Jack and Jill IV
Chapter 33
Rick found a way through the door and into her bedroom. "Alexis?"
"Go away, Dad." She wanted to cry in peace.
"I can't do that, Pumpkin." Rick almost never called her his pet name since his accident. She was Alexis and she deserved not to be called some child's pet name he had for her. But he needed to reach her and since she turned over to face him it looked like it worked to perfection.
"I heard the word sex and since I know you well enough I can rule Storm out. So that leaves Jayne," Rick said since he knew it wasn't Kate. There were just the five of them and Jack and Jill were just projections. He couldn't actually touch them so that left him with Jayne. "Why are you in here crying?"
Alexis sniffed and wiped her tears away. "You're not going to question why Jayne?"
"Besides the fact that he has to be close to ten years your senior? No. My accident left you trapped in a Penthouse with me. You didn't date, didn't even try. I'm not sure you ever even left the Penthouse. My nineteen-year-old daughter who was what? Seventeen at the time of my accident? So you want to tell me what happened out there?" Rick asked her. He didn't need to know why she was having sex with Jayne just yet. He just needed to get her to stop crying.
"He doesn't even like me, Dad," Alexis said, her voice shaking. He just wanted sex with her.
"Start from the beginning. How did this start? Was this his idea or yours?" Rick questioned her.
Alexis sniffed again. "Mine. I wouldn't let him say no. I didn't force him but I didn't let him talk."
Rick frowned. "So his not talking to tell you anything is your fault?"
Was his not talking her fault? Storm was angry that it was her and pounding away at Jayne and it didn't look like he was even fighting back. Just trying to not get blasted by Storm. Alexis sniffed. "You're not angry?" Storm clearly was.
"No, Alexis, I'm not angry. Confused certainly but not angry. I just want to know if you know what you're doing. You say you started this but won't let him talk. So did you do this just for the sex or because you like him?" Rick waited patiently for her answer.
Alexis wiped her nose. "Both, I think." She really didn't know why she was so upset. It actually had started out as just sex. She hadn't had anyone for so long she was beginning to wonder if she was ever going to have sex.
Then Jack and Jill came along and an enemy fleet and now they were out here in the middle of nowhere Panama with no real neighbors. Her chances of finding anyone were dwindling fast. Hell even if nothing happened and she had hired who she wanted, would anything have changed?
Lots of sex later – some really great sex – had she suddenly started to care emotionally? Had she planned on just sex and let it turn into something else?
"You need to work that out, Alexis. Men can't read women's minds no matter how badly they want us to. Men don't speak well as it is. It's just not our thing. If you want to know what he's thinking you need to ask.
"So why is Storm involved in this?" Rick had arrived pretty much after the fact.
"I don't really know. I heard noise and saw Storm pounding away at Jayne and ran outside to stop them. I blamed Storm since he was the one doing all the swinging. I don't know what his problem is." Alexis started to wonder if it was all on Storm.
Even after the fight had finally stopped she hadn't let Jayne move or say a thing. Had she become that controlling? She was in charge of all of her dad's companies for the most part. She had made all the decisions before the enemy fleet had shown up to avoid losing a lot of money.
"I need to find him." Alexis began to sit up.
"Dressed like that?" Rick asked her and watched her look down at herself and realize she only had a bra for a top.
"Probably not like this." Then Alexis sat there. Her bra covered almost everything and she had a bikini that showed off more than this bra did. "What am I going to tell him?" Suddenly she really did need her dad's advice. She'd never had a mother to fall back on. All she had her whole life was her dad and she loved him.
"My advice since I'm not angry and you're a grown woman is this: Go find him and let him do the talking. It sounds like you've done all the talking up to now. If it isn't just sex any longer you need to find out what he's thinking.
"But Alexis, Pumpkin, you need to know what you're thinking first so you know what to tell him after letting him talk," Rick told her. "So get dressed, stay here, and think. I'm going to go find Storm if he's still here. And no, Pumpkin, I'm not angry." Rick spun his chair around and made his way out her bedroom door and outside.
