This is my J&C adaptation of Susan Sizemore’s novel, "His Last Best Hope"

Lieutenant Jasper Jacks stared glumly out the window at the hot, humid Washington, DC afternoon. With his hands clasped behind him, his khaki uniform shirt stretched uncomfortably across his broad chest. Painstakingly polished black loafers cramped his toes beneath the starched crease in his khaki trousers. He rolled his shoulders, just now realizing how wearing El Pantera’s usual t-shirt, blue jeans, and canvas deck shoes had become second nature to him. Squinting against the bright sunshine, his thoughts drifted to another day……..blinding sunshine…….a cloudless sky……..and kisses that rivaled the tropical atmosphere for steam and heat…….

They say, turn around you fool

The slamming of an inner office door brought Jax out of his reverie. A tall, frazzled-looking brunette came through the second door and closed it behind her but immediately straightened to attention when she saw Jax. "Excuse me, Lieutenant, sir!" She clutched her steno book tightly against her chest. "I wasn’t aware that you had an appointment to see the Captain this afternoon!"

She slipped into the chair behind her desk and started to thumb through Captain Sean Donnelly’s day planner nervously. "Don’t worry, "Chief Walsh," Jax laughed, ambling over to perch on the edge of the desk. "I didn’t have an appointment with the old man. I just took a chance -- thought I might stop by to offer my congratulations on his promotion and catch him with some free time." He cocked his head towards the door to the commanding officer’s office and winked at his superior’s secretary. "What kind of mood is the old bear in today?"

"What do *you* think?" Chief Petty Officer Toni Walsh shook her head and tossed her steno book down on her desk in disgust. "It’s budget time, we’ve got one secretary out on maternity leave, another two out on vacation, and the power’s been off and on all day with this blasted heat wave!" Then she smiled at Jax and relaxed a little in her chair, taking the time to cross her legs so that he couldn’t miss the sight of what little was revealed by the short khaki skirt. "But now that you’re here, Lieutenant, his mood might improve."

Jax kept his chuckle to himself. Ever since joining Naval Intelligence, he and Toni Walsh had been verbally sparring with each other – a jousting match that occasionally leaned towards flirting, although it never crossed that line into territory forbidden by Naval code. It often reminded him of the relationship between 007 and Moneypenny – just the slightest sexual overtone, but nothing offensive. By deliberately sitting so that her skirt rode up above her knees, Toni had just launched the first salvo of the afternoon.

He leaned forward and arched an eyebrow at Toni’s exposed thigh. "Are you sure that the Commander’s the *only* one who’s happy to see me, Chief?"

"Welllllll….." Toni propped her elbows on the desk and rested her chin on her folded hands. "I’ll admit that I was pretty worried while you were down there on that island, pretending to be one of the bad guys," she drawled. "But after you managed to find out the name of the security leak, I would think that Captain Donnelly would just about kiss the ground you walk on, Lieutenant."

The sound of an inside door opening brought Jax off the desk in one smooth move. He tugged on the collar of his shirt self-consciously, smoothing his thumb over the brass medallions there. "Somehow, I don’t think I’d bet on the old man being in too good of a mood after I tell him where I’m going this evening," he muttered.

Just as Toni swiveled around and began typing furiously at her keyboard, the outside door swung open and a tall, brown-haired man appeared in the opening holding three file folders. "CHIEF WALSH!!! I’VE LOST IT AGAIN!!"

Jax snapped a salute. "Captain Donnelly, Sir!" Then he relaxed and broke into a grin. "That’s actually rather funny, sir, since most of the men I know swear you lost it a long time ago…….sir……."

Sean’s scowl turned into a smile at the sight of the young officer. "Lieutenant Jacks!" The sound of fingernails tapping at computer keys reminded Sean of his original sentiment and his bluster returned. "Chief Walsh! What the blazes did you do with the Carmody file?"

"I thought I left it on your desk, sir," Toni replied with a sigh. She swiveled around in her chair and raised her eyebrows in question. "Northeast corner? Right beneath the box of Girl Scout cookies you cheated me out of?"

