Starting Over Again Backwards
Chapter 2: Healing Process
Germany Jack's Hotel Room December 1999
Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
With arms wide open
Jack came into the hotel room and shut the door. He looked weary, every single bone in his body ached. But thankfully he was un-injured. He crossed over to the mini bar and poured himself a scotch. Then he crossed over to the overstuffed, red velour chair and sat down. He had just gotten back from a mission. Arvin had wanted him to find a man named Alberto Renaldi, an Italian businessman who was on holiday in Germany. The mission was a success, Jack sent the team back with the information Arvin requested and then returned to the hotel to get some sleep before returning to Los Angeles. Jack glanced at the clock; it was officially midnight now, December 12. He was planning to see Irina on his way back to the states. The baby was due to be born at any time. He was going to be there for the birth, in fact Irina insisted upon it. For the sake of security, Irina had arranged to labor at home. It was not without risk, considering she was of advanced maternal age. But there was a great chance of being spotted at the hospital and that was not a risk either of them were willing to take. Everything was set, a midwife would be present, and in addition a doola would also be present to provide additional support to Irina. But if complications did arise, arrangements were in place to ensure that Irina and the baby would be safe. However, that was to be used only as a last resort.
"Mental note to self," Jack murmured. "Keep all sharp objects and things that can be used to inflict pain away from Irina."
He smiled slightly at the memory of Sydney's birth. He had been a nervous wreck, but managed to keep calm enough to support his wife. And when Sydney made her entrance at 7am after 12 hours of labor, he felt complete. When she looked at him for the first time, Jack knew that nothing would ever be the same. Now he was getting a chance to start over, with a "clean slate" and he wasn't about to give that up. He had spent so many years apart from Sydney; he missed so much of her life. Jack sighed, hell he hadn't even told her about Irina much less her new sibling. But their relationship was so far apart now, that she would never believe him.
As for Irina, that night still remained fresh in his mind. For nearly two decades, he held so much anger and bitterness regarding her. But through their reunion he was able to release some of those pent up feelings. Ever since that night, they saw each other as often as they could. They would talk about everything including what they put Sydney through as well as each other. And in time, Jack realized something, they were both in pain. Through all of the hurt, pain, bitterness, resentment, and sadness Jack was able to see that she hurt too. Granted they would probably not have the relationship that Jack and Laura once shared. But at least they had started to resolve some of their issues and get along with each other for their sakes as well as the baby's. There was still so much left unsaid between them, but at last they were beginning to heal. And as much as Jack tried to deny it, he did care for Irina. He held no illusions about her, she wasn't Laura, but she instead she was his equal. And as much as he hated to admit it, she knew him on so many levels and he was only beginning to know her.
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Jack's cell phone rang jarring him out of his thoughts. He crossed over to the end table beside the sofa and answered it.
"Yeah?" Jack said into the phone.
"Jack it's me, I need you here," said Irina into the phone.
"Is it time?"
"Yes."
"I'll be right there," said Jack before hanging up the phone.
He packed quickly and was out of the hotel in twenty minutes. Luckily he was able to make a flight to France.
French Comte, France Irina's Flat 2 hour later
Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
With arms wide open
"Elle est ici Monsieur Bristow," said the housekeeper leading Jack into Irina's bedroom.
Irina was standing by the window looking out into the garden below.
"Irina?" said Jack softly.
"Jack you made it," said Irina turning around with a soft smile.
"I told you I would."
"I thought you wouldn't be able to get away."
"I have plenty of vacation time saved up. How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine, the contractions aren't bad yet. I'm progressing along rapidly."
"It won't be 12 hours?"
"No thank God."
"I'm here if you need anything."
"Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Rub my back will you?"
"Of course"
5 hours later
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
"You're so close!" said the midwife. "Chin to your chest, bear down and push."
Irina let out a small grunt and grabbed on to Jack's hand. He counted to ten and Irina let out the breath.
