Here's chappie two. ;-)
Lotta love for my reviewers! Thank you so much.
Once again, kinda short.
(Several hours later)
Jason sat in a chair in the den, staring at the wall. He'd put Jade to bed a half-hour ago. He hadn't told her about Gina yet. Everytime he attempted to, he failed. Because whenever he looked into Jade's eyes, he saw her mother and the pain and confusion crashed over him all over again. He'd given Jade some story about Gina staying over at her mother's for awhile because her mother was sick. He'd hated lying to his child, but, how could he tell her the truth right now? How could he make her understand when he himself didn't?
'God, Gina. What was it? What happened? Why didn't you ever come to me with this? How could you just walk out on us?' he wondered. These questions had been running through his mind since he'd read that letter. Then, slowly but surely, blazing hot fury filled him and he narrowed his dark eyes. He could forgive her for leaving him, but, he was pretty positive at this very moment that he'd never forgive her for ditching their daughter. Jade needed her and she'd thought only of what she wanted and split without a second thought. Damn her.
He sprang to his feet and headed for the kitchen. Gina had one hell of a nerve. He was incredibly pissed now for two main reasons: Jade and his own abandonment issues. His own father had walked out on him, his mother and two younger brothers when Jason had been eleven. He'd had to take over as "man of the house." He'd solemnly vowed that he'd never hurt his own children that way. Jason pulled a soda outta the fridge and looked over at the phone.
He sighed heavily. He wanted to call her. Usually, he preferred handling things on his own- hell, he was used to it. He'd never been too fond of talking about his feelings and all that. But he'd talk to her because she was an exception. Actually, she'd always been kind of an exception to all of his personal "rules." He chuckled slightly and headed over to the phone.
He picked it up and dialed her number. After four rings... "Hello?"
"Hey, Firebird," he said.
"Hi, Jase. What's up?" Kimberly Hart said, a hint of that old bubbliness in her tone.
Jason couldn't help smiling a little. No matter what happened, hearing Kim's voice always made him feel a little lighter- corny as it sounded. "Well, I haven't had a day to write home about. That's for sure," he said quietly.
"What happened?" she asked in concern.
"Kim, she..." his voice trailed off and he gripped the phone tightly. It wasn't exactly easy to say out loud. Saying it out loud would only remind him that it really had happened.
"She? Who do you mean, Jase? Gina? Jade?" she asked, her voice now laced with confusion.
Jason shook his head. He knew he had to come out with it. "Gina. She's gone," he said.
"Gone? Where?" she asked.
"I wish I knew. She ditched us, Kim. She walked out on her family. She left a letter saying some crap about how she wasn't cut out for marriage or motherhood and how she hadn't been happy in a long time," he told his lifelong friend. "She told me not to try and find her because this isn't the life she wants."
The other end of the line was silent. Jason knew he'd just totally blown Kim away. Because one of the things she loved most was talking. He'd just shocked her out of her mind and he could just picture how she was now looking.
Finally, after what seemed like a couple lifetimes, Kim spoke up. "Wow. This is just... oh, my God. I never thought something like this would ever- Rex, I'm sorry. I am just so sorry," she said sympathetically.
"Yeah. Me, too," he said.
"This is unbelievable! Have you told Jade?" Kim asked.
"Not yet. I have no idea how I'm gonna do it, but, I know I have to," he said, his heart twisting painfully.
"That poor, sweet little angel does not deserve this and neither do you, Jase. How could she? I never thought Gina could be so selfish and cruel!" Kim said, now as pissed as Jason was.
"Same here," he agreed.
"And I know from firsthand experience what letters can do to a person," Kim said seriously.
Jason nodded. True story. "Yeah," he said. "But, Kim, at least you didn't leave Tommy behind with a child."
"Yeah," she whispered. "I'm really sorry this horrible thing happened to you and Jade. I know you're beyond pissed since this also probably brings up..."
"My father," he finished in a low voice.
"Right," she said softly.
"If she wanted a divorce, she should've said come to me instead of running. But I'll move past that eventually. I don't think I'll get over her splitting on Jade, though," he said, shaking his head.
"Who'd blame you? She was wrong. I can understand being unhappy, but, she was dead wrong. She handled it in a really lame, terrible way," Kim said.
"You said it," he said. "I just don't believe this shit."
"Neither do I, Jase," she said with a sigh. The two former superheroes fell silent, then. They both thought about how it would all affect Jade.
Kim broke the long silence once again. "Hey, how 'bout you and Jade come over for dinner tomorrow? You can't say no 'cause my cooking's really improved over the years," she said, the grin evident in her voice.
Jason laughed. "No kidding. Good thing, too, 'cause I was starting to wonder if you'd be a stove's worst nightmare forever," he said, grinning.
"You're lucky we're on the phone. Otherwise, I'd have whipped out the old power bow, Scott," she said in a mock menacing tone.
"Ooh. I'd better shut up PDQ, then. Last thing I need is a pissed pterodactyl on my hands. I'll be good," he said, amusement in his eyes.
"Wise choice," she quipped.
"Billy isn't the only one around here with a brain the size of Texas," he joked.
They both laughed and Jason felt a rush of gratitude. Leave it to Kim to yank his spirits up.
"And if you want any help explaining things to Jade, you know I'm your girl," she said. She was crazy about Jade- who was equally as crazy about her.
"I know. Thanks, Pinky," he said gratefully.
"Not a problem, Red Dragon. Not a problem," she said.
If you'd like to see more, stay tuned.