"Babe, we need to talk about this. We promised never to go to bed angry."
She sat up and looked at him. "I'm not angry. I'm hurt and confused. Why did you keep something so important from me? I'm your wife. We are supposed to trust each other and share everything."
"Elizabeth, if you found out about the details of a case and somehow let it slip, I could be killed. You or our boys could be in danger. It's not about not trusting you, it's about keeping all of us alive. The less you know, the better."
"You don't need to give me specifics, but telling me your life could be in danger would have been nice before…" She stopped talking.
"Before we got married? Would that have stopped you from marrying me?"
"Of course not. It just would have been nice to know."
"I can't go back in time and make a different decision."
"I know." She sighed and laid back down, rolling back to her side, facing away from him. "Goodnight."
"Elizabeth," he pleaded, touching her soft skin. "Please don't push me away."
"I'm not. I just want to sleep now."
"Can I hold you?" He was so used to her being in his arms to go to sleep that it seemed impossible for her not to be. She reached behind her for his hand and brought it around her waist. He moved closer and tucked himself against her back. "I love you, Elizabeth."
"I love you too."
….
At around six in the morning, Jack headed down the hall to his office to check on the buildings his company was responsible for protecting. Currently there were ten, just in Portland. He spent the next hour monitoring everything.
At around seven, he heard the boys get up. They probably wanted breakfast so he turned off his monitors and headed out in the kitchen.
Sawyer walked into the backyard with Dash while Brennan fed him and gave him water.
Elizabeth stood at the coffee maker. He placed his hand on her back. "Good morning." He bent down to kiss her and then tried to see how she was handling things. Her face was expressionless.
"Hi." She handed him a cup of coffee and then made herself a cup.
"Are we ok?" He was scared that she had lost a little trust in him and that was the last thing he ever wanted.
She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, snuggling into his arms, against his chest. She still felt a bit betrayed but the strong, immense love she had for him helped erase that. She didn't want to be unsure about them. She wanted to know that they would always be open and honest with each other.
She stepped away from him. "I'm going to shower and get dressed for church." He grabbed her hand and pleaded with his eyes. "It's ok, Jack."
Throughout the day, Elizabeth stayed in her quiet shell, speaking when asked a question but otherwise quiet.
At Tom and Charlotte's that evening, Charlotte noticed a difference as well. She pulled Jack aside and asked what was going on.
"I told her about my detective work. She is struggling with it."
Charlotte hadn't been happy either when he had spilled the beans to her years before. And neither had Katie.
He knew their anger had been out of concern and fear of the danger. They had come around to it and he hoped Elizabeth would too.
"You should have told her before."
"It's dangerous, Ma."
"That's why you should have told her. She deserves to know every part of your past and your life now. She probably feels betrayed."
"I know." He hugged Charlotte and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Ma. Thanks for keeping the boys tonight."
"Of course. Go make things better, son."
He nodded and went to do just that.
….
When they drove he offered his hand and she held it. Any affection he showed, she reciprocated. She just didn't talk a lot.
"Honey, we need to fix this."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Does your Mom know?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been doing the undercover work?"
"About six years."
"So, I assume you told Katie."
"Yes."
"She was ok with it?"
"Not at first. I started around the time she was pregnant with Sawyer. She didn't speak to me for about a week."
"Did you make the decision without her? To start doing that?"
"Yes. The chief of police approached me when I was monitoring one of my properties and asked if it was something I'd be interested in. I jumped at the chance. I loved my securities company and working for myself, but I had always loved being a cop too. It made sense."
"Maybe that's what bothers me. You didn't consult me from the beginning." She took her hand away and put it in her lap. "You chose when to tell me and only after I was upset about a perceived danger. It makes me wonder if you would have told me at all and I wonder what else you're hiding."
"Yes, I would have told you. Of course I would have. I'm not hiding anything from you."
"How do I know that?"
"Because I'm telling you. Because you can trust me."
They pulled into their driveway a half hour later and then into the garage. As soon as they walked inside, he put his alarm code in and she went to the bedroom.
He took Dash out and then made them some tea. When he took it in to the bedroom, she was sitting against the headboard, her knees pulled up to her chest. He handed the tea to her and went to undress and take a shower.
When he came out he sat on the bed next to her. "I'll quit."
"Why?"
"Because you are more important to me than that job. I don't need it. I do need you."
"It means a lot that you're willing to give it up, but I don't want to be the reason you give up something you love doing. You'll resent me later and that would be worse than worrying about you."
"Elizabeth, that would never happen. I want you. I need you and I would give up anything to make sure we are going to be ok. I need you to trust me." A tear ran down her cheek. He flicked it away with his thumb. "I hate it when you cry. Especially when it's because of something I did." He kissed her damp cheek and trailed his lips up to her temple and her forehead. "I love you so much, Elizabeth. Please forgive me."
She nodded and pressed her lips to his. "I forgive you. I love you too." She didn't want to be angry anymore. She just wanted him safe.
Jack made up his mind. The next time the department called to ask him to go undercover, he would decline and then turn in his letter of resignation. The opportunity came a few days later.
