It was 4:30 that evening, the sun had already set due to daylight savings. Caroline, Robin, Jack, and Penny sat at the dinner table with their ' Family' whom were unusually quiet for the first time.
Eli looked to Jack and Jessica with Somber eyes, and took a deep breath, " There is no way on earth that we can let them get away with this..." He sighed.
" You're right.. we can't, but we can't pull any stunts until we get George back, because without him in court we are royally screwed." Jack Admitted.
Time had passed since the formality of code names were required, they mainly just used them on the radios now.
" If we don't do anything though, someone else might get hurt on top of George, with George away we are already understaffed on C- team." Penny explained as she looked around, " We have to do something fast.".
Caroline and Robin might as well have been on C-Team as 'Unofficial Team Members and Backup', Jack glared at Caroline as she opened her mouth to talk "No, You arent going, not until you're at least 21."He huffed.
Jack's hair was unruly and he was obviously only running on Coffee, Whiskey, and Redbull.
"Jack, give her some leniency, She's almost 17, If she wanted to she could start her training now. she would be ready by the time she's 20."Art sighed as he looked at Jessica, "I mean, I started training when I was 12 and I got done by the time I was of age."He explained.
"It does take a hot minute, Jack, Art isnt wrong."Eli told him.
"I'm not letting her, not at all, shes to small to even hold a gun.. her hands are too tiny, they wouldn't even reach the trigger."Jack Hissed.
"She could practice with a B-B gun."Amelia added, "Of course it wouldn't kick as bad as a regular one though."
"I said no!"Jack shouted as he rose from the table, anger flaring in his eyes, "I'm sorry for having an outburst."he said as he sat down and cooled off.
Robin also opened her mouth to talk, "You aren't going just yet either, Robin, You're still in trouble." Amelia scolded.
"Oh Come on! It was the first and the last time I snuck out with Caroline!"Robin argued as her face went white Jack as looked at Caroline.
Caroline looked away, then looked back at him, "You helped us sneak back in, Jack, you got Robin out of nearly fighting one of the Carmichael girls."Caroline commented.
"Which one?" Penny asked as the color drained from her face, Robin shot her a look to stop and to hush but Caroline continued, "It was some Curly haired Lady, she was at the Hotel back in July, I think her name was Iris..."She hummed.
Jack looked away, "Jack, Robin, Caroline? are you three not telling me something?"Penny asked as she cocked an eyebrow.
The three of them looked like three children trying to hide a secret yet doing so poorly.
Caroline was already going to get her ass kicked when she got home so, she decided to go a little further.
"Jack helped us sneak back, he helped Robin and I get on top of the car and onto the roof so, we could get in her bedroom window."Caroline explained.
"Caroline!"Jack and Robin growled under their breath.
"Hey! It was your choice to help us get back.." Caroline sighed.
"How did y'all even get out all the way to Lafayette?"Penny sighed
"They stole your car probably.."Art sighed
"That's exactly what they did."Jack growled in a low tone.
"Dad.. calm down, we've all done our portion of stupid things over the years." Jessica told him.
Penny and Jack were able to communicate with their eyes at this point, after 13 years of friendship. Jack gave Penny a wink and she gave him a wink back.
For Jack this winking would have been translated to:
"I did what I had to do to keep them from getting arrested, I didn't want them to get in trouble."
and Penny's returning wink meant to him "Good Job ,Jack!You did it! You kept your daughter and darling niece out of trouble!".
At the same time, this winking had a totally different meaning for Penny, this was the first time that she had heard of the children sneaking out, to a party, getting involved with higher ups, and doing something remotely Illegal. The Winking for Penny would have been translated to something like this :
Jack gave Penny a wink to say
"I have no idea what they're talking about, they're straight up lying and I have to play along with them to make them not hate me." And for Penny, that would make complete and total sense, he wouldn't help them if unless they severely needed it. Penny's wink to Jack was more of a
"Oh- So they stole my car, got in a fight, went to a party, and nearly made me have a heart attack-." and this would be the last time they would mention it for a while.
Everyone paused and tried to translate what they were saying, but were quite confused.
