Jack Explains

Diana listened eagerly as Jacob recounted the events of the attack. Following every detail with interest; the damage to the artifacts, her fight with Doris (or Giganta as she insisted on calling herself, the ambush from the shadows.

The boy had a presence that made listening to him easy, a quiet gravity that made his every utterance feel important. Diana had sensed it immediately, feeling the newfound anxiety and uncertainty that had been haunting her disappear the moment she laid eyes on him.

He avoided looking directly at her while he spoke, something Diana found strangely disappointing. She sometimes forgot how shy men could be around her, at least men she found worthy of her time.

"Giganta called her Circe," he said as his story reached it's climax. "Like the myth."

"Like the witch," Barbara added, taking swig of her drink.

"Some super villain I'd assume?" Jacob said, shrugging.

Diana placed a hand on his shoulder from across the table. The touch sent a spark through her. She smiled. "I have always disliked that term," she said calmly. "There is nothing super about villainy."

Jack smiled and blushed at her touch. His throat bobbing up and down. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he said.

"But Circe is far more than a villain, she is an old enemy of my mother," Diana said, regretfully pulling her hand away from Jacob.

"Your mother Hippolyta?" Jacob asked.

Diana nodded.

He pushed forward insistently. "That's why I needed to tell you about this." Diana could feel his presence boring down on her. Jack Johnson. Circe. Important. Her legs rubbed together unconsciously.

"Circe grabbed some sort of artifact from Doctor Minerva's office. Said something about using it to 'dominate' your mother. I'm not sure what she meant, but it seemed important."

"Yes," Diana whispered. "Important."

"Wait that bitch stole from me?" Barbara asked impatiently.

"Witch," Jacob corrected helpfully.

"Don't get PC on me boy. Everything in the office was a wreck from the attack, we've barely begun piecing the pottery back together. What did she take?"

"Some sort of medallion, I didn't get a good look at it but it was undamaged in the attack," Jacob said.

"Undamaged from giant attack?" Barbara asked skeptically.

Jacob shrugged. "Yeah, seemed a bit strange. I think it shocked me when I touched it."

"Shocked you?" Barbara asked, irritation creeping into her voice.

"You of all people should know the dangers of your work Barbara," Diana warned.

Barbara looked away, chastened.

"Did you get a good look at this artifact Jacob?" Diana asked.

Jacob shook his head. "Not really, no," he said.

"Then we are at an impasse," Diana said. "At least until Barbara has done an accounting for the damage to her office and we are able to identify this artifact and divine Circe's purpose."

"Sorry I couldn't be more help," Jacob said.

The disappointment in his expression stirred an ache in Diana's heart.

"You have done very well Jacob, with this I will be able to warn my mother and sisters of the danger," she said smiling at him. "Thank you for the help."

"No problem," he said, locking eyes with her and smiling. She felt herself flush at the look. Her legs shifted underneath her, rubbing together softly.

"Anyway," he said. "I should probably get going."

Diana felt her heart sink. She stood up as he did, uncertainty returning to her like a tidal wave. Her hand graced his writing unconsciously. Jack Johnson. Information. Circe. Find him. Important. How was she supposed to find him again?

"You know your way out," Barbara said unhelpfully, motioning towards the door with her glass.

"Yeah," Jacob said halfheartedly, making his way towards the door. Diana followed him desperately, uncertainty eating at her. What should she do?

"Jacob?" She called out desperately.

They were standing out on the front stoop. A couple went by walking their dog down Perez street, the man's eyes were bugging out of his head as he saw Diana standing in public in nothing but a towel.

"Uh, yeah Diana?" Jacob asked, doing a double take when he saw she was still barely clothed.

"I will need to see you again," she began, she hoped she sounded as confident as she usually felt. "To ascertain more information," she added quickly.

"Um, I guess I can give you my email," he said thoughtfully, blushing.

"It may be better to see you in person," she added quickly. "To make sure we're being thorough."

"Well, I suppose I could give you my parents address in Iowa," he said blushing.

"Iowa?" Diana asked.

He shrugged. "I am, yeah," he looked away. "Yeah," he whispered mostly to himself.

"And this is not what you would like to do?" Diana asked him, sensing his disappointment.

He shrugged again and Diana felt an ache for him. "Wait here please," she said, running back into the house.

"Why are you chasing that boy half naked Diana?" Barbara asked, she had stood up from the chair and was now gently making her way through her house using her crutches.

"You are not accepting him as a student?" Diana asked.

"No, I wasn't planning to," Barbara stated plainly.

"And he speaks Ancient Greek?"

"And Arabic, and Latin and French."

"Excellent," Diana said smiling.

Barbara raised an eyebrow as Diana ran upstairs.

She returned outside a minute later still wearing nothing but a towel and holding a purse, handing a curious Jacob (and equally curious small crowd) a card.

"Come to this address tomorrow morning at 8:30," she said with a smile.

Jacob glanced at the card, then back to her. "Um... Sure," he said. "What's there?"

Her smile widened. "I would like to give you a job."