Now he needed to find everyone. Everything seemed to be going fine and now this, damn it.
oOo
Rick was rolling down the road and saw a truck headed his way. Storm was behind the wheel and stopped before he ran him down. It was time to have a little father to son talk. Something they didn't do. Ever.
oOo
"Go find a beer or something and make sure the puppies aren't in the damn pool." Kate pushed him toward the main house and walked to Alexis's cottage. Hers was good-sized and it had red clay tile roof like the main house. All the huts had a thick thatched roof.
Kate found Alexis dressed for a change. "Come on, Alexis. Let's sit down and have a talk. Your father is, I think, looking for Storm and Jayne's off having a beer and making sure the puppies haven't drowned themselves in the pool. Maybe teaching them how to get into the pool wasn't such a good idea, but it's too late now." Kate sat down and waited for Alexis.
"You're angry." Someone had to be angry at what she had done.
"Alexis, I'm not here to judge. I'm the one with a record, remember? Sentenced to five years. But I'm here if you need me." Kate started off with. "Before we even came here I saw you walking funny. Like muscles you're not used to using were sore. Trust me, I'm familiar with that feeling. It hurts but it's a good kind of hurt. All you need is a lot more practice and it'll stop hurting and become a lot more enjoyable.
"So why Jayne? You're young, you're pretty, and I'm betting you're rich. And I don't mean your dad's rich. I mean you're rich. You could have gotten out of the penthouse and met people. So what do you see in him?"
Alexis wouldn't look at her. "You'll think it's silly."
"Bet you I won't. One strike says I won't," Kate offered and listened to Alexis chuckle a little.
"I'm not a virgin. Wasn't even before Jayne, but I also don't have a lot of experience. Suddenly I saw my pale skin up against his ebony skin. The contrast was so striking and I liked it. I still like it.
"I started it and he tried to say stop but I stopped him. He could have rejected me, I suppose. I just couldn't help myself. Then I found out just how big he is. …He's big, really big. It almost hurt getting him inside me. I was sore for days.
"All I saw was his ebony skin against my pale skin. It's why I have an entire case of sunscreen. I'm going to get burnt to crisp out here. Unlike living indoors in the Penthouse.
"I liked it. He's good, soft, caring, and big, really big. And I can't get his skin color out of my mind. …Then suddenly Storm was trying to pound the shit out of him because he found out about us. What gives him the right to decide who I can and cannot have sex with?" Alexis was getting angry all over again.
Kate just sat there and said nothing, letting her talk.
"So I finally got them to stop and blew up on Storm and told him to get out. He actually left, didn't he?" Had she really screwed up even more?
"No, he's still here. Jayne mostly stopped him but I was there," Kate said. "I think since it's Jayne and you're his only granddaughter, he couldn't take it. So he tried to put a stop to it."
"By pounding the shit out of Jayne?" Alexis asked incredulously.
"Pretty much, yeah," Kate said.
Alexis shook her head. "Men. I'll never understand them. They use their muscles while we use our heads. Except maybe in my case."
"Men have always been a mystery, Alexis. They always will be. I'm betting they think the same about us. We talk to our girlfriends about all the sex we're having. How many times we've had to fake it because all they want to do is fuck us."
"Jayne doesn't. I mean he doesn't do just that. Granted I've initiated all of our sex. But I think he wants me. I don't even know if he likes me." Alexis slumped.
"It sounds like you two need to have a nice long talk. Do you at least like him? Or is it just all about the sex?" Kate questioned her. "Which is fine if that's what you both want out of this."
"It started out that way. Now I'm not so sure." Alexis was still trying to understand just what it was. It was still their skin color and she couldn't get past that.
"Since you're worried that he doesn't like you, it sounds like you like him. He's getting a beer so he's either in the kitchen or at the pool making sure the puppies don't drown themselves. I should never have gotten them to learn how to use the pool." Kate shook her head. That might turn out to be a mistake.
