The Perfect Weapon Chapter 2008: Part 2 Section 3 of 3
Chapter 2008: Part 2 Section 3 of 3
Dave’s deep voice rumbled in Irina’s ears like the reverberations of a thunderstorm in her nightmares. Jack had uttered nearly those same words in Panama. The shock of the words had lessened even if the truth had not.
“Dave!” Irina whirled around and saw another truth as her eyes went unerringly to Dave’s. The blue was the same, bleary with exhaustion, pain and painkillers but... the man behind them was still intact, even if his body was not. Even if his intense look was found in a face that was almost skeletal. They had almost lost him, she thought dazedly, unable to focus until she met his gaze once again. His look was challenging, daring her to respond. She opened her mouth and words came out. Her first instinct and she would realize later, the perfect words. “I am sorry. Dave, I am so very sorry.”
Dave’s mouth opened slightly and then he snapped it shut. He frowned. Well, that just...sucked. Damn it! He had been prepared to rail at her, to yell at her, to say so much to her and she had just cut him down - very funny, Dave - at the knees with three simple words. So unfair. He wanted to argue with her. In the heat of argument he would find the truth. Right now all he felt was the sudden roll of sickly-sweet warmth in the pit of his stomach where pain and morphine and hunger combined in an exhausting torment. Focus, he told himself. She was probably expecting you to yell at her, so it’s just as well you didn’t. But what now? Which way now? Which was the right path to find the real person? He looked into her eyes, seeking her identity. Who was she, this woman who looked like Laura and had her eyes, but did not talk like her? Laura never apologized like that. Start with that anomaly. “No qualifiers? No preconditions like, ‘Jack said I should apologize’...?”
“No.” Irina took a step closer to Dave, as he was held aloft in a makeshift stretcher of two burkas held up by the hands of their team, or family as Yasmina had named them. She ignored them all to look at Dave. Damn it, he looked even worse out here in the sunlight. She swallowed hard. If she hadn’t returned and caused Jack to open that hope chest and pull out that ring and thought her thought, they might not have made it here in time, but if she’d returned earlier then he would not have been so damaged and if and if and if only... The chain of events from each decision was overwhelming. Go back to the simplest truth, she told herself. “No qualifiers. Just a sincere apology for the pain I caused you. I am sorry.”
“Thank you,” Dave gritted out automatically, as he felt a flash of pain from the jostling his knee had taken on the path out of that darkened tunnel. “I mean it. I know it’s not easy for you, whoever you are....” The sun beat down relentlessly and he closed his eyes against it.
“What is it?” Jack asked as the muscles in Dave’s neck tightened.
“Nothing.” Dave bit down on the inside of his cheek. He should have taken that hit of morphine Jack had suggested. “You guys were careful, but there was no way to take me out of that hole without causing some pain.” He shook his head and looked back at Irina. She looked tired, older and could it be? Anxious? Was that fear in her eyes? The last time he had seen that emotion in those brown eyes had been the day they’d had ‘the’ conversation, when she had grown afraid of losing someone she loved. But that had been Laura. But had part of that been Irina? Fearful of failing at her assignment? “Irina? That is the name you’re choosing to use?”
“Why not?” Irina frowned. Dave was not acting the way she had expected. She had anticipated Dave yelling at her. She would have welcomed that, that was Dave’s pattern. Unlike Jack who held grudges, Dave tended to explode and then the darkness would pass quickly.
“That is the name of someone who caused a lot of pain. I’d rather-“ I’d rather have this argument when I have a hope of finishing it without vomiting, Dave decided. He blinked as the wind swirled dust around them. He never wanted to be any place so damn dry ever again. The ocean. Water.
“I wasn’t asking for your opinion, David Caro!” Irina slapped her hands on her hips and glared at Dave as he glowered back at her. Jack hid a smile. It was going to be okay. Although it might be nice if Dave let her know that.
“How lucky for you that I’m always willing to give it regardless of whether you’ve asked for it or not!” Dave barked.
