* SOLDIER / VIGILANTE.

   “come on; i don’t snore that loud.” not that he’s ever heard himself snore, before. “i’m serious, gabe. it was like...something shuffling around in the walls?” the sound woke him only slightly at first. but by the second time it came around jack was fully awake, eyes open and his head snapped in the direction until his room went completely silent again. “and now that i think about it, i swear i heard the same thing the day before.”

 “what are you looking at?”

   “it’s gone.” it had a note, he thought. the note stuck on it read ‘jack’s.’ he knows this because he put it there himself -- on the container that held his last slice of precious pie. and he tried to tell himself that it was fine, that it didn’t matter; but that lasted for all of 10 seconds because who the hell would eat it anyways. truth be told, for a moment he did in fact suspect his sweets-loving partner. the daggers that bore into the now empty container inside the fridge were rapidly turned toward gabriel, too. he examined his face for any…clues. when the other spoke however, the idea soon perished. he wouldn’t be that cruel, he knew jack was looking forward to it. slamming the fridge shut, he folded his arms over his chest. “alright..forgive me.” that means the suspect is still out there. “....then who would do it ? don't they know it's rude to take someone's property.”

   he remembers it well. the commotion it caused with the public and within their own headquarters and all. “you know that isn’t what i meant, gabe. that is exactly why i worry sometimes -- i know you aren’t prone to failure, you’ll get it done however you can.” it was a metaphor, anyways; not a real suggestion. leave it to him to use it otherwise. slightly he frowns as his last attempt to get at least a hint out of him fails. there really was no changing his mind once it was up made, sometimes. jack takes a hold of the hand on his own face; and laces their fingers together. “alright. well, you owe me something.”

    jack’s fine with whatever gabriel slaps on his desk by then, even if it’s not all of it, quite frankly. but that isn’t something he’s going to say out loud, he can’t have the other knowing that he’s allowed that much special treatment. he chuckles at that. “i know you won’t disappoint.” confident, even. with both their impromptu breaks coming to an end; he’s off the desk, his feet carrying him towards the door, turning one more time to stare at the other with the best look of concern he can pull, a serious tone to match. “    why do you think i'm rushing out? i'll be damned if i don't get my cheap pizza.” and he continues his way out, the door sliding shut behind him.

    the sound of fabric ripping is barely heard among the screams and alarms that blare. “we have to slow that bleeding down first.” jack knows that his words are true, however; the building should be properly evacuated and secured. find out where this attack came from and who’s behind it. he has a few damn good guesses. “here.” with the cloth from his coat now wrapped in his hands; he presses it hard against the area, applying as much pressure as the other allows. “you know what to do, hold it there, tight.” his first priority is getting the commander out safe, though. so he radios in to captain amari to see that things go according to protocol, and promises he’ll come to help as soon as he can. “it’s being handled.” quick to move right beside gabriel, he bends again, guiding the other’s free arm around his neck, his grip on him firm. “let’s focus on getting you out. can you stand like this?”

    he perks up as soon as he hears his door slide open; watching the commander enter with that smug look of his. but his eyes fail to actually focus on him; they close instead, his hands immediately pinching the top bridge of his nose to do some damage control to the pressure building in his head. maybe he sat up a little too fast. "i'm not sorry for calling you an asshole. that's still true." he retorts, and shakes off the urge to stay in that position. "did ana send you? i told her i'm fine."

   “more like that just happens to be when everyone is available to meet, unfortunately. i’d say, the earlier the meetings, the sooner they’re over with, though.” he makes a mental note however; pushing back one meeting sometime won’t hurt, if it can wait. “oh? once in a lifetime chance? is that so..” jack hums in thought, and considers this seriously; checking the time to see just how much hours they have before then. if he leaves right now to finish the rest of his own tasks, he’s certain he’ll also be free by the evening. “alright then. i’ll take you up on that. if you have the rest of those papers finished by then.” of course, he couldn't possibly forget about that. “..deal?”

     "..hello?" fingers flick the light switch on and the room brightens instantly. stepping closer, jack leans to look over the counters and        ".....gabriel?" oh, yeah, now that makes sense. "what," he stifles a laugh. "  what are you doing in the dark?" and wishes he had a camera with him.

    silence fills the air as jack thinks it over; his shoulders drop, a sign leaves his lips. what’s he going to do ? fight him for the goddamn key to the drawer ? gabriel will just wrestle him to take it back, then what. “you know, it’s also part of a commander’s duty to know the kinds of things he’s delegating.” not that this conundrum was even delegated to him in the first place. “..okay. three days, gabriel.” his tone is stern, yet, the way his grip loosens and his hand slides to caress the man’s cheek is soft. “still, you should at least tell me what it has to do with. it’s your fault after all.”

    jack looks surprised for just a second before his laughter starts at what he assumes is gabriel’s 'plan B' to get them both out of their offices. (just burn both down huh. god, he’s ridiculous.) “hey, maybe you're right, and maybe they are.” he decides to half jokingly agree as there is probably a hint of truth in the statement about his standards being too high. coughs into his hand as he composes himself. “so,” he starts, turning his head towards the other, a smile on his lips. “when will that be, anyways. you. free for the evening?” 

   and gabriel’s looking away does not detour jack from staying close, keeping his eyes fixated on the other man's features. “oh yeah?” one hand releases the grip on the armrest just to grab the commander's chin in attempt to make him look forward. “i believe you, gabe. it's just-- if it’s a very tiny conundrum then i don’t understand why we can’t solve it together.” 

   “no, probably not.” unfortunately, with an occupation such as this one; it’s the kind of life you sign up for, he knows this but it doesn't stop him from often thinking about it; a real vacation with gabriel. “though, even if i did consider your crazy plan   which i am certainly not    you realize that it will have nothing to do with me, right? it's your office, not mine; so what do i get out of this besides a massive shit load of paperwork, a headache, and you leaving me here alone?” he shakes his head imagining the scenario and can feel the stress just from that alone. decides to reach over and take one of the chocolates as payment for it. “doesn’t sound like a good deal on my end.” he says, sucking down the sweet candy.

    “classified my ass     considering how much you announce the people on your shit list to me, that can’t be it.” he moves over in front of the other, hands grabbing both sides of the chair’s armrest and he leans in close, real close, staring into gabriel’s eyes with a squint. “i’m onto you, gabe. tell me what it’s really about, come on.”