Jack Be Nimble
Author: Kris Daniels
Disclaimer: This is an Alias Fan Fiction story. Rights and Characters belong to ABC and JJ Abrams, not me.
Summary: Jack faces the consequences of his 'one more instance'.
Spoilers: Season One finale
Quote: "I want you to stop. I hear your concerns and I will choose how to respond to them myself. You're a good agent, Jack, but lately, I find your methods reprehensible. If I hear of one more instance of you acting off the book, you're done." - CIA Director Devlin
When he had first seen Tippin dragged out of Sark's van, Jack's response had been horror and guilt. Carefully masked, mind you, but horror and guilt. He held little illusion that the torture written across the reporter's bloody features hadn't been caused by his use of the word 'circumference' to gain the meeting. Tippin staggered forward several steps, and finally noticed Jack's presence. Shock, mostly, crossed the young man's face. Of all the people he expected to see here in this dark alley to make this dark deal, Jack, apparently, hadn't been one of them.
He kept his face neutral as Will approached, slowly and painfully. A slap for getting him into this was not to be unexpected, if the other man could muster the strength. He stood his ground and braced for it, willing to allow it this once. Tippin, after all, had just suffered far worse. But the slap never came. Instead, Will threw his arms around Jack and began to sob softly into his shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered.
Jack stood stock still for several moments, surprised into immobility. Then he lifted one arm and awkwardly patted Will's back. Comforting was something he was sorely out of practice in. They stood there for what seemed to Jack a dangerously long time, but was actually nearer to half a minute, before Jack pulled away. "We need to leave."
"Amen to that," Will agreed, thankfully realizing through his pain that this was not the type of place people should hang around for long.
They