Irina smiled. That was the man she knew. Easily, she repeated, “I am sorry. I hurt you-“
“You hurt Jack and-“
“Yes, which is the same as hurting you. But...this...” Irina shook her head and tried to swallow the dryness in her throat as she wiped the dust from her face. “Consequences. And you can deny it, but I also betrayed your trust in me-“
“Are we having a therapy session right here? If so, can I have a drink?” Dave snapped. Sydney bit her lip and handed Dave an open water bottle. Irina reached down to her own hip and pulled out her water bottle. She stopped midway when Dave called out, “Careful you don’t spill that. I’d hate for you to melt.”
Zamir began to shake with laughter. Jack looked skyward. Sydney began to giggle nervously. Vaughn’s gaze went from Dave to Irina to Dave. Was the man joking or...what? Was he going to forgive her? How could he? And could they move this along? The guy weighed next to nothing, but still. The sooner he was out of Irina Derevko’s authority, the happier he would be.
“Melt? How...fortuitous that I’m not wearing my pointy black hat today,” Irina said, taking a long sip of her water. Recapping the lid, she firmed her lips, before saying, “Back on point. I didn’t intend to hurt you, because...” Irina shook her head. “I love you.”
“Three important words,” Dave said softly. Had she ever said them to him before? He couldn’t remember. Maybe she had in that conversation after the ‘falling incident’ as he thought of it.
“And here are three more important words. I am sorry.”
“Yes, they are important. Necessary but not-“
“Sufficient?” Irina nodded.
I am sorry.
I love you.
The words that were necessary if not sufficient.
The words that were, she realized, the beginning. How odd, to realize that the words she had always viewed as the last possible resort were in fact the first words she should have said.
Lesson learned. “I know and I hate this need to prove myself, to be honest-“
“There’s a concept,” Dave sniped. He opened his mouth again to say something cutting and felt Jack’s disapproving glance without needing to see it and shut his mouth. He was pushing too hard. Probably. Maybe. But he had to know. Could she be trusted? Every instinct was screaming at him that she could, that something had happened, but... He had never suspected her the first time and he had never suspected the depths of Arvin’s duplicity either.
“Dave, just say it. Go ahead,” Irina urged. She had seen the unspoken and invisible communication between Jack and Dave and disagreed with Jack’s protectiveness. Get it over with, she decided. “I can handle it.”
Dave nodded briskly. “You know, I’ve had a long time to think about what I would say to you if we ever met again. And now, damn it, I don’t have enough energy or focus to say everything I want to say.”
“But you do have something to say. You always did.” Irina looked down at Dave with as much challenge in her face as she saw in his. Then, she had made the mistake of underestimating Jack and Dave. Now, she would not be so foolish.
“Yes. Four words. The first word is...” Dave trailed off. He could count as well as Jack. 1, 2, 3...
“Dave!” Irina repressed the urge to throttle him. She would wait until he was healed.
“Gotcha.” Dave smiled smugly.
Irina stepped forward. Perhaps she wouldn't wait until he was healed. "Listen, you...flea on a goat!"
Dave held up his hand to ward off Irina’s rush forward. Irina stopped as she watched the four fingers above the callused palm tremble like flags on a sailboat in a strong wind. In that instant, Sydney grabbed Dave’s wrist and held it aloft. Irina put her hand on Dave’s and held on tight, absorbing the shaking.
“Gotcha,” Irina whispered. She stared at their linked hands until Jack slid his hand around both of theirs and squeezed gently.
“Honey? Don’t you have anything else to say?” Jack asked.
“Yes, yes I do. That gotcha?” Irina stared into Dave’s blue eyes, searching. “The munchkins calling me bitch? That was a set up, wasn’t it? Zamir said it was. You planned it all along. Your idea of a damn joke, wasn’t it?” She forced herself to appear irritated, which was easy given that she was irritated and anxious, but the emotion blowing through her was relief. Or was it hope that coated her skin like the dust that seemed to have seeped into her pores? That joke would have been the Dave she knew. The Dave who had loved Laura and teased her almost as much as he teased Jack. And if he had set up that joke, which he hadn’t done today after all....that meant on some level he had expected or hoped, rather, that she would return to her family and be here.
