"Brady, please," Jack says, half warning, half begging as he begins backing away, knowing he has a gun stowed under the bar in case of emergencies. "Think of Mel. We have a baby on the way."
"Relax, man," Brady says, smiling oddly as he looks at Jack. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"You mean like last time?" Jack questions, looking to confirm his theory that Brady is the one who shot him before.
"Listen," Brady replies, holding his hands up to show Jack that he doesn't have anything in them, "I didn't have a choice. I had to do something or Calvin might have sent another guy to do the job. And he would have aimed higher."
"You could have told me you were in trouble. You could have come clean about things," Jack replies, angrily.
"And if I did that, I would have lost their trust," Brady replies. "I needed to be in with them still, not just for me, but for you."
Jack scoffs, "What if Mel hadn't found me when she did? You didn't know that I would survive. Do you have any idea what that did to me? To her? To the rest of this town?"
"Well, someone thinks he's important," Brady replies sarcastically. Just then there is the sound of squealing tires outside the bar, and seconds later Mel runs in, calling Jack's name frantically. She freezes at the sight of Brady, immediately putting up her hands to show him that she means no harm.
"Mel," Jack says softly, in the tone he only reserves for her, "What are you doing here?"
"You didn't answer your phone," she explains, "And I knew something was wrong, I just knew it." She looks at Brady, narrowing her eyes, "Haven't you done enough to Jack? Why are you here?" Jack walks over to Mel, standing between her and Brady protectively, and she wraps her arms around his waist. Jack hugs her back, pressing a kiss to her forehead before turning back to Brady, who is now smiling.
"Look at the great womanizer Jack Sheridan, married and with a baby on the way. Who would have thought…" he trails off.
"Which almost didn't happen because of you!" Mel snaps. "After all the times Jack tried to help you and had your back, this is how you repay him? You almost took everything from me, from us!" her eyes fill with tears.
"I'm so sorry Mel," Brady replies. "I thought I was protecting you both. If I didn't do something, Calvin would have sent Jimmy or another guy, and they would have aimed to kill, not just injure. If I didn't act, they would have killed me and then sent someone else for Jack, maybe even you, too. It was the only way."
"What's to stop me from calling Mike right now and having you arrested?" Jack says. "How am I to ever trust you again, knowing what you did?"
"You shouldn't trust me," Brady replies. "I just wanted to come by here and apologize and explain why I did what I did. I need to lay low still. Some of the guys that worked for Calvin are still in touch, and I've been keeping them away from you and from here. Let me do that for you. It's the least I can do."
Jack nods, and Mel looks up at him nervously, clearly not sure about this interaction. "Are you saying that we're still not safe? That someone might come and try and finish the job?" she asks.
Brady frowns, "Not if I have any say about it," he replies. "This is why I have been in hiding. I can't do anything if I'm in jail. Right now Calvin's guys are scattered around, but some of them are holding a grudge. Some of them are even trying to organize and start a new venture. Lay low, Jack. Don't try and do anything more. I've got it covered. Like I said, it's the least I can do."
Jack nods, frowning still as Brady moves to leave. "Congratulations man, you got yourself a great girl," he adds as he pushes the door open, glancing back over his shoulder. I can't wait to see pictures of the new baby."
Jack and Mel stare at the door for a moment before turning to each other. "I can't believe this," Mel whispers.
"I know," Jack replies, "I need to call Mike and tell him what Brady said. Maybe there is a way they can give him a deal or something, keep him out of jail. Maybe he could become an informant."
"Yeah," Mel agrees, studying his face, "Are you ok?" she wonders.
"Yeah," Jack replies, "It is good to finally have answers, even if they aren't the ones I want to hear. And in a way, he was trying to protect us. I get that, even if I don't agree with his methods." He leans down and kisses her softly on the lips, leaning his forehead against hers. "How did you know that I needed you?"
"I can't explain it. I just felt it. I felt your fear. I knew your heart was beating faster because mine did, too. And then when you didn't pick up the phone, I rushed over here," she pulls him closer, tucking her chin into his chest.
"That's how I feel about you too when we're apart, like I can tell when you need me," he replies.
"I always need you," she whispers into his neck, causing him to shiver. "I love you," she adds.
"I love you too," he replies, kissing her.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Now that they have some answers regarding the mystery surrounding who shot Jack, Mel and Jack settle into a routine of sorts in the coming weeks. Mel has regular visits with her doctor in Clear River to check on the baby, and Jack insists on attending every appointment with her. She can feel the baby at times, and she's looking forward to the 20-week appointment where they'll do an anatomy scan and find out the gender.
Jack is doing well with Dr. Flanigan, the number of flashbacks and night terrors decreasing as he continues to open up more to both Mel and his doctor. When they do occur, he is willing to talk about his feelings or give the doctor a call, and he's been able to handle them so far without feeling the need to drink. Mel is very proud of him, and loves him even more for it.
She can't help but marvel at this man, this man who has loved her from the moment they first met. He has dedicated his life to her, and it is obvious in every glance, every touch, every kiss. She loves waking up next to him, seeing his face as he opens his eyes and registers her presence. He's so handsome that sometimes it takes her breath away, and she feels beautiful with him even as her body is changing with the pregnancy.
The words, "I love you," never seem like enough when it comes to him. She is aware that her feelings for Jack are stronger than they ever were for Mark. At first, she felt guilty when she thought of Mark, but now she feels peace. It was difficult to admit that things with Jack were 'meant to be' without acknowledging that perhaps Mark wasn't meant to live. But she knows she had no control over what happened that night, and she certainly didn't want for it to happen. She also knows that she might not have stayed with Mark if he had lived, and could have ended up in the same place as now. But looking at Jack, she knows that with him is where she belongs. There is no question about it.