"lets get back on topic..."Amelia huffed, as Eli looked at Carter and Estelle who sighed and shook their heads.
"I agree, maybe we should get some food as well, everything looks and feels a lot better on a full stomach."Estelle told them.
"Lets just order a pizza.. I'm getting one cheese, one pepperoni and one supreme, whether you like it or not..."Jack sighed, as he got up and grabbed the house phone from its stand.
"Can we get garlic knots too?"Art asked with a smile as Gray walked in, still in their scrubs and lab coat.
"What's up ,Bitches?"Gray huffed as they took a swig of their coffee and came to the dining room table.
Fifteen chairs were sat at the dining room table but, six of them sat empty.
Often the room was filled with the light and soft laughter of friends and family, but now, the room sat in stale silence, and only anger, frustration, and disbelief filled the room.
Penny was in shock "wha-wha- 'What's up!?', what do you mean 'What's up?', we are literally on the edge of a war with the weasels."Penny stated angrily.
"Jesus Christ, who pissed in your Cheerios...."Gray sighed as they put their head in their hands, "Art, can you pass me a Redbull?"Gray yawned.
"Do you want a shot in there? You look like you need it."Carter chuckled softly.
"Yes and no, if I put too much in there I'll black out and quick, but it would also help me process this more..."Gray explained as Art threw them a red bull and they caught it, opened their coffee, poured it in and then chugged it.
"I'm going to give that thirty minuets before I take anymore..."They yawned, as they looked at Jack and Caroline who seemed on edge along with the rest of the table.
"Caroline, stay here and stay out of god damn trouble... for once while I pick up the Pizza..." Jack told her.
Robin got up to leave with Jack, but Amelia caught her by the collar of her shirt, "You aren´t going anywhere, Robin..."Amelia sighed but Penny nodded.
"Let her go, dear.."Penny said in defeat while Amelia's grip loosened and Robin trotted to go with Jack, "Caroline, hon, I think it would best if you went with Jack as well.."Penny told her.
Caroline nodded and somberly got up, to go with Jack and her best friend.
When Jack and the Children left, Penny gasped for air "Jesus Christ, Those three are so tense... "She Chuckled.
"No Shit, They hang around Jack all the time, they are the definition of tense.."Jessica laughed.
"I swear they make the atmosphere so thick you would have to cut it with a knife..."Carter huffed.
"I mean, He has good reason to be so tense. Jack's been through so much...Plus, now He works overtime almost every night.."Estelle softly stated as she held Carter's hand.
Eli glared at the four, "Can we stop wasting time and figure out what the hell we're going to do about George, He's the fucking ICU and on a ventilator..."
The room went cold once again, "You all have no idea how awfully they beat him, He doesn't look good at all. Monty , Sunny, Paul, and Ryan were the ones who beat him...one of the four are bad enough on their own, and even worse together..."Eli said shakily, "And I want to make sure that Weasel gets it handed right back at him."
"Then that settles it..."Penny Sighed , "Lets go to war."
Meanwhile....
Jack sighed as he rolled down the windows, "Hey Robin, I found some left over fireworks at Jess's house while helping her put up her Christmas lights, do you want to go with me to go and set them off?"He asked softly, in a kind tone, like nothing ever happened.
"Sure! what day?"Robin smiled, as Caroline looked at Jack.
"How about next Thursday night?"Jack smiled happily, without a gleam of the true malicious intent in his eyes.
"Could I come too?"Caroline asked, this would be a great time to arrest them; however ,sometimes one needs to not intervene.
"No hon, I'm sorry, It's supposed to get down to twelve degrees that night and, you have a test the day after.."Jack answered.
"Well dang, Art and Gray invited me over to help them put up their Christmas tree... could I do that? They said they would be home around 3 so I could walk to their house since it's over by the school?"Caroline sighed, trying to keep her cover on.
"Sure! Maybe that Saturday we could get my Christmas decorations down too?"Jack exclaimed.
"That sounds like a plan!"Caroline smiled, knowing her mission was almost over.
In that moment, A bullet flew through the back window of Jack's car and went through the window, nearly missing Jack.
"Oh Shit!"Jack Gasped.