Chapter 2. Just One Chance
"Just one chance, just one breath, just in case there's just one left" Nickleback
"James, this is a surprise, come in." Jenny said stepping back.
Lester followed her in rubbing his hands together to get them warm.
"You must be freezing, would you like some tea or coffee, I was just thinking about starting something."
"That would be nice, thank you Jenny."
"Which one?"
"Umm, coffee if it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all," she said disappearing into the kitchen.
He followed behind her and leaned against the counter while she worked.
"You have a lovely house," he commented, never having been one for small talk.
"Thank you, so what brings you here?"
"Ah, cutting right to the chase I see."
"Haven't I always?"
He sighed before situating himself in a chair at the small kitchen table,
"Firstly and foremost, I wanted to check on you, see how you've been since the incident at the ARC the other day."
"I'm still recuperating, almost dying takes a lot out of you, but I'll be fine."
"Good, listen Jenny, I know losing Nick and what happened the other night has been hard on you, but we need you back Jenny, you're the best PR there is."
"Is James Lester paying me a compliment?" she teased.
"Don't let it go to your head."
"Too late," she said with a playful small, "But James, I really don't think I'm ready to come back to the ARC, when I walked away, it was for a reason."
Lester sighed, "I know it was Jenny, but I-the team needs you,"
Her face looked torn, there was a part of her that wanted to come back to the ARC, that missed the friends she'd made in the team, but there was another part of her that was afraid. It was that part that made him feel selfish for even asking her to return.
"I'm sorry," he said suddenly, "Just forget I came Jenny, I have no right to even be asking this after everything you've been through."
He rose to his feet and headed for the door and back to his car. He was about halfway to his car when her voice rang out from behind him.
"James, wait!" she called.
He turned to see her hurrying down the walk towards him, her feet were bare and it was everything he could do not to scold her, she'd catch her death like this.
"Alright, I'll do it, I'll come back to the ARC,"
"You will?" he asked shocked.
"Yes, I've missed the team, they're more than colleagues, they're friends, even you."
"Good, good, I'm glad to hear you're coming back," he responded trying his best to sound detached. "Now let's get you back inside, you'll catch your death running around out here barefooted, and I don't need you having a cold your first day back," he said guiding her back to the door.
He went into the kitchen once he had her situated on the couch and got a pot of warm water in order to get some of the feeling back into her feet.
"Thank you James," she said sinking her feet into it gratefully.
"You're welcome Jenny."