Chapter Five: Afterglow

Jack and Erica lay in each others arms as the sun rose. Both wore the same smile of contentment.

"You were truly inspired" Jack said softly, planting small kisses on her forehead.

Smiling, Erica looked up at Jack and replied, "You are all the inspiration I need". With that, they kissed again, each kiss building on the next, re-igniting their passion from the night before.

********

Two hours passed before either needed or wanted to speak again. This time, Erica broke the silence. "Do you still want to talk?"

"About what?" Jack asked jokingly. Before she could respond, he continued. "Erica, I don't regret last night in the least."

"Well, what about this morning?"

Jack detected a note of insecurity in Erica's question. He lifted her chin gently and, while looking directly into her eyes, he replied "I have no regrets. I have only love for you sweetheart." He continued cautiously. "But we still have issues to iron out. Remember, that whole 'truth' and 'honesty' thing?"

"Ah, yes, that" Erica replied, knowing that she wouldn't be able to skirt the issue much longer. "What if I go home, change into something a little less, uh, revealing and we can talk later at the penthouse?"

Jack laughed. "Nope. No deal. We talk here and now. I'll get you a shirt to put on." Jack got out of bed, slipped into a robe and grabbed an old shirt for Erica. Erica slipped into the shirt. She loved that it she could still smell his cologne on it. He watched her as she happily and lovingly wrapped her tiny body inside his warm shirt. "Come here", he whispered deeply. She responded without question. He wrapped her into his arms again and kissed her softly on the lips. "I love you so much." Then, as if catching himself, he pulled away, took her by the hand and led her into the kitchen.

******

Reggie was having breakfast in the kitchen, wearing his headphones, and bopping happily to his music. He saw Jack as he entered the room. Without missing the beat, he shouted above the music in his ears "Hey, wuzzup J?" Then he saw Erica, dressed only in Jack's shirt. He didn't even attempt to conceal his happiness. For this, he took off the headphones. "Whoa, hey Erica! Aw, man, so your little plan worked? That's great! So, J, when's the wedding. You know, I still remember my speech----"

Jack cut him off. "Wait a minute, Reggie. Erica and I have a lot to work through. We still have a long road ahead before we can talk about a wedding. Besides, we've discussed your interference in my personal life. Please, Reggie, I know you mean well, but you need to stay out of this."

Reggie considered Jack's words for a minute then grinned at Erica. "So, mom, what can we get you for breakfast?". Erica smiled back at Reggie but Jack was not amused. "Isn't it time for school?"

"Alright, alright. But, you two behave yourselves while I'm gone" Reggie replied as he headed out the door for school.

Erica was smiling broadly as Reggie left the loft. Jack turned to her and apologized on his behalf.

"It's perfectly alright", she replied. "I understand Reggie. We really are a lot alike. He just wants a family and he'll move heaven and earth to get one. I can relate to that."

Jack saw the truth in the analogy. On one level he had understood why Erica kept the truth about Greenlee from him. Reggie's situation made things clearer for him. But, he still needed to confront Erica about her creative truth telling. "What did Reggie mean when he said that 'your little plan worked'?" Jack asked.

" I asked Reggie to make himself scarce because I had a surprise for you" she reported honestly. "I hope you are not angry with me about that?".

"No. No, not at all" Jack replied, blushing slightly over the memory of Erica's surprise. Then, looking at his watch, he noticed the time. "Look, maybe we will need to take a raincheck on our little talk--"

"Don't you mean an encore?" Erica teased.

"No, I mean a raincheck. And, I mean a talk, a real talk", Jack replied seriously. " Right now I need to get down to the courthouse. Lena is being arraigned today. They think she killed Cambias"

"What! Lena? How? Does Bianca know? Why didn't you tell me this!?" Erica sounded angry.

"First of all, you didn't leave much time for talking last night and secondly, I didn't think you'd particularly care what happened to Lena", Jack replied, trying to maintain his composure.

"Of course I care what happens to Lena. Bianca still loves her. I have made my peace with her. Jack, how could you even suggest that I wouldn't care. Do you think I'm heartless?"

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. Listen, I'll tell you whatever you want to know when we talk later."

"Whatever I want to know? Does that include whatever happened or didn't happen in the evidence room?" Erica asked pointedly. Jack wanted desperately to change the subject. But, he was unable to resist the one issue that plagued him. "Only if you are ready to tell me what you and David did on the night that Cambias disappeared".

With that, Erica's good mood quickly disintegrated. "So, the only truth that you are interested in is mine? Isn't trust a two way street, counselor?"

"Erica, I can't tell you anything more about the evidence room. I don't want to involve you any further in this whole investigation."

"Well, for that same reason, I can't tell you about what David and I were doing that night" Erica responded angrily. "Why is it that when I want to protect you from the truth, I'm perceived as being dishonest. But, when you claim to be protecting me, it's considered virtuous and noble? How arrogant!"

Jack wisely ignored the question, persisting in his attempt to get Erica to open up about her involvement in Michael's disappearance and murder. "Erica, don't you see, I need you to trust me. I need you to know that whatever your secret is, I will keep it. I can only protect you if you tell me the truth. Let me worry about the fallout. Just tell me, please. Trust me enough to do that, please Erica." Jack was clearly desperate to help the woman he loved. But, Erica was still seething. She ignored his plea.

"Jack, you haven't answered my question. You want me to trust you. You want me to tell you everything, to lay it all on the line. But, you won't do that for me? How can we 'work through our issues' if you won't trust me? Jack, if you don't want to marry me, just have the courage to say it!" As she spoke the words, she pulled her coat back on and headed for the door.

"What? This has nothing to do with--- Erica, wait, please-!" Jack tried to calm her, to get her to stay so he could explain things further. But, Erica was not listening. She hurried out of the loft, almost knocking over a bewildered Tad Martin, who had come to see Jack.

"Hurricane Erica, I presume", Tad yelled after Erica as she breezed out of sight. He peeked into Jack's loft, afraid of the state in which he might find his old friend.