<Episode 47>

The day felt like it was taking forever to finish. Jack and Rachel tried not to let anything on while they were out working with the others. Finding a moment here and there to be alone was the only thing that made it bearable. Finally the day was over and they had the evening to themselves, just as long as Sparky, Arron or somebody didn’t walk in on them. Good thing Jack knew a pretty good spot when he wanted to be alone. Of course she knew where it was, but Rachel was the only one he didn’t mind knowing about it. They sat there looking up through the grating at the darkening sky. It was something hey done before but tonight was different. Rachel snuggled up against him instead of closing the jacket she had around her, “Most people wouldn’t think this is the perfect spot for a first date, but I love it,” she said.

“Are you kidding?”, he asked. “We’re underground looking at the through a street grate. All we need is some Barry White playing and a box of wine and this is my ideal date.”

Rachel smiled, “You are a very weird person.”

“You’re just now figuring this out,” he smiled back. Giving her a quick kiss he held her tighter,” I wish I could’ve done better for you though.”

“I got you right here and right now. That’s all I need,” she assured him. Biting her lip a bit she went, “Jack, how many times have you tried going past the just friends thing?”

“Let’s not go there.”

“Come on Jack tell me.”

“I might be a bit dense at times but even I know better than to talk about past relationships with the current girlfriend.”

“I just want to avoid some of the blunders you made before. I won’t think any different of you, I promise,” she actually crossed her heart.

Eventually Jack relented, “It happened twice. There was this one time in high school I started dating this girl I liked hanging around with named Amber. Things were cool until she became a tad possessive.”

“Define possessive.”

“Well if she ever found me talking to a another girl, even if it was somebody we both knew, she would get angry and start claiming I was going to cheat on her or she was trying to steal me away from her. I tried breaking up with her but it took three times before she got the hint.”

“I think I would have called her psycho.”

“I was trying to be nice,” he said. “Then I tried it again with a girl named Mattie. We got along great, we even liked a lot of the same thing that’s why we started dating.”

“What happened there?”

“It turned out we were too much alike and started to get on each other nerves. Things went to hell in a hand basket before either of us knew it. We didn’t talk to each other for a long time after that. We did start talking again and salvaged the friendship but it wasn’t the same.” Looking out the grating again he said, “She always said she’d sing at either my wedding or my funeral. I wonder if she did.”

“Now there’s a lovely thought,” she said.

“Why do you think I never asked Mom about it? Alright, your turn. Did you ever go beyond just friends?”

“Once,” she admitted. “A guy I knew named Greg. Fortunately we both realized we weren’t right for each other and broke it off.”

“And that’s why you’re the smart one,” he said. “I still wish I could take you someplace better than this.”

“We have to make do with what we have,” she told him. Getting up she faced him and pulled out an old walkman radio with some ear bud speakers out of her pocket. “Take this for example, I found it in a closest and it still works.” Grinning a bit she told him, “Maybe if you’re lucky we can work on the Barry White part of your ideal date.”

“Works for me,” he said standing up. Putting one of the buds in his ear she did the same while looking for a station. After a bit she found a slow song they could dance to. Putting his hands on her sides he raised an eyebrow when she took his hands and slid them down to her waist.

“You’re the boyfriend now, you can keep them around the Equator,” was all she said.

“I’m liking the perks so far,” he said, she smiled in response. After a couple of songs Jack went, “I have to know, when did you know how you felt about me?”

“Honestly I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Although when I was watching you float in that tank after Allen broke your arm I was starting to realize my feelings for you were starting to be a little more than professional. I convinced myself it was nothing more than friendship. Then Dusty made that sharing he bed comment. Somebody else was voicing how I feeling and I was never so freaked out in my life.”

“You too huh?”, he said.

“Your turn.”

“I’ll be honest, I thought you were hot when I first saw you. Then I got to know you a little better. I was finding I cared about you and wanted to find out more about you.”

“Is that why you hung around World Inc. all the time?”, she joked.

“Well it definitely wasn’t the party atmosphere,” he chuckled. “But what really pounded it home,” he reached up and traced the faint scar on her neck, “was when you got hurt. I was suddenly picturing my life without you in it and I couldn’t stand it the thought of it.”

“Well you’re stuck with me for the long haul,” she told him. “Or until you do something incredibly stupid. Whichever comes first.”

