Rifiuto: Non Miriena
Founders' Day, 2010
The sound of forties swing music wafted through the crowd; people in costumes wandered about, looking at old inventions and sipping Cold War Cappucinos or snacking on Atomic Missile finger sandwiches. Children played double dutch or other forties-era games, and Henry worked on the Founders' Car, that had resided in the museum since last Founders' Day; Kevin was tinkering with the Einstein-Grant Bridge Device, in his own little world. Bug rushed ahead, ducking through the crowd, leaving her father back with Carter. Jo was nowhere to be seen, most likely with Allison and Jenna.
"Bug! B- Gwendolyn! Get back here!"
"So, how does it feel, being the father of a two-year-old?" Carter asked, as they wandered downtown, looking over the experiments. Zane chuckled.
"Well... it's..." He glanced at Carter. "Is it gonna end soon?" The sheriff chuckled at the panic in the young father's face.
"It's end-about the time she turns three; if not, it'll go on until she's sixteen. Trust me, you better hope it ends at three." The younger man nodded, taking a sip of his drink.
"Carter, can I ask you something?"
"Sure." The sheriff turned to him, waiting for the younger man to speak. As Zane opened his mouth-
"Daddy!" Bug came rushing back, holding a cookie. She held it out to Zane, shook his head, scooping the little girl into his arms and kissing her cheek. "Cookie, Daddy!"
"No thank you, sweetheart. Daddy's talking to Uncle Carter." As Fargo passed in costume, Bug reached out for him, and Zane let her tumble into Fargo's arms with a giggle. "Go see Uncle Fargo! Would you mind watching her?" The other scientist shook his head, and with a wave, the two left, heading to look at the car Henry was fixing.
"Come on, let's go talk." Zane followed Carter, to the green, and the two took seats on the benches; Zane took a deep breath, turning to the sheriff as he said,
"Jo... Jo told me last night that... that she doesn't want me to forget her. I... I know it sounds silly, but... but should I be worried? We... we've talked and been open and honest with each other, but... should I be worried that she'll try suicide? Like she did not long after the towers fell? Carter, I... I don't know what to do. If she's suicidal, how do I help her? What do I do? How do I... keep her from remembering?"
Carter sighed, setting his cup down. He rested his elbows on his knees, taking a deep breath as he thought of what to say. Carter was used to Jo's off days, her rants, her tears. Those two years before Zane had come to town, Carter had sat beside her, rubbing her back and letting her cry whenever she mentioned her three best friends. Yes, he was well acquainted with Jo's fits.
"You don't, plain and simple. You can't. Just like you can't keep yourself from remembering what you lived through that day. Zane, you have to focus on the positives. You have to... to look at what you have, and appreciate that. You and Jo have each other; you have Bug, who is the sweetest, most beautiful little girl in Eureka, you have your work and your life here, and family and friends who love you. Zane, you and Jo have so much, so much good, that you can't- you cannot- focus on what happened that day. Otherwise, it'll tear you apart."
Zane nodded, giving him a small smile. "Thank, Carter."
"Morning, Babe."
Zane looked up; instead of finding Jo at her desk, she was standing in her cell. A moment passed, as his gaze drank in the decorations- just like the cell had been after he'd gotten ahold of Carter's credit card information. The lamp, the chairs, the blankets and pillows. And Jo. She stood in her deputy uniform, her long dark hair down around her shoulders. "Where's Bug?" She asked. He shrugged.
"With her Uncle Fargo." Jo nodded, relieved. "Uh... Jo, what're you doin'?"
She swallowed. "Reminding you of how we first met." He wandered into the room, glancing around.
"I'm pretty sure it was the other way around." He said, looking to her desk. "You were at your desk, and I was the cell." She chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"... I got you something." And then she turned, going to the small table and picking something up. Zane watched her with curiosity in his eyes; she turned back, holding a box, and a grin tugged at his lips as he read the familiar name.
Lisa's Lingerie.
"Did you now?" He asked, taking the box. He chuckled softly, turning from her and studying the box. A lot of memories were associated with the box; good memories, fun memories. "And... let me guess. You wanted me to try this on for you?" He teased, removing the lid. He set the top on her desk, and slowly pushed the pink tissue aside. His mouth dropped, but he didn't say a word as he pulled out what appeared to be an eyeglasses case in red plaid print. As he set the bottom of the box on top of the first half, he heard the cell door open, followed by Jo's soft footsteps. The door latched closed with her soft,
"Something like that."
When he turned back to her, it was to find his wife kneeling before him, eyes wide and filled with tears. "Jojo-"
"I... I know I've been... difficult to deal with the last few weeks and I'm sorry about that. I just... I want you to know that you're right. The past is the past, and we need to look towards the future. Because our future is so bright, so absolutely bright, and beautiful. And I want to share every moment with you, like when Bug came into our lives."
As she spoke, Zane had opened the case. His eyes widened at the sight of the pregnancy test nestled within, and the one little word that stared back at him.
"You've... already made an honest woman out of me. You made sure of that years ago." She took a deep breath. "So, what do you say?"
Pregnant.
His blue eyes flicked to his wife, saw the anxiety on her face.
"Zane?"
He removed the test from the case, setting the small silver case on the desk with the box.
Pregnant.
Slowly, he met her gaze. "Will you... do it again? Make an honest woman out of me?" Her tears fell as he glanced behind him. And then, he went to her, helping her up and wrapping his arms tight around her waist. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in her scent, with a soft,
"Absolutely."
Her arms tightened around his neck, and she pressed a kiss to his neck, whispering through her tears,
"Promise you'll remember me."
