Hell Hath None 16- I'm coming home.
Ok, so just a heads up, this chapter is going to be really fucking short because I am EXHAUSTED! I didn't get to sleep until 5:00 am this morning and some of it was because I was writing and most was from just not being able to sleep. Then I was up around ten so I can go meet up with friends about half an hour away by train. I missed my bus that would take me to the train so I had to stand there for half an hour. We walked around DC all day. Then, trying to get home, I took a bus and ended up at the FUCKING PENTAGON?! ARE YOU SHITTING ME?! I got home around 9:00. So yeah! I'm writing and I'm not sure how long it will be. Love you guys, please keep reading and reviewing I love you guys.
Jack slowly began to drift off again, completely content in Sergeant Collier's arms. As his arms slowly wrapped tighter around her, bringing her closer to his bare chest, Jack frowned but kept her eyes closed. She was comfortable. That was the first clue that something was off. The ground was dry and soft and the blanket over her was thick and soft. Sunlight shone on the two and she didn't hear Grady and Gordo' snoring. Don's shirt was off.
Jack opened her eyes, confused, and looked around. She was on a bed, in a room. There was a window, a window! She looked back to Collier and looked up to his face, his eyes closed and he was breathing softly. Where was she, again? Jack looked around again until Collier's tired voice spoke to her quietly.
"Stop." He said quietly. "Go back to sleep." He told her. Jack's memory flashed back to her. She was in Don's bed, in Don's apartment in America. The war was over. But how did she get to Don's apartment?
Jack closed her eyes and tried to remember. She remembered saying goodbye to Grady, Gordo, Boyd and Norman. Jack also remembered crying a lot. They all promised to call and write. Then Jack remembered arriving back in America. Don's sister was waiting for them.
"Don!" A woman's voice called out. Don and Jack looked over to see a woman with a three year old boy on her hip. She was waving at them. "Don, over here!" She said through the crowd. The woman made her way to them and Don hugged her, kissing her on the cheek. "Welcome home soldiers!" She said, grinning brightly. "Oh, you must be Jacqueline! It's so good to meet you!" She said and pulled the woman into a one armed hug. "I'm Don's sister, Betty." She introduced and stuck out her hand. Jack took it and shook it, giving her a bright smile.
"It's nice to meet you too! But you can call me Jack. I am more used to it than Jacqueline at this point." She told her with a smile. "So, Don's sister? You must have plenty of embarrassing stories from when he was younger." Jack joked. Betty let out a loud laugh and Don put a heavy hand on Jack's shoulder.
"Oh, I like her, Don." She said. Betty then seemed to remember the child on her hip. "How could I forget? Don, this is David. He's your nephew." She explained and Don smiled to him.
"I was wondering who this one was." He said and reached out. David shyly turned into his mother's neck, hiding and the three adults laughed. Jack felt a pang in her chest but pushed it away.
"Come, I have the car outside. You two must join us for dinner." Betty stated and turned to walk away. Jack looked up to Don with a knowing smile and Don sighed through his nose before leading her out, and arm around her shoulder.
Betty's home was beautiful. It was a simple, one story white house with green accents. Her husband, Andrew, was away for business.
"Why don't you two get cleaned up while I get dinner ready. Jack, feel free to wear my clothes, you look about my size. Don, use our guest bathroom." She ordered him. Jack could see the resemblance in the way they held themselves and their tone best. Don laughed to himself before heading away to the guest bathroom. Betty grabbed Jack by the shoulders and lead her to her and her husband's room. "Change of plans, I'm dressing you. Go shower, I'll get you clothes." She ordered and shoved poor Jack into the bathroom.
Jack was startled and began to wonder if Betty was a woman to fear. Jack stripped down and jumped into the shower. She sighed at the warm water and scrubbed herself red. She shampooed her hair and enjoyed the smell and running water. She stayed in the shower as long as she could. Betty knocked on the door and urged her out.
With a sigh, Jack turned off the water and stepped out. She dried herself off with a white, soft, fluffy towel. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was a bit thinner than the last she had seen herself. When was the last time she had seen herself in a mirror? A little more than a year ago. There were bags under her eyes and she poked at her wounds. Her brown hair was dark from the water and very curly, falling in damp ringlets. They would calm when properly brushed. Her hair hit just past her shoulders. She sighed and wrapped a towel around herself before stepping out.
Betty smiled brightly and began handing her a dress and stockings and everything else she would need. HSe put everything on, including the shoes and stepped out. There was a full length mirror and she was startled at the sight. She was no longer Jack, she was not a boy. She was Jackie, She was a woman. Jack was now soft, feminine, pretty even. It was a side of her she hadn't seen in over a year.
She was wear simple brown shoe that had a slight heel and a lovely, soft brown dress. IT was a casual day dress that ended just below her knee and the bottom held brown and white flowers. It was pretty. She didn't get a chance to look at herself long before Betty grabbed her by the shoulders gently and lead her to a seat in front of a vanity. Betty grabbed a towel and began drying Jack's hair quickly.
"So you are the women who posed as a boy and fought against the Nazis." Betty stated.
