Afterburners Discarded Chapter 2

 This is of course the final discarded chapter of the original version of this story.  The local changed as did my team (sort of).  Some of this may end up used later(FYI).



Chapter 02: Family Matters


~*~


It was late in the evening and Jackson Fuller was sitting in the conference room where he had held his briefing and was looking at the intelligence as it currently stands. He is still awaiting the call from Athena with the items he has requisitioned from her department. It was a simple matter for her to arrange transport for the group and their equipment to Monaco and provide them this facility to train in but the key to Jackson's plan revolved around the one item he demanded they provide him. He was going to need a few more items but those were far easier to come by than his big-ticket item.


“Penny for your thoughts.” Ramona Gibbler says pulling up alongside her brother. The two long ago decided that they were siblings, Jackson loved Ramona as much as his biological brothers and the feeling was mutually shared by Ramona.


“I'm just keeping up to date on the situation. I don't want to be surprised if the cargo ship mysteriously shows up sooner than expected.” Jackson informs his sister.


“How many troops do they have?” Ramona asks noticing the patrols moving about.


“I see about thirty so far. Again, they're not the real threat. Most of them aren't being paid enough to want to risk actually getting shot.” Jackson states.


“Are you sure?”


“No... but based on my previous experiences they don't like the idea of dying for a meager paycheck.” Jackson tells Ramona.


“Sooo... you and Chloe...”


“What about Chloe and I?” Jackson asks. He knew this conversation was coming as Ramona lived for situations like this... as long as she wasn't directly involved in them.


“Chloe and Rocki filled me in on the years you lived in Arizona. You really almost built a life without our family... didn't you?” Ramona asks. Jackson can see the hurt in her eyes over this revelation.


“I did. Not because I didn't miss you all. I really missed you all sooo much. Hiding my work life from everyone that I loved was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Hell, I had to do it to Chloe while we were engaged... it was the one thing about my job that I truly hated.” Jackson explained.


“Based on recent events I can see why you never wanted the two to mix,” Ramona informs her brother. “I have to ask because Chloe and Charlie don't seem to know... were you going to invite us to your wedding?”


“That is the one question I've never answered myself. I know Chloe hated how secretive I had to be during our engagement... but I really believe that was the straw that broke the camel's back... was my reluctance to bring you all back into my life.” Jackson admits to his sister, and himself.


“So... DJ met Chloe in secret.” Ramona tossed out.


“You really don't hold anything back do you?” Jackson says with a laugh.


“Hey... you were gone for twelve years... considering how little I asked you about your life when you returned I'd say I'm entitled to be a bit nosy now.” Ramona reminds Jackson.


“Yes... my mother found out where I was and snuck down to Phoenix and met my former fiance and most of her family. Mom came clean the night I returned to the house after my hospital stay. It's what really prompted my visit to Chloe before her wedding. It's why I borrowed your car... you know, the one I ruined.” Jackson states with a chuckle.


“So that's why you wanted my car. Out of curiosity... what happened to it?” Questions Ramona.


“It got shot up by assassins and mercenaries when I went to see Chloe. They were staking her place out on the off chance that I would return to see her. I hoped that her getting married would take her off the C.I.A.'s radar. It did for a while but after the family went into hiding she was the only option the director had to use.”


“Was that the only reason you went to see Chloe... to tell her about your past... no other reason whatsoever?” Ramona prodded.


“Meaning...”


“Jackson, you went and saw your former fiance just before her wedding... did it never really enter your mind to try and persuade her to leave her fiance for you?” Ramona asks.


~*~


AN: So this chapter was never finished as I was never satisfied with where the story was flowing as I wrote it. I loved the above moment between siblings but was having a hard time going from here to the end.



~*~




To Be Continued

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