Here it is, the final post. Thanks to everyone for reading and responding with such wonderful comments! Pam, thanks so much for coming up with a great idea! This challenge really helped me grow as a writer, and even though I found the subject matter difficult at times, I'm very proud of the end result. And thanks again to the best beta in the world, Tina.
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One week later…Ted Garrett studied the case file in front of him. “Two hundred and fourteen people dead, burned to death in a manner that is completely inexplicable to the medical examiner. Two hundred and fourteen people, but as far as we can tell none of the members of the inner circle are accounted for.”
Jack shook his head soberly. Unless the “inner circle”, as Tara called them, had moved at the last moment to mingle with the crowd, they hadn’t been in the room after the fire was extinguished. Adding to the unusual circumstances surrounding that night, there was an unexplained clearing on the floor in the center of the room. Major parts of the warehouse had been damaged; the room itself was destroyed beyond recognition. In the middle of all that devastation lay a perfectly clean circle of bare floor, a circle that Sue was almost positive matched the size of the circle she and Tara had escaped from on that terrible night.
Ted turned a few pages of the report and then looked at Jack. “Even if the events described on this paper were scientifically possible, it doesn’t make any sense.
Why would aliens or demons or some kind of horrific higher power care about the creation of an Aryan race? Why target such a small part of society? For that matter, why not wipe out society as we know it all together? From the wording of this report, they certainly have the power to do just that.” He pushed the document away. “I can’t accept this statement the way it’s written.”
“That’s what they saw,” Jack said coolly.
“With all due respect to Agent Williams, she was very ill that night and can’t be expected to give an accurate report.” Ted countered. “It will end up being Thomas’ word alone. Do you really want to submit her to that kind of scrutiny, that kind of ridicule?”
“There were other things,” Jack insisted. “D’s illness,
my illness, the influence that the group appeared to have had on Williams and Leland–”
Garrett shook his head firmly. “Don’t bring that up unless you want two of your agents charged with misconduct.”
Jack stared at him, frustrated. “Thomas is on my team because she sees things nobody else can. I literally stake my life everyday on the accuracy of what she reports. Now you’re telling me that we can’t trust an eyewitness account from the one person most qualified to give it.”
“Jack…” Ted’s voice was tired. “Do you remember Halloween night, when I brought you in here and asked a lot of probing questions?”
Unsure of where this was headed, Jack’s reply was cautious. “It was the night you first briefed me on this case.”
Garrett smiled humorlessly. “I didn’t want to assign this to you, but I had no choice. The decision was made for me. Think about it, Jack. By the time I talked to you that night, Janelle Montgomery had met with White Collar, and Drake Mitchell’s name was already making waves throughout the building. The FBI had dealt with Mitchell and LPT before, and each attempt ended in embarrassment and negative publicity for our side. Somebody wanted to make sure that this time the black mark went against your team.”
Jack’s eyes flashed. “Who?”
“I don’t know. I really don’t,” he insisted when Jack started to argue. “By the time I got the order, it had already passed through several levels of management. Jack, you know that there’s a lot of jealousy concerning your team. You have a reputation for hard work and a great solve record; some people can’t handle the perceived competition. Add to that the fact that you have an outstanding female agent on staff and then Thomas…one of the most unusual employment decisions ever made by a team leader in the Bureau. The FBI is old fashioned; you know that. A lot of people aren’t happy with the new company image you’re trying to create.”
Jack looked at him with disgust. “Apparently I didn’t have to go undercover to find rampant prejudice; it’s alive and well right here in the Hoover building.”
“You don’t have to tell me that,” Ted reminded him gently.
He had the good grace to feel ashamed. “No sir, I don’t. I apologize.” He thought for a moment before speaking. “I won’t do it. I believe in my people, and I won’t back down from what we saw out there just because it doesn’t make sense. The report stands.”
For just a moment genuine approval shone from Garrett’s eyes, but then he sighed. “Think about what you’re doing, Jack. Those questions I asked you on Halloween night…there are a lot of people above me who are interested in the answers. They’d also love to find dirt on you,
anything they can use to make you look bad. Give them a reason, and they’ll tear you apart. Think of your team.”
Jack wanted to shrug off the warning, but he couldn’t. He thought of Bobby, faithfully attending Gambler’s Anonymous each week. D and Donna were still recovering from the loss of their baby, and D might be up for supervisor soon. His family couldn’t handle the stress of a slanderous investigation, and neither could his career. Myles would probably take some heat over the incident with his sister. The others would all get caught up in the mess, as well, and Jack could think of some
very personal relationships that didn’t need the kind of exposure Garrett was describing.
He sighed, conceding defeat. “My people have to be safe or there’s no deal. No questions, no background investigations of any kind.”
“Within reason,” Garrett agreed. When Jack started to protest, Ted held up his hand. “I think I know what elements you’re concerned about. I’ll personally see to the protection of the team. Don’t push your luck, though.”
Jack felt almost sick with depression, wondering if he’d just sacrificed his chance of happiness with Sue. He couldn’t even think of how to explain this to her…or to Myles and Tara. Still, there was no choice. He couldn’t allow any of them to become targets for a witch-hunt. “I understand.” he said dismally.
Garrett wasn’t finished. “I’m not sure you do. Jack, I’m telling you that your agent’s personal histories are safe with me…and so are their personal
lives.”
He was almost afraid to hope. “Does that mean…”
Ted was looking at him, his eyes compelling him to understand. “There are rules, and then there are people. Myles seems to be much happier these days, doesn’t he?”
Jack nodded, not quite able to control his relief. “He does.”
“Glad to hear it. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. And if you have a problem or you reach a point where a more permanent arrangement needs to be made, come see me.” Garrett had stopped watching him and was carefully rearranging papers on his desk.
Jack felt as if his heart was about to fly out of his chest. “I will. I’ll have my new report for you by this afternoon, and thank you.” He stood to leave.
When he reached the door, Ted stopped him again. “Jack?”
He turned around. “Yes, sir?”
“You think they’re still out there, don’t you?”
Jack looked at him, but he was seeing again the destruction of that horrible night and the fiery, angelic beauty of the woman he loved more than life itself. “Yes.”
And God help us all.***
Somewhere in North America
Six months later“Michael! It’s gorgeous!” The stunning Asian woman held up her hand to look at the engagement ring more closely.
“Not half as beautiful as my future wife,” the man standing beside her replied.
She beamed up at him. “Oh, you.”
He kissed her. “I love you.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too.”
He gently brushed her hair away from her face. “Let’s go get something to eat while we decide how to tell everyone.”
“Yes! And we can make wedding plans…lots of plans,” she teased.
He groaned. “I thought my job was just to show up at the appropriate time?”
“Oh no,” she protested. “You’re in this for the long haul, buddy.” Laughing, she looped her arm through his as they walked away, happily discussing their future together. Neither of them noticed the man who watched from across the street, the blond man with the perfectly blue, curiously empty eyes.
It begins.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Then the relief when it was all over (for the time being, at least). I rather liked this quote, too:
I've been waiting, waiting, waiting...drumming my fingers until they are now raw and still no post. Now I see you are gone and I left to wait until who knows when to here you describe Sue in Jack's shirt... 
.
Me? 
Loved those lines from Tara! She and Myles really are a great balance, and you really show that here...
and the angst, action, drama, emotions galore! What can I say 
So are these guys ever going to make an appearance in another of your stories? Awesome job. 
story, rerio! I sure didn't expect that ending...and it really gave me the chills! 
Quite the story you wrote there....I am blown away with what you did with it....Pam's ideas for the costumes were perfect and you worked with them well