Chapter 4
Tony and Michelle introduced Jack and Shawn to Alexis who was at home at the time. Ress was at school. Shawn had run off to play with Alexis in her room while Tony, Michelle and Jack caught up on everything over a cup of coffee.
Apparently Tony and Michelle were out on holiday with Tonys' cousin in Winnapeg when the attacks happened. They had lost everything, but Tonys' cousin had allowed them to stay with him while they got back on there feet and started over, which wasnt as hard as they thought. Tony had gotten a job in the Canadian government, it was much like the US's CIA. Michelle had gotten a job there after Ress was born, and worked there til Alexis was born. And now she was just a stay at home mom.
Jack had explained to them his adventures. Of the 9 years that he spent inside the walls of the ruins of Los Angeles, and his escape. He told them of travelling from california to Wisconsin on foot, meeting Maverick, and Sapphire, and both of their untimely demises. And that he had been living in the complex raising Shawn by himself for the last 4 years.
"Why dont you stay with us? Theres no reason for you to stay with the other refugees, Jack, you and Shawn both deserve alot more then that" Michelle asked.
"I dont want to intrude" Jack declined politely.
"But Jack..." Tony started in a nagging voice.
"No, I dont want to burdon you guys, dont worry, once I get a job I can save up and get a better place" Jack interupted. There was a relatively long silence.
"At least let me help you get a job?" Tony asked.
"I can find my own job, thank you" Jack almost hissed. He didnt want to accept it like He and Shawn were some charity case.
"Alright, dont have to get all defensive, we are just trying to help, Jack" Michelle sighed. There was another relatively ackward silence.
"Why now?" Jack asked adruptively. He kept wondering why now, why had they found him now. He was happy to see them yes, but why after 4 years did they just find him, why was tony even looking if he thought he was dead.
"I am currently working on possible refugee targets, they gave me a list of names, and you were on it" Tony explained.
"Im a target? For what?" Jack asked now slightly concerned and even more confused.
"The terriorists are coming into Canada, one at a time, and covertly taking out the people on the list for reasons we dont know yet" Tony explained.
"So I got a hitman on me now?" Jack asked rubbing the back of his neck, to much tension for one sitting. He thought he had finally found some sort of paradise, which was ruined now.
"Yea" Tony sighed.
"Okay...What do we do now?" Jack asked looking at Tony.
"I dont know, I was just put in charge of making sure everyone on the list was still alive and well" Tony said
Chapter 5
Jack gave Tony the phone number to his house, and Tony did the same. Tony said he would call them as soon as he had gotten more information. They said their goodbyes, well Michelle said goodbye to both of them. Jack almost literally had to drag Shawn outta Alexis's room, he was having so much fun with her. Tony had driven them both back to the complex and bid them farewell. No cars could go into the complex itself, so Tony had to just drop them off at the front.
As they were walking back to the house Shawn kept babbling on about how much fun that was.
"Im telling you, dad, she rocks..." Shawn rambled on.
"She taught me how to play candyland! Can we get Candyland?" Shawn asked.
"Maybe for christmas" Jack declined in the easiest way he could find, knowing full well he wouldnt be able to buy even a candyland game for the little guy.
"Can we go visit them soon?" Shawn asked.
"Maybe" Jack replied. Shawn then went on rambling on how much fun that was until they got in the house. Jack glanced at the clock on the microwave as he was walking in the kitchen, it was about 7 PM.
"Why dont you go get ready for bed, and I'll make some dinner" Jack told Shawn.
"Alrighty daddy" Shawn agreed as he scurried off to the bedroom.
Jack searched the cupboards then finally pulled out a loaf of bread and the peanut butter jar. He made a sandwich for both of them putting them on paper plates and carried them over to the small card table that they used as a dining table. That was when Shawn came out in his flannel(sp?) pajamas, holding Mr. Bunny in one arm. He climbed up into his seat as Jack sat down in the other one. They both ate their sandwichs quietly. Jack noticed Shawn was on the verge of asking something but he didnt say a word. It was oddly quiet as both of them went into the room and Jack started to tuck in Shawn.