"You're doing good Irina," said Jack wiping her forehead.
"Jack.I'm so tired."
"I know, but you're almost done," he said kissing her forehead on impulse.
Irina bears down again and pushes.
"Ok stop for just a second," said the midwife. "The head is out."
She clears out the child's nose and mouth with a bulb syringe.
"One more push."
Irina pushes again and lets out a small yep. The baby comes out into the midwife's arms. "It's a girl," she said wiping off the baby a bit before placing her on Irina's stomach. The little girl let out a nice long wail.
"Hello my darling," Irina says getting a bit choked up. "Jack, look at her, she's perfect."
"She certainly is," he whispered, getting a little choked up as well.
An hour later.
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Irina is lying in bed. Jack is next to her on the bed. Irina looked absolutely exhausted, but was extremely happy. The baby lied in her father's arms. She opened her clear blue eyes and looked directly at Jack.
"She knows you Jack," said Irina with a smile.
"You think so?" said Jack.
"She's going to be a daddy's little girl."
"Is that so?"
"I know so. Jack, I know what her name should be."
"I thought you wanted to name her Caroline."
"I found another name." She paused. "I want to name her Jade as a tribute to you."
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope she's not like me
I hope she understands
"Jade."
"Yes Jade."
"What about her middle name?"
"Seraphina."
"Angelic." He paused. "It fits." He looked to the baby. "Would you like to be called Jade sweetheart?" The baby cooed. "I'll take that as a yes," said Jack with a chuckle giving Jade a soft kiss on the forehead. "Welcome to the world Jade Seraphina Bristow," Jack whispered.
"We did it Jack."
"Yes we did." He looked at Irina. "We've been given another chance Irina. Let's try not to screw it up this time."
"I don't think we will."
"Never say never."
"I just did."
That she can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And she can greet the world
With arms wide open...
Song-With Arms Wide Open-Creed
Chapter 2: Healing Process
Germany Jack's Hotel Room December 1999
Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face
With arms wide open
Jack came into the hotel room and shut the door. He looked weary, every single bone in his body ached. But thankfully he was un-injured. He crossed over to the mini bar and poured himself a scotch. Then he crossed over to the overstuffed, red velour chair and sat down. He had just gotten back from a mission. Arvin had wanted him to find a man named Alberto Renaldi, an Italian businessman who was on holiday in Germany. The mission was a success, Jack sent the team back with the information Arvin requested and then returned to the hotel to get some sleep before returning to Los Angeles. Jack glanced at the clock; it was officially midnight now, December 12. He was planning to see Irina on his way back to the states. The baby was due to be born at any time. He was going to be there for the birth, in fact Irina insisted upon it. For the sake of security, Irina had arranged to labor at home. It was not without risk, considering she was of advanced maternal age. But there was a great chance of being spotted at the hospital and that was not a risk either of them were willing to take. Everything was set, a midwife would be present, and in addition a doola would also be present to provide additional support to Irina. But if complications did arise, arrangements were in place to ensure that Irina and the baby would be safe. However, that was to be used only as a last resort.
"Mental note to self," Jack murmured. "Keep all sharp objects and things that can be used to inflict pain away from Irina."
He smiled slightly at the memory of Sydney's birth. He had been a nervous wreck, but managed to keep calm enough to support his wife. And when Sydney made her entrance at 7am after 12 hours of labor, he felt complete. When she looked at him for the first time, Jack knew that nothing would ever be the same. Now he was getting a chance to start over, with a "clean slate" and he wasn't about to give that up. He had spent so many years apart from Sydney; he missed so much of her life. Jack sighed, hell he hadn't even told her about Irina much less her new sibling. But their relationship was so far apart now, that she would never believe him.