“It was good, wasn’t it? I had nothing but time, after all.” Dave felt his fingers lose their grip and shook his head at Sydney. She let him go while Jack and Irina lifted their hands as well. He leaned his head back against the folded burkas and looked up into the eyes of the woman he had known as Laura. He could enjoy the irritation in her eyes which was... Laura. Any minute now, Jack would... Dave looked upward and saw the enjoyment in Jack’s face as he watched his wife fume. That cause and response had stayed intact, anyway. Good.
“And the other? The other three words?” Irina snapped worriedly, seeing the exhaustion settle onto Dave like a blanket.
Dave looked into Irina’s eyes for a long moment.
The silence seemed to stretch out endlessly. Vaughn looked at his watch. Sydney glared at Vaughn. Sark looked at Arezou and wondered why she knew so much about him. Arezou smiled at Justin Case and then turned to her mother, seeing the past and future within an arm's length. Yasmina touched her daughter’s hair. Nia thought of her own daughters and wondered if they were enjoying playing with the Happy Family Barbies even now. Zamir thought of which dishes Dave should eat to put meat on his bones again. Zamir’s brother decided he should visit their other brother in Kashmir. Dixon wished, for the thousandth time, that his wife could return from the dead. Jack scanned the horizon and searched within and without himself for any sign of danger. Weiss wondered if they had donuts in Kabul.
Irina’s mouth twisted. What was he waiting for? Why wasn’t he saying it, whatever it was? Those three words, what were they?
Dave looked up at her. In a near whisper, he said only, “You...disappointed me.”
Irina took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes. She would really have preferred that he yell at her.“Is that it?” Had anyone ever said that to her? Not professionally, of course. But personally, it was another story. She, who had always striven to earn an A in everything - as Dave would have known! Her eyes snapped open and narrowed. “And you didn’t give my message to its intended recipient.”
“Which Arvin expected, which was the only reason he told me that he’d intercepted it all!”
“Arvin outplayed us all. Then,” Jack said quietly. “Now. Time is flying by. And I’d like to get the hell out of here.”
Irina and Dave nodded. “Later?” they said in unison and replied in unison, “Later.”
“Let’s go,” Jack ordered. Dave lifted a shaking hand and Jack bent down as Dave whispered something in his ear. Then Jack stood and watched as the team carried Dave through the phalanx of people. The children touched him and the burka-clad woman nodded and bobbed like a cave’s stalagmites in an earthquake.
“Pollyanna!” Irina called out as Dave reached the end of the group and the team began to move quickly to the helicopter. She smiled when she heard Dave’s dry laugh in response. If there was shared humor, there was hope. She turned to find Jack standing at her elbow. “Why aren’t you with them?”
Jack’s mouth quirked and he bent forward. “Dave reminded me to say goodbye to my wife-“
“As if you need permission from him!” Irina began, even as she began automatically counting the number of parcels on the ground waiting for the extraction.
“No, I don’t. He just reminded me that it would probably be a good idea not to take as long as that time I went upstairs to say goodbye to you the day he and I were working on the broken air conditioner-“
“Oooh...” Irina licked dry lips as her eyes went up and down her husband’s body. Was he sweating under his costume? “The bed post?”
Weiss, walking at the head of the returning team began to laugh and put his fingers in his ears. Irina cleared her throat. The wind carried voices farther than one expected.
“Did you thank the men?” she asked quickly.
“Yeah, but-“
“I’ll join you in Kabul tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Why?”
“I need to go to Kashmir. I have an idea.”
“Well, that’s always dangerous,” Jack quipped softly, watching Irina’s eyes carefully.
“Shut up. You're always irritating."
Jack’s eyes dropped down to Irina’s breasts, which annoyingly were too well-covered to make viewing them as enjoyable as usual. "It's a shame that we can't make use of the results of your irritation."
"Stop it. I've got a plan." Irina crossed her arms over her chest even though she knew Jack couldn’t see anything. He didn’t need to. There was too much history in his look. And she wanted his touch too much. Correction, she needed it. She uncrossed her arms and reached out to touch Jack’s hands lightly.
"So do I.” Jack dropped his voice and softened it deliberately. His voice curled around her as warmly as his hands curled around her palms. “It involves a hot tub--"
"Oh! Why didn't you say so?" Irina felt hope, the emotion Jack was trying to give her. She wanted a do over in that hot tub more than... Almost more than she wanted the right to wear her chain again.
