Thanks to everyone who is still reading this fic! Your reviews really have made me so happy and I appreciate each and every one of you!
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Chapter Thirteen:
A month has passed, and the trial has been set to begin next week.
John has done his best to keep Claire's anxiety down, not revealing too much to her about the leak that Jamie might still be alive or anything else to do with the trial
They'd been careful, Jamie staying mostly inside except to help Hector on the farm once a week, usually early on Sunday mornings when there were less people out and about. The farm at least didn't flare Claire's worry up even more, seeing as it was isolated out on a piece of land that you practically had to know it was there to find it. When Jamie was there, she knew he was as safe as possible.
Other than that, he's been inside, and while he's going a bit stir crazy, he assures Claire each night that he'd rather be cooped up inside his safe house with her and the girls than miles apart.
She would run errands and to pick up groceries, she'd helped Joe with a few cases via telephone or Zoom, she and the girls have explored Wilmington a bit, but other than that, they've been keeping themselves busy and thoroughly entertained while also helping Jamie prepare to give his testimony.
They've been practicing the past few nights, John, Hector and Claire all asking Jamie any questions that might be thrown his way and letting him rehearse what to say, how much detail to give, about his observation of the rival gangs and his imminent attack.
John also has to testify, as the undercover agent that had been a mole inside Master Raymond's gang, and Claire grows more confident with each passing day that between the two of them they'll not only put Raymond away, but also the rival mob boss—a man that goes by the name Sandringham—for good.
They've made plans to fly back to Georgia, and Claire has to admit that she's enjoyed her month away from work, but she misses Joe, Geillis and the Fitzgibbons tremendously.
"You sure it's alright with you if John, Sophia and I all stay with you guys?" Hector asks, handing her the pan to put olive oil on.
Claire smiles at Hector, knowing he'd been the most worried about imposing on their home and family time, but she nods, assuring him that it's fine. "The extra security will be nice with John around, and the girls love Sophia," she grins, nudging him in the ribs with her elbow gently, "and you can teach me that recipe for those biscuits Jamie loves so much. I've never been able to master making them from scratch."
Hector smiles, promising he will, "Plus I can take Brianna to her lessons and ride some horses. It'll be perfect."
Claire smiles again, once more thankful for this family that has protected her husband all these years. They've become great friends over the last few weeks, and she knows that if Jamie had to be away all this time, she's glad he was with such amazing people.
As Hector dumps the freshly chopped vegetables onto the pan, Claire looks over to the kitchen table, watching as Jamie and John both concentrate deeply on their chess game.
They'd set it up an hour ago, still deep into their game.
Jamie must feel her eyes on him, because he glances up, trying to wink in her direction.
She grins at his constant inability to actually wink, then looks back to her partner in the kitchen. Hector sprinkles onion powder onto the veggies, and she watches him work, creating another delicious dish for them. "Where did you learn to cook so well?"
"My mom taught me growing up," he explains, reaching for the garlic salt. "I'd wake up early to help my Pa on the farm, then spend my evenings doing homework and learning to cook from her." Claire smiles, listening to him talk about his family. He looks up toward their husbands, leaning in conspiratorially and stage-whispers, "Comes in handy when all your husband can make is spaghetti."
John looks up from his game at his husband's words, looking mockingly offended with one hand over his heart. "I make a rather great one at that, thank you very much," he says, taking one of his pieces and moving it to another square.
"You sure do, dear," Hector says sarcastically, cutting his eyes to Claire, making her giggle.
Jamie slams his hand down on the table, chuckling as he makes his move, clearly winning the game as John slaps his knee, lips drawing up in defeat. "Damn you, I was distracted."
Claire and Hector laugh as Jamie resets the pieces. They've been playing for a while, the sun having set since they started.
It's a peaceful night in the house, their last for a while, and Claire takes a moment to listen out for the girls upstairs in the playroom with Sophia.
She glimpses back to the table, her eyes connecting with Jamie's again. They seem to get lost in their own little moment, the rest of the world drowning out as she gets lost in his blue eyes.
John clears his throat, and Hector laughs. "Seems we've lost them to their own little world once again."
