"If you can't get hold of Sashi or Cutter, seek out Raul."

[hazlogs]

Date: 2 November 2003

It is late morning, getting on toward noon, when his phone rings.

It rings three times without answer, and is about to go to the fourth (and thus to his voicemail) when Jack finally answers with a curt, raspy, "Salem."

"Hey, Jack." Her voice is shaky but affectionate. "Bad time? I can call back..."

"Mm? No, this is fine." In the background, television noise becomes audible, though not so loud as to interfere with the conversation. It's difficult to tell what's being watched. "Long night, that's all."

Rina swallows. "How ya doin'?" she asks, quietly.

"How are _you_ doing?" he counters. If she did wake him with her call -- which seems likely, though he's usually up by dawn -- he's become alert quickly. "Is, ah, are you still getting... visits?"

Rina wets her lips, taking a careful breath. "Yeah. We gotta find him. It's... he was here. I mean, visible. When I was awake. I forget if I told you. But it... I called him. Samhain. He came."

"He _came_?" Salem's voice is incredulous; someone -- female? -- says something in the background, too low to make out the words. The television noise shuts off.

Another swallow. That might be why her voice is unsteady. "Sort of. There were voices. And my candles went out and came back, and... " She pauses. "...and he talked to me," she whispers. "Touched me. Not for very long, but he was /there/. I was awake, and he was there."

He's silent for a moment, maybe a breath. "What did he say?" he asks, quietly.

"To keep searching," she says quietly. "And that I was the key, that you could... follow his connection with me. To find him, on the other side." She pauses a moment. "When I dreamt of him, after... it was like I showed up, real, where he was. Maybe mirrorside, I don't know. But he-- he wasn't expecting me, he said it was dangerous for me to be there. So maybe that's how we find him... go through my dreams, somehow."

"Through your dreams," Salem echoes. He makes a low, thoughtful 'hrmm' noise. "Have you talked to anyone else about this?"

"No," she says quietly. "Sashi isn't around, anywhere... I put word out that I need her. Before-- the time before this, was when Cutter came back. I mean, he was here, I talked to him about it some... that was like a week ago? Somethin' like that." She takes a careful breath. "But I-- haven't talked to anyone else about-- any of this."

"I'll get back as soon as I'm... done with things, here." He sounds tired again for a moment; then his voice turns firm. "If you can't get hold of Sashi or Cutter, seek out Raul. Renee'll know where he is."

"You-- want them to try?" She sounds guarded, uncertain.

"Raul knows his job," Salem says. His tone brooks no arguement. "If nothing else, he ought to be able to find out if it really _is_ John and not... something fucking with you."

Rina's voice is hoarse. "I don't think it is," she whispers. "I don't. I'll--try to get in touch with him, then."

"Good." He exhales a breath, sounding somewhat relieved. He'd expected more resistance, maybe. "As I said, I'll get back as soon as I possibly can. But don't worry if I'm out of contact for a few days."

Rina lets out a breath; he can almost picture the faint, wry smile. "Yeah, no worries. You-- stay safe, aright?"

Dryly: "I will if you will."

"Don't worry about me," she says quietly. "I got a reason to stick around."

"Good." She can hear the smile in his voice, quiet but sincere. The television cuts back on, though is still just a low murmur.

"Call me when y'comin' back... just let me know, aright?" Her voice is softer.

Salem says, "I will. Call me if anything... comes up."

"Yeah. Thanks, Jack. Bye."

"Bye," he echoes, and clicks off.