“You were too engrossed earlier in the way Dave was yanking your chain. He figured out what you were not expecting and--”
“He’s good.” Irina sighed. “I know. I let him get to me. I always have. In fact, this one time, what he said changed my...Well, twice.” She stopped and shook her shoulders to loosen them. “No time, now. You should go.”
“I will, but first-“ Jack put his hands on Irina’s shoulders and gently kneaded them. She was so stiff it was a wonder she didn’t break into pieces.
“Isn’t Dave-“ Irina reached up and touched Jack’s hands again.
“The doctor’s no doubt getting an IV inserted. Fluids. He’s dehydrated, among other problems.”
“So you’ll leave any minute?” Irina looked over his shoulder toward the helicopter, then back toward where the men were dividing the encampment into four groups. She nodded at Sark and pointed toward Yasmina, Arezou and the rest of their family.
“Yes. Honey, I was going to say this tonight, when we had a moment. But if I’m not going to see you until tomorrow, just in case I want to say right now...” Jack shook his head. “So much. But first, thank you. Thank you for coming back home, coming back home earlier than we planned-“
“I followed my heart,” Irina admitted softly.
Jack nodded. “And you followed your head, when you figured this out. Thank you for that, for...everything you’ve done. And most of all...”
“Most of all?” Irina stood up straighter. She felt more whole suddenly, as if the pieces were coming together. Finally, as she saw the love in Jack’s eyes, she saw the glue that would help her hold it all together.
“Thank you for your courage.” Jack pressed a soft kiss to her dusty forehead, then each eyelid that closed under his gentle touch, then to her slightly-parted lips. “So strong, so brave today even when I knew you were nervous, under stress, worried. I’m so proud of you. Proud you are my wife.”
Irina blinked once, then rapidly as tears popped into her eyes with startling swiftness. “Thank you,” she whispered, looking into his eyes. She had been praised countless times for her lack of fear, but what was that, after all? “I’m not the Cowardly Lion, anymore?”
“Actually, as I recall I called you a cowardly bitch. It’s you and Dave who are obsessed with the Wizard of Oz. But I love you anyway.” Jack smiled and touched his lips to hers again, before stepping back. “Love you.”
“I love you too. Thank you for...catching me today, when I faltered.” Irina nodded toward the cave.
“Thank you for being here. Being in there...” Jack looked over his shoulder toward the cave. “It was...easier since I knew you were out here, waiting.”
Irina nodded. “Did Dave know I was out there-“
“Yeah. He always had phenomenal hearing...” Which was another way of saying that Dave was an inveterate eavesdropper. A strength and a weakness. Hmm. “Which means that he will hear the truth. He’s just being...”
Irina shrugged. “He’s just being...Dave. He’s mad and it will run its course. Hopefully. I didn’t expect him to greet me with open arms, but sooner or later...”
“Yes. I’ll talk to him-“ Jack said firmly.
“This is my battle,” Irina argued, her voice rising as she could tell Jack wasn’t listening. If he didn’t listen, she would smack him.
“No -“ Jack took a step forward. “It’s-“
“Yes!” Irina poked her index finger at Jack’s shoulder. “Allow me to tell you-“
“Allow me to tell you-“ Jack grabbed his wife’s hand.
Sydney groaned as she watched her parents glare at each other. Then she smiled suddenly and called out, “Dad, are you going to push her out of the train this time?”
Jack grinned and reached out suddenly and wrapped his arms around his wife to haul her against him. “No. This time I’m holding onto her. And doing what I wanted to do then...” Just as suddenly, he bent his head and took his wife’s mouth in a hard kiss that sent her head tilting backward before she slid her hands up his neck into his hair and held him still. Pressing forward, she tilted her head and took his mouth this time. Her turn, his turn, who cared? It was their turn.
“Oh god, I love you...” Irina whispered against Jack’s mouth. “Love you....” Taking a nip out of his bottom lip, she added, “Mine.”
Sydney rolled her eyes at her parents’ embrace. “Must you?” she called out. Feeling left out as he always had when they did that, she tentatively touched Vaughn’s arm and suggested, “You could kiss me...”
Vaughn absently shook his head. What the hell was Jack doing? he wondered and missed Sydney’s tightened face, as well as Nia’s exasperated stare. Nia touched Sydney’s cheek and smiled encouragingly.
