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"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous." –Ingrid Bergman
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Chapter 13
In Which Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness and Death Is Still Inevitable
Jack and Cappi spent the rest of the day together, just driving around. When darkness finally began to settle in on the small town, they headed back to the old Porter House.
"God, Jack, how do you live in all this filth?" Cappi asked, kicking up dust as she entered the house.
Jack just shrugged, "It doesn't matter. I won't be here long."
"It does, too, matter. All this dust can make you sick," she said in a motherly tone.
"It doesn't matter," he repeated, "I won't be here long."
"Well, how long do you plan on staying."
He shrugged again, "I don't know."
"Well, how long have you stayed everywhere else?"
"Anywhere from six months to a year. By then it's usually time to move on."
"You can't live like this for six months," Cappi told him, "Tomorrow we'll work on cleaning this place up."
"Fine," Jack griped, "Have it your way."
"Oh, I will," she replied, mocking his usual grin.
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"Rise and shine, sleepy head," Cappi said, poking Jack in the ribs.
It was seven o'clock in the morning, and she was standing in the living room of the old Porter House. Jack was asleep on the couch, snoring lightly.
She poked him again, and his eyes flew open. He glanced up at her and then closed them again.
"Damn, woman," he muttered, "don't you know what time it is?"
"You know," she said, ignoring his comment, "you really should consider locking the door at night. I mean, someone could break in."
"Who would want to break into this place?" Jack asked, opening one eye to look at her.
"Well, obviously me," she replied.
Jack chuckled softly and closed his eye again.
"Uh-uh. You're getting up, mister," Cappi said, pushing him off the couch.
He landed on the floor with a loud thump and groaned.
"Damn, woman, don't you know what time it is?" he muttered again.
"Do you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
Jack just shook his head and pulled himself off the floor.
"Get dressed. We've got work to do," Cappi told him.
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By noon, the pair had made a small dent in the dirt and grime that covered the living room.
Cappi stood and wiped her hand across her brow.
"Well," she said, "I think it's time for a break."
"Thank the Lord," Jack muttered.
"Why don't we head down to my house, and I'll make us some lunch," Cappi said.
"Okay," Jack agreed.
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Lunch was uneventful. The duo just sat around eating and talking about music, movies, and all the places Jack had been (Santa Fe, California, New York, Canada, Paris, London, etc.). And by nightfall, the living room and kitchen of the old Porter House were spotless and shining. Cappi decided that they would move onto the bedroom and bathroom the next day.
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"Jack?" Cappi asked.
They were lying in the field behind her house, gazing up at the stars, talking about nothing in particular.
"Uh-huh?" he asked, yawning.
"What did you mean when you said 'death is inevitable no matter who you are?'" she asked, looking up at him.
He took a deep, shuddering breath and spoke softly, "When you love someone and they don't love you back, a part of you dies. And after a while you find someone else and the dead part doesn't really matter anymore. It's there, but you don't notice it as much. Well, some people can't find anyone else, and the dead part just keeps getting bigger and bigger. And there's no one that can make it better so eventually they just kind of...die. I mean, they don't physically die. But the dead part of their heart sort of takes over and...kills their soul. They become this...just this...thing—a soulless, heartless, barely living thing."
Cappi just furrowed her brow at his speech and nodded curtly.
"Jack?" she asked again after several moments of silence had passed.
"Uh-huh?" he questioned, sleepily.
"Why did you kiss me yesterday?"
Jack paused for a moment as if in thought and then replied slowly, "I guess...well, I guess you just reminded me so much of Bess. I mean, I don't know. I like you, Cappi. I do, but—"
"Jack."
"What?"
"Shut up," Cappi said, and she leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips.
Much to her surprise, he didn't pull away at first, but responded with equal tenderness. Though after a few moments, he seemed to come to his senses and pushed her away.
"Jack," Cappi pleaded.
"Don't," he said, brusquely.
"Don't what, Jack? Don't love you?" she asked, her voice beginning to shake with tears.
"Don't," he said again, unable to look her in the eyes.
"Jack," she pleaded.
He turned away from her.
"Jack?"
"God damn it, Jack," she said, stepping in front of him, "Don't do this to me?"
"Do what?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Act like you care. Open your heart to me. Kiss me like you mean it."
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did."
"I didn't."
"Did."
"Didn't."
"God, Jack, we're arguing like five year olds," Cappi exclaimed, throwing her arms into the air in mock defeat.
"I didn't," he whispered, defiantly.
"Jack?"
"What?"
"Shut up," she said, and for the second time that night, she leaned forward and kissed him.
Only this time, he responded with a more fervent need, pressing his lips to hers roughly.
"Cappi," he said, pulling away for air.
"What?" she asked, gasping for breath.
"Thank you," he said softly, returning his lips to hers.
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A/N: Ack! So fluffy!!! ((sigh)) I can't help it...the fluffy pink llamas have invaded my brain and won't leave until I surrender to them. ((sigh)) Review for the sake of the llamas.