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Hearing Monica laugh felt even better And right now he didn’t even care whoas those dark circles faded from beneath her eyes

Gardner pushed back froer’s M-16 but smaller, more compact "Tiround down on his chewing guood for Sydney to have you here--after"

She just nodded Sunlight through the wall of s glinted on her unblinking eyes

While Gardner strode away, Jack waited for the I-told-you-so about being there for Sydney But it didn’t co the crappy goat stew

Likely exhaustion stemmed her s a helluva lot h about hih grief killed her taste buds, Monica wished she didn’t care so much About her sister About Jack Even about Blake Gardner walking aith pain radiating from him in waves her doctor spirit couldn’t miss

God, but exhaustion made a persondoo over how soon she would be seeing her sister

Froht suit, Jack whipped out a pack of Kool-Aid "Are you okay?"

"Better than Sydney"

"You know, Mon" He paused, reaching for her water bottle and tipping her favorite flavor inside Green bloomed within the bottle "This isn’t a ’whose pain is worse’ game"

He passed her the drink, waited until she sipped before releasing her gaze

Why did he have to be so nice right noith the Kool-Aid, like those foot-rubbingI do better when I don’t think about it"

"That, I can understand" He propped his beard-peppered cheek on one fist "Hashing through what-ifs is fine if it brings about a decisive plan of action But talking just for the negligible benefits of an eood is that?"

The words bubbled in spite of her "I just get so daoes your theory about staying quiet Guess I can’t help but discuss it Wo" She tipped back her water bottle

Liht numb seconds before Kind of like a dose of Jack did

"At least you’re speaking to randma loves to spread all over the house if it will keep you talking And you have every right to want to tear Ammar al-Khayr apart yourself"

"I don’t ers fiddled with the fork, flipped it, bent a twisted tine back into shape "Although I wouldn’t turn down the chance to plant a land mine under his feet"

The fork clattered to the table Monica’s shaking hands fell to her lap "Her I get angry atBut she shouldn’t have been here at all, Jack Blake warned her what could happen and she just insisted it was her job, risks and all" Her fingers twisted, twined, tore the napkin into bits she wadded in her fist "You’re probably laughing right now thinking how you gave h at you"

"But you’re thinking it"

"I’es I can’t see the difference" A half s I still don’t want you here, but I understand that you’re trained to protect yourself"

"I’m not reckless, Jack" She pitched her shredded napkin on her tray

"Hearing you say that doesn’t stop "

Intensity hu to s her whole in a luscious liet his way

Her eyes fell to the straightened fork, shifted to the torn napkin Well, hell She’d cleaned up one mess, only to make another The story of her life "How could she not understand how precious her life is?"

He rested his hand beside hers: Not over it Not touching But there Close She didn’t er, an involuntary movement toward him as her instincts overrode her intellect

Finally he had ti his case as she would have expected She told herself it had more to do with exhaustion than the fact he felt sorry for her--the woman who’d punted him out of her life

Then his hands slid aith theus all turnfor her to join hiue She’d accepted his presence just as he would have to accept they would be parting at her door in a few minutes

Her hand fell on his arm "Thank you, Jack"

He stopped, suddenly didn’t look at all tired, that slu to do with sleep

She waited for the move The Jack Korba push Instead, he silad to lend an ear"

"No I mean for--’’ she waved to encompass the room of soldiers and dust and focus on a ratitude I would be here even if your sister wasn’t one of the hostages"

"I know And thank you for that, too"

Her eyes held his, then flicked away to settle beyond hi a cart of water bottles The woled at Monica

No It couldn’t be

The slight figure ditched her cart and hustled toward the hall, turning sideways at the last second Her very familiar face flashed in full view aided by the stark bulb overhead

"What’s wrong?" Jack’s question barely penetrated

She couldn’t answer Couldn’t process what she was seeing

"Mon, snap out of it"

She forced herhere?"