It was such a quiet ride. Sally dropped Cruz and Mateo off at the hotel. They'd meet back up tomorrow at court. Jackson began to get out, but Sally stopped him. "Wait.. Shut the door.." Jackson frowned and shut the door. It was awkwardly quiet. Jackson sighed then asked "So.. Should I stay here? I mean.. Once you tell McQueen I'm pretty sure I won't be welcomed in your home.." Sally frowned then said. "All your stuff is at our house.. Tomorrow is court. You need a good night's sleep. I won't tell Lightning. For now.. But the longer I keep it from him, the worse it'll get.. You should leave after the trial tomorrow.." Jackson nodded and thanked her. "I'm sorry.. I read you wrong.." Jackson apologized. Sally nodded and began the drive home. "I am so sorry that I made you think I.. I just can't believe I.. Lead you.. On.." She was disgusted with herself. Jackson hunkered down in the seat and stared out the window all the way home...
Cruz sat down on the couch and grabbed her phone out. Mateo immediately asked "What do you think you are doing?" "I have to tell Lightning." She answered. Mateo sat next to her and tried convincing her out of it. "No, wait.. You do that without any proof and he is only going to reject you more. Plus.. You have me.. Right?" He smiled nervously. Cruz stared into Mateo's eyes. She sighed then stared back at her phone. "I.. I guess you're right.." She muttered. Mateo kissed her forehead and said. "That's my girl."
He then stood up. "I'll grab us some drinks and snacks and maybe we can watch a movie. Sound good?" He asked warmly. Cruz smiled and nodded. So Mateo left the motel for a few. Cruz frowned once he was gone and sat there alone. She stared at the phone, at Lightning's name. "He should know.." She whispered. But.. Mateo. Cruz stared at her phone, then the front door, then back at her phone. Biting her lip as she thought about what she wanted. Revenge? Or Mateo...
Jackson went straight to his room when they got home. Sally stared up the stairs. It wasn't her fault entirely with what happened. And she knew Lightning might blow this up even more than it needed to be. She couldn't help but think about how on earth she lead Jackson on like she did. She didn't mean to. Sally took a deep breath before heading up stairs. The home was quiet. Kids must of been asleep. Sally reached for the door handle when Minty greeted her from behind. "Hey there dear. Trip go alright?"
Sally turned around and frowned answering "Um, yeah. It was pretty good." "Great. Have a good night hun." And Minty headed off to bed. "You to.." Whispered Sally. Minty seemed to be in a good mood at least. Sally sighed and opened the door. Lightning turned and looked at her from where he was sitting on the bed and reading something on his phone. Sally put in a smile and greeted. "Hey. Hope you didn't wait for me too long." She laughed. Lightning snickered with a partial smile. Sally dropped her bags and sat down next to Lightning. "Long day tomorrow.. But.. At least this Cleo nonsense will finally be over." She sighed with relief then began taking off shoes. Lightning sighed and nodded. He stared at Sally, gazed then asked. "Um.. Soooo... Did you happen to buy that new swimsuit you talked about?"
Sally snickered being reminded about that. "No um.. Between Cruz and.. Stuff.. I was pretty busy and just wanted to get back home to you." She admitted. Lightning shrugged saying. "That's alright. You could always model around for me naked." Sally laughed at that! "You are ridiculously cute." She complimented. Lightning snickered then kissed her cheek. "Honestly I'm... Drained from the plane rides and tomorrow is court.. Could I maybe take a rain check?" Sally asked. Lightning smiled and nodded answering "Sure babe. I understand. I love you though. You are gonna owe me" He joked, then held her face in his palms and kissed her lips. A strong and firm yet beautifully passionate kiss. Sally frowned and he felt it, pulling away.
"Sal?.. What's wrong?" Lightning asked. Sally stared into his big blue eyes answering "Nothing." She promised Jackson she'd wait and she would. Lightning sighed, maybe he just didn't believe her really. Seeing right through her lies. Lightning rubbed her back suggesting they go bed for the night so they all got a good night's sleep before court tomorrow and Sally definitely agreed. Getting changed and then cuddling up into Lightning's embrace and having his scent ease her into a peaceful sleep. But she had a hard time staying asleep as she continued to think about how Lightning bought Cruz a home...
Morning came. The couple woke up a little bit before the alarm. Lightning rolled over and looked at Sally. She sighed and opened her eyes. "Morning." Lightning greeted. Sally smiled saying "Good morning." Lightning stretched a little then wrapped his arms around his wife. "Should we.. Start the day with a little... Stress relief?" His hand gliding down her body and down between her legs. Sally snickered then pulled away whining. "No.. We have a busy day ahead of us. I have so much to do.." She tried getting up, but Lightning pushed her down and crawled over top of her. He kissed her neck and collarbone first making her squirm a bit.
"Lightning.. I can't.." She whined. Lightning nibbled her earlobe and coaxed "Yes you can.." Oh his sexy and deep voice made her insides tingle, her body shake beneath him. "Lightning.. Really, I.." He kissed her lips interrupting her. Sally moaned into his mouth. Lightning kissed her with a hungry passion. Sally giggled slightly into his mouth, but she thought about what Jackson did and how much worse the news would be if she waited until after they had sex to tell him. "Lightning.." She mumbled as she turned her face away. Lightning sat above her and his brows lowered. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Sally bit her lips and lwt out a quick sigh. Looking up into his eyes she said. "Lightning I.." She paused and thought about the case. Lightning was one of Jackson's witnesses. Would Lightning do something to sabotage the trial? That meant letting Cleo free. Lightning wouldn't do that. "I.. Um.. Jackson did kiss me." She whispered. Lightning just stared at her silently. It felt like forever. "Say something.." Sally asked softly. Lightning didn't say anything though. Sally stared and Lightning stared back silently. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEP BEEP! Sally jumped and Lightning hit the alarm off so hard that Sally thought he might have broke it!
