Here it is-enjoy!
Silence. It's the first thing I hear when I awake. The light filtering into the room is bright and is the reason I am awake to begin with.
It is usually quiet in the early morning, one of the best aspects of not living in the city. But this is different and as strange as it is-this silence sounds unfamiliar. I can't help but feel that something is off.
I turn to face Bill to see if he is still sleeping and am surprised to see that he is gone. This is unusual since we normally spend a good part of the morning cuddling in bed. The change in our routine reinforces the feeling that something is just not right.
Climbing out of bed I look at the clock. 8:53. I pull my robe over me and head downstairs in search of my husband. When I reach the main level of our house I can her whispers. Bill's voice mainly and at first I think that he is on the phone.
But as I turn the corner to the kitchen I am shocked to see Jack Bauer standing there.
At Jack's expression Bill turns around to face me. He looks exhausted. They both do and I have to wonder how long they have been up for.
"Karen," he says but stops short. He has no idea what to say, how to explain this to me. I look at Jack, who is looking back forth between Bill and I.
Finally he decides to take over the conversation.
"Karen."
"Jack," I say cutting him off before he can continue and with more force than I had intended.
"I didn't know where else to go."
With that my heart breaks. Its not that I don't like Jack. I do, very much so. And it isn't that I don't want him here. But along with L.A, CTU, Homeland, Washington, and everyone else, he is a constant reminder of mine and Bill's troubled times and of what we almost lost.
Looking into his eyes I see something that I don't normally associate with Jack Bauer, agent extraordinaire. Fear.
I look at Bill who is looking at me. His expression is pleading with me to let him stay. I know that Jack is like a son to Bill and me saying anything other than yes would result later in a fight.
Finally I give in. "Bill, take Jack up to the guest room and give him everything he will need. I'll make some breakfast."
Bill lets out a small sigh of relief and Jack takes two steps towards me.
"Thank you Karen," he says quietly. I place my hand on his shoulder and smile. He heads upstairs giving Bill and I a moment alone. He walks over to me and wraps his arms around me and places a kiss on my head. I delight in the contact for a minute before pulling away and Bill follows Jack.
As I watch him walk away I can't help but feel that he is, in a small way, walking away from me. Away from our marriage, us, and is taking a step towards our old lives where we weren't each other's top priority. I pray that I am wrong and that Bill doesn't feel this way.
Shaking I quickly push these thoughts aside as I prepare breakfast. But deep down I suddenly realize that Jack's stay will be much more than just a visit. It will be a true test of our relationship and the stability of our newly founded life together.