Title: Can't Keep Running
Summary: It's been five years since the strike, seven since she learned Jack's true history and nine since she said goodbye to Rip -- what's in store next for Stress & Jack? Marriage? A Family? Or the return of the one she fears above all others?
Disclaimer: As I've said countless times before, and I'm sure I'll say it countless times again, I, sadly, do not own any of the newsies. They are © 1992- to Disney, as hard as I try to get them for myself. I do, however, own Jessa/Stress, Luke/Rip, Caitlin/Spindle and Tyler/Danger. Any other character is property of the author I've borrowed them from.
Soul Mates Series: This is the fourth installment in Stress & Jack: Soul Mates Series. It is preceded by Cuts Like a Knife (I), Secrets Behind the Lies (II) and One Year Anniversary (III), in case you would like to read the earlier chapters in their lives.
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Chapter Five
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Knock, knock.
Jack stopped gazing at the little black box he held in his right hand long enough to glance at the front door of his apartment. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Jack. Can you let me in?"
Even through the door Jack recognized the voice as David's – and he sounded a little frantic. "Come on in, Dave," Jack called out as he took a seat at the kitchen table.
David rushed into the apartment, panting and out of breath. "Jack, thank God I finally found you… I've been looking all over for you for hours. I stopped in at the Chronicle office and Cassandra said you hadn't returned from your earlier assignment. Where the hell have you been? I know you sometimes stop at home when you're on assignment but this is my third trip here and you haven't answered before."
"You're right, Dave. I actually just stopped at home before heading back to the office. I finished my article earlier today but I had to," Jack began as he held up the box and showed it to Dave, "stop at the jewelry store this afternoon."
David sat down at the table opposite of Jack trying to catch his breath. As he did so, he gestured to the simple gold band resting inside the box. "What's that for, Jack?"
Jack grinned as he placed the box onto the table. "I'm finally gonna do it, Dave. I'm finally gonna ask Jess to be my wife."
"You're – you're – you're gonna propose to Jess?" David asked as he took in another deep breath.
Jack nodded appreciatively at his shocked expression. "Yup, I've been planning to do this for quite some time now and I've finally saved up enough to buy this ring. Now I just have to find the right time to pop the question."
"But, uh - Jack? What are you gonna do if she says 'no'?" David asked, sounding just a touch more than hopeful, as he leaned forward over the table. His thoughts were all a muddle after hearing Jack's announcement. All thoughts of the day's earlier occurrences were gone.
Jack, on the other hand, knew nothing of the previous happenings. Instead, he just thought that David was joking. After all, wasn't it Jess who was discussing the prospect of marriage just that morning? "Oh, I don't know, Dave. It just so happens, though, that if that does happen, I got myself a backup plan," he grinned as he reached over the table and playfully punched David on the shoulder.
David sat back as he rubbed his shoulder. "And what's your big plan, Jack?"
"Well, Dave," Jack answered, a mischievous glint in his chocolate-colored eyes, "I figure I'll head out West to Santa Fe like I've always wanted to do, ya know. And, of course, I just can't go alone, so I think I'm gonna bring along Cass with me. Cute kid – And I think she'd head out with me if I asked."
David grinned as he listened to Jack's made up plan. "But what'll become of your dear sweetheart?"
Jack then winked back at his longtime pal. "You can have Jess then. Lord only knows that you've needed a lady friend since Grace took off."
David's grin slid off of his face at Jack's words. "Yeah, since Grace left."
Jack, noticing how quickly the mood had gone from happy to somber, asked, "Are you alright, David?"
David nodded. "Yeah and don't worry - I'll take good care of Jess for you when you take off like Grace did. We left-behind gotta stick together," he answered, part in wishful thinking, part in truth and part in continuing with Jack's jest.
"Good man, Dave," Jack answered, rising from the table and clapping David on his back. "Gotta have someone take care of Jess for me if my plan falls through," he added, winking once more as he gestured to the ring box still on the table.
"Take care of Jess – Oh my God, Jack. I forgot all about Jess and the reason why I came here. Something happened to her. She passed out down at the paper office today and Cassandra found her. I brought her over to Doctor Morgan and sent Ava to wait with her until I found you and brought you to her. And I finally found you - here you are."
Jack scooped up the box, slipped it into his pocket, and grabbed his hat. "Well, come on Dave. Let's go down to Doctor Morgan's and find out what's wrong with Jess."
But, at that moment, the door to the apartment swung open and Jess walked in, tears glittering in her golden eyes. "Don't bother, Cowboy. I'm right here – but not for long. Goodbye."
