Author's notes: Just a short update...

Control - Part Five

"What's wrong, Jack?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, I'm just tired."

"You've been quiet since you got back from dinner... is something wrong? Is Kim OK? Is..."

He looked at her. He couldn't really tell her the truth, could he? How Kim had mentioned that Teri had been on a date. How he had just stared at his daughter and felt so cold inside. He was sleeping with another woman – about to make love to her right now – and he was so upset by the news of Teri just going on a date? He didn't want to know. He didn't want to hear that Teri was moving on without him. But Kim had said it for a reason. She wanted him to get angry. And he had to work hard not to seem upset but after he had dropped her off, after he had stayed outside his old home and stared at the windows seeing a glimpse of Teri, he had felt hurt and angry and he had banged his fists against the steering wheel. Betrayed. It was all very illogical and hypocritical and childish - he was being a jerk.

But it all got him thinking. Why had she asked him to move out? The problems they had for years? The problems she had with his job? Or didn't she love him anymore? It was odd – throughout all their hard times he never once thought about leaving her. Never. And he had always been so certain of his love for her – and her love for him. It would work out, he had thought. Things will get better. But of course he had been lazy and he hadn't been willing to really work at it. He didn't think Teri had been working too hard at it either. No matter how much he loved her they had slowly drifted apart. Marrying so young had its disadvantages – you never got a chance to become a whole person on your own. It seemed like they had been 'Jack and Teri' and then 'Jack, Teri and Kim' forever.

So what had happened when she started her new job? Something she was so good at and he admired her immensely for? She had become engulfed by it – no wonder... His job had taken up most of his time for years and now she had found something to burn for – when he wasn't enough. He knew very little about her job, didn't understand even when she passionately tried to explain, and he felt bad for not being more interested. Now they both had jobs devouring them but neither of them felt like they could discuss it with the other.

So what had been left? Kim. They had Kim. But Kim was a teenager now – she had no desire to hang out with her parents. Friends, school, her part-time job were more important now.

The house had seemed empty without her. A silence, an uncomfortable silence, had rested over the house as soon as Kim had slammed the door behind her on her way to adulthood.

When Teri had asked him to leave he had been shocked and surprised. It shouldn't have surprised him though. Teri was much braver than he. She at least acknowledged there was a problem. He just stuck his head in the sand. And now he was paying the price.

He smiled and looked at the woman in front of him. What price? His hand reached out and pulled down the strap of Nina's top. First the left and then the right. She was still looking at him questioningly. Did she know what he was thinking now?

"It's OK to say you miss them, Jack..."

Apparently she did.

"How come I feel like you know everything about me?" He pulled her close and kissed her shoulder.

She smiled up at him secretively.

"And how come I sometimes feel like I know nothing about how you feel?" He stared into her eyes.

She became serious and kissed him. "I think you know me better than anyone, Jack" she whispered. "But..."

He smiled and kissed her. "It's OK, Nina... you don't have to..." More kisses, harder and more persistent. His hands pulled down her top.

But she continued. "There are things that I don't want to share with anyone... I think you know what that is like too..."

He nodded against her neck. Mumbling his response. He knew. He understood. But right now he didn't want to talk. All he wanted was to hear her moan his name, telling him how much she wanted him...