Claire blushes, laughing awkwardly as she pulls herself from her husband's gaze, "So, what's the next step on these vegetables?"
Before Hector can reply, they hear a cry coming from upstairs, and three sets of feet scrambling down the steps.
Jamie stands abruptly from the table, chess game forgotten, as Faith comes into the kitchen holding a crying Sophia's hand, Bree trailing behind.
John stands, scooping Sophia into his arms. "What happened, love?"
She blubbers something that no one can understand, and Claire and Jamie look to their daughters.
Faith takes Jamie's hand, leading him over to the bar stools. She climbs into the chair while explaining, "We were playing dress up, and I was showing them some of my dance moves from ballet class."
Jamie nods, rubbing her back, "So why the tears?"
"Weel," she sighs, hanging her head before looking up at Jamie through her long lashes, her little lips pursed, "Sophia turned a little too hard and hit her head on the wall."
"And fell out of the chair she was standing in," Brianna adds, climbing into the chair on the other side of Jamie.
"Chair?" Hector asks, setting the seasoning down and walking over to John and Sophia. He kisses Sophia's head, rubbing her back. "Why were you in a chair?"
Her crying continues, pudgy cheeks turning red as she continues to babble her incoherent explanation.
"We were dancing in the chairs," Bree explains with a guilty little shrug, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Claire shakes her head, glad they just have child sized plastic chairs up there, so she knows she didn't fall too far, she's probably just more scared than anything.
"Are you alright, baby?" Hector asks, taking his daughter from John's arms. Sophia cuddles into her other father's embrace, head nuzzling into his neck as her tears begin to subside.
She nods, mumbling a mmhmm, I'm otay that makes everyone smile.
"It just scared you, didn't it?" Claire asks, smiling over at the little girl.
She nods again, looking sheepishly at Claire with teary eyes.
"Why don't you girls stay down here for a while?" Jamie suggests, "Dinner will be ready once the vegetables get done."
Claire slides them into the oven, telling the room they'll be finished in about twenty-five minutes, and Jamie smiles at Faith and Bree, saying that gives them time to watch an episode of The Magic School Bus while Sophia puts an ice pack on her forehead.
Faith jumps down from her stool, going to the freezer to remove an ice pack. She wraps it in a dish towel from the drawer, handing it to Sophia as Hector sets her down. "You have to keep this on your head, okay?" she asks in a sweet, high-pitched voice she only uses when talking to younger kids.
Claire smiles watching her oldest daughter. She's always been a little mother-hen, taking care of Brianna or any other kids they might be around.
Sophia nods with a tear filled pout, reaching out for Faith's hand. Faith straightens, taking Sophia's hand and calling over her shoulder for Brianna to come with them to the living room.
"Crisis averted, I'd say," John chuckles once the girls are out of the kitchen, and everyone smiles.
While Hector checks on their chicken on the grill, Claire peeks into the living room, seeing that all three girls are cuddled on the couch, Sophia in the middle with a megawatt smile plastered on her face as both red heads fuss over her, making sure the ice pack is on right and she's propped up on enough pillows to be comfortable.
"Well, Sophia is in heaven out there," Claire jokes, pointing behind her as she turns back to the other adults.
John and Jamie have resumed their game but look up, laughing as she explains what the girls are doing.
"I'm glad they all get along," John says, "it's nice for Soph to have some other little girls to play with."
Smiling, Claire busies herself cleaning the kitchen while Hector joins the other men at the table, asking them how the game works.
{***********************}
Once dinner is over, and the ice pack has fully melted, they all walk toward the front door, saying goodnight to their friends.
Hector walks over to Sophia, picking her up and telling her to say bye-bye to the girls. Her chubby hand motions around in an attempt at a wave as Hector joins John at the door, making their exit to their house next door to finish packing for their roadtrip in the morning.
Claire sighs, walking over to the girls. They're in the nook of the living room deciding which toys they want to take with them back home. "Have you girls decided yet?"
They both look up at her, a pair of golden eyes and a set of blue turning her way in the most pathetic attempt at puppy dog eyes she's ever seen.
"Mama, we want to take all of them," Faith announces, apparently the spokesperson for the duo this evening. "Daddy's bought us so many, and we don't wanna leave them behind."