Mel is alone in the cabin one night while Jack works the dinner shift. She is curled up on the sofa with a book when she feels an odd sensation between her legs. Instinctively, her hands smooth over her belly and pelvic area, and she discovers her underwear is damp. "No!" she exclaims as she jumps up and runs into the bathroom. She lowers her pants and sees that her underwear is tinged pink with blood.
"No, no, no!" she yells, beginning to cry as she reaches for her phone. It rings and rings but Jack doesn't pick up. "Jack, I need you!" she cries to his voicemail before hanging up. She calls Doc, who answers after the first ring.
"Mel? What is it?" he asks.
"I need help," she tells him, "I'm bleeding, the baby…" she trails off, starting to cry again.
"Are you at home?" he asks.
"Yes," she replies, "And Doc? Could you bring Jack? He's not answering his phone."
"Ok, I'll be right there," he says. "And Mel? Lie down and try to stay calm, ok?"
"Ok," she says weakly, trying to feel if the baby is moving or not, but all she feels is stillness.
She hangs up and goes to the bed, carefully lowering herself into it as she waits. She tries Jack's phone several more times, but it still goes to voicemail. "Please, please, please," she silently begs, hoping that the baby is ok.
Doc arrives fifteen minutes later with Jack in tow, who rushes to her side. "Mel?" he asks. "What's wrong?"
"I was sitting on the couch and I felt something trickle out of me, and it's blood," she whispers. "Jack, I'm so sorry," she begins, but Doc cuts her off.
"No," Doc interrupts. "We don't know what is going on yet. We're going to get you up to your doctor in Clear River. I've already called there and they have the ultrasound machine. We will figure out what is going on, ok?"
Jack lifts Mel out of bed and carries her out to Doc's truck. They place her in the back seat so she can stay horizontal, her head in Jack's lap. He strokes her hair soothingly as they speed along the back roads to the doctor.
"I love you," Jack says to Mel, over and over again as he tries to comfort her. She says nothing, just cries silently into his lap.
"Are we almost there?" she questions at one point. "I really need to use the bathroom."
"Almost," Doc replies. He manages to get them to the doctor in half the time, the doctor having come into the office after hours just for Mel.
Jack carries his wife into Dr. Hewson's office, setting her down on a chair in the waiting room while they check her in at the desk. "Jack," she says, reaching for him, "I really need to go to the bathroom. Can you help me?"
"Hold that thought," Dr. Hewson says, "I'm going to need a sample. Take this," she says, handing them a specimen cup.
Mel uses the bathroom, and sure enough, there is still blood present when she cleans herself with the toilet paper. Her tears start flowing again as she takes Jack's hand, and the doctor leads them to the examination room.
"Ok Mel," the doctor says as she sets up her equipment. I'm going to do both an abdominal ultrasound and a pelvic ultrasound to check on the baby."
Mel nods, and the doctor dims the lights and turns the monitors away from Mel and Jack so that they can't see what is on the screen. Dr. Hewson is silent as she moves the wand over Mel's abdomen, her expression giving nothing away. Mel begins to shake with nerves as Jack squeezes their joined hands.
"Hey," he tells her, "It's going to be ok," he says weakly, trying to reassure her but not feeling so certain himself. He knows how important this baby is to Mel, how she has longed for a child she was told she would never have. Even Jack, who never thought of himself as being a father, finds himself loving this baby more than he ever thought possible. "Is the baby ok?" he asks finally, unable to wait any longer.
Dr. Hewson studies the monitor carefully before turning to look at Mel. "The baby is fine. Completely healthy, in fact," she replies, and Mel and Jack hug each other, sighing with relief. "Would you like to know the gender?"
"You can tell?" Jack asks. "Isn't a little early to know?"
"Well, the baby's position gave me a clear line of sight," the doctor smiles.
Mel and Jack look at each other, and Mel gives him a nod and a smile. "Ok," Jack agrees. "We want to know."
"It's a boy," the doctor says, turning the monitor towards them. Mel gasps as she looks at their son, clasping Jack's hand tightly in hers.
"That's our son," Mel says in amazement, looking up at Jack who has tears in his eyes, too.
"So if he's completely ok," Jack says, "Then what is causing the bleeding?"
"Probably just a UTI that is heading up toward her bladder," the doctor explains. "It's very common with pregnancies, as your wife knows. She'll have to take a course of antibiotics and be sure to stay hydrated, but she will be just fine." The doctor prints some photos from the ultrasound machine and hands them to Jack. "You can get dressed now, Mel. I'll call in the prescription for you. The pharmacy in town should have the medication you need." She leaves the room, and Jack turns to his wife, who has now begun crying again.
"What is it?" he asks, rushing to her side.
"We could have lost him," she says, looking at the pictures. "I was so scared, Jack. I don't know if I can do this."
"Do what?" he wonders.
"Have a healthy baby," she admits. "I couldn't before."
"What happened before wasn't your fault," he says to her, sitting beside her on the exam table and pulling her into his arms. "You are the strongest person I know. You can do anything."
"I just love him so much, already," she whispers, sniffing. She looks up at her husband, "He's part you and part me, he's us."
"Our little miracle," Jack whispers, kissing her softly. "He's perfectly healthy, you heard the doctor. And you are going to trust her, and me, too. Deal?"
Mel laughs through her tears, "Deal," she agrees, kissing him again.