Jack and Sara : A New Beginning (Read 9,460 times)

[fluffysmom]

So sad. I have tears rolling down my face. I really hope they catch the criminals soon.

[gapeach]

I feel so sorry for everyone involved, EXCEPT the sicko that did this! I CAN NOT WAIT until that person is brought down!!

[MrsM]

I am gonna have to get caught up on this story. Just read a random chapter and I am hooked!!

[gapeach]

MrsM... you definitely have to read this in its entirety... this is an AWESOME story

[fluffysmom]

I completely agree with GAPeach. This is a fantastic fic.

[blueyed358]

gapeach and fluffysmom.. thank you so much! I am so glad you are enjoying this story..

[gapeach]

We need more please!!!

[blueyed358]

Chapter 124


The week dragged by.. Jack and Sara handled all the arrangements for Angela's wake and funeral. Everything was done to perfection and there was a huge amount of people from both print and media there. The Times ran a story, which Sara could not bring herself to write, so Jack wrote one..beautifully. CNN did a piece on her and her contribution to the station. Dean like Sara seemed to be running on autopilot. Ben's condition had remained unchanged and Kayla could find no medical reasons for him still to be in a coma. Robert was near exhaustion, worrying about Ben and his safety..worrying about his mother and uncle and trying not to worry them or Katie. He decided to hire two Navy Seals Ben had known, who ran a private security firm to be with Ben around the clock. He did not trust his own agency right now with Ben's life and with the wake and funeral he could not be there himself all the time. Dean did not want everyone over after the funeral so just the "family" went back to the penthouse. They all collapsed onto the sofa and surrounding chairs. Katie and Kayla played hostess for the evening as they knew Sara was not up for it. Kayla had ordered food for them and she and Katie with Abigail's help went about setting up a buffet style in the dining room. Out of nowhere Robbie chuckled softly. When everyone stared at him he cleared his throat and he spoke cautiously, " I just..I just had a memory come into my mind." Dean needed to hear something personal. All day the mourners had shared stories about his wife. Stories of kindness and bravery and determination. But all were from or about the job. Those closest to her listened but did not share personal stories with these "acquaintances", it just did not feel right. " Tell us.." he said softly. Robbie smiled, " I just got a vision of Aunt Angie and Ben when they use to dance and sing to 'On The Wings Of Love" whenever it came on the radio. Remember how embarrassed we would pretend to be? " Jack watched as Sara and Dean looked at each other and smiled for the first time since that horrible night. Dean looked at Robbie with a fake cringe, " Oh man..that horrible lip syncing?" Sara laughed, " Oh! remember the time when you guys took Robbie to the beach..he was about six I think. She and Robbie buried you in the sand and she left you there for like an hour.." Robbie started laughing, " I remember that..we went to the boardwalk and sat and ate ice cream..we watched you trying to get yourself out." Dean nodded, "Yeah..that wasn't funny..to this day I hate sand." Sara and Robbie started laughing. " Okay..how about when you and Ben use to smoke? You kept saying you were going to quit and she put those exploding charges in some of your cigarettes so you never knew when one was going to blow up.." Sara squinted at Dean, " Now THAT was not funny..it scared the crap out me." Robbie wiped a tear away, " Yeah but it helped you two quit."



Jack and Steve slipped out of the room and on to the balcony. " I think the three of them really need to do this ..together." Steve nodded, " You knew her a long time too." Jack sighed and looked out over the city, " Yes..but that was a long time ago. It's funny how quickly we all fell back into our friendship. Truth is that I don't share any memories with them other than college or recent ones, the ones during Robert's adolescence that was Agent Todd's time." Steve watched Jack for a few minutes. He knew his brother well, he could tell that something else was on his mind, " Spill it Billy Jack. What's rattling around in that head of yours?" Jack looked down, " I feel guilty..While I mourn the loss of someone very dear to me....I can't help but be thankful that Sara could not hail a cab quickly and that it was not her that was killed, Feel free to tell me what a horrible human being I am now." Steve smirked, "I'm not going to do that..I know I would be thinking the same thing..it's human nature. Being thankful your wife is alive doesn't take away from hurting at the loss of your friend, you can feel both...and that does not make you a bad person." Jack sighed and leaned back against the railing, looking up at the stars he whispered, " Then why do I feel like one ? "



It was about 11:30 pm when Steve and Kayla headed home. Abby decided to stay over and had headed off to bed, Robert took Katie home and was going back to the hospital. Dean..who had been staying in the apartment downstairs remained with Sara and Jack. Jack stared into his glass, "You know..I have a memory as well...one that Angela and I have never shared with anyone else. I think that I would like to share it with you both now." Dean and Sara glanced at each other then both looked at Jack .... waiting. " Do you remember the time that the two of you had to cover an away game for the football team, for the school paper? " Sara frowned, " We did that a lot Jack..which one?" Dean looked down for a moment, the looked up at Jack slowly, " I bet I know..there was one game that had fallen on Angie's birthday..is that the one?" Jack smirked, " Yes..that's the one.."



Angela sat in her room, wearing her pajamas. She sat on the sofa watching an old movie and eating popcorn...alone on her birthday.She and Jack had come back from the library and she thought..for a moment he would be kind and keep her company, but he excused himself. The knock on her door made her jump. She got up and shuffled over to open the door. There stood Jack, holding a bouquet of roses and wearing a tuxedo. " I certainly hope that's not what you will be wearing out to dinner." Angela frowned, " Very funny..You have a date?" Jack sighed and walked past her, " Yeees..with you. I am going to take you out to dinner for your birthday...these are for you." Angela took the flowers and smelled them, then frowned again , " What are you up to Jackie?..Why would you want to do that?" Now Jack frowned, " It's your birthday..your boyfriend is away...and your my friend." Angela raised an eyebrow and she put her hand on her hip, " Really?" Jack's facial expression softened, " Yes..really..at least I thought that you were. I always assumed that our..'adversarial banter' was just that...it was just..what we do..was I wrong?" Angela took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, " No..no Jackie..you're right... I am sorry. " Jack smiled, "Good..then go get dressed, I have reservations at La Bella Luna, Italian is your favorite is it not?" Angela smiled and reached up and kissed him on the cheek, " Thank you, Jackie." she said softly. Angela carried her flowers with her to her room but stopped at the door. With a hard look on her face, " But if this is some kind of joke...I will beat you senseless." she said as a smile slid across her lips.



