Mr.Brightside

chapter 120

 Secrets in the Storm

The Council House was a hive of activity when Jack and Clara arrived. Staff members scurried back and forth, their faces tight with worry. The main exhibit hall, usually serene, was chaotic.

"What's going on?" Clara asked, her voice cutting through the din as they stepped inside.

Harold approached, his usually composed demeanor visibly shaken. "The HVAC system failed overnight. We've got condensation on the artifact displays, and there's a leak in the west wing. Maintenance is scrambling, but it's bad, Clara. Really bad."

Clara's eyes widened, but she quickly steadied herself. "Okay, let's assess the damage and figure out what we need to do. Harold, can you guide the maintenance team to prioritize the artifact areas? Jack, come with me. We'll check the west wing."

Jack nodded, his earlier turmoil now pushed aside by the urgency of the moment.

The west wing was dimly lit, the air thick and humid. A steady drip echoed through the hallway, leading them to the source of the leak. Water pooled in a corner near the archives, threatening to seep into a section of rare documents.

Clara crouched down, inspecting the area with a flashlight she'd grabbed from the emergency kit. "If this spreads, we'll lose part of the archive collection," she muttered, her tone clipped.

Jack grabbed a nearby tarp and began covering the shelves. "We need to move these to a dry area. Where can we relocate them?"

"The conference room," Clara said, already standing. "It's on higher ground and away from the damaged vents. I'll get Tanya and Jordan to help."

She turned to leave but paused, looking back at Jack. "You okay handling this while I round them up?"

"Yeah," he said, though his mind was racing.

As Clara disappeared down the hall, Jack worked quickly, moving documents to safer shelves and reinforcing the tarp. His hands moved on autopilot, but his thoughts were anything but focused.

The leak was just one more layer of complication. As he worked, he couldn't shake the feeling that the Council House, in all its fragility, mirrored his own situation with Clara.

By the time Clara returned with Tanya and Jordan, they had a plan in place. Tanya brought in dehumidifiers while Jordan carefully packed the documents into waterproof containers. Clara coordinated everything with precision, her calm demeanor holding the team together.

"Once we've secured the archives," she said, "we'll address the displays in the main hall. Tanya, let me know as soon as maintenance gives the all-clear on the HVAC repairs."

Tanya nodded, heading off with her equipment.

Jack stayed close, assisting where he could. He watched Clara, her energy unwavering despite the crisis. She was always the problem solver, the one to step up when things fell apart.

Hours later, the immediate danger was under control. The archives were safe, the artifacts had been inspected for damage, and the HVAC system was back online.

Clara sat on a bench in the hallway, her shoulders slumping for the first time all day. Jack approached, handing her a bottle of water.

"Thanks," she said, unscrewing the cap.

"You handled that like a pro," Jack said, sitting beside her.

She laughed softly. "I didn't exactly have a choice."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day pressing down on both of them.

"Clara," Jack said finally, his voice hesitant.

She glanced at him, her expression softening. "What is it, Jack?"

He opened his mouth, but the words didn't come. He could tell her now—about his mistakes, about the budget missteps, about how he'd almost jeopardized the Council House's revival.

But as she looked at him, her exhaustion mingling with relief, he faltered.

"It's nothing," he said instead. "Just glad we made it through today."

She smiled faintly, leaning back against the wall. "Me too."

As the evening wore on, the team reconvened in the staff lounge for a brief debrief. Harold reported that the HVAC repairs were holding, while Tanya confirmed that no artifacts had been permanently damaged.

"Good work, everyone," Clara said, her voice steady despite her obvious fatigue. "We'll regroup tomorrow to finalize a long-term solution for the archives."

The team dispersed, leaving Clara and Jack alone in the lounge.

"You should get some rest," Jack said.

"You too," she replied, but neither of them moved.

Instead, they sat there, the hum of the repaired vents filling the silence. For the first time in a long while, Jack felt like the distance between them wasn't insurmountable.

But he knew that the longer he kept his secrets, the harder it would be to bridge that gap.

And he wasn't sure how much longer he could wait.

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