“Well I’m due for something incredibly stupid,” he joked. Rachel slapped him lightly on the back of the head. Resting her head on his shoulder Jack held her tight while they danced. Then there was a slight buzzing that he couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Rachel reached into a pocket and pulled out a cell phone Melissa gave her. “Don’t answer it,” he pleaded with her, “don’t answer it, don’t answer it.” She flipped it open, “Oh my God she’s answering it.”

“It might be important,” she told him. “Hello? Yeah I know where Jack is.” She held up a finger to keep him quiet. “A meeting in ten minutes? We can be there, bye.”

“Oh that sounded real important,” he commented as she shut off the phone.

“You never know,” she told him. “Besides if it turns out to be a really boring meeting and if, IF you behave yourself I might find a way to make it up to you.” She smiled and walked past him. Jack glanced at her butt then at his hand. Almost as if she was reading his mind she spun around and pointed a finger at him, “Don’t you even think about it.”

“What?”

***

“Alright people listen up,” Melissa said to the group. “We got word of something major about Anderson and World Inc. Jaime knows most of it so I’ll let him talk.”

“Friedman set us on the trail,” he said as he stepped toward the map. “Anderson is shipping some major medical equipment and other things, but mostly medical. But it’s not going to any of his known warehouses, factories or buildings. As best we can tell he’s shipping it in here,” he gestured at the forest outside the city. “Apparently this has been going on for a few months now. And we just now found out about it, so we’re really behind the curve here.”

Melissa said nothing while he talked. There was something different about this room, she just couldn’t place it. Positive it wasn’t Dusty and Emily this time around she silently glanced around the room. Whatever it was it was coming from the direction Jack and Rachel were. He was sitting on a crate and she was standing next to him, nothing unusual there. But something kept her looking in their direction. Was she leaning toward him a little? Was his hand just squeezing her’s? Melissa had to turn away for a moment as she figured it out.

Realizing she was supposed to be talking now she said, “I know it’s not much. But when my cousin starts moving a large amount of equipment and nobody knows where it’s going my gut says something is up. I wanted to give you guys a heads up before it hits the fan and we’re caught with our pants down. So those of you who have contacts in the city keep your ears and eyes open. The rest of you try and make sure rumors don’t get out of control down here. This is going to get out and we don’t need a widespread panic until we know for certain we know what it is.” With the meeting over everybody started to pile out, she needed to get this out in the open first. “Rachel, Jack I need to talk to the two of you.”

Rachel turned toward him, “What did you get us into now?”

“Why is it automatically my fault?”, he asked.

“Because it’s usually is your fault,” she shot back. They walked toward her and she remained quiet until the room was empty of everybody else. “So what’s up?”

Crossing her arms she just looked at them. Before long she started smiling and said, “It’s about damn time you two.”

“What are you talking about?”, Jack asked.

“Jack it’s no use,” Rachel told him. “She’s going to know before anybody else.”

“I know I was just playing the odds,” he informed her.

Melissa went on, “I swear I was getting ready to put one of you in a hammerlock until you admitted it. But you’re not going to find anybody happier for you two than me right now.”

“Would you mind keeping a lid on it for now?”, Jack asked her. “We’re trying to keep things quiet for the time being. Sparky been making comments like ‘get a room’ and ‘lover’s spat’ before this. I might be forced to hurt him if finds out.”

“He won’t hear it from me,” she assured him. “Or anybody else for that matter.”

“That’s one person we don’t have to worry about,” Rachel said. “Otherwise we’ll know who to go to first if it does get out.” She looked between them for a moment. “Jack, can we…?”

“I’m guessing some girl talk is about to happen,” he said. “You want to meet at the cafeteria later for a late dinner?”

“Love too.” He gave her a quick kiss before walking away. Rachel gave him a quick slap on the butt the moment he turned around. When he looked at her all she said was, “Let’s see how much you like it.”

“I’m not even going to ask,” Melissa said. Once they were alone she didn’t need her gift to know what was coming. Rachel turned toward her and smacked her on the arm. She couldn’t help but laugh, “Ow.”

“Why didn’t you tell me he was in love with me?”, she demanded. “We told you on the same freaking day.”

“I could have told him how you felt just as easily,” Melissa said rubbing her arm. “And I figured one of you would have broken down and said it before now. I know you two are stubborn but damn. So who broke down first?”

