After a short ride home Jack walked through the wooden door and entered his home, and was immediately greeted by Kimberly running up to him with outstretched arms and a gleeful look on her face as he pulled her into a tight embrace. As he hugged his daughter he realised that he didn't want to let go. He had come close to loosing her yesterday, and he wasn't going to risk it again, the stakes were too high.
He rested his chin on her head and whispered, "Are you okay?"
She continued to bury her head in his shoulder, and he herd a muffled, "Were fine Dad." As he looked up he saw Terri leaning against the pine door frame, her hair still wet, she had just had a shower. She was watching the two and her expression changed, she smiled as the two locked eyes, Jack's own eyes lighting up like fireworks in the process. He stared at her gleefully and wanted nothing more than to smother her in kisses.
He was a little hurt when she stayed stood where she was, she didn't rush over to see him as Kim had, but he assumed she didn't want to ruin his moment with Kim. Eventually pulling away from Kim he gently asked her if she would give him and her Mom a few minutes alone. She nodded, announcing that she was going to her room so she could call her friend Monica. Before she could leave Jack softly kissed her on her forehead, and then she sauntered along the hallway before entering her room, firmly shutting the cream door behind herself.
Once Kim was out of view Jack walked through the hallway approaching Terri. As he moved the state of his exhaustion really hit him - he thought it was bad at C.T.U. but it was now unbearable - he needed sleep. He held a hand against the wall to steady himself and he noticed that the lights had been dimmed - which wasn't helping his fight to stay awake.
As he reached for her he threw his strong arms around her pulling her closer to him before locking her in his strong embrace. He rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the nagging sensation in his head which was telling him that she was barely hugging him back. He pulled away briefly to run his hand down her cheek softly before kissing her deeply. After they finished he smiled at her, before asking her the question to cure his doubts.
"Is everything okay sweetheart?"
"Yeah... What's going on at C.T.U.? How come they didn't let you go home straight away with us? I thought the threat was gone?" Her voice displayed concern, for herself and Kim. Not Jack.
Jack thought quickly about what to tell her and decided to play it down, he didn't want to worry her with the fact that her husband could be sent to prison. "I had to debrief and it took a little longer, given the circumstances, but yes, the threat is gone. Your safe now, I promise." He put an emphasis on the last sentence, and then leaned in to kiss her again, and was hurt when she turned her head slightly so he couldn't do so.
To prevent him from trying again she asked, "You must be hungry, let me fix you something to eat."
"No thanks." Jack replied quietly, it was clear what she was trying to do, and he was hurt by her strange behaviour. "I'm really tired I haven't slept since Monday, so I'm going to catch up."
"Okay." She said before turning away and heading towards the kitchen.
"Night." He said sadly to her retreating back. She didn't hear him. He slouched down the hallway disappointed. He reached their room and collapsed on the bed without a seconds thought. He found sleep instantly.
After Jack went into their room Terri collapsed into her creamy puffy armchair and began to cry to herself. She held on of her home made embroided cushions to her face to try silence the loud sobs coming from her. The last thing she wanted was for him to hear her. She was angry at herself for being so cold to him, she knew it was the last thing he needed with everything he had gone through - but she couldn't help it.
She knew what happened to her wasn't his fault but she couldn't help but think about it when he was near her. Every time he touched her with his warm hands she had images of Eli coming towards her. The thought made her shudder, the comparison of him to Jack made her want to throw up - Jack was nothing like that monster. But still, she couldn't help but think of him when Jack was near her, she didn't know what she was going to do.
She let out a laugh through the tears as she thought of the lecture she had given Kim yesterday in that old water tower. What had she said? "Right now we need to be strong for your father.." or something along the lines of that. 'I screwed that one up,' she thought, angry at herself for not being able to ignore it. She knew that she and Kim would have to put their ordeal behind them or it would destroy him.
She knew he had a tendency to blame himself, she had witnessed it herself just two years ago, after Jack went away on some 'training session.' He had changed after that, which made her certain it was some sort of covert operation he was on, and she could only imagine what had made him so angry yet guilty at the same time. It was obvious he was shouldering the guilt for something that went wrong.
She also knew just how overprotective he was of his family. She was positive that the two combined would take their toll on him, and she couldn't put him through that again, she wouldn't. She didn't want to see him deteriorate before her eyes like he almost had before.