Silently, his conscience began to question the possibility that Claudia was just somebody there to fill the void Kate had left. Was he really just using her for his own selfish needs? Although he could never be sure, he knew that couldn't be the case. When ever he was in Claudia's presence the whole world seemed to melt away to leave just the two of them there. Thinking of her gave him butterflies in his stomach, and he promised himself, despite the mission, he wasn't going to add Claudia to the long list of failures. This was his second chance, and he was going to redeem himself.
He eased off the accelerator and began to slow down as he saw the turn to the Salazars. He had been so lost in his thoughts he had almost missed the turn. He pulled round the bend and headed through the wooden posts, which were their to mark their land. Thirty seconds later they were outside Jacks living area. He pulled to a stop and debated what to do with the car. As though he were debating out loud Claudia slowly began to stir.
"Hey, sorry if I woke you. You fell asleep in the waiting room ... so I thought you'd prefer to sleep through the journey home..... so I didn't bother to wake you." Jack explained, seeing the confused look on her face.
She smiled and stretched her arms as she pulled her fragile frame through the door. "Thanks. How are you feeling, what did they say?" She motioned to his arm as she asked this, the worried features creeping back onto her tired face.
"Oh, everything is fine."
Again she smiled, "I'm sure it is far from fine." She broke off and an uncomfortable silence formed between the two. Jack was the first to brake it:
"So... do you want to go for a walk, I'm sure it will be a while before you sleep after that long nap in the car."
Sure, lets go through the shrubbery to the forest, theirs a spot there, you can see the stars, its, its beautiful."
They set of walking at a slow pace, both just wanting to be with each other. Jack held his uninjured left arm around her shoulder pulling her closer to him. "The stars?"
"Yes. What is wrong with watching the stars..." She asked in a mocking tone.
"Nothing." Replied Jack defensively. "Just, Iv never really spent time looking at the stars. Never saw the point.... there so far away.... so what's the point..... I don't know..." He broke off laughing and the two continued to walk.
Soon enough they reached the shrubbery and they began to wander through the trees, Jack following Claudias lead, he could tell she knew the path well. Once they reached the area she circled round on her heels.
"Isn't it beautiful?" She asked in awe.
"Sure." He said. He had to admit, it was an incredible sight. The trees were thick but there was a open space, no more than 10 foot in all, but it was as though the lingering branches of the trees had been pushed open, creating a large path leading directly to the sky.
Claudia sat down on the dry ground and Jack followed. They laid down, Jack was captivated with Claudia, who was captivated with the stars. He stared at her longingly, as she did up to the sky.
"Are you religious Jack?" She asked, her voice dreamlike.
"No. Not really. I used to go to church as a kid, but that's about it."
"Have you ever lost anyone?" She asked, clearly interested in his responses.
Jack wasn't sure what she was getting at, but the question struck him hard. He briefly closed his eyes, and muttered a, "Yes." It was barely a whisper.
"Well, so have I. Which is why I look to the stars. That's where my mother is, made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny diamonds, in the sky. Sometimes I see her face up their, and if I can't, it doesn't matter. All I need is a single star and I know she is their, safe, watching down on me and Sergio."
Jack didn't really know what to say, he was surprised to hear her talk so openly about something so private to her. Although he thought it was sweet, he just couldn't believe it himself.
"So, what happens when there are no stars at night?" He questioned.
Claudia began to laugh as he was testing her theory. "Well, those nights are signs. When the sky is empty it is a blanket of coldness, emptiness. When the stars are there, it is radiated with beauty."
"Oh." Was all Jack could say, coming to terms with the way she thought of death.
She laughed again and rolled onto her side so she was facing him closely. He stared at her, mesmerised by her beauty. Claudia spoke, ruining the moment, "Hector is back day after tomorrow."
Jack didn't respond, so Claudia spoke for him. "I don't want that to change anything between us."
Jack smiled at this but still said nothing, his words were hard to find when he was in her presence.
"So... maybe we should ....make up for time we wont have then ....now...." She looked at him embarrassed at what she was saying, but inside she didn't care. She wanted him to know what page she was on. That was all Jack needed to hear her say, as he pulled her into a long kiss. After that they began to make love passionately, the only witnesses of this were the stars she thought about so intently.
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