Relations

"Looks like you got banged up pretty good." Sheila eyed Jack's wounds, after their retreat to an empty waiting room.

"I'm fine. Have you seen Gigi yet? Is she alright?" He was beyond eager to see her. Even Sheila's unlikely identity failed to hold his interest for very long. Puzzling though, was her voice. What happened to that irritating childish whine she used on him before? Now her voice actually fit her physical presence. And what happened to those huge breasts? Did she wrap them during work?

"Two of my people are with her now." Sheila took a seat opposite Jack. "She's out of it. Has some smoke inhalation...but she'll come around." Pensively, her keen eyes studied him from head to toe. "You know we've got to talk about this, don't you Jack?"

"Yeah...we need to talk about why you think I had something to do with this explosion." His irritation was beginning to rise again.

"Jack," she began in a soothing voice, "I want to eliminate you as a person of interest, but you have to stay cool and answer my questions."

His head jerked in annoyed disbelief. Fucking cops! Why would he blow up Gigi's place, then risk his own life to get her out? "Let's get this over with."

Sheila cleared her throat and took out her voice recorder. Jack frowned as she laid it on the table between them. "Have you and Gigi been involved in the past month?"

His stare was glacial. He caught the intimate connotation. "No."

"Why were you at her house today?"

"She left something...a jacket...at the base gym. Gigi's there twice a week to assist the martial arts instructor. I was returning the jacket."

"Had you been to her house before? Inside?"

"I gave her a ride home once. I didn't go in."

Sheila nodded attentively. "Today, did you arrive at Gigi's house before of after the explosion?"

"Before. I rang the bell, knocked...didn't get an answer. Her car was in the driveway, so I went around back. I thought maybe she was on the deck or the beach." He frowned, raked hand through his flaxen hair, "that's when the place exploded," Jack recalled in a strained voice.

"Did you smell gas? Smell anything unusual?"

"No."

Sheila decided to alter the flow of her questioning. "You're a Navy SEAL aren't you, Jack?"

He watched her for a moment, uncomfortable with being asked about his military service in conjunction with what happened at Gigi's house. "Yes," he answered hesitantly.

"Did you complete demolition training?"

"Yes," through clenched teeth.

"Are you a demolition expert?" Sheila kept her tone free of speculation.

Jack's glare narrowed. "I know more about explosives than the average person," was all he offered.

"In your professional opinion, was the incident at Gigi house an accident or deliberate?"

Jack's blood ran cold. His opinion didn't matter. The facts were now in the open. He sat forward, deeply troubled and afraid for Gigi's life. "Someone did this? Bombed Gigi's house? It wasn't an accident?"

No more doubt about it, Jack was innocent. Sheila had seen many suspects feign ignorance...too many. Jack wasn't one of them. She had never seen anyone pale the way he just had and he was truly sickened with terror. If he weren't such a tough guy, he would have screamed in horror. Thankfully, the interrogation didn't need to continue, because she would have had to ask Jack about his feelings for Gigi and her relationship with Stavros Mandolastokis. That would have pushed him into an uncooperative state of mind...which would have made him look guilty.

Jack was up and limping toward the door when the officer who was sent to guard him earlier appeared.

"Detective Velazquez? The patient is asking to see him," he inclined his head toward Jack, "is that...advisable at the moment?"

"Why the hell wouldn't it be advisable," Jack roared, his glower swinging between the officer and Sheila. "I didn't hurt Gigi! Why don't the two of you go and find out who the fuck tried to kill her!" With that outburst, he continued on his labored trek to find Gigi.

Sheila sighed heavily, rubbed her temples, "Harding, go with him. Help him get to her room. He's got no idea where she is. Last thing we need is him ranting and raving around the hospital."
*********************************************

The two officers outside Gigi's hospital room should have given Jack some comfort, but their presence only reminded him that she was not safe here. Well, he had a temporary solution to that problem. Of course, his way of doing things was going to ruffle some feathers, but he didn't give a damn. Someone planted an explosive in Gigi's house with the intention to kill her. As if that wasn't bad enough, worse was Jack's sickening suspicion about who may have done it.

Silently, he entered her room and found Gigi sitting up in bed; dazed and staring out the window. Slowly, she turned her head and fixed that faraway gaze on him. Jack's heart lurched at the empty green orbs. Her eyes were a constant kaleidoscope, sparkling and animated; full of life and wonder. But not today. She would probably never have that innocent wide-eyed expression again, the one he encountered when they first met. Death...certain, imminent or intended...changed people forever. No one knew that better than a career soldier.

