ack has been out of the hospital for a month. Life is returning to normal for him and Mel. He convinced his surgeon to discharge him from the hospital a few days early with the arrangement that he would stay with Mel for a few days instead. Jack thought he was getting the better end of that deal for sure! Mel was wokrries about Jack since obviously someone is out to get Jack that carries a gun. With no leads, no sign of any further danger, and Mel once again pulling away from him, Jack started staying at his place at the bar. He would gladly give Mel some space to heal and take things slowly as long as she didn't try to "friends zone" him again! So far, they settled into a nice "dating" life. Dinners together, some stolen kisses at the clinic between patients, Mel lingering around the bar after most people went home...He's been under strict "no strenuous activities" orders for 1 month and Mel was, unfortunately, making him be compliant. Their lack of physical affection likely not aiding in her distancing. Not to mention a very new and real fear she could actually lose Jack. Why did he promise he wasn't going anywhere? Might be a promise he can't keep if someone is taking shots at him!

His sister, Brie, a hot headed lawyer in San Francisco came to visit to help with things after Jack was hospitalized. She's been drawing up an agreement to have Preacher take co ownership of the bar. She's also researching paternity rights for Jack when the twins are delivered. She already tracked down Charmaine to ask for an amniocentesis to get DNA for the paternity test who said no. Even Jack agreed that it could wait until they were born. No need for additional risk. Most importantly, Brie's been forming a beautiful friendship with Mel.

Mel throws her bag into a chair at Jack's bar in front of where he is drying glasses, "hey!" She smiles

"Hey!" He responds, "how was your day at the clinic?"

She reaches over the bar to plant a quick kiss on his lips. "Just fine! How are you feeling? I probably should have checked your wound today."

"I'm fine. It's basically healed now!"

"Are you saying you no longer need a nurse…?" She flirts. She smiles slyly, "your activity restrictions are over…"

"About that…. Brie had to give up her room at the Fitches due to a fishing competition up river. I offered her my room above the bar... So... I'm basically homeless and need a place to stay…"

"Hmm. Seems like good timing. Well i feel like the cabin is half yours since you made it into the beauty that it is." She smiles sweetly, "and I KNOW you still have a key!" She teases.

"Guilty as charged! But I'm just keeping on hand in case I ever need to use it! Scouts honor. No inappropriate use!" He knows she can get offended if her independence is threatened but she seems glad he has it.

"So I'll see you after you close up?" Mel asks after she finishes her salad.

"It won't be long. Preacher is set to close tonight."

Mel heads to her cabin with butterflies in her stomach. They haven't exactly been themselves lately. It seems they take 2 steps forward and 1 back. Jack getting shot by God-knows-who only ramped up the reminders and fear that she could lose Jack too. Her heart instantly clamped back down. While he's been recovering, she's been a supportive and loving girlfriend, but she knows she taken a step back in her emotional availability. He promised her he would take things slow. But then she realized he was phenomenal in bed… so she hasn't exactly been consistent about what she needs. She isn't exactly sure what that is anyway. The heart and the head always in disagreement

Being physically limited due to medical reasons probably hasn't helped Mel and Jack's current intimacy.

There's also been Charmaine. She's been exceptionally demanding of Jack's time- whether to check on him and offer her support of his recovery or (when that tactic failed) feigning needs for his assistance. She was rather disappointed when the purchase of a home for Jack fell through as she was still holding out that the 4 of them would live there together. She insists that Jack staying with her and the babies will be the best way to raise them as newborns. She's likely not wrong - She'll need the help. Her and Mel have gotten along better since they went looking for the pot camp together but Mel knows she doesn't approve of her being with Jack still. Their consideration of her is another reason for pulling back in their romantic relationship. . It's hard to be discreet in a small town.

A knock on the door announces Jack's arrival, "come in!" She calls, "I thought you had a key!"

Once inside, "I still want to be respectful of your time and space, ma'am" he grins. He's got a packed bag slung over his shoulder that he sets down. Wrapping her in a hug he says, "hi"

Mel nuzzles into his shoulder, "hey".

"I've missed you" his hands playing with her soft curls.

"I've missed you too. You've seemed really busy lately."

"Trying to help Preacher get on top of things at the bar, Brie driving me crazy about every other day!" He smiles. He loves his sister being around and Mel knows it, "Charmaine isn't exactly being low maintenance these days. Or ever." Jack tried to make light of an already sensitive subject knowing that it's the first topic to make Mel pull away.

She physically pulls away now by putting her hand on his chest and taking a step back, "Jack see, this is when it gets so -"

Jack is prepared this time, "complicated? Yes. Hard? Yes. unsure? Yes. You can finish that sentence with a whole lot of words and I'll agree with you on every one. But I'm. Not. Going. Anywhere." He wraps his arms tightly around her waist so she can't move. "In fact, I've been thinking about getting a bungee cord and putting it around your waist. I'll put the hooks into my belt loops. That way, you can pull back a little bit but if you go too far, it'll snap you back to me!" He brings her in even closer to him. He's playful and charming as ever knowing it makes her swoon.

"But-" Mel says.

"I don't have the Charmaine and twins situation worked out yet. Brie is looking into the legal aspects and I'm thinking about what might be best for the babies. I don't know what it's going to look like. I'm sorry for that. Just- stay with me while I work it out. Please."

Mel tries to pull away and Jack's strong arms prevent her, "a bungee cord huh?" She smiles and kisses him deeply.

He grins and welcomes another kiss.

"I just hate being jealous of Charmaine" Mel admits.

"You shouldn't be. There's nothing to be jealous of."

"I can't give you a family." He sees that she still desperately wants that family.

"When the time comes, I promise we can do whatever fertility treatment you need, for as long as you want to try." Jack doesn't admit to being jealous of Mark. But he is. Jealous of a dead man. An honorable, smart, all around good guy, it seems. This is the one promise he can make that Mark couldn't.

Mel kisses him deeply again and starts lifting off his shirt, "I don't want to talk about any of this anymore."

"No?" Jack grins in anticipation

"I want to do something involving no talking" her hands running over his now bare chest.

X-x-x-x-x

Mel wakes the next day to an empty bed. She's disappointed that Jack slipped out but running a bar gets busiest on the weekends. She puts her hand out to Jack side of the bed to feel for his warmth. Her hand lands on a bungee cord and note. Smiling to herself she reads. "Just remember our bungee cord and stay with me. I love you, Jack.

Meet me at the bar for breakfast? I'll have the coffee ready."