“You hold out on me and you expect me to tell you now?”

“Oh come on Rachel,” she pleaded. “You two put me in the middle of this, don’t be holding back on me now.”

She sighed, “Fine if you must know. Jack said it first I told him later. I might have said it sooner if my friend gave me a hint or two before hand.”

“Do you have any idea how many times I implied it when we talked?”, Melissa informed her. “I know Jack is pretty dense about this stuff but I’d figured you get the hint before now. So, have you two, let’s say, consummated this particular relationship yet?”

Rachel gave her a look but answered anyway, “Jack wants us to wait a bit. I think he wants our first time to be special or something.”

“That’s… sweet,” she said. Turning away and acted like she was looking at something Melissa muttered, “Damn it I’m going to lose the bet.”

“What was that?”

“You can’t wait I’d bet,” Melissa quickly said. Then she winced when she realized what came out of her mouth.

“Ok,” Rachel sad slowly. “I’m going to find Angie and see if she burnt that outfit they stuck me in last night yet.”

“You sure you don’t want to save it for a special night with Jack?” she asked as Rachel headed for the door.

“Don’t give him any ideas,” she said without turning around.

“Like I need to give him any ideas,” she shot back. Alone Melissa started mentally kicking herself. “You can’t wait I’d bet? I’m usually better at thinking on my feet than that.”

***

R&D was quieter than usual as Anderson walked round. Part of the reason was at least half the staff was relocated to the new complex. As well as most of the equipment and a good chunk of the ongoing projects that used to be housed in the building. It was more of a strategic move than anything. And he had the late Mr. Allen to thank for it. Times like these Anderson felt he didn’t give the man enough credit. It was something he had gotten started while the senior Allen was still in power. It only went to the wayside after Davidson killed him. The door open and the person he was waiting for walked in. “Dr. Armstrong,” he greeted him, “I assume things are going to your specifications?”

“It’s going slower than I’d like,” he said. “But ever since we got the entire facility fully powered things are going a lot faster. Although I was surprised you were able to get military support to help us out.”

“Oh it wasn’t easy,” Anderson said. “Rhodes was very hesitant at first to let us use any of the troops under him. When I told him what we could give him he decided to lead the detail himself. In fact he practically insisted on the matter.”

“Well you better remind him who’s the one in charge,” Armstrong told him. “We butted heads a couple of times already.”

“You know how these army types are,” he chuckled. “Give them an inch and they think they control the entire complex.” Sighing when Armstrong wasn’t laughing as well he continued, “I’ll talk to the good general tomorrow and remind him you are the one on charge of the complex. If that doesn’t work I’ll head up there and remind him in person.”

“It might take just that,” Armstrong said. Looking around the half empty room he slowly started shaking his head, “I still don’t see how Allen kept that place quiet for this long.”

“They say every man is good at least one thing,” Anderson mused. “Mr. Allen was apparently extremely good at keeping secrets. He just couldn’t handle it when they came out in the open.” Both of them stopped when Taylor entered the room.

“We may have a problem,” was all he said as he handed over a thick file.

Anderson read through it for a few minutes before looking back up, “Is Mr. Perez sure about this?”

“He tripled check everything before handing me the information.”

“Hmm,” Anderson muttered before handing the file over to Armstrong. “Apparently the late Mr. Allen isn’t the only person good at keeping secrets.”

“Harry?”, he said in shock. “I’ve known him ever since he joined the medical wing. I can’t believe he’d be a mole. I mean I’ve seen him at the loading docks going over the inventory list but I’ve done that too.”

“We’re about to find out,” Anderson said. “Is Dr. Friedman still in the building?”

“It’s his day off,” Taylor told him.

“Have Perez and his men find him and bring him in for questioning.”

***

Rachel and Arron were having a hard time holding Jack back while a couple of others were trying to restrain Jason. “Just give a couple of minutes,” Jack begged. “That’s all I’m going to need.” Although she was glad Dusty was able to fix his strength problem she figured he was going to need it if she did let him go.

“Anytime bug!”, Jason spat as they drugged him away from the scene. It took some doing but they were able to do the same with Jack.

When they got to a secluded hallway he broke away from them and kicked a bucket on the floor. “I should have blown his sorry ass up when I had the chance!”

“What set them off this time?” Arron asked.

