*** PART FIVE ***

Even though Nahla technically had three more days of downtime, she went straight back to work. Anything to take her mind off of Jace.

"Sweetness! You're back early." Walter said with a wide smile.

"Hey Walter. Can I talk with you a minute?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"I need a favor. I'd like to switch shifts with Andrews."

"Ah, you tired of working with me so soon?"

"Of course not Walter, I just need a change for a while."

Walter glanced at Nahla with a critical eye. Something was wrong here, that spark she usually had seemed absent this morning. "Everything ok, sweetness??"

"No, but thanks for asking. Will the shift change be a problem?"

"No, fine by me if Andrew agrees."

"Thanks Walter, I'll catch ya later." Nahla replied, taking her leave without her typical hug or kiss on the cheek good bye.

"Take care of yourself." Walter muttered to her retreating figure.

Nahla's next stop was Sherry's office. Although she really just wanted to go home and lock herself in, she knew her sister would be expecting her.

The door buzzed, allowing Nahla entrance. Sherry immediately circled around the desk to hug her sister. "You don't know how worried about you I was!! Especially since I couldn't tell anyone here what was going on!!"

"I'm sorry to have worried you, Sher."

"Don't be sorry, it's unnecessary! But I'm glad you came by, Gino wanted me to call when you came to see me, let's see if I can get him on the phone."

"I dunno Sher, is that really such a good idea?"

"Absolutely, there are some things Gino needs to explain to you. And it needs to come from him, not me," she told Nahla before turning her attention to the phone call.

"Hey Gino, it's Sherry. Yup, got her right here, just a sec and let me put you on the vid phone."

With the push of a couple of buttons, a 3-D hologram of Gino appeared on Sherry's desk.

"I'm glad you made it back safely bella. You scared me taking off like that."

"I'm sorry Gino, but I just couldn't stay there any longer."

Gino smiled sadly, "Can't say I blame you on that one. But the other reason I wanted Sherry was to call was so that I could apologize to you."

"Apologize? For what??"

"You know what. I never should've allowed it to happen."

"It's not your fault, Gino. I'm the one who kissed you."

"Maybe, but I didn't stop you, I wanted it as much as you did."

Sherry coughed discretely to gain their attention, "Would you like me to step out for a minute?"

"Would you mind, Sher?" Nahla asked.

"Not at all, I need to run down to North's office for a minute. Take all the time you need."

"Thanks Sherry," Gino replied.

When she returned about 20 minutes later, her office was empty but Nahla had left a note. 'Thanks sis, all is well with G and I.' Smiling, Sherry figured half of her job was done. Now to just get Nahla and Jace back together. That was gonna be a bit more of a problem.


A couple of days after Nahla and Jace returned to Section, Sherry called a house meeting. "Ok ladies, quiet down. We've got a situation and I need your help."

"What's up Sher?" Avi asked.

"I need you all to observe a couple of Section operatives for me. From a distance. They can't know they are being observed."


"Dude, no problem." Curlly called out from the back.

"So who are our lab rats?" Rita asked.

Sherry took a deep breath. "Nahla and Jace."

The room exploded with noise.

"Please, if everyone would just calm down I can explain." Sherry called out about the furor.

"Ok Sherry, what gives?" North asked once the room quieted.

"I'm sorry that I can't tell you much, but what I can tell you is that Jace and Nahla have broken up."

"And you need our help in getting them back together??" Aries asked, more than willing to play matchmaker.

"Not exactly, Aries. I just need your help in keeping an eye on them. But remember, this is to be without their knowledge."

"Why all the secrecy, Sher?" Bren asked.

"Because Nahla wants to work it out on her own. I'd just like to make sure she doesn't involuntarily get herself hurt in the process. Plus, I want to know what Jace is up to while she's trying to fix things. Can I count on y'all?"

A round of affirmative nods and "yes's" echoed around the room.

"Ok, thanks. I really appreciate this. Feel free to come see me if there are any problems!" Sherry called out as the group dismissed.


Over the next week, Sherry received reports regarding the activities of Jace and Nahla on a fairly regular basis. As could be expected, they both were avoiding social situations and hiding out in their respective quarters whenever possible. However, Nahla seemed to be taking things to another level. In particular, she was completely avoiding any and all male operatives, even those she knew as friends.

Seeing that no one was in any particular hurry to get the duo back together, Aries and DeLeah hatched up a plan to move things along. CLHQ was going to have a movie night on Friday night. It would be a chance for everyone to come and hang out, overindulge on buttered popcorn and just have a good laugh. DeLeah designated Tony to make a run to MedLab to invite Jace.

