Jana Leigh (10 page)

Placing the Pieces

"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.  So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.  You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.  This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

Steve Jobs

“The transport is coming in hot, tomorrow morning at five a.m.  We need to be there ready to go,” Jessie said, hanging up the phone.  He had just talked to Alex, then was disconnected when an emergency phone call came in.  Alex assured him they would be there tomorrow at five.

“
Let’s tell Jabo and the others we need secured transport to the airport.  They will also need to protect themselves until this is over because they helped us.  Maybe we can call a few of the guys in from TWELVE and see if they can help,” Drake said and rubbed his head.  Something was bothering his friend and Jessie knew it.

“
What else is going on?” Jessie asked as they walked to the motel lobby.  That was where Vince and Bob had set up the headquarters. 
These people are more organized than the military,
Jessie thought.

“
It’s Joel, I haven’t been able to get a hold of him for a few days.  We have talked off and on.  He knows most of what is going on,” Drake admitted.

“
He is FBI, and trained.  I am sure he can take care of himself.  Man, we have to keep our head in the game, something is going down here and I don’t like the vibes I am getting,” Jessie said.

“
Yep, I know.  We need to get to the island and regroup.  From there, we can at least not be in the open like we were.  Maybe we can get some answers then,” Drake said.

“
They have secured untraceable Sat phones, we should be good,” Jessie said and pushed open the door.  Vince was sitting on the desk giving some of the men from town orders of where they were to set up.  Jessie waited and listened, he liked the older man, when he was done Jessie smiled and nodded to the door.

“
We need to make sure we are ready for the night,” Jessie said.  “And we just heard the plane will be here tomorrow at five a.m.”

Vince slapped his hands
on his legs and nodded.  “We are ready, and I am ready to go.”

“
What are you talking about?”  Jessie frowned.

“
I talked to your Gage, he gave me permission to come along with you.  As extra protection,” Vince said.

Jessie frowned, there was no way Gage gav
e a civilian permission to come with them, and it was too dangerous.  Something didn’t add up.  “No disrespect, sir, but why did he give you permission.”

Vince snorted and pointed to the wall in the office.  Jessie walked a few steps and then stared in sho
ck at the shadow box that hung with pride in the office.  He stepped forward and then laughed and turned to Vince.  “Retired Brigadier General Vincent Tobol?”

“
At your service, no need to salute.”  Vince laughed and then said, “I am not shy about pulling rank when it gets me what I want.  I refuse to sit by while Tulu and the others are in danger, son,” Vince said and then looked at him seriously.  “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think I could help.  I have a few contacts left that may come in handy.”

Jessi
e shook his head and nodded then saluted the retired officer.  It didn’t matter, the man deserved respect.  “Hooyah.”

“
I got this covered, I will meet you in the front at three a.m., it will give us enough time to make sure we aren’t followed,” Vince said and Jessie nodded and then looked at Drake who was still in shock apparently.  “Dude!”

“
Sorry,” Drake said and snapped his hand in a salute.  “I gotta ask though, sir, do you still fit in the uniform?”

Jessie laughed and looked at the retired general who w
as fighting his smile.  “Hey, do they make them like that anymore, sir?”

“
Wait, do you smell moth balls?” Drake snorted.

“
Boys, it is good to be back, now we need a plan,” Vince said and slapped both of the men on the back of the head.

Grant stepped into the room where Brin and the baby were.  Jabo had taken Sassy
home a few minutes ago and so far, Brin had not said a word to either Jessie or himself.  She looked pissed and they weren’t sure at who.

“
Hey,” Grant whispered when he saw her rocking Marcus.  She must have just finished feeding him because he could see she had still not hooked her bra. 

“
Just give me a minute,” Brin said and motioned him back out the door.  He nodded and silently went out and closed the door.  Jessie was walking down the sidewalk toward him and nodded.

“
What’s going on?” Jessie said and stopped in front of the door with him.

“
Brin was feeding Marcus and laying him down, she asked me to wait out here,” Grant said.

“
Why?”  Jessie frowned.

The door opened just then and both men turned to see a pissed off woman pointing at them.

“Because I didn’t want our son to hear what complete dumbasses you two are.  I cannot believe you stood out in the open with a damn target on your back.  What the hell were you thinking playing Rambo.  When you saw the danger, you should have come into the room and called the police.  I won’t be a party to stupidity.  Nor will I become your personal physician so I can sew you up,” Brin said, poking both of their hard chests.

“
The police?” Grant said with a snort.  “Did you miss the part where everyone and their frickin’ brother was armed to the teeth with weapons.  The police were here for God's sake.”

“
Then they should have handled that.  It should have been them who were standing out in the open, you could have been killed,” Brin shouted.  “What about Marcus?  He would never have known who you were, either of you.”

Jessie grinned.  She spoke to the two of them like they were going to be part of her life…
together.  He wondered if she even realized she had said that.  “By the way, where is Marcus?” Jessie asked, trying to distract her.

“
Sleeping.  I'm out here because I didn’t want him to hear me yell at you two assholes.  He deserves better than that,” Brin snarled.  “We need to make a few rules here about how this is going to work.”

