AN: I was reading transcripts of old Alias episodes and realized that Laura was teaching college, not younger grades; since it actually works better for my story, and since I obviously like rewriting history, I changed it.  Shouldn't be a big deal, since I only actually had to change two sentences.  So now she's teaching undergrad classes at UCLA while working on her master's degree.

Chapter 18

The nurse woke Laura up for lunch, and Jack fed her in silence without either one of them really looking at each other.  When the nurse returned afterwards to turn the pain medication back up, Laura stopped her.  "I don't want any more medication," she said.  The nurse looked at her with raised eyebrows.  "I have been asleep almost all of the past thirty-six hours, I am not in pain, and I do not want that medicine turned back up."  Laura's tone brooked no argument.

The nurse turned to Jack.  "I don't suppose you could talk some sense into your wife."

Jack debated for a moment which side to come down on.  He would just as soon not have Laura awake for the next five hours, but, then again, he wasn't very fond of the nurse.  He made his decision.  "She seems perfectly sensible already," he said.  "And I do believe she is more qualified to determine whether she's in pain or not than you are."

The nurse shrugged.  "Fine.  You know where the call button is if you change your mind."  She turned and stalked out of the room.

Laura turned to Jack.  "Thank you," she said.

"You didn't really need my help," Jack responded.  "I thought you handled that quite nicely."

Laura grinned slightly.  "I swear, I think they prefer to keep their patients in a state of drugged unconsciousness whether they need it or not."

"I'm sure they do.  Easier on them that way."

They were quiet for a moment.  Then Laura said, "Have you had lunch?"

Jack shook his head.  "Sydney and I went to IHOP for breakfast.  I'm still full."

Laura sighed.  "Pizza last night, pancakes this morning, I'm sure Emily is feeding her cookies as we speak…feed her some vegetables tonight, Jack."

He looked at her for a moment.  "You really do care about her," he said softly, admitting it to himself for the first time.

She met his eyes, and he saw a hint of anger.  "Of course I care about her!  God, Jack, I fought the whole damn KGB to be allowed to have her, carried her in my body for nine months.  I'm her mother, and I've never had to lie about that."

Jack didn't know what to say.  He suddenly felt bad for doubting her, but then reminded himself that she was a Russian spy, that she'd lied about everything else.  One truth didn't make up for all the lies.  He wondered, though, whether there was more truth buried in the lies.  She loved her child, he believed that, but how did she truly feel about that child's father?  Just asking her would be pointless—he knew what her answer would be, he just didn't know whether to believe it or not.

"Jack?"

He was jolted out of his thoughts to see Laura looking at him worriedly.  "I…"  He started to apologize, but couldn't quite bring himself to say the words.  "I brought your hairbrush," he said instead, pulling it from his briefcase and handing it to her.

"Thanks," she said.  She put it down on her lap and struggled to get her hair to where she could reach it.

"Here, let me," Jack said.  He stood and  gently pulled her hair over her right shoulder, then picked up the brush.  "May I?"

"I'd like that," she said with a smile.  He began to carefully brush out her hair.