#eli caught that jealousy so quick hahaha

[overnightheartbeats]

"Yeah, guess she can't," he concurred. Isaac could hear the hint of irritation in his voice. He couldn't blame him. Eli had retired years ago; they were adjusting to a semi-different life. Now, without giving them much of a choice, he dragged them back in. Not that Isaac was glad that it was his friends she chose to vaguely threaten, but he couldn't deny there was a bit of relief that her threat was not targeted at his sisters or aunt. These two, for better or worse, were better prepared at handling whatever it was. The girls? Not so much. "Like you said, we have the upper hand there. She doesn't know about your previous, or current, connections to the agency. Still, let's hope it doesn't come to that. I'll be on my best behavior." After all, that was the whole thing, wasn't it? If he got out of line or insinuated the wrong thing, then there was trouble. If he was the perfect boyfriend, then everything was back to normal, or as they knew it at least.

Isaac gave thought to his question, trying to think who else he had told. The list he was coming up with in his head was fairly short, but he still provided Eli the details in case he was not seeing something. "Well, you guys. Inez, Emma, and my aunt obviously. Unit Chief Halstead because I took some days from work, my partner Keating, and Director Weiss." All trusted people, according to Isaac. No reason to suspect anyone really. Brows furrowed in confusion as he tried thinking of possible reasons he could be the target, or what they could possibly want. The only thing he could come up with was his work on one of the last cases he took on. He hadn't uncovered anything significant. That's why the case ran dry, so it couldn't possibly be that. "I hope that's not the case." His vulnerable points were debilitating, more so than he should allow himself. "Life long commitment, and yet I don't see a ring on my finger," he mused dramatically.

She listened attentively while drawing loose circles on the back of his hand. When his mind began connecting dots, it was best to let him do so without interruptions. Though what he said, was making sense in her brain. With Isaac’s new information, it was certainly painting that way. She knew he was mostly thinking out loud, but the thought of someone threatening him made her tense up momentarily. He was right, it was an effective and quick way to get her to do anything. Because she would, for him. They had probably figured Isaac out in a similar way, long before he understood himself. "You're right. It’s all pointing to him, Nettie is looking more like wrong place, wrong time. Well, that and her previous connection to Jazz probably isn’t helping. Hm, they have more than they need. Nettie’s pain points, and his too, it seems.” Yet, she hadn’t struck. Things were technically still normal. The only reason they had even caught on was because Nettie told them about her past with Jazz. And so, that was the biggest mystery. What were they after and why play the long game? “Still, whatever it is, she’s really scared. That’s why she asked to stay tonight.”

"How many bottles caps do you have there?" he questioned in between chuckles as the second one landed on his head. If he wasn't hiding behind Laurel, he would've returned the favor by now. Laurel nodded and offered a small smile of encouragement to accompany Eli's words about how Nettie didn't hate him. "Certainly didn't feel that way tonight," Isaac challenged, though he knew that probably earned him another bottle cap. To that, Laurel chimed in. "Isaac, be serious. You parade Jazz around the apartment, and you still want her to confess her love and jump into your arms?" Not a bottle cap, but certainly hurt like one, Isaac thought. "Jealousy," he scoffed at the thought. "No. Just pointing out the actions aren't matching what I'm hearing here. But, say it was jealousy. What good is it now? I can't exactly break up with my current girlfriend, can I?"

"Of course," came the response from Eli. "It was either that or a spouse. Can't really threaten herself." His tone took on that trace of annoyance. If anything he knew this wasn't Issac's fault but it still didn't mean he couldn't feel annoyed at the fact that this was actually happening when he had left that life behind years ago now. "Well, looks like she's the one who should be careful not to throw that gauntlet. She strikes first we claim no responsibility to what happens after."

"Mm." Was all he said to that. "Could be in house. You gave your schedule to anyone else? Who knew besides us that you were heading back home again? Either you have something somewhere that they want or you're the target." He stopped playing with her hands and looked up at him. "Or just studied your most vulnerable points." Just like Eli, Issac's Achilles heel was family. People they cared about. He couldn't help but laugh. "Life long commitment to both of you."

"Unless, it's actually Issac and by proxy Nettie is the one caught in the middle. Think about it, if someone had beef with you who would they go for. You, the trained agent and person who knows the value of having just one bullet at the ready and meaning of sacrifice or the person you love who in their eyes is the sacrificial lamb. Quickest way to get you to do anything is threaten me." He was just talking it out loud with her, didn't have any real substance to how it'd actually go but in his mind it made sense. Why go to the harder target when the easy vulnerable one was right there.

Eli chuckled and threw a different bottle cap at his head. "She doesn't hate you. If she did she wouldn't stay here. She'd have left a long time ago. You're a knucklehead but hasn't turned her off. Bastian? Is that a hint of jealousy I detect?"