-1Chapter 9
Jack's heart froze. Both he and Heller had heard Audrey call his name. There it was again, but this time she had said it more clearly. "Jack are you there?"
They heard movement coming from the room.
Heller stared at Jack "Get behind there now!" he exclaimed pointing to the wall.
"But Sir.." he started to protest, but stopped when he heard her door open. Jack turned quickly around the corner, thinking about what he was going to do.
"Dad" came the hollow voice "is Jack here?"
Heller stood amazed at his daughter being able to speak yet alone stand and walk by herself.
"Uh, No Hunny. Your just imagining things again. Jack left you at CTU. I'm sorry." Heller replied hating to lie to his daughter.
"But dad i'm sure I heard ..." her voice trailed off when she saw him appear from around the corner. Audrey stared at Heller. Her eyes darting from him to Jack. Was this actually happening? Was the man of her dreams standing an arms reach away?
"Jack.." she asked in a questioning voice. "is that.." she struggled to find her words.
Jack took the opportunity to go to her. "Yeah Sweetheart, its me, i'm really here."
Jack took Audrey in his arms, pressing her against him. She in turn wrapped her bony arms around his body, clinging onto him for dear life.
"I love you" he whispered to her "more than you'll ever know".
She snuggled her head deeper into the crook of his neck. Jack returned his eyes to Heller, pleading for him to let him stay with Audrey. Heller seeing how Audrey would not give Jack up tonight, returned Jack's gaze. "One night" he mouthed. Jack simply nodded his head.
"Come on, lets get you to bed". Jack cooed at Audrey softly. He took her by the hand and led her back to the bedroom. They had nearly entered the room when Audrey stopped abruptly.
Audrey had stopped momentarily to gather her thoughts. Was this really happening? She was sure that she would wake up to find Cheng or one of his men looming over her.
She knew what her father thought. He didn't want Jack to go near his 'little girl'. She hadn't asked her father why he had lied to her before, when she asked was Jack there. So She took the opportunity to do so now. She turned to face her father.
"Jack stays" was all she could manage.
Obviously taken back by her words, Heller simply nodded. Satisfied she then let Jack take her into the bedroom.
"Come on lets get some sleep" he said to her as he pulled back the duvet.
Audrey gladly got in between the sheets with Jack. Obtaining their original sleeping positions like nothing had changed; with them both on her left side, Audrye pressed up against Jack's body, their hands loosely entwined. She knew that she wasn't the same woman as she had been before. She wanted nothing more than for her life to go back to normal.
She felt Jack's body relax against hers. She finally let out the words she was dying to say to him.
"I love you"
She felt him pull her towards him. " I love you to " He replied gently kissing her head. The pair then fell into a deep sleep together, for the first time in a long time...
to be continued...