"Gigi?" He neared her bed, trying to find some spark, but she was completely shut down.

She wasn't as distant as she seemed, just lost under some very heavy thoughts; drowned in the reality of her mess of a life. And here was Jack, this...extraordinary man who saved her, stayed with her and was still there. A lesser man would have run screaming in the opposite direction, but Jack ran right into the fire to save her. Gratitude was only a small portion of what she felt for him, only a fraction of the reason she wished she had more of herself to give. But what use would he have for a woman he thought was too young and so entangled in her father's malevolence, she may never get free?

"Are you going to be alright?" She asked in a small strained voice. All the smoke made her throat raw. "When I asked for you, they told me you were being treated."

"I'll be fine. You were in the house when..." Jack couldn't even say it. "It's hard to believe that you survived.

Gigi held out her hand to him. "Thank you."

Jack took her hand, kissed the palm, then engulfed her in his arms. The relief that flooded him was dizzying. Gigi was alive, breathing, warm...soft. He stroked her hair, pressed his lips to the crown of her head. "You're welcome," he murmured into the blue-black waves, "and don't ever thank me again for this."

She grinned, nestled closer. Gigi listened to Jack's heart beat, could still smell the smoke on his skin, in the fine dusting of hair on his chest. When the paramedics arrived, she was only half conscious, but heard Jack tell them he wasn't leaving her...and he wouldn't even ride in a separate ambulance to the hospital. Jack didn't do anything halfway. He saved her and saw her through till the end. Today would probably be the end. Gigi already knew the explosion was deliberate. When Jack found that out, he'd nobly back off. Vaguely, she remembered collapsing in her kitchen. There was no medical reason why that should have happened. Maybe some odorless gas overtook her, knocked her out.

Jack couldn't hold her forever, but he did take a seat on the bed next to Gigi, took her hand and held it firmly. Gravely, he regarded her. They had to get the ball rolling, get out of here as soon as possible. "Gigi, I don't know what the police have told you, but your house was bombed." He spoke with quiet resolution. No emotion crossed her face and Jack realized that he wasn't telling Gigi anything she didn't already know. His stomach roiled at the question he had to ask. "Did your father do this?" God, the thought made him nauseous.

Nerves had her reaching to scratch her nose, but Jack caught her other hand and watched her closely. Damn, he already knew! Already had her father pegged for the explosion; would certainly want to know why. "I...I think he did." She owed him the truth if nothing else. It was just hard to say it out loud. It was hard to lose the strong presence beside her. "He must know that I'm trying to undo everything he's done. It's the reason Stavros is here. He's helping me...looking out for..."

"I would advise you to say no more, Giavanna." A suave accent announced from the door. An impeccably dressed Stavros Mandolastokis sauntered into the room, his dark, hawkish eyes on Jack. He knew the American commando would be trouble. He was clearly smitten with Giavanna and his presence would only complicate matters. "Our association does not concern him. You must understand the need for discretion."

Jack's glare narrowed on the refined intruder, then pinned Gigi. "He's looking out for you? Taking care of you?" He scoffed his disbelief and rounded on Stavros again. "Where the hell were you today when Gigi's house blew up?" His anger boiled over at the older man's seeming irresponsibility. "Were you at lunch, sipping martinis? Somewhere getting a manicure? What kept you away from her when she needed you the most?" He moved menacingly toward Stavros. "You fucked up and you won't get the chance to do it again." Jack snarled in disgust. "I'm taking over from here."

Stavros blinked in astonishment. He would take over from here? "Mr. Urgayle," Stavros began with clear condescension, "you are, as you Americans say...out of your league. Giavanna's matter of concern is far beyond your realm of comprehension. That is why she requested my superior services. I am no personal bodyguard, but I can produce favorable results."

Jack took one more step, stood nose to eye with the slightly shorter man. "What the hell does that mean? Her life is in danger and you're talking about fucking results?"

"Jack?" Gigi couldn't let this go on. "Stavros is my attorney. He's...helping me with my divorce."

When Jack spun around to gape at her, she focused on a piece of lint stuck to her bedsheet. The next words flowed fast. "My father married me off to an exiled Bolivian drug-runner. It was only supposed to last until he became an American citizen and my father would receive five million dollars in return. But Andy found out that my uncle willed his record company to me and he wants in on the business. As my husband, he's entitled to half of Terranava Records' assets. The company is worth...probaly even more than I'm aware of."

She dared a glance at Jack. "Andy won't let me go...until I get Terranova Records and he won't pay my father for the marriage. Taking over control of a legitimate, established, profitable business...he thinks...would give him some kind of redemption, prove that he's somehow reformed. I think," she had to take a steadying breath, "that my father believes my death would force Andy to finally pay him...and hopefully just go away."

