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Jackson’s not really sure how… or even why it happens. One minute he’s playing chess with his grandpa who died when he was still a boy and the next he’s dropped into a dark, grimy warehouse. He’s not sure exactly what’s going on but as he gets his bearings he hears deep laughter coming from a room in the distance.
“Odd,” he whispers to himself.
He looks around trying to see if he recognizes where he is but to no avail. Just a run of the mill abandoned warehouse. It’s not until he turns all the way around that he sees the silhouette of a figure in the distance. Immediately he’s on alert. Well as alert as he can be for a dead guy. Something in his heart is telling him the figure—the person—whoever is at the end of the hallway is familiar to him. He doesn’t like the anxious energy that courses through him. As he moves closer he notices that it’s not just one but two figures. It looks as if they’re tied together.
When Jackson finally steps close enough to make out who the unfortunate soul is that seems to be being held against their will, he gasps. It’s Lucy.
The anxiety he was feeling before grows exponentially along with a strong sense of guilt. He hasn’t checked in on her in a while. Last he saw she’d scored first on the Sergeant’s exam and he could not have been prouder of her. He watched as Lieutenant Grey handed over her stripes and then how she and Tim had dopily smiled at each other. A small smile crossed his own lips at the memory, before remembering where he was and the predicament his best friend was currently in.
“What the hell happened?” Jackson spoke, knowing no one was listening. Or rather, no one could hear him.
“Undercover op gone wrong?” He thought to himself.
He moved closer, metaphorically walking on eggshells. Unnecessary he knew, but his academy training never left him. Even in the afterlife. When he was finally close enough he could make out the very obvious contusions on her face. A black eye, a bruised cheek. She looked like hell. Jackson’s eyes scanned the rest of her for any other visible injuries. He saw the tear in her sweater as it hung off her shoulder. The way the blood dripped from a cut on her neck. He also noted the red burn marks on her wrists from the rope that was holding her and whoever was behind her. As he continued to check her over he almost missed it. His eyes shot back up and zeroed in on her left hand.
“Was- is that…,” he murmured, narrowing his eyes. And sure enough his mind was not playing tricks on him. Sitting proudly on the fourth finger of Lucy’s left hand was a ring. And not just any ring from the looks of it. “An engagement ring,” he huffed out, chuckling briefly.
Damn! He had clearly missed some things. Jackson’s heart swelled with joy at the fact that his best friend was getting everything she ever wanted. But he was also determined to find a way to make his disapproval and disappointment known to her somehow if her fiancé wasn’t who he thought it was. However those feelings were quickly overtaken by an intense worry as he realized, based on this situation, Lucy may not actually get what she wants in the end.
He looked around desperately. He wanted… no needed to do something to help. He could still hear the voices in the other room.
“At least three.” He thinks. Two men and a woman. Jackson looks behind him to where the voices are coming from and then back to Lucy and her companion. He hesitates for a minute, not wanting to leave her. Just in case. But it didn’t look like there was anything he could do here to help. He’s not sure what he could do in the room with the other people but he at least had to go try.
As he approached the room, the conversation became clearer.
“I say we get rid of them both. They’re more trouble than their worth.” The first man spoke, earning exasperated looks from the other two.
“And how do you think Everett would feel about that idiot?” It was the woman this time. “He wanted them taken but alive.”
Jackson listens, trying to retain details although he’s not sure why. It’s not like he could relay them to anyone.
“We’re not killing them,” the second man says. “At least not yet. Everett may be in prison but that doesn’t mean we ignore his orders. We wait until he tells us what to do next.”
Looking from the group of criminals to where he knows his friend is struggling, he hesitates. He hates that there’s nothing he can do to help her. Just another reason he hates being dead. Other than the obvious. He decides to walk back to Lucy and based on the strangers conversation he has a pretty good idea who the second person tied up is.
“Tim,” Jackson hears Lucy whisper. His suspicion is confirmed. When she’s met with no response she tries again. A little louder this time. “Tim. Babe. Come on. I need your help.”