"Resigning?" Chief said loudly into the phone. "Jack, you're the best we have on the team. We need you on this one."
"Sir, I appreciate that, but I have a family to think of. I don't want to cause them unnecessary worry anymore. I'm resigning, effective now."
"I wish you'd reconsider. Jack this is an important case."
"My family is more important, sir."
A moment of silence went by. "I respect that. You're a good man, Thornton, and an even better detective. You'll be missed. If you are ever looking for this line of work again, come see me."
"Yes, sir, I will. Thank you."
…..
Grace watched out the window of the car as Don drove to New York. She was glad it was only a two hour drive. Traveling just wasn't her thing. But Don was. She looked over at him and admired his strong presence. His jaw was relaxed as he drove, his large hand encompassing hers on the console.
"Hey," he said, meeting her eyes.
"Hi." She gave him a smile and squeezed his hand.
"We're almost there. Do you want to stop for lunch?"
"Sure." As much as she wanted to meet Annie, she wanted to be with Don alone more. It surprised her so much how she felt. She went from being so unsure of everything to being completely emotionally dependent on him. He kept her calm and happy and that was overwhelming and wonderful at the same time.
When they pulled into a restaurant just outside of the city, he walked around and opened her door for her and then offered his hand. She put her hand in his. "I'm glad you're with me, Gracie."
"I am too."
He bent down and kissed her and then they headed inside. About an hour later, they arrived at Annie's house, about ten minutes from downtown.
It was a modest house with nice landscaping.
A beautiful dark haired girl ran out of the house. "Daddy!"
"Annie!" He picked her up and spun her around like she weighed nothing at all. "Baby girl, I missed you."
"I missed you too." When she pulled back a moment later, she smiled. "You must be Grace. I'm Annie."
"It's wonderful to meet you, Annie."
"You too. I'm so glad my dad found someone to make him behave," she said with a wink as they walked in the house.
"Gets into trouble, does he?" Grace asked with a laugh.
"Yeah, that's me. Trouble all the way," he said, joining in.
"Ok, so I have a guest room here on the left. I don't know if…I mean, you both could stay in here if that's what you want…I don't want to assume anything."
"I'll take the couch, Annie," Don told her.
"Sounds good. Then Grace, this room is yours." She opened the door and Grace immediately felt comfortable. The atmosphere of the room was calm and inviting.
"This is lovely. Thank you, Annie."
"You're welcome. The bathroom is across the hall. There are towels in the cabinet."
Annie left her to get settled and headed out to the living room.
"Dad?"
He was standing by the window, gazing out into the backyard. "Here, baby girl." She walked over and hugged him.
"I'm glad you're here. Both of you."
"Me too." He kissed her forehead and held her tighter.
"She's really sweet, Dad. And beautiful."
"She is."
"You love her, don't you?"
"I do. I hope you two get to spend some time together." It was important that they were comfortable with each other. He wanted that more than anything.
"I'm planning on taking her to lunch tomorrow. Do you think she would want to go?"
"Yeah, I bet she would. Maybe someplace quiet?"
"I know just the place."
….
Julie grinned at Elizabeth over her coffee cup. Elizabeth quirked an eyebrow. Her sister seemed pretty happy and like she had a secret that she wanted to share. But because she knew her so well, she wouldn't ask and it would drive her nuts.
"How's your job going, Julie?"
"Good."
Elizabeth nodded and made another cup of coffee. "Are you hungry? I can make us some sandwiches. I think the boys will be hungry soon."
"No thanks. Come on, Beth. Ask me."
"Ask what?" she wondered, innocently.
"Ask me what's new."
"Do I really want to know?"
"Beth!"
"Ok, ok. Julie. What's new?"
"I met someone. He's great!"
"What's his name?"
"Blake West. He's a fireman."
"Where did you meet him?"
"At the grocery store, in the shampoo aisle."
"Ok then. Does he at least use good shampoo?" she teased.
"Yeah. It smells really good, not that I was smelling his hair or anything."
Elizabeth smiled. It was good to see Julie happy again. Settled and happy. "When do we get to meet him?"
"I don't know. We will have to plan something."
"How about tonight?"
"I don't know, Beth."
"Come on. Call him."
The boys and Dash ran in the room and out into the backyard. Then Sawyer poked his head in the door. "Mom, can we have mac and cheese?"
"Sure, baby."
"Thanks!"
Jack walked in then, surprising her because he had gone to Portland PD to turn in his badge and hand in his resignation letter. She expected him to be gone for a lot longer.
"Hey," he said, kissing her hello.
"Hi. I'm making mac and cheese. Oh and Julie met a guy."
"Oh, cool. When can we meet him?"
"What is it with you two? Why do you want to meet him so badly?"
"He's dating my sister-in-law. I think it's only fair that I get to see if he's good enough." He winked at Elizabeth.
"Jack, if I invite him over here and you embarrass me…."
"Would I do that?" he asked innocently.
"Yes, I believe you would."
"Only because you're family."