A/N: ATTENTION!!! The first chapter is a continuation of the end of this chapter! If you have the time, I would encourage you to go back and read the first chapter directly after finishing this one. This and the first chapter is present time. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, and especially those who gently encouraged me to get this chapter up quick lol!
CHAPTER 8
Later that evening, Sam loaded the dishwasher from the dirty dinner dishes and sent Emily up to tidy her room. She attempted some light housework, and then was decidedly too nervous. She chose to sit in the dining room, in full view of the front door, to wait for Jack. She had been through many possible scenarios of what Janet and her husband could have been discussing, and how she should broach the subject with him. She had finally settled on a plan of attack: ambush.
When Jack strolled into the house fifteen minutes later, he hung up his coat in the closet as usual. As he turned around to go into the kitchen, he heard a voice that stopped him in his tracks.
This was not the voice of his loving wife; this was the steely voice of his kick-ass Major. It asked bluntly, "Are you having an affair with Janet?"
Slowly, he swirled on his heel to face her. She rose from her chair and moved towards him in a manner that reminded him of a lioness about to kill her prey.
This hadn't quite been the plan, and heaven knew how she had come up with the idea on her own, but he would play the part that was required, "Don't be stupid, Sam. Where would you get an idea like that?"
She circled him carefully, "Don't patronize me, dear. I heard you two talking in her office today."
This caused him panic, but he didn't let it show, "You're being ridiculous, Sam. Stop it." He tried to continue on his original path to the kitchen, but she blocked the way.
Just inches in front of him, she breathed, "A wife always knows when something is up, and for as long as we worked together before, you bet your ass I know you like the back of my hand."
Jack hated every minute of this exchange, but it had to be done. "Think logically, Sam. Why would I want to jeopardize our life by having an affair? And with Janet no less?"
She insisted, "I am thinking logically, Jack. I checked on all of those missions you were supposedly on lately, and guess what? Your name wasn't on a single roster. So, do you want to tell me where you were?"
Loathing this part most of all, he took a deep breath, "Alright, Sam. I'll tell you."
He thought she should have looked satisfied, but instead he saw a certain anxiety in her eyes. He knew she was hoping that he would tell her something else, but he couldn't.
"It's true; Janet and I were together."
He observed his wife trying to hold her hard façade in place, trying not to let his words effect her, but she was quickly failing. She finally gripped the stair railing, speechless.
She no longer sounded like his military major when she spoke again, "I don't understand."
Her features were dazed as she searched his face for answers that he knew he couldn't give. Finally, he explained, "It just happened, honey. I'm sorry, really."