The remaining housemates knew they had to explain Jakes' disappearance. They decided, to be somewhat honest, that Jakes grabbed a bag and left the house. He was irritable and even had a physical altercation with Johnny. Briggs knew that when ATF asked about the missing money, it would be easier for them to believe that Jakes acted alone, and it was his idea to grab the money from the operation. Although the housemates knew that Briggs had put Jakes up to it.
The FBI and DEA were about fed up with the house, and considered burning it. To either fire or spread the agents out across the country. Briggs lost any credibility he had in the organization, but with the pleading from the others, the house was spared... more or less. They were forced to have three weeks of unpaid leave, and they weren't allowed in the house. The agencies want to scrub the house, to see what else might be hiding within the walls, figuratively and literally.
Each housemate was watched as they packed their bags, and soon they all stood in the living room, waiting for permission to leave.
"Are we even allowed to leave the state?" Paige asks.
"Yes, but when you return to the house it will be like starting over. None of the higher ups trust you anymore, and it will take time to repair your reputation." An HR agent explains.
"Great." Charlie rolls her eyes.
"Don't do anything else stupid, and see you in three weeks with the report of what we found."
"You shouldn't find anything." Mike adds.
"If we do, it'll be more complicated."
*24 hours earlier*
They had been informed just a couple hours ago about their leave.
Stella was sitting outside, staring out to the ocean.
"Hey." Johnny says, sitting down beside her.
She looks over at him, "Hi. How's your wounds?"
"Better, thanks to you."
She looks back to the ocean, "I'm going to miss this place."
"We're coming back, Stella."
"Are we? Who knows what they're gonna find. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last time some of us see each other again."
He places his hand on her back, "Yo, stop. We got this, it's only a few weeks."
"What are you going to do?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about... You know, we haven't exactly had a lot of time, to figure everything out. I want you to come away with me. So we can figure it out without the house."
Stella smiles, "Where are we gonna go?"
"Anywhere."
"Three week road trip, huh?"
"Yeah, just you and me." Johnny smirks.
*present*
One-by-one the housemates leave. Briggs was the first, he threw his bag in his orange jeep and headed off, Paige waved good-bye before walking off to where she parked her car, Mike was waiting for the taxi to arrive, he had called one for him and Charlie to share, since they were both going to the airport.
"Stella, I need to talk to you for a second, babe." Charlie says, motioning for her to follow her outside.
"What's up, Charlie?"
"What's going on with you and Johnny?"
"We-uh-we're going on a road trip together." Stella explains, a blush forming on her cheeks.
"That's great! I love you both so much, but I have to ask. You aren't going to up and leave him again when things start getting hard, right?"
"No, I've learned from my mistakes. I love him, and I want to be with him."
"Yo, Chuck, cabs here. S, you ready? I put the bags in that little cart you got."
Charlie brings her in for a hug, "Good luck and have fun."
"Enjoy New York, see you when we get back."
"Group hug!" Johnny says, rushing over and embracing the two women.
"You two, be good." She warns, walking back into the house.
The two walk down the sidewalk, Stella pushing the little cart to her car. They throw their bags in the backseat, disassemble the cart and place it in the trunk and climb in.
"Where to first, lover?" Stella asks, pulling up the GPS.
"You know, I heard Seattle is great this time of year."
"You aren't afraid of the rain, are you?" she jokes.
He smirks. "Oh, I can handle anything."
"I know you can, hero." She leans across the armrest and brings him in for a slow kiss.
"Could stop by the courthouse, make this thing official?" He shrugs.
"Ask me again on our way back."
The two sat on their boards, floating in the California water.
"I'm glad you went away with me, all those years ago." Johnny smiles.
"It was ten years ago, honey. We're not that old."
"Still, we're here together." he reaches out and grasps her hand and places a swift kiss on her wedding band.
"Do you still think about them, the others?"
"Everyday." he nods.
"Even Jakes?"
"Yep."
"Good, me too." She smiles.
"Think about Briggs?" He asks.
"After everything, especially everything they found in his room... I don't want to, but I do."
"I love you, Stella."
"I love you, Johnny."
YOU ARE READING
Instant Connection
FanfictionFBI agents Stella Hart and Jose "Johnny" Tuturro have been close since they arrived at the Southern California undercover house, known as Graceland. The pair grew close, very quickly, but always assured people they were just friends. A new agent, M...