"Ahhhh…….." Sean eyes widened and he pointed a finger. "That’s right. I didn’t check there." He nodded towards Jax as he turned back towards his office. "Come on in, Lieutenant. Got some papers in my office that you might be interested to see." Jax followed his commander but Sean stopped at the last minute to glare back at Toni. "And I did NOT cheat you out of those cookies, Walsh!" He bristled and winked at Jax. "Even the Lieutenant here knows better than to challenge me to a game of poker."

Toni waited until the two men disappeared behind the closed door. Then, she turned back to her keyboard and smiled. "And I’ll bet the Lieutenant *also* knows that everywhere else, a royal flush beats a full house……sir!"

As soon as Jax closed the second door, Sean pointed to a chair in front of his desk. "Sit down, Lieutenant – please." He tossed the files onto his desk, pushed a few aside in the front right corner, smiled and grabbed one from beneath a box of Thin Mints, stuck it in a bottom drawer, and then finally looked up at Jax. "So…….I gotta hand it to you, Lieutenant Jacks." He shook his head. "I NEVER would have figured Hillard to be the traitor in our midst."

Jax took a seat and hoped that his agitated mood didn’t show on the outside. "If it hadn’t been for that face-to-face meeting Cassidine arranged, I would have doubted it myself, sir." He shook his head. "Just can’t imagine what would provoke a good man like that to turn bad."

Sean nodded but then exhaled loudly. "Well, ours is not to question the man’s motives, Lieutenant. Let’s just be glad that he’s behind bars and won’t be providing the other side with any more arms or top-secret information." He reclined in his desk chair and folded his hands in his lap. "I suppose that you’ll be off to Kentucky now……..or wherever the h*ll your brother decided to get married……."

"North Carolina, sir," Jax smiled respectfully. "And you needn’t talk about it like it’s the back woods. Last time I checked, they had running water and indoor plumbing there."

"I know, I know……" Sean sat up and started to rummage through the files on his desk again. "I saw your transfer papers come through the other day……they were right here on my desk, until all this budget sh*t hit the fan….."

"Sir……."

"Don’t worry, Lieutenant Jacks…….they’re not lost!" Sean smiled jovially. "Your dear mother would skin me alive if I screwed up and didn’t get her baby boy transferred to a safe, quiet, boring desk job after all the worrying she did while you were undercover!"

"Yes, sir…..well, that’s what I was here to talk to you about……"

Don’t know why, is it so, don’t wanna let you go,

Sean ignored Jax’s insistent interruptions and kept looking through the clutter on his desk. "Aha! I knew it was here!" He held up a file triumphantly and opened it. "Let’s see……you’re to report to your new CO at Naval Ops the day after tomorrow at 0-800 hours. He’ll give you all the particulars as to your new assignment." He winked at Jax. "As per your mother’s instructions, it’ll be something desk-bound. Probably research or documentation, I would think……."

"Sounds fascinating. Day after tomorrow." Jax nodded thoughtfully. "That should work out fine, sir."

"Well, the brass upstairs agreed that you should have a few days of R&R after such a stressful assignment." Suddenly Sean looked up at Jax and blanched. "Why do I have the feeling we’re not on the same page anymore, Lieutenant?"

"Because I thought I’d take a little side trip first before I report for my new assignment……..Sir."

"And exactly where would you be going on this little "side trip," Lieutenant? North Carolina?" Sean added hopefully. His facial expression revealed that he knew *exactly* what Jax’s plans were.

"No, Sir." Jax rose to his feet, knowing that the battle was about to begin. "I’ll be going back to Montserrat, Captain."

It’s that same old dizzy hangup,

"You’re not *needed* anymore in Montserrat, Lieutenant!" Sean bristled. He closed the file with the transfer papers and sat erect at his desk, preparing his own armaments. "Your mission down there is accomplished."

"Not quite, Sir. I still have some …….. unfinished business there."

