Quicksand

Inspired by FBI Episode 6x04 Creating A Monster

and FBI International 3x04 Cowboy Behavior

With the end of another work week and exhausting cases, Jubal was ready to call it a night and go home. He told the agents and analysts that they all did a good job and dismissed them for the night.

He was on his way to his office but couldn't help but pass by the SAC's office when he saw that she's still there. "Everyone's going home, you should be too."

Isobel looked up from her paperwork with glasses on and saw him standing at the open door. She gave him a small smile. "Just need to finish this," she replied then went back to her work.

"No, when I return, you should be ready to go." He crossed his arms as he leaned against the door.

"Is that so?" She took off her glasses and leaned back in her chair. She was about to show her stubborn streak when she saw him yawn. "You would've been more intimidating if you didn't look like you're about to fall asleep."

He chuckled. "Which is why you should hurry up if you don't want to carry me to the elevator." He dragged himself off the door and went to his office. He sat on his chair and started putting his things into his bag. He couldn't wait to sleep in the comfort of his bed.

"Finally, you're awake." A voice that he hoped never to hear again - Antonio Vargas.

He sat up and blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. "How did you get out?"

"I have many connections, Agent Valentine," the criminal mastermind stood over him. "Besides, that should be the least of your concern now."

His instinct as an agent kicked in as he looked around to figure out where he was. Some kind of forest with tall trees and sunlight streaming in. His wrists tied in front of him. He had no shoes, he noticed, but was still wearing his work clothes.

Vargas sneered at him. "Come, I have something to show you."

Immediately, two burly men, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, flanked him on either side and pulled him up to his feet. One of them shoved him to move forward.

Although he's barefoot, he could barely feel the grass and soil. He was racking his brain on how he got here, trying to remember where he was attacked. His clothes meant they got to him before he got inside of his apartment. He wondered if he was attacked in the parking lot in 26Fed or his apartment complex. At the thought of being attacked at work made him worry about Isobel. His talk of convincing her to go home was the last memory he could recall.

Jubal wasn't sure how long they've been walking. They stopped in a clearing and he saw a big puddle, almost like a pool of something. "What is this?" he dared to ask.

"Well, let me show you." Vargas grabbed a rather large stone and threw it in the middle and the stone slowly sank. "Quicksand," he confirmed.

The agent took a deep breath as he thought of how he could escape this predicament. He still didn't have a solution when Vargas spoke again. "Don't worry, Valentine. This isn't for you, yet." He stared straight at him with an evil glint in his eyes as he said his next words. "Bring her here."

The words made his blood run cold. He was horrified when he saw the other group of men dragged Isobel. Her screams muffled by the gag in her mouth.

"Isobel!"

A muffled garble which sounded like his name was her response.

"It's time for you to suffer," Vargas said as he nodded to his men.

Jubal had to watch in horror while the men threw Isobel in the quicksand. The two men had to restrain him to keep him from running to her. Vargas began taunting him. "You didn't think I won't get my revenge, didn't you?"

The ASAC managed to get away from his captors and started to run towards her. He couldn't understand why seemed so close to where Isobel was but every step he made took him further away from her. All the while he can see her body slowly sinking and disappearing from his view.

When he finally reached the edge, he dropped to his knees and grabbed a sharp-edged rock to cut his ropes. By then, only her right hand was visible and as he reached out to grasp it, her fingers slipped and vanished into the sand.

His body acted even before his mind could properly process it. Jubal jumped into the quicksand, not caring what happens to him so long as he could save Isobel. He was confused when his feet seemingly landed on a solid surface and he could stand with sand up to his ribs. He waded around and tried to take hold of something, any part of her that he could grab to get her out.

But he couldn't touch anything but sand. He called for her, his voice becoming hoarse as he yelled her name over and over. Tears flowed from his eyes - desperate and confused as to why he can't seem to find her.

Suddenly he heard her voice, calling his name. He also felt a slight shake which was disconcerting. His confusion led him to open his eyes which met hers. With concern in her eyes, Isobel said "Sounds like you're dreaming..."

Jubal blinked as if to make sure that she's actually there and he wasn't imagining things. He slowly lifted his head from his desk and looked around. A sigh of relief escaped him when he realized that he was in his office.

She remained standing beside him. "I was wondering why you haven't come back yet. I thought you'd already left..." She bit her bottom lip to keep herself from saying without me. She continued, "And I was on my way to the elevator when I saw your office light still turned on. So I checked and heard you sobbing and I think..." she trailed off. She was going to say that she heard him say her name but she wasn't so sure.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, Jubal subtly checked for drool marks but instead found tear tracks - which didn't escape Isobel's notice but thankfully didn't say anything. "I guess I really was sleepy. I didn't even notice that I doze off." He lightly laughed. "But you didn't really think I'd leave without you, did you?"

His intense gaze as he said those words made Isobel clear her throat. She wouldn't let him distract her from what she wanted to say. "You've been working yourself to the ground, Jubal. Our own cases then coordinating with Scott and the Fly Team..." She shook her head in admonishment. "Jubal, you need your rest."

He smirked at her. "You should take your own advice. I had to threaten you to stop working, remember?"

She crossed her arms. "Fine, maybe the two of us could take that advice." At his triumphant smile, she pulled him by the arm. "Come on, let's get you home and maybe you can tell me what your dream was about." He nervously chuckled as he grabbed his bag and followed her to the elevator.

Notes:

Thanks to Dia for the quicksand idea

Reviews are appreciated! Thanks for reading!