Room 406, Tuesday evening

[izzyalienqueen]

Isabel's in her room reading Crown Diamond and enjoying the idea of not having anything to do for the next few days.

The door's open and she's completely interruptable.

Comments

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

I do. And I know." Jack slowly smiled and tugged gently on her hair. "So...what would you lie to me about?" he asked teasingly.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I already have," she said with a sad smile. "When I called from LA. I let you think it was all sun and fun because I didn't want you to worry."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack frowned at her. "Honestly? I don't see that as lying. Misdirection, yes, but not lying. Besides, I can relate, remember?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"True," she nodded. "Well, you know all my deepest darkest secrets. So really, I have no need to ever lie to you. How's that for an answer?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Kind of scary, actually." But he laughed as he said it. "And kind of nice."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Scary how so?" she asked, curious.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"It just kind of amazes me that anyone would voluntarily trust me with their deep, dark secrets." Jack didn't know how to explain what he meant, not without getting into things he'd rather not share, so he settled for adding, "But like I said, it's nice."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Why?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Why is it nice?" he asked, laughing. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because I get to do this?" And he rolled towards Isabel so he could put both arms around her and snuggle her tight.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel rested against him for several minutes, content. She debated not pushing it, but it was Jack and she was curious. "That's not what I meant and you know it. Why are you amazed that I trust you?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack sighed and pulled away, just enough so he could see her face. "Because deep, dark secrets, especially ones like yours, are a temptation. People who know them, can use them." There might have been the slightest hint of disapproval in his voice when he said, "But you just blithely spilled your entire life story to me, with no idea if it was safe or not."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Are you tempted? Because there are people out there that would love to know where we are, what we are." Isabel pulled away and sat up. "Don't think I just blithely told you the truth. Yeah, I'm casual about what I am here. Maybe too casual. And maybe someday I'll pay the price for that. I don't know. But don't think that I told you what I did about Vilandra casually. That's something that hurts me here," she said fiercely, holding her hand to her chest. "And I shared that with you because I thought you'd understand."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Isabel..." Jack rolled to his feet and stood, looking down at her. "I'm sorry. But look at it from my perspective. Am I tempted now? No. Back before I came here? Yes, oh yes. I would have been tempted." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "More than tempted, probably. And you would have told me anything I wanted to know, because I would have made you trust me," he admitted, and it hurt to say it to Isabel.

"So yeah, I understand about Vilandra, and I know that it hurts you." His voice softened. "I don't think it was casual, and I love that you trusted me enough to tell me, but it's still a little bit scary." A small rueful smile made a brief appearance as he trailed into silence.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Jack..." Isabel sighed and patted the mattress next to her. "Sit down. First off, let me point out that I did know you. And we laughed and joked and flirted and I didn't trust you enough to tell you then. The only reason I told you when you came back is because it had already been broadcast to the whole school on the radio." She held up a hand. "Don't even try to tell me that you could have charmed it out of me. I like to think my sense of self preservation is strong enough to resist a pretty face and a smooth line. For Christ's sake Jack, my own parents don't even know the truth."

"As for everything else, by that point you'd proved I could trust you. You had me half naked in your lap, more then willing to go as far as you wanted and you didn't. And I'm forever grateful for that" Isabel smiled softly and reached for his hand. "I think I know why it scares you. But I want to hear it in your words."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I could have, Isabel. Trust me on that." One sharp shake of his head and Jack collapsed next to her, leaning his weight on her. "I'm so glad I didn't. And it scares me because Sam got it right, she said that it's still in me, but I choose not to use it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You never knew, and you never tried to find out. I was just a pretty blonde you flirted with in History of Art." Isabel slid her arm around his waist. "Of course it is. It's a survival mechanism. And right now, you're safe, with people who love you. There's no need for it."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

And when I leave here, do I go back to what I was? But Jack didn't ask, because part of him knew the answer. "Hey, you're still a pretty blonde I flirt with," he protested. "Though pretty is selling yourself short."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Flatterer," she laughed, pulling him close and not thinking about the future.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Truth!" he protested with a laugh as he wrapped his arms around her. "Would I lie to you?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so," she said, still thinking about the conversation. "Would you?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Lying right then would have been much simpler than truth, but he wouldn't, not if he could help it. "Not if there were any other choice."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel nodded, "I get that. Just more misdirection?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Hopefully." And that was all he could promise.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I can live with that," Isabel nodded. "As long as you realize it could go both ways." She realized she was contradicting what she had said earlier, but she was pretty sure Jack would understand.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he replied calmly. "You have people to protect, back home and here, and sometimes that means you can't tell the whole truth."