Dean gave a slight laugh and shake of his head, " You gave her those flowers? She would never tell me who did..except to say that they were from 'a friend' . Hell I still brought them up when we got into an argument." Jack gave him a sad smile, " Mystery solved.. " Sara gave a small frown, " So why didn't you guys ever mention it? " Jack shrugged, " What? ..and ruin our reputations? "



Jack found Sara in the kitchen after Dean went downstairs to bed. She glanced back as the door opened then went back to washing the dishes. " Did he go downstairs? " Jack told her he had. " Has he been back to their apartment at all ?" Sara swirled the sponge around a plate absentmindedly. "No..I don't think he will again..unless it's to pack." Jack leaned back against the counter, " You think he will move out of there? Have they not been leaving there for most of....Of course...too many memories..a lifetime of them. He seamed a bit more like himself when the three of you were telling stories." Sara nodded, " For a little while. I don't think he will ever be who he was before. He is going to have to find his own way..he hasn't been without her in his life for nearly thirty years Jack. He is going to have to find out who he is without her....so do I." Jack pushed the hair off her shoulders and rubbed her cheek with the back of his fingers. " And how are you holding up? I see you going through the motions..I think for Dean and Robert's sake..talk to me sweetheart." Sara ran her fingers through the thick foamy soap, " I can't..I can't begin to explain the sense of loss I feel..I can't..I just can't face it right now." Jack walked behind her and rubbed her shoulders kissing the top of her head. " Okay..I won't push. But Sara you are going to have to face it..and deal with it..eventually. I know the loss I feel..I can't imagine how Dean is holding on." Sara sighed, " Right now..I think he just needs to be close to us. I don't want to intrude on his pain, if that makes any sense, I am having enough trouble dealing with my own.God that sounds so selfish. I'm no good at this Jack. Angie was the one.." her voice trailing off. "All any of us can do is try and be there for each other." Sara sniffed, and dragged her hand across her nose, " I am sure Dean will come to us if he needs to talk. " Jack wrapped his arms around her, " Like you? " Sara closed her eyes, " Yes..like me." Sara dried her hands and walked over to the table. "I am here if and when you need me." he said softly. Sara nodded, "I know..thank you." Jack watched her for a moment as he leaned back against the counter, " Is Robert still blaming himself ? " Sara shrugged, " Not so much anymore. He will always feel a bit responsible I am sure of it, but Katie has really talked him through it." Jack took a deep breath, " She's good for him." Sara agreed, " She is..I can't imagine what this is going to do to Ben..How did Jack Jr take it? " The crease appeared between Jack's eyes, "He cried. Then he asked me if Dean would want to live with him..so he wouldn't be alone." Sara gave him a weak smile, " He is the sweetest little boy..and very astute for his age. Jack...there something I want to share with you..something I feel you should know.." Sara pulled out a chair and flopped down. Jack followed suit, " What is it?"





Sara sat staring at her hands, " When Robbie was about two months old..I was on line at the grocery store with Robbie in his seat..in the cart. This man was behind me..in a suit. He started talking to me about Robbie. He asked me questions like how old was he..you know. Then he said how proud his father must be. I got paranoid..I thought he was one of Harper's thugs. I was so sure he was coming to take away mt baby. " Jack swallowed hard and placed his hand over Sara's, "I am so sorry." Sara shook her head, " Jack..one night I packed up all his things and I took him over to Dean and Angie's...I begged them to adopt him.." she said with a catch in her voice. Jack frowned, " You did what?"



" You have to take him...adopt him..please I couldn't bare it if he wasn't near me. I have to protect my baby ..he's going to come and take him from me I know he is..and I doubt he is going to do it legally. What if he takes him and gives him away.." Angie was cradling the baby, " Calm down..truthfully Sara I think you are being paranoid. Harper Deveraux hasn't given you a second thought since he got Jack to walk out on you." Dean rubbed the baby's head, " I don't know Angie..I think it would be a bad idea to underestimate that man..he is a bad seed." Sara was pacing, hands waving around, " Exactly, I think I need to protect him. If you two adopt him..all nice and legal, he can't touch him." Dean frowned, "But..you know we have been turned down by several adoption agencies, our jobs keep us away from home too much..at least that's what they all have said." Sara shook her head, " No agency..this will be a private adoption.." Angie put the baby down in his seat. " You are not thinking this through. Stop for a moment..Tell me.. how do you see this playing out? I mean Dean is going to be this little boy's father figure either way we both know that, but how do you think it is going to work out for us? " Sara shook her head, " I don't know what you mean? " Angie took a deep breath, " Okay..I am going to tell you what's going to happen..and because I love you like a sister..I am going to tell you flat out. Our relationship will be destroyed." Sara looked shocked, " Don't look at me like that," Angie said with a small chuckle. " What will you do the first time he calls me Mommy? Because If you think we will give him our name, have him live with us and call you Mommy you have another thing coming. You are going to still want to be Mom and I am not going to want that..I would be his mother. If we adopt him..he's ours Sara and you will just be Aunt Sara..can you really live with that? Eventually you will want to tell him and I won't let that happen. " Sara looked down at her sleeping son and rubbed his head. " Take your son home ..and sleep on it. If after all I have said you still want to do this ..then we will go ahead with it, but if you come to your senses then we need never speak of this again." Sara hugged Angie, "I love you Angie..what would I ever do without you? " Angie wiped a tear away, " I love you too..and I hope you never have to do without me..because I don't ever want to do without you."



" We never spoke about it again. Jack..do you have any idea how callous that was of me to do? They were desperate for a child and here I am waving mine in her face like a carrot. Of course she was completely right. I would have wanted Robert to still know I was his mother..stupid..stupid." Jack cupped her face with his hands, " No..not stupid..scared..you were scared and you turned to the only people in the world you could trust..she knew that. You made her a very important part of Robert's life and I am sure for that she was grateful." Sara nodded, " I hope so.." Jack stood and grabbed his cane, his leg still stiff from having the cast on for so long, " let's go to bed." Sara sighed and shook her head, " You go on.." Jack leaned down and kissed her, " I love you..with all my heart Sara." and went off to bed, knowing she wanted to be alone. Sara spread her arms before her and a sound came out her that could only be described as a gut wrenching moan. She began crying and Jack who was , leaning on the wall outside the door, slid down the wall and cover his mouth to hide his own sobs. He cried for her,he wanted desperately to run in there and hold her..comfort her. He cried for himself,he had not given himself time to truly realize that he would never see or speak with his friend again...that their last words together were meaningless and rushed. So Jack cried sitting on the floor outside the kitchen..alone...and Sara cried her heart out inside the kitchen..alone.





Dean sat on the couch and watched the DVDs he had brought with him..the ones he had made of their wedding ..of all the photos and then he came to one, she had a smile on, mischief in her eyes as she looked at the camera. " How am I going to do this? I miss you so much already it hurts. Sometimes I feel like I can't even breath the pain is so unbearable." He got up and got close to the screen and touched her face. " Angie..I love you so much, you are my heart and soul...how am I suppose to let you go?...I just can't"





Jack limped as he paced the living room and Max paced alongside him. " Where could she have gone? It's the middle of the night..what was she thinking? " He stopped and looked down at his canine, who was looking up at him, head tilted. "I know..I know..she needed time alone..but she could have just stayed in here or went into the den." Jack began pacing again and after a few minutes Max decided to stop and sit down, following him with his head. Jack stopped, " Of course..you're right..she must be downstairs with Dean." Jack sighed and sat down. He looked over the chair were Sara had left her purse when they got in that evening and it was gone. " If she only went downstairs why would she need her entire purse? She would need her keys of course..." He stared at Max, " Okay..you win..I will just call her cell."





" I just had to get out of the house , Jack.....I am fully aware of the time ....I am not a child ...I have been getting around this city all hours of the day and night long before you.....Okay..you're right I am sorry, I never meant to worry you , I just wanted to come down to the hospital for a little while..I won't be long." Sara sighed as she closed her cell. She needed to see her son...and she had things she wanted to say to Ben.