Rolling her eyes, she tilts her head in Jamie's direction as he walks in from the kitchen. "See."
"What?" he says around a bite of a biscuit that Hector had made for them, shrugging his shoulders as he looks at his daughters. "I ken I spoiled them a wee bit, but I had six years to make up for, Sassenach."
"Yes, and you have made up for it and then some." She walks over to him, taking the last bite of his biscuit and popping it into her mouth as she wraps her arms around his waist. Her head is on his chest, listening to his heartbeat as she chews and swallows, looking up at him sweetly. "You didn't have to buy the toys, though, to do that. They've loved just spending time with you, Jamie."
"Aye, I ken," he concedes, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry, mo nighean donn." He claps his hands together, rubbing them as he disentangles from Claire's grip, walking over to the girls. "Ye can each pack your top four favorite ones, lasses," he says in his most dad-like voice, "and the rest will stay here." He points to the ground, indicating the house as he looks at their sad little eyes. "And…" he trails off, looking over his shoulder at Claire, then back to the girls, crouching down in front of them with a sly grin, "We can always get new ones in Georgia."
Pushover.
A pair of twin yay's ring out as they wrap their arms around Jamie, and Claire rolls her eyes, putting her foot down no matter how cute the three of them may be. "Girls, you have plenty of toys back home. You each get three from here to take and that's it. We don't have room in the suitcases." She looks to Jamie pointedly, adding, "and no new toys once we're home. You have more than enough."
"But we drove here, though," Brianna says, "we can just toss them in the floorboard!"
Claire gives her best mom-glare as even Faith agrees with her sister, but they all realize how serious she is.
All three of them sigh, causing Claire to try and hide her smirk as she walks away, calling over her shoulder for them to hurry up. They have to get ready for bed in thirty minutes, and if they haven't chosen by then, then they don't get to take any.
With that, Faith and Brianna scramble to pick the toys they want, running up the stairs with Jamie chasing after them as they dash to their room, tossing the toys in the toy bag and getting ready for the long drive in the morning.
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A few days later, once everyone is settled into Claire's Georgia home, the doorbell rings, alerting Claire that her friends have arrived.
She steps over the pile of toys Faith, Brianna and Sophia have left in the middle of the hallway, and she shakes her head, wondering how the house has gotten so much messier with just three extra people living here.
She makes a mental note to have everyone clean up tonight. She refuses to live like they're all on vacation still, wanting her girls to stay in a routine.
"Girls, clean up this hallway!" she calls as she descends the stairs.
John is already downstairs, hand hovering over the door handle when he looks over at her. "You ready?"
Claire takes a deep breath, wondering if she truly is. She's wanted to tell her friends and family for months now about Jamie but knew she couldn't. With the trial beginning in just a few short days, John had been given permission for her to tell just the four of them—Joe, Geillis, Murtagh and Jocasta—so that they could have some moral support at the trial. She knows the underlying message is In case things don't go their way, but she doesn't care, she's just excited (albeit nervous) to tell their loved ones.
She hates that she'll ask Geillis to lie to Dougal, despite him being Jamie's blood, she just doesn't trust the man with something so grand, but she knows that the other four would take this to their graves if she asked it of them, even as big of a gossip as Geillis is. She really was lucky to have such amazing people surrounding her.
Nodding, she tells John that she is, and she steps back, standing behind John as he opens the door.
Joe, Geillis and the Fitzgibbons are on the other side, excited smiles falling when they see a stranger opening the door.
Geillis looks over John's shoulder, catching Claire's gaze. Her eyes dart back to John, then over to Claire, lighting up. "So, ye did have a mystery man after all!"
Claire snickers, doubling into full on laughter when John's shocked expression meets her. "Please come in and I'll explain."
She hugs them all as they make their way in, Geillis hanging up her purse on the coat rack as they all step into the living room. "Guys, this is Officer John Grey. John, this is Joe Abernathy, Murtagh and Jocasta Fitzgibbons, and Geillis Duncan."
They shake hands, Murtagh asking if everything is okay. She can see their worried looks, and she sighs, sitting down on the couch with her friends as John takes the chair.
