Chapter Ten; A New Wolfpack
Sarah and Luna quickly rushed over to Jack's body. Jack slowly turned his head over to look at them and continued to whimper. "It's alright Jack, you're going to be just fine." She told him. "Why did you do that!? You could die because of me!" Luna sobbed. "Don't you know why wolves stay in packs? It's because they need each other in order to survive." He answered before slowly laying his head back down while Luna started to whine. Then she quickly glanced up at Sarah. "You can help him can't you?" she questioned.
"I'll do everything in my power to try, I promise. I just need to take him home, we have better chances of saving his life if Jen is there to help me with it." She explained as she slowly lifted Jack inside her arms. Luna followed her as she reentered the woods and eventually followed her all the way home. When they had got there her father was waiting for her with Jen. "Don't worry she's explained everything to me, although I can't really believe that that animal is Jack." Teague said as his daughter carried him inside.
"Well you better believe it because it is. And don't worry about the cub, she won't hurt you she's with us." Sarah said as Luna sat down in front of the couch while Sarah laid Jack's body down on the couch. "Now I figure that the best way we can treat your wounds is by turning you back into a human first. I know how to treat humans more than I know how to treat animals." Sarah explained as her and Jen worked their magic and Luna watched while the black wolf in front of her slowly turned back into a man. Sarah quickly covered him with a blanket so his privates would be invisible.
"You know it would help me out even more if I had me clothes back." Jack said. "That comes second, Jen get me some bandages from out in the shed." Sarah ordered. Jack looked back down at Luna who was still whining miserably. "Don't worry love, I'll be fine." He told her as she leapt up onto the couch and laid down next to him with her head down on his chest. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't find your father for you." He told her as he began scratching her behind the ears. "Listen Son, about that, I'm afraid that this puppy is the last of her kind." Teague said.
"No, that's not true. She has a grandfather, she told me about it." Jack said with a shake of his head. "Yes I know, but that was before the fire." He explained. "Fire, what fire?" Jack questioned. "Well while you were gone, a bunch of woods that was used for nesting grounds for the wolves burned down and there was no wolf known to escape it." He told him. "But then, what will happen to Luna?" Jack asked as he finally stopped petting her and the two girls started bandaging him up. Jack heaved a heavy sigh as he continued looking down at the now orphaned cub.
"Listen, I don't expect you to understand this but I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about everything. I never wanted to hurt you, because I love you." He told her as she started to wag her tail and lick him as if she was saying that she loved him back. "Dad, Sarah," Jack began as he took a deep breath and looked at them. "and Jen, I appreciate everythin' that you all have done for me, but I can't stay." He began as there came a moment's silence. "Luna needs me." He explained as he sat up a little bit.
"You know, I hate to admit it, but he kind of looked better as a wolf." Jen said. "Hey! That is not a complement!" Jack snapped at her with a scowl as Jen and Sarah giggled. "But I just got you back." Sarah told him. "I know, and you won't ever lose me. I will always love you. But wasn't the whole purpose of doin' what ya did to get me to understand how important love and family really is? Well,.. now I do." He said as he smiled down warmly at Luna and Sarah and Jen both exchanged loving smiles. "Ready," Jen began. "Ready." Sarah finished as they both nodded and a bunch of magic dust erupted from their fingertips and Jack started to shrink until he disappeared underneath the blanket.
A few moments later his furry head popped out from underneath the blanket and he panted happily and wagged his tail. "Jack!" Luna cried excitedly as he leaped down onto the floor feeling better enough to run and chase with her since he was all bandaged up. The two continued to laugh and play together as it finally stopped raining and the sun came out. Later on that day Gibbs found Jack and Luna as they were coming out of the woods. "Jack, is that really you in there?" he asked as he bent down and pointed to him, for Teague and Sarah had told him all about what had happened. "Yeah Gibbs, it's really me." Jack said even though he knew that he couldn't understand him.
"Well, I guess that there's only one way to find out." Gibbs said as he removed a jar of rum from underneath his vest. Jack's eyes grew larger as he started to lick his lips. "Yep," Gibbs began with a grin. "it's you alright." He said with a chuckle before popping the quark and spilling out a fountain of rum in front of him in which he lapped up eagerly. "Well Captain," Gibbs began as Jack finished drinking. "I guess this is it then." He said as he roughly scratched him on the top of his head. "It's been nice knowin' ya, and good luck." He told him as Jack watched him turn around and walk away. "Goodbye Mister Gibbs, and thank you for everything." He said as the two wolves climbed to the top of the hill and sat down looking over the sea. Jack waited until he saw Will's ship pass by and raised up his nose and howled and Will looked up at him and with a grin nodded accepting his friend's apology and final farewell.