Robbie was watching Ben, " What are doing..huh? I am trying like hell to be patient here..but I am sorry...I think you have been inside yourself long enough. You have had more than enough rest..it's time to get up. " Robbie put his hand over Ben's and squeezed. " Please " Robbie heard voices outside the door and placing his hand on his gun and approached the door. he cracked it open and saw his mother there. " It's okay," He said to the guards. " Mom..what are you doing here at this hour? " Sara smiled weakly and shrugged, " I'm not really sure." Sara followed him back into Ben's room. He offered her the chair but she didn't hear him, she stood at the foot of the bed staring at Ben. " What?..Oh no thanks..Would you mind if I had a moment alone with him?" Robbie said he would not mind and told her he would go get them some really bad coffee from the doctor's lounge. " Robbie!.." she called out. Robbie stopped at the door but she didn't turn around to look at him. " You do know how much I love you..right? " Robbie took a deep breath, waiting for her to finish. " Because I really need for you to know that. You have been a miracle to me from the second I first felt you move inside me. You could never know the amount of joy and pride that you have brought me and continue to bring me...I thank god for everyday for having you in my life." She turned and looked at him, her eyes glistening from unshed tears. He walked back to her and wrapped his arms around her, " I am thankful for you too and the close relationship we have..you are the BEST Mom..I love you too ." They held onto each other for a few minutes and then he left as she watched him walk out the door. She turned to Ben, pulled the chair up and leaned over to him, " Now I have some things to say to you.."





Dean sat staring at the frozen image of his wife's face. Was this to be his life now, he wondered..he brushed the thought away. Then with a small smile, he whispered, " Yeah..I know babe..one day at a time." those his wife's favorite saying. For all that had happened there was one thing he had no regrets about. He and Angela never went even a day without telling each other "I love you." There was no doubt what so ever in his mind that his wife knew just what she meant to him and he to her. The walls of the apartment suddenly felt like they were closing in on him. He had to get out..get some air, he felt like he was suffocating. He grabbed his keys, kissed his fingers and placed them on the TV screen, shut it off and left the apartment.



Sara looked down at her hands and played with her wedding ring. She told Ben how try as she might it continually bothered her that Jack still loved and cared for Jennifer. She could not understand why he could not do as she had, shutoff those feelings and move away from her. " But then..when we were on that train I realized..that I was no different from Jack. I never stopped loving you and I never pushed you from my life. I know now that is alright for him to feel that way and that I can love you both too. Ben...you have to come back to us now. Dean needs you..Robbie is nearly at a breaking point.." Then she took his hand and brought it up to her face, "I need you..I can't lose you too...please..we have to work together again and find out whoever is doing this.." Sara leaned forward and kissed him, " Come back now Ben." She heard a noise behind her and turned to find Dean there, "Great minds really do think alike.." he said. Sara wiped a tear from her cheek, " it appears so." Dean walked over to Ben's side, placing his hand on Ben's he said loudly, " You heard her..wake up..we need you..all of us. You aren't alone, I know you felt that way..but you aren't. We all still love and need you. Just make it fast will you please..this coma thing is getting old. " Sara sniffed and Dean offered her his hand, " Are you hungry? I am hungry...let's go over to the diner and have some eggs.." Sara smiled and closed her fingers over his, " I am actually starving..that sounds great." She stood up, leaned down and kissed Ben, " Think about what we have said." and she and Dean left together.





A few days later Steve called a meeting at the hospital, he had news for them. " What's going on Uncle Steve? " Steve began telling them how Agent Toomey turned up the heat, starting his own internal investigation. They had zeroed in on one agent....Nate Olsen...who was now missing. " I knew it! " Sara said, anger in her voice. " Hold on shortstuff...I don't think it's as cut and dry as all that." Steve told them that after Olsen's last interview, he was put on suspension. He pulled Steve aside. He told him that there was no one else he could trust now. " I had nothing to do with Todd's shooting or the murder of that woman. Somebody is framing me man..you have to believe me." Steve asked who would do that and Olsen said he didn't know, " But I'm damn well going to find out." those were his last words to him. He never saw him again after that. Then he told them about the money the FBI supposedly found in an account in Olsen's mother's name. " I thought you two did everything short of a colonoscopy on that guy." Dean said to Jack and Sara. " We did.." Jack said with a frown. " There was nothing..we ran checks on the names of every relative and girlfriends..ex and current..he was so clean he squeaked." Sara turned to Steve, " We need to get into his place...look around a bit. If they planted money..maybe there is something.." Steve held up his hand, "Way ahead of you..there ain't nothing there. Place was trashed by the time I got there." Jack paced, " So what's the plan here..why frame him?" Robbie sighed, " They get a suspect..they arrest him..everything goes back to normal.." Then Steve who was looking at Robbie said, " No more guards..everyone feels safe." Jack stopped pacing, " Then they hit Agent Todd again. " Sara touched Steve's arm, "Doesn't it work to their advantage though with him still out there. They can try again and just blame Olsen..who could still be involved." Dean looked down at Sara then back to Steve, "That's true..I mean we really only have his word and the fact that you two found nothing on him." Sara looked at Jack, " I know a way were we could find out for sure if he was on the take." Jack blew out a breath, " I will call the warden when I get back to the office. With any luck, in a few days, you will have your meeting with Rossetti."





The wheels were in motion..Jack was making arrangements for Sara to meet with Rossetti. Steve and Dean were trying to find Olsen and Robbie was left to keep Ben alive. He sat staring at Ben for a few minutes, " If you would just wake up..maybe you could tell us who did this to you..or at least I could get you some place safe. The door opened and Robbie swung around, gun in hand. " Relax..it's just me, Agent Whitehouse..and my partner Agent Moore." Robbie holstered his weapon. " Sorry.." They had just stopped by to check on Ben before heading back to Washington. As they left Whitehouse turned to Robbie, " Watch your back ..and his." Robbie sighed and sat back down, resting his head back in the chair, " Yeah, thanks for the advice." he muttered.





Ben was struggling...fighting the voices in his own head. He was content to stay were he was..he was happy here. Everything he wanted was there..Robert..his friends ..and Sara. She was his there, he could hold her, feel her, kiss her. Here she told him she loved him. But he heard her say it out there..he knows he did. The one voice told him to stay and be happy but the other...the other told him he had to open his eyes. He had to go back..something was wrong and those he loved needed him..he heard them say so..hadn't he? He went back one last time, Sara standing by the door, getting ready to leave..then the slow smile as he approached her, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her with all that he had. He could feel her skin and smell her perfume as he made love to her. "I love you Sara.." he whispered to her. Her hands on him, one on his chest the other on his face, " I love you too," she said. She was fading now..the feel of her.. her scent..it was all fading. Ben's eyes began to flutter..then slowly open. He turned his head and saw Robbie there. He fought to keep his open and focus as his face began to come into focus. He looked tired and worried, Ben thought. With great effort Ben lifted his hand and placed it on Robbie's arm. Robbie jumped and looked at his arm then up to Ben's face. Tears welled up in Robbie's eyes, " Welcome back...What the hell took you so long?" Ben patted Robbie's face, " Hey kid..nice to see you too."

[fluffysmom]

Fantastic heartwrenching chapter. I loved the memories of Angela. Dean breaks my heart. So glad Ben finally woke up.