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Ava gaped at Jess as her words sunk in. "That's what Doctor Morgan said, isn't it? And that's why you passed out this afternoon? Oh, Jess, I'm so happy for you," she squealed as she ran forward and wrapped Jess up into a hug. "How far along are you?"
Jess waited until Ava had let her go before answering. "From what Doctor Morgan can figure – 2 or 3 months. And he never would have figured it if I hadn't have passed out in the office. But, do me a favor, Ava? Please keep it down. And, please, don't tell anyone. Not Michael, not Rae, not Filly -- not even Jack."
Ava narrowed her gaze as she peered at Jess. "You are going to tell Jack, aren't you?"
Scoffing slightly, Jess turned her back on Ava and stared at the front of the building. "Why should I, Ava? So that Jack can have another reason to run over to that tramp, Cassandra? I don't think so."
"But he's gonna find out sooner or later, Jess. I mean, the baby's gotta be born, right?" Ava asked as she walked around to face Jess.
"Yeah, but I got time. Besides, I got enough on my mind with Rip in town and Cassandra trying to steal Jack from me. Why did things have to get so much more complicated now?"
Ava shook her head and smiled at Jess. "I don't know. But it'll only get harder if you keep this from Jack – don't you two have some rule against secrets?"
Jess stood still for a moment before lowering her head. "Why do you always have to be right?"
Ava shrugged as she grinned in triumph. "Just lucky, I guess," she said as she entered the apartment building and beckoned to Jess to follow. "Now listen, Jess. Michael isn't going to be home from work for a few more hours and my sewing doesn't need to be finished until tomorrow, so I think I'm gonna go with you to your apartment to wait for Jack to get home from the office. And, I'm telling you now, if you don't tell Jack, I will."
Jess heaved her shoulders in defeat as she followed Ava into the apartments. After going up the first two flights of stairs, Jess turned to Ava. "You know what, Ava? If he throws me out of the apartment after I tell him this, I'm coming to live with you and Michael."
As she led the way up to their third floor apartments, Ava turned and grinned. How could Jack not be overjoyed at the news? Hadn't he been recently pestering Jess as to when they were going to start a family? True, he didn't think too highly of settling down and getting married, but anyone who had seen him with the Rae's daughter could see he was anxious to have his own. But instead of bringing up that point when the idea of a baby was obviously an upsetting one to Jess, Ava tried to make light of the situation. After all, even after being married to her husband for 2 years, she had yet to experience the joys of motherhood herself. "It's a deal, Jess. But, I warn you that you're gonna have to deal with Michael's snoring."
Jess forced a laugh as she made her way up the last flight of stairs leading to her home. "You know what, Ava? Good old Skitts," Jess began, using Michael's old nickname, "snores so loud that I already hear him down the hall in my apartment."
Ava was just about to reply how her her husband wasn't really that loud when Jess paused in front of the door to her apartment and brought her finger to her lip. "Shhh," she whispered as both the women paused in front of the door, "I think I just heard Jack talking in there."
"But it's still early. What's he doing home so soon? Shouldn't he be at the office?"
Jess shrugged her shoulders as she pressed her ear against the door to eavesdrop on the conversation. Though she knew that eavesdropping had only given her problems in the past due to her tendency to jump to conclusions, it was a very tough habit for her to break.
"And what's your big plan, Jack?"
"That was Dave," stated Ava before Jess hushed her again. "Sorry."
Jess ignored her as she continued to keep her ear to the door, curious to hear what "plan" the two men were discussing; it sounded suspiciously to her like a secret and as she and Ava had talked about before, she and Jack didn't have any secrets anymore -- at least, not that she knew of.
"Well, Dave," came Jack's voice, stronger and louder than David's, "I figure I'll head out West to Santa Fe like I've always wanted to do, ya know. And, of course, I just can't go alone, so I think I'm gonna bring along Cass with me. Cute kid -- And I think she'd head out with me if I asked."
"Jess?"
Jess looked over at Ava sharply and whispered, "Yeah, I heard what he said, but wait. I think I hear the 'Walking Mouth' talking now."
"But what'll become of your dear sweetheart?"
"Oh, this'll be interesting," muttered Ava under her breath before laying her hand on Jess' shoulder. "Jess, I think we should go to my apartment and wait for Jack and Dave to finish their talk before we come back."
Jess shook Ava's hand off. "No, Ava. I want to hear this."
Ava cringed as she heard Jack let out a burst of laughter and consequently felt Jess begin to tremble as he continued to tell David his "plan". "You can have Jess then. Lord only knows that you've needed a lady friend since Grace took off."
"Jess?"
Jess continued to tremble as she removed her ear from the door; she no longer had the heart nor the appetite to listen to anymore of that conversation.