“They were in ten feet from each other,” she said. “I’ll calm him down, just make sure we don’t get a repeat performance anytime soon.”

“I’m on it,” he told her.

Jack was still seething as he sat on top of another crate. She sat next to him. “You can’t keep doing this Jack. You’ve been able to get along with just about every Drakan down here but him.”

“If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be like this,” he told her. Like she needed to be reminded of that.

“And if you weren’t like this we never would’ve met,” she countered. He got off the crate and went to the other side of the hall. “You have to make peace with him at some point. He can’t be on some imaginary kill list forever you know.”

“Fine,” he said after a moment. “I’ll make peace with him the moment you start saying I had a breakdown.”

“I’ve said that.”

“No you said I was having an ‘episode’,” he made quote marks in the air. “Rachel I love you but do you have any idea how much that annoyed me?” He came back over and grabbed her shoulders, “It’s not going to happen to me again if you say it if that’s what you’re worried about. Just say I broke, I went nuts, I flipped my lid something.”

“Jack I can’t,” she told him. “If I say it I’m going to start thinking about how you were like then and I’m going to start crying again because it tore me up inside.” Her eyes started to tear up as thoughts of that time entered her head.

“Ok ok ok,” he said quickly while he out his arms around her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push it like that.”

“Just because Jason riles you up doesn’t mean you can take some of it out on me,” she told him.

“I didn’t mean to direct it toward you,” he said. “You know I’d never do anything to hurt you like that.” Rubbing her back he asked, “So was that incredibly stupid or is that still coming?”

“Trust me,” she said, “if it was the whole place would now about it. Now never do anything that stupid again.” Resting her head on his shoulder she said, “I guess we got that first bump out of the way.”

“I guess so.” He gave her one last squeeze before letting go. They started to head back for the main area when Sparky just about ran into them. “Whoa, easy there.”

“Jack!”, he said. “We gotta go. They’re after Friedman.”

“Who’s after Friedman?”

“Anderson’s troopers.” Before she knew it Jack was already racing around the corner with her and Sparky close behind.

***

This was bad, this was really bad. Friedman called in a few minutes prior saying somebody called him and warned him. His secret was out. He was currently at one of the safe houses but he didn’t know if he was able to lose them. Jack remembered how wired Anderson had this city and didn’t know if losing them would help. For the first time ever he wished this bike could go faster. He pulled up to the safe house with the van right behind him. “We’re clear, move!” he said after looking around and Rachel and the others jumped out. Sparky kept a look out behind them as she ran for the door.

“Dr. Friedman!” she said banging on the door. After what seemed like an eternity it opened and he came out. “Come on,” she said pulling him toward the van.

“How much time do you think we have?”, he asked looking extremely scared.

“Hopefully more than I think,” Jack mumbled. Putting a finger under the helmet he touched the foil lining the inside of his hood. Melissa said they were going to try and deactivate the scanners in the area, but given how fast they had to leave she wasn’t sure they were going to be able to be fast enough. As it was Jack felt like they were transmitting their location like a lighthouse on a foggy night. “Let’s go! The meter’s running!”

“My house,” he said as they tried to get him into the van. “I still have stuff in my house I wasn’t able to get.”

“We’ll worry about it later,” Rachel grunted as she struggled with him.

“All I have is the shirt of my back!” Oh yeah, he was starting to panic big time.

“We’ll find you something,” Rachel told him.

“I’ll let you borrow something of mine,” Jack put in when he looked back.

That bad feeling that was attacking his insides got worse when Sparky shouted, “We got company!” All of them looked back and saw a pair of black vans block off the way they came. Jack had every intention of turning the bike around and buying Rachel and the others some time to get away. Then he looked in front of them and saw two more trying to do the same. He activated the laser and started shooting the one directly in front of him. It took a few shots but he was finally able to kill the engine. The driver had to stop sooner than he was planning on before he lost control and the other van kept going.

“There’s your opening! Go!”, he shouted as he got off the bike. He ran toward the other van as he activated the system, “Henshin!” His speed increased he caught up with the van when the driver realized what happened and tried to throw it in reverse to close the gap. Jumping on the side he forced the door open. “Hey there, how you doing?”, Jack said right before throwing him out of the vehicle. Grabbing the wheel he turned the van so the opening would be wider. “What are you waiting for? Go!” Their van finally got going as Jack ran toward the troopers getting out of the back to stop any interference with the fleeing vehicle. Taking care of the one on this side he turned toward the ones on the end of the street. Heading for them he took a moment to punch into the van by the engine. Pulling out some wires and cable he said, “You might want to get that fixed.”

