Room 406, late morning til evening.

[izzyalienqueen]

After the Perk, Isabel returned to her room, made a few handwavey phone calls and then tried to pack. If you can call randomly taking things in and out of drawers packing. Annie sat on the bed watching her, seeming to sense something was going on.

The door was cracked open.

[ooc: If you think you would have gotten a phone call, you did. I'm around but occasionally slowish due to RL through about 7 tonight.]

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I know. I know," she said, holding on tightly. "Just give me a minute okay?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He nodded and laid his cheek against her hair, hands shaped to fit her back, and held her. A minute would be good.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

It quite possibly was more then a minute, but Isabel wasn't going to think about it too much. Not when this was more then likely the last time she'd ever see Jack. I'm scared, she thought, but couldn't bring herself to say the words.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

She didn't have to say it; he could feel it in the muscles tense under his hand. "It's not too late. You don't have to go. We could hide you." The words escaped before he could stop them, and now they were out there, they couldn't be recalled.

So much for making this easier.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I wish. But there's nothing to hide from," Isabel said, pulling away reluctantly. "Max told me I could stay. That I didn't have to go. But I can't let him go alone."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He sighed as he felt her pull away and let go, stepping away and shoving his hands behind his back. "I know. You wouldn't be you if you could," he said, smiling again, though he didn't feel it. "You're way too stubborn to stay."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel turned away, distracting herself with lining things up precisely on her desk. "Too stubborn or too stupid. I'm not sure which."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack walked up behind her, reaching around to tap the ruler to a precise right angle with the desk's edge. "Not stupid. Never stupid. And not stubborn," he corrected himself. "Honourable. Loving. Perfectly Isabel."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"You're biased," she said, staring down at the desktop.

"So in your travels through time in space? If you're ever in the neighborhood, stop by."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Nostrils flaring, his hands balled into fists, and he dug down for the control that usually came as easily as breathing and right now he could barely find. "I will."

One deep breath; and he relaxed, smiled as he put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. "I've only flirted with one of your brothers, after all. It's only fair to give the other one a chance."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel smiled but it was anything but bright. "I'm not responsible if he hits you. Michael's a bit more reactive then Max is." She reached up and grasped his hand, squeezing it tightly.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He flinched as her nails dug into his skin, quickly covered it with a grin. "I'm good at ducking. I think I'll take my chances," he said, laughing softly. He folded her hand between both of his, stroking the skin, tracing her knuckles, trying to ease some of her tension. "If he's as cute as you and Max, I don't see how I could resist him."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Then you're going to have to fight Maria for him. But then again," she said as her smile faltered. "She won't be there so you should be safe. And if not? I'll protect you."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"I know you will." He tugged gently on her hand, pulling her into a tight hug. "You're going to have your hands full, though. I take a lot of looking out for."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"Then you're going to have to fight Maria for him. But then again," she said as her smile faltered. "She won't be there so you should be safe. And if not? I'll protect you."

"I guess I should finish packing." Slowly she stepped back, unable to meet his eyes.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, you'd better. Going naked would probably be frowned on." And he had to leave, now, or his control was going to slip completely. Studying her, fixing a picture of her in his mind, he stepped forward, cradling her face in his hands, and smoothed his thumb along her jawline. "I'm never going to forget you."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She tipped her head to the side, trapping his hand. "Me neither," she whispered.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Good," he said with a small smile, and kissed her. It was slow and sweet and infinitely complex, as he tried to give her everything he would never have the words to express. When he lifted his head, he smiled again.

He wouldn't say goodbye.

Letting his hands fall, he touched his forehead briefly to hers, then turned and left, pulling the door quietly shut behind him.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Isabel watched him leave without saying a word. Touching her fingers to her lips, she closed her eyes and stood silently for a long while before squaring her shoulders and turning back to her bag.