Season 8, Episode 12 - "Forbidden Fruit"

He heard the voices, quiet, but harsh and slightly raised. Jack peered his eyes open, letting them adjust to the darkness of the room and settled on the slightly open library doors. A sliver of light streamed into the room, the small form of an angry Karen revealed and a large shadow cast upon her, obviously Stanley. He listened intently, trying to understand what they were arguing about.

"Damn it, Stanley!" she growled. "I will not have this argument with you again!"

"He's an adult, Karen!" Stan said back and Jack blushed, realizing he was the subject of their current disagreement. "I'm only home for a few days and you're spending all your time with him!"

"He's sick, goddamnit. I'm not leaving him be!"

"Why not?"

"He needs someone to take care of him, Stan." She sounded tired and he could just barely make out her covering her face with her hands.

"And why should that someone be you?" Stan still sounded annoyed, almost borderline pissed. "He lives across the hall from Will and Grace, I'm sure one of them could help out. You always do this. The second he calls you drop everything in your life and go to him."

"Stan..."

"Don't try to deny it, Kare. You know it's true."

Jack watched Karen cross her arms over her chest, her mouth set in a tight line and a firm glare fixed on her husband. "What do you want from me, Stanley?"

Jack swallowed loudly and heard Stan sigh in exasperation.

"You're my wife, Karen."

"My being married to you has nothing to do with my relationship with Jack."

"It has everything to do with it!" he bellowed at her.

"Sssh!" Karen shrieked. "You'll wake him up!"

"I don't care!" the large man continued to shout. "Why do you do it, Karen?"

"He needs me."

"He survived his first 29 years without you. He does not need you for anything."

"Stan-"

"Why can't you just tell me, Karen?"

"It doesn't matter why-"

"Karen!"

"Because I need him!" she screamed.

Jack muffled his gasp behind his blanket. It was silent for a long few moments and he held his breath in anticipation for the words that were to be spoken next.

"You need him?" Stan asked finally, his voice much quieter than before. "You've never needed anyone before. You thrive on your independence. What is this really about?"

Another silence enveloped them and Jack watched Karen's face intently, seeing her eyes flicker between Stan the door to her left. The Forbidden Room.

"Karen..." His tone was understanding and soft which confused Jack. He learned what was behind that door earlier this afternoon, but what did it have to do with him? "You can't keep doing this to yourself."

"I'm not doing anything, honey." Her voice was small and wavered slightly. "I haven't thought about that room in years, honestly. But Jackie..." she trailed off and Jack bit his lip in curiosity. "He's like the son I never had."

"But Mason-"

"Yes, Mason is my stepson and I love him, I do. Olivia too." She reached out and grabbed his large hands in hers. "But Jackie and I clicked right away, we had a special bond from day one. He's the best friend I've ever had. And for two years, honey, he was the most important man in my life..." She paused for a moment and looked down at her shoes. Jack could tell she was hesitating telling him something and his mind raced. "Honestly, I think he still is."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

There was a beat and he saw Karen open her mouth to respond, but Jack coughed unexpectedly. He panicked, seeing Karen snap her head toward the direction of the library doors and he closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. A few more coughs escaped him and he cleared his throat, pulling the covers higher up over his shoulders as he shuddered.

"Go to bed, Stan," Karen said quietly. "We'll talk in the morning." She didn't wait for a response and Jack tried to settle his breathing as he heard Karen shuffle into the room. He felt her sit beside his shoulder, her hand gliding over his forehead before it settled on his cheek. He continued to pretend to be asleep until he heard a sniffle and something wet fall onto his cheek. He fluttered his eyes open and saw Karen's head bowed, her other hand pressed to her nose as she silently cried.

"Kare," he croaked out, his voice still sore.

She gasped and wiped at her eyes frantically, trying to cover up the fact that she was crying even though he obviously saw it. "Poodle," she whispered. "How are you feeling?"

He sat up and her hand fell to his chest, her warm fingers sliding beneath the blue pajama shirt he wore. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying."

He gave her a look and reached up, swiping his thumb under her eye, gathering a stray tear. "You were saying?"

She grabbed his hand from her face and kissed his palm before bringing it to her lap and placing her other hand on top of his. "I don't really know why I'm crying, honey," she confessed. "Its been a strange day."

"I'm sorry, again, for making you tell me about that room."

"I told you its okay-"

"But you're upset and I hate that I made you upset."

"You didn't make me upset, baby," she assured him, a warm smile on her lips. She maneuvered herself more onto chaise, pulling Jack's face to her bosom and wrapped her arms around him, her chin resting atop his head. Jack draped his arm over her waist and pulled her closer, hooking his ankle with hers to keep her in place. They sighed in content, their bodies relaxing in each others embrace.

"Hey Kare?"

"Hmm?"

"Who's your daddy?" He felt her giggled against him and it warmed his heart.

"You are." She pressed her lips to his forehead and kept them there for a while. "Your fever has gone down," she mumbled.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

"Its no problem, honey." She lifted her chin and pressed a kiss to the top of his head before resting her cheek there. "Now let's get some sleep, Poodle."

He snuggled further into her chest and they settled down for sleep, their breaths beginning to even out. Before succumbing to sleep, Jack mumbled drowsily into her neck.

"You'd be an amazing mom, Karebear."