[blueyed358]

Chapter 125


There had been no word from Steve or the warden and Jack and Sara had come home from what seemed like a very long day at the paper. They had confirmed, in their own minds at least, that the money had been planted in Agent Olsen's name and that whoever it is, is in fact within the FBI. Max was waiting at the door as they came in, Sara dropped her purse and flopped onto the sofa. Jack threw his keys into the bowl in the hallway and sat in his arm chair. He watched his wife as she stared up at the ceiling, " What are you thinking about?" he asked. She smirked, " Nothing....and everything." Jack looked down at Max, who had his head on Jack's lap, and began petting him. " Sara..please tell me what is bothering you." Sara shook her head, " Uhh..let's see my best friend is dead, my other best friend is devastated and Ben is in a coma he may never recover from..have I left anything out?" Jack swallowed, " I believe that you have. There is something else...eating at you. I want to know what it is." Sara looked at him for a long time, then he saw her eyes well up. She turned her head away and wiped a stray tear. " Okay...Ever since the train ..I feel like...I am betraying you..us." Jack sat up straight, " Why? Did something happen between the two of you on that train? " Sara stood and started pacing, " Of course not..nothing physical..I would never..could ever do that." Jack exhaled, " I know that..then what? What is it?" Sara told him about the conversation they had before cutting the wires and how she would not close her eyes, that she had preferred to look at Ben if they were to die. Jack watched her pace and listened to her as she told him, she felt guilty because she loved Ben. When she had finished she sat back down on the sofa and exhaled deeply. He thought back to the conversation he had with Jennifer in the kitchen and how very similar it was to Sara's, it was however, not under the duress that Sara and Ben were under. And her told her as much. Jack relayed his and Jennifer's conversation to Sara. She sat still, looking into the fire that was burning across the room. Jack got up and sat in front of her on the coffee table. " Sara, look at me.." He took her chin in his hand and raised her face to his. " Do you wish to be with him? Are you planning on leaving me to go back to him? " Sara shook her head, " Never.." Jack smirked, " Nor would I ever leave you. What you feel for him is nothing more then what I feel for Jennifer. We had full lives with them, you can't just turn those feelings off. It is in no way a betrayal..trust me..been there..done that." Sara smiled, " I am just as jealous of him as you are of her, but I think that it isn't for the same reasons we were in the beginning. I believe it's more of a jealousy for times shared and bonds that will never be broken. I never worry that I will lose you to him anymore...what about you?" Sara thought a moment then with a ghost of a smile shook her head. " With us..I am a whole person..even when we are apart or have a fight..I...I am never afraid..or feel alone. Does that make sense to you? " Sara put her head to his, " Completely" she whispered. " I love you so much Jackie.." He sighed, " I love you with all my heart Sara and I always will."





Sara came back into the living room having "freshened up". Jack was at the CD player, "At Last" filled the room. The song that was their first dance at their wedding, " Dance with me Mrs Deveraux" he said his hand extended to her. Sara smiled and took his hand and he pulled her close. Within minutes they were kissing and peeling each others clothes off. Jack held her close, the feeling of her skin pressed to his making his pulse race. He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. The passion building but waiting just below the surface of the tender kisses and caresses they gave to one another. Jack lowered them down to the sofa and he laid on top of her. Sara's head craned back inviting him to cover her neck with his mouth. Sara moaned softly as did Jack and just as he was about to enter her both turned their heads to see..Max..his face right in theirs. They turned back to look at each other, " Do not move an inch.." Jack whispered breathing heavy. He grabbed the dog by the collar and ushered him out onto the balcony. " Now where were we?" he asked as he resumed his position. Sara grabbed him, making him gasp, "Right about here.." she purred as she guided him into place. Once joined they held each other in place, just feeling every inch of each other. Jack pulled his head back and looked into her eyes, " How can you ever possibly understand what you do to me and how much I love you? " Sara, eyes full of love and passion, put her hand behind Jack's head, " I believe I do..it's the same for me" She pulled him down to her and they began their dance of passion, the dance that was theirs and theirs alone.





Jack and Sara sat on the floor in front of the fire, eating sandwiches. She wore Jack's shirt, he always loved when she did that..truth was as much as he loved seeing her in sexy lingerie, nothing excited him more then the sight of her in one of his own shirts. When they were in college he would not wash the shirt she wore until her perfume had faded from it. Sara watched a small smile creep across his face. "I know what you are thinking. You don't need to do that anymore.." He turned his head sideways, " Do you really? Tell me Carnac..what am I thinking." Sara swallowed a bite of her sandwich and held her fingers to her forehead, closing her eyes tight. " You are thinking about how you never washed your shirts when I wore them in school." Sara opened her eyes and smiled,"Right?" Jack squinted and pulled her by the shirt close to him, "Nobody likes a know it all Sara." then he kissed her and they both laughed. Sara's cell rang and she got up and answered it. "Hello honey.." she mouthed to Jack that it was Robbie. " What?..Oh my god that's wonderful...they are?...you did?...okay I will be there as soon as possible.." Sara smiled and dove into Jack, arms around his neck, " Ben is awake!"





Robbie paced in the hallway as the doctor and nurse checked Ben out. Dean had just gone out to get them a couple of malteds and Robbie called him, telling him, " Bring a chocolate one too...he's awake!" He then called his mother and told her the news and not to bother that he had already told Dean. Next he called Steve who told him not to tell anyone outside the family until he had a chance to speak with Ben. Katie asked him to please sit down, "You are making me dizzy." He sat for a moment, then sprung up again. " I can't sit still..I just want to talk to him."





"You are a very lucky man Agent Todd." the doctor told him. Ben winced as he laid back down. " Oh yeah..and I feel it too. What's wrong with my voice? Why does my throat hurt so much? Simply Doc..nothing too technical okay? " Ben said in a hushed raspy tone. " Well beside the fact that you haven't spoken in a number of weeks you had a tube down your throat for a while. Putting it in, having it there, then removing it scraped it up." Ben frowned, " I was on life support ?" The doctor wrote in Ben's chart , then closed his pen and put it back in his pocket. " Yes..you were." Ben asked for a run down of his injuries. After the doctor finished telling him everything that had happened to him since arriving in the hospital, Ben frowned. " I guess the 'it's just a flesh wound' isn't going to work this time." The doctor looked confused, " Never mind Doc..inside joke." Ben watched the nurse go fill his water pitcher, "Hey how about a steak instead...I'm starving." The doctor shook his head, " You would never be able to eat it," he said tapping on his throat, " or keep it down if you do. Liquid diet for a few days..I will be back in a few hours to check on you." When the doctor left the room Robbie jumped on him, " Well ? How is he? Is he going to be alright?" The doctor smiled, " Remarkably..yes. It will be a few days before his voice comes back..but I believe he is going to be just fine." Robbie hugged the doctor, " That is the best news I have had in weeks..thank you so much Doctor."



The nurse poured Ben a glass of water and started talking to him, "Robert hasn't left your side you know since you got here." Ben smirked, " You know his name?" She told him they all did, the nurse told Ben how Robbie stayed there practically twenty four seven. " Except for the few days he went to the wake and funeral." Ben got a pain in the pit of his stomach, " What wake? For who?" The nurse put the straw to Ben's lips,"Drink some water..it may hurt a bit going down. The funeral for the woman who ..oh that's right you don't know.." She began telling Ben how the woman walked in and found Robbie on the floor unconscious and someone over Ben trying to kill him again. " It was awful.. they found her body in the bathroom..if she hadn't walked in, you would have been killed." Ben couldn't breath, he tried to call out for Robbie but nothing would come out. All he could think of was that Sara was dead. His heart monitor began beeping. " You have to calm down Agent Todd!" Ben grabbed her wrist and was able to say, " Get Robert..now!"



