Heartaches

Chapter 43

By Kellyq

Jaeger walked down the hospital hallway to the cafeteria to get something to eat. After Rudger's sudden stroke (that was two days ago), Godwin hadn't left his brother's side. Jeager sighed, grabbed some coffee, and a breakfast croissant. Making his way to a table, Jeager sat there for a moment, not feeling hungry. He pushed the items to the side and rested the side of his head in his hand. He knew that he shouldn't be concerned about Godwin. They were just sex partners and nothing more.

Nothing more.

Jeager glanced at his unsweetened, untouched coffee. He wasn't ready for things to change, especially how he felt about the tall gray-haired man. He was starting to have feelings for Godwin after being with him two years, and seeing him stressed out about what happened concerned him. Jeager knew that he shouldn't have feelings for Godwin. He knew that the older man wasn't into him in that manner.

Shortly after Yusei fixed Tanner's motorcycle and left the racetrack, he went to Martha's. The first thing Yusei noticed when the old woman walked up, was that she looked tired and skinner than she was before. The twins and Rally were right by her side.

"Are you okay?" Yusei asked, taking a closer glance to see that Martha looked sick. They were now sitting at the kitchen table. "Do you want me to call your Doctor?"

"I already made an appointment," Martha shared.

"That's good," Luna responded.

"What time?" Yusei asked.

The more he took in of her appearance, the more he became worried. Now that he thought about it, he had started to notice some changes. Martha didn't eat that much, and she seemed more tired. I don't like this, Yusei thought. Martha shouldn't look that way.

"I'll be leaving in an hour," Martha said factually, pushing the chair back. They watched her walk three feet away, but she stopped. "Yusei …?" The young teen (hmmmed) in response. "I need to talk to you, alone. And can you call Jack and Crow and have them meet us in DR Smith's office?"

"Sure."

Jack and Carly made their way to her studio apartment. Jack was the first to sit down as she placed her stuff by the door.

"Um ... do you want some water?" She asked nervously, making her way to the refrigerator.

"That's fine," Jack responded, watching her grab two water bottles. Carly turned and tossed one to him. Jack caught the plastic container effortlessly, opened the lid and brought to his lips, drinking it slowly. "So. What do you want to talk about?"

"Well, I know that you don't like me in the way I like you, but I want to know why? I'm no different than Yusei. Besides, his parents had been murdered, while mine live in another state because they didn't want me."

Jack gave her a look. "Where did you find that out? What's the point of all this?"

Carly squeaked out of fear before she cringed. "I ... I overheard Mina and Trudge talking. She did a background check on Yusei to make sure that he wouldn't hurt you!" Even though I highly doubt that Yusei knows how to fight, Carly thought calming down. She remembered what Misty said about the thing of love.

Jack sighed. "I already knew that Yusei's parents were killed."

Carly gasped. "And you haven't told him?"

"You of all people should know that some things are better left unsaid!" Jack lectured calmly. "And quit comparing yourself to Yusei. I've already told you that we're friends, and that should be good enough."

The atmosphere in the room turned sour. After a few moments, Carly sighed. "Jack ...? Are you sure that you're not being threatened by Godwin?"

Jack grunted in response. "Not exactly, but what brought that on? What's with the 20 questions?"

Carly lowered her gaze and her spiral glasses shined. "It's just that I feel that we can't bond if we're forcing each other to be friends ..."

Jack blinked, still wondering where all this was coming from. He stared at her for a moment, and for the first time, he could see passed her thick spiral glasses.

"You … you do want to be my friend … don't you?" Jack finally spoke up. He could sense that Carly has lost and lonely.

"I would like to," Carly spoke up quietly, "but I don't want you to force yourself into something that makes you feel uncomfortable. That's the last thing I want."

Jack grumbled, realizing that Carly was trying hard to respect the fact that she could never compete against Yusei. Images of Jack's boyfriend, glancing with a soft smile and a glint in his eyes, flashed across Jack's eyes.

"Thanks, Carly," he finally spoke up. "That means a lot to me that you respect my feelings, and I'm sorry that I haven't respected yours … and I should." he paused for a moment, before he continued. "I'm still willing to be your friend."

To Be Continued …