Work Text:
The Realization
It happened simultaneously. At the end of another work week, Maggie and OA decided to get takeout near her apartment building. Their professional instinct told them that something's wrong when a black SUV parked on the street across them. They were able to duck behind another vehicle but not before being shot at. The agents returned fire and the gunmen immediately retreated. But OA got shot in the leg and Maggie was hit in the shoulder by a broken glass from the building behind them. The other civilians luckily were out of harm's way.
Tiff was walking with her sister when out of nowhere, a black vehicle fired shots. She shielded her sister which led to her not seeing the plate number. Scola was with Nina when the incident happened. A bullet hit Stuart's arm. The first-time parents were relieved that Doug was with his sister-in-law Audrey and were just on their way to get him.
Jubal and Isobel were just going out of 26Fed with other agents finally calling it a day. Jubal, wanting to be chivalrous, was a few steps ahead when he spotted the SUV and masked men with guns showed up. He immediately rushed to protect Isobel. There was chaos everywhere. People rushed to take cover as bullets flew. They somehow fell behind a concrete barrier. After the gunshots, Isobel felt Jubal slumped and placed his entire weight on her. She called him as she gently pushed him off. With Jubal on the side, Isobel saw the blood covering her hands, Jubal's blood. She had never screamed so loud in her life. "Help! Somebody, help!"
***
Maneuvering her partner in a wheelchair, Maggie walked slowly in the hospital hallway. "There she is," OA pointed to the chairs near the wall. While OA was getting stitched up, Maggie received the call from Elise informing what happened in the bureau. She then received a call from Tiff, who received a call from Nina.
When they reached their SAC, they saw Isobel staring down at her bloody hands. "Isobel, you need to go wash up," Maggie said, moving to help her but stopped when she shook her head.
"You need to go to the JOC." Isobel looked up with a stoic expression and appeared to be how she usually was when giving orders. Except for her swollen eyes and tear-streaked face.
Maggie and OA exchanged glances. "Okay, but for now, you need..." OA tried but was again interrupted.
"Someone needs to be looking for whoever did this." She struggled to say the next words, "And since Jubal couldn't do that right now..."
"Hey guys." They turned to see Tiff walking towards them. "Just came from the emergency room. Stuart got shot in the arm but he's alright, just needed to wear a cast. Nina's with him. Luckily, Doug wasn't." She took a stock of her teammates. "How about you guys?"
Maggie answered, gesturing to OA, "He got hit in the leg."
"And she got a glass shard in her shoulder," OA continued when he felt like Maggie was not going to talk about her injury.
His partner glared at him. "Yes, but it's just a flesh wound. I just needed a bandage."
Tiff smiled at their banter before noticing their SAC staring into nothing. "And Jubal?"
That seemed to caught the attention of Isobel. "He's still in surgery," she nodded to the agents, "Maggie and OA are going back to the JOC." She swallowed, before continuing, "I can't leave until..." She looked down at her hands.
Maggie turned to leave with OA but not before looking at Tiff and head nod to Isobel. Understanding what she meant, Tiff answered, "Yeah, I got it."
As they were moving away, OA was heard saying, "I am not letting you wheel me in to 26Fed," to which Maggie replied, "Fine, let's get you some crutches then."
Tiff sat next to Isobel. "Come on, you need to get cleaned up."
She vehemently shook her head. "No, not until the doctors..."
"Family of Agent Valentine." Both agents stood up and approached the doctor. "The surgery went as well as to be expected. Fortunately, the bullets missed his vital organs." Just when they could breathe a sigh of relief, the doctor added, "But he's still under observation. Let me take you to his room."
As the ladies followed the doctor, Tiff had to ask, "Have you informed his family?"
Remembering a casual conversation she and her ASAC had before, Isobel said, "Jubal wouldn't want Sam and the kids to worry. I had to wait at least until after the surgery."
The doctor opened the door to his room and led them inside. "If you need anything, please just press the nurse call button." With that, he left them.
Isobel moved towards Jubal but Tiff stopped her. "Uh uh, you need to wash up first." She nodded and went to the en suite.