A low groan comes from the man and his head lulls to the side. “Luce,” Jackson hears the voice and even though it’s garbled, it’s unmistakable. Tim.
Lucy and Tim are tied up. Being held hostage by someone named Everett.
Tim moans again but sits up a little straighter. Even though he’s not looking directly at him, Jackson can tell the moment Tim realizes the position they're in. His whole body stiffens and he whips his head to the right, trying to see Lucy.
“Luce,” he says a little louder and Jackson watches as a wave of relief crosses Lucy’s face, realizing Tim is alive and awake.
“Shh, Tim,” she admonishes. “They’re in the other room. I’ve been trying to get out of these restraints since I came to but there’s no use. We need to figure out a way out of here.”
Jackson moves so he can see them both now and he watches as Tim becomes more cognisant of what’s happening. He looks like he’s becoming aware of more than just what is happening in the present. He looks around nervously. His breathing begins to pick up and he tries to say something but Lucy beats him to it.
“We need, I need something sharp to cut through this rope. Do you see a piece of glass or something that I can use?”
“Luce,” Tim whispers. But it’s almost as if she doesn’t hear him. Her sole focus is freeing herself. Not that Jackson can blame her. “Luce,” he tries again a little harder this time. “Luce, I’m—” he coughs. “Baby I’m so sorry. This- this is definitely not how I pictured our post engagement going. I—” he clears his throat, which is clogged with emotion. “I had other plans.”
Lucy to her credit, has stopped, for the moment, trying to undo the rope and is looking straight ahead. Jackson notices the way her eyes well with emotion and the shaky breath she takes tells him she’s trying her hardest not to cry. Of all the scenarios Jackson would have imagined that caused Tim and Lucy to be kidnapped, never would he have thought it happened right after they got engaged. He’s going to need more on that… but later.
“I know babe,” Lucy finally says and the emotion is evident in her words. “I don’t blame you. I-”
“You should,” Tim says sullenly. “You’re only here because of me. Because I didn’t take Everett’s bribe.”
“Tim, stop!” Lucy bites. “If you think there’s a world where I’d rather be anywhere you’re not. Especially when you’re in danger, you clearly don’t know how much I love you.”
“I do,” he whispers. “I do, Luce. I’m sorry I didn’t mean it like that. I just— instead of celebrating the happiest moment of our lives [thus far], we’re stuck in some dingy warehouse. Who knows how long we’ve been here and if anyone even knows we’re missing.”
Jackson watches on as Lucy sighs and nods. “Kojo…” she says, and Jackson grimaces at the mention of the canine who once upon a time tore up everything in his room. “Kojo is home by himself. Mrs. Grant will definitely come snooping after he’s been barking for hours. Someone’s coming for us,” Lucy says assuredly. “I know they are.”
Jackson has never seen Tim look so grief stricken. So guilty. Back when he was alive the only expression he saw from the older man was anger. He knew Lucy was softening him but damn it’s amazing just how much.
“Angela knew I was proposing. She’ll figure it out when she doesn’t immediately get a text,” Tim adds.
“See. It’s going to be okay,” she tells him. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Luce. So much. I can’t wait to marry you.”
At his words, Lucy glances down and Jackson knows she wants to look at her ring. Unable to see it because her hands are currently behind her back. He watches her close her eyes and the smallest hint of a smile forms on her lips and Jackson knows she’s imagining it.
It’s crazy just how much he’s missed in her life and once again Jackson feels a wave of guilt rush through him for not checking in on her more often. Nonetheless, he was extremely proud of her. She was flourishing in her career. She had a man that loved her the way she deserved to be loved and she seemed… good. Happy.
And Tim was definitely not the same man he remembered. He was lighter… present circumstances aside. He was more open. Or maybe it was just the effect Lucy Chen had on him. Jackson was happy for his friends despite their current situation. He knew they’d figure a way out or the rest of the people he loved would come to their rescue.
He sat and continued to listen to them talk about their lives and their future in an attempt at distraction. And Jackson made a vow to himself to never stay away for so long again.