"If you’re referring to Senor Cassidine, Lieutenant, your worries are groundless. Hillard’s been most informative ever since we took him into custody. In fact, he’s been singing like a d*mn-fool canary about his connections around the world. I fully expect that within the next twelve hours, we’ll have enough evidence to secure warrants against Cassidine."

"I know, Sir, but……"

"You’re not going back to Montserrat, Lieutenant," Sean growled firmly. "I have another team in place to take Cassidine into custody. One call from me, and the gentleman felon will be wearing handcuffs instead of those fancy linen suits."

Jax’s eyes shot fire and he took a deep breath. "I need to go back to Montserrat to bring Miss Morgan out, Captain. I can’t just leave her there like that."

"I’m well aware of your relationship with the young woman, Lieutenant…….."

"I probably wouldn’t have been able to get the name I needed without her, Sir. Cassidine took a liking to our……romance…… and I benefited from his weakness for a good old-fashioned boy-rescues-girl story….."

"I’m also aware of Miss Morgan’s vital part in your undercover sting……."

"Then you must also know that Cassidine isn’t going to take it well when he finds out that it’s all been a lie!" Jax exploded. "He’s going to take it out on Chloe, and I promised her I would come back and get her out safely!"

"Then you shouldn’t have PROMISED her that, Lieutenant!" Sean shot back. "You should know better than that." He got up from his desk and went to look out a window somberly. "Promises are not a luxury we’re allowed in this department."

"Too many people have already died to bring down this cartel, Captain." Jax’s formal tone conveyed his stubborn refusal to listen to his friend. "I won’t have another innocent person’s death on my conscience."

"And you won’t, Lieutenant." Sean turned away from the window and walked back to his desk. "I never said that I’d sacrifice Miss Morgan for the sake of the bust." He flipped open a file. "I’ll make arrangements to have part of the team get her out before they take Cassidine into custody."

"But, Sir……."

"But NOTHING, Lieutenant!" Sean sat back down in his chair with a loud sigh. "Think about it, Jax," he continued, his gentler tone obvious when he lapsed into informal address. "You CAN’T go back there now. Hillard is behind bars spilling his guts for all he’s worth. Your crewmen on the Isabella have been taken into custody for various violations of international law before you hooked up with them." He shook his head. "Cassidine will know that the deal you were supposed to make never went down. The minute you set foot back on that island, you’ll be a dead man, Jax."

"Not necessarily, Sean!" Jax took his seat again and leaned over the desk towards his old friend and commanding officer. "Another large storm blew through Montserrat the day after I left – I checked it out myself. A lot of the phone lines that weren’t already down from the previous storm got blown to h*ll. It’s possible that Cassidine doesn’t even have his communications center back yet. He might not have heard about Hillard being busted."

"I can’t let you bet your life on a "maybe," Jax." Sean returned Jax’s earnest stare. "Can’t you understand? I’m not saying that I’m going to throw Miss Morgan to the wolves! I’m just saying that I won’t send YOU back down there to get her!"

Jax rose to glare at Sean. "Then if you won’t send me, I’ll go there myself, Sir." He glanced towards the transfer papers. "You said that I’ve got until the day after tomorrow to report to Naval Ops. That gives me just enough time to get down to Montserrat and get Miss Morgan out."

"Absolutely NOT, Lieutenant Jacks!" Jax was halfway to the door when Sean rose from his seat with a furious shout. Informality went out the window as both tempers rose. "You’re to spend the next 48 hours resting, relaxing, and not worrying about Miss Morgan – and that’s an order!! DO YOU HEAR ME??"

Jax paused a moment, his hand on the doorknob. Then he raised his head and stared at the door determinedly, not looking back at Sean. "Loud and clear, Captain. Loud and clear."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I’ll be fine when you’re gone,

Stefan’s hearty chuckle brought Chloe back to reality. "Well…….I’ve finally discovered your secret!!"

She tried to control the wild beating of her heart. "Excuse me?"

Stefan sat up straighter in his cane-backed chair. "Your secret, my dear Chloe!" He pointed to Chloe’s plate with his fork. "You have a weakness for Carmella’s blackened chicken!"

