While Jack's Away Things Go To Hell (Part Two)

Jack hadn't been gone twelve hours before the issues started.

Things has started fine. Riley had gotten up early, made Samantha's lunch, he'd given her a simple breakfast of waffles (made in the toaster), she'd brushed her teeth, and then she only had to get dressed, but they were running short on time.

"Alright, so let's start with shirts, umm... What about this one?" Riley asked holding up a pink shirt with a kitten on it.

"No," Samantha pouted.

"Why not?"

"That's a pajama shirt Daddy!"

Riley rolled his eyes and put it back, and grabbed another. "This one?"

"That's still my pajamas."

"This?"

"Nope."

"This?"

"Nope!"

"Goddamnit!" He shouted tossing the shirt aside. "Why are all these pajamas?"

"Because that's my pajama drawer!" Samantha told him matter of factly.

A groan escaped his lips. "Why don't you pick out a shirt?"

Samantha hopped off her bed and moved to her dresser and began looking through a drawer of shirts. She pulled out a few and held them up side by side. She looked between them deciding for about a minute before Riley checked the time. "Did you pick one?"

"Moana, Mulan, or Merida?"

Riley looked between them unsure he wanted to get into this so he looked into the drawer and pulled out a fourth option, "Too many Ms, what about Cinderella?"

"I don't need a prince though!" Samantha protested. "I am strong and independent."

Riley gave a sigh, "Just please put one on. I'm gonna get you some pants."

"I don't want pants."

"Of course you don't, what do you want?"

"I want a skirt. I wanna wear my new blue tights."

"Well then go with the girl who has the blue background behind her."

"Moana it is! Or is that too much blue? Cause my shoes are blue."

Riley glanced at the clock and cursed under his breath. "All right look Sammie," he said bending down. "You're gonna be late for school, so you're gonna wear a ton of blue today. Just get dressed quickly."

"Your mean," Samantha decided crossing her arms. "Uncle Jackie always helps me pick out my clothes, and we play fashion show!"

"And he claims he's not a stereotypical gay," Riley muttered.

"He's not gay, he's bi even I know that," she told him rolling her eyes.

