Chapter 5

He woke her up the next morning by placing sweet kisses all over her face. She looked at the clock to see that it was only 7am. Frowning at him she hugged him close and said,

"Jack, it's only 7, on Saturday!" She exclaimed as he continued to kiss her neck.

"Yeah well, I couldn't wait anymore. I've been awake for an hour."

She rolled them over so that she was on top of him.

"Ok, I'm awake." She kissed him firmly and then broke away laughing.

"I see I'm not the only one who is ….alert?"

He laughed and shrugged. "Hey, when Jack junior's up, he's up."

She couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"What?"

"I forgot that you called him Jack junior." She narrowed her eyes and began to disappear under the covers.

Jack raised his eyebrows as he lost sight of her.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to say hi to Jack junior." Came her muffled reply.

As they ate breakfast they stole glances at each other every once in a while, completely content with the situation. They retreated back to bed soon after and Jack suddenly remembered the mission he'd been given the day before. Propping himself up on his elbow he began to draw imaginary circles on her bare stomach. Biting his lip he looked up at her.

"You know, your mom came to see me yesterday."

Opening her eyes at his statement she looked at him curiously.

"She did? Charmed her too huh?" She smiled, knowing her mother and the way her mind worked too well to ask what they had spoken about.

Smiling as he continued he said,

"She wants you to go and see you dad. Make your peace with him before it's too late."

She rolled her eyes and turned over on her side, unwilling to hear this from Jack of all people.

He hung his head and moved closer to her, draping his arm around her which she clung onto tightly and shifted back so that he was cuddling her.

"Look baby, I know how you feel. Spending my entire life with my dad hasn't made us exactly close either. I just know that you'll always wonder what he was like and what his reasons were. What if he disappears again or worse? What if he dies? I love you and I don't want you to get hurt but I don't want to see this haunt you by for the rest of your life. This way even if you never see him again, at least you'll know."

He felt her tears fall on his arm and he held her tightly.

"Will you come with me?" She whispered.

"You know I will."

She turned around and snuggled in against his chest, allowing him to put his other around her too. He was like a force field around her keeping her safe from anyone or anything that meant her harm.

Later whilst Jack went home to get some change and pick up some things she retrieved a shoebox from the very back of her closet and sat cross legged on her bedroom floor. She hadn't looked in this box for a long time, evident by the layers of dust on it. She frowned, unsure of whether to open it or put it back but eventually she opened it. She gingerly lifted some things out of it.

It was full of photographs and keepsakes from her childhood. One she was looking for in particular. She looked at it and couldn't help but smile at the memories it evoked. Looking through it she lost all track of time and before she knew it Jack appeared in the doorway looking casual and handsome.

He smiled at her.

"You ready?"

She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. He helped her up and she grabbed her jacket and keys.

Taking her hand he led her on and he didn't let go of it until they were at the nurses' station. He decided to let her take things from there.

"Adam Spade's room please?" Her legs felt like jelly as she leaned on the counter.

The nurse looked down her list and asked without looking up,

"Are you a relative?"

Samantha took a deep breath and replied,

"I'm his daughter." She said, not knowing where to look after saying that out loud for probably the first time ever.