The nurse came running out Ben's room as Robbie was releasing the doctor, " he wants you..I am sorry..I upset him..I told him about the woman who was killed." Robbie ran past her, " Oh no!" When Robbie and the doctor got back into his room Ben was trying to get out of bed. " What the hell are you doing? Lay back down..are you crazy? " Robbie shouted. The doctor helped Robbie put Ben back in bed. Ben grabbed Robbie's shirt, " Your mother..where is your mother? Was it her? " Robbie put his hands on Ben's shoulders and gently pushed him back down, " She is on her way here right now..Ben ..she's fine." Ben's body relaxed, the he touched Robbie's arm, "Who? Who was it?" Robbie sighed, " We can talk about this later..you're getting yourself all worked up...right now you need to rest." Ben shook his head, "No! We will talk about it now!" The more upset Ben got the more his voice gave out. The doctor told him if he didn't calm down he would damage his throat more and he would order him sedated. " The hell you will ! " Ben said, then to Robbie, " Answer me kid..who was it? "



" Angie.." the voice from the door said. " It was Angie." Ben turned and saw Dean standing there looking very tired. Ben shook his head and tears welled up in his eyes, " No..no.." Dean walked over to him , then leaned down and hugged him. " I'm sorry...I'm so sorry.." Ben whispered. Dean nodded, fighting his own tears, " I am really glad you're okay..I really need you now." Ben pulled back, speaking in barely a whisper, " How can you even stand to look at me?" Dean wiped his face, " Don't do this..don't even go there. This is not your fault..I don't blame you..nobody does..we all need you to focus on getting well. Then...I want you to find the bastard that did this and I want you to kill him."



Sara came through the doors and ran up to Katie. " How is he? Is Robbie with him?" Katie nodded sadly, " Yes..they think he will make a full recovery.." Sara's big smile started to fade as she saw the look on Katie's face. " What happened? What's wrong? " Katie frowned, " He knows about Angela..a nurse let it slip." Sara covered her mouth with her hand. " Both Dean and Robbie are in there with him now." Sara leaned on the wall, she was not ready to talk to him about this..to comfort him..to go through it all over again. She had just spent a wonderful evening with Jack making love and laughing...forgetting, now this. " I will be right back.." she said as she ran for the stairs. Sara ran out of the hospital and jumped into a cab. She found herself at the pier. Sara got out and stopped when she was at the end and could go no further. "Coward." She heard the voice say. She knew that voice..she spun around and there before her was Angela.



She stood before her in a flowing white dress, the breeze blowing her hair back. " Angie.." Sara whispered. "Yeah..it's me.I am sorry I have to ask..what is up with this dress..Is this really what you envision me wearing,,I mean really I would never wear anything like this. Anyway... What the hell are you doing here Sara? " Sara started rambling that she was not ready to go through this again. That she couldn't help Ben or Dean. " I am not you..I am cold..I turn off my emotions. I am not you..compassionate, caring..I don't Know what to say to them...how to help them..I am barely helping myself. See selfish.." Angela laughed, " Oh cut the crap Sara..you are none of those things and you know it. I am sorry honey..you can't hide inside yourself this time. I am counting on you to help Dean and Ben. Robbie..he talks to Katie..he said some really nice things too..I really love that kid..anyway..Jack..he tunnels his feelings into worrying and caring for you and Dean. Besides..he has already cried his heart out. It was kind of sweet." Sara approached Angela, "When did he do that? " Angela gave her a sad smile. " The night you broke down in the kitchen..he was behind the door and broke down himself. Listen..it's Dean..and Ben that worry me the most here. Sara...Dean and I were very close with Ben. I guess..we felt he needed us..you know? I had lunch with him several times a week, I even know the details of him and Billie..definitely a vision I wish I didn't take with me... and when Dean was out of town I would have dinner with him..I even dragged him to a few cooking classes..Dean did things with him too..when I was out of town..of course we did things together too. We never mentioned it because..we didn't want to get Jack or you upset. None of that matters now I guess. Dean...I am so worried about him, promise me you will not let him be alone or close himself off..he needs his family around him..he is trying so hard but..just promise me...do this for me." Sara shook her head, " I can't..I just.." Angela stared at her long and hard, " This has nothing to do with not being able to help them OR your feelings for Ben, like you told Jack..I know what this is about..but I want you to say it..come on... say it out loud." Sara looked down at the water, " I feel guilty.." Angela looked up "Did I call it or what?" Sara looked at her, confused. " Never mind..I had a bet.." Sara looked at Angela who had pulled herself up onto the railing and was balancing herself on it. " If I had gotten there earlier..I was the one who should have been in Ben's room. " Angela sighed, " You are being ridiculous..this is nobody's fault Sara. Can you just imagine what YOUR death would have caused if mine is making everyone feel guilty..you're the third one now, first Robbie , then Ben now you. Sara, I could have ran out of that door..but I didn't..I did what I had to do..I tried to protect two people that I loved..and I did. " Sara nodded, "I miss you so much..I need you..I can tell you things that I could never tell anyone else." Angela looked down at her, " You still can..but I just won't be able to answer you..not in the conventional sense anyway. Come on..suck it up honey, and get yourself back to the hospital..no more guilt..you got me?" Sara nodded, " I love you Angie.." Angela smiled brightly, " And I love you too..I love all of you very much..I will see you again..someday." She wrapped her arms around herself, and whispered to Sara, "close your eyes.." Sara closed her eyes and felt a warmth come over her, she felt a constricting around her own arms. " can you feel that? " Angela whispered, " Can you feel me hugging you? " Sara smiled, " Yes! yes..I can feel it..I can.." Sara opened her eyes and found herself holding onto her own arms and Angela was gone. Sara sighed and went back to the hospital to help her loved ones.

[fluffysmom]

That was a beautiful scene with Sara and Angela. I'm glad they had a goodbye.

So glad Ben will be okay. How thoughtless of the nurse to blurt that out.

[gapeach]

So glad that Angie told Sarah to get with it. Always did love their relationship.

