Fractured

Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Though I was upset, I was at least excited that I had the chance to see Francis before I leave.  I hoped he was conscious - I would feel much better apologizing to him if he was actually up and listening.  Yet, if he is up, that would also make it harder with knowing that this will be the last time I see him for maybe a year.  I needed to make it count.  And I could already hear his teasing voice in my head making fun of my hair.  It would be wonderful to hear him tease like that but considering the situation, I highly doubted that would happen.

At the moment though, we were driving in a car.  With both agents in the front and Jackson and I in the back. I had Jack sitting in my lap with me as I ran my fingers through his fur.  My soft pup... resting his head on my thigh.  And as I pet him, I was staring out the window silently and into the evening world. I stared at the trees flying by and thinking of Francis, the evening sky casting through, I let my mind wander deeper. I was feeling quite anxious knowing I was going to see Francis.  Not just because I was relieved to be able to say I was sorry.  But anxious too for what Jackson and I started discussing not a second later....

"I will be right outside the door and will be able to hear every word; keep that in mind if you plan on giving him any information," he said with a hard voice.  Glancing over to him, he was staring out the window - like I wasn't worth his time to look.  Lips flat, eyes bored, he blankly went on. "You go in, say what you need to, and don't bring up anything relevant to this situation.  Got it?" he said, finally looking over to me.

I rolled my eyes and groaned; you guys have no idea how happy leaving a 'message' would have made me.  I thought about it and felt like I needed to.  But I also understood Jackson's stance.  If Luke finds out where I am, before I am gone, that could mean Reid could find out.  The FBI noted eavesdropping was a favorite method of Reid's so if news reached Luke that I was leaving now, they would be on it.  They would also be on it if he knew I was going into witness protection. And especially if Luke was told where, you can bet Reid or his men would go there and thoroughly try to find me.  Keeping Luke in the dark kept Reid there too.  That's why we at least wanted to wait a while until we are gone and some vague info is released - but enough to maybe put Luke at ease.

"Yeah, I got it," I sighed, looking back out the window and instead of the trees... I saw my terrible reflection.  I mean, Jesus Christ - strawberry blonde, straight, and short.  It made me feel gross because it wasn't me.  It also allowed my interest to rise in what a certain tightass next to me would experience going through this. After all, Jackson was now suppose to be my 'uncle.'  That had to mean he was going into hiding too right?  I looked over to Jackson, my eyes narrowed slightly more.  "Hey, why didn't they have to change your hair?  Your name and all your information like they are doing for me?" I asked him. 

His gaze searched mine and he offered an amusing smirk, as if gloating he didn't have to do all that shit.  "First of all, unlike you, I don't stand out.  I have brown hair, brown eyes, and I am not an infamous girl that everybody knows about.  Nobody knows about me - which is what my job requires of me.  And second, I have taken on several cases, and all under my real name.  I don't need to change it because there is no reason.  People, the system, they will believe my name.  Also like your looks, your name sticks out.  Who the hell is named Albany?  Nobody is - because it's a retarded name and it makes you stick out.  Jackson isn't as common but common enough for someone like me.  Of course, even though I get to keep my name, they change some of my background.  They go in, erase it, and write me another history.  And for this case, one thing that will be difference is that I am going to be your uncle for example."

I shook my head.  That was it?  He gets to keep his name, looks, and only has his background information changed?  "That is a crock of shit, dude," I said, shaking my head as I pursed my lips and looked back out the window.  "Just because you don't need to change your looks, you should have to.  You should get a green Afro - maybe then you would be 1% more liked by me," I said, in no mood.