“That,” Sims said, voice as dry as August dirt around here. “As I was saying, more time for us to deal with that.”
“Me staying here? Helping Linc?” Jacob wasn’t much good at the whole feigning-ignorance thing and he yanked on his shirt like a guilty teen, but Linc appreciated the try.
“Do I strike you as particularly unobservant, Hartman?” Sims asked.
“No...” Jacob’s mouth quirked. “No, ma’am. Sorry.”
“This is apparently the season when we finally come up with a comprehensive fraternization policy.” Sims pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ve got...what? Three crews with people dating. It’s past time we had a policy on file. Amendment to the anti-harassment one.”
“It’s on me.” Linc was fast to take responsibility before Jacob could speak up. “If you’re planning consequences, give them to me. Jacob’s one of the best jumpers you have, even as a rookie. He deserves to be back out there as soon as he’s medically cleared.”
“Thanks.” Jacob shot him a grateful look, eyes warm and mouth soft. “But it was both of us. I knew it wasn’t the best idea for work, but I still pursued it. I’ll take whatever discipline you think that needs.”
“I’m not sure.” Sims’s expression was uncharacteristically uncertain. “I don’t know as it’s fair to do retroactive discipline even though that might send a strong message discouraging such behavior. It’s more important what we do going forward. There will be long discussions about whether we can have couples in active relationships on the same crew, especially for small operations. We need a policy we can point to for everyone. So that’s something we’ll try to have in place before Reid is back. Luckily, we have some time.”
“I understand. I mean, I hate the idea of splitting us up, but I get where you’re coming from.” Jacob sounded like he was having to work hard at finding a reasonable tone. “We work well together. No reason to stop that.”
“You do work well together. No one is disputing that.” Sims voice was level, calming. “But we have to think across the board. Situations where losing a crew could mean a family losing both parents. Or where relationship discord spills over into life-and-death decisions. And unless we one-hundred-percent prohibit relationships, that’s the sort of implication we need to be ready for.”
“I get it.” Jacob sounded defeated, but Linc got Sims’s dilemma. The management team had to be fair to everyone and consider all possible contingencies. Jacob’s gaze met Linc’s, and Linc hated the disappointment there, hated knowing that them being together might have real-world consequences for them both.
“It’s going to be months before I jump again.” Linc could be more pragmatic than Jacob. He’d been expecting worse, honestly. “But if the decision is made to prohibit relationships, I’ll be the one to leave.”
“No. You can’t do that. You’ve got years and years—” Jacob was starting to get red in the face and Linc cut him off.
“You’re more important to me than the job. Period.” It had taken him damn long enough to realize that, and no way was he letting some policy tear them apart now. He gave him a hard look before turning to Sims. “I’ll rehab like I’m coming back as soon as possible, but if you make me choose, I’m choosing him. Every time.”
“I don’t think it’s going to come to that.” Sims’s tone was gentler now. “We’ll keep you posted on the policy, same as I’m doing for the others. You’re two of our best. We want to keep you.”
“Good.” Jacob still didn’t sound satisfied, but he kept his mouth a thin, closed line as he nodded.
“Thanks.” All Linc’s muscles protested and he had to shift his weight on the crutches before he could add anything else. He’d been standing far too long and was going to pay the price for that later as well.
“Hey, let’s get you back to the couch.” Jacob must have picked up on his discomfort because next thing he was guiding Linc back to the living room, Sims and the dogs trailing behind.
“I won’t keep you any longer,” she said as Jacob helped Linc prop up his leg on a footstool. “If you enjoy the casserole, let me know. Estevao has fun trying new things he finds on the web.”
“Will do.” Jacob showed her to the door after some more promises to keep her updated on their respective medical appointments, then came to collapse next to Linc on the couch. “Well, that wasn’t terrible, but what the hell, man? You’re not giving up jumping. No way. Or...” His eyes narrowed as he turned to give Linc an appraising stare. “Is this still about you thinking you need to sell this place? Some sort of a fresh start? New work situation?”
“No.” Putting a hand on his thigh, Linc was fast to assure him. “Not like that. I don’t need a new start. Not now. You’re my fresh start. You. This. I don’t need to run anymore.”