Chapter 9: Heartless

A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews!! I am so surprised to see this story so well received that it makes me so happy to write it! (And keeps me motivated):D Thank you, thank you! Some lyrics from "Heartless" by Kanye West is in this one. Thank you again!! :D

It lasted days. Eventually, the days passed into weeks. The weeks then passed into months. Luckily, those months didn't pass into years… yet. The affair was what happened, there was no one oblivious to it at the hospital that is. The spouses have their suspicions. This is why Robert is packing his suitcase.

He knew all along, that was why she worked so late, went to work so early, and he found out from people in town who were snickering about him as he walked by. He had enough; he tried reasoning with her, now he is leaving.

Sprawled out on the bed, the suitcase laid and he scurried into the closet collecting anything that was in his possession. Go ahead, have an affair, Jackie. Go ahead and not tell me, how's that? You have this affair, while I cross the country. Have your affair, Jacqueline; just keep me out of it! Many thoughts like this one rolled on and on in his head with no regret at all. He continued on with the rest of his belongings deciding that Mariah was to stay here with her mother, where she belonged. Its Jackie's responsibility now for her child needs her. Let's see how she feels being left alone.

Minutes passed and he was about set to go. He took one last look around the bedroom remembering the good times he had in here, in this house period. It was nothing but a memory now. Before he left, he decided to write a note; Mariah was at her friend's house so it should be ok.

He left the note on her desk, knowing that she would go there immediately. Mariah would be dropped back home later on in the evening. He then took the suitcase, and headed out the door not looking back.

In the night, I hear them talk the coldest story ever told. Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul. To a woman so heartless, how could you be so heartless?

Later That Evening

Jackie with Mariah walked through the door. Her daughter ran around the house releasing the extra amount of energy she had left. Jackie went upstairs to her den to escape the child noticing that Robert must be at a bar or something coming home soon enough.

She sat in her leatherbound chair, elbows on the brown olden desk, and head in hands looking down noticing a small piece of paper the writing scribbled on.

Jackie, it began. Go ahead and have your affair, have it without me. I will not be waiting at your feet until you give up. I'm not like that; I'm not a doormat for you to step on. You have Mariah, and I will come and sign papers of divorce. Keep it quiet, please? I don't want the whole town coming to find me for an explanation. Goodbye, Jackie.

She was speechless. Completely speechless. But not surprised.

But it was, and her worst nightmare, was turning into her reality. She still loved Robert; he was the father of their child. Now she was going to be a single mother fighting to have a career. Now it was just being blown in her face, like all things do when they go bad.

Putting the note down on the same spot, she quietly sits staring straight on with no feeling, or sign of regret of what she has put herself through.

Talkin', talkin', talkin', talk. Baby let's just knock it off. They don't know what we been through. They don't know 'bout me and you. So I got something new to see and you just gonna' keep hatin' me and we just gonna be enemies.

Silently, she walked through the house, unable to sleep with the demons wandering through her mind. Taunting her, cheating her, telling her what is right and wrong. The demons took over her head, telling her the possibilities of what was going on right now. She tried not to listen, tried blocking it out, but it was no use; the voices would grow louder and louder like a beating drum until she would give in.

The voices grow worse each day she is near him mostly about Hawkeye, since everyday he hides something from her each day. But what Hawkeye didn't know was that Margaret knew about his now affair.

It explained many things to her, the late night job, waking up early in the morning, the guilt expression on his face every day, the reason why he couldn't look in the face. But she wasn't going to mention anything.

She loved him too much to let him go. She was hurt before, yes, but she's been through hell to get with Hawkeye. She vows quietly to herself that she will see where this goes. If nothing looks like it will progress, then she will just cross that bridge when it comes to that point.

Now, with this going on, she felt alone and cold. She was going to have to get use to that. She had a long wait to for that one. And Margaret wasn't sure if she would have the patience.

She walks back to the bedroom, watching her husband sleeping soundly each day. "Come back to me soon, love." She whispers. "I miss you."

With that being said, she walks out feeling the temptation of the demons rising up in her mind once more. Something that she couldn't fight for the world.

In the night I hear them talk the coldest story ever told. Somewhere far along this road he lost his soul to a woman so heartless.