to meet with Jack.

Jim was sure he wouldn't have gotten anywhere even if he stayed anyway. He'd already unraveled a good bit of the convoluted mess Miller and company had crafted, but if he kept at it, he would probably have just lost it and ended up punching that dirty shit Tuttle, or even yelled at Elizabeth about the damn deal she made with that crocked dipshit, all for useless information.

Hell, Jim would have been tempted to make the same stupid decisions if he had been in Elizabeth's place, but that didn't stop him from being absolutely pissed. He wanted Jack back safe as much as she did, but he knew better than to think that was the only way.

She should have waited. And she should have trusted Jack and his people.

Jim looked up at the cloudy sky, hands tucked deep in his coat pockets against the cold. He couldn't see the plane yet, but Jim knew it had to be close. It already had been too damn long.

He knew Jack was alive and whole, but that was it. He didn't even get to speak to him when Mike called, so Jim was eager to see him with his own two eyes and make sure he was okay. Or as okay as he could be after whatever happened.

Jack hadn't been missing for long, but Jim knew first-hand the kind of damage that could be caused by being caught in the wrong hands for any amount of time, and not all of it was always physical.

Jim couldn't forget it was he who dragged Jack all but kicking and screaming away from his boring safe desk and back into the real ugly world. And yeah, Jack was a grown man, and it had been his decision to stay in the field after that first mission, but he still felt responsible for the guy. Hell, Jack saved his damn life at the risk of his own in Venezuela, and now that it was Jack who needed of saving Jim had been stuck back here, unable to do a damn thing to help. He couldn't even do his fucking part to find the bombs.

So Jim didn't care about what he should or shouldn't do. He was right where he needed to be, making sure that pain in the ass was gonna be alright.

And, on a more selfish note, Jim had to admit he was also hoping for a chance to borrow Jack's brilliant brain for a bit there so they could figure this shit out once and for all.

Movement out of the corner of his eye made him turn to see Cathy approach. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself while her tired eyes searched the sky for any signs of an arriving aircraft. Neither said anything as they stood side by side, watching and waiting.

Jim called her after Jack was rescued, of course, and they shared a brief conversation when he first arrived at the Air Base, which consisted of him asking how she was, assuring her people back in Washington were still working to make sense of the information from the drive, and an introduction to Chao Fah's widow and daughter. Neither had been in the mood for further interaction, so that had been it.

He hadn't gotten the chance to get to know Cathy as well as he would have liked, but Jim felt impressed by how well she was handling this whole ordeal. Jim didn't doubt Cathy was terrified and worried and even in pain, but she was holding it together better than anyone thrown head-first into this life could be expected to. Cathy had every right to go home the moment she came back safe and sound, but she chose to stay here and help in any way she could.

It was obvious she was good for Jack, so Jim only hoped she would be willing to stick around after all this shit was over.

Jim knew he couldn't even begin to make comparisons, but he was reminded of his own marriage anyway, and how all the risks involved in this job were one of the reasons it fell apart- and his ex was never put in danger and used against him like Cathy was used against Jack. That alone was reason enough to end any relationship, no matter how good or solid it was.

"They're here," Cathy murmured, prompting Jim to raise his gaze. Sure enough, there it was; a little dot in the sky that looked nothing like an aircraft from this distance.

After waiting so long, it felt like the descent and landing took no time at all. Soon enough, the cargo ramp was being lowered, and Jim watched the three men appear a moment later. He saw Mike first, looking a little worse for wear but still flashing a grin. Chavez looked tired as well, but unlike Mike, he seemed ready to get back to work in a second.

The moment Jim caught his first glimpse of Jack, walking and moving on his own, he released a breath he hadn't even known he was holding. Jim winced in sympathy when he saw his face, but it was the guarded way Jack held himself and the stiffness of his movements that made his stomach drop. Jim had expected something like it- hell, he'd been dreading something worse- but that didn't make it any easier to witness.

He had a sudden flashback to the naive but brilliant and stubborn kid who stood up to his new boss because he knew he was right. It felt like a lifetime away, that time when Jack claimed to be nothing but an analyst who didn't belong in the field.

Jim had been so busy staring at Jack that he didn't see Cathy move. Still, he wasn't surprised when she appeared at Jack's side and wrapped her arms around him. He averted his eyes, giving them the privacy they deserved.

Now that Jim could see his prayers had been answered he took a moment to look upward and offered another silent thank you.

It was ridiculous how much Jack had come to mean to him in just a few years. If someone had told Jim back then that he would grow to care for that stubborn pain in the ass as more than a mere colleague, he would have laughed.

"How's he?" He asked, turning to Mike and Chavez as they reached his side.

The men shared a silent look. "It wasn't as bad as it could have been," Mike started after a moment, "he'll be okay. But we need to make sure he gets checked out before we get out of here."

"You too," Chavez cut in.

Jim stared at Mike, eyebrows raised in silent question.

"I'm fine," Mike aborted a shrug with a wince. "It was just a through and through in the shoulder, and I even got the banana leaves treatment to patch it up."

Chavez snorted in response, so Jim assumed he was responsible for said treatment. Before Jim could question them further, he noticed that Jack and Cathy were approaching. There were deep lines of pain etched in Jack's face, but his gaze was clear and sharp. He still had an arm around Cathy, and though the position looked anything but comfortable, Jim understood.

"How're doing?"

"I've been better," Jack replied, the corner of his lips twitching upward for a split-second.

It didn't answer the question, but Jim accepted it anyway. He would get an answer soon enough, and besides, he appreciated at least being spared the 'I'm fine' bullshit.

"Want to get us up to speed?"

"I will," Jim agreed easily under the weight of four pairs of eager eyes. "Once you two get checked out."

Jack frowned. "We don't have time for this."

"Sure we do."

He opened his mouth to protest further, but Cathy's gentle hand on his arm stopped him.

"Come," Cathy prodded in a soft but firm tone. "The sooner you do this the sooner you can go back to saving the world."

Jack hesitated for a moment longer, even if it was clear to everyone around that he didn't have a choice.

Jim met Jack's halfhearted glare without bothering to hide his smirk.

Jack was too tired to be stubborn, so it wasn't long before he let himself be guided to the hangar by Cathy, his three colleagues silently following behind.

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A/N: I'm sorry it took so long to post this chapter, and sorry the ending sucks too. That was one of the reasons it took me so long to finish this. Endings are my kryptonite. I know I hinted the possibility of a chapter from Cathy's POV as well, and while I'm not going to say it wouldn't happen, it is very unlikely at this point. I hope you enjoyed it!