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Sorry that the update took a little long, I was super busy!

Title: Chapter 6 of "Ask and Thou Shalt Receive"
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: See chapter 1

"I'd never leave...forever." Ennis added the last word at Jack's scrutinizing stare. He jammed his hat on his head before thinking better of his actions and removing it. Since he had been gone, the nurse had brought Jack a cotton hospital gown. No pants for at least two more weeks, they would rub his injuries too much.

Ennis sat on the chair that was still next to Jack and wiped the leftover tears off his face with his sleeve. "Jack...I swear...there's still a lot a fightin' ta do, but I cain't leave you to heal alone. I'll be here fer ya, but I'm still real hurt by what you done." He held up a hand when Jack tried to interrupt him.

"Jus' lemme finish, firs'. I know yeh had your reasons, an' I know what they were. I know I never gave yeh much choice. But I want ya ta know, I ain't never slept aroun' on ya Jack. So when I foun' out yeh had...done what you done...it hurt that much more."

Ennis twirled his hat in his hands and fiddled with the brim on it. He was out of words by now. He knew what he wanted -no, needed- to say, he just didn't know how. So he sat silently, wishing to God he could cry, but knowing God had never given him what he needed, but for Jack.

Jack was crying. Not as hard as before, but there were tear tracks down his cheeks. Ennis reached out to hold him and Jack's resolve crumbled. He started sobbing. He was gasping in between loud wails and biting down on his fist. He clutched at Ennis' shirt, thankful for the fortress that the larger man provided.

A nurse poked her head in and was startle by what she saw. But at least Jack wasn't having another nightmare. She watched the sandy haired man rock the other one back and forth. She knew she should leave them in their own world, but she was rooted to the spot. "Shh, baby. It's gonna be ok. Shh..." The words sounded to soft and sweet to come from that man's mouth.

He pushed Jack away from him and stared into his eyes. "What you done was wrong, Jack. But, I forgive yeh."

Jack's eyes flickered to the doorway, where the nurse observed the scene. "Ennis..." he whispered, returning his attention to this moment, "I'm sorry." The apology poured from his mouth like dust in a storm. It came quick and loud, then stopped. Jack, rarely at a loss for words, was silent.

His eyes were begging Ennis to give him a sign, any sign, that it would be ok. He finally nodded. "It's alright."

The nurse sighed from the doorway, to make them both aware of her presence. "Ahem..."Ennis whipped his head around to look at her.

"Mr. Twist?" This was a new nurse at his door. A new shift already? How long had Ennis been there?

"Yes?" Jack spoke calmly to her, despite his recent breakdown.

"You've got a guest."

Jack stared at Ennis for a moment, then, "Who is it?"

"A 'Lureen Newsome'."

"Newsome?" Ennis mouthed "I didn' know you two was divorced."

"Didn' think yeh'd care." Jack whispered back. Because those words were so honest, not meant to hurt or sting, just said as a fact, they impaled Ennis so much more. His mount gaped; he was a fish out of water. He nodded, even though he knew he should have said something like "O' course I cared, yeh fool!" Truth was, it's never occurred to him that he should care. Lureen was not part of his and Jack's life.

Jack stared at him a moment longer, then turned his attention back to the door. "Yep, let 'er in." Ennis could feel Jack's anticipation. Fear was flowing through all his veins. What would Lureen do, now that there was irrefutable proof of Jack's dishonesty? She walked into the room stiffly and veered towards Ennis, who was grasping Jack's shaking hand.

She raised her jeweled, slim hand and slapped the man. Once, then again, with her other hand. She continued to slap him until Jack snatched her hand out of the air. "Stop...Lureen, stop."

She gasped in a jagged breath. "How can you be in the same room as him Jack? First, he's disgusting and devilish, then he almost gets you killed!"

Ennis glared at her, but didn't speak. He knew if he opened his mouth, he would say something wrong. It would suit him best to let his better half speak on his behalf.

"Lureen, it ain't like he ever forced 'imself on me."

"Like hell, he ain't. You're my husband, Jack. Why would you do that to me? I don'-cain't believe it!" She started hitting his bed in frustration. He had never seen her like this, even in bed, she always seemed cold.

"Lureen, I met 'im before ya. Wunn't nothin' I could do!"

"Jus' tell me, Jack. Is he why those boys beat you up?" She looked Jack over curiously, and he could tell the doctors hadn't told her what had happened. For that, he was thankful.

"No, Lureen. Ennis ain't had nothin' ta do with it."

"Why, then, would they hurt ya so bad?"

"It was...Randall."

Her eyes filled with tears and she turned to Ennis. "Yore mad at him, too right?"

Ennis nodded quietly, but kept a firm grip on Jack's hand. He wanted Jack to know that no matter how many mistakes he made, he would always be there for him.

"Then, hit him when 'e's all better. Fer me."

He opened his mouth to protest, but she silenced him. "You know you want to. Yeh don' have ta do it hard, jus' do it." With that, she turned out of the room. Jack doubted, whole heartedly, that she would be back. He wasn't planning either, on seeing Bobby for a long time to come.

A/N: I typed this pretty fast, so if there's any spelling mistakes, please let me know and I'll fix them. You guys have been great readers and I should have another post up very soon!