"I wasn't the only –" Jack began to point out but Betty stopped her.
"You were the only one in a tank. Good for you. I think women should be able to fight, too." Betty confessed. Jack was surprised, not expecting someone who had never been to war to agree. It was nice. "He wrote about you, you know." She told Jack as she began to curl Jack's hair after brushing it. Jack raised an eyebrow.
"He wrote about me?" She asked quietly. "What did he say?" Betty laughed gently.
"Nothing bad, I promise." She said and spun Jack around in her seat and began putting makeup on her face. Betty put on mascara and a bright red lipstick. When Jack saw herself again, hair and makeup done, in a dress, as a woman, her jaw dropped open. She didn't recognize herself. Wearing a skirt and pantyhose was an odd feeling and she had to pace the room to get used to the heels again. Jack spun and let the skirt flare out a bit. It was an odd feeling, but it was nice.
"Come, Don is probably waiting." Betty said and grabbed her, beginning to pull Jack to the door. Jack stopped and gently grabbed Betty's hand.
"Betty, thank you so much. For everything." Jack said quietly and Betty beamed before kissing her on the cheek.
"It was my pleasure. I feel we are going to be great friends!" She said as she dragged Jack out into the living room and then into the kitchen where Don was standing, waiting. Don was in his formal uniform and had shaved. Jack hadn't seen him so clean and cleanly shaven often and her heart began to thump loudly. It beat harder when her turned and saw her. He seemed surprised. Betty walked past her, giving her a knowing smile and went over the the crockpot that was on the counter.
Jack felt herself blushing and opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out and she laughed nervously as Don approached and took her hand, smiling and kissed it.
"Good evening, ma'am." He said quietly, looking down at her. She beemed and pat his check before gently smacking it.
"Just because I'm in a fucking dress doesn't mean I won't try to kick your ass." She told him sweetly. Don laughed and let his hands rest on her waist and pull her close. He kissed her and she laughed. When he stepped back Jack smiled at him and wiped her thumb against his lip, getting rid of the lipstick left behind. Sergeant Collier laughed quietly and took her hand.
"Let's get some dinner."
The evening was nice, Jack remembered that. Betty had put David to bed while she showered. The three had a nice whine and a stew that had been cooking in the crock pot. It was the best thing Jack had ever eaten. It was a warm, home cooked, not canned meal.
Jack enjoyed Betty and the two quickly bonded. Don had to sit back and wonder if introducing the two was wose on his behalf. But it was for the best. Being home again, Jack would need someone, a friend. Jack wasn't back home and she was in a completely new setting and all she had was him. Jack would need a female friend and he knew that. He was relieved Jack and Betty got on so well.
Jack learned that while Don was in Germany, his sister and a few friends took care of his things. HE gave Betty his car, which was the one she picked them up in and he still had an apartment. The man who owned the building was a family friend and had kept his apartment for hi until he came home. The landlord had served in World War I and remembered how much of a challenge it was to get his own place. When he learned Don was leaving, he offered to keep it, free of charge. Don wouldn't have to pay for the years he was in Germany.
The apartment was simple. Once you entered, there was a small hallway with a closet on one side and a little table on the other side. The hallway was short and lead into the kitchen area where there was a tall window with no curtains. Outside was a landing and a fire escape. Near the window was a table for two and the kitchen itself was small. To the right, was a living room. It held a couch, coffee table, chair and bookcase. If instead of going to the right, someone went to the left, there was another small hallway that had a bathroom and past that was the bedroom.
In that bedroom, Jack and Don slept until late in the day. Jack had woken up but fell asleep while remembering where she was and how she got there. As she drifted off, she wondered how the others had settled in. She woke up again sometime in the afternoon and looked up at Don. He was awake and playing with her hair.
"Was wondering if you were waking up today." He said and she gave him a slight glare and rolled over. He laughed and pulled her close, pressing his face to her back. Jack had a shiver run down her spine and she squirmed, fighting back a smile. Don hummed against her before speaking again. "Betty got groceries before we got here. What do you want to eat?" He asked. Jack sighed and burred her face into the pillow. Don's hand lazily caressed her side and her shirt rode up slightly, letting him caress her skin. She hummed contentedly into the pillow.
"I'm not hungry. Let me sleep." She stated but her stomach spoke up, telling Collier she was lying. He laughed at her gently before placing a kiss on her back and getting up. Jack almost wished she wasn't wearing a shirt, almost wished he had kissed her skin.
Jack sat up and followed him into the kitchen. He was already beginning to get breakfast ready. Jack looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly three in the afternoon. She didn't argue. There was a pack of cigarettes on the table and she lit one. She was halfway done with it when Don came up behind her and handed her a mug of coffee. She kissed him on the cheek and took it.
Before long the two were enjoying a nice breakfast at a table in a home that wasn't in ruins. Jack looked out the window and smiled. Don couldn't help but watch her.
It was good to be home.
So it's ll raibows and shunshine for now. But Life aint easy. And this story is so far from being over. Guys oh my god I got so much shit to write so sit down, buckle up and brace yourself.