Her heartbeat is pounding so loudly in her chest that it's all she can hear in her eardrums besides the rushing of her blood. With a shaky inhalation, she begins with, "Well," and looks to John, then back to her guests. "I have something… kind of crazy, actually… to tell you."
Before she can go on, there's a small squeak in the wooden floorboard as Jamie walks through the kitchen doorway and into the living room, a sheepish look on his face with his hands tucked inside his pockets. An audible gasp rings out throughout the room before a deafening silence descends upon them as everyone's eyes are trained on her husband. She's not sure who gasped so loudly, maybe all four, based on how Joe and Geillis' hands are holding tightly to each other's and their mouths have fallen agape, Murtagh's covering his mouth as tears well in his eyes and Jocasta staring blankly in surprise.
Claire watches with watery eyes, taking in everyone's expressions. There's confusion written all over their faces, of course, but she spies a smile tickling the edge of Joe's face.
Her golden eyes flick over to Murtagh, his brows furrowed together. Their godfather stands slowly, pushing himself up from the couch and waving Jocasta off silently when she moves to help him.
He takes a few short steps to be eye level with Jamie, staring into her husband's blue eyes much the same way she did when she found him in Spain.
"A bhalaich?" Murtagh asks in a whisper, his eyes glazing over as he studies at his godson in disbelief.
"Ghoistidh," he breathes, reaching out to embrace the older man, tears falling down his cheeks as he buries his nose in Murtagh's neck.
The gruff older man wraps his arms around him, and Claire tears up watching, almost in slow motion, as Murtagh pulls back, slapping Jamie's shoulders and laughing before pulling him back in for a more tender hug.
They stay there for a moment, clearly reveling in the embrace of one another after so long, and she swears she hears Murtagh sniffling into Jamie's neck. Jamie's already crying, the tears trickling onto the old man's shoulder.
"H-how?"
Jamie pulls back, clasping Murtagh's shoulders, then waves apprehensively to the rest of the room. As he pads over to the other chair, he pats Joe and Geillis on their shoulders, stopping to take his aunt's hand and give it an affectionate squeeze before he takes his spot in the chair beside Claire, taking her hand in his.
Joe and Geillis' mouths are still hanging open, following Jamie's every move, and Jocasta is crying softly at the sight of her nephew.
"So, while I was in Spain…"
Claire explains everything, her tears returning as she tells their best friends about finding Jamie, allowing Jamie to tell them his side of the story.
Their shocked expressions don't leave, even as they all cry and hug Jamie, celebrating his return. Joe holds Claire tightly to him in a hug, whispering how happy he is for her no matter how crazy all of this is.
John allows them a moment to catch up, but then grows serious, telling the room how austere this really is. He informs them that this is a federal case, and they are sworn to secrecy. He takes out a document, having them each sign it, legally swearing to keep this to themselves for the duration of the trial.
They do, of course, Geillis rubbing Claire's knee in support as they continue talking, John going over the details of how the trial will work.
After another hour, John sighs, saying that's all they need to know, and they spend the rest of their time together catching up before dinner.
The girls are thrilled to see Aunt Geillis and Jocasta, Uncle Joe, and especially Uncle Murtagh when they come up from the playroom for dinner.
"Uncle Murtagh!" Faith squeals, leaping into his arms, her tiny ones wrapping around his neck as she kisses his cheek. "Did ye see that Daddy is back?!"
He chuckles, blowing a raspberry to her cheek, saying that he did, "And I'm verra happy tae see him, m'annsachd."
She giggles, Brianna wrapping her arms around Murtagh's legs after she's lept from Joe and Geillis' hugs. "Och," she scoffs, "I wanna hug, too!"
Jamie laughs, wrapping his arm around Jocasta's shoulders. "Wee little Scots when they're around Murtagh, aren't they?"
Claire laughs, saying it definitely comes out more when Jocasta, Geillis and Murtagh are all around, though they have little Scottish mannerisms that sneak out from time to time.
Jamie beams at that, and she kisses his cheek, stepping away to tell everyone that it's time to eat.