As for Irina, that night still remained fresh in his mind. For nearly two decades, he held so much anger and bitterness regarding her. But through their reunion he was able to release some of those pent up feelings. Ever since that night, they saw each other as often as they could. They would talk about everything including what they put Sydney through as well as each other. And in time, Jack realized something, they were both in pain. Through all of the hurt, pain, bitterness, resentment, and sadness Jack was able to see that she hurt too. Granted they would probably not have the relationship that Jack and Laura once shared. But at least they had started to resolve some of their issues and get along with each other for their sakes as well as the baby's. There was still so much left unsaid between them, but at last they were beginning to heal. And as much as Jack tried to deny it, he did care for Irina. He held no illusions about her, she wasn't Laura, but she instead she was his equal. And as much as he hated to admit it, she knew him on so many levels and he was only beginning to know her.
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Jack's cell phone rang jarring him out of his thoughts. He crossed over to the end table beside the sofa and answered it.
"Yeah?" Jack said into the phone.
"Jack it's me, I need you here," said Irina into the phone.
"Is it time?"
"Yes."
"I'll be right there," said Jack before hanging up the phone.
He packed quickly and was out of the hotel in twenty minutes. Luckily he was able to make a flight to France.
French Comte, France Irina's Flat 2 hour later
Well I don't know if I'm ready
To be the man I have to be
I'll take a breath, take her by my side
We stand in awe, we've created life
With arms wide open
"Elle est ici Monsieur Bristow," said the housekeeper leading Jack into Irina's bedroom.
Irina was standing by the window looking out into the garden below.
"Irina?" said Jack softly.
"Jack you made it," said Irina turning around with a soft smile.
"I told you I would."
"I thought you wouldn't be able to get away."
"I have plenty of vacation time saved up. How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine, the contractions aren't bad yet. I'm progressing along rapidly."
"It won't be 12 hours?"
"No thank God."
"I'm here if you need anything."
"Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"Rub my back will you?"
"Of course"
5 hours later
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
"You're so close!" said the midwife. "Chin to your chest, bear down and push."
Irina let out a small grunt and grabbed on to Jack's hand. He counted to ten and Irina let out the breath.
"You're doing good Irina," said Jack wiping her forehead.
"Jack.I'm so tired."
"I know, but you're almost done," he said kissing her forehead on impulse.
Irina bears down again and pushes.
"Ok stop for just a second," said the midwife. "The head is out."
She clears out the child's nose and mouth with a bulb syringe.
"One more push."
Irina pushes again and lets out a small yep. The baby comes out into the midwife's arms. "It's a girl," she said wiping off the baby a bit before placing her on Irina's stomach. The little girl let out a nice long wail.
"Hello my darling," Irina says getting a bit choked up. "Jack, look at her, she's perfect."
"She certainly is," he whispered, getting a little choked up as well.
An hour later.
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
Irina is lying in bed. Jack is next to her on the bed. Irina looked absolutely exhausted, but was extremely happy. The baby lied in her father's arms. She opened her clear blue eyes and looked directly at Jack.
"She knows you Jack," said Irina with a smile.
"You think so?" said Jack.
"She's going to be a daddy's little girl."
"Is that so?"
"I know so. Jack, I know what her name should be."
"I thought you wanted to name her Caroline."
"I found another name." She paused. "I want to name her Jade as a tribute to you."
If I had just one wish
Only one demand
I hope she's not like me
I hope she understands
"Jade."
"Yes Jade."
"What about her middle name?"
"Seraphina."
"Angelic." He paused. "It fits." He looked to the baby. "Would you like to be called Jade sweetheart?" The baby cooed. "I'll take that as a yes," said Jack with a chuckle giving Jade a soft kiss on the forehead. "Welcome to the world Jade Seraphina Bristow," Jack whispered.
"We did it Jack."
"Yes we did." He looked at Irina. "We've been given another chance Irina. Let's try not to screw it up this time."
"I don't think we will."
"Never say never."
"I just did."
That she can take this life
And hold it by the hand
And she can greet the world
With arms wide open...
Song-With Arms Wide Open-Creed