Riley stared at his daughter, "If you've picked up his sass maybe it's a good thing he's gone."

~~~~

The next few days were a process of trial and error. After the clothing debacle, he had Samantha pick out her clothes the night before. He had learned to ensure that she did her homework when she told him on the way to school that she had a spelling quiz. And he had even learned how leotards and ballet slippers work- after watching a mother put them on his daughter for him. But after all of it, he was ready for Jack to come back. And he would never take his best friend for granted again.

"Where's Uncle Jackie?" Samantha asked through a mouthful of pizza.

"He'll be back soon," Riley responded.

"But he said he'd be back Friday it's Saturday," Samantha argued.

"He'll be back soon, don't worry," he told her ruffling her hair. "So it's still you and me, what do you want to do?"

Hmm the girl smiled and hummed in thought, "Well... since I missed karate class let's go ice skating!"

Riley frowned, "You had karate? I thought that was on Sundays?"

"It's not open Sundays."

Riley groaned, "Alright then... and no to ice skating."

"Why not?"

"Because global warming has ruined the world so it's almost 60 degrees out."

"So?"

"So the ice rink is just a big puddle right now."

"Let's go water skating then!"

Riley shook his head, "How about a movie? And uh- where's Jack's planner?"

"I'll get it!" She volunteered climbing out of her chair. As he hurried away Riley gathered the dishes and moved them into the sink.

When Samantha returned with the planner, Riley flipped it open and cringed at the page.

Jack's weeks were was busy, and color coded. Chores were written in in green, things relating to Samantha in purple, cooking in blue, working in black, and things going to Riley were in red. Riley turned the pages internally cringing as he was reminded how much his best friend did for him. He kept flipping pages until he found today. In Jack's handwriting in purple he frowned at the note,

10-11 Karate

And then his eyes widened.

2-430 Kayla's birthday party. NEED TO PICK UP CAKE FROM CRYSTAL'S ON WAY AND WRAP PRESENT.

Riley looked at the clock and cursed seeing it was one thirty. "Where's Kayla's birthday present?" He asked his daughter hurriedly.

The five year old shrugged, "I dunno, Uncle Jackie bought it and put it away so I wouldn't play with it."

Riley groaned, "Um alright, go look for it. I'll find the wrapping paper."

Samantha hurried off and Riley hurried to look through closets and drawers searching for wrapping paper. Finding nothing he began searching and found a bag which could do the trick. He hurried to his daughter to find her under Jack's bed.

"Find it?"

"Uhuh!"

Riley let out a sigh of relief as his daughter climbed out pulling some sort of toy with her. He hurriedly shoved it in the bag and shouted for Samantha to put on her shoes as he pulled his own on and ran about looking for his keys. Soon enough they were out the door and in the car. He drove quickly most likely breaking multiple traffic laws. But I'm a hitman, I break laws anyway, he thought as he drove. Soon enough he pulled in front of Crystal's Creative Cakes. He had Samantha wait in the car and hurried in. Thankfully he was able to get it without much hassle and he put in the car. He pulled out on the road and glanced at the clock with a smile, "Alright we have ten minutes to get to Kayla's party."

He turned a corner and his smile slipped. His eyes flickered to the rear view mirror where he looked at his daughter. "Hey Samantha?"

"Yes?"

"Who's Kayla?"

"My friend, and her mom's friends with Uncle Jackie."

"Okay... and is she having the party at her house?"

"Uhuh."

"And um," he cleared his throat. "Where does she live?"

"In a blue house."

Riley took a deep breath in through his teeth, "In a blue house... great. Just great..."

Riley continued driving until he reached a parking space and he pulled out Jack's planner and began flipping through it searching for Kayla's name or an address. Minutes ticked by, and he attempted to ignore Samantha complaining about being late.

After about five minutes or so his phone rang from an unknown number, hoping it was Jack he answered it quickly. "Hello?"

"Um hi? Is this Riley Simmons?" A woman's voice asked.

"Yes and who's this?"

"My names Mickey Jensen, I was just wondering if I could talk to Jack. He was supposed to be at my house around 1 to help my set up my daughter's birthday party?"

Riley cursed, "Of course he was. Um, Jack went out of town for work, but he was supposed to be back last night."

"Oh..."

"Yeah sorry, but um I found his planner. So I picked up the cake, but I have no clue where you live-"

"I told you they live in a blue house!" Samantha chimed in.

Mickey chuckled, "I'll text you my address, can I send it to this number?"

"Yeah sure, but um, how did you get my number?"

"Jack gave it to me. He said I should call sometime this week to make sure you and Sammie were okay without him. I did call, but no one picked up."

Riley shook his head, "Alright. Anyway, I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Thanks."

~~~~

Riley was way out of his element.

Pink princess and mothers drinking cocktails were as far as the eye could see. He wanted to leave, but he had told Mickey he would help her throughout the party, and help her clean up after as an apology for not being there to set up.

"So you're Jack's partner," a woman with short brown hair told him walking up.

Riley gave her a confused look, "What? No no no. We're friends, roommates. Partners at work. That's it."

The woman gave a laugh, "No need to get so defensive. My mistake, Jack always refers to you the same way the other girls and I refer to our husbands."

He raised an eyebrow, "And what's that?"

She took a sip of a drink and waved her hand as she spoke, "My idiot, my bastard, my dumbass, etc."

"Oh."

She gave another laugh, "I'm Cheryl by the way."

"Riley."

The quick conversation he had had with her seemed to draw the other women toward him like moths to light.

"So you're Riley?" One asked.

"Y-yeah..."

"We've heard so much about you," another chimed in.

"Good things I hope?"

The women locked eyes with one another before they started laughing.

Riley gave an awkward laugh, and his eyes darted around looking for an escape.

"So... how old are you?" Said another.

"I'm 26."

"Oooh you're young!"

"I-I guess. Jack's younger," he told them unsure of what else to say.

"Is he? He acts so much older," someone else put in.

"Yeah, we took him out for his 25th," Mickey answered for him walking in.

"Oh right! I remember you were upset you couldn't drink!"

Mickey nodded and her hand touched her large belly, "I'm still very upset about that."

A few of the women patted her on the back, saying they understood. Riley used that moment to back away slightly before manicured nails grabbed his wrist.

"Don't go! We have so many questions!"