They gather around the large dining room table, Jamie and Claire at opposite heads. The girls are on either side of Claire with Sophia next to Faith, who dutifully cuts Sophia's food for her while Hector watches from beside them. Jamie's family are on both sides of him, with John, Geillis and Joe filling out the middle of the table, and as Claire looks around her dining room, seeing it so filled with love and laughter, she can't contain the beaming smile gracing her face.
This feels right, and though she's worried for her friends and family to know the truth, she finally feels as if she can breathe a sigh of relief. Her best friends know, she now has someone other than Jamie she can cry and scream her happiness, worries and fears to, and really, that's all she's ever wanted.
After dinner, everyone leaves, and John and Hector take Sophia down into the basement where they're staying, claiming it's bath time. As they make their way downstairs, they say goodnight to Jamie and Claire, Hector giving Claire a wink and saying they'll stay down there the rest of the night to give them some family time alone.
She smiles, thankful again for their new friends.
{*************************}
"Daddy, catch me!" Brianna calls, jumping from his and Claire's bed into his arms.
He laughs, grunting as her body weight hits his. He wraps his arms around her legs and waist, spinning her around like an airplane.
"Me, too!" Faith calls, jumping on their bed and giggling at her sister.
Claire laughs, her body bouncing from the motion of her daughter's hops on the mattress.
Jamie tosses Bree onto the bed while making plane noises, then scoops Faith up, doing the same thing.
Claire watches with a smile, loving these little moments her girls get with their father now.
Brianna crawls across the bed, snuggling into Claire's arms as they watch Jamie crash Faith into the mattress, her laughter echoing through the room. Jamie plops onto the bed in his spot, Faith cuddling into his side.
Turning on the television, Claire turns it to Netflix, handing the remote to Faith to let her pick a movie for them.
She settles on Sleeping Beauty, and both girls huddle together at the foot of the bed to watch.
Claire grins at their backs, looking over to Jamie. He takes her hand in his, bringing it up to her lips to kiss the back of. "Today was exhausting," he admits, "but great," and she nods, agreeing.
Before she can say anything else, Brianna crawls back to where her parents are propped against the headboard, asking Claire to braid her hair.
"Of course, darling," she says, taking the hair tie off of her little wrist.
She sits up, letting Bree settle in between her legs. She runs her fingers through her straight, auburn locks, getting the small tangles out.
"Daddy, have you ever seen this movie?" Bree asks, trying to look Jamie's way as Claire fights to keep her head straight while she does her hair.
"Aye, a long time ago, m'annsachd," he says, pointing toward Faith at the end of the bed. "When that one was just a wee bairn."
Brianna giggles, settling against Claire's chest, rambling on about the movie, telling him everything that is going to happen despite him saying he'd seen it before.
"We can watch a different one if you want," Faith says, making her way back to the top of the bed. She lays beside Jamie, resting her head on his large chest.
"Nae, 'tis alright, a leannan," he says, kissing the top of her head. "It's been a long day anyway, ken. 'Tis almost bedtime."
"It's past bedtime," Claire chuckles, knowing it's not all that late, but it's been an eventful day, and the girls need to catch up on some sleep, "but your father is right. You girls can watch a few more minutes, but then it's off to sleep."
They both whine, Brianna asking if they can sleep in their bed tonight, to which Claire tells her no. It's been a taxing and emotional day. Telling their family was harder than she thought, and she knows as soon as the girls are asleep, she'll be crying in her husband's arms.
Neither Faith nor Brianna put up much of a fight, and before long, they're both snoring softly against their parents' chest.
Chuckling, Jamie quips, "Guess they were more tired than they thought," as he stands with Faith cradled in his arms. "Let's get them tae bed."
Nodding, Claire wraps her arms around Brianna, carrying her across the hallway to her bed as Jamie deposits Faith into hers. They each kiss their girls' foreheads, switching rooms to do the same to the other daughter, before meeting back in the hallway.
Jamie takes Claire's hand, leading her down the stairs and into the living room.
"I just wanted some time alone wi' ye, mo chridhe," he confesses, walking over to the bar cart to pour them each a dram of whisky before he settles beside her on the couch, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Wi' John's family here, I feel like we're constantly surrounded by people."