Weiss looked at Vaughn and shook his own head, then looked over at Sark. Sark frowned and then looked at Sydney and smiled. He met Weiss’s eyes, then skewed them toward Sydney and back again with a question on his face. He nodded slowly. Good. He had a game plan of his own. Looking at Sydney, Sark began, “In my ongoing rehabilitative efforts, I should endeavor to provide you with assistance.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Weiss asked, widening his eyes.
“If Sydney needs a kiss...” Sark said loudly as he stepped forward. “I’ll give her a kiss.”
Sydney gaped at Sark as he bent down and pressed his mouth against hers. She began to giggle and then fought back laughter as he leaned closer to whisper in her ear, “This would work better if you didn’t laugh in my face.”
“Work?” Sydney gasped, trying not to snort. It was like kissing...Piggy.
“Jealousy?” Sark rolled his eyes. “Must I explain the simplest matters?” He bent his head down again.
“Hey!” Vaughn exclaimed, belatedly paying attention. He moved toward Sark.
“Hey, man.” Weiss stepped between Vaughn and Sark. “You don’t kiss her, someone else will.”
“You are allowed?” Arezou asked, her eyes wide. “To kiss someone not your wife?”
Dixon shook his head. “They are older, Arezou. From a different life. That is not for you.”
Arezou looked narrowly at Sark. It might not be for her now, but she knew the arrangement even if he did not.
“Yes...” Jack kissed his wife again, pulling her as tightly against him as he could.
Irina bent her head and rested it against Jack’s shoulder. "Yes to what?"
"Whatever you want, honey." Jack leaned against her, feeling her heart beating against him. Reluctantly, he told her, “I have to go.”
“I know...” Irina brushed her mouth against his one last time. Pushing back reluctantly, she whispered, “TAF?”
“TAF,” Jack repeated, touching Irina's cheek. He waited and she gave him a little push. Taking a quick step over to Sydney, he startled her by kissing her cheek. Whispering into her ear, “You are an evil woman to torment Vaughn like that.”
“Am I?” Sydney asked, beaming at her father. This man with the smiling eyes and happy face, this was the father she remembered. He looked older, more tired than the man she remembered, but then again, so did she. She felt as though she had aged years in that cave, but being with him like this took her back to a time when the world that was her home was safe.
“Yeah. Good girl.” Jack shook his head and then looked at Sark. Sark stiffened. Jack fought to keep his face serious. Then he reached out and slapped Sark on the back. As Sark staggered forward slightly, Jack steadied him and whispered, “Good boy. Thanks.” He waved to the others and set off at a rapid clip toward the helicopter.
Irina moved back with the others as they watched Jack vault inside. A moment later, they saw the gurney with Dave on it roll toward the opening as Jack braked it and adjusted the IV pole. The waiting villagers stood up and as the helicopter began to lift, they began to wave wildly. Jack carefully held Dave up so that he could wave. Irina stood there, surrounded by a small sea of men, women and children, most shorter than she. They were preternaturally silent, she thought, watching them look at Yasmina and Arezou. As the helicopter flew over them, the two women dropped their hands and one by one the villagers lifted their voices to cry out, “Goodbye, Wizard!”
Irina burst out laughing and waved at Jack, who was shaking his head as they flew away. She waved until the helicopter was no larger than a bird in the air. “Flying toward freedom,” Irina whispered to herself as she looked over her shoulder at the cave that had been Dave’s prison for so long.
“Dave is even more manipulative than my father or mother,” Sydney said quietly as she watched the villagers continue waving until there was nothing left to see. What a day. “It’s worth remembering.” And using for the right purposes, she thought silently as she looked at her mother, who nodded slowly.
“More manipulative? That’s impossible!” Vaughn protested.
“That’s good news,” Dixon said quietly with a small smile. “With the three of them working together, then Arvin doesn’t stand a chance, does he?”
“Nope,” Weiss agreed, searching his pockets for that packet of beer nuts. “He’s toast. Does anyone have anything to eat?”
Jack turned to Dave and lowered him back to the gurney. “That’s it. You’re on your way home now. Relax.” Turning to the doctor, he pointed at the IV bag. “Crank up the morphine.”