"Oh……….OH!" Chloe’s eyes widened with relief and she smiled self-consciously. "Yes, I suppose you’ve got me now," she added, toying with the edge of her white linen napkin.

"Well, what else can it be?" Stefan leaned towards her confidentially. "Frankly, my dear, I was beginning to worry about you."

"Worry? About me?"

"Of course, dear lady." Stefan leaned back and rested a hand on the arm of his chair. "You’ve hardly touched your food the past four days." He shrugged slightly. "At first I thought that perhaps our most recent storm had frightened you……."

"Well, the winds and the lightning were pretty intense this time." She laughed a little, praying that Stefan thought it was sincere. "After all, we don’t exactly get hurricanes like that back home in upstate New York!"

Stefan nodded. "Completely understandable." He sighed. "But then, when you continued to show no interest in our cuisine, I was worried that you might be ill!" He smiled again. "I was imagining what kind of revenge El Pantera would exact when he came back to find his woman wasted away to nothing! Particularly when he left you with me for safekeeping!"

{This is it, Chloe. Your perfect opportunity to just blurt everything out. Tell him that El Pantera *isn’t* coming back. That he’s got nothing to worry about since Jax doesn’t give a flying fig whether you live or die.}

Tell me no secrets,

But despite her best intentions, Chloe still couldn’t bring herself to tell Stefan the truth. The tropical storm had blown into Montserrat just after Jax left, and it was so severe that everyone’s attentions were focused on staying alive. Stefan had insisted that she move into the main villa for a night, and when the howling winds tore at the roof of the cottage, Chloe reluctantly agreed. The power had gone off for almost six hours, and even though she kept telling herself that he was a criminal, Chloe found Stefan to be a charming and distracting conversationalist. As soon as the weather had settled down, she moved back to the cottage, where she found herself hoping against hope that Jax would show up at her door.

Stefan had been most apologetic about the inconveniences the storm necessitated. Chloe wasn’t sure when the telephones went out if it was a blessing or a curse. She ached for some news of Jax, and yet she knew when the news came, it probably would put her own life in danger since his true identity would be revealed. So many times she had been tempted to be honest with Stefan and throw herself on his mercy as a gentleman. Yet – if he hadn’t heard yet about Jax’s mission, or if Jax had gotten detained somehow and hadn’t brought the traitor down yet, her revelation could mean a death sentence for El Pantera.

"So……..since your appetite seems to be returning, can I tempt you with an after dinner liqueur?" Stefan’s polite offer brought Chloe out of her deliberations. "Perhaps something sweet to balance the spicy main course you enjoyed so much?"

"Well, I don’t know what the lady will have, but that certainly sounds like an offer *I* can’t refuse!"

The breath Chloe had taken to answer left her lungs in a long whoosh when a man’s baritone voice came from the entrance to the dining room. She had to fight the dizziness that washed over her body when a tall, gaunt-looking man with prematurely gray hair sauntered into the room and gave her a lewd smile. She had heard that voice before – on board the Isabella, ordering her aunt and uncle murdered.

"Faison!" Chloe swallowed hard to keep her food down when Stefan confirmed her worst fears and greeted the stranger. He smiled broadly and walked over to where the slimy murderer stood with his hand outstretched. "We did not expect you until tomorrow – particularly after that last storm we had!"

Faison put the stub of a noxious-smelling cigar into his mouth to shake Stefan’s hand. "What can I say, my friend?" His eyes remained glued to Chloe even though his comments were directed to Stefan. "Lady Luck seems to be smiling on me lately."

Stefan suddenly caught the drift of Faison’s innuendoes. He turned back towards Chloe and then stepped to the side, embarrassment reddening his cheeks. "I’m afraid that this time, Faison, the good Lady may have deserted you." He bowed at the waist. "May I present Senorita Chloe – El Pantera’s woman." He reversed his attentions. "My dear, this is Cesar Faison – one of my other ………business associates."