Out of the other group a lone figure walked toward him. The trooper changed as a pair of pinchers grew out of his mouth and a red shell formed around him, “You’re done Davidson,” the stag beetle said.

“Did I mention I hate talkers,” Jack grabbed the staff and snapped it to it’s full length. One of the troopers tossed the beetle a shock stick. At least he thought it was a shock stick, a spike popped out instead of an electrode. “I hate surprises too, you might want to take a memo.” The stag beetle came at him and tried to stab him with the spike. Something told him to avoid it at all cost. Jack used the staff to deflect what blows he couldn’t dodge and found himself slowly backing up. Remembering a trick Lance and Jaime showed him he spun out of the way of a hit at his gut and swung the staff behind it’s leg. It went down to the ground and he turned the staff around to jab the end into it’s chest. It got out of the way and kicked his legs out from under hm. Jack rolled out of the way as the spike impaled the ground.

Dropping the staff he rocked the Drakan with a right then a left. It flipped over him when he went for another right and kicked him in back of the head. Stopping himself from falling he turned around right into a tackle. The stag beetle started pounding his head. Jack was so stunned he didn’t fell himself being dragged to his feet before being turned around with another punch. It tried to choke him out by jumping on his back and wrapping it’s arms around his head. The armor was giving him just enough protection but he was still feeling it. Dropping to his knees suddenly he was able to surprise it enough to flip the Drakan off of him. Going toward the Drakan it kicked it’s leg out catching him under the chin. A spin kicked while he was still dazed sent him the pavement. He felt the staff by his hand and grabbed it as he got to a knee. He looked back as he twisted the dial and saw the Drakan jump at him. Quickly he turned around and jammed the end into the beetle’s gut. Squeezing the middle the electrode popped out and sent the entire charge into the Drakan. It was forced back a couple of steps back before exploding.

Then the other troopers started to feel a little brave as they came at him as one. And all of them had the new stick. Jack decided to follow the better part of valor and ran for the bike. Along the way he grabbed the stick the stag beetle dropped and jumped on his bike. “Tell Anderson I said hi,” he said right before revving the engine and ran through any trooper dumb enough to get in his way as he got the hell out of there.

***

Over the next couple of days they were able to sneak into Friedman’s house, after taking care of the surveillance teams, and get the stuff he needed. Dusty agreed to let him stay at his place as soon as he heard what happened. Rachel, Jack and a few of the others were there to help him move and settle in. As the day went on even Dusty eventually backed off as Rachel figured out where everything should go as they got the boxes out of the trailer. “Hey,” he said as Sparky put a box down on a barrel, “that’s not supposed to go there.”

“Come on man,” he whined, “my back is killing me.”

Passing by with a bigger box Jack said, “And your front’s killing me. You don’t hear me complaining about it.” After awhile Rachel started wondering around the auto yard lost in memories. Dusty still had that car that looked like her dad’s. Jack found her and asked, “What are you doing over here when the work’s over there?”

“Just thinking,” she said. “I never realized how much this place felt like home until after we left. We should really find a way to visit more than we have. Well more than coming in so Dusty can fix you up.”

“Speaking of,” he said as he walked up behind her and put his arms around her waist, “we apparently suck at keeping things quiet.”

“Dusty figured it out?”

“I’m not sure what gave it away. But he looked at me few minutes ago and I quote,” he started mimicking a southern drawl, “Son, it’s about time you got it through that hunk of granite you call a head.”

“That sounds like him.” Rachel started smiling, “But your Cajun accent still stinks.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he quickly said remembering the moment. “At least my drawl is decent according to Dusty.”

“He was just showing you some pity,” she told him. “Do you think Sparky knows?”

“I wouldn’t be hearing the end of it if he did. Then I’d be forced to hurt him. Then I’d be hiding from Angie.”

“I’ll protect you from her,” she said. “Come on, let’s head back before somebody else figures it out.” Rachel took his hand as they headed back only to let go when they saw Dusty and the others. This was going to be hard but it’d be worth it when they were able to get another moment to be alone.