[blueyed358]

Chapter 126



Jack had phoned Dean to check in on him and found out that he was at the bar down the street from their apartment. " Hey Jackie.. what are you doing here?" Should he tell him he was there because he was concerned about him? That he should not be drinking alone? No...that might make him lash out, Jack thought. So he went with a partial truth. " Well Sara went up to the hospital..and when you said you were here I thought it would be nice to join you." Dean nodded and ordered Jack and himself another beer, " Hey..want to play pool?" Jack smiled, " Don't mind if I do..shall we bet? " Dean chuckled, "Last bet we had I ended up singing in the rain..no..let's just have a 'friendly' game." They had each shot several times and Jack watched Dean circle the table trying to layout his next shot. "So...how is Agent Todd? "he asked. Dean bent over, ready to take his shot, " He didn't take the news very well, not that I thought he would. I could tell..he was trying really hard to hold it together..don't think he wanted to upset me. Funny thing is," he stopped and stood up, looking at Jack, " It took just about everything I had to hold it together..I didn't want him getting upset." Then he leaned back down and took his shot, " six ball..side pocket.." He missed, he walked back over by Jack and grabbed his beer, taking a long swallow. Jack circled the table with a small frown, " And how are you doing? Really doing? " Dean thought about lying to his friend, but what would be the point? They would both know it and that would only make Jack worry more and Dean feel worse. Dean stared at his bottle, " I see her..sometimes. We talk..only...last night..she told me she couldn't come back anymore..crazy right?" Jack stared at his friend, " No..not crazy at all." Jack thought back to the times he use to get visited by both Harper and Duke, but that was for the sole purpose of torment, not for the comfort that Dean had sought. Jack leaned back down, " Nine ball..corner pocket.." he announced as he slid the pool cue back softly through his fingers."Lately..I look forward to sleep, it's like my dreams are the reality and reality is the nightmare." Jack froze and he looked up to Dean, who didn't seem to realize he said that out loud. Jack eased into his shot sinking the ball. As he strolled around the table he casually said, " You know..Sara and I were thinking that..perhaps you would like to come and stay with us..in the penthouse. Not that I want to admit it but..I rather miss seeing your head stuck in my refrigerator." Dean moved his head around, as if shaking the cobwebs away. " What ? ... Oh, well I could come upstairs and eat your food, if you really insist..no problem, but thanks ..I am okay down in the apartment. "Well..it was just a thought...eleven ball..side pocket." Jack said. He would have to discuss this with Sara and get her thoughts, how was she doing now, he wondered. What was she going through with Ben ? They had spent such a wonderful evening..well at least he was able to take her mind off things for a little while...now how can he do that for his friend?







" Suck it up honey," she could still hear those words coming from Angela. So Sara did just that..she took a deep breath and pushed open the door to Ben's room. She could feel the tears well up before she even looked at him. She stood behind the curtain trying to steady herself. She could hear Steve asking questions. " Are you sure? Nothing?" The voice that answered was almost unrecognizable. It was raspy, low and thick with pain...both physical and emotional. " All I can remember is that I knew the voice..I was surprised by it." Sara could hear Steve pace, " Not good...You have to concentrate Benjamin.." Sara eased closer. "Uncle Steve..Please..He has had enough today..he only just woke up, maybe if he sleeps on it.." Sara started back for the door, "Coward.." she heard it again in her head. "You heard Robbie..he's had enough for today." she thought to herself, trying to reason with Angela's voice. "He needs to see you and you know it..if you don't show up..what is he going to think?." her voice whispered to Sara. She sighed and turned back towards the curtain and as her hand reached up to pull it back she whispered, "Happy now?" Taking a deep breath and putting a small smile on her face she pulled back the curtain. " Welcome back sleeping beauty. How are you feeling..word of advice..the 'just a flesh wound' story won't fly this time." Ben stared at her, his eyes filled with pain. Robbie looked from his mother to Ben, he knew they need some time alone. He cleared his throat, "Uncle Steve..let's go grab some coffee."





"Ben seems to agree that Olsen doesn't have anything to do with this..what do you think?" Robbie asked " I think the longer Olsen stays out there, the less time Ben has. Then I think that it may go the other way. If they get him, they let Ben relax, then hit him again. No way of knowing for sure which way it will go..but either way, they are going to hit him again.My bet is sooner then later, they have no idea when he could get his memory back. Now..Olsen swore to me he had nothing to with it..I think he took off to find out whose really behind this. He said when he got the proof I would be the first to know. If I can find him first.." Steve said as he stirred his coffee. Robbie took a deep breath, " I have this idea..I would like to run it by you..see what you think..."



Ben looked down at his lap then closed his eyes tightly. " I appreciate you stopping by.." Sara moved closer and sat on the side of his bed. " Love the voice..makes you sound like Clint Eastwood..another words, it suits you." Ben exhaled, "The doctor assured me it's temporary. Look I know how hard it is for you to be around me right now..so you did you obligatory visit..feel free to leave..and Sara..I want you to take Robert with you..and don't ever look back. I don't want to see either of you again.."





" It's a good plan Robert..but how are you going to get him to agree to it?" Robert smirked as he sipped his coffee."WE..how are WE going to get him to agree to it. That is the sixty four thousand dollar question." Steve eyed his nephew, "He is going to see it as a sign of weakness but if we can get him to think it is the best way to keep EVERYONE safe he may go for it. Robert..it is going to be hard for you but..you are going to have to back off a little. A man like Ben doesn't take well to being looked after or told what to do.." Robert sighed, " yeah I know..Mom already gave me the speech. I will try..maybe we can get him to think it's his idea." Steve laughed, " Well good luck with that kid..he is smart..and pretty damn sneaky himself." Robbie nodded, " We will just have to put our heads together and come up with a plan of action."



" What? What the hell does that mean?" she asked. " It's better for the two of you to have nothing more to do with me." Sara laughed, " I am going to chalk that idiotic remark up to the lack of oxygen to your brain. That will NEVER happen." Ben could not make eye contact , " I can't believe we will never see her again..I had come to really rely on her..her friendship..like Dean's means...meant..the world to me." The light went on in Sara's head, " Yes..I know that. That's why I am not going to allow you to use Robert and myself to punish yourself. It cheapens her death somehow." Ben shook his head, " She's dead because of me..you know it..I know it..everyone knows it." Sara grabbed his chin and lifted his face to hers, "NO..she is dead because someone wanted to hurt people she loved and she did what she had to do to stop them, just like you or any of us would have done." Ben's head dropped and his shoulders shook. Sara wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. "Sara...Sara...it could have been you..I would rather be dead then...I miss her already." Sara kissed the top of his head, " Shhh.. I know...me too. We have been through this kind of loss before..we can make it through again..we all just need to stick together.. Be there for each other. I'm here for you, but I need you too. I need you..we all do." Ben wrapped his arms around her waist and hung on to her as he wept softly. She was the only person in his whole life that had ever seen him openly cry. Sara laid next to him and stroked his hair as he drifted off to sleep. Sara looked up at the ceiling and sighed. How did Angela do it?.. Play Mom to all of them, she thought. She would try her best, but knew she could never replace Angie..but if she were lucky..her friend would find a way to be there, to guide her.





Sara took a long hot shower when she returned home. She wanted to try and wash some of the sorrow and heaviness of the day off. Robbie was going to stay the night again with Ben, who was asleep still when she left. Sara stepped from the shower and reached for the towel when the bathroom door opened sharply and Max stuck his head in, staring at a naked Sara. " JACK !" Jack bolted down the hallway, " What is it? What's wrong?" Sara stood holding Max's collar leading him out of the bathroom. " This is the third time he just walked in on me..the last time I was sitting on the..never mind...I want you to do something about this!" Jack smirked, then wiped it off his face. " I am..I am..he does it to me as well...I began teaching him not to open the door unless told." Sara frowned, spun around and went back to the bathroom muttering, " Insane..absolutely insane." Max looked up at Jack who frowned at his companion, " You see..I have told you..nobody likes to be interrupted while in the bathroom..now let's go over this again shall we.."