"Go talk to him. I'm going to go find Rick and Storm. Hopefully they haven't killed each other. I left Rick with a weapon that has a suppressor so we won't even hear it." Kate doubted it but today had been one hell of a day so far.
"We need to take the puppies to the vet tomorrow. They all need shots. Take Jayne with you and you two can keep talking. If you like him then find out if he likes you too." Kate got up to leave her.
Alexis stopped her. "Thank you, Kate. For not thinking badly of me."
"I've done worse, trust me. And no, that's not a strike," Kate pointed at her. Then she walked out to find Rick and Storm and maybe the medical kit.
Alexis grinned. She finally got up and headed for the pool to begin with. Just to make sure the puppies weren't in the pool.
oOo
Alexis found the puppies crashed and sleeping together in the patio under the overhang where Jayne was sitting and sipping his beer. "Hi." Alexis sat down across from him so she wasn't trying to force herself on him again.
She stared at the table then glanced up at him. "You're angry at me."
Jayne shook his head. "I'm angry at myself. You're his granddaughter. After what happened to Martha and what he did after that, I should've known better. We've been together for a while so I know." Jayne knew a lot. It was why he trusted Storm and what he was capable of. For what they did, they needed mutual trust. That was probably blown to shit now.
"Grams." Alexis had forgotten about that actually. She knew, but she didn't put Grams and herself together in what Storm would think or do. "I'm sorry. I didn't let you talk because I knew you would stop me and I didn't want you to. So I used my position to stop you.
"At first it was all about the sex and yes, I loved all the sex. I…I do like you. I know we're not really compatible given what you do with Storm. But it isn't just the sex any longer. At least not for me.
"You can talk now and I'll listen." If he was going to say he was going to stop having sex with her she was going to cry. If he said he didn't like her she was going to cry. Did she love him? She didn't have an answer for that. But it definitely wasn't just the sex any longer.
Jayne finished his beer first and set the bottle down. "You're Storm's granddaughter and I know he cares about you and his son. Maybe he's no father and no grandfather but he does care or he wouldn't have dropped everything and rushed to you.
"He pulled in favors from all over to get what we needed in your Penthouse. Do I know if he's rich?" Jayne shrugged. "He's not poor, I know that much. He's skilled in what he does and he's taught me a lot. That jet we flew here in is his. It's worth millions even if he can't fly it.
"He can fly helicopters; I just happen to be better at it," Jayne conveyed to her. He leaned far forward and looked at her. "Alexis, I've done things. Things that if I explained them to you would make you sick. You're sweet, soft, intelligent, and yes, incredibly sexy and lovely. And yes, I'm trapped in the difference between us. I see your soft velvet skin against mine and I can't stop you even if I should. I really should have to prevent what happened. I saw it coming and did nothing.
"You yelled at me, wanting to know if I like you. …Alexis, I'm scared to like you. We're about as different as it gets. What happens if we keep doing this and suddenly I find that I don't just like you, I love you?
"What happens when we defeat the Amplitur and this Weave fleet shows up? The war has come to us. We're involved in it now for good or bad. If we're the very best ground troops we could end this war. A war that has lasted several millennia could end in maybe a single generation.
"Earth will be out in the galaxy. Real aliens won't be science fiction any longer."
Alexis looked up at him. "You would leave to fight this war." She was going to miss him. If it took months and months to reach that point she might be in love with him by then. Watching him leave would hurt.
"I won't know that till that time comes. I do know that I would die before I let anyone hurt you. Your life comes first," Jayne told her.
"Don't do that. Please." Alexis felt tears welling up. Maybe she cared too much already.
"I don't plan on it, but if it's you or me, it's going to be me," Jayne told her since she didn't have a choice.
"So is there an us or has Storm ruined it? If not, you need to move in. Move your clothes and help me with George and Gracie. And you still owe me horse riding lessons," Alexis said then played that over again in her head.
"I mean, please move in with me. I want to try. If it doesn't work out then it doesn't work out. Besides if you're close you can protect me easier." Alexis amended her statement to make it sound less like an order. Something she was doing too much with him already.