"That's because we are," she giggles, taking a sip of the amber liquid and clicking the television on. She flips it to some random black and white movie, settling back into Jamie's embrace.
Before long, the emotions of the day consume her and she lets her tears silently fall. She sniffles, looking up to Jamie.
"What is it, mo nighean donn? Yer tears have soaked through my shirt." He reaches up, wiping underneath both of her eyes and placing a soft peck to the end of her nose.
She smiles at the touch, shaking her head and clearing her throat. "I'm just… relieved," she admits, shrugging and setting her glass on the coffee table. "I've been wanting to tell Joe and Geillis for months about you, and finally being able to tell everyone..." she shakes her head, meeting his gaze, "it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my chest."
Claire leans in, pressing her lips to his, then pulls back to add, "I feel like telling them made this… real. You're really here." Her eyes mist over again and Jamie leans forward, setting his glass down beside hers and pulling her to him.
She situates herself on his lap, legs dangling over his as he pushes her hair back, cupping the back of her neck. "Oh, Claire," he breathes, his lips hovering above her. "I love ye sae much."
"I love you, too," she murmurs, closing the gap between them.
Their lips move together, Claire practically memorizing the feel of them on hers once again. She's overcome with this sense of right as his hands move to her hips, squeezing affectionately.
She knows it's been two months since he returned, but something about tonight solidified it for her, and having his lips on her sends a fire through her veins that she hasn't felt in a very long time.
Their lips pop apart as Claire moves, situating herself back in his lap with her legs straddling his.
He grins, looking up into her eyes. "Right here on the couch, Sassenach? John and Hector are just downstairs."
"And Hector said they'd stay there," she mumbles, kissing his lips, "all," another kiss, this one to his jaw, "night."
With a growl, Jamie grabs her waist, hoisting her up and onto the couch as he hovers above her. He peppers kisses down her throat to her chest, his hand trailing up her t-shirt.
Goosebumps flair on her skin, and she giggles as she imagines what would happen if one of them did happen to come back upstairs. The thought of getting caught sends a naughty thrill through her, and she reaches for Jamie's shirt, tossing it onto the coffee table beside them.
Jamie makes his way down, down, down, unbuttoning her jeans and tapping her thigh, demanding she lift up so he can remove them.
They work together to shimmy out of her denim, and once he's gotten them off, they join his shirt on the table.
His lips find her bellybutton, tongue swirling as he makes his way down to where she's already wet and wanting him.
Jamie's finger tucks into the side of her blue thong, peeling it back to kiss and suck her skin.
"Jamie," she breathes, writhing beneath him already. "Yes." She nods as his eyes look up at her from under his lashes, his silent question of should we do this right here ringing loud and clear to her.
He grins, tongue peeking out as he licks up her slit, lips attaching to her clit and sucking far harder than she was expecting.
She clamps a hand over her mouth, hips jutting up. "Mmm," she moans from behind her hand, her other fist in his hair. "God, yes!"
Jamie works her up and up to the very edge, pulling back with a wicked grin. "Ye're close already, Sassenach?"
She slaps his shoulder, laughing as she says, "You know I am, you bastard, keep going."
He laughs, too, the vibrations of it hitting her core and sending a shiver down to her toes.
Jamie lets his finger join, his mouth sucking on her clit while his fingers work her up into a frenzy, and before long, she's coming on his tongue, his name falling from his lips far louder than she should be with a house full of people.
She slams her hand over her mouth again, shaking and writhing beneath her husband as his finger still works inside of her, riding out the aftershocks of her orgasm.
Claire pushes his hand away after the sensation becomes too much, pulling him on top of her chest.
He kisses her lips, and the mixture of him and her on his tongue just about sends her over the edge again.
They lay there for a moment, letting Claire catch her breath as Jamie traces his finger tip over her bicep.
She loves the feel of him on top of her, no matter how large and heavy he may be, the weight of him is just another reminder that he's truly here for good.
After a few more minutes, Claire begins to giggle, saying she should probably put her pants back on just in case one of their guests comes upstairs needing anything or a kid comes looking for one of them.
"Aye," Jamie laughs, "though I do quite enjoy the sight of ye bare assed on our couch, all fer me."