Robbie kissed Katie softly at first then with more conviction. "Mmmm...that was nice..I miss you..you know what I mean." she whispered into his ear, giving him the chills. " yeah red..I know..me too. A few more nights..then I think I can sleep home again." Katie smiled and Robbie put his lips to her ear, "I am so looking forward to a sleep over." After Katie left for the night, Robbie went about setting up his chair for the night. He thought about what a remarkable young woman he had found. All the danger they have been through and she was still there. Any other woman her age would have ran away screaming. " I do not need a babysitter kid..go home. I will be fine."the sleepy raspy voice whispered. Robbie sighed, "Humor me will ya please. In a few days when you have the strength enough to pull the trigger on your side arm..I will do just that." Ben smiled, " I always have the strength for that..I just need the focus. Robert..." he said, eyes still closed, " I can't tell you what your presence here has meant to me." Robbie snuggled down under his blanket, but before he could answer Ben was fast asleep again. " It's where I needed to be."he said softly as he reached over and touched Ben's arm.



Jennifer had dropped off a sleeping JJ to Jack and Sara before heading off to spend the weekend with Abby. Jack and Sara sat on the sofa feet up on the table having coffee and cake. Sara told Jack all that happened with Ben. Jack felt sorry for Ben, he knew that he would have blamed himself as well if the situation was reversed. He debated about telling his wife about his evening with Dean. Then he realized that was what he always use to do..keep things from the ones he loved..to protect them. No..he was not going to make that mistake again. " I think I had better tell you about my evening." he said softly. Sara listened intently and when he was done he asked her, " Am I over reacting? " Sara shook her head, " No..I think you are right. It's not good..thank you for telling me." she said as she kissed him. Then as she stood up she looked down to him, " Can you make sure the guest room has sheets on the bed? " Jack nodded, " So..what are YOU going to do? " Sara headed for the door, " I am going to go get him."





Dean opened the door and found Sara standing hands on her hips. " Hey..what's up?" he asked. Sara walked past him and entered the living room. Dean closed the door and went back to sit in the arm chair, " So?.." he asked again. Sara flopped down on the sofa. " I want you to pack your stuff and come upstairs with me...now." Dean frowned, " I already told Jack, thanks but I am good here." Sara leaned forward,elbows resting on her knees. " You and I have been avoiding one another like we had the plague." Dean frowned , "What are you talking about? We see each other everyday." Sara shook her head, " In a crowd, never just the two of us..not since that night. Dean....please ...look at me.." Dean looked up his eyes stinging with tears. " It hurts to be with you..everyone loved her but you and I and Angie..we were the three musketeers." he said softly as the tears slipped from his eyes. " Yes..we were. Our lives have been tied together since we were nineteen years old. " Sara said as she reached for his hand. " I can't look at you without seeing her.." he said clutching her hand. " it's the same for me, but Dean, I can't lose you too. You are slipping away from me..from everyone. You hold up down here..alone, it's not good. Angie would never let you do this..and neither am I. I need you..you need me. Together..that's the only way we will get through this..remember when they told us Robbie died, without you, Angie and Ben I would have died myself. Lord knows I tried, but you were there..for every dangerous situation I put myself in..you were there to pull me out. Now I am going to pull you out." Sara stood, still holding his hand, "Come with me now, please, let's help each other." Dean blew out a breath and stood up, pulling Sara into an embrace. " Okay you're right..I love you Sara..you are my best friend and I can't do this without you. " Dean released her and went to go pack, " You got any ice cream up there? " he asked her when he came out dragging his suitcases. " Yeah..and apple pie too." she said as she took one of his camera bags. " Sweet.." he said with a small smile.



It was well past midnight and Jack woke up, he heard hushed voices coming from down the hall. He crept up to see his son with Dean. "Hey little man..what are you doing up?" Dean asked JJ, who was rubbing the sleep from his eye with one hand and clutching Sheldon with the other. " Are you okay Uncle Dean? Did you have a bad dream like Robbie?" Dean sighed, " No..I am okay, you go on back to bed..you want me to tuck you in?" The small boy shook his head, " I want to stay here with you. You are sad, I can tell. Are you lonely without Aunt Angela?" Dean rubbed the boy's cheek, it was red and warm from sleep. "Yes..but I have all of you here with me and that helps." JJ wrapped his arms around Dean's neck and snuggled into him. " Does this make you feel better?" Dean closed his eyes tightly, "More then you know. Hey..I bet if we are real quiet, we can watch some Star Wars for a little while." JJ pulled back and looked at Dean, " Episode IV ?" Dean tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, " But of course." Jack was filled with pride at his small son and the kind heart he had. One late night would be alright, he was just what Dean needed, Jack thought with a small smile. He watched as JJ climbed onto Deans lap holding Sheldon. Dean put a blanket over them and wrapped his arms in front of him around JJ. Dean let out a small sigh as he kissed the little boy's head as the theme song began to play. Jack could see that both Dean and JJ's eyes were closed and both had a ghost of a smile on their faces. He gave a soft sigh of his own and went back to bed.

[fluffysmom]

So glad to see everyone pulling together and helping each other. I really liked Dean and Sara's talk. That was a really sweet scene with JJ and Dean.

[blueyed358]

Chapter 127




Ten days...ten days and Ben could take no more, so he signed himself out of the hospital. Things were heating up with the search for Olsen. Steve was trying to beat the FBI to him, after receiving a call from the fugitive. Olsen told Steve he was gathering evidence to clear himself. He also warned Steve to be careful with whom he placed his trust. A super storm they had named "Sandy" was about to hit the east coast and everyone was getting ready to hunker down for it. With Kayla working a double shift at the hospital, Steve was going to stay with Jack. He and Robbie helped Jack board up the vast amount of windows in the penthouse and Sara and Dean were out at the store trying to buy more supplies while they still could.



" I am worried about him. I wish he would come here and stay with us, he could at least stay downstairs." Robbie said as he handed Steve another board. " If you are going to try and get him here you better make a move now. The storm is going to be hitting soon....OUCH ! " Jack said as he hit his thumb with the hammer. Steve chuckled, " Okay..after we finish up here you and I will go over there. " Max ran to the door and gave a small whine. Jack smirked, " Sara and Dean are back. Watch this... Go on OPEN! " Steve and Robbie followed the dog as he went to the door jumped up and used his front paws to push down on the door handle. As the door popped open a bit Max stepped back and stood, tail wagging. " That is one talented pooch you got there Jackson." Steve said with a chuckle. Robbie shook his head, " Unbelievable..." he mumbled. " Not really..I told you he is extremely intelligent." Robbie sighed, " I was talking about you. Why would you teach him that? " Jack raised an eyebrow, " You never know when that could be very useful..it has, in fact, already come in handy a number of times." Robbie closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, " Whatever you say.."





" Hey Jackie, maybe you can teach Max how to carry grocery bags too." Sara said arms full of bags as she closed the door with her foot. Jack smirked, " Perhaps.." he said taking the bags from his wife, " But then..that's my job." Dean handed the case of water to Robbie and grabbed his camera bag, "Okay..see you guys later." Robbie frowned, " You're going out? " Dean smiled, " This is a photojournalist's dream..a super storm hitting New York City? You bet I'm going out, right down to the seaport or maybe the tunnels.." Sara and Jack exchanged looks, " No unnecessary risks.." Jack said softly. "Oh Jack..how sweet." Dean said as he checked his gear. "Hardly, the board will kill me if we have to give you hazard pay."