Jack could only stare dumbly. Married? Bolivian drug lord? Millions of dollars? Attempted murder? All of this had been swimming around in Gigi's head all this time? She had been sold to buy a criminal a shiny new life? That was what her father had done? That sick son-of-a bitch! The girl was twenty-one, for God's sake!

"How long," he finally found his voice, "have you been in this arrangement?"

"Giavanna," Stavros warned, "you've said too much already."

"Shut up!" Jack spared him a growl. The guy may not be exactly what Jack thought he was, but Stavros was still an irritating, domineering tight-ass. That was Gigi's defense against the hellions controlling her life? Fuck that! Even after hearing all she had to say, Jack didn't vacillate from his original solution; get Gigi the hell out of Santa Octavia. Yeah, he knew old Stav wouldn't like it, but fuck him too!

"Guess this is not the best time," Sheila walked in one three very tense people; the two men looked ready to go to blows. Gigi looked like she lost her best friend. "But I do have an attempted murder investigation to conduct. Mr. Mandolastokis, may I speak with you privately?"

Stavros kept an eye on Jack at all times. He read the Master Chief's dossier, knew of the elite soldier's capabilities. This one never gave up...nearly died trying to finish what he started. So, he had started in on Giavanna, had he? "Detective, I've not finished with my client?"

Jack took offense to that statement. "Really? You were finished when I told you I'm taking over from here. You can be Gigi's attorney and you can do it from a distance. Take care of your end, I'll take care of mine."

Stavros laughed at the proposition. "You cannot be serious, Mr. Urgayle."

"Jack?" Gigi herself was stunned. He still wanted to stick around? Help her? Keep her safe until Stavros got her out of the unholy union with Andy? And Jack's girlfriend...form the poetry slam; she was a detective? Good God! What was going through her mind right now?

Jack's attention stayed with Stavros. He looked the other man in the eye, swore his oath of allegiance, "do you really think I'm kidding, Stav?" A sliver of madness flashed in his light eyes.

"Uh, Jack." The chill in the room puckered Sheila's skin in goosebumps. The big guy was beginning to spook her. "maybe you should..."

"Maybe you should make some progress on your investigation, Sheila." Jack was none to pleased with her still hanging around either. "Or maybe you should recuse yourself from this case. You've got way too much personal interest involved. You tried to pick me up at a club, now the woman you know I was there to see, is laid up and your cops are still fucking around in the hospital. The bomber's not here Sheila!" He braced his hands on his hips. "There's your first clue!"

Just as Sheila opened her mouth for a scathing rebuttal, a deeper voice cut through the hostility. "Mack! What the fuck's going on in here?"
******************************************

"Hail...Hail. The gang's all here." Gigi muttered under her breath.

"Jesus, man...heard you down the hall!" Sam boldly eyed the two strangers in the room. Immediately, he sized Stavros up and down, then let his gaze linger on the strapping police woman. He could spot a woman a mile away who liked a good straight-up fuck. Amazonia, here was one of them. Good-looking...hot body, strong. Sam liked a strong woman. They knew how to keep up in bed.

Sheila didn't like being leered at, outside of clubbing, even if the pervert was an Adonis. "There's official police business going on here." She gave him a better view of her detective badge. "You, sir... are an unessential party. One of my officers will escort you to a waiting area." Her gilded eyes challenged his devil blue perusal.

"Hey, take it easy." Sam laughed and held up his hands in concession. "I'm not here to poke my nose in anything that doesn't concern me, but that's my brother over there," he pointed to Jack, "and I'm here to see him. But you're welcome to slap some cuffs on me, when I'm through," the lazy, seductive grin spoke volumes of innuendo.

"Brother?" Stavros shook his head. "There's more than one of them running around?"

Thick, dark brows rose at Stavros in amusement. "Well, Goddamn! Ain't this a chipper crowd." Sam glanced at Jack. "You've made quite the impression on this guy, Mack. I think he digs you."

"Sam...not today." Jack requested wearily.

"What?" Sam stared at Jack's drawn face, all clowning aside. "Tell me what happened." He looked around Jack to speak to Gigi. "How'd you get hurt?"

"Her house...there was an explosion...a bomb." Jack told him quietly.

"Who did it?" Sam asked anyone who would answer. No one wanted to say the awful truth.

"My father." Gigi answered, knowing she was the only person who could say it.

"Are you shitting me?" Sam exclaimed and sat on her bed. "Your father? Why?"