"You know I don't like setting him up like this, querida. If he wants to take her back, that's his business." Tony commented.

"Yeah yeah Tony, your opinion is so noted. Now get your butt moving and don't come back without an affirmative response that the doctor will be in attendance."

He muttered something she couldn't make out, but he left anyway. Arriving in Section's "doctor's office", he proceeded quickly to Jace's office. He wouldn't admit it, but the place gave him the heebber-jibbees.

"Hey Jace," he called out as he popped his head around the door. "Got a minute?"


"Sure Tony, come on in. What's on your mind."

"Oh nothing much. Was just wondering if you had plans for Friday night?"

"Not yet, why?"

"The gang is getting together for a movie night at the CL house, you're invited, you in?"

"I say thanks, but no thanks."

"Alright. She can't say I didn't ask."

Tony almost missed hearing Jace ask "who?" as he started to leave.

"De. She and Aries are in charge of this shindig."

"Ok, thanks."

"No problem, catch ya later."

Jace waited for Tony to close the door behind him before letting the mask slip. For a split second he had hoped maybe Nahla had done the asking instead of DeLeah. But then reality crashed in; there was no way. The proof laying hanging about his neck, two silver pendants suspended on a silver chain. He hadn't taken them off since the day they'd been returned to him.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Come in."

"Hey Jace, I was just heading out and thought I'd see if there was anything you needed before I go?"

"No Janet, I'm just about to head out myself. Have a good night."

"Thanks, you too." She replied, closing the door. She reopened it a split second later. "You wouldn't want to grab a cup of coffee would you?"

Jace hesitated. On one hand, if word got back to Nahla about this he'd been in deep shit; on the other hand, here was someone outside the "gang". More than likely she had no clue about his relationship with Nahla, or that they had split. He could relax and maybe have a nice conversation without *her* coming up as a topic. "Can you give me five minutes?"

Janet grinned from ear to ear. "Sure. There's a little café about a block or so down the road, are you familiar with it??"

"The one with the wrought-iron fence?"

"Yeah, meet me there in say.twenty minutes?"

"Ok."

"Great!"

The door closed again and Jace wondered if maybe he was making a mistake. Then the image of Nahla and Gino wrapped about each other on the lounge flashed through his mind. No, he wasn't doing anything wrong. If having coffee with a friend, male or female, was a problem . then it was her problem to deal with, not his.

Half an hour later, seated at an outside table enjoying the evening air, Janet and Jace chatted companionably over two huge mugs of coffee. "I haven't seen Nahla around much lately, everything ok between you two?" Janet finally asked, her curiosity over the rumors getting the best of her.

"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not talk about her right now."

"Of course, I didn't mean to pry." Janet replied, thinking to herself that the rumor regarding their break-up must be true. 'Jackpot!'

Keeping the topics on a lighter note, Janet was delighted to find herself able to get Jace to laugh, a rare occasion these days. She could sense when he finally started to relax and enjoy himself, and cursed when a certain shadow fell across their table.

"Hello Michael, what a surprise to see you here." She commented.

"Sherry likes the coffee here, she asked if I'd pick up a new bag of beans." He explained.

"Would you care to join us?" Janet asked, trying to be polite while secretly gritting her teeth.

"Thank you," Michael replied.

"Well if you gentlemen will excuse me for a moment, I need to power my nose."

"Of course." "Sure." Michael and Jace answered respectively.

Then once Janet was out of sight and earshot, "Did Sherry send you?" Jace asked.

Michael gave Jace his typical blank stare, "Are you sleeping with her?"

If looks could kill, Michael wouldn't have lasted a millisecond. "Go to hell, Michael. And while you're at it, tell everyone to back off. I'm not blind and I don't like being watched like a hawk."

"I don't know what you mean."

Jace humphed. "Yeah, I'm sure you don't. Is it just me, or has everyone conveniently forgotten that Nahla was the one to "cheat" on me?? Why am I being black-balled?"

"You're not. The invitation for tomorrow night is proof."

"What? The movie night? Like I'm going to attend a function where you all will be paired up. Don't patronize me, Michael."

"Fine, suit yourself. But the invitation remains open." Michael said, standing to take his leave.

"Leaving so soon?"

"Yes." And with that he was gone, minus the coffee beans he had used as an excuse.

When Janet returned, she was a little disappointed to see that Michael had left, but hid it well. Jace cried off saying he had things to take care of at home. Still, being a gentleman, he walked Janet to her apartment, which wasn't too far from Section and the café.

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