***
Tiff stayed for an hour before being called to the office to give her statement. Isobel sat beside his bed, seeing all the tubes on him. It was so strange seeing him this way - pale, devoid of his usual jolly personality.
Now looking at her ASAC, her dear friend, her partner, their memories together flood in her mind. They both suffered losses, experienced the pressures of being in authority at their jobs, have seen friends give in to the pressures of this work, making decisions that affected lives.
Going through those together, with each other's support had been crucial in surviving all that. Add to that his dad jokes which are awful to everyone else but her, and his hopeful personality that inspired her to be somehow optimistic in life. Every advice, encouragement not to blame themselves, his small touches that ground her at times, their weekly lunches, his updates about his kids and her talking about dinners with her father, the parts of themselves that they couldn't share to anyone else but to each other.
Without realizing, tears fell from her eyes as she reached for his free hand. To think that she almost lost all that he had brought into her life without her even knowing how important he became, carving a space in her heart. "I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner." Clutching his fingers, she could no longer hold back. "I didn't even make you feel how important you are to me. So please, let me show you. Give me a chance to tell you." She shook her head, with tears flowing freely down her cheeks. "Do not leave us, Jubal," then she whispered, "Don't leave me." She took a deep breath before saying, "Do you hear me, that is an order." She grasped his hand with both of hers and placed a kiss on the back of it.
As a result of being overcome with both physical and emotional exhaustion, she succumbs to sleep. She stirred when she felt someone caress her face but finding herself alone with a still unconscious Jubal when she fully opened her eyes. She checked the time and found out that she slept through the night.
She went to wash her face but couldn't even bear to close the bathroom door. Not wanting to lose sight of her patient for even a minute. She had just finished washing up when she heard her phone beeped with a message from her father.
***
She never expected him to come. But the text message Robert sent her was to confirm their dinner plans for tonight. She had to text back. Sorry dad, something happened. He immediately asked where she was.
They sat on the couch, Isobel adamant on not leaving Jubal's side. With a comforting arm around her, he patiently listened to her. "They wouldn't understand, papa. He sacrificed his life for me. He almost... I almost... I couldn't..."
They might have been half-sentences but Robert understood. "I know, mija."
"I didn't even tell him, I didn't even realize..." she said through her tears.
"But he's still here, Isobel. You could still do that," Robert turned to look at her in the eyes. "Believe me, my biggest regret was never speaking to your mother before she's..." He lowered his eyes then glanced back up. "Don't make the same mistake."
***
In the afternoon the next day, Isobel was informed that she had to go into the office. She wouldn't have left but Trevor offered to watch over Jubal while she was gone. She went to her place first for a quick shower and a change of clothes. Determined that she's only going to be there for an hour tops, she walked into 26Fed. She was on the way to the JOC when ADIC Reynolds called her into his office. Luckily, Reynolds was the one assigned to their case.
"As I've told you on the phone, a prison break happened while your team was attacked. And as much as you would've wanted to see this case through, your team is in no condition to go after Vargas and the other fugitives," he said, as they walked into his office. "But since the agents were on desk duty, they've been helping the analysts on this case. They found something odd. The most of the shootings lasted barely a minute and once the gunmen fired their shots, they retreat. It was so fast that some of our agents didn't even get to return fire."
Considering that information, Isobel said, "They weren't trying to kill someone."
"Precisely, the timing coinciding with the prison break is very telling."
Isobel nodded. "They just want us distracted or if they're lucky, incapacitated."
"Which you are now. It shouldn't be a surprise that your team would have to sit this one out. Even Agent Valentine is... by the way, how is he?" asked Reynolds.
She took a steadying breath before answering. "He's had surgery but he's still unconscious."
ADIC Reynolds gave a small smile. "We hope he'll recover soon..." He paused then turned serious. "As you would have guessed, the case was given to Agent Remy Scott and his team." He glanced to see her reaction but she gave him none. He sighed, before continuing, "Just this morning, the team caught up with the fugitives. There were casualties in the prisoners including Antonio Vargas."
"Are you," she stared at the ADIC with wide eyes, "are you sure it's him?"