“
Rules?” Jessie smirked.

“
Yes rules, you don’t get to go off half-cocked anymore and just put yourself in danger.  What if those crazy assholes would have shot at you?” Brin said, waving her arm around.

“
Honey,” Jessie said smoothly.

“
Don’t you honey me, you come here and tell me I am in danger and then you just stand there like you are invincible,” Brin roared.  “Well no more, if there is a standoff like that again, I expect you will be intelligent and let the professionals handle it.  You are not in the SEALs anymore, and Grant you are a vet.”

“
Hey,” Grant said, feeling as if she had taken his man card or something.  He could shoot just like everyone else in this town.  In fact, he had great marksmanship.  “I will have you know—”

“
I don’t care,” Brin said and pointed at them.

Grant looked at J
essie and shook his head, he had no clue where this crazy wonderful woman was going, but he was happy to follow her.  Everything, since Jessie had walked back into his life and he found Brin on the side of the road, fit.  The whole thing should have sent him running in the other direction, there was no way he should be running toward the situation.

“
Now, honey,” Jessie said holding his hands out.  “You do realize I am highly trained, the government made sure of it.”

“
Oh, so they taught you how to repel bullets?” Brin snorted and glared at them.  “Listen, this is just crazy, we have a child to worry about, you can’t go off all willy-nilly thinking you are invincible.  We have Marcus to worry about.  Think how hurt he would be if something happened to you.”

J
essie looked at the tears gathering in her eyes and knew she was talking about her brother and with how she felt when he was gone.  She wanted to protect their son from having to deal with the same thing.  Hell he did too, but they had to figure this out. Until they stopped the people who wanted them all dead, they would never be safe.  She needed to understand that.

“
Brin,” Jessie said and stepped closer.  “I know my responsibilities.”

“
Do you?  Do you really?  Are you ready to be a father, someone our son will look up to?  Teach him how to catch a ball, be there for his first date, and teach him how to drive.  Are you ready for all that?” Brin asked.

“
Yes I am,” Jessie argued.  “We both are.”

“
Both?” Brin said hesitantly and looked at Jessie then at Grant.  “Who are you talking about?”

“
Can we please have this conversation inside?” Jessie asked.

Brin bit her lip, looked around, and then nodded.  She led the way back into the motel room and looked into the corner where her son was still sleeping thankfully.
  She sat on the side of the bed and faced them.

Grant and Jessie followed her through the doorway and shut the door before each took a seat across from her.  Jessie looked at Grant who nodded.

“Brin, I know I totally screwed this whole thing up.  I cannot promise that it is going to be all sunshine and roses.  That is why we are taking you somewhere safe.  It is also why we are having this conversation.  Honey, this could get messy, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t promise you that I won't get hurt. These people are dangerous and they want us dead.  I trust Grant with my life, and yours.  He knows what it is going to take to get us out of this mess and understands.  This is a chance for all of us.  But one that will have an awesome ending if I have anything to say about it.  Before, I didn’t understand what I was walking away from,” Jessie started. 

Brin rolled her eyes and said, “
Really, must we keep talking about that, we have nothing to feel guilt over, it happened.”

“
I know, and I am sorry.  But listen, one of my greatest regrets that night was walking away.  I knew we shared a connection.  I may not have known it was with my best friend's little sister at the time but I should have stayed around to explore it.  Then when we got back, everything was so fucked up.  Now though, I would like to take things slow, get to know you, develop a real relationship,” Jessie said and looked at Brin who was smiling.

“
Oh…well that would be good,” Brin said hesitantly and looked at Grant who was staring intently at her. 

“
So does Grant,” Jessie continued.  “What I mean is,” he hurried to explain when she raised an eyebrow at him in shock.  “We together want to get to know you.”

“
Together?” Brin asked and then looked back and forth between the two men.  “I don’t know if I can do that.”

Grant nodded, “
I know this is new to you, heck it is a fairly new concept to us.  Even though we have been seen relationships like these succeed, we also have never actually been in one.” 

“
No, I don’t care about that, I am talking about the danger.  I've already lost my brother.  I don’t think I could handle it if I lost you too,” Brin whispered.

“
Growing up, I saw how my uncles and aunts were.  How they lived, I envied them.  When I saw you the first time something clicked, I will be honest, I never thought of sharing you with anyone, but somehow it seemed like I was drawn to you.  Then Jessie came, and I gotta tell you, things really just seemed to snap into place.  That is why this is a good idea, we can go through this together.  I can’t say I am happy knowing that Jessie is going to go off and do something dangerous.  I just found my best friend again,” Grant said.

“
Same for me,” Jessie admitted.  “Grant and I grew up together, and it seemed like all of the years we had been apart disappeared when I saw him.  Hey, we are just friends, I don’t have any, you know, sexual feelings for him.”

Brin laughed and shook her head.  “
Good to know.”

“
What I am saying is, that I know I can leave and take care of things because he is going to be there taking care of you.  And when all this is done with, we will have the future to think about,” Jessie said and watched as she wrestled with herself.