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The secretary was out of her seat before Jack had even stepped off the elevator, a polite apology already ready on her face. “He’s not in right now,” she explained.
“It’s alright, we’re old friends, I won’t be more than a couple of minutes,” Jack insisted as he strode past her, smoothly offering a reassuring smile as a frown came over her face. She hurried after him as he made his way into the large studio office of Jasper Jacks.
“He’s not in right now,” she repeated, exasperated that she’d been ignored by Jack. “I wouldn’t tell you otherwise, Agent Bauer.”
At the far end of the office, stood floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the downtown core of Port Charles. The office was, as usual, impeccably stylish and modern.
And empty.
Jack frowned. “Do you know when Mr. Jacks will be in?”
The secretary had a tablet in her hand but didn’t look at it. “Not until next week. Mrs. Jacks will be by tomorrow, though, but just for the morning. Then she’s flying out to join him in Madrid.”
Jack considered his options as he stared at the beautiful city before him, the afternoon sun bathing the office in natural light. He could see why Jax had paid the price tag for the building. Jacks Industries now had a firm second home in Port Charles where both brothers and co-owners had private residences in the lower floors.
Jack narrowed his gaze. “Is Jerry in?”
There was a small hesitation, even with his back to the secretary, he felt it.
“Yes, he’s just down the hall. I can let him know you’re here,” she offered though by her tone, Jack knew that Jerry was already aware Jack was in the building.
He turned and offered her a nod. “Thank you.”
As she escorted him from Jax’s office to Jerry’s, Jack glanced at his phone, noting the texts from Sabrina as well as Tony Almeida. Tony had been trying to reach him for a few days now and while Jack never enjoyed evading his friend’s calls, Jack had more pressing issues to handle.
Starting with Jerry Jacks.
They entered the office, identical to the one Jax had and the secretary called out to her other boss. “Mr. Jacks? Jack Bauer is here to see you.”
Jerry emerged from a side door a moment later, his mouth set in a thin line of suspicion as he eyed the CTU agent. “Thank you Edrie, we’ll be fine from here.”
Jerry crossed the room to the wet bar and poured himself a small drink. His manner was controlled, but not relaxed. It was no secret that Jerry did not like Jack, ever since the CTU agent had, in Jerry’s words, stolen Sabrina De Lane from him while he was out of the country. Of course, Jack as well as Sabrina did not see the tale from that angle, but in the years following, Jerry had always remained touchy whenever Jack was in his presence. Jax had often felt the need to play peacemaker on the rare occasions both men were in the same vicinity.
“What can I do for you Jack?” Jerry’s tone was guarded but pleasant. He took a sip of his drink, offering nothing to Jack as he took a seat in a leather chair. He motioned for Jack to take the matching chair just a few feet away. Jack sat, but couldn’t get comfortable in the seat, his whole body tense with anticipation. He took a breath before going right to the point.
“I need to find Thane.”
Jerry paused as he drank in the statement as well as the liquor. He eased back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other, giving Jack a game smile. The move irritated Jack beyond belief and set him on edge even further. “I know you’ve talked to him in the last few weeks and I know he’s in New York.”
Jerry’s smile only grew, but the sentiment did not reach his dark orbs as they settled on Jack. “Funny you mention Thane. I had the most interesting conversation with Michelle Dessler the other day. She’s looking for Thane as well.”
Jack gritted his teeth, refusing to take the bait.
Jerry smirked. “She’s looking for you too,” he added, his voice dropping an octave. “So you aren’t taking her calls and that probably means you aren’t taking Almeida’s calls either. I’m guessing that Robert Scorpio’s messages are filling up your inbox as well. He’s also looking for the Bauer brothers.”
Jack’s face twisted with annoyance. “Where. Is. Thane?” he demanded, each word punctuated with menace.
Jerry leaned forward. “I’ve spoken to him. He does not want to speak to you,” he said coldly.
Despite his years of training, Jack flinched, as Jerry’s words struck him. Things had not been well between him and his brother in the last six months. Not since the night Nakia died. Jack had known all too well the pain of losing the woman you loved.
*~*
Jack paced the room, his skin crawling, his mind racing, wondering how it was possible that Nakia was dead. Only hours earlier, she’d been alive and laughing, teasing Thane over something as trivial as his tie as they shared a family dinner for three.
Now, she was lifeless and cold, alone on the marble floor, surrounded by perplexed but diligent Hong Kong police officers who were methodically pouring over the crime scene, taking pictures and gathering evidence.
A burst of shouting and activity from the hallway caught his attention as a man broke through the police guards and rushed into the apartment. Thane was frantic, panting and frazzled, a stark contrast to the calm, regal man he usually presented himself as to others.
Jack took two steps towards his brother, his arms out as the officers anxiously reached for the distraught man as Thane’s eyes fell on the horrific sight before him.
Thane stood, stunned, before his entire being wobbled, nearly falling as Jack clutched onto him. “Thane,” he whispered, his own grief preventing him from saying much more.
“Help her Jack,” Thane whimpered, his arms clutching to Jack in a painful grip. “She’s hurt, help her!”
Jack blinked back tears as he pulled his brother a few steps back, swallowing his grief. “Thane, she’s gone. Nakia’s dead.”
“No, no, no, no,” Thane murmured as he resisted the hands that were pulling him away from his love. “Nakia! Nakia!” he called to the prone woman on the floor, his hand reaching for her.
Thane looked to Jack, a panic-filled, glazed look of denial. “Help me Jack!”
Jack cupped his younger brother’s face in his hand. “She’s dead Thane. I’m so sorry,” he said softly.
Thane stared at Jack, studying his face for the slightest hint that it was a terrible mistake. He looked back at his wife as the pieces inevitably slid into place. With a gut wrenching wail, he slid to the floor, his screams of despair filling the now silent apartment that had only moment before, been a buzzing area of activity and noise.
Jack could do nothing more but clutch onto Thane’s shaking body, holding onto his little brother for dear life as the tears fell from his own eyes.
*~*
Jerry took a cleansing breath and set the drink down. “Look, I’m sorry Jack, but you know what Thane is like. When he’s ready, he’ll come out of the shadows. Until then, it’s like talking to a brick wall.” He did not like Jack Bauer, but he liked Jerry Jacks even less when he was with Jack Bauer.
Jack said nothing to Jerry’s almost apologetic tone and instead stood from the chair. “Thanks for your time,” he intoned quietly, sudden exhaustion filling him as he moved towards the door. He wanted nothing more than to return to Wyndemere, into the arms of his beloved Sabrina and sleep his worries away.
“He’s not going to handle things the way you did,” Jerry said, raking a hand through his hair. He’d promised to keep Jack out of the loop, but he couldn’t shake the dark fears that rattled him about Thane’s intentions and the ramifications from his choices.
Jack stilled. “Handle things?” A chill ran down his spine as he contemplated Jerry’s words.
Jerry stood, meeting Jack’s gaze head on.
“Thane’s not going to wait. Now that he knows it was Jason Morgan.”
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