Chloe saw something flash in Faison’s eyes at the mention of Jax’s alter ego – anger, followed by a combination of fear and false bravado. It disappeared as quickly as smoke in the night. "Pantera?" Only Chloe heard the insecurity in Faison’s laugh. "He is here? At the resort?"

"On the contrary." Stefan returned to the bar and poured some brandy into the bottom of a large crystal snifter. "El Pantera had to leave a few days ago – before the latest storm blew in." He arched one eyebrow significantly at Faison. "He’s making a very important delivery for me to a customer on one of the leeward islands." Chloe saw the relief flit across Faison’s face as Stefan sauntered towards him with the brandy. "Since it is a somewhat precarious assignment, I offered to keep watch over Pantera’s woman until he returns to us safely."

Faison accepted the brandy and lifted the glass towards Chloe in salute. "Of course – I would have expected nothing less from you, Stefan!" He gave Chloe a slimy smile and then tipped the snifter of brandy up and took a large gulp, sending shivers down her spine. "Pantera is indeed fortunate to count you among his allies – as are we all," he added deferentially.

Once again, temptation licked at Chloe’s insides. {You should tell Stefan everything – how this wretched excuse for a human being murdered your family and tried to steal everything from Jax – how he really wants to take over your territory – how he’s nothing but a double-crossing, black-hearted son of a ……..} But she didn’t. Somehow, she kept control of herself. {Do you *really* think Stefan would believe you? A mere woman? And what about Faison’s agenda? What if he knows Jax’s true identity? What if he came here specifically to warn Stefan? Which means that he’s going to blow your cover, too…….and probably tell Faison a ton of other lies about you, just to get even with Jax…….which doesn’t make your chances of living to see your grandchildren too great at this point…….}

"Well…….." Chloe rose from her chair and somehow managed to keep her knees from knocking together in fright. "I’m sure that you two gentlemen have some kind of business to discuss privately." {And I need to figure out how I’m going to get the heck out of Dodge while I’ve still got the chance.} She remembered to put a seductive sway to her hips while slowly ambling towards the door. "So I’ll just say goodnight and mosey on back to my cottage………"

Stefan intercepted Chloe in her path to the door. She prayed that her hand wasn’t cold and clammy when he lifted it to his lips. "You are truly as wise as you are beautiful, senorita," he purred, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "I hope you sleep well."

Chloe deliberately let her hand fall to her side. She knew that if Faison tried to mimic Stefan’s actions, she would probably lose her supper there on the spot. "Senor Cassidine, Senor Faison." She nodded her head and somehow smiled to each one in turn. "Good night."

She somehow managed to control her breathing until she was safely outside the main doors of the dining room. No sooner had they closed behind her than Chloe leaned against the wall and put the heels of her hands to her eyes, panting and straining to take deep cleansing breaths. She could still hear Stefan and Faison’s voices, though, so she tried to remain as quiet as possible in order to see if she could find out anything important.

She didn’t have to wait long. "Put your eyes back in your head and get your hormones under control, Faison." Stefan’s voice conveyed his annoyance and disapproval. "I will NOT have you angering one of my most important contacts by dishonoring his woman!"

"Did I say anything?" Faison’s attempt at innocence made Chloe’s teeth ache. "I was nothing but polite to the senorita!"

"Polite, ehhhhhhhh?" Chloe heard glasses clink and guessed that Stefan was refilling Faison’s snifter while pouring some brandy for himself. "While you were no doubt undressing her in your mind, my friend."

Faison chuckled lewdly. "You must admit she is a very desirable woman, Stefan."

"And *very* off-limits to you, Faison!" Chloe closed her eyes and said silent prayers of thanks for the *one* virtuous bone in Stefan’s body. "Just keep that libido of yours under control until tomorrow night. Leanita is bringing some of her most talented employees here." She heard the tinkle of ice in fine crystal. "I’m planning a small celebration in honor of Pantera’s return."

Chloe stifled her gasp by slapping her hand across her mouth. So Stefan was expecting Jax back the following night. She took deep breaths, her eyes closed. At least now she had a timeline. She knew she had to be out of La Estrella del Mar within 24 hours or face the consequences of all holy heck breaking loose.