Riley grimaced, "Like what?"

"Like... Jack is single right?"

"Yes..."

"Does he like older women?"

Riley's eyes widened, "Um I-"

"You can't ask him that Liz!" Another woman hissed.

"Why not?" Liz responded.

"According to Riley they aren't together," Cheryl commented to which the group gasped and murmured with one another.

Liz smiled, "So?"

Riley cleared his throat, "I um- I have no clue what he likes or dislikes."

Liz frowned, "Oh, that's sad. I feel like he's the only guy out there who could understand what it's like to practically be a single parent."

Riley's mouth opened and closed.

"Sugar! Did I say that out loud?"

"You've had too many of these," Mickey told her plucking a drink from the woman's hands. "Um, Riley? Why don't you set up the piñata?"

~~~~

Riley was relieved when everything was over.

"You alright?"

Riley folded up another table and gave Mickey a small smile, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I know the girls are a bit... much," she responded. "And they kinda attacked you."

"It's fine. Is there anything else you'd like me to do?"

She shook her head, "That's it, I really appreciate this. You didn't need to help me."

"I don't mind, plus Sammie had fun."

Mickey nodded, "Good. Oh, and tell Jack to call me whenever he gets back."

"Will do."

He took his leave and climbed in the car driving home listening to his daughter's excited chatter, before she wore herself out and fell asleep.

He drove on for a while and he found his mind drifting to Jack. It wasn't unusual for a job to run longer than planned, but it was unusual not to hear anything from Jack. When both are out on jobs together they would always find a way to slip away and get a phone to call and check on Samantha. He briefly considered calling himself before realizing Jack's phone would most likely be turned off. He gave a sigh and focused on the road.

Jack would be back tomorrow.

But he wasn't. Not that day, nor the day after, nor the day after that.

Each day was a bit more panic in Riley's chest, and a lot more pain as he saw his daughter's crushed face when she realized her uncle hadn't returned.

"It's been over a week!" Samantha complained one evening.

"I know," Riley sighed scooping her up in his arms. "But work is a hard thing, I'm sure he'll be back as soon as he can."

"I miss him."

Riley nodded in agreement as he walked down to her room. He put her in her bed and tucked her in with a kiss goodnight.

"Daddy?" Samantha called as he was about to leave the room.

"Hmm?

"Is Uncle Jackie ever coming back?"

"He will, don't worry," he told her with a smile.

Samantha must've accepted his answer, because she didn't say anything else and he left the room closing the door behind him. He gave a sigh and moved to the kitchen room to finish sweeping, and made a mental note to do laundry the next day.

Chores were finally over with (sort of) so Riley was going to get himself ready for bed, when a knock sounded at the front door. Confused he changed course for the door and opened it shocked to see a skinny woman in a lab coat behind it.

"Why are you here Melody?" He questioned.

Melody didn't respond and walked in the apartment without being invited. With a groan Riley closed the door after her wishing he had ignored her knocking and went to sleep.

"Well?" He asked crossing his arms.

Melody said nothing and kept a straight face as she pulled an envelope out her pocket and handed it to him.

Riley took it "A job? Couldn't you have just waited until a decent hour for this?" He rolled his eyes opened the letter, and his annoyance faded.

Mr. Simmons,

We regret to inform you that your partner, Jack Crosswell, was captured during his last mission. We assume he is being tortured as you read this, but Jack Crosswell is not one to give in. And without him giving information he will eventually be disposed of. And as we do not wish to negotiate with the group who has him, no effort will he made to retrieve him. Please inform his loved ones that he died in a mugging out of state, and due to the state of his body he was cremated. A mock funeral can be held at your request.

-The Association

He heard it over once more trying to make sense of the heartless words on the paper. He looked up to Melody, as his hands curled into shaking fists, the letter with them.

"Don't do anything stupid," Melody told him.

"Define st-"

"The way I see it you have two choices. Number one, you have the funeral and then you move on. Number two, you go looking for him and end up in the same spot he's in, and you end up leaving your daughter alone. Take your pick."

Riley shook his head, "Since when do you tell me what to do?"

"I'm your doctor."

"And who on earth actually does everything their doctors says?"

"You, in this moment."

Riley gave her a glare, "Goodnight Melody."

"Goodnight."