“Where is...your wife going? Did you say? I can’t remember.” Dave watched the doctor adjust the drip.
“She has business in Kashmir.” Jack watched Dave’s face as he allowed himself to fade.
“What’s in Kashmir?” How ironic, Dave thought. She had been so close. Had he known that, somehow? Or was that just wishful thinking and why was he finding it hard to think? He looked up at the IV bag. Oh yeah. “The poppies...”
Jack touched Dave’s hand. The stupid movie again. “A home of hers.”
“A home?” Dave parroted.
“She has a few.” Jack shrugged. Don’t ask yet, he begged silently, about your home. Wait until you’re stronger.
“Jack. I don’t feel good.” Dave swallowed and closed his eyes. There was a warning in Jack’s eyes that he would heed by seeking oblivion.
“Well. I don’t feel well.” Please, let him be distracted, Jack thought. He can’t handle the truth right now.
Dave slowly opened one eye. “Shut up. I don’t need the grammar police right now.”
“Why not?” Jack asked, leaning forward.
Dave shuddered as his body went limp. “Don’t let me die now that I’ve been found.”
“I won’t,” Jack promised as he sat down on the floor of the helicopter next to Dave and put his hand on Dave’s shoulder.
"I'm scared," Dave admitted.
Jack rubbed his hand over Dave's shoulder. "Shh, It's okay. I’ve got you. I promise.”
“Good.” With his last bit of strength, Dave put his right hand over Jack’s. “Keep...promises. Julian? Where is--"
"Irina's got him. He's doing well. He just played a joke on Vaughn."
Dave nodded sleepily. "Sure. Funny kid. But...What are we going to do about Arvin?” Dave asked as he began to drift away.
“Oh, that? We’ll kill him somehow.”
“Well, gee, as long as we’ve got a well-thought out plan, count me in,” Dave quipped and fell asleep. His arm fell, draping along the floor.
Jack gently picked Dave’s arm up and laid his hand across his stomach. His lips pressed into a firm line, he touched the empty spot, gaping like a fence forever missing a picket.
In his mind’s eye, he saw the bloated finger with the red stone he had identified as Dave’s so long ago. He saw his own fingers tugging the ring off so that he could give it to Dave’s parents. He saw Dave’s mother putting it back into his hand, then closing his fingers gently over it, telling him to keep it.
“It means more to you, I believe,” Mrs. Caro had whispered. “Keep it. Find a use for it someday. He would have wanted that.”
He saw Sydney holding it onto her thumb by curling it into her palm.
He saw Irina holding it in her palm, saw the look in her eyes as she had an idea.
The ring... A ring. They would find a way to tighten the noose, he vowed. A circle, circles... Yes. It would require time and effort, but it would prove necessary. Because there was no substitute for preparation. Speaking of which, where should they set the trap?
“Speaking of Arvin...” Irina said quietly as she walked to the group. Sark looked up. “He shot Dave when he was chained to that wall, didn’t he?” Irina spat out.
Sark nodded. He recognized the woman before him. This woman was Irina in mission mode, fully focused on her goal. But she was different, Sark realized. On the surface her eyes were as cold as he expected, but deep within, there was a heat that owed nothing to the sapping whine of the hot wind that whipped dust around them in a frenzy that made it hard to see. Arvin Sloane had made a grievous error; by aiming at a weakness he had uncovered an unrealized strength. “Yes. Unsporting, to say the least.”
“To say the least,” Irina agreed grimly. “Do me this favor. Go get me those chains. No. I’ll go get them myself-“ She set off for the cave, then reached out to pull Sark along with her. God knew what problems the boy would get into or cause without supervision. He’d always been so much trouble.
“Why?” Vaughn asked. As Irina stopped within the tunnel, he called out, “Why do you want those chains?”
“I have plans for them,” Irina promised, her eyes as dark and cold as the tunnel walls surrounding them.
“What kind of plans?” Weiss asked. He looked around for the tool kit. She would need bolt cutters. “What’s the game plan?”
“Dave looks like a prisoner of war.” Irina looked at Zamir, who nodded in agreement. “A war Arvin started. He wants a war? We’ll give him a war.”
TBC at