She tiptoed out of the main villa and walked briskly back along the main road to her cottage. Once the latest storm came through Montserrat, many of the roads within the resort had become impassable with fallen tree limbs and debris. Small jeeps no longer were able to ferry guests back and forth on the grounds. Although it was a long walk, Chloe took advantage of the solitude and clear night sky to do some thinking and planning.

{You’ve got to get out of here. Sure, you could try to throw yourself on Stefan’s mercy and hope he’d understand that you were just a victim of circumstances. But now that Faison’s here – and considering the way he hates El Pantera – you can bet your bottom dollar that he’ll make you look just as guilty as Jax. And then, if Stefan doesn’t feel so kindly towards you anymore – you don’t want to be anywhere NEAR that Faison guy.}

Chloe was walking so briskly, her feet racing in time with her thoughts, that she reached the cottage in record time. She swung the door open and automatically went to light small candles around the room. Electricity had been restored to the main villa but many of the outlying areas were still in the dark, literally and figuratively. Shadows danced on the walls in dizzying proportions but Chloe was so distraught that she failed to notice them. She left the front door to the cottage open to catch a stray breeze, fully confident that Stefan’s tight security inside the resort kept her protected from any intruders.

{OK. So now you have to figure out a way to get out of this place.} Chloe stopped pacing for a moment and chewed on her lower lip, her hands propped on her hips. {You’re in fairly good shape. You’ve been hiking these roads for a day and a half now, so maybe you could make it all the way to the front gate. And then you’d just have to get past the guards at the gate……} Her face drooped but then Chloe took a determined breath. {…….which you’ll do somehow. Don’t know how, but you’ll manage. Then you just have to get back to town. And that’s waaaaaaay too far to walk…….} She went to the mini-bar, grabbed a bottle of warm water, uncapped it and took a long drink, and then started pacing again. {Maybe you could bribe somebody to drive you back to town. Maybe even to get you out of this place.} She stopped short, her eyebrows lifting hopefully. {Maybe you could convince one of the other guests! They can’t ALL be criminals like Faison! This IS a legitimate resort, after all! You could hide in one of their cars, and then once you get back to town…….} She started to pace again, swigging more warm water and grimacing. {Well, maybe you could go to that Leanita broad. If you just explain to her that you and Jax were never involved and that you just want to get as far away from Montserrat as you can, maybe she would lend you the money……temporarily…….even if she tacked on compound-complex interest……..}

The sound of footsteps made Chloe freeze in place. She stared at the open door to the cottage, cursing herself for being such a naïve ninny. At first, she only heard the ocean waves crashing on the distant beach and the normal chorus of night insects singing their usual concertos. But then, she heard it again – the soft crunching sound of footsteps near the door.

Chloe quickly dumped out the rest of the water in the bottle and turned it around to grip the neck. "Who’s there?" she shouted, trying to sound nonplussed. She moved closer to the door, gripping the empty plastic bottle and waving it in the air like a club. "I know someone’s there!! Come out and show yourself or I’ll call Senor Cassidine!!"

At first, she thought she was dreaming. He appeared out of thin air – a combination of the Ghost of Christmas Past and some self-assured corny magician in a night-club act. He propped one elbow against the door jamb and rested the other hand on his hip, his arm akimbo. His feet were crossed jauntily at the ankle, his head tipped to one side. "Well………" His low voice stole the air from Chloe’s lungs. "I think I’ve finally done the impossible," he chuckled. "Rendered you speechless."

Chloe blinked her eyes – twice. But he was still there, his blonde hair falling down across his forehead. Even the dark tropical night couldn’t disguise the brilliant blue of his eyes. Her chest heaved and she struggled to take an even breath as she whispered only one word.

"Jax."

To be continued……….

Music credits: "Never Can Say Goodbye," by the Jackson 5 (1971)

"Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," words and music by Richard Leigh, recorded by Crystal Gayle