Lightning got off the bed and stood there a minute, thinking for sure. Sally sat up and further explained "I did NOT kiss him Lightning. I never would do that! I'd never had taken him along if I thought he was going to-to- to do that!" Lightning was hurt hard with this. He was still quiet. Sally stood up and hugged him tightly from behind. "Lightning I love you. Don't leave me okay?.. We've worked so hard for everything and I have NO INTEREST in Jackson! He.. He thought I.. I apparently was giving him signals." Lightning turned and faced Sally and finally spoke. "Signals? What the fuck did you say or do with him to make him think anything would, COULD happen!?" He was getting angry now.
Sally felt her heart drop as he looked at liie he did. So hurt, betrayed and angry. "I'm gonna kill him. I'm going to fucking kill him!" Lightning shouted and stomped out the room and headed down stairs, headed straight to Jackson! Sally quickly followed and tried to calm him down! "Lightning listen to me, okay!? Jackson shouldn't have done what he did, but it was ONE, very-no! Extremely soft-light kiss! It meant absolutely nothing to me. Jackson didn't know what he was doing. He's a kid!" Lightning stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned towards Sally. "Why are you defending him!?" He shouted.
Sally was speachless. Lightning growled then snarled "He crossed a line Sally! I trusted him! And in our home!" "And I trusted YOU, but that didn't seem to stop you from giving Cruz an entire house!" Sally yelled! Lightning's expression changed drastically! "You.. You know about that?.." He asked. Sally crossed her arms and nodded admitting that "Jackson told me." Lightning frowned a bit. Thinking how on earth he was going to explain that one. "So when did you do that? Hmm?" Sally asked rudely. She was sort of trying to change the subject and Lightning knew it. "One problem at a time. Jackson is dead!" Lightning snapped back and headed to the young man's room with Sally close behind.
Lightning busted through the door and called in anger, "Storm! Get your ass up here now!" He was so furious!" Sally quickly reminded "There are better ways to handle this!" "I'm not gonna use violence. But he is out of here! Out of my academy! I never wanna see him near us, near YOU again! Did he force you!?" Lightning asked. Sally shook her head explaining "No, just.. He literally just unexpectedly and suddenly kissed me quickly.. He thought I wanted him to for...Some reason.." She frowned. Jackson still hadn't come up. Lightning shouted down again. "Get up here or I'm coming down there!" No answer, so Lightning stomped quickly down the stairs!
Sally followed a few steps behind. Lightning got down there and announced "He's not here.. That coward.." Sally immediately panicked! She ran down and looked around seeing all of Jackson's stuff GONE. "He left!?" Sally shouted! Lightning only growled "Good riddance.." "We have to find him!" Sally shouted in pure panic. Lightning's eyes widened! "WHAT!? First you defend him and now you want to go out and find him and bring him back!?" "Without Jackson there is no case! Cleo's lawyer will motion to dismiss and without Jackson, more than likely it will be. Cleo is going to be freed unless Jackson shows up at court because he'sthe only reason she's still there!!" Sally explained!
Lightning stared at the empty bed and the room as they both stood there silently for a minute or so. Sally rubbed her hands over her face before bringing up other things. "When and why did you buy Cruz a home?.." Her voice, the tone of it stung. Lightning closed his eyes and thought of what to say here and now. He turned and faced her before answering "A settlement.. In a way." "A settlement? For what damages?" Asked Sally. Lightning sighed and explained "I don't know.. She didn't have a place and she kept.. Around me so much and a motel is no place to raise a kid. She needed a new start and some place not with us, in this town." "So a new start, started with a house that you bought for her?" Sally asked in confusion.
Lightning frowned. He didn't really know. He knew Cruz shouldn't raise Miguel like she was and a home would have helped, it did help it seemed. "Look... I.. Can't tell you why I did it exactly.. I just.." "Can't or just won't let Cruz go completely. Because now I know, that everyday that she walks into her front door with the feeling of gratitude towards you for that.. Beautiful home." Sally was hurt. Lightning shrugged. "You want a house like that? I can find a way to get you one. No big deal." He replied. "No big deal!? First off, I thought you were broke!?" Sally snapped. Lightning shook his head then explained "I am in a way... I mean.. Sally, I'm sorry." Sally glared and corrected "No, you're not. You don't seem to see anything even wrong with what you did!.." She yelled at him. It fell silent.
Lightning was more worried Sally was going to leave him again now. First a kiss ans this news. He really was just.. Being nice and trying to get Cruz convinced to leave him alone. "Look, I only got her the hous in hopes she'd.. You kmow.. Stay away for good!" Sally's jaw dropped! "So you're whore, your mistress, that slut wants your attention, you buy her a house to shut her up for a while!?" "Well.. When you say it like that it's"-"WHATS NEXT!?" Sally interrupted! "You going to give her the academy!? THE BOLT!?" Sally turned and left up the stairs shouting as she did, "Better hope Jackson is just at the courthouse! Or Cleo is getting out!" She slammed the door shut. Leaving Lightning alone downstairs in the dark room. He sighed and thought about all of this. Jackson and Sally, the house for Cruz. Sally had to find loopholes in preparation that Jackson didn't show up.
When Sally put it like she did.. Lightning buying things for his mistress to keep her quiet, at bay like that. It did sound pretty bad. And now Cleo had a chance to be free? That wasn't his fault though. That was Sally and Jackson's fault. He was going to kill Jackson if he saw him now for multiple reasons. (Not really) But hw was going to let the kid have it!