Reynolds nodded. "DNA confirmed it. And Agent Scott and the entire Fugitive Task Force attested to it."
She took a deep breath, trying to process the events that happened. But the ADIC wasn't done yet. "I called you in because an evidence has been found in Vargas' body. A flash drive with only a video file in it and it said For Isobel."
***
Isobel walked into the JOC and immediately called Elise. "The video." She then turned to the large screens, expecting the video to be cued up.
Elise hesitantly approached her, "I think you should watch it in your office." At her questioning gaze, the analyst added, "Don't worry, it's just me and Ian and Kelly who watched it. We have to check it for bugs and stuff. Even ADIC Reynolds want you to watch it first." She gave her the tablet with the video.
"If you are watching this, it means I have died." Even on screen and after death, Vargas still never fails to instigate Isobel's contempt. "With my wife and children gone, I have nothing to live for... except revenge." He paused, looking straight with hatred in his eyes. "I won't kill you, Isobel. But I would take with me the person you care for the most."
He then shrugged, as if he didn't just give a serious threat. "But your mother is dead, and you have an estranged father, you wouldn't care much about that. You don't have a significant other, and no children. All you have is your team. But as much as I'd like to watch you as they all fall down, one by one, I have to pick the most important one."
He started rubbing his palms together. "At first, I have no idea who it was, all of them seem to be distant from you - all thanks to your efforts of course." Then he grinned mischievously. "But then..." he paused, smirking. "He doesn't even know, does he?" She clenched her fists involuntarily. Vargas disappeared from the screen. What followed was a series of photos, of them.
That time when they had lunch outside of the office
When they celebrated OA's birthday
Walking outside of 26Fed together
It was crazy that the realization she just had was something the criminal mastermind picked up on weeks or even months before she did. There was something nagging her about the earlier conversation with Reynolds. He said most of the shootings which meant at least one was different - the attack in 26Fed. They were targeted, he was targeted. Breaking out of her spiraling thoughts, she felt the vibration in her pocket. Fearing the worst and that Vargas' plan succeeded, she reached for her phone with trembling hands. She took a deep breath before she put the phone in her ear and answered the call. Trevor's voice was on the line, "Isobel, he's awake."
***
Isobel knew that she could've gotten a speeding violation when she drove to the hospital. She saw Trevor's back first, blocking her view of him. His name came out as a gasp from her lips. "Jubal..."
Trevor moved to reveal a smiling Jubal. "Izzy..."
The agent nodded to the ASAC. "I guess it's my cue to leave."
"Thank you, Trevor," Jubal said but his eyes were fixed on Isobel. When she didn't move, he couldn't help but tease her. "Are you just going to stand there? Don't worry, Hobbs helped me get cleaned up. I don't think I smell anymore."
Smiling at the fact that he's now making jokes, she rushed and immediately hugged him. He softly chuckled when he said, "Easy, I just had surgery."
Isobel moved back and was about to apologize when she saw him grinning. She instead swatted his shoulder. "Ouch, that hurts," he pouted.
"Then you shouldn't be making fun of me," she said, crossing her arms.
They continued staring at each other with smiles on their faces. Then, Isobel remembered her conversation with her father. Determined to say what she realized these past few days, she opened her mouth to speak but he beats her to it. "I love you, Isobel." When she widened her eyes, he blurted out, "You don't have to say anything nor am I expecting anything. I just..." he exhaled, "wanted you to know. It must have been a dream but I saw you sleeping and I reached out to touch you. I kept thinking that I didn't even have the chance to say or show how much I value having you in my life." Beaming at her, he said "Because you made it wonderful, Izzy."
"You are infuriating, Jubal Valentine." Grinning at the shocked expression on his face, she added, "You just stole what I wanted to say to you."
"You mean..."
"Yes, I love you too," she whispered before leaning over and gave a quick kiss on his lips.
He smiled, "Oh, I think we could do better than that." He then reached for her hand and gently pulled her towards him. He caressed her cheek which reminded her of when she was sleeping. She looked into his eyes and knew that whatever their future brings, at least they're going to have each other. Their lips met halfway as they finally showed each other how much they mean to each other.