"It's...," Gigi hesitated, but Sam was Jack's friend; his brother, he claimed. They must be very close. Jack wanted to help, so she assumed that Sam could be trusted too. Besides, Jack didn't try to muzzle him again. "It's about money." She admitted sadly.

"Miss Giancarlo," Sheila was pulling out a pad and pen, "I need you to make that a formal statement. You're accusing your father of of attempted murder?"

"I guess-"

"Giavanna." Stavros hissed her name. "Miss Giancarlo has no statement to make at this time, Detective."

Sheila studied Stavros, wondered what made him so handsome that night they all met. Today, she had no clue. This guy was just like every other lawyer she had come across. Too full of self-importance. "Last time I checked the California Bar, which was right before you arrived, you were a divorce attorney, Mr. Mandolastokis, with about as much criminal experience as a goose egg. Should you be advising Miss Giancarlo concerning this matter?"

"A divorce attorney? What are you doing here?" Sam wondered out loud, but no one bothered to answer that question. Sheila and Stavros surrendered any professionalism they had to bickering.

"Get out of here!" Jack demanded. He couldn't believe this.

"I will be going nowhere until I have counseled my client. Privately." Stavros countered Jack pointedly.

"Same here." Sheila concurred, waving her notepad in the air. "Miss Giancarlo, that's a very serious accusation. Should we be looking at your father?"

"Not a word, Giavanna." Stavros could not imagine what was going through the girl's mind.

"Yes, Sheila...you should be." Jack answered the question, still watching Stavros. "There's no reason to protect that man."

"Yeah, Sheila," Sam chimed in, admiring the tall woman's mouth. She probably had a gorgeous smile. "Even a cop's got to admit, only a lowdown sack of shit would try to kill his own daughter. Go get him."

"Listen...Sam, is it? Remember we talked about police business...and you not being a part of it? Do you need a refresher? In the lounge?" Just his nosy presence was beginning to bother Sheila. He kept...studying her.

"Only if you're doing the refreshing." Sam smiled slowly. "Detective Sheila."

Jack rubbed his hands over his face and shook his head. He gave Sam a chastising look. "Okay, you have to get out, too. Maybe you can try your luck in the hall. This is a tough room for you. Everybody," he gave each of them hard, direct gazes, "get out. Now. Gigi and I will call you after we've had a chance to talk."

"It's alright, Jack." Gigi touched his arm lightly, hoping she would have a calming effect on him. She actually liked the way Jack took charge of things. Gigi was no fan of the alpha male extraordinaire, but she liked a man who had the balls to throw down his gauntlet when he knew it needed to be done.

"There, you see?" Stavros' full pink lips sneered. "She doesn't need you to be her mouthpiece."

Before Jack even made his move, Gigi grabbed his hand, pulled him closer to her. "Stavros...I need to explain some things to Jack. I owe him that." Jack frowned at her. "Please, just a little while longer."

"That's a mistake." Stavros straightened his silk tie.

She felt Jack's muscular arm tense and squeezed his hand. "So be it. Detective," Gigi gave Sheila a curious regard. Okay, the woman was not screwing Jack. If she had been, she wasn't anymore. Still, Jack was going to have to explain that scene at the poetry slam. "I can see you after I speak to my attorney. Sam," she grinned at the gorgeous clown. "you can have Jack...very soon. I promise."

"Don't rush, dolcezza." He kissed her cheek, then whispered, "I'm gonna have to work on Detective Sheila, over there. Buy me some time, bambina." Playfully, he tweaked her nose. "Get better soon."

Gigi couldn't help her laughter. Sam really was a beautiful man and more likable than he initially seemed, but she could never go for a man like him. Suddenly, she realized how attracted she had always been to Jack's more serious nature, his likelihood to be a stand-up guy. The fact that she could look at Jack and see a man...through and through, that drew her in the moment she laid eyes on him.

They all finally left the crowded hospital room. Sheila closely followed by Sam, Stavros wrapped in a cape of contempt. Jack shooed them away from the door and stood watch until they disappeared around the nearest corner. Firmly, he shut the door behind him and pulled up a chair beside Gigi's bed.

For a time, Jack and Gigi didn't speak, just took a moment to ease back into the comfort of peace and quiet. There was alot to say...alot to plan, but Jack was resolute. He was on Gigi's side...if she could trust him and tell him everything. If not, all she had was Stavros. But Gigi had already made up her mind. When Jack expressed his intent to help her, despite the truth she was hiding all this time, Gigi knew she would do anything he asked. And do many other things that he wouldn't even think to ask.