Chapter 20
First off I want to convey a big thank you to everyone who responded and respected my wishes to take a break from writing at the time, but that was then and this is now. I'm back and refreshed....
He reluctantly woke to the sight of a new day, quickly readying himself in an effort to escape to the one thing that thankfully hadn't changed over the past month, his job.
There were a lot of things he still couldn't understand and didn't want to because it would only resurface the pain he no longer had the strength to overcome. Despite his numerous efforts to be something more to her than a Father to their baby, she continuously struck him down by reminding him that he had to consider what he now felt was simply a rite of obligation.
Though the real reason became painfully blatant to him a few days later when Tom so proudly revealed it in the form of the words "I'm getting married". He didn't even have to guess who the new Mr's Brennan was going to be, and as much as felt like stamping his feet like a little child for losing the life and woman he so desperately wanted, he knew that it wouldn't make a lick of difference. Not as long as he was still married to Sarah and the baby he later found out he was having with her too.
The doubt was obviously there at first and he had every right to be, what with this Jim guy and all, but Sarah continued to firmly convince him that it was his child and not Jim's. Much to his dismay he couldn't even get a test to prove it because she was still in the early stages of her pregnancy. What also didn't help his case to prove her wrong was what he unexpectedly gave into in the midst of the heartache in finding out about Kate and Tom.
The events of that night stabbing his heart with nothing but guilt, and as much he knew that it shouldn't, being that Sarah was his wife, he still felt ashamed for giving into what he could only interpret as a moment to simply forget. He never would now that there was a living reminder of that night.
However it still didn't defeat the plausible possibility that this baby may still be Jim's.
So all he could do now was wait and pretend to be the concerned husband when in reality all he wanted was to be with Kate and their baby. As cruel and insensitive as he thought that sounded what Sarah did to him was far worse and still hard to forgive, but in her defence she was trying to make amends, despite learning about the physical entanglement he shared with Kate.
Still he would never forget that day.
(Flashback – A month ago)
"Nice to see you're making new friends."
"Jack, I……"
"So should I be stupid enough to assume that this guy is nothing more than a friend to you or has he in fact been my replacement for God knows how long." He spat out more so at the guy rather than Sarah who looked close to passing out at the notion of being caught out.
"Look , man I know what it must look like but….."
"Get out." Was Jack's simple reply and chose to dismiss any further argument over the situation, but Jim clearly hadn't gotten the message.
"Assume all you want Jack, but this woman's been worried sick over you."
"I'm sure she was and I'm sure you did what you could to make the pain go away right?"
"Jack, please just give me a chance to explain……"
"Explain what exactly?"
"That no matter what you think of me or what I've done, you're still the man I love." She confessed with the utmost emotion in her tone, but Jack couldn't tell whether it was fake or genuine though the latter eventually won due to the fact that on some level he too felt the same way for this woman. Still it didn't dismiss the uncertainty he had at the possibility that this was all a trick.
Although the real question was whether he was credible enough to question her infidelity when he had done pretty much the same thing himself.
(End of flashback)
"Mmmmm." The woman beside him grunted into her pillow while attempting to cuddle into what she thought was the warmth of her husband beside her. Instead all she got was a mouthful of pillow and it naturally woke her as a result.
"You okay?" the groggy blonde asked while allowing her hand to lightly graze along the length of Jack's back. Her touch evoking more a chill of discomfort but he failed to make that known out of the politeness of his heart.
The only way he could answer that question now was by lying and putting on a smile to convince her, but as the days continued to progress with no change in regard to what his heart continued to yearn for, he grew more easily agitated yet still tried to make an effort to reduce the stress he knew would unnecessarily harm the welfare of the baby.
"Yeah….yeah I'm fine. I'm just late for work is all." He explained before he more or less darted off towards the bathroom, giving Sarah next to no chance for an argument.
Thankfully she refrained from doing so once he resurfaced from the bathroom and with nothing but a kiss on the cheek offered he was off. Her frowning at the fact that, that's all she had continued to get over the past month following their reconciliation.
A reconciliation she felt had more to do with the baby growing inside her.
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Despite being offered an extended vacation to basically get his life in order, he was returning four weeks early and more than eager to resume with his duties. However once he did arrive, his welcome was put on hold when he walked in on a patient being wheeled in. A patient he had met on unfortunate terms, but still wouldn't have wished what he was seeing now.
What finally willed him to get involved was then seeing none other than his own Brother rushing alongside the gurney, bloodied in appearance.
"What happened Cal?" Jack asked while rolling up his sleeves and then looking over Jim's current condition. The profusely bleeding gunshot wound immensely worrying the Doctor in him. Though what worried him a tad more was the sheer amount of shock heavily possessing Caleb's demeanour. He could honestly say that he had never seen his brother so terrified.
"He…..he got shot." Was all Caleb offered through the shock of it all and seeing that it was all he was probably going to get out of him Jack dropped any further interrogation and focused on the patient at hand. Ditching his emotions out the window and allowing for the Doctor in him to take over.
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It was Saturday today and as much as it discouraged her that it didn't make a difference to Jack's work schedule, she decided to cheer herself up and go out baby shopping.
She barely got out the front door before her phone started going off. The minute she saw the caller display, her face broke into a smile and with next to no hesitance she answered, hoping he would be suggesting something along the lines of spending time with her.
"Hey, I was just……"
"Sarah, I need you to……" he started and broke off, always hating this part of the job but knowing that it had to be done. He knew what Jim still meant to her and it was only fair that she knew.
"Can you come down to the Hospital?"
"Actually I was going out to do some baby shopping and I was wondering if you…"
"I can't."
"Look, Jack I know that things between us haven't been the same since Jim, but I'm trying here and….."
"Sarah I don't have time for this."
"Why?"
"Because something's happened"
"What? What could possibly be more important than….."
"It's Jim." He revealed and wasn't surprised in the least by her exhale of breath followed by her saying that she'd be there.
"There was nothing you could have done." Was all he was assured in an effort to eliminate the disappointment he naturally felt after loosing a patient.
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Several possibilities loomed through her mind. Each one undoubtedly leading to the same worrying conclusion and if anymore time was spent dwelling on it all, she knew it could end up potentially harming her and the baby.
So she maintained a calm attitude and made her way to the Hospital. Sensing that she would know if anything drastic happened to Jim, the man she still loved and would secretly continue to do so through this baby.
To be continued……
Next Chapter: How is Kate coping with everything and more will be revealed concerning Jim's accident.
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