CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

"He's dead?" Martha asked Tony; wanting to make sure that she had just heard right.

"Yeah," Tony nodded.

"I can't believe it. He seemed okay when we were there this morning. Did Flynn tell you how he died?" Jack questioned his father.

"All Flynn said was that he got a blood clot or something. And it killed him. I'm sure we'll find out more tomorrow," Tony answered..

Martha didn't know what to think or to feel. She didn't even know what to say. So she jumped up quickly and rushed off to Jack's room. She sat down on his bed and a few seconds later Jack walked in and shut the door behind him so that they could have some privacy.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

Martha shrugged. "I guess so," she said.

Jack took her hand in his and squeezed it. "Are you sure?" he asked again.

"I don't really know how i feel about it," Martha told him. "I don't really feel anything".

Martha and Jack sat in silence for a while longer before Martha started speaking again.

"When i spoke to him at the hospital this morning, i told him that i wished he was dead. My wish came true," she spoke softly.

"I don't won't you to beat yourself up about this," Jack exclaimed. "It's not your fault".

"I'm glad he's dead. I don't even feel bad about it," she said honestly. "Is it wrong of me to be glad about it?" she then asked him.

Jack shook his head. "No, i don't think it's wrong. He tried to kill you," he told her. "I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who are happy when the person who hurt them dies. It's only natural," he reassured her.

"I killed him Jack. I'm a murderer. And i don't even feel bad about it," Martha started crying. "What kind of person does that make me?" she sobbed.

"Hey, it's okay. Stop crying," Jack soothed as he held her tight against his body. "You were just protecting yourself. You done the right thing. If you hadn't; you'd be dead, and we wouldn't be together right now," he said in a hushed voice.

"I'm glad we're together," Martha whispered.

"Me too," Jack whispered back. "Now, we're going to get through this. I'm going to be there for you when ever you need me, okay," he said as he kissed her for-head.

Martha nodded. She knew Jack would be there to help her. He'd been through this sort of thing before himself; so he knew how she was feeling.

"I'm so tired," Martha said softly through her sobs.

Jack lay onto his back, and pulled Martha down with him. "Go to sleep. I'll be right here," he told her as he pulled a blanket up over their bodies.

Martha nestled her face into the hollow of Jack's neck, and she wrapped her arms around him tight. "Don't leave me," she whispered.

"Never," Jack promised.


ONE WEEK LATER

The next week flew by quite quickly. Martha had spent most of her time inside; hiding away from all the gossipers. When she did go out, it was only to Noah's Bar or the Diner. And even then she hated it. People were always looking at her, and talking about her behind her back.

She had spent most of her nights sleeping at Jack's. She couldn't stand being alone of a night. And on the one night that she had decided to stay at her own place; she'd ended up calling Jack at one o'clock in the morning, asking him to come around. She always seemed to feel safer when Jack was sleeping beside her.

She knew she was safe; especially now that Corey was dead. But she still couldn't help but feel a little paranoid. But things were getting better. Jack was always there when she needed him. And all the gossipers in the town were slowly starting to find other things to talk about. She was starting to feel comfortable in her home town again.

Her face was also healing quite well. She still had light bruises on her face and around her neck; but they were quickly fading. And she knew she'd probably have a slight scar on her fore-head when that eventually healed. But other than that; she was feeling great.


Jack held onto Martha's hand tightly as they strolled along the beach. It had been just over a week since the Corey ordeal; and things were finally starting to get back to normal. Jack had noticed that Martha's nightmares had died down a lot, and she was smiling again. He and Martha had spent most of their waking minutes together; but Jack wouldn't have it any other way.

He never wanted her out of his sight. That way, she would be safe and nobody could take her away from him. A few nights ago, Martha was adament about spending a night alone in her own bed. Jack hated the idea. He wanted Martha next to him. He wanted her close; where he could keep an eye on her. He'd been extremely happy when she had finally called at one o'clock in the morning; asking him to come stay because she was scared. He was there within 5 minutes.

"Earth to Jack," Martha called; waving a hand in front of his face.

"Huh," Jack said, finally snapping out of his private thoughts.

"Someone's off with the fairies," Martha laughed.

"Sorry," Jack smiled at her. "I was just thinking about the last week," he admitted.

"Hmmmm. I have been too," Martha told Jack. "Finally people are starting to grow bored of us," she said.

"Yeah, i'm pretty sure i heard Colleen telling Madge Wilkins this morning, about some women who'd just had a baby. Apparently the women was having an affair with her husbands brother, and had now just had his baby," Jack explained. "So now the whole towns too busy gossiping about her".

"So you were ear-wigging in on Colleen's conversation," Martha teased him. "Maybe you and Colleen would make a good pair," she giggled.

"Very funny," Jack said as he swung Martha around and into his arms.

"It's good to see you happy and smiling again," Jack exclaimed.

"I'm happy because i'm with you," Martha said truthfully as she looked up into his face.

"I love you," Jack told her.

"I love you too," Martha smiled up at him.

Martha wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and pulled him down for a kiss. His warm mouth closed over hers, and she met him in a deep, lingering kiss.

"This feels nice," Martha sighed against Jack's lips.

"Not for much longer," Jack teased, as he pulled away from her.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Martha asked, looking at him curiously.

"It means that you, lady love, are going into the drink," Jack exclaimed in a fake southern drawl. And before Martha could even register what he meant; he had scooped her up and was heading towards the water.

"Don't you dare Jack Holden," Martha half screamed, half laughed as Jack threw himself and Martha into the waves.

Martha laughed and wrapped her legs around Jack's waist and quickly pulled him in for another passionate kiss. They didn't care who saw them; all they cared about was each other. All that mattered was that they were together. Forever.


Well that was the last chapter. Hope it a good enough ending for you all.

I'd like to thank everyone who read and reviewed. I really appreciated it. Thanks again.

Don't forget to read my other fic 'Only You'. It's the sequal to my first fic 'Complicated Love'