"Just so long as you promise to leave the HK-47 alone. I thought sure you were going to kill both of us by accident with that thing," Jayne joked and got Alexis laughing.
"I don't know how you control that thing." She barely held onto it.
"More muscles, lots of training, and experience," Jayne said with a grin.
That was one more thing she had forgotten that she liked about him. HIS MUSCLES!
"So you don't mind my ugly face and my bald head." Jayne knew he wasn't the most handsome man. He wasn't ugly really but handsome? No.
"You're not ugly and I like your bald head. Do I get to start shaving it now?" She was betting he shaved it to keep it that silky smooth.
Jayne tilted his head and thought about that. "Only if I get to shave your pubic hair to get the look I want that might not be what you want." She kept herself pretty bald and he loved her little orange pubic hair. He wanted more of them.
Alexis opened her eyes wide. She shaved her legs, armpits, and her pubic hair herself. He actually want to shave her down there? "Deal, but if you cut me the deal is off. But I want to shave your pubic hair. I want you bald down there as well." She wanted him smooth with no hair at all.
"Next thing I know you'll want to shave my chest." Jayne was beginning to wonder just how far she was willing to take his shaving stuff.
"Only if you don't keep up with it. That and your back." Alexis gestured to his chest and smiled.
"Like I can shave my own back." Jayne rolled his eyes like Kate had unwittingly taught him and saw Alexis smiling. "I yell ouch once and the deal's off." Jayne pointed right back at her.
"You got a deal. We can seal the deal with sex tonight," Alexis offered. Jayne smiled and shook his head at her.
oOo
Rick found Storm eventually. "You have a problem with Jayne and Alexis."
"And you don't?" Storm demanded.
"Alexis is a grown woman who's been trapped in my Penthouse since my accident. I demanded a DNR and she fought me every step of the way. She doesn't date, doesn't go out with her friends if she even still has any friends. She even gave up her plans for college.
"You're asking me if I want to make her even more of a prisoner than she already is? The answer is no. Jayne isn't some homicidal psycho killer who's sick in the head. Maybe his job is a little unusual but at least he has one. So what's your problem with them," Rick asked, "Dad."
Storm sat on the bumper and sighed. "After Martha I wanted better for her. Jayne is almost like me. Just a younger version of me. They killed Martha because of me. What if they kill Alexis because of Jayne? I want better for her. Don't you?"
"I always want what's best for Alexis. But I'm also not going to dictate how she lives her life. Guide her, yes. Question some of her choices, yes. Once Jack has finished fixing me and I can actually walk, maybe I'll have more to say. But I helped trap her in my Penthouse and I've been a terrible father." Rick looked at Storm sorrowfully.
"If she's found a way to make herself happy, especially with what's going to happen now, I'm all for it. You should be too. If Jayne does hurt her you have my permission to hurt him. Till then, leave him alone. They're adults, let them figure it out for themselves. Maybe they'll decide it will never work but maybe it will. What's life going to be like after we drive the Amplitur away then start building ships to chase after them to make them pay for this? If you're smart enough to answer that then you're better than I am." Rick leaned back in his chair.
Storm shook his head. He had ideas but what was actually going to happen. He could guess though.
"Alexis called you for a job. Are you running away from that job, Dad?" Rick asked him.
Storm didn't quit anything and his own son was using that against him. "No, I'm not leaving and I'll do my best to not interfere. Just so long as you know I'm going to offer my opinion on those two. I just won't force it."
"I can handle that." Rick reached out to shake his hand, something he could actually do now.
"You've got a deal, Son. If only Martha could see us now." Storm shook his hand.
"That's her voice you're hearing in your head, Dad. You're just not used to listening to it," Rick told him.
"She's whispering a little too softly then." Storm grinned since he knew Martha never raised her voice over anything. She was the most perfect person he had ever met and they had killed her. He still wasn't sorry for what he did after that. He just wished they were still suffering for what they had done after all these years.