Cpt 9

Juliet turned to look at Jack. He stood still, slightly stunned, in her kitchen.
"Jack," she said softly moving his way.
"Don't," he said, his hand coming out to stop her.
Her eyes glistened as she watched the anger rising to his surface.
"I didn't know Jack," she pleaded.
"No?" Jack asked with a smirk, 'Wasn't this the plan all along? To get me here? With you? Am I not your gift for being a good little girl, Juliet?"
"No Jack," Juliet said firmly.
She took a step further so that her body was squarely facing Jack's.
"I don't know why Ben said that. I didn't know you were still here. I didn't ask for you."
Jack looked deep into her eyes; his own were dark with sorrow and regret.
"I guess you wouldn't," he said turning his back on her.

He scanned the room. Yellow walls, white lace curtains at their windows. The smell of chocolate and brown sugar filled his lungs as he took a deep breath.
"What is that suppose to mean?" she asked looking at his tired shoulders. He ignored her, choosing to run his hand over his head instead.
"Jack? What is that suppose to mean?" she asked again, grabbing his arm and turning him around.

Jack looked at her, determination in her blue eyes. "It means you don't really care. You never did. You and Ben. You were just stringing me along so I'd do the damn surgery!" he spat in her face.
"That's not true," she said shaking her head and clutching at his arms, his biceps tensing at her touch.
Jack pushed her off him, sending her backwards against a chair. She steadied herself, never once taking her eyes off him.

"I chose you Juliet. I let Sayid die and for what?" Jack asked in anger, "For what?"
"Jack, I wanted you to run. I wanted you to be free."
"No. You wanted to trap me. To lure me in. To make it impossible for me to leave," he screamed as she violently shook her head, the tears flowing freely now.
"Well you won, I'm here, and in a strange way I guess I chose to be here," Jack said walking back to her and staring down into her face, "But I chose wrongly."
Juliet sobbed as Jack backed away, not looking at her tear stained face.

"Knock, Knock," Amelia's voice came from the front hall, "Anyone home?"
Juliet wiped her eyes as best she could, "In here," she managed to scrape out.
"I brought you two some things," Amelia cheerily came into the kitchen.
"Oh dear," she said seeing the state of things, "I see I'm interrupting."
Jack glared at the strange woman before him.
"Of course you're not," Juliet said through a strained smile.
"I just brought over a tuna casserole for the two of you," Amelia said as Jack gave her a sideways glance.
"Thank you," Juliet said quietly taking the dish from her friend's hands, "Amelia this is Jack, Jack, Amelia."
"Nice to meet you Jack," she said holding out her hand.
"Can't say the same," Jack stated flatly.
Amelia put her hand down, "Well, I best be going. I'm sure Jack's tired and would like to settle in."
Juliet gave a grateful glance her way.

"Oh," Amelia said turning back to look at Jack, "I almost forgot. These are for you. Some new clothes Ben told me to pass along." She said holding out a bag.
Jack sat down in the nearest chair without a word, pressing his fingers to his temples.
Juliet took the bag, "Thank you Amelia."
"You're welcome dear. Have a good night."

"She's right," Jack said after Juliet had closed the front door.
"Sorry?" she asked meekly.
"I am tired. Is there a shower I could use?" he inquired.
"Upstairs. First door to your right," Juliet said.
Jack stood up and walked towards her. He grabbed the bag from her hand and went silently up the stairs.
…….

A couple of hours later, Jack sat on one of Juliet's couches, clean, and wearing a new pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt. Juliet sat across from him quietly staring as the fabric stretched tightly across his toned chest. She watched as his chest rose and fell with every breath, knowing that he hated her now.

"Hello you two," Ben said, suddenly appearing before them.
"Don't you ever knock?" Juliet snapped.
Ben looked at her but quickly turned to Jack.
"Why don't you come with me Jack," Ben said.
Juliet rose from her seat, "Where are you taking him?" she demanded to know.
"Relax Juliet. I'll have him home at a decent hour. I'm just going to show him around. Get him to feel at home here. We don't want him to be a tourist, do we?"
Juliet frowned but Jack stood up and willingly followed Ben out the door.

"You don't seem happy Jack," Ben said as they strolled past the houses. One after another. They all looked the same. Immaculate lawns, flowers adorning the entrances. People waved, people Jack didn't know, all with happy smiles on their faces. Ben nodded politely at them.

"Why should I be happy?" Jack asked.
"Isn't this what you always wanted Jack?" Ben asked stopping in the centre of a parquet. A white gazebo in the near distance.
"What?" Jack asked frustration in his voice.
"A nice neighbourhood, people who appreciate your work. A lovely home with a beautiful blonde wife waiting for you," Ben said.
"Juliet's not my wife," Jack said.
"No," Ben replied, dragging out the word, "But she could be. If you want. All you have to do is say the word."

Jack laughed at the audacity of Ben's words. "You just give people away like they're commodities."
"Of course not Jack. But I can give you what you've always wanted. What you ask for," he said pausing before adding, "She is beautiful."
"So are mountains," Jack said.
Ben tilted his head to the side, "I'm sorry Jack, but I don't understand."
Jack stared at the cliffs that loomed in the far distance.
"You'd give me miles and miles of mountains when I'd ask for the sea," Jack said turning and walking back to Juliet's house.