He kisses her again, standing and pulling her up from the couch as well. He slips his shirt on, while she wiggles back into her jeans.
Jamie checks his watch, asking, "Did ye check the mail today? Yer new Apple watch we ordered was supposed to be here earlier."
Laughing, Claire shakes her head, saying she didn't. "Can't it wait until tomorrow? It's almost nine o'clock."
Brianna, wild child that she is, had been galloping around like a horse back in North Carolina and knocked Claire's watch off the kitchen counter where she'd placed it. It had fallen to the ground at just the right angle, causing the screen to crack, and while Claire wasn't too worried, Jamie had insisted on them ordering her a new one.
"Nah, 'tis no' that late… and it's a gift fer you, Sassenach!" he says, overly-excited and grinning as he says he'll just go check the mail right quick for it. She knows he's extra excited for this because he'd missed the last six birthdays and Christmases, but really, she could wait until the morning, but his boyish grin was too much to handle.
"Fine," she giggles, rolling her eyes playfully at him, shrugging as she settles back onto the couch to let her husband lavish her with a new gift. "I'll just be here, finishing this movie we've been oh so into."
Smirking, Jamie nods, stepping out of the front door and down to the mailbox. Playtime in the backyard and his trips to the mailbox once the sun has gone down and the neighbors are asleep have been his only reprieve from being cooped up in their house, anyway, so she knows he enjoys the fresh air.
Claire settles back into the couch, actually trying to watch the movie this time. It doesn't hold her interest in the ten seconds she tries, so she flips the channel to HGTV, watching as the Property Brothers try to convince a family that new insulation is necessary in their remodel.
Before long, Claire hears a sound from outside, and she mutes the TV, walking to the front door. It sounded like someone was talking to Jamie, so she's immediately on edge wondering who it could be and hoping they didn't recognize Jamie somehow. She knows they didn't live here when Jamie was alive, but, well, still...
"Alexander? she says, knowing even just outside their door, she has to use his alias.
The sight that greets her though, makes her blood run cold. A hooded man stands behind Jamie, knife stabbed into his back while Jamie's hands are up in surrender. "J-Alex!" she screams, watching as the man yanks the knife out, running away before she can get close enough to see any kind of features, not that she could through the dark mask and clothing.
She runs to Jamie frantically, kneeling down beside him as he falls to the ground. "Oh, god, oh god," she cries, cradling his head while applying pressure to the wound. "Jamie," she calls frantically, "hang on!"
Screaming John's name, praying he can hear her from down in the basement, she picks up her phone, unsure if she should call 911 or not, knowing that would require insurance and names and… things she can't give for a dead man.
"Sassenach," he coughs out, his hand flopping onto her phone, pulling it down so she can't call the ambulance. "Go inside an'… and get John…"
"I'm not leaving you!" she cries, her hand holding his wound. "I'm not!"
"Sassen…." he trails off, his eyes growing heavy, "go… get John."
Her eyes squeeze shut, shaking her head as she fights against all her medical training, knowing she shouldn't leave him like this. "I'll be right back, Jamie." She takes his hand, telling him to hold it as best he can to his wound, then adds more sternly through gritted teeth, "Don't you dare die on me."
She stands, running frantically up the walkway to the front door. She dashes through the living room and into the kitchen, throwing open the basement door and screaming John and Hector's names down the stairs. "Help! Now!"
Without waiting for a response, she makes a mad dash back outside, placing Jamie's head in her lap again and pressing on the wound on his side. It's near his kidney and she prays to God that the attacker didn't stab deep enough to puncture any vital organs.
Before she knows it, John and Hector are both beside her, John already on the phone with someone, she doesn't know who, but she knows it's someone to help.
"Jamie," she whimpers, begging him to open his eyes. "Look at me, damn it." She presses her lips to his, willing him to come back to consciousness. "Damn it, open your eyes."
She feels herself growing dizzy, unable to imagine his life actually ending this way, not after everything they've been through, and as she feels herself growing weary, eyes heavy with tears, she hears the ambulance sirens coming down the street.
{***********************}
Eeeek…. Lots of things happened in this one! Just trust me with that ending, y'all! Lol Please review :)