Sara made Dean a couple of sandwiches and a thermos of coffee and then started dinner. " We're going to get Ben, we'll be back." Robbie said, poking his head around the kitchen door She nodded, " Be careful..the wind is really starting to pick up. Robbie..if he gives you any trouble at all..call me right away, I'll ...persuade him." Robbie leaned down and kissed her cheek, " You mean guilt and threaten him..don't you? " As he walked out the kitchen door she shouted over her shoulder, " Same thing."



Katie walked into Steve and Robbie as they were leaving, followed by Jack's assistant Barbara. Robbie kissed and hugged Katie and told her where they were going. " You had better get moving it's really nasty out there." she said as she released him. " Okay..I am just glad you are going to be here with us. Hey Barbara..what are you doing here? " She smiled at him, " I needed to get your father some important papers so I stopped on my way home." Jack came and took their coats, " That's what I like...dedication to ones job." Sara invited them in, " OR..she knew you would harass her until you got them."



It took double the time to make it to Ben's place, there wasn't much rain but the wind was really blowing and the streets were beginning to flood, signifying the storm surge was approaching. As they approached the building they could not see the body guards anywhere but they did see a black sedan with four men sitting in it. " I don't like the look of this" Steve said. " It could be a bureau car." Robbie said. " That's why I am nervous..let's get up there..maybe he brought the guards inside because of the weather."





Ben unlocked the door and stepped back, " Come in" he called out, a gun in each hand. Steve opened the door slowly, he and Robbie moving slowly, each brandishing their own weapons. " What the hell are you guys doing out ? " Ben said as he lowered his weapons. " Never mind that..where are the guards? " Robbie asked. " I sent them home..I am tired of this. " Steve shook his head, " So you thought you'd just go ahead and invite them to come after you? " Ben shrugged and Steve and Robbie exchanged glances, they knew those men in the car would be coming now for him. " Well it worked...there are four men out there..we'd better get ready." Steve said. Robbie stood looking at Ben, " Why would you try this alone? You know what..never mind..we haven't got time .." Steve told Robbie to call it in..to the NYPD not the FBI. As he did that Ben and Steve set up a barricade from the doorway out into the hallway in front of Ben's gun room. " At least we will have plenty of ammo until the local boys get here. " Steve said as he positioned himself facing the bedroom door. " I have the fire escape entrance covered." Ben took the opposite side facing the front door. Each had several hand guns and Robbie had a shot gun as well. He handed each a vest, and all we locked and loaded..ready and waiting.



" What was so important that Barbara had to come out in this weather? " Sara asked Jack as she stirred the sauce in the pot. " I thought you would want to see this for yourself." He said closing the cabinet and handing her a spice jar. He reached into his pocket and and handed her a piece of paper. Sara unfolded it and he watched her eyes scan the page then grew wide. She looked up at him and smiled, " Really? " Jack sighed, " Yes really...next week.. you will have your audience with Rossetti." Sara wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and hugged him, " Thank you..you won't regret this..I promise it." Jack held her close and frowned, " I hope not..I sincerely hope not " he said softly.



Robbie stood just inside the door, shotgun in hand, Ben and Steve crouched behind the barricades. " You stay back inside the room and just hand us what we need." Ben said to him. "I don't think so..damn it Ben! What the hell were you thinking? " He wasn't thinking...that's the problem." Steve added. " You two should not have come here..I wanted to do this myself..to make sure nobody else got hurt." Both men began to turn on him and he held up his hand," Can you two gang up on me later..I hear something.." All three took a deep breath as they heard the front doorknob jingle first , then the window break in the bedroom and the front door kicked in. Ben exhaled, " Let's rock and roll..."



" I hope they can all get back safely, " Katie said to Sara as they set the table, lights beginning to flicker. " Do you really think Dean should be out in this? " she added. " It's his job, he has done this many times before. He spent a summer with tornado chasing groups too. Besides it keeps him busy..I am not worried. " Katie nodded, " I guess you're right...do you think Agent Todd will come back with them, from everything Robbie has told me and from what I have seen, he is very...head strong. " Sara laughed, " Oh Katie..can you name one person in this family circle..including yourself that isn't? " Katie smiled, she liked being included in this "family circle" as Sara had put it. " No..I guess I can't."



The two from the front door came bursting in and Robbie took one out with the shotgun and Ben the other. Steve shot first as the door to the bedroom swung open. The lights went out and they could make out the shadows of the intruders, all had laser scopes on their weapons. One man returned fire as the other tried to make his way to the door closer down the hallway. Robbie swung around and shot him and Steve and the first man exchanged shots until Steve hit him and he fell back. The three waited a few minutes and had just began to leave their hiding spots when two more came in. Ben and Steve hit the ground as the saw the flash from their muzzles in the darkness. Robbie ducked back into the room and reloaded. " Six guys?..Boy they really think you are dangerous.." Ben came up and shot off a few rounds, " I'm out, cover me while I reload. " Robbie switched to his glock and squeezed out several rounds. Then ducked back in as Ben came up shooting. Steve shouted that he needed to reload as well. Robbie swung around to his side and sent several rounds in that direction as Steve reloaded his weapon. " Where the hell are the cops? " Steve shouted. A barrage of bullets began to come their way from both directions as they hid behind the barricades, pieces of wood and plaster spraying on them.



" Cell service is out as well." Jack announced, " I do hope Barbara got home all right. I should have insisted she stay." Katie sat an the floor petting Max, " You tried Mr Deveraux but she really was worried about her dog. " Jack nodded, " I can understand that..I would be worried about him as well." he said as he leaned down a scratched Max behind his ear. "You really have become very attached to him.. haven't you? " Jack smiled softly, "Indeed I have..I am sorry you have to sit here alone with us ..I am sure Robert will return soon." Katie looked up at Jack, " I don't mind at all..in fact I like it. Since my mother has moved to Rome, I really enjoy spending time with your family. It's nice to be around a real family." Jack chuckled, " You enjoy being part of this crazy family do you? You do realize that you are not just an observer around here..we all consider you a part of us as well." Katie sighed, " I am honored to be considered a part of this family." Jack smiled, " Well, now that that's settled..let's go find Sara...I am sure she has found some place to watch the storm from."



" How much fire power did they come with? " Robbie shouted over the gunfire. " Keep behind that wall..if you get hurt your mother will kill me" Ben shouted. Then they heard the sirens over the wind that was blowing fiercely through the broken window. They could see the retreat of the intruders and Steve and Ben took final shots at them as the left the apartment. All three blew out a breath. " That was some plan there Benjamin...but I am sure you would have been able to hold off those six guys..by yourself." Steve said as he sat back against the wall. Robbie glared down at Ben and he frowned, "Okay..maybe it wasn't my best plan.." Robbie shook his head, " If you ever pull a stunt like that again..I will shoot you myself." Steve chuckled, " I bet he'd do it too." Ben eyed Robbie, " Yeah...so do I." Ben stood up and they all cautiously went to the bodies on the floor. " Four out six..well obviously I am not 100% yet." Robbie chuckled, " It would have been nice to bag at least one alive..maybe get some information." Ben studied the dead guy next to the front door, then he went over to the one Robbie took out. " I know these guys..they are ex-military turned mercenary. Steve looked up, hand on one of the intruder's neck. " Looks like we may have caught a break..I got a live one here."