"Why Dont I have a mommy?" Shawn blurted out in a serious tone and with a deep thought expression on his face. Jack was taken back by this question, he didnt think he would have to deal with explaining this to him til he was much older.
"What?" He asked as if he didnt understand.
"Alexis said Michelle was her mommy, and and I want to know why I dont have one" Shawn asked again.
"Well some kids have moms and dads, some have just moms, and some have just dads..." Jack tried to explain this as lightly as possible. Shawn stayed silent. Jack felt very uncomfortable and wanted to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
"Why dont you just go to sleep" Jack continued.
"Okay" Shawn yawned. Jack pulled the covers up to his neck and kissed him on the forehead. "Good night little buddy" Jack said before moving back.
"G'Night Dad" Shawn mumbled as he curled up into a ball on his bed.
Jack turned off the light and edged the door close so there was just a small light showing through from the hallway. Jack moved the living room and sat down on the futon. He put his head in his hands and pulled his hair back. So much has happened today and now was his time to catch up and review. His mind kept going back to Shawns question 'why dont i have a mommy?' kept replaying in his head. He thought of Sapphire, and then started to cry softly.
Chapter 6
Jack was sitting on the futon reflecting he had lost track of time. He was just letting images of memories flash through his head. He was looking at his left hand, the missing index finger, without even realizing it.
Suddenly there was a scream. Jack was awoken from his trance alerted. There was another scream then, It was Shawn. Jack was immediatly on his feet and he sprinted in pure panic to the bedroom. Turning the light on. There was a man in black there, gripping Shawns' neck tightly.
"Daddy!" He screamed as the man pulled Shawn into his arm in like a headlock position and pulled a pistol out, holding it to his forehead. Jack just watched in horror. Shawn was crying, understandably, looking at his father with pure desperation. The man put his hand over Shawns' mouth to quiet him.
"Let him go!" Jack hissed with pure venom in his voice, wanting so much to just lunge at the man and rip his head off, but he couldnt. His fists clenched as he gritted his teeth, he was worried and angered at the same time. Which wasnt the best combination.
"Come with us quietly and nothing will happen to him" The man said. Jack furrowed his eyebrow, he said 'us' theres more then one of them here, he realized. Jack turned around to see another man in black about to knock him out cold with the gun in his hand, in the hallway. Jack took this chance to punch the guy in the face as he went reeling backwards Jack charged him. The both went colliding into the ground, wrestling for the gun.
"STOP OR ILL SHOOT HIM!" The man holding Shawn yelled at Jack. Jack instantly stopped hearing this. The man that he was attacking pulling himself up to his feet leaving Jack in a hands-knees position. The man forcefully pulled Jack onto his feet, as Jack looked at Shawn in defeat and concern. Shawn was crying immensely still, this was scarying the living day lights out of him.
"Dont hurt him please" Jack begged. The man who he attacked punched him in the face making Jack jerk his head hard to the left and stumble back against the wall of the hallway. The man punched Jack in the stomach, making Jack loose his breathe. He placed his hands over his stomach and slouched down to the floor in a sitting position.
"You had to take the hard way" The one holding Shawn hissed. Shawn struggled to get to Jack, but the man was too strong. The man who had just punched Jack in the stomach punched him once again hard in his face. Making Jack's head bounce off the wall and jerk hard to the left, so much so that Jack slumped over to resting on his side. The man took pleasure in kicking Jack repeatively in the rib cage. Jack was trying his best to stay away from the darkness along with keeping quiet, he didnt want his son to hear him cry in pain.
"Dont kill him, we still need him" The man holding Shawn hissed. The one stopped kicking Jack, as he had just passed out anyways.
"I have the kid, You get him" The man holding Shawn moved past them into the front of the house. The other one grabbed Jack by the arm and started to drag his unconcious body literally across the house. The men exited with Jack and Shawn